Author Grady Green has just received the biggest news an author can get…he officially has a best seller! While he is in the process of getting this news he is talking to his wife on the phone. She is on her way home to him, but sees someone lying in the road. Against his advice she gets out to offer help. That’s the last time he ever sees her. Grady has a very difficult time moving on after her disappearance. When his agent offers him a chance to go to an island and attempt to get back into writing. He has nothing else so he finally agrees. From the moment he arrives he feels that something is off. He is right, but he can never imagine what it is.

Feeney is very hit or miss with me. Honestly, this was a miss. I wanted to get into the story and love it, but I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and even the big twists didn’t do anything for me. The narrator was a highlight for me. Both the male and female narrators were great!

The production on this was nicely done. The sound effects made it that much more suspenseful. As the book progressed it got more and more erry and creepy, which I enjoyed. It was full of twist, one of which I guessed pretty easily but still a good read. I enjoyed and would recommend.

This novel will keep you guessing throughout the whole book. There are so many twists and turns! It's absolutely one of Alice Feeney's best novels yet. Highly recommend! The audiobook version was fantastic, with the extra sound effects being a nice touch.

Thank you, #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC.

5 stars

I feel like re-reading it because I am mind blown1 I don't understand what's happening in the best way.
I am excited to buy and read the actual physical book!!!

I find it difficult to give reviews on this genre because I don’t want to give anything away. I will say it was better than A.F.’s last book I read. This book was giving some subtle Misery vibes. I liked the setting and the basic plot. The majority of the story took place on a little Scottish Island. I had some mixed emotions about, Grady, the main character. I picked up on one of the major revelations early on; I think earlier than the reader was supposed to, however, I didn’t see the main twist coming. The ending was satisfying. There were definitely a couple scenarios that seemed really unrealistic and I found the unveiling of all of the secrets to be very spelled out to the reader. Overall I’m going with a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ although could likely be swayed one star in either direction depending on who I talk to about this one. 🎧 Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for letting me preview Beautiful Ugly in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!! There are so many twists and turns in this one! There was no way I could have figured the ending out! Kept me involved and not wanting to put it down!

Beautiful Ugly is my first Alice Feeney novel. I do have to say that I guessed the twist pretty quick on but that did not take away the fun I had with this book.
I loved the audiobook narration with the different sounds mixed through out like the sounds of the sea and crackling of walkie talkies.
The storytelling was great and I could really picture the island and what was going on with all these characters.
Without giving anything away, if I did need too, I would be totally down to be on this island.
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio, Alice Feeney and Net Galley on this Audio Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. The plot had so many details that all clicked into place at the end! I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect. 5 star read for me.

On the day his novel makes the New York Times Best Sellers List, Grady Green's wife mysteriously disappears. Despondent and depressed by Abby's disappearance, Grady can no longer write. He loses his house and is in financial ruin. His agent, Kitty, offers him the use of a cabin that she owns on a remote Scottish island, a place where he can possibly get over his writer's block. Grady gladly takes her up on the offer. Upon arrival at the ferry launch area, he learns that he can't take his car on the island and the ferry doesn't run on a regular basis. When he reaches the island, he learns there is no phone or internet service. Then weird things start to happen. As Grady finds a way to write again, he starts seeing and hearing strange things, and believes he has frequently caught glimpses of his missing wife. He begins to wonder if he is losing his mind and wants to leave the island. But there is no way to escape and Grady fears for his safety.
Beautiful Ugly is a great mystery and thriller that I completely enjoyed. I highly recommend this work of fiction to anyone who enjoys suspense and mysteries.
I was given an audio ARC of Beautiful Ugly by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley
#macmillanaudio
#alicefeeney
#beautifulugly
#mystery
#suspense
#scottishisles

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a masterpiece of psychological suspense and emotional complexity that will leave readers absolutely riveted. Feeney’s storytelling is sharp, layered, and utterly captivating, blending intrigue with profound emotional depth in a way that few authors can achieve. From the very first page, this book draws you in with its unflinching exploration of identity, trauma, and the lies we tell ourselves.

The plot is a brilliant mix of twists and revelations, each one more surprising and thought-provoking than the last. Feeney’s talent for creating unreliable narrators is on full display here, keeping you questioning what’s real and what’s not as the story unfolds. The suspense is palpable, and just when you think you have things figured out, Feeney throws in a shocking twist that completely upends your expectations.

What truly makes Beautiful Ugly stand out is its emotional core. At its heart, it’s a story about the masks we wear, the beauty we see in others, and the ugliness we hide within ourselves. The characters are deeply flawed, and their struggles are both heartbreaking and relatable. Feeney masterfully balances these personal journeys with the tension of a gripping psychological thriller, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and moving.

The pacing is perfect, with each chapter driving the story forward while unraveling the complexities of the characters’ lives. The ending is both unexpected and satisfying, wrapping up the story in a way that feels earned and impactful.

