Let’s start with the narrator, she did a great job on this audiobook!
I had no idea what to expect from this sequel, but I really enjoyed the ride and the twists.

I loved THE PLOT, the first book in this series, but honestly, I devoured THE SEQUEL! This book is a book lover's dream as Anna, the late Jacob Finch Bonner’s widow, decides to write a book and plunges us into the literary world. But oh, it’s so much more. The plagiarism that plagued her husband is still at play, but now someone is determined to out Anna and her past. She’s not about to let that happen.

Wow! This was juicy, vengeful, devious, and so well-crafted - I hung on every word. I loved all the literary references, but how it all came together was just brilliant. I hope more books in the series are coming soon - The Epilogue, The Afterword, give me something!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook, narrated by the remarkable @justjuliawhelan

I love partnering with @celadonbooks - thank you for a gifted book.

The Sequel is, true to its title, a great follow-up to The Plot. The stakes get higher for Anna as she follows in her late husband's footsteps and writes a novelization of her true crime. Unsurprisingly to anyone but her, this fame draws attention of the unknown person that accused Jacob of plagiarizing Crib, now coming after her in his absence. As she deals with simultaneously moving on from her life married to him and assuming his mantle of literary regard and fame, she must also keep retracing her steps to see who from her past might still know about her late brother, and even worse, her own past identity and trail.
This hunt leads to some creative scenarios, like creating an anthology of his writing students' comically horrible works and cringy book signing appearance. You'd think she would hide and at least go the Pynchon route in author photos, but her hubris prevents is and where that leads in very entertaining.
Her candor in narrating to us her mishaps, justifications, and creative ways of bumping off roadblocks is entertaining and a fun read.

The Sequel is the appropriately titled sequel to The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

"Anna Williams-Bonner is living the life of a literary widow -taking care of her late husband's book responsibilities. Going to book signings and fighting off the rumors of plagiarism. She decides to write her own book (how hard can it be?) It becomes immensely popular but brings her out of the shadows a bit. She begins to get messages and excerpts from a novel she thought was destroyed.. What does this person want and what will they do? They must know what Anna is capable of - she will not back down."

Anna is one of those characters with a dark side.. You might even describe her as a sociopath. She is willing to do anything to protect her story, even if some killing is needed. JHK gives us more background on Anna in this book. and you understand her a little. But Anna is still a jacked-up character.

Julia Whelan is outstanding as the narrator. So glad they made a change from the first book.

A wild, crazy ending you won't see coming.

while i liked The Plot well enough (i rated it 3 stars), i wasn't particularly excited for a sequel, but i thought i'd give it a shot. this is sort of a rinse and repeat of the plot (pun intended) from the first book. this book felt too long and unnecessary to be honest. as was the case with the first book, there wasn't a lot of tension, and the pace is rather slow. there were no new characters introduced, leaving everything feeling convenient. it also didn't have the meta/self-aware charm that the first book had, although there were a couple moments here and there. at least queen Julia Whelan made the narration great.

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK, THE SYNOPSIS OF THIS BOOK IS A SPOILER. therefore the rest of this review contains spoilers for The Plot. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

okay, so let's talk about the character of Anna. i feel like Hanff Korelitz wanted to make her a morally grey character (think Amy Dunne or Joe Goldberg), but she just misses the mark. Anna is just not interesting as a character and there is nothing to her aside from *still* wanting revenge on Evan and therefore Jacob. i also won't even go into the logistics of several people dying in/around her presence and the authorities don't bat an eye? i know she is living under a new identity, but really? there was too much disbelief to suspend regarding this part of the plot (and The Plot, as this critique extends to the first book as well). i can't help but compare this book to the first because there are so many similarities, but i just found Jacob to be a more interesting character.

The Sequel comes out October 1. thank you to Macmillan 2024 Audio Influencer Program for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this one. I read The Plot eagerly and couldn’t have predicted how it unfolded. but this one reminded me of “Whack a Mole”. When one thread was handled, another popped up.

Jake Bonner’s widow Anna has written a follow-up to his bestseller CRIB. After all, how hard could writing a novel be? To her surprise, it becomes a bestseller and she’s following in his steps, going on book tours and participating in author panels. But a problem begins when the past rears its ugly head, and by necessity her focus shifts to trying to handle one issue after another.

I listened to the audiobook, and Julia Whelan’s narration was absolutely superb, as usual.

My only negative is that I thought the situation could have been condensed. The whole thing kind of went on too long. Actually, it could easily have been part of the first book.

Four stars!

My thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy of the audiobook. My review is voluntary.

I couldn't contain my excitement when I got my hands on an advance copy of "The Sequel" by Jean Hanff Korelitz, the follow-up to the gripping "The Plot." If you haven't read the first book, you're missing out!

