I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few books that are written in this style with the story being told via transcripts, Newspaper articles etc etc and they are just so fun to read and the reader gets to come to a conclusion by themselves.

I was engrossed by this, who should I believe? Is Mel really being held against her will or is she actually suffering and her dad Peter has sent her to rehab for her own good?.

The more pages I read the more I kept switching between #SaveMelanie & #HelpPeter , I felt sorry for the both of them but more so Mel.

The author is amazing in making you think that both of them are telling the truth but the more I read of Mel’s journal entries the more I was thinking something else?.

It’s so hard to review this without spoilers but I raced through it and thought it was incredible. It also really made me think about how toxic social media can be.

Oh and Nell!? What a shocker that was.

The Ugly Truth tells the story of Melanie Lange. Daughter of a well-known hotel mogul and a celebrity in her own right, she is believed to have taken a step back from the spotlight after a particular stressful time in her life, but when a video is released of her saying she is being held captive, will people believe her, or her father who says she is perfectly safe and being looked after at a high-end mental health facility?

Told via interview transcripts, tweets and journal entries, it shows all sides of the story and makes it difficult to decide which side you are on #SaveMelanie or #HelpPeter?

The type of writing in this book.is not my cup of tea. It would appeal much more to younger readers.It is written in the style of social media/netflix box set. In fact the story is about a netflix documentary about a rich girl that goes missing and the campaign to find out the truth. There were some twists. I was probably a bit old for this book but I am sure it would appeal to the younger demographic. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A really gripping read about a ‘celebrity’ who has gone missing and the story around it and the people around her as well as her fans/haters which all sound far too familiar in the dangerous world we live in! Loved it!

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my advance copy of The Ugly Truth. This book is published on 16th March.

This book centres around Melanie Lange, a famous model and daughter of Peter Lange, a wealthy hotelier. Mel has her fair share of problems and has been absolutely hounded by the media for twenty years. When she releases a video to her YouTube channel saying she’s taking some time away, no one thinks anything of it. After weeks go by with no word from Mel, her closest friends wonder if something is wrong, despite her dad saying she’s safe and well.

All the characters have conflicting points of view, and I didn’t know who to believe.

I liked the epistolary format of this book, showing emails, tweets, and interviews with different characters. I thought it kept the book well paced and gave more of an insight into how the media, including social media, can impact people’s views and have a huge effect on lives.

I didn’t really like many of the characters and didn’t find them relatable.

The book was readable and I kept waiting for the twist, but it never came. It all turned out as expected and the ending fell flat for me.

The Ugly Truth may be packaged up like a thriller, but for me, it felt more like a character study of Mel, told through a mix of mediums, with some thriller elements thrown in. I found it utterly absorbing!

It definitely reminded me in many ways of Daisy Jones and the Six. This was partly because of the way the story is told - through a mix of voices and formats including chapters from her father's tell-all book, interviews with friends and people who knew her, extracts from a Netflix documentary, Twitter messages and more - and partly because of its focus on celebrity culture. The book explores the effect the media had on Melanie and her family and highlights the way that not just the media but the general public can so suddenly turn against someone. It's an interesting look at how this can affect someone's mental health and general wellbeing, and whether this is fair - do people in the public eye choose that life and therefore deserve it?

The characters in this novel aren't likeable - even Melanie can be irritating at times - but they were all intriguing to read about, as is the mystery aspect running throughout the book. What has happened to Melanie really? Whose version of events should we believe? We start to wonder who is reliable and who is covering their own backs. But to me, this side of the narrative felt secondary to the great character-building that takes place. I was entirely absorbed just reading about Melanie's life but usually, I'm all about the thriller side of any novel so this is a testament to some great writing!

The Ugly Truth did a brilliant job of drawing me in and not letting me go until the last page and I'd highly recommend it.

