While this book wasn't quite what I expected I still enjoyed the read. It was a little hard to get into and stick with at points because it is less of a thriller and more of a drama. I liked the character development and the ending, while not a huge surprise, was satisfying. I will continue to follow Stacy Willingham's book releases because I do think she is a great story teller however this one wasn't my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

I will continually read anything Willingham writes.
Her books are brilliant, character driven, and have spine tingling plots. However, this one is different. It seems like the author geared it more towards a younger audience, so I had some trouble connecting to characters.

I loved how the author referenced Jekyl and Hyde comparing female friendships/good and evil and how the haunting atmosphere keeps the reader engaged. The chapters are rhythmic, and the twists are well executed.
I think fans will enjoy this book, which hits the bookstore on Jan 16th, 2023

“If you knew you could get away with murder would you?” Lucy Sharpe is larger than life and when Margot is singled out by her and invited to live in an off campus house with Lucy and her two best friends she can’t help but say yes. Margot has been struggling with adjusting to college life and has been stuck thinking about her high school best friend Eliza who died tragically and reminds her so much of Lucy. But Margot is going to learn the true meaning of friendship and that real friends will do anything for you. I listened to most of this one on audiobook before I needed to finish and binged the rest on kindle. I loved the narrator and recognize her from other books and she has such a talent of bringing the books to life. Highly recommend the audiobook, if I were a more patient person I would have finished it that way. I thought the twist was good and it took me longer than it probably should have to be able to predict it. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up for a fun thriller with a great ending.

I have enjoyed her first two books and loved this one just as much! I was able to figure this one out pretty easily but it was well written and a good story.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Karissa Vacker does a wonderful job with the narration on this book! Most is from a female perspective but she handles other characters perfectly too! The story is well written and I loved all the details that went into character development. I really felt like I was a part of this book and trying to solve the mysteries along with a group of friends. The ending made my head spin in the best way possible and I would definitely recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators!

Margot and Eliza were the best of friends and were planning to head off to college together in the fall. When Eliza suddenly dies during a summer party, Margot is left to head off to school on her own.

Filled with grief, Margot spends the first year mostly under a cloud of grief. But as the year is coming to a close, Margot befriends Lucy who reminds her a lot of her best friend Eliza.

When Lucy invites Margot to come live in an off campus house with two other girls Margot jumps at the chance. As the four girls start hanging out with each other and the frat house next door, Margot starts to realize that none of them actually know much about Lucy.

When one of the frat boys winds up dead and Lucy ends up missing Margot, Sloane and Nicole are left to put the pieces together. And what they find out is that everyone has secrets….

I listened to the audiobook and was hooked into the “before” and “after” dual timeline as the story unfolded. Some of the twists were a little predictable, but others kept me on my toes for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for my advanced copy to listen to

I love Stacy Willingham books! She has quickly become a new favorite author of mine, so I was so excited to receive an ARC of #OnlyOfYoureLucky and it did not disappoint! If you haven't read her other two (A Flicker in the Dark & All the Dangerous Things - what're you waiting for?!). I really enjoyed this slow burn mystery, with quirky characters in a college town. While this book is different than her other two, it is still very much an enjoyable read. I do feel that since this book was college aged characters that it almost reads like a YA - which didn't bother me at all as I love reading YA books, especially mysteries. The friendships / relationships in this book were intense. Toxic. Forever. With so many lies and secrets, how do you know who to trust?

Karissa Vacker -- omg Karissa Vacker 😍 She is my VERY favorite audiobook narrator, and she did a phenomenal job as usual! The story just comes alive when she's telling it, and is impossible to stop listening. Tbh I would probably watch to a live stream of paint drying on a wall if she was the one talking about it... just saying 😆

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• college setting
• lots of twists
• secrets / lies
• unique friendships

I think this book would make a really fun mini TV series!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 so much to @macmillon.audio for the really great audiobook

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Stacy Willingham
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Karissa Vacker
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 10h 17m
𝙋𝙪𝙗 𝘿𝙖𝙮: 1/16/24

I am a huge fan of SW. 3rd thriller and she shows no signs of slowing down. This was such a wild ride. I don't know how these authors think of these twistys that leave you with your mouth hanging open. TBH this is what I imagined RW's (no disrespect to her writing, I like her too) The It Girl was going to be. This will definitely be a welcome reader's advisory for the new year.

Wow! What a mess of toxic people! I nearly filed this under DNF about 3 times throughout. I was hoping there would be some revelatory twists, but those did not even happen until about 75% through. When they hit, I was dissatisfied. I could not connect to any of the characters. Maybe I am too far removed from the college-age to understand. I also would not put up with the kind of behavior from my friends that these people do!

