My book club has been discussing how books get published and the lengthy process for the same. This book came to me at a fortuitous time. In The Plot, the book written by Jean Hanff Korelitz, we have writers, authors, writer’s block, stories, struggle, publishing, and most importantly…where book ideas are born. I can’t give away too much except to tell you that this is a book within a book and is very good. What a great idea and a unique premise. The Plot is thrilling with twists that are on point. I was hooked from beginning to end. I once heard an author say that sometimes ideas come to authors, and they may appear or have once been a snippet shared with another author. I wish I had her exact words, but this is a NY Times best-selling author, and I found this statement fascinating. The author of The Plot writes: “The superstition held that if you did not do right by the incredible story that had chosen you, among all possible writers, to bring it to life, that great story didn’t just leave you to spin your stupid and ineffectual wheels. It went to somebody else. A great story, in other words, wanted to be told.” READ THIS BOOK. The publication date is set for May 11th. It’s going to a best-seller. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC but my review and opinions are my own without bias. #ThePlot @netgalley @jeanhanff #writers #bookplot #ideas

Wow, doesn't seem adequate to describe my enjoyment of this book! I absolutely devoured this book. I found Jake to be a very compelling character. The twist at the end was so shocking that it left me reeling. I never saw it coming which is the mark of an excellent story.

Elegantly crafted and filled with smart details, The Plot is an engaging puzzle that fully fulfilled its wild goose chase premise. It is worth mentioning this is definitely more of a slow-burn mystery with a literary bent, than a twist-galore commercial thriller; but the deliberate pacing is justified for the well-realized cast of characters, and the planted hints throughout that actually lead towards its grim reveal (rather than the blindsided, but illogical 'twist for the sake of it' maneuver that often plagues stories of this genre).

Also, how subtly smart is the title and cover design (hardcover edition)? I 'get' it now.

Overall, The Plot feels extremely classy and substantial; not only does it dive deep into the process and psyche of authorship (inspiration vs. plagiarism), but also sustain a constant echoing of fiction vs. reality (love the meta detail, such as the fictional 'novel' in the story being published by the actual publisher in real life).

This might be an odd comparison, but the taut atmosphere of The Game with Michael Douglas came to mind numerous times—I would love to see a David Fincher adaptation of this!

Mystery lovers, add this one to your list now! I received an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an objective review, and absolutely LOVED this book! I'd read two others, Admission and Sabbathday River, by this author and enjoyed both, but this one blew me away. Jake Bonner is a writer, once hailed as a promising young novelist, but now reduced to teaching at a third-rate MFA program, and seemingly "stick" unable to make progress on another book. When one of his students describes a story he's planning to write, and crows that it's a guaranteed blockbuster, Jake finds himself in reluctant agreement, and can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and resentment that this arrogant young man does, in fact, appear to be the next rising star even as Jake's own star is falling fast. But years go by, and the expected blockbuster novel never materializes. Jake's curiosity leads to a Google search, and he discovers that the student is dead, has been dead, in fact, since just a few months after they met, leaving his amazing story unwritten. Who "owns" a story? Who has the right to tell it? Jake can't resist this opportunity, and convinces himself that this story needs to be told, launching himself on a glorious resurrection of his career. And then he receives a message accusing him of theft and threatening to make the accusation public.

Korelitz has developed a very compelling plot and interesting characters, interspersing the narrative with short selections from Jake's novel. She managed to keep the suspense going until the very end, though I'll admit to having some suspicions about the history of this story that were eventually confirmed. No spoilers here, but I'm certain other mystery lovers will enjoy this ride as much as I did.

Jacob Finch Bonner was once an up-and-coming novelist with a bestselling book. Too bad his second book was such a flop. Now he's a down-and-out professor with a fourth book he'll probably never finish and students he despises. There is one student that has particularly incensed him: Evan Parker. Evan is arrogant enough to think he doesn't need Jacob's help or his lackadaisical teaching. When Jacob hears the plot of Evan's novel, he realizes that Evan is completely right. That plot is a winner, which sends Jacob into an even further downward spiral of self loathing. Only, the book never gets published and Evan ends up dead. As Jacob sees it, there's no sense letting a perfect plot go to waste. So he steals it for himself and is catapulted to fame. The only problem is: Someone knows he stole the plot and is hellbent on making him pay.

