This book is hard to describe. It is a book about a fiction author who finally has a monumental best-seller known for its surprising plot twist only to be accused of stealing the story from someone else. The veiled threats keep coming and finally he decides he has to investigate and see if he can find out who is doing this to him. He does find out who it is and then there is a plot twist in his story.......well I won't go any further and give anything away. You really need to read this book for yourself.

At the risk of sounding cliché, I have to tell you THE PLOT (you guessed it….) is perfectly plotted. The creeping dread; the steady sense of foreboding; these loom heavy and make for a compulsively readable slow-burn thriller.

Jacob Finch Bonner is an aspiring author who showed promise with his first novel. Lackluster books following his debut left him desperate for a best-seller to breathe life into his languishing career. During his tenure as a professor, Bonner stumbles upon a student’s idea for a truly sensational plot. When published, the story is destined to be an instant best-seller. Bonner is faced with a series of small but significant decisions that will alter the course of his life. What lengths will he go to save his withering career?

The novel is uniquely structured as a book within a book which added to the layers of the mystery. I also found the insight into the publishing industry and the behind the scenes of the writing life so captivating. While The Plot is a work of fiction, it adds to the very real (and important!) conversation of who can tell what stories and at what cost.

RATING: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up)

A big thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for an electronic advanced copy and Macmillan audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Kirby Heyborne!

#ThePlot #JeanHanffKorelitz #NetGalley

I don't know what I can say about this book that has not already been said! It is amazing!! It starts out slow and just keeps building. The fact that it is a story within a story makes it even more interesting. I figured out early who the culprit was in the first reveal, but I didn't get the last one until close to the end. It is an unusual story in many ways and I enjoyed the information about writing. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible ARC for my honest opinion.

“The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.”

This HOT May release is described as a propulsive read and I’m here to warn reader friends that this is a sloooooow burn. So slow that I wanted to skip to the end multiple times or just simply move on. The story really doesn’t pick up until about 45% through and that’s quite an investment for any reader. After the story picks up I was anxious to see how it all came together but unfortunately I had it all figured out. 🤷🏼‍♀️ This happened to me with the authors previous book ( You Should Have Known ) which many of you know as The Undoing tv series.

The references to James Frey and Oprah did make me chuckle, taking me back to my book club days and our unforgettable and heated discussion of A Million Little Pieces days after the truth came out. The timing of that was impeccable 😆.

If you’re looking for a story that perhaps has a similar enticing plot 😉 then be sure to check out my 2018 favorite - Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne.

When I first read the synopsis of The Plot, I was immediately intrigued. The concept of a washed up writer struggling to finish something that people would want to read (and failing) using the unforgettable plot a former—and now deceased—student shared with him is so interesting.

The beginning was engaging, and I think the set up built up this anticipation for the reader to wonder what this unforgettable and never-before-done plot was. I had many guesses, but none of mine were right so I was surprised when it was revealed. There was another plot twist that I did predict, but it wasn’t that much of a bummer because I was shocked by the other one. Jacob as a character was hard to root for because of his need to explain his actions and defend himself to the end. I wish he hadn’t been so righteous, but maybe that was the point the author was trying to make.

My favorite part of the book was the commentary on the literary world behind the scenes. As a reader and reviewer, I don’t really think too much of what goes on in the process of publishing besides the writing and the editing. Jacob has to attend many marketing meetings and the book tours and other things other than the actual writing and I thought that was all super interesting.

Overall, if you’re looking for an academic-type thriller with an interesting plot twist, The Plot would be a solid read.

Oh my! Now that was an ending!

Jacob Bonner is a published author. His first book created a stir and he was labeled “one to watch”. His second book lacked the magic of the first one and he faded into obscurity. He took a job as a teacher at a school offering a writers symposium. He struggles to find inspiration for another book. At a mentoring session with an extremely arrogant student, he hears of a unique plot. Since it comes from his student, he waits to see it published. After several years he decides to check on the student. Did he fail to get the story written? Did he get rejected by publishers? Jacob can’t let go.

When he learns the student died without producing a manuscript, he faces a dilemma. Should he move on or could he take the basic plot and turn it into a bestseller?

