“That was the thing about a private experience. You could speculate all you wanted. You could fictionalize. You could assume…But you couldn’t know for sure.”

I read The Plot, the first book in The Book Series, in 2021 and I loved it! The Sequel, quite literally a sequel, follows Anna Williams-Bonner, wife of The Plot’s protagonist Jacob Finch-Bonner, as she discovers her own literary success. I went back and read my review for The Plot and that really helped me reconnect with these characters and the storyline. So can you read this as a stand alone? Yes. Would it be much more enjoyable, though, if you’ve read The Plot? Also yes.

4.5 stars! This book was so compulsively readable! It is full of wicked games, twisty twists, very messed up family dynamics, and a whole lot of drama. I loved it!

The audiobook is narrated by the fantastic Julia Whelan so it is obviously flawlessly perfect. I would expect nothing less from her. Honestly I could listen to it again even though I know how it ends.

Thank you to a Netgalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the gifted book and ALC.

This was a lot of twists and turns. It felt like the author was writing the book and coming up with ideas spontaneously without any planning or thought. By the end I didn’t care who killed whom or who stole from who.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.

I read this both via audio and physical copy, and I really enjoyed it this way. I did not expect it to go where it did. I will say I was glad I did a re-read of The Plot via audio first, and as such you will really benefit from reading these in order. The Sequel has a slow build at the start, but then it gets crazy, and just as you think you understand what is going on, it gets really twisty and intense! I loved this one and all the crazy turns it took. It is worth noting that Julia Whelan narrates the audio, so you know she does this one justice!

How does an author follow up a breakout hit? The answer is quite simple: they write a sequel. It’s no surprise that Jean Hanff Korelitz has released a follow-up to her 2021 thriller The Plot, aptly titled The Sequel. I was utterly captivated by the original story of a struggling author who lifted a novel idea from a deceased former student, catapulting him to an enviable fame that most writers can only dream of. However, I must admit I was initially hesitant about The Sequel, especially considering how conclusive the first book's ending felt. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy from the publisher and eager to discover whether The Sequel could stand up to the brilliance of The Plot.

Anna Williams-Bonner’s life has taken a tumultuous turn in recent years. Her husband, Jacob Finch Bonner, enjoyed remarkable success with his novel, but that triumph was overshadowed by his personal struggles, particularly the plagiarism accusations that plagued him. Their marriage was brief, as Jacob succumbed to his demons and took his own life, leaving Anna to manage the aftermath. Now, she lives a comfortable life as a literary widow, benefiting from her husband’s royalty checks, with the plagiarism controversies finally fading away with his passing.

As Anna travels the country to keep her husband's memory and bestselling work alive, an innocent question from the audience sends her life spiraling back into familiar territory. When asked about her future plans, Anna panics and impulsively states that she wants to write a novel of her own. What begins as a spontaneous response quickly turns into an obsession for her. Surely, writing a bestseller can't be that difficult. Before long, Anna is immersed in crafting her own book, and The Afterword lands with her husband's agency, becoming yet another breakout success.

Just as Anna revels in her newfound fame, she receives a package containing excerpts from a book she believed she would never see again. Secrets from her husband’s past have resurfaced, threatening her life just as they once threatened his. With these revelations comes the risk of everything Anna has built crumbling around her. Who is behind this unsettling revival of the past? What do they want from her? She has no choice but to follow a trail of clues back into her past to safeguard her future.

I should never have doubted Jean Hanff Korelitz. She takes the themes introduced in The Plot and expands them in thrilling new directions. While The Sequel is indeed a follow-up, and readers will benefit most from reading the first book, even those who dive straight into this one will find plenty to appreciate. The novel operates on two levels. At first glance, it's a gripping thriller with moral ambiguity and a compelling mystery that drives the narrative. On a deeper level, The Sequel delves into themes of celebrity, creativity, and our insatiable desire for more.

The Sequel is remarkably self-aware. The author candidly acknowledges the literary hypocrisy of crafting a sequel to a bestselling novel while using that premise to critique the very nature of such efforts. This self-awareness makes the book feel genuine rather than preachy. While I don’t think The Sequel possesses the same irresistible hook that made The Plot so addictive, Korelitz doesn’t seem to be attempting to recreate that magic. Instead, she confidently delivers another clever page-turner that more than justifies its own existence. While sequels rarely match the original, I had no complaints about this one.

