I LOVED THIS! Ok listen, the ending had me reeling! I absolutely loved the karma and the women having each other’s backs. The twists only Alice Feeney can throw at you, I will read everything she writes.

I love all things Alice Feeney & Beautiful Ugly lived up to every expectation had!! Amazing story, great narrator- I was captivated by this story. I alternated between the digital & audio versions of this title & think they are both bingeworthy!


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Did not listen to the book through this app, but instead read it through a different app. Loved the book & love everything I've read by Alice Feeney thus far. Would definitely recommend it to others

My first dive into Alice Feeney’s work, Beautiful Ugly kept me guessing with its twists and turns. The unpredictable direction left me a bit disoriented, but I’m intrigued to explore more of her books to see where her storytelling takes me next!

I love a good remote island/locked door type thriller. This one gave me all the creepy and mysterious vibes. The writing was very descriptive, and I felt as though I was in the island right along with all the characters. The main character, Grady, drinks too much and is an unreliable narrator. I enjoyed the way my thoughts kept bouncing back and forth wondering what was true and what wasn't. The plot had me hooked! Nothing is as it seems on the remote island, and there are some crazy characters.

This book is loaded with twists and turns that were so unpredictable. There were multiple jaw dropping moments throughout this story. The narrators were phenomenal and there were even sound effects to support the creepy vibes the book gave off. Job well done!

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

some interesting suspense, but ultimately the twists were either things i hate in books or just beyond belief. my least favorite feeney so far.

The book kicks off with writer Grady having what should be the best day ever: he calls his wife to share the big news—he’s officially a <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author! But right after, his wife disappears into thin air during that call. things start spiraling faster than my will to keep reading.

Here’s my gripe: WHY does this author always go for the whole "marriage in shambles" storyline? I’ve read two of her books now, and both are about couples who need couples therapy, not murder plots. Like, girl, are you okay? Are all her books marriage drama disguised as thrillers?

THIS BOOK!!!
Five Stars. Two Thumbs Way Up. Chef’s Kiss. Brilliant! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I was lucky enough to get an advanced audiobook copy through NetGalley (thanks @netgalley) and I devoured this amazing book!

I was hooked from the very first chapter and felt a constant need to know what was going to happen next. At one point my jaw literally dropped open and I was stunned from what was unfolding. The mystery that Alice weaves is so compelling and will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4

Huge thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the gifted audiobook!

"𝑾𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕.
𝑯𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐."

One year after his wife's disappearance, Grady travels to a remote Scottish island to work on his next novel. But rather than finding peace, he begins to see his wife everywhere he goes.

The story is told through dual POVs- Grady and his wife Abby (with a surprise POV at the end). It also spans multiple timelines, both before and after the disappearance.

I went into this with an open mind because it's been getting pretty mixed reviews- people seem to either love or hate it. Personally, I leaned more towards the loving it side, the beginning had me in an absolute chokehold. I loved the isolated setting, it really helped feed into Gradys slow spiral into madness. I'm normally not a slow-burn mystery/thriller fan, but the suspense and paranoia kept me glued in. Alice lost me a little towards the end with the backstory of the island, but Gradys last POV wrapped the story up beautifully.

This book is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley!

🎧: My LOTR/Hobbit and Downtown Abbey fans, you already know Richard and Tuppence absolutely smashed this! They both truly brought this story to life, I have nothing negative to say about them.

𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐁𝐑 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞..
🖋️Slow burn mystery/thrillers
🛥️Unreliable narrators
🖋️Missing persons
🛥️ Isolated settings

Please remember, reading is subjective, it's okay to have a different opinion🖤

I had really big hopes for Beautiful Ugly. Being a fan of Alice Feeney's writing, I could not wait to read this.
Sorry to say this was not my favorite, I found it hard to stay with. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to listen
to this.

My first impression of this book upon reading the synopsis was intrigue. What an interesting and unique storyline? I was very excited to read this book and I love stories in Scotland!

The story follows Grady on his journey to getting over a slump after his wife goes missing, and he hits a writing slump. His agent sends him off to a tiny cabin on an island in Scotland to try and finish a book. Right away, I was suspicious of the islanders. Every single one of them was a bit weird and I found some of th behaviors odd. I knew right away something was up.

As the story progressed, I was even more confused as to what was going on. Feeney did a good job of making me guess, but unfortunately, not always in a good way. Yes, I wanted to know what was actually happening, but this was a bit too weird for me. I like a bit of intrigue, but I don't like being downright confused when reading.

