The List

by Joanna Bolouri

[Leah]

When I heard about The List by Joanna Bolouri, I thought it sounded really, really interesting. Novels that focus on sex aren’t really my cup of tea, but The List sounded different. It didn’t sound as if it was a 50 Shades-type novel, so I was very much willing to give it a go, especially after I saw the super pretty cover. It’s probably one of my favourite covers – with the bright pink and gold writing and it’s definitely a cover that jumps out at you and makes you take notice of it. So I was quite looking forward to getting stuck in, especially as some of the early reviews were very positive, saying it was really funny, but I actually never laughed once. (Is there something wrong with me?)

The List has a very simple, easy premise. Phoebe Henderson wakes up on New Years Day and finds herself with no boyfriend, a job she hates, and a raging hang-over and she decalares that this is the year she will choose a resolution she can stick to, and the only one that strikes her as something she could do is to spice up her love life. She’s going to write down 10 things she’s always wanted to do in the bedroom and find somebody to help her achieve them all… She enlists the help of best friend Oliver, who is more than happy to help Phoebe become more adventurous, and over the course of a year she’s going to tick off all of the items on her list, without worrying about the consequences, because if it’s between best friends there’s no strings attached (except the ones Phoebe wants attached)… Right?

The List was a weird read for me. I wanted to love it so much, and I wanted it to become my next favourite read, but I just didn’t really get it. I saw what Phoebe was doing, and it was a great idea (if not really to my tastes, personally) but what should have been a fun, flirty, light read was bogged down in hearing about how much Phoebe missed her AWFUL ex-boyfriend Alex, who wasn’t worth the head-space at all (and who, as per the Chick Lit rules, made a return appearance which I saw coming a mile off and which irritated the life out of me – I was with Frank, Phoebe’s boss, she seemed like such a better person and going back to Alex was such a cliched, bad mis-step) and I was a little bit sick of reading about how awful her work/colleagues were. Why didn’t she just find another job?! What I did enjoy was any and all of her interactions with Oliver. Oliver was a STAR and I could see a mile off that they’d be perfect for each other as more than just bed buddies if they both just opened their eyes a little bit. Phoebe was so obtuse. You know when something is just screaming you in the face and you just don’t see it? Phoebe just didn’t see it!

Joanna Bolouri has a fantastic voice, of that I have no doubt. Phoebe was a fantastic narrator, though I found her tough exterior to be somewhat at odds with the fact she was clearly so self-conscious and how hung up she was over Alex. Her voice didn’t seem to match her personality and if Phoebe could have just shut up about Alex for one second, I would have put her in the Gemma Burgess catergory of characters because she had that streak inside her of being honest, and sweary, and the type of character I like. But she was led astray by men, and not even a good man. I wanted to love the book so much and there were bits I enjoyed, I just felt that despite the unique plot, the rest of the plot followed the usual Chick Lit rules and cliches – cheating ex; best man friend who is so obviously perfect for you, but you can’t see it; an awful job… I was just kind of disappointed. But I will look out for Joanna’s second novel which may be more to my tastes. I didn’t think this would be my kinda book, but I’m trying to push my boundaries in 2014 and this one just didn’t really work, it just wasn’t for me.