This was a really fun read! I don’t know that it’s a new favorite, but I definitely appreciated it. The main character is an unlikeable bestselling author who has been struggling with grief and writers block after his wife’s disappearance. He ends up on an isolated island with no way to contact the outside world, and is increasingly worried about his sanity after repeatedly seeing things and people relating to his missing wife.

I really liked the way we eventually got a couple more points of view; they really added to the plot and atmosphere. The chapter titles were mostly oxymorons, which I really enjoyed, especially with the title being beautiful ugly. I also appreciated that there were a lot of feminist themes in this book, which I was definitely not expecting! I also really enjoyed the audiobook - there were some really fun sound effects and two narrators, both of whom did an excellent job!

I had an issue with one of the main twists and how it was presented, but I won’t say any more to avoid spoilers.

If you enjoy thrillers with isolated settings, writer MCs, creepy atmosphere, and unlikeable characters, this one’s for you!

One thing I really appreciate about Alice Feeney is that she is wholly ORIGINAL. You never know quite what you'll get from her but it is always, always creative and unlike anything I've ever read. I just think she's wonderful and I'd love to sit with her and pick her brain.

I think people keep hoping for another Sometimes I Lie and that's kind of unfair.

Some of her books are chaotic and full of WTF twists, some are just dark and meandering and unsettling and creepy.

This one fits in the latter category. If you are hoping for a breakneck-speed, chaotic thriller...this ain't it.

If you are looking for a creepy, unsettling, weird, dread-filled book, this is the one for you. Very much a setting as a main character type book, not one that will grab you IMMEDIATELY, but one I so appreciated nevertheless.

I will say that the twist had me flipping through the previous pages of the book trying to get it right in my head, hahaha!

And the audio is PHENOMENAL, as Feeney audiobooks always are. Narrated by the talented Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, the narration will transport you directly to Amberley, Scotland and send chills right up your spine. So, so good.

I don't generally review audiobooks because trying to say how I feel about a particular narrator is difficult. I mean, I know what I like and if the narration turns me off, I will usually just throw the audio aside. I found the narrators for this story to be perfect for the storyline and location of the story. It was a unique story and almost felt like a story within the story. Part mystical realism (at least to me). part mystery, part serious reflection, this story definitely drew me in. Some moments I knew what would happen (or I thought so) and others I was baffled. The ending surprised me because perhaps I missed some of the nuances (now that I think back) but I was definitely shocked and loved how this author pulled it all together. This is my first Alice Feeney story but by no means will it be my last.

Book Review: Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Alice Feeney, often heralded as the queen of suspense and thrillers, delivers another atmospheric tale in Beautiful Ugly. While many readers will undoubtedly be captivated by its enigmatic setting and timely themes, this one fell a bit short for me compared to her previous works. That said, it’s still a compelling enough story, showcasing Feeney’s knack for crafting intricate plots and complex characters.

The narrative revolves around author Grady Green and the mystery of his wife Abby’s disappearance. Told through alternating perspectives—Grady’s, Abby’s, and excerpts of Abby’s newspaper articles—the story unfolds with layers of suspense. Grady, grappling with writer’s block and personal turmoil, takes his publisher’s advice and retreats to a remote island to focus on his next book. The island itself is a character in the story: haunting, mysterious, and atmospheric. Feeney’s description of this locale is vivid and compelling, drawing the reader into its eerie embrace.

While the premise is intriguing and the ending satisfying, I found myself struggling to connect with the story at times. The shifting perspectives were well-done but didn’t quite deliver the gripping punch I’ve come to expect from Feeney. However, the book’s exploration of timely themes—particularly its commentary on women during a tumultuous period in history—is commendable and thought-provoking.

The audiobook narrator deserves special mention, as their performance kept me engaged even during moments where the plot felt uneven. Their delivery added depth and nuance to the characters, enhancing the overall experience.

In the end, Beautiful Ugly is a good book with a strong concept and a powerful ending. Though it may not be my favorite from Feeney, I appreciate its ambition and the atmospheric world she created. Fans of suspenseful, thought-provoking stories will likely find much to enjoy here, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of her previous masterpieces.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook ARC opportunity!

