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A review by breedawnwriter
We Could Be Villains by Megan McCullough
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is easily one of the top five books I read in 2022. I was immediately hooked by page one because of how relatable Rosemanry's fangirl vibes are, and I really did just love every minute of this book. The story flows beautifully, the characters are well-rounded, and the whole thing is basically a love letter to the fandom community.
What I Loved
Ironfall. Sometimes you have a villain that's just fun to hate. Other times, you love a villain because they are so flawed and broken and just need a hug. Ironfall is definitely closer to the latter, and he was just a really good character. I like the fact that he is super morally gray, but not in a way that makes me feel icky. Like, he knows that he's a bad person who has done terrible things, and he owns that. He's not in denial about who he is or what he's done, and that's a remarkable trait amongst villain characters. Overall, this dude is my favorite and pretty much the best part of the book.
Sam and Rosemary's friendship. I love a good romance, and everyone knows that. But I also really love platonic love and hardcore friendships because those are just as, if not more, important. Sam and Rosemary have such a strong bond that literally bleeds through the pages. They truly care about one another, which makes the stakes that much higher when one of them is in danger (which is like the whole novel, honestly). I also really love their banter. This will always make me like a book better, and this one had the sassiest, most delightful sibling-like banter that just made me really, really happy.
The fandom culture representation. I haven't read a ton of books that feature fandoms or pop culture references, so this was really fun. I've seen some people list out all the fandoms that are referenced, and it's a really long list, so I applaud Megan for finding a way to cover so much fandom ground with this book (she really deserves an award for this). Furthermore, I like how this book shows the positive side of fandoms. Not every fangirl or fanboy is a psychotic person who has an unhealthy obsession with a person. Some people are like that, but not all of them, and I appreciate that this book gives us some good representation.
The plot twists. I did manage to predict one of the big twists for this book (I even messaged Megan to tell her my theory), but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the twists at all. Every one was beautifully executed and offered enough foreshadowing that they never felt completely unrealistic (as some twists tend to feel). Basically, I just really love every part of this book and will never stop telling people about it.
What I Didn't Love
Rosemary skipping school. I obviously get it because who wouldn't skip school in that situation, but like...how is she gonna graduate? Is she going to graduate? This thread was never really wrapped up, so it's just a small bit that kind of confused me in regards to her long-term arc.
Content warnings: Gun violence, death, murder, blood, injuries, stalking, gaslighting, manipulation, child abuse (think Thanos with Gamora + Nebula), panic attacks/anxiety, and grief.
What I Loved
Ironfall. Sometimes you have a villain that's just fun to hate. Other times, you love a villain because they are so flawed and broken and just need a hug. Ironfall is definitely closer to the latter, and he was just a really good character. I like the fact that he is super morally gray, but not in a way that makes me feel icky. Like, he knows that he's a bad person who has done terrible things, and he owns that. He's not in denial about who he is or what he's done, and that's a remarkable trait amongst villain characters. Overall, this dude is my favorite and pretty much the best part of the book.
Sam and Rosemary's friendship. I love a good romance, and everyone knows that. But I also really love platonic love and hardcore friendships because those are just as, if not more, important. Sam and Rosemary have such a strong bond that literally bleeds through the pages. They truly care about one another, which makes the stakes that much higher when one of them is in danger (which is like the whole novel, honestly). I also really love their banter. This will always make me like a book better, and this one had the sassiest, most delightful sibling-like banter that just made me really, really happy.
The fandom culture representation. I haven't read a ton of books that feature fandoms or pop culture references, so this was really fun. I've seen some people list out all the fandoms that are referenced, and it's a really long list, so I applaud Megan for finding a way to cover so much fandom ground with this book (she really deserves an award for this). Furthermore, I like how this book shows the positive side of fandoms. Not every fangirl or fanboy is a psychotic person who has an unhealthy obsession with a person. Some people are like that, but not all of them, and I appreciate that this book gives us some good representation.
The plot twists. I did manage to predict one of the big twists for this book (I even messaged Megan to tell her my theory), but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the twists at all. Every one was beautifully executed and offered enough foreshadowing that they never felt completely unrealistic (as some twists tend to feel). Basically, I just really love every part of this book and will never stop telling people about it.
What I Didn't Love
Rosemary skipping school. I obviously get it because who wouldn't skip school in that situation, but like...how is she gonna graduate? Is she going to graduate? This thread was never really wrapped up, so it's just a small bit that kind of confused me in regards to her long-term arc.
Content warnings: Gun violence, death, murder, blood, injuries, stalking, gaslighting, manipulation, child abuse (think Thanos with Gamora + Nebula), panic attacks/anxiety, and grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Grief