Why Is 'If We Were Villains' Compared To 'The Secret History'?

2025-06-19 18:09:43
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5 Answers

Xena
Xena
Book Clue Finder Student
The resemblance between these two novels isn't just thematic—it's structural. Both begin with a crime and then unwind the events leading to it, creating a sense of inevitable doom. The groups at their cores are insular, almost cult-like, with dynamics that toe the line between admiration and toxicity. 'If We Were Villains' amps up the theatricality, but the psychological depth and the way academia becomes a character itself echo 'The Secret History' perfectly. It's that same cocktail of beauty and brutality, where the pursuit of greatness justifies terrible acts.
2025-06-20 10:32:17
20
Cooper
Cooper
Favorite read: The Villain's Hero
Library Roamer Teacher
They're compared because both books expose the darker side of elite education. Privileged students, a secluded campus, and a crime that tests loyalties—the blueprint is similar. 'If We Were Villains' trades classics for drama, but the obsession with performance (both literal and metaphorical) hits the same notes. The way Rio's characters lose themselves in roles mirrors Tartt's exploration of identity and corruption. It's a spiritual successor, dressed in velvet and verse.
2025-06-21 18:06:38
15
Jack
Jack
Honest Reviewer Editor
Both 'If We Were Villains' and 'The Secret History' dive deep into the dark academia genre, exploring intense friendships, intellectual obsession, and moral decay within elite academic settings. M.L. Rio's novel mirrors Donna Tartt's masterpiece in its portrayal of a tight-knit group of students whose bond is shattered by a violent act. The protagonists in both books grapple with guilt, loyalty, and the blurred lines between art and reality, creating a haunting atmosphere.

The comparison also stems from their Shakespearean undertones. While 'The Secret History' leans into Greek tragedy, 'If We Were Villains' wears its theatrical influences on its sleeve, with characters quoting and embodying Shakespeare's works. The tension between performance and truth is a recurring theme in both, making them feel like companion pieces despite their distinct narrative voices. The way they dissect ambition and the cost of brilliance cements their parallel appeal.
2025-06-21 20:34:39
18
Nora
Nora
Favorite read: Our Secret Identities
Sharp Observer Student
What ties these books together is their lush, almost decadent prose and the way they make academia feel like a gilded cage. The characters in both are brilliant but flawed, convinced of their own superiority until tragedy humbles them. 'If We Were Villains' leans harder into the performative aspect, but the core themes—betrayal, the weight of secrets, and the price of belonging—are straight out of Tartt's playbook. Fans of one will find the other equally intoxicating.
2025-06-22 07:03:15
2
Owen
Owen
Favorite read: I am not the Villain
Story Finder Office Worker
The comparisons come down to atmosphere and ambition. Both novels wrap murder in literary elegance, making the act feel like a twisted work of art. 'The Secret History' set the standard for dark academia, and 'If We Were Villains' follows suit with its own flair. The stakes feel higher because the characters are so entangled in their world, making their falls from grace all the more dramatic. It's a formula that hooks readers craving intellect and intrigue.
2025-06-22 12:41:17
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what book is similar to the secret history?

2 Answers2025-06-10 19:07:27
let me tell you, 'If We Were Villains' by M.L. Rio is the closest thing I've found to that addictive mix of elitism, tragedy, and moral ambiguity. The way Rio crafts her characters—Shakespeare-obsessed theater students spiraling into violence—feels like Donna Tartt's work but with more dramatic monologues and less Greek. The atmosphere is thick with pretension and dread, just like Hampden College. Another gem is 'Bunny' by Mona Awad, though it leans into surreal horror. It captures that same cult-like clique dynamics but with a trippy, darkly comedic twist. The protagonist's descent into madness mirrors Richard's in 'The Secret History', but with more glitter and body horror. For something more grounded, 'The Lessons' by Naomi Alderman nails the toxic mentorship and privilege themes, though it swaps classics for physics.

Is 'If We Were Villains' based on a true story?

5 Answers2025-06-19 16:21:19
I've read 'If We Were Villains' multiple times, and while it feels eerily real, it's not based on a true story. The novel’s strength lies in how authentic the characters and their dynamics seem, especially the intense rivalries within the Shakespearean theater group. The author, M.L. Rio, crafts a world so vivid that it blurs the line between fiction and reality, making readers question if such a tragic series of events could happen. The setting—a cutthroat arts college—adds to the believability, echoing real-life competitive environments like Juilliard or RADA. What makes it resonate is how Rio borrows from real theatrical traditions and the universal themes of ambition, guilt, and betrayal. The Shakespearean plays within the story mirror the characters' lives, creating layers of drama that feel timeless. Though the plot itself is fictional, it taps into real emotions and dark academia aesthetics that make it feel like a true crime documentary. That’s why so many fans speculate about its origins—it’s just that immersive.

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