ARC Review — Only If You’re Lucky

Stacy Willingham’s writing is so captivating and descriptive! She created the perfect coastal college setting and a story full of interesting characters who were all clearly up to no good.

This book was a slow burn and I truly enjoyed the dual timelines. The mix of before and after kept me intrigued but also kept me wondering and second-guessing everyone’s intentions. I do think some of the final twists were a bit predictable but overall enjoyed it!

With every book, Willingham has become a stronger writer. I honestly think this is her best book yet. Personally, the story worked for me. I really like a college setting, especially a dark one. This book has vibes of <i>Sex Lives of College Girls</i> meets <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>.

Her previous work has much darker material, but I found myself really enjoying how unstable female friendships can be during our college years. I remember finding some of my best friends in college, but I also made a lot of friends who turned out to be not exactly who I thought they were. College is a transitional time, where we are trying to figure ourselves into the adults we are going to be. It's also a time where we think we are untouchable and nothing bad can happen.

This book was a power keg waiting to explode. Willingham had me guessing, wanting to read, and I stayed up late into the night to finish it. Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC. (Pub date: 1/16/24)

Only If You’re Lucky, by Stacy Willingham. Roommates, games, and lies. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

I rate this a 3.

Main character Margot best friend passed away after graduation. Now at college is she is drawn to a new group of girls, and no one is as they seem. Fellow student Levi, is killed and Margot knows him.

This book was way too slow for me, took a long time for the story to pick up. There wasn’t much depth to the characters making it hard to like one. After the slow build up the twists and questions answered were worth it.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Press, Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I’m so happy I was able to receive an advanced copy of Stacy’s new book! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors since picking up A Flicker in the Dark, and her newest book does not disappoint. I finished the entire second half in one sitting, I just had to know what was next! This dark thriller takes a deep dive into female friendship, the secrets we keep, and just how well we know those around us.

Things I really enjoyed: 1) the slow burn and letting the pieces fall into place, but I was still able to figure things out 2) the unreliable narrator, and not always just because of her being under the influence 3) the twists 4) the ending (IYKYK)

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: 01/16/2024

How far would you go to keep a secret amongst friends?

I had super high hopes for this book. I enjoyed Stacy’s other books so much. Perfect amount of thrill and suspense with plot twists that left me speechless and this one didn’t really do it for me. 70% of the book was a slow burn, which is fine as long as you keep me intrigued. Nothing about this book had me wanting to race home and finish it. Once the book picked up, I enjoyed how all the details unraveled. The ending honestly saved the book in my opinion. I would still read another book by this author though. Her track record is still above average for books that I’ve enjoyed by her.

“It feels good doesn’t it? Finally getting what you want.”

This story takes place at a college and centers around Margot, a freshman trying to find her place at a new school without her best friend by her side.

Still healing from the aftermath of losing her closest friend, Eliza, Margot struggles to fit in with the other girls living in her dormitory. That is until she meets Lucy and her two roommates, Sloane and Nicole. Finally Margot feels like she’s been given a chance to meet those friends that you’re supposed to have for a lifetime and with that — a sense of belonging.

The pacing is a little slow within the first 50% but the story really takes off towards the last half of the book. The twists & turns really surprised me and I was glad the author didn’t give a traditional ending but left you satisfied nonetheless. I’m still thinking about that ending which is always a good thing after reading a thriller!

Read if you like:
Then and now timelines
Unreliable narrator
Girl friendships
College setting

I’ve been a fan of Stacy Willingham since her debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark.

So I am very happy I was able to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur books in exchange for an honest review.

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

A slow-burning, dual timeline thriller with a college-setting, ONLY IF YOU'RE LUCKY was a miss for me. From the start, you knew this story would not possibly end well. Nothing good can possibly come from a group of girls renting the house next door to the fraternity that owns their rental. With themes of friendship and two sides to every person, I struggled to get into this book, especially when MC Margot was so easily persuaded or "molded". The ending and final twists made it worth my time.

Thank you to @netgalley for a chance to read this one early.

I was so excited to receive an early copy of Stacy Willingham’s latest after LOVING and giving her first two novels 5 star ratings.

