Stacy Willingham is one of my new favorite authors! I couldn't put this book down and read it in one day.
I loved the characters in this book. The way she told the story of the often complicated female friendships was amazing! Lots of twists and turns and the ending was great! #NetGalley

I have read both of this authors prior works and loved them. I enjoyed this one, but not quite as much as the others. Perhaps it was because this novel had younger characters. I still enjoyed it a lot though and really needed to know what the deal with Lucy was. I will continue to read everything by this author.

This book for me was difficult to get through.
I felt the story lacked strong character development. This book is one about friends, lies, and death. Throughout the book the author only gives tiny pieces of the story, small puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit together. The story written in a past/ present format. The book only makes sense and comes together in the last couple of chapters. I found it to be very boring hoping the author would make more connections earlier in the story instead of waiting to reveal everything in the last chapters. This book was a miss for me.

I was given an Arc copy in return for an honest review.

I was sooo excited to get this ARC and it did NOT disapoint. Stacy is another auto buy author for me. This is her 3rd novel and I think they keep getting better.

The ending, what an ending!! So many twists I didn't see coming, a few I wondered about as a fleeting thought, but at the core I never guessed the main plot twists.



Thank you so much netgalley and St Martin's press for the advance readers copy in an exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big fan of Stacy Willingham, so I was very excited to receive this ARC. As a whole, I don’t feel like this was her strongest work, but the ending really pulled everything together and I found it to be a good read overall.

Margot is ending her freshman year at Rutledge College and has done what she has always done, blended into the background, not attracted any attention. Dealing with the grief of the unexpected, unexplained death of her best friend, Eliza, the previous summer, she’s done nothing but sit in her dorm room.
All this changes for her when she meets Lucy Sharpe and is invited to live with her and two other girls from the dorm, Sloane and Nicole, in an off campus house for the next year. Suddenly, Margot has somewhere to belong, things to do, real friends again. Until Levi Butler enters her life again and she realizes everything good in her life will always be ruined by him, just like Eliza.
Margot soon realizes that Levi is more connected to her present life than she thought, and as links between her past and present coke to light she finds herself asking more and more questions about her mysterious new friend Lucy that may have answers she isn’t ready for.

This was a veeerrryyy slow burn up until about 70 percent and then everything becomes glaringly clear, making you feel as if you could have skipped the first 70 percent. There were so many story lines that came together really well, and the ending was satisfying, but the main character was really awful for me, although smart. Her blind hatred led to consequences for everyone that may not have been deserved, and I don’t feel as if justice was adequate for everyone. I really do love Stacy Willingham and think all her books should be read though!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for this ARC.
Publication date January 16, 2024

A tantalizing follow up for Willingham's last novel that I was eagerly awaiting! Highly recommend picking this one up in January!

Well, I was able to sneak in one last September book! Many thanks to the publisher: St. Martins/Minotour, the author: Stacy Willingham and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book had me hooked from the first page. It is filled with suspicion, murder, plot twists and dark academia vibes. I loved the college setting (minus the murder and the sinister events) I felt a bit nostalgic for my college days.

Willingham kept me guessing throughout the entire book. I was in suspense from the beginning and enjoyed the loose ends at the end. Aside from the murders and other dark plots of this book, it really had a strong female vibe with friendships and grief taking a front stage.

This is the second book (this month) I have read by Willingham and I am looking forward to her others.

I want to start out by saying thank you so much to Stacey Willingham for this ARC!!!! I am such a huge fan and I was so excited to get approved for this one! This is different than anything she has written before - it leans more toward dark academia! Think In My Dreams I Hold a Knife!!!

The characters were real and easy to relate to! However I did feel like there were a little too many side characters to keep up with and this made the story drag a little bit for me.

Over all I would recommend for dark academia fans and all fans of Stacey Willingham!! This is a solid 4 star read and I will continue to blindly follow her!!!!

"Only if You're Lucky" is a twisted and dark portrayal of what we do to fit in, secrets we hold close to us, and the chilling look at how our best friend can end up being who we least expect. Margot is a timid freshman, about to finish her first year at school, after the death of her best friend. When Margot lays her eyes on Lucy, the coolest girl on campus, she finds herself changing who she is to fit in with Lucy and her two best friends. Chose to join the group for reasons unknown, Margot embraces the tribe of girls and ignores the uneasy feeling that she is an imposter that does not belong. When her neighbor, and enemy from high school turns up dead at a frat party, Margot begins to wonder if her friends are hiding secrets that are unthinkable.

I loved this book! A modern day 'Jekel and Hyde' that will keep you guessing at every turn. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Stacy Willingham novels are hit or miss for me and sadly this was a miss. I kept picking it up and putting it down and felt that the story was going nowhere. I was not invested in any of the characters or the plot itself. I kept waiting for the story to pick up but it never really happened. I hope others enjoy this novel. For me, this was a DNF. I will try this author again because I have enjoyed her previous work and I appreciated getting this ARC from NetGalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @stacyvwillingham and @netgalley for the advanced copy. Just like her other two books, A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things, Only if You’re Lucky is a must read! Pick up your copy in January 2024!

Only If You’re Lucky features twisty female friendships, the secrets they share, and the way they close ranks when danger is near. Margot is in her freshman year of college when she encounters Lucy Sharpe- larger than life, beautiful, and magnetic. Margot feels unseen and incomplete after reeling from a tragedy back home. When Lucy approaches her and asks if she wants to room in an off campus house, Margot can’t refuse the offer. She finds herself coming out of her shell with Lucy and her other two roommates Nicole and Sloane. It’s not until a brother from the frat house next door is murdered and Lucy is missing that Margot starts to wonder how she got into this position.

While I may have managed to work out one or two plot twists, they just kept coming all the way until the very end!

Margot heads off to college, a dream she shares with her best friend. However, when her best friend died, Margot was on her own to college, filled with grief. Freshman year she kept to herself most of the time. Margot's demeanor was always quiet and shy. Lucy, another student in her dorm lit up every room she entered. Margot watched from afar and thought about what it would be like to be her friend. What adventures could occur by being by her side? Soon that dream would come true when Lucy asked her to move in with her and her other two friends. Margot feels like Lucy stepped into perfect placement as her new best friend. However, there was always something about Lucy that Margot couldn't quite put her finger on. When a fraternity boy who lives next door is murdered, Lucy concurrently goes missing, and questions flare. Margot is looking for answers and the truth isn't what she ever expected.

This psychological thriller showcased the battles of friendships and finding a sense of belonging. Even when things are just as obvious as they seem, something throws you for a loop. This book makes you question the truth until the last page. I rate this book a 3.75. It was entertaining at a steady, consistent pace. If you are looking for a genuinely suspenseful book following a group of friends that is all about loyalty and envy, this book is for you!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

Title: "Only If You're Lucky" - A Thriller of Fateful Choices

Rating: ★★★★☆

"Only If You're Lucky" is a riveting thriller that explores the intricate web of fate, justice, and the consequences of choices. While it took a bit of time to immerse myself in the narrative, once the story gained momentum, it held me in its grip until the very end.

The book begins with an accidental death, a shocking and unexpected event that sets the stage for a series of events that will leave you questioning the thin line between fate and justice. The author deftly weaves together multiple plotlines and characters, creating a tapestry of intrigue that slowly unfolds.

The middle section of the book is where the story truly comes into its own. As the layers of the mystery are peeled back, the tension escalates, and I found myself unable to put the book down. The deliberate death that looms over the narrative adds an extra layer of complexity and suspense, making every page turn a heart-pounding experience.

Character development shines in "Only If You're Lucky." The protagonists are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and flaws. Their journeys, marked by unexpected twists and moral dilemmas, kept me emotionally invested in their fates.

The book's setting is vividly described, immersing the reader in a world where justice is a double-edged sword and every decision has far-reaching consequences. The author's meticulous attention to detail creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the final chapter.

While the initial pacing might require a bit of patience, it's well worth the effort. "Only If You're Lucky" is a thought-provoking thriller that explores the blurred boundaries of morality and leaves you pondering the choices we make in the pursuit of justice. It's a book that challenges your perceptions and keeps you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of intricate, character-driven thrillers.

