Insiders

by Olivia Goldsmith

Olivia Goldsmith – bestselling author of The First Wives Club – delivers her best revenge novel to date. The best way to beat the system is from the inside… Meet Jennifer – a smart, sexy woman who has broken through the glass ceiling to become a big-time trader in the world of high finance. When her boss is caught playing fast and loose with the regulations, Jennifer agrees to take the rap. After all, her fiancé is a lawyer with the connections to get her off. Instead, she ends up in a women's prison; a world a whole lot meaner than Wall Street and where her designer clothes and fancy education count for nothing. She has to learn fast if she wants to survive and she does, once she is accepted by the prison's top 'crew'; a group of smart, strong, scary women led by tough lifer Movita and crazy Cher. These are women that Jennifer would never, ever, have befriended on the outside, but on the inside she soon discovers that working together is the only way out…

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

480 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Olivia Goldsmith (January 1, 1949 - January 15, 2004) was an American author, best known for her first novel The First Wives Club (1992), which was adapted into the movie The First Wives Club (1996).

She was born Randy Goldfield in Dumont, New Jersey, but changed her name to Justine Goldfield and later to Justine Rendal. She took up writing following a divorce in which she said her husband got almost everything (including her Jaguar and the country house). A graduate of New York University, she was a partner at the management consultants Booz & Company in New York prior to becoming a writer.

Many of her books can be described as revenge fantasies; a constant theme is the mistreatment of women by the men they love, but with the women coming out the winners in the end.

Controversially, in late 1996 Goldsmith said, in response to an Entertainment Weekly reporter's question, that her favorite event of 1996 was when Bob Dole fell off a stage during a campaign function.

She also wrote several books for children, which were published under the name "Justine Rendal."

Goldsmith died as a result of complications from the administration of anaesthesia before cosmetic surgery. Her final two books were published posthumously.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, amended.

Reviews

[Bionic Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable. The novel had a core of strong individual characters fighting often unfair sentencing. The message in this book is that women often end up in prison through no fault of their own, but because for some reason they have fallen foul of society's rules. It is a savage indictment of the US prison system and certainly made me think.

And the quotations at the beginning of each chapter really deserve a book of their own.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Goldsmith is such an entertaining author.

This book was dam good!

Reading a book about a women's prison was a thought of being depressing.
But reading 'Insiders' l shall admit, it was an uplifting, funny in many ways and a very empowering story.

Jennifer, Cher, Movita, Suki, Theresa, Maggi and Gwen were all strong women, being taken advantage by a bad system,trying to protect themselves in very bad situations.
They all had something in common all by very bad men, who they all thought they loved.
But 'Girlpower' does prove everything in this book.

This book was very inspiring, worth the read.
Olivia Goldsmith is a legend no doubt

[The Blonde Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Olivia Goldsmith novel I read was The Bestsellers and I absolutely loved that book. The inside look of the publishing world drew me in and the detailed plot was fabulous. I knew I needed to read another Goldsmith. This book intrigued me because I have never read a book about a women's prison. The plot started slowly but picked up as the lives of the characters were created. The story creates many characters that you will fall in love with and produces as engaging plot. While the story is entertaining, it also forces the reader to confront and question their own thoughts about prisons and presents real-world issues regarding the prison system. Olivia Goldsmith's writing is a master class in research and execution. She has quickly become my favorite author. The length of her books enables a detailed plot to be developed and keeps me engaged for days. As someone who reads quickly, it is nice to have a book that lasts. It is evident how much work goes into these expertly crafted novels. Anyone who considers themselves a reader needs to pick up an Olivia Goldsmith book!

[Mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the idea of writing a story from inside a women’s prison really interesting and I loved the factual critique on the american prison system and its injustice. However, I found this story hard to read at times due to the cringy presentation of the black characters. Also, I found it hard to believe that a very well educated business woman would not understand she’s being taken advantage of my her higher ups. An uplifting story but left me feeling uneasy as the happy endings these ladies had are so unlikely to represent real life experiences.

[Albablume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a work of fiction and considered "chick lit", it's an eye-opener on the female inmate population in the U.S.A. It's heart-wrenching to read the conditions in which fellow human beings are detained and I'm sure the author has only skimmed the surface. There's much to be done and this book is a strong advocacy that improvements can be achieved with goodwill and work.

[Dixie Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Olivia Goldsmith's books. I'm still in mourning over her death in 2004. :( I wonder if this book was used as the basis for "Orange is the New Black" because I was picturing several of the characters as actors on that show. Her books always make me want to cheer for her characters!

[Puiu Mirela · Rating 4 out of 5]

O poveste frumoasă, cu replici haioase, ironice, cu personaje "colorate" din multe puncte de vedere, cu personalități diferite dar toate unite de o punte. O punte a durerii, deznădejdii,a trădării. O poveste despre viață, iubire, trădare, prietenie, iertare.

[Nkwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accurate look at the prison system. I have had incarcerated friends who are male. This is an interesting and well researched look at the experience for women. I did find the ending disappointing in that they worked so hard to achieve a goal and then gave up on it.

[Ada Syuhada · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book! the best story ever from olivia. i can read this book many times and still enjoy it.

[SuPatsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Interesting no characters and gives an insight to prison life.

[Andreea Tundrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia Goldsmith’s endings are so well-thought-out. I love tidy ends and justice.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine an almost- almost because there's a little too much sex, rape and profanity- Disney version of Orange Is the New Black.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very reminiscent , by both the tone of the story and the attitudes of the some-what whimsical fictioncharacters.

[Fay Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book always enjoy Olivia Goldsmiths novels

[Sidonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer este o tânără deșteaptă, sexy și inteligentă… dar mult prea naivă pentru o lume a bărbaților cum este cea de pe Wall Street. Ajunsă în închisoare, complet nevinovată, abandonată de cei în care avea deplină încredere și trădată de un logodnic pentru care numai banii și faima contează, Jennifer descoperă că răzbunarea poate fi foarte plăcută când ai alături niște deținute trecute prin viață, pline de imaginație, care îi demonstrează că prietenia adevărată poate fi găsită în cele mai neașteptate locuri.”

"Pretul libertatii" te introduce intr-un univers necunoscut- uncentru de corectie pentru femei.
Jennifer Spencer este o tanara frumoasa si inteligenta, ambitioasa, care la 28 ani este milionara in dolari, lucreaza la o firma de pe Wall Street si este logodita cu Tom, avocatul firmei, absolvent de Harvard. Jenny ajunge la inchisoarea corectionala pentru femei dupa ce isi asuma raspunderea pentru niste afaceri necurate ale sefului ei Donald si ale logodnicului ei Tom.
In urma unui proces ajunge la inchisoarea insalubra si mizerabila, cu miros de urina si gandaci si gardieni care ii fac avansuri sexuale. Cartea ne prezinta viata dura din spatele gratiilor, deloc prietenoasa cu detinutele, ne introduce intr-o lume necunoscuta. Mie mi-au placut si povestile de viata ale celorlalte femei, iar unele chiar m-au impresionat. Majoritatea au ajuns in inchisoare datorita unui barbat. Fie au fost tradate, fie aufurat sau au fost batute de barbatii lor, care le-au facut, intr-un moment de nebunie, sa comita o crima. M-a impresionat un citat spus de o detinuta : “Am fost prizoniera cu mult inainte de a ajunge o detinuta”.
Pe parcursul sederii ei in inchisoare, Jenny isi da seama ca viata nu se rezuma doar la luxul de care era inconjurata, cearceafurile Pratesi, covoarele persane Kirman, costumele Armani, Prada, Gucci si Ferragamo, pantofii Louboutin si apartamentul ei situat in cel mai bun cartier din New York.
Aceasta carte poate fi o lectie de viata din care ai ce invata, isi da seama de viata ei superficiala si ca nu a apreciat adevaratele valori ale vietii. Viata nu este redusa doar la lux, ci si la saracie si uraciune, tristete, prietenie si devotament. Cartea ne arata ca, atunci cand persoanele in care ai avut cea mai mare incredere te tradeaza, o prietenie sincera se poate lega in locuri complet neasteptate, iar adevarata dragoste vine de unde te astepti mai putin si uneori o poti gasi alaturi de o persoana pe care o cunosti de mult, dar abia acum o vezi cu adevarat.
Cititi aceasta carte care va va arata o alta fata a realitatii!

[Toni Umar]

I have mixed feelings about this book, it took me forever to get into it, at least a third of the way through before it began to really interest me. Then I found some chapters really good and well written and then more chapters boring and repititious. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were fascinating though and very enjoyable. By reading then I felt I understood the aim/moral of each chapter, but the chapter did not follow through. To me it was as if the book was written for a movie, a typical Hollywood movie. Disappointing as I very much enjoyed one of her prior books 'The first wives club'.

[Aimee M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was very enjoyable to read. It was funny, made you wonder how things would resolve, and the main characters were independent, interesting women.
A light read for whenever you just want to enjoy yourself and not think too much.

[Jo Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was all about a high flyer who made a bad judgement and was made to pay, how she survived in prision and how she made everone's life better

[Laura Trott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome awesome awesome!
Easy to read, interesting, fun and just plain enjoyable!
I happily recommend this to anyone wanting to read a comedy/drama

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a really entertaining read but the ending just got too unrealistic for my likings.

[JenniferB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another typical Olivia Goldsmith story, maybe a bit too strong on the women working as a group theme.

[Debi Lodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous book, likeable and interesting characters.

[Winnie Saayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

realy enjoy this book- easy light reading...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars