DNF @ 47%. I saw so many glowing reviews of this book and was very excited to read it, but it just didn't work for me. The beginning was so slow and felt like a chore to get through. I found myself really annoyed about how often this super amazing plot is mentioned, without actually finding out what it is. I also guessed right away who the internet "troll" who accuses the main character of plagiarism was. I stopped reading properly at around 47%, but then skimmed through towards the end so I could see if my prediction was correct. It was. And that plot that kept being mentioned as revolutionary? VERY disappointing. Honestly, I thought it sounded similar to an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

Wow! Such an impressive book is questioning how demanding job to be a writer and how much sacrifices you may make or how far you go to create your dream work. A thought provoking approach to be writer and be part of literature industry.

I have to admit: this book’s plot so similar David Bell’s” kill your darlings”I recently finished. At that book a literature professor plagiarized his missing student’s thesis and finds himself at the police investigation because his book he’s inspired by the thesis based on real murder.

There are slight differences about “the plot”s story: Jake is struggling author and also advisor at a summer college writing program. That’s how he met Evan Parker, acting like pretentious douchebag and rejects Jake’s help because that narcissistic guy already found the way to be a bestselling author: he has a brilliant plot idea which is hundred percent guaranteed to be a blockbuster and he spills the bean about the plot line during their conversation. Jake is surely pissed off as he works too hard but nothing creative enough comes out of his mind, a lucky bastard already won the jackpot.

As Jake turns back his downward spiral of self- hatred, lack of creativity, he finds out Evan Parker never published his book he mentioned him. He passed away without leaving any book behind which gives Jack free pass to use the idea at the most creative way to write his masterpiece.

If we compare the both books, this one starts like slow burn, informing us the background of Jake: tax attorney father, high school guidance counselor’s son, has mediocre-at best at PSAT score on the verbal side, raised in Long Island. Even though his math skills were better than verbal ones he insisted to be a powerful author when his father objected him because only Sidney Sheldon can make decent money from writing and he’s not close to be Mr. Sheldon.

We keep reading Jake’s struggles to live in NYC, chasing his dream, working at his side hustles which are odd jobs but he has to earn his life.

We also read great criticism about why people choose to be a writer.

After the slow burn character analyzing parts later, we witness how Jake’s life has changed after he finished his book. He found the fame, success, love but also faced with fears, guilt, resentment.

He meets with his wife and it seems like finally he reaches his entire goals in his life till one day an anonymous email blames him to steal the idea which pushes him dig deeper about the dark past of Evan Parker who presumed to be death from drug overdose.

The big difference of this book’s story with “Kill your darlings “, Jake didn’t stake his claim on finished manuscript , he took the idea but he shaped the entire development and conclusion by himself. And the author could not come back from the death to sue him about copyrights.
And the second big difference is this book is about telling us how painful and compelling job to be writer even though you work as hard as you can, there is a chance you never fulfill your dreams and you’re doomed to fail.

Second half of the book is more exhilarating, filled with high tension, capturing your entire focus and the realistic approach of the author telling how far you go to pursue your writing dreams was remarkably told.

Jake was truly easy to connect and as a writer I truly heard him, felt for him.

Overall: it’s solid, well written, interesting, well developed and satisfyingly concluded novel which earned my four stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Jake is a teacher and a novelist with one successful book under his belt. He has struggled for years to produce a second good book. One day a student of Jake’s, Evan, explains a brilliant idea for a new novel that he wants to write. Evan then suddenly disappears before publishing his novel. What should Jake do? Evan’s novel idea is a sure thing big hit. If Evan can’t use the idea, can Jake take it as his own to revitalize his career?

This is my first Jean Hanff Korelitz book and it was a good read. It was a bit slow for me in the beginning but picked up by the half way mark and had a good solid ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Thank you #netgalley, #celdonbooks, #Macmillanpublishing for the ARC copy of The Plot. I loved this book! Jacob “Finch” Bonner is teaching creative writing at Ripley College. His student Evan Parker shares the plot for a novel he is writing. After Evan’s death, Jacob publishes the best-selling novel Crib based on Evan’s plot. What ensues is a anonymous cyber harassment campaign accusing him of stealing the plot. I did not see that ending coming!

