Only if You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham is a story about a young women in college who had tragically lost her high school best friend right after graduation. She befriends the new women she is living with off-campus, opening up herself, as she finally feels a sense of belonging. This story is certainly deemed a psychological thriller, as the darkness overcomes the friendships that are being built. I found this book really interesting, with the ability to see how these friendships are formed, what holds them together, and what will tear them apart. Secrets and lies, lies and secrets. I guess you never know who is telling the truth in your life.

An absolutely unreal thriller from Stacy Willingham! “Only If You’re Lucky” packs a punch I didn’t see coming!

Set on the college campus of Rutledge, as well as in the Outer Banks, Willingham’s follow-up to “A Flicker in the Dark” finds the narrator, Margot, navigating the difficult years of high school & college. Compounding this, is the sudden death of her best friend Eliza, who was meant to be her college roommate. When Margot arrives at Rutledge alone, she latches onto a trio of girlfriends who soon open her up to an entirely new college experience. But everything isn’t as it seems. And before we turn the final page, there aren’t one, but two more deaths, with more secrets exposed that will cause you whiplash!

I dove into this one pretty quickly. The middle drug a little for me as the story played out, but the final chapters were pure masterpiece for any thriller lover! So many twists & turns, you’re going to need a tight seatbelt!

I really enjoyed this authors previous books. This one was just ok. A very slow burner that might have been a little too slow for me. I enjoyed the setting and the storyline for the most part. It's hard to say what I felt was lacking without giving away too much of the plot.

rating: 4/5
genre: suspense
read if you liked: IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE, pretty little liars, cruel summer.

after two consecutive hits from Stacy Willingham the announcement of her 2024 release, ONLY IF YOURE LUCKY, had me squealing. it promises a southern college setting (not quite the dark academia of IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE, but almost), a group of girl friends living next to a frat house, and of course murder 🙊 this is a slowww burn suspense/teen drama. Willigham really makes the reader wait for the chaos, but for me it was hard to put down!! I binged this in 24 hours.

OIYL is different from Willinghams past work but we love to see a writer try out some range! regardless, as I read I still felt her signature marks, like the atmospheric writing that brings a certain creep factor and a dark & twisty story filled with unreliable characters. I liked this one and will continue to recommend Stacy’s work to anyone!

as I was reading I posted on stories that the college experience Stacy writes about (which we learn that parts are based on her own experience at UGA) made me think A LOT about my own. the big, old, run down college house next to a house of frat boys, a group of girlfriends who are in school during the day and out way too late at night, and the silly juvenile drinking games.. it all tracks 😂 if you don’t relate to this I can see how you may think it’s very YA and immature (bc it was 😂😂 but dang was it fun) but have to note this prob helped my reading experience!

I've loved Stacy's previous two books, so I was thrilled for her third! "Only if You're Lucky" was such a good read with so many unpredictable twists and turns. It grabbed my attention from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. I had to know who did it!

Full of young scandalous characters, lies and so many secrets it is sure to be a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Another masterpeice by Stacy Willingham!

"Only If You're Lucky" skillfully balances the exploration of personal growth, friendship, and the darker undercurrents of the narrative. The characters are richly developed, each contributing to the complex web of relationships. The author's nuanced storytelling creates an atmosphere of tension and mystery, making this novel a compelling and thought-provoking read that goes beyond the conventions of a typical coming-of-age story.

"I love him."

"I'm your best friend you're supposed to love me too."

Oh we have all been there; best friends growing up then one falls in love and you are sharing them. It's even worse if you know the guy is no good for them but they can't see it and slowly your friendship starts to die...well something...or someone...dies.

Only If You're Lucky by the remarkably creative jaw dropping twisty author Stacy Willingham is a tale of college students who find themselves in the middle of deadly lies, missing people and murder.

Told from the point of view of Margot, who enters college alone and vulnerable dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend Eliza three weeks after their high school graduation. Luckily (?) she is befriended by the wild Lucy who asks her to be roommates with two other girls. Soon Margot has new friends and even tolerates the frat boys who live next door. But after a party, the police are questioning Margot, Lucy is missing and a frat boy is dead.

What this writer does so brilliantly is slowly build a story that you comfortably believe you know is leading in a certain direction and then gives you whiplash at the end with a jaw dropping twist.

