A slow tingling burn that the ending totally makes up for! Incredible writing. Loved jacobs POV throughout and the fact that we get real pages of the book as we start to unravel the plot. Lives up to the hype!!

This is one time that I did not pick up a novel based on its cover art; the title was enough to capture my attention. And then I learned that it was a novel-within-a-novel about writers. Just up my alley!

It was fun to journey to a small college and its MFA program, even if said program isn’t that good. I have an MFA from a great program here in St. Louis. A quick stroll down memory lane reminded me of the hours and hours I spent with my peers discussing writing and publishing. Or the hours and hours I spent crafting short stories that were just okay. But enough about me,

The protagonist is Jake Bonner; well Jacob Finch Bonner is the name on his first novel that was well accepted with decent reviews. Sales were okay, but not huge. His second novel was a flop. He’s hasn’t published anything in years and cannot seem to find a plot or write anything with any substance. He’s resorted to teaching, consulting with other writers on how to make their work better and editing.

The fall semester is about underway at a small Vermont college. Jake is not looking forward to reading the pages his soon-to-be-students have turned in for his critique. I can see him running his hand through his hair in despair as he begins prepping for the course.

One of the students, Evan Parker, is an obnoxious elitist who believes that his “plot” will take the world by storm. I was never sure why Evan was in the program, as he thought he has “the plot” that would make him rich and successful. Although he is reluctant to divulge his sure-fire hit, he does give Jake a brief synopsis. And Jake is highly impressed.

Jake waits for Evan to finish the novel and dreads the fame that will surely be garnished on him. But as the years go by, Jake never hears anything about Evan Parker, or Parker Evan, as he considers using his inverted names as a pen name. One afternoon, Jake decides to Google Evan. It isn’t too long before he discovers that Evan has died. Jake doesn’t know if the book is finished or if was ever written.

Desperate for a hit, Jake takes Evan’s idea and writes a blockbuster. I feel like author Korelitz tried to pull one over on readers---ideas cannot be copyrighted. In fact there are only four basic plot lines in all of writing. Even is Jake ‘stole’ the idea, he would never be able to write the same story as Evan.

As I read, I kept thinking about Korelitz’s story the same way Jake thought about many of his students’---so what? This novel is hailed as a thriller, but all I could think was so what? Oh sure, once Jake hit the big time, he started getting cryptic texts that were supposed to cause fear that someone knew that he had stolen Evan’s “idea.” But Jake’s fear wasn’t worthy of the word. As I read Korelitz’s novel, all I could think of was ‘so what?’

I found “The Plot” repetitive and boring. As far as the novel that Jake/Evan wrote, it was also dull. If you like the novel-within-a-novel formats try Margaret Atwood’s “The Blind Assassin.” Unlike “The Plot,” which receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world, it’s a page turner.

Excellent summer read. Many twists and turns. Well written and thought out. The author gives you a hint and then diverts you. You will be waiting anxiously until the end. Brilliant.

I was hesitant to pick up this novel because it sounded a little predictable. But then readers whose opinions I respect started praising it which hit my FOMO buttons. So glad "I" changed my mind and picked up The Plot because I couldn't put it down.

While reading this compelling literary thriller, I wrote on Goodreads at the 47% mark, "This guy is screwed. I think I might know what’s going on, but I’m probably wrong."

I was wrong.

This story went in directions that often felt predictable but then ended up not going where I thought it would. The stress and angst about being a fiction writer, in general, was interesting to read, and then complicated by the protagonist’s early success, his slide into self-doubt and depression, and then the twisty-turny plot things that happen.

I think this novel has appeal for both mystery/thriller readers for the plot and more literary readers due to the glimpse into the writing life.

3.5 rounded up

I loved the idea of a washed up writer stealing the idea for a bestselling novel from a former student and then being terrified of being found out and exposed as a fraud. But… they only used *the plot*, right? The actual writing is still their own work, and the person is dead and isn’t going to use the idea anyway, so I can kind of see it being ok and not actually that big of a deal? Which is how the protagonist feels until he starts getting threatening messages and starts investigating his former student’s life in an attempt to track down the sender and keep his fancy, successful new life intact.

The book within a book element was fun, and I enjoyed the twists and turns, but the pace was extremely slow, and the final reveal was bonkers (and I saw it coming a mile away). I liked this but didn’t love it. I’m still happy I read it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

The story of a teacher claiming a students work is his own has been told before. What makes this story was the twist and turns. The story was very good although a little wordy for me.

A well written story about a washed-up author, Jake Bonner, who takes a job teaching a workshop in an MFA summer program. There, he meets the arrogant Evan Parker, who reluctantly reveals the plot for a story he plans to write. Years later, Jake learns that Evan Parker died without ever having published the story, and writes his own book using the same unique plot. When Jake's book becomes a bestseller, his guilt is overwhelming, particularly when he starts receiving threatening anonymous messages reminding him of what he has done.

The strength of this book is the questions it highlights about writing and authorship including what truly constitutes plagiarism,, how are literary tropes considered different from reimagining a story`s plot, and what is the true meaning of authorship?

While it would have been more interesting to have these themes taken through to the book's climax, they were actually overtaken by Jake's eagerness to find out the source of the threatening messages.. In so doing, the ethical and moral.discussions do not adequately play out fully, and the book actually becomes a thriller/mystery.

Nevertheless, I believe this would be an excellent book for Book.Clubs where many of the themes could be addressed more fully, despite the thriller twist at the end which would also be enjoyable to discuss.

I figured out the plot twist pretty early in the story but still enjoyed the character development of the main character. Jake is a writer who uses the plot described to him by a student and the suspense builds around who finds out after the novel's success. The question of who owns the story or the idea of the story comes up as Jake fights his inner and outer doubts. My favorite character is a small town coroner who makes a brief appearance and steals the scene with his sarcasm and snappy dialogue.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Engaging and thrilling. I enjoyed the premise and it was incredibly readable. I found myself wanting to turn the pages. Enjoyed!

Did #FallonSummerReads make me do it? Absolutely.

I love a book within a book, and The Plot tells the story of a formerly successful author who seems to have lost his way. He resorts to teaching writing at a college and a student comedy to him with a brilliant idea. And this excerpt…

‘Evan sat forward. He took his Ripley water bottle and unscrewed the top, and he tipped it back into his mouth. Then he folded his arms again and said, almost with regret: “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 the brass rings, you know what I mean?” Jake, now truly lost for words, feared that he did. “Like, Oprah will pick it for her book thing. It will be talked about on TV shows. TV shows where they don’t usually talk about books. Every book club. Every blogger. Every everything I don’t even know about. This book, there’s no way it can fail.” ‘

Insert @jimmyfallon for @oprah and that’s probably what will happen for The Plot. It can’t fail. I’m pretty slow when it comes to the twist in most thrillers, so I didn’t see it coming and I enjoyed this book. And, I hope it gets made in to a movie by an A-list director.

The Plot was a book on my most anticipated of 2021. It is so good! Our main character steals a story from one of his students and then capitalizes on that story once it becomes a huge success. But it seems someone has figured him out and wants him to know it. Here comes the slow dun-dun-dun music. The Plot is almost a slow burn, but once it gets going, it does not stop. Once I was in, I was hooked and I was desperate to find out what happened next. Even though it's not a murder mystery who-done-it typical thriller that's going on, you still NEED to know. Since I usually read before bed, it kept me on the edge of my pillow, ha! But I loved every moment of it.

5/5 Stars

THE PLOT is a story about a writer. Jacob Finch Bonner’s first novel received positive reviews and was deemed a successful debut. Unfortunately Jacob’s second book did not achieve the same success. Once known as promising young writer Jacob is now teaching at a small college in their MFA program. It is in his class Jacob encounters Evan Parker. Arrogant and extremely confident Evan declares he is writing an instant best seller because he has discovered the perfect plot. Evan believes because his plot is so perfect even mediocre writing could prevent his book from being successful.
Struggling with his own writing Jacob is intrigued and annoyed at the same time by Evan Parkers claims. Normally guarded about his book Evan decides to share his no fail plot with Jacob during a tutorial session. Jake agrees with Evan that his plot is a guaranteed success.
Time passes and Jake fails to see Evan’s book published. Curious Jake starts to do some research and discovers Evan has passed away. Jake can’t let the opportunity pass and decides to write the book with Evan’s winning plot. The book turns out to be a huge success and so is Jake. Now promoting the paperback edition Jake is on tour when he gets an email saying he is a thief. Jake is rattled but he knows he can’t let it go and starts to investigate.
THE PLOT was a intriguing story. The suspense built nicely. I was invested in the characters and their fates.
Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the advanced e-edition and the opportunity to read THE PLOT.

I recently read "The Plot" by Jean Haniff Korelitz.. It is about a writer, Jacob Finch Bonner, who is down on his luck. He had a successful novel a few years prior but is now teaching MFA at a university. In his class, a student, Evan Parker, boasts that he has a plot for a novel that will blow everyone away and will be on Oprah's book club in no time. The student shares a few pages of his book with his teacher and he is mesmerized by it.

