THE BUCKET LIST
by Georgia Clark
When a 25-year-old go-getter is unexpectedly hit with major news about her health, she’s forced to look at herself from a new perspective and ask what she (and her body) really wants.
Lacey Whitman is a planner. Her job as a fashion trend forecaster requires her to live 10 steps ahead of now. So it’s very much like Lacey to schedule a genetic screening to rule out certain health concerns. When that screening reveals she has the BRCA1 gene mutation, the “breast cancer gene,” her carefully forecast future comes to a grinding halt. Lacey’s mother died from breast cancer at age 31, so somewhere deep down, she knew this outcome was possible. It’s a sobering thought: No one likes to think it could be them. Lacey’s priorities shift from working on her startup project, Clean Clothes, "outfits that are on trend and ethically sound," to researching the pros and cons of a mastectomy—the Big M. This research opens doors to a community of women with the same gene mutation and whose outpouring of body positivity encourages Lacey to take charge of her situation. Enter the Boob Bucket List. Before she can confidently make the choice for preventative surgery, Lacey gives herself six months to enjoy her breasts to the fullest. While the contents of the bucket list are not the most imaginative, the list represents something greater than itself: a woman’s right to choose what’s best for her body. A focus on female sexuality and self-empowerment is not new for Clark (The Regulars, 2016, etc.), but this time it comes with a welcome dose of real-life gravitas. It’s easy to overlook the fact that Lacey only checks off some of her must-dos thanks to a few inelegantly inserted plot devices because, in the end, it’s really not about the list. Instead, we're left with the power of female support systems, the importance of self-care, and the sobering realness of Lacey’s prognosis. The fashion scene and a cute, well-mannered hipster supporting character are added bonuses.
A compelling, thoughtful take on a very real women’s health issue; both confidently sexy and lighthearted at the same time.