This book was definitely not was I was expecting. A man’s wife disappeared. He’s a write and hasn’t written since she’s been gone. His editor sends him to her cabin, the island only has women on it. No cell service. He keeps thinking he’s seeing his wife on the island. What you don’t know is he is the reason she disappeared. This was an insane plot. Never could have guessed

This story was quite a rollercoster ride! I love reading original out of the box type of stories like this one! I did not see what was coming next. I’m so happy that I was able to experience this story in audio form. The narration was perfect in every way! I was sucked into the story and felt like my feet were planted right in the middle of it! I’m excited to share my recommendation of this must read with my fellow readers!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.75/5)

I really enjoy Alice Feeney books. This audiobook was well done and had sounds and music throughout which I thought was a cool touch. The production value with music, walkie talkie static, phone ringing, etc was top notch. All of this added to the overall atmospheric vibes of the book. I also thought the lore about why there were no birds on the island was pretty cool.

The beginning started off well, grabbed me right away. The middle was pretty slow going (not a fan of that - I prefer more fast paced books) but the pacing picked up towards the end which I liked and is what really saved the book for me.

So here’s the jist. A married couple, Grady and Abby seem a bit…disconnected but one day (the best and worst day) changes everything. Abby mysteriously disappears one day. Grady has a serious case of writers block ever since Abby went missing. He goes away to an island to see if he can get himself inspired again. Only things on the island are weird from the start. Grays seems like he’s interested in finding his wife but honestly it felt to me like he was more into the mystery of the thing than any sort of deep connection.

The entire book something just felt so clunky & awkward about their relationship. I just kept thinking, what’s the draw for Abby & Grady, like what really connects them!? Neither seems like a particularly happy person and there’s 0 chemistry. They don’t seem to bring anything positive to each other and seem to want to be known to the public for their successful careers yet they keep big secrets from each other.

There are HUGE secrets that come out and if I were in this marriage I would be livid.

Feminist themes…if ya can’t beat em’ (and you won’t), might as well join them…for a time anyway. The ending was cool and if you want a more immersive experience I suggest the audio.

This book was engaging right from the get go. I love a book that hooks me right away. The last Alice Feeney book I read I did not finish. It was “Rock Paper Scissors”, and it did not entertain me like this one. I did NOT see the twist coming!! That’s what I like in a book, one that actually stumps me. I truly enjoyed this book!! Especially the last sentence which will haunt my dreams tonight!!

A complex story of love, regret and lies

Grady’s wife goes missing one night. They are on the phone and she exits her vehicle, never to be seen again. A year later, his agent, her godmother, offers him a chance to go to a remote island where and older writer used to live to write another novel and he has struggled since his wife went missing. Things seem out of place, and his wife’s articles begin turning up around the cabin. He keeps seeing her everywhere, but he has to be mistaken.

Where is this island, and will Grady ever make it off?

Many twists and turns I did not seen coming kept me wanting more to find out the truth about Abby, and the truth about the island. And I was not prepared for what happened.

I don’t know how I feel about this one. Was it interesting? Yes. But I feel like I still have so many unanswered questions and am thrown off by the ending. I am not a fan of super far fetched mysteries, I can suspend some disbelief but only to a certain extent with mysteries. I prefer them to feel real. Still enjoyable enough, and if you’re a Freida McFadden fan, I’d recommend this one. But it was just okay for me.

I loved the narrators for the audio book. It always helps me stay engaged when there is a male and female narrator. They were both so talented at changing their voice. I had no trouble keeping track of who was talking.
The story line was exceptional. I didn’t see the twists coming. All the characters were engaging.
I received this galley from NetGalley

It took me a while to really get into the plot of this book because it was slow-paced. The most interesting parts were towards the end and I enjoyed that section. There were unexpected plot twists as well as some that I had anticipated. The setting on a remote Scottish island added a fun and mysterious atmosphere to the story. The community members were suspicious but friendly towards Grady, leaving me to wonder what they were truly up to. The multiple POV’s from Grady (both past and present) and his missing wife (in the past) helped fill in the gaps, and it was also nice to hear Abby’s side of things. Overall, it was a good book. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a great job.

I think this book is going to be a hit, but sadly for me it was a little too slow and confusing In the end for me to be able to rate it higher. The book has a great atmospheric setting on a secluded island and a great plot, but I felt like it didn’t get interesting and substantial until about 60% in. The plot twists were definitely shocking, but they also left me a little confused, and with lingering questions that went unanswered. I did really enjoy the unreliable narrator, short chapters, and the eerie setting of the book.

Reading challenge category - 2024 Flourish and Blotts: Transfiguration - Switching Spell: Read a book in multiple formats (ebook and audiobook)

Grady Green is a bestselling author whose wife goes missing. 1 year after her disappearance, Grady is struggling to make ends meet. He can't sleep, he can't write, he can't function, and he's losing their home. His agent offers up her 'vacation home' (cabin) on a remote Scottlish isle. Once he arrives, he thinks he sees his missing wife, but then he starts to see other things. Everything is not as it appears to be.

Okay, so I get the mixed reviews for this book, BUT I am deciding to do a little suspending of reality and just rate this on enjoyability. And I definitely enjoyed a vast majority of the plot. Sure there are some unbelievable things and odd tie-ins just to try to make things make sense. BUT -- (to explain why I like it, I have to reveal some SPOILERS).

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

I love the female-centric island that was created. These women were wronged and they did something about it. Now they live together on the island in a mostly peaceful way. All women. No major issues. Girl Power. I also liked the way the the news articles were left to describe the backstories of each character on the island who we meet.

Thanks to #Netgalley and Macmillan publishers for the ARC!

Another wonderful Twisty, creepy, atmospheric, and claustrophobic novel from Alice Feeney. Alice Feeney is an autobuy author for me!! I devour her books. This book was no exception I listened to this within 24 hours, I couldn’t get enough. I needed to know what was going on and what happened to Abby. All descriptions that make a great book. the audio narration was fantastic. The voice actor did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and adding an extra layer of tension and emotion to the story.

Grady's wife disappeared years ago on the night he found out his book became a New York Times bestseller. She was driving home, stopped to assist a woman she found lying on the ground, and was never seen again. A year later, Grady can't write, can't sleep, and can't get over what happened. His agent suggests he get away from it all and escape to an island cabin that used to belong to a writer his agent represented. With no better options and no money to live elsewhere, he takes her up on the opportunity. When he gets there though, he sees a woman that looks exactly like his wife, and he needs answers.

While listening to the audio of Beautiful Ugly - a Dickens quote kept playing in my head: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”…….and literally, nothing in between. The 2 POVs were either telling a bliss-filled narrative of love, or a story of crippling sadness. The ending was completely twisted - and, I was good with it (When you read the book, you’ll know what I mean). Alice Feeney really delivered with this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the early Audio release :)

4.5 stars

My favorite Alice Feeney book so far! I loved the multiple layers of this mystery, the atmospheric setting on a sparsely populated Scottish island, the eccentric characters, and the female rage and justice! Feeney did an excellent job creating a sense of claustrophobia and doom that grows worse and worse as the book goes on. This book had me hooked from beginning to end!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The audio for Beautiful Ugly was absolutely perfect. It was so easy to follow along (if you didn't have the book in hand) with all the sound effects of each POV change. Highly recommend the audio if you can get your hands on it!

