Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham. I didn’t think I could love a book as much as I loved Willingham’s debut A Flicker In The Dark and then I read this one! The mesmerizing writing made me want to keep reading this story of female friendship and maturation in a college setting. If you went away to school, you probably remember the quest to fit in and find your people, so parts of the book will feel familiar to you. Pre-order this book now so you can read it before the inevitable hype and spoilers. You won’t be disappointed!

5 stars-My third book by Stacy Willingham and definitely my favorite. The best summary I can give without giving too much away is a reference to Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde…how can one person be love and violence? The characters in this story are so flawed, and yet, they come together because they are looking for something that they find in each other. The writing is phenomenal. This is one that I think you are better off not knowing much about before you read it, let the story unfold and enjoy the ride!

I was a little disappointed in this book becuase I feel like it only got engaging three-fourths of the way in. I was really bored for the first 75% of the book, but then it really picked up, which I appreciated.

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" stands as one of the most thought-provoking novels, delving into the unending, epic battle between good and evil. It shines a spotlight on the intricate psychological struggle humans face against their inner demons—questioning which force will ultimately triumph, the darkness or the light.

This book skillfully captures the essence of this monumental conflict, transforming the journey into a sinister thriller that could be likened to a fusion of "Heathers" and "Pretty Little Liars" within the realm of dark academia. The story features unreliable female characters harboring concealed secrets.

At its core, the plot revolves around Margot, who grapples with the recent loss of her best friend, Eliza. Margot plans to attend the same liberal arts college in South Carolina as Eliza had intended. Instead of succumbing to the path her parents have paved, Margot is determined to fulfill their shared dream, even though she initially confines herself to her dorm during the first semester.

Despite battling depression, Margot becomes aware of Lucy's eccentric presence. Lucy, a recent transfer student, becomes the subject of speculative theories regarding her enigmatic past. From a distance, Margot observes Lucy's closely-knit friendship with Sloane and Nicole, finding herself envious of their bond.

When Lucy unexpectedly proposes they become roommates, Margot is astounded by her luck. This offers her a chance to start anew, to embrace a different identity. Without hesitation, Margot embarks on this transformation.

Joined by Lucy, the dry-witted Sloane, the meek yet good-hearted Nicole, the trio becomes roommates and relocates to a fraternity house they rent from boys, courtesy of Nicole's connection with Trevor, a leader of the fraternity club.

The girls form an alliance when a specter from Margot's past emerges within the house, compelling her to share her reasons for selecting this place for her education. This ghostly figure is Levi, Eliza's boyfriend and the last person to have seen her alive.

As the narrative alternates between timelines, it is revealed that both Levi and Lucy are no longer present. The mystery unfolds: Could Lucy have a role in Levi's demise?

Despite the book's gradual pace, the riveting and concise chapters maintain an engaging rhythm that sustains reader interest. The final shocking revelations are undeniably jaw-dropping, although some may appear coincidental or stretched. Nevertheless, the majority of these plot twists are ingeniously crafted and executed.

The eerie atmosphere and the gradual intensification of tension contribute to a sustained sense of intrigue, even though some of the characters may not be particularly likable. However, the whirlwind plot, well-timed revelations, and the carefully constructed story structure are expertly written.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this captivating read. My gratitude extends to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this utterly compelling book in exchange for my honest evaluation.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer- especially if you can't tell one from the other! Good girls gone bad in this literary-ish take on friendship, gender, and loyalty within a girl group. I really enjoyed this one- my favorite of Ms WIllingham's efforts so far.

I really enjoyed the author's first two books so was very excited for this one, especially as I love academic settings and complicated female relationships. Lots of complex themes explored here - belonging, envy, loyalty and betrayal, the lies we tell, the secrets we keep, the facets of us we allow others to see (and those we keep hidden), and ultimately, how well can we ever truly know someone else? There's also the unnerving knowledge that what happens to these girls could easily have happened to any of us who liked a good party while at college.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
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A sharp and twisty exploration of female friendship from the New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things.

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.

And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It's a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she's been in since the end of high school when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered... and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.

From the author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things comes a tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal—another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.
I love Stacey’s books and really enjoyed the time I spent with Lucy Sharpe and her devious, deceitful friends. This book will make you question who you live with and their motives and the problem with the book was that I got so into it that I had to keep reminding myself to breathe!!! A superb ending will make you wait breathlessly (ha ha) for her next excellent novel.

HIGHLY recommended.

#shortbutsweetreviews

A typical college story - 4 friends living in a house off campus next door to a frat. Except in this case, more than one of them is hiding trauma.

Margot is still grieving the death of her best friend and she is more than happy grab the invite to move into the house. Her new roommates are fun party girls and she starts to forget what has plagued her since she started college. But Lucy Sharpe is much more than what she seems - a bright shiny sun in which everyone else just revolves. It isn't long before it seems that Margot may have gotten just too close to the sun.

This twisty thriller is completely believable and utterly breathtaking. If you lived the party life at school, you know that what happens could have so easily happened to you (or me).
#STmartins #Minotaur #StacyWillingham #Onlyifyouarelucky

Stacy Willingham does is again! "Only if You're Lucky" is another thrilling page-turner from an author who always delivers.