Yomi Adegoke

This highly anticipated novel about sexual harassment and cancel culture, is set in London, where Ola and Michael are the social media "It Couple" of Black Britain, set to be married in just a month's time. She is a journalist working for a feminist website, Michael is just starting a job at another website, boosted by his popular podcast, when an anonymous list of unsafe men, accused of everything from sexual harassment to rape, is released on-line and both of them are shocked to see Michael's name on this list. Ola, asked to write about the list, delays as she struggles with whether she believes the anonymous accusation, while Michael is hurt by her doubts, even as he suspects he knows who added his name to this list. As the wedding grows ever closer, it seems too late to call it off, but both are unsure of how to handle the situation they find themselves in.

The premise of this novel is a timely one, and that the protagonists are Black and British gives a different angle to the issue. A novel is a good way to wrestle with the various complex issues touched on in this book, like how we assess accusations differently when we know the person accused, how people on social media often behave differently than they do (or at least we hope they do) in real life, how the ability to remain anonymous both protects the vulnerable but leaves room for misuse and false accusations, or how women and men are affected differently by being accused or of knowing a person accused of sexual harassment. There's potential here.

It is, however, an unfulfilled potential, because of the writing, how the characters are written, and because of how the question of Michael's culpability resolves itself. This is a novel where jaws drop, chills run up spines and people feel like collapsing to the floor with shock, and who do actually collapse with shock. This is not a book interested in subtlety; the two protagonists have outsized reactions to every event they experience, while the supporting characters remain steadfastly true to the broad stereotypes to which they've been assigned. Each setback they face causes both of them to react in the same way; by taking to their beds and refusing to take action or talk to the person they most need to talk to, which in this case is each other. The climactic moment of this novel is one that would have been avoided if a single character had a teaspoon of common sense and the conclusion of the novel is one that made me sorry to have spent the time reading it. There were some moments of insight, but they were too few to make this novel worthwhile.… (más)

"The internet never forgets, until it does."

The List by Yomi Adehoke was a quick, propulsive read that kept me turning the pages non-stop. I binge this one in a day because I was obsessed with finding out the truth. I enjoyed Adegoke's writing style and I can see why this was picked up for TV. There are so many possibilities for some of the themes to be explored more deeply on screen. The author was bold in her choices and showcased a lot of serious themes in this one. The plot twist at the very end was jaw dropping.

I do wish Ola and Michael's fame was a little more fleshed out in the beginning so that the scandal felt a little more credible. However, I do commend Adegoke for taking risks and tackling toxic masculinity, patriarchy and misogyny, abuse of women, ways in which women aren't believed when they report abuse, the dangers and consequences of fame and the internet, the responsibility of reporters, the dangers of reporting rumors, Black men's mental health, feminism and the erasure of celebrities humanity. Reading this one makes me curious to see how the show will fill in the blanks and add depth to some of these topics because there was a lot to take in.

This is one you will definitely want to read with a friend because there is so much to talk to about. When I finished it, I immediately discussed it with my husband because it opens the door for so much conversation. If thrillers with social commentary are your jam, give this one a try. You will be entertained the whole way through. Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and to @cocoachapters for the gifted copy and tour opportunity.… (más)