Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

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

52 reviews

kristinamv's review against another edition

4.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder

111222333's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Murder, Alcohol

Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder

kgreer's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Wow. The emotions that I am feeling right now are hard to describe. The style of writing, the plot, the ending…it was “good as the best”.

I read this from a borrowed copy from my library and just bought it for my personal collection because of how much I loved it. 

The most tragic thing about this book is that I can’t read it again for a first time and experience the thrill anew. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia

nhelregel's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Listened to the audiobook for this one - the only thing with that was that at the beginning it was hard keeping so many primary characters straight. Happily they fall into archetypes (that the play, and then be extension who they are off-stage) so I had everyone down fairly quickly. Overall: this was very interesting and moody and despite there being several mysteries I didn't really feel the need to solve them (because of the frame narrative you know you'll get some answers anyways). At first I felt like one of the major plot points was unearned - it seemed unrealistic that so many people would all agree on a mind-boggling decision. However over the course of the book I felt like it became more earned, sort of? The teasing out of everyone's secrets and the dynamics between the characters were the most interesting and well-written parts, to me. The ending was... annoying in some ways. But overall I very much enjoyed the book, and would recommend! (Sorry if this review is vague - trying not to spoil anything)!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood

vbaltazar07's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Perfect dark academia mystery with all the drama and emotions of being a theater kid

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Blood, Suicide attempt

cozy_little_booknook's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

aquariusvintage's review against another edition

2.5

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

cheye13's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

As a theatre kid with a literature degree, this sure did Hit. I don't know what to say about this one that hasn't been said. It hits the mark with actors and acting classes, torture of academia, drama of a semi-forced family unit, Shakespearean magnitude. Using excerpts of Shakespeare as a literary device to set the tone and shape the story was impressively clever. The audio performance was magnificent.

I was enjoying everything as it was and then the final "twist" (kinda?) absolutely wrecked me. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending specifically, but the story as an overall piece of art is wonderful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit

a couple instances of drowning, near-drowning, attempted drowning.

bootsmom3's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Outing

Minor: Biphobia

book_slay's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment