A review by juliapeculiar
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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

2.5

This was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I still had major problems with the book, some of which are just personal taste others actual things that could've been better. 

Personally I just don't vibe with dark academia that much, which I kind of knew going into this book. The constant talking of Shakespeare annoyed me and didn't resonate with me at all ESPECIALLY the detailed descriptions of the characters on stage. 

Also I felt like the characters were extremely one-dimensional, a big problem I had with Meredith. Why do we have to read lines and lines about her sex-appeal and how no one can resist her, this is literally all there is to her. The author chose to write her like that and fail to see any reason for it. 

Also
the ending with where Oliver "loves" James seems so out of place and a little like queerbaiting but maybe I just fail to see the bigger picture. I felt like it was an unnecessary add on.
 

What the book did well is having just enough tension from the start to make you want to find out what happend - so I was quite entertained, but sadly the book just didn't stand out to me. 
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