Beautiful Ugly is yet another fabulous twisty mystery by Alice Feeney. Author Grady Green has experienced both the best and the worst moments in his life within a span of minutes. After the mysterious disappearance of his wife, he finds himself stuck in a rut and no longer able to write. He's lost everything, and when his publisher offers him a last chance to move off grid to finish another book, he takes it. Unfortunately for him, his past creeps up on him and there's no escape.

This book starts off slowly, but for the reason of background building. So many events give clues to what's going on throughout the story, both for Grady and his wife Abby. The end was so unexpected and I was very pleasantly surprised at the dark end that came for Beautiful Ugly. Also be aware for some fourth wall breaking surprises - no spoilers here!

I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense surrounding this novel and the alternating viewpoints of the story. The narrators were great which really worked well and added to the audiobook experience of the book. I loved the sound effects in the novel, such as the ocean waves, etc. It really added to the atmosphere and I loved that.

I cannot recommend this book enough. You think you know what is going on but you don't. Not everyone and not everything is at it first appears, and you'll find yourself guessing and second guessing what will happen next.

I enjoyed all of the twists and turns in the novel, and that ending - WOW!

A definite must read!!

This was a fun ride

So many questions left unanswered, especially regarding the “innocent” people’s actions. To make the plot work, the author had to twist some questionable actions and call them ethical. There were some questionably possible actions from physical and time constraint point of view.

All in all an entertainer, don't get bogged down in the detail, but take it at its entertainment only value.

It suffered from a lot of issues, however, it kept me intrigued until the end.

A chocolate chip cookie, not a steak.

3.25 ⭐️

I’ve struggled with putting into words how I feel about this book. Alice Feeney is known for crazy twists and turns and this one definitely had some.
The pacing of this book is on this slower side, but the premise was compelling and I was intrigued by the mystery of a wife’s sudden disappearance.
In the second half, however, it felt like implausibility began to mount. Don’t get me wrong, the “cat and mouse” vibes between the husband and wife that seem to be so typical for Feeney were there and totally enjoyable. The setting felt like a character in itself- a remote island off the coast of Scotland, no way to get to the mainland, no phone service, no internet and some very sketchy residents left me feeling the eerie, uneasy vibe we all love in a psychological thriller. But somewhere along the way I found myself feeling like I was reading a magical realism book as opposed to a mystery/ thriller/ suspense one.
I will say however the audiobook version definitely saved this book for me. It was so well done. I felt like the narrators and the engaging sounds/ effects made for a great listening experience. I definitely recommend the audiobook version of this story!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance listening copy, as well as Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books and author, Alice Feeney.

I ended up being disappointed in "Beautiful Ugly" and it maybe that my expectations were just too high since I do enjoy Alice Feeney and had heard good things about this one.

It's the story of author Grady Green who has retreated to a remote Scottish island after his wife's mysterious disappearance to deal with his grief and hopefully get to work on his next book. Odd things start to happen on the island, though--includy Grady seeing a woman who looks just like his wife--and he worries he's dissolving into madness.

It's a great premise with a lot of options for twists and turns, but it gets a bit tedious and I was disappointed in part of the reveal--it was one that made me roll my eyes.

Book: Beautiful Ugly
Author: Alice Feeney
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Places Featured: Scotland
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a great way to pass a few hours and the audio voices were fantastic. Thanks to the publisher for the arc, all opinions stated are my own.

This was quite a dark thriller. It's about marriage and revenge. Told mostly from the POV of the husband, Grady Green, NYT bestselling author loves his wife. But one night when he finds out he's on the best selling NYT list and excitedly calls to tell his wife the news, she mysteriously disappears and is not found. One year later while he is still grieving his wife and his career is in the dumps his agent calls him to tell him that she has found a perfect place for him to write his next novel. It is on a very remote island in Scotland that has only 25 inhabitants. The people on the island while pleasant are somewhat odd and he starts to think he is seeing his wife on the island. Several chapters are interspersed throughout the story where the reader finds out from the wife's POV that the marriage was not as idyllic as we are led to believe from Grady. There are so many twists in this story and Grady turns out to be not a very reliable narrator. What is truth and what is his imagination?
I listened to this on audio and Richard Armitage did an excellent job playing the role of Grady. This story kept my interest and was full of surprises. It was very good.

Alice Feeney is known for dark and twisty and Beautiful Ugly was filled with that and more. Like any good thriller, this book kept me on my toes and coming back for more. I kept trying to predict what was going to happen and I always fell flat. Sweeney's writing kept me guessing right up until the end. If you love thrillers I would definitely check this one out. This book was set on a remote island in Scotland filled with many mysterious characters. The ending was a little far fetched for me, but I couldn't stop listening until I figured out what the heck was going on!

My first thought after finishing this… “what was that?”. It started off intriguing and I was interested to see where it was going to go. Then the plot went sideways. I could not get invested in the lead character and found him to be intensely unlikable and kind of a bore. By the time we got to the big twist, I was laughing out loud at the nonsense of it all. What a convoluted mess!

I was hooked from the very beginning of Beautiful Ugly! Alice Feeney weaves a compelling, twisty narrative that keeps you on edge. The audiobook was expertly narrated, really pulling me into the dark, complex world of the characters. It's a gripping psychological thriller with a perfect balance of suspense and emotional depth. I couldn’t stop listening! Highly recommend if you're into books that mess with your mind and keep you guessing until the very end.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review.

This started out as a compelling read which was particularly excellent on audio with sound effects, plus Richard Armitage’s 5+ narration.

Grady is on the phone with his wife Abby, preparing to celebrate his first NYT bestseller status. But she never makes it home after she stops to help a woman lying in the road. Abby is never found.

In his grief, he finds himself unable to write. His agent offers him a cabin on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, thinking the change will help him write his next novel.

The island is strange to say the least: the people are quirky, there is no cell or internet service, and he sees a woman who looks like his missing wife. A series of strange events makes Grady wondering if he’s losing it.

What a great set up. I loved the setting and the foreboding atmosphere of the island. But then….

The story jumped the shark and the twists became more and more unbelievable. The island’s backstory was nonsensical. The explanation of what went down the night of Abby’s disappearance was laughable.

Yes, I know it’s fiction, and I expect to suspend some disbelief, but there is a tipping point and this one tipped into absurdity. This was a convoluted mess that not even Richard Armitage’s narration or the dog, Columbo, could save to maintain the beginning's 5 stars..

Beautiful Ugly is a fantastic thriller. Full of mystery and suspense. There are so many twists and the ending is shocking. I could not put the book down. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Set on a hauntingly enigmatic island, "Beautiful Ugly" is a captivating novel. With eccentric characters with dual timelines, this thriller hooked me from the start. The Isle of Amberly was written so vividly it felt alive, its eerie atmosphere adding depth to every twist.
The story's tension was palpable, with an unreliable narrator and a plot layered with surprises that led to a perfectly timed, jaw-dropping conclusion. This book is for thriller fans who love clever plotting, unforgettable characters, and a setting that lingers. I found the audiobook fantastic featuring tremendous narrators.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to experience this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Like the title, this book is both beautiful and ugly. The description of the setting, a remote Scottish island, is wonderful and realistic, so much so that I told my spouse while reading this that we need to visit Scotland. I was happy to spend hours in this setting. But then the twists start coming and at one point I shouted, "That makes no sense" which is startling to household members when you are listening to an audiobook and just quietly going about your day. The second half is just an ugly mess. The book contains reveals that are implausible that I felt myself caring less and less about the main characters and just wanted to be done.

But if the above was intentional, bravo in the attempt.

The audiobook was well narrated with additional theatrical elements like ocean sounds that attempted to add to the experience but didn't blend well with the narration. They sounded like they were happening in another room than the character.

I’ve read a bunch of Alice Feeney books at this point (5?), and I’ve not really loved any of them. Nonetheless, I keep adding her new releases to my to-read shelf, so there must be something keeping me hooked.

Here are my thoughts on Feeney's latest, 'Beautiful Ugly':

The Positive:
— I liked the initial hook. I thought that we were going to get more of the ‘investigative-journalist-being-threatened’ plot line, which would have been cool.

— I quite liked the predicament in which the narrator finds himself at the end of the book.
— I loved Richard Armitage as the main narrator. Very well performed imo.

The Negative:
— The twists were too wacky to be believable for me. I feel as though in a crime/thriller, we should find the villain’s (or perhaps villains’) motivations at least a little believable, but I just didn’t this time around.
— Using oxymorons as a theme for each chapter was a fun idea in principle, but they seemed to get gradually more forced as the book went on. E.g. ‘Big baby’ (which doesn't feel like a contradiction) and even the title, 'Beautiful Ugly'.

