How well do you really know the people your closest to?
At the end of freshman year, shy and careful Margot ran into bold and dangerous Lucy. A friend like Lucy might just be exactly what Margot needs. Now, Margot finds herself living with Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole who are all very different, but intertwined nonetheless. Margot is finally starting to come out of her shell after the shocking loss of her bestie Eliza, just three weeks after their highschool graduation. Lucy reminds Margot of Eliza in many ways and the pair finds themselves quickly becoming the closest of friends. Then, halfway through their sophomore year, one of the frat boys from the house next door is brutally murdered and Lucy is missing without a trace.
I've been eagerly waiting for this book and I'm so glad I finally got to read it! Overall, I enjoyed this book, however it was a little repetitive. I found the main character to be kind of annoying and felt like this book more like a YA. The book was steady enough and kept my interest throughout, but felt kind of slow at times. It was going to be a three-star for me, but the end really picked up and was one I didn't see coming, boosting this to a four-star read. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a phenomenal job as always! She's definitely a favorite narrator of mine. This wasn't my favorite of hers, but I still enjoyed it and can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley, Edelweiss+, and Libro.fm. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me listen to the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I like the writing style, with jumping back in forth in time connecting the dots. However, with that I was expecting so much more. I was waiting and waiting for a big reveal, but was left hanging.

It was a tyical college students with popular girls and boys with a drama in the mix. I think the biggest let down was the narrator, told from Margots POV. She didn't have a unique voice or thoughts, so I wasn't pulled in. I didn't like the amount of plot holes in this story, and the ease of getting rid of characters without rhyme or reason.

The connection between the characters was intriguing, but the ending just fell flat. I enjoyed her other books, however I won't be recommending this one to others.

This was one of my most anticipated books for this month and even this year! Stacy’s previous two novels are among my favorites, I even made my book club read one and they all loved it! This book was set on a college campus with dorms, sororities and frats, girl drama, truth or dare… all the makings of a great dark academia! I will agree that this book was somewhat of a slow burn, but not at all in a bad way! There was still so much going on and getting a little backstory here and there, kept the pacing great and I was able to binge this in just a couple days! This book was a great addition to Stacys previous books, with twists that I would never have guessed! I honestly cannot wait to see what is in store for her next!

Margot is a freshman in college, but it’s not the experience she thought it would be. Her best friend, Eliza died three weeks after graduation, the girls were supposed to be roommates, they were inseparable and now she has no one. Lucy Sharpe walks into the dorm meeting the first night commanding attention and getting it all. She is magnetic and everyone is drawn to her, Margot included. So when Lucy pulls her aside at the end of freshman year and asks her to stay in a house with her and some friends for the summer and upcoming school year, she is all in. So Margot moves into an off campus house with three other girls. Lucy is obviously the one in charge, Sloan is sarcastic, and Nicole is the nice one. They couldn’t be more different, but also become so intertwined. Lucy helps Margot come alive at school and in a way heal from losing her best friend. But when halfway through their sophomore year, one of their neighbors in the frat next door is found murdered, Lucy goes missing and the three girls are sticking together.

This story was great! I never saw the end coming. It kept me hooked and guessing the whole time. The narrator did a good job on the audio version.

The story is about a girl entering her freshman year of college without her best friend. They were supposed to go together, but her friend died. She meets another girl in school who reminds her a lot of the friend that passed away. New friendships are formed and secrets are made. You never really know someone.

Stacy Willingham is a master story teller! Just when you think you know what is going on… wow! 🤩 I could not stop listening to this one. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, just make sure you add this to your TBR stack soon!

ONLY IF YOU’RE LUCKY review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

🔥Can we take a second for this cover?! 👏 One of my favorite thriller covers in a while! ONLY IF YOU’RE LUCKY is the latest book by Stacy Willingham (same author as A FLICKER IN THE DARK) and was a quick, twisty read!

