4/5 stars! I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narration was fantastic. It kept my attention, kept me guessing, and I did not see the ending coming. That being said, the whole premise at the end was a little far fetched. I definitely had to suspend some disbelief. But not enough that it wasn’t enjoyable!

I love Alice Feeny and often use her novel "Sometimes I Lie" as a great example of an unreliable narrator. So, I was thrilled to get the chance to review the audiobook "Beautiful Ugly."
This one starts off pretty slow, and has a bit of a "Gone Girl" vibe - Grady is a NYT Bestselling writer whose wife mysteriously disappears when she pulls over to check on a body she finds lying on the road. Losing his wife completely shatters Grady, rendering him unable to write. So his agent, hoping he'll benefit from a change of scenery, sends him to a remote Scottish island to try to reignite his creativity, From there, the book starts to pick up, as the island is not as it seems. I thought this was a fun one, and got pretty engaged once the story picked up, though I admit I struggled a bit to get into it in the beginning.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for this arc. I am a big fan of this author. I love her books and I absolutely loved this book as well! The story had such a unique plot, and the character development was fantastic. I got obsessed with the book from the first page till the last, I never saw the end come coming, it is a short book but it definitely packs up punch. I love how it was a Christmas thriller book! It felt like the two movies Silent Night, Deadly Night meets Saw! I truly hope this book becomes a movie because I would definitely go and see it. It’s such a spectacular thrill ride. I would highly recommend this book and will continue to read more from this amazing author.!

Beautiful Ugly is the story of Author Grady, his wife Abigail, agent Kitty, and the Isle of Amberley. Grady just finds out he is offically a NYT best selling author, and momets later discovers his wife has disappered... or did she? The story is narratored from 2 view points and the twists and turns keep coming throughout the book, some you wont seeing coming... I really enjoyed the narrators and the audio used to enchace the text. I wanted to leep listenting.

My only critique is towards the end, some parts are over emphasized, while other major twists could have been more developed, explained, explored. Overally I enjoyed this and people who love mysteries, psychologic thrillers, and books about complexes relationships will also enjoy this book.

Thank you to MacMillian Audio for the advanced review audiobook through NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney was an audiobook that I had the honor of receiving an ALC. First, the narrators Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton were topnotch and gave me the full experience I was looking for. This had edge of your seat thriller mystery and each chapter brought more twists that begged me to not put down. Where was his wife?? And is this husband who he says he is?
I found it entertaining and a pleasantly new plot. I recommend listening to this one.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

2.75
I'm all caught up on Alice Feeney's books, and I have to say this one was my least favorite. "Sometimes I Lie" and "His & Hers" are my top picks from her, while the other ones were decent reads imo. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have finished the ebook if I hadn't had the audiobook. The audio production and both narrators were amazing, and I really don't know if I would have stuck with the book without that.

I felt a bit let down since not much happens for most of the story. You quickly realize that the people on the island are clearly psychologically tormenting Grady, which is entertaining for a while, but then it just became kind of dull. I did predict a twist or two, but none of the other twists surprised me enough to give it a higher rating.

I received this ARC audiobook early in exchange for a review. This ending will leave you thinking about it. It’s so different from everything I’ve read and I really enjoyed the crazy ending. For quite a bit I couldn’t see where this was going and right around 60% is when I was starting to get pulled in. The ending was worth the read. Alice Feeney gives a lot of background on characters, if you like being fully immersed with your thriller characters then this is something you will enjoy.

This was such a good book! I really enjoyed “rock, paper, scissors” by this author and this one was just as good. I loved the alternating POV and the sounds that went along with the narration. The twist was amazing.

This book will take you on a wild ride. I'll admit it kept me guessing and had a twist at the end. I recommend listening to the audiobook. The Scottish accent alone makes it worth a listen.

Beautiful Ugly is another fantastic domestic thriller by Alice Feeney. Narrators Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton bring the novel to life with their performances as well as the eerie musical sounds that segue novel sections. I listened to this novel in one sitting because I could not bring myself to stop!

Feeney maintains a creepy atmospheric tone throughout. Enriching the novel are the many clever oxymorons of chapter titles. The beauty and mystery of the remote Scottish island are central to the novel and allow the setting to also serve as a character.

As the reveals come left and right, some of the islanders’ belief systems seem unrealistic with no middle ground. Some of the revelations are completely shocking while some are predictable.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this title for an honest review.