I read The Plot right before The Sequel, and so glad I did. The tie-ins are perfect, and the story you didn't want to end continues. The Sequel does justice to the first book, and answers questions still outstanding. You don't hear this often, but The Sequel was even better than the first book. This is just the right read for curling up and shutting out the rest of the world. Grab The Sequel on Oct. 1, and if you have not read The Plot, get that one too.

#TheSequel #NetGalley

“Sequels can be very enticing when the initial book has done well. But they’re never as good as the first book, are they?”

I really enjoyed this one very much! I quickly binged The Plot first and enjoyed the mystery and intrigue. I love when I get to come back together and see what the characters have been up to and Anna really, really fascinated me. There are twists and turns and glimpses into the publishing world and what its like to write a book which I always love to read about.

I also really, really enjoyed listening to this one with my ears. @justjuilawhelan really, really brought this story to life-as she always does- and that really made this story for me!

I listed to the ARC of The Plot and didn't even know this existed until it came up in my NetGalley feed and I'm so glad it did. From the perspective of Anna this time, who is obviously Not A Good Guy, you get sucked into this really casual pathology that is incredibly compelling.

You're sitting there thinking "oh man she's evil but also I'm completely on her side, this is great" and actually laughing out loud because the characterisation is so incredibly strong.

This is an excellent follow-up to an excellent book and if you're looking for something relatively quick and utterly engrossing, this will tick your boxes.

The narrator is Julia Whelan and she is one of my God Tier faves, she kills it in this without any issue whatsoever.

I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

This title was just as wicked as the first. I love it when a plan like this all comes together. An edge-of-your-seat read and it was just!

I did not read the first book "The Plot." However, I didn't feel as if that held me back from truly appreciating this read. I found myself hating the MC, she had a vendetta and wasn't going to let anyone stand in her way, written beautifully. Traversing the country, letting nothing stop her from keeping her past in the past. "The Sequel" opens the doors to the literary world while also providing us glimpses of the lengths one woman will go to remain hidden.

I liked this book. I hadn’t read the first book in the series yet I don’t feel lost. I actually wasn’t aware
This was a second book until I had mostly completed this one. I found Anna completely captivating. I couldn’t wait to see why she’d do next.

Summary: If you liked The Plot, you’ll probably also like The Sequel. If you didn’t like The Plot because you thought it was too simple, you might prefer The Sequel.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I enjoyed this book. The sense of humor, writing style, and the story overall were all exactly what I was expecting and I had a good time. The audiobook narrator was lovely as well.

The reason this book gets a 4 star (compared to the 4.5 I gave The Plot) is because I found it too confusing. In The Plot I guessed who Talented Tom was long before it was revealed, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. For me, there’s still suspense in a character not knowing something even if I as the reader have figured it out.

In The Sequel I didn’t figure anything out before it was revealed. Even as the reveal was happening I was sitting there thinking “Wait a second, who is that? What’s going on?” I didn’t get an “aha!” moment, I got an “oh, okay” moment.

I know there are people who want to be kept guessing until the final moment. There are people that want mystery books to be puzzles they can dissect and solve. For those people this book will be great. I simply prefer mysteries that I can figure out without the use of red string.

I think a major contributor to my confusion was trying to keep track of the whole Anna/Diana/Diandre/Rose/actual Rose situation. Again, I know there’s people that will enjoy trying to piece together what parts of which story are important. I, however, was lost. Maybe if I had read this physically it would’ve been easier to follow.

My only other issue with the book was that Anna’s solution to so many problems is murder. I get it, that’s her thing, but I was never worried about her getting caught because anyone suspicious of her was just going to end up dead. I would’ve liked to see her have to talk her way out of more situations. Maybe that would’ve made it too similar to the first book, but I liked the pervasive fear of being found out in The Plot.

The thing that makes these books stand out to me, and that I absolutely love, is the unserious writing/humor/whatever you want to call it. Sure, just poof an entire bestselling novel into existence. Those are notoriously easy to write. Just killed a guy? Oh no! Anyway. It’s amazing and I want more of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

✨ Publication date: October 1, 2024
✨ Genre: Thriller
✨ Steamy rating: Mild
✨ Profanity: Moderate
✨ Narrator: Julia Whelan

The Sequel is the second book in the somewhat dark murder series by Jean Hanff Korelitz. This isn’t a “who did it?” book. It’s a “how ya going to get away with it?” book.

I cannot provide details of the synopsis without spoiling the first book. Someone steals his dead student’s novel, which sets into motion an unthinkable chain of events.

This story is very creative. The characters are all very unlikeable, but that’s the point. It has blackmail, plagiarism, murder, and fake identity. I felt this was a slow burn opposed to a page turner. The ending was quick and exciting though.

Triggers: Murder, drugging, rape, and blackmail

Thank you @macmillan.audio for early access. I appreciate the partnership.

Read The Plot, even reread it, before diving into The Sequel!

Thank you to Celadon for the review copy of The Sequel, and to MacMillan Audio for the audio review copy, narrated by the incredible Julia Whelan. This was fantastic on audio, I was 100% engrossed on a road trip in August with Julia Whelan's amazing narration.

I’m a huge fan of Jean Hanff Korelitz. Her voice and writing style pull readers deep into the thoughts and mindsets of her characters—whether they’re heroes or villains—exploring their darker, sometimes snarkier, sides.

What really works in The Sequel is the intriguing exploration of what happens when someone starts taunting Anna, the murderous wife from The Plot. I loved the cat-and-mouse, chess-like game that unfolds once again. Though it serves as an extension of The Plot, The Sequel firmly stands on its own, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the book publishing world.

The pacing is excellent, seamlessly weaving in parts of that original manuscript that refuses to stay buried, while following Anna on her present-day book tour. As she becomes increasingly unsettled, the tension builds as she tries to figure out who is taunting her and what truths they know—truths she desperately wants to keep hidden. As always, Julia Whelan's narration is pitch perfect, bringing in just the right tone to Anna's darker edgier thoughts and attitudes and keeping me engrossed in the twists and turns as the plot unfolds.

The Sequel is indeed a sequel to the author’s earlier bestseller, The Plot. (In this case, yes, you do need to read The Plot in order to appreciate The Sequel.)

Recently widowed Anna Williams-Bonner is wrapping up the literary estate of her late husband when she decides, “How hard can it be? I can write a novel too.” Her auto-fiction proves to be a hit, in part because of her husband’s celebrity. Before too long, threats to reveal Anna’s true identity and the source of her narrative material begin showing up in signing lines, to her in-laws, to her editor. She frantically traces each missive, seeking to learn the identity of her tormentor.

Let’s be honest – Anna is a despicable character. Yet somehow, her cynical narcissism breeds a morbid fascination, not unlike the compulsion to rubber-neck at a gruesome traffic accident. Readerly ambivalence is compounded by Julia Whelan’s excellent portrayal of Anna. Whelan did more than read the audiobook; she performed it, displaying the snark and contempt that constitutes Anna. Don’t be surprised if this is a finalist for an Audie award.

This is part 2 in The Book Series. The Plot was good and should be read before The Sequel. I thought The Sequel was better, but the series is amazing! Bravo to the author and narrator!

Many thanks to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The plot thickens.

In book one of this series (The Plot), we followed has-been writer Jacob Finch Bonner as he stole the idea for a book, and then tried to navigate out of a mess of his own making. In this sequel (appropriately titled The Sequel) we jump right in where The Plot ended. The Sequel is also a novel of suspense with satirical undertones, many literary allusions, and much insightful humor regarding the lives of writers and the world of publishing.

However, this novel suffered from the same problem as the first: it is overwritten with too many details, inner dialogue, inconsequential things that do not help the story and only slow down the pace. I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Julia Whelan, and at times, I was tempted to fast forward though sections. However, Whelan is stunning in her ability to inhabit different characters and thanks to her acting chops I felt like I was watching a movie. I did want to find out what would happen and this time, I did not predict the twists.

Jean Hanff Korelitz is a very talented writer and the prose is excellent. I enjoyed this more than The Plot, mainly due to my realization that this is quite satirical (I somehow missed that when I read The Plot).

A fantastic audiobook and for once, a sequel that is even better than the original.

