would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

what a twister this one was... i was compelled to read it and couldnt put it down.... never saw that ending coming at all

grady green is an author.... he was top of his game with a new york best seller... but since his wife disappeared he hasnt been able to write and his life has spiralled....

his agent sends him to a remote part where she has a cottage for him to write

this is a compelling read and once you start you cant put it down... there are twists and turns and red herrings galore but still i didnt see it coming....

cant wait for the next book by this author

Alice Feeney is an author I just instinctively KNOW won’t let me down and I was happily proven right with Beautiful Ugly. I was a super lucky chosen one and received an early copy from the publisher (love u @panmacmillan) 😍

I usually like to write my book reviews in chronological order of the book but, days after finishing it, I still cannot wrap my brain around *that* twist! I should have known something mindblowing was coming because Alice is queen of the unforeseeable revelations but I truly could not have predicted what unfolded in those pages.

Beautiful Ugly is definitely a slow burner initially, as we are introduced to author Grady Green and the events which have led to him visiting the very small and tight-knit island of Amberley. One year after his wife Abby seemingly disappears, Grady is struggling to write anything so his eccentric agent, Kitty, offers him a short stay in a cosy cabin on Amberley in order to help get his creativity flowing. The residents of the remote island are odd to say the least, and I found Grady’s encounters with them equally entertaining and unsettling.

This story just screams ‘foreboding’ and looking back there were subtle yet increasingly sinister vibes from the moment our unreliable narrator set foot on the island, resulting in a wildly unpredictable conclusion. There are also some very clever chapters inserted towards the end of the book which made me think I knew the gist of what was going on: spoiler, I did not at all 😅 I had a great time with this book and would highly recommend!

Author Grady Green has just found out his latest book has become a New York Times bestseller, when his wife Abby vanishes. His life falls apart without her, and a year later he goes to stay on a tiny Scottish island to try write his next book.

I have heard a lot about Alice Feeney but have never tried one of her books before. I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not what I got. There's not many thrillers that give you that eery uneasy feeling while reading it, but this is one of them. Certain aspects of the plot I worked out very early on, but I would never have guessed the whole outcome. This is one of those WTF did I just read books, and I love that! When you read a lot of thrillers they become a bit too predictable, and it's rare to find one that truly surprises you.

So why 4 stars instead of 5? For me the explanation of the backstory of the island towards the end was a bit difficult to follow. I had to reread it a few times, which did diminish my enjoyment of the end of the book. I also thought that it was just too far fetched. I know it's fiction, but for me the thing that really makes a thriller unsettling is that feeling that this could happen, and by the end of the book that feeling was long gone.

I did really enjoy reading this book though and will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feeling about this book but it did hit the ground running and help my attention all the way through and I was mostly satisfied come the end.
We start with author Grady Green who is about to, hopefully, get the best news of his life so far. He was looking forward to celebrating with his wife, Abby, but, as usual, she has let him down and is "running late". He gets the expected call and immediately calls her to share the moment. But as he is talking to her whilst she is driving home, he hears her stop and get out the car to investigate something. This is the last he hears from her so he ups and backwards follows her likely route, finds her car abandoned, drivers door open, phone left behind.
Fast forward a year and Grady is still suffering. Abby is still missing and no one still has any idea what actually happened to her. His health is suffering, he can't eat, sleep, or work. But he knows something has to change so when he is offered the use of a remote log cabin, he ups and travels to a small Scottish island to try and kick start his life.
And that's when things start to get really weird... and also, sadly, start to skirt the bounds of credibility and all gets a wee bit far fetched... although, that said, delightfully so. I rolled my eyes a fair bit as I read, but at the same time, I was mostly happy to do so... It was also a tad predictable after a certain point...
It has all the things you'd expect from the author - with secrets, lies, dysfunctional behaviour and obfuscation aplenty, all served up with some delicious twists and turns. Played out by larger than life characters who will definitely get under your skin. And the Scottish setting is just wonderfully described.
My best advise to you as a reader is, if you can stick with this book, it will be worth it in the end. Yes you may need to hold on to a few things, suspend belief, and read through a bit of confusion to get there, but you will be rewarded for your hard work. It's a bit of a game of two halves all told. A definite five star beginning with a three ramping up to four star ending.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Grady Green, a successful writer, is struggling a year after his wife Abby disappeared without a trace. His wife vanished while driving home on the day Grady found out he had become a New York Times bestselling author. Her car found abandoned, she was presumed dead, and now a year later Grady can’t write, has no income and has lost his home. When his agent throws him a last resort lifeline of spending three months in a writer’s cottage she owns on the tiny Scottish island of Amberley he jumps at the chance.

