Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The intricate twists and turns in the plot are both surprising and compelling, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Feeney's writing style is sharp, and her ability to weave suspense into every chapter keeps the tension high. The character development is deep, and just when you think you've figured it out, another unexpected twist takes you in a completely new direction. A captivating read for fans of thrillers and suspense

I have discovered that the best way to enjoy a new Alice Feeney novel is to read it as an audiobook. The production team that does her books makes it so interesting to listen to. They add just the right amount of sound effects to really enhance the story without becoming a distraction. The narrators for her books always have the perfect timbre for the plotline. I encourage you to give one of her audiobooks a try. In this book, you have an author attempting to recover from the disappearance the year prior of his wife. He finds himself on a very remote Scottish island hoping to get another book written. However, he's sure he's seeing his missing wife all over this tiny island. The setting makes this the most atmospheric read for the winter. Read and enjoy!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

My favorite quote from Alice Feeney's 'Beautiful Ugly', "There's no need to be afraid of the dead. It's the living you have to watch out for." While the novel effectively evokes a sense of mystery and foreboding, it suffers from a slow pace and an overabundance of descriptive prose, making it feel less like a thriller and more like atmospheric fiction.

The story unfolds gradually, with little in the way of immediate revelations. This deliberate pacing, while not entirely off-putting, may frustrate readers seeking a fast-paced thrill ride. The climax relies heavily on a single character's lengthy exposition, which felt somewhat contrived and less organic than I prefer. Feeney, known for her twisty plots, delivers another surprising conclusion, though it didn't quite catch me off guard.

'Beautiful Ugly' is best suited for readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a focus on atmosphere and character. It's not a heart-pounding thriller, but it effectively captures the eerie isolation of a remote island.

The audiobook is exceptionally well-produced, with compelling narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton. The inclusion of sound effects, such as the crackle of a walkie-talkie and the lapping of waves, significantly enhances the listening experience, immersing the listener in the island's atmosphere. I recommend experiencing this story through the audiobook format.

Overall, 'Beautiful Ugly' earns 3.5 stars. Available January 14th, 2025!

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I've had mixed opinions of Alice Feeney books, but Beautiful Ugly definitely qualifies for the "ones I recommend" category. The premise is interesting and well set-up in the initial chapters of the book, and as the narrative unfolds, the tension builds in delicious ways. I like the sense of foreboding that is developed and the "what in the world is happening here" vibes. And though the twists aren't sudden or "classic" twists, they pack a psychological punch. This is one we'll be doing for our store's thriller book club and I think it will generate great discussion!

"I hope you die in your sleep"

Oh how I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators were wonderful! In fact, I listened to the entire book yesterday. 😅 Grady is an author, struggling to write his next best seller after his wife goes missing. His publisher, Kitty, who is his wife's Godmother, sends him on a 3 month vacation to a remote island, so he can get back to writing. There he will stay in a cabin that was left to Kitty in the will of a well-known author. But this island isn't your normal island. In fact, on the ferry to this island, Grady sees his wife! Ya know, the one who has been missing for a year? Let's just say there are a lot of twists and turns and it is definitely a thrilling ride!

Alice Feeney is a must read author for me, but while all of het books showcase her writing talents, the plots range from “enjoyable and inventive” to absolutely jaw dropping and brilliant. Beautiful Ugly is in the latter category. Feeney expertly builds suspense on an idyllic, isolated Scottish island where the atmosphere feels slightly unsettling at first and slowly escalates until into a brilliantly plotted and creative nightmare with engaging characters and fascinating plot twists. A must read!

Beautiful Ugly
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow Lots of twist & turns. I couldn't put it down. Great first book to kick off the new year. A unique different story. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you NetGalley

Author Grady is on the phone with his wife when he hears the brakes slam. He desperately tries to talk her out of getting out to check on what is obstructing her path but she doesn’t listen. He later finds her car in the road with the door open. His wife has disappeared and we’re now experiencing his loss with him a year later.

This book was freaking amazing. It was nothing that I thought it would be but so much more. I can’t wait to forget a few details so I can experience it again but add this to the pile of books I wish I could experience for the first time!

This audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of portraying the characters! While the physical book is probably amazing, I highly recommend listening to it in audio format.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Alice Feeney, and Macmillan Audio for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review. This publishes on January 14th!

4.5 stars rounded up

I absolutely love Alice Feeney writing style. She has an amazing way of creating a story that draws you in and keeps you on the edge. The way the plot unfolds makes the reader second guess everything and everyone.

Grady is married with Abby and during one of the most important nights of his careers, Abby never arrives home. They were on the phone talking, Abby stops as there's something in the middle of the street and then she disappears.

