This is the definition of dark academia, perfect for reading by candlelight on a chilly night. Comparisons to The Secret History are fair, though I found If We Were Villains to be far more readable. At times I forgot we were Illinois, the vast countryside and old brick buildings leading me to believe we were at a prestigious theatre academy in London. Told in alternating timelines in 3 acts, the comparison of it to a theatre production isn't lost on me. The cast is often quoting Shakespeare to each other as they navigate through their fourth year at Dellecher and its strange traditions. The masked plays felt oddly hedonistic to me, and especially strange given the Shakespeare pieces they chose. Through this, we follow Oliver as he struggles to make himself relevant amongst his peers while in the current timeline knowing that he served 10 years in prison for an unknown crime. As the story unravels and mental states begin to deteriorate, we get some of the most interesting group dynamics I've seen written in awhile. Is it basic to love this book? Probably. But having a literary fiction book that's actually enjoyable to read? Priceless.