Grady hadn’t realised how small and cut off the island would be. Only 150 inhabitants, no phone or internet and no regular ferry service outside of tourist season. Nevertheless, it’s a rent free home in a beautiful rugged location, the inhabitants seem welcoming, if a little strange and when a writing opportunity falls into his lap he decides he can do this, even though what he’s planning is totally unethical.

However, nothing is as it seems and Grady has no idea what is really going on around him. He is such an unlikeable man and so self-centred about his writing being all important that he doesn’t really care about others and badly neglected his wife who did nothing but support him. So it’s wickedly delightful to watch what is really happening to him, even as he remains clueless and strange things keep occurring around him. The rugged landscape and atmosphere of the little island are so well portrayed as are the people and their strange affinity for each other. There are some terrific twists as Grady eventually comes to realise what has been going on. Masterfully done and so good!!

I love Alice Feeney and the twists I never see coming and was so excited to get a copy of this book.

Following Grady as he moves to a remote Scottish island to try to write a new book after his wife goes missing I didn't know who to trust at any point during this book.

Told with a dual narration this story is a slower burn than some by this author but that doesn't detract from the story at all. I knew throughout that there would be twists but I didn't guess any of them. I love that no matter how many books I read by this author I never guess the twists.

An intriguing story that doesn’t follow an obvious path. Full of suspense and intrigue, the twists come thick and fast and will surprise you.
You may think you know where the story is heading but it will surprise you.

Perfect read for a winters evening.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Beautiful Ugly.

Having read all her previous books, I was really looking forward to this one. Grady Green is a fairly successful author and his wife disappears one night and seemingly vanishes off the face of the earth. A year later Grady now can’t write, has lost his home and has nothing left. On the day of his agent Kitty he relocated to a small island off Scotland.

Grady seems to see his wife everywhere and strange things are happening on this remote Scottish island which defy explanation.

The book is fairly quick paced and enjoyable from the beginning. There are many twists and turns and some gasp out loud moments. All in another triumph for this author

I usually read romance, but every once in awhile I'll read a thriller to breakup the monotony of those stories. My sister is a huge fan of Alice Feeney, so it was a bit of a no brainer to apply for an e-ARC.

"Beautiful Ugly" is a bit of a spooky thriller with some jump scares believe it or not. The story is fairly slow until the last 30% and then quite a few twists and truths are revealed. The end was especially surprising, not just with the plot or the main character.

<spoiler>
From the blurb, the MMC is a write. In the very last chapter of the book, the he described something he did in his book. I was curious if Alice Feeney did the same, and she did. I thought that was kind of a fun nod to her character's book.
</spoiler>

I think "Beautiful Ugly" will be great in audio with Alice Feeney's atmospheric writing.

<b>STORY</B>
⭐⭐⭐.5 of 5

<B>RECOMMEND</B>
yes

This is an engaging mystery novel that had me hooked almost straight away.

I became invested in the characters fairly quickly and couldn't quite work out what was going on in the background.

I was pleasantly surprised with the ending, although I found it slightly implausible. I still really enjoyed the book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a book, unlike any other, I think I’ve read. Whilst it starts off with a seemingly, fairly standard thriller storyline (Wife goes missing in mysterious circumstances and author-husband’s mental health consequently spirals. He then retreats to a Scottish island to try resume creativity), it quite frankly goes all a bit bonkers! There are so many twists and turns I felt positively dizzy and kept trying to backtrack in my mind to make full sense of any new development. You do have to suspend disbelief at times, in order to simply go along with the ride; but if you enjoy mysterious thrillers and fancy something a little bit different, then this one is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney was an excellent book from start to finish and I loved reading any book by this author. Alice's books have been a 5 star read and this latest book was No different. I was hooked from the very first few pages and all my things I had planned to do round my house was put on hold! So glad it was my day off! lol.

Beautiful Ugly had brilliant twists and turns that will have your head spinning! and will have you guessing what happened to Grady Green's wife till the very end! and the ending just took my breath away!
Very Clever Alice! I loved it!

