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

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

the last page brought it down 0.25 stars😭🫶  I find myself thinking that a sad ending of James dying would have suited this book better, rather than the "oh, yeah, he's probably still alive!" Maybe sometimes I'm just a sucker for tragic endings, but the book was so wonderfully tragic before the hope of him being alive was introduced! To think that James would have lived if Oliver hadn't confessed in his stead — too beautifully tragic! But nope:)

The vibes were immaculate, all the characters intriguing and I loved the way their relationships were displayed. 

ohoho i would have loved to see more of Wren and Filippa though. And at first I was a bit disappointed that the most obvious to-be-killed character was actually killed. I was kind of hoping it would be James or Wren who'd die. In the first case cenario it would have been interesting to see the way Oliver and Wren furher developed, and in the second just imaging the reactions of Richard and James is enticing!

A good time of a book^^ and compared to "The Secret History" there was a lot less to be frustrated about when it came to the plot. And I liked the amount of time we got to spend with both of the teachers too; it didn't feel like anything was missing.

although most of the plot was quite predictable; well written nontheless!