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The Twins of Tribeca
Karen Jacobs, an ambitious and tenacious young woman, gets more than she had bargained for when she takes a job at Glorious Pictures, the studio founded by notorious twin brothers Phil and Tony Waxman, encountering an insane world of extreme competition, cutthroat practices, celebrities, tantrums, egos, neuroses, and follies. A first novel. Reprint. 100,000 first printing.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 12, 2019
Abandon - 200 pages lues.
January 24, 2018
DNF on page 242.
From page 3, I knew I didn’t really want to continue reading this. I knew even then that this book was going to receive a low rating from me. I bought this book for $2. My friend also bought a copy because we were going to buddy read it, and I started it, but then she hadn’t yet so I was waiting for her to start and then we got busy with school and then she lost interest. I have been meaning to get back to it for a long time, since it's been on my currently reading shelf for over a year, probably closer to a year and a half. But the second time I started, I realized how horrible it is. I feel bad for calling it trashy, but that’s what it is. Everyone is so shallow, mean, and the work environment is horrible. I wasn’t really into it and wanted to quit immediately, but I didn’t want to be that ruthless, so I stuck it out. I said it give it 50-100 pages, and if I still don’t like it then I would wuit, but I didn’t because I was still interested to see what happened. But basically all the characters are cardboard, not fleshed out well, and they are shallow and stuck up and rich. I didn’t even really care about Karen. I finally decided to quit because It felt like I was taking forever to get through it and I had already wasted so much time on it.
Spoilers!
The majority of the female characters were the same, with slight variations. Allegra was basically like Vivian who was basically like Dagney, and a whole host of other characters. The only one I really liked was Trisha. Don't even get me started on what happened to her. She got fired for sending a letter to a higher-up in another department that she was interested in working at, rather than in publicity. She's showing drive and initiative, looking for advice on how to get there, trying to get in with the right people, but instead she gets chastised not once, but twice, for the only mistake that she made. I almost DNFed it right there, because everyone was so horrible to her. Everyone there is so mean, and basically abusive to one another because they are all competing for power. It is clearly a toxic work environment. Yes, the film business is probably fast paced and competitive, but that does not mean there are not nice people there, and that everyone has to be a power-hungry snob who is abusive to their coworkers.
I did not like Karen's relationship with Elliot, or what little I saw of it. I sort of skimmed the end to try to find out what happens, but I couldn't really make sense of it, so I stopped. He just seemed like a creepo to me, and it seemed like in his phone calls he was trying to use Karen's feelings for him to manipulate her into telling him things about Glorious. I especially didn't like how he knew so much about Karen, like her shoe size, and she went to meet him even though she didn't even know who he was. I wanted her to be with Robert more than him. I also though Hanratty was a creepo too, because he knew so much, it was like he was always watching them.
I really hated the fact that it was revealed that Karen got hired because of her breasts. Not because of her enthusiasm. And the fact that at first she is disgusted, but them laughs about it like it's funny, but that is not okay, and even though this book was written in 2005, I am not going to accept that it is okay, especially considering the fact that this is a thinly veiled story of the author's experience working at Miramax films, owned by the Weinsteins. I honestly considered not reading this at all when I read about this in other reviews, and that probably would have been the best course of action, especially considering how low the average rating is.
From page 3, I knew I didn’t really want to continue reading this. I knew even then that this book was going to receive a low rating from me. I bought this book for $2. My friend also bought a copy because we were going to buddy read it, and I started it, but then she hadn’t yet so I was waiting for her to start and then we got busy with school and then she lost interest. I have been meaning to get back to it for a long time, since it's been on my currently reading shelf for over a year, probably closer to a year and a half. But the second time I started, I realized how horrible it is. I feel bad for calling it trashy, but that’s what it is. Everyone is so shallow, mean, and the work environment is horrible. I wasn’t really into it and wanted to quit immediately, but I didn’t want to be that ruthless, so I stuck it out. I said it give it 50-100 pages, and if I still don’t like it then I would wuit, but I didn’t because I was still interested to see what happened. But basically all the characters are cardboard, not fleshed out well, and they are shallow and stuck up and rich. I didn’t even really care about Karen. I finally decided to quit because It felt like I was taking forever to get through it and I had already wasted so much time on it.
