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when I started this book I wasn’t necessarily in a thriller mood so I had some reservations about how I was going to feel about this. but when I read the first few chapters I was immediately hooked.

this was my first alice feeney book and the writing is truly beautiful and captivating. I was very curious to see how Grady’s fresh start on the island was going to go but ever since he set foot in that place things got weirder and weirder. I so badly wanted to know what happened to his wife and what was going on with this strange island and its people.
to be honest, if the island wasn’t so creepy it would have been so magical. the descriptions of the scenery and the amazing redwoods were alluring and I wished to have a peaceful cabin like that with views on the ocean.

the further the story progressed the more I started doubting everything. I wasn’t sure what, or who to believe and it was done quite well.
in the end, there wasn’t really a single character that I liked (including Grady), which is also not necessarily needed for a thriller but for me personally, that also makes me feel less connected to the story.

the ending and the big reveal(s) were a bit disappointing to me. I guess there are different types of thriller readers, but I personally like to be able to play detective and try to figure out what’s going on while being kept on the edge of my seat. this ending however, was completely unhinged 😂 and if people could guess this ending, I’d honestly be a little concerned. there was one twist that completely blindsided me and I just felt lied to 😭 like, it was all just a little far fetched for me after that 180 turn of events.

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.

I found myself not wanting to put this down. There was something unnerving at times about the island. Even before the reveals it was obvious these women couldn't be trusted.
While the ending left me a little disappointed I did really enjoy this book. Trying to figure out what was going on. If anything was going on.

Beautiful Ugly will draw you in and not let you go until the last line! It is a masterclass in tension and nerve jangling unease. It follows the story of a writer, Grady Green as his life in London unravels and he's offered a lifeline , writing on the remote and secretive Scottish island of Amberly. The fusion of reality and dreams occurs throughout the book as Grady struggles with insomnia and grief, and we as readers are also often unsure of what is real and what are hallucinations or delusions. The suspense will keep you awake and keep you reading!
The ending is really shocking and will literally take your breath away. Phenomenal! This book will be on of the stars of 2025 without a doubt.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This story didn’t make sense until suddenly it did