This book was a chore to read. The main character was dull as dirt, as was much of the story.
As others have mentioned, this is a slow burn. A very slow burn. And not the good kind of slow burn that builds tension and suspense. The "Good lord will something happen already?" kind of slow burn. Because nothing of note happens until Part Three. Even then, I didn't find it to be a fast-paced read.

That being said, I did like the twist at the end. It was very well done and unexpected. It was just the getting there part that I found quite tedious. And, honestly, that could be in part due to me rather than the writer. I simply didn't enjoy Jean Hanff Korelitz's writing style and didn't find it engaging. Other people may love it, so I do recommend trying this book out for yourself.
I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys academia literature, stories of writers and slow burn thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a novel titled, “The Plot” one would naturally expect it to have a good one. But this book really contains plots within the plot which are strengthened by the excellent character development. Plagiarism, copying, adapting, paraphrasing, and inspiration can all be used by writers as they write, but Jake Bonner feels guilt as a result of meteoritic rise to the top of the best seller charts. Dealing with the guilt makes for a great read.

This is definitely one of my favorite covers. It cleverly reflects both the 'book within a book' aspect of the story, and the dual meaning of the word PLOT.
I have an advanced copy (thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books!!) and it doesn't say who the designer is but I'll update this when I find out.

I had never read anything by Korelitz before so I was happy to see that her writing is VERY engaging and in-depth.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘰𝘵 builds up great momentum and although a couple parts were kinda predictable it was a very entertaining story with a satisfying, no-mercy ending that I didn't see coming.

𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘺 11

Korelitz has another book, titled The Latecomer, expected in 2022 and I'm already looking forward to it!

Definitely a Suspenseful Book! This was really interesting, a book within a book. I person actually steals the plot of a book. Where will that lead? It left me guessing many times. The premise of the book was so unusual, but the intrigue it presents was terrific.

Thank you, NetGalley, Jean Hanff Korelitz for an ARC of this book.

This book was AMAZING! Even from the brief description, I knew it was a must read for me. Who can resist a book within a book? Not me and I was not disappointed.

Jake Bonner was at times sad and pathetic, but once he set out on a mission to find his virtual nemesis he was a dog with a bone.

This was such an interesting premise (the theft of a plot) and the consequences of writing someone’s life story, who by all accounts was dead! It had twists and turns galore. It keep me reading and thinking until the very last sentence.

Early in the book I thought I had figured out who Jake’s harasser might be, but I discounted my suspicion. The same thing happened at the end - I keep turning the remaining few pages thinking “this is not going to end like this”, but you’ve got to read and chew on it yourself. You will not be disappointed.

A big thank you to Net Galley for offering me this opportunity.

It's been a while since I've stayed up late to finish a book, but I had to know how Jean Hanff Korelitz's "The Plot" ended before I closed my eyes last night!

Not having published anything worthy since his successful first novel, Jake Finch Bonner has been reduced to teaching a low-residency MFA program at a rural Vermont college teaching creative writing.His first year he encounters Evan Parker, an arrogant young man, who claims to have conceived a plot that can't help but to be the best selling book of all time and shares the plot with his instructor. Several years later, Jake unexpectedly finds an obituary for Evan and decides to write the book himself.

"Crib" becomes an enormous success and Jake is busy touring the country enjoying his new found celebrity when anonymous messages begin to arrive. Someone knows.

Our disingenuous hero thinks he can keep his guilty secret which only undermines everything he has achieved. When he finally decides to track down the person who is threatening him with exposure, the twists and turns tighten.

"The Plot" is devilishly clever. Inserted sections from "Crib" add to the overall arc of the story. Interesting characters, sophisticated writing, a glimpse into world of publishing and writers, plus a fascinating plot makes for a must-read book in 2021.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Celadon Books /Net Galley for an honest review.

4.5 stars
Do writers own their words? Of course. But do writers own a plot or an idea? Of course not, right? Most of us would consider it ludicrous to think a writer owns a plot. But what if someone does not? What if they feel wronged? How far will they go?

