Reviews with content warning for Suicide - If We Were Villains: A Novel

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

If We Were Villains: A Novel by M.L. Rio

877 reviews

cheese_koi's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

natradzi's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

What an excellent read.

Content Warnings

gpcwow's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Cry every time

Content Warnings

janahanna's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

karenschlesser's review against another edition

3.0

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Content Warnings

ghostsversion's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

To be honest I had started reading this book before but when it got to the part where

Richard aka Dick was just physically abusing everybody

, I couldn't continue it. Obviously it was a mindset thing as evident by my finishing it finally. Unfortunately as always I already knew some of the big twists in this book because I just love spoiling myself (ha) but I still liked the book regardless. And to be fair I hadn't seen anything about the ending so at least there was a surprise at the end. Though the cast of characters truly did feel like a Shakespearean cast, I do think that

the epitome of "I'm just a little guy" definitely thinks a bit too highly of himself, no matter how much he tries to appear insecure. Because, I'm sorry, but who thinks about slamming the girl who just got thrown off the stairs by her boyfriend? Which, okay, inside thoughts and all that but still. Also the whole thing with his tuition money and his sister's ED just rubbed me the wrong way. Truly his only redeeming quality is his pining for James and the fact that even after 10(?) years of prison he still wants to see him. Though also pursuing Meredith as a consolation prize does dock him a few points.

Content Warnings

generaljinjur's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Verrrrrry torn. When it was good, it was exceptionally good (to someone who has enjoyed acting a little and Shakespeare a lot), but when it was bad it was a tough read. I was a bit disappointed in the end, and really had to slog through the middle. The mystery compelled me greatly, but I wasn’t feeling the tension in acts 3-4, which lost me.

I think some of what made me uncomfortable otherwise was intentional, capturing the cultishly intimate and incestuous vibe of the Dellecher program (down to Gwendolyn's overfamiliarity/intensity and the students’ shared lexicon, more interpreted Shakespeare than original speech). Made me wonder if I had would still enjoy The Secret History if I read it again. Also made me cringe with a fear that I sounded like that at 20. I will be watching the series if it comes to fruition.

Content Warnings