Beautiful Ugly is a five-star triumph—dark, intelligent, and incredibly gripping. It’s a perfect choice for readers who love psychologically intricate thrillers with strong character development and a deep emotional punch. Feeney once again proves why she’s one of the best in the genre, delivering a book that is as beautiful as it is ugly in all the right ways. Highly, highly recommended! I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I started this book knowing nothing about it except I wanted to read Alice Feeney's newest book asap. I was so excited to get approved for the audiobook ARC and then realized I wasn't even sure what the story was about! I wasn't expecting a chilling island vibe, but thoroughly enjoyed it!
Grady is an author at the top of the charts when his wife mysteriously goes missing while he's talking with her on the phone. Everything in Grady’s life begins to fall apart, until he is given the opportunity to spend several months on an exclusive island to focus on writing his next novel. The island only has a couple dozen residents and are all quite peculiar.
The amazing sound effects, waves crashing, seagulls crying and walkie talkies all gave the feelings of truly being immersed while listening, and I couldn't wait to read each new chapter.
In true Alice Feeney fashion the story was wonderfully and thrillingly brought together with several twist you won’t see coming.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio Media for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Fable.

This was my first Alice Feeney and I think I will give more of her books a try. This book was a miss from me. Too many plot holes and weird misses.

Devilishly Heavenly. Smartly Deranged. Euphoric Heartbreak. Sanely Unhinged. Graceful Revenge.

"Beautiful Ugly" is a tasty, twisty, tangled web of lies and deceit that will grab you from the jump.

A year after his wife goes missing, husband and Author Grady Green remains devastated leading him to a remote Scottish Island intended to create a spark for his next novel. Grady senses strange vibes before setting foot on the island as the ferry driver (and local sheriff) but persists with the journey anyway.

The isolated island with its dark and tragic history, sends Grady down a booze-filled spiral with visions of his wife everywhere, leaving him desperate to find her. He's there to write his next novel yet all he can think about (and see) is his missing wife. Through any means necessary, Grady has to finish writing his book while trying to grasp what's real and what is he imagining.

Fans of Alice Feeney and thriller lovers will devour Feeney's latest creation. A robust and rocky mystery that will leave you teetering on your seat...and your sanity.

No spoilers but the ending will leave you guffawing with satisfaction. I audibly evil giggled to myself as I finished it. A gratifying tale of revenge.

What do they say again? Happy wife happy life...

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, & Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure.

Beautiful Ugly is a deeply rich, atmospheric, slow burn thriller that is completely mad. Feeney is the queen of thriller twists and I absolutely love her. Unfortunately, this one wasn't my favorite. I loved the whole setting, the constant feeling of doom, suspense, eeriness and just constant chills. It had a great build up, but the ending felt a little rushed and confusing in my opinion. With all too many reasonings and motivations that just left me feeling unsatisfied with unanswered questions. The twists were very unrealistic also, so you need to suspend disbelief for sure.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book, just a little slow for me and overly confusing where I didn't feel it needed to be. I love Alice and will continue reading her books, but this one just didn't feel like a true Alice thriller for me.

🎧 The narration by Richard Armitrage was really good and he truly is the one that kept me mostly hooked to the book. He kept me interested and he did the accents perfectly.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio & Alice Feeney for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Another twisty thriller from Alice Feeney.

The story follows Grady Green, an author, whose wife disappears the same night he achieves his greatest ambition. A year later Grady has lost everything - he cannot write, his wife is gone, his career has stalled and he's homeless. His agent, Kitty, comes to his rescue in the form of a cabin on a tiny island off the Scottish coast.

With the hope that with stability and peace will spur him on to write Grady jumps at the offer. But of course the island is not what it seems and neither are the inhabitants. And why does he keep seeing a woman who looks like his wife?

There were a few parts of this book that were a little too fantastical for me but they are few and far between and, on the whole, I enjoyed this twisty read. The characters are interesting and the atmosphere of the book feels oppressive throughout.

100% Recommended!

I was excited to read this one as it is highly spoken about, however, the execution fell short. The characters were not likable, the storyline was odd, and the twists were very unrealistic. The story was written in dual timelines and dual POV. The MC was unreliable, and the story of the island was weird. I was confused in part of the second half of the book. Some of the twists were very out there. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators, and they were the only reason why I didn’t DNF the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the Audio ARC! This was a highly anticipated book for me and it honestly was just alright. I had higher hopes. Alice Feeney is already a very hit or miss author for me and this one was just average in my opinion. 3.5 stars! I'll round up to 4 on NG!

Alice does it again with her plot twists, the red jacket mention and guessing how this thriller will play out in the end. Loved the mystery almost ghost like setting of the plot. Character build up was fantastic as well. You got to know so many different personalities. Truly enjoyed this thriller.

This was my first Alice Feeney book and it did not disappoint! The whole atmosphere was so unsettling and eerie and I didn’t really have a clue where it was going the entire time. Even closer to the end when I THOUGHT I had an idea what direction the twist was heading, Miss Feeney really took it a couple steps further.

I LOVED this!!! It's so dark and twisty and extremely creepy.

Grady hasn't been able to write since his wife disappeared. When his agent suggests he travel to a tiny Scottish isle to write in a cabin, he's excited to find a finished, unpublished manuscript by a famous author that he decides to publish as his own. For the first time in a long time, life seems good... until a series of unsettling events unfold, Grady believes he is starting to see his wife. And the longer he stays, the less likely escape seems possible.

The audiobook was absolutely incredible! There are little sound effects throughout that make you really feel like you're in the story. It adds a factor of creepiness. Richard Armitage does a fantastic job narrating as Grady and adding in some Scottish accents.

I really enjoyed the twists and truly didn't see where this was going. You feel like you're being gaslit right alongside Grady, and it's a rollercoaster of emotions as the narrative weaves back and forth through time. The ending was eerily beautiful in a way, and I was hooked.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this ARC!!