Things in life are often not at all what you think they are. Nor are people.

After his wife’s disappearance, Grady Green escapes to a small Scottish island. He’s an author who can’t write since Abby has gone. This retreat at Amberley Island, in a former bestselling author’s cabin, is his last chance to publish a book and redeem himself now that he has nothing left to lose. But the conditions on the barely populated isle are fraught.

I started out intrigued and then became irritated with the slow pace and the repetitiveness of Grady’s hallucinations and insomnia. His behavior was erratic and his angsty thoughts were an annoying stream of consciousness. I lost patience with him, struggled to find any characters likable, and had a lot of difficulty with some of the ridiculous situations Grady got himself into. I don’t really like when an author dangles hints and never gives more explanation. So I was already struggling and started to disengage when the last third of the book became so out there that I just raced to the end. I didn’t like what transpired and even looking back in the pages left me feeling duped, not happily stumped.

This author has always been hit and miss for me and this was a miss. I can’t say more about things that put me off without spoiling some of the plot points. I had no idea the narrative was going to go in the direction it did and had I know, I would never have picked this up.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators did a decent job and it helped a little to improve my reading experience. I especially enjoyed the sound effects.

I would give this 2.5 stars but I rounded it to 3 because the first part of the book was a good premise and set up. Unfortunately, it was ultimately a let down.

This review is of the audio version of this book. The narrators are Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton.

Author Grady Green is impatiently waiting for his wife to get home. He is expecting the call any minute to learn if he is finally a New York Times best selling author. Abby does not make it home before the call. Grady's dreams have come true. He phones Abby to tell her the good news. While on the call she suddenly stops and states there is a woman lying in the road. Grady begs her not to get out of the car, but she doesn't listen. When Grady arrives at the scene, her car is there but no woman and no Abby.

One year later, there is no sign of Abby. Grady has lost it all and is unable to write another book due to his grief. His friend and editor sends him to a remote island in hopes he can restart his career.

The island is remote and creepy. Visitors are not welcomed with open arms. The residents are eclectic to say the least.

The eerie vibe continues throughout the book. It did not go as I had expected. Then again I would have never expected THAT.

Phenomenal narration with music and sound effects included.

I loved it.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc.

This book had a lot of twists and turns. The way the women on the island acted was not surprising, but the ultimate surprise of what the main character actually did was a hook I was not expecting. I do not think the author needed to be as descriptive of the sexual acts.

This is another great book from Alice Feeney! I spent the entire novel trying to figure out what was going on. I would think one thing and then it would turn out to be something completely different. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook in advance of it s release date.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Loved listening to Richard Armitage's narration!

How badly do you want to write a book?
Alice Feeney does not dissapoint! I loved the setting of this story that takes place on an island in Scotland. A husband is desperate to find his wife or is he desparate to write a best selling novel.

Lots of twists and turns. The setting was so beautiful!

Beautiful Ugly has is such a dark, atmospheric novel. I deeply disliked the protagonist, but could not quit reading, the writing is so good! The plot was so unique and went in many different ways, so it never got boring. One thing I disliked about the audiobook is that the narrator used the same voice with all the characters. It is unsettling to hear a man’s rugged voice playing a female character. Other than that, this was a great book. Alice Feeney has been on a roll since book one and she keeps going! Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars 🌟

The story itself was very interesting; I really didn't know which direction this book was going to take. The pacing was nice and kept me engrossed throughout. I always love getting lost in a book, and this one certainly had those moments. The stories of both Grady and Abby were told well and had me guessing which one was bending the truth more than the other. Grady's insomnia and paranoia couldn't always be trusted, but Abby's narration always seemed to leave out the significant bits! The ending definitely WAS shocking, but I'm not sure I loved it. It seemed more confusing and overly complicated than it needed to be - one less character's involvement, perhaps? The truth behind Abby's disappearance seemed WILD, but in an over the top way. I know Grady was meant to be less reliable as a narrator, but it still seemed out of character for him.

I also loved the sound effects in the audiobook, and it was well performed. The melodrama towards the ending is what stopped me from giving a higher rating.

Shout out to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a huge miss for me. The sound effects and narrator for the audiobook were top notch. In my opinion, they made the story more enjoyable. For the story itself, I was pretty disappointed. The characters were all pretty insufferable and I cared less and less about them as the story went on. The story started off good, but there were many parts that were predictable and it just became less interesting.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and Libro.fm. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was just okay, which pains me to say given how much I love all the thrillers I've read by Alice Feeney. I think the plot was interesting but the execution was a bit lackluster. It was an extremely slow burn mystery with twists that didn't necessarily make sense.

One of my favorite books!!
The back story of the characters were well developed with many pieces of their livves slowly revealed.
Just when I started to figure out a character, I was met with an aha moment that became more intriguing where I couldn't put the book down
The setting was absolutely mysterious and fantastic. An island inhabited by women made me cheer because of their support for one another, whether or not they compromised morals to survive, it was creative way to say
what lengths would we go to for justice and revenge!!

OH WOW!

I just finished the audiobook of Beautiful Ugly, and it was a standout! I'm a longtime Alice Feeney fan, so I was really eager for this new book from her, and it did not disappoint!

I loved the complexity of the story, and the many twists and turns. I really enjoyed the questionable reliability of many of the characters, and the way that hints are sprinkled throughout the story. Without giving anything away, I love Alice Feeney's cleverness and attention to detail!

The audiobook soundscape was compelling, and added to the creepy atmosphere. The narration was excellent! It completely drew me in.

Ultimately, I loved the way that all of the pieces came together! Definitely a 5 star read for me.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook!

Dark, gripping, and everything I thought it would be. I could not put this book down. I highly recommend!

Author Grady Green went from the pinnacle of becoming a best-selling author to the lowest of lows after his wife vanishes into thin air while driving home.

One year later he’s a shell of his former self. He finds himself unable to write, putting his book contract and career in jeopardy. And last but not least, Grady is about to become homeless. He’s offered a cabin on a secluded Scottish island. A place of rustic peace where he can hopefully find himself and perhaps begin writing again.

But Grady quickly realizes this is no idyllic island. Someone, for reasons unknown is mentally manipulating him! His gut tells him there’s something very sinister about this island and he’s not at all sure how he can leave.

This was definitely looking like it was going to be a five-star audio for me. I was absolutely enthralled by the premise and storytelling.

But alas, the ending…😫. It just didn’t work for me. The more the author tried to spell out the ending, the more she lost me along the way. Just too much for me.🙋🏼‍♀️ taking back one 🌟.

There are so many readers that loved the ending and felt it delivered a jaw-dropping twist so be sure to check out those reviews as well!

🎧: Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton did an amazing job with the narration. RA’s voice is absolutely mesmerizing and chilling in equal amounts.

Thank you to McMillan Audio via NetGalley.

A slow burn with an atmospheric setting. Locked room mystery told from two points of view. A narrator that I wasn’t sure I really liked and didn’t trust. I enjoyed this book and eagerly looked forward to finding time to listen to it. Four stars instead of five because the ending was a little over the top for me.

The narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton was outstanding, and I enjoyed that sound effects added to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Really good audiobook narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton. It was my first Alice Feeney story and now I understand what all the noise is about!

Author Grady Green is having some trouble coming up with an idea for his next novel since his wife Abby disappeared one night on her way home from work. After a year without her return, Grady’s agent suggests he try a change scenery, namely to a tiny Scottish island accessible only by ferry (on occasion). And thus begins a slow burn leading us to the climax.

The suspense surrounding Abby’s vanishing and the following chapters on the island and the multiple quirky characters who live there are great plot draws. There were so many twists, turns, and mysteries that I had a hard time keeping up! I would never have imagined the plot resolution points, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I’m going to start another Alice Feeney book as soon as possible!

Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

This book was so not for me. While I did not love her last book, I have overall enjoyed her work in the past and I was looking forward to something new. However, this book is dreadful. Having the main POV of a sad man who lost his wife and thinks everything is unfair is just suuuuuch a drag to read. While the twist was engaging, the amount of effort it took to get there was monumental.

I just cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Alice Feeney is a master of the craft and her books never disappoint. As in most thrillers, there were times when I "knew" what would happen. Many times, I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong and, in the instances in which I was right, there was always more to the story than I could have guessed. The artifice of the "beautiful ugly," "silent scream," "along together," got "old fast" and I wasn't a huge fan of the male audio book narrator, but otherwise highly recommend this book. I look forward to the next!

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan audio for the ARC.

Oh wow! So many twists, really amazing twists you will not see coming. Grady Green is an author who is having his best day until it turns to the worst. He has hit the NY Times Best Sellers list and on the same day his wife disappears. A year later he has literally lost everything and cannot write a word. At his end, his agent sends him to Scotland for a much needed break and a chance to get his mind and heart back in it and start to write again. What he finds is an island full of women and glimpses of his wife. This one kept me intrigued and listening. The twists were weaved throughout and kept coming when least expected until that ending. WOW!

I finished this one up and had to sit on it a little to figure out how I felt about it. I finished it and it had its creepy points and suspense that kept me going.. but at the same time, it just wasn’t the best thriller I’ve read. I think there was just a lot going on to build into the twist (which was a lot) that it just wasn’t my favorite. I would still say it’s worth a read - but not one I would actively recommend to friends.

I wanted to love this! I was intrigued throughout my reading, but the ending kind of....pooted out for me (the conclusion left me feeling unsatisfied, because the explanations were not enough.) I'm all for organized efforts to make men think they're going crazy, but this was not fleshed out to my satisfaction.
Beautiful Ugly gave off Hot Fuzz vibes plus....They Never Learn maybe? But it was not as good as either of its inspirations.
Also I did not enjoy the sound effects of the audiobooks, such as the bells, walkie talkie crackles, and the waves. They very much detracted from my experience!