You know that part in "Jurassic Park" when Samuel L. Jackson’s character tells everyone to hold on…🍑? Well, do THAT if you decide to read this eerie thriller! I thought I knew where things were going, and was a little bit right, but then the book took a HARD left down a path I didn’t even consider. And then took a couple MORE unexpected turns for fun before the final, twisted moment. It legit left me cackling and wide-eyed from shock!

My biggest piece of advice is to stick with this one because the first two-thirds is more of a simmer. I enjoyed the moody, slow-burn mystery vibes but could see some people losing interest due to a lack of action. Stay the course, friends! It’s so worth it and the wait makes the ending even more mind-blowing.

I also highly recommend listening to the audiobook. It features atmospheric sound effects that transported me to windy Scottish shores, plus music transitions that helped indicate when a POV shift was about to happen. Speaking of those POVs, the narration was excellent! There were several characters but I had no trouble keeping track of everyone.

If you like your thrillers dark and broody, with tons of well-earned revenge and a “down with the patriarchy” vibe, then grab your headphones, hold on, and get ready to get shocked!

Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with a lot of Alice Feeney books that sounded really good, but haven’t ever actually picked up one of her reads until now. This one sounded like it was made just for me, since it featured all of the aspects I love to see in a mystery. Even better, I was approved for the audiobook. So why wasn’t this one a five star read for me? Let me get into that.

To start with, the audiobook is narrated in dual timelines, by two narrators. Richard Armitage voices Grady, in both the present and past timelines. Further, he also does all of the voices for anyone that Grady comes in contact with, and demonstrates his versatile range using many different vocal tones, inflections, and even accents ranging from posh London to remote Scotland. Tuppence Middleton voices Abby’s character, and for both narrators, everything was easy to listen to and clear to understand.

The bones of this story were all things that I enjoy reading about in other books. Stories set in remote and isolated islands have always captured my attention, especially those featuring an author and a disappearance, so I was primed to love this book. But as the read went on, there were some things that led to my lowered rating.

Grady seems like a rather nice guy who is just going through a hard time when we first meet him. He’s waiting for his wife to come home to celebrate his good publishing news, and while they are on the phone, he hears his wife slam on the brakes before exiting her car. He is immediately concerned, and heads out to look for his wife. When he finds her car, it looks like his wife vanished into thin air, leaving the car and her phone behind. The police get involved but don’t make much headway into the case, and a year later, Grady is still deep in a depression, facing symptoms of grief even without any knowledge of what had happened to his wife.

Obviously, Abby sounds like a jerk face for doing that if she did run away on the same day as a celebration of good news for her husband, but he suspects foul play. We get to know more about Abby and what she did in the days leading up to her disappearance. As I started to feel more like I knew her, I got more invested in her side of the story.

Initially, the pacing is extremely slow, and stays that way for more than half the book. The setting on the isolated island in the Scottish Highlands was described in such a beautiful way that I was able to practically picture myself right there with the characters. The island itself almost read as another character, making this an incredibly atmospheric read. I could picture cold winds whipping across the land, and a sea frothing with whitecaps.

As much as I loved the setting and the narrators, the plot involves a LOT of willing suspension of disbelief. I don’t mind when a story gets a little bit over the top, but when each plot twist feels like a new level of unbelievable and unrealistic, it was hard to get excited by the plot twists, although I saw part of the big twist coming a long way off. I rarely reread mysteries, because a big portion of the fun is not knowing what is going to happen next. But with this book, I caught myself not being as interested in the surprise, because of how far off the rails this story went. In the beginning, I thought it was going to be more of a somewhat realistic story, and boy was I wrong.

Overall, this was not my typical mystery read, and it impacted my enjoyment of the story. I listened to the entire thing because I always try not to DNF an ARC, but also because I wondered what illogical thing was going to occur next. You know those books that you have to finish but aren’t fully enjoying? That was this book for me. I was underwhelmed by the character development, with the vast majority of side characters feeling flat and underdeveloped, and only the main characters feeling somewhat rounded out, but still not fully. This might be a good read for you if you’re: a fan of Alice Feeney, books set in Scotland, over-the-top mysteries, and dual perspective/timelines.

This story had all the depth of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' which was, after all, written by Mozart.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. Richard Armitage lends the perfect spooky voice to Grady and narrates the twists, turns, and mysteries of this book perfectly. The added sound effects help set the atmosphere as well. Enjoyed this one in one sitting!

