A review by literaryintersections
The List by Yomi Adegoke

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Did I enjoy this book? I don't know. The experience was rough. The characters were hard to like. But the actual premise of the book is very interesting, especially in a post MeToo era of social media vitriol and cancellation. This book left me feeling icky which maybe that was it's goal. I would recommend it but with extreme caution because it can be hard to read. 

Michael is trash. Ola is a mess. But I don't think either of them is the point. I think the point of this book is that no one is perfect. That anyone could be put on the hot seat for their choices and found guilty without any trial. That we are at the whim of social media - people behind a keyboard able to ruin lives anonymously. And that bad men can do bad things and not be pushed because that is how our society was made - it is functioning how it was always supposed to. 

"Did the benefits of the internet outweigh the harm of it when the harm could be as horrendous as this?" 

There was so much depth in this but I also feel like the ending didn't leave me satisfied. But idk what would've been satisfaction in this book because it is not a feel good story. It is a cautionary tale. That we never truly know the people we tie our lives to. That "boys will be boys" turns into "men will be men" which means they can hurt and harm with no consequence. And that the internet can ruin lives. 
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