Once again voice actress Karissa Vacker is perfection as the traumatized Margot, the unabashed Lucy and a varied cast of collegiate characters. Reading and listening to this third book by this must read author I am just left feeling very lucky to be in her thrilling orbit.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is my first Stacy Willingham book, and if I'm being honest, it felt a little sloppy. I enjoyed the premise--girl seeks fresh start after the death of her best friend. However, it felt like I was reading the makings of a TV show. It felt like a lot of the plot was forced. The extended metaphors felt performative. I definitely enjoyed the pace and much of the thrills though. I sincerely appreciate this ARC from Stacy Willingham, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books.

Would recommend for fans of…
🔥 Cruel Summer
🔥 The Secret History
🔥 In My Dreams I Hold A Knife

Stacy Willingham is quickly becoming one of my favorite crime writers. She’s an expert at developing characters and setting without sacrificing plot and pacing and can deliver a twist like no other.

While her previous works have had major Southern Gothic vibes and been reminiscent of shows like True Detective, Only If You’re Lucky is a slight departure from that genre. While it still takes place in the South, Only If You’re Lucky is more of a slow burn character study focused on Margot, a college student who finds herself swept up by a charismatic classmate while trying to process the loss of her best friend.

This wasn’t my favorite of Willingham’s books (that title belongs to A Flicker in the Dark), but it’s still a captivating read that I really enjoyed. If you’re a thriller fan who likes stories with a big focus on character, you’ll probably love this one. And the ending??? Probably the most shocking of Willingham’s yet. You don’t want to miss this one.

Only If You’re Lucky is out now. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @stmartinspress @macmilianaudio for the #gifted copy.

Only If You're Lucky transported me right back to my college days. It was a stark reminder of how well do we really know someone! If you are a fan of dark academia, this one is for you.

Margot lost her best friend, Eliza in a tragic accident and spends most of her first year in college moping around until she meets Lucy. Lucy is everything Eliza was not. She is outgoing, loud and in your face. Soon they are moving into a house with several other friends across from a frat house. Then someone gets murdered. Who did it? Who exactly is Lucy? It all starts to unravel and she isn't the person she thought she was!

It took a bit to get into this one, but once I did there was no turning back! I enjoyed this one on audio. The narration was perfect!

3.5 stars. Unfortunately, this Willingham book missed the mark for me. I have loved her other books so I expected more. I do realize, it is probably pretty difficult for authors to continually live up to their previous hits... But yeah, I just didnt love it. If you like a slow burn thriller/mystery, you might love this. It is VERY slow burn and not much happens until about 70%. The other thing I did not love about it, was the fact that it felt very YA. I dont think it was adult at all. The main characters are in high school in the past and college in the present.... so, I did not find it to be an adult read. I did enjoy the ending of the book so that bumped my original rating up a quarter star. I feel bad not loving this book more, but I do think there is an audience for it; I just was not it.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress and @macmillian.audio for the ARC/ALC!

🔹 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🔹
This is a first of this type of dark academia book that I’ve read. It has slow building twists and turns, and I couldn’t have guessed the ending and the twists!

Margot is our main female character and she is off to Rutledge for her first year of college. When she moves into the dorm, she immediately meets Lucy, a charismatic girl who is a sort of ringleader wherever she goes. Lucy invites Margot to live with her, and two other girls in off campus housing that is connected to a fraternity house for their next year of living. Margot is drawn to Lucy, and wanting to fit in so she readily agrees.

Margot has also been healing from some recent past trauma of losing her best friend Eliza right before going off to college. Her new roommate Lucy seems to step up to fill the role of Eliza in Margot’s life for her.

This story has alternating timelines, where we learn that halfway through their sophomore year one of the frat boys has been murdered and soon after, Lucy is missing. Secrets and lies come to light back and forth in this story, as we learn what led up to the murder and what is happening present day.

I couldn’t have predicted the ending to this book, and it left me not knowing what to think of all of the characters! I definitely want to read more from this author in the future!

🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔹 Slow Burn Suspense
🔹 Alternating Timelines
🔹 Greek Life
🔹 Pretty Little Liar Vibes
🔹 Dark Academia
🔹 Unexpected Twists

Only if you’re lucky was another great book by Stacy Willingham. It wasn’t my favorite of her books but it was still really entertaining. The characters were a bit unlikeable but I think that was planned. The first half was pretty slow, but around the 60% mark it really picked up and I couldn’t put the book down. I would recommend this to other readers for sure. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.

