Plot for a million: the author's new book "Your Heart will be broken" will be released posthumously

Russia is preparing to release a previously unpublished novel by the best—selling youth author Anna Jane (real name Anna Potapkina), who died in 2023 at the age of 35, but still remains one of the most published writers in the country. In 2025, according to the Russian Book Chamber, 79 of her books were published with a total circulation of 2.1 million copies. As a result, the writer topped the ranking of the most published authors of fiction, ahead of Fyodor Dostoevsky, Stephen King, Mikhail Bulgakov, Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy in circulation. Clever publishing house informed Izvestia about plans to release Jane's new book posthumously.

Continued from the archive

— We have texts that have not been published yet. Anna was a very fruitful writer and left a large archive. We plan to release one of these novelties for the Jane Fest, an annual festival in honor of Anna Jane, where her fans come from all over the country to enjoy her books, learn about new products, and meet with the editors and Anna's parents. This summer, Jane-Fest will be held for the third time," Elena Izmailova, editor—in-chief of the publishing house, told Izvestia.

Anna Jane worked in the young adult segment — literature for teenagers and young adults. Maxim Mamlyga, a book reviewer, notes that the boom in this area occurred in 2017. Then a generation of readers was formed who were close to the topic of "long adulthood", and publishing houses had separate editorial offices and imprints aimed at such an audience.

— Among the literary features that contribute to this popularity, one can name the possibility of easy emotional connection to the characters, the ability to associate oneself with them, which is especially important at the moment of forming one's own self, searching for oneself and one's identities — this allows one to validate one's life experience and try on another, — he said.

It is important, he added, that the plot be modern. Anna Jane's light stories follow this formula.

The effect of the film adaptation

Now the writer's name is back on the radar in connection with the film adaptation of one of her most popular bestsellers, "Your Heart will be Broken." The film with the same name was released on March 26 and became the head of the domestic box office following its debut weekend. Over the weekend, he earned about 200 million rubles, leaving behind the family releases "Kuzya the Housekeeper 2" and "Cats of the Hermitage 2. The Secret of the Egyptian Hall."

— "Your Heart will be Broken" was published online even before the start of distribution, and the book's large fan base helped the success, — explains Olga Zinyakova, president of the KARO cinema chain.— Such projects have great potential. Let's recall the series of films "After", similar in plot and genre, based on the books of the same name — all parts collected about 200-300 million rubles at the Russian box office. The launch of a local novelty was even more commercially strong than that of a foreign franchise. But the movie "Your Heart will be Broken" has mixed reviews, which will definitely motivate viewers to go to the cinema and make their own impression.

Play Hormone: Anna Jane's melodrama headed the box office

The film "Your heart will be broken" started with a box office of almost 200 million rubles and bypassed the largest family releases.

The film was directed by Mikhail Weinberg. The main roles were played by the star of the new "Daddy's Daughters" Veronika Zhuravleva and Daniel Vegas. They're like the heroes of the Spanish hit "Three Meters above the Sky." She's a good girl, he's a bully and the coolest guy among his peers. In short, the guys are definitely not made for each other, but the feelings that suddenly flare up are stronger than this circumstance.

— There is definitely a deposit for the continuation, and this is a very important point. Because betting on a large cash register usually works in favor of family content, and this project is a symbol of an alternative model that can bring great profits," Olga Zinyakova added.

The release of the first film adaptation based on Anna Jane further spurred interest in her books. According to Yandex Market, in the period from March 1 to March 29, sales of the novel "Your Heart will be Broken" tripled compared to the same period in 2025. On Wildberries, it increased by 26% immediately after the premiere of the film compared to the beginning of the month. The dynamics were noted there before the release of the film version.

"If we compare sales this year in January-March compared to the same period last year, sales of "Your Heart will Be Broken" increased by 53%, and of Anna Jane's books as a whole — by 71%," the Wildberries press service added.

In Chitai Gorod, sales of the original book increased 2.6 times in a week compared to the week before the film's release. The total demand for all the author's works tripled in the same period, the store chain told Izvestia. In general, by the end of 2025, Jane is their most popular writer, more than 240 thousand copies have been sold. Earlier, in 2024— Olga Primachenko was in first place.

The total circulation of the dilogy, which, in addition to the novel "Your Heart will be Broken," includes "According to the Fragments of Your Heart," has long exceeded 1 million copies, the Clever publishing house told Izvestia.

— The phenomenon of Anna Jane is that she is not just a talented writer who tells interesting stories with humor, lively dialogues and finely written characters. Anna worked as a child psychologist," said Elena Izmailova, editor—in-chief of the publishing house. — Her books are a mirror of modern society, they are real stories about real people in a Russian setting. Her characters are understandable and familiar to the reader. And reading Anna Jane's books for teenagers becomes something like psychotherapy, support and advice during a very difficult period of growing up.

The publisher has not yet revealed which work of the author is being prepared for release. As for the dilogy, they admit that the second part of it will also receive a film adaptation.