Beautiful Ugly is an interesting novel. I found myself saying just one more chapter time and again. The audio brought to life a cast of unusual characters that had me hooked. The writing is top notch as is the narration. I had chills more than once. I was not expecting the twists and turns. I recommend going in spoiler free and enjoy the ride.

I initially decided to read this because so many other people really enjoyed it, and I did enjoy it for the most part but did not find myself connecting to the characters the way I would have hoped. I really just felt disconnected from the story throughout the entire thing. I did like the ending and found it pretty fitting for the character's actions but overall this one won't be that memorable for me. The atmosphere of the island was really interesting and I liked how the author made that feel so eerie like a cloud of fog was rolling over the area throughout the book. I think what would have saved this was a bit more backstory between the couple to really understand the dynamics between them. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Masterpiece of Emotion and Storytelling! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Alice Feeney's “Beautiful Ugly” is a stunning exploration of the complexities of love, identity, and the human condition. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world that is as captivating as it is poignant. Feeney's writing is both lyrical and raw, effortlessly weaving a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their struggles and triumphs that resonate deeply. I found myself fully invested in their journeys, and their imperfections only made them more relatable. The way Feeney examines the idea of beauty—both inner and outer—is thought-provoking and artfully done.

The pacing of the story is perfect; just when you think you know where it's heading, Feeney masterfully twists the plot, leaving you breathless and eager for more. The emotional depth is remarkable, and I found myself laughing one moment and tearing up the next.

“Beautiful Ugly” is a testament to Feeney's skill as a storyteller. It challenges societal norms and invites readers to reflect on their lives and perceptions. If you’re seeking an equitably beautiful book and heartbreaking, look no further. This is a must-read!

Alice Feeney has undoubtedly created a masterpiece, and I'm already looking forward to her next work. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
🎧 Narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first Alice Feeney book I have experienced. The synopsis caught my eye and was intriguing. I listened to the audio version.

Grady, a novelist, calls his wife, Abby, on her way home from work, to share some thrilling news when he hears her get into an accident. He never hears from her again.

He is still entrenched in his grief a year later. A close friend of his has a cabin on a small, remote island and sends him there to write again and cope with his grief.

Once he is there, he is stuck on the island with strange natives who seem to be playing tricks on him. He, also, thinks he sees Abby. Is this island haunted? Is he drinking too much?

Although this story was unpredictable, I still found it difficult to pay attention in some areas. I don't know if reading the book rather than listening to it would have held my attention better or not.

The narrators read their parts well. They expressed their characters appropriately and evoked the proper moods in various scenes.

Thank you, NetGalley, and
MacMillan Audio, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #BeautifulUgly ##MysteryandThrillers

My favorite line “…you’ve been served a triple-decker shit sandwich, with a side of completely fucked.” chef’s kiss.
The atmosphere is completely unnerving. A tense, shocking mystery.

Definitely not my favorite Alice Feeney book. She has so many more that were much better done. If you are going to read one of her books, skip this one.

This is honestly the best thriller that I’ve listened to in a long time. The plot twists throughout the book were so good! I guessed a few of them, and others completely shocked me. Also, the audiobook is the way to go with this one. The sound effects made it even better!

And I just want to say I fully support the people on this island and how they handle their business.👏😌

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

FINALLY got my hands on this and wowowow…. so good. As always, I thought I had the twist pegged but I was shocked in the final few chapters. As always, Feeneys books are basically perfection - perfect setting, amazing suspense and excellent characters. I’m only giving it a 4 because I have preferred other Feeney books to this one, but still you must grab this immediately if you want a near perfect Sunday read.

In Beautiful Ugly, Alice Feeney’s seventh thriller, readers are drawn into a gripping mystery set on the fictional Scottish island of Amberley, home to just 25 all female residents. This eerie backdrop adds layers of intrigue to the story, which follows novelist Grady as his life is forever changed by the sudden disappearance of his wife, Abby. Feeney expertly weaves an atmosphere of isolation and suspense, blending local legends with a mounting sense of dread. The isolated island of Amberley effectively becomes a character in itself, keeping readers on edge as they question whether the island is playing tricks on Grady—or if he’s truly the one to blame. The narrative shifts skillfully between Grady’s turbulent present and poignant flashbacks to his complex marriage, revealing hints of a darker reality beneath their seemingly perfect life. While certain aspects of the plot might strain plausibility, it’s Feeney's ability to maintain tension and unexpected twists that keeps the reader hooked. The audiobook’s narration, by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, further elevates the experience, though the print version may offer a clearer grasp of certain crucial details. While the journey is captivating, the ending may leave some, including myself, with a sense of lingering questions or slight dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the journey is undeniably engaging. 3.5/5

I've loved Alice Freeney's previous books so I was so excited for "Beautiful Ugly". The secluded setting, and mysterious story kept me engaged. I really enjoyed this narrator and it kept me at the end of my seat while listening!

This was a suspenseful, twisty read that was fun and what I’ve come to expect from Feeney. I found the plot creative, loved that one of the twists made me literally gasp, and found the female empowerment a fun addition. I thought the ending got a little convoluted but overall a fun read.

I will start by saying that I listened to the audiobook for this, and I thought that it was really well done. The narrator is great, and it felt like a production with the little sound effects added like the crackle of the walkie talkie.

As for the story itself, the plot was promising and I was very invested for like the first quarter of the book. However, once Grady made it to the island, I feel like it very quickly became obvious what was happening. Maybe not every single piece of the puzzle, but the whole reveal with the wife being at the island and all the islanders trying to make Grady seem crazy felt obvious to me. This made the lead up to the reveal at the end feel too long and drawn out.

I actually really enjoyed this one! I figured there was something with the wife but I couldn’t actually figure out what was going on without the author explaining it for me. Weird little island but a good story!

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is another tame mystery book that tells a story of an author being sent to a remote Scottish Island to write another book. This island has a population of 25 people, with a ferry to the island that only sails to the mainland a few times a week. He will be staying in a home to a late bestselling author in hopes to find inspiration to complete another novel. This all happens at the same time as his wife is on his way home to celebrate another best selling novel with him but disappears before she arrives home. I don't think this book was as strong as the author's previous book while the narrator wasn't the best story teller either. His voice was very dull and lacked suspense. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of the audiobook of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

What in the plot twists did I just read?! I absolutely loved this book- and I didn’t see any of the plot twists coming!

No spoilers here, you have to read this book to see for yourself., you will be STUNNED!

5/5 ⭐️

#fiction #thriller #slowburn #alicefeeney #beautifulugly #newreleases

there were parts of this that I loved, parts that I hated, and parts that I was just straight up confused.

in Beautiful Ugly, bestselling author Grady goes to a Scottish island after the disappearance of his wife, hoping to escape the past and find his voice again.

but when a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife appears, his reality begins to gets confusing.

the story idea had so much potential but it just fell a little flat for me.

3.75 Stars

Pros: suspenseful plot, atmospheric scenery, excellent narration, intriguing setting and side characters, good "keep you guessing" mystery, well executed plot twist

Cons: annoying main characters, drawn out storyline (way longer than it needed to be), unbelievable backstory, upsetting plot twist

But my biggest annoyance? (without spoiling anything there)... Sweeney delivers a satisfying "ending" to this story, only to undo it in a "that wasn't really the end this is" final scene that I personally didn't care for at all.

This story and setting had great potential but it just felt "overdone." Everything was taken a bit too far to the point of being unbelievable. I'm still rounding it to 4 because the story did keep me coming back for more and I appreciated the unique approach. The audiobook sound effects and dual voice actors were the cherry on the cake for this one- I'm not sure I would have even finished had I been reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: abuse, psychological torture, child molestation (not graphic)

“This isn’t a cult, it’s a community.”

I think the same could be said for Alice Feeney’s books. This was a delightfully dark thriller with a hint of sociopolitical insight and a whole lot of revenge. I had numerous quotes where I relistened over and over again to make sure to get them down. Not only was it well done with some anticipation, it was also well narrated. Grady was an unfavorable main character who is grieving the loss of his wife, but there is almost a haunting quality of this mysterious woman who looks like his wife resurfacing. I recommend the audiobook if you enjoy a suspenseful listen.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

I didn’t love this one, but I didn’t hate it. There were so many unrealistic and ridiculous things that happen in this book and that’s outside of the ludicrous plot twists… I almost DNF’d this one, but I hate doing that and also got this as an ALC so I continued on. It wasn’t the worst thriller I’ve read, but wasn’t my favorite. There was so much filler in this that made it feel like nothing was happening and that’s where it began to lose me. None of the characters were likable and I wasn’t invested in them. It had potential, but fell apart for me.

Now for some good, the audiobook itself was done pretty well. I felt like there were some subtle sound effects that added to the scene setting and made the story feel more eerie.

Grady Green’s wife, Abby, disappears one night after pulling over to help someone on a lonely road—and a year later, he’s still wrecked, unable to write, and completely unraveling.

Hoping for a reset, he escapes to a remote Scottish island... but then he sees a woman who looks exactly like Abby. Is it really her? Is his mind playing tricks? Or is something far more sinister going on?

Creepy, emotional, and full of “what is happening?!” energy, this one had me holding my breath until the final twist snapped everything into place.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Feeney, and Flatiron Books for the chance to read this haunting and twist-filled ARC!