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.5/5 stars

I have to say that the reason I needed this book was because of..the plot. Jacob was once a promising young writer, but his inability to follow up his acclaimed debut novel has forced him to become a teacher at a third-rate MFA program. When he meets Evan Parker, an arrogant student claiming to have a plot so good that it is bound to be a blockbuster novel, Jacob dismisses him. Until he hears the plot. He resigns himself to the fact that his student will reach the level of success that he has always wished for. When years pass, Jacob realizes Evan never released his novel. When he finds out his former student died, Jacob decides it wouldn’t hurt anyone to steal the plot. His dreams come true and he has fame, fortune, respect..and emails from an unknown sender saying “You are a thief.”

The Plot took a few chapters to really get started, but once it did, it became a fast-paced, fun, and expertly plotted thrill ride. I could not put it down and that ending was everything I wanted it to be. This is an all-around well-written novel. Korelitz starts the book as a slow-burn thriller and then switches gears to a quick and twisty read with clever and well-plotted twists you never see coming. I loved the commentary on the literary world and just the meta vibe in general. Korelitz puts a twist on the classic mystery, making The Plot an entertaining psychological thriller that will be an excellent summer read. This is a thriller I’ll be recommending to everyone this summer.

Fans of Peter Swanson and Alex Michaelides will enjoy this book when it releases on 5/11/22!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful book by this author.Picked it up to read a few pages wound up reading late into the night.Twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end.Will be recommending #netgalley#celasdonbooks

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

I really did enjoy this book overall. I do think the first 2/3rds are very slow. This book could have been a bit shorter, which is something I almost never say. There is not much happening for the most of the book. HOWEVER, when the plot starts to pick up in that last 30%, boy does it pick up. There was twist after twist towards the end. I did see some of the twists coming, but I still think they were amazing twists, and the ending is where it really knocked it out of the park for me. I didn't see that one coming at all. I have only been reading mystery/thriller books for about a year, but I haven't seen an ending quite like that one, or a plot.

“The Plot” is clever, savvy, and smart.
Stepping into Jean Hanff Korelitz’s literary world,
was an ‘honest-to-goodness’ crazy fun thrilling ride.

It’s not completely without flaws....but there are moments of brilliance that make up for them.

I enjoyed the entire exploration about people who write books....
their passions, urgency, arrogance, insecurities, drive, goals.... etc.

It was interesting to think about creative writing MFA programs....and why some writers bond with other writers, and why some never will.

Class was underway at Ripley Symposia’s first-year prose workshop.
Parker speaks out...
“I just care about the story. Either it’s a good plot or it isn’t. And if it’s not a good plot, the best writing isn’t going to help. And if it is, the worst writing isn’t going to hurt it”.

Jake (the teacher), responds:
“Do you have a plot in mind?”
“I do, said Parker, with now overflowing hostility. I prefer not to discuss it. He looked around. In this setting”.
“I suppose, Jake said, that what we need to know, then, is how I— how this class— can best help you improve as a writer”.
“Oh, said Evan Parker, I’m not really looking to improve. I am a very good writer, and my novel is well on track. And actually, if I’m being honest about it, I’m not even sure writing can even be taught. I mean, even by the best teacher”.
“Well, I’d obviously disagree with that, he said trying for a laugh”.
“I certainly hope so! Said the man from Cape Cod”.
“I’m curious, said the woman to Jake’s right, who was writing a fictionalized memoir about her childhood in suburban Cleveland, why would you come to an MFA program if you don’t think writing can be taught? Like why not just write your book on your own?”
Well—Parker shrugged—“I’m not ‘against’ this kind of thing, obviously. The jury is still out on whether it works, that’s all. I’m already writing my book, and I know how good it is. But I figured, even if the program itself doesn’t actually help me, I wouldn’t say no to the degree”.

Minutes went by—none of the students spoke—
Jake said, “I’m glad to hear you’re well along on your project, and I hope we can be a resource for you, and I support system”.

From the start, I enjoyed the dialogue, the mysteriously interesting characters.... the way they presented themselves versus their inner opposite selves.
...A thriller develops.
...A writer dies.
...A novel is stollen...
...Plagiarism is revealed
but...
not before walking down many different paths of possibilities as to why and by who....

Fabulous beginning.
Exceptional ending!
Parts of middle section, is where I started to drift off.
I felt the book might have benefited with some tighter editing.
But ‘overall’ .... the greatness far out weighed the mediocrities.

