Only If You're Lucky

"If you knew you could get away with murder, would you do it?"

Posed on a drunken night in a bowling alley afterhours, a group of college kids play truth or dare. They have no idea of the different secrets they are all hiding.

"The only thing that makes bad things bad are the consequences"

This was a such a fun, dark read. The chapters are short and the plot is pushed tight - it keeps you flipping the pages and wondering at each turn, what new secret you will learn. The kids are light and loose, easy with their drink and parties. There's only one POV, Margot, but she opens the world to the boys' house next door (a frat house) and their little house of roommates. She also gives you her own story in flashbacks, told in varying chapters to show more let you know more about her. It's a perfect story to not really love any characters but to still love the story. The twists and turns were so good, the ending so fun to finally get to. I loved this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. show less

Imagine a story that's brimming with murder, obsession, dark secrets, and wild college parties, all with a strong undercurrent of female friendship. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Well, prepare to be swept away by the gripping tale of "ONLY IF YOU’RE LUCKY".

The story takes place in the present, with flashbacks of the past. Where Margot, a depressed loner, lost her best friend just before they were to attend college together. That is until Lucy enters her life, inviting her to join her and two other girls in a rented house. Lucy is everything Margot wants in a friend. She’s vivacious, full of life and reminds her of Eliza.

The story begins at the end of this magnetic tale, with a murder investigation and Lucy’s disappearance. The show more narrative takes us through the twisted events that lead to this point, the author masterfully weaves insane twists and small mysteries into the larger one.

Despite the intricate plot, the author manages to deliver a satisfying conclusion that is both shocking and rewarding. Trust me, if you're a fan of thrillers, you won't want to miss out on this captivating story by the talented Willingham. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of suspense, drama, and intrigue that will leave you breathless!

#OnlyIfYoureLucky #StacyWillingham #KarissaVacker #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #Minotaur #HonestReview #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #LoveToRead #BookAddict #ThrillerBookLovers #BookReviewer #Thriller #LoveBooks #ThrillerBookLoverPromotions #ThrillerFriendsUnite #ThrillerObsessedBookishClub #Bookstagrammer #BookReels show less

Stacy Willingham is back with a campus suspense thriller! This is an exploration of young adult toxic female friendships. It’s about grief, and wanting to fit in. At times characters are frustrating, somewhat unlikeable perhaps, unreliable narrators, that’s the point. This is a character driven story that is intricately plotted throughout the first half. It’s going to feel slower than Willingham’s previous books. Stick with it. I promise the payoff is worth it!

Margot arrives at Rutledge College shaken from the death of her best friend. Introverted, grieving, she is an odd match to be befriended by ‘it girl’ Lucy. By sophomore year Margot and Lucy are roommates, best friends, and enmeshed with the fraternity next door. From show more the outset the reader knows the women have done something…”We knew what we were doing”. It’s Willingham’s expertise, the slow burn, that hooks us, drops breadcrumbs, building a story while still leaving us in the dark. While the setting and players are different she keeps what I love most about her books…a highly readable suspense that draws me in with surprises I did not see coming!

I think this is a great choice for readers who are fans of campus thrillers that focus on characters, fans of Willingham’s previous books, and those looking for a quick weekend suspense! If you haven’t read All The Dangerous Things, or A Flicker In The Dark by I highly recommend those as well!

I received a review copy from the publisher, @Minotaur_books , via @Netgalley . show less

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 show more 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. show less

Only If You're Lucky is the third book from the talented Stacy Willingham.

Four women, all with very different personalities, backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses, are rooming together in a house on the campus of their college. Well, some of them have weaknesses. But Lucy seems to have it all - a natural leader, people are drawn to her - male and female and her strong personality. But is she really the person she lets you see? The answer to that question is pursued by Margot....

Willingham takes readers along with Margot as a guide, an interpreter, a detective and more. It is her narrative we hear and see. The timeline flips back and forth from past to present - a story telling style I really enjoy. Things get more convoluted - and show more downright dangerous for more than one character.

An excellent plot, strong characters and well described settings. Another five star read from Stacy Willingham!

I chose to listen to Only If You're Lucky. I was quite happy to see that Karissa Vacker was the reader. She has performed the previous two books from Willingham and did a fabulous job. And she's done the same with this latest. She speaks clearly, enunciates well and is easy on the ears. I am so impressed at the voices she has come up with for the characters - male and female. They're absolutely believable and suit the character speaking. The voice for Lucy was so perfect. You can hear and feel that 'extra' Vacker puts into her readings. She has captured Willingham's plotting and does an excellent job of capturing the emotions, action and undertones of the book. Vacker is certainly on my list of favorite narrators show less

2.5⭐️

Margot and her best friend Eliza had big plans to embark on their college experience together, but Eliza’s tragic death after her high school graduation changed everything for Margot. After spending the first year of college in her shell, Margot meets the charismatic Lucy who convinces her to become her housemate with two other girls. The house was being rented out by one of the college fraternities and Margot is excited to be part of a more active social scene. But when a new student who has ties to Margot’s hometown and to Eliza enters the scene , Margot’s past trauma resurfaces, and she shares her story with Lucy and her housemates. Lucy expresses her concern for Margot and her intense interest in the events from show more Margot’s past. Lucy claims she wants to help her friend, but her weird mind games and somewhat obsessive behavior gradually reveal her dark streak which makes Margot more than a tad uncomfortable. As the narrative continues Margot, Lucy and their friends find themselves entangled in a web of lies, deception, secrets, and murder and not all of them will make it out alive.

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham revolves around an interesting premise and features an interesting cast of characters which is the only strength of this novel. Firstly, this novel should have been more concise. The author seamlessly weaves past and present timelines into a coherent narrative, but the pacing is inconsistent (and excruciatingly slow , in parts) and I struggled to stay engaged. The story takes a long time to take off ( even after the 50% mark I was wondering where we were going) and had the novel not been so unnecessarily lengthy, I might have appreciated the final 25% more. The premise definitely had potential but failed to deliver. I could go on and on about how this novel didn’t work for me, but I’ll keep it short: I was bored!
Overall, I can’t really say that this was a satisfying experience. Many readers have enjoyed this book more and I ‘d request you to read their reviews before you decide on picking this one up.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less

I think this book should come with a warning that reads ..."If you are over a certain age you might want to close this up and look for something else'. It's not by any means a bad story...but it seems to be an age dividing story. I just could not get into any of the characters or have any sympathy for them. I found their actions to be juvenile...their ideas to be on the lunatic side...if I felt anything for them it all it was judgmental. I can only remember closing and not ever going back to one book in my entire life and I was determined that THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE MY SECOND ONE, DARN IT! ... so... I just plowed on and finished it while quietly yelling at the characters. I will say that the best part of the whole book was the ending. show more I'm not being super critical...the ending got it my 3-star rating. If the entire book had been as good as the ending it would have got a 5-star rating. show less