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tino_25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Misogyny
k_kay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I really wanted to like this book, the premise sounds very interesting, but I struggled with the way a number of sensitive topics were handled in the book.
It felt like the author wanted to explore the fragility of internet fame and how fickle it can be when considering cancel culture, rape culture, incels, toxic workplace, our image/ how we are perceived and who we really are, but it was too much to explore.
I liked the cultural references,
but it felt like there was a lot of telling over showing.
We’re told that Ola and Micheal are in love, but from the moment we’re introduced to them it’s hard to understand why. We keep being told how much they love each other, but there’s nothing to show us this which made it difficult to empathise with Ola when the list goes viral. The book also does not explain how they are influencers, the description given felt more like they posted a pic and that went viral once and then you never here about their influence other than we are told once more. The friendships with Ola and her friends does this better, we can see their dynamic but the author then goes in to spell it out which just takes up words and pages unnecessarily. Likewise there is a lot of description of clothes and jewellery which felt like filler.
Micheal is not a likeable character and it’s difficult to empathise with himeven when he is suicidal after Ola breaks up with him - it’s is a very common thing abusers do so I was over that dude in the first few pages
I also didn’t care to know the thoughts of an accused abuser and all the incel chat, it’s everywhere these days.
The book was overall very predictable, times when Ola thought she didn’t know what she was going to do, but I felt like I did 🙄
The pace is jarring as we cut between Ola and Micheal’s perspectives at the most pressing moments.
The twist also felt unwarranted, I get what the author was going for, it just really didn’t work for me.
Really consider the triggers on this one as it comes off more of an apologists or liberal take, (I don’t think that was the authors intention) probably because there was just too little said on soooo many deep topics.
It felt like the author wanted to explore the fragility of internet fame and how fickle it can be when considering cancel culture, rape culture, incels, toxic workplace, our image/ how we are perceived and who we really are, but it was too much to explore.
I liked the cultural references,
but it felt like there was a lot of telling over showing.
We’re told that Ola and Micheal are in love, but from the moment we’re introduced to them it’s hard to understand why. We keep being told how much they love each other, but there’s nothing to show us this which made it difficult to empathise with Ola when the list goes viral. The book also does not explain how they are influencers, the description given felt more like they posted a pic and that went viral once and then you never here about their influence other than we are told once more. The friendships with Ola and her friends does this better, we can see their dynamic but the author then goes in to spell it out which just takes up words and pages unnecessarily. Likewise there is a lot of description of clothes and jewellery which felt like filler.
Micheal is not a likeable character and it’s difficult to empathise with him
I also didn’t care to know the thoughts of an accused abuser and all the incel chat, it’s everywhere these days.
The book was overall very predictable, times when Ola thought she didn’t know what she was going to do, but I felt like I did 🙄
The pace is jarring as we cut between Ola and Micheal’s perspectives at the most pressing moments.
The twist also felt unwarranted, I get what the author was going for, it just really didn’t work for me.
Really consider the triggers on this one as it comes off more of an apologists or liberal take, (I don’t think that was the authors intention) probably because there was just too little said on soooo many deep topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Self harm, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Homophobia
eve81's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Homophobia, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
janefinch's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't enjoy this book. It was a horrible topic and the main characters coped with it so badly I found it hard to finish. I read it for a book club, otherwise wouldn't have continued past the first chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Alcoholism
Minor: Racism
katcass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcoholism, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
laileanah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I did not like this. This is an important topic treated in a messy way.
This takes a #MeToo movement-esque basic storyline and focuses on the men who are exposed.
I think the author was trying to make a grand statement or say something important, but mostly, this reads as a defense of ain't-shit men.😩
This had the bones of a good story in there, and the author clearly understood the basics of the story.
No one needs a defense of the bad perpetrators, especially when the victims rarely receive any justice.
The author clearly lays out that less than 1% of men accused are impacted while all victims are harmed 100% of the time. The debacle with Meg thee Stallion after being a victim of gun violence is all the proof I need that wr don't need to be worried about the impact of this type of public shaming on perpetrators.