This suspenseful, creepy mystery thriller is set on a remote Scottish island revolving around the disappearance of an author’s missing wife.
Feeney's excellent writing features an intricate plot and rich character development, allowing me to connect with the novel on a deeper level. The characters complexity, especially Grady, adds depth to the story.
I was incapable of putting this down until I found out what happened to Abby - and read this in a few hours!! My heart was pounding at the end!
I’m new to audiobooks and loved this one!! The accents and sound effects made it even better, especially the walkie-talkies.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of human nature, challenging our perceptions of truth and identity. It’s a story of secrets, lies, and the unexpected connections between people who seem worlds apart.

Like her other books, Feeney doesn’t just craft a thriller; she creates an emotional journey that lingers long after the final page. Her writing is vivid and atmospheric, immersing you in the tension and drama of every scene. The characters are complex, flawed, and achingly real, making it impossible not to feel invested in their fates.

What really elevated this experience for me was the incredible narration by Richard Armitage. His voice brought the characters to life in a way that felt raw and intimate, adding an extra layer of tension and emotion to the story. Armitage’s performance perfectly captured the suspense and nuances of the plot, making the audiobook a truly immersive experience.

This book was really interesting. I loved the setting of being trapped on an island and the constant guessing at what’s real!

This was a fun, twisty read. Alice Feeney is one of my favorite authors and this book proves why I like her books so much. I thought I had figured out the twist early on, and I did indeed work that one out, but then before I knew it, there was another huge twist, then another, and another, and I have to hand it to Feeney! Just when you think you've figured out everything, you realize you only saw the tip of the iceberg!

“The only way out is to write.”
WOW! This one head my head spinning! I didn’t know what to believe! I felt like I was hallucinating with Grady. My mouth was WIDE OPEN the last 10-15%!!!! I did not see that coming.
Such an amazing, twisty read!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. The sound effects add to the eerie storyline. If you get the chance, listen to this one on audio! It’s so worth it!

“I hope you die in your sleep.”

Alice Feeney does it again with her new psychological thriller, Beautiful Ugly.

Author Grady Green’s wife disappears one evening on the way home. A year later, Grady takes to a tiny Scottish island to find motivation to focus on writing once again. However, he could’ve sworn he saw his wife on the island… multiple times. The islanders tell him that he’s for sure imagining her, and speak to him with dead eyes and hollow smiles… almost trancelike. He just knows that something is not right.

This book is so creepy… it had me questioning my sanity right alongside Grady. I had an eerie feeling the entire time reading it. The twists and turns left me absolutely whiplashed and I couldn’t stop listening until the very end. The ending took me by complete surprise and had my jaw on the floor. Absolutely gorgeously written, Beautiful Ugly is the story of grief, loss and has you questioning how well you really know those you trust and love the most. The audiobook was very engaging and I also loved how the chapters were actually titled and relevant to each chapter.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC copy!

This was a fun and mysterious read. I received the audio ARC copy from NetGalley but I also picked this up in my Book of the Month box for December so I have actually read this 2x now.

I did quite enjoy the audiobook for this - the narrator was good and it added some more depth and drama to the story.

I overall enjoyed this book - even after reading it twice there are a few things that I personally feel weren't explained well or were a little convoluted or just a bit plot-holey. I do like how dark of a tone this book takes the more it gets into the thick of things though. This one for me though felt a little predictable, and I like my thrillers to keep me guessing more, so that is why this one wasn't a five star for me. I also do not leave spoiler reviews - especially for thrillers - so I have to pick and choose what I say, but this one gets a little extra wild toward the end - and I loved the ending. It was dark and twisted and I love that.

I would recommend this one for thriller fans - its a fun read for sure, and it is worth a read or a listen!

Great read! Alice Feeney is one of my favourite authors so I was glad to see a new book of hers. Once again, Feeney has created a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps you wondering exactly what is going on! Highly recommend!

Ummm. Wow! <---- My thoughts immediately after finishing!

Beautiful Ugly had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! Like the main character, Grady, I often felt unsure of what was real, constantly piecing things together—only to have my theories blown away. Just when I thought I had it figured out...boom! I was utterly wrong.

A gripping and unpredictable story that kept me guessing until the very end!

The narration was some of the best I have ever listened to, engaging, and brought the characters to life. They also added a few "sound effects" that helped bring the story to life even more.

This is a gripping and atmospheric thriller. Even with a slow burn pace, I was hooked from start to finish. Though I will admit there were time in the middle that tested my patience, but the twists and fast-paced ending made up for that! I love an unreliable narrator and multi-pov in a thriller.

