BOOK REVIEW: BEAUTIFUL UGLY

Beautiful Ugly was such an atmospheric read set on the remote Scottish isle of Amberly. There’s no cell service on the island and the ferry isn’t too reliable, so when author Grady Green travels there to start writing again after his wife disappeared the year before, he’s out of his element. Things get weirder when he thinks he has spotted his missing wife, but he quickly realizes things aren’t exactly what they seem on the island…

I alternated between reading and listening to this one and I lovedddd the audio (thank you @netgalley & @macmillanaudio for my copy)! The sound effects of waves and the walkie talkie really added to the creepy vibes of Amberly and the overall ominous feel. The unreliable narrator in this one and slower pace really allowed the tension to build throughout and kept me guessing how everything would tie together. I def did notttt predict the twists in this one but I was along for the ride! 🤣 The Easter egg at the end a really tied the whole story together too!

If you’re a psychological thriller fan that loves creepy, atmospheric vibes and if you love Alice Feeney, def pick this one up!!

I listened to this audiobook, which I haven't done very much. The narrator was good. The protagonist, Grady, is an author struggling to write after his wife goes missing. He doesn't know if she's dead or alive. The story takes twists and turns I did not expect. "Beautiful Ugly" is the title of a book Grady writes, but it's also the name of a seaside pottery shop. I kept wondering how this book would end.

However, for me, the book would drag with so much emphasis on Grady missing his wife and wanting to know where she is. Feeney does a nice job tying up the loose ends, but the slow-moving plot is a drag. If you like a thriller, this book may be for you, but I'm not confident this book is Feeney's best.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher, Flatiron Books, and the author for the privilege to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The cover and the title are what absolutely caught me. I loved the way the characters developed throughout the book and sometimes it's hard to keep up when there's so many, but this was like being inside the island itself. You were easily able to remember each person and the role they played. The twists kept coming and I never could foresee what was happening. It was FANTASTIC! I will absolutely recommend this book until I'm blue in the face 😁

Grady is waiting for a call from his publisher and waiting for his wife to get home to hopefully share the good news. His wife, Abby, calls while she's on her way home but she stops to help a woman, and then suddenly disappears. A year later, still distraught from losing his wife, his money and his ability to write, he gets an all expenses paid opportunity to write his next book on an island, away from distractions and stress.

I'm having a hard time figuring out my thoughts on this book. On one hand, it was really slow to develop and there were some convoluted and far fetched parts. But on the other hand, I really enjoyed the twists in the plot. The islanders were very odd and really helped develop the story. The writing itself was very descriptive and the characters were well developed. Overall, I would recommend this book as there was some really great parts to it after the plot was developed.

The narrators did a great job, I found it easy to define the characters and the voices fit the characters well.
I'm giving this 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In true Feeney fashion, I had no idea what was going on until the end and I mean that in the best way possible. I have read Alice Feeney’s entire catalogue and this was a great addition. The narration was great in this audiobook and the narrator was very easy to follow. This story follows Grady who is distraught when his wife Abby disappears under suspicious circumstances. A year later, Grady escapes from real life and the reality that is wife is still missing, to a secluded island. He encounters a woman who looks almost identical to his missing wife. Is it truly her, a doppelgänger, an imposter? All these questions flow through Grady’s mind.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Loved the narrator on this!! Great storytelling vibe. However the story had so many twists and turns that it often made it hard to keep up with. The twist ultimately was disappointing. My first Alice Feeney book, I’d be interested in seeing how another one of her psychological thrillers are.

Beautiful Ugly initially pulled me in, then it slowed down which slowed my read response. The plot was interesting but it took to long to get to meat of the thriller.

#trust, # betrayal, # masks, # grief,

The loved the writing style of Alice Feeney. Thank you for the ARC! It first 1/2 of the book was slow but it started to pick up after that. I had my prediction about who made Gabby disappears. This book kept me engaged and I couldn’t put it down.

