Enjoyable and thrilling listen. This was my first book by this author but I will certainly read more! Loved this one highly recommend

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is an absolute masterclass in dark, twisted storytelling. Sinister and full of surprises, this thriller hooks you from the very first page. It’s wickedly fun to read, with impeccable pacing, steadily building tension, and enough twists to leave you reeling.

At its heart, the novel explores marriage, redemption, revenge, and resilience. We meet Grady Green, a once-successful author whose life has crumbled after his wife mysteriously disappeared on a day that should have been a celebration. Now paralyzed by grief, Grady has lost everything: his ability to write, his sense of purpose, and his way forward. In a last-ditch effort to revive his career, his agent sends him to a tiny, remote Scottish island, hoping the isolation will force him to write his next book.

But this is Alice Feeney we’re talking about, and nothing is ever what it seems. The island feels ominous and unsettling. Strange things begin to happen, the locals harbor their own secrets, and Grady—already unraveling—starts seeing his missing wife everywhere. Is it guilt? Grief? Or something far more sinister?

What sets Beautiful Ugly apart is Feeney’s ability to create an atmosphere so immersive, it feels like the damp chill of the Scottish island seeps through the pages. The plot is clever and labyrinthine, the characters expertly drawn—flawed, unreliable, and endlessly fascinating. Feeney crafts each layer of the story with precision, ensuring every reveal lands perfectly.

This is a book about secrets, grief, and the lies we tell ourselves and others. It’s a sharp, atmospheric, and thrilling ride that feels both dark and delicious. Feeney fans will find everything we love here—twists, tension, and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.

5/5—an absolute must-read for thriller lovers.

Alice Feeney did it again--I know to expect a twist, but I can NEVER see it coming.

I loved this. The setting on a remote island in the highlands of Scotland was perfect. The characters on the island reminded me of the show Midnight Mass on Netflix--the seclusion and just...interesting vibes.

5/5 stars. I recommend. Alice Feeney has yet to let me down. (And I've been LET DOWN by some of my favorite mystery/thriller writers recently!)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the #ALC. (This was a FANTASTIC audiobook--I recommend listening!)

There is no author author like Alice Feeney that keeps me guessing until the very end! The clever, oxymoronic chapter titles really weave its way into the story to keep readers on the edge of their set!

This is my 3rd book by Feeney and I wanted so bad to love it! Honestly this was so much like Rock Paper Scissors with it's mundane day to day activities that I was very bored. The potential for a thrilling book was there just didn't hit the mark. Always love this narrator though.

4.8 stars - Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC of this audiobook! Oh the tangled web that we weave! This was another slam dunk by Alice Feeney with lies, deceit, death, and all kinds of twists that left me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Admittedly, I thought I had the book figured out very early on but could not have been more wrong. Absolutely loved the ending (definitely gasped out loud) and felt like justification was served! #Girlpower

Beautiful Ugly:⁣
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Thank you @flatiron_books and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 for my gifted copies!⁣
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“You know I love a good revenge story.”⁣
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Y’all didn’t tell me this was locked room!!! Only 25 people on an island?! Yes ma’am. Also, it should just be 5 ⭐️ just from the chapter titles alone. There’s a chapter called “Man-Child” like hello?! Yes. ⁣
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If there’s one thing that will happen when I read Alice Feeney, it’s that the book is almost done and my eyes have rolled hard. Then, Alice hits a uno reverse twist, I gasp and apologize and usually curse several expletives because she got me good. This is no exception. I was absolutely ready to throw in the towel on ole Grady, and I am sorry for ever doubting your masterful storytelling Alice. The twist did feel very left field, but I’m still down for it. ⁣
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Audio was so good. I do feel like I’m going to be on edge whenever I hear a metronome going forward. It’s a full production, and I love and highly recommend the audio. Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton were such good readers.⁣
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To get to the twist, it may be too long for some as it is a slow burn type. I can see others DNF before we get to the shabang. Be patient, it’ll be worth it. ⁣
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Out the 14th, I know a lot of you grabbed this for your @bookofthemonth (I did as well) ⁣
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QOTD: Do you have a specific trope or location that you love to read? I love a locked room/isolated island, it’s my absolutely jam.

I just finished listening to Beautiful Ugly on audio, and wow-it was so well done! The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life. The plot itself is masterfully crafted, with just the right balance of suspense and emotional depth. Feeney has a way of pulling you in and making you second-guess everything you think you know about the characters. And the ending... My jaw was on the floor!! I didn’t see the final twist coming, and it completely reframed the entire story. I will be picking up a physical copy of this one to re-read in the future!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Alice Feeney for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Reader Copy!