Writer Jacob Finch Bonner is a sad sack. He was a one-hit wonder, but now finds himself struggling to write anything and teaching at a third rate MFA program. Then his luck turns. Jake seizes the opportunity to take (‘steal”?) a plot as his own, a plot so daring and different that it is certain to be a hit. He writes his book, and as predicted, it becomes a huge bestseller. Life is finally looking good for Jake.

However, despite the fact that every word of the novel was his own, he lives in constant guilt and fear that his secret will be discovered. And indeed, someone does know. The anonymous “Talented Tom” (very clever play on words, as the reader discovers), who begins to send him threatening messages. The threats eventually escalate, risking Jake’s career and future.

The cat and mouse games begin as Jake begins to investigate on his own to discover the identity of the person sending him the letters. What follows is a wild ride that ends at a shocking conclusion. Truth really is often stranger than fiction. I enjoyed the plot within the plot with chapters from Jake’s book. Each entry gets us closer to the truth.

As an aside, I didn’t find “the plot” to be that daring or different, but maybe that is a bit of humor from the author? Maybe all authors think THEIR plot is revolutionary, when it is not? As in this book, it’s not the plot, but the way it is told that makes for a terrific read.

This was a slow start, but the payoff was worth it. As a buddy read, Marialyce and I enjoyed the author’s sly commentary on a writer’s life and the publishing world. Who owns a story? Who has a right to tell it? It’s certainly a timely topic that begs discussion.

Most readers will guess the revelations to come and will wonder why Jake is such a dimwit. The journey itself is the fun of this novel within a novel. But just wait, the final scenes are jaw-dropping!

Plagiarism is a crime that can often haunt the perpetrator. This is what I kept thinking as I was plowing through the pages of this superb novel. Could not put It down!

The Plot is an intriguing and suspenseful story about a stolen story with a realistic approach to the struggle of making it big in the writing world. I ate this story up! There is just something so fun about a plot that discusses another plot. It's a two-and-one deal that did not fail. The protagonist, Jacob Finch Bonner demonstrates the reality for writers in the current writing industry. We get to see the ups and downs of his career while following the thrill of the plot of his book Crib. I did realize the last twist pretty early on but it didn't destroy my reading experience. I absolutely adored this and this book will most definitely be on my top ten favorite thrillers of 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Jean Hanff Korelitz for the arc!

Just finished “The Plot” and I’ve got book depression. I finished this in about 2 days. It was a story within a story about a writer who “steals” a plot idea for his novel, the idea being a true story of Murder. This book is so twisty and fun.

I just finished this book and have to say, I really sped through the last half of the book. While slow moving in the beginning, the book's pace picks up as it nears the middle and then never lets up off the gas petal.

I figured out the "who" fairly quickly and easily, but the "why" was an exciting trip to discover. I really enjoyed how the ending played out and the author didn't take an easy path to end the book. Very well done and I will certainly be keeping my eye out for more from the author.

Jacob Bonner was a successful book when it was first published. Unfortunately his second book did not garner the same attention and he now mentors students in a small college in Vermont. When he encounters an arrogant student by the name of Evan Parker who boldly declares that he has a plot that is a surefire bestseller and he doesn’t need Jacobs’ guidance, the teacher is sure it is the overconfidence of the young. Then during a one on one counseling session, Evan reveals the plot and Jacob enviously realizes he is right. He waits to hear news of the novel but it never comes and he learns that Evan Parker has died and has no remaining family. Jacob does what any writer with a story that good, he writes it and is everything he knew it would be. He is giving talks, on cross country publicity tours and even has a movie deal. He even is invited to be a guest on a radio show and meets a woman he begins dating.
Then he starts receiving anonymous emails from a person who only identifies themselves as “ Talented Tom” accusing him of stealing the story. Jake is afraid of being exposed and he goes looking for answers about Evan Parker and who is behind the threats.
This was such a good book and while I did begin to suspect the reveal I could not read fast enough to find out if I had guessed correctly. The story is told with excerpts of the book Jacob wrote and titled “ Crib” in alternating chapter and it is a doozy!
This is the author of “ The Undoing” with Nicole Kidman and High Grant and if you enjoyed that one don’t miss this!
Thank you to #netgalley and #celadonbooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This is due for publication on May 11, 2021 to get your summer reading started off right!

This was SUCH a good read!!! The writing is smart and intriguing - I was drawn in from the first page. An added bonus was that the protagonist - a struggling novelist named Jacob - has a wry sense of humor that immediately made him relatable. I was pulling for him from the start. The set up was very well done, and once the mystery begins it’s a page turner with lots of twists. And while the author seems fine with revealing much of where the story is headed (there are abundant clues) how you get there is delightfully tricky. You will be left thinking about this story long after you finish the book. An excellent choice for book clubs, readers who enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the writing life, and anyone who doesn’t mind being a little bit creeped out by what human beings are capable of when something they want is in jeopardy. Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So, I figured out the plot in The Plot and for that, I was disappointed. However, I really enjoyed The Plot within The Plot and was excited to hear more of the story within a story from struggling author turned MFA professor, Jacob "Finch" Bonner. Jake, it turns out, is a bit of an opportunist and set forth a series of unfortunate events when he was accused of stealing from another author's idea. Jake is a bit of a nervous wreck when a social media presence threatens to expose his lie. Still, he forges onward attempting to turn the proverbial table on his nemesis. Stay with this book til the end to find out if he is successful! Overall, this story was a quick read, and I was left not being sure who to feel sorry for in this book but also not really surprised by any of the turns.

Jacob Donner is a failed novelist, scraping out a living by teaching low-residency MFA programs at a declining university. When one of his students, an arrogant SOB, announces that he has identified a "can't miss" plot that is so breathtaking it is guaranteed success, Jacob is skeptical - until he hears the plot and realizes: yep. This is a story that will change publishing. "There are known to be only seven true plots in all of history," Jacob opines. "Until now."

Years later, even further into despair and wondering why this can't-miss book never came to be, Jacob does some googling and comes to realize: the author-to-be died, just a few months after taking Jacob's class.

And that plot? Well, it's just sitting there. Jacob figures: stories belong to whoever tells them. So he writes this one. And it does everything it was promised to do. Suddenly he's a bestselling author, friend of Oprah and Spielberg, touring the world. He even meets the girl of his dreams.

But then the email he's been dreading comes. You stole this story.

Someone knows what he did. And a cat-and-mouse game ensues, as the anonymous writer threatens to expose Jacob, and Jacob seeks to figure out: who is this person who knows the truth? And what do they really want from him?

I ripped through this book in a day; it is very readable. It is written both as the story of Jacob, and the story of "Crib," the book that Jacob eventually wrote, the book of the mythic magical plot. The "behind the scenes" stuff of the publishing industry, and the mindset of a delusional writer, was also really fun.

There are a few problems which kept me from giving it five stars. First, it is REALLY nervy to announce that you have uncovered a plot that CHANGES ALL PLOTS FOREVER, the FIRST ORIGINAL PLOT SINCE THE BIBLE... which is literally the claim of the book....not just a deluded author's claim, but a claim that is eventually backed up by every other reader in this world, from Spielberg on down.

I mean....it's impossible for anyone to live up to that claim, and this doesn't. That's a weird space to be in, and I wonder, why did the book have to go there? Why not just say "I've got a great breakthrough plot," and go from there? Why claim this is literally the ONLY NEW STORY IN HISTORY? I mean -- that's not possible. By definition. So it created a weird disconnect.

The other problem is....there's a few plot twists, both within the mythical book, and in the "real" book, the story of Jacob. To Ms. Korelitz's credit, I did NOT guess the plot twist of "Crib." However, the plot twist of Jacob's story was, I thought, incredibly obvious. And once that plot twist was revealed, the book ended.

So...a few shortcomings, and a big credibility problem, but still a fun thriller, especially if you love books set behind the scenes of the publishing and writing world (which I do!).

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for a review. I do recommend this book! Just with a bit of a sigh that some simple things could have been done to solve its problems.

This was so readable. It was well-written, straight-forward, and pretty perfectly paced. My main issue was how predictable it was. I was expecting a much more interesting/bigger twist (in both this novel and the story within the novel), but the foreshadowing was so strong and apparent. Despite that, I still really enjoyed the book. I do think the overall ethical dilemma of writing and ideas and their ownership would be a great book discussion in a classroom or book club.