Beautiful Ugly is the definition of psychological thriller 🙌🏼
It definitely was a slow start which I typically am not a fan of in thrillers but those last 100 pages really brought me back to life! The twists were twisiting, which is pure Alice Feeney fashion. Beautiful Ugly WILL have you second guessing everything until the very last page!
This was my last book of 2024 and I couldn’t be happier with how it wrapped up! 🩷

“If you are reading this I am trapped on the island please help me “ IYKYK. yes I did it & i was screaming the whole time lol

Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly is a beautifully written story that explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The dual perspectives are a standout feature, offering easily distinguishable voices that add depth and dimension to the narrative. This structure allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters’ lives and understand their unique viewpoints. With her signature style, Feeney weaves a compelling narrative that keeps readers intrigued from start to finish.
While the story is captivating, some of the twists felt slightly predictable, which tempered the suspense for me. Fans of emotionally driven storytelling may still find plenty to enjoy, as the book captures raw emotions and nuanced character dynamics. Its tone and themes reminded me of the show The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, with both stories sharing a similar haunting beauty and emotional resonance.
The audiobook deserves a special mention for its excellent production. The narrators brought the characters to life with distinct performances that enhanced the experience, making it an excellent choice for audio enthusiasts.
Overall, Beautiful Ugly is a compelling and emotionally rich novel that, while not entirely surprising, is well worth the read (or listen). Feeney’s ability to delve into the depths of her characters ensures this book will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me the opportunity to read this advance audiobook copy and providing my honest feedback.

At the same time that author Grady Green hears that he has been named to the NY Times Bestseller list, his wife Abby disappears while he is on the phone with her. When he eventually finds her car, the headlights are on, the driver''s door is open, and her phone is still there but she has disappeared. A year later, still grief-stricken, he accepts the offer to make use of a remote cabin on a tiny Scottish island in the hopes of writing another bestseller.

This is my first experience with Alice Feeney's writing although I have quite a few of her books on my list. I really liked this story and the location. It was very atmospheric and I had no trouble picturing the Isle of Amberly and its inhabitants, all 25 of them ... or is it 24?! In the Kindle version, and I imagine the print version, there's a handy map of the island which helps with imagining the locale. The characters on Amberly are mostly a little on the eccentric side and Grady himself is an unreliable narrator as he drinks too much and doesn't sleep enough. It's hard to know what's real and what's imagined. We're also treated to flashbacks of what was going on with Abby leading up to her disappearance. The chapters are cleverly titled with oxymorons and paradoxes (I think!).

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton. They both did an excellent job voicing the various characters as well as the Scottish accents performed by Mr. Armitage. The audiobook also provided various sound effects - the sound of the ocean, bells ringing, walkie-talkies crackling, etc - which helped make the story much more alive. I also had a copy of the Kindle version of the book but didn't read much of it, preferring the audio version. The thing I miss with audiobooks is that we usually don't hear the acknowledgements or the author's notes so that's where the Kindle version comes in handy.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for granting early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: January 14, 2025

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!!!! Alice Feeney did it again! This book was captivating and thrilling. I didn't see the twist coming and was thoroughly shook. This is a must read!

Alice Feeney is hit or miss for me, unfortunately this one was a miss. The book was creepy, aided by a very creepy narration that scared me in multiple places, but the ending just kind of got plucked out of the blue and didn't work for me.

If you are going to read this one, I highly recommend the narration to add to the creepy vibes!

Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audio!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this ARC!!

Alice Feeney did it AGAIN!! This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it was phenomenal!!! There are lots of twist but there was one that had me flipping through the previous pages of the book trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together!!
The narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, along with all of the immersive sound effects, really make you feel like you are inside the setting of the book!!!
My only “con” would be is that it is slow paced but that does not take away from the greatness of this book!!

I have been looking foward to this audio and I have to say it did not disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning, There are two sides to every story, and Feeney is a genius at giving us one perspective and then another. I love how she brings the reader along and inserts multiple perspectives, including the reader in the character's journeys.

The narrator, Richard Armitage, is fantastic, and he played his character well. I also really enjoyed the look into the publishing world. At first I wasn't sure what i was hearing with the audio additions like waves crashing and walkie talkies, but eventually I grew to enjoy those extra features. Beautiful Ugly is a definitely a page-turner, and the audio is especially fun.