Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

242 reviews

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

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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

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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.
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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 :')

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Blood

laguerrelewis's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

This book is exactly what it says on the tin, for good and for bad. After a somewhat slow climb, it gets exponentially more engaging in its back half, but it never quite feels like the throes of its passion are earned. It does get close at the end there, though. The biggest hurdle I encountered as a reader in 2024 is that the particular white wealthy 2017-flavor of pretentiousness of the characters leads to some… ickiness. Read the content warnings, I beg.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Transphobia

edhyndman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

delaneyfields's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

komiification's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

Definitely a good introduction to anyone interested in getting into literary fiction, particularly of the dark academia nature. A more fast-paced take on the same premise in The Secret History, yet distinctly stands apart from that story and takes on an artstyle of its own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder and Vomit

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Sexual content

sam_rm94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder

meaghanslibrary's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The ending is kind of WTF. I recommend listening to this because it’s written like a play. 

The writing really created this universe of the school and I felt like I was there. I think I would have an even greater appreciation if I studied this in school and drew all the parallels to Shakespeare.

I’m still confused why they killed Richard, I’m not really understanding the motivation.

This was definitely an intriguing and fairly quick listen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail