“In an alternative timeline where Michael's name wasn't mentioned, she would have been among the first to retweet The List.”

This book really keeps you guessing.

When Ola discovers her fiancée’s name on an anonymously tweeted ‘Abuser List’, she only has 4 weeks to decide whether or not to go through with her [quite extravagant] wedding.

It’s already an interesting plot, but what makes it even more interesting is the fact that the couple is social-media famous, meaning every decision they make has a big impact on an [easily influenced] audience, they’re also deemed “black couple goals”, meaning they feel like they have a high standard to keep up, and on-top of that, Ola is also a journalist at a well-known feminist magazine where it’s public knowledge that her morals stand firmly on “believing women”.

She is in a very difficult situation, who does she trust more? The man she loves or a complete stranger.

I really enjoyed the depth in which this story makes you think. It covers a lot of important topics, how easily lives can be ruined by lies or secrets, how influential social media can be, and also how difficult it is to be yourself when in the public eye. It also covers male suicide and homophobia specifically within the black community.

I’ve deducted stars because we only really get to know the couple for one short chapter before the drama unfolds. I found myself not really caring if the couple made it through their relationship or not, which is a very important part of the book. I often found myself skimming content to get to the more substantial events. But I absolutely loved the ending!

If it was a third shorter it would have 5 stars!

Favourite quote:

“After everything social media had put them through, how it revealed the swiftness with which admirers can become enemies, where did he stand on it now?”

Sadly this was a DNF for me. It’s not really my type of book, and is probably aimed at a much younger audience. I read to about 30%, but things began to slow down and the narrative seemed to get bogged down a bit. I didn’t really connect with the characters, so I didn’t care much what happened to them. I’m sure many other readers will enjoy it, so try it for yourself.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

This is one of those books where all the ideas are there, but the execution isn't. I've read some of Yomi Adegoke's work before and I flew through the first, maybe, 10% of this book, intrigued by where it might be going and the plot. I would say the strength of this novel in its general writing - perhaps not structurally or indeed, how information was revealed - but the writing is good. But as soon as things stopped happening and I began to question how this was going to be sustained for an entire novel, it felt like an effort to pick it up again. The 'will they / won't they have their wedding' really wasn't an interesting point of tension that kept me turning the pages.

I saw someone's review on Goodreads that said this was probably written to be optioned and, being in that world, I'm inclined to agree. This would work so much better as a mini-series rather than a novel.

The themes are interesting, but I struggled with the inconsistencies and plot holes that ran through this - and a conclusion that felt a bit...weak? I think there was more that could've be done with this story, but it didn't quite come through on the page.

An interesting read which highlights the dangers of social media and how it can affect people's lives. The beginning of the book is compelling but it becomes very slow moving in the middle and better towards the end. I did read it quite quickly as I wanted to find out if Michael and Ola got married and who was behind Michael's appearance on the list - and that was a nice twist at the end.

I think it is aimed at a younger age group than me but I still generally enjoyed it

A weird one for me.

This was a completely compulsive read and I read this so quickly because I absolutely had to know whether what was on "The List" was true or not and what would happen to the perpetrators. Generally speaking, the book realistically delivered that noting that men who are accused of attrocious behaviour often get away scot free. However, the treatment of Michael confused me. Yes, there was an element that he was hard done by but he never proved himself, and towards the end actually agreed with many sexist views shared with other members of the list and the general manosphere (i.e. it's emasculating to be with a strong woman). Additionally, the ending seemed to turn it back into "..but how do (potentially) false accusations hurt those accused", instead of addressing how those who may have been the victims of this violence felt which felt a very strange argument to take (though I will agree that false accusations are difficult). The twist at the end was disappointing but I would still recommend this as a bit of a fun palette cleanser if less impactful than I had hoped.

This is the second book I have read by Yomi and I enjoyed it even more than the last which I also loved!

