For fans of Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young.
📍Scotland/UK
Vibes: eerie, creepy, gross, sad, twisty

MANY what the f*ck moments ?? Twist after twist! Seriously. The ending I was like WHAAAAAT the whole time.

Tropes & Themes:
-unreliable narrator
-toxic relationships
-mysterious isolated island
-bookish main characters
-dog
-womanhood

Memorable quote:
“You should be happy”

I just finished Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Grady is finally getting the accolades he deserves and all he wants to do is tell his wife. She answers but something happens and she disappears… He still can’t get over it a year later.. At the bequest of his agent he goes to a remote island in Scotland to try and write and heal… Trouble is he spots a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife…


This book sent me on a tailspin. I was in its clutches right from the first chapter. I am a bit of a Feeney fan so maybe I am a tad biased but anyone who follows my reviews, knows I tend to be more critical of my favorite authors. The book had the perfect low key thrum of tangible darkness seeping from its pages. It felt really ominous. Not only did he end up on an island with no phones and no way off except the ferry, he thinks he is seeing a bloody ghost there too.

The house is supposed to be deserted, no one knew he was coming but the place was dust free? EEKKKK!! I had mild heart palpitations for most of the damn book! The anticipation was the winning factor for me in this book. You knew something was coming and you didn’t know what. The pace was moderate, which is something the author does on purpose I am sure. I loved the setting of the island and there are so many easter eggs in the book that I totally missed and I don’t normally miss the clues but this was artfully executed and I was hella pleased.

The narration was awesome and I already bought the hardcover…

4.5 stars!!

It was truly brilliant

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for my gifted copy

Just finished listening to this story and my head is still spinning. So many twist and turns I had no idea where who’s was going. Fantastic story and great narrator. Highly recommend.

I have read other Alice Feeney books and I have enjoyed them. I really loved this story it captures you and keeps you interested in the storyline. The narrators did a great job. I highly recommend, You think the story is one thing and then it flips to a surprising ending. Pick it up if you love mysteries. Things are not always what it seems.

This was so good! I was seriously on the edge the whole time. Alice Feeny is the queen of surprises!

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is one of my favs of the year. Feeney is brilliant, freaking brilliant. Every January I read her newest work and look forward to it. She has a way of giving you a story that has twist even the most veteran of mystery/thriller readers may not see coming. Perfectly paced and outstanding character development, I loved this book from start to finish.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were wonderful. This is an author that I always read and always enjoy. The characters are well described and some well thought out surprises throughout the book- very unexpected ending. Highly recommend this one!

Wow, this kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end -- and then at the end, I was frantically texting my other friends that read the book so we could discuss. The setting was so unique and mysterious. The plot was gripping, The ending was...intriguing and a tad confusing...I always enjoy listening to thrillers via audiobooks and this one did not disappoint.

3.5 stars - While overall I had a good time with this book the ending was a bit unbelievable. This is the first book I’ve read by Alice Feeney and I’ve always heard her endings are always out there.

I really loved this setting though - the author did a great job making it very atmospheric. Grady - the mc - was very unlikable but he was well developed.

“Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.

Author Grady Green calls his wife with exciting news, but after he hears Abby stop the car and step out, he hears nothing more. After some time, he finds her abandoned car with the door left wide open.

Abby is gone.

A year later, Grady is still deep in his grief. His agent recommends a change of scenery to help him focus on writing and try to move on. Soon after arriving Grady sees a woman who looks eerily like his missing wife. He begins spotting her everywhere.

The island, with just 25 residents is a strange and birdless place full of odd people.

Grady can’t stop thinking about his missing wife. Where is Abby? Is she alive or dead? If she is alivedoes she miss him as much as he misses her? He searches for answers. Slowly, secrets are revealed as his obsession grows.

The story starts slow and I found myself distracted at first. I even stopped and listened to another book. However, once I started listening again it wasn’t long before I was hooked. Despite having to suspend disbelief a lot of the time, I still found the story entertaining. The audiobook was very well performed with alternating narrators and terrific sound effects that added to my enjoyment of the story.

Beautiful Ugly was a dark, twisted tale of vengeance and hopelessness with an ending that completely caught me off guard.


I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Grady Green experiences the best day of his life, followed by the worst!

Grady was waiting for his publishing team in the US to inform him about the performance of his new book. After receiving the best news, his wife, Abby, who is running late, calls him on the phone. She is ecstatic about his success and can't wait to get home to celebrate. Then, while on the phone, Grady hears Abby say she's going to stop the car because a woman is lying in the middle of the road. He tells her not to do it, but she doesn't listen. Abby never returns to the call, and by the time Grady arrives, his wife is gone.

