Book Review - "Only if You're Lucky" by Stacy Willingham

"Only If You're Lucky" by Stacy Willingham centers around a college freshman, Margo, who is grieving the loss of her best friend and trying to find her way in her new life at college. At the end of her freshman year, she is befriended and invited to live off-campus with a group of three other girls. The off-campus house is directly next to a fraternity, and once Margo starts to come out of her shell, one of the frat boys ends up murdered, and her friend goes missing. 

Read This Book If You Like...

- psychological thrillers

- college setting

- finding oneself 

- morally grey characters 

Themes At Play...

- toxic friendships 

- secrets

- obsessions

I really placed this book on a pedestal before reading it because I highly enjoyed Stacy Willingham's most recent book "All The Dangerous Things." However, this book missed the mark with me. 

Firstly, I couldn't relate to the college student characters in this book and their unhealthy bond to each other, possibly because I'm close to forty years old, or maybe because I don't recall college being so carefree and utterly ridiculous. For example, there were immature games played by the four girls, a childish game that I do not recall playing after I turned 13 years of age. These games were not a one-off occurrence but occurred many times throughout the book. 

 Secondly, the scenario where Margo's best friend, who died in a freak accident, was repeatedly brought up many times throughout the book. This was very off-putting. I felt as if I were a child who needed to be reminded about what took place on the evening when Margo's best friend died. As a result of this repetitive side story, it became aggravating. 

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the off-campus house setting as Willingham explained in the acknowledgments, which was based on her own experience with an off-campus house. Her descriptions of the rental house and the fraternity next door transported me right there with the girls.

Above all, this thriller would make a great book for a young adult. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.  

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Minotaur Book for the eARC copy.  

"Only If You're Lucky" by Stacy Willingham will be widely available to read on January 16th, 2024.  Regardless of my thoughts, if this book sounds like one that you would enjoy, please click here to pre-order your own copy from Amazon.  Please note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.