Scan barcode
megmei's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
God do I love a college setting dark-academia with a cast of characters where each person has an archetype. I just eat these up like crazy.
I see a lot of people dislike this book because they can’t stand the characters. I hate to say it, but as someone who has been friends with actors and theatre people… this is what they’re like. They never turn off, they are just constantly ‘in it’ and honestly props to the author for capturing that so well.
Rio writes with skill, weaving Shakespeare in and out of her tale to create an evocative and compelling atmosphere. To these characters, embroiled in a murder mystery as they are, there is NOTHING more important than Shakespeare. And honestly, if I lived like them, I’d get it. Everyone is alluring and beautiful, and made to be on stage, and the whole time they’re quoting these heavy lines of dialogue from Hamlet, Macbeth, Caesar. There’s constant emotional manipulation because everyone is forced to keep their emotions on the surface in order to act. They live like this for years in close proximity. Coupled with the unhealthy coping mechanisms, it is not shocking that everyone is whipped up into cult-like levels of heightened tension; everything must feel like life or death, even when it’s just Shakespeare to the rest of us.
While I felt that the Shakespearean elements were a strength, I am sure that for many readers, the frequent quotations and references might feel overwhelming and cringey. The dialogue can seem a bit much which I can sympathise with. While I feel like the characters were perfect for the narrative, it does feel that some of the characters were slightly less developed, or fell into their trope a little too much, which left them feeling a little under-utilised.
There is also the subject of the books rather subtle approach to the implied LGBTQ representation. I personally felt that that the author approached the delicate complexities of identity and attraction within this already dramatic story with a lot of subtlety. It’s not a dark academia if there isn’t something a little gay going on, but it’s not the focus of the story, and as such I appreciated the vagueness and ephemeral nature of this subplot. It didn’t need to be explicit for me, but it was enough that the elements we got really did add to the final story and weren’t just there for flavour. Some readers will feel that these themes should have been more at the forefront, so be aware that a gay romance subplot is not the focus of this story.
I found ‘If We Were Villains’ to be a captivating study on the darkest parts of ambition and it lingered with me long after I finished it. It will resonate with anyone who enjoys a dark, tense, tale with seduction, violence and betrayal with a beautiful and tragic tale of friendship at its core.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
catnapping's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder and Vomit
keeganrb's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Homophobia
teddyloves2read's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
caitlin_rhind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Murder
sinnah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kellyinbookland's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Murder
dizzymisslizzy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicide
jeslis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Notes:
- Bit up and down with this one but overall I really got immersed in the events of the book and had a fun time.
- Most of my hangups are around the writing: a bit overt on the themes it was exploring (although very interesting and executed well overall), the inner narrative of the characters felt a bit discordant because of the use of both direct Shakespeare quotes and a more casual writing style alongside each other. In general I also felt some of the quotes lacked depth with their use, they seemed to be put there just because they have the words a character needs to say.
- But I liked the use of the plays themselves! Felt like that tied in better to the character plot lines than when they quote Shakespeare at each other.
- I called Oliver and James from a MILE off and I'm so glad that came true because I loved their scenes the most! Especially their shared silence in the final play before it all goes to hell. Oh and dumping blood on Oliver in the boathouse during the first play :')
- Bit up and down with this one but overall I really got immersed in the events of the book and had a fun time.
- Most of my hangups are around the writing: a bit overt on the themes it was exploring (although very interesting and executed well overall), the inner narrative of the characters felt a bit discordant because of the use of both direct Shakespeare quotes and a more casual writing style alongside each other. In general I also felt some of the quotes lacked depth with their use, they seemed to be put there just because they have the words a character needs to say.
- But I liked the use of the plays themselves! Felt like that tied in better to the character plot lines than when they quote Shakespeare at each other.
-
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use and Homophobia
skylar5385's review against another edition
I just felt this book was too dark and depressing. It wasn’t giving me academia vibes, just sadness. I mean, we know Oliver went to jail for 10 years and then got out, beyond that I just don’t care to read about more sadness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Blood