Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney Goodreads review

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a locked room thriller set on a remote Scottish Island, where author Grady Green goes to write his new novel.

Which he has been unable to do since his last book became a New York Times best seller on the day his wife went.

However on the ferry to the island he sees someone who looks like his wife!

Beautiful Ugly is a one of those novels that will divide readers, in a way it feels like one of those books that has been written so many times before and not just in books but films and TV shows as well.

Firstly the novel is told mainly through one perspective that of Grady Green, which does make the story easy to follow.

However there are a few chapters told through his wife's perspective set before she went missing, Which does give a different perspective on the state of the marriage.

As for the genre of the novel, while it is classed as a mystery thriller, Beautiful Ugly, is definitely more mystery and no mystery, however it does go into a psychological thriller as a lot of the novel plays on the lead character's mind.

As the tension builds throughout, which is done very slowly throughout, which does affect how long the novel takes to get going , so there may be times when not finishing the book by some readers mind you at 320 pages it is not that long.

Having said that when you get to the end it will not work for every reader, I am not saying it leaves the ending ambiguous as there is a definite ending it is just that some readers may be uncomfortable with it.

In conclusion while Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney may not be for every reader for those it is for will find a through provoking novel within its pages.

3.5 stars, rounded up

For most of the book, the story just trundles along - I found it interesting enough to keep reading but not gripping enough that I wouldn't be able to put it down. For the most part, I couldn't figure out where the story was going, and I was keen to figure it out. The last 10-15% person however had me in absolute shackles, and I did not see the last plot twist coming. Overall, an enjoyable read, but nothing extraordinary.

One of Alice's best books that I've read, it hooked me from the start and I couldn't put it down. Good characters and well plotted and what an twist. Grady's wife has been missing for a year and his life is falling apart, his literary agent sends he to her cabin on a remote Scottish island to get him back on track there he thinks he sees his wife, can it be her? Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Wow oh wow! Alice Feeney has done it again. Just when you think you know how the book will end.. bam! A twist.

Put on your seatbelts for this wild and somewhat spooky ride.

A year ago Grady's wife Abby has gone missing whilst on the phone to him about his amazing news of being a New York Times best seller. He hears Abby go and check on someone left on the road and that was the last he hears from her. A year on Grady has been invited to a secluded writers cottage in Scotland. But things and the small community aren't what they seem.

I really enjoyed the new Alice Feeney novel. It was well written with many interesting characters. I was one hundred percent invested in this book and had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened to Abby. I had a shock when a few twists came at the end of the book. I will continue to read anything Alice Feeney writes.

Thank you Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the gifted copy for my honest book review.

Back of the book :

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife as she’s driving home to share some exciting news. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by a cliff edge, the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there . . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible: a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

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

What I think :

Ok then … well what can I say ?
Whilst I realise that this authors books are slightly unusual, this one was a lot more than that.
It started off quite normally, if not a bit slow but some books are like that, at about half way through things started getting odd, then weird.

And that twist at the end !!! WOW !

The last quarter of the book was Fabulous, I really enjoyed it.
So yeah, I have got to say though I wasn’t really in love with the main character Grady and all the others didn’t really have much going for them either.

3⭐️’s

As always Alice Feeney managed to get me hooked right away and keep me surprised and unsure of where it was headed.

EXCERPT: "Are we okay?' she whispered.
'Of course. Always and forever,' I replied, kissing her on the forehead. 'Don't confuse problems at work with problems at home.' My wife was the most beautiful, clever, hardworking woman I have ever met, despite a childhood that was just as difficult and lonely as my own. At the age of ten she was abandoned and alone in the world, a bit like me. But Kitty took her in and loved her as though she were her own daughter. Abby was always so strong - I think a hard life made her that way - and I hated seeing her career slowly destroy her.
'Yes, maybe it's just the job getting me down. People can be so terrible to each other. I thought I could help people. Fix things. I could change the world if I became a journalist,' she said sadly.
'You are changing the world. One story at a time.'
'Am I?'
'Yes. I believe in you,' I said, but she still looked so unhappy.
I didn't understand it then and I still don't know why. I kissed her again then whispered, 'I hope you die in your sleep.'
She smiled. 'I love you too, Grady Green. Always and forever.'
A week later she disappeared.

