I do adore a book by Stacy Willingham, but I struggled to get into this one. It's a slow burn until a little past the halfway point, at which point it took off. In theory, I love two friends with a complicated relationship, and I like academia, but in this case it felt like a trope that's been overdone without anything new. Still looking forward to Stacy's next, this one just wasn't it for me.

3.5 stars. I’ve read all of Stacy Willingham’s books, she’s an auto read for me. Was super excited to get this one early on netgalley, and find a group to buddy read with! I gotta admit, this is a SLOW burn, and I had a really hard time staying engaged in the story, until about 3/4 of the way - then it took off and I flew through the back half. Definitly a few twists on twists at the end, which made it with it. It’s not my favorite of hers, but still worth a read!

This is so good. I think we have all done lot the smartest things to try to fit in. It was a tad of a slow burn for me but still very intriguing. A look into female friendships. The lies we tell and the secrets we keep.

For fans of any dark academia, or even Gossip Girl, Only If You're Lucky is the story of salacious friendships and murderous choices. What happens when the right things turn into the wrong? I love books that share complicated friendships, especially in college. Navigating that world is so hard and exciting and this book equally explored that.

This is hands down Stacy Willingham’s best novel. Her first two are great, but they focus more on one main character, and this book holds a varying cast of interesting characters that fill out the story. I’m biased towards novels set in college; there’s something about characters being in their early twenties and cacooned in college life that lends itself to interesting relationships and plotlines. Sometimes thrillers can be a letdown because there’s one big reveal at the end that feels anticlimactic, but there are all sorts of small reveals in this book sprinkled in from beginning to end, and while I guessed a few of them, I didn’t see most of them coming. Most of the characters are likeable and the main narrator isn’t annoying at all, which is a common trait of narrators in thrillers (at least in my opinion). I highly,highly recommend grabbing this read when it hits stores in January.

This is a unique thriller that explores the nature of loyalty and how those intricate ties are woven. I highly recommend this read for fans of psychological suspense.

Some female friendships can be formed with an easy smile and a carefree afternoon or much deeper bonds can be forged in a desperate flame of need and sisterly compassion. Margo finds herself attending college and feeling the devastating loss of a friendship built on many years of shared childhood moments. She spends that first year adrift without her best friend Eliza and drowning in loneliness. Her struggle does not go unnoticed. Lucy, a free spirit on campus, charges into Margo’s life and offers up a life raft—an exciting chance to join her small circle of friends off campus. Could this be a new start for Margo or is this opportunity that's too good to be true?

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Only If You’re Lucky for my unbiased evaluation.  4.5 stars

I was captivated by this book from the very beginning. I found the author's writing to be well-done and left the story playing out in my head. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy. I did eventually put the pieces of the puzzle together before the ending but what a ride it was to get there!

The story flips between past and present of Margot.

Margot grew up in an extremely affluent family, with best friend Eliza from grade school. The two are inseparable. Margot feels themselves start to drift apart in approach to life, but the two still plan on going to college together after graduation. During senior year, a family moves in next door to Eliza’s house. Eliza’s demeanor changes and “parades on show” for the kid that is her now neighbor, Levi Butler. Before Margot leaves for college, Eliza is dead and Margot is certain Levi did it.

Moving on from the death of Eliza, Margot goes to the school they’d planned on attending together. Margot sloths through first year, making a single friend - her stranger of a roommate, Maggie. She and Maggie have made plans to find an off-campus apartment for their Sophomore year. Though Maggie has signed the lease, Margot has not, when she is invited to join (stranger) Lucy and her friends in an off-campus apartment. Margot is drawn to Lucy like she was drawn to Eliza and is certain that doing this will give her someone to focus on (Lucy) and move on with her life. The house the girls rent is owned/shared by a fraternity. One of the roommates is dating the fraternity President (Trevor) and their situation is in constant turmoil. At a party before the Fall term begins, Margot is stunned to see Levi, who is a legacy of this fraternity. He tries multiple times to talk to her, she shuts him down. She shares the story of Eliza’s death to her roommates (Nicole, Sloane, and Lucy).

The semester progresses and the girls become closer, inseparable. There is still a large amount of tension between Margot and Levi.

What happened between Eliza and Levi to cause Eliza’s death? Who is Lucy Sharpe and why is she missing at the same time Levi is dead? What is it - personality trait or leverage - that Lucy has over these girls (including Margot) that bends and shapes them to whatever Lucy wants them to be?

I absolutely adore Stacy Willingham’s writing style. The way her sentences flow to create a stream of consciousness and clue readers into how unhinged the characters and plot actually are. I also really enjoy the plot twists and red herring strategically placed so you can never quite figure out who did what to who. By the end, I enjoyed the unraveling though I was still left waiting for more.

This novel is definitely different from her others, and though I didn’t think it was quite as strong (I felt that all the exposition given was necessary), I still enjoyed the journey.

Without spoilers, I can’t say more!