This book examines intellectual theft, lying, and guilt by omission. Jacob has to wrestle with whether a writer can use another writer’s plot in his own work. Will readers see that the work is not his? Where is the line between inspiration and theft? This story is completely compelling. It seems to move predictably but at the point you are prepared for the ending, the author manages to pull the rug out from under you. The ending is unforeseen and surprising. As you finish the final page you will find yourself needing a minute to gather the pieces of your blown mind.

All Jake Bonner has ever wanted is to become a writer. And he accomplishes that dream, to much critical acclaim, at an impressively young age. But when the next book is a flop, and the third doesn’t materialize, he eventually finds himself teaching writing at a third-rate MFA program in the middle of nowhere. His most insufferably arrogant student shares with Jake – and only Jake – his idea for a “sure thing” - a novel with a plot so compelling that it will undoubtedly sell millions of copies and make its author an overnight success. But when the student later dies without ever publishing his novel, only Jake is left knowing about the brilliant, unwritten plot. And surely someone needs to tell this story, right?

Jake’s character is that of a shallow and somewhat narcissistic artist. His entire personality and ego are tied up in the idea of being a writer – not just the idea of writing, which seems to be the least important part to him – above all he is obsessed with all the trappings of being “writerly” and the acclaim of being a successful author. But the constant anxiety he feels over “stealing” the plot, in spite of writing the book himself, serves to humanize him. The early parts of the book are slower, taking us through Jacob’s unsuccessful career and the events that lead up to him writing the book, and then jumps into his successful life, but the suspense starts to kick in once he gets the first anonymous message: someone knows that he stole his story.

I’ll be honest, this isn’t an edge-of-your-seat suspense novel the whole way through, but it was still very compelling and entertaining to watch the mystery unfold. I saw the biggest twists coming, but still really enjoyed the ride, and somehow, the ending still managed to be unexpected.

The Plot...is about a plot. One that is too good no to be written. The Plot was told to Jacob Finch Bonner by an obnoxious writing student. Jacob is very hard to like. He has disdain for pretty much everyone. But especially his students. Most especially for Evan Parker, the man with the plot. A man so easy to dislike.

Years later, having never written anything near as good as his first novel, Jacob goes in search of the plot. It seems that he should have heard of this book by now, because it really was an awesome plot. But...nothing. When he decides to write the book himself, he finally gets that blockbuster success he has always wanted. But someone knows what he did.

The book has excerpts from The Crib (book with said plot) which made me really want to read The Crib! While the whole thing started off a bit slow for me-I hated Jacob and I've heard stories like this before-it eventually took off for me. I think that part of my disconnect in the beginning was the fact that I went back and forth between the novel and the audiobook. Once I got into the plot and characters a little more I easily went back and forth between the two with no problems.

And I loved the ending. Creepy and effective.

Jean Haniff Korelitz created some characters to cheer for and against and created a twisted tale about who really owns a story.

Special thanks to Jean Haniff Korelitz, Netgalley, and Celadon Books for the ARC for me to review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

This is a fantastically fun read. I loved just about everything about it. The "plot" in question here is multilayered and VERY meta. It's a story within a story within a story. The construct raises many questions, such as where do we get our ideas? And, what constitutes plagiarism and theft of intellectual property and what does not? And, how do we understand the stories we tell? It also delves into the world of a writer in a serious yet humorous way.

The one small regret I had was that the "twist" in the outer frame of the story (the main "plot," so to speak) was too clearly spelled out. I saw it coming too clearly. But then I wondered if that transparency was our author playing with her readers, too. The book hinges on the big twist--the amazing story idea that our writer "steals" (maybe) that is a sure thing (as though there is ever such a thing!). So could Korelitz have been having a little fun when making her twist one that was a bit too obvious?

Either way, I couldn't stop reading this. I enjoyed the voice, the layered narrative, the metatextual approach, and even the final twist, even if I did see it a mile away. Highly recommend!

While this thriller started off a little slowly for what I was expecting, it is absolutely worth sticking it out. The descriptions on being an author/writer alone are enough to make most readers become pretty invested. I definitely recommend checking out this thriller this summer!

