Author Grady Green has just received the biggest news an author can get…he officially has a best seller! While he is in the process of getting this news he is talking to his wife on the phone. She is on her way home to him, but sees someone lying in the road. Against his advice she gets out to offer help. That’s the last time he ever sees her. Grady has a very difficult time moving on after her disappearance. When his agent offers him a chance to go to an island and attempt to get back into writing. He has nothing else so he finally agrees. From the moment he arrives he feels that something is off. He is right, but he can never imagine what it is.

Feeney is very hit or miss with me. Honestly, this was a miss. I wanted to get into the story and love it, but I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and even the big twists didn’t do anything for me.

What an atmospheric and creepy story! I loved it, but I'm curious to see how the reviews shake out, because it reminded me of Daisy Darker, which seems to be one of her fans less favorite books AND The Blue Hour, which I loved but a lot of people didn't. I don't want to say too much because there's a lot in the book that is a spoiler. If you're a Feeney fan like me give this a try!

Grady, once a successful author, has lost everything- his wife went missing a year ago, he had to sell his home and he has such writer's block he not only can't write, he fears he will need to repay his advance, which he absolutely can not afford to do. But then, his agent, Kitty, offers him a big break. She has offered for him to go to a small island and stay in the writer's shed of his now-dead favorite author. However when he arrives on the island, things start to get fishy and he swears he can see his wife everywhere. Grady tries to find out what is going on, but everyone on the island has secrets, and Grady does too.

Thoughts: What the hell did I just read? What started off as a fun, interesting story ended up so strange I needed a break 20 pages before the ending so I could sort my thoughts. I don’t mind an unreliable narrator, or a farfetched twist, but this was just too much weirdness for me.

This is my third book by this author and she is usually an instant-read for me, but this book fell short. It had all the ingredients for a good story, but the end got too insane for me and the final was twist was more baffling than anything else. That said the writing was pretty and there were a lot of quotes I highlighted throughout the book. Will I continue to read her books as they released? Sure, but I am hoping the next one is more reminiscent to her earlier stories.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Feeney is the master of the psychological thriller. She is one of the only novelists in this genre that can still surprise me, and she has done it again with her latest.

Grady Green is an author on the brink of making it big on the bestseller list. He excitedly shares the news with his wife, Abby, who is on her way home with takeout. But when Abby encounters a human lying in the road, Grady discourages her from going to help. To his dismay, Abby gets out of the car … and then vanishes.

Still overcome with grief a year after Abby’s disappearance, Grady can’t sleep and he certainly can’t write. When his agent invites him to use her secluded cabin on a remote island in the Scottish Highlands, Grady jumps at the chance to revive his life and career. What he didn’t count on was seeing a woman that looks exactly like his wife.

Oof. This book had me so engrossed. The setting was eerily engaging, the characters were interesting and the whole book just captured me right from the start. My mind was spinning from the get-go. I didn’t know who or what to trust, and some of the twistiness I did not see coming. I think what made this book the most enjoyable for me was the tiny island community. I don’t want to say too much because I feel this book is best to go in blind.

Thank you to Alice Feeney, Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of the book for an honest review.

All I can say is what was that?
This book had me hooked for a very long time until we got to the “one year later” chapter. This made me question everything I had read and I still am lost. I can’t stand when an author leaves us lost with no explanation.

The spooky vibes in this book are just perfect. I read a title by this author previous and just thought it was okay, but this one was great. The setting and storytelling was just fantastic for anyone that loves some creepy without being downright scary. If you like shows like Black Mirror, this will be something you really like. You just never can quite put your finger on what is happening. I did not see the things coming, which is exactly what a book like this is supposed to be like. Grady is both likable and unlikeable at the same time, as are most of the other characters. Though Amberley sounds like a beautiful place to visit, I don’t think I would want to go there anytime soon! I highly recommend this one.

"...gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage and revenge."
I listened to the audio narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, an outstanding job with the sound effects and all.
I love this author building suspense and tension on a tiny Scottish island. With no access on or off except by a ferry with its unreliable schedule. This makes for an incredibly locked room mystery.
Grady Green calls his wife, who is on the way home, to share exciting news of his new book deal. When she stops on the side of the road to check on a person laying on the side of the road, he begs her not to. She is never heard from again. He finds her car and phone, but no trace of her.

A year later his editor sends him to the Isle of Amberly to a small cottage in solitaire to write again.
The people on the island have strange and odd behaviors that make it sinister. The suspense builds when he sees sightings of his wife, but to no avail finds her.

There are some creepy and ghostly tales of the island that will haunt you long after the story ends, but that final scene will keep you up at night. What just happened? An unforgettable twist...
Don't miss this incredible writing from Alice Feeney...cleverly paced and titled...
"Wives think their husbands will change but don't. Husbands think their wives won't change but they do."
Thank you Macmillian Audio, Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will always run to an Alice Feeney read, so I was really excited to see Beautiful Ugly crop up on NetGalley. A really haunting and eerie tale, while I enjoyed myself, it didn't feel nearly as thrilling, nor I as on-edge, as I'd really hoped to be. It was very atmospheric, and set in a lovely setting, but I'm always looking for a bit of thrill in a Feeney novel that seemed to be missing here.

Another Alice Feeney book that is full of twists, surprises and difficult to review without giving away too much of the story!!

