u/Easy-Hair-8936

I know everyone always talks about Tartt, but If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio deserves just as much hype.

It has the exact same intoxicating, elite atmosphere, but the pacing is honestly way faster.

The vibe: A group of seven young Shakespearean actors at an elite arts college. They spend their days reciting poetry, drinking, and obsessing over their plays. But the lines between theater and reality start to blur, and one of them ends up dead. The story is told by one of the students who just spent 10 years in prison for the murder, and we finally find out what actually happened.

It’s dramatic, it’s tragic, and the academic aesthetic is immaculate.

For those who have read both: which one did you prefer? Team Oliver or team Richard?

Hey everyone,

If you love the dark academia aesthetic (boarding schools, old books, rain, poetry, and a touch of melancholy) this movie is the absolute blueprint.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Set in an elite, conservative New England boarding school in 1959, it follows an unconventional English teacher (played by the incredible Robin Williams) who inspires his students to change their lives through poetry and the philosophy of Carpe Diem.

The visual aesthetic is stunning, the cinematography is pure gold, and the story is deeply moving. It captures that perfect, nostalgic academic vibe.

What is your favorite scene or quote from this movie? "O Captain! My Captain!" always gets me

Hey everyone,

For anyone looking for a book with a heavy, haunting atmosphere, I highly recommend Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Set in 1950s Mexico, it follows a glamorous debutante who travels to an isolated, decaying mansion in the countryside to save her cousin. The vibe is pure dark gothic—misty nights, a creepy old house that feels alive, and deeply unsettling family secrets.

It reads like a classic psychological thriller with a massive twist at the end. If you love stories where the setting itself is a character, you will love this.

Has anyone here read it? What did you think of the atmosphere?

I finally picked up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo because I kept seeing it all over my feed, and wow... the hype is 100% real.

For those who haven't read it, it’s about a fictional Old Hollywood star who decides to reveal the dark truths behind her glamorous life and her 7 marriages.

It has everything: historical fiction vibes, juicy celebrity gossip, heavy drama, and a massive plot twist at the end. Evelyn Hugo is such a complex, powerful character. I honestly forgot she wasn't a real person while reading.

Who is your favorite husband?

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share a quick recommendation for anyone looking for a highly atmospheric, dark story for the weekend.

If you haven't read The Secret History by Donna Tartt yet, you are seriously missing out. It’s about a group of eccentric college students studying ancient Greek who push their obsessions way too far—leading to cold-blooded murder.

The vibe is pure Dark Academia (rainy days, old libraries, elite college secrets). It’s clever, chic, and completely addictive.

Has anyone else read it? What did you think of the ending? (No spoilers please!)