A slow burn but a bit too slow for me. Great concept but took too long to really develop the story. I could relate to the protagonist’s fear of mediocrity but the story crawled a bit. Disappointed but would read more by this author because I think there was a lot of promise

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for my advanced copy of this book.

I was so excited to read this book but unfortunately it completely missed the mark for me. Right off the bat the pace is extremely slow and there is so much unnecessary detail. Up until 50% almost nothing happens. Based on the synopsis I expected to be guessing as to who knew Jake’s secret and to feel the thrill of the suspense building as he learned more. However, that was not the case, I figured out who the antagonist was very early on and predicted the ending almost exactly.

Wow, this book is a mind twister in the best way possible! It’s difficult to review without giving away any kind of spoilers. I had the benefit of knowing nothing about the book, and surprise after dark surprise unfolded. I’d recommend this book for anyone who liked thrillers, Colleen Hoover’s Verity, or anyone looking for fast pacing and an unputdownable read.

This book did not do it for me. For a book called "The Plot", I found the plot tedious and slow-moving. The twists at the end were pretty interesting, but I hate when I have to read an entire book just to get to the "big twist". Reminded me of The Silent Patient in that way. A whole lot of not much and then *shocking twist*.

Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Jean Hanff Korelitz for allowing me to read the ARC of The Plot in exchange for an honest review.

Did you ever read a book and say to yourself that you bet you could write it, and maybe even better? As Jacob Bonner, past best-selling author with no hope to write another best-seller, teaches his writing class, he gets an opportunity to make his name known. The only problem is that his plot comes from a dead man. Sound simple? Could have been, but threatening notes start to arrive that will expose him as a fraud. His wife is scared. He is baffled. While figuring a way out of this mess, he gets the biggest surprise of his life! And, so will you!

The Plot is a thriller that follows a writer named Jake, who after the dwindling sales of his first and second novels is desperate to be known for something more successful. While teaching at a low-residency MFA program in Vermont, Jake meets Evan Parker, a student who swears he has the plot for the next best-selling phenomenon. A few years later and struggling even more than when he was teaching, Jake discovers that Evan has died and that his book with the ironclad plot has possibly died with him. Never once asking where Evan came up with his ideas, Jake decides to write the book himself, justifying his actions by convincing himself that some stories are allowed to be borrowed in order to be told. And Evan was right, the book becomes a bestseller and all of Jake's fantasies of becoming a famous, well-respected author come true. That is, until Jake starts to receive messages from an anonymous person saying that Jake plagiarized the story and threatening to reveal the truth to the world. Despite the fact that Jake is not a particularly likable character, I couldn't help but be invested in him and his story, if only because Jake is the vehicle through which the author reveals what is actually going on.

Although this is a thriller, the first three quarters of the book are not particularly fast-paced. However, this is not a bad thing. The author's pacing lures the reader into a false sense of security, slowly building up the drama until the final section of the book where all of the details are revealed. While I did guess some of the twists and red flags, (or at some points had sneaking suspicions), I was still focused on the plot and dreaded what could happen to Jake once all the pieces come together. I loved the way that the author ended the book (no spoilers) and the break from the arc of a traditional storyline. This is a well-thought out and interesting thriller that will keep readers guessing and pages turning.

I was eager to read The Plot as I loved the mini-series The Undoing, but hadn't read You Should Have Known, the book the series was based upon, by this same author Jean Korelitz. Thanks to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

The beginning of The Plot started slow for me, as the readers are introduced to Jake Bonner, an author who found success with a first novel, but unable to capture the magic for any further writing attempts, as he teaches writing and hears about an amazing plot imagined by one of his students. The book goes on to describe his dilemma--does he steal the plot as his own to develop? As I hit the middle of the book where Jake deals with the fallout from his decision, I felt the story gained momentum and I couldn't put it down! I did catch many clues the author left in describing character actions and motivations to see where The Plot was headed, and although I was correct and not surprised by the twists, I wanted to keep reading to see exactly how it all played out. I loved that the book ended with a definite conclusion, but slightly disappointed about the outcome (felt similarly about Gone Girl ending). I could definitely see this becoming another mini-series AND I will definitely watch!

Jacob Finch Bonner has one aspiration: become a famous author with a bestseller. He is working as a mentor for a writing program after his first published work never really took off. When one of his students shares his idea for one of the most fascinating plots Bonner has ever heard, he never forgets it. When he finds out that the student has died, he figures he might as well borrow his book idea. Fast forward a bit and Bonner is a famous author with his book topping all of the charts. However, he has started receiving hate mail. Someone knows he’s a fraud and Jacob becomes terrified of being exposed.

So this novel has a really slow start. I almost found myself thinking why do I care about all this? But hang in there. It picks up in the second half and I binged it! I loved the writing style, it was almost methodical in its approach in character and story building. The author also blends in portions of Jacob’s book called Crib, so you have a plot within a plot (how inception like). It kept the story even more interesting as I loved the Crib excerpts. I figured out the ‘who’ early on but I was still so involved in finding out if Jacob got caught that I didn’t care (and that is a sign of some good writing)!

WOW. Buckle up for this dark, twisty story that will have you turning the pages and sucked in from the beginning. The execution of this was spot-on and engaging.

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons." (RuPaul)

You don't always have to stay within the lines. If the box has your name on it, do you own each one separately? Better yet, do you actually have the rights to all the various hues contained within? Well, does anyone?

A perplexing thought in regard to what is ours in life. Do we have complete ownership of our thoughts or do we loosely leave them along the wayside in conversations and discussions where they can be snatched up and pocketed by others?

Jacob "Jake" Finch Bonner is facing such a dilemma. Jake is teaching Creative Writing at the Ripley Symposia in northern Vermont. His claim to fame is a one-hit-wonder novel from some time back. As the years pass by, so do the accolades.

Standing in his doorway is one of his students, Evan Parker. Evan is filled with himself and filled with an abrassive personality. He claims to have the all and end-all plot for a bestseller. Jake leans in, but he's met with "Anyone can write" by the rude Evan. And yet Evan's attempts at writing are limited, but, oh, how Jake remembers the crusty elements of his idea. Evan never completes the assignment.

Years later, Jake has presented a new bestseller entitled Crib. He's sought after for book tours and Steven Spielberg has obtained the movie rights. Although every word is his........"ideas" may be counted on like low hanging fruit. Perhaps like Eve's encounter with the ol' apple.

And as of late, Jake begins to receive emails from a mysterious "Talented Tom" accusing him of thievery. Jake is hesitant, but he informs his publisher and agent. Jean Hanff Korelitz provides us with an interesting dialogue in regard to literary property. Both legal and the publisher seem to scoff at the assertions. Jake is not so sure.

The Plot will take us on a road trip initiated by Jake in the hope of revealing the accuser. Prepare yourself for a bit of dryness in the opening chapters which convey a bit of stiffness surrounding the publishing world and novels in progress. It's this road trip that will reveal Jake's inner turmoil over his good name and reputation as a writer. "Talented Tom" will be sucking all the oxygen out of the room from here on out. We'll be brainstorming along with Jake.

Jean Hanff Korelitz does a fine job of showcasing her main character of Jake and all the backstories involved. The storyline is a clever one and the tension heightens all the way to the finale. Even if you see it coming, you'll just sit back and absorb all the craziness of it. Seriously, it wouldn't be too far-fetched if the real Steven Spielberg would pick this one up. I'm smelling the popcorn already.

I received a copy of The Plot through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Celadon Books and to Jean Hanff Korelitz for the opportunity.

This book took me a hot minute to get into. The first third of this book is inside literary baseball. It’s about a writer’s life with all the external joy and self-imposed tragedy. It almost reads like an entirely different book from the rest. I found this section extremely over-written and the excessive use of exclamation points alarming.

BUT …..

If you can get through the setup (what others call the slow-burn) then you will enjoy a smart, tight suspenseful story packed with a lot of quick turning pages.

Jacob “Finch” Bonner is barely a one-hit wonder. He got a blurb about his first book in the new and noteworthy section in the Times. His second book of short stories is a dud. Seriously, why follow up a book with short stories?? He does what any failure does, teach (I kid! I teach at a college). Jacob teaches at a low-rent MFA program and his Malibu Ken turned Gillian Flynn student just pitched him “the plot” of a winning novel. Cut to 3 years later and Jacob thinks what happened to “the plot?” His Google sleuthing yields an obituary for Malibu Ken, RIP. Jacob proceeds to write his version of “the plot,” aka Crib, and becomes an overnight sensation. Months into his success, he gets an email from “Talented Tom” a la I Know What You Did Last Summer. This sets Jacob on a cat and mouse chase to find out who Tom is before he is exposed.

In between the chapters of the novel you will find excerpts of Crib. If you like the novel within a novel format you will enjoy this one. As you turn the pages you discover what “the plot” is through Crib and Jacob’s (now turned private eye?) investigation.

I found the twist and mystery fairly easy to solve but I still really enjoyed the story because the writing (once you get past the first third) really is solid and engaging.

If you prefer mystery more so than thriller you should definitely add this to your TBR stack.

Anybody can be a writer, right? All you need is a really great plot. And if you can't come up with one of your own, maybe you can...er...borrow one? Jacob Finch Bonner, once considered a promising young author, has done just that and hit the jackpot--#1 best seller, book tours, movie deal with Stephen Spielberg, beautiful young wife. But he's not completely happy with this fame and glory because he fears the truth will be revealed and it will all come crashing down around him.

This is a slow burner of a story with a terrific twist ending. Along the way, the book delves into the moral issues that come up in writing and publishing--mainly, who owns an original idea, a storyline? The title and the choice of cover art are perfect for this novel with all the different permutations of that word.

I have now read two of Korelitz's novels and have signed copies of two others on my bookshelf to be read, obtained at St Mary's College's National Literary Festival, October, 2019, where she was one of several authors who were interviewed. If anyone can come up with an original plot line, it's Jean Hanff Korelitz!

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

This book had such an intriguing plot (🤣) and I absolutely loved the book within a book concept!

I found the first bit of the book to be a bit slow but once it picked up, I completely devoured it in a day!