If Alice Feeney writes it, I will read it. This book was ELECTRIC! I simply could not put it down.
Author Grady Green's wife, Abby, goes missing on a mysterious cloudy night after stopping in the middle of the road to help someone. We end up, one year later, with him going to a deserted island to try to write. He starts to see things that remind him of her... and even believes that he sees her at one point. Weird things acting as warnings start to happen. It was hard to determine what was real and what was not.

The plot twists were FIRE, even though it felt a little far-fetched at sometimes.
Narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton was fabulous - excellent pace and tone. So good.

Alice Feeney has done it again. Beautiful Ugly is a gripping and haunting tale that expertly intertwines suspense, emotion, and psychological depth. Set against the desolate yet breathtaking backdrop of a remote Scottish island, the story captivates with its exploration of love, loss, and the blurry lines between truth and deception.

The novel follows Grady Green, a best-selling author whose life has unraveled since the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Abby. A year later, Grady isolates himself on an island, hoping to escape the ghosts of his past and find inspiration for his next book. But when a woman who looks disturbingly like Abby appears in his life, the lines between reality and fiction blur, and Grady is forced to confront the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Feeney’s writing is as evocative as ever, immersing readers in the eerie isolation of the island. Her descriptions are vivid, painting the landscape as both a place of solace and a prison of the mind. The setting becomes almost a character in itself, reflecting Grady’s emotional turmoil and the tension simmering beneath the surface of the story.

What truly sets Beautiful Ugly apart is Feeney’s ability to craft characters who are flawed, layered, and deeply human. Grady is a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even as you question his version of events. The themes of grief, guilt, and self-deception are handled with sensitivity, making the story resonate on a deeply emotional level.

One of the most ingenious elements of the novel is its chapter titles, which are contradictions in themselves—paradoxes that reflect the duality at the heart of the story. Feeney takes this a step further by weaving these phrases into the corresponding chapters, making each one feel like a small puzzle piece that builds toward the larger narrative. It’s a subtle yet brilliant technique that keeps the reader engaged and guessing.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Alice Feeney novel without her signature twists. The revelations in Beautiful Ugly are masterfully executed, keeping you guessing until the very last page. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s happening, Feeney flips the narrative on its head, delivering a conclusion that is both shocking and satisfying.

Beautiful Ugly is a powerful exploration of the contradictions that define us—how beauty and ugliness, love and hatred, truth and lies coexist in unexpected ways. It’s a psychological thriller that transcends the genre, offering a story that is as thought-provoking as it is impossible to put down.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Alice Feeney or new to her work, Beautiful Ugly is a must-read. It’s a novel that will linger with you long after you’ve turned the final page, proving once again that Feeney is a master of her craft.

Wow. This book was intriguing. There were times throughout while I felt the slow burn was a little too slow, then it would pick up at the end of a chapter and capture my attention for the next chapter. I enjoyed how often you were left on a cliff hanger.

A year ago, Grady's wife calls while she is stopped on the road. She pulled her car over to help a woman in the street to then never be seen again. Grady, a successful writer, misses his wife and can barely write without her. His agent offers him a writer's cabin on a small secluded island to limit his distractions and hone in one his creativity. He takes this opportunity in hopes it will distract him from missing his wife. When he arrives on the island, he realized right away.. something isn't right.

This book is one of those stories that really takes time to build. It's full of twist and turns and definitely parts where I wanted to scream at Grady. It had some parts that were hard to believe but overall kept me entertained.

ARC Review (Audiobook)- 5 ⭐
Publication Date- 1/14/2025

WOW, I really enjoyed this book--and as an audiobook that really speaks volumes. I am not normally one who can enjoy a book that way. The narrators did this book PERFECTLY. I loved the different voices as well as the sound effects that punctuated the book.

The story is that of Grady Green, a thriller author who's wife suddenly disappeared a year ago. He is grieving and unable to write. His agent suggests a trip to a remote island as a retreat to spark his creative genius. He agrees and sets off his with faithful companion Columbo.

This island is not what it seems. Nothing here is normal. Strange and odd things begin to happen, but then Grady begins to see his presumed dead wife...or does he? Is the island playing tricks on him or is his wife here also?

