Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

35 reviews

mrs_brightside's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Self harm

manonh90's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

Great dark academia vibes, although slightly less interesting than The Secret History. The Shakespeare quotes were a bit much at times, and the ending was not as unpredictable as I would've liked. Still a good and exciting read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder, Classism, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Violence

Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Infidelity

cowardlyteaman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This seems like one of those books you either hate or love. I really enjoyed this book. What's most controversial about it, I think, is the writing style and characters. Because a lot of the book bases itself on dramatic poetry, the author sometimes writes as if the book is a play script. I wasn't a fan of this at first, but it grew on me.
On to the characters, I personally?? Love them. I liked Alexander, but I think James ultimately is my favourite character.

Good choice killing off Richard, I loved that part. As usual my favourite character—James in this case—dies, but I found it sort of justified here. Unlike what a certain [cough cough] Le*gh B*rdugo might do.

Alcohol, drugs, sex: we love to see it. Can't say I'm surprised that theatre kids smoke so much weed. (Or American students in general.) Odd place, thar United States of America.
Anyway, I'd like to point out that Shakespeare is constantly nipping on your balls during this read. It's justitied, but still. I'm so, SO tired of Shakespeare. Imagine being tired of Shakespeare without having read Shakespeare. What happened to the Ibsen representation? Richard would've made a perfect Peer Gynt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Murder, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Violence, and Self harm

faitherslibrary's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racial slurs

redheadorganist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Homophobia

charlotteregan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

GOOD. GRACIOUS.

Everything about this book was so poetic.

“Well, that’s misleading. Shakespeare is real, but his characters live in a world of real extremes. They swing from ecstasy to anguish, love to hate, wonder to terror. It’s not melodrama, though, they’re not exaggerating. Every moment is crucial.”

I AM TERRIFIED, AMAZED, AMUSED, CONFUSED, AND BAFFLED.

I am not supposed to be over-analyzing a book but WHAT THE FUCK.

I have not read any of Shakespeare’s works but this book was soooo GRIPPING. I WANT IT SHOVED DOWN MY THROAT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE.

The jealousy, the assholes, the cruel ending, the murder, the characters GOODNESS EVERYTHING MADE ME WANNA THROW MYSELF.  

“You can justify anything if you do it poetically enough.”

YES ! YES ! YES !

5 STARS.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide, and Transphobia

shannay_05's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

eli_jw's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I can't stop thinking about this book. I think my next point of action though will be to read or re read all the plays that build up the plot and then re read this, as I feel like that would add even more depth to an already beautiful and heartbreaking story,

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Self harm

amethyst_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Grief, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Vomit and Eating disorder

polluxia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Grief, Drug abuse, and Death

Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content