This is a bit "which side are you on" kinda book. As the blurb suggests - are you #SaveMelanie or #HelpPeter... Melanie being a young woman who has "stepped back" from the limelight she has been in since she was very young, to work through some issues. Peter being her father. But there is another side to the story. That fuelled by Melanie's ex-husband and best friend who insist that Peter is holding Melanie against her will...
The story is told not just in text but also interviews, social media, comments, diary entries, video transcriptions, and then there's a Netflix documentary... Through them we learn that Melanie was a bit troubled after the birth of her children and has stepped back from the cosmetic arm of the family company. And also from all her socials, including her very popular blog about motherhood.
The big question, if she is not away on her own volition, would have to be why would her father do something like that. What is in it for him?
Well.. to find that out, you'll have to read the book!
For me, this was a good solid read that was relatively easy to follow, despite all the different delivery methods for the information. It was a tad repetitive as some of the key info was delivered in two or more different ways, but each did deliver a certain different spin on it all so...
I did find this method of storytelling to be quite effective. It did get a lot of background passed to the reader in a very tidy and succinct way which did mean that the book got on with itself very well.
It was also entertaining and did keep my attention well all the way through. As well as delivering what could only be described as the downside of all things social media. Something that is quite topical these days. #BeKind.
All in all a good solid read which both entertained and satisfied. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is a drama / thriller with a difference, using as it does, various multi media formats to tell the story. These range from; social media excerpts, video diary transcripts, Netflix documentary dialogue and more. This style of writing isn’t the easiest to read, at least not at first. And it may be a generational thing, but, I did struggle with it throughout. However, the storyline is sufficiently interesting to have kept me pushing on and overall I enjoyed it.

The main protagonist, Melanie, is either being helped by her father, or, held captive and the storyline reveals many people’s views on this. Some who know her well and others, like the reader, who judge her based upon media. It reflects badly on our society that there are people I could name throughout the book for whom this has been and is, their reality and it’s a stark reflection on how we assess the character of others.

Overall a 3* Good Read and definitely worth a visit.

Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse Transworld publishers for the opportunity to preview.

There are some books that quickly become an obsession. The Ugly Truth is one of those books. I was so immersed in Melanie Lange’s disappearance that her story felt real.

The Ugly Truth explores celebrity culture and the toxicity it creates. The narrative is told entirely through interviews, social media and transcripts which helped to create a world of edited truths and rumour. As a reader I didn’t know who or what to believe.

The plot follows a distinct timeline and offers an insight into how celebrities can quickly ‘fall from Grace’. It made me reevaluate how easily the media can manipulate situations to make tomorrows headlines and how I’ve played a role in buying into this culture.

The Ugly Truth is a thriller of our age with the whole world, well those on twitter and social media anyway, privy to a drama unfolding!

A young woman with two children posts a video stating that her father has locked her away. The father in question is the owner of a successful group that includes the hotel chain he started, the daughter has a history of mental health issues. What is the truth behind this very public accusation.

This is perhaps best described as a fable for 2023 with its backdrop of fame, power and the truth behind the headlines. told via interviews, transcripts and diary entries, There are times when reading books told in the less than traditional formats that it can make the reader wonder if it is style over substance... fear not, this is one addictive read!

What an amazing book this was. I did not expect to pick this up and then read it in one sitting, but that is exactly what I did. The Ugly Truth is something that most people who have seen how things can escalate on social media. It isn't just social media that causes problems, think back to how Princess Diana was hounded by the press. Social media and the press are an invasive part of our lives. For many of us we use social media for what interests us, but there are some who actively troll and make others' lives a misery. The press is good at times for reporting events, but when it comes to celebrity gossip they are also relentless.

The Ugly Truth follows the life of the daughter of a billionaire. How a chance photo puts the spotlight on her and elevates her into stardom. The media follows her and they are all looking for the money shot. Others want to be like her and adore her, others just hate her for no other reason than she is a spoilt rich kid. Does anyone stop to think about the girl herself and how this affects her?

Seeing this story play out in the form of interviews, messages, transcripts and a documentary shows how the celebrity culture has lost any boundaries and how people are so easily swayed.

The story focuses on Melanie Lange. Has she been kidnapped or is she in a mental health facility? no one knows for sure but speculation and rumour are rife. The story gradually charts Melanie's rise and her fall, and her rise again and more falls. People are obsessed and have their own opinions about a person they have never met, not even spoken to, and only know from gossip and hearsay of others.

This is so relevant and actually really scary to read as you can see how the mentality and the opinion of people are divided and how easily someone can go from supporting to ridiculing in a single tweet or blog post. This is quite an honest, open and somewhat vicious look at life and the really sad thing is that these things do actually happen.

As much as we love social media there is also the bad and evil side of it. This is a look at how a life can be altered by words. It also makes it a very heartbreaking read.

