Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

435 reviews

culinaryjules's review

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I read this for my work book club. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own, and I probably wouldn’t have kept reading if it wasn’t for book club. I’m so glad I kept reading. This is a very interesting who-done-it, entrenched within the lives of college students whom are Shakespeare actors. I’m not well versed enough in Shakespeare to get all of the references, but I didn’t let that deter me. This is a well-written novel that delves into the lives of this very small college family of friends. One of the friends is murdered. Or is he? Is the right person in jail? I’m glad it was suggested because I enjoyed it more than I anticipated once I got into it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Bullying, Addiction, Physical abuse, Vomit, Eating disorder, and Blood

charliewarliee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book- This book is honestly one of the best pieces of literature I have consumed in my life. I adored this book, the tension it built so magnificently, the descriptions, the plays. I love how it builds everything up, but everything still goes so fast and smoothly. The layout of ‘Acts’ and ‘Scenes’ made my theatre loving heart cry out! This book needs so much more attention than it already has.

also i’m sorry but James and Oliver’s relationship was SO HEARTWARMING AND CUTE AHHHHHH!

the twist at the end actually made my jaw drop to the floor.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Gore, Suicide, Drug use, Murder, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Violence, and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual harassment

iordanmoore's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

Loved this book! Similar to The Secret History but I found this book to be more enjoyable to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Bullying, Violence, Suicide, Murder, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder

oakairi's review against another edition

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

courtneykfong's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing

Minor: Eating disorder

celadore's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Vomit, and Alcoholism

jetromeo's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders

tetedump's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Violence, and Vomit

lizziaha's review against another edition

4.5

Reading this book traps you in a spiral, coiling tighter and tighter until its inevitable end. The tension builds and builds and builds and builds and snaps in the most gloriously messy Shakespearean way. I actually wish I knew more about Shakespeare after reading this book. I feel like I missed references. Not just in the direct quotes, but in the roles the characters play, in the narrative structure, in relationships, in the ending. I suspect this book, as good as it is as a first read, will fare better for me as a reread. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Bullying, Eating disorder, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit and Homophobia