At first I didn’t realize that Jean Hanff Korelitz’ The Sequel was itself, a sequel. But a quick search will point you to The Plot and I highly recommend you read this book first. While I’m sure Korelitz’ includes enough bread crumbs for The Sequel to stand on its own, the protagonist Anna Williams is so intriguing it’s worthwhile to dive in to both books in the series to better understand her complex psyche.
Both novels center around the creation of a novel with a too true to life, gruesome plot line and a blackmail scheme to expose it. Korelitz writing is so effortless to read. I was frequently awed, experiencing her mastery of the written word, much like Stephen King. I guarantee you’ll have a book hangover after this one and other author’s attempts at prose will pale in comparison.

Korelitz creates a heroine and villain that readers will cheer for with a driving plot that you won’t be able to walk away from. I highly recommend it!!

Considering I loved the Plot, I figured I would love The Sequel. I was right.
This book grabs you from the get go, like the first, and keeps you invested and entertained along the way. I have to say, I didn’t loveeeee the end, but I loved following Anna through her new found fame as an author herself. Would totally recommend! I enjoyed the journey she goes on to keep her secrets so much. Thank you Netgalley for the AAC! Great first read of October!

"Anna Williams-Bonner watched...the writers, as they...offered up laughably shallow praise to the man who'd just read to them. Then, before her eyes, the group defaulted to their eternal topics: the shortcomings of their former teachers, the inadequacies of the publishing world, and inevitably the writers they knew who happened not to be present...And she thought: If those idiots can do it, how f$cking hard can it be?"

So begins our journey with Anna, the debut author, widow to a renowned writer, and the catalyst for the bestselling The Plot by clever plotting author Jean Hanff Korelitz. Now this brilliant writer gives us The Sequel, where Anna is truly the entitled star.

Though the author does a seamless job explaining what happened in The Plot so you understand Anna's determination to keep her deadly secrets, reading or listening to it before The Sequel will only enhance your enjoyment of this twisty WTF thriller.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Reading how Anna so easily dismisses, and just ends, those who may try to end the life she has meticulously created is a fascinating study of entitlement. She believes in her right to live at the cost of everyone else. Yet I often rooted for her despite her murderous ways. My reaction is a testament to the creative brilliance of this masterful storyteller.

Having the award winning voice actress Julia Whelan, a favorite actress, performing the words of a favorite author, is pure joy. There's no one better to bring Anna to her full potential as a classic villain.

I haven't really told you The Plot because The Sequel deserves to be experienced with all its surprising twists. Just know you will be entertained, shocked, and impressed by this perfectly crafted, brilliantly plotted sequel.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Sequel (The Book Series #2)
By Jean Hanff Korelitz, narrated by Julia Whelan

Following on the heels of the first book, The Plot, we now have The Sequel. This second story works fine as a standalone because the necessary to know past events are explained here, actually adding more information due to a different POV, but for the full experience, I would suggest reading the first book before reading this one. This is Anna Williams-Bonner's POV as she navigates and manipulates life after the death of her husband, bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner.

Anna is not torn up about the death of her husband. Oh no, being the extremely dysfunctional nutjob that she is, Anna's husband being dead is a "feature, not a bug". Anna is very happy living off her husband's perpetual earnings and the fame that comes with being the grieving widow of a famous man who has committed suicide. She does throw a glitch into this easy to float through life when she flippantly mentions she is writing a book, something she had no intention of doing. But once she's said this enough times, she knows she needs to cough up the goods and being the grieving wife of a famous suicided author grants her instant passes into workshops and such that allows her to fake it until she makes it, book wise.

Once Anna has written her novel, with all the literary acclaim that comes with having her husband's former backers backing her all the way, Anna is living the life of a exalted published author. But, the past comes back to haunt her. Just as her husband was accused of plagiarism, now it's happening to her. She's seeing excerpts of a novel she thought she's wiped from existence, just as she's wiped certain people from existence, to keep her past a secret. This can't be happening! Who, among the living, can possible know of this damaging novel that is haunting her now, again? Never fear, Anna is not to be deterred, she's on a mission to wipe out any knowledge of her past and no one will stop her.

Julia Whelan's narration is just what is needed for the POV of Anna. She sounds like herself when narrating Anna, which is just the way Anna needs to be narrated, so matter of fact, so calm and firm in her justifications for all that she does. But then Julia does a great job with the other characters, too, giving each one a distinctive voice. I was able to both listen to the audiobook and have a physical copy of the book on hand, best of both worlds when enjoying a book. This was a really good addition to the first book and I wonder if there is more to come in the future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the print and audio of this ARC.

The Sequel is the follow-up novel to Jean Hanff Korelitz's novel The Plot. Anna Williams-Bonner is busy promoting her late husband's book when she finds herself being asked consistently what she plans to do with her career. She ends up writing a book! This is not kindly regarded by all authors as she is perceived to have received a leg up in the publishing world due to connections she forged through her husband. However, Anna is not someone who lets the little things get in her way. She proceeds to do what she wants how she wants and this makes for a thrilling novel. I listened to the audiobook and found it an easy listening experience. The narration is pleasant to listen to and no annoying quirks to distract me from the story. Read and enjoy!

I LOVED The Plot, and I loved this. Maybe a hair less than The Plot. But truly only a hair.

IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE PLOT, YOU ***MUST*** READ IT FIRST!!!

I’m not kidding. I was so glad I did. This book is so much better for having done so.

The character continuation from book 1 was perfection. I loved that this felt like a straight continuation of it, even though The Plot ended in a finite way. The plot twist was both unexpected—and also kind of not, but surprising anyway. The loose ends were tied up nicely in an ugly little bow. (That’s a complement…but if I say more it may give things away).

The narration was perfect in both books—After loving Kirby Heyborne in the first, I was initially hoping the same narrator would do both, but holy wow Julia Whelan was perfect. Gritty, edgy, and perfect for Anna.

Overall, I absolutely am obsessed with this series and would wholeheartedly recommend it!

Now that Anna is a literary widow she has to figure out what to do with her notoriety. Anna could easily live off royalties but she wants more, and she decides that she too can be a writer and so she writes her own novel. When her novel is released to the same acclaim as her husband’s, she also receives the same type of disturbing notes that he did making her have to delve back into a past that she never wanted to revisit.

I didn’t know that The Plot needed a sequel, but @jeanhanff created it and I am all in! I wasn’t sure how I would feel to be in the mind of a sociopath/psychopath for an entire book but somehow it worked and I enjoyed the entire ride. While I would absolutely recommend reading The Plot first, The Sequel has its own mystery built in as well and I loved the twists and turns that it took (and I actually found it less predictable than the Plot). There were also a bunch of meta moments in the novel that made me laugh (making fun of writers, sequels, the publishing industry, etc.) Plus when you have Julia Whelen as a narrator - listening to the audiobook is just amazing.

4.25 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

The Sequel follows the wife of the main character in The Plot, Anna Williams-Bonner. At the beginning of the story she is the widow of bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner, and has also just released her own debut, The Afterword. In The Plot, her husband received anonymous emails accusing him of plagiarism, and In this book Anna receives excerpts from another book which she thought had been buried. As she searches for the source of these incriminating documents, clever twists emerge and I was surprised at the ending. There's also a fantastic play on words with the chapter titles.. to say any more may be a spoiler but all will be explained in the end.
The audiobook of The Sequel is narrated by the fabulous Julia Whelan. And she is as amazing as always, I will listen to any book she narrates!

Thanks to @celadonbooks for inviting me to participate in a buddy read for The Sequel. And a huge thanks to @macmillan.audio for early access to the audiobook, too. I hadn’t listened to an audiobook narrated by @justjuliawhelan in far too long - her narration is just so great.
Earlier in September, I reread The Plot, the author’s previous release, via audiobook, as I had originally read it close to publication in 2021 and wanted a refresher before diving into this. I really enjoyed The Plot, both when I originally read it and when I reread it, and I appreciated how well the “plot” of the mystery unfolded. Therefore, I went into The Sequel with high expectations.
I enjoyed this book, and it is again a slow burn mystery full of twists. I incorrectly predicted the ending, and I found myself surprised but at the same time, I could remember specific moments that set it up which I had not previously seen as important. I think you’ll enjoy the book more if you’ve already read The Plot, but I guess it’s not completely necessary. I loved that the chapters were named after other book’s sequels; Chapter 1 is It Starts with Us.
I’m looking forward to connecting with the author on Zoom and discussing more with my buddy reading partners.

"Sequels can be very enticing when the initial book has done well. But they're never as good as the first book, are they?" - Anna Williams-Bonner, The Sequel

Well, Anna, let me tell you something. You couldn’t be more wrong, because this sequel blew me away! I loved this book more than the first and was drawn to Anna’s character.

The Sequel is nothing short of masterful. Korelitz has once again delivered a compelling, thought-provoking narrative that grips you from the very first page. Her character development is nuanced and layered, and I was drawn to Anna’s character. The plot unfolds with perfectly timed twists, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat while never feeling rushed or contrived.

Korelitz has an exceptional talent for creating rich settings that immerse you completely in the world she's crafted. The twists just kept coming and Korelitz did an excellent job of keeping me guessing. While you don’t have to read The Plot first, I highly recommend it.

I was so happy when I realized Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook. She truly brought this story to life with her perfectly timed execution. There was no better choice to voice Anna than Julia!

Thank you Celadon for a gifted copy and including me in the read together. Thank you Macmillan Audio for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up

“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.