🔥Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Margot is a shy, quiet college freshman. Lucy is one of the most popular girls on campus and seems to draw everyone into her orbit. Margot has always admired Lucy from afar, wondering what it would be like to be friends with someone like her. When Lucy approaches Margot out of the blue and asks if she’d like to live with her and acouple of other friends, Margot can’t believe her luck. Gone are the days of sitting at home alone wishing for friends and a social life. But things start feeling too good to be true and Margot wonders when it will start crashing down…

🔥This one had a slooooow start. At the beginning I kept waiting for the action/excitement to start. But once the book hit about 70% in it was a wiiiiild ride. The plot twist caught me completely off guard and I truly had no idea how this one would end. I like the college setting in books and this was no exception! The book felt a bit YA given the age/maturity of the characters but it was definitely an enjoyable read! I felt like the pacing was a bit off and wish that it hadn’t taken so long to get to the excitement. Overall I definitely liked this one and would recommend it if you want a quick, bingeable mystery/suspense. I will definitely read whatever this author releases next. 👏

🔥Thanks @minotaur_books, @stmartinspress, and @macmillan.audio for my advanced e-book and audiobook copies! ONLY IF YOU’RE LUCKY publishes Tuesday, January 16th!

Only if You’re Lucky is a compelling and suspenseful psychological thriller with all the twists! The story revolves around a group of friends who meet their freshman year of college. The four girls quickly become best friends and move in to an old house off campus that they rent from the fraternity that owns the house. As the girls get to know each other it becomes clear that one of them is lying about who she really is.

The characters in the book make lots of morally gray decisions. As you get to know them throughout the book it becomes clear that they all have secrets to hide.

This book explores the complexities of female friendship and has elements of a coming of age story. The plot is nonlinear and is a bit of a slow burn. The story reminded me a bit of a Megan Miranda thriller.

I switched between the audio and ebook. The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker. I always love her narrations so I would recommend both!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by Stacy Willingham and narrated by the fabulous Karissa Vacker - quite the combination! 4 stars!

Margot is still grieving the death of her best friend, Eliza, when she heads to their dream college by herself. Shy and quiet, she's surprised when she's befriended by Lucy, always the center of attention, to move into an off-campus house after her freshman year. Once there, the friends quickly fit into their roles and Margot finds herself coming out of her shell. But then a murder of one of the frat boys in the house next door rocks their world, and Lucy goes missing.

Always a fan of Willingham's books, this one is more of a slow burn, character study but definitely ramps up towards the end. I never saw those twists coming! It's definitely a story about friendship, loyalty, grief, wanting to fit in, especially at the vulnerable college age. Told from Margot's POV both before and after the murder, the reader gets a glimpse into her feelings and behavior. Karissa Vacker is always amazing and added to the book!

3.5 stars rounded up!

While I ended up liking the twists and turns at the end of the book, I’m not sure I it outweighed the journey to get there. Willingham’s writing is always powerful and super addictive, but the build in this story was too much of a slow burn for my liking.

By me saying that, I don’t think it’s a bad story! I just like a little more action to keep me super hooked. Sure, there were a lot of clues and codes I was able to crack on my own that kept me turning the pages, but I needed more rewards as I was reading.

If you are okay very slow burns, I think you’ll like this thriller. If you need a bit more action like I do, you might be annoyed while reading, but satisfied with how everything ends.

Big thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! This is available on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Content warnings: murder, death, toxic friendship, sexual assault, infidelity, stalking, abuse

Stacy Willingham did not disappoint with this newest read. Only If You're Lucky had many twists and turns that left me curious how I missed them as I the end unfolded. Thriller without the gore or unreliable narrator. Just pure unspoken details that gave way for a twist ending. Bravo!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I made it to the 30 percent mark, then I decided not to finish it. The characters weren't very likeable, and it had a distinctly "YA" feel.

A Riveting Dive into Friendship and Betrayal - Review of "Only if You're Lucky" by Stacy Willingham
Stacy Willingham's "Only if You're Lucky" offers a compelling exploration of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal in the vibrant setting of a liberal arts college in South Carolina. The narrative revolves around Lucy Sharpe, a magnetic and bold character, and Margot, the shy sidekick who finds herself thrust into a thrilling off-campus life.
Margot's transformation from a careful and reserved individual to a more liberated version of herself is a central theme. The dynamics among the four girls living together-Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one-add depth to the story, portraying the complexities of female friendships.
Margot's character did irritate me at times she is your typical a "soul sucker leech " this perceived flaw others may find that it contributes to the richness of the narrative, highlighting the impact of character dynamics.
Despite the book not receiving unanimous acclaim this far, I personally found it to be a very good read, deserving of a four out of five stars. The author's skillful narration creates a tantalizing thriller that keeps readers engaged, especially in the face of a brutal murder and Lucy Sharpe's mysterious disappearance.
I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley McMillan, audio Minotaur books for providing me with the opportunity to read an advance copy. This exchange allowed me to share an unbiased review of a gripping novel that delves deep into the complexities of friendship, belonging, and the dark secrets that can unravel even the closest bonds.

This book kept me guessing the whole way through. It started off slower but picked up half way through! Thank you Net galley for the ARC. I have loved everything I have read by this author, this book now included.

Stacy Willingham does it again. She has quickly become a must read author for me. When compared to Willingham's other books, I would classify Only If You're Lucky more of a mystery than a thriller and felt geared toward a younger audience than her first two books. While this is not my favorite of her books, I enjoyed the slow burn of this book and will definitely recommend it to other readers and look forward to reading anything Willingham releases in the future!

Grateful for the opportunity to read this book early!
*3.75 stars

I feel torn by this book. I have loved all of Stacy Willingham's books and this one too is very twisty and satisfying in the end, but it's about a topic that is not my favourite - girl cliques. And the characters are (intentionally) unlikeable.. which is not always a bad thing in a thriller but it took me longer to get into the story than usual. Hang in there though, the good part is coming and it was well worth reading in the end!
Karissa Vacker is a great narrator, she's especially good at portraying women's feelings in emotional situations.

Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced listening copy.

This is my third book from this author and narrator. Each time, Willingham reels me in with her storytelling, and I’m gone for good. She masterfully weaves motivations, secrets, surprises, and twists in such a way that I can’t stop listening. I especially love how she replays various scenes and statements that I remember from the story but overlooked as the clues they were. Her stories are dark, delicious, and fun.

However, she is heavy-handed with metaphors, the pacing is uneven, and I had a big problem with something in the ending that I couldn’t manage to shake. So, it's not my favorite from her, but I will still pick up anything she writes, especially as an audiobook narrated by the masterful Karissa Vacker.

🎧ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY by Stacy Willingham is read by Karissa Vacker.

First, I will probably listen to most books narrated by Karissa Vacker. I really enjoy her smooth voice and her delivery of tense, suspenseful stories! I also appreciate her male voicing, which is not an easy task!

This story was another psychological suspense that centers around friendship. Margot has lost her best friend just weeks before college in a tragic accident. Heading off to school alone, she makes her way quietly until the end of the year when the enigmatic Lucy begins to bring her into her circle. Sophomore year brings Margot into a house with Lucy, and two others. This is the year Margot finally begins to break out. Then a boy next door in the frat house is murdered and the fragile house of cards is about to fall.

This was an enjoyable suspense for me! I really liked the structure of the dual timelines and how it all culminated in the final truth. I was very intrigued by Lucy, and a bit annoyed by Margot, though I think my annoyance came from some pieces hitting too close! Feeling lost at that age and gravitating to strong personalities was relatable. The coming of age aspect intertwined with the mystery of Lucy and then the murder was a fascinating braid. I was quite shocked at one point, while I did see one twist coming. I often wonder if the ones I pick up are meant to be figured out. I am not a great sleuth, so I often assume so!

Thank you @NetGalley & @macmillan.audio for @minotaur_books for this ALC! It will be coming out on January 16th, so get ready for some great discussions about if you could get away with murder!

Stacy does it again! She has continued to prove why she quickly grew to be one of my favorites. Only If You’re Lucky was sharp, twisty, and a deep exploration of friendship, secrets, and death. One of my favorite things about all of her books is that she ties up every tiny little detail, even ones you don’t realize you needed tied up until she does it! This one was no exception, and I loved seeing all of the details and twists come together, like following breadcrumbs to a destination. I alternated between physically reading and listening to the audio, and both were exceptional.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC and Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Only If You're Lucky
by: Stacy Willingham
narrated by: Karissa Vacker
audiobook by; Macmillan Audio
release date:01/16/24

The on and off campus locale of South Carolina's Rutledge college serves as both a setting and an atmospheric character in Willingham's new academic thriller. Grieving over the loss of her best friend, Margot leaves her Outer Banks home bound for her first year of college. She then leaves her dormitory to live with three other women, including mysterious Lucy, in a house like no other.

Willingham's writing completely swept me up into the twists and turns throughout this steadily paced psychological mystery involving murder and disappearance. The boundaries of friendship, trust, and truth are jagged and taken to the limits. This is an audiobook that I wanted to listen to at night, as narrator Vacker covered all of the characters with her mesmerizing voice that kept me invested. I have enjoyed all three of Willingham's novels, looking forward each time to her next one. I like her way with words and story.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for an advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

Teenage Drama
Family Drama
Murder

What more could you ask for? Stacy Willingham delivers another page turner. So many twist and turns you don’t know where this book is going to end up.