With that said, Feeney wrote a very unique story that wrapped up in quite an interesting way and one that I did not see coming. This was the winning moment for this book, because it's hard to surprise me. The end had not one, but a few twists that really left your jaw on the floor and I enjoyed the ending.

While this may not have been my favorite book, I really did enjoy the journey and the uniqueness of it. I would definitely check out future books by Alice Feeney to see what other surprises she can throw at me. Having listened to the audiobook of this, the narrator was good and the reading was not any part of the things I didn't like. It was a catching voice and I'd definitely enjoy listening to them again.

To be fair, I am not the ultimate thriller fan. I have read Alice Feeney books I really enjoy, but this one just didn’t do it for me.

Alice Feeney is an auto-buy author for me, and "Beautiful Ugly" absolutely delivered. The story of Grady searching for his missing wife Abby after she vanishes near a cliff edge had me completely hooked. When he escapes to a Scottish island a year later and sees someone who looks exactly like her? Gave me chills!

Feeney's talent for shocking twists is on full display here. Just when I thought I had it figured out, she'd throw another curveball that left me guessing. The whole "wives think husbands will change but they don't; husbands think wives won't change but they do" theme really makes you think about what we hide from the people we love.

As a longtime fan of her books, this one definitely lived up to expectations. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you up way too late turning pages, grab this one ASAP!

Beautiful Ugly is an interesting novel. I found myself saying just one more chapter time and again. The audio brought to life a cast of unusual characters that had me hooked. The writing is top notch as is the narration. I had chills more than once. I was not expecting the twists and turns. I recommend going in spoiler free and enjoy the ride.

I initially decided to read this because so many other people really enjoyed it, and I did enjoy it for the most part but did not find myself connecting to the characters the way I would have hoped. I really just felt disconnected from the story throughout the entire thing. I did like the ending and found it pretty fitting for the character's actions but overall this one won't be that memorable for me. The atmosphere of the island was really interesting and I liked how the author made that feel so eerie like a cloud of fog was rolling over the area throughout the book. I think what would have saved this was a bit more backstory between the couple to really understand the dynamics between them. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Masterpiece of Emotion and Storytelling! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Alice Feeney's “Beautiful Ugly” is a stunning exploration of the complexities of love, identity, and the human condition. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world that is as captivating as it is poignant. Feeney's writing is both lyrical and raw, effortlessly weaving a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their struggles and triumphs that resonate deeply. I found myself fully invested in their journeys, and their imperfections only made them more relatable. The way Feeney examines the idea of beauty—both inner and outer—is thought-provoking and artfully done.

The pacing of the story is perfect; just when you think you know where it's heading, Feeney masterfully twists the plot, leaving you breathless and eager for more. The emotional depth is remarkable, and I found myself laughing one moment and tearing up the next.

“Beautiful Ugly” is a testament to Feeney's skill as a storyteller. It challenges societal norms and invites readers to reflect on their lives and perceptions. If you’re seeking an equitably beautiful book and heartbreaking, look no further. This is a must-read!

Alice Feeney has undoubtedly created a masterpiece, and I'm already looking forward to her next work. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
🎧 Narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first Alice Feeney book I have experienced. The synopsis caught my eye and was intriguing. I listened to the audio version.

Grady, a novelist, calls his wife, Abby, on her way home from work, to share some thrilling news when he hears her get into an accident. He never hears from her again.

He is still entrenched in his grief a year later. A close friend of his has a cabin on a small, remote island and sends him there to write again and cope with his grief.

Once he is there, he is stuck on the island with strange natives who seem to be playing tricks on him. He, also, thinks he sees Abby. Is this island haunted? Is he drinking too much?

Although this story was unpredictable, I still found it difficult to pay attention in some areas. I don't know if reading the book rather than listening to it would have held my attention better or not.

The narrators read their parts well. They expressed their characters appropriately and evoked the proper moods in various scenes.

Thank you, NetGalley, and
MacMillan Audio, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #BeautifulUgly ##MysteryandThrillers

My favorite line “…you’ve been served a triple-decker shit sandwich, with a side of completely fucked.” chef’s kiss.
The atmosphere is completely unnerving. A tense, shocking mystery.

Definitely not my favorite Alice Feeney book. She has so many more that were much better done. If you are going to read one of her books, skip this one.

This is honestly the best thriller that I’ve listened to in a long time. The plot twists throughout the book were so good! I guessed a few of them, and others completely shocked me. Also, the audiobook is the way to go with this one. The sound effects made it even better!

And I just want to say I fully support the people on this island and how they handle their business.👏😌

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5