"The Sequel" is an actual sequel, following Korelitz's previous book, "The Plot". I'd need to re-read "The Plot" to sort out exactly which parts of "The Sequel" are completely new to this book and which are refreshers for readers like me who may not recall every detail of the earlier story, but I would definitely suggest NOT reading this book without first reading "The Plot", if you haven't already done so. The characters and events of "The Sequel" provide both a continuation and some backstory to the first book. Because I was listening to an ARC in audio format without chapter titles or clear indications of timeline, I was sometimes confused when the story backtracked to events in the past but continued to couch them in the present tense. That aside, I found this a compelling read with so many twists and turns my head was spinning! The main character is hardly sympathetic, though her history -- if you believe her version of that -- did evoke some sense of compassion. I was torn between wanting her to escape her past and wanting her to be caught and held accountable, and that made any possible ending just a bit unsatisfying. No spoiler here, you'll have to read for yourself to see which way her story ends.

Wow!
Talking about plots twists and unbelievably crazy characters. The best thing that stood up for me with The Sequel are the very notably known sequel titles of books. It was such a smart take and very interesting.
I was granted a chance to listen to an advance listeners copy from Celadon and Netgalley and boy! I feel lucky because The Sequel is narrated by no other than the one and only, Julia Whelan! When books are written good, it deserved to be narrated by the best and I got both of that with The Sequel!
I love the intense thrill same as the carefully curated back story for each and every chapter. It was a treat and I highly recommend!

An amazing follow-up to The Plot with a new voice telling her own story at last.

I loved the totally deplorable bad girl protagonist that was Anna Williams-Bonner (to use one of her many names). I feel a little guilty rooting for a woman who has gone from one murder to another, all to possess and protect her very shocking life story.

Although it would help if you have read the first book, the basics of that plot are used in this narrative as Anna comes into her own after writing her first novel as a sort of companion to her husband's bestseller. On tour, living on the proceeds of his success, and reveling in her well-earned new fame, Anna is suddenly beset with anonymous taunts and excerpts of a work in progress that she thought she had eradicated from existence. Does someone know? Well, that can't be allowed.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and her word choices. The way she describes Anna's thought processes and actions as well as the quirky descriptions fit the storyline and narrative so well. Defintiely told with wit and satire, the author also gives a nod to the cutthroat world of publishing.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC - both formats provided by the publisher. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and her voice brought so much quality to the production.

Definitely recommend. And I wonder, is this the end of the tale?

I would like to thank NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this audiobook.

I was a HUGE fan of Korelitz' first book, The Plot, and when I found out there was a 2nd book, I was so excited and couldn't get my hands on it fast enough! The first book was considered "insanely readable" which is absolutely true, so if you haven't read that one, I would recommend reading it first. It will definitely help with understanding the main characters and plot points.

The Sequel gets off and running with Jacob Finch Bonner's widow Anna post "Crib" success. She is moving through the 'grief' process and has recently become a literary success herself. But then the ghosts from her past come back to haunt her once again as she receives a suspicious note about her late brother and a manuscript that gives her "Crib"-deja vu. Much to her dismay, someone has connected the skeletons in her closet to the dead people she left behind and it's up to her to put it all to rest again. And she is determined not to let anyone destroy the new perfect life she's built in the wake of her husband's death.


This book was SO GOOD (allllmost as good as The Plot) with lots of good twist and turns, and a relatively likeable anti-heroine. The author did a great job of telling Anna's story and making her more human to the reader. The Sequel was incredibly well executed and well-written and filled in a lot of the holes and questions I had from the first book.

This book exceeded my expectations and if you loved the first one, you definitely need to pick this one up too! I have been working a lot, so I was bouncing between the eBook and audiobook formats, which is good because it's basically unputdownable. I couldn't read it fast enough and devoured it all in one day!

The audiobook version was great because the narrator did a fabulous job. Listening to her was like being sucked directly into the book yourself. Additionally, the pacing was good, and the suspense and tension was built up well along the way. The narrator also did a great job of bringing the characters to life, and making a rather unlikeable person (Anna) seem human and almost relatable. I actually ended up doing the majority of my 'reading' through the audiobook, because it was much more engaging than the eBook. However, the story itself is so good I would recommend it in either form.

I highly recommend this one to all my thriller-lovers and will be reading and/or listening to it in my October book club!