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packedjam's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicide, Murder, Blood, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity and Sexism
maryy_r0se's review against another edition
- 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
It’s been ten years since Oliver’s senior year at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where he was one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare. Ten years since something in the group snapped and fractured beyond repair, and Oliver ended up incarcerated. Upon his release, the detective who worked his case is still looking for answers, and Oliver finds himself back where it all went wrong.
It feels a bit poetic that this book singlehandedly got me out of a reading slump that lasted almost 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. This book drew me in right from the beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. I tend to gravitate more to characters than to plot, and the characters in this book were fantastic. Filippa and Meredith were my personal favorites, but they were all so layered and brought something unique to the story. The author has a background in theatre and it is very clear, not just in her Shakespearean references but in her understanding of the ethical dilemmas often apparent in theatre instruction. As a massive theatre fan, I found that aspect of the book very compelling.
I often hear this book compared to The Secret History. I see why people say that, but I find the comparisons very surface level. I’ve seen a lot of people reluctant to read this for that reason, but as someone who loves both, I wouldn’t let your opinion of Secret History affect your decision to try this. There are some thematic crossovers, but the themes are tackled very differently, and If We Were Villains takes a far less cynical approach to dark academia.
I really loved this book, and I will be eternally grateful that it rescued me from a decade of sporadic reading and unfinished books.
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
puddlemud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Eating disorder
kt2e56's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Shoutout to two truly inspired stagings of Shakespeare: Rio’s visions for Macbeth and King Lear sound phenomenal and I’d happily watch either in real life.
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
remimicha's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Murder, and Suicide
k80mouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicide
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Murder, Drug abuse, and Drug use
bendersreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Death and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Homophobia
raisinflakies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Gore and Drug abuse
Minor: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny
akwardgrinch's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit