Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

321 reviews

curlykristenk's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Loved the character building at the beginning and throughout. Loved the way their characters all go a little mad even tho it’s a bit sad that they do. They are a little over the top but I think that was intentional due to them being die hard theatre kids and adding to them getting lost in the world of theatre. 

I loved the poetry of some of the Shakespeare references. Both in the quotes (even though some of them were, imo, ill placed and at times a little cringy when they weren’t like necessarily poetic or added much. At the same time i could see how it really added to the narrative of the characters losing touch of reality outside of Shakespeare) and in the plot similarities at times. I could never really guess what was going to happen next which both I liked and disliked lol. 

I’m sad about that ending for Meredith, just to be there for convenience. She deserves a man that loves her and that will choose her. 

Filippa was a convenient character, especially towards the end, with not a lot of depth but was always there to solve a problem that the author came across. She didn’t have much backstory explained even though it got built up to have lots of potential for it. 

Richards body being mangled, broken and twisted in odd ways and James’ story of him just slashing him with the hook don’t match. It’s a huuuge plot hole and I don’t understand how that could’ve been missed? I was convinced I read the initial description of how his body was found wrong so I went back and looked and yeah it just doesn’t match. And I’m confused about it. 

I feel like overall the wrap up at the end was really rushed. Especially how Oliver found out about James and quickly skimmed over that to ask another question about another loose end of the book straight after hearing that. Then once all the loose ends were tied up after talking to colbourne only then does he have a bit of a menty b about it. I feel like it was just rushed because he’s been waiting 10 years to get out and see the love of his life and he learns that and then asks about other people? Nah I’d go non-verbal except screams. It was just like a bit disingenuous compared to the rest of the book and the great character building. Loved the lil Cliff hanger tho hehe 

Overall loved the book! I think I would give it a 5 if it weren’t for the huge plot hole that maybe I’m still mistaken about? If you’ve read this far plz tell me if I’m wrong haha 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Domestic abuse and Eating disorder

alyssamhartley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to like this book so much. I really think it was just overhyped for me. None of the characters really drew me in and honestly they all gave me reasons to not like them at some point throughout the book. I wanted to know what happened, but I guessed who the killer was from the beginning. I will say the story did not play out like I expected it to, but I honestly hated how it played out because it just made me so angry for that character.

Like all of his friends knew he didn’t do it, but just let him go to jail for 10 years. What kind of friends do that????

Anyway, the epilogue was by far the best part of this book even though I didn’t like the way the story ended. So if you are someone who doesn’t normally read epilogues, you should read this one because it is good. Also, the thing that truly saved this book for me was how AMAZING the writing is. I really enjoyed every second of how this author writes and I will for sure be reading something else written by her soon. I think the storyline just didn’t do it for me. It had good moments, but overall was not my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, and Domestic abuse

crabinspace's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Eating disorder

oakairi's review

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Bullying, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit

dom_brlw's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.75

This is a hard book to read. The amount of content warnings alone is a sign of it. It can be so dark at times and the characters are so twisted. This book shouldn’t be read when you are in a bad state of mind, it might make it worse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Death, Grief, Murder, Blood, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Vomit

not_another_ana's review against another edition

Me: By the pricking of my thumbs, a dnf this way comes!

I just wasn't pretentious enough for this. I thought all the characters were bland stereotypes, I didn't care for the victim of the murder and I'm fairly certain I know who did it.

It was James wasn't it?

Also, if I had gone to uni with people who quoted Shakespeare verbatim in casual conversation I would have killed myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic friendship

thequiltyreader's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

Compelling story and characters. I found the writing style a little verbose at times and must admit to skimming the Shakespeare quotes a few times which is the only reason it's been knocked down on review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Self harm, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Death, Murder, Eating disorder, Suicide, Sexual content, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Bullying, and Suicide attempt

alaskanfae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Vomit

alicelalicon's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Violence

carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

These little assholes were sooo annoying omg. God, I get you're Shakespeare acting students but damnnn I could really have done without every other line of dialogue being a Shakespeare quote. Same goes for the author. This is my only complaint about the writing, but it's a very large complaint. And, ok, I get it "Rebecca, you picked up a book about Shakespeare students, what did you expect?" but I am still allowed to complain. And complain I will. I rolled my eyes so much I feared they would get stuck like that. Otherwise, I think the characters and their relationships had a lot of potential, but I just wished the author would go deeper. Like yea there's this homoerotic best friendship between

James and Oliver

, but you're telling me more than showing me. Same with

Meredith and Oliver

, like I didn't really buy that. And also that whole "Oliver, you're so good" thing, sure he wasn't a terrible person, but I couldn't really see what they were talking about. Like, yes, we come into this group 4 years into their friendship, so I get that there's history, but it's the author's job to convey that and it fell a bit short. 

I guessed the killer immediately. Clocked that shit right away.

"I'm not drinking tonight" *throwing up in the bathroom 3 hours later* "yea I just drank too much" am I some sort of idiot??? James, my darling, I do hope you're still alive but c'mon. Also, fuck! how tragic. Bro, if I was Oliver and I went to jail to save my friend and then he killed himself because the guilt was too much, I'd jump off a cliff fr.

IMO, this book had a fair bit of overall unrealized potential, even though it was enjoyable.

Hm. I think I don't rate books harshly enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Murder, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Eating disorder and Addiction

Minor: Homophobia and Vomit