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. . . . . . .

But where is she?

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 and wearing the same red coat!!

This book was excellent I highly recommend Beautifully Ugly. One of the best books so far I have read this year.

Review: Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly is a captivating psychological thriller that hooks you right from the start. Known for her talent in crafting layered characters and jaw-dropping twists, Feeney masterfully weaves a dark yet mesmerizing story that examines the complexities of human nature, relationships, and the secrets we keep hidden.

Told through multiple perspectives, the narrative provides unique insights into a labyrinth of lies and truths. Feeney’s writing is both poetic and incisive, drawing readers into a world where every detail carries weight. Just as you think you’ve unraveled the mystery, an unexpected twist will leave you reevaluating everything you thought you understood.

One of the book’s standout qualities is its deep exploration of themes like vulnerability, identity, and the personas we adopt. Feeney skillfully ventures into the shadowy aspects of the human mind while maintaining a sense of compassion throughout the story.

Beautiful Ugly is a must-read for anyone who loves intricate, character-driven thrillers filled with surprises. It’s a novel that lingers in your thoughts long after the final page is turned.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This The characters are complex, and the plot keeps you guessing, with each twist revealing another layer of the story's chilling truths. It's a thought-provoking, beautifully written tale, though its heavy themes might not be for everyone. If you enjoy emotional, psychological thrillers that dive into the complexities of human nature, *Beautiful Ugly* is worth a read.

I was really intrigued by this one at the start. I found myself completely absorbed, desperate to unravel the mystery of what had happened to Grady’s wife and why the island was so peculiar. The pacing was strong, and the sense of foreboding built wonderfully. It was refreshing to have a male protagonist questioning his own sanity for a change, rather than the usual trope of it being a woman. That shift in perspective felt fresh and kept me invested.
The setting, a remote Scottish island, wasn’t entirely original—I’ve read quite a few books with similar backdrops—but the quirky nature of this particular island gave it a distinct flavour. It almost felt alive, adding an eerie charm to the story.
But then the ending. Oh, the ending. I can’t lie—it completely threw me, and not in a satisfying way. The twist itself was clever, I’ll give it that, but everything that followed felt muddled and unconvincing. It was as though the narrative unravelled instead of tying up loose ends. By the time I turned the final page, I wished I hadn’t bothered at all.
I suppose I’m left with mixed feelings. There was so much potential, and parts of it were genuinely gripping. But would I recommend it? Honestly, no. For me, the ending just didn’t deliver, and that’s a shame because it had started so well.
3 stars—mostly for the intriguing premise and unique protagonist.

Author Grady Green is waiting to hear if he has some fantastic news about a book to share with his wife, Abby! However, on a call with his wife, Abby disappears. Fast forward a year, Grady is at an appointment with his agent, Kitty Goldman, when he offered a chance of a lifetime to write in a cabin in Scotland to help his writing career. The descriptions of the scenery were so vivid that I could picture this tiny place and the inhabitants were a wonderful, eclectic bunch of people!! Grady is surprised to someone who looks remarkably like his wife that he is intent on finding out why she disappeared. The story was menacing, mysterious, suspenseful, and full of nail biting moments. It kept me turning the page to end with a dramatic conclusion.

Beautiful Ugly is one hell of a wild ride. Mysterious, spooky, always riveting, it kept me guessing even as I loved the razor-sharp writing and the author’s immaculate storytelling prowess. I have read and loved Alice Feeney’s previous books, and this psychological thriller is a real bobby dazzler.

Alice Feeney does relationships extremely well. With her, nothing is ever quite what it appears to be and she understands so well what we can do in telling our stories when we want to be seen in a favourable light. The unreliable narrator is putty in her hands, and in Beautiful Ugly, we will often wonder who we can trust.

I was excited to read about Grady Green’s struggles as an author, now on the brink of a truly exciting breakthrough. Everything is poised for the wonderful news to come through, though as he waits, Grady wishes his wife, journalist Abby, was beside him, instead of driving home, hoping to celebrate with him over the fish and chips she’s bringing.

When the good news comes through Grady can’t wait to share his news with Abby. But as she picks up, he hears her brakes screeching. Abby tells him she has seen a woman lying in the road and gets out of the car to help. After she exits the car, her phone goes silent. As time passes and there is no sign or word from Abby, Grady goes out searching for her and eventually he finds her car by the cliff edge. The driver’s door is still open and Abby’s phone is there, but of Abby herself there is no sign.

