Margot’s life has not turned out the way she expected since losing her best friend. Doing her best to live the life her friend would have wanted, she befriended Lucy. Lucy brings so much life to Margot. Things were looking up until a guy from Margot’s past enters the picture. Forced to deal with the past, Margot discovers a lot more than she expected.

Another winner from Willingham. The book follows a set of college girls and one in particular who clearly is hiding a nefarious past. The main character as well as luminous Lucy were compelling. I enjoy a thriller where the author doesn't try to confuse you too much but keeps you guessing. This book had me hooked into the girls characters while also keeping me on my toes.

I've always loved storylines that revolve around a group of girls finding their way in college. Margot, still reeling from the loss of her best friend, finds herself moving into an off campus house with three essential strangers. As Margot starts forming connections with everyone, her suspicions arise as to who is her friend and who is out to get her.

One of the things I loved about this one is that sense of belonging and what someone would be willing to do, or even become, just to feel included and a part of something. As someone who has always felt like a bit of an outsider, this portrayed that feeling immaculately. The past and present were seamless, telling a story with a haunting, heartbreaking undertone. As with a lot of mysteries, there were a few twists but they weren't overdone as with so many we see lately with the author trying too hard. This was a highly enjoyable read that I recommend to any of my fellow readers. Four Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I was excited to read this book as I loved Stacy Willingham’s two prior books: A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things. Her novels are exciting, engaging and page turners. However, while reading this story, I felt like I was at a college party a few decades back, clearly feeling out of place. The author is writing this book for a younger group of readers.

Three girls – Lucy, Sloane and Nicole -- are living off campus together and Margot has been invited to join them at a college in North Carolina. She notices how Lucy reminds her of her best friend, Eliza, who died recently in a freak accident. Lucy is the character to watch. She wants to play “truth or dare” at a fraternity party. She asks Levi, who was in love with Eliza, “If you knew you could get away with murder, would you?”

The author jumps back and forth in time which she manages to do without it feeling choppy. The characters were full of life and ready for a night of fun. The plot was easy to follow and beautifully written. However, it wasn’t hard to figure out with a few clues what was going to happen.

My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of January 16, 2024.

Okay. Where to begin? This was an extremely slow burn but once I got to chapter 50, I HAD to finish it immediately. The beginning was a little rough to get through and I had some predictions that were close but I was not ready for the ending. I went in completely blind so when it was a book about college kids I wasn’t quite sure about it. The drinking and the partying was a bit much at first.

I felt so sad for Margot as she seemed broken and weak. I had many thoughts about Lucy but we all have met a Lucy… manipulative and conniving. There were so many characters and with that came an unbelievable amount of twists. It felt like thriller whip lash and I was here for it.

First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the arc version of this book.

This was probably my best read of the year.

I absolutely LOVED Stacy's first two books, especially All The Dangerous Things; it was in my top reads last year! I was highly anticipating this one from the moment I saw it was announced. I saw Stacy say that this was different from her first two and while that made me nervous, I was here for it!

There was so much I enjoyed about this one: memorable (and insane) characters, creepy houses, and a truly surprising twist! I haven't seen this one before and certainly didn't predict it!

While there was much I enjoyed, there were a couple things I struggled with, mostly the unlikability of almost all of the characters. I don't need to love everyone, but I usually like to at least be rooting for someone and in this case, I didn't care much what happened to any of them. I do think that was the point though! I think the struggles I had were definitely personally preference issues and I think this one will be a big hit!

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the ARC! This will be available on January 30th.

3.5 Rounded up for GR

Stacy Willingham DOES. NOT. MISS.

I think it's an incredible feat to take such a popular trope (toxic female friendship) and create such a twisty, shocking, suspenseful, original story.

Slow-burns don't usually work for me but ohhhh man it sure did this time. I loved everything about this story. The switching timelines, the dialogue, the inner monologue, the TWISTS. Seriously. That ending. I am still thinking about it.

Convinced Willingham is only capable of writing 5-star books. Even though I was lucky enough to read this now, I'll still purchase it in January because I need it on my shelf!

I loved this third novel from Stacy Willingham! So many thoughts of how this would play out, who was responsible for what and constantly wondered who was telling the truth and who was lying. The characters were amazing and each had their well built traits. They all fit so well together and of course all had their difference that kept you on your toes. The friendships are deep and the secrets deeper!

Another 5 star reading from Stacy Willingham!! After reading and loving both previous books from Willingham, I was so excited to see a new book from her! I devoured this book. It was incredible, so well written, and very different from her last two books. I loved the mystery in this book, especially as someone who went to a small liberal arts college in the south. The first half was a little slow with all the background information being given, but it wasn’t unbearably slow and that background information is a necessary part of the story. The before and after chapters were done in a way that left me wanting to keep reading because I HAD to find out what happened next. This book dives into the darker sides of friendship and what people are willing to do for their friends. Loved this one and highly recommend it if it’s not already on your radar!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I just couldn't really get into this book. I thought about abandoning it several times but ultimately ended up finishing it. Lucy, Margot, Sloane and Nicole just felt like empty characters. I never connected with them or felt like I cared what happened. They seemed shallow and false. The overall plot just felt boring. Sorry I didn't like it more!

