This book was so good!! It kept my attention the entire time despite the beginning being a little slow. The author has such a talent for storytelling. I never would have guessed the ending in a million years. My prediction was completely off and I love that for this book. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but wow! I am speechless. I recommend this book 1000%.

This was my first Alice Feeney novel, and I am now a fan. Our main character's wife goes missing. A year later, his agent offers him a cabin on a tiny island that is very remote. When he gets there, he notices that the people on the island are very odd, and he gets a little paranoid that they are trying to do something to him. He learns that there was a major tragedy on the island a long time ago, and that is the reason that the islanders are not trustworthy to outsiders. This book will make you believe one thing and then have you questioning yourself towards the end.

I know that Feeney always pulls a last minute “where did that even come from” heist after a slow start but yet I still keep going back for more. This time, though, it just wasn’t quite enough for me. Although the narrator did a beautiful job of connecting her voices to the story, the atmospheric nature of this particular book combined with Feeney’s slow burn style just felt overly drawn out and, ultimately, kept me from being engaged in this story. Many times I had to force myself to keep listening which honestly isn’t a good sign when it comes to thrillers. Overall, this wasn’t one of my favorites of hers although the narration was well done.

I don’t typically read thrillers, but Beautiful Ugly pulled me in with its eerie atmosphere and family drama. The writing is gripping, and I loved the complex sister dynamics.

That said, the pacing felt uneven—some parts flew by, while others dragged. And while the twists were shocking, a few felt overdone. The ending left me thinking, but I’m still not sure how I feel about it.

Overall, it was a solid read outside my usual genre. If you love psychological thrillers with dark family secrets, this one’s worth picking up!

An author who loses his wife under mysterious circumstances. One year later, he leaves for an isolated small island to try to write. During the trip, he keeps catching glimpses of someone who looks like his missing wife. With unexpected twists and turns, the story deals with secrets, jealousy, and lies.

I couldn’t put down the audiobook of Beautiful Ugly—and I mean couldn’t. From the moment the first chapter started, I was hooked. But before we dive into the suspenseful twists of the plot, let’s talk about the audiobook experience. The narrators (yes, there are two) absolutely brought this story to life, but what truly stood out were the sound effects! Imagine the atmospheric tension of an old-school radio drama, subtly placed throughout the chapters, especially at the beginning of each titled section. It added such a haunting, immersive touch to the narrative. 👏

Now, the story. Grady, a recently successful author, is reeling after his wife, Abby, vanishes without a trace on her way home. A year later, his life is spiraling—no book ideas, no answers. But then, a chance for a fresh start appears: a getaway to a remote Scottish island, once home to a famed author. Only 25 people live there during the off-season. But Grady isn’t alone on the island… or is he? He begins seeing a woman who looks shockingly like Abby—but she’s never where he thinks she is. Is he losing his mind?

The second narrator is Abby herself, sharing her perspective through therapy sessions. As we journey through her memories of life with Grady, it becomes clear they saw their marriage through very different lenses. Slowly, the story unravels—one therapy session at a time—bringing us closer to that fateful day Abby disappeared. 🕵️‍♂️

Grady’s desperate search for answers takes him deeper into the island’s secrets. The inhabitants all have their own mysterious stories, and with every new discovery, Grady’s grip on reality begins to slip. As the threads of this twisted tale finally converge, I found myself rethinking every theory I had. The twists will leave your jaw on the floor.

With an ending that will leave you gasping, Beautiful Ugly is the perfect mix of psychological suspense and mind-bending mystery. A 5-star read—and an even more gripping audiobook! 🎧

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Alice Feeney, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! If you love a good twist and a book that keeps you on your toes, this one’s for you. 🙌

#BookReview #Thriller #Suspense #Audiobook #BeautifulUgly #AliceFeeney #PsychologicalThriller #MustRead

I always do love Alice Feeney! This one was a bit of a slower start for me, but it definitely kept me constantly guessing. In the end, I couldn't put it down, was satisfied by how everything wrapped up and was surprised by the twist!

