This audiobook was absolute perfection! The narrators brought the dual POV story to life, and the unique transition music and sound effects? Such a vibe. They added an extra layer of immersion that made the story even more gripping.

The story begins with Grady, an author anxiously awaiting news about his latest book’s success while his wife Abby is out grabbing their celebratory meal. But… things don’t go as Grady planned—or do they?

I loved the pacing, the unforgettable characters, and the way we experience the small-town setting through Grady’s unreliable eyes. The twists and turns were expertly done—nothing felt forced, and I didn’t see them coming.

3.5 stars — I loved this until the ending!

This was a great listen on audio—I loved the different accents, sound effects, and the story itself was very engaging and easy to listen to on audio (which not every book does)!

The unreliable male character was fun and I enjoyed the creepy, almost gothic Scotland island setting.

there was a phrase in the book that repeated throughout that was so cheesy it completely took me out of the story. I liked the word play throughout the book, but this one specific phrase was too much for me and was unnecessary I felt.

I really enjoyed "Beautiful Ugly"! It was a fun, twisty read that kept me guessing. I usually have an idea of where the plot is going, but this one surprised me a few times. If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you on your toes, definitely check this one out.

This book felt like reading Shutter Island

I love a writer stranded in a cabin trope so ofcourse I was going to read this book. In this book, the main character, Grady finds himself on a tiny Scottish island a year after his wife has disappeared without a trace.

Grady finds that on this island there are plenty of mysteries and mysteriously haunting characters lurking around. He’s an unreliable narrator who seems to see glimpses of his wife on the island. Is the island tricking him or is she really here?

I really liked how the Alice Feeney made Grady such an unreliable narrator so you’re question him and yourself while reading this book. The overall pace of the book is solid but I did find a lot of repetitive commentary and questions. The unfolding of the mystery was fun and it did slowly unravel in pieces.

I found the ending to be a slight let down because it was very dialogue heavy but I’m not much of a dialogue girl so that’s on me. There were plenty of twists throughout the book which I loved! I just wish the final twist was more of a roller coaster but honestly the overall book was still super fun.

I would recommend listening to this on audiobook Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did incredible work!

If you’re looking for an entertaining thriller I’d say give this a go.

I’m so grateful to have been given an eARC by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful Ugly was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 but was unfortunately a bit of a let down. I felt like the storyline had potential but, unlike Feeney's other books, this one just didn't live up to it. The middle was overly drawn out and struggled to keep my attention while the ending felt way too rushed. I also really didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them and the one twist felt predictable. I really wanted to love this one but it just wasn't for me. I also shared this review on my instagram account under the highlight titled "2025 Reviews".

Excellent audiobook because of all the sounds of the sea, the crackling walkie-talkie, and more. I really enjoy Alice Feeney's work, and this just gets added to the list of great books she has written. This is the story of author Grady Green, and how he deals with the disappearance of his wife (not well, no surprise). He reaches a point where he can no longer write, and his agent helps by sending him to a small Scottish island, explaining that hopefully the solitude will help him. Will it? Well, you have to read Beautiful Ugly to find out. There are some interesting characters on the island, and of course some awesome twists. I definitely enjoyed this one! Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for an advance audiobook of Beautiful Ugly.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan audio for the arc copy.

This book was extremely interesting and entertaining, it was a slow burn. I love the sound effects from the audio. The background waves were my favorite part.
I recommend the audio version.

I was blown away with the multi plot twists. It takes some time building up but it’s worth it at the end.
It a jaw dropping twist that will have you questioning everything.
Not going to lie, at first I was definitely confused on what I was reading. I was getting more and more curious to know what was real or not real.
You will be second guessing everything. I guess that what makes a good thriller

5 Stars

This was an easy 5 star read. It was dark and twisty in all the best ways. I don’t read a ton of thrillers and this one was just right. Not to scary not to mild. There were some crazy twists that I didn’t see coming and some that we knew were coming but were still built on other twists. So amazing didn’t want to stop listening. The audio for this book was too tier. Not only the narrators but the little bits of noises sprinkled in. It almost felt borderline graphic novel at times without being annoying. So good! Well done!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

MY THOUGHTS: Holy moly this book left me shocked (like mouth dropped open on THAT twist), conflicted and replaying the events over and over in my mind.

This is a slow burn and along the way there were so many red herrings. I kept trying to figure out where the story was going but I. Had. No. Clue.

🎧 @richardcarmitage had the perfect voice for Grady. He did a great job bringing the wide range of emotions. I also really liked that they had sound special effects added in that enhanced the suspense.

Favorite quote:
👰🏻‍♀️ “Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
🤵🏻 Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.”

Read for:
☎️ Unreliable Narrator
⛴️ Secluded Island
⏳ Dual Timeline and POV
🔥 Slow Burn
🌪️ Shocking Twist

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice Level: 🧼 Squeaky Clean

Great twisty and ominous thriller!

