Beautiful Ugly


This was my first Alice Feeney read, and it did not disappoint! I truly had no idea what was going to happen, and the twists at the end really got me!

Grady Green is an author whose wife disappeared a year prior. He has since been unable to write, and to try and get his writing back on track, his publisher sends him to work on his next book on a remote (and creepy) Scottish island. Grady is an unreliable narrator and the other people in the island are very secretive so it’s hard to tell what the truth really is.

I listened to this book on audio and thought the narrators did a good job, and kept me entertained. While it was a dual POV the MMCs was the majority of the story. I will definitely be adding Alice Feeneys other books to my TBR after this one!

Read if you like:
- an unreliable narrator
- dual POV
- plot twists
- isolated location


Thank you @macmillanaudio & @ NetGalley for the ALC!

I was left reeling after I finished this book. I love an unreliable narrator and I got just that. I didn't know what was real, what was happening, and really anything. I found myself talking out loud to the book and I had no idea which direction this was going to take but I can tell you it wasn't the one it ended up taking. This is a great thriller. So many characters, so many things going on, never knowing who you could trust. There was just one thing I still can't figure out how it happened, and I just can't wrap my brain around how it went down, but other than that, this was executed really well.
The narrators did a fantastic job with this book. I was engaged and on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Thank you to Macmillian, Netgalley and Alice Feeney for an ALC.

Fantastic book! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy! I love a good mystery novel where I think I am so smart and no exactly what’s going to happen and then, BAM! Completely blindsided by the reality of the novel!

Alice Feeney has done it again! This book was completely engrossing, keeping me hooked from start to finish. The twists and turns, combined with the intriguing stories of the island and its inhabitants, made it impossible to put down. It struck the perfect balance between mystery and suspense, with just the right touch of spookiness.

The audiobook was equally impressive. Both narrators were phenomenal, bringing the story to life with their perfect pacing, tone, and delivery. Their performances truly elevated the experience and made it even more enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Alice Feeny for the ALC!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free audiobook of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney in exchange for an honest review. The book and audiobook were released this week, so it’s available now.

Author Grady Green is having the worst and best day of his life. He gets some wonderful news from his publisher - the best news an author can receive - but soon after he calls to tell his wife, Abby, she disappears. A year later, grieving and unable to write, Grady’s agent Kitty, who is also Abby’s godmother, suggests he spend some time in a cabin on a remote Scottish island to come to grips with the fact that Abby is gone for good, and to write his next novel. Grady takes her advice and, with his dog Columbo, takes the ferry and arrives on the island of Amberly. But things on the island, populated by just 25 residents, are not what they seem. Is Grady safe? And what really happened to Abby?

Although this novel is a bit disjointed with some loose ends and plot holes, it kept me hooked from the start. Feeney sets a spooky scene and drops just enough bread crumbs to take us down path after path in search of the truth. The audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton is captivating and creepy.

Four stars for this latest outing by Alice Feeney.

WOW! Another can’t put down book by Alice Feeney!

•••A grieving author whose wife has gone missing finds himself being offered the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. But the beautiful island of Amberly may not be what it seems. Things quickly begin to unravel and the truth may not be what it seems.•••

This thrilling novel had me coming up with all kinds of theories as to what exactly was happening. I loved the supernatural aspects as well and it kept me guessing until the very end. I listened and the narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did an amazing job. Wonderful audio experience. I also really enjoyed how this novel and sound affects almost like a graphic audio.

Do not hesitate on adding this to your TBR it’s a must!

Wow! This was a wild read and I did not see some of those twists coming! Alice Feeney knocks it out of the park again. I am adding her to my always-read list and adding all of her books to my TBR.

If you're going to enjoy this novel please listen to the audiobook it elevates the experience

This story tells of an unrealiable narrator, a missing wife, grieving writer husband, and a small island with secrets.


The ending felt rushed to me and I wish the backstory of the MMC was fully developed to truly understand his actions.

An okay read.

I really, REALLY enjoyed this! I thought the voice acting was phenomenal and the plot twist really got me. Was it believable or realistic? No, but I didn’t need it to be. It had me hooked from the beginning. If you like a fast paced, self-deprecating plot, this is for you! And honestly, I definitely was rooting against the MMC the entire book!!!!

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.