I feel bad but I cousins finish this one. I don’t know if I just wasn’t in the mood for a thriller but I just couldn’t seem to stay focused on the story.

Beautiful Ugly, written by Alice Feeney and narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, is a fictional mystery that takes some wild turns which I greatly loved! This book begins with Grady Green, an author whose wife Abby goes missing while they are on the phone together. A year later Grady is invited by his editor, who is also his wife’s Godmother, to go stay on a remote island where he can write. While there Grady meets the locals and experiences insomnia. He begins to think that he sees his wife everywhere, and he wonders what really happened to her.
This audiobook was amazing! So many turns that I did not see coming. I loved that it kept me guessing, while still having a solid ending. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Grady is an author who has just received some incredible news for his career. When he phones his wife to share, she stops the car and just…vanishes.

One year later, Grady’s editor is urging him to try writing again, and offers him the use of a cottage on a remote Scottish Island to try and get back into the swing of things. He takes up her offer, and quickly discovers many oddities in the tiny town that is his new, temporary home. He begins to have moments of confusion and swears he sees his wife on the island, but how can it be her?

This thriller has a lot going for it. I loved the ominous, isolated setting. And Grady proving to be an unreliable narrator really worked for this book as we deep dive into the lives of the enigmatic islanders that are his new neighbours.

What I didn’t love as much about the book is the ending. I was prepared for a big *WOW* reveal, but instead it felt more *whomp whomp* and just didn’t quite scratch my thriller itch.

Definitely give this one a go if thrillers are your jam, I think it was still enjoyable, even if it didn’t totally blow me away.

Alice Feeney is a must read for me and I can happily say she’s done it again!! I was thoroughly entertained with this twisty little gem. A must read for thriller lovers!

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a psychological thriller that delves into grief, mystery, and the unsettling nature of human relationships. Grady Green, a bestselling author, is having the worst best day of his life when he receives a call from his wife, Abby, to share some exciting news. However, the conversation takes a terrifying turn as Abby slams on the brakes while driving and disappears without a trace. A year later, Grady is still consumed by grief and the unrelenting need to understand what happened to Abby. Seeking some form of peace, he retreats to a tiny Scottish island. It is there that he spots a woman who looks strikingly like his missing wife, setting off a new series of mysteries and emotional turbulence.

The book explores themes of loss, obsession, and identity, all while keeping readers on edge with its twists and turns. Grady's emotional unraveling as he searches for answers is both heartbreaking and unsettling, and Feeney weaves a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers hooked throughout.

However, while the premise is intriguing, Beautiful Ugly does not quite live up to the gripping suspense that Feeney’s previous works have delivered. The main character, Grady, feels erratic, and his actions often come across as inconsistent. This unpredictability mirrors the book’s overall tone—there’s a lot of weirdness and confusion on the island, but unfortunately, much of it feels unbelievable or disconnected from the central mystery.

The climax and ending, which could have been the saving grace of this novel, ultimately leave much to be desired. Instead of a satisfying conclusion, the final reveal feels underwhelming and falls short of providing the emotional payoff that the build-up promised.

As a long-time fan of Alice Feeney’s writing, I had high expectations for Beautiful Ugly, but this particular book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Grady’s unpredictable behavior and the far-fetched nature of the island’s strange happenings detracted from what could have been a powerful and compelling narrative. The ending, in particular, was a letdown. While Feeney’s skill with atmosphere and tension is still present, Beautiful Ugly doesn’t quite measure up to her past works.