This is one for those readers who are looking for something a little different in their thriller and mystery reads. This is a look at life as it is now, at how the boundaries and personal spaces of people have been broken down and how the effects of having your life under a microscope can really be. It is one of those books that really touched a nerve with me and while it makes me very angry that this is the society we now live in, it also made for a brilliant thriller. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Melanie Lange comes from a wealthy family, her father Sir Peter Lange runs a chain of high end boutique hotels along with Zara her older sister. Melanie has been in the public eye since the age of fifteen when she became a model and trouble, mainly from the British press, has followed her round ever since. Now in her thirties, and with two young boys, she is a successful businesswoman, then she disappears and her closest friends are worried about her, convinced she's been kidnapped, her father insists she's perfectly safe and being cared for in a mental health clinic, but who do the media and the public believe?

The Ugly Truth told completely via interviews, transcripts, diary entries and Twitter highlights just how intense and dangerous life as a celebrity can be as Melanie discovered. The media were there at every turn, not just to highlight her successes but to also catch her out during her multiple falls from grace, or at least make them look that way, because that's what the press do best and unfortunately the public are very quick to believe what they hear. This story reminded me of various times when a famous person has not been able to live a normal life because of the press and social media constantly hounding them and the public perception of that person can turn in the blink of an eye due to something the press have said. I was definitely on the side of #SaveMelanie and didn't trust Peter at all. I've read a couple of books which are partly told in the same way as this, with regards to interviews, diary entries etc but never completely like this and when I first started reading it I wasn't sure how this concept would work but it did, it was such a fast paced read that I finished it in less than a day. A very relevant read in today's society and one I definitely recommend.

I'd like to thank Random House UK Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Melanie Lange has disappeared.

Her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she has been admitted to a private mental health clinic for her own safety. 

Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, believe she has been kidnapped.

The media says what gets them the most views.

Whose side are you on? 
#SaveMelanie
#HelpPeter

OMG I just was hooked from page 1. I love how this was written. Some parts were from a documentary narrative, some were emails, some were twitter comments. Whilst I have read a few books in this style of writing it’s still a great concept. The storyline was gripping and one minute I was on Melanie’s side and then I was on Peters side.

Absolutely did not expect the ending and I still haven’t made my mind up whose side I am on. Cannot wait to see what this author writes next.

The girl who had it all, a rich father, a modelling career, successful business and 2 lovely children. Melanie Lange had it all, or did she. In the beginning we have a video recording from Melanie saying she's being held prisoner by her father Sir Peter Lange, and the story is soon being reported on.
The writing style is made up of transcripts and interviews for a Netflix documentary, her fathers biography and interviews with her friends and ex husband. Are you #savemelanie or #helppeter
Throughout the novel i was torn in many different directions, both of the main characters were believable making it hard to work out who was telling the truth.
The book also highlights the toxic and detrimental effect the media and social media have on individuals whether they are in the public eye or not. Everyone plays a part in comments made on social media sites whether they are positive or negative and we should all be mindful of this

What price Fame?
Melanie Lange has disappeared.
Her father says she is in a secure mental hospital.
Her ex husband and best friend say she has been kidnapped.
The media believes the story that sells the most .
Who do you belive?

I really enjoyed the style of this book, and the different points of view, showing once again how easy it is to fit a picture or comment into a narrative one wants to believe. I found it quite a page turner and sat up late to finish it in one sitting. I was reading it at the time Nicola Bulley was missing in the UK and we were seeing the worst of social media and armchair detectives thus sadly making Melanie's story seem even more relevant.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

Sorry I just couldn’t finish this book . It was an interesting story but it was let down with the writing style and I found it really hard work with no tension at all . I couldn’t get into all the blogs and E mails and people’s opinions. Sorry I can’t recommend this book

Oooohhh this was so close to a 5 star book for me but I just wanted a bit more out of the ending.

The book is basically a transcript of a few different forms of media and interviews from different perspectives. Its really easy to read and I loved the pace of the entire thing.

Smart, depressing but captivating. Id definitely read whatever else this author puts out

I found this a well crafted observation on the cult of celebrity and social media. It hooked me in enough to stick with it but writing the story entirely in reported social media snippets, transcripts and e-mails seemed to somehow dilute the tension in the build up to the ending.

The father, Peter, was an interesting character but I felt I wanted to know more of his emotional struggles, having taken the decisions he did, I lost him in the story a bit.

An all too credible and relateable story, this is a good read and I recommend giving it a punt.

This was a very powerful read showing the true cost of wealth and fame today’s stars and influencers often hide away from. The main character may be flawed, but those around her are much worse! Highly recommended.