Jacob Bonner is an author with two mediocre books. All he wants is to hit it big. It hasn’t happened, so he’s teaching writing at a college when he meets Evan Parker. Parker is reluctant to share his plot, as he knows that it is going to be a huge hit. Jacob scoffs at first but once he hears it, he’s convinced and jealous as well. A few years later, Jake hasn’t heard anything about the book and upon a search, finds out that Parker has died. At this point, it can’t hurt anyone to use this plot, can it? That’s what he thought until he started receiving threats, calling him a thief. Jake decides he must find out who is behind the harassment, or his career, and even his life, could be over.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a well written book with two parts that draw you in. Although I found the beginning to be slow, it picked up less than halfway through. The story within the story is where my interest really was. I found myself thinking about “Crib” while I was reading Jake’s part of the story. At one point, I figured out the twist but it did not detract from the story for me at all. I enjoyed The Plot and found parts of it chilling. It’s definitely a different type of story and one that give a unique look into the life of a writer.

I was happy to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I was aware of the author, but hadn't read any of her books, and the premise of this one was appealing to me. At first, I was reminded of a book I'd read ten years ago, About the Author by John Colapinto. Ironic, considering the subject matter of The Plot.

I thought The Plot was a compelling read. I was surprised that I was able to figure out the major mysteries of the book around halfway through, but I still was interested to see how things evolved, and I did not expect the resolution of the story. The ethical issues raised in the book about writing made it a more substantial read than a typical thriller. These ethical issues would make this a perfect choice for book discussion groups. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more by the author.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I’ll be honest, this one dipped a little bit in the last 25% right before the final twist, but it came right the funk back. I really didn’t see that coming. Five star read

Jacob Fince Bonner had such high hopes. His first and only book was well received but sadly he was never able to follow it up. Now he's a teacher and pretty much hates himself and his life. In all honestly he is kindof depressing. Which I think is the point. He feels sorry for himself and at times I wanted to literally kick his ass into gear.

Jacob has this one student, Evan Parker. Evan is kind of a douche to be honest with you. However, Evan can write. and can create things. In fact he shows Jacob some pages of a book he's writing that is basically guaranteed to be a best seller. Its the story that really makes it.

Fast forward a few years. Evan never completed the novel and is now decease so Jacob sees the perfect opportunity to get a second chance with his writing by taking over Evan's idea.

Jacob had just enough character where as much as you wanted to find him a pathetic loser, you also start to feel bad as his world begins to crumble.

I agree with most of the reviews that the book was like a slow burning that suddlenly explodes! While I had pegged this for a trypical thriller, I was completely blindsided by the ending. In fact the ending made the book worth it!

Thank you so much to Celadon Books and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jacob Finch Bonner is a teacher who used to be a decent author, but hasn’t been able to write anything worth publishing in years. When a student, Evan Parker, arrogantly boasts about his amazing plot in the novel he’s writing, Jacob can’t help but drool over such an amazing story. But when the student dies without publishing, Jacob takes matters into his own hands. 👀

In a few years, Jake is enjoying the success and fame his (Evan’s) novel has brought him, until he gets an email calling him a thief. Jake starts to wonder about the true history behind this story, and who stole it from whom, as he’s hiding the truth from his publishers and readers.

Unfortunately I did not connect with this book and writing style. I hate giving reviews like this, as a writer myself, but I struggled with this one.

Right off the bat, there was a lot of backstory. It was so hard to ground myself and bond to the protagonist when I had no idea what the protagonist was even doing while all of this backstory was being charged at me. I imagined the protagonist was just sitting there, frozen in time while I went almost entire chapters without any action happening in the present. There were also huge chunks of writing, long paragraphs, and not much dialogue and white space. And reading about a building’s history right from the first page is definitely not my style.

Many thanks to Celadon Books, Net Galley and Jean Hanff Korelitz for providing me with a digital advance copy of this novel. With an interesting premise, several creative twists, and fun insight into the world of both published and aspiring writers, this thriller started slowly but kept my interest until the exciting finish.

What a fun and fantastic book!

If you write a book called “The Plot” about a story so stellar everyone wants to steal it — well, that’s a pretty good plot, too. I was captivated from the very first page of this book, which is not shy about its homage to the Talented Mr. Ripley. But, there’s a difference between homage and stealing, right? At least, that’s what Jacob “Finch” Bonner, a novelist with only one obscure book under his belt, tells himself when he stumbles upon the plot of a lifetime. But it’s not his. It’s a story told to him by one of his writing students, who dies before he can write the book.

So, if Jacob just steals the plot, but writes the whole book himself, it’s not really theft, is it?

Fast forward a few years and Jacob is the toast of the town, having written the book with the plot that captured the world’s attention. But of course, someone knows and is sending threatening missives to expose him. Will Jacob get away with it?

I gobbled this book up in 24 hours. Like the plot of the book at its center, it is delicious and shocking and fun. One problem I sometimes have about authors who write about writing — they will characterize their character’s work as spectacular, and then they’ll present the thing the character supposedly wrote, and it’s not spectacular. So all along I was worried this magical “plot” that captivated the world would end up being a disappointment. It wasn’t! It was great, and it was also tempered by Korelitz’s sense of humor and some fun wordplay. No spoilers - but let’s just say the title of Jacob’s fictional book and the book you are reading have something in common! You get to read chapters of Jacob’s book parallel with the plot of this book, and that is extremely fun and deftly done.

For lovers of a good plot (me, please!) - this book delivers. And the writing is good too. I didn’t realize initially that Korelitz had written the also-great You Should Have Known, but if you know that going into this book, it makes reading about this fictional author even more fun.

Big thanks to Celadon Books, Jean Korelitz and NetGalley. I had nonstop fun with this one! 4.5 stars rounded up for two great plots.

I loved the unique premise of this book, it def falls more into the suspense category (and very literary style writing) as opposed to a thriller so I think I went into it with false expectations but still really enjoyed it! it lost me a bit in the middle but the final third was brilliant with some truly unexpected twists.

This was such a good book! This book had a twist you definitely won't be expecting.
I didn't like that its a little predictable. But a very good quick read.

Jacob Finch Bonner has a well received published book behind him but has been unable to get much or any attention for his later attempts at the next great novel. Years later he's struggling, working at jobs connected to writing, becoming the cliché of "those who can, do, those who can't, teach". He's his own worst critic, considering himself nothing if he can't write, mired in years long writer's block and incredibly jealous of anyone with current writing success. He really has no interest in anything else but being a great writer and his low self esteem and feelings of dejection lead the first half of the book.

To his utter disgust, a disrespectful student of a third-rate MFA program he teaches, shows him several pages of his work in progress, which has a plot that must be told, can't help but be a raging success, and will make anyone who writes the book an instant best selling author. Years later, when the book hasn't been written or published because the student died, Jacob takes the plot for himself, writes a best selling novel, and then basks in the glory while dreading he's going to be found out at any moment.

And then it happens, he starts getting texts, emails, and more, from someone threatening to expose him for stealing the story. This is where things get good. Before, Jacob was stuck on his couch, wallowing in self pity, then, basking in the glory of his success. Now he's scared and he's not willing to be exposed,, not about to lose his high standing in the publishing world. I did guess who was sending the threats but doing so didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book in any way. We've been so caught up in Jacob's head and we know that he feels like he "took" that plot and we know he's determined to keep the story as his story. But he has his work cut out for him to find out who is threatening him. This is very much a psychological drama, well written, and it kept me glued to the pages to see how it was all going to end.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed how compulsively devour-able this book is! The ending fell a little flat for me but I'm not mad about it.

A great read with enough twists and turns to keep you reading til the very end. The Plot is truly about the plot a glorious ride of what is and isn’t real. What is plagiarism youre asked at one point. A devilishly entertaining read.

I’m judging a 2021 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got this book from the perspective pile into the read further pile.

“Jacob Finch Bonner, the once promising author of the “New & Noteworthy” (New York Times Book Review) novel The Invention of Wonder, let himself into the office he’d been assigned on thes second floor of Richard Peng Hall, set his beat-up leather satchel on the barren desk, and looked around in something akin to despair.” jajaja

This book had such an intriguing premise that I couldn’t wait to read it and I was not disappointed. A professor and author “borrows” the plot of a deceased student and his book becomes a blockbuster hit. Soon he starts receiving emails threatening to expose him of his crime. He goes on the hunt to find out who is threatening him and why.

This actually had well-crafted excerpts of a book within the book and it worked brilliantly. It served to spice the plot up and add an abundance of suspense. This was a definite page-turner and excellently written. I would’ve given this a full 5 stars if I hadn’t figured out the main plot twist early on. Still a worthwhile, exciting read that will be creating quite a buzz with readers of psychological fiction.

To me, this book is exactly like a pint of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked. Impossible to put down and easily consumed in one sitting.

Jean Hanff Korelitz is an author that is new to me. But when I heard that her book You Should Have Known is the basis for the HBO show, The Undoing, I knew I had to get my hands on an ARC for her upcoming book.

Needless to say, I loved it!

I really enjoyed this for the sense of tension it created and the slow burn. However for me, unfortunately, it was very predictable. I really hoped I was wrong but I knew right away where it was going as soon as the character was introduced. I chalk it up to having read far too many mysteries and thrillers throughout my reading life.

This is definitely a slow burn and will not be a style for everyone. Personally I loved the slow creep. To me that's more effective than a "Bang bang bang" style of "twists and turns." I also did like the end, because it wasn't a classic thriller ending where someone miraculously gets out of this impossible situation. I hate to say it but it had remnants of Gone Girl where the "bad guy" gets away with it.

I also found this interesting because I didn't necessarily "side" with one character or another. I wasn't necessarily rooting for anyone, which in this case I thought was a good thing. Both/all the perpetrator(s) and the victim(s) were less than stellar individuals and that made for an interesting experience. I just wish it wouldn't have been so obvious who the ultimate culprit was, though maybe that was the whole point, given that it wasn't a "twists and turns" kind of book in my opinion.

Overall thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Wow! This book blew me away- I read it so fast and the ending is so good! No spoilers- just read it when it comes out. I’ve read so many so-so thrillers, it’s so fun to find one that really lived up to my expectations and exceeded them. This was a great read and I can’t wait to see the reviews when everyone gets a chance to read it!

Astonishingly good. Just the book that any writer needs to read. A twisty, never-expected plot, but what I loved the most was the way Korelitz is so wise and knowing about all the tortures of a writing life!

Amazing story. Well developed characters that are in a twisted engrossing thriller. Highly recommended. Super suspense that comes to a satisfying end! Highly recommended . A true roller coaster thrill ride