Boundless Press | If We Were Villains: A Novel
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If We Were Villains: A Novel
M. L. Rio
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“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest
“Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare…Readable, smart.” —New York Times Book Review.
On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.
A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras.
But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent.
If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, “A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth.”
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Posts about this title from Boundless Press
Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 9 2023
tier ranking your fave book tropes & recommending books based on them
Check out G2A's deals here from March 1-20th, 2023: https://www.g2a.com/best-deals/girl\_power?banner=main
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faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
48 books
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Nov 9 2025
what makes a good dark academia book? 🕯️🕰️ defining the genre and it's potential
let me know what your favourite dark academia books are!
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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 28 2025
the ultimate guide to fall book recs 🍂 30+ autumn books you need to read
let me know what books you'd recommend for the fall!
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Ladybug Books\ \ Samantha\ \ • Sep 23 2025
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Mollie Reads \ \ book club gal\ \ • Aug 12 2025
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Dark academia book recs and August book releases 🍂
🕯️🍂 These are the top best dark academia books to read this fall for all the moody autumn vibes! If you’re looking to add to your fall reading list, these books will be perfect additions!
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Boneyard Picnic\ \ Natalie Meagan\ \ • Jul 5 2025
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(PODCAST) Good Weird vs Bad Weird
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Violetear Books\ \ Kevin\ \ • Nov 25 2024
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Uncover the darker, grittier side of Wicked, my top fall book picks, and a sneak peek at our next release, Black Salt Queen.
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Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Oct 14 2024
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I buy a lot of books, but do I read a lot of books? Let’s find out together!
Also, this is satire friends, I only buy books that I’m interested in reading. It may take me awhile to get to them, but I do eventually read them or I pass them off to friends/family/little free library if I decide I’ve changed my mind.
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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 11 2024
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The Book Was Better\ \ Kayla\ \ • Aug 20 2024
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this video is pretty much me just trying to convince you to read some of my favorite books ❤️🔥 #bo
this video is pretty much me just trying to convince you to read some of my favorite books ❤️🔥 #books #reading #booktok #booktoker #booktokfyp #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #fivestarbooks #fivestarreads #booksilove #myfavoritebooks #bookworm #bookstan #booklover #tbwb #thebookwasbetter #CapCut
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Boneyard Picnic\ \ Natalie Meagan\ \ • Jan 12 2024
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You guys really showed me so much love for my birthday and Iam so grateful and excited to read these beautiful books! You are the sweetest book buds in all the land! Thanks for making 36 feel so special!
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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 9 2023
tier ranking your fave book tropes & recommending books based on them
Check out G2A's deals here from March 1-20th, 2023: https://www.g2a.com/best-deals/girl\_power?banner=main
💓 join as a channel member to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join
💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com
faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
48 books
Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 7 2023
If you like this, read this book! | BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Use my code STORY to get your first Book of the Month box for only $9.99! (U.S). In Canada, grab your first box for $14.99 with code SNOWFLAKE! https://www.bookofthemonth.com/?utm\_source=youtube&utm\_medium=video&utm\_campaign=This\_Story\_Ain%27t\_Over This video was sponsored by Book of the Month.
Let me know your recommendations for me in the comments below!
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💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com
faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
21 books
Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 31 2022
every book i read in 2022 rated & reviewed in 1 sentence
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💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com
faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
63 books
Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 28 2022
ranking & reading 6 popular dark academia books 🖤☕️🕯📚 | babel, ninth house, secret history & more
buckle up for a ride and feel free to put me on double speed, this is the longest video I've ever made 😅
@TheBookLeo's video on dark academia: https://youtu.be/MC88ehQ14c4 The inconsistent depiction of race in Shadow & Bone: https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/netflix-shadow-and-bone-racism-alina/
💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com
faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 23 2022
🍂☕️ 40+ fall book recommendations (autumn book recs) 🎃👻 dark academia, horror
Click here https://bit.ly/3RnsSAg to take the quiz and use my code JANANIE50 for 50% off your first order from Care/of! This video was sponsored by Care/of.
welcome your ultimate guide to fall book recommendations 🍂 i hope you find a new book to fall in love with—let me know what fall books you'd recommend to me!
🤍 timestamps ↳ 0:00 welcome ↳ 3:18 dark academia ↳ 11:45 classics ↳ 16:58 gothic horror ↳ 20:39 slightly spooky sci-fi / fantasies ↳ 26:49 mystery/thrillers ↳ 31:06 literary/contemporary fiction ↳ 36:13 horror ↳ 41:06 new releases i’m excited to pick up ↳ 44:36 outro
📚 join my book club 📚 read books by BIPOC each month and join me during monthly liveshows to discuss! 🤍 announcement Video: https://youtu.be/u-aI8tD1RcQ 🤍 discuss on Fable: https://l.fable.co/readincolour 🤍 discuss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readincolourbookclub/ 🤍 discuss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadinColorClub
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discount codes 🤍 get one month FREE on Skillshare using my link: https://skl.sh/MKR96 🤍 use my code STORY to get your first Book of the Month box for only $9.99 https://www.bookofthemonth.com/?utm\_source=youtube&utm\_medium=video&utm\_campaign=This\_Story\_Ain%27t\_Over
💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com
faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)
🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!
🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!
41 books