The story begins by meeting Ola who is due to be getting married to Michael within a month, but when his name appears on a list of industry abusers the day he also starts his new job, both their lives turn upside down.
We follow Ola as she seeks to uncover the truth where she has to make one life changing decision after another in the lead up to her big day and whether she will or won't go ahead with it.

I really enjoyed the range of characters and their views on the accusations. Found this was really well balanced. There was lots of thought provoking writing on behaviours of others and calling people out. The book explores the risk of accusations on social media and puts out really important messages about women being able to speak their truth and how one lie can have an affect all the others.

This book funny, witty, relevant and real but serious topics were also brilliantly covered.

I will be recommending this book to others and looking forward to more new books soon hopefully form this author

I am fascinated by social media and the way it appears to dominate some people's lives. It is an intriguing phenomenon and it never fails to surprise me how some people are prepared to devote their lives to feeding the insatiable beast.

The List concerns two young beautiful people of colour. Both of them have substantial numbers of followers on social media. Ola works for a feminist magazine and has been active in writing and campaigning against male abusive behaviour so when she wakes up a month before their wedding to a barrage of tweets about The List, it is personally devastating. The List names male abusers and there in their midst is Michael, accused of harassment at office Christmas parties as well as having a restraining order against him. He denies it of course but can Ola believe him?

I thought this was very well done and raised important questions. Who do we believe in a 'he said, she said' situation. Should there be limits to what can be said anonymously on social media and why is it not subject to the same libel laws as publishing in general. It was an enjoyable and thought provoking read and did make you think about what you would do if you were in Ola's position. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ola Olajide and Michael Koranteng, successful media ‘couple goals,’ are getting married in a month. Then one morning, they wake up to The List, a crowdsourced document of abusers – and Michael’s name is on it. Michael’s male friends on WhatApp are brilliantly ventriloquised, as are Ola’s monstrous boss Frankie, a dot-com Karen; Michael’s resigned parents; and Ola’s friends and half-sister, who try to rally around her. A brilliantly observed, nuanced portrayal of our ‘no smoke without fire’ online society which never allows us to forget that Ola and Michael are human beings – flawed, yes, but deserving of a fair trial.

Had to DNF this one at 42% I’m afraid. The premise was really interesting and I was really keen to see where it went, but unfortunately I found the main characters fairly unlikeable and wasn’t particularly bothered about whether their wedding was going ahead or not. Ola’s friends seemed hugely unsupportive and totally unaware of any nuances whatsoever - because yes of course we should believe women, but it wouldn’t be easy for anyone in Ola’s position to just call off their wedding.

I was enjoying it for the first quarter or so but then the pacing slowed down massively - and I just wasn’t enjoying the story. While (as above) I totally agree with the nuances the author was trying to explore, Michael seemed like a very unsympathetic character with little respect for the women in his life, so his downfall didn’t particularly upset me.

Not for me, but I’d read other work by the author, I’m sad this one just lost my interest.

This novel revolves around the high flying feminist journalist Ola Olajide and her London life appears perfect with a month to go to her wedding to Michael. With the arrival of a mysterious list via social media, Ola is horrified to discover her fiancé’s name on a list of men. The post rocks her world and as a leading defender of women, she is now in the uncomfortable position of having to write an article about the list. Yomi Adegoke narrates the story from Ola and Michael’s perspectives and what could have been a formulaic attempt at a tale around the #MeToo movement, transcends into a clever compulsive exploration of social media, misogyny and toxic male culture with a backdrop of black culture in London. This is a first class novel that is multi-layered with two strong characters. Compelling and provocative.

Sometimes life can be so unfair! This rings true for all of us at some time or another! “The List” takes the pain felt in such circumstances to a new level!

This particular book was a different kind of read for me in so many ways. I have to say my enjoyment was enhanced by the fact that I had so much to think about!

The reader had to grasp non-white culture, youth culture, differing gender perspectives, morality, relationships and flawed humanity! It was not an easy read in terms of the issues to consider. The changing fragile emotions of the main characters could be deeply felt as the plot evolved.

