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