Well that certainly had a few twists I wasn’t expecting at the end! I wasn’t quite sure where this book was going for awhile as it started off rather slowly. I loved Stacy Willingham’s first two books so I knew I needed to give it a chance, and I’m glad I did! I enjoyed the dark academia and the dual timeline as well as some of the classic. It was a little different from her earlier books but still very good.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Stacy Willingham for this arc!

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed reading yet another book by Stacey Willingham! The story definitely started off a bit slow, but I liked the dual timeline pov, and liked the premise and story. The reveal was good, but I didn’t like it as much as her other few books. However, I think that it could just be that I wasn’t particularly in the mood for a thriller. I think I will reread when the book comes out!

Only if you’re lucky by Stacy Willingham


Stacy Willingham is one of my “must read” authors after reading “A Flicker in the Dark” and/or “All the Dangerous Things”. This is her third book. I was beyond excited to get this ARC. I finished it in less than 24 hrs (it was a long night…)

I feel that target readers for this particular book might be little bit younger than her previous books. This takes a places on college campus (or I should say NEAR a college campus). I am definitely not college student age, but this book was almost nostalgic. It described college dork, friends, living in a frat house. If you like campus thriller, this is it!

I liked the pace. I started this book at 9 pm on Saturday night. Could not put it down!! Twists were there but it wasn’t as “whoa” as her previous books. But maybe I expected something crazy woukd happen after reading her previous books 😅😅.

Overall, I looooved this book. I can’t wait for her 4th book (which I would have to wait until maybe 2025 haha).

P.S.: I did have a nightmare after I read this.

this book is completely different than stacy willingham’s other novels, and let me tell you, it completely satisfied my dark academia, campus thriller loving heart! 🖤

I went in expecting a plot twist heavy, shocking thrillers like her last two novels were, so it took me a minute to adjust to the slow-paced, dual timeline writing style. however, the suspense was absolutely worth it! I think I would have loved it even more if the twists were more out of left field than spoon fed, but it was still SO bingeable!

the four main characters, living together in an old frat house, are 100% unlikable, but that’s honestly the best part of it all! I was desperate to see what happened to these friends to make them so unhinged 😅

overall, I think the reasoning behind the mystery and the unaliving wasn’t that strong, leaving me a bit disappointed in the end. but besties, stacy’s writing style is like crack and I would read absolutely anything she writes!!!! I’m a super fan pls

thank you times a million to netgalley and minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! next year cannot come soon enough!!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel

This was such a wonderful thriller. Once I picked it up and couldn't put it down! I love thrillers where I'm not sure where the end will take me and this definitely achieved that feeling of mystery throughout. Once I got about 60% done, I had to just sit down and finish it - I couldn't take not knowing what happened and let me tell you, I was not disappointed with the ending. My jaw was on the floor besties.

I really enjoyed the dark themes of female friendship, trauma, and grief. Stacy Willingham is always an insta buy for me - her way with words and storytelling makes for the perfect thriller/mystery.

Give me all the dark academia thrillers!!! This book is the PERFECT creepy fall read, and it is hands down Stacy’s BEST book so far.

I was hooked from the beginning. The slow build up of tension was expertly done. The major twists happen at the end, but there are definitely clues scattered throughout that keep you guessing and turning those pages.

The old apartment next to the frat house where the girls lived was a character on its own!! The haunting, beautifully written prose really draws the reader in. The themes of belonging, rejection, betrayal, and secrets were slowly revealed at the perfect times.

I loved, loved, loved everything about this book!!

Thank you to @minotaur_books, @stmartinspress, and @netgalley for giving me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to get this early release and dropped everything to read it! Suspenseful and fast paced- read this book! If you’re fans of her earlier work you’ll love this one.

I loved Willingham's All the Dangerous Things so knew I'd like this one too as it involves a group of friends at college and we know how crazy those times can be! Margot lost her best friend, Eliza in a tragic accident before she left for school and she still mourns for her. But as the "new girl," when a group of girls invite her to live with them sophomore year, she jumps at the chance to be part of something--especially since it's cheap rent as it's owned by the fraternity right next door. And when the beautiful and popular Lucy (who was the instigator) continues to drag Margot to parties and "force" her to socialize by playing Truth or Dare, Margot continues to be entranced and is drawn in by her spell. But of course the spell is broken as truths begin to surface and it's clear there is a "method" to her madness! Dark and suspenseful, this novel is fast-paced and easily devoured!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I loved A Flicker in the Dark, so I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint! This will definitely be one of my favorite thrillers of the year. Stacy’s writing is so great - I love the prose and the pacing of all of her novels. I would classify this as a slow-burn thriller, but the sense of dread was weaved into the storyline right from the beginning. The use of the old house as a setting was superb, and I could picture it like I was there. The twists were unexpected and the reveals were done well. I enjoyed the two timelines and how everything tied together in the end. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the portrayal of female friendships. All in all just a super well done thriller that I will be thinking about for a long time and recommending to everyone!