Jean Hanff Korelitz can always be counted on to write fantastic plots and this book proves that again. A sequel to The Plot, the book follows the main character as she releases a best selling book. Korelitz’ plot is twisty and surprising. For most of the book I was annoyed at what I thought was a plot hole…until I got to the end.

This is a great summer read. If you are the kind of listener who sometimes zones out when listening to audiobooks I’d recommend you pick up a paper copy. Otherwise you’ll find yourself either rewinding to catch plot points or trying to figure out what is going on.

I highly recommend you read The Plot before you pick this one up. It isn’t critical, but it will enhance the reading experience..

(4.5 stars)

Well, that was twisty! The Sequel could be read as a standalone, but If you haven’t read The Plot already, I’d advise you to do so, for maximum enjoyment of this book.

I don’t want to give much away so I won’t go into details about the plot of this excellent book. There’s a lot to love about it for book lovers, a sort of “inside baseball” look at publishing today, including book tours, book signings and more. In the future, I’ll make sure not to behave like some of the people at book signings do in this story!

The main character(s) in The Sequel are rather unlikeable, and yet somehow, I wound up rooting for Anna somewhat. It felt odd to do so since she was a pretty terrible person.

I loved how each chapter is the title of a well-known sequel, such as: The Testaments, sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, or Bring Up The Bodies, sequel to Wolf Hall. That was a fun touch.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. I wound up mostly listening, because Julia Whelan is such a fabulous narrator.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Spoilers ahead about “The Plot,” but no spoilers for “The Sequel.”

I’m supposing most people would read the “The Plot” before picking up “The Sequel” (truly a sequel), but I was listening closely at the beginning and a standalone reader won’t find out until chapter nine that our main character, Anna, might not be the grieving widow of a bestselling author, Jacob Finch Bonner, who was supposedly driven to suicide by claims of plagiarism, but that she is the serial killer of at least her parents, brother, daughter, daughter’s friend and her truly plagiaristic husband. “The Plot” was very twisty and twisted and it ended with the wisdom “be careful what you plagiarize (!)” and the fact that Anna/Samantha/Diandra/Diane (who is actually the real main character of her dead brother’s stolen book) has gotten away with it all.

In “The Sequel” we discover “grieving” widow Anna just can’t stay satisfied living off her husband’s estate and royalties, and decides to write her own book “The Afterword” (I will not be surprised if author Korelitz titles a third book exactly that). Surprise! It’s not plagiarized and Anna is apparently a decent debut writer. But her new found fame stirs up a hornet’s nest not unlike the one that Jacob experienced. Except it’s not Anna doing the haunting; she’s the one being haunted. Trying to finally settle into a bestseller writer’s life means that she must still clean up the questions that Jacob was investigating when he went too far digging into the life of the real author, Evan Parker.

We get a multi-layered portrayal of a morally corrupt lead character, but the author, and especially superstar narrator Julia Whelan of the audiobook, allow us to actually sort of root for her. But will Anna get away again? Korelitz also takes more wry digs at the inner world of novel writing and publishing (I’m assuming she has a really good relationship with her agent and editor). This sequel is just as good as the original — 5 stars! I recommend that you listen to Julie Whelan’s narration — she totally brings Anna to life!

Thank you to Celadon for an advanced reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy!

I love listening to this narrator! She brings any book to life!

As for the story, I didn’t read or listen to the first book, so I’m thinking it may have helped. However, the story was good!

All in all I’d recommend this book

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Jean Hanff Korelitz, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.

The narrator of this audiobook is Julia Whelan. Julia's voice is perfect for this story! Her voice conveyed the perfect blend of innocence with just a touch of the sinister. I far preferred her narration style to the narration style of The Plot.

This is the 2nd installment to a series started with the novel The Plot which I reread before starting this novel. The story is told from Anna's point of view. I don't want to spoil the reveal of the first novel in this series but Anna is the wife of the main character from The Plot, Jacob. This novel can easily be read on its own. The reader is able to understand enough of the previous novel from clues in this novel to just start with this novel if they so chose. I prefer sequels that can make that claim. I rarely claim this, especially with a novel in this genre, but the sequel is better than the first book. I guessed the reveal in the first book, though I still quite enjoyed the novel. I had an idea on rereading the first novel in preparation for this which characters might make a return in this novel. I wasn't wrong about the characters that returned but I did not guess the major reveal at all. This works because it fills in and expands the story from the first novel.

