Stacy Willingham - Only if you’re lucky. Well, she’s done it again. A ton of twisty turns at break neck speed that will keep you up late.. even when you have to be up at 6am. A brilliant and suspenseful read.

I was thrilled to dive into the new Stacy Willingham book, but also a little bit nervous after reading previous reviews saying it’s not as gripping as her other two. Unfortunately I did feel the same way!

Margot tells the story of becoming friends with Lucy Sharpe at college, unexpectedly being singled out by her and asked to move in with her and her cool gang of friends, Sloane and Nicole. Margot has spent all her first year hiding away in her halls and playing it safe, after the sudden death of her best friend Eliza just before their graduation. Eliza and Margot were supposed to go to college together and nothing feels right without her.

What follows is the story of Margot and Lucy’s friendship developing during that summer and second year of college, alongside flashbacks to what happened the previous summer with Eliza, and the present day - the end of the school year, where a freshman boy is dead and Lucy is missing.

Whilst the final few chapters were gripping and the twists and turns were unexpected, the majority of the book was very slow-paced compared to Stacy’s previous books. But it still has that special charm to it because of her amazing writing. It is so atmospheric, so evocative.. the setting and emotions so beautifully described that the tension and feel to the story are worth a read in itself.

As a teenager, I would have devoured this. If it had been a tv series, I would have been obsessed! As a forty-something, it had less of an impact but I did still appreciate the depth to the characters and the amazing writing. Margot’s feelings of wanting to feel special, wanting to be included and seen, were very powerful and relatable for that age.

Not my favourite of Stacy’s so far, but still a very memorable story and characters and not to be overlooked.

Only If You're Lucky is the latest thriller from Stacy Willingham, armed with an enticing plot, some interesting characters and a very, very bloated length. Even at 380 pages, this novel suffers from an immense amount of padding and no amount of excellent prose and great descriptive writing (which this book has in abundance) can avoid how much of a slog this feels to get through at times.

Fresh off the success of last year's All The Dangerous Things, there's undoubtedly a lot of excitement going into this project - especially from this reviewer too! The story is undoubtedly enticing, taking elements of stories like Big Little Lies and spinning that into a modified college-styled plot with an air of psychological thrill for good measure.

This is undoubtedly intense at times and the final act of the book has some top-notch reveals and excellent pacing. It's just a pity then that it takes around 270 pages before this one really starts to pick up and get going.

At the center of this story is a young woman called Margot. After the tragic passing of her old friend Eliza, Margot packs up her things (along with her previous baggage of her best friend's death) and heads off to college.

Once there, she immediately finds herself ensnared in the grip of an alluring new girl called Lucy. Lucy is joined by two other girls, Sloane and Nicole, and the four form an unlikely friendship. As Margot starts to get to know the girls - especially Lucy - she realizes that there are more secrets here that she's only just starting to understand.

Interwoven around these "Before" chapters are parts of a tale that occur "After" a big event. This includes Lucy missing and a boy from the frat house next door, Kappa Nu, dead.  But what happened? Who's dead? And where is Lucy? All of those answers and more will be revealed!

The story jumps back and forth between the two time periods, with the "After" chapters used as a recap of sorts to reinforce details we're drip-fed through the "Before" portions. This is undeniably a slow burn and at times, it's far too slow for the reveals we eventually get.

To be fair to Stacy Willingham, she pulls off a cracking ending to this one that will leave You satisfied and glad you held out hope for a sizzling finale. That's definitely here. Even better, there's a nice thematic punch to round everything out, reinforcing that idea of friendships and, specifically, that bond between women that's so mysterious and somewhat of an enigma to the opposite sex.

Speaking of which, there are clear divides here between men and women, with almost every male character in the book portrayed as horrible, nasty or outright repulsive. There's nothing wrong with that, given the perspective of the book, and as you start to learn more about Margot and the gang, it actually adds a nice narrative weight to the tale that I'm sure will be more effective the second time through.

However, the story does have a lot of lulls. There's an awful lot of padding in this one that makes for a very difficult binge-read. While the chapters are short (there's over 60 in here!) to help try and alleviate this, the plot details are spread so thin that by the halfway point, you may feel like giving up. It's highly advised that you don't though. That ending is a great one, with some lovely twists that you're unlikely to see coming.

