Okay, so you know how you have those authors you just adore? Stacy Willingham is one of those for me. I've been obsessed with everything she's put out, so I was counting down the days until Only If You're Lucky dropped. And, well…it was okay. Just okay.
Look, Stacy's got this talent for creating these super creepy, atmospheric vibes, and that was definitely there. I was intrigued by the whole "found family gone wrong" thing, and I was turning the pages, wanting to know what happened. But, and this is a big but for me, I just didn't click with the characters as much as I usually do with her books. They felt a little…distant?
And the twists? I saw some of them coming, which is a bummer, because usually, Stacy's surprises totally get me. I still appreciate her exploring those dark, twisty psychological themes she does so well. It was still a solid read, but it didn't give me that "OMG, I need to tell everyone about this!" feeling her other books did.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still a huge Stacy Willingham fan. This one just wasn't my favorite. If you're new to her, I'd say start with A Flicker in the Dark or All the Dangerous Things. But if you're a die-hard fan like me, you'll probably still find something to enjoy here. Just maybe lower your expectations a tiny bit.

“If you knew you could get away with murder, would you do it?”

Margot isn't living the college life, she's surviving it. Until, one day a girl named Lucy talks her into moving into a house with her and two other girls for the summer. Once there Margot starts to take back her life. Things are going well...until they aren't...then the neighbor boy is found murdered.

What can I say about this book? It just wasn't for me. It was a slow burn with characters I didn't really like. I called one of the twists early on. If you like slow burns in college settings this is definitely for you!!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies of the book in exchange for my review.

Another gripping thriller from Stacy Willingham! Set against the backdrop of academia, this novel follows Margot, whose dreams of starting college with her best friend, Eliza, are shattered when tragedy strikes—Eliza dies just weeks before graduation.

Determined to move forward, Margot heads to college, where she meets Lucy, a girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to Eliza—with the way she carries herself. As Margot navigates her new life, another tragedy unfolds: the boy next door is found dead, and Lucy has vanished without a trace.

Told through alternating timelines, this psychological thriller will keep you on edge with its unexpected twists and shocking revelations. A must-read that will leave you guessing until the very last page!

This book was a bit slow but as we got deeper in I was fascinated with the girl group dynamics. For some reason the missing people and past was less interesting to me. I love this authors thriller books and I was more into the characters for this one.

We follow a college aged girl group of four ladies all separate and just have their choice of college in common they are partying and meeting boys and living pretty regular/fun college lifestyles. Lucy is the leader and may be most mysterious, sloan blends in the background and Nicole is too nice for her own good Margot is the outsider with less to say but a lot she’s thinking about all the time. It is narrated from Margot’s perspective so it can be a bit timid in the way she describes things. Margot has already lost one friend in the past who she references a lot and the boy Levi that was with her friend is now her college neighbor. when Lucy goes missing Margots senses are up that something is not right they start to be amateur detectives and uncover more and more.

Closer to 60 or 70% through the book this became fast-paced and I could not put it down. Did not guess the ending which I love.

Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham is a gripping and intense psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. The story centers around a young woman named Annalise, who is struggling to come to terms with her past while dealing with the sudden disappearance of her childhood friend. Willingham does an incredible job at creating a tense, suspenseful atmosphere, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to unravel the mystery. The writing is sharp, and the way Willingham slowly unravels the truth behind the events is masterful. Every chapter left me with more questions, making it impossible to stop reading.

What really stood out to me, though, was how Willingham weaves themes of guilt, memory, and the complexity of human relationships throughout the novel. The characters, especially Annalise, are layered and flawed, which makes them feel incredibly real. I found myself torn between sympathizing with her and questioning her actions, which is a testament to Willingham's skill as a storyteller. The twists and turns kept me on edge, and the book's ending had me completely floored. Only If You're Lucky is a dark, atmospheric novel that delves into the depths of friendship, trust, and the secrets we keep. It's a must-read for anyone who loves a psychological thriller with emotional depth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I've loved every book I've read by Stacy so was beyond excited to get my hands on this. This is one heckuva story - OMG the twists and turns will make you gasp outloud. And the ending - buckle up!

Normally Stacy is 4-5 star read for me but this one I couldn’t get into, it fell a bit flat and I had to DNF it around 60%. I wanted to love it but it just didn’t hit for me.

I forgot to give feedback for this book at the time but I enjoyed it, which I’ve come to expect from this author. Twisty and turny!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

"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..

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.

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.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [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.

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!

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.