Thank you NetGalley! This book started out with a bang, pulling me in immediately. As I read, I was intrigued by what was happening to the main character. And wondering about the flipping bank and forth between characters. So good!

1 sentence review: An unsettling and jaw dropping thriller set in the backdrop of a beautiful yet eerily secluded Scottish isle.

Let me start by saying a 5 star rating does NOT come easy over here!!! Out of the 67 books I’ve read this year.. this is only my 3rd 5 star read!

Miss Alice Feeney is the queen of twists and this book delivered exactly what I was expecting and more. I think what sets Feeney apart from other thriller authors is that her twists are so wild and well done that I actually take the time to go back and reread sections to see how much of a genius she is.

The secluded Scottish isle setting was so atmospheric with beautiful yet eerie and unsettling imagery. There were a few parts in this that actually scared me (🛏️ iykyk) 😂

Lastly, special shoutout to the audiobook because this was SO well done!! Special sound effects, an impeccable Scottish accent for the islanders, dual narrators, and Thorin from the Hobbit narrators the male POV 😉. I definitely recommend the audiobook or pairing with the audiobook for this to make it extra atmospheric!

Read This if You Like:
🌊 Secluded island thrillers
🏠 TwistSSS you will never see coming
🖊️ Tight knit communities who don’t take well to outsiders 🤫

My Feeney ranking is (probably):
1. Rock Paper Scissors 5 ⭐️
2. Beautiful Ugly 5 ⭐️
3. His & Hers 5 ⭐️
4. Sometimes I Lie 4.5 ⭐️

This book is a very slow build up of suspense, mystery, intrigue. I’ve only read two Alice Feeney books so far- Daisy Darker (loved) and Rock, Paper, Scissors (was okay). So I wasn’t sure what to expect with this. I think I liked it more than Rock, Paper, Scissors, but less than Daisy Darker.

I liked the bit of psychological terror that the MMC experiences as he visits a remote island where he’s lodging so he can write on his next novel. But I just felt like it didn’t culminate to anything too shocking or twisting. There’s a lot more that I’d like to say, but it would start to give spoilers, so I’ll refrain from that. This seems to be really popular among other bookstagrammers, so if you’re a fan of other Alice Feeney works, or like an atmospheric suspense novel, pick this one up!

𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: I thought the main narrator was very good. He did a wide array of voices with different accents very well. The other narrator who did the other POVs also did a great job. There were ocean wave sounds between some of the chapters, which I originally didn’t like, but I realized it definitely helped with creating the atmosphere of a remote island.

So, I don't do summaries for mystery/thriller books because I think it's better to go in blind.

I have to tell you, I was HOOKED on Beautiful Ugly, but it took quite a few chapter for that to happen. But I also finished in one sitting. So why the three star rating?...

The pacing was pretty slow. It took me awhile to get into the story, but once I did there were so many questions and I was left curious. However, some of the twists in this title were just really outrageous and unbelievable. The ending left me really uncomfortable to say the least. I mean, I definitely wasn't expecting it, so there's that.

I did have the audio version, so that could make a difference too. I do think the narrators did a great job with this title.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful Ugly oozes with the claustrophobia of the tiny island where the authors goes to flee his life that was reduced to shambles the night his wife disappeared. Since then, he has been unable to sleep or write, and keeps wondering if he will see her again, and what the mysterious clue of a doll with it's mouth sewn shut is -- is that because of her journalism?
Finally, his agent sends him off to a remote Scottish island where a previous author client enjoyed the quiet to write his best novels. Off with his trusty dog, Columbo, the author heads out; only to realize things are far more isolated and remote than they appear.
The irregular ferry only allows locals to bring cars, so he must quickly downsize his packing and hop on. He starts seeing his wife everywhere, leading to awkward confrontations when they turn out to be other women. He starts meeting some of the 25 regulars and finding his way around -- and of course he is the talk of the town as a visitor and renowned author, the first they have had in quite some time.
Over time and encounters with several locals, things become more and more intense as hallucinations from a local tea and/or lack of sleep abound, his wife's articles appear in his cabin, and everyone seems to know his every move.
Combined with this trope is the found novel trope so popular in books like The Plot -- as he finds one under the floorboards and has precious few qualms about adapting it to be his own.
Interspersed are chapters from his wife's days leading up to her disappearance, as well as fates of some other tragic people on the island.
After much increasing and swirling suspense, he finally learns some key truths about his life and the island, as well as us learning some things he didn't bother to tell us.
Overall, it's very entertaining, albeit with some gaps and holes to forgive. Pay attention to the chapter names!!

This one kept me guessing, in typical Alice Feeney fashion! The audiobook was wonderful and kept me hooked the whole time. I’m still processing the ending.

Writers like their alone time to focus on their work, right? Moving to an island with few connections to the outside world would be the dream…right?

Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Feeney, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

Oof, talk about unreliable! This book had everything! Abby is on her way home to hopefully celebrate her husband's accomplishment. She's on the phone with Grady when suddenly a woman appears lying in the road. After getting out to help her, she disappears. A year later Grady still can't move on. He travels to a tiny little remote island at the insistence of his publisher to try and work on a book. but impossibly, he thinks he sees his wife.
Beautiful Ugly was CRAZY GOOD! I was completely confused and wondering out loud about what the heck is going on right up to the last page! I never in a million years would of come to that final conclusion. Also that last page....holy moly!! fantastic and I will forever read anything Alice Feeney writes, including a grocery list!

I would like to thank NetGalley for the advance audio of this book. I will start with the things that I did like . I liked the narrator and changes in the voices of the characters. I also liked the music and sound effects. However , the actual book was just ok. The plot twist actually ticked me off lol. I was like do you expect me to believe that after all his mourning and whining ? But , I did actually listen to the whole book in just a few days so it did keep my attention and these days that is a big accomplishment as I have many book in my DNF pile

The Queen of Twists, often used as a title for this author, is an excellent description of Alice Feeney and her latest work, Beautiful Ugly. Without really noticing at first, my stomach was slowly twisted into knots while reading this book - it's like life went sideways and I couldn't figure out how to straighten it up. Grady Green is a struggling author whose wife has disappeared. His agent offers him a writing cabin on the small, remote island of Amberley off of Scotland's coast. And from the moment he arrives, the world is enveloped in a dream. It's impossible to know what is Grady's imagination and what is really happening in his life, and it only gets stranger and more oddly terrifying. The strangely oxymoronic chapter titles add to the disorienting nature of the story. The characters in this novel are so well written that I could have been walking on the island of Amberly with them. I listened to the audiobook and I'm going to say that I think it's the best way to go. The narrator is superb and there are interludes of music and sound effects that complete this atmospheric tale. I recognize that the ending had some elements that defied belief, but in the context of this story, I felt like it was appropriate. I'm a fan of Ms. Feeney's earlier work, in particular Daisy Darker, and this novel did not disappoint.

This ARC audiobook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Well, they can't all be winners and unfortunately this one was not a winner for me. I usually enjoy Feeney's twisty stories but this one felt to me like it took way too long to get to anything twisty and I never really got invested in Grady and Abby. Once the twists come, they're definitely in standard Feeney surprises, but this book just felt like a slog to me. I both read and listened to this title to get a feel for which to recommend to patrons and will definitely recommend the physical over the audio this time around as I enjoyed that experience more. Thank you to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a gripping psychological thriller that explores grief, obsession, and the haunting question of what really happened to a missing person. The story opens with a chilling moment: Grady receives a call from his wife, Abby, only to hear her slam on the brakes, get out of the car, and then—nothing. When he finds her car near a cliff with the door ajar and her phone still inside, Abby has vanished without a trace.

A year later, Grady, consumed by grief and unable to move on, retreats to a remote Scottish island in an attempt to regain control of his life. There, he encounters an eerie twist—he sees a woman who looks exactly like Abby. This mysterious encounter sets the stage for a tense unraveling of secrets and psychological suspense.

Feeney expertly weaves a tale that keeps the reader questioning what is real and what is merely a product of Grady's fractured mind. The atmosphere of the isolated island adds to the sense of unease, while the suspense builds as Grady's desperate search for answers leads him to unsettling revelations. With her signature style, Feeney crafts a novel full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last page.

Beautiful Ugly is a haunting exploration of love, loss, and the lengths one will go to in order to understand the truth. It’s a captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy complex characters and unpredictable plots.

The ending had me saying "wow, what did I just read!"

I loved the audio version of this book. It was so well done and the characters truly came to life!

I found this book intriguing. I was not expecting the ending at all! Alice Feeney books can sometimes be hit or miss for me, and this was one of the good ones! I listened to the audio, but was a great two-person narration. The narrators were easily to listen to and enjoyable. I think this would make a good book club book; I’m interested to speak to other readers about their thoughts on the island and what they would do in this situation.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio version ARC.