Another entertaining thriller from Alice Feeney! I would classify this book as a psychological domestic thriller as it contains both elements and much more. The story opens with the disappearance of Abby, wife of new bestselling author, Grady. This occurs as Grady and Abby are talking on the phone while Abby is driving home. Right away, we get a sense that things are not OK between these two as Grady is irritated that Abby wasn’t home when he got the call from his publisher that he made the bestseller list. But he is devastated by Abby’s disappearance thus he can’t fulfill his contract for his next book. Fast forward a year and Grady’s publisher (also Abby’s godmother) offers to let Grady live in her cottage on a very very remote Scottish island so he can focus on his new book. And things get really weird from here.
I agree with the reviews saying that this story is far-fetched. It’s actually really pretty crazy but so entertaining. I would even say that there is a definite horror component to the story. The characters may not be likable but they are certainly unusual. As Grady becomes more entrenched in the island’s weirdness, the story starts taking twists and turns that I couldn’t anticipate. Yes, the story is too unbelievable to be remotely possible and this isn’t a typical thriller but that’s why I liked it so much. Never a dull moment and constant entertainment. I also loved the setting although I couldn’t picture giant redwoods on a Scottish island but this just added to the strangeness. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was very good.

Rock Paper Scissors by this author has been my favorite book by this author, and after reading this one still remains my favorite. That said, this one comes to a close second and had such excellent twists and turns. The ending was quite satisfying and truly the opening chapter sucked you in and the story never let up.

This was such a good hook, "Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do."

Wow! I so enjoy Alice Feeney’s books. With so many twist and turns, I was taken on quite the ride. Even the ending threw me off. If you can, I highly recommend listening to the audio version. The narration and sound effects take the book to an another level!

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillianAudio,
#AliceFeeney, #RichardArmitage, #TuppenceMiddleton and #TheBeautifulUgly for the advance audiobook for my honest review.

This book was super captivating from the beginning to the end! I always love an easy to read but twisty thriller. This has all you need in a thriller book. It was fast paced and I finished this one in two days. I loved the dual POV, and the jumping of the timeline. THE TWISTS!!!! Oh boy, I want to reread already! There is a bit of spice in this book that I had to skip but there’s definitely a solid plot!

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio: The audio is a great way to intake this story. It has extra sounds and a narration that really brings the story to life.

Review: Alice Feeney has been very hit or miss for me over the years. Before I get into this review it might help to know that my favorites of hers are Daisy Dark and Rock, Paper, Scissors. Beautiful Ugly holds within it's pages the typical Alice Feeney writing style, you can expect quick, to the point and a little cringey at times but not in a bad way?

Alice Feeney is known for her crafty and shocking plot twists. However, that was the weakest and most frustrating part of this novel IMO. Everything else about this story I LOVED. Let's start with that.

What I loved: The atmosphere of this story is unique, eerie, and dark/dreadful. The island is almost it's own character. In my review, I never really talk about the plot so hopefully you've read about that before this review (will still be spoiler free). Once our main character gets to the island the story really starts to take off. We meet a cast of characters (though the island only has 25 residents) and we stay in a cabin of a famous writer who has passed away but would write from that cabin. There is a lot of describe and discussion about the woods, specifically the trees and protecting them from harm. There are a few moments where this book reminded me of Wayward Pines and I wondered if there was a sci-fi element. The descriptions of the island were some of my favorite parts of the story.

At times, this novel can be scary and borderline horror (there are a few jump scares that legitimately creeped me out). We move at a decent pace and our main character is always chasing the next revelation that might connect him to his missing wife/ answer why he believes he is seeing her on the island. The island is a disorienting and strangely unsure place. I LOVED IT.

Everything was going so well until the explanation of everything. I actually guessed it which I've never been able to do in previous works. That's not really the problem, I don't mind guessing the ending. The problem is that is was not exciting, or shocking in any way and made weird connections that I thought were red herrings but turned out to be the truth. I wish the resolution to this story would have been different.

All in all this would have been a five star read, if the explanation was different this would have been a new favorite of mine. I will say, this is a great book to read and discuss with others.

Holy $*%! This was my first Alice Feeney book, but it definitely won't be the last. I'm an instant fan. I was completely hooked from beginning to jaw dropping end. I listened to the audio and cannot recommend enough!! Fantastic thriller.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Narrated by Richard Armitage, Tuppence Middleton

If possible, listen to the audiobook of this story because the narration and sound effects are very good. The story is already steeped in atmosphere and the voice acting and sound effects add to that atmosphere in a way that sent chills up my spine. There is already a claustrophobic, on the verge of insanity, feel to the story and the sounds make the story even creepier.

