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

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

General Description: Margot was supposed to be going to college with her best friend, but she died before they were able to go to college together. The death hangs over Margot her entire freshman year and she doesn't really make many friends, until the summer before sophomore year begins, and Lucy Sharpe invites Margot to live with her and two friends over the summer. Margot agrees because Lucy reminds her of her dead best friend and she wants to try to get control of her life back. However, we flash forward a year, and Lucy a missing, one of their fraternity neighbors is dead, and at the center of it is Margot and her two roommates, Sloane and Nicole. Where is Lucy? Who is the murderer in the house?

The goods:
- After the lackluster All The Dangerous Things, I felt like the plot twists were back in full force and i was engrossed in them.
- The book was fast-paced and I found myself continuously wanting to read it over other books I was reading at the time.
- I did feel like I was living in a college house next to a frat, it felt much more believable than her previous novel. 
- the side characters (and side mysteries) were giving me everything I needed in this book. Even as we switched time periods, I was fully sold on all plot lines.

The loss of a half-star:
- For a stand alone, I feel like I didn't get full closure on the characters. I wish it was a bit longer and either more wrapped up, or left us with an opening to a second book.

Overall, if you were on the fence with Stacy Willingham after All The Dangerous Things, you should pick this up. She'll suck you right back in, giving you similar fillings to A Flicker In The Dark.