The narrator on the audiobook, Karissa Vacker, was a saving grace. She was able to voice several different characters without confusing my brain. She was well-understood at a higher speed.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Stacy Willingham for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy is a presence to be reckoned with. She’s bold and magnetic, and Margot is instantly drawn to her at the end of their freshman year of college. Margot is always the side character and never the main character. When Lucy asks her to room together, she can’t say no. Margot soon finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls. She starts coming out of her shell, a shell she’s been in since her best friend Eliza died. The a a guy from the frat house next door is murdered and Lucy has gone missing.

Only If You’re lucky is another addictive thriller by Stacy Willingham. I was fortunate enough to receive this book as an eARC and an ALC through NetGalley. I love to hybrid read part of a book and listen to the other part if I can to fully immerse myself in the book experience. I have to say that I loved reading the ebook as much as I loved listening to the audiobook, and will be getting a physical copy when it’s out to keep on my personal library. I loved all the secrets and drama that unfolded in this story and loved that I didn’t see the twists coming. Stacy Willingham really knows how to hold your attention while her stories are unraveling. This audiobook was narrated by Karissa Vacker and she is an artist!! I actually just listened to another audiobook she narrated and I’m pretty sure I love her (as a narrator). I’d be happy to listen to any audiobook she narrates. Only If You’re Lucky is out 1/16/24 and it’s worth the read/listen. So keep your eyes peeled for pub day!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies and the chance to read/listen and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

#Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for the ARC #OnlyIfYourLucky by #StacyWillingham. This book is so good. It has drama, murder, friendships and a twist that totally knocked me down. Highly recommend.

This was so great! Another winner by Stacy!! I was sucked in and didn't wanna stop listening. I just love how she writes her thrillers plus the narration is AMAZING! I absolutely love her voice. It's oddly soothing and makes it just feels so real. I only saw one of the twists coming and was pleasantly surprised by the others! It was fantastic!

My only wish is that it had a touch of romance for the main character like some of her past books. I really enjoyed the South Carolina setting (I love how her books are usually in the South!) Definitely recommend adding this to your list if you're wanting an addictive thriller with twisted friendships. But it's nott too dark either! I can't wait for her next one! She's just a fav!

#OnlyifYoureLucky by @stacyvwillingham is the audiobook I listened to this weekend thank you to NetGalley and @macmillan.audio !!
This was narrated by the most awesome @karissavacker - I always know the audio will be enjoyable with her narrating!
In this story, set in off-campus Greek housing, three friends start to wonder about the fourth friend, the magnetic Lucy, around which they all seem to orbit. Lucy has an air of mystery and charisma about her that seems irresistible. The POV is told from Margo’s perspective, who after suffering a year from the death of her hometown best friend tragically the summer after hs graduation, comes to meet Lucy, and winds up moving with her and two others to off campus housing. Throughout the story you flash back between the summer when Margo’s friend died but you really only gets pieces as the story then flips to “after” Lucy disappears and one of the boys from the frat house is dead.
A true who-done it that will shock and entertain you!
Look for this after publication date coming Jan 16th of the new year!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “Only if You’re Lucky” in exchange for an honest review. I’m always happy to read one of Stacy Willingham’s books. The writing is solid and they are well-paced slow burns that keep me intrigued until the end. This one is no different. Because it’s set on a college campus, this one felt like a bit of a younger audience to me - almost more YA - but still enjoyable. I do have a couple of things that aren’t really plot spoilers per se, but do reference plot points. 1. I don’t understand why the fraternity boys themselves would be their “landlords.” Who actually owns the house? If it belongs to the organization, wouldn’t there be someone…like a real adult to manage the finances etc.? 2. Fraternities are notorious for keeping their activities under wraps and I just feel like three girls would not be welcomed to observe and participate. With all the mention of fraternities, it’s interesting that no sororities were mentioned. Maybe I missed something.

This is a review for the audiobook.

Narrator: I have found my new favorite narrator! Karissa Vacker did a really amazing job. Very pleasant voice and easy to listen to. The different tones in voices were done to perfection. I was especially impressed by the male voices. I think I enjoyed this book more because of how good the narrator was. I will definitely look for more books narrated by her!

Book: I enjoyed the story, although I feel like it was a similar story to something I've read before (I can't remember which book). The story was a little slow and very character-driven. It didn't really pick up until the end. The characters were full of flaws, lies, and deceit. I didn't see the twist coming at the end which increased my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Overall, a decent story that I think many will enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Due to release on January 15th, 2024.