I disliked every character in this book, and therefore I had a hard time enjoying the book. I found them all to be fake, whiny and annoying. The characters felt flat to me. although they were well developed, just boring. The book's pacing was very slow, which only added to my struggles to stay engaged. It really did not get exciting until the last 25% or so of the book. However, as with all Alice Feeney books, she delivers and delivers well on those unexpected twists. There were a few toward the end of the book that I didn't see coming. There were a handful of times I considered making this a DNF, but I am glad I stuck through until the end. I just wish that the majority of the book moved the way that the ending did. Feeney does a great job of setting the reader up to question what is going on and what is going to happen, I just think she spent too much time doing so.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I’ve read and loved previous book s by Alice Feeney. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of my favourites and found it quite far fetched at times. It won’t though stop me reading more of her books as she is an excellent author but this one just didn’t work for me. On a positive note the narrators were excellent and because of them I didn’t give up on this one.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The narration of this story helps move it along. The added sound effects at times are odd. If you like Alice Feeney’s books this one will not disappoint and keep you engaged however, I did struggle with this one as characters didn’t get developed and the storyline is choppy. I really felt the ending was rushed and bread crumbs should have been dropped throughout the story. It comes out 1/14/25 and worth a pleasure read but don’t look for a dark thriller.

I listened to this advanced reader copy as an audiobook. The chapters are super short so it’s a great read if you tend to start and stop frequently.
The book was very drawn out that I found myself losing interest. There are two narrators that do help bring voices to the main character. The male narrator has a slight accent that is soothing/relaxing, but in a mystery/thriller I more connect when they can create drama and intrigue. I really enjoy reading thrillers, but I would not classify this book as a thriller. This book did not keep me engaged or guessing until the end. The final chapters finally picked up, but overall the book was very underwhelming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alice Feeny knows how to write a twisty-turny book that is suspenseful and entertaining! It will definitely appleal to her core fan base. The audiobook narrators did a great job, and I found them both pleasant. I appreciate the dual narration, but duet narration is my favorite! I would have preferred it here. I especially loved the added sound effects in this production like the water of the streams and the suspenseful music! It definitely added texture.

What I liked:
The pacing of the book is quick, the plot is intriguing, and the mystery is on brand. I was trying to guess the ending the whole way through! I started this book and was hooked from the very beginning. I was certainly engaged and entertained! The characters are relatable and their development is good.

What I didn’t like:
MYstery/Thriller readers want a chance to figure it out in the end. That’s the thrill of the thriller, the chase of the plot reveal. The unmasking of the bad guy. I love subtle foreshadowing and little crumbs embedded within the text that leaves me wondering and guessing at the big reveal. This book has that right up until the final chapters where, suddenly, everything you have been led to believe about the characters and the whole storyline is false. Plot twists and facts that the reader would not, could not, have been able to guess are dropped like bombs to the degree that I became frustrated. It was like they chopped the final chapters of a different book and glued them to the end here. There is a difference between a creative plot twist and gaslighting the reader. Readers want a book where they can have a chance at guessing it, not an ending that feels like a totally different story line altogether. Overall, this book was entertaining, clever, and a good story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this ARC of Beautiful Ugly on Audio.

Alice Feeney's BEAUTIFUL UGLY is a brilliant novel, perfect for those who enjoy a pervasively creepy, ominous, psychological suspense story.

Author Grady Green is grappling with his wife's disappearance a year ago: on Abby's way home and on the phone with him, she sees a body lying on the road, gets out to help, and hasn't been spotted since. Her disappearance torments Grady, preventing him from sleeping or writing. Then, his agent offers him a unique and potentially life-changing opportunity to save his writing career: to live in a remote writing cabin on the isle of Amberley, previously inhabited by a much-loved and deceased author. But, despite the island's stunning beauty, something sinister is happening. After all, there is no phone or ferry service to the mainland, and Grady keeps seeing Abby everywhere.

With dual timelines and POVs, the characters gleamed with all their wacky, oddball behavior. Grady is the perfect unreliable narrator, as you lose all sense of whether he's seeing and hearing things or if they're real, which only increases as his insomnia and drinking affect his perception. The characters are interesting, and the book's atmosphere feels oppressive throughout. Numerous twists are leading up to the ultimate revelation of the truth.

The audiobook narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, deserve special mention for their outstanding performance. The British and Scottish accents added an authentic touch to the characters, and their ability to convey depth and emotion made me feel as though I was right there with them. The sound effects, from the waves crashing to the crackle of walkie-talkies, added another layer of suspense, making the audiobook a truly immersive experience.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Alice Feeney for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Author Grady Green is having the most extreme day of his life. His book has made the NYT bestseller list. He had hoped his wife would be with him when he received the call, but she was driving home after picking up takeaway. He calls to share the news when she suddenly stops saying she found a woman laying across the road. He wants her to keep going, but she gets out of the car to help and then there is nothing. She vanishes.