ABOUT 'BEAUTIFUL UGLY': Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible — a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

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

MY THOUGHTS: Beautiful Ugly is the perfect title for this deliciously dark mystery/thriller about marriage and revenge.

This was an overnight read for me, and I was on the edge of my seat (and bed) the whole time. There was no chance of sleep. No way I wanted to sleep. But even if I had wanted to, I couldn't. I HAD to know what happened next.

Menacing, exciting, dark, twisty, sinister and unpredictable.

Set in an isolated cottage on an isolated island that he can't seem to escape (think Hotel California), Grady Green is subject to flights of fancy. He sees shadows move. Hears voices. Feels paranoid. Everyone on the island seems to be laughing at him, know something he doesn't. He gets messages that he must leave - if he knows what's good for him. He sees his missing wife everywhere and finds copies of her newspaper articles left for him to read. But by whom? And why? Is he going mad with grief and alcohol induced anxiety? Or, are they really out to get him?

Get in whatever your favorite reading supplies are and settle in for the long haul. Once started, you won't be able to stop reading.

'Life is beautiful and life is ugly and we have to learn to live with both sides of that same coin and see the light in the darkness. The world is Beautiful Ugly, relationships are Beautiful Ugly, people are Beautiful Ugly. Understanding that makes life easier to live.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#BeautifulUgly #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Alice Feeney is a writer and journalist. She spent 16 years at the BBC, where she worked as a reporter, news editor, arts and entertainment producer and news producer.
Alice is a Faber Academy graduate from the class of 2016. The best advice I was ever given, was to write a book that you would want to read yourself. I think that advice, along with 'never give up', are the most important things to remember if you want to be a writer. It took me a long time and I wish anyone trying to do the same the very best of luck.
(Source: https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/me... - abridged)
Alice currently lives in Devon with her family.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2025/02/04/beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney/

Fabulously gripping with a host of unexpected twists and turns, and a bunch of brilliant characters on a remote Scottish island. Another pacy, well-plotted and cleverly place-based Alice Feeney thriller!

Really enjoyed this one!! A gripping page turner, could not put it down. Alice Feeney does no wrong in my eyes!!

Grady, an author who has been struggling to write his next book, is offered the chance to stay in an isolated cottage on a small island by his publisher. His wife has disappeared and he frequently thinks he sees her wearing the red coat she had on when she went missing.
As with previous books by this author, I was at times a bit lost wondering where the storyline was going. But, as usual all becomes clear in the end.
Another fascinating read

A simple premise, a novelist mourning the sudden disappearance of his wife and suffering writers block as the comfortable life he has known crumbles about him.
His agent offers a stay at a remote cottage on a small Scottish island and he jumps at the chance. When he thinks he sees his wife on the ferry across to the island it is the start of a weird and frightening adventure.
Once again with Alice Feeney books, all is not as it seems!
Another great read from a master storyteller.

Wow! What an incredible thriller! I love Alice Feeney’s books so knew I’d love this one too and I think this may be my favourite of hers!
There were so many amazing twists throughout the book and the ending floored me. I did not see it coming at all!
The setting was beautiful and I found myself googling Amberly to see if I could visit. Obviously as the book progressed I was glad that it was a fictional island and I hadn’t booked myself a trip.
This fast paced thriller kept me hooked from the very first page (that prologue 😱) and guessing until the very last.
Finally, I adored the map in the front of the book for reference and the 14 words 😉

Oh dear I’m afraid my review is going to jar with a lot of other readers who have given it five stars because I’m struggling to give it three. The mixed perspectives end up simply a confusing jumble and the plot resolution was almost laugh out loud in its silliness.

Writer Grady goes through the trauma of his wife going missing. One minute she's alive on the road coming home to him, the next she's gone without a trace. A year of missing her and no signs finds him heading to a small island in the hope to regain his writing ability but he's in for a shock or two.

I really wanted to like this and the premise sounded great but sadly it failed to deliver. It was a long read and the pace never seemed to pick up. I read onto the end to see how it would finally all play out and there was a couple of interesting twists but it didnt make up for the rest of the book. I struggle with the unreliable narrator style stories as they can feel disjointed and you don't connect with the lead. I must admit by the end I wasn't too bothered about what happened to Grady and maybe that was the point. No-one is overly likeable in this except maybe Abby once we learn her story. That being said if you love an unreliable narrator and some dark twists this could be just the book for you.