The Plot is a slow burn suspense that I enjoyed! Jake is an author that has had one somewhat successful release but after that hasn't been able to continue or grow his success. He takes a job teaching writing at a small college in Vermont and meets Evan, an unlikeable student, who swears he has the plot for next blockbuster novel. Evan won't share the idea in class, only turns in a few pages for review that are not super impressive, but then shares the plot with Jake during a conference - and Jake knows he's right. It's a sure thing. Fast forward a few more unsuccessful years for Jake and he learns Evan has died, only shortly after taking that class, and it appears he never wrote the book. So Jake does, using Evan's plot. And what a success it was. We're talking Oprah Book Club and a Spielberg movie signed.

And that is when we really get going. He starts getting harassed by email that he is a thief and it gets much more interesting. I did figure out the big twist pretty early on but I get the sense that the author intended that. There is a bonus whammy in here that the book that is written from Evan's plot is intertwined in the story - so there are a few times I had to take a breath to get straight which story line was the "story" and which was the "novel."

I enjoyed hearing more about Jake as a struggling and then successful author, the writing process, his thought process about writing, how he thought about working completely solo, his publishing team, and everything involved in his work. He was a fairly likable character to me that made some bad decisions. There are also quite a few literary references dropped in that you may catch depending on your reading history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advance copy of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz in exchange for my honest review. The Plot will be available on May 11, 2021.

4🌟 If you’re looking for a suspenseful read that you can’t put down you need to read The Plot!

The story follows Jake, an unsuccessful author who is teaching a writing course. One of his overly confident and arrogant students claims to have the absolute best plot for a book. Jake doesn’t believe this student until he finally hears bits and pieces of the story himself.

Years later, as Jake is struggling to write his own novel, he wonders if his pompous student ever wrote the extraordinary plot. It’s a plot to remember that would be on the New York Times Bestseller list and picked up for film rights. Jake discovers that his student died and the book was never published. Jake begins to remember the details and writes the story on his own - it’s a huge success! Jake is basking in the success of his novel when he starts receiving cryptic messages from someone saying he stole the plot and threatening to expose Jake.

Although I guessed the twist of the book early on, it was still an excellent read with plenty of unexpected “wow” moments. It was hard to get into the book at first but after the first few chapters I couldn’t put this one down!

Thank you Celadon Books & NetGalley for the advanced copy. The Plot comes out May 11!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. I finished this book in two days. I would have finished it in one day if it weren't for life's inconveniences, such as work and other responsibilities. I have read other reviews that say the reader felt the book started slowly. I didn't feel that way at all. I knew it was building to something really great - and it did. Jake is a 37 year old writer of one novel that garnered critical acclaim andone that was not as well-received. He teaches writing (most seriously doubt if writing CAN be taught) in a program at a small liberal arts college in Vermont. One of his students is Evan Parker, and absolute blowhard of a young man, who claims to have an absolute bestseller of a plot for his book. Without giving too much away, I'll say that Evan does indeed have a great plot for a novel and the reader of The Plot gets to enjoy it also. It was probably the best novel-in-a-novel book I've read. I can't say enough about The Plot. It was so different than other books that I've read, and I read dozens of books a year. The writing was so quick paced that I felt as if I were on the edge of my seat several times. The twist at the end was a cut above so many other books - in which the reader knows what is going to happen but reads anyway just to watch it all fall out. I'd recommend The Plot to readers of all genres. It has something for everyone - a great story, fully fleshed out characters and a twist that no one will see coming.

I've enjoyed this author's previous books so I was excited to get an ARC of The Plot and it didn't disappoint. While the beginning is a bit slow, it kept my interest and I enjoyed the glimpse into the writing and publishing world. There were some brave choices by the author. The cat and mouse game between the writer and his internet troll/stalker felt, at times, a little like the game the author is playing with the reader. Aside from the fun and devious "plot" of the book, I found the ponderings of the protagonist interesting as he debates the ethics of appropriation to justify his actions. As society increasingly looks for stories told by authors with lived experience of the subject matter, in their own voices, this book asks who really owns a story?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

This book works as a suspenseful mystery, but it also provides interesting insight into the experience of writing and becoming successful (or not). I started to have an idea about what was going on, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is a no for me.

I genuinely do not understand why this book is getting such high reviews. I found it to be very predictable, boring, and underwhelming.

