Okay, this book is a bit of a slow burn, but does it ever ramp up during the last 30% of the story.

Only if You’re Lucky is about friendship, lies and murder. I feel like that is all one needs to know going into it

Not a whole lot happens in the first 60% or so but it does set up a solid foundation for what then goes down. Didn’t see most of it coming.

Thank you St Martins Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Starting during Margot's freshman year of college, after he best friend from childhood had died, Margot was really just a shell of herself. Completely withdrawn, almost reclusive, until Lucy shows up in her room and randomly asks her to move into her off campus house for the next year. Living next door to a frat house, people constantly coming and going, until someone from Margot's past shows up and almost sends her back into the depressive hole she's desperately tried to climb out of. Reveal after reveal, fingers pointed in the wrong direction time after time and multiple murders. Trying to piece this one together was like trying to put a puzzle together with all the pieces flipped over so only the backing showed. Just when I thought I'd pieced something together, more information would be given that made me question everything I thought I knew. Told through both the lenses of the past and present day, half truths will be told, secrets slowly revealed, and the connections trickle in. If you enjoy thrillers that will keep you guessing until the very end, this one is for you.

Only If You’re Lucky is a chilling take on female friendships, the secrets we keep, and just how far we’re willing to go to protect them.

Willingham has a poetic way of creating unease in her books that has me absolutely addicted to her writing, and she did NOT disappoint with this new book!

Haunting and sinister with an unreliable narrator, dual timelines, and explosive plot twists, this story will have you questioning every character, every motive, and wondering just how much we truly know about those closest to us.

It holds a perfect, slow burn pace (just fast enough to keep you locked in), with thought provoking easter eggs scattered throughout; EXACTLY what I want in a thriller.

The story gave me “Pretty Little Liars” vibes, but in a modern, dark academia setting, which was impeccably done; so much so they it brought me right back to that time in life. The houses, the lifestyle, the grit, the inevitable poor choices, and the bonds that can only be made at that specific time in life. She crafted the perfect, dark, intoxicating college thriller!

A must read for 2024.

Only if You’re Lucky is a dark thriller about the complexities of friendship and belonging. It is written in dual timelines that take place before and after a crime.

After Margot’s best friend dies, she struggles with making new friends and finds it difficult to move on. So when Lucy asks her to share a house near their college campus, she can’t refuse. Lucy is popular, beautiful, outgoing and everything Margot envies. They become fast friends until Lucy disappears and a student in the fraternity house next door is brutally murdered.

The characters in this book are all multifaceted but I found them unlikable and predictable. I found the plot overall very compelling and twisty in the best of ways. For me, this rates 4 stars and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dark academia or psychological thrillers.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. Publication date is January 16, 2024.

Only if you’re lucky is an unpredictable dark read; full of twists and turns. Once again, Willingham doesn’t disappoint. I’d recommend this to anyone in the mood for a mystery, questionable characters and relationships.

First thought - thank god I didn’t go to college.


Very familiar plot lines and character traits- mean/mysterious/aloof girls meets desperate girl.

And yet- I still found it enjoyable, and I’ve enjoyed this one the most of Stacy’s works!! Definitely a recommendable book for thriller suggestions.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my review!

This book was a slow burn. It took me until I was about a third of the way through before I was truly invested in the story. But, once I reached that point, I couldn’t put it down! There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I loved the development of the characters and the surprises along the way!
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed the author’s last book, so I was eager to get my hands on this one too.

The book revolves around Margot, a girl who just wants to belong. Her best friend Eliza had died a year before, and Margot spent her first year of college basically just existing. At the end of the school year, she’s approached by the enigmatic Lucy who offers a room in the house she’s renting with two others named Sloane and Nicole.

By the end of their sophomore year, Lucy is missing and Eliza’s former boyfriend Levi is dead. The book jumps between sophomore year and the present timeline.

I was pretty enthralled with the mystery, but I do think it fell apart a little bit by the end. But overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I have previously read Stacy Willingham's first two novels- A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things, so I was very excited to see this newest book Only If You're Lucky on NetGalley! Similar to her other novels, this one kept me guessing throughout the story to see if I could put together the pieces. I enjoyed the dual timeline format and did not have any trouble following or keeping characters straight. This was a fast read and one that I think any fans of Willingham's previous books will enjoy!

I absolutely loved this book. It got better and better with every page turn. If I could give it more than 5 starts I would. Stacy Willingham, you’ve done it again! Thank you for letting me read an ARC copy of your book!

As a fan of this authors previous two books I automatically went into this one blindly. I did think it was a good read but didn't quite enjoy it like the previous ones. Couldn't connect with the characters and they at times annoyed me and it could just possibly be because of the characters ages.. Other than that it had enough twists and turns to keep me interested. And some extra fun if you can find the Easter eggs in the story before the author gives you the hint.🌝

This is my second book by this author and I loved A Flicker in the Dark. She really does an unreliable narrator really well.

Maybe I wasn’t totally into the college girl’s character’s but they just didn’t hit as deep as a more mature MC. I was a little reminiscent of my own college days so I enjoyed that nostalgia. I just didn’t find myself caring about their lives as much as I did in her other novel. It won’t stop me from reading All the Dangerous Things. It’s on its way.

So while this novel might not be my cup of tea and I did think I had predicted the ending, I was wrong in final chapters and really enjoyed how it all tied together.

"Only If You're Lucky" is a riveting novel about the exploration of friendship and the dark undercurrents that flow beneath seemingly ordinary lives. The addicting narrative and magnetic characters draw you in. As the story unfolds, Margot transforms from timid outside observer to an active participant in the world of Lucy and her roommates. The book keeps you guessing, questioning the true nature of the characters' relationships and the secrets they hide.
The plot of this book moves at a bit of a slower pace than Willingham's previous two novels but that didn't make me love it any less. In fact, I think I can officially say that she is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed following our MC, Margot, along through her grief and seeing how those feelings, along with the dire desire to belong, drove her decisions.
If you loved Stacy's previous books, A Flicker in the Dark & All the Dangerous Things, I would strongly recommend picking this one up when it's out!

Slow burn suspense and very different from the author’s first two books. I still enjoyed it though. I liked the build up and suspense and didn’t see some of the twists coming! The writing was exceptional as always. I appreciate all the details and depth. Overall a good read!!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 ✨ - was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book (yes i almost peed my pants over it) i love SW so much. truly one of my favorite thriller authors.

this thriller felt different from her others. not the writing style because it’s the creepy crawly goosebump giving writing that Stacy is so good at. but it was slow. so so so slow. nothing incredible or really crazy/big plot points happen until about 65% in. the whole beginning & half of the book is building the characters up and setting the scene. very slow.

if it wouldn’t have been such a slow burn i would have probably rated it higher. a very good character study. lots about friendships, college & growing up and what we’d do and the lengths we’d go to fit in.

thank you net galley for an ARC of this book!

Tense and captivating, this book will keep you hooked from the beginning. Margot just graduated from high school, and a few weeks after her graduation, her best friend died. Going off to college, she is fighting depression on top of the normal adjustment for new students. She meets Lucy Sharpe, who is larger than life, the sarcastic Sloane, and the quieter Nicole. The four live together their sophomore year, and Margot is finally starting to come out of her shell when one of the boys at the house next door is found brutally murdered, and Lucy goes missing.

While the mystery aspect of this was interesting, it felt pretty predictable. For me, this book stood out because of the relationships between Margot, Lucy, and the other girls. Even though it was a bit predictable, it was still a great read, especially the second half! ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This was an entertaining read but a typical thriller involving female college friendships. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t jaw dropping either. There were times I definitely wanted to stop reading but kept hoping something would happen. Other reviewers mention a major plot twist at the end which I found rather anticlimactic and unsurprising. It’s well written, it just wasn’t for me.

Margot is a loner, struggling with questions of identity and self ever since the unexpected death of her best friend the summer after high school graduation. Lucky for her, everything changes when she meets the fascinating and mysterious Lucy Sharpe in her dorm room freshman year.
This book is a chilling look at what a person is capable of, given the right set of circumstances, and I loved the frequent references to the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, a not-so-subtle reminder of the duality of man.
Our main character is a bit of a blank slate, willing to do anything to fit in which can sometimes feel frustrating until I remember she’s only 19 and still figuring it all out.
The slow build was a little too leisurely for me but definitely ratchets up the mystery and gave me time to come up with some wild guesses about where the plot was going next. The pace picks up speed in the latter third of the book and if you love an unexpected twist or two the ending absolutely delivers!

When you get approved for an ARC of the newest project from your favorite thriller author, you drop everything and binge read it in three days. Stacy's Willingham's latest novel follows Margot, whose life is upended when her best friend, Eliza, passes in a tragic accident the summer before they are destined to go away to college together. As Margot settles into life at college without Eliza, she is befriended by the mysterious and captivating, Lucy, who invites her to join a tight-knit friend group. Over the next few months, Margot's past and present will collide, secrets will be revealed, and another person will die... DUN DUN DUN (not a spoiler, this is revealed in the first chapter of the book).

