A review by astoriareader
Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

SYNOPSIS
  • Margot grew up in the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and she is starting her freshman year at Rutledge in South Carolina. Prior to starting college, her BFF, Eliza, died.
  • In the summer before sophomore year, she befriends a trio of girls, Lucy, Nicole, and Sloane. She moves into their rental home, which the girls rent from a fraternity that’s adjacent to the rental.
  • At the beginning of the book, there is a time jump to middle of sophomore year, where Lucy is MIA & something has happened to a frat boy next door. The police are investigating.
  • What happened to Eliza, Lucy, and the frat boy?

MY THOUGHTS
  • This is Willingham’s third book, and so far, I’ve read all three & love her writing style. This one, however, was my least favorite of the three.
  • This was a slow burn with multiple timelines. The chapters are short & digestible. 
  • The characters weren’t very likable, and there’s a lot about toxic friendships.
  • The ending was okay. It wasn’t bad, and it wasn’t great.
  • Side note: the cover of the book was really pretty!
  • I did think this was a compulsive read. I ended up finishing in one sitting because I wanted to see what happened. 
  • The reveal of the mystery about what happened to Eliza was predictable, and I expect readers of the genre to feel the same way.
  • I enjoyed the book, and it is well-written.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️suspense/thriller. slow burn. college setting with short, digestible chapters. toxic friendships. 
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