giralka's reviews
285 reviews

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I really hated Rin at the beginning of the book because it felt like she was being such a brat but Kuang really knows how to turn shit around.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is about seven theatre students from an elite conservatory in Illinois. The premise is quite similar to The Secret History, in which these students get too absorbed into their study materials and ended up in uniquely tragic fates. I find this easier to dive into partly because I’m more familiar with Shakespeare than I am with Plato.

I also really like the style of writing. Chapters are separated into different acts and scenes like a play, which I find very true to the theme. The characters constantly recite Shakespeare in their daily conversations, which reminds me of what Baz Luhrmann did for Romeo & Juliet (1996).

The book also reminds me of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, especially during one of the theatre scenes. One second I was watching the play unfold in my mind, and the next, I was spiralling into this unsettling yet familiar realm of madness with the characters. I loved it.

It’s honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year. I also find the idea that a bunch of student actors being the suspects of a murder very entertaining.

Content Warnings