Reviews - If We Were Villains

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45k reviews for:

If We Were Villains

M.L. Rio

4.19 AVERAGE

emmas_shelf's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I freaking loved this so much more than I thought I would. My recommendation - read the authors note at the end, first. It explains their love for Shakespeare and puts so much of why it’s in there in perspective for me. I think knowing that nothing was unintentional means - read with google/ willingness to try study and understand the plays, the scenes, the quotes being used bc they genuinely added so much to my reading experience. I loved this so much more than I thought I would. Everything from the structure of the novel into scenes and Acts like a play, the group dynamic. The “typecasting” and Oliver as a POV was such an interesting take. I was a hater of this book too for the first 50 pages or so but then, I was really immersed and I’m still thinking about that ending.

lucy_kedz's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious sad medium-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: Yes

_lijunzheng's review against another edition

1.5

I wish that I *got* Shakespeare like these guys so that I could have loved this book more.

j_owen's review against another edition

4.0

it’s had all comparisons to the secret history but i feel like i enjoyed it a lot more. oliver was much more likeable than richard papen, and that made me more interested on the whole.

and i know that the deaths in both these novels are completely vile, but bunny probably deserved (i use that word very loosely) it less than richard? bunny was an obnoxious little shit but richard was becoming abusive and violent. however bunny’s murder was premeditated and vile, while james was provoked into fighting back and defending himself.

i love both these books but i much preferred if we were villains. i love u oliver and filippa

ai1018's review against another edition

5.0

oh my god i gasped repeatedly…this was gorgeously written and riveting

pilideu's review against another edition

2.0

I was surprised that when Gwendolyn asked Oliver to name his weaknesses he didn’t say that he had a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs. If you’re going to so shamelessly rip off The Secret History, just go full out, why don’t you?

Also, if you have an eating disorder, please don’t read this book!

Content Warnings