Whatever happened, Abby is never seen or heard from again, though her coat was found by a dog walker, walking on the beach below the cliffs. Grady goes to pieces, he can’t sleep, he can’t write, he amasses huge debts and loses his house. He can barely look after himself. He owes his publisher for an advance on a book he can’t begin to write and he is generally a wreck.

His agent, Kitty Goldman, tells him bluntly that he needs to get his life back on track. She has an offer for Grady. Kitty has inherited a cottage on the remote isle of Amberly in the Scottish Highlands from one of her clients. She proposes to Grady that he take it for six months and write his new book there. Grady has always worked best in quiet, isolation and this might be the change of scene he needs to really get back to work. Grady has no other options and so he agrees.

The Isle of Amberly is accessed by a small ferry boat run by a woman who is also the island’s Sheriff. She seems to know exactly who he is. The island only has a population of 25, so Grady knows that he and his faithful black labrador, Columbo, will be secluded enough to not be bothered. Alice Feeney’s descriptions of Amberly are intense and evocative, but it is the sheer eeriness of the island that gets to him almost from the beginning. In the heart of the woods all is silent and Grady realises there are no birds – not a single one. Then he sees a woman in a red coat flitting through the woods and she reminds him immediately of Abby. There’s sometimes creepy mouth organ music in the woods surrounding his cottage. All this eeriness sends him to drink and sleeplessness and soon he begins to think he is hallucinating.

There’s something strange too, about the island’s inhabitants, who are mostly women. It feels like they are keeping something from him, though outwardly they are friendly enough. Every time he suggests taking a trip off the island, there’s always a reason why that’s not possible. There’s a map at the beginning of the book with all of Amberly’s strange place names and that is enhanced by Feeney’s descriptions that that create a vibrant picture of a strange island holding its secrets close.

Grady makes two discoveries; one a grisly find and one that might just be the best present he’s ever received. Despite all his concerns, he knows he can now write the book he needs to get himself back in the best seller lists. It might just be his best work.

There are multiple points of view here amid a dual timeline and Feeney’s misdirection is very cleverly and beautifully done. Is there anyone we can trust?

The wildness of this island, the claustrophobia it exudes and the strangeness of its inhabitants keep us on tenterhooks as Grady increasingly struggles to tell what he is imagining and what is real. His attempts to do so confuse him and his conversations with the island’s residents only add to that sense of discomfiture.

As Grady struggles to comprehend this reality, he puts a secret message into his new manuscript, but will there be anyone to read it?

Verdict: This is such a clever, twisty and manipulative novel, with an eerie and intensely evocative atmosphere. I loved the chapter headings, each one combining two contradictory terms, reminding us that there are two sides to every story. Alice Feeney has created a multi-layered and intricately plotted mystery which oozes dread.
Well-paced, completely gripping and ultimately drawing together every single thread into a stunning conclusion, I found myself both happy with the resolution and deeply impressed with the writer’s depth and skill. Beautiful Ugly is a psychological thriller that captivates and thrills.

I really enjoy Alice Feeney books usually but for some reason I really couldn’t get into this book and it took me three weeks to finish - a week is super long for me usually!

I’m not sure why I feel it wasn’t as well written or gripping as her other novels but it could be as I didn’t really like the main character and I need to like the main character to enjoy a story! Then to make things worse I didn’t particularly care for any of the side characters so i should have known it was game over from there! It’s a shame as the ending was good and had me confused for a minute which is a positive sign for me, but unfortunately everything leading up to the end I didn’t like!

A strange, unusual, original and engrossing read.
When his wife disappears Grady is lost and loses everything, including his ability to write, the most important thing in his life.
When he is thrown a lifeline to move to a small island with just 25 other inhabitants, a writers paradise, his greatest wish to be able to write again could become his greatest undoing.
A brilliantly twisty tale, the reader, like Grady, is led on a terrifying journey where you can’t decide if it’s Grady’s imagination and paranoia or if the happenings on the Island are real. Finally when all is unveiled, with a twist I never saw coming, the true consequences of his move to this writers paradise become clear.

This was a bit of a slow burn mystery however Alice always comes through with twists that will always have you shocked! I throughly enjoyed this and would definitely recommend to my friends!