Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing

by Harlan Coben

#1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process in an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques. With 100 million books in print world-wide and over a dozen blockbuster television and film adapations of his work, Harlan Coben has much to teach us about the creative process. Part deeply personal memoir, part masterclass in storytelling, Plot Twist is a refreshingly honest look at the life of a writer whose stories have thrilled us for decades.

Plumbing memories from his suburban childhood and his early years trying to break into publishing, Coben tells his own story for the first time, revealing the real-world inspirations for some of his most beloved characters as well as the innovative plots that drive his propulsive novels. Filled with useful tips and techniques on the creative process, Coben does away with the traditional "categories" of writing—characters, plot, setting, etc—and looks at the process holistically. Plot Twist is a masterclass on the act of being a writer, and everything that comes with it: the self‑doubt, the hubris, the contradictions, the passion and dedication. At the end of the day, his calculus is a simple one: “If it helps me produce pages, good. If it doesn’t, bad.” This book will help every aspiring writer produce pages. Honest, funny, insightful, and at times deeply moving, this is both a captivating memoir and an essential guide for anyone looking to master the art of storytelling from one of our most beloved authors.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Books About Books

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

Reviews

[Sue - Recos and Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated by Harlan Coben himself, Plot Twist is a very personal, straight-talking look at the writers life. He talks about where he writes best, where his ideas come from, how they develop, and what happens when those brilliant ideas inevitably meet the messy reality of getting them onto the page.

I particularly enjoyed Coben’s candid delivery and self-deprecating humor. His insights into writing are mixed with personal stories, and anecdotes from his life, including the surprising story of his grandfather’s disappearance, making it feel more like a conversation with the author than a traditional writing guide.

I didn’t agree with everything he had to say, which he freely acknowledges is likely to happen. But when you’ve sold more than 100 million books, it’s probably safe to say you know a thing or two about the writing business!

Primarily aimed at aspiring writers, but as a reader I found plenty to enjoy too. I may have no intention of writing the next bestseller, but I’ll always be curious about what goes on behind the scenes.

[Drew Dillenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harlan Coben strikes again. One thing I find so interesting about him is his ability to keep me entertained regardless of the subject. His passion oozes through the pages and onto you as the reader. I can feel his love for his family, writing, and how they are intertwined with each other. The last chapter was heartbreaking and such a beautiful way to end the journey. I would be lying if I said Harlan Coben wasn’t my favorite author. This man impresses me with each new novel. Learning about his writing processes, his mother Corky, storylines that evolved from a simple conversation, and then tidbits of Coben’s career. This book has it all and is concise and has only created further appreciation and admiration. They say don’t meet your heroes, but I think meeting Harlan Coben would be worth the risk. 10/10.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Librofm for the free review copy.

Plot Twist by Harlan Coben is a nonfiction book that is both a memoir and discussion of the craft of writing novels.

I absolutely loved this one! I have always loved to read—and, I recently discovered, also love to hear authors talk about their writing process and their books. Usually I have to go to author events and deal with all the ticketing and the lines and the uncomfortable seating and the crowds for it. But this audiobook just piped that discussion straight into my headphones and it was so much more in-depth than any author event could be! I never wanted to pause it, I found it so interesting.

This audiobook is narrated by the author. Harlan Coben does a fantastic job with the narration! It gives it such a conversational feel and I just ate the whole thing up. The book has just enough self-deprecation and humor to be right up my alley—and his delivery of it just adds to it.

I highly recommend this book for both aspiring authors and any avid reader who loves to hear authors talk about their craft! Yes, it’s a “how-to” guide on writing novels, if you will. But it’s also an in-depth look at his process, ideas, and structure. With plenty of real life tidbits on the memoir vein of the book, there’s some humor and also some general life advice.

And I hate to say it, but I somehow have never read any of Harlan Coben’s books prior to this one. He is a suspense/thriller author and it sounds like his books are some I will likely enjoy. I definitely plan on reading some of his novels in the future!

Overall, this audiobook rocketed up to my list of favorites from this year so far! I highly recommend it, and the audiobook version read by the author really adds to the book itself.

