Even without being a Shakespeare or theater fan, "If we were villains" captivated me and I could totally immerse myself in the world of theater, drama and intrigue.But this was mainly due to M. L. Rio's incredibly great writing style. I felt like I was part of the action and the dark academia vibes were perfect for a fall lover like me.Even though I anticipated the plot, it didn't detract from the story. The characters, the setting and the emotions between the group were exciting in their own right.This book really was a positive surprise for me, especially as I rarely read anything other than fantasy or a romance.I was particularly taken away by the ending. The last sentence of the book really got me again and you couldn't have ended the book any better.