A review by ropey
The List by Yomi Adegoke
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Couples Ola and Michael are embroiled in a scandal involving a “list” of perpetrators that draws much of its inspiration from the MeToo movement. It shows the consequences of trial-by-public with social media, cancel-culture, and how little regard many of us have for online credibility. While I liked how the author included different perspectives in this book, it also felt strangely mechanical.
The final chapter made the story somewhat uncharacteristically removed. It’s as though it spent so much of the first chapters building up this believable set of characters only to turn them cartoonish at the end (I wouldn’t fault the author for this as they did mention that they’d considered writing nonfiction first)
This is the kind of book I’m not certain I could rate. It raises important topics that are normally scoffed at and shrugged off, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, nor would I read it again.
The final chapter made the story somewhat uncharacteristically removed. It’s as though it spent so much of the first chapters building up this believable set of characters only to turn them cartoonish at the end (I wouldn’t fault the author for this as they did mention that they’d considered writing nonfiction first)
This is the kind of book I’m not certain I could rate. It raises important topics that are normally scoffed at and shrugged off, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, nor would I read it again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny