If We Were Villains

As the definitive inspiration for the dark academia genre, this novel shares the intense, obsessive atmosphere and intellectual focus found in If We Were Villains. Readers will recognize the same tight-knit group of students whose deep bonds and shared secrets spiral into moral decay and tragedy.

This novel captures the gritty, secretive nature of elite academic circles while adding a layer of dark, supernatural mystery. Fans of Rio's work will appreciate the exploration of power dynamics and the intense, isolating pressure of being an outsider within a prestigious institution.

For readers who enjoyed the claustrophobic and surreal intensity of an insular group of students, this book offers a more satirical and bizarre take on the dark academia aesthetic. It mirrors the obsession with group dynamics and the blurred lines between reality and performance.

This psychological thriller focuses on a detective who infiltrates a tight-knit group of graduate students, mirroring the intense, insular, and performative nature of the characters in If We Were Villains. The narrative excels at exploring the seductive power of belonging to a closed, intellectual circle.

This book features a brilliant, precocious protagonist who becomes entangled with a charismatic teacher and a clique of students, echoing the intense mentor-student relationships and intellectual pretension of Rio's work. It is a complex, literary mystery that demands close attention to detail.

While it leans into fantasy, the core of the story focuses on the disillusionment of students at an elite, secretive college, capturing the same 'found family' dynamics that turn toxic. It resonates with fans who enjoy stories about young people grappling with ambition, identity, and the heavy cost of their desires.

This thriller centers on a group of students at Oxford who begin a game of dares that quickly spirals into dangerous, life-altering consequences. It mirrors the 'if we were villains' premise of a group whose shared history and intellectual games lead to a tragic, irreversible end.

This classic novel explores the intense, often competitive friendship between two boys at a boarding school, touching on themes of jealousy, guilt, and the loss of innocence. Fans of the emotional weight and dramatic character studies in If We Were Villains will find this equally poignant.

Set in the world of high-stakes academia and art history, this novel follows a young woman who gets swept up in a dangerous, obsessive circle of researchers. The atmosphere is thick with secrets, ambition, and the same kind of intellectual intensity that drives the characters in Rio's novel.

While lighter in tone, this book explores the complexities of intense, lifelong friendships and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart. It appeals to readers who are drawn to the deep, complicated interpersonal relationships and the emotional fallout that occurs when those bonds are tested.