"The Plot" was an absolute page-turner, and the audiobook version was top-notch. Now, "The Sequel" delves into the aftermath of Jacob Finch Bonner's story, this time from the perspective of his widow, Anna. She's unexpectedly drawn into a web of intrigue when she decides to write her own book, and the consequences are more intense than she imagined.

Anna, a character with layers upon layers, will draw you in with her emotional journey. Despite her morally ambiguous actions, you'll find yourself rooting for her. At least, I did! I couldn't put this book down. Although I still have a soft spot for 'The Plot,' 'The Sequel' is a worthy successor that will captivate you from start to finish. I highly recommend immersing yourself in both of these books, ideally back-to-back.

The experience of reading and listening to the audiobooks simultaneously was not just fantastic, but also deeply engaging. I'm grateful to Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this thrilling journey!

#TheSequel #Jean Hanff Korelitz #Julia Whelan #MacAudio2024 #MacmillanInfluencerProgram #macmillanaudio #MacmillanPublishers
#CeladonBooks

Dear The Sequel,
The Plot was such a unique concept for a book that I was really sure what to expect with you. I didn't know where else the story could go. But you did a great job of continuing the suspense of the first book but with a new protagonist. I was surprised at the new spin on the story, and the perspective Anna had to offer to the events of The Plot and how she explained away her actions. Despite the fact that you had the same story at your core, you surprised me with some of your twists and turns.

Oh, Jean Hanff Korelitz, I love your metafictional satire so, so much. I'm here to say that, although The Sequel wasn't quite as good as The Plot, it came so, so close.

The Sequel follows Anna Williams-Bonner in the wake of the death of her husband, bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner. Anna decides to write a bestseller of her own -- how hard can it be, after all? -- and finds herself thoroughly enjoying all facets of her subsequent grieving widow/literary darling status. (Well, except for all those annoying, clingy fans who want their books signed, that is.) But then her past intrudes, in the form of excerpts of a novel that should no longer exist: a novel that threatens to upend the life she's so meticulously constructed. And Anna will stop at nothing to protect her story.

Technically, The Sequel could work as a standalone, but you'll be missing some important context if you haven't already read The Plot. And although the same can't be said for all sequels, this particular sequel feels completely necessary. The Plot was satisfying in and of itself, but The Sequel gave me what I didn't even realize I desperately wanted: a villain origin story.

And make no mistake, Anna is definitely a villain...or an anti-heroine, if you prefer. And yet, I found myself rooting for her -- buying into her justifications for her actions, hoping she'd outwit the next person intent on destroying her. I do love a well-written sociopath, and Anna is so psychologically interesting, narcissistic, and unashamedly self-interested that I couldn't help but be on her side. There's a sense, as things go along, that Anna has lost sight of why she is even doing the things she does; she's so focused on self-preservation, but it's no longer clear what she is trying so hard to preserve. I was left with the feeling that Anna will never be satisfied -- but I was satisfied with that, if that makes sense.

I paired my reading with the audiobook read by Julia Whelan, who voiced Anna impeccably and who, as always, gave a flawless performance overall. She is the perfect narrator to give voice to Jean Hanff Korelitz's writing -- which is astoundingly good, conversational but so incisive, and full of sly insights about the inner workings of writing and publishing. The Sequel is smart and riveting and darkly funny -- and pay close attention to the chapter titles, which are absolutely brilliant. Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the early copies.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful sequel to The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, with the audio perfectly narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars rounded up!

After the death of her husband, bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner, Anna Williams-Bonner has calmed the waters about his possible plagiarism. Then she writes her own novel, The Afterword, which starts to receive much success. But then she begins to receive excerpts of a novel that should not exist. Someone knows too much.

I loved The Plot and this book is just as fabulous. Jean Hanff Korelitz is a master at giving us twisted but realistic characters and spreading breadcrumbs throughout the book. Just like The Plot, this is so creative and will have you chasing your tail! Anna is definitely not likable but, just like a train wreck, you won’t be able to look away. It’s been a while since I read The Plot and I’m sure it would be even better to read these two back to back, but the author gives enough information to enjoy it as a standalone as well. Julia Whelan made the audiobook a masterpiece, as she always does, and I enjoyed being able to switch between the two formats. I also loved the names of the chapters being sequels, with a helpful list in the back of the book. More creativity points! A must read!

I enjoyed this even more than the first! It's not as packed with twists and turns as its predecessor, which actually works to its benefit in my opinion (my head was spinning when I read the synopsis of the first one on Wikipedia to refresh my memory). Being inside Anna's head is a fascinating experience - she's a total psychopath, but she's humanized in a way that kept me super engaged. The book drags a little around the 3/4 mark, but the second "reveal" bought me right back in and I felt really satisfied by the end. A few times I wished I was reading this physically so the timeline of the flashbacks was less confusing, but ultimately I would not sacrifice the experience of Queen Julia Whelan's narration for anything.

If you loved The Plot, you will definitely enjoy The Sequel.

