Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of If We Were Villains. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Oliver Marks reveals that James, not he, was responsible for Richard's death, and that Oliver confessed to protect him. James later drowned himself in the lake, and after ten years in prison, Oliver tells the full truth to Detective Colborne.
Quick facts
– Book: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
– First published: 2017
– Type: A dark academia thriller
– Tone of the ending: Tragic and haunting
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Seven acting students at Dellecher Classical Conservatory live and breathe Shakespeare. Their friend Richard, the group's star, grows violent and cruel. After a party, Richard is found dead in the lake, and the friends agree to keep quiet about what they saw. Oliver, who is in love with James, watches the group fall apart under guilt.
What Happens at the End of If We Were Villains
As the investigation closes in, Oliver realizes that James struck and held Richard down in the water. To save James, Oliver confesses to the murder and goes to prison. Soon afterward, James walks into the lake and drowns. Ten years later, Oliver is released and tells Colborne the true story. The book ends with Oliver reflecting on his love for James and the friends who remain, unsure whether he regrets his choice.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Oliver's confession is an act of love for James.
- James cannot live with his guilt.
- The group's silence makes them all complicit.
- The ending mirrors the Shakespearean tragedies the students perform.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Oliver Marks | Serves ten years and tells the truth |
| James Farrow | Drowns himself |
| Richard | Dies in the lake |
| Filippa | Stays loyal to Oliver |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows how a group that lives inside tragedy ends up acting one out. Oliver chooses loyalty over freedom, and the book asks whether that choice was noble or wasted.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see the ending as a love story, while others read Oliver as a narrator who romanticizes what happened. The open last pages let readers decide.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Guilt. Every survivor carries the night of Richard's death for years.
Love. Oliver's sacrifice shows how much James meant to him.
Performance. The students blur the line between acting and life.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of If We Were Villains as tragic and haunting. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected M.L. Rio to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are tragic and haunting will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how M.L. Rio closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading If We Were Villains with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about guilt, and do you agree with M.L. Rio's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as tragic and haunting, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces guilt and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what M.L. Rio leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in If We Were Villains often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of If We Were Villains earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of If We Were Villains on Amazon
Books to Read After If We Were Villains
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- Bunny by Mona Awad
Related: If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like If We Were Villains You’ll Love: Shakespeare, Theatre and Dark Friendships
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of If We Were Villains?
Oliver Marks reveals that James, not he, was responsible for Richard's death, and that Oliver confessed to protect him. James later drowned himself in the lake, and after ten years in prison, Oliver tells the full truth to Detective Colborne.
Is the ending of If We Were Villains happy or sad?
Most readers call it tragic and haunting.
What does the ending of If We Were Villains mean?
The ending shows how a group that lives inside tragedy ends up acting one out.
Who wrote If We Were Villains and when was it published?
If We Were Villains was written by M.L. Rio and first published in 2017.
Is If We Were Villains worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy dark academia thrillers. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how M.L. Rio prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read If We Were Villains before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.