This is the second book I've read from Stacy Willingham and I'm thinking that she may just not be the author for me. I was originally drawn to the premise, but I found the overall book to feel a little flat. I usually read thrillers pretty quickly, but this one also took me a long time to finish as I just didn't feel like picking it up. If you are a fan of slow burn thrillers, I would give this one a try, but ultimately, it just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy a Thriller by Stacy Willingham. This was not my favorite, but it was definitely enjoyable nonetheless. It took me a little bit to get into this story, but once I was hooked, I was all in. It's a look into female friendships and has some delicious twists and turns. Please go read it for sure.

Considering how much I have loved Willingham’s previous work, I am very surprised to have not enjoyed this one as much. I think it’s definitely a thriller a lot could enjoy, but it wasn’t for me.

A tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of this book. This in no way affects my review, all opinions are my own.

A twisty, psychological rollercoaster that I never saw coming! This story follows Margot, a college student coping with losing her lifelong best friend when she meets Lucy, a larger than life and unlikely friend who pulls Margot into her web and then vanishes, leaving more questions than answers.

I think Willingham has a really beautiful and poetic writing style that you don't see in a lot of thrillers. I love how she creates these really complicated relationships and leaves little breadcrumbs throughout the story that give you these 'Aha!' moments by the end. Now I do think this specific plotline is a little overdone, but that doesn't mean I didn't eat it up anyway.

However, I did have major issues with the ending. Some things made sense, others required a lot of suspended belief in reality to take seriously. It all played out just a little too crazily. And even though there was an explanation for everything, it just wasn't satisfying in the way other thrillers can be. I think there was potential with this story but it just missed the mark for me!

I absolutely love everything Stacy Willingham has written, this is no exception. Great story line, great character development and just a great book.

Despite the dark, twisty setup, the story drags and the characters never feel believable. The big reveals fall flat, making the ending more frustrating than shocking.

I know I've read this book, but I've completely forgotten about the entire thing. This means it wasn't good or bad. It was just forgettable, and I dislike that. But that is why I'm calling it a three star rating. I wanted to love it, and I tried. But it just didn't get there for me, sadly.

I initially asked for this novel as the author previous work was fantastic. I just don't think I was the target audience for this novel.

It came across a little you, and I should have known better being college students.

This one wasn't a win for me, her other books are incredible.

Having been a fan of Stacy Willingham's previous works, I really wanted to like this novel more than I did. The friendships all seemed pretty shallow and none of the characters were exceptionally likable. I look forward to seeing what this author releases in the future, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Only If You’re Lucky is another strong entry from Stacy Willingham, masterfully blending suspense with psychological depth. The story dives into complex issues with friendship, obsession, and secrets that fester beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives. Willingham’s writing is vivid and immersive, creating an almost claustrophobic sense of tension that builds steadily throughout the book, but also crafts a slow-burn mystery that pays off with satisfying reveals and sharp turns along the way.

While the pacing and the story kind of dragged a bit in the middle and I didn’t connect with a lot of the characters, the gripping atmosphere and emotional undercurrents more than make up for it. Fans of character-driven thrillers and unreliable narrators will definitely enjoy this!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book!

okay so I almost dnf’d this at like 20% bc I thought it was gonna be hella predictable and I’m here to say I’m glad I stuck it out. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No. But the twists kept coming and I appreciated every single one.

This book has it all: it explores friendship, loyalty, and how this can be corrupted. I found the prose engaging, and the descriptions drew me into the book; it has vivid storytelling. However, at times, it felt slow and like nothing much was happening, though things got better in the end. I'd like to read more from this author.

Another great one from Stacy Willingham! It took me a minute to get into it but I think that was more of a me being a mood reader thing and not a book thing but it was great once I got into it.

Only If You’re Lucky is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that grabs you early and keeps you hooked with its simmering tension and atmospheric storytelling. Stacy Willingham once again proves her talent for crafting emotionally complex characters and slow-burn suspense.

The story centers on Margot, a college freshman still reeling from a recent personal loss, who becomes entangled with a charismatic and mysterious new friend, Lucy. When Lucy goes missing and a classmate is found dead, Margot is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her friends, her memories, and herself.