Although I did predict a bit of the ending, I was still so captivated and I couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out!

It was such a fun, clever and refreshing take on a thriller that I recommend everyone check out!

Okay, so here’s the deal. I figured out the plot about 40% into the book. Still, I enjoyed the narrative and the full story! I read this in one day, so that tells you it is a mind grabber.

This book was a wild ride. The tension starts building almost immediately and continues until the very end. I actually figured out was what going on after a couple of pages into Chapter 29, which is 90% into the book. The author did a great job of stringing me along, so much so, that at times, I couldn’t bear to read it. I was really fearful for what might come next, but I just couldn’t put it down. Definitely a great read. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review.

Wow! That was some absolute pulse-pounding, heart-in-your-throat suspense! I literally could not put it down once I hit the second half of the book. I recently read Ms. Korelitz's novel You Should Have Known and I admit I was expecting something similar in The Plot, but I found this to be quite a departure from You Should Have Known.

Jacob Finch Bonner (he added the Finch himself and I'm sure you can guess the source) is a writer who had a moderately successful first novel and has struggled to match that success ever since. As the novel opens, he is leading a workshop at a MFA program, which is where he meets Evan Parker. Evan is an arrogant man who acts like he is far too good to participate in the workshop, but he does finally sit down with Jacob and describe the plot of his novel. Jacob recognizes immediately that Evan's story is destined be a wildly successful bestseller. In fact, over the next two years Jacob watches for this book to be released but it never shows up. Then Jacob learns that Evan died soon after the workshop, which means that the amazingly original plot idea he shared with Jacob will never be published. Jacob then decides to write the novel himself, telling himself that it would be wrong to deprive the world of such an outstanding story, and that it's not stealing since Evan is dead, and writers borrow from other works all the time - basically he tells himself whatever he can to justify it to himself even as he knows deep down that it's wrong. The book does become a blockbuster bestseller. Jacob is enjoying the kind of success he always dreamed of, even as he continues to harbor secret shame and doubt about the way he came up with the idea, until he begins receiving threats via social media. Someone out there knows that this is not Jacob's story and is threatening to blow the secret wide open.

I was very anxious to find out what the amazing plot twist was in the novel within a novel, and thankfully the author inserted chapters from the novel within a novel (called Crib) to show the reader exactly that. I loved the inside glimpse (fictional though it was) into the life and mind of a successful writer. The book seemed to start a little slowly but that was necessary in order to give enough background on Jacob to understand why he would do what he did. The suspense steadily built up to a fever pitch until I really could not put it down.

The Plot is a page-turning thriller about a struggling novelist who "steals" the remarkable plot to a novel from one of his MFA students after said student passes away. The book becomes a best selling hit, but the author's life begins to spiral as he receives threatening messages accusing him of being a thief.

Jean Hanff Korelitz, who I am familiar with from You Should Have Known and it's HBO adaptation The Undoing, weaves together the mystery plot and the publishing world elements of the story deftly. I expect we'll be seeing this novel adapted to the small screen soon, as The Plot's plot feels ready made for an HBO mini-series, and Korelitz's work was successfully adapted for the network last year.

While this may not be the next Great American Novel, there is enough meat on the bones to support the thriller plot line and make this one of my favorite books in the genre that I've read in the last few years. I predicted the "twist" with about 30% of the book left to read, but Korelitz's writing and some surprises didn't ruin the home stretch of this book for me.

This comes out at a perfect time, as Covid vaccinations and good weather will have people ready for a vacation, and this is the perfect beach/plane read for those in the need.

Jacob Finch Bonner is a novelist with one novel that made a big splash, the second not as good and the next two were losses. So Jacob turns to teaching in a MFA program for creative writing. One of his students tells him the outline of a story of a woman and her daughter that will be a bestseller and will be turned into a movie by one of the outstanding producers. This student, Evan Parker is arrogant and boastful so no one really believes him until a couple of years later Jake remembers and starts looking for this book. Jake discovers that Evan has died without ever writing the book and Jake knows this plot is too good and decides to tackle writing again where he gets the bestseller with movie options by outstanding producers. But then……
Jean Hanff Korelitz writes an amazing plot in The Plot with surprising twists throughout. The Plot is a thriller and a page turner. Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for a preview copy of this novel.
#Netgalley #CeladonBooks

This book had its ups and its downs.
It started out so slow and had so many unneeded details, especially in the "other book". I found myself skimming often and even skipping while sections of the "other" book. Even with me doing that I never felt I missed a thing.
The ending made up for this book and is why I gave it three stars. I didn't see the ending coming and the last quarter of the book did pick up in pace.
Thank you netgalley for giving me this book for my honest opinion.

I love novels about writers/writing, so this was right up my alley. I liked the idea (a struggling novelist takes over his writing student's plot idea after the student dies) and the elements of mystery. I guessed a main piece of the ending very early! I was still curious to see if I was right, though. I do think some of the protagonist's anxiety was unfounded - and he even says at one point that the people in life/business would still stand behind him if they knew the truth....so I didn't get some of the tension that was supposed to be there. I think it asks ethical questions about who gets to tell what story.