Wow! This book was full of twist and turns throughout the whole story! I was immediately pulled in from the beginning! I couldn’t stop listening to the audio book, because I had to know what would happen next! The narrator was fantastic keeping me engaged the whole time, plus I loved the sound effects of the ocean, the walkie talkies and the phone rings! The sound effects just added an awesome feel that you were right there immersed into the story with the characters.
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this fabulous story. Excellent job Alice Feeney as always you wrote and an amazing edge of your seat suspenseful story!

Grady Green becomes a New York Times best selling author the same day his wife disappears. It happens while he's on the phone with her. A year later he's offered the use of a cabin on an island hoping to find a sense of peace.
This thriller only gets better, a definite 5 star read. It's twisty with so many turns, multiple perspectives,and a layered plot. I listened to the audio version and was immediately hooked. The narrators were amazing, kept me engaged, and at the edge of my seat. The sound effects were an added bonus making this my top audiobook yet!
Many thanks to NetGally, Macmillan Audio, and Alice Feeney for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Expected publication date: January 14, 2025

I know I can always count on Alice Feeney for a dark and twisted thriller, this one did not disappoint!

The audiobook version was excellent. Probably the best audiobook I've listened to. The sound effects and atmospheric music enhanced the listening experience. I've never heard that done in an audiobook before. It was so creepy that at times I would jump and then realize it was just coming from the audiobook. The last whispered sentence is one that will give you chills.

This is one not to miss and I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney and absolutely loved it! The isolated island setting gave off major locked-room mystery vibes, which kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration really captured the eerie atmosphere. The twists were fantastic, and I loved how past mysteries were slowly unraveled and connected in such unexpected ways. A gripping, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very last moment! (and by last moment... I mean, literally the final... last... words!!!)

This was my first Alice Feeney novel, but it won't likely be my last. Beautiful Ugly features a male novelist and his journalist wife. As the book opens, Grady Green is waiting at home for a call from his agent which he hopes will bring the news that his latest book has made it to the NYT Best Seller list. He's anxious for the call, and dismayed that his wife Abby has not arrived home to be present for the hoped-for announcement, when she calls to tell him she's on her way. But in the middle of that call, he hears the screech of brakes, and moments later, silence. Abby has disappeared.

One year later, Grady's still struggling to put his life and his career back together. There's been no news about his wife, and he's been unable to resume his writing. His agent steps in with an offer: he can live in a cottage she owns on a small Scottish island, and there have the peace and quiet he needs to write. But once he arrives on the island, strange occurrences mar the serenity and solitude of the lovely island, and he vacillates between feeling that someone is stalking him and fearing that he's losing his mind.

The audiobook, well-narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, also includes occasional musical interludes and eerie sound effects. The plot is tight, and Feeney maintains the suspense to the very end. Mystery lovers, be sure to watch for this one in January.

I devoured this audiobook. 🎧 It was creepy, suspenseful and had me captivated for the duration.

There were so many twists that once I thought I had it figured out there was another layer unveiled that kept me guessing. The last hour or so of the audiobook rapidly developed and it felt like each paragraph had a new wild twist.

The audiobook production included additional immersive sounds that had me jumping and looking around. This definitely plays into the suspense and thrill of the whole book.

I really wish the book ended on the revelation *right before* the final ending. I think the way it ended was expected, and I was strangely hoping Grady would get the last laugh? There was a lot of miscommunication between Grady and Abby throughout their marriage that could've been avoided, so I fault both of them for their situation. It's all the "island community" components that make this story so wild.

Also, I was so ready to throw this whole book away if anything happened to Columbo.

Wow! The last hour of this audiobook is full of shocking twists that I did not see coming.

I highly recommend the audiobook version of @alicewriterland’s latest book. The whole production is on point with fantastic narration and sound effects that really bring the story to life.

I also loved the setting (remote Scottish island), unreliable narrator, and the different POVs. All hallmarks of a Feeney novel and why her books are must reads for me!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. I have shared this same review on the Barnes & Noble website as well.

I’ve loved so many of Feeney’s books. This one was so good until closer to the ending and it just took a direction I wasn’t expecting and I just really wished it was a different direction. It was not a bad book, just not my favorite Feeney book. The audio book was very well narrated.