This is a stunning read! Although I hadn't read the prequel, I quickly became thoroughly immersed in the story. The writing and plotting are superb, and the story unfolds in the most compelling way. A genuinely thrilling thriller, the author develops the complex characters in a highly engaging and immersive way, which had me turning the pages long into the night. I grew to like the utter psychopath Anna which is testament to the author's writing skills. The sly swipes at the publishing industry were very entertaining and added a lot to my appreciation of Anna's cunning.
I highly recommend this book

I really enjoyed this book! I read the previous instalment recently and was looking forward to this one’s publication, so I was very excited to be approved for an advance copy through NetGalley and the publisher - thank you!

The Sequel ties up the loose ends from its predecessor and manages to keep up the tension in the first book - no mean feat when it’s a new protagonist and the twist of the first book has been revealed. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end up until the very final pages, so I didn’t think the ending was predictable at all. There’s a line in the book about sequels not living up to the first book, which is a bit tongue in cheek but thankfully not true in this case. The chapter titles all being sequel books from (mostly) great and all popular titles was a nice touch too. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I had not read The Plot prior to reading this book, so read it as a standalone. I have, however, read The Latecomer and massively enjoyed Jean Hanff Korelitz‘s writing style. This is something that continued when reading The Sequel, which I found a fantastically written, propulsive snd unputdownable thriller… so much so that I read the whole thing in a day! I felt it did function well as a standalone, but don‘t know if my enjoyment would have been heightened further by reading The Plot beforehand. I found myself hating and loving the protagonist, Anna. As her true character in all its cunning was revealed, I found myself simultaneously wanting her to succeed and fail. I can‘t wait to read more by this author and highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed The Plot, a story about a failing writer who stumbles across and steals a brilliant plot. He’d been teaching an MFA course at a third-rate school and came across this remarkable storyline whilst talking to one of his students. What happens from this point on is convoluted, somewhat predictable, but nonetheless compelling. I ended up disliking the lead character, Jacob Finch Bonner, but really appreciating the well-crafted way the tale had been pieced together.

When I spotted this book, naively, I didn’t initially realise that it would pick up the narrative from pretty much the point where the last book left off. In fact, it’s very much a continuation of the story detailed in the previous book. But this time, we follow Jacob’s wife (now widow), Anna Williams-Bonner, a lady who has literary ambitions of her own. Perhaps she can write a book too, she thinks. It turns out that not only can she write but that her book quickly becomes something of a best seller.

This is a story that readers could potentially take on without having read the first episode – there’s just about enough here to fill in the gaps. But I wouldn’t recommend that. I quickly found that I was referring back to a detailed synopsis of The Plot, a book I read some three years ago. This second episode tells a complex enough tale on its own without adding in a lack of knowledge of the pre-story. I think most readers would get tied up and confused pretty quickly.

I suppose the story here is somewhat repetitive, as Anna takes on all comers in her desire to keep her past a secret. And yet, I enjoyed my time with this ruthless psychopath so much I don’t begrudge the author taking her time in the telling. I grew to like Anna a good deal, despite her obvious flaws. There’s also an interesting and sometimes amusing, sub-narrative here centred on the writing/publishing industry. In a tongue-in-cheek way, she paints both the writers and those that fine tune and (hopefully) publish their efforts in a remarkably poor light.

If I were to be critical, it would be that I feel it could all have been wrapped a bit quicker. But I enjoyed my time with Anna so much I don’t really begrudge the author this indulgence. Also, I can’t emphasise enough that the writing here really is really top-notch.

Had me totally addicted , and I just sat for hours turning the pages, as there was no way I could put it down until the very end… thrilling read, this book is an absolute must-read , it’s just too good to miss.

I loved the plot, it was a 4 star for Me and I had not read from the author before. I love the twist and turns of the first in the series and had heard that this book was similar. I did love this book. It had a lot of fun elements to it and it was nice to stay with the character of the first one and the setting. However, it didn’t quite have the same effect as the first one. Certain elements of it were quite repetitive, which I can’t say more without spoilers. I think it probably could’ve been a little bit shorter and then it would not have been as repetitive. Also, the plot twist at the end wasn’t as good but the first one was so good that it was hard to live up to the expectation. An enjoyable read.

The Plot is one of my all time favourite thrillers, and I went in to the Sequel wondering if it could live up to the first - wow! This absolutely blew me away and got me out of a reading slump.

I thought The Plot was remarkable. A compelling page turner filled with intrigue and insight. Original and clever. The Sequel, for me, is a disappointment. I don’t think it reads well as a standalone as there are many references to the original, This lacks the impact of The Plot and I’m not convinced that it’s a story that needed to be told. Much if it is rehashed from The Plot and whilst this ties up some loose ends, it lacks drama and originality. It’s well written but far less enjoyable.

The Sequel is the follow up to The Plot and this review will contain spoilers for The Plot. I’ve seen some reviews saying this can be read as a standalone but in my opinion it can’t really, it’s heavily reliant of the events from the first book and if you haven’t read that one I think you’d be left very confused.

After the suicide of her husband Jake, Anna Williams-Bonner is now a published author and loving life in the literary circle but she’s hiding a dark secret and soon starts receiving anonymous letters which threaten to expose it all.

If i’m honest i’m not sure this book needed to exist, The Plot was great but this rehashed a lot of the same storylines and felt like the second half of the same book rather than a book that can stand on its own.

The plot was pretty predictable and nothing particularly unexpected happened that I didn’t see coming a mile off, I kept reading to see how it would end which is a testament to the writing which is brilliant, and i’d definitely recommend The Plot for that reason, but I’d personally give The Sequel a miss.

The Sequel has given me one of the worst book hangovers I've ever had! I can't stop thinking about it. I didn't know it was literally a sequel either, so I'm actually stoked I'll get to read about the husband in the first book because I have QUESTIONS. It's not just the riveting, fast paced plot that had me hooked it's also the beautiful writing. It's the whole package and now I'm ruined for life because what will compare to a book this good? If you liked Yellowface, you'll love this for the literary crimes. I love a morally corrupt protagonist, and this one had it in spades and even now I'm not sure I believe her take on the past, in fact I don't, but that's what makes her so fascinating! Off to read The Plot, and suffer yet another book hangover, I'm sure! Put this one on your MUST READ list.

In this compelling follow-up to The Plot, Anna Williams Bonner finds herself at the pinnacle of literary fame, basking in her newfound status as a best-selling author and celebrated widow. However, her seemingly perfect life is shattered when a disturbing relic from her past emerges—a long-forgotten manuscript that refuses to stay buried. To her horror, someone begins sending incriminating pages from the manuscript, not only to Anna but also to her in-laws and editor. Desperate to keep her darkest secrets hidden, Anna embarks on a mission to uncover the identity of her tormentor and destroy the manuscript for good. But as she delves deeper into the mystery, the stakes quickly escalate, turning her quest into a dangerous game of survival.

While this sequel may not have delivered the same mind-blowing impact as its predecessor, it remains an undeniably thrilling ride. The narrative is packed with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on edge as Anna’s paranoia intensifies. One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its exploration of Anna’s psyche—her calculating, borderline sociopathic tendencies are both fascinating and unsettling. Yet, what stands out most in this instalment is the unexpected depth added to Anna’s character. By revealing hidden facets of her past, the story brings a surprising level of humanity to a character who was previously painted as purely villainous. Though Anna may not become entirely sympathetic, these new insights make her more complex and, in some ways, understandable.

For readers who enjoyed The Plot, this sequel is a must-read. It successfully continues the original story while injecting fresh energy and perspective into the narrative. With its engaging plot, well-executed twists, and a deeper dive into the mind of its morally ambiguous protagonist, this book offers a gripping and satisfying continuation of Anna’s journey.

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Having raced though The Plot I was overjoyed to see The Sequel on NetGalley. This follow up works brilliant switching the narrator to Anna the recently widow of the The Plot's narrator, of which I'd say is for more entertaining, Anna may well be a psychopath but she is a engaging one full of wit and has a fantastic dead pan inner monologue. I feel her story is an extreme example of female empowerment, while murder and fraud are in the extreme I loved the clever underlaying messages about woman in publishing and society as a whole. Anna is chilling but strangely relatable as character I love her.
Told again from the 3rd POV we see how Anna is getting on since the "suicide" of her famous writer husband, we see how the past catches up with her and we see who Anna truly is. It is paced well with enough little twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I really liked how the author poked fun at the publishing world and the snootiness around books. I also found the extracts from the book brilliant if you had the read the first book you will know that the book within the book was well written but here while it tells the story it's not written well which of course is one of points Anna makes though-out it also cements the plot and ending very clever writing.
In a nice touch, chapters are named after sequels with a handy list at the end. It’s not a sequel that stands alone. If you like the sound of it, best read The Plot first if you haven't already. There is drama and dark humour in this entertaining and gripping sequel that builds on previous history and the repercussions that follow.
This is a brilliant sequel, which I recommend to all readers, but with the caveat that I advise reading The Plot first. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Anna Williams-Bonner is the recent bride of a wildly successful writer who took his own life even as his fame seemed on the ascent, as a best selling novelist.

After his death, Anna also has an idea for a book and begins writing. She could never have imagined the book would also climb to the best seller list. But when it does, someone leaves a cryptic note for her at a book signing and they may well know the secret that she's been keeping for years. But how?

This was another clever one, where the author takes us on a journey into the characters past, while revealing the present danger she faces. This was the second in the series and I definitely recommend reading or revisiting the first one before this novel. I had to refresh my memory and I am so glad I did. Another twisty and entertaining novel by the author.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Faber and Faber for this gifted review copy.

The Sequel picks up where The Plot leaves off with Anna, now her husband’s literary executor, slipping into the role of grieving widow. Jake’s publishing team are thrilled when she suggests she might write something herself and ecstatic when she delivers The Afterword about a widow grieving the suicide of her beloved husband. On the author tour that follows its publication, she’s handed a copy of her novel with a Post-it attached requesting the inscription ‘For Evan Parker, not forgotten’. Before long excerpts from a manuscript horribly familiar to Anna begin turning up, setting alarm bells off.
In comparison to The Plot, which I raced through, its follow-up gets off to a slow start but once it gets going the pace speeds up smartly as Anna takes off in pursuit of whoever is sending those excerpts. It’s all a bit improbable but enjoyably so with the help of a hefty dose of dark humour. Korelitz mercilessly satirises the publishing industry and writers also come in for some stick, prepared to toady to whoever offers the prospect of publication no matter how tenuous. In a nice touch, chapters are named after sequels with a handy list at the end. It’s not a sequel that stands alone. If you like the sound of it, best read The Plot first if you haven't already.

The Sequel is the follow up (or sequel if you will) to [book:The Plot|55315487] following on the story of Anna Williams Bonner. For those who haven't read The Plot (and I would definitely encourage you to do so) I won't give any spoilers so there is little I can say in terms of the synopsis.

When sequels are released, it is easy to say it was/wasn't as good as [enter first novel] however I think sequels are unfavourably and unfairly compared to the original novels. When we read the first book in a series, I find we are often blown away with an original story, original characters etc. so when this story continues and the characters are largely the same, it doesn't have the same impact as the first book. Often in life, our first experiences are the most memorable and any follow up rarely has the same impact.

Judged on its own, I really enjoyed this novel and the continuation of the characters we met in The Plot. Having read The Plot, it was not a novel which I finished and said 'I really want to know what happens next' but nonetheless the story continued well with the same drama and intrigue which made the first novel so good.

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hate books about books but I usually love books about writers, even if it's just because I'm gripped by industry gossip. (If you feel the same way as I do, check out Julia Bartz's The Writing Retreat, Andrew Lipstein's Last Resort,  John Boyne's A Ladder To The Sky or RF Kuang's Yellowface.) Therefore, I devoured Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot, about a struggling writer who discovers one of his students is writing a book with an irresistible twist; when he discovers his student has died, he steals the plot for himself, but it unsurprisingly comes back to bite him. The Sequel is less original than its predecessor, but still a lot of fun: it reminded me of Peter Swanson's thrillers, especially The Kind Worth Killing and Her Every Fear. In this one, widowed Anna writes a book, The Afterword, about a husband who kills himself; it's a big success, but she also attracts unwanted attention from somebody who seems to know the secrets hidden in her past. Hard to say any more without spoilers! I was impressed by how Korelitz managed to slot this one in within the interstices of The Plot, and I enjoyed getting a third version (and a more fleshed-out second version) of a story we've already seen told; the details get muddled, but this nicely illustrates Korelitz's point that the stories we tell ourselves are the ones that become real. I enjoyed that the chapters were all called after famous sequels, as well. My only complaint: I wish we'd heard more about the daughter's story. Perhaps that's coming in The Third Book In The Trilogy...

This the sequel to The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, which was a twisty read that I adored and which I think is essential to have read prior to embarking on this, this picks up from where it concluded. The author here has a whale of time playing on the theme of the sequel, as relentlessly chased within the publishing industry, even having the chapter titles taken from well known literary sequels! With her husband, Jacob Finch Bonner deceased, having committed suicide, his widow Anna would have done just fine if she had decided to simply live off the royalties of his runaway bestseller Crib. However, Anna is tempted into writing her own book, as she slips, confident, into becoming an author with remarkable ease.

With the support of the publishing industry, the book, The Afterward, inspired by her experiences, is destined to succeed, becoming a runaway critically acclaimed bestseller. Anna steps into the limelight, embarking on publicity book tours and engagements. Her future looking assured, but then history looks to be repeating itself as, just like her husband, Jake, who had got messages accusing him of plagiarism. Anna starts to receive disturbingly unsettling messages and even parts of Evan Parker's manuscript, which she believed she had got rid of. You might think the sociopath that is Anna deserves this fate, but oddly enough, Korelitz skilfully wrings feelings of support for her as we learn of the eye opening perspective of previous events as a picture of a more vulnerable Anna emerges.

There is drama and dark humour in this entertaining and gripping sequel that builds on previous history and the repercussions that follow. A haunted Anna is willing to look back into the shadows of the past, the secrets, who else could possibly know about her life? What do they want? It took me a little while to become immersed in the story, but once I was, I simply could not let go, as I raced through the pages, desperate to know how it all ends. This is a brilliant sequel, which I recommend to all readers, but with the caveat that I advise reading The Plot first. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.