[Lew Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed several streaming adaptations of Coben’s novels in recent years, I was certainly intrigued when learning that he’d written a memoir about his writing life. I’ve rarely read such books, but given the title and the many plot twists I’d witnessed in the adaptations I’ve watched, I decided I should read it. I was immediately struck by the conversational ease of the text. The book read easily and with a flow that often made me think of simply sitting down with the author in a cafe, listening to him describe his writing process. Furthermore, those descriptions were delivered with an authentic voice that held my attention from start to finish with humor, heartbreak, and humanity. If his fiction is as entertaining as this memoir, I can only imagine how enjoyable it is to read. Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for making this title available.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been fascinated by writers and the art of writing. In fact, I would’ve loved to be a writer myself, but a lack of talent and discipline got in my way. But that doesn’t stop me from reading writing handbooks and guides as if I were ever going to put their teachings to the test. So when I found out that one of my favorite mystery/suspense authors was coming out with a memoir on writing, it was music to my ears.

Plot Twist is exactly what it promises. Half writing handbook, half memoir, it guides us through Harlan Coben’s writing methods and techniques, using loads of examples from his own books. From where he gets his ideas, through plot and setting construction, to messy first drafts, choosing a narrator, and character development, this is a complete guide to writing a book, with some tips that are applicable to any type of artistic creation. I love getting inside authors’ minds and discovering their creative processes, and this doesn’t disappoint.

Mixed in with all of this, we also get a bit of a personal memoir, taking us from his childhood to the time when he wrote his first book while working in Spain, as well as some personal tragedies—mainly the loss of his parents at a young age—and how, in one form or another, they also end up becoming part of his work.

Both parts are equally engaging, so whether you’re interested in the writing aspect or the personal one, it works either way.

[Richard Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advance ARC in return for an honest review.

Plot Twist, by Harlan Coben, is part tutorial on writing, part memoir, and part advertisement for the 40 or so novels previously written by Coben. Having read over half of them, or perhaps 3/4 ( never read the Mickey Bolitar YA novels ) his narrative style translates through the pages of this his first non-fiction book.

In showing how the sausage is made, Coben uses this medium to show how little things that happen in his life can be re-imagined by the phrase "what if..." and become the beginning of one of his best selling Bolitar series or numerous stand alone thrillers. He also explains how he is fixated on the missing person as the engine that fuels most of his thrillers.

Punctuating his instruction manual on writing with excerpts from his Novels as illustrations of his points about plot, character, setting, dialogue etc Coben provides a road map for those interested in one day writing a novel. And for those of us, who only joke about it, perhaps inspiration to give it a shot.

Told in his "voice" with his usual humor and humanity sprinkled in, Plot Twist, can be enjoyed by one and all, not just the aspiring writer.

#NetGalley #PlotTwist #HarlanCoben

[Kathy Iwanicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the typical Harlan book. rather this book would be excellent in a high school or college writing class. Coben explains his writing process which is very interesting. Great book for people who want to learn more about the writing process. Not meant for people who want a thriller!

[Deborah Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

I got this thinking g that it was a memoir, but it mostly is Harlan Coben’s writing process. He does include some stories about his growing up in Livingston, New Jersey and his family. Very informative and entertaining.

[Tyler Drennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Twist turned out to be such an informative read. It offers a lot of practical advice that anyone can take away, even if you are not in a creative career, though aspiring writers will get a ton out of it.

It has a good balance of funny and sad moments throughout, and there is a great overall life lesson wrapped into the book. My favorite part was how he tied his points back to his past novels. Getting that extra insight into his previous stories was a huge bonus for me, and it honestly makes me want to go back and re-read his older books to catch all the new details.

I am giving this a 5 out of 5 for the great advice and all the creativity packed into it.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance reading copy. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Harlan Coben’s books for so long that I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t. I started reading his work about 25 years ago and have always appreciated the breadth of stories he’s given us — from the delightfully rich characters in the Myron Bolitar series to the many unforgettable stand-alone novels.

Many authors attempt some version of a “memoir on writing,” but few capture both their process and their magic as well as Coben does in Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft. One of the main reasons this book works so well is that Coben never pretends there’s one right way to write; instead, he repeatedly acknowledges how deeply individual the work is. We each have our own process, our own way of defining success, and our own path to reaching it.

Over and over, he returns to one deceptively simple idea: the best advice is whatever gets you to put words on the page:

If detailed outlines from start to finish unlock your creativity, use them and keep going.

If free‑writing by the seat of your pants gets your ideas flowing, trust that and keep typing.

Whatever practice consistently leads to words on the page is the practice worth defending.

I truly enjoyed this book. On every page, I could hear that familiar Harlan Coben voice I’ve come to love in his novels — wry, snarky, clever without trying too hard. In this piece, he offers generous and surprisingly vulnerable moments.

My only complaint is that I wish it were longer, because now I have to wait for his next book. I’m already eager for whatever story he shares next.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jacquelyn Dohoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, I’m always interested in reading writing craft books, especially when they are written by authors who have been published for years. I love to see different perspectives and figuring out what may or may not work for me. Like with any art, it’s a process, and one I know I will never stop learning. But unlike most craft books, this one was a pleasant mix of writing craft meets memoir. It was amazing! Easily one of my favorites, and trust me, I’ve read a lot of them. His presentation was very easy to follow and understand, and his humor made the book so hard to put down!

What found absolutely fascinating and quite simply made me feel better about my own writing, was that Harlan Coben, an extremely well-known author, and little old me with only two published short stories and four unpublished novels to my name do most things the same. We both carry a backpack full of what my husband lovingly calls “school supplies” because you never know what you might need when the muse comes knocking. We find inspiration everywhere, and stories always start with a “what-if” question. We spend time asking questions about the story before we even get started. We know the beginning and the end before we start. We both agree on the utility of deadlines (even self-imposed deadlines). In fact, the only things I could say he does that I absolutely don’t is writing in public and writing in a car. One would have me screaming for silence and the other would have me puking. Realizing we have the same process really put things into perspective for this writer. Am I anywhere near his level? Absolutely not! But it does give me some hope that eventually maybe I’ll get my foot in the door!

I know Mr. Coben will never read my review. I know it will get buried under the myriad inevitable starred reviews. But still, on the off chance he does see it, I say thank you. Thank you for showing that it’s possible for this little unpublished, unagented writer to get there. Thank you for making the process of writing seem more like an adventure than like quicksand. And thank you for sharing your story. It was wildly entertaining, and I learned some things along the way.

Huge thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

[BansheeBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to libro.fm for the advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I haven't read a ton of Harlan Coben and I didn't feel particularly strongly about his writing one way or another - until I listened to this book! It is a memoir but not in the traditional sense. The author does a great job of explaining exactly what he tackles withing this book: lessons on life through writing works of fiction as a career. This is not an "I was born on a stormy day in September" sort of journey. There are biographical parts, some quite touching, but the majority of this book are Coben's musings on writing, the creative process and his experience (through trial and error) in becoming successful at his craft.

I am so glad that I was able to listen to the author read this in his own voice. I think if being a tour guide (under duress!) or potential law student or author didn't pan out, he could easily have found a career as a stand up comedian. I laughed out loud MULTIPLE times on this journey. I also found myself on the verge of tears as he described some of the most heart-wrenching events of his life.

Think of this book as an extended TED talk or writing workshop about the creative process. If you aren't down for in depth explanations of what works and what doesn't, you can skip this one. Even though I have no aspirations to be a writer, I found a lot of wisdomw here regarding the creative process. I think this can easily be applied to a very wide variety of careers and hobbies.

This is one of the best books I have ever read that capture the creative writing process. (The other being Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott...which the author mentions as HIS pick for best-ever book on the craft of writing.) Is everything that works for Harlan Coben going to work for you? Perhaps...perhaps not. But I find it fascinating to hear a fresh new perspective on how to get ideas flowing and words on the page.

I will never not be fascinated by how successful people approach their craft. Coben presents his method in such an authentic and unpretentious way that he almost makes me believe I could write my own book...just don't start at the end.

4 stars

[Samantha (Bookwyrmsam) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pretty much never get tired of hearing about the way different writers approach their work, so I was excited to see this pop up as an ALC despite the fact that I've never read anything by Harlan Coben. I knew him vaguely as a bestselling author in a genre I don't typically reach for. After listening to this I'm intrigued to pick up some of his other work.

Equal parts funny, vulnerable, and honest, this is an excellent addition to the author-memoir/craft advice niche of nonfiction. It's very conversational in tone, so the author himself narrating the audiobook was the perfect choice. Easy listening, but it will definitely give you a kick in the pants to sit down and create if you've been procrastinating! Coben doesn't bullshit the reader. He doesn't pretend that the same process will work for every writer, or even that his process is the same every time and I appreciate that. This book isn't reinventing the wheel as far as writing advice goes, but Coben gives credit where credit is due and I did find his angle on conflict and suspense very interesting.

I think this is why so many craft books are half memoir. The little insights into an author's life or their own "why" for writing the way they write and the things they write, are compelling. We writers are fickle creatures. We love to groan and procrastinate and pretend that writing has never been this hard before. Sometimes we need to hear the same advice again in slightly different wording to remind us what we already know.

And the honesty and vulnerability is not limited to the craft bits of the book. Some of the most interesting parts of this book to me were the anecdotes about Coben's childhood and his parents. This book is deeply human, and I think even if you aren't a writer but maybe just a fan of Coben there's a lot to enjoy here. You'll get insight into his personal background, as well as experiences that were the seeds for several of his books over the years.

Thanks to LibroFM and Hachette audio for the advance listening copy!

[Crystal Gritzmacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot Twist is definitely not a typical Harlan Coben book, but I really enjoyed it. Part memoir, part writing guide, and part behind-the-scenes look at some of his books, this was a surprisingly fun read.

Coben talks about his writing process, his path to becoming a published author, the inspiration behind some of his stories and characters, and pretty much everything in between. I especially enjoyed learning that he doesn’t have a dedicated writing space at home and instead writes wherever inspiration strikes. As someone who isn't a writer, I found those little insights into his process fascinating.

There are plenty of practical tips here for aspiring writers, but you don't need to be a writer to enjoy this. The memoir elements and stories about his career make it accessible to any reader who has enjoyed his books, and there are quite a few fun behind-the-scenes tidbits along the way.

Most of all, this book is funny. Coben's personality really comes through, and I enjoyed getting to know the person behind so many of the books I've read. It was an entertaining, insightful look at writing, publishing, and the journey that comes with both.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC.

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is no book without both a writer and a reader. A writer without a reader is like a man who claps with one hand."

Coben is a writer with a lot of readers, yet remains humble and eager to continue to learn, teach and, most importantly, write well. This book felt like having coffee with a friend, or being the only student in a class he is teaching for the first time, yet was his own student for a lifetime.

He mentions knowing some greats in a way that made me feel I could one day be among them. He breaks down his writing methods and obsession with breaking the rules that inspired me, while also equally not as eager to follow in his footsteps.

Like Stephen King's On Writing, there are things I don't agree with... yet... while also being novice enough to realize maybe I should trust them more than I do now.

This is primarily for the writer, beginning or established, but is valuable to the average fan of Coben's fiction as it gives insight into his ideas files, what's based on truth, and general life advice that will have you practicing your passion even more affectively.

A joy to read, a kick in the ass to learn from and a wonderful look at behind the curtain of Coben's mysterious ways.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot Twist
By Harlan Coben
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thanks so much to NetGalley and Grand Central Publushing for the eARC!

If you didn’t want to write a book before you opened this book, you will by the time you’ve finished. Part memoir and part inspiration for aspiring authors - I initially picked this up solely because I have a shelf full of Coben’s work. A different read from the straightforward memoir, but I found it so interested to get a glimpse of a favorite author’s process. I would have never known Harlan Coben carried around a backpack for writing emergencies, briefly used an Uber as his office, or the motivation behind some of my favorite storylines. It didn’t feel like I had mistakenly opened up a “how-to” guide for writers. It was more of a “this is how I do it” and what he found to work for him - in a true witty Coben manner.