A year later, Grady is a mess. His grief is overwhelming; he hasn't been able to write, his money is gone, and he's drinking too much. He dreads his meeting with his agent, sure that she's going to drop him as a client. To his surprise, she offers him a lifeline: she has a place on a remote island in Scotland and offers it to Grady. A change of scenery could be good for him, and hopefully, he'll be able to write again.

Not long after arriving at the Isle of Amberley, Grady starts seeing his wife, but there's no way it could be Abby. Something feels wrong, and he begins to question whether he's hallucinating, unsure of what's real and what's not.

I must say that the narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, did a phenomenal job with this atmospheric story. I was transported to the island with these characters, feeling a sense of dread and lurking darkness.

Although I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, I found the last part lacking. Nonetheless, overall, it was quite good.

Cliffhanger: No

Rating: 3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will not be giving feedback on this book, I did enjoy it but can not gather my thoughts at this time.

My review is spoilers for the third act, so don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.

This ending thoroughly confused me about how I’m supposed to feel. I’m sure I’m supposed to hate Grady and agree with what happens to him, but Abby’s actions are too confusing. Before the third act, I was enjoying this wacky, isolated island. Then, the book wanted me to take these people seriously.

Abby, if you’re frustrated with your husband, talk to him about your feelings. If you want to leave, then leave. Don’t get artificially inseminated; hang around for the pregnancy test to show positive and still drag your feet leaving him. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t just leave him and then get pregnant. Except we wouldn’t have a story.

At least, the narration by Richard Armitage was excellent.

2 stars for the story and 5 for the audiobook.

The only other book I have read by this author is Daisy Darker and, while I didn't love it, it was pretty solid. This one, however . . .

I found the start of the book to be compelling in an eerie, very strange kind of way. I wasn't certain where the author was going with the story and was pretty engaged. As it went on, I found it became repetitive and didn't find Grady so much an unreliable narrator as much as a really annoying narrator. I didn't mind the dual narrative between Grady and Abby (or so I thought, IYKYK). Did not love that reveal and felt cheated by the author. There are twists and then there's just plain lying to the reader. As I'm assuming most readers did, I went back to find the secret message (the inclusion of this probably gave the book an extra half star - found it to be clever).

The island, which started out spooky, devolved into a hot mess with a convoluted back story which, by this point in the book, I really didn't care about. The only character I cared about was Columbo, the dog (and I'm not a big dog person, so that is saying something).

I also listened to this on audiobook as I went along, and I enjoyed the narration by Richard Armitage. I'm not a fan of sound effects, though, so I found the inclusion of these jarring and distracting.

I have a few of this author's backlist on my TBR shelf, but I'm not in a rush to get to them based on this book.

Alice Feeney is an easy author to pick up. She always writes very binge-able books! This one got a little wild, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Reminded me a lot of DeadLoch.

I enjoyed this book but found a few of the plot points to be farfetched and unrealistic. The behavior of the characters often seemed nonsensical and unjustified. Everything went just a bit too beyond credibility that it drew the reader out of the narrative. I did keep reading, however, and felt compelled to get to the end of the book but overall the twists and turns were just a bit too over the top.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a psychological thriller that kept me completely enthralled from start to finish. Feeney’s ability to draw you into a world of suspense and mystery is unmatched.

What makes this book truly remarkable is how Feeney introduces key elements throughout the narrative. Each piece of information, whether seemingly insignificant or chillingly important, is woven in at just the right moment, making every clue essential in solving the central mystery. The pacing is impeccable, with each twist and turn building upon the last, ensuring that the reader is constantly on edge and desperate to uncover what happens next.

The ending, though, is what truly elevates Beautiful Ugly to another level. It’s a breathtaking and beautifully constructed conclusion that ties all the threads together in a way I didn’t see coming. The payoff is emotionally resonant and expertly executed, leaving you with a sense of awe and reflection. This book is a masterclass in suspense, and I can’t recommend it highly enough for fans of dark, twisty thrillers.

As a fan of Alice Feeney, she delivers another mystery that keeps you listening. This book will keep you guessing! 4 out of 5 stars!

I’m a huge Feeney fan, and generally give her books five stars. If I could give this one six, I would. I would argue to anyone that this is her best yet.

I was hooked from the very beginning. The premise of a best selling author’s wife just disappearing…and then he starts thinking he’s seeing her on a remote Scottish isle? Absolutely captivated me.

Also, can we talk about the setting for a sec? Unreal. Remote, can’t access it but twice a week (weather and ferry captain allowing), no cars for non-residents, absolutely tiny, tiny place with a sense of both reverence and magic in the places that were described.

Overall, this was a suspenseful read with twists I didn’t even come close to guessing.

After reading a few romance books in a row, I needed to jump back into a mystery/thriller and this one did not disappoint. Ever since I read Rock Paper Scissors, I knew I was going to be a huge Alice Feeney fan and that has not wavered. If you love thrillers or mystery books, then you should definitely go pick up this great book.