I enjoyed the unique background of this book- set on a rainy Scottish island, giving an eery feel when Grady, the main character, is alone, or talking with townspeople.

Grady’s literary agent suggests he goes here after, a year before, his wife all but disappeared- her car on a cliffs edge, headlights on, but no sign of her. He finds a doll in the passenger seat with its mouth sewn shut. Could this be a warning due to the story she wrote?

Pros: I like the narrator, the scenery, the eerie feel, and the unique storyline

Cons: it moved a bit slow for me during some parts

I will definitely read a book from this author again!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook. I love Alice Feeney, and this is.a great and mysterious read. The narrator was a good reader, and made the story interesting. This book was very suspenseful and thrilling. I did not see the ending coming, though the end was not my favorite.

BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

Beautiful Ugly is another banger from Alice Feeney. I loved Daisy Darker, liked Good Bad Girl, and absolutely loved this novel. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a good story from start to finish, and I felt I was in a fever dream.

The way Feeney kept the suspense going from the beginning until the last sentence of this book is worthy of applause. The audiobook is narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton who read the story in a great pace and set the perfect tone. The audiobook also has great sound effects. If you like mystery thrillers, Beautiful Ugly is an excellent read. My best from this author.

the setup…
Grady Green is an author whose first book was an astonishing success. He hasn’t achieved that same level with his following books but he finally got the call that his latest is now a New York Times bestseller. When he calls his wife Abby to share the news, he hears her car come to a screeching stop, her leave the car to assist a woman in the road and then…nothing. The line stays open and when he reaches her car, it’s abandoned and Abby has vanished. A year later, Grady is still grief stricken, unable to write as Abby was his muse and he’s almost destitute. Kitty, his agent and Abby’s godmother, offers him a cabin she inherited as a quiet refuge that will stimulate him creatively. It’s located on the small and isolated Isle of Amberley in Scotland. From the moment Grady steps off of that ferry, nothing is ever again what it seems.

the heart of the story…
Many books claim to be atmospheric but this one owns it at a level I’ve not experienced in a while. There’s something about that island and its residents that feels off despite their friendliness and Amberley’s beauty. The interior of the cabin is perfection with spectacular views and has the solitude Grady loves for writing. He has the primary narrative and when he starts seeing visions of Abby, his accounts become questionable, especially since he’s sleep deprived. But always in the background is a sense that something sinister is at play and I could never shake that feeling. I kept wanting him to run, get off that island and never look back.

the narration…
Richard Armitage was the perfect voice for Grady! I expected great storytelling and his mastery of the character was an added gift. Tuppence Middleton was just as wonderful as Abby. And, the sound effects just added to the suspense.

the bottom line…
I was off balance for the entire story, not knowing who to trust and choosing to trust no one. Everything about Amberley and the townspeople was just odd, with its strange rules and their cultish behaviors. I should have been prepared for that ending but my imagination just didn’t stretch that far. Thank goodness Feeney’s knows no limits. It continues to haunt me. 4.5 stars

Grady Green's life shattered when his wife, Abby, vanished without a trace near a cliffside. A year later, desperate for answers, he retreats to a remote Scottish island. But when he spots a woman who’s the spitting image of Abby, Grady is drawn into a mystery that could unravel everything he thought he knew.

The beginning of this story was absolutely addicting! The atmospheric and intriguing tone of this domestic mystery immediately drew me in. Grady’s strong and winsome voice had me hooked, desperate to uncover what happened. The pacing was solid, and the setting was even better. While I usually enjoy the unreliable narrator trope, there were aspects of it here that didn’t quite work for me. One twist, however, was exceptionally well executed and kept me on my toes throughout. Unfortunately, the ending felt convoluted, unrealistic, and didn’t do justice to the gripping start that I loved.