Audiobook and E-book review.
4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The cover was amazing and made me want to give it a higher priority on my TBR list.

This book is different from her previous books 'Flicker in the Dark' and 'All The Dangerous Things', but I'm not mad about it. I have listened to both and loved them, but I have room in my heart for all three books. I didn't find it as dark as I was expecting, but it was more like a whodunit coming of age drama with moments that I found thrilling. I'm not saying there weren't any surprises, because there were. She kept me guessing, as she has done before, until the very end.

This is written from the POV of Margot, the main character, who is a young adult who is reserved and can be persuaded by others, and is a bit obsessive at times. She feels the loss of someone she loved in the past and is determined to change her typical, repetitive behavior and avoid repeating her past mistakes when she goes to college. You are given flashbacks to both the past before college and the present day in college. Fraternity brothers, mean girls, peer pressure, boy drama, murder, and a whole lot of mayhem can be found throughout. If you're not interested in that, then this book won't be for you.

I'm 53 and still love reading about the bad behavior of young adults and the life lessons one learns along the way to fully developing their frontal lobe. As a woman who was once young, I can relate to the desire to be the one girl who is noticed and doesn't seem to be scared of anything. It seems to me that we've all been there at some point. In that way, I could relate to Margot.

I enjoyed the ending and I thought it would be fun to look at some of these characters again later in their lives. You know after their frontal lobe has fully developed. In addition, I think that this book has the potential to become an entertaining movie or television series.

Thank you to @netgallery and the author, Stacy Willingham along with her publishers St. Martin Press and Macmillan Audio with supplying me with the ARC and ALC for my honest review. I read the Ebook and listened to this audiobook simultaneously. Reading several chapters and listening to them in bed at night. Something I have never done before, but it was a fun experience. In my opinion, Karissa Vacker did a great job of narrating the audiobook and giving voice to all the characters I had previously read.

I just finished this audiobook and it was enjoyable! I’ve had it on my list for a while because I LOVED A Flicker in the Dark, so I was excited to receive the alc to listen to. There were some very unexpected twists and revelations throughout the book which I always love in a thriller! On top of that, the narrator @karissavacker was 🤌🏼 I will definitely be seeking more books narrated by her!

Margot enters the college years alone. The plan was to attend with Eliza her best friend. Eliza died three weeks after summer vacation began. In honor of Eliza’s choice to attend Rutledge Margot carried on with their plans. Her freshman year was scary not having the comfort of her friendship. By Sophomore year Margot met Lucy who introduced her to Sloane and Nicole.
…
Margot has observed from afar the friendship between Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole. She wanted that familiarity again. Lucy invited Margot to live house off-campus with them in a house owned by the fraternity. The backyards were connected by a little old shed allowing easy to access between the two properties.
…
Stacy Willingham writes a riveting story of murder and mystery pulling twist after twist. The interactions between these girls was fascinating. The way Stacy blended the college scene with the friendship was intriguing. I was absorbed immensely in their lives. I was eager to finish out the story to find out what took place. My mind is ravaged by curiosity. The way Margot has this wonderment about Lucy and the way Lucy watches people collecting information. Everything’s so calculating. I’m eager to get to the bottom of it all.
…
Willingham delivers a riveting plot concept that has audiences eager for more. With a spectacular execution and steady pace it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Readers are kept on the edge of there seat as Willingham delivers scenes from both the past and present executing it in a timely manner as to warrant our attention.
…

Karissa Vacker is the solo female performer. It was like listening to a duet performance. Vacker’s voice acting skills were magnificent. I’m an eyes and ears person requiring both the ebook and audiobook to enhance my experience. Vacker delivered a professional performance.

3.5 stars

This is the third book I have read by this author and while I didn’t like this one as much as the other two, it was still a solid little thriller and solidified Stacy Willingham as an auto-buy author for me.

Margot had plans to attend college with her best friend, Eliza, but heads off alone after a tragic accident takes Eliza’s life.

While at school she is taken in by Lucy, who invited Margot to live with her and two other girls. Their house is adjacent to a frat house and they spend a lot of time with the frat bros. One of the bros dies in what seems to be a hazing accident, but his friendship with Margot casts suspicion on her.

Parts of this were a little slow, but I never figured out what happened and who did it. The ending really surprised me. I liked the back and forth between timelines. The narrator did a great job, really easy and pleasant to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read the entire book in a single sitting. It was sensational. If you're lucky, you can get your hands on a copy soon! Definitely add it to your list!