Talk about Convoluted! This novel made my head spin.

Grady Green is a successful author, who just made the NYT Bestsellers list, a fact he shared with his wife Abby on their last phone call. The phone call during which Abby went missing upon stopping to help a woman found lying in the middle of the road.

Since that time, Grady hasn’t written a word (can you blame him?). His friend and Agent Kitty therefore suggests a change of scenery, thus he takes off for her cabin on the Isle of Amberley, a secluded area off the grid. What at first seems like a dream come true, and a chance to start writing again becomes something else entirely, leaving Grady alone, and very very afraid.

As this book progressed, I had no idea what to expect, though I was fully engrossed. While it wasn’t my favorite novel by Alice Feeney, the narration was stellar and I was wholly impressed Ms. Feeney for continuously coming up with such inventive ideas time and again.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the advanced audiobook.

I loved Daisy Darker so much that I keep trying others by Alice Feeney but I’m starting to think we’re not a good fit. This book was SLOW and uninteresting. I figured out most of the twist early on and it was a slog to get through this audiobook, particularly with the enhanced audio features of the crackling walkie-talkie, sounds of the sea, and ringing phones; they were annoying. The story never captured my interest and the twist, that I heard was so great, was lackluster. Maybe because it was built up so much, I was expecting more. I know Alice Feeney has many fans and I hope they truly enjoy this one but this was just not for me.

I received an ARC audiobook of Beautiful Ugly.
This is my unbiased, honest review. This psychological thriller is a 5 star read for 2025!

There aren't any definite spoilers with this review but there is a quote in the last paragraph. The narrator, Richard Armitage, is amazing. He'a a favorite of mine.

Grady is a New York Times best selling author.
He's waiting for his wife Abby, an investigating journalist, to make it home from work so they can both take a phone call from his team announcing if his newest book has made the list. His wife is talking with him on the phone, on her way home, when she sees something in the roadway. While on the phone, she gets out of the car and vanishes. Her red coat is found at the scene. There's a box found in the front seat of her car that contains a threatening item. He thinks she is being targeted because of what she has investigated in the past.

A year later, wife Abby still missing, Grady still hasn't written another book. Grady's agent Kitty allows him to go to a remote island off of Scotland to take the time to write a new book. The cottage he stays in was formerly owned by another best selling author named Charles Whitaker. Whitaker dies before writing his tenth book, the book was supposed to be the best book he has ever written.

The island is creepy. There is so much haunted history regarding the remote island and its community. Grady tries to write but keeps seeing a woman in a red coat, keeps hearing messages.
Grady can't sleep well. There are no phones that work and there is no internet coverage.

On the island, Grady writes a book against all ethical dilemmas and sends it to his agent. The book is not solely his own work and he soon finds out that someone on the island knows it is not his own. He is trapped on the island and won't be allowed to leave.

This is a masterpiece of an audiobook. The audible sounds are enough to keep you on the edge of your chair or up all night to find the truth. This audiobook will be a top seller and on many book club lists undoubtedly! This author has taken the rules of this genre and completely changes them!
The way those book unfolds is unimaginable. It is pure author genius. I could not believe the outcome. It has entirely messed with my head. I've never read a single book similar.

This quote from the book explains my feelings after reading this audiobook, "You've been served a triple decker shit sandwich with a side of completely f*cked, but it's exactly what you ordered." That is what I ordered with this book and that is exactly what I got! It was unputdownable and I loved it from beginning to end. I know you will enjoy it and I hope you die in your sleep.

#BeautifulUgly #NetGalley
#HopeYouDielnYourSleep
#MacmillanAudio
Reviewed 01/13/25
Release 01/14/25

Alice Feeney does it again!! This book had so many twists and turns. I loved the characters in the island. They were quirky and fun. I also really liked the narrators voice. He was easy to listen to. I loved the story line and the use of oxymorons throughout the book. I thought the twist at the end was enjoyable and overall I really enjoyed this book!

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the honor to listen to the newest release by Alice Feeney. This was by far my favorite novel by this author (and I've loved them all) but this one blew me away! It draws you in from the first chapter and the suspense does not stop until the very last chapter. An excellent listen while trapped in my house during a snow storm. The narrator did a fantastic job; I loved every aspect of this book! Grady and Abby were flawed yet likeable characters dealing with things every married coupled does but when one of them chooses their career over their marriage they must face catastrophic consequences. I could not stop listening to this one!