“Fiction is memoir, memoir is fiction”

“You bring your own weather to the picnic”

"There are three things that make a person a writer: inspiration, perspiration, and desperation."

Plot Twist will be published on September 8, 2026 by Grand Central Publishing.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book, which if physical and not digital I would place on my shelf next to Stephen King's "On Writing" and Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird."

Harlan Coben's "Plot Twist" combines a memoir with a masterclass on writing. He goes about each lesson in a way that is profoundly relatable and understandable. While "Plot Twist" seems aimed at beginners or those who have yet to break into publishing, I think it would be just as appealing to writers who have a book or two under their belts.

Coben uses his own experiences with creating plot, characters and dialogue to advise readers on how to create their own. He digs into his past, personal and professional, to educate. And he explains how that past has informed his own writing. He includes real examples from his novels, and the adaptations via television series and movies. I've read two of his novels (and interviewed him once, as a reporter for TCPalm), and while reading this scooped up two copies of his novels that I found at used book stores.

I'd recommend this to folks who write, want to write or want insight into one particular writer's process.

[Cindy Neighbors · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOMENAL! 5/5 stars! I need to come back and edit my review but just sharing some initial thoughts. This memoir is a bit different than other memoirs in that he ties in his personal writing tips with his life story (funny, heartwarming and with some twists and turns). Really loved this! Super motivational, practical and genuine. Loved the style. It's also reflective in that he shares intimate moments from childhood, adolescence and is not overt about how modern themes may have contributed to his perseverance and determination, because let's be real the world of publishing and TV/film is super cut-throat. Hmm, what else? Just read it.

THANK YOU to Grand Central Publishing & Net Galley for the early copy. BTW I'm super honest with my reviews. Truly I read and skim tons of celeb/author/writing books every year and this one was awesome. He throws in a lot of common writing tips with his own and this is high on my list. :)

[Meryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an aspiring writer, I found Harlan Coben's Plot Twist to be an informative and entertaining read. Part memoir, part reflective on the craft of writing and the writing life, I loved how Coben weaved all of this together in a way that kept the pages turning (well, duh, it is Harlan Coben). I also loved how he wrote about where his ideas come from and how he writes, especially when he uses examples from his own books to illustrate character and plot and the writing process itself. You don't have to have read any of his books prior to understand what he's writing about but it helps.

It reminds me a lot of Stephen King's On Writing, except Coben's take is more of a complete in-depth picture of the creative process.

A great tool to teach a creative writing class or as a supplemental guide while reading one of Coben's other books,

A great read whether you want to learn about the creative process or the man himself.

Five stars! Highly recommended!

[LibraryNinja_Beritk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter Harlan Coben with a laugh-out-loud memoir cleverly disguised as writing a book to kick off your fall escapades. What I love is his unabashed honesty about how hard it was to become a fully-fledged, NYT Bestseller author- no varnishing of the truth here. While I was hoping that I would be over-the-top inspired to finally write my first novel, it solidified more for me that my true love is and will always be as the role of the reader. Relating his writing to his books gives both the books a new voice as well as the process behind the madness. Lots of good advice as well as an interesting perspective into the mind one of America's best thriller writers. Dad jokes aside, this is a delightful and quick fall read.

Thank you to Harlan Coben and Grand Central for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. #harlancoben #libraryninja📚

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read (or these days, listened) to a lot of thrillers by Harlan Coben, and I figured he'd be a good hang for a few hours--and I was right. I was more interested in the memoir than the writing advice per se, as I'm kind of prioritizing family right now more than a time-intensive hobby, but you never know.

Also, this book made me think about my dad. Harlan Coben lost both of parents relatively early, and he writes a lot of domestic thrillers, anyway. And also, I started reading him when my own dad and I listened to 'Gone for Good' when we went on a road trip together to San Antonio in 2010. He's still good, I'm going to give a copy of this to him for a late birthday present when it comes out in September. But we're both getting older, you know. As Harlan Coben might say, hold tight.

[Kyle Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you didn’t want to write a book before you opened this book, you will by the time you’ve finished. Part memoir and part inspiration for aspiring authors - I initially picked this up solely because I have a shelf full of Coben’s work. A different read from the straightforward memoir, but I found it so interested to get a glimpse of a favorite author’s process. I would have never known Harlan Coben carried around a backpack for writing emergencies, briefly used an Uber as his office, or the motivation behind some of my favorite storylines. It didn’t feel like I had mistakenly opened up a “how-to” guide for writers. It was more of a “this is how I do it” and what he found to work for him - in a true witty Coben manner.

[Paul Lanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a thriller, and it isn’t a how-to. It’s a book for those who find both the writing process and Coben’s novels interesting.
Coben has a lot to say about writing. And hi’s writing advice rings true, even when the crux of it is that there is no absolute answer. When a hundred voices are summing up the key to great writing in a hundred different ways, it’s refreshing to find someone who refuses to do that.
Plot Twist is real talk from a real successful writer. If that sounds interesting, it’s well worth the time to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ❤️ Harlan Coben. I’ve been a fan for a really long time and I’ve read all his books. This was a fun look behind the curtain and I liked learning more about him as a person and about his writing process. I was more interested in the memoir elements than the writing info, but it was enough of a mix that I was satisfied. Probably only recommended for big fans or people super into reading about writing.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Net Galley. All opinions are my own. The book comes out Sept 8, 2026.

If you haven’t read his books, I really love the Myron Bolitar series and filming just started on the Netflix series!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Twist by Harlan Coben

I've acquired a few books about writing over the years. This is the first one I actually read.
If you've ever wanted to take a swim through Harlan Coben's mind, read this book. It's a page turner. It's chaotic. There's mention of the mob. It made me laugh. It made me cry (WTF Harlan, a book about writing made me cry). And, I learned a lot.
I can't recommend this book enough. Fantastic.

And Harlan, if you happen to read this review, the overall chaos of it had me thinking you and James Rollins could co-write the best book ever together. FYI LOL.

#2026 #bookreview #netgalley #plottwists #writing #fivestars

[Cynthia Sauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read a couple Harlan Coben books but still jumped at the chance to read this memoir/how-to-be-writer ARC. I’m not an aspiring author but I am an avid reader and find the process of how people go about writing books very interesting.

There’s a lot of humor in here, I laughed out loud a number of times. It was fun learning about the different experiences that shaped storylines for his novels. I do appreciate that none of the storylines were spoiled since I haven’t read most of them.

Great effort for a memoir and I can definitely see this being useful for aspiring authors.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession. Although I have read many of Mr. Coben's books, until I read Plot Twist, I didn't realize he could be hilarious! I laughed out loud more than a few times as I read. The book is not only a memoir, but also filled with practical insights about choosing to become an writer, along with everything that comes with it. (How I wish his two "Wilde" books would magically become a nice, long series!)

I enjoyed reading Plot Twist and found the "lifting of the veil" regarding the good and bad about becoming a writer quite interesting!

Thank you, #GrandCentralPublishing, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Plot Twist has an expected publication date of September 8, 2026.

#HarlanCoben #Memoir #Witty #Informative

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coben's approach to writing here is blunt but wise. He recounts the stories of his own process, from developing ideas to creating writing routines (spoiler alert: there is no one-size-fits-all way to handle these). I liked his mantra of if it produces pages, good; if it doesn't, bad. He also notes patterns in his writing--not so much murders but missing folks--and juxtaposes this with the early loss of his parents. Coben is guarded at times but also emotional and funny, creating a truly authentic tone. A useful book for writers and a must-buy for the public library.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book. I have loved every book I have read by Harlan and every series of his I have watched. I was disappointed when I realized this wasn't one of his engaging mysteries. It was my fault, when I saw he had a book available I just immediately requested it without reading the description. If I had read the description I would have realized it was a book about his writing process. Which is interesting. I enjoyed the explanation on how he gets his ideas and discussions of the book being used for a series.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

[Christine Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Twist is a fascinating memoir that delivers profound insight into Harlan Coben’s creative process. I loved that he speaks to every type of artist. I enjoyed the personal stories and the exclusive look at his writing process. This was such a fun learning experience and inspirational as well.

Overall, this is a great blend of memoir and writing guide. I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review.