The List: A Novel

Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of coercion and sexual assault and mentions a panic attack.

Ruth and Fola whisk Ola into a car and take her to her flat, where she spends her days in bed. Fola deactivates Ola’s social media accounts. Meanwhile, All Tea, No Crumpet adds to the negative publicity by dedicating a lengthy post to the wedding. Fola tries to downplay the backlash from the internet, but Ola realizes that her online activity has helped her discover feminism and embrace her Black identity. She reasons that without the internet, she and Michael wouldn’t have jobs. However, the internet has now become a “sick” game that has “ruined” her life.

The doorbell rings, and Ola gets out of bed and discovers a gift basket from Celie outside her door. She showers and goes to Womxxxn, where Frankie acts supportive and asks Ola to write about what has happened. When Frankie claims that Ola “owes” her an article, Ola accuses her of only caring about generating more views and clicks. Frankie reminds Ola that Womxxxn is a business. As pictures of an influencer in Blackface suddenly appear, Frankie wants Ola to write about it, but Ola quits. Sophie Chambers takes over Ola’s position as current affairs editor.