Like all of Willingham's novels, Only If You're Lucky gripped me from the first line. I loved how she describes the power of female friendship and the feeling when you've finally found your place in a group. I am also a huge fan of dual timelines because the cliffhangers keep me reading for hours.

However, this book lulls a bit in the middle, but it's all necessary Easter eggs to support the ending. There are also A LOT of twists to this novel (dare I say too many?). If it were any other author, I would say the ending is straight up unbelievable, but Willingham has a way of writing away my doubt about the authenticity of the events. My jaw did indeed drop at points. This isn't my favorite of her novels, but I still highly recommend picking this one up when it drops in 2024!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for exchanging an e-ARC of this book for an unbiased review!

Only If You're Lucky, the latest thriller from author Stacy Willingham isn't set to be published until January 16, 2024. But guess who's lucky? This guy -- I was able to snag an ARC from NetGalley, so here is your spoiler-free preview of Willingham's 3rd novel, which also happens to be her best yet.

The novel's narrator is Margot, who is just finishing her freshman year at Rutledge College in South Carolina in the novel's primary timeline. Going off to college is supposed to be a special time of new experiences, but nothing about Year 1 was magical for Margot. For starters, she was supposed to be there with her best friend, Eliza. But a tragic accident near the end of high school left Eliza dead and Margot forced to be randomly paired with a roommate. She spent the year grieving and trying to fill the hole left by Eliza's death, zombie-walking through her college experience. As she's preparing to head home for the summer after what feels like a lost year, she's approached by Lucy Sharpe.

Lucy is the "it" girl on campus -- stunning, confident, the one who commands the attention of everyone in a room the moment she walks in. She drops by Margot's dorm room and out-of-the-blue proposes Margot come live with her and her two best friends, Sloane and Nicole. After Margot gets over the shock that Lucy even knows her name, she accepts the offer, and a very new chapter for her begins at Rutledge.

The room being offered is in an off-campus house next to the Kappa Nu fraternity. The frat owns the house, and while it's separated by a fence, there is a shed in the back corner of the property you can pass through to easily access either property. That means that the girls can wander over to the frat any time they'd like; it also means the boys have unfettered access to the girls' house. That setting, culled from Willingham's own personal experiences living in a similar situation at the University of Georgia, presents a host of interesting scenarios and possibilities as the novel unfolds and almost acts as a character itself. Margot decides to stay the summer rather than returning home and facing the memories of Eliza, and the four girls begin to forge a fierce friendship.

There are clear parallels to Mean Girls, if you want to get a sense for the character dynamic among the young women. Margot is Lindsay Lohan's Cady Heron, thrust into a group she never thought she'd be part of but who help her start to fit in and provide her a social life she had yet to have at Rutledge. Lucy is clearly Rachel McAdams' Regina George, the leader of the pack who both commands attention and demands things are done her way. Nicole is super sweet and friendly, and most closely parallels Amanda Seyfried's Karen Smith. Sloane might be considered a Gretchen Wieners, but she's stronger and more independent. And for the record, no, I don't have all of the Mean Girls characters memorized -- thank you, internet, for the assist.

This is a Stacy Willingham book, and so of course there is mystery, deception, and in this case a suspicious death (and possible murder) to solve. We know by the end of Chapter 1 that Levi Butler is dead, and that Lucy Sharpe is missing. While that is the central mystery and the climactic event to which the novel gradually builds, there are also unknowns with the specifics of Eliza's death and how Levi might have been involved. In addition, there is a lingering mysteriousness surrounding Lucy Sharpe -- for as much as the other girls feel like she is their best friend, they also come to realize there are massive pieces of information they don't know about her.

I read and enjoyed both of Willingham's previous novels, A Flicker in the Dark back in 2021 and All the Dangerous Things earlier this year. I can say with full confidence that Only If You're Lucky is Willingham's most complete and best book yet. It had me captivated from the start, and like her previous novels it kept me guessing with plot twists until reaching a satisfying conclusion. This one takes that formula to the next level, though. Willingham masterfully drops hints bout where things are going while also providing bits of misdirection to throw you off the scent. I got through most of the book and imagined several ways it could play out, and I still think I was surprised by where it went. The main characters of Margot and Lucy are nuanced and well-developed, and there is enough development of the supporting cast (Sloane, Nicole, Levi, and the primary members of the frat) that you become immersed within their world. The reader is greeted with small surprises throughout as you learn snippets about both the past and the present, and the conclusion feels complete and believable.

All-in-all, this was one of the better thrillers I read this year, and I think people are going to love it once it's released. Reserve your copy now, you won't be disappointed!