A few years pass and Jacob wonders what happened to his student and his book. To his dismay, he founds out Evan Parker has passed away and the book was never completed. He then takes it upon himself to finish the book and release it as his own. A little while after it is published and he is enjoying the fruits of its labor(he is living in New York City with a new wife he met on his book tour), he receives a tweet on Twitter saying he is a fake and he stole the plot of the book. Jacob is riddled with anxiety and fear who Evan Parker showed his book to before he passed. He is in a race against time to find out who has found him out as a fraud.

The book does go back and forth between Jacob's POV and the narrator in the book he has published. I have noticed recently with quite a few books that they do go back and forth between past and present in alternating chapters or between different narrators. If you do not like that style, this not for you.
Fallon's summer read book club.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy.

After looking forward to this book for so long, I have to admit that I felt a bit let down. Don’t get me wrong, The Plot was well-written and I enjoyed the novel within the novel, but I saw the ending coming from the beginning. I think it’s still worth the read even though it wasn’t my favorite! Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I decided to DNF this one. I absolutely could not get into the plot of the story. I felt it was too slow.

I ended up listening to this as an audio book, something I rarely do but I have so many books to read it was the fastest way to get it read in time for the release. Thanks to #netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this novel. It starts out slow but packs a punch! It was very good!

The premise of this book definitely piqued my interest, but it’s a rather slow read. At least until the last third of the book, when things really take off. While I did figure out some of the twists, this in no way detracted from my overall enjoyment of this book because I still did not figure out everything. There are quite a few subtle twists and turns this book takes and it really kept me engaged and flipping the pages.

I was so excited to read this one. I absolutely loved the idea of it and wanted to read it so much. The Plot is a mystery novel about Jake who is a teacher, that steals the plot of his novel from a student. The student guaranteed that this idea would be a huge success. Jake receives an email, many years later calling him a thief. Could the student he stole from still be alive? While Jake is lying and trying to hide the truth, he uncovers more about Evan and where the story actually came from. The novel kept pulling me in and even though I had it figured out I still wanted to see what was going to happen. I had no idea how this one was going to play out until about halfway through the novel and then I was all "OHHHHHHHHHHHHH I got it now".

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. I also had a paper copy and ebook as well so I could switch formats. I did read this one in one sitting. It kept me fully entertained.

A story within a story is not a novel concept and the 1987 released Misery is one which comes to mind instantly. What Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot pulls off is tying the 2 stories together seamlessly so much so that although you know where it’s headed, you, as readers, are thoroughly invested in the journey.

The story kicks off with Jacob Finch Bonner, the once new and newsworthy NYT author with 3 follow up duds and now considered to a flash in a pan, teaching at a third rate MFA program in Vermont when he stumbles across the seemingly narcissistic and arrogant pupil, Evan Parker, who claims to have the plot worthy of a movie deal with an A-list director. The plot is indeed worth a fortune as Jake subsequently learns but few years down the line, the book and the aspiring Evan Parker are nowhere to be seen. Further digging reveals Evan had met his death a couple of months after the program and never got down to wrapping the book. The self doubting and conflicted Jake takes this as an opportunity to revive his literary life and even finds unprecedented success but there’s someone else who knows about the plot and it being Evan’s- and thus unfolds the story.

The book will have a polarising effect, quite similar to The Silent Patient, as the initial set up is a bit slow with long sentences trying to showcase the mental state of the author or the ending which can be a stunner or anticlimactic, based on how you felt. The journey holds the key for me and that’s where the book shines. The whole breakdown of Jake’s state of mind which makes him justify his actions- make no mistake, he is a flawed character- but that gave me the Jokeresque effect. The ending still gave me the cheap thrill and chills so what more could I have wanted. I flat out finished it in 1 day!!
Overall a 5 star read.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher, Celadon Books for giving me the opportunity to review Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Review Date: July 26, 2021

#ThePlotBook #NetGalley #theplot #jeanhanffkorelitz #celadon #mystery/thriller

"The Plot" held my interest throughout the book. The length of the sentences I found to be annoying, as it was difficult to follow them. At times I had to go back and re-read the sentence from the beginning, because there were so many things referred to in one sentence and some sentences even had five parentheses within one sentence. Other than that, the book moved along well. I did figure out the identity of one of the mystery characters early in the book.

Parts of the book were absolutely hilarious. The author portrayed the writers and MFA program in a humorous (and realistic) light. Writers would definitely enjoy this one. The ending was disconcerting. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy mysteries.