Courtney graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first-class degree in mechanical engineering, and worked in investment banking for two years before resigning to spend time writing her first novel based on her experiences in the City.
She is best known as the author of the novels Golden Handcuffs and Poles Apart. In her early years, Courtney was a straight-A student who spent her free time playing a multitude of sports and playing violin with various orchestras and string quartets. In an interview, she claimed this was due to the strenuous hours and pressures synonymous with the banking culture.
Courtney has written commentary pieces on city culture, women in the workplace, Polish migrants, lads" mags, sexism in publishing and youth discontentment for The Observer, The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times, The Evening Standard, Female First, Grazia and Huffington Post.