Definitely add this one to your list of 2024 preorders!

I really enjoyed this book! There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I was a little slow getting into it at first but the last half of the book I couldn’t put it down.

"What would you do if you could get away with it?"
Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham looks at four friends sharing a house in college.

"Margot has moved into a house for her sophomore year at Rutledge, a small liberal arts school in SC She has slowly come out of her shell, caused by the death of her best friend 3 weeks after high school graduation. She and her new roommate, Lucy, have become close friends. Near the end of Spring semester, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been murdered. And Lucy is missing..."

Same great writing from Willingham. Some great characters in this one. Lucy is mysterious and dangerous and manipulative. Margot wants to be noticed and is drawn to Lucy - like everyone in Lucy's orbit. Willingham keeps us guessing throughout. How did the boy die? Who did it? Where is Lucy? All of the reveals are twisty and surprising. I did not see any of them coming. (Maybe 1)
There are dual timelines - before and after the murder. We eventually see what happened to Levi and Lucy. And you will not guess that.

More great fiction from Willingham. Always glad to see a book set here in SC (Even if it is a fictional school) This is one you should add to your list.

I was lucky enough to win an eARC of ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY by Stacy Willingham through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy autumn!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Stacey Willingham for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for and honest review!
@netgalley
@stacyvwillingham
@stmartinspress
@minotaur_books

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication day: 1/16/24

My Summary:
I really enjoyed this one like all Stacy Willingham books I’ve read. She keeps your attention through the entire book with a thrilling plot and strong characters. If you love fast paced books and twisty psychological thrillers this is definitely for you. Don’t forget to read the Author’s note for a surprise I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend!

#read #readmorebooks #netgalley #staceywillingham #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #bookstagram #thriller #suspense #bookaddict #bookworm #sorority #5star #tbr

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
I have enjoyed all of Stacy Willingham’s books I’ve read so far - this was no different! The storyline was mostly set in the past with a chapter every few that was set in the current day. Those always left me reading faster to see what got them to that point! I felt like this book kept a pretty good pace, wouldn’t say fast paced but enough that it kept my interest without feeling like I was bored. There were several twists and I hadn’t expected a couple of them! The last several chapters had me a little shocked but not surprised. Overall I loved this book and would recommend if you enjoyed her other books!

This was SO GOOD. Stacy Willingham never fails with her twists! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“One was an accident, one a mistake, and one a necessity to save us all.”

Stacy Willingham writes dark academia? I’m here for it. Pretty different from her other books (also 4/5⭐️ reads for me) this one is a dual timeline, twisty and detailed and not a slow burn but a satisfying burn.

If you want a college setting full of secrets and lies, unreliable characters, psychological games and building tension all leading up to some crazy twists… Then you’ll want to read this one.

Stacy Willingham is definitely one of my new favorites and I can’t wait for more from her!

Thanks to @netgalley and @stacyvwillingham and @minotaur_books for this ARC coming out January 16, 2024 in exchange for my honest feedback.

Swipe for synopsis on Goodreads. 💛 #pagesplantsandcoffee #bookreview

The story is a slow-paced tale aimed at a younger audience due to its college setting. It follows Margot, who is grieving her best friend Eliza's death and finds new friends in Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole. As their friendship deepens, Margot shares her past with Eliza and becomes concerned when Levi, Eliza's previous neighbor, moves in next door. The story involves games, truth-telling, and references to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, exploring themes of belonging and the dual nature of people. While different from the author's previous works, it offers a character study and suspense, though not my favorite compared to her earlier books. If you're a fan of Willingham, it's worth a read. Looking forward to her next release!

Only If You’re Lucky was very different than her other two novels, which I really
enjoyed. This was a s l o w burn read. I felt like there was a lot of character development in the ways we think we are supposed to know them as we read. Lots of half truths, lies and wondering if we know the characters at all. It did not pick up until later in the book but once it did, it was twist after twist after twist! So many, that I could not stop until I finished reading. The ending made the slow burn so worth it!

Only If You’re Lucky is out on January 16, 2024!

I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the juxtaposition of past vs. present and it made for a fast paced book. Honestly the themes of this book are very relatable, even if the content (I.e., murder) may not be. I think all of us have felt what it feels like to want someone who doesn’t want us. I felt myself rooting for the antihero at times because of this. I enjoyed the way the author tied up several smaller pieces of storyline into the main storyline and better yet the twists were not predictable.

This is my favorite Stacy Willingham book to date. The story was an enticing combination of Southern Gothic and Pretty Little Liars. College is such an insular experience and the relationships Margot formed with her best friends were so relatable - a near obsessive and possessive connection with people you’ve only just met but who also know your deepest thoughts. I usually can tell where a story is going but with this book, I didn’t see the major twist coming. My only complaint was the confusing combination of timelines - the “after” sequences didn’t feel completely necessary and made the jumps between high school Margot and college Margot almost more confusing.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for offering me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!