I will say this is very twisted and the ending was diabolical. If you are a fan of Feeney this one will not disappoint, in fact I think she kicked it up a notch.

Well done!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

5 ⭐️ .

I loved Beautiful Ugly. This may be Alice Feeney's best yet. Sinister vibes like Daisy Darker. you'll be dying to visit the island and see all Grady describes. 5 Stars, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I don’t know what I was expecting but this was not it. There’s just something about if a couple isn’t able to communicate with each other, then why are you together? I was really hoping to like this book.

you really have to suspend your disbelief on this one, if you're completely unable to notice things, this book about the man who i can safely proclaim is the dimmest lightbulb to ever exist--- in a thriller that is akin to a24 horror movies and a particular horror classic that was remade with nic cage at his absolute cage-iest. (not the bees) i bring you, beautiful ugly. a story about a man that is completely unobservant. so wrapped in his own b-hole, he must think the sun comes from there. which, i mean, i know a lot of guys like that. so like, preach. set on some mysterious island. because everything is better covered in mist. do not get me wrong--- i think this book is an absolute blast, but i don't think it's alice feeney's best. it's fun, but it's not her best. definitely scratches that goth horror itch and fem rage for ya if you're looking for it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced copy.

Beautiful Ugly is the sixth book I have read by Alice Feeney, and I feel like each one is more disappointing than the last. I loved Sometimes I Lie, but I think this will be the last time I try something from this author. Disappointed, to say the least.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"I hope you die in your sleep' Dark, twisty and mind gripping!

Wow! A true psychological thriller! This one really kept me up at night! This novel begins with a phone call between Grady and his wife Abby where Grady learns that he is a NYT bestselling author. Amidst the celebration Abby pauses the call, leaves her car and ends up missing never to be found.
Distraught and depressed one year later Grady is offered an opportunity to go to a cabin on a small island in Scotland to attempt to revive his writing career.
The island is home to a small number of unwelcoming residents. Feeney's vivid description of the island adds to the intrigue of the story making it a character of the mystery. Grady begins to receive anonymous messages concerning his missing wife. This combined with his interactions with the townspeople have him seeing what appears to be impossible!
Not even the dark twists of this story prepare you for the shocking ending! Aa must read for fans of thrillers!!

Another twisty ride with the queen of psychological thrillers, Alice Feeney. Overall I enjoyed the book! Thank you netgalley for providing an arc.

The book centers around author Grady Green, who shares the details of his wife's disappearance a year ago. While on the phone to him, she saw a woman lying by the side of the road, got out to help her, and hasn't been seen since. Her car was found abandoned at the roadside. Now, Grady is struggling with thoughts of what happened to her. He struggles to sleep. He can't write. He's having a hard time getting through day to day.

Then his agent offers him an opportunity to move to a Scottish island where she has an isolated writing cabin of another author who recently passed away. Grady thinks this could be the opportunity that he's needed - a change of pace and scenery so he can regain his focus and start writing again. Upon traveling to the island, he sees a woman that looks eerily like his disappeared wife. But that's not the only twist and unusual story on that island.

I thought that some of the twists in this story were a bit unbelievable, but overall, it definitely held my attention and it was a quick and enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced copy of Feeney's newest novel, " Beautiful Ugly". This was hands down the best thriller I have read in a VERY long time. Every time I thought I figured out the twist, something new was thrown at me leading to believe something completely different. Grady is on the phone with his wife Abby when she says sees a woman lying in the road. As Grady listens to his wife get out of the car, he realizes she is in danger and she is never seen again. A year later, he is given the opportunity to write a new book in a secluded cabin in the Scottish Highlands and then bang,.,.. twist after twist... Do yourself a favor and read this book.

This was a wild, unexpected ride. I feel like we have no idea whats happening through most of the book because the majority of our expense is through the the eyes of a potentially unreliable narrator and it really added to the suspense. Our main character had it all and then lost it. He was a happily married New York Time's Bestselling Author, but now everything has crumbled around him after his wife has gone missing. He's emotionally, financially, and psychologically a wreck and has not been able to write since that day. In an attempt to save her famous author from himself, his agent sends him to stay in a small writing cabin she inherited from a former client. It's a quiet little place tucked away in the woods on a remote Scottish island and might just be the thing he needs to write his next book and get his life back on track. But the longer he's on the island the more paranoid he gets. He's either completing loosing his mind or the island is not what it appears at all.

I have always enjoyed Alice Feeney's novels and this one was no exception. Beautiful Ugly definitely gave off creepy island vibes and reminded me a lot of Lute by Jennifer Thorne meets The Power by Naomi Alderman. While it is a slow burn when the pace builds it doesn't let up until the very last page.

This is Alice Feeney’s best book yet. She always writes great thrillers with exciting and original story lines, and this one does not disappoint. What this one has that the others so far have lacked is fluidity. I could actually follow this one from start to finish without feeling like I missed something or needed to reread it in order to understand what just happened at the end. This book lacked for nothing. The story line was interesting and there was no lack of excitement. I just couldn’t wait to see what happened next and kept wondering what was going on, and why wasn’t I able to figure it out. The ending was shocking and I never saw it coming, but it was all believable, and that’s what I look for in a 5 out of 5 star book, I’m even more excited now to read her next book, they just keep getting better and better!