Scan barcode
isleoflinds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Classism
G slur, pretentiousghostlyprince's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia and Classism
Near the end of the book when the truth behind a character's death is revealed, the murdered character uses the word Queer as a slur towards a character and their friend, main protag's sister is shown in about four chapters struggling with an eating disorder and it's discussed heavily within those chapters, A character is caught using cocaine and reveals they've been regularly using it and later the same character overdoses on pills (unknown whether it was on purpose or not), a character's boyfriend starts to physically abuse her and publicly slutshame herli_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
With characters you cannot help but love, while driving you to hair-pulling frustration, Rio weaves the line of morality wonderfully. As the characters are drawn into the world of Shakespeare, you are drawn into theirs.
Just when you think you have it figured out, Rio pulls the rug out from under you, time and time again, ending with a finale that will leave you in a daze.
The intricacies of language Rio uses tell the reader exactly what is going to happen, while still maintaining tension, is genius. Upon re-reading the book you will find yourself laughing out loud at how boldly she spelled it all out.
If We Were Villains is a book you can sink your teeth into, and I intend to, many times over.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Racism, and Rape
maryy_r0se's review against another edition
- 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
It’s been ten years since Oliver’s senior year at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where he was one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare. Ten years since something in the group snapped and fractured beyond repair, and Oliver ended up incarcerated. Upon his release, the detective who worked his case is still looking for answers, and Oliver finds himself back where it all went wrong.
It feels a bit poetic that this book singlehandedly got me out of a reading slump that lasted almost 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. This book drew me in right from the beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. I tend to gravitate more to characters than to plot, and the characters in this book were fantastic. Filippa and Meredith were my personal favorites, but they were all so layered and brought something unique to the story. The author has a background in theatre and it is very clear, not just in her Shakespearean references but in her understanding of the ethical dilemmas often apparent in theatre instruction. As a massive theatre fan, I found that aspect of the book very compelling.
I often hear this book compared to The Secret History. I see why people say that, but I find the comparisons very surface level. I’ve seen a lot of people reluctant to read this for that reason, but as someone who loves both, I wouldn’t let your opinion of Secret History affect your decision to try this. There are some thematic crossovers, but the themes are tackled very differently, and If We Were Villains takes a far less cynical approach to dark academia.
I really loved this book, and I will be eternally grateful that it rescued me from a decade of sporadic reading and unfinished books.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism
mzarauza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood and Classism
ruthiegalat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will say that I did have a few minor problems with the book, though nothing that kept me from enjoying it wholeheartedly. Though Richard was over and over again, described as a person who everyone either loved or hated, there didn’t seem to be much pulling the reader to love him. From the start, he frustrated me, and in the sections leading up to his death, he only became more insufferable. The dynamic of his death and it’s affect on the readers was difficult to grasp, as I was honestly just happy he was dead. Additionally, the implementation of Oliver’s sister’s eating disorder seemed unfounded and unnecessary. It is hardly focused upon, and Oliver himself seems to brush it off as unimportant, though not even because of his character. If it was meant to show his lack of belief in mental illness or something of the like, that would be one thing. But, to the best of my knowledge, it was not.
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder, Blood, Vomit, and Classism