Spoilers!
The majority of the female characters were the same, with slight variations. Allegra was basically like Vivian who was basically like Dagney, and a whole host of other characters. The only one I really liked was Trisha. Don't even get me started on what happened to her. She got fired for sending a letter to a higher-up in another department that she was interested in working at, rather than in publicity. She's showing drive and initiative, looking for advice on how to get there, trying to get in with the right people, but instead she gets chastised not once, but twice, for the only mistake that she made. I almost DNFed it right there, because everyone was so horrible to her. Everyone there is so mean, and basically abusive to one another because they are all competing for power. It is clearly a toxic work environment. Yes, the film business is probably fast paced and competitive, but that does not mean there are not nice people there, and that everyone has to be a power-hungry snob who is abusive to their coworkers.
I did not like Karen's relationship with Elliot, or what little I saw of it. I sort of skimmed the end to try to find out what happens, but I couldn't really make sense of it, so I stopped. He just seemed like a creepo to me, and it seemed like in his phone calls he was trying to use Karen's feelings for him to manipulate her into telling him things about Glorious. I especially didn't like how he knew so much about Karen, like her shoe size, and she went to meet him even though she didn't even know who he was. I wanted her to be with Robert more than him. I also though Hanratty was a creepo too, because he knew so much, it was like he was always watching them.
I really hated the fact that it was revealed that Karen got hired because of her breasts. Not because of her enthusiasm. And the fact that at first she is disgusted, but them laughs about it like it's funny, but that is not okay, and even though this book was written in 2005, I am not going to accept that it is okay, especially considering the fact that this is a thinly veiled story of the author's experience working at Miramax films, owned by the Weinsteins. I honestly considered not reading this at all when I read about this in other reviews, and that probably would have been the best course of action, especially considering how low the average rating is.
February 7, 2008
This book followed in the Devil Wears Prada's footsteps. It did not hold my attention so I did not finish it.
May 5, 2022
Knyga, kuri skaitėsi gan greitai, bet taip pat greitai ir bus pamiršta. Nuo pat pradžių priminė Ir velnias dėvi pradą savo scenarijumi ir veikejais, tik velnias buvo daug įdomesnis. Čia lyg ir parodyti verslo užkulisiai, bet kažko trūko, pradžią įvardinčiau net nuobodoka, tik gerokai įpusėjus pasidarė įdomiau, bet knygos tai nebeisgelbejo. Pabaiga irgi nesužavėjo, lyg norėjo atskleisti super ir wow paslaptį, bet nei ji nustebino nei sužavėjo. Trumpai tariant vienkartinis skaitalas.
March 21, 2017
I tried to read this book, I really did. However I did not even make it 70 pages in. Growing up as someone who LOVED the movie Devil Wears Prada I thought I might like this book...but no. I feel as though this book is a cheap remake, I mean some of the dialogue is practically word for word the same...
June 21, 2023
This was so much fun! I've has a few high-stress jobs and worked with some seriously incompetent or irrational folks, but this bunch tops everything. It's all crazy enough to be believable. Of course, Pine's background in the field lends credibility yo most of the plot. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys movies and is curious about the people who make them. Thanks Goodreads!
June 6, 2023
Completely boring and pointless storyline. I had hopes for the book based on the title and I gave it 200 pages but I dreaded every page. It’s hard to make a dull book about New York! I never do this but I’m abandoning the book.
April 21, 2018
Fun read! Behind the scenes look at what is most definitely the Weinstein company.
May 26, 2018
Good fun. 'The Devil Wears Prada' for the film industry.
December 23, 2019
entertaining and fun to decipher
January 26, 2020
I love this audiobook. I have it downloaded and listen to it all the time. Fun romp with great humor.
May 22, 2024
I truly hope people don't live their lives like the people in this book. It's also crazy to think about how our whole perception is created by these companies
October 14, 2012
I want to mention that I wasn���t too excited about this book before I started reading it. I didn���t expect it to be a WOW book mostly because I haven���t heard/read anything about it or about its author. This is explained by the fact that it���s the author���s first and only book so far.
Now, after having read it, I can honestly say that The Twins of TriBeCa is one of the most edgy and hilarious books I���ve read. The main character, Karen Jacobs, thinks that she���s been offered the opportunity of a life time when she lands a job at Glorious Pictures, a film company. She quits her boring job at CNN to embark on this new journey of her life. She craves for the excitement and endless possibilities that come with her job at Glorious. Well, all I can say is that she obviously didn���t know what she was getting herself into. Karen is a hardworking, intelligent woman who is looking to advance in her career while working for the Waxmans, the twin brothers who run the company, but she is constantly hitting brick walls. She soon discovers the two unofficial divisions within Glorious: the Work Horses and the Precious Children. The Work Horses are the people who work and break their backs everyday for their bosses, the Precious Children, who in return take this work and claim it as their own. It took Karen a few months to discover that she was definitely a Work Horse, but not necessarily by choice. It took her about a year to realize that Work Horses remained just that, Work Horses; they were not recognized for their talents and efforts and therefore were not able to advance in the company. I could say that it was something close to exploitation. I don���t want to say too much about the plot, as not to ruin the book for those who didn���t read it.
The book is like a sneak peak into show business. It���s not only a very funny and well written story, but it has at it���s roots the reality behind the film-making industry. It���s quite interesting to know what plans and schemes these companies come up with to manipulate the critics and make us see their movies.
Now, after having read it, I can honestly say that The Twins of TriBeCa is one of the most edgy and hilarious books I���ve read. The main character, Karen Jacobs, thinks that she���s been offered the opportunity of a life time when she lands a job at Glorious Pictures, a film company. She quits her boring job at CNN to embark on this new journey of her life. She craves for the excitement and endless possibilities that come with her job at Glorious. Well, all I can say is that she obviously didn���t know what she was getting herself into. Karen is a hardworking, intelligent woman who is looking to advance in her career while working for the Waxmans, the twin brothers who run the company, but she is constantly hitting brick walls. She soon discovers the two unofficial divisions within Glorious: the Work Horses and the Precious Children. The Work Horses are the people who work and break their backs everyday for their bosses, the Precious Children, who in return take this work and claim it as their own. It took Karen a few months to discover that she was definitely a Work Horse, but not necessarily by choice. It took her about a year to realize that Work Horses remained just that, Work Horses; they were not recognized for their talents and efforts and therefore were not able to advance in the company. I could say that it was something close to exploitation. I don���t want to say too much about the plot, as not to ruin the book for those who didn���t read it.
The book is like a sneak peak into show business. It���s not only a very funny and well written story, but it has at it���s roots the reality behind the film-making industry. It���s quite interesting to know what plans and schemes these companies come up with to manipulate the critics and make us see their movies.
November 10, 2008
How I Came To Read This Book: It was $5 on Chapters. Need I say more?
The Plot: Karen is a slightly misguided twenty-something who takes a fancy job at Glorious Pictures, a fictional studio based largely on Miramax (where author Rachel Pine used to work). Rather than an actual discernible plot the book moreso follows the trials and tribulations of a movie studio underling as she becomes increasingly disillusioned with the industry. Sound familiar? It should. The Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries, Perfect Manhattan, The Second/First Assistant etc. are all closely linked in style and plot to this little diddy.
The Good & the Bad: Well, lack of plot aside, the book isn't afraid to just dish out the dirt, and given my interest in the industry I enjoyed it. DO NOT pick up this book expecting a literary triumph or even a chick flick rom com style of book, it's really just an ongoing series of events about the main character and the insanity of the modern-day movie industry. DO pick up this book if you're interested in gossip, and willing to believe in the majority of what Pine writes - noting that the book is published by 'Miramax Books'. Be warned though, that for its size and lack of premise, dishiness aside, the book can get confusing, overwrought, and tiring (but also pretty interesting if you take things at face value).
The Bottom Line: Fun & Gossipy, but too long for a book with no real plot.
Anything Memorable: I read the majority of this book while watching the 2007 Grey Cup game between the Blue Bombers & the Roughriders, which the Riders won.
50-Book Challenge: Book #47 in 2007.
The Plot: Karen is a slightly misguided twenty-something who takes a fancy job at Glorious Pictures, a fictional studio based largely on Miramax (where author Rachel Pine used to work). Rather than an actual discernible plot the book moreso follows the trials and tribulations of a movie studio underling as she becomes increasingly disillusioned with the industry. Sound familiar? It should. The Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries, Perfect Manhattan, The Second/First Assistant etc. are all closely linked in style and plot to this little diddy.
The Good & the Bad: Well, lack of plot aside, the book isn't afraid to just dish out the dirt, and given my interest in the industry I enjoyed it. DO NOT pick up this book expecting a literary triumph or even a chick flick rom com style of book, it's really just an ongoing series of events about the main character and the insanity of the modern-day movie industry. DO pick up this book if you're interested in gossip, and willing to believe in the majority of what Pine writes - noting that the book is published by 'Miramax Books'. Be warned though, that for its size and lack of premise, dishiness aside, the book can get confusing, overwrought, and tiring (but also pretty interesting if you take things at face value).
The Bottom Line: Fun & Gossipy, but too long for a book with no real plot.
Anything Memorable: I read the majority of this book while watching the 2007 Grey Cup game between the Blue Bombers & the Roughriders, which the Riders won.
50-Book Challenge: Book #47 in 2007.
July 18, 2007
First-time novelist Rachel Pine was a publicity assistant at Miramax Films, the movie company run by brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Pine's novel centers on Karen Jacobs, a publicity assistant at Glorious Pictures, headed by Phil and Tony Waxman, "the notorious, larger-than-life twin brothers who run their company with ... iron fists." Why Pine even bothered to change the Weinsteins' names is something of a mystery, especially since Miramax itself is publishing the book AND has bought the rights to the movie. Only in Hollywoods! It’s the “ The Devil Wears Prada” (see Book No. 36) and “The Nanny Diaries” for the Hollywood set. You know the drill…overworked, scary co-workers, being verbally abused…do dah, do dah. It was fun and IT was fun to determine who was who in the book! If they do make a movie, they better have an original approach about it. It was a fun, fluffy read….no biggie. Book #28 of my 2006 Book List, finished reading it on 6-11-06.
November 5, 2008
Like The Devil Wears Prada and Because She Can, The Twins of Tribeca tells the story of a young, optimistic and naive young woman taking a job in a notoriously difficult environment because she is certain (a) the stories are exaggerated, and (b) the experience will be worth it. This light book obviously tracks working for the Weinstein brothers at Miramax, and is an enjoyable enough read especially anyone interested in or involved with the movie industry.
For me, the narrative never reached the levels of The Devil Wears Prada, and the drama was much less dramatic (which is a positive for the poor narrator if not for the reader). Still, this book was nowhere near as satisfyingly evil as other offerings in the genre, and left me feeling a little flat. A decent plane or beach read, The Twins of Tribeca doesn't live up to its hype, but is well-written enough to rate three stars.
For me, the narrative never reached the levels of The Devil Wears Prada, and the drama was much less dramatic (which is a positive for the poor narrator if not for the reader). Still, this book was nowhere near as satisfyingly evil as other offerings in the genre, and left me feeling a little flat. A decent plane or beach read, The Twins of Tribeca doesn't live up to its hype, but is well-written enough to rate three stars.
June 5, 2011
This book was such a quick, trashy red, I loved it. After reading Night, I needed something light. This book was it.
Similar to , TTOT takes place in a movie studio setting, not unlike Miramax and the Weinstein Brothers. It follows Karen, a former researcher for CNN, as she works for the publicity department of the studio. Backstabbing, gossip, and rumors abound and Karen finds herself becoming more involved. After a year of being with the company, she realizes there is no one she can really trust, except for one other person, leaves the studio and begins a new chapter in her life.
I enjoyed losing myself in the book. There were parts of the book that reminded me of a former boss and made me laugh even harder at the ridiculousness of it all. I would recommend this as a poolside or beach book.
Similar to , TTOT takes place in a movie studio setting, not unlike Miramax and the Weinstein Brothers. It follows Karen, a former researcher for CNN, as she works for the publicity department of the studio. Backstabbing, gossip, and rumors abound and Karen finds herself becoming more involved. After a year of being with the company, she realizes there is no one she can really trust, except for one other person, leaves the studio and begins a new chapter in her life.
I enjoyed losing myself in the book. There were parts of the book that reminded me of a former boss and made me laugh even harder at the ridiculousness of it all. I would recommend this as a poolside or beach book.
August 9, 2008
I'm curious as to whether this was published after "The Devil Wears Prada", because if it was, holy copyright infringement batman. OK, we're in a different industry - film-making, rather than fashion magazines - but other than that, you know the story. Young girl, a bit lost as to her life's direction, with a job history in serious journalism, gets a position as a lowly second assistant to a very high maintenance and deranged female boss. She fetches and carries, manages a ridiculously complicated phone list, and gets drawn into the glamour of the film world. Then it all goes sour. Sound familiar? Of course it does. Light and trashy, occasionally funny, the thinly disguised pseudonyms of actors who were news 5 or 10 years ago is irritating rather than titillating.
July 5, 2016
This book was a slow go until the end...more happened in the last 3 chapters than in the first 300 pages. This book might appeal to those who are interested in the technicalities involved with the production of movies, or to those that are at least knowledgable in that area...but for those of us who are NOT knowledgeable in that area, some of this book was a bit too technical and therefore dry. I kept waiting for SOMETHING interesting to happen...some sort of climax...but there never really was one. This happened, that happened, she said this about her, he did that to him, no one likes her, she was fired, she quit, the end. No juicy gossip, no romance...more of a documentary than anything, in my opinion. Will be putting this book in my next yard sale. Maybe someone else will love it. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
What happened with this book is a travesty.
Rachel Pine was a publicist at Miramax before writing this book, and wrote a thinly veiled tell-all into the workings of the studio. Harvey Weinsten bought the publishing rights and published the bare minimum required to keep the rights with ZERO publicity, to help cover-up his crimes.
The story itself is very Devil-Wears-Prada-esque, as so many books of the time were - Outsider with no knowledge of (insert industry here) gets job with world renowned (insert industry tent-pole company here).
Beyond that formula, it's actually a good read, especially when you know going in that she's really talking about Miramax and Bob and Harvey Weinstein.
Rachel Pine was a publicist at Miramax before writing this book, and wrote a thinly veiled tell-all into the workings of the studio. Harvey Weinsten bought the publishing rights and published the bare minimum required to keep the rights with ZERO publicity, to help cover-up his crimes.
The story itself is very Devil-Wears-Prada-esque, as so many books of the time were - Outsider with no knowledge of (insert industry here) gets job with world renowned (insert industry tent-pole company here).
Beyond that formula, it's actually a good read, especially when you know going in that she's really talking about Miramax and Bob and Harvey Weinstein.
May 4, 2010
Hm. It so closely mimics the world created in The Devil Wears Prada, that there is even a cameo by Miranda Preistley in the book.
This novel is basically The Devils Make Movies, same horror stories of fresh-faced Manhattanite with a toe-hold on her morals as she name-drops through her year working in the film industry. I give her a couple of stars for her honest description of working in publicity and marketing -- it relieves me to know nonsensical b.s. for the sake of promoting people, places and things is not regulated to the midwest.
No romantic relationships to chew on.
Pass on this if you have already read Prada or Nanny Diaries - it's more of the same.