This book was great from start to finish and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a thriller that would satisfy even the harshest critic. Alice Feeney--you have done it again!

The queen of twists has done it again! I love the bread crumbs left throughout the book that lead to the culmination of the story. I loved this book and will continue to read every Alice frenzy book I can get my hands on!

Thank you to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I need to preface my review by saying that I believe Alice Feeney may be one of my all-time favorite domestic thriller authors. This is the fifth book I've read from her, and I have loved them all. Beautiful Ugly is no exception.

Beautiful Ugly follows an author and his dog, in an isolated cabin, on a remote island, a year after the disappearance of his wife while he is trying to write his next novel. That is all you need to know going into this story! You do HAVE to listen to this book via audio, though. The production quality is incredible and includes really great sound effects that add an element of tension to the story. I read the book in tandem with my BOTM copy, and it was a perfect reading experience because there was also a map at the beginning of the book! Who doesn't love a map?

I highly recommend Beautiful Ugly to any fan of domestic thrillers. I also think Beautiful Ugly would be a good starting place if you are new to Alice Feeney's work. Pick. This. Book. Up!

This was my first book by this author so I don't have a writing style to compare this novel to. The build up was very dramatic and kept me quite engaged. I figured out parts of the story's plot twist throughout but never the how or the why. This was written differently than most psychological thrillers I read but it was a page turner for sure. I was shcoked by the reveal and the outcome. I don't know if I was satisfied with it but I definitely enjoyed it.

A slow burn in Feeney fashion. Enjoyed that the audiobook was narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton. Author Grady is having trouble writing another book after the disappearance of his wife. His agent, Kitty, sends him to a cabin on an island which was previously owned by a stellar writer who has since passed away. Upon arriving to the island, Grady senses that everything is not as it seems.
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Alice Feeney tends to be love her-or-hate her, though I think for me it's varies book by book. This one was solidly in the medium ground for me. Loved the setting of an island of women-- very fun and spooky-- but in comparison the mystery was far less interesting to me. If you're a Feeney "love her," definitely give this one a try.

Beautiful Ugly just took the place of Daisy Darker for my favourite by Alice Feeney!!!

This twisty psychological thriller is both diabolical and unhinged. It's propulsive, addictive and deranged.

No truer words were uttered than: "I no longer know what to believe. Or think. Or Feel."

The further the plot progressed, the more insane I felt and the more questions I had!

What the F is up with this island? It's remote and creepy AF. Is this island purgatory???

The amount of times I gasped while listening to this audiobook hit a record! I should have no gasps left in me! It caught me by surprise multiple times with its haunting and ominous additions - crashing waves, crackling, tick-toking - these sound effects are not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for the late night audiobook listener! The atmosphere this audiobook created made me feel like I too was starting to lose my mind alongside Grady; I second guessed noises, looked over my shoulder and questioned everything around me as I listened from the edge of my seat!

-Locked room thriller
-Unreliable narrator
-Atmospheric
-Creepy audiobook

When the questions are answered and you think it's all over, there's a shocking twist to beat all others. And then it happens again.

Listen. To. This. Book.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.

Grady’s a best selling author whose wife, Abby, has gone missing while driving home late one evening. The worst is that he hears her disappearance play out over the phone and can do nothing about it. Fast forward a year to Grady, who cannot sleep nor write a book with the constant unknown of his wife’s absence. Referred to a remote Scottish island by his agent to get away and focus, Grady feels as if he is losing his mind on this odd, quirky, secluded place. Plus, he swears he keeps seeing his wife. What is reality and what is fiction — and more importantly, what happened to Abby?

The audiobook was well done. The narrators and sound effects together made a vibe that supported the suspense and plot development. I easily listened at 1.5x speed.

This was also a perfectly suspenseful novel. Each piece of the story was craftily unveiled right up to the conclusion. I truly enjoyed. 5 stars.

Based on an Advanced Audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an honest review.

Wow the twist that I never see coming from Alice Feeney. How badly do you want to write? That’s the question for our main character. Great audiobook