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★Buddy/Group Read Retirement★
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If We Were Villains (October 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Sophie & Lexus, Jen K
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Act 1, Scenes 1-10
I'm really enjoying this one so far. I get what people say when they compare this one to The Secret History; both feature a group of messy individuals who study some obscure subject and commit heinous acts in the end. At least that is what is implied is going to happen in this book.
The concept of them learning lines for a play and not knowing who else is playing what is really intriguing to me. It already seems to have ruffled some feathers with Richard. I'm a little bit suspicious (mostly curious) when it comes to Fillipa, she said nothing when they were discussing their families and seems to fade into the background like Oliver.
Very similar to The Secret History with the outsider narrator and elite group studying a slightly obscure field. I just keep wondering who is going to die. Richard's mood swings is peculiar. I wonder if it has to do with the secret Halloween roles.
I'm definitely hanging in there for the good part because, so far, it's feeling pretty meh.
Through act 2 scene 2. The Macbeth scenes were interesting and the after-party escalated quite quickly. Assume there is foreshadowing.
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I keep going back and forth as to who I think the murder victim will be- right now I'm torn between Richard and James. At this point in the story they're both pretty present and have a tumultuous relationship.
I do wish the 'present day' scenes were more frequent, but that's just because I want the climax of the story and to keep myself engaged.
Admittedly, I find them acting out the plays rather boring unless something goes awry. Shakespeare, and really any kind of theatre just really isn't something that I am interested in.
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Sorry for all the messages btw. I’m on mobile
I just finished scene 2, and I’m convinced that whatever bad happened, Richard is definitely involved. Right now, I’m certain he’s the killer. The story is really starting to pick up!
SophieI agree! The acting scenes are not the most important part to me. I just want to know what happened and why like the officer said 😂
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Through Act 3 Prologue.I'm enjoying the acting scenes. The MacBeth performance was so spooky and a clever way of showing it. Caesar is perfect as a leader taken down by his best friends reflected the 4th years story. I like picking up the similarities such as Oliver covered in blood in MacBeth and then claiming the guilt for the murder.
(view spoiler)
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@Jen K, I didn't think of that, but you could be totally right. Richards main target had been James, so maybe James got fed up and finally snapped. I am curious to see how this all gets turned around Oliver- surely Meredith should've been his alibi, so I'm guessing she lied. Maybe she left Oliver in the middle of the night and committed the crime herself.
Also, why was Fillipa out by the dock anyway to find Richard?
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@Jen K, I didn't even think of that. He's definitely the one.
@Sophie, maybe Richard was about to attack Fillipa and James saved her?
Hi all, I'm jumping into this BR though I'm 2 days behind but I've already read all your comments. Just got through Act I. I have to say it has been easy to read so far.When Frederick said "Fourth year. The year of the tragedy." I thought that was quite fitting for what we're expecting to happen and the fact that they're doing Caesar as Jen K pointed out!
@Sophie I also find it intriguing this tradition of not telling each other who you're playing and just showing up on the day to perform. Richard must be taking his role in Macbeth hard to swallow, I wonder what it is. OH, I guess that's why.
wow Richard has such a short fuse. if it wasn't because of the last few comments here, I'd have thought it was James who eventually died hahha
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So, I just got through Act 3 Prologue. What is going on 😂 Meredith and Oliver. @Brianna I thought I was imagining that but James is definitely feeling Oliver.
Dia wrote: "Hi all, I'm jumping into this BR though I'm 2 days behind but I've already read all your comments. Just got through Act I. I have to say it has been easy to read so far.When Frederick said "Fourt..."
Richard hurting everyone! They all terrified of him except for Fillipa. I think she did it at this point. She is calm and levelheaded and we don’t know much about her. Im convinced she did it and Oliver took the blame 😂
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@Brianna I can definitely agree with you about it being James by his reaction. James also does kinda view Oliver as a comfort blanket, which was made transparent by the fact that he went to Oliver's house during the holidays. I think he may end up confiding in Oliver.
Wren has definitely taken a backseat throughout the book so far, I did think we'd be seeing her more as she is Richards cousin, but maybe she has just been overshadowed.
@Lexus I do also agree with you thinking it may be Fillipa, the girl gives no fucks. And it would also be an added betrayal for Oliver seeing as they are still friends. Honestly it's a coin toss between James and Fillipa for me at this point.
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I still think it’s James. He always plays the hero, and I think he knew exactly what he was doing when he realized Richard was still alive. He knows exactly how to play it, so no one will think he did it.
Finished Act 3 scene 10. Totally agree that James has something for Oliver. I wonder if Meredith doesn't vouch for him because he chooses James during the holiday. Filippa makes sense because she was Oliver's only consistent visitor in prison and maybe she felt guilty but also I really don't think she would let Oliver take the blame for her. James is super shady knowing that it wasn't an accident and someone will go down.
Through Act 4 prologue: Things are heating up a bit with no one quite as they were before. Romeo and Juliet was intense. I still like how the stage scenes reflect the real life. Poor Oliver will always be the right hand man to take the fall.
ACT 2 Scene I - I don't think it's Filippa. Wait, what does Alexander mean by Oliver is as oblivious as they are? James & Wren? Scene 2 - is this how Richard dies? someone will replace the knife with a real one and he dies on stage? are we sure it wasn't Oliver who did it? I'm pretty sure he's angry at Richard for the hurt he's inflicting James.
Scene 3 - oh and he's hurting Meredith too what a prick
well so much for me wanting Richard to die on stage
@Sophie and @Jen K, at this point, I don't know why but I'm not suspecting James yet though you're both right, he had the means and motive.
Act 3 Scene 1 - I can't believe they're all standing around and not trying to save Richard. I mean, I get he's been an asshole the last few weeks since Macbeth but surely there have been more good times as friends in the last 4 years?? Surely he doesn't deserve to die just for the violent outbursts recently. There must be something more to it.@Sophie I did suspect Meredith as well, especially since it was revealed that she came to see the Detective the week Oliver was arrested.
Scene 9/10 - I now know what you meant by James and Oliver. There's definitely something they're not acknowledging when as they're going to bed at Oliver's.
Scene 18 - well there is no doubt now about Oliver's feelings. I wonder if James felt the same when Oliver was fooling around with Meredith. Could James have been the culprit then for what Richard did to Wren? Also what is with Oliver and Alexander this night.
Act 4 Prologue - why do I get the feeling that someone else will die?(view spoiler)
@Sophie re: Wren I'm wondering if it's cause Oliver's not that close to her so we don't really see much of her, but some part of me is suspicious of her as well.
Scene 8- OH (view spoiler)Scene 9 - oh wow that was intense? poor oliver. (view spoiler)
End of Act 4 - (view spoiler) @Brianna I might agree with your comment on this act.
Halfway through Act 5 Prologue - ok I'm kinda feeling like Oliver didn't go down for Richard's death. (view spoiler)
Act 5 Scene 3-5 - oh damn (view spoiler)Scene 6 - I can't believe Meredith would do that. I mean we already know she was the one who went to see Colborne. But what did she say? What did she know?
@Brianna I guess eventually guilt did consume them. Perhaps Filippa least of all though. Guess she felt that he deserved it for all the hurt he inflicted on her "only family"
wow that epilogue. my heart dropped when Filippa told Oliver the news. (view spoiler)
@Jen K (view spoiler)
I finished this book a while ago but forgot to check in. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a favorite of mine. There was too much fluff and not enough action to keep me hooked. However, the ending did pull at my heartstrings. Poor Oliver—he lost James and so many years of his life that he can never get back.
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Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:
Week of 10/01
1st: Act 1, scenes 1-10
2nd: Scene 11- Act 2 Scene 2
3rd: Scene 3-Act 3 Prologue
4th: Scene 1-scene 10
5th: scene 11- Act 4 prologue
6th: scene 1- Act 5 prologue
Week of 10/07
7th: scene 1- end
PARTICIPANTS
~ Sophie
~ Lexus
~ Jen K