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    If We Were Villains: A Novel
    If We Were Villains: A Novel
    If We Were Villains: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    If We Were Villains: A Novel

    Written by M.L. Rio

    Narrated by Robert Petkoff

    4.5/5

    ()

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    • Friendship

    • Betrayal

    • Theater

    • Identity

    • Self-Discovery

    • Love Triangle

    • Power of Friendship

    • Star-Crossed Lovers

    • Rivalry

    • Forbidden Love

    • Friends to Lovers

    • Haunted Past

    • Haunted Castle

    • Power Struggle

    • Secret Relationship

    • Theater & Performance

    • Relationships

    • Mystery

    • Fear

    • School Life

    About this audiobook

    “Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...If We Were Villains will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.”
    --Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest

    Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail – for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.

    As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.

    Intelligent, thrilling, and richly detailed, If We Were Villains is a captivating story of the enduring power and passion of words.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateApr 11, 2017
    ISBN9781427286451
    Author

    M.L. Rio

    M.L. Rio has been an actor, a bookseller, an academic, and a music writer. She holds an MA in Shakespeare studies and a PhD in English literature. She is the author of the internationally bestselling novel If We Were Villains, the USA TODAY bestselling novella Graveyard Shift, and Hot Wax. She never stays in one place for long, but keeps her books, records, and four-legged sidekick in south Philadelphia.

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    Reviews for If We Were Villains

    4.5/5

    1,221 ratings52 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a complex and breathtaking ride. The mysterious dark academia vibe and well-chosen dialogues are highly praised. The book is described as extremely well-written and superbly read, with a captivating plot and intriguing references. Some readers compare it to Donna Tartt's The Secret History and recommend it to Shakespeare and dark academia fans. However, there are negative reviews mentioning repetitive sections, borrowed elements, and problematic portrayal of non-het characters and women. Overall, the book is considered a solid dark academia murder mystery with moments of brilliance and a satisfying ending.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      If you read this expecting a murder mystery full of plot twists, you will probably be disappointed. If you read this expecting a heartbreaking tragedy with lovable characters, beautiful friendships, complex emotions and picturesque settings, you'll love it.
      There are lots and lots of references to Shakespeare, so I would recommend reading some of his plays (Caesar, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear) or plot overviews for these ones to fully appreciate this book.
      As a person who is a huge theatre geek (and is currently suffering from theatre withdrawal in lockdown), I immensely enjoyed this book and I hope you'll give it a go because it is really well written and deserves more recognition.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Just like Shakespeare's tragic plays it was gut wrenching but sweet in a sickly twisted way.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      This book really has a lot of those wow….WOW moments. Even though I have always avoided love triangles, the amazing plot kept me reading. I definitely recommend!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      This was my first time listening to the audiobook but the third time visiting this book. I loved the performance issued by the narrator. I truly love this book and encourage everyone to give it a chance.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Stunning, wrenching and heartbreaking. A true tragedy as Shakespeare would've written it in modern times. Absolutely marvelous voice actor.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Idk what to say bro........just wow i am speechless LOL

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN YEARS. oh my god. The characterization. The plot. The REFERENCES. THE INTRIGUE. JAMESSSSS. If you like Shakespeare and/or dark academia and/or Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, you OWE IT TO YOURSELF to read this. 100000/10 stars

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      This book was an amazing ride, and the complexity of it all is so breathtaking and the readers thoroughly attach and embrace the chapters and emotions each part brings.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      i was not expecting pain when i start listening to this

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      There’s something wrong with the recording, it was skipping through sections and then repeating some chapters. I completely lost the thread of the story so had to give up by chapter 12.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Loved the mysterious dark academia vibe! Dialogues were well chosen ?