Willingham captures the intensity of female friendships, the blurred lines between identity and obsession, and the dangers that can lurk beneath charm and privilege. The college setting adds a claustrophobic, moody backdrop that heightens the unease as secrets unravel.

The pacing leans slow at times, and some twists may feel familiar to seasoned thriller readers, but the emotional depth and steady buildup pay off in a satisfying way. Willingham balances character development with suspense, making this more than just a whodunit—it’s a story about grief, guilt, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

Highly recommended for fans of smart, psychologically layered thrillers.

I absolutely loved Willingham's first two books, so picking this one up was a no-brainer. I was not disappointed. Willingham once again knocked it out of the park with this twisty thriller.

Margot has lived her life quietly in the shadows until enigmatic Lucy notices her and brings her into her circle. Margot, like everyone else, is easily drawn into Lucy's orbit. Moving in with Lucy and her friends makes Margot feel like she's finally coming back to life after the death of her best friend before college. But being in Lucy's orbit comes with secrets, lies, and murder.

Each character has their own secrets they are hiding. Willingham seamlessly weaves their stories together to create an intriguing and enthralling mystery that highlights the human's capacity for both good and evil.

Reviews were mixed on this one, but I really enjoyed it. My husband and I read it together on an impromptu trip and it kept us entertained while we hung out at a cute, little lake house for a few relaxing days. Nothing beats the combo of a mini-vacation and a bingeable thriller.

I am SO excited to read Willingham's next book, Forget Me Not!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Thank you to my partners, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, and the author. I appreciate the gifted paperback ARC and eARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

1. 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 - Just who is Lucy Sharpe. This seems to be the underlying question for much of the story. A great mystery tucked into the plot that really becomes the main element of the story.

2. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 - A true-to-life glimpse into the what college life generally entails. I have to admit that I’m actually thankful my university did not have fraternities and sororities. Too much drama, as proven in this story.

3. 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 - The before and the after. The way the chapters are organized are perfectly in sync with the things the reader wants to know at that point in the story.

4. 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 - It’s like the reader isn’t even aware that there are more pieces to the puzzles until they are revealed. All of a sudden, there is a little hint to something new and it just comes out of left field!

5. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Yep. She got me here, too. Never suspected it. I consider myself a pretty great reading detective, but Willingham continues to deceive my thoughts! A definite recommendation from me to you!

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham is a story about friendship, grief, and betrayal. The story centers around Margot, a college student who bonds with a group of three other girls while grappling with the loss of her childhood best friend, Eliza. One of the girls, Lucy Sharpe, is magnetic—one of those people who effortlessly draws others in, despite her complex and sometimes troubling behavior. Lucy reminds Margot of Eliza, and Margot becomes increasingly obsessed with her new friend. But how well does Margot truly know Lucy? When a fraternity boy with connections to both women is murdered and Lucy goes missing, buried secrets begin to surface.

The pacing of the novel, however, felt somewhat slow. It wasn’t until I reached about the 75% mark that I was fully invested, with the story picking up momentum. Much of the narrative focuses on developing the relationships between the characters and providing backstory, which can feel a bit drawn-out at times. I believe the book could have benefited from multiple perspectives or a more dynamic timeline structure to build suspense and break up the singular viewpoint. That said, the twists in the ending were effective and definitely added to the story’s impact.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, though it wouldn’t be my top pick for a recommendation list. I read the e-copy alongside the audiobook and found Karissa Vacker’s narration to be engaging and well-suited to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am not finishing this book, I have enjoyed a few of her books, but for htis one I just didn't care about the characters and quit halfway through.

I thought this was way different than her others. I have read a couple of reviews and I agree this was young adult or teenagerish.

First, she dwelled a little too much on what happened in the past. Second, she treated people like shit. Her poor friend Maggie. Third, she whined way too much for me. Just whiny in her voice.

Great plot though. I did like the overall. Execution for me did not deliver. I think that was because it wasn’t adult. Like I got tired of listening to frat parties.

Thank you so much for letting me review Only If You’re Lucky

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was better than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the past and present and how they weaved together leaving me with a WHAT at the end.