The gag is that this isn't a defense as Michael is a turd and his actions were abusive and harmful while this text focused on framing his ex, misogynistically, as unhinged.
This takes a #MeToo movement-esque basic storyline and focuses on the men who are exposed.
I think the author was trying to make a grand statement or say something important, but mostly, this reads as a defense of ain't-shit men.😩
This had the bones of a good story in there, and the author clearly understood the basics of the story.
No one needs a defense of the bad perpetrators, especially when the victims rarely receive any justice.
The author clearly lays out that less than 1% of men accused are impacted while all victims are harmed 100% of the time. The debacle with Meg thee Stallion after being a victim of gun violence is all the proof I need that wr don't need to be worried about the impact of this type of public shaming on perpetrators.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
bookishpip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Car accident, and Gaslighting
frombethanysbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
"It's just interesting that you've been more than happy to talk about 'believing women' until the one tmie it actually requires personal sacrifice. And by 'interesting' I mean 'total hypocritical fuckery.'"
The List is a highly topical and timely story with a bold voice that fearlessly jumps into the complexity and absurdity of modern life. Our main character explores the way our online lives have the power to improve or destroy lives, and how different a curated image of life can be to reality. And aside from the whip-smart commentary, it tackles the need for abusers to be held accountable and visible, for women to believed and the way abuse and sexism is so normalised some people don’t even recognise themselves as abusers — as well as discourse about intersectional feminism especially for black women and women of colour.
Ola is wickedly funny and relatable at times, endearing and inviting as a narrator — an woman who knows what she wants but really isn’t sure how she’s meant to do everything. I felt her deep confusion, being torn between ‘innocent till proven guilty’ and believing victims without discrimination. It asks us how we’d act in a situation that forces us not only believe in solidarity and feminism, but take action for it. She leads this story with a personal and emotive voice as she tries to find the truth and wrestles with her love for Michael and her love for her fellow women. Hearing from Michael was interesting and at times unsettling — someone who hasn’t always been a good person and might be deserving of hate, but doesn’t think he’s guilty of the crimes he’s being accused of.
There’s some villains in this story that are clear cut, there are some that are more complicated and make us wonder if redemption is ever truly possible when you’ve hurt people. While the story may be about these two people, as the pages go by we watch as this incident ripples out into the world with catastrophic effects, bringing unsaid truths to the surface for all to see.
Every single character in this story was a vibrant, complex person — although I had a particular soft spot for Olas’ colleague Kiran and their personal bland of honesty and sarcasm. We get to know everyone intricately, at times the story slows to a stroll, just spending time trying to figure out how our characters are feeling before we pick up another piece of the puzzle.
A fiercely feminist triumph of a novel — this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of reading Adegokes work but I don’t think it’ll be the last.
Ola is wickedly funny and relatable at times, endearing and inviting as a narrator — an woman who knows what she wants but really isn’t sure how she’s meant to do everything. I felt her deep confusion, being torn between ‘innocent till proven guilty’ and believing victims without discrimination. It asks us how we’d act in a situation that forces us not only believe in solidarity and feminism, but take action for it. She leads this story with a personal and emotive voice as she tries to find the truth and wrestles with her love for Michael and her love for her fellow women. Hearing from Michael was interesting and at times unsettling — someone who hasn’t always been a good person and might be deserving of hate, but doesn’t think he’s guilty of the crimes he’s being accused of.
There’s some villains in this story that are clear cut, there are some that are more complicated and make us wonder if redemption is ever truly possible when you’ve hurt people. While the story may be about these two people, as the pages go by we watch as this incident ripples out into the world with catastrophic effects, bringing unsaid truths to the surface for all to see.
Every single character in this story was a vibrant, complex person — although I had a particular soft spot for Olas’ colleague Kiran and their personal bland of honesty and sarcasm. We get to know everyone intricately, at times the story slows to a stroll, just spending time trying to figure out how our characters are feeling before we pick up another piece of the puzzle.
A fiercely feminist triumph of a novel — this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of reading Adegokes work but I don’t think it’ll be the last.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
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