Only If You’re Lucky
by Stacy Willingham
Summary
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.
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.
My Review
Stacy Willingham delivers another atmospheric and beautifully written novel. The prose is lyrical and immersive, with vivid detail that pulls you right into the world she has created. I loved that the language flowed with such artistry that each page formed its own distinct picture. The short chapters made this an easy, quick read, and the dual timelines kept me engaged as the past and present plots unfolded side by side. I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the narrator. She did a wonderful job!
This book explores the complicated and often toxic dynamics of female friendships, particularly in the college years when bonds are formed almost overnight. It really captured the desire to belong, to find your people, and to reinvent yourself as you step into a new phase of life. That theme gave me a fun sense of nostalgia for my own college days.
The characters are morally grey, which made them compelling, though sometimes difficult to root for. This is very much a character-driven story with a slow burn mystery, so readers looking for nonstop action may not find it here. Still, the twists kept me guessing and held my interest all the way through.
There is mild language but no spice, and at times the tone leans more toward YA than adult fiction. Even so, I enjoyed the depth of detail and the exploration of friendship, identity, and the darker side of belonging.
Overall, this story was an engaging and thought-provoking read. If you enjoy college thrillers with strong character focus and a slow, simmering mystery, this one is worth picking up, especially during the autumn season. Definitely recommend!