This was my first Feeny book and it didn't disappoint. I get why so many love her books now. It's a 4 for me because I figured one of the big twists out super early on. I always love a story with an unreliable narrator, creepy mystery with a dash of ghost vibes. This one had some really cool twist but I caught on to them pretty quickly. I still really enjoyed it and loved the reasoning behind why they decided to do what they did even if unhinged. Sorry, trying not to spoil anything.

Audio: 5/5. Love the narrators and the waves at the beginning of each chapter.

Although I ended up DNFing the book itself (it was way longer than it needed to be), I will say the narrators were great! They did a great job with navigating the differences in characters and keeping the tone at a pace that was manageable. The book itself lacked something for me. I was not a big fan of Feeney’s work here but I’ve loved her other works so I’ll continue to follow her.

YES YES YES YES YES Will be making it to my best books of the year. This was my first Alice Feeney book and I loved every second of it! All of the characters had different traits making them distinct and recognizable, the atmosphere was dark keeping your anxiety high, and the twist was so creative, so surprising, and so impressive. It completely changed the way you looked at the entire book. AND THE SECRET MESSAGE!!! I absolutely loved this book!!!

Beautiful Ugly delivers Feeney’s signature suspense and twists, with an atmospheric setting and a gripping premise. While the story keeps you guessing, some plot points felt a bit predictable, and the pacing was uneven at times. The characters are intriguing but not fully developed, which made it harder to connect emotionally. Still, it’s an engaging read for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a darker, moodier story.

As a devoted fan of Alice Feeney, I've come to anticipate her signature blend of suspense and psychological depth, and Beautiful Ugly delivers, albeit with a slightly different flavor. While the initial chapters felt a touch slow, once the story found its rhythm, I was utterly captivated. This book is a magnificent train wreck in the best possible way—you know it's going to be messy, but you can't tear your eyes away.

Feeney masterfully crafts a narrative brimming with unlikeable characters, each one a testament to bad behavior and even worse intentions. The drama is relentless, and the decisions made by these characters are often cringeworthy, yet that's precisely what makes it so compelling. Despite their terrible lives and questionable morals, I found myself completely invested, needing to know what dark secret or twisted fate awaited them next. The book is a masterclass in gritty storytelling, packed with the kind of unexpected twists and dark undertones that Feeney excels at. It's a testament to her talent that even with a cast of morally ambiguous individuals, she can still create a truly great read that leaves you thinking long after you've turned the final page.

Weird psychological suspense doesn’t get weirder than in Alice Feeney’s “Beautiful Ugly” (9 hours and 19 minutes on Macmillan Audio).

Author Grady Green’s wife disappeared, just her coat and an order of fish and chips left behind. Bereft, Grady can’t write, or even take care of himself, until his agent offers him a cabin on a remote Scottish island where he can get himself

As if. Nothing is what it seems like, or what it should be, on the island of Amberley, leading Grady to feel more and more like he’s losing this mind. You may feel like that, too, as Feeney pulls the rug out from under you repeatedly.

I listened to the audiobook, read by Richard Armitage, with Tuppence Middleton in flashbacks as the missing Abby. Only one thing briefly eased the tension: Armitage voices several Scottish women to sound exactly like Mrs. Doubtfire, and I chuckled every time.

3.5 - I wanted to love this book, it is a slow burn that builds up. The ending was lack luster and felt a bit much.

The atmosphere was amazing she drops you right into the middle of the island and all the elements are in true Feeney style.

Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did a brilliant job with the narration.

Super Fan status - His and Hers is still one of my favorite of all time books!! Thank you so much for the opportunity to experience this audiobook production.

Beautiful Ugly is a twisty suspense novel that starts with a gripping premise: Grady is expecting the best day of his life until his wife suddenly vanishes without a trace. A year later, he's holed up on a remote island, struggling to finish his next novel. What unfolds is a psychological mind game filled with uncertainty.

While the setup promises a thrilling ride, I found the execution underwhelming. I didn’t feel emotionally connected to any of the characters, which made it difficult to invest in their fates or feel the stakes of the story. That said, I did appreciate the author’s writing style and the use of multiple perspectives, which added some depth and kept the narrative moving. The narrator and additional musical and sound elements helped enhance the overall drama.

Unfortunately, the twists didn’t land for me, and the climactic moments lacked the impact I was hoping for. Overall, Beautiful Ugly had potential, but for me, it ended up being just okay.

I didn't listen to this before it was archived. It was a good story, I enjoyed the way it was unfolded. I figured out most of what was going on except the final twist. It was intense and I didn't enjoy all of it. It was excellently delivered and creepily woven into this intense story.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio

While I enjoyed this audiobook, unfortunately I did not find it to be a gripping thriller, it was more like a slow, drawn out domestic drama that borderlines on the ridiculous. I thank Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook version of Beautiful Ugly and from the very first chapter, I was hooked. The narration pulled me straight into the story, making the tension and emotion feel even more vivid and real. It played out like a psychological thriller unfolding in my ears—so immersive I could see every scene in my mind’s eye.

Grady, a bestselling author, calls his wife, Abby, to check how close she is to home. They’re supposed to be waiting together for an important call. But Abby is farther away than she should be. While they’re on the phone, Grady hears the screech of brakes. Abby says she thinks she hit—or nearly hit—someone and wants to check. He begs her not to get out of the car, but then the line goes silent.

Grady races out to find her. He finds her car on the roadside—door open, lights still on, cell phone left behind. But Abby is gone.

Describing it as “the worst best day of his life” is absolutely perfect. That line lingers.