I can't say I liked anyone in this story and whiney, simpering, pouting Grady Green got the story off to a good start as far as helping me to like no one. It seems he's had much success as an author but rather than building on it he's floundering in too many ways. He's on the verge of maybe finding out he's a New York Times best selling author and he's upset because his wife hasn't gotten home in time for the phone call giving him the news. Then he gets a phone call that turns this possible best day of his life into the worst day of his life.

From there, Grady just falls apart day by day, his world self destructing thanks to his inability to cope with anything. The tension is high in this story, things have gone wrong, things are wrong, things will go wrong. At rock bottom, Grady is offered the use of a cabin on a remote island. He'll be shut off from everything but the few inhabitants of the island. Paranoid already, Grady's paranoia only rises as he feels eyes on him all the time. What is with the women of this island, they seem to say one thing and do another, and are they being honest with him? Nothing seems right here and there is no way to contact the outside world or leave this place.

The first half of the book really had me going. What is going on with Grady? It is him or is it his surroundings that are out of sync, out to get him, making him seem crazy and off his rocker? There is Grady's wonderful black lab and I worried about him but know that the dog is always okay. Grady's problems are not the dog's problems.

At some point things are revealed to us and that's where the story lost some of it's spooky feel. I had the "oh, it's that" eye roll moment where I felt let down by what's behind everything. I know some folks love this kind of story but I get bored with certain black and white actions/beliefs that don't seem realistic to me. Still, the story had me going for a very long time and the audiobook is a lot of fun. This was a great buddy read with DeAnn, Jayme, and Mary Beth.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a fun and twisty mystery novel about a writer and his supportive wife. We learn that she was in an accident but her body never found. As we listen to him tell the story, he is looking for her everywhere and having trouble moving on or writing, now running out of money. His agent is also his wife’s godmother, and she suggests he go up to a former author/client’s writing shack where he can live and write without distraction. But, of course, things are not what they seem. We are also privy to the wife’s conversations with her therapist before the accident. The author does a good job of keeping up the suspense, even when I think I have things figured out. The “truth,” however, is a bit strange.
My thanks to the author, publisher, #MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date is January 14, 2025.

Wow I love Alice Feeney, and she did it again! This truly threw me for a loop and I did not expect the ending. I was very invested and overall the story was original. Audiobook was easy to follow and a good narrator. Great book!

Alice Feeney, a British writer known for her gripping narratives, delivers a compelling psychological thriller in her latest audiobook, "Beautiful Ugly." This intricate tale is narrated by two voices — one male and one female — effectively immersing listeners in its plot and character dynamics turbulence. The story revolves around Grady, a writer whose wife, Abby, suddenly goes missing. One year later, left grappling with writer's block, Grady is advised by his agent to retreat to a secluded island, a place that has inspired a renowned author in the past. This transformation of setting from bustling life to the isolation of an island plays a crucial role in unraveling a story that explores complex themes of marriage, desire, and the darker facets of human emotion. Feeney's narrative is primarily experienced through Grady's perspective, allowing listeners to feel his emotional turmoil and confusion closely. The psychological depth is enhanced by the slow unfolding of the plot, which keeps audiences engaged and yearning for the next twist.

As Grady wrestles with his thoughts and experiences, the story invites the listener to question the nature of love and the secrets hidden within relationships. The performance of the narrators dramatically enhances the experience. The male narrator showcases a smooth, British accent that is pleasant and engaging—his pacing and delivery capture Grady's emotions beautifully, connecting listeners deeply with the character. However, the female narrator's interpretation of her character often introduces some confusion. While her clarity was commendable, her attempt to differentiate characters through tonality occasionally blurred the lines, particularly when portraying male voices. Sound quality plays a significant role in the overall production, effectively using waves as transitions between scenes and time shifts, perfectly reflecting the island setting's proximity to the sea. This thoughtful approach to sound design enriches the narrative experience. As the story progresses, tension builds, leading to thought-provoking and unsettling moments. Feeney excels in character development; Grady and Abby are portrayed as a seemingly ordinary married couple, yet the deeper exploration reveals discomposed layers of their relationship that provoke much discussion. The ending is particularly impactful, often causing what readers affectionately call a "book hangover," leaving them needing a moment to gather their thoughts after such a whirlwind of events. "Beautiful Ugly" is not just a story; it is an experience ripe for discussion, filled with twists and turns that might leave you reeling. Feeney's ability to weave complex emotional narratives into a gripping plot ensures that this audiobook will resonate long after the final word is spoken. I recommend this story for thriller readers who are amenable to feeling unsettled.

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