I wish I could say this one was on par with those two, but it fell short for me. It was a very slow burn, with little thrill or action taking place until more than half way through the book. The lack of tension in the first half led to my not connecting with the characters or plot in the second half. There was also a lot of repetition to push this book to the point where the unraveling begins which lacked excitement as the ending was predictable.

I’m still a huge fan of hers, but this one wasn’t for me and that is okay. I hope others enjoy it!

This one was unfortunately not for me. I loved A Flicker in the Dark and while I really enjoyed All the Dangerous, I found Willingham’s prose to be much more poetic and full of unnecessary metaphors in her sophomore release. Sadly, Only if You’re Lucky took the poetic writing to a new level. While many will love this, and there is no doubt Willingham is wildly talented, it just wasn’t for me.

The story is incredibly slow and meandering and I don’t have the patience for this with thrillers. Also, I think the fact that this was set in college made it more juvenile (understandable!) and less intriguing to me. Finally, the ending was pretty over the top especially after such a slow plot.

Overall, not a win but they all can’t be perfect and I have no doubt the right reader will love this!

I have mixed feelings about this one...

This book is about following the lives of college girls desperate to belong and wants to fit in... they will do stupid shit, even murder... filled with unlike characters, jealousy, envy, and revenge... who play games like "spin the bottle" and drink excessively until they black out. While I don't want to be insulting by saying this book was intended for a younger audience, the truth is that I found it lacking in substance. The story was mostly about trivial things, with only about 5% of it being truly engaging. Therefore, I would recommend skipping this book altogether.

I appreciate the references to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that are relevant to their respective characters...but I found the story neither unique, entertaining, nor engaging...will I read another Stacy Willingham book?.. definitely.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC

While short chapters and rapid jumps between timelines isn't always my favorite format to read, Stacy Willingham knows how to make it work.

Three roommates find themselves in a police interview room after their roommate has gone missing. She's been implicated in the death of another college student, and from the start we can tell that these girls all have something to hide.

A compelling rollercoaster, mostly through the depth of the characters. Especially Lucy, the mystery around her and how she effects Margot. How she drew Margot into her new life, embedded her in the house and the lives of her roommates.

Margot came to college not over the death of her best friend, Eliza. They were supposed to be at school together, and for freshman year Margot grieved, sitting safely inside her dorm room. She avoided going home as much as she could, and when Lucy Sharpe approaches her last minute with an offer for off campus housing - and a reason to avoid going home for the summer - Margot is quick to snap it up.

The college setting, and especially the fraternity house next door, play a role, but aren't really focused on. The pace of the book isn't bogged down with classes, since the meat of the story takes place elsewhere. In the past that shaped Margot, the relationships and the events that led up to the death of a student. And the disappearance of Lucy.

A great thriller, compelling with good twists and characters almost frightening in their magnetism.

The book alternates between “Before” and “After” one of the characters is murdered and another goes missing. The first two thirds of the book was a bit slow for me as the characters were developed and the events leading up to the murder/disappearance unfolded. However, the last third of the book sucked me in and I flew through it. I didn’t see the twists coming, and I loved the short chapters and the college setting! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in consideration for my honest review!

3.5 rounded up.
Lucy Sharpe is a just one of those girls that an air of mystique and a hint of danger who, when she’s friends with you, makes you feel important. This quality makes her impossible to resist when she draws Margot, a reserved college freshman, into her orbit. Margot, usually in the background, is intrigued when Lucy invites her to move into an off-campus house with Lucy and two other girls.
Margot uses this as an opportunity to try to break out of her shell following the death of her best friend, Eliza. However, the growing bond between Margot and Lucy takes a dark turn when a neighboring fraternity member is murdered, and Lucy disappears, leaving Margot in the midst of a situation she couldn’t have prepared for.

What happens when you try to reinvent yourself in college and your new friend group is a little more than you bargained for? If you enjoy suspenseful books about friendship that borderlines on obsessive and the consequences that may come with it, this is a book for you. This dual timeline book is a doozy. It had me guessing the whole way through and aspects of the ending still managed to surprise me.