This novel is basically The Devils Make Movies, same horror stories of fresh-faced Manhattanite with a toe-hold on her morals as she name-drops through her year working in the film industry. I give her a couple of stars for her honest description of working in publicity and marketing -- it relieves me to know nonsensical b.s. for the sake of promoting people, places and things is not regulated to the midwest.
No romantic relationships to chew on.
Pass on this if you have already read Prada or Nanny Diaries - it's more of the same.
November 8, 2008
When I first brought this book home, for some reason I thought it was going to be a babysitter's tales of caring for twins in NYC. Once I started reading the first chapter I was immediately confused. I then realized I was completely wrong and it was about a girl who was working for a major motion picture company in NYC. The tales of her work drama mirror so much of the silliness in my own life so I found this book interesting. It was a simple, quick read with some comical situations and an appropriate ending.
February 11, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10305537
This probably benefited from being abridged on CD.This was a lot like "The Devil Wears Prada", I assume this book is about working for the Weinstein brothers at Miramax, oddly Miramax was the publisher of the book. Typical chick lit story of a girl who goes to work for a big company in the entertainment industry and gets verbally abused by everyone above her.
I did like this better than "Devil...Prada" but not by much.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10305537
This probably benefited from being abridged on CD.This was a lot like "The Devil Wears Prada", I assume this book is about working for the Weinstein brothers at Miramax, oddly Miramax was the publisher of the book. Typical chick lit story of a girl who goes to work for a big company in the entertainment industry and gets verbally abused by everyone above her.
I did like this better than "Devil...Prada" but not by much.
October 11, 2012
I listened to this book on CD. It is chick lit, but the heroine is actually focused on work and career rather than the career being a path to meeting the right guy. She does kind of find the right guy in the end, but he is not what you would expect and it is almost an after-thought to the arc of her professional career. Which (SPOILER) ends as a failure, despite her killing herself to provide all the services she was supposed to provide... Really a feminist book despite the rom-com trappings. A very pleasant reader on the CD. I miss her!
July 26, 2016
This was your typical girl-in-the-city chick lit, with this particular heroine working for a big Hollywood production company. And eventually, each girl in the novel comes to the same conclusion, that their jobs aren't worth their lives, their friendships, etc. This novel was very enjoyable and was a quick read. I always gravitate towards chick lit when my mind needs an escape. TWINS did slide easily into the genre, but I really enjoyed it despite its many similarities to all of these other novels.
May 1, 2010
This is one of the few books I actually finished but rate at one star. Definitely an easy "fluff" read, but what annoying and shallow characters! After I finished it, I read that it was loosely based on the author's experience at Miramax. I couldn't help but laugh because my biggest complaint about the book was that "people just don't act like that." I guess I should revise that statement--I really just don't care about people that act like that.
March 24, 2016
As someone who has worked in the film industry, I found this fictionalized account of working at Miramax Films (in the book called Glorious Films) under the infamous Weinsteins (in the book called the Waxmans) incredibly interesting and hard to put down. Half the fun is trying to figure out which celebrities the author is dishing on by deciphering their thinly veiled aliases. It's not rocket science and definitely not the best thing I've ever read but I was thoroughly entertained.
July 31, 2007
A lot like "The Devil Wears Prada", this is the story of a lowly assistant working for a big film company. The "fictional" characters are strongly based on the Weinstein brothers and Miramax. It's a funny story, and mostly light, but it made me wonder how anyone could want to work in film.
Good for people who are interested in the inner-workings of show business.
Good for people who are interested in the inner-workings of show business.
September 4, 2007
What a fun trashy read this was. It's basically the Devil Wears Prada of the film world. The thinly veiled references were a fun insight into the inner workings of Miramax and I sadly actually knew where she was coming from some of the time. Turns on actors and musicians really ARE cut from the same cloth.
Read
May 28, 2008What a terrible book! I refuse to waste my time finishing it, I struggled every night but I finally quit a little less than halfway through. Poorly written, repetitive, and painful. The author kept on including details in the plot that could have gone somewhere but they didn't. They died, just like my heart every time I picked it up.
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