"The Sequel" by Jean Hanff Korelitz seamlessly continues the gripping narrative initiated in "The Plot," exploring the aftermath of literary deception through a new lens: Anna Williams-Bonner's rise as a successful writer following the murder of her husband, Jacob Finch Bonner.

The novel excels in its storytelling prowess, with Korelitz leaving no narrative thread unexamined. The transitions between the two books are seamless, offering readers a compelling continuation that builds upon established themes while introducing new layers of intrigue.

"The Sequel" satisfies with its intricate plot, and Korelitz's writing is as sharp and engaging as ever.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Jean Hanff Korelitz for the opportunity to read and review "The Sequel" prior to its publication date.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Sequel.

I enjoyed the first book, The Plot, so I was pleased my request was approved.

Maybe i wasn't in the mood but I didn't find The Sequel as enjoyable as The Plot.

I can't remember if The Plot was written in the same way, but I'm not a fan of the author's writing style; lots of telling, no showing.

Readers are treated to a summary recap of Anna's life; settling her deceased husband's estate, her own path to literary success, the PR and marketing campaign she undertakes to publicize her work. all well written but all dull and dreary.

When Anna begins to receive excerpts from a manuscript she thought she had obliterated, that's when the mystery begins.

Or kind of, as the summarizing of the narrative continues.

It was a long and tedious slog to get through, and my attention wavered often and constantly.

The twist ending or endings, weren't surprising.

I called one of them, because when you think about it, the Big Bad in so many mysteries can be traced back to someone from the main character's past who seeks revenge, blah blah blah.

It just took too long to get to the point, and to the end.

I liked Anna in The Plot but in The Sequel, she just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't like her anymore.

Jean Hanff Korlitz has done it again in The Sequel. It’s an absolute delight. As she clearly knows, a sequel is dangerous enterprise, but she delivers.

"The Sequel," authored by Jean Hanff Korelitz, initially unfolds at a leisurely pace. However, as the narrative progresses, it takes on an enthralling and intricate journey. Anna Williams-Bonner, a recent widow of a renowned writer who tragically ended his life, finds herself approached by his publishers to pen her own novel. Little does she know that this endeavor will unearth a sinister and sordid history. Throughout the story, my conflicting emotions towards Anna, a complex character, oscillate between love and hatred, ultimately contributing to the book's greatness.

Thank you to Net Galley and Celadon Books for the ARC to read and review.

I enjoyed the previous book The Plot last year, so I figured I needed to pick up The Sequel. I highly recommend reading them back to back as the second is highly dependent on you knowing what happened in the first book. I actually enjoyed this installment better than the first bc the main character stole the show in the first book and now I got to be in her head for a whole book instead of in an arrogant white male's mind. Lots of fun twists and snark against the literary world of publishing. I feel like a lot of readers missed the mark with the dark satire of the first, which extends to this one. A fun ride, and definitely worth a read.

Thank you thank you Celadon for the gifted book!

I still wasn't over THE PLOT when I saw that Jean Hanff Korelitz had written a sequel. I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough! The fact that she called it THE SEQUEL was the icing on the cake. THE PLOT had some of the most (disturbingly) unforgettable scenes I've ever read and surprise surprise the scenes are matched and possibly even topped in THE SEQUEL. Jean really thinks outside the box and writes some of the most unique characters and original storylines I've ever read.

I couldn't stop reading this book. It held me captive, intrigued by the mystery, and didn't let me go until the jaw-dropping ending full of satisfying twists and turns. I do think the ending could leave an opening for a third book and I really hope she continues this story!

Do you have to read THE PLOT in order to read this book? YES YES YES. Do not listen to anyone that tells you otherwise. You definitely shouldn't even read the synopsis for THE SEQUEL if you haven't read THE PLOT because it will give away major twists. Go into both books blind!

This is my 3rd book by JHK and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

This will be available on October 1st.