“This story will be read by everybody. It will make a fortune. It will be made into a movie, probably by somebody really important, like an A-list director. It will get all of the brass rings, you know what I mean?”

“Anything can fail. In the book world? Anything”.

Terrific book choice for fiction readers, literary readers, and mystery thriller readers.

I enjoy 75% of it a lot!!
4 strong stars.

This book pulled me in from the beginning because I just had to know where The Plot (and the plot) was going. It took me longer to put the pieces together then it normally does with suspense books. A solid read!

Well this was a good read. This is my first by this author and had such a great premise. Great read. Thanks for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read an advanced digital copy of this novel courtesy on the publisher through NetGalley. Review available on goodreads.

I wish that the plot of this book was as twisty and shocking as the plot of the book it was about. I found it to be very vanilla, incredibly predictable, and ultimately an easily forgettable book.

Jake…oh Jake…what made you think stealing a story was a good idea? What made you think you would never get caught? What made you think you could ever really fully enjoy your success?

Jake is a struggling author who has 1 good and 2 not so good books under his belt as this book opens. He has had to pick up odd jobs to afford to continue to live in New York. One of his side hustles is as an advisor at a summer college writing program which touts itself as the program that can turn anyone into an author. While there, Jake meets an unlikely and unlikable author to-be named Evan Parker (or Parker Evan). He is convinced that his idea for a book, his plot is 100% success guaranteed and so he hold his plot close to his chest. In a rare turn of events, he shares his plot with Jake during one of their one-on-one sessions. Jake agrees that the plot is a guaranteed blockbuster, and is pretty miffed that such a jerky kid is the one that holds the idea.

Years later, Jake is still struggling as an author, and becoming quite desperate for some measure of success. As he thinks back upon his job as a summer advisor, he remembers his interactions with Evan and wonders what happened with that great idea for a book. Eventually Jake talks himself out of the guilt of stealing a story, and into believing that it is his responsibility to bring this book to life. Jake… oh Jake.

The book follows the trajectory of his life as he finishes the book, finds momentous success, finds love, finds fame, finds fear, finds doubt, finds regret and eventually finds that secrets do indeed bite you in the butt. I am choosing not to give any more information out – because this read is better going in mostly blind. For me, the first half of the book drug on a little, but I had been warned of the same. Keep on reading and then bang – the second half takes off running and doesn’t stop until it dives off a cliff. Even though I had a pretty good idea who was behind the anonymous voice about halfway through, it did not detract from my enjoyment in reading this book in the least.

THE ENDING IS WORTH THIS READ. Easily recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for the gifted advance copy to read and review.

Holy Cow! The Plot lived up to its name! I chose this on the advice of Joseph Finder on Twitter and I am glad I did. I will be recommending this to all my customers and will be putting a shelf tag underneath. Lots of twists and turns and a great character in Jacob Bonner Finch, this book kept my attention. I really think this book will be the hit of the summer!

For Jacob Finch Bonner, life was good. He was an acclaimed first-time novelist, basking in its glory for a while and eager to follow it up with another winner. However, his second attempt doesn't go well and he finds himself in the land of floundering, looking for that theme that magical something that will take his newest novel into Olympian heights. Jake is teaching a joy he initially likes but after some years finds himself bored and stumbling. His writing life seemed to have hit that old brick wall and every day is just like the one preceding it.

Into his creative writing class, comes Evan Parker, an arrogant imperious man, so convinced the plot of his book is one that will zoom him up to number one in the writing world. He allows Jake to read a few pages of his story and Jake acknowledges this impudent man cocky and pompous has a sure to be winner on his hands. Jealousy sets in as he waits for this book to be published and his novel to be eclipsed. However, that evet never happens and Jake is perplexed and beyond curious. He finally learns that Even Parker has died presumable from a drug overdoses and since there no family well the temptation to "borrow" the deceased plot idea takes root.

As Jake's new book storm into the best seller lists of many publications, he meets a woman who eventually becomes his wife, but then an email arrives accusing him of plagiarizing the book and Jake's trip into the nightmare zone starts. The email missives keep coming and eventually they go to his publisher and are posted on social media. Jake is terrified and decides its time to delve into Evan Parker's background and the surprises keep coming.