The book also highlighted the potentially damaging impact of unregulated social media. I must say that I was impressed by the author and will definitely look to read more from her.

This is a debut which dices with some pretty heavy themes - sexual assault,racism, social media trolling, suicide - and yet it’s written (very well I might add!) in a way that was nevertheless an easy read, a real page turner.

It quickly became apparent that this certainly wasn’t aimed at my age bracket (approaching the big 5-0), I think it’s more for young 20-30-somethings, but I still really enjoyed it and found the plot fascinating and the characters engaging. I’ll keep a look out for more in the future by Yomi Adegoke.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC, and such a great read.

Ola & Michael are the poster children for #BlackLove on insta. But 4weeks before the wedding "The List" is published on Twitter.
Michael is anonymously accused of assaulting a woman & having a restraining order against him. Ola is a feminist journalist and now has to choose between blindly believing the accusations or trusting her partner. We follow the couple as they work their way through it & decide on their futures.

I found the premise excellent but found the story slow & plodding. It didn't engage me as much as I hoped it would. There was a lot of unnecessary scene fillers, and it felt like the author was trying to reach a word count.

Overall, 3 stars as the idea and plot was really good, it was just a bit slow for my liking.

I did not mind this book
Did find it a bit mish mash at times
Didn't figure out who had put Michael on the list and why
I do think this is more in line with a younger age group
I did finish it, not my usual read

I will probably with it when it is turned into a tv series

Thank you netgalley, Yomi Adegoke and fourth estate

Wooosh! All the isms at once!
While taking on structural racism and sexual violence, the book also does a very good job of exploring women’s relationships to their friends, family and careers as well as their cis/het male partners in these times when we are trying to unpuzzle so much online. Social media also gets examined here, but like so much in this book, the conversation is not so black and white, which is refreshing

It’s both a well written, humorous, story that’s enjoyable as a novel as well as a book that takes on a lot of cultural struggles. Get you a book that can do both – this book will be talked about and find itself on every end of the year list!

A timely and interesting look at the supposed cancel culture via the lens of a relationship. The author is ensightful and the writing is snappy….

This is a very good debut that deal with a topical and timely plot.
It has a great start and end, but fell away a little in the middle.
The book is certainly unusual and memorable.

Yomi Adegoke's gripping novel, "The List," delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the power of social media in shaping public perception. Ola Olajide, a successful journalist, and her fiancé Michael find their picture-perfect lives shattered when they wake up to discover Michael's name on an anonymous online list of allegations.

Adegoke skillfully explores the nuances of consent, accountability, and the impact of social media in the #MeToo era. The story delves into the internal struggle Ola faces as she grapples with her personal beliefs and the realization that someone she loves may have engaged in harmful behavior. The author's writing is thought-provoking and evocative, highlighting the complexities of navigating relationships in a digital age.

The characters in "The List" are well-developed and relatable, with their flaws and vulnerabilities laid bare. Ola's journey, as she confronts her own biases and confronts the truth about those closest to her, is both compelling and emotionally charged.

Adegoke's storytelling is gripping, with twists and turns that keep readers hooked until the very end. The exploration of themes such as trust, betrayal, and the power dynamics within relationships adds depth and richness to the narrative.

"The List" is a timely and powerful novel that examines the intersections of love, trust, and accountability. Yomi Adegoke's insightful writing prompts important conversations about consent and the impact of social media on our lives. It is a compelling read that will leave readers reflecting on the complexities of modern relationships and the power of collective voices in the digital age.

I honestly felt very lost and confused whilst reading this book. It was just a bit too different for me but perhaps that’s the point. I think it will be more suited to the younger generation.

A stunning debut! Page-turning, thought-provoking and brimming with drama, I couldn’t get enough of The List. Perfect for fans of Bolu Babalola, Akwaeke Emezi and of course, Slay In Your Lane.