4.5 stars

I can't think of a single one of my book-loving friends who was not blown away by "The Plot" (the precursor to "The Sequel") by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Personally, I've read every novel written by this talented author whose plot twists and diabolical narrative turns are reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith's (a favorite-ever THRILLER author). I started my Korelitz journey with "Admission" (while working in the higher education field) and knew she was a writer to fully and deeply dive into thereafter. She captured the reality of the field (the cutthroat competitiveness and cynical behind-the-scenes atmosphere) of college admissions and that is one of the author's greatest gifts -- creating spot-on depictions of real-life settings. Admission was turned into a feature film starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd (which I also enjoyed) and since that time a number of her novels have been adapted for film.

In The Sequel, the book industry (in all aspects) was unflatteringly placed in the spotlight. It made me grateful not to be "IN" it (beyond as a dedicated and enthusiastic reader -- reading simply for the joy it brings me). Such respect for great writers.

I read a lot (!!) of books in a variety of formats and the best ones are revisited in print AND audiobook. This was the case with "The Plot." I was excited when #NetGalley & #Celadon provided an electronic copy of "THE SEQUEL" (the incredible follow up to The Plot) which will be published this fall (10.1.2024). I make it a point not to look up info on adaptations, etc. but I'd imagine that these companion novels could be brilliantly adapted to the screen--- The Sequel more than lives up to its title.

Readers of the first book will be familiar with the name Jacob Finch Bonner (I will not reiterate any of the first book's details) and even though it has been a few years since I read The Plot, Korelitz does a wonderful job refreshing the reader on the most pertinent information without being obvious about it. Anna Williams-Bonner, Jacob's widow, has recently released a novel of her own (despite her compete lack of writing background or education) and a cynical, secondary plotline comes alive in the meta experience of the writing industry (publishing, agents, MFA programs, tours, etc.).. I'll say this: The Sequel did NOT make me yearn to enter this world as anything other than the real-life reader I am. The book inhabits the comic darkness of a Coen brothers film and, like otherJean Hanff Korelitz novels I've enjoyed, darkness lies in wait -- in the form of unknown and unrecognized "loose ends" ever lurking around the corner. Preorder The Sequel and reread The Plot and you definitely have something to anticipate this Fall!!

Jean Hanff Korelitz is obviously a talented author and this is a very well written book but, unfortunately, I didn't read her first book, "The Plot", so this one left me feeling like I had walked into the story at the halfway mark. I was left interested enough to want to get her first book, read that, and then come back and read this book again. I'm sure that if I read these books in order I'll enjoy them so much more.
Thank you NetGalley, for allowing me to read this ARC.

First comes The Plot, and then comes The Sequel…
In The Plot, Jacob Finch Bonner is a teacher in a MFA residency program while trying to deal with his permanent writers block. With the “help” of a plot idea from one of his ex-students, he writes a bestselling novel and is riding that high until he is accused of plagiarism.
In The Sequel, Jacob has died just before his latest book was published. His widow Anna is quick to explain that the stress of the plagiarism accusations caused him to become depressed and he took his own life. Anna finds herself writing her own book based on her husbands’ story and what led to his death. With the help of Jacob’s editor and publisher, she is able to get her book published and it does very well.

But when renewed plagiarism accusations arise about her husband’s last book and hints that someone knows more about Anna than she is comfortable with, Anna sets out to discover who knows more than they should.

Anna is a dark and twisty character who somehow comes across a bit less hateful than she should be.

Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this advanced digital copy for my review. The book is due to release Oct 1, 2024

Whoa. Oh my gosh - what a twisted multi layered plunge into deceit! Korelitz’s intricate storylines, character development and entanglements are over the top. I enjoyed The Plot and this one takes a giant crazy leap beyond that.
Whoa.

While you don't have to read the first entry in this series to appreciate the deft and dark humor of The Sequel, you'd be missing out on the wild ride both novels provide.

These novels are not for people who need likeable sunshiney protagonists. These novels are for those of us who can admit that sometimes we see our own tendencies in these wonderously depraved characters while also loathing their actions.

This novel was provided in exchange for an unbiased review via NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you for this opportunity.

I read and loved The Plot, so I was very excited to see this book pop up. I've seen others say that you don't really need to read the first book to enjoy this one, but I would STRONGLY encourage any reader of this novel to tackle The Plot first. This book within a book storyline truly is a sequel. I did not guess the outcome of the mystery and for me, that is always the sign of a good book. I HATED the main character (obviously) but still was quickly turning pages to learn of her outcome. This book publishes October 1, 2024 and would be a great addition to your fall reading list. Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the plot and was excited to see the sequel! It gives all of the backstory filled with twists and turns of its own. I really enjoyed both. It’s dark and twisted and very well written.

Amidst the tour for her deceased husband’s final book, Anna Williams-Bonner decides to pen her own novel. Unfortunately, the novel that started the saga of THE PLOT, comes back to haunt her. But Anna, who never lets anything stand in the way of her dreams, is ready to do whatever it takes to write her own happy ending.

Anna makes a great point of view character as she snarkily navigates the literary community and acts as sleuth to puzzle out who holds her fate in their hands. The jealousy of some of the secondary characters over the success of Anna’s novel is nicely shown through her eyes. It’s hard not to root for Anna despite her dirty deeds.

There’s plenty of dark humor, poking fun at writers, the process of birthing a novel, and the publishing industry with its dusty slush piles. For example, there’s a discussion about how sequels are never as good as the series starter. However, THE SEQUEL is every bit as good, if not better, than THE PLOT.

Like THE PLOT, the story moves at a brisk pace, and the pulse-pounding last act ensures the story ends with a bang.

While I found the book to be a very satisfying read, I crave more of this wacky world and hope that Korelitz has a sequel for THE SEQUEL up her sleeve.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Wow! This novel a must read for everyone, but especially those who love literary thrillers. Strong and just-as-addictive as the first, 'The Plot.' The story follows Jacob Finch Bonner's widow, Amanda Williams-Bonner, as she "grieves" 😳 and navigates life without her author husband. It answers the question: how far would you go to protect a secret and take back what was stolen? The plot stands on its own, but it is helpful to be familiar with the first book. (If you have not read the first novel, go ahead and buy both and read them back-to-back. 😉) A page-turner for sure, I was hooked a few chapters in. The story elements and pieces fit together cohesively and left me feeling satisfied, in awe of Jean Hanff Korelitz's genius creativity, and maybe a tad bit scared. Definitely read all the way to the end (post-acknowledgements) for a clever surprise!

My humble thanks to NetGalley and Celadon for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

Enormously entertaining book. This author is an “auto-read” for me - she is one of my favorites - so I was thrilled to get an advance copy via NetGalley. Take the title seriously - it is a sequel to “The Plot” and not best enjoyed as a standalone. It was smartly written - again we got a book in a book - and so many behind the scenes bits about publishing and the writer’s life were written so humorously that I was laughing out loud and trying not to wake my husband as I read this into the night.

Loved The Sequel - you don't have to read the first book to know what's going on. Great story and characters, with a protagonist to both love and hate at the same time.

I was a big fan of Jean Hanff Korelitz's first novel in this series, "The Plot," so I had high expectations for "The Sequel." I am pleased that this book lived up to those expectations! Korelitz brings the reader back to the world of Anna Williams-Bonner, who is fresh off of the book tour of her late husband's final novel when she finds literary inspirations of her own. Anna is an unexpected (to everyone else at least) success. However, she soon begins to receive anonymous letters in the mail that threaten to unveil her buried secrets.

While the plot of "The Sequel" shares many similarities with its predecessor, Korelitz manages to make the story feel fresh by exploring it through Anna's perspective. Anna could have easily been a hatable, pretentious narrator who makes the book unbearable. Yet, Korelitz crafts an antihero that I found myself rooting for no matter how terrible she gets. The story also featured a share of twists making it difficult to put the book down.

The writing of this book was also excellent, with plenty of excellent quips about sequels, the publishing industry, and writers in particular. I found myself genuinely laughing out loud at a few points. I would also be remiss if I did not mention my appreciation for the clever chapter titles!

Whether you love writers or hate writers, this book was a darkly funny journey into the past of Anna Williams-Bonner and I appreciated the chance to learn more about her history. Jean Hanff Korelitz is a fantastic writer and I highly recommend picking up a copy of "The Sequel."

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book, scheduled for publication in October 2024.

I enjoyed following The Sequel’s devilish main character and wondered if she’d ever get caught. I had read the author’s book, The Plot, when it first came out. However, I had to look up a detailed summary of The Plot in order to remember that story.

Another interesting book from this author. Fun to see what happens after The Plot. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.