Only If You're Lucky could very easily have been dropped down to just under 300 pages and in doing so, could have been one of the top thrillers of the year. Instead, this is a decent thriller stretched too thinly, saved by an excellent ending and some beautifully written prose. It's certainly not a bad thriller, but it could have been so much more.

6.5/10

1st of all I have to say that this book trully took my breath away! There are a lot of books with decent plots and good characters but very rarely do I read something with this quality of writing. It's evocative, it's sheer poetry, the words come alive and it's just magical! Reading this book was a pleasure purely for such beautiful writing and that's not something I come across often!! Often books this descriptive are too wordy or comes across as waffle but the author writes in such a magical way that it sets atmosphere, emotion, and completely encompasses the reader. Easily one of the most talented writing I've read in years! It was captivating!

Anywho, the review itsself - its a slow burn but the writing g style makes it seem alive! The plot is always moving forward and the characters are really well developed woth so many layers and character growth. You really get such a good sense of who these girls are and what they've been through. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and i had no clue where the plot until the author wanted me to know. I was reading this late into the night, whilst at work, whilst making dinner, I just couldn't out it down. I honestly can't speak highly enough about this book. It is perfection on every level and I can't wait to read he outhors other books

5 enthusiastic starts for this one. The characters are so well developed they feel like people you really know.
The setting was amazing and I love that the author used her life to create this setting.
It oozed suspense and fear. Absolutely spine chilling moments and so many plot twists and turns it kept me guessing until the very last page. Breakneck speed and edge of your seat moments without compromising the character development or genuine feelings this invokes. This was a fantastic read and I was sad when I read the last page because it was over.
One of those rare books you can fully immerse yourself in!

This is the third novel I've read by the author and she is definitely getting better and better.
Only if You're Lucky is a thriller set around a South Carolina college where student Margot, grieving the death of her best friend Eliza, feels on the edge of things in her first year. After she is approached by Lucy, the most popular girl in the dorm, Margot goes to live in an off campus house in her second year with Lucy and two other girls. Six months later Lucy is missing and a boy from the college is dead.
I absolutely loved this slow burn thriller which drew me in from the beginning. I enjoyed the dual time narratives moving from before and after Lucy's disappearance and also exploring Margot's relationship with her best friend Eliza. I felt that the novel gave a real sense of place and there was an underlying tension throughout. Margot was an interesting character and I found all of the characters convincing. The novel moved in a completely unexpected direction and for me this made it a 5 star read. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book, but I'm sad to say, it wasn't as good as I was expecting. In fact, reading it felt like a bit if a slog.
The story moves slowly and I didn't find it captivated me in any way.
The protagonist comes across as a bit whiney and her friend Lucy, is so unlikeable it was hard to push through.
I really enjoyed Stacy Willingham a first novel and was disappointed with this.

"Only If You're Lucky" is a psychological thriller written by Stacy Willingham.

The story follows Margot, a girl deeply affected by the death of her best friend, Eliza. Desperate for a fresh start and an opportunity to get away from her small town, her family, and the memories of a lifetime, she went to college in South Carolina. After a difficult first year, Margot gets her wish when the enigmatic Lucy suddenly invites her to join her and two other girls in a shared house for their second year. But as Margot gets to know the girls, forming an intense bond with them, she begins to realize that something is off about Lucy, that she is not quite what she seems. Six months later, Lucy is missing and a boy from the frat house next door is dead, leaving Margot and the girls in the wake of the investigation. But as the police continue to dig, they realize that Lucy is not the only one with secrets.


"Only If You're Lucky" is a book that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end! Dark, intricate, mysterious and bewitching, it absorbed me completely, pulling me into a vortex of lies, secrets, deception, subterfuge, manipulation, obsession, recrimination, envy and complex friendships.

The story proceeds slowly, without haste, taking its time to best develop the mystery. The alternation between past and present, between the before of the murder and disappearance and the after, is a choice that I appreciated a lot, because it allows the reader to closely follow the events that lead to the crucial point of the book. The text has a strong psychological component, full of important moral and ethical dilemmas, which fascinated me so much. I admit that I detected the various plot twists in advance, but this does not affect my high appreciation.

