Member Reviews

Stacy Willingham has become an auto read author for me. Ever since her first novel, her books have captured me and "Only If You're Lucky" is no exception. This book feels different when compared to her two previous novels. The pacing of this one is slower, taking its time to carve out this mystery. While I personally enjoy a faster paced thriller, Willingham makes the wait worth it.

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I will read anything Stacy Willingham writes. Only If You're Lucky was a bingeable read that explores female friendship and jealousy. A Flicker in the Dark is still my favorite by this author but this book is definitely worth checking out.

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Unfortunately this wasn’t my favorite of Stacy’s books, but nonetheless it was still enjoyable. I adore her writing style and the way she paces the book so well to keep the reader engaged!! This one just felt a touch slower than her previous books. Dark academia is one of my fave subgenres so I loved that setting here. I enjoyed the use of toxic female friendships, murder mystery, and flawed characters too.

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I love love loved LOVED this one. @stacyvwillingham books just keep getting better and better, and she’s definitely become an auto buy author for me.

I did a read/listen combo for this story thanks to @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress and you can not go wrong with either format.

I loved @karissavacker narration she’s amazing like always. She really does a great job in making me feel like she’s telling me the story and not just reading it to me. I love her ability to do voices for other characters in the book.

As for the story Dark Academia is probably my favorite thriller troupe. If you enjoyed In My Dreams I Hold A Knife you would probably enjoy this one as well. This is told in 2 timelines before and after and explores toxic female friendships. Get this one if you are a sucker for college based thrillers like me!

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This book was just okay for me but I had very high expectations as I LOVED the last two books by this author. I really enjoyed how well the setting contributed to the overall spooky vibes of the story and the dark academia themes really set the scene well. I was super engrossed in the first half of this book and then found the rest of it to drag on a bit. I found this one to be predictable, too many characters and it just fell flat.

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"Only If You're Lucky" by Stacy Willingham is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark undercurrents of female friendship and the allure of belonging. Released on January 16, 2024, this novel has quickly garnered attention for its twisty plot and atmospheric setting.
The story follows Margot, a shy college student still reeling from the death of her best friend, as she becomes entangled in a dangerous friendship with the magnetic Lucy Sharpe. Set in a small liberal arts college in South Carolina, the narrative alternates between two timelines, building tension as it unravels the mysteries surrounding a brutal murder and Lucy's subsequent disappearance.
Willingham's strength lies in her ability to create a palpable sense of unease. The author masterfully crafts an atmosphere of creeping dread, using the sweltering Southern Gothic setting of the campus and a decrepit off-campus house to heighten the sinister undercurrent of the story.
The character development is particularly noteworthy. Margot's transformation from a withdrawn freshman to someone caught in a web of obsession and potential violence is skillfully portrayed. Lucy Sharpe emerges as a complex and enigmatic figure, described as "magnetic, addictive, bold and dangerous"
While some readers found the pacing in the first half of the book to be slow, many praised the riveting and concise chapters that maintain engagement. The novel's conclusion has been widely commended for its shocking twists, with Willingham delivering multiple unexpected yet plausible revelations.
Critics have drawn comparisons to works by Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn, positioning Willingham as a rising star in the psychological thriller genre. However, some readers noted that while enjoyable, it may not be Willingham's strongest work to date.
In conclusion, "Only If You're Lucky" is a tantalizing exploration of the darker aspects of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal. With its clever plot construction and atmospheric prose, it offers an engrossing read for fans of psychological suspense, even if it occasionally stumbles in pacing and character likability..

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TL;DR: I remember listening to this on audiobook, but honestly couldn't tell you what happened. I think it was fine, but not as memorable as Willingham's other domestic suspense novels.

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I love Stacy Willingham, I will read anything she writes, and I cannot wait for her to write more! Her thrillers are always fantastic!

This was definitely different from her other thrillers as it was much more of a slow burn. Due to this, it did take me longer to get through than I would have expected, but it was so worth it at the end because it picked up big time and had a big twist I was not expecting at all!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I feel like this was received mixed reviews but I really loved it. Maybe because it was in a setting I am familiar with but it leant some spooky elements and I felt drawn to this book because of it. Did I see the twists coming? Yes. Did I still enjoy it? Absolutely.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [Really Liked it]

I’m usually not a huge fan of slow burns with a large cast but this one worked really well. Dark and twisty with excellent writing, which made it easy to really get into the story. I recommend checking this one out. I’m excited to read other books from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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This was one I could definitely enjoy! I don’t know what took me so long to read it but when I did, wow! Excellent. The whole thing was brilliant and I am honored to have been given a copy of this. Thank you so much Stacy Willingham & Netgalley!

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It wasn't my favorite of her books. It just seemed too similar to a lot of other books on the market with academia settings.

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Full of secrets, friendship dynamics. It was interesting watching the tangled web of lies unravel, with a twist ending.

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Not my favorite Stacy Willingham, but still a really good read! Dark and provocative, I was hooked until the end. Definitely recommend for fans of psychological thrillers, Willingham's other books, and characters with a little edge.

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This was a very fun read, but not my favorite of Stacy’s.

It had an interesting premise but it fell flat for me. I thought the characters were really intriguing with a lot of potential. It has different timelines which I usually love, but I struggled to stay focused on the story. The pacing was a little slow for me., but once it was more clear where the story was going, the pace picked up and I enjoyed it more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was such a trip!! I read it on a plane ride and I could not put it down. It was compulsive, thrilling and I had no idea where it was going. I loved Stacy Willingham's other books, A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things, so I was convinced she had to have at least one flop but I was wrong. She always brings a twisted ending with a compelling story line and she has quickly become an auto author for me!

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This was an enjoyable thriller! I liked the characters in this book and the plot! I did have some trouble getting into the story since it took me some time to connect with the characters and I did think some of the stuff that happened was too much of a stretch for what I enjoy. Overall though a solid thriller with an entertaining story! Definitely recommend trying this one out!

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Toxic friendships, dark school vibes and a college campus setting - these are a few of my favorite things! Throw in shady backstories and family drama and you’ve got plenty to make a plot twisty-turny (it’s a thing…go with it). I’ve loved Stacy Willingham’s previous novels and was excited to get an early copy of this one. Not as dark as her other books (given the subject matter), and while I got a more of a YA vibe to some of the characters, it wasn’t so much that it made me play the .“Where are the parents,” card while reading. Definitely looking forward to her next book.

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Stacy Willingham has become an auto buyer for me! And of course I will read her next book. This one however, fell a little flat for me. I loved the synopsis and couldn't wait to dive in. This book, and their characters felt more YA than adult which killed the rating. The characters and their behaviors or totally YA, and their actions felt more like high school than college, other than living in a dorm or a house on their own.

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I think Stacy Waillingham is my new favorite author. I found the plot to be interesting, the characters well-developed, and the writing engaging.

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