Amazing thriller! I really enjoyed this book. It was strange but not so out there like some books are. It kept my interest the entire book and did not end how I thought it would end. Highly recommend!

I adore this author to begin with and when @macmillan.audio sent it to me I screamed 🤣 An author dude’s wife passed away. He’s soooo messed up of course as one would expect. Ends up in a remote location a year later, to be able to write (cause let’s face it he needs to make a living) then stuff goes down. I couldn’t put it down and guessed absolutely nothing 🤣 Narration was fab, too.

If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you up all night questioning everything, you need to read this. Highly recommend!
The book summary introduces the primary storyline of a grieving Grady, who has been mentally and emotionally incapacitated by the disappearance of his wife, Abby, a year earlier. As if it wasn't bad enough that Grady was a needy, insecure, man-child before Abby's disappearance, he has now become a full-on morose recluse incapable of taking care of himself, although he seems to still be able to still take care of Columbo, his devoted black Lab.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney will be available on January 14, 2025. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for the gifted audiobook!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Grady Green, newly minted bestselling author, is looking for his wife. She disappeared while on the phone with him the night he found out he was a bestseller, and he's been upset and struggling ever since. When his agent gives him an opportunity to go to a remote writing cabin on an island in Scotland, he takes her up on it, and decides to stay there while he figures out his next moves. And there begins the mystery...

This is my first Alice Feeney novel - although I had a bunch on my TBR - and I'm not sure she'll be a repeat author for me. I hate to say I called (a good chunk) of the ending of this novel by like, 30% through. I was like, nah, there is no way. There was a way. There were quite a few twists I DIDN'T predict, but so many of them were so outlandish, I don't know that anyone could have. And the fact that the prediction I made early came to be true disappointed me.

Let me start with what I DID like, before I go into what I DID NOT. Firstly, the book sucked me right in. I love an unreliable narrator, and am of the opinion that ALL first person narrations are unreliable. Thrillers, this is even more the case. So Grady narrating this? Automatic plus. And his narration was solid. It definitely left you wondering, from page one, what he was and wasn't telling you, and how much you could trust what he presented. I also liked the motley cast of islanders we are introduced to, and the way their oddities and personalities started to develop through both interactions and clues. The narration and production of the audiobook was also stunning. I loved the sound effects, and it immersed me into the story. I loved some of the themes, which seemed both timely and valid - they resonated with me, and the mystery WAS intriguing.

The plot was interesting enough, although the ending was so wildly unfeasible, I don't want to think too hard about it - if I do, I think it'll make me angry. It already made me angry enough. There are quite a few really dark elements of this book that made me squirm, so look up trigger warnings. I also take issue with (minor spoiler about a character) <spoiler>how little Grady seems to know or remember - what the heck, my dude. You're married to an investigative journalist. Do some damn research</spoiler>.

I think, with a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief, and a willingness to vibe with some craziness, this would be a great choice. The audiobook is a great way to experience it - seriously, super well produced. However, if you're someone who finds logical inconsistencies infuriating <spoiler>(for example, the fact that somehow gas in a vehicle lasts for years without going bad? Ever since watching a SciShow on that - thanks Hank Green! - I cannot read books with old cars just working after sitting for long chunks of time without rolling my eyes!) </spoiler> then this might drive you nuts. Also, and I cannot stress this enough, there were chunks of this book's story that made me uncomfy, and I'm sure that was the author's point. But I'd recommend you look up warnings before embarking upon it if you are sensitive to content, especially involving children.

"Beautiful Ugly" by Alice Feeney was easily a 5-star book for me—up until the last 10%. The big reveal was a major letdown. In fact, all of the "big" reveals felt unbelievable and completely disconnected from the build-up throughout the story. By the end, I was left feeling frustrated and disappointed. The first 90% of the book, however, was exceptional. I couldn't put it down. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance audiobook copy, and the narrators did a fantastic job, bringing the story to life with their performances. The added sound effects enhanced the experience even further. It's just that I feel Feeney may have had one direction in mind for most of the story, only to change the ending—through rewrites or a shift in vision—into something far-fetched and unsatisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review

If you’re looking for a creepy, atmospheric read, this is the book for you. From the opening of the book I was drawn into this story. Grady is a writer who has just received the news he’s been hoping for, that he’s a bestselling author. While he’s on the phone with his wife, sharing this with her, she stops her car when she sees someone lying in the road….so she gets out to investigate…

A year later he is still grieving her loss and wondering what could’ve happened to her. His agent sends him to a remote Scottish island in hopes that he can start writing again.

Highlights |
•Black lab named Columbo
•Atmospheric setting
•Unique set of characters
•Psychological hijinks

The book has some pretty wild twists and turns, and often I was surprised and wondering what would happen next. A few parts of the plot were a bit much… Yet I still really enjoyed it overall. The narration is really top-notch. Highly recommend the audio format!

"Fear can make something beautiful become ugly."

I must say that I did not anticipate the culmination of the book. It’s quite a doozy!

CW | Contains a small amount of strong profanity and a few very brief intimate scenes.

I LOVE all of Alice Feeney's books but this audio fell flat for me. I'm not sure why, I just had a hard time with all the narrators and even the story line just didn't do it for me. I think it's just me as it has a lot of 5 stars. I look forward to her next book.

Whoa!!! This is my second Alice Feeney book. She is one twisted author. Grady and Abby have a rocky relationship, they are both super involved with their jobs. Abby is an investigative reporter and Grady Is a New York Times bestselling author. Abby is supposed to meet Grady but something happens and she disappears. The story was definitely a thriller and you never knew what was coming! The ending… I will just leave that part for you to figure out. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audio book.

This book was wild! I don’t want to give anything away, so I will keep the plot points light. Our narrator is a writer who I immediately found somewhat unlikable, but he grew on me over time, as he struggles to write his latest book after a family tragedy. I don’t want to say more than that because I believe going in blind is important for this story!

What I will say was that it was genuinely scary at some points, thanks to the sound effects added in the audiobook, and that I believe every character in this story is unreliable. There is some really tough content, like graphic depictions of child SA, so please read with caution if that bothers you.

I could not put this book down! It was absolutely chilling. It was full of suspense from the beginning to the end. I loved the characters and how you felt like you knew them. It was a fantastic read! Highly recommend adding this to your winter reads. Cozy up and get ready to be thrilled!

Alice Feeney does it again. I love all her books! This book had me hooked and I could not put it down. I listened to it and would sit in my car until the last minute before going into work. I needed to know what was going on. I was hooked and wanted to know answers. Some things I figured out that i could tell was going on on the island but the true story behind what happened was a twist I wasnt expecting! I have never been disappointed by a book by Alice and this is another.

Absolutely sensational. This is going to be one of the top books of the year. I’m calling it now. 10/10. Love it!

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney fell slightly short for me. While still compelling, well written, and well paced it felt predictable and ultimately disappointing in its conclusion. Still a great read and I have seen many readers share that they love it. The audio performance was great. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! Beautiful Ugly is out 1/14/2025.

🌊 Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney OUT 1/14/2025 🌊

Alice Feeney has recently become an auto read for me. Some books are hits and some are misses, but I have been very excited for this one. I was lucky enough to have an advanced audio book copy as well as my BOTM pick!

This story focuses on author Grady Green whose wife just went missing a year prior. He has been unable to eat, sleep, or write since her disappearance. His agent suggests he travels to a cabin in a remote island in hopes that he will be able to write again. While on the island, Grady thinks he sees his wife EVERYWHERE.

I really liked this one!! A fast-paced read that kept me guessing! Feeney has a way of being suspenseful but towards the end I yelled “JUST TELL ME!!” I didn’t see the end coming and really enjoyed snuggling up on the couch to read this. It was a tad repetitive for me but I think it will be very popular when it comes out! 4✨

I was so excited to get an early copy of this audio! The audio performance was fantastic, and I loved all the sound effects throughout, it helped create the creepy atmosphere of the book.

This book had hits and misses for me. I loved the premise, the spooky setting and the suspense, but it moved awfully slow through the middle which caused me to lose some interest. The big twist at the end shocked me, but I guessed some of the other reveals. All in all I’d say this was a 3.5 rounded up to a 4.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

No spoilers. Exquisite audiobook with excellent multiple-voice-talent narration and wonderful sound design. The sound effects were perfect, enhancing the story without ever being distracting. This is easily in my top-five 2024 books for listening pleasure.
This novel grabbed me immediately. The pacing is superior to most of the thrillers I've experienced recently. The emotional undertows, the atmospheric island, and the events create an unsettling eeriness. I stayed up late to finish the book.

Feeney creates a standout setting, a small, isolated island in Scotland. The main character is a grieving author under pressure to write his next book. He's rather passive and struck me as non-masculine early on (strictly in reference to how he's written, not the narration).

As with most thrillers there are distracting implausibilities, particularly issues that anyone with common sense would have dealt with immediately. Overall, the book delivers intriguing dynamics, a wealth of fascinating local history and lore, effective chills, and surprises. It gave delicious gothic vibes and landed well. It's also deeper at the thematic level than many books in this zone and has tasty symbolism. The role of nature is highly effective and refreshingly subtle. Highly recommended for thriller readers.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These are solely my own opinions. I'll post to TikTok closer to the release date.

Fantastic! So many quotes i may need to buy a physical copy to annotate. Several of the prose have brought a smile to my face or stabbed me in the heart. And so creepy!!

This book was interesting and I wanted to see how it all worked out, but it didn't totally pull me in. Some of it simply seemed like a bit too much of a stretch, but the mysterious island was a fun setting. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

Author Grady Green is finally getting to experience is dream of becoming a best selling author. He is on the phone sharing the good news with his wife when she mysteriously disappears after stopping to avoid a person in the road. Grady finds her car still running with the lights on and the driver door open. A year later Abby is still missing and Grady is having a hard time living his life and is mostly unable to sleep. His publisher offers him a cabin on a small Scottish island that belonged to one of her former clients. Hoping to find some peace and start writing again Grady and his dog head off to Scotland. He finds the women of the island to be strange and evasive. There is limited ways to contact the outside world, cell phones don't work and there are limited other ways to contact the mainland. He also thinks he sees his missing wife. There are rumors of a woman arriving that has only been seen by a few people. In the cabin he is staying in he finds a copy of the former owner's secret manuscript. Unable to write himself Grady begins rewriting this work to pass off as his own.

This was a fairly difficult book to write up a written explanation for. It was very twisty but I have to say that I was able to figure out most of the mysteries myself. It was still a fairly compelling read. It was pretty eerie and I loved the setting. I don't want to bring up some of the most interesting parts for spoiler reasons.

Richard Armitage is one of my favorite actors. I knew he was going to knock this narration out of the park and he absolutely did! Highly recommend going with the audiobook on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an audiobook arc for this new novel & was immediately hooked. I would rate this book a 4.5/5, but rounding down to a 4 because of the ending. I’m not sure what I wanted from the ending, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I was quick to get sucked into the mysteries that surround Grady the moment he gets to the island. The islanders and Grady had me questioning everything that was going on—constantly. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved Alice Feeney’s Daisy Darker, so if you liked that, I think you’ll enjoy this one as well!