The author's writing mesmerized me! Evocative and lyrical, it gives the novel a hazy, uncertain, melancholy, and at times almost dreamlike atmosphere. I loved the college setting, as well as the many descriptions of beaches and piers.

I liked the characters a lot! Margot, protagonist with her only first person pov, at first is a shy, careful girl, always on the sidelines and never the center of attention, haunted by the death of her best friend. Lucy, on the other hand, is a magnetic, bold, enigmatic, dangerous and manipulative girl, capable of creating addiction with her only presence. Closing the quartet are the intelligent and ironic Sloane and the sweet and caring Nicole. In my opinion, these are beautifully portrayed characters with excellent development and complex friendship. I was captivated by their interactions, their brilliant dialogues, and I admit to being moved at some moments.

All in all, this is a novel that I loved, characterized by a dark and intriguing story, captivating and compelling writing and ambiguous and complex characters!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Within the pages of this captivating novel, readers embark on a journey through an intricately woven narrative. The author skillfully unravels the story at a deliberate pace, revealing hidden layers with each turned page. One of the characters introduces a profound ethical dilemma — the concept of committing murder without facing legal consequences. This complex theme serves as a focal point for discussions on morality.

After a patient buildup, the narrative unveils a crucial moment, injecting dynamism into our discussions. Despite the challenging journey, this twist becomes the linchpin around which the entire reading experience revolves.

This literary work delves into controversy and moral ambiguity. While the pacing may be a point of contention for some, the intellectually stimulating nature of the narrative ensures it leaves a lasting impression and sparks meaningful conversations. Ultimately, the book encourages readers to reflect on the complexities of human choices and the lasting impact of moral quandaries.

I loved the atmosphere of this book and I didn't see the plot twists coming. Unfortunately though I didn't enjoy it as much as her previous books. However it was still very entertaining and I would definitely recommend it.

Stacy Willingham has delivered an immensely enjoyable book after her first two, which were smashing successes, so I have no doubt that this book will also do very well indeed. It moves at a swift pace and delivers an absorbing tale.

Margot is still reeling from the loss of her best friend Eliza and the brutal destruction of all their plans for college together. When the rather charismatic Lucy appears willing to be her friend at college, Margot is amazed as she is pleased.

Margot, Lucy and two other girls form a friendship group which sees them living just by a boys' frat house, where the expected testosterone-laten shenanigans take place on a regular basis. It's all fun and games - until Margot starts having her doubts about Lucy, one of the students is found dead, and another goes missing.

Unfortunately for Margot, when the police start investigating, they won't finish investigating until everyone's life has been carefully examined - whether the individuals concerned want it to be or not...

I am really sorry to say that I just couldn't connect with this novel. I may be in the wrong age group, but I just didn't get into it ,and hope other readers enjoy it more.

Few authors have made such an impact with their first two novels as Stacy Willingham. I enjoyed both Flicker In The Dark and All The Dangerous Things so was eager to read this.

Let me be one of the first to tell you - Only If You're Lucky is Stacy Willingham's best book yet!

Margot is a college student, her life was turned upside down by the sudden death of a close friend, Eliza. They had planned to attend college together and had it all planned out. When shy Margot meets the charismatic Lucy, she can't believe that Lucy would befriend her and pull her in to the cool kids clique.

I'm not going into the plot, this is one to discover and savour for yourself. There's a boys frat house next and the girls live in the shadow of testosterone, alcohol and drug-fuelled high jinks, until one of the students is found dead and another is missing.

Stacy Willingham's writing style is slower, deep and detailed, and it really comes alive. This is a novel to drift away and lose yourself in.

The character writing and development through the story is excellent. The plot builds up gradually to an incredible crescendo, expect twists, hidden truths, secrets exposed and big reveals. It's captivating.

Don't miss out!

Stacy Willingham's best book yet.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction

Stacy Willingham Has done it again with another great book. Lots of twists and turns to keep you wanting to read just one more chapter