If You Liked the Plot in ‘The Plot,’ Then You’ll Love Its Sequel, ‘The Sequel’

THE SEQUEL, by Jean Hanff Korelitz

In 2021, Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel “The Plot” earned exactly the kind of acclaim the characters in her book — aspiring writers — yearned for: It became a best seller, was hailed as “insanely readable” by Stephen King and is being adapted into a limited series starring Mahershala Ali.

Now Korelitz has given “The Plot” a sequel, called just that: “The Sequel.” Cleverly meta, the title fits the sardonic mood that infuses the two books.

Technically, “The Sequel” could be read as a stand-alone, but it’s best enjoyed after its predecessor. “The Plot,” Korelitz’s seventh novel, revolved around Jacob Finch Bonner, a novelist teaching at a low-residency (and low-prestige) M.F.A. program in Vermont. There, Jacob encountered an arrogant student who was certain he’d come up with the perfect plot for a novel.

After the student’s sudden death, Jacob wrote a book using that very plot. He found considerable success: two million copies in print, an Oprah’s Book Club pick, an adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg. He did his best to enjoy it all — until anonymous messages started calling out his theft.

In “The Sequel,” Jacob is no more. Korelitz shifts her focus to his widow, Anna. Comfortably ensconced in New York City, Anna has written a best seller of her own. She’s the one giving interviews, jetting to book festivals, meeting passionate fans and basking in praise from her agent and editor. Then she spies a Post-it in a book left to be signed that promises to upend her life.