➳3.5/5 stars

"There's no need to be afraid of the dead, it's the living that you have to watch out for."

"Beautiful Ugly" was easily one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and I was counting down the days until its release. I couldn't have been more thrilled to get an advanced copy, and for that, I want to sincerely thank net Galley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with the opportunity to read it early in exchange for an honest review. It truly felt like a gift to dive into this story ahead of time!

Alice Feeney has always been one of my go-to authors, the kind of writer whose books I pick up without a second thought as soon as they’re released. Naturally, I was just as eager to dive into this one. However, to say I was a bit disappointed would honestly be an understatement.

I’ve always loved her previous works and went into this hoping for the same magic, but try as I might, I just couldn’t connect with it. The story felt overly complicated, and some of the twists and turns didn’t even make sense, leaving me more confused than intrigued. It lacked the seamless brilliance I’ve come to expect from her books, and that was hard to ignore.


➳ ABOUT THE BOOK —

This story follows a couple with a crumbling marriage, desperately trying to hold on. One day, the wife mysteriously vanishes without a trace, no notes, no explanations, just gone. Her husband, frantic and heartbroken, does everything in his power to find her, but all efforts fail. The weight of her disappearance takes a toll on him, plunging him into depression.

Unable to write, he follows his agent’s advice to retreat to a secluded island for peace and inspiration. But the island proves to be anything but tranquil. He begins to see his wife, hear her voice, and experience eerie, unexplainable events. The locals are just as unsettling, raising more questions than answers. Did he finally find his wife? Was it all in his mind? And why did the island seem to awaken something so strange, so specific, only for him?

➳ ABOUT THE CHARACTERS —

╰┈➤ GRADY GREEN—

Grady Green, the husband , the author and male lead in this story, was easily one of the most frustrating characters I’ve ever read. Honestly, I can’t sugarcoat it this man lacked every ounce of common sense. As a thriller author, you’d expect him to pick up on the strange and unsettling things happening on the island, but no, he was utterly oblivious to even the most obvious clues. While I sympathized with him initially, thinking he was just a victim of his circumstances, it became clear that his cluelessness was his defining trait.

What also grated on me was how often the author repeated how much Grady loved his books and solitude. We get it he's passionate about writing and enjoys being alone. But the constant mentions started to feel redundant and unnecessary, adding little to his character. By the end, I was left shaking my head at how infuriatingly naive and oblivious Grady turned out to be.


╰┈➤ ABBY GREEN—

Abby Green, the journalist, the planner and female lead of this story, felt like such an insignificant character to me. Even now, as I’m writing this review, I can’t think of a single standout moment that justified her presence in the book. She wasn’t even the mastermind behind the plot, that credit went to her godmother. It felt like she was simply there to move the story along, without much depth or significance to her role.

That being said, I won’t deny that after learning about her past and what she endured, I did start to pity her. Seeing things through her perspective added some emotional weight, and I could understand her struggles better. However, even that wasn’t enough to make me truly love or connect with her character. I just wish the story had given us more insight into Abby’s thoughts and motivations, something that would’ve made her feel more fleshed out and impactful.

➳ ABOUT THE WRITING —

Now, you might be wondering, if I didn’t love much about this book, why did I rate it 3.5 stars? Well, the answer lies solely in how much I adore Alice Feeney’s writing style. Her storytelling is truly captivating, and this book was no exception. Despite my frustrations, it managed to keep me on edge the entire time. I found myself constantly thinking about what would happen next, unable to put it down until I had all the answers.

Her books always seem to have this effect on me, and honestly, that’s a testament to her skill as an author. Call me biased, but it’s the reason I rated this book as high as I did. Even when the plot or characters didn’t meet my expectations, her ability to grip the reader and create suspense carried the story for me.

➳ ABOUT THE PLOT —

When it comes to the plot, I felt it was overly complex and, at times, nonsensical. I kept waiting for that classic Feeney twist, the one that leaves you completely stunned, but unfortunately, it never came. The story felt poorly executed and exaggerated in parts, which only added to my frustration as I read.

What made it worse was the sense of wasted potential. The premise had so much promise, and I truly believe it could have been an incredible read if the execution had been stronger. Instead, the underwhelming delivery of the plot left me disappointed, and I couldn’t help but feel that the story fell short of what it could have been.


°˖➴ "Overall, if you're in the mood for a book that keeps you hooked from start to finish, making you think and constantly guess what might happen next, then this could be the perfect read for you." 💌

— Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.