“If We Were Villains” made me want to read more Shakespeare. This dark academia novel set in an exclusive theatre conservatory with a focus on Shakespeare gripped me from the start. The story is told in five “acts”, and the chapters are called “scenes”. The dialogue in this novel is super interesting as it’s interspersed with Shakespeare quotes and sometimes reads like the dialogue in a play. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book. If you’re looking for your next dark academia fix, definitely pick up “If We Were Villains”.