Audiobook Note: That said, I do want to highlight the audiobook version, which was of excellent quality. The narrators were easy to listen to and did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I especially appreciated the added sound effects, which elevated the tension and enhanced the overall experience. If you’re considering picking up Beautiful Ugly, I’d definitely recommend the audiobook as it adds an extra layer of immersion to the story.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a thriller and suspense novel. It takes place on a remote island in Scotland. Grady is a successful novelist when his wife disappears under suspicious circumstances. He is not able to recover and loses everything. His agent and his wife’s godmother sends him to a cabin in Scotland to write his next novel. And then we enter the twilight zone! He keeps thinking he sees his wife. And he is essentially stranded there. There were lots of plot twists and although sometimes far fetched, overall i enjoyed the drama.

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

Jaw dropping is such an overused term to describe a mystery novel,but I must honestly say there were time I did exactly that while reading Alice Feeney's latest.
I had not read her before and got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for Beautiful Ugly and I was floored.
The story is sound and well written. A true mystery with twists that do not require the author to cheat or treat the reader like a fool.
Even if you guess the ending, the path taken and all the twist and turns will leave you short of breath and whispering "wow!"

Highly recommended. The audiobook was published Jan 12,2025
The narrators ; Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton are excellent!

Thanks to @netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

Grady Green is an author who hasn't been able to write since his wife disappeared a year ago. His agent offers to let him stay at a cabin on a remote island with no internet and very scant cell service. It's supposed to be a healing visit, breaking through his grief and allowing himself to write again. It turns into a fight for his life against the women who live on and run the island and someone from his past he thought was long gone.

This book definitely surprised me! The first 70% of the book I thought I knew what was going on but nope! The twist and turns in the end left my mind blown

A twisty thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. After his wife goes missing, author Grady Green is sent to the island by his publisher to work on his next novel. The island is full of mystery and hidden secrets, and the twists will keep you guessing the whole way. Unfortunately, the ending had me wondering WHAT just happened!

The audio narration was well done by both the MMC and FMC and the addition of the walkie talkie static was a fun sound effect!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC

Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly is a blends grief, mystery, and the question of how well we truly know those we love.

Grady Green, an author whose life has unraveled, is both gullible and self-absorbed—audio narrator underscores this making the character difficult to fully sympathize with. His selfishness lingers beneath the surface making him a bit of a frustrating protagonist.

The story takes a chilling turn when Grady calls his wife, Abby, to share exciting news, only to hear her slam on the brakes, get out of the car… and disappear. When he finds her vehicle perched at the cliff’s edge—headlights on, door open, phone still inside—her absence feels like an echo that will never be answered.

A year later, drowning in grief and unable to write, Grady escapes to a remote Scottish island, hoping for clarity to write after losing his wife. But the island, with its raw, untamed beauty, feels less like a refuge and more like a prison. The landscape is both lush and brutal—cliffs and relentless tides, The sparse inhabitants of the island are quirky and mysterious themselves.

Feeney uses the island’s rugged scenery to heighten the novel’s tension, making it feel as if nature itself is conspiring against Grady. Beautiful Ugly is a gripping read that keeps you questioning reality until the very last page.

Not my favorite Alice Feeney novel, although it does start off very promising. A novelist mourns his journalist wife, who is missing and presumed dead. He is offered a cabin to use on a remote island, and it is there that things start to go even more terribly awry. The cabin has been occupied by a very successful mystery writer, who is now dead. Conveniently, or so it seems, the author, suffering from a serious case of writer's block, finds an unpublished manuscript hidden in the cabin. The fact that he passes it off as his own is hardly an original plot (see The Plot by Jean Korelitz)
But my biggest criticism of this novel is that the big reveal is just silly, and I'll say no more as that would be a spoiler.

For fans of Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young.
📍Scotland/UK
Vibes: eerie, creepy, gross, sad, twisty

MANY what the f*ck moments ?? Twist after twist! Seriously. The ending I was like WHAAAAAT the whole time.

Tropes & Themes:
-unreliable narrator
-toxic relationships
-mysterious isolated island
-bookish main characters
-dog
-womanhood

Memorable quote:
“You should be happy”