Audiobook Review: Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Macmillan Audio (January 16, 2024)

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrator: Karissa Vacker

Admittedly not my favorite of the three Stacy Willingham books I’ve read so far, but Only If You’re Lucky was still a wild trip, a compulsive thriller that explores obsession and the intricate complexities of female friendships.

Growing up, Margot had it all—wealthy parents, a secured future, and her best friend Eliza, with whom she could share anything. Even though they were complete opposites, the girls were inseparable, with shy and reserved Margot basking in the warm glow of Eliza’s bubbly personality. Together, they planned at the end of their high school career to attend Rutledge, a small liberal arts college in South Carolina. It was something they’d both looked forward to for a long time.

But then, Eliza dies, just weeks after graduation. In shock and left adrift, Margot goes on to Rutledge alone, grieving for her lost friend. At the end of her first year, however, she has a chance meeting with Lucy Sharpe, a bold and enigmatic student. Drawn to her, Margot is stunned but also secretly thrilled when Lucy invites her to live with her and her two friends, Sloane and Nicole, in a house off-campus. Tired of being lonely and sad, Margot is also hoping this will be her chance to finally come out of her shell and start a new life.

At first, this new arrangement seems to be everything Margot ever wanted. She becomes more social, meeting new people and going to more parties, most of them hosted by the fraternity boys in the house next door. Lucy and Margot become the closest of friends, leading our protagonist to hope that maybe, finally, she can let go of her painful memories of Eliza. But pretty soon, Margot realizes that her new bestie might not be who she says she is. Lucy is fiercely guarded about her past, and secrets and rumors seem to surround her like a cloud. When one of the frat boys is found dead, and Lucy disappears without a trace, Margot, Sloane, and Nicole must find out the truth about their friend as detectives close in on the mysterious circumstances.

Diving into Only If You’re Lucky was like stepping into a mixed bag. As a fan of the author’s earlier novels, I was excited to read her latest, but while there were plenty of elements to love, there were also a few surprises. First, the good stuff—Willingham’s writing is as immersive as ever, drawing readers in the story with her descriptive prose. Because this is a story centered around college students, the book has a distinct “new adult” vibe but manages to capture the atmosphere of the academic and party life very well. For those feeling nostalgic for a trip down memory lane to those “good old college days”, this might just hit the spot.

That said, be prepared for the sheer amount of drama that comes with the territory. I had a difficult time getting into Margot’s headspace, as by nature she is a tough character to relate to. After all, her entire persona is based on the fact that she really doesn’t have one. Prior to college, her entire life was defined by Eliza’s friendship, and now that she is in Rutledge, she has latched onto a new obsession, Lucy. As a result, Margot lacks an authentic identity beyond these intense connections and makes her voice come across as lackluster and somewhat banal.

Then there’s the story, which unfolds in a duo timeline format alternating between past and present. It’s a structure commonly seen in thrillers, but it was harder to follow here as it occasionally disrupted the pacing, not to mention confusing the narrative by making it challenging for readers to connect the dots between the two time periods. Fortunately, however, the ending brings forth a number of unexpected revelations, injecting some much-needed excitement at a point where it was really needed.

In the end, while it might not reach the highs of Stacy Willingham’s previous books, Only If You’re Lucky offers a different taste of a unique character study meets slow-burn suspense. Margot’s fixation with Eliza and later with Lucy can at times feel a bit too much, but the balance between character themes and the darker side of academia does add a layer of unpredictability. As always, the author keeps readers on their toes, and I’ll still eagerly wait to see what she’ll bring to the table next.