Summary
Jacob Finch Bonner is an on-the-way-out writer who teaches a summer crash course on fiction writing at an "anyone can get in if they pay" university. Once known as an up-and-comer for his debut novel, he has not produced anything noteworthy in a long time.

During a summer session, he has an arrogant student named Evan Parker who is convinced he had the plot to the next Great American Novel. Jake manipulates Evan into telling him the plot and is wowed that is has potential to be a great novel, but doesn't necessarily lead Evan to believe it.

Fast forward a few years and Jake finds himself working at the front desk of a writer's retreat hotel. A guest at the hotel reminds him of Evan, so Jake decides to investigate what happened to Evan and his Great American Novel and discovers that Evan has dies. Then he decides that since Evan Parker's book has not been published, Jake will use the plot and write it instead.

The book becomes and instant best seller and everybody loves it and raves about it and finds it shocking and amazing. Jake goes on a tour for the book where he meets and quickly starts a relationship with Anna, who becomes entwined in his life. During his tour, Jake starts to receive anonymous emails from someone who states that he knows Jake is a fraud and stole the plot from Evan's book and threatens to expose him.

The rest of the novel is Jake trying to figure out who is the anonymous email sender is.

Thoughts
This book was SO predictable and overall boring. I guessed the twist almost immediately and was correct. Jake is not a likeable character, and I had a hard time caring about him or anything about his journey.

The excerpts from the novel Jake wrote were not impressive and the twist in that book wasn't that shocking. I wasn't sold on the amazing story of the plot at all.

Additionally, the author's use of incessant parentheses drove me bananas!

I will not be recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has got to be the best one I've read that deals with the process of writing, authors and the publishing industry. Although I'm not an aspiring writer, I do free-lance work for a company and have been told too many times to count that I should write a book. As if! Although the main character often says anybody can be a writer, I have read or attempted to read too many books that prove the opposite.

Jacob "Jake" Finch Bonner is a writer who met with success by making the "New and Noteworthy" column of the New York Times with his first novel. Unfortunately, his second and third attempts were not as successful so he turned to teaching at a third-rate MFA program. One of his students, Evan Parker, an arrogant jerk, has a self-proclaimed "sure thing" whose plot he shares with Jake. Jake agrees it's a certain hit. As time passes but the book fails to be published, a curious Jake finds out that Evan has died and has left the door open for Jake to appropriate the plot. Life for Jake changes on a dime. His book is everything he thought it would be: number one on the NYT best seller list and movie rights optioned with an A-list director. Life couldn't be better. That is until he receives an e-mail saying he is a thief. The attacks continue to be more specific and more public and set Jake on the path of discovering who is behind these attacks.

This is a great suspense thriller. The pacing is good, the story original and the insights into writers and writing are enlightening. I did figure out early on who was behind the attacks, but how the story unfolded kept me reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for an Advance Reader's Copy. The publication date is May 11, 2021.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to preview The Plot. Having not read anything by Jean Hanff Korelitz in the past, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't realize I'd already watched TV shows and movies based on her previous works. I will absolutely be seeking out her works in the future.

The Plot was an unpredictable, twisty thrill ride that (mostly) kept me guessing until the final pages. I won't give anything away here because I wouldn't want to taint anyone's experience of this book. I highly recommend it to readers that like to be kept on their toes.

This is the story of a writer who steals a story from a dead student and then gets caught by someone sending him messages. The book has taken off big and the writer ignores the messages. He goes on a quest to find more about the dead student, to see if he can identify who is sending the messages.

I'm a sucker for stories about writers. Possibly because I secretly want to be one. (Sigh!) So when I read the premise for this novel,  I knew I had to read it.  Jake Bonner, washed-out writer, steals the perfect plot from one of his students at an MFA program.  This story then becomes an instant bestseller,  propelling Jake into instant stardom. It's a dream come true,  until Jake receives an email from someone accusing him of theft.  Who could it be since his student passed away shortly after telling Jake about his sure-thing plot? What comes next is a psychological decent into the mind of someone whose been caught and has everything to lose. This novel is a slow burn into a full on climatic blaze that will make you think twice about stealing anyone's story.