It’s hard to share opinions about thrillers in reviews because of spoilers, so if you’ve read the book already, send me a DM so we can rant about that crazy ending!!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ALC

Perfect for you if you like:
Locked door mystery
Atmospheric
Betrayal & revenge
Unreliable narrator

Similar to:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Plot by Jean Hans Korelitz
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

⛔️chapters 9, 22 & 28 contain paragraphs of brief sexual descriptions (open door, minimal, married couple)
⚠️explicit language (infrequent), child sexual assault, betrayal, common TWs for thrillers

10/10! Twists galore!!! I was always wondering what in the world is going on and it was just twist after twist. Classic Alice Feeney book!

I am a huge Alice Feeney fan and this audiobook did not disappoint! This book has a bit of everything: a disappearance, lies, mysteries, past secrets, isolated atmosphere, etc.
The story follows Grady who is an author that upon hearing some of the best news of his life finds himself experiencing a life changing event because his wife Abby goes missing. A year passes and now he finds himself with major writer's block so his agent offers him an opportunity to go to a remote island to hopefully find inspiration.
He finds himself in an isolated island but he soon notices mysterious events taking place. The people there don't seem to be who they say they are. He also believes that he has seen his missing wife on this small island. He starts wondering if he is truly seeing his missing wife or if it's his grief and insomnia making him see things.
As the story unravels we learn of past secrets and lies that led to the decisions that Grady made and the ending was absolutely shocking!!!
What I loved about this audiobook is that it incorporated various sound effects in the production such as walkie talkie noises, ocean waves, church bells, dial tones, etc. It truly made the listening experience great.
The narrators did a fantastic job. I really enjoyed listening to both narrators.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much. I really love books that take place in remote/isolated areas.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audion. All opinions are my own.

This book was an AMAZING read! I've read other Alice Feeney books but was not prepared for the twists and turns this book took me on. I loved the dark, creepy feel that crept throughout the book. The way the characters slowly show their true colors was very sneaky and enjoyable. The overall feel of Beautiful Ugly was shadowy, slowly thrilling, and exceptionally poetic. I would most definitely recommend this read!

Finally a thriller with some... well... Thrills!!!

After a year of disappointing thrillers, I gave into the hype I had been hearing about this book and requested an ARC through NetGalley. The first chapter had me completely hooked, and the ending had me audibly reacting.

The story follows a writer, who while is speaking to his wife over the phone, overhears as she disappears. This story is the mystery of what happened to her, and also about how events 1 year later are also connected. I found the plot to be very engaging, well paced, and full of surprises. I enjoyed the experience of hearing the perspectives of both Husband and Wife, both before and after the incident. Every time I thought I had figured out the plot, the story would twist and keep me guessing.

I listened to this through Audio book, and really enjoyed the production. There are duel narrators (Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton), making it easy to jump perspectives, and there are mild sound effects, such as: radio/phone voice alteration and the sound of waves between narrators. This was done very minimally, and I feel did not distract from the reading at all. I listened to this book over two days, and would recommend to friends looking for a thrill.

The character development was also a mystery that unravelled through the story. Feeny introduces us to her characters, and then the character does something that makes that fact un-reliable, therefore showing us who they are rather than telling us. I thought that was very smart writing, and allowed for a lot of surprises in the book.

I think this would be a very fun read for a book-club, because of its twists, but also because of the un-reliable characters, the chilling atmosphere, and the pacing and length. It did not give me a 5-star feeling (but thrillers rarely do), but I had a really great time reading this book. 4 stars to me means "I loved it!" This is my 2nd Alice Feeney book, and I look forward to reading more by this author (Was a big fan of Daisy Darker as well, but found that one more predictable).

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a classic Alice Feeney novel, though it's clear there's a continually strengthening writing the more she releases! Twists and turns felt well-placed, and the importance of perspective was really well highlighted throughout.

Thank you to MacMillian for letting me read an early copy of BEAUTIFUL UGLY. This one is out January 14.

I love Alice Feeney. I get so excited when I see something new is coming out by her. This book was just as atmospheric and twisty as they all are. I really enjoyed reading this until I got to the ending. It felt a little abrupt and out of nowhere. Still recommend it and will always recommend any of her books.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ACR . I really enjoy Alice Fenney’s books. They catch you from the start! Always a lot of red herrings and twists along the way that you don’t see what’s going to happen next!