Im not going to give any more details because this is one the books that is worth enjoying.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this excellent book!

I absolutely loved this book. The narrator was perfect & helped to set the scene. Once you start to get an understanding of what is happening on the island you think you can’t be right b/c it is too out there & too perfect to be true but it is.

I had high hopes for this one as I have enjoyed this author in the past. This started off strong but the pacing was so slow and things didn't really pick up until the last 25 percent. I still enjoyed it, I just wish it had been more thrilling and suspenseful. The narrator did a good job telling this story.

Grady's writing life has stalled since his wife disappeared one night on her way home. His agent offers him an opportunity to use a remote cabin to get away and focus on his looming novel deadline. Things are not exactly as they seem on the island. I wouldn't call this a thriller, but it definitely is psychological suspense.

The audio is outstanding - highly recommend!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillianAudio for a free copy of #BeautifulUgly by Alice Feeney. All opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook, and the extra sound effects really added to the eerie vibes of this remote Scottish island. This was a solid thriller to start out the year, and the ending had a few twists that I didn’t see coming at all! It was filled with paranoia, unreliable narrators and ominous settings.

On the night Grady Green finds out his new book is a massive success, his wife goes missing, leaving behind her car and her phone. A year later, Grady is still haunted by his wife's disappearance and its giving him massive writer's block. HIs agent offers him a home on a remote Scottish island to try to get his work back on track. Travelling to the island, he is cut off from civilization. The more he discovers about the townspeople on the island, the more it seems that they are hiding. And he keeps seeing a figure that looks like his missing wife. Grady has to salvage his career and discover the secrets of the island before its too late.

Beautiful Ugly is another twisty thriller from Alice Feeney. Grady makes for a great main character who is trying to discover what others are hiding despite his own secrets. Feeney builds out the townspeople and history of the island, which took a little too long before all the twists started coming, but once it shifted into its second gear I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The twists are a little absurd, but bring together the various elements of the book in very creative and satisfying ways. I loved the ending and where Feeney took Grady's character. The audiobook also had some good sound design to switch between Grady's perspective and the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of Beautiful Ugly in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to end the year! Absolutely loved this thriller. Read both the book and listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed the dual narration, as well as the water effects signaling the switch to Grady’s perspective. I didn’t pick up on one thing about the island, which I enjoyed playing out. And the end still kept me 😳. Definitely my favorite Alice Feeney so far!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Ugly is a suspenseful, psychological thriller with twists and turns I never saw coming. I knew nothing about the book and don’t want to include a synopsis here so readers can be equally surprised from the very beginning. I highly recommend the audiobook. Richard Armitage brings the main character to life, driving the faced paced novel and gripping readers. The sound design is excellent with added elements that give the story depth. I’ve never read an Alice Feeney novel before although she’s always well recommend. Feeney fans could not be disappointed with Beautiful Ugly. It may be her best book yet.

"No man is an island. But a woman is if she needs to be."

GONE GIRL walked so BEAUTIFUL UGLY could run. When a writer's wife mysteriously disappears, his agent sends him to a remote Scottish island to refocus on his work. Only he thinks he sees her everywhere, especially the longer he goes without sleep. As his mind unravels, unexpected twists send the book in truly unexpected directions -- especially the last 10 minutes.

The narration in Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney was fantastic, with both female and male narrators doing a superb job. I loved all the extra sound effects too, especially the surf sounds. The alternating POVs and time changes were enjoyable as well.

What I didn't love was that it dragged for much of the book, and I really couldn't decide what genre I was reading. Was it a Mystery? Or maybe a Thriller? Was it Supernatural? That's really the only thing that kept me guessing. I spent a lot of time checking the read % hoping I was getting close to the end. That says a lot about how I felt about this book.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifting me an advanced audio copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book so much! The vibes of the setting and the premise were so intriguing to me throughout. I kept listening and listening and couldn’t stop. I absolutely loved the story and plot line and was surprised at the ending to say the least. It was astounding how so many small details from the story connected at the end to explain the twists and conclusion. Even when the book was thought to be done, there were more twists! This was my favorite book I read in 2024. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early.

This book is dark for Alice Feeney, it draws you in softly like the mists on this remote isle. It starts with a writer, Grady Green, phoning his wife while she is driving home. She slams on the brakes and gets out of the car despite his protests, and then disappears into the night. A year later, Grady is still mired in grief and not able to write, so his publisher sends him to a remote island to retreat and get his act together. The Isle of Amberly is the character who stole the story, it's eerie and mysterious, things keep appearing that seem impossible. If you enjoy slow burn, atmospheric thrillers you will inhale this story!

The audiobook was very well done, with dual narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, and sound effects that pull you even further into its hold.