This isn’t my favorite book of Stacy’s. I figured out the big twist fairly early on, so then it felt like I was biding my time until it was revealed in the end. The story was captivating for the most part, and I’m glad I read it. I enjoy the past and present storytelling in book, and she did a wonderful job with that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
✨ dual timelines
✨ campus thrillers
✨ groups of friends who-dun-it
✨ twisty ending you don’t see coming

Margot is finishing up her freshman year at college without her best friend Eliza, because Eliza’s boyfriend killed her and was never held responsible… but Margot IS going to make sure that he pays for what he’s done. She soon befriends and moves in with a group of girls… but shortly the boyfriend is dead and Lucy IS MISSING!! What is going on here?? Margot is going to get to the bottom of it.

I have loved every single Stacy Willingham book that has been released so far, and to no surprise this one was no different.
I absolutely cannot stand when a dual timeline book doesn’t make it clear which timeline you are in, and I spend more time confused and trying to figure out where I even am than enjoying the story. This one was very clearly labelled and marked and I did not get confused at all; I really appreciate that!
I love a dual timeline book because we get little pieces of the story revealed slowly and then I get to piece together the story and *hopefully* solve it before the narrator does.
There was action right from the beginning which I very much appreciate; slow builds are great and all but a lot of times I find myself bored and waiting for the excitement to start. This one was exciting and entertaining right from the beginning and it made it impossible for me to put down!
There were a couple of action/adventure sections in the book and it really kept my interest.
I did not see the end coming!! That is the one absolute thing I expect from in a thriller and I am so happy with this ending. It was just crazy enough that it wasn’t absurd and I didn’t feel like I wasted my time by guessing the ending right in the beginning.
Another hit from Stacy Willingham!! Also this book took place around Halloween which I didn’t know beforehand, and it made it perfect for my spooky season reads! I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future!!

Stacy Willingham does it again! She’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I never could have seen the twists and turns coming in this book and I was pleasantly surprised! I took off one star because the pacing in the beginning is slow and the ending feels rushed, which is a common trap for these kinds of books. I still thoroughly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to my friends and family!

Enjoyed this read. The beginning felt like a slow burn and at some points I was wondering when something was going to happen. But there was a need to have a lot of details to help with the ending.

Margot is a college freshman who just lost her childhood best friend in an accident. She ends up finding a new group of friends, living a wild summer next to a fraternity home. Together, everything seems to be going just fine until one of them goes missing and a fraternity brother dies. What happens to them and what is really going on in this friendship?

I thought the book was good, especially if you like Willingham’s other books. It is pretty different from the others- in a good way. I thought it was a slow burn but the ending was jam packed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Stacy Willingham for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Only If You’re Lucky will be published on January 16, 2024.

A solid, kinda creepy thriller!

Let me say that I'm a sucker for books set in college. I love an academic setting, and I think it's such an interesting age for the characters to be.

What I really liked about this book (other than the college element), was how twisty it was. There were a few things I saw coming, but also some good reveals in there, too. And, I really didn't expect what happened to Lucy!! The ending was an A+ for me.

It wasn't the most compelling, can't-put-it-down type of read, but I did really really enjoy it.

I was so excited to be able to read this before its release! I absolutely loved A Flicker In The Dark so i couldn’t wait to read this one. I usually have an easy time figuring out the plot twists in thrillers, but this one I did not see coming. The way it flipped between the time lines worked to draw out the suspense. 4/5 stars. I recommend any thriller fan to give this one a shot!

I loved Stacy Willingham’s first two books, so I was crossing my fingers, hoping to get my hands on an early copy of “Only If You’re Lucky.”

And while it felt different from her first two books, it didn’t disappoint!

This read was a slow burn with a solid, twisty storyline. It was dark and messy in the best way possible, drawing from humanity’s Jekyll and Hyde element.

Reading the Author’s Note at the end of the book added a unique inside look at the setting, making the book’s overall vibe feel much more eerie.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.