The List: A Novel

Yomi Adegoke

53 pages 1-hour read

Yomi Adegoke

The List: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Ola is an activist and the current affairs editor for the online platform Womxxxn. She has built a massive internet following by writing viral articles that expose abusive behavior in the entertainment industry. She is deeply committed to feminism and racial justice, but her principles are tested when her fiancé is publicly accused of abuse. She feels overwhelmed by the constant internet chatter and struggles to reconcile her public brand with her private loyalty.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Celie

Friend of Ruth

Half-Sister of Fola

Employee of Frankie Webb

Coworker of Kiran

Michael is an internet-famous content creator who recently parlayed his cult podcast into a new position at the men's platform CuRated. He forms one half of a highly visible influencer couple with Ola, and their relationship serves as a popular symbol of online romance. When an anonymous social media account accuses him of physical assault, he scrambles to clear his name. He insists upon his innocence but grows increasingly frustrated by his inability to combat the online claims.

Key Relationships

Fiancé of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Best Friend of Kwabz

Friend of Amani

Former Romantic Interest of Jackie Asare

Employee of Beth Walker

Acquaintance of Lewis Hale

Celie is one of Ola's two best friends, having known her for twenty years. She is Christian, works for an independent book publisher, and holds strong convictions about believing women who come forward with abuse allegations. She urges Ola to take the accusations seriously and reconsider the wedding.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Friend of Ruth

Ruth is Ola's other best friend, an entrepreneur who sells synthetic lashes at a high markup. Unlike Celie, Ruth is highly skeptical of internet outrage and encourages Ola to wait for the facts before making drastic decisions about her future.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Friend of Celie

Romantic Interest of Kwabz

Supporting Characters

Fola is Ola's identical half-sister. A teacher whose life is disconnected from the turbulent world of online influencers, she provides a grounding, steadying presence for Ola. She prioritizes her sister's mental well-being over internet optics and social media metrics.

Key Relationships

Half-Sister of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Jackie is a woman from Michael's past with whom he shared a complicated, unofficial romantic connection before committing fully to Ola. She feels deeply slighted by how Michael handled their separation, leading to lingering animosity.

Key Relationships

Former Romantic Interest of Michael Koranteng

Romantic Partner of Aaron

Aaron is Jackie's devoted boyfriend. He cares deeply for her well-being and harbors intense resentment toward Michael for the careless way Michael treated Jackie in the past. He views himself as a protective force in Jackie's life.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Jackie Asare

Resentful of Michael Koranteng

Frankie is the eccentric and demanding boss at Womxxxn. An attractive woman in her late forties, she pivoted from editing traditional print magazines to championing "brand feminism" online. She views progressive politics primarily through the lens of website traffic and profitability.

Key Relationships

Employer of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Employer of Kiran

Employer of Sophie Chambers

Lewis is a famous former soccer player and current television personality who finds himself named on the anonymous list of abusers. Behind his confident public persona, he struggles to manage the demands of his family and the crushing weight of public scrutiny.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Michael Koranteng

Kiran is a serious journalist and coworker of Ola's at Womxxxn. She identifies as pansexual and volunteers at women's shelters in her spare time. She holds strict, uncompromising views on trusting cisgender men and challenges Ola's leniency.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Employee of Frankie Webb

Mentor to Nour El Masri

Rhian is the deputy political editor at The Observer and the creator of the anonymous list. A survivor of abuse herself, she operates with a firm belief that traditional channels of justice have failed women, motivating her radical advocacy.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Kwabz is Michael's best friend from university and a former co-host of their popular podcast. He acts as a primary confidant for Michael as the media storm intensifies, offering a grounded perspective outside the immediate crisis.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Michael Koranteng

Romantic Interest of Ruth

Papi Danks is a successful Afroswing artist who faces severe allegations of misconduct. Unlike Michael, he remains relatively unfazed by the public outcry, as his music career continues to thrive despite the widespread rumors.

Key Relationships

Admiration Subject of Amani

Nour is a university student and aspiring journalist. She courageously speaks out about her experiences with an abusive sports journalist, seeking validation and demanding accountability within the media industry.

Key Relationships

Accuser of Mathew Plummer

Mentee of Kiran

Mathew is a sports journalist who abused his power to prey on a minor. His actions serve as a clear reminder of the legitimate predators operating within the media industry, complicating the debate over the anonymous list.

Key Relationships

Accused by Nour El Masri

Luke is a private investigator whom Ola employs to dig into Michael's past. He is tasked with uncovering any evidence that might confirm the online allegations and ease Ola's anxious uncertainty.

Key Relationships

Employee of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Beth is the head of human resources at CuRated. She manages the corporate fallout when the company's newest hire becomes the center of a massive internet controversy, prioritizing the company's public image over individual employees.

Key Relationships

Employer of Michael Koranteng

Coworker of Sebastian Fraser

Sebastian is the conservative-looking CEO and editor of CuRated. He hired Michael partially to improve the company's optics regarding diversity, only to find himself managing a public relations crisis.

Key Relationships

Employer of Michael Koranteng

Coworker of Beth Walker

Amani is one of Michael's university friends and a former co-host of their podcast. He is quick to dismiss the allegations against his friends and eagerly associates with controversial figures, viewing the outrage as exaggerated.

Key Relationships

Admirer of Papi Danks

Sophie is a coworker of Ola's who leverages aggressive internet hashtags to build her personal brand. She prioritizes inflammatory content and click-driven engagement over careful, serious journalism.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Olaide "Ola" Olajide

Employee of Frankie Webb

Gary is a lawyer who advises Michael on the legal barriers to suing social media platforms. He shows unexpected warmth toward Michael during a tense and discouraging consultation.

Key Relationships

Lawyer to Olaide "Ola" Olajide