The story is complex at times, requiring my undivided focused attention. I will admit I had to restart a few sections several times, but it was completely worth it. Jean Hanff Korelitz expertly crafted a sequel that lives up to the OG!

I absolutely loved the chapter titles, the names so creative.

I was surprised to find The Plot had a second book, The Sequel. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the audiobook from Netgalley. It is read by Julia Whelan, who is phenomenal.

I admit The Plot was only a three star read for me back in 2018. While I enjoyed it, the twists weren't hard to figure out and Jacob Finch Bonner annoyed me. But compared to many books from before the pandemic I actually could remember details from The Plot. The Sequel is just as much of a twisty dark story. Only now it's Jake's widow, Anna Williams-Bonner, the reader is on the journey with to keep the world from learning about the true origins of Jake's bestseller, The Crib. At first Anna was annoying, but by the end of the book I was rooting for her. Though that means I've fallen for her charms because she's a completely unreliable narrator. I saw hints of Joe Goldberg (The stalker in You by Caroline Kepnes for those who don't know) in Anna and it was refreshing for a female to behave in this fashion.

The chapter titles being other book sequels was perfection -chef's kiss!

This was a quick, entertaining read. It's a must for fans of The Plot.

I've been a huge fan of Jean Korelitz's novels since A JURY OF HER PEERS, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER, and THE WHITE ROSE. She is such a versatile, engaging, and skilled storyteller. THE SEQUEL is her first sequel and she handles the follow-up to THE PLOT so well, masterfully ripping the scar tissue off old secrets.

The Sequel is a fun, fast-paced story that continues where The Plot left off, this time with Anna as the main character. Let's get one thing out of the way - this is not a book for those who haven't read The Plot. Read that first, otherwise the intricacies and plot points of this story will largely be lost on the reader.

Ok, so for those of you who already read The Plot: I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Korelitz is a good storyteller and I sped through the novel, eager to find out what would happen next. She is a keen at observing small social cues and behaviors, and that is a real strength of the book. All that said, the plot of this novel more than strains credulity, and at many times it felt like she was going back and re-writing characters from the first novel to make new plot-points make sense. It read as though she did not anticipate the plot-points in THIS book when she wrote the first, which is ultimately too bad because it would have made for a more complex and satisfying read. Still, I enjoyed this, even if I found some of the characters' conclusions and decisions to be a little too convenient. Also, the cynicism about the publishing industry, readers, and writers generally was pretty biting. Yes, it came from the POV of the anti-hero main character, but after reading this you certainly won't catch me trying to get Ms. Korelitz to sign a book at any upcoming festival, lest I be judged as harshly as one of the people depicted here.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my thoughts! And thanks to Julia Wheelan for being an excellent narrator.

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a gripping follow-up to her bestseller, The Plot. This novel dives into the life of Anna Williams-Bonner, who is now living comfortably off the royalties of her late husband, Jacob Finch Bonner, a renowned novelist. However, Anna’s peace is shattered when she publishes her own debut novel, The Afterword, and begins receiving mysterious excerpts from a novel that should no longer exist.

Korelitz masterfully blends suspense and satire, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and darkly humorous. The story is told from Anna’s perspective, offering a chilling glimpse into the mind of a character who is far from what she seems. The plot twists are cleverly woven, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Anna confronts her past and the secrets she has tried to bury.

I listened the the audiobook version of the book, compliments of Celadon Books. The narration of Julia Whelan truly added to my enjoyment of this book.

The novel is a wickedly entertaining exploration of the literary world, filled with barbed characterizations and ironic twists. Korelitz’s sharp writing and keen observations make The Sequel a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers and literary fiction.

I didn't expect a sequel to The Plot to work, but this one certainly did. In the very well narrated audiobook,, told entirely from Anna's perspective, you enter the thought process of her widowhood and her own writing success with her novel The Afterword. Perhaps a bit over the top, I found it enjoyable and will definitely recommend.

This audiobook was quite the page turner, does that make sense? Having read and enjoyed 'The Plot' I was quite intrigued as to how the author is going to spin a sequel. What happened previously in 'The Plot' is skillfully woven into this story triggering your memory. This story revolves around Anna Williams-Bonner, the wife of the late best-selling author, Jacob. Anna also writes a story of reflection after Jacob's suicide which also becomes a best seller. Anna has her life all neatly tied in a bow until she doesn't. When things start to unravel for her, she does her best to keep her past hidden. I loved the mystery and suspense created as Anna tries to untangle a mess seemingly coming from beyond the grave. Great narration in this audiobook as well.

A taut follow up to "The Plot." I was invested, but I think this would be tough for anyone who hasn't read its predecessor to follow.

Jean Hanff Korelitz is brilliant. I read and enjoyed The Plot; I loved The Sequel. I don't want to spoil this for others but if you enjoy mysteries or psychological dramas you will love this. Read The Plot first and then enjoy this one even more. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my opinions.