One year later, Grady is still lost in grief, unable to sleep, unable to write. Hoping for some peace and maybe a creative breakthrough, he escapes to a remote island. But eerie things start happening—and he keeps seeing a woman who looks just like Abby.

The audiobook narration adds so much depth to the suspense and emotion. It’s chilling, raw, and beautifully delivered. And as always, Alice Feeney's writing is razor sharp. She doesn’t just unravel a mystery—she cuts deep into the complexities of love and marriage.

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

That line says everything.

If you’re into psychological thrillers, and especially if you enjoy audiobooks, Beautiful Ugly is absolutely worth your time.

Alice Feeney never fails to mess with my head — and Beautiful Ugly is no exception. This one dives deep into grief and guilt, wrapped in a moody, atmospheric setting that’s as unsettling as it is intriguing. I loved the eerie isolation of the Scottish island and the way reality constantly felt just a little off.
Grady, the main character, isn’t always likable, but his unraveling was fascinating to watch. The twists come fast, and while a few felt a bit over-the-top, I was too hooked to care. Feeney’s writing is sharp, emotional, and full of contradictions — just like the book’s title promises.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that lean heavily into character and mood, this is absolutely worth picking up. It left me thinking long after I turned the last page.

This is an atmospheric slow burn thriller, set on a remote island. The author kept me guessing throughout - who can be trusted? Why is Grady on this island? And what really happened to his wife Abby?

Great page turner that you won’t want to put down!

Beautiful Ugly is an incredibly suspenseful read. I was on the edge of my seat from start to twist-filled finish. While it did require a decent amount of suspension of disbelief, it was entertaining regardless.

Thank you Alice Feeney, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book gave me all of the creeps and kept me propulsively listening to the next chapter and then the next. Alice Feeney does a great job with her narrators - the reader doesn't know who or what to believe, but the people are likable enough that sometimes you are emotionally fighting for what you find to be the wrong person.
I have never had an audio book with sound effects and they were put in at just the right times. I was worried that it was going to take away from the story, but it was very atmospheric instead.
This book would delight each and every psychological thriller reader!

Didn't love the story but powered through it the narrator made it a bit difficult to follow along, all in all i feel as though I would have enjoyed the book better then thr audio

Author Grady Green was just trying to share some good news with his wife, Abby. One phone call later, all he gets is the sound of screeching brakes, a car by the edge of a cliff, an open door… and no Abby. She’s vanished, leaving behind her phone and a million questions.

Flash forward a year, and Grady’s a mess—grief-stricken, sleepless, and creatively blocked. So naturally, he does what any tormented author would do: retreats to a spooky Scottish island to find peace. Instead, he finds a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife. Cue the psychological chaos.

Alice Feeney masterfully sets the tone with an atmosphere so eerie it practically drips off the page. The tension is thick, the island setting is moody perfection, and the plot is packed with deliciously creepy twists. I knew some shocks were coming, and even though I had my eyes peeled, a few of them still got me good.

Yes, the ending might be a smidge too neat, but honestly? I didn’t care. I was all in—hooked from page one. Feeney teases out the mystery with just the right amount of suspense, and the epilogue absolutely nails the landing.

Final verdict: A twisty, atmospheric thrill ride that kept me guessing (and slightly paranoid).
For fans of psychological suspense who enjoy moody settings, shocking reveals, and stories that keep you breathless until the very last page—this one’s for you.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

In Beautiful Ugly, Alice Feeney, the queen of twists, delivers a brilliantly dark and captivating thriller that explores the complexities of marriage, love, and revenge. This novel showcases Feeney’s signature style—gripping, atmospheric, and full of jaw-dropping twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The story follows Grady Green, a successful author whose life is turned upside down when his wife, Abby, mysteriously disappears. One fateful day, Grady calls Abby to share some exciting news, only to hear her slam on the brakes and then nothing—her car is later found by a cliff edge, with the driver’s door open, her phone left behind, and no sign of her. Grief consumes Grady as he struggles to make sense of Abby’s disappearance, haunted by questions that remain unanswered.

A year later, still drowning in grief and unable to write, Grady travels to a remote Scottish island in an attempt to heal and reclaim his life. But things take an unsettling turn when he sees a woman who looks eerily like Abby. Could she be the same woman? Or is it a haunting reminder of a past he can’t escape?

The novel explores themes of identity, betrayal, and the passage of time, all wrapped in an atmosphere of suspense and tension. Feeney masterfully creates a sense of dread as Grady uncovers secrets, both about his wife and his own life, while navigating the blurred lines between reality and the unknown.

What makes Beautiful Ugly stand out is Feeney’s ability to surprise and shock with her twists. As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, constantly questioning what is real and what is an illusion. The dynamics of Grady and Abby’s marriage are explored with keen insight, showing how the perception of a relationship can change drastically over time.

Feeney’s writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into Grady’s unraveling psyche while keeping them hooked on the unraveling mystery. The pacing is intense, with each chapter building suspense and adding layers to the central mystery. The final twists are as satisfying as they are shocking, proving Feeney’s reputation as a master of thrillers.

Beautiful Ugly is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, with its unforgettable characters, eerie atmosphere, and mind-bending twists. It’s a story about love, loss, and the haunting question of whether we ever truly know the people closest to us. Feeney delivers yet another masterpiece that will leave readers breathless and eager for more.

This one will stay with me for a long time, It is a perfectly creepy story and it was just an amazing ride. Suspenseful, unpredictable. I couldn't put it down. What a talented author, I have listened to many of her books and I just love them! I cant wait for her next book!

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.