Ola and Michael are London’s media power couple and have the hashtag #Blacklove to prove it. With rising careers and the wedding of the year approaching, things couldn’t be more perfect. That is until The List is published on Twitter. The List is an Excel spreadsheet accusing prominent men in media of sexual harassment, rape, homophobia, just to name a few. Ola is devastated to see her fiance’s name on The List, and Michael is confused and bewildered as to why his name was added. What follows is the unravelling of a relationship that is tested in a modern online space.
Ola is a celebrated feminist writer at Womxxxn magazine and has made her career championing victims and brutally exposing abusers. She struggles as she wants to believe Michael but that would mean calling the female accuser a liar, which cuts to her feminist core. She hires a private investigator looking for proof.
I particularly enjoyed Michael’s thought process as he combs over his past and his interactions with women and how he and his friends talk about and regard women. The internal struggle that Ola works through is well written and a tussle between head and heart. I enjoyed following these young characters as they grapple with a grenade that has exploded.
The List is not just a nod to a complex topic but deep dives into the subject of accusations and cancel culture. Although it doesn’t feel like the author has an agenda. I really enjoyed this book; it challenged my thinking and had a great twist at the end. If you are looking for something modern and relevant, then you won’t regret reading this.
Reviewed by Nicola Skinstad
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