Alice Feeney's books can be a hit or a miss for me. I always find the premise interesting and will definitely read her books but whether I love them or not is a different story.

I liked hearing about an author this time and his wife, an investigative journalist. But from the beginning, we kind of know what's going on. At least a part of it and the mystery is more why for me. Why are these things happening? And I just wasn't convinced with the ending.

The characters and writing fell flat and I only liked the dog throughout. The island sounded beautiful though.

Thanks to Netgalley & Pan Macmillan for the c-copy!

2.5/5

Rock Paper Scissors was one of my favourite book club reads last year, so I had high hopes going into Alice Feeney’s latest release, Beautiful Ugly. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by what could have been a really compelling story.

Beautiful Ugly starts promisingly enough, with the mysterious disappearance of Grady’s journalist wife, Abby, setting the tone well. A year on and Grady is struggling to write his next novel, with his wife’s disappearance still playing heavily on his mind. When he’s offered the opportunity to get away to a secluded island to work on his novel, it seems like the perfect solution. Except the island, along with its mysterious inhabitants, holds secrets that are bound to be unearthed…

So far so good. But as the story develops and the mystery deepens, things go downhill very quickly. For one, Feeney’s writing, which I initially thought was a step up from some of her earlier work (we have some lovely, atmospheric descriptions of the island in the first act) descends very much into telling over showing, particularly later in the book, where it feels like we are just told what is happening. As a result, significant plot reveals end up feeling underwhelming and more and more non-sensensical.

I also couldn’t ignore the startling amount of similarities between Beautiful Ugly and Rock Paper Scissors. Perhaps these similarities could have been overlooked had the latter novel not been so fresh in my memory, but there were so many, I ended up losing count. Needless to say, I do not need to read any more Alice Feeney thrillers involving dysfunctional marriages where both parties need to just grow up and get a divorce, self-absorbed writers who will commit the most heinous acts at the drop of a hat in exchange for success, or isolated residences formerly owned by a reclusive author in (or off the coast of) the Scottish Highlands.

What’s particularly frustrating is that this could have been a really good thriller with an important message, but this was ultimately lost due to being underdeveloped. Abby’s work as a journalist advocating for women who have been let down by a patriarchal society and justice system – coupled with the novel’s final revelations – could have made for a compelling read. Unfortunately, the novel lost all credibility for me by the end, resulting in an average-at-best popcorn thriller.

First of all, I would just like to thank BookBreak UK, Netgalley and Alice Feeney for a gorgeous hardback review copy, and a digital ARC of “Beautiful Ugly”. Thank you for having me on the read-along. I’ve loved every second of it.

This was insane!

Beautiful Ugly has quickly become my favourite Alice Feeney book, and also one of my favourite thrillers I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.

Fast-paced, unreliable narrators, unputdownable, strong female characters, unhinged plots twist, moments where you question your own sanity…what more could you want?

I was with Grady for half the book, every time he questioned if something was real or if he had lost his mind, I questioned the same thing about myself. I love books that make me question what I’ve already read, and make me go back and look- this book does just that and more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and was hooked from the prologue. It’s just one mystery after another- all coming to a satisfying and jaw-dropping conclusion at the end.

The prose, as is standard for an Alice Feeney book, was beautiful. With some thoughtful and ingenious quotes throughout.

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough! One of the easiest five stars I’ve ever given.

I enjoyed the setting and the intrigue behind the story of Grady Green’s missing wife, but I found Grady so difficult to connect to as a character, simply because he was so unlikeable! The ending was great. Thank you!

On if the BEST THRILLERS I have read for a long time - and I read a lot of thrillers!

This is the absolute definition of a page turner and I couldn’t tear myself away it.
It’s slow burn, but with just another hints to make you desperate to know more and the pace ramps up towards the end as everything begins to become clear.

Highly recommend to this all. Even if you’re not a thriller reader, this is a great book to start the genre with.

All the stars!

Alice Feeney never fails to write a beautiful and intriguing book I'm always instantly hooked into her books with an amazing array of characters and a story full of suspense. You won't want to put this down.