Beautiful Ugly had potential, but it missed the mark for me. The synopsis teased a thrilling missing-person mystery, but the story felt scattered, weighed down by bizarre side plots and unlikable characters. Abby and Grady, in particular, were frustrating—therapy and communication could’ve worked wonders. Even the island’s supporting cast had their own icks, making it hard to care about anyone.

On the bright side, the audiobook production was solid, with immersive sound effects. And Columbo, the dog, was a delightful bright spot in an otherwise odd story—definitely a good dog surrounded by weirdos.

Ultimately, this one wasn’t for me, but Columbo deserved better!

Wow… I did not see that ending coming! I've always enjoyed Alice Feeney's books, but I'd say this one is definitely among her best. From the start, I was hooked, trying to figure out what happened to one of the missing characters. As the story unfolded, I kept wondering: Is the main character truly losing his mind, or is something more sinister at play? Maybe a bit of both? But the twists at the end completely blindsided me. There is definitely a resemblance to a famous story, but I can’t say which, as it would spoil the experience for those who haven’t read the book yet. I'd give this a strong 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5. There is one part that doesn’t fully make sense, but I can’t explain why without giving away a major twist. Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially if you have access to the audiobook version. I listened to it, and the narrator was fantastic—his performance really pulled me into the story. Plus, the added sound effects, like music and ocean waves, were a wonderful touch.

The story centers around Abby and Grady, who have a complicated but loving marriage. Things take a dramatic turn when Grady gets everything he's ever wanted but loses it all in one tragic moment. While talking to his wife on the phone, she suddenly slams on the brakes, claiming to have seen a woman lying on the road. Abby disappears that night and is never seen again. A year later, Grady is still grieving deeply and is miserable in life. Struggling with his writing, his editor (also his wife's godmother) suggests he go to a remote Scottish island to stay in a cabin once owned by a former writer. Once the pace picks up, the book really takes off with fast-moving twists and turns. But be prepared for a slower, eerie buildup that keeps you on edge.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook, as the accents felt very appropriate for the Scottish setting. The narrators did a fantastic job, and the sound effects were perfectly placed, making the story feel even more immersive. That said, I did feel like parts of the story dragged a bit, and the big twist didn't hit as hard as I expected. Still, the ending was intriguing and dark, and it's definitely one that's stuck with me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the advanced audio version in exchange for my honest opinions!

Thank you, Net Galley, for the advanced audio of Alice Feeney's BEAUTIFUL UGLY. I have read several of Feeney's earlier novels and this one does not disappoint. the story centers around an author experiencing severe writer's block after the disappearance of his wife. He goes to a remote cabin that his publisher offered to him with the thought that it would help unblock him. the tale that the author tells is very interesting and intriguing and the plot twists just keep coming.

Guys. I'm a sucker for an Alice Feeney thriller. The great thing about them is that they are consistently tense THROUGHOUT, and don't only rely on a few distinct twists to keep the reader on edge. I highly recommend this in audio form, as the sound effects and various voices were SO well done and incredibly enjoyable, making it a particularly immersive read.

This is the story of Grady Green, whose wife goes missing after a mysterious road incident. He is a fairly successful writer who is now struggling following the events in his personal life - in hearing about this, his agent sends him off to a Scottish island to try to make progress on his book.

What follows is chock full of dark twists and a sort of generally unnervingly creepy vibe throughout. We switch between different perspectives, we go back and forth in time, and we go through a classic Alice Feeney "buckle yourself in"-style thriller.

I'm a huge fan! As a bonus, the oxymoron headings for each chapter were a real kick - I found myself looking forward to discovering which one would come next (eg. "good grief", "bittersweet").

Enjoyed this so much (especially on audio, narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton), and will be looking forward to Feeney's next!

I got to enjoy this ARC as an audiobook.
I will say that Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did an awesome job as voice actors.

“I hope you die in your sleep” doesn’t mean what you think. It sounds like a horrible thing to say, but everything about this book is a contradiction in itself. The setting is beautiful and captivating, but eerie and strange. Even the chapter names are called “Good Grief”, “Only Option” and “Innocent Criminal”. There were twists and turns and for a while I was convinced that the two main characters, Grady and Abby were on different wavelengths when it came to their marriage. Grady talked about how perfect everything was, then you hear a story that Abby talks about which describes something different. But then there’s a twist that reveals why it seems like that.
Of course there’s a twist !!

It was hard to not want to finish this story in one sitting because my brain was already working ion what could possibly be going on within the first 4 chapters.

“I Hope you die in your sleep” is the last line in the book and there’s a resignation and eerie sense it gives you especially when you listen to it right before bed.

I truly recommend this book, it will have you thinking about it even after you are done reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC copy of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc and making it an early book of the month choice. This was really good as an immersive read. I finished this so quick. The way he loved his wife and was seeing her everywhere was sad, but beautiful at the same time. I recommend reading this book. I gave it 5 stars.

This book was a huge let down imo. Nothing is believable and it’s just not enough. I didn’t like the characters and none it makes sense. I read this audiobook on 2X and it felt like it was still going to slowly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the ALC and thanks to Edelweiss and Flatiron Books for the ARC.

This book was crazy. I had no clue what I was getting into when I started this book. If anything this book made me feel many emotions. It seemed to be one of those kinds of books that I both loved and hated. And I guess that means that Alice Feeney has done a good job. It made me feel things, and not necessarily in a good way, but also not in a bad way. I am almost conflicted on what to say for this review. If anything my review is to say that Alice Feeney is a great writer if she makes her reader feel such strong emotions. I also am being purposefully vague about what I didn't like and what I liked about this book as I think it is best to go into this one knowing as little as possible. But let's just say that the twist was insane. Afnd I guess I should leave it at that.

Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did a great job with the narration of the audiobook, and I would 100% listen to more books narrated by them in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the ALC and thanks to Edelweiss and Flatiron Books for the ARC.

This author does such a great job with creating atmosphere in her books. My all time favorite Rock Paper Scissors involved a desolate creepy cabin during a snowstorm. This book offers an isolated island off the Scottish coast that while beautiful, has this sense of foreboding doom. A writer whose wife disappeared one year ago, goes to this place to try to get his creative mojo back Once there, he thinks he is seeing his wife. Obviously this involves an unreliable narrator (is it really her?), but also the island people are strange. You can just feel that something is not right, but you would probably be remiss to try to figure out the twists and turns that Feeney is so well known for. I listened to this one on audio, and the experience highlighted the story even more for me. If you are an audiobook listener, I would suggest this as the media to consume this book, it gave it an even more tense atmosphere.

In true fashion for this author, she has created a tense, mood heavy story with odd characters and the constant sense that something sinister is coming. The ending was one of the strangest I have read in a thriller, but I was here for the creep factor. Another winner form Ms. Feeney.

This book had me at the edge of my seat the entire time! I didn’t know what to expect but it was NOT THAT! I enjoyed every moment !

I really wanted SO BADLY to love this book. Usually love the author. But this was just too much of a stretch for my liking. Didn’t feel like something that could actually happen.

The Queen of Killer Twists, NYT Bestselling author Alice Feeney is back better than ever with her highly anticipated thriller BEAUTIFUL UGLY, her best yet—(exceeds all expectations), amid the anticipated Netflix series adaptation of her novel HIS & HERS starring Tessa Thompson.

From London to a remote Scottish island, a totally gripping, wicked, and deliciously dark, BEAUTIFUL UGLY is a twisty story of marriage, relationships, revenge, and the dark secrets they hide. Note: Always appreciate what you have—as it may be gone tomorrow.

Audiobook...

The audiobook is utterly captivating and deserving of 10 stars! Top Audiobook of 2025!I have never been so excited to receive an ALC! Richard Armitage (The Fool Me Once star) and Tuppence Middleton deliver a stellar performance, capturing the suspense, characters, lurking darkness, menace, and beauty to perfection. The performance deftly elevates the novel from beginning to end with the bonus of sound effects (waves), and the walkie-talkies are brilliant. The unpredictable ending is priceless and chilling for a wild adventure. You will find yourself hanging on every word and sound and listening repeatedly— IT IS THAT GOOD!

About...

Grady Green is an author married to Abby. As the book opens, he calls his wife on the phone. She was to be home already so they could share the upcoming news of possibly a New York Times bestseller. After all, they always celebrate their milestones with champagne, fish-and-chips.

Grady is a chap who loves his solitude, fictional characters, and writing. But he wants his wife by his side to hear his upcoming news. However, on her way home in the car, everything mysteriously changes when they are on the phone. A woman is in the middle of the road, and Abby wants to help. Then nothing. She is gone, never to return. The sudden turn of events will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the truth.

When he eventually finds her car by the cliff's edge, her phone is there, but not Abby. She has disappeared.

A year later, after losing everything due to being distraught, grieving, and unable to write, living in a run-down hotel with his dog, financially ruined, his publisher throws him a lifeline and offers him a remote cabin for writing —The Isle of Amberly, a remote Scottish Island.

You are not allowed to have a car that is accessible only by ferry. Excited and nervous, he soon finds this may be what he needs, and he begins to write and enjoys the solitude. He is writing again with his dog sidekick! He has always wanted to be left alone with his writing and characters.

However, odd, creepy, and sinister things begin happening around him. He sees a woman in a red coat that looks like his wife. Then, a few more discoveries that will change his life. What happened to the writer who lived there previously, and what is going on with this island?

Things are so strange he wants off the island. He wants nothing more than to go home and get off the island. But some forces are pulling him, and he can see NO escape.

My thoughts...

Holy Cannoli! I LOVED (devoured) this book! SPELLBINDING! Brilliantly and cleverly crafted, Alice has outdone herself! Her skillful storytelling and masterful plot twists will leave you in awe. Grady's character is chilling!

Beautifully written, from the perfect setup that hooks you immediately, the careful building of suspense, perfect pacing, the shifting between characters with sound effects, a twisty plot, the jaw-dropping twists, and the atmospheric setting of the island—A show-stopping, first-class psychological thriller of domestic suspense!

You are unsure of the character's motives, where nothing is as it appears, with unreliable narrators. The author takes you on a wild adventure with a perfectly fitting title.

Psychologically rich, addictive, and razor-sharp, BEAUTIFUL UGLY is a complete package. A thriller lover's dream—from the stunning cover to the explosive finale. The novel delves deep into the human psyche, offering a thought-provoking reading experience.

A masterpiece. Brilliant, spine-chilling, witty, and clever. Do not miss this book of the year! Thriller fans will devour. I would love to know the inspiration behind this fascinating book.

Recs...

BEAUTIFUL UGLY is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Mary Kubica, Chris Whitaker, B.A. Paris, Kaira Rouda, Kimberly Belle, Robyn Harding, and Samantha Downing.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio (#MacAudio2024) for an advanced listening copy via NetGalley and Google Play in exchange for an honest review. I also ordered the hardcover copy for my home library and cannot wait for it to arrive!

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
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Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
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Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early listener copy of Beautiful Ugly in exchange for my honest opinion. I listened to this audiobook in one sitting, well until 92% through when I had to pause it because my head was spinning! The book takes a long time to set up the story and get where it’s going, but the last 10% is a wild ride. I would have preferred if it had started 10-20% sooner, as then it wouldn’t have felt like whiplash with so much happening at the very end, while also simultaneously being wrapped up. Considering the speed of the ending, it wrapped up a bit too neatly for my liking.
I have listened to most of Alice Feeney’s books, although I have yet to read His & Hers and Sometimes I Lie. The dual narration was a nice change from her previous audiobooks, and it worked well with the characters involved. This wasn’t my favorite of hers, but I will keep reading (and most likely listening) to her work.

I oringally gave this book 4 stars, but after sitting with it and thinking about it, I think I need to give it 3 stars. It was still a wild trip in all the twisty, wild ways that Feeney is notorious for, but there was just a few things really missing for me with it. I do think the beginning dragged a little and took a while to get going, but the second half picked right up and unfolded with so many twists. It was very entertaining and kept me on my toes, but the characters were very unlikeable and a few of the twists didn't really work for me.

Overall, I'd definitely say check it out (the audio was fantastic too) but it won't be my favourite of hers by any means.

Grateful for the opportunity to get an ARC of this book. I have not previously read anything from this author and I am not sure what to think, honestly. Feel like there were so many aspects that were red herrings, I suppose, but felt more like loose ends. While I didn’t see the end coming, I also found it anticlimactic and brought on a lot of questions about how the MMC didn’t realize connections of people and places. In the end, I didn’t love but did think I enjoyed it more than in audiobook than if I had physical copy, for the accents and the sounds (eg Walkie-talkie).

This is my third Alice Feeney mystery/thriller and what I appreciate most about her writing style is that the mystery is slow burning and as a reader the number of questions you have will gradually build with very little relief. At no point did I have the plot fully figured out and even at times when I thought I did, I didn’t. There’s enough to this story where even if this reader figures out something - it’s not likely they’ll figure out everything. However, I did think things in the end were a bit over explained. This makes me feel like there weren’t enough crumbs sprinkled throughout for readers to make their own connections by the end.

An author is thrust into a plot to rival one of the thrillers on his shelf when his wife disappears and he finds himself seeing her “ghost” while on a writing retreat. This rather convoluted story slowly picks its way through a confusing cult like thriller gambit and into a horror ending that leaves you with more questions than answers. I’m not sure Feeney knew where it was headed anymore than her MC did. Thoroughly confusing, relatively boring, and ultimately disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley for my audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Alice Feeney does it again! The pacing of this book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Grady is an author who last talks to his wife, Abby, on her way home to celebrate his latest accolades. How can she just disappear? Grady finds himself thrust into a writing slump as he tries to figure out what happened to Abby. His agent recommends time away on a secluded Scottish Island to clear his mind and find peace to finish his latest book. Grady reluctantly goes but what he finds there will permanently change his future. The Island only allows day visitors under certain conditions. With Grady planning to stay awhile, his life and the ecosystem of the island are upended. Once there will (can) he ever leave? Thanks to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Holy smokes! This book kept me on my toes, and I definitely did not see the end coming! 10 out of 19 recommend this book!!