I have only read a couple of Alice Feeney’s books, but she is all over my TBR, and with listening to Beautiful Ugly, I really need to try and get her books moved up higher on my list. I was granted an ALC (advanced listening copy) from the publisher and also had an opportunity to read Beautiful Ugly with a physical book via my Book of the Month subscription.

I was glad I had access to a physical copy: There is a map included of the Isle of Amberly which is where Grady goes. I did reference the map as I listened to the audio. Another reason I was delighted to have a physical copy was towards the end of the book something is mentioned. I can’t say what as it could be a spoiler, but I did what was mentioned and I squealed as my reaction! Being able to do this added so much more to the book for me and added a half star to my rating!

Beautiful Ugly has two things to it that I really enjoy and one that can be hit or miss: dual narrators, dual timelines, and the unreliable narrator. With unlikeable characters (other than the dog), a missing wife, and the dual narrators being both Grady and Abby, at about 24% of the way in I texted some friends and said “I’m listening to a book and if it goes Gone Girl, I’m going to be pissed!” I am sure I am not the only reader to think this. We have a dog in this book and I was worried that something would happen to Columbo, as he was a main character along with Grady. Reader and animal lover, fear not: Columbo is fine!

The audiobook has two narrators and they both did a fabulous job. They performed really well with these unlikeable characters. There are also sound effects throughout the narration which enhanced the audiobook. The sounds effects consist of static of the handheld radios, the ocean, and some light music throughout the novel.

I did start this book at the end of 2024 and ended it in 2025, and I hope this is a great sign of the books I will be reading/ listening to this year!

I wasn’t entirely happy with ultimate motives that are uncovered, but dang the final twists were something! I really hope this becomes a mini-series for tv and it sticks with the book, that would be quite a thriller to watch! I won’t say if Beautiful Ugly went the Gone Girl route or not as it would be a spoiler alert. Just read or listen to this book yourself to find out! Many thanks to the publisher for granting me an alc to listen to and review.

Another twisty story from an author I have come to enjoy very much. Following the life of a washed up author, we find out that tragedy has struck and derailed his career. After the loss of his wife a man just can't seem to get his act together and to get published again. With the help of an agent he finds a reclusive and inspiring cabin on a little Scottish aisle to start fresh. It's not long that he's on the island before he discovers that this community is unlike any other that he has come across. As he tries to uncover the secrets of the people on the island, it becomes rapidly apparent that his own Secrets will float to the surface as well.

It was tense and suspenseful and a wonderful mystery. Although there was so much going on in the Shadows on the island, I rather think that I would enjoy living in this community.

Beautiful Ugly plunges readers into the eerie world of Amberley, a remote Scottish island. Grady Green, a bestselling author struggling with his wife Abby's mysterious disappearance, seeks solace and inspiration on the isolated isle at the suggestion of his agent. But from the moment he arrives, the island’s folklore, ever-changing weather, and unsettling residents create an undercurrent of dread that only deepens as strange occurrences unfold.

The narration by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, paired with immersive sound effects, and sound effects makes you feel like you’re right there on the island with Grady. This slow-burn thriller delivers twists, tension, and an unforgettable setting. While the ending may stretch believability for some (like the "need" of Grady's expertise near the end), the journey there is gripping. Feeney proves once again she’s a master of domestic thrillers, and Amberley will stay with you long after you finish.

I adore Alice Feeney. She is an auto-read author for me. As with all of her stories, I went into this one blind, and I'm so glad I did! I loved the super twisted, fast paced story line. The setting, a remote island in Scotland, with minimal internet or phone access makes for the perfect eerie atmosphere.
I loved that the book was written in dual POV with dual timelines and an unreliable narrator. The unexpected twist at the end solidified this as a 5 star read for me!
I listened to the audio version, and I enjoyed the dual narrators. They really knocked this one out of the park!
I absolutely loved this story, and the narration made it even better. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!