I truly enjoyed Beautiful Ugly. I happen to enjoy many of Alice Feeny books, I think she so expertly gives such a grand story in small doses. As soon as I started this book I was fully invested. The narrators are EXCEPTIONAL. Both narrator truly conveyed the characters and moments. I was so delightfully confused until I wasn't and that is when I knew that this book was truly a hit for me.

Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly invites readers into a labyrinth of grief, love, and the unnerving power of the human mind. At the heart of the story is Grady, a man reeling from the disappearance of his wife while desperately chasing his dream of becoming a bestselling author. His grief is palpable, his desperation consuming, and his actions unimaginable. But the question that haunts the reader from start to finish is this: Does it all work out for him in the end?

Told from multiple perspectives, Feeney crafts a narrative that plunges us into two distinct but intertwined stories. On one side, we journey with Grady to an isolated retreat, where the line between reality and delusion blurs. Personal items appear and disappear, he feels the eerie presence of unseen eyes, and he begins to see visions of his missing wife. Grady’s mental state teeters on the edge, leaving readers questioning what’s real and what’s not.

On the other side is Abby, whose sessions in a therapeutic setting reveal intimate details about her struggles in life and marriage. As we unravel her story leading up to her disappearance, the revelations are unexpected and often unsettling. Feeney masterfully makes us reassess everything we thought we knew about Abby and Grady’s relationship.

This novel asks difficult questions: What are you willing to do for the person you love most? How do you trust your reality when grief clouds your every thought? The premise is gripping, and the tension builds steadily, but it’s the constant twists and shifts that may leave some readers feeling like they’re being tossed around rather than drawn deeper into the story.

While the journey is engaging, the ending felt underwhelming—an ending that didn’t deliver the payoff you’d expect from such a complex web of twists. It left me questioning not only the conclusion but also whether the buildup was worth the final reveal. Perhaps that’s the point: in life and love, we don’t get to choose our punishments; we simply have to endure them.

I’d recommend Beautiful Ugly to readers who enjoy unraveling psychological puzzles and don’t mind endings that challenge expectations. For me, it was a thought-provoking yet uneven experience, earning 3 out of 5 stars. Alice Feeney knows how to keep readers guessing, but this time, the final answer didn’t quite stick the landing.

Wow! I am not sure how to write the review for this audiobook. The writer has a very vivid imagination, and it is crazy that she was able to make this suspenseful story come together in the way she did. The book description doesn't really say much--and I can see why. Let me just say that I listened to the audiobook every chance I got. It was one of those books that kept me guessing and sometimes I even guessed right. I caught myself yelling at Grady, the main character, things like "quit drinking the tea," and "you need to get out." Quite exciting but the reader should know that the book is a far cry from reality. I think, although women do rule.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the complimentary audiobook. The narrator did a great job. This opinion is my own words and thoughts.

The excellent actor/narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, really brought this book to life. A writer's wife disappears and he goes to an isolated island to try to write his next book and to get over his grief. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being a cross between Rock, Paper, Scissors and the Wicker Man. There are lots of twists and turns throughout, but when the major plot twist was revealed, it was such a shock that I almost fell off the sofa. And the last few minutes were so unnervingly creepy that I kept thinking about it for days. Yes, most of the characters are unlikeable, but I don't need to like them in order to be completely riveted by these shockingly strange people and the weird unexpected motivations for the things they do.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

Update: Posted to TikTok on 1-13 eve of release day.
No spoilers. Exquisite audiobook with excellent multiple-voice-talent narration and wonderful sound design. The sound effects were perfect, enhancing the story without ever being distracting. This is easily in my top-five 2024 books for listening pleasure.
This novel grabbed me immediately. The pacing is superior to most of the thrillers I've experienced recently. The emotional undertows, the atmospheric island, and the events create an unsettling eeriness. I stayed up late to finish the book.

Feeney creates a standout setting, a small, isolated island in Scotland. The main character is a grieving author under pressure to write his next book. He's rather passive and struck me as non-masculine early on (strictly in reference to how he's written, not the narration).

As with most thrillers there are distracting implausibilities, particularly issues that anyone with common sense would have dealt with immediately. Overall, the book delivers intriguing dynamics, a wealth of fascinating local history and lore, effective chills, and surprises. It gave delicious gothic vibes and landed well. It's also deeper at the thematic level than many books in this zone and has tasty symbolism. The role of nature is highly effective and refreshingly subtle. Highly recommended for thriller readers.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration.

3.5★ Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a twisty and suspenseful thriller about a writer trapped on an outdated island. The audiobook had great narrators and fun sound effects as well.

The book was slow paced but tense, keeping me guess what is going on the whole way through. The gloomy atmosphere was a lot of fun! The characters were messy and flawed, but in a way that was human. I would much rather have messy characters than 2D characters. I'm not the biggest fan of the unreliable narrator, but that's just personal preference.