Stacy Willingham delivers another fantastic performance in this dark and chilling look into female friendships and how much we can every really know those closest to us. In this dark academia tale, we meet Margot, a student at a liberal arts college. Margot graduated from high school she lost her best friend Eliza in a tragic accident. Margot spends the majority of her first year in college mourning the loss but at the end of the year, she meets Lucy.

Lucy is a of Eliza and the exact opposite of Margot. Lucy is very outgoing whereas Margot is more of a quiet introvert. Soon after meeting Lucy, Margot moves into a shared apartment with Lucy and two other friends.

Through Lucy’s friendship, Margot is finally coming out of her shell and meeting new friends on campus. The duo have became best friends but by the middle of Margot’s sophomore year, their neighbor who lives in a frat house next door is found brutally murdered and Lucy is missing.

This was a fantastic slow-burn and I would enthusiastically recommend!


Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press-Minotaur, and Stacy Willingham for an ARC of this book,

Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham was intriguing and kept me guessing. I like this author and have found her work engaging and superior throughout. However, this book is a little slow and has moments of intrigue but the big moments happen at the end of the book and it has already lost my interest.

After losing her best friend prior to graduation, Margot heads to college on her own in the fall, where they’d planned to attend together. A loner her freshman year, Margot is shocked when Lucy, a popular girl from her dorm, approaches her at the end of the year and offers her a spot as the fourth roommate in a house with herself and her two friends, Sloane and Nicole. However, halfway through the year when a fraternity brother from next door dies, and Lucy goes missing shortly after, questions begin to arise about their friendship.

This book immediately gave me a sinister version of “Mean Girls” vibes, with Lucy as the ringleader Regina George, and Margot as the new girl Cady Heron. It took me quite a bit of time to feel invested in the story; it’s a definitely a slow-burn thriller and the pace doesn’t really pick up until towards the end. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite live up to my hopes for it in comparison to Stacy Willingham’s previous two novels. While not my favorite, it’s worth a read for fans of dark academia and twisted female friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my gifted e-ARC!

hmm…really picked up towards the end which might make me lean more towards 4 stars more permenantly. didn’t find it twisty until about 70% in which was disappointing compared to willinghams first two. i love an unreliable narrator and loved the main character which kept me reading. the story itself was a bit repetitive and i would’ve liked to get another’s very point. all of them turning crazy was a bit much for me. poor levi deserved better

I enjoyed this book! I thought it was pretty fast paced and enjoyed the back and forth between the timelines. I’m still a sucker for her debut novel, but she is becoming an auto buy author for me.

Only If You’re Lucky
By Stacy Willingham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a well-written thriller! I realllllly enjoyed this one!

Margot struggled a lot emotionally through her first year at Rutledge College. Margot was supposed to be going off to college and living with her best friend, Eliza, but Margot’s world is wrecked when her best friend dies right after high school graduation. Margot makes friends with her new roommate, Maggie, but things just aren’t the same and Margot wants more for her college experience. Just before moving out of the dorm, one of the most captivating students on campus, Lucy, approaches Margot about moving in with her and some other girls Margot has never met. What seems like a super exciting invitation and a chance to branch out and become someone new ends up becoming a nightmare for Margot. After moving in with Lucy and her friends, Margot ends up in the middle of a murder and missing persons case. Will the truth ever come to light?

A Flicker in the Dark was one of my favorite books in 2022 so I had really high hopes for this one. I really enjoyed this one! It had lots of mystery in it. I will say that I kinda guessed one of the bigger twists, but that didn’t really impact my reading experience.

What a fun way to reminisce on college 🤣 so many of the experiences in this book were so relatable to my college experience. MINUS THE MURDER!! Just want to set the record straight on that one 😂. At one point the girls are getting ready for a Halloween party at a frat house and I had flashbacks to picking out costumes and hitting the town with friends.

This is perfect for those who love a thriller that has an academic setting. I could also see this being a fun read for a younger audience, but definitely check trigger warnings before letting your teen read!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC! This one is available now, and you need to get your hands on this one!

Willingham's All The Dangerous Things is one of my all time favorite thrillers, so I went into Only If You're Lucky with high expectations. I thought that this was decent and avoided the really unbelievable plot twists that absolutely ruin thrillers for me. However, I did find that this wasn't as good as Dangerous Things. The dynamic between the girls was good, the suspense for the first half built very nicely, but the ending for me just felt a little bit out there.