I loved The Plot by this author so I was excited to read this follow up novel. It picks up with the main character Anna Williams-Bonner, who is recently widowed and living off of her late husband’s money from his famous novel. When Anna decides to write her own novel, “The Afterword”, she is surprised by its reception as a literary bestseller. While on tour for her book, Anna starts receiving threatening letters from someone who claims to know her secrets. Who could it possibly be..as she has eliminated all those she had considered a threat in the past. But this person is persistent and Anna finds that she must find out who is behind the threats before her true past is revealed and she loses everything. A great read that I gave 4 stars!

Since I loved The Plot, I was thrilled to find out there is a sequel called The Sequel. I had to go back to The Plot before starting as I remember there were a lot of twists near the end I was going to need to remember. The author does a great job of jogging your memory if you need it though. Anna is a great character that you love to hate.

As with The Plot, it would be far too easy to inadvertently throw out a spoiler, so I’m keeping this intentionally brief. The story is a great continuation of the story and I truly enjoyed it. Julia Whelan is as always simply brilliant in her audiobook performance.

In this propulsive follow-up to The Plot, Korelitz expertly weaves a tangled web that antihero Anna Williams-Bonner must find her way out of to be able to live her life on her terms. Much like the first book, I found a lot to enjoy concerning the plot and satire of the publishing industry, but I find myself rooting for Anna simply out of a lack of anyone else to pull for and not because I find her wholly sympathetic. It helps that I completely understand why she is doing what she does, and I can't help almost admiring her ruthless efficiency throughout the book.

Julia Whelan is an absolutely fabulous reader for this particular book. She not only nails the false exterior warmth and brazen internal contempt of Anna, but Julia also does a great job embodying the rest of the motley crew of characters in the book, both male and female. I can highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy reading in this format.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing a copy of this audiobook for review purposes.

Loved this sequel. I was torn between rooting for the protagonist or wanting her to get caught!
Definitely read the first book before this one, you would miss a lot if you hopped right into this one.
The narrator was fabulous for the audiobook.

I started listening to The Sequel, expecting to take it in short chunks like I usually read my audiobooks. But the narrator, the story, the twists and turns in the plot, and the unfolding revelations kept me listening every time I was alone. Is there a likable character in the book? Not really. But I couldn't wait to find out how messed up Anna was, ultimately.

I will always reach for one of Jean Hanff Korelitz's books when I'm looking for a story to get lost in.
Many thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the free audiobook to review.

Thank you @macmillan.audio & @netgalley for the ARC. I absolutely loved this book. I also loved the authors previous novel The Plot. I did revisit the last four chapters of the plot before starting this, but they do review relevant items here. Anna Williams Bonner is living large as Jacob’s widow and writing her own novel, The Afterword. Once published, her past is once again coming back to haunt her. Anna thought she took care of everything and everyone before, but somehow there is still a copy of the manuscript her husband was accused of plagiarizing. The novel mirrors Anna’s real life. She must find out who holds the manuscript and destroy it once and for all. Available October 1st, grab a copy and enjoy the ride!
Julia Whelan does an excellent audio narration as always.

After reading and enjoying The Plot, I was thrilled to get a copy of its sequel, The Sequel. In the same spirit as the first book, the second takes readers on a twisty ride to eventually solve a mystery. Someone is sending excerpts of the original book that Jake stole and plagiarized. But Jake is dead and his wife Anna has written a bestseller about her grief. Anna needs to figure out who is behind this blackmail and what they want before her past is discovered.

The writing was both compelling and inviting. I was pulled into the story immediately. However, with that said, I found the storytelling itself to veer off course into tangents that were off topic and some of the prose too wordy.

The first third of the book was slow but it picked up as the story progressed. The ending was unpredictably satisfying. The audio narrator kept the plot engaging. She is a favorite of mine. Good range of voices and an animated performance.

Thank you ##NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#TheSequel

4.5 stars.
Listened to this audiobook immediately after The Plot and I’m glad I did. The Sequel was interesting and kept my attention from the beginning. Also, the narrator was great at the story telling. There was quite a few plot twists and I didn’t know how the story was going to end. I like how everything was tied together from the first book to the second, but if you never read The Plot, this still made sense alone. The ending has me wondering if there will be a part 3… I don’t think I would be mad if there was. I listened to The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz in exchange for an honest review- thank you Netgalley. The Sequel hits shelves on October 1, 2024.

The Sequel starts off slowly, with the majority of action happening in the latter part of the story. After the conclusion of the first book, The Plot, Anna has become a writer herself, and the start of the book revolves around her successful foray into writing. Now a highly praised author, we are privy to her inner thoughts as she repeatedly one-ups those who try to demean her success. Her inner monologue reminds us that she is the morally grey character from the first book.

Once the story picks up there are constant twists and reveals that kept me entertained and, at times, shocked. Many things have to go right for the story to play out as it does which was a little hard to believe. This, however, did not detract from the overall enjoyment factor of the book. Anna is a shocking character but that just adds to the thrills.

I was lucky enough to listen to this one as an audiobook. Julia Whelan has done a wonderful job as narrator. Her portrayal of Anna conveys the personality and mind of the character well.

Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. This is my honest review.

Definitely read The Plot before The Sequel. This book takes the point of view of one of the main characters from The Plot.

Recently widowed, Anna is enjoying the royalty checks and luxury life from her late husband’s popular book. Anna decides to ride on this fame and write her own novel, despite never writing anything. She publishes her book and karma comes.

She starts to receive letters that reveal someone knows about Anna’s dark past and everything she’s worked for is threatened to be destroyed. Anna investigates in her own to stop her blackmailer and keep her life.

This was captivating and made you almost root for someone that you hated book 1. Well done! As usual, Julie Wheelan powerfully narrates this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Out October 1!

The Sequel is the second book in The Book Series by Jean Hanff Korelitz, following The Plot, and dare I say... I liked this one SO much better! The Plot is told from Jake's perspective, and don't get me wrong, it's a very good read. The Sequel is told from Anna's perspective, Jacob's wife, what with Jake being unavailable and all. IYKYK! This book is the epitome of thrilling edge-of-your-seat story telling. I could not get enough. And although this could work as a stand alone, I would strongly urge you to read The Plot first so that you can connect all the evil and delicious dots The Sequel offers. And don't even get me started on Julia Whelan as the narrator. She was AMAZING as usual! A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for an ARC and an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to receive this book as an advanced copy because I read the first book in this series and was really intrigued by it! Just like the first book, you get pulled in by the “what next” and “did that just happen” thoughts!! The way this book is written really keeps you going and I flew through it in less than 4 days! The main character is horribly unreliable, but her inner monologue is on point. I honestly think this sequel was better than the original!! This book comes out on 10/1/24, so I suggest reading book one (The Plot) now so you’re ready!

I can’t tell you the book-jam-happy-dance I did when I saw The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz as an August selection for Macmillan Audio Influencer Program. Appropriately named, the book is a sequel to The Plot (2021). This is a dark take on ‘books about books’ and I’m here for every single bit of it. An edgy, sardonic dive into plagiarism, theft of idea, writers, publishing, wrapped in a layered, complex family drama that plays out both in the book and writing within the book.

It’s not often that a sequel can live up to the first book. Jean Hanff Korelitz manages to pick up from the Plot, weave in the original storyline making it fresh, while giving us an entirely new perspective, a new view we didn’t know was missing. My strong recommendation is to go in with as little information as possible. Inherently The Sequel spoils certain plot points for the first book (The Plot), it’s unavoidable.

Audiophiles take note, The Sequel is narrated by Julia Whelan. Her intonation, sarcasm, pacing is second to none. I’d longed for Korelitz and Whelan to team up again after The Latecomer (5/22, also recommend!). I listened to this at 1x speed just to make it last longer. I know I’m not the only one that follows narrators in the same way I do authors so was thrilled to see her narrating this. It made the difference between grabbing this in print and audio. I will eventually get the ebook and print versions of The sequel as well, but if you have to choose one I strongly suggest audio!

**Do I need to read The Plot first?**
Rarely to I highly recommend reading the first book before the second. Usually there’s enough context to get the gist for the second book to stand on its own…and it does…but… I’m still bringing this to you a month before publication (10/1) so you have time to read the first in preparation. These books are so layered, so twisty, nuanced, that I truly feel you miss out on a huge part if you haven’t read the first book.

Jean Hanff Korelitz's follow-up to the "The Plot" was everything I hoped it would be and more! I do believe I am leaning to "The Sequel" as the better of the two books, which I did not expect at all considering how much I enjoyed "The Plot"! I will keep my review as general as possible so as not to ruin anything!

The story had a great flow and I loved being inside Anna's head with all of her commentary, sarcasm, and madness! Narrator Julia Whelan, one of my absolute favorite narrators, gave this book even more life than it already had. I could not stop listening, it captivated me from the beginning to the very end.

If you haven't read "The Plot", you should definitely ready it before you pick this one up so that you understand all of the backstory. The author takes us through events of the first book from Anna's perspective throughout the book as we ride along with Anna soon after "The Plot" takes place. Now an author herself and out on her own book tour, the parallels she experiences are not unlike those her husband Jake experienced...but Anna refuses to be taken down and will do whatever needs to be done to keep her secrets safe...

The writing and the audio are simply superb, and this is one sequel I will absolutely recommend in my library! Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this digital ARC.

Wow! This was twisted in all the best ways. I was mesmerized by The Plot and couldn't wait to read The Sequel. With that being said, this could still be read as a standalone, but reading The Plot first might help you enjoy this book even more. It's clever, layered, original, and unpredictable. At times it felt weird rooting for Anna due to her shall we say questionable moral compass, but I cheered her on just the same. I loved being immersed in the world of a writer, especially one as complex as Anna Williams Bonner. The chapter titles, being notable sequels were smart and creative. The narrator Julia Whelan masterfully brought the characters to life while adding depth and intensity to the unsettling and intriguing tale. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

No sophomore slump here. The Sequel is as enjoyable and intriguing as The Plot. Anna Williams-Bonner, née Diane Parker, is the anti hero you can’t help not rooting for. Once again, while touring for her debut novel, finds herself embroiled in her past misdeeds.

If you enjoyed The Plot, you will enjoy The Sequel with its twists and turns and insights to the publishing world.

Julie Whelan is perfection as the narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for this advance copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of The Sequel in exchange for an honest review.

The Sequel is the sequel to The Plot, so if you haven’t read that book, STOP reading this review or you’re going to get spoiled on that book.

Last chance …. 😄

The Sequel is told from Anna’s perspective, Jake being unavailable and all. The story pretty much picks up where The Plot left off. Anna decides to write a novel based on her experiences as the widow of a novelist who committed suicide after facing anonymous online attacks. Her novel is a critical and commercial success. But on her book tour, just like her husband Jake, Anna begins receiving messages referring to Evan Parker, and implying that Jake did not write his bestselling novel. Then she begins receiving pages from Evan’s draft novel, a novel that Anna thought she had wiped from the earth. So Anna begins a journey much like her late husband’s, sifting through his past to try to find who is sending out these pages, all the while trying to decide if this person knows Jake’s secrets, or hers ….

I loved The Plot—loved the characters, the twist, and the ending—but when I’d finished reading it, I did not expect a sequel. So I went into The Sequel uncertain what to expect and whether it would feel necessary and organic. I did not expect what I got here, but that’s not a bad thing at all. At the end of The Plot, Anna seemed like a perfect antihero, the monster hiding in plain sight, literally getting away with murder(s). In The Sequel, Anna is made human again, still a sociopath, but a vulnerable one. She’s uncertain. She makes mistakes. The story here takes everyone back through the events of The Plot, but we see them from Anna’s perspective, learn more of her backstory and what truly happened, and see how the choices she made then are impacting her now.

The Sequel deliberately leans into its status as a sequel. Every chapter title is the name of a literary sequel. But the story is an uncommon version of a sequel, going back through the events of The Plot, deconstructing them, and building a new suspense story on the bones of the original. And it was a very interesting choice by Ms. Korelitz to pull back the curtain on Anna, to strip her of her seeming invincibility and see if she can once again escape the consequences of her actions. Recommended for everyone who read The Plot, and I especially recommend the audiobook performed by Julia Whalen, who is simply the best audiobook performer working today.

All I can say is if you enjoyed Lucy from "Listen For the Lie" you will want to add Anna Williams Bonner to your friends list too. Her sarcasm and dark humor had every sentence practically dripping with disdain and I LOVED it. Admittedly it took me a hot minute to settle into this book, but once I fell into rhythm with Korelitz I was enthralled. Julia Whalen (The narrorator) has mastered the term Snarky, so she was perfect for this role.
Now, what can I say about the book without getting into spoiler territory. I had read "The Plot" a few years ago and I highly recommend giving that a read before picking this one up to fully understand what is going on. Basically Anna Williams Bonner the widow of our dear friend Jacob Finch Bonner has managed to write a best seller with next to no effort, to quote Elle Woods, "Oh, Like It's Hard?"
So clearly struggling authors are insanely jelouse, and as she begins to receive puzzling excerpts from an unpublished novel that closely resemble her all to real past she begins to get a little hot under the collar. As she realizes she is being hunted her sinister slants and vindictive acts bump up to a whole new level of crazy, and I AM HERE FOR IT. Some of my favorite passages occured when Julia Whalen voiced things Anna Williams Bonner put in quotations--so funny and well timed.

It is a task to write a better book than the original but dare I saw Jean Hanff Korelitz may have done it.....

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this advanced copy of The Sequel. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

Run to read this book (after reading #1 of course) when it publishes Oct 2024!

Not only did I highly enjoy The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, but I absolutely loved The Sequel which follows Anna, Jacob's wife. I loved how the various characters were intertwined which revealed just how unhinged Anna is...and I am here for all of it! I find sequels usually lack a bit compared to the first book, but this was not the case, in my opinion. Definitely a great novel!

This is unputdownable!! I could not stop reading and needed to know how this story progressed ASAP. Anna is almost unnerving but I also found myself rooting for her. What a trip and what a great addition to this series.