If We Were Villains is a gripping mystery and coming-of-age novel set in an elite Shakespearean conservatory. The story follows Oliver, a senior at the prestigious Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where students specialize in performing the works of Shakespeare. The novel is centered on a close-knit group of seven friends who are deeply entangled in both their artistic passions and personal rivalries. When one of the students is found dead, Oliver is caught up in a web of suspicion, leading to his eventual arrest for the crime. The story alternates between the present, where Oliver is serving time in prison, and flashbacks to the years leading up to the tragedy. Blending Shakespeare’s themes of tragedy, betrayal, and friendship with a modern-day murder mystery, If We Were Villains explores the fine line between art and reality, the intensity of youthful friendships, and the dangerous power of ambition.