Thanks to Stacy Willingham, NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Good characters and story. Good pacing. Throughout. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Stacy Willingham's Only If You're Lucky unfolds a chilling exploration of friendship, envy, and betrayal within the confines of a South Carolina liberal arts college. Margot, grappling with the recent loss of her best friend Eliza, is drawn into the magnetic orbit of Lucy Sharpe, leading to the formation of an off-campus household with two other girls. As the narrative navigates the complexities of their relationships, a brutal murder and Lucy's mysterious disappearance add a sinister layer to the story. Willingham's deliberate pacing, while differing from her previous works, masterfully crafts a psychological thriller that balances character depth with unexpected twists. The novel, rich in thematic elements of revenge and jealousy, challenges assumptions and keeps readers engaged, solidifying Willingham's reputation as a storyteller adept at weaving intricate details into a captivating narrative.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me but if you love college setting mysteries this story is for you! The betrayal had me gasping in a surprise I did not see coming. Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC for my honest review.

Lucy Sharpe is larger than life. Magnetic, addictive. Bold and dangerous. Especially for Margot, who meets Lucy at the end of their freshman year at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot is the shy one, the careful one, always the sidekick and never the center of attention. But when Lucy singles her out at the end of the year, a year Margot spent studying and playing it safe, and asks her to room together, something in Margot can't say no—something daring, or starved, or maybe even envious.

Only If You're Lucky is a little different than Willingham's previous books which I loved. This was a bit of a slow burn and seemed to be geared more towards college aged readers BUT the ending is *chef's kiss* amazing! I really enjoy stories with unlikeable characters and this book has it. I did go into this with pretty high expectations as her other books were so good and was let down a bit. I would give this a solid 3 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St, Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: January 16, 2024.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham.

Margot is a shy, Plain Jane girl who is attending college in South Carolina. The story begins with Margot staying with friends (Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole) in a house that is owned and connected to a frat house. One of the boys, Levi, was murdered and Lucy is missing. The story flips back and forth between Before and After. Margot struggles with friendships and coming out of her shell. She has lost her best friend, Eliza, before going to college. What happened to Levi, Lucy, and Eliza?

This was a slow-burn psychological thriller/mystery. It is about friendships, influences, and being two-faced. There are references to Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde that portray the characteristics of these teenagers and their friendships with one another. You get the POV of Margot throughout the whole story. Because this was about teenagers, it felt very YA to me. There is a lot of Truth or Dare, drinking, gossiping, etc. happening throughout. I don't think that made the story bad, but I wasn't expecting YA. The way the story was told reminded me of something from Rachel Hawkins like Reckless Girls. While it was a good story, I expected something different from Stacy Willingham. It felt different from her last two books. However, this author is very good at descriptive writing which I really appreciate and enjoy.

The characters were fleshed out well. It was hard to tell the real side of each character, which added to the theme of the story and is true to life. Stacy Willingham has an author's note at the end discussing the inspiration from her own experiences in college. She also has some references to the Beatles which I liked.

I will warn there are talks of sexual assault, if that is a trigger please skip this one.

Overall I give this story 3.5 stars; rounding up to 4 for Goodreads. If you like the show Cruel Summer, this is for you!

I find that I enjoy thrillers more when I have absolutely no idea what I'm getting into. Therefore, I won't provide a summary of this one, except to say that it's a college setting and revolves around close female relationships.

I really enjoy Stacy Willingham's writing style and her pacing/cadence, though I recognize that not everyone does. My favorite of her books so far is [book:All the Dangerous Things|60784636], but I liked this as well. Though I found Margot to be an unlikeable MC, I don't think it detracted from the story or the twists. Just be forewarned that if you require connection with your thriller characters, you may not enjoy this book as much as I did.

I also found it suuuper fun to discover that major pieces of this story are based on the author's actual college experiences!

Thank you to Stacy Willingham, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

I was extremely excited to receive this ARC as I think Stacy’s other 2 books are 5 star reads. This was such a let down. I felt like the entire time I was waiting for it to get good and it just never did. I was honestly very bored. I love stacy and look forward to reading more books by her but this one fell short for me