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Dark Academia, Queers, Beautiful Women, and MURDER? Yes, loved this book. Personally, I think the ending is perfect.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Rating: 4.5

      It's been a while since I've read a novel that's left me feeling like this. It's like waking up in the middle of a really good dream knowing you can't go back to bed. I'm truly torn by this one. Although, I loved every aspect of this novel. I don't know if I like the ending. Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger and there are amazing plot twists along the way and it's a good read but I don't know.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      This book... I haven't read anything as good since high school. That was before I went off to college and lost my brain cells reading about politics for pain. The way this is written, the dimension of the characters, the twists on suspense, and the juxtaposition of the stories with Shakespeare's oeuvre, God... In less pretentious words, it's everything teen me would've died for and adult me still does. Did it destroy me? yes, but in a meaningful way, proving emo wasn't a phase and letting me live my dark academia dreams vicariously through this wonderful work.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      I loved this book! I found it looking for something different and it delivered! I found myself dreaming about the characters and waking up pondering the emotional humanity on display. I dont agree with the other reviews about the ending. Yes, I was disappointed, but it was not with the tone or feel of the story. I was disappointed with the decisions of the characters, much like real life. This book was masterfully written! It makes me want to keep reading hoping that the story never truly ends.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5

      Apr 17, 2025

      This is nothing but a bad rip off of The Secret History
    • 4/5

      Feb 11, 2025

      Absolutely loved this book. Every character felt so real and 3 dimensional that it makes you feel like you’re apart of the group. The suspense of the first half of the boom was amazing but it fell off a bit in near the end. I did like the ending but there was a noticeable shift compared to where the story was going. Nonetheless this book was great (and so sad)
    • 5/5

      Aug 28, 2024

      I must go read Shakespeare because I feel a little illiterate now. Great story, I need an audiovisual piece based on this
    • 5/5

      Mar 20, 2024

      Oh my gosh this book has me in a choke I honestly don't know what to say at this moment.
    • 5/5

      Mar 12, 2024

      Fantastic unfolding with the Shakespearean aspect. Audio was well done.
    • 5/5

      Feb 1, 2024

      this novel, at its core, is about love, hate and pure obsession. The exploration of love and how far it can take you, to the visceral human hate for owns soul, with natural and jealous obsession fueling it all. “Everything poetic”.
    • 5/5

      Jan 16, 2024

      I loved this book to the bits! Definitely recommend it.
    • 5/5

      Nov 7, 2023

      So, so amazing. I resonate with Oliver on another level, and I know this is one of the many books I’ve read that I will never truly let go let alone forget.
    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      I don’t know why, but this is one of my favorite books.
    • 4/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      I didn’t love the ending, but it’s a solid dark academia murder mystery. Highly recommend if you’re a Shakespeare nerd or theatre kid. Things definitely got weaker as the novel went on, but overall I enjoyed it.
    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Amazingly well done. A dark academia thriller with an ensemble cast set at a theatre school. So many emotions and tangled webs of love, lust and jealousy, set against the glittering backdrop of performing the tragedies. Even people who aren't into Shakespeare must surely enjoy this.
    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      This book is heaven. Mystery, language, relationship, suspense.. And the most perfect feeling of what it’s like to be part of something so limitless as Shakespeare; As acting.. as the bond of brothers. There were moments (hello, Macbeth?!) that I couldn’t put it down for sleep, and had zero regrets in the groggy morning. I would read M. L. Rio’s grocery list. So much talent and heart. Highly recommend to everyone I meet!
    • 3/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Maybe if I knew more about Shakespeare I could appreciate this book better. Also I'm not big fan of a perpetual angst myself. I prefer a few rewarding bits at least. All in all it was an ok listening , with a good narrator and an unsatisfied ending .
    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      Extremely well written and superbly read! You don’t have to be a Shakespeare fan (I’m not), to still enjoy the creative dialogue and intriguing plot. Highly recommend the book!
    • 5/5

      Sep 26, 2023

      A perfect story..
      The end was a little bit mysterious ?? I hope there’s a sequel
      Many thanks to the narrator, honestly he’s the best.. he made me live the story with different emotion.