I remember when The Plot came out, and it blew my mind. The idea of the story and the way it was written captivated my attention and stayed with me all this time. There’s just something about a book with an ethical dilemma at the center of the story, well-developed characters who are all at least a bit morally gray, and a story within a story that made the first book a really enjoyable read for me. So I couldn’t wait to dive into this one.

The audiobook is narrated by one of my favorite narrators in the entire world, Julia Whelan. She has the type of voice that makes me want to listen to her narrate all day long, and I partially credit her for my finishing this audiobook in such a short period of time. I love how she embodies her characters and breathes life into the story in her own unique way.

The other factor that kept me listening to this book around the clock was the plot, no pun intended. After the shocking events of the last book, now we get to see more of what is going on in Anna’s life, and her thoughts as well. This story really dives into her backstory, and while she can easily be viewed as a villain, it was also really hard to read this entire book in her voice and not empathize with her. Reading a story in her voice put me in her shoes, and made it really easy to understand what and why she did what she did.

Learning more about Anna herself was fascinating. We hear fictionalized accounts of her backstory in The Plot, but this book gives Anna agency to tell her own story, and to show what the fictionalized account got right and what it got wrong. But as she writes her own book, a threat comes in the form of an anonymous Post-It note, followed by a manuscript of a story that is nearly the same as her own life story. Throughout the book, she plays a dangerous cat and mouse game with the mysterious sender of the note and manuscript. It was a constantly tense story after Anna receives the note, with the tension ratcheting up towards the end of the book, even as she is living the busy life of a hyped debut author.

Overall, this is a fantastic story. It was tightly plotted, with a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming. This book keeps the story introduced in book one moving forward, without feeling drawn out, overdone, or boring. I really enjoyed the mystery of the story, both finding out the real story of Anna’s life, where the threat was coming from, and who the bigger threat really is: Anna or the anonymous sender? Korelitz remains a fresh, innovative, and distinctive voice in the genre. I recommend this if you liked The Plot, mysteries featuring anti-heroes or morally gray characters, stories within stories, and high tension plot lines.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Ok, first, I would like to apologize to the author because, despite the fact that I loved her first novel, when I saw this (aptly named) sequel, I was a little disappointed. I didn’t think The Plot needed a sequel and would have preferred something original. Obviously, the author anticipated this, as there are plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments debating the merits of sequels. But I would like to readily admit that I was totally wrong.

My main concern with a sequel is always that it has the potential to ruin the original (at least for me). But learning more about Anna, her past and her motivations, only adds to the original story. It is no easy feat to get the reader to want to spend time with such a morally gray character, and even at times feel sympathy for her (maybe even root for her?), but the author manages to achieve that here.

I loved how meta this book was with plenty of literary references that every book lover will enjoy. I particularly enjoyed the chapter titles as sequel titles to well-known novels.

This was an excellent audiobook that I raced through in less than two days. I highly recommend for anyone who loves literary thrillers like The Plot (duh), Yellowface, Ladder to the Sky, and Who is Maude Dixon?.

Narrated by one of my favorites, Julia Whelan, “The Sequel” is a solid sequel to “The Plot”. Anna is not a good person but she’s just short of being an unsympathetic character because here earlier life seems not to have been a good one. Of course, it’s hard to say if her own recollection is truer than Evan’s story because she’s not to be trusted. The ending clearly left room for a third installment (which might be a good working title) and I look forward to reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy

Jean Hanff Korelitz does it again with "The Sequel"! If you loved "The Plot," you’re definitely going to want to dive into this one. Though I’ll admit, I didn’t love it quite as much. But don’t get me wrong, it’s still a wild, twisty ride worth every page (or in my case, every minute of the audiobook, thanks to the brilliant narration by Julia Whelan.