Although this book has quite a slow start, it builds momentum as we journey along to puzzle out the details of deception and lies. At times, it is a bit of a puzzlement why Jake takes this so seriously as he just seems to have taken the plot but written the story himself, and yet he does. As he delves deeper into the actual Evan Parker he finds that as the old adage goes, life imitates art this time with dire consequences.

Thank you to Jean Hanff Korelitz, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book due out on May 11, 2021.

I enjoyed the tension and slow burn of The Plot. While I did find it slow at the outset, the pacing really picks up halfway through with several twists and turns. Some of the narrative was a bit predictable in my view, but I still loved the ending and didn’t want the story to end. I loved the book within a book element as well.

My thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Books about books: give them to me anytime and I'll be the happiest reader alive!

You can plagiarize words, but is it possible to steal a plot?

It took me a couple of pages to familiarize myself with the author's writing style, but after that, I was hooked. Korelitz kept me engaged throughout the different parts of the story and there are no words to explain how I loved entering the book world for a day.

About the ending: I would lie if I said I didn't see the big reveal coming while I was reading, but I assumed I was wrong so I just put aside the idea and forgot about it. It was a very clever and well-thought ending!

4.5 well-deserved stars!🌟

Unfortunately, once I got into the book, it drove me crazy. It is not illegal, or even immoral, to create your own expression of someone else's idea. That's how art gets made. So when the writer is wasting his life worried about discovery, it just didn't ring true to me.

The Plot was an enjoyable, suspenseful novel within a novel about writing and all of the downs associated with it. Until the main character comes across a plot he'd heard and waited to read about. When that never happened he did his research and took it for his own, but was it really his to take? With the perilously unrealistic ups come the threats of exposure. I won't get into the twists and turns, but I will say the ending was bittersweet. I wanted something more. I can only imagine the story coming full circle, but perhaps that's another book.

"In my world, the migration of a story is something we recognize, and we respect. Works of art can overlap, or they can sort of chime in with one another. Right now, with some of the anxieties we have around appropriation, it's become downright combustible, but I've always thought there was a kind of beauty to it, the way narratives get told and retold. It's how stories survive through the ages. You can follow an idea from one author's work to another, and to me that's something I find powerful and exciting." ~ Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Plot

When I first read a synopsis of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, it sounded a lot like one of the stories from Woody Allen's 2010 film, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. Korelitz is in my opinion one of our best living authors, so I wondered, "Did she steal a plot about a writer stealing a plot?" In her acknowledgements Korelitz writes about writers:

"...we are the lucky ones...because we love stories and we get to frolic in them. Begged, borrowed, adapted, embroidered...perhaps even stolen: it's all part of a grand conversation."

I later learned from a friend that there is also a film called Death Trap about a desperate playwright who steals a manuscript of a play. So this writer-stealing-a-plot-theme is clearly not new. Doubtless there are many older iterations I'm unaware of. However Korelitz develops plot-appropriation into a psychological thriller that will knock your socks off, and make you have to fight to stop reading when it's way past time for you to go to bed. I'm not always a great lover of mysteries, but Korelitz does an exquisite job of developing her characters, and drawing you into the protagonist's dilemma, making your heart race and your stomach drop right along with his.

Jean Korelitz is best known for her books Admission and You Should Have Known, both which were adapted as films that bear little resemblance to the literary excellence of her books. She a masterful storyteller, enticing you into a world about which you formerly knew only a few scant details. Admission is about the high stakes world of Ivy League college admissions, The Devil and Webster is about a college president's struggle to maintain control in the face of a student uprising, You Should Have Known explores the perilous life of a therapist treating a manipulative and violent patient, A Jury of Her Peers exposes shocking corruption in the American justice system, and The Plot is about the painstaking process of making a life as a writer. Reading a Korelitz novel is like reading a New Yorker article, where the big picture unfolds slowly as the delicate details are revealed. Stephen King is quoted as saying: "The Plot is one of the best novels I’ve ever read about writers and writing. It’s also insanely readable and the suspense quotient is through the roof."

Thank you #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #ThePlotBook for an unbiased review. I can't wait for Korelitz to write her next novel!



Hardcover 336 pages, Audiobook 10 hours, 43 minutes. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on GoodReads: Check out our Ripe Reads Group!
Available for pre-order on Amazon, but better yet, order it from your local bookstore!