The ending didn't connect as smoothly as it could've. It felt rushed and extra just to be extra. But nevertheless I was entertained the entire time. It was not as good as Rock, Paper, Scissors but I am so happy to be able to listen to this great audiobook. Looking forward to reading more Alice Feeney.

Thank you Net galley and Macmillian audio for the Arc.

I was super excited to read this because I love me some Alice Feeney thrillers, but...this one wasn’t really it for me. I enjoyed the audiobook, but the story was so drawn out that I got bored. I loved the twists, and including one close to the end was great, but I was unfortunately bored through most of it.

Think of it like getting ready for a fireworks show—your excitement builds as you wait for the big, brilliant displays, but when the fireworks finally start, they seem few and far between. Those moments of brilliance were undeniably there, but getting through the quieter, drawn-out stretches made it feel more like a marathon than a sprint. Feeney still delivers on the twists, but this one might test your patience a bit more than usual. If you're a fan of her work, you might still appreciate the effort—just be prepared for a slower burn.

I am fairly new to the audible book world, and none of the books I’ve listened to have come close to the experience of Beautiful Ugly. I was fully immersed into this book with multiple narrators and perfectly timed melodies and natural soundscapes. It was as close as you could get to being right there on the Isle of Amberly, where the story mainly takes place. I was able to picture it so vividly. It has peaked my interest into wanting to delve more into the audible world.

At the very beginning of the book my heart hurt for Grady Green. In one day he experienced the highest of all highs and lowest of all lows. On a day that should have been a celebration of becoming a New York Times Best Selling Author, Grady experienced the tragedy of his wife’s mysterious disappearance. This is where the book started to take on an a more ominous feel as Grady, who has hit rock bottom, got the chance to leave London. He needs a getaway and gets the opportunity to stay in a remote writer’s cabin on the Isle of Amberly where visions of his wife continuously follow and haunt him. Could his wife, Abby, still be alive, or has Grady lost it?

When I first pictured Amberly, I visualized breathtaking views and a haven for tourists. I envisioned a place to do a little sight seeing and local shopping. I thought it would be a great place to sit and read a book after finding the best little coffee shop. As I read on, the pleasant feeling quickly turned daunting to the point I could actually feel Grady’s seclusion and anxiousness. The unsettling feeling remained throughout the entirety of the book where you also get a chance to hear recollections of the past from Abby’s perspective.

Not only did this book make me feel uneasy, it was also mysterious and thrilling. I mean that in the best of ways. I felt like the author had just dumped out a puzzle in front of me. Just when the tiny pieces started connecting, it seemed the author conveniently left a few pieces out of the box. I honestly haven’t read a book like Beautiful Ugly, and I both thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the Arc copy of Beautiful Ugly in exchange for my honest review.

Grady an author is married to Abby. He is on the top of the world with great news to share about his book when he is on phone with his wife. There is a commotion and Abby appears to crash. And then disappears. A year later after being physically not well and not able to write , Grady has an amazing opportunity to write his book on an island. Grady sees his wife on the island and then a bunch of confusing things start to happen. The island is cut off from the outside world and there are only 25 people on the island. Grady needs to figure out what is going on. Is his wife on the island? Is he safe on the island? What happened to his wife? All of the answers come out in very well thought out way. A few points in the book I had to say wait what? And it was ….. (fill in blank) . The book definitely had me on my toes until the very end. So good and a definite 5 star book!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for access to an early copy for review!

This book was a good time. I think people will either love or hate the ending. This story really drew me in quickly. I found it very atmospheric- We have this writer staying in a cabin in the woods on an island cut off from the mainland with no communication and no way off the island. It quickly becomes clear that something creepy is going on here. Or is it? I loved how little tidbits were continuously introduced building the sense of unease with each interaction with the other members of the island community. It has the element of not knowing what is real or isn't. Is he really seeing his wife or is he hallucinating or is there just a lookalike? The narrators were great and gave a distinct voice to each character. Pacing was good. Overall this really worked for me for the majority of the story, though I have mixed feelings about the end. It would be a spoiler to say why, but there was a reveal that seemed quite out of character from what we know of that person. I think an extra scene earlier in the story might have set us up a little better to believe the way things went. (I mean there was one scene that maybe hinted.... but another small hint of this person's character might have helped readers to buy into it a little more). But overall, it was a really fun, engrossing read that I couldn't put down (so much so that I read it in one sitting!)

This was my first Alice Feeney book. I really enjoyed the writing style and suspense that went into storytelling. You’re left completely baffled at why or how the FMC disappeared. You are taken on a journey as her husband tried to move on and continue as an author. There are so many twist and turns throughout the story. Even when I thought I may know what happened, I’m proven wrong. My only criticism is that at time it felt like it was moving slow. Now, that may just be the way i perceive it. Over all, I truly enjoyed the writing, the journey and totally didn’t see that ending! I will definitely be looking into another Alice Feeney book!