I remain curious about Feeney’s work, if not blown away, and I’ll probably still be first in line for her next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc!

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that delves into the dark complexities of marriage, betrayal, and revenge. On the surface, Abby and Grady appear to have the perfect relationship. Grady is a celebrated author at the pinnacle of his career, charming and successful, while Abby seems to be the supportive and devoted wife. But as the story unfolds, Feeney shatters this illusion, exposing the cracks in their marriage and the secrets they each harbor.

Grady, the golden boy of the literary world, is revealed to be far from the perfect husband. His betrayal of Abby is the catalyst for the novel’s sharp descent into psychological warfare, and Feeney does a brilliant job of unraveling his character. Grady’s downfall is as satisfying as it is inevitable. What makes it even more compelling is the way Feeney layers his journey with moral ambiguity—he is both a victim of his own choices and the architect of his destruction. At the height of his career, Grady is forced to confront an ultimatum that shakes the foundation of his carefully constructed life, leaving him with everything to lose and no one to blame but himself.

Abby’s transformation is equally riveting. Feeney portrays her as a woman who is far more calculating and resilient than Grady—or the reader—initially perceives. Her role in the unraveling of their marriage becomes clear in the novel’s final act, where she reclaims control in a way that is both shocking and deeply satisfying. The balance of power shifts dramatically as the story reaches its climax, and Grady is left to grapple with the weight of his misdeeds.

Feeney’s ability to blend tension, flawed characters, and unexpected twists makes Beautiful Ugly a standout in the genre. It is a dark and gripping tale that explores the cost of deception and the lengths to which people will go for justice and revenge. The ending is haunting yet satisfying, leaving readers questioning the true nature of love, trust, and retribution. This is Alice Feeney at her best, delivering a story that lingers long after the final page is turned..

Alice Feeney has been one of my favorite thriller authors for the last 5 years, most of her books are 5-star for me. Unfortunately, this title hasn't been up to my expectations. I found most twists predictable, it read like nothing new to me. The end was good but the ride was a bit dull. I must say that I've been reading thrillers for over 30 years. For new readers of the genre, it could be a good, I'm confident.
Thank you to #netgalley and the editor #macmillanaudio

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the audio. I loved both narrators and this story had so many twists and turns!!! I was hooked from the beginning

This listen was a double first for me! The first time I've listened and reviewed an audiobook on NetGalley and my first Alice Feeney - neither of which will be my last - I hope! This book has long car drive all over it! It is gripping an entertaining. While the main character Grady Green was insufferable and a bit hard to stomach at times, the narration was excellent! Big kudos to Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton' for their skilled abilities to communicate a captivating tale. One day I would like to visit the Island of Amberley - the women who inhabit there might be my people - particularly during this era of Trump. I hope I'm approved for more audio books as I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this captivating and gripping tale. I will definitely look for more books by Alice Feeney - not sure how I'm so late to this game! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this audio book in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars!

Alice Feeney has done it again, delivering a twisty, dark, and utterly captivating mystery that I COULD NOT put down! If you're a fan of shocking plot twists, and creepy, immersive settings, this one is a MUST-READ. The twists and turns had me questioning everything—EVERY single thing—right up until the very last page.

I listened to the audiobook, which was a whole experience in itself. Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton's narration brings the suspense to life, and the atmospheric sound effects make the mysterious, remote Scottish island setting even more chilling.

PROS:
- The island of Amberley is SO well-written, and becomes a character in her own right.
- The dual time-lines, and dual-POVs keep you on the edge of your seat!
- You will NOT guess the twist ending. I say this as someone who always catches details early on that ruin twists for me
- The narrators acted their ASSES off. 12/10. No notes.
- Suspense but make it a slow burn?!?! Never knew I needed this, and now it's all I want. Alice Feeney has single-handedly raised the bar for all my future suspense reads.

CONS:
- Grady Green is quite literally the whiniest MMC I've had to endure in a LONG while. He's entirely insufferable, which... I guess means he's perfectly written? I also love a good unreliable narrator and that he was.
- The finale is open-ended, which may not bother some. But I would've liked a more direct resolution (or lack thereof) at least.

In conclusion, Alice Feeney is absolutely THAT girl, everyone's a liar, and you will NEVERRRR catch me on a remote Scottish island. Literally ever.