A year later, he is still grieving and unable to work or think straight. He is losing everything. His agent offers a cabin that willed to her by another writer on a remote island in Scotland. With no other place to go, he accepts the offer, packing his few things and his dog and making his way to the ferry, To say this island is isolated is an understatement. There is no phone service, no regular ferry service, unreliable mail, and he was not allowed to bring his car on the island, No one will give a real answer to even the simplest of questions, To make his already tormented mind even worse, he sees a woman who looks just like his missing wife. What is happening here?

This story is told in two time lines and by dual POVs. It has the quirky feel of Twin Peaks and the questioned sanity of Gone Girl. Alice Feeney masterfully creates the sinister feel of the island and the intense peculiarity of it inhabitants. This is an original, tense and twisty tale that has the reader feeling the panic and desperation of Grady.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Author Grady Green has just received exciting news and calls his wife on her drive home from work to share it with her. While on the phone, she comes across a person lying in the road, and stops and gets out of the car to help them, but she is never to be heard from again. After a year of grief and misery, Grady’s life is in shambles, and he needs to start writing again to be able to support himself. He heads to a remote Scottish island in the hopes of finding his muse, but instead finds a woman who is the spitting image of his missing wife.

This book was, in a word… INSANE! There were so many twists and turns, one of which actually made me gasp out loud, and I felt as though it was impossible to predict what would happen next. The remote Scottish island was the perfect setting for this dark and eerie tale which kept me at the edge of my seat in anticipation.

The characters were creepy, and I mean that in the best way. Each and every person was suspicious and seedy, and so incredibly untrustworthy that sometimes it would send shivers down my spine. I should have known I was in for quite a ride when Grady and his wife used “I hope you die in your sleep” as a way to tell each other I love you, but really I could never have imagined how crazy the journey would be.

I am someone who tends to flip back and forth between a print/electronic book and listen to an audiobook only when I’m on the move, so this is my first cover to cover exclusive audiobook read, and I was excited to try it. While listening to the book gave it the feeling of a movie, I did miss not being able to see the printed names of characters and places, and also having the opportunity to highlight my favorite quotes and phrases throughout. I definitely see myself purchasing the Kindle version when it is released. As far as the quality of this audiobook, I felt that both of the actors for this version of the book were excellent. Their voices, while strong and pleasant to listen to, also lended themselves well to the mysterious and sinister nature of the story. Additionally, scattered throughout were sound effects and musical interludes that really added to the experience.

This is only my second book by Alice Feeney, and I have enjoyed them both. If you are looking for a book that will have your heart pounding and your brain on overdrive, then this is the one for you.


**4.5 stars rounded down to 4

This book definitely lives up to the hype! It features an engaging audio experience that immerses you fully in the story. The narration captivated me and heightened the thrill of the experience. The narrator was exceptional, and the added sound effects—like water, footsteps, and phone calls—intensified the suspense. Throughout the book, I found myself questioning whether Grady was truly crazy, as I felt a bit disoriented myself. But baby the twist was something!! I didn't even expected it at all! Because WTF!! I highly recommend listening to this book; it was a thrilling ride from beginning to end!

Than you for this ARC! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint. I did not want to stop listening. Great domestic thriller, good twists, good audiobook narration.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced listeners copy of Beautiful Ugly! The audio experience was absolutely amazing! I loved the narrators and the sound mixing for this audiobook. It was a great book to listen to, and for that reason, I would recommend this book to thriller readers. The book itself was enjoyable, but also lacked in some areas for me. I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters, and the last 25% of the book seemed rushed and incomplete. I always look forward to the twists in Feeney's novels, but this one seemed a little underwhelming to me!

This was spooky and fantastic! Author Grady Green is at rock bottom after the traumatic disappearance of this wife. When his publisher suggests he utilize a cabin on a remote Scottish island that was the location of a popular author writing a bunch of bestsellers, he decides to give it a try. But of course, nothing is as it seems.
Alice Feeney is the queen of 'wtf is going on'. I said 'wait, what???' no less than 5 times and had to listen to some of the last chapters a few times to wrap my head around everything. This was a slower paced mystery, but I felt that added to the scary and tense atmosphere. It definitely didn't make me want to go to any remote islands anytime soon.
The narration is excellent and I highly recommend enjoying Beautiful Ugly that way. Richard Armitage is soo good!
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley!