Cover Image: Beautiful Bad

Beautiful Bad

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Member Reviews

Good storytelling, well developed and drawn out plot. It's definitely a slow burner type of plot, very much character driven. Some really good twists at the end.

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I enjoyed this book but it was obvious who was the one lying on the floor. Flipping between past and present was confusing at times but i5 was a quick read. Would make goos beach reading

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Beautiful Bad was a highly intriguing, slow-burning and suspenseful read with plenty of surprising twists. I was invested in the finely drawn, credible characters and the dynamics among the main characters kept me glued to the pages. This well-written psychological thriller was not only plot-driven but definitely character-driven, as well.

The totally gripping story was full of secrets, lies, friendships and darker themes of abuse and murder and I think the title could not have been any more appropriate. Annie Ward really nailed it with Beautiful Bad and this fantastic thriller should not be missed!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Park Row Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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I was so confused with the swapping between the past and the present that I gave up on the book and didn't finish it

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Wonderful twist to the end.. Not what I expected as I followed Maddie's sessions in therapy and what we discovered about her, her marriage, and her husband.
It seems very clear that Ian is suffering from PTSD from his time in the army and is unstable as a result. And as the story progresses, you begin to wonder about Maddie's injury. Just how did she get it? Who was involved? Was it Ian?
And the therapist seems so helpful, but rather unprofessional but Maddie finds her useful to help her process her thoughts and emotions.

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What a lovely book. I loved the way the book lets you travel through time around the world. Beautiful characters with such deep secrets and troubles. A compelling read.

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I love books where you’re really not sure who to like. This is one of them.

Dark, twisty and psychologically challenging, this is a really well-told story with complex characters and a satisfying ending. Loved it.

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What a brilliant read, twist and turns from start to finish and an end I never saw coming, this book has kept me up at night and late for work

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A good story, but again, I wasn't surprised. I like to do a bit of guesswork and dislike being told what's happening, why, and how the characters feel. i much prefer to be given dialogue and action.

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Anyone who enjoys a thriller that is interwoven with relationships, friendship, marriage, love, betrayal, and mystery will adore this book. Well written, with a smooth plot full of twists, I think I was supposed to hate the characters and be unsure of them but somehow I still ended up liking them! A fantastic portrayal of human weakness, frustration, love and lust.

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Brilliant. I throughly enjoyed it throughout. Plot and ending are both fabulous. Great holiday read.

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Beautiful Bad is a story of complex relationships that fade and grow over time, culminating in the day that changes everything. The story is told as a countdown to that day which builds the suspense and keeps you turning the pages. It also serves to keep this event at the forefront of your mind and with each chapter you wonder how what you have just learned will play out on the day in question.

There are several underlying issues that play a part in the unpredictable events of that day. The former army officer suffering from PTSD, an entangled love triangle, best friends who grow apart and a starting a new life with a family.

As with most well written thrillers, you read 90% of the book believing you know how it will end. The twists here are superb and leave you shocked and mistrusting your ability to judge character. A fantastic read and highly recommended.

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I was so pleased to be able to review this, and really surprised - usually when a book is very hyped it’s a let down. Not here.

Yes, the time jumps around a lot, but I didn’t find it hard to follow. Great characterisation. A really strong read.

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What a brilliant book- I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it quite quickly as I was totally gripped by the story. It was dark and disturbing but also plausible. I don’t want to give any secrets away but a great twist at the end. Do read this!

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Maddie and Ian's romance began when he was serving in the British Army and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend Jo in Europe. Now sixteen years later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America.

But when an accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian's PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son Charlie; and the couple's tangled and tumultuous past with Jo

OMG OMG OMG, thats all I want to say about this book. It knocked me sideways, its brilliant, The characters are totally believable, the story is un-putdownable and the twist...............................well you'll have to read it to find that out.

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This book was amazing!

I could not put it down!

It explores many things that the usual psychological thrillers do not. There is the ptsd from being in the army and murder scenes from the army.

It was different to anything that I have read before and I absolutely loved it.

I will look out for more by the same author.

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I really enjoyed this. Incredibly well written. Didn't want it to end. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

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I had to give up reading this at 41%....I just couldn't get in to it. The story jumps in timeline and character whoch makes it quite tough to concentrate on. I don't think that there was much going on in the bit I read...or not that made any sense to me. I didn't like any of the characters which was a shame as that may have endeared me to the book. I wish I'd been able to finish this and maybe one day I'll go back to it but for now, I'm done.

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very good written and very engaging!! Didnt want to stop reading it so neglected everything else!!

Very interesting plot and an amazing twist at the end you will not see coming!!

Quite enjoyable, you will not be disappointed!!

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Lots of twists in this story. The main character is dealing with underlying issues while also entering into a relationship with a man who also has underlying issues. There is a twist I did not see coming, so that was nice but something was just missing for me.

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