Here’s the gist: Anna Williams-Bonner is living the high life as a "literary widow" after the death of her husband, Jacob Finch Bonner. She’s enjoying those royalty checks, and oh, by the way, she’s written her own bestselling novel. NBD, right? Except... it turns out her past isn’t quite as buried as she thought. Someone’s out there, stirring the pot with some very creepy skeletons from Anna’s closet, and it’s threatening to blow her perfect new life to bits.

The story kicks into high gear when Anna starts getting excerpts from a novel that should’ve disappeared along with her late husband’s secrets. Korelitz serves up some seriously delicious suspense, weaving in clever satire about the publishing world while peeling back the layers of Anna’s devious and ruthless side.

Now, let’s talk about Julia Whelan—she’s one of my favorite narrators, and she absolutely nails it here. She has this amazing way of making you root for a character, even when you know they’re up to no good.

While I didn’t love The Sequel as much as The Plot, it’s still packed with the same kind of twists and tension that made Korelitz’s first book so addictive. The pacing is spot-on, and there were definitely moments where I had to pause and think, “Wait, WHAT?!” The only reason it’s four stars and not five is because The Plot set such a ridiculously high bar. But honestly, if you enjoyed that first book, you’re going to get a kick out of this one too.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook via the NetGalley app. Go grab a copy—you'll enjoy it!

Two words: Julia Whelan. She is just fantastic. I really enjoyed this audiobook and couldn’t stop listening. I was hooked from the first minute! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

Well this was fun!

I really enjoyed both THE PLOT and THE LATECOMER - different books (and genres!) to be sure, but Jean Hanff Korelitz's writing just works for me. So I was cautiously excited for THE SEQUEL.

This is, naturally, a sequel - I skimmed the last two chapters of The Plot before getting into it; I think I may have felt lost otherwise.

Between Julia Whelan's narration and JHK's writing, it was easy for me to get into the book. There was one part in particular in which I struggled to stay engaged via the audiobook and was glad I had the print to switch to (I'm not sure if that's due to the voice Whelan was doing for a certain character or the way the scene was written). Otherwise I don't think you can go wrong with either mode.

The plot and characters were pretty dark, but deliciously so. If you need a likable main character, this may not be a book for you.

I burned through this puppy real fast and really enjoyed the ride. Our MC is such a likeable yet unlikable character struggling to keep her past under wraps while living in the spotlight as a new author riding on the buzz of her late wildly successful husband's suicide. Shocker, her past just won't stay under wraps... I'm hopeful for a third installment. You can't tell me our MC Is going to keep her nose clean.

Riding on the fame of her late husband’s coattails, Anna Williams-Bonner has written her own novel. A novel that quickly becomes popular, a novel that has brought someone out of the woodwork of her past. Hadn’t she put the past behind her? Hadn’t she insured that nothing could touch her? She’s missed something along the way and now someone is tormenting her, someone that knows the truth. Setting out on a journey into her past, she’s determined to find out just exactly who she’s dealing with and to settle the score once and for all no matter what it takes. This was a dual read/listen that was narrated perfectly by Julia Whelan making it a great listen as well as a great read. Thank you to Celadon Books, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and an ALC of this book.

Although I usually like Korelitz's books, I really didn't like The Plot. I don't remember why exactly, but I know I didn't like the main character, Jacob Finch Bonner. A few months ago I started reading about The Sequel. People were excited...and I began to be excited myself. When I saw the audiobook on Netgalley, I decided to give it a try.

I'm glad I did.

Anna Williams-Bonner is the widow of author Jacob Finch Bonner. She has been inspired to write her own semi-autobiographical novel based on her husband's death by suicide. He had been driven to despair by anonymous accusations that he had plagiarized his best selling book and now Anna is trying to pick up the pieces. Although to outsiders Anna is a sympathetic, tragic figure finding unexpected success after tragedy, this outward persona is just a disguise for the ruthless person beneath.

Readers will be taken on a thrill ride as Anna's devious plans play out. She's definitely not a likeable character but I did enjoy watching her story unfold.

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.