A review by daniellereadslikealot_
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.0

This was definitely the dark academia book I needed in my Tortured Poets Department Era. I loved how it was set up like a play with scenes instead of chapters and how the dialogue was like lines in a script. It was so easy to get swept up in this world of Shakespeare and friendship dynamics filled  with neuroses and competition. Oliver was a really compelling character who sees himself as a lesser talented actor among his friends who he views as more family. I felt like the pacing was pretty perfect. It was a medium burn, not moving too fast, but fast enough to keep you tense and curious to see what will become of these characters. I highly recommend this one for fans of a dark academia setting, Shakespeare, complicated friendship dynamics and tense storytelling. 
CW: violence, death, domestic abuse, drug use, drug overdose, suicide
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