If We Were Villains, M.L. Rio’s 2017 debut novel, revolves around seven close friends at a prestigious arts school, one of whom is murdered. The novel is structured like a play, and Rio seamlessly weaves Shakespearean works and quotes into the narrative as the characters struggle with identity, sexuality, integrity, and death. The novel is currently being adapted for screen by Blink49 Studios.  

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in If We Were Villains and in-depth analyses of Oliver Marks, Meredith Dardenne, James Farrow, and more. 

Literary Devices

Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in If We Were Villains, including major themes, motifs, and symbols.

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of If We Were Villains by reading these key quotes.