I want to encourage readers to treat themselves and read the first novel in this series before this or after to truly enjoy the twisted nature of this story. I also hope that we'll perhaps get more novels cleverly drawn from this deeply twisted tale.
This is suspenseful with an unrelatable narrator, a dark backstory and worthy reveals.

Thank you to Jean Hanff Korelitz, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Normally I don't like sequels as much as the first novel, but The Sequel was even better than The Plot. I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plots and while The Sequel was less twisty it was just as much fun. Jean Hanff Korelitz really knows how to write a villain that you want to win. What a great follow up book.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

hank 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.

As far as the audiobook narration- it's Julia Whelan and she's always perfect. She takes everything to the next level!

This will be available on October 1st.

4.5 stars

If you like unexpected twists, deliciously bad protagonists, and a little fun poked at the industry of art, run (don’t walk!) to get your hands on THE SEQUEL.

Premise - You murder your daughter to assume her identity, but then your brother steals your story from you and tries to turn it into a writing career. Before he can, his professor steals it from him and turns it into his own breakout bestseller. Naturally, you marry said professor, murder him, and steal the profits back. But it’s never that easy, is it? Three murders in, Evan and Jake are dead and Anna has a problem. Someone seems to know something.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the incredibly talented Julia Whelan. She did not disappoint! She does a great job making the characters not only distinct, but making their voices add extra color to the characters - all her choices make complete sense with the personalities as written in the text, but add extra nuance, depth. I had some time for a nice stroll in the countryside for a portion of the book and listening to Whelan read the (absolutely addictive) story while surrounded by nature was such a treat.

Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is widely accepted, and even mentioned in this novel, that sequels are never as good as the original. Mostly. But not always. I liked The Plot, but wasn’t as impressed as most other readers but this continuation of the story is amazing. I don’t know if it was Julia Whelan’s impressive audiobook performance, or just that this one is not tied as much to a story within a story, but I really liked this novel. For those who haven’t read The Plot, it probably helps but it’s not completely necessary, since the novel holds on its own. The main character, Anna, is the widow of the author in The Plot. She is a manipulative, cold, immoral psychopath and I was really rooting for her. It made me feel conflicted, since rooting for such a bad person means that you’re standing against the good guys but this novel is so well written, the twists so perfectly structured and Anna so well developed, that I couldn’t help myself. Even the names of each chapter are insanely clever (I didn’t figure out what they were until the afterword). Back to Julia Whelan, she is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and she nails all the voices here. She makes Anna even more likable. Whether you’ve read the original or not, don’t miss this one.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Macmillan Audio.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Sequel by @jeanhanff @celadonbooks is an un-put-down-able psychological thriller, keeps you guessing from start to finish, anti-heroine triumph for any woman who has ever had a man profit off of your ideas. For fans of Gone Girl and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

This is the Sequel to The Plot, a @fallonbookclub selection that nearly all of my bookish friends read. A bit polarizing, I myself rated it three stars (I liked it, recommend) for a slow build up. Many loved it, others did not. I am going to write this review spoiling NEITHER The Plot NOR The Sequel. The one thing that bothered me about The Plot was; if someone tells you an idea for a book and then DIES….And then you take that four sentence idea, spend a year writing and editing a book of your own prose, how on earth is that plagiarism?? The person that writes the book is the author. Not the person with the idea. That whole concept of cat-mouse reeked of cancel culture to me, and I couldn’t get over that bothered me in the original book. I will say it again. The person that writes the book is the author.

The Sequel is Anna’s story. It is immensely satisfying, very suspenseful, an anti-heroine I cannot believe I was rooting for by the end. I want to re-read The Plot now that I know the rest of the story. Chapter titles are all names of sequels - of varying levels of success. Far exceeded my expectations.

Audiobook version from @macmillan.audio I listened in one sitting- @justjuliawhelan my QUEEN you are the Simone Biles of audiobook narrators. The change in voice acting between Anna’s inner dialogue vs the voice “mask” she wears as grieving widow/humble first time author. The SUBTLETY. Unbelievable. Pay her double.

The Sequel is worth reading, even if you didn’t love The Plot. It might just make you change your mind about it.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published October 1, 2024

#bookstagram #bookworm #bookreview #thesequel

And she's back! Anna Williams Bonner has done what she has to do to keep her secret (this is the story of The Plot). She's also written a successful book on her own terms. But just when she thought she was safe, Anna receives a letter that lets her know someone out there knows who she is and what she has done.

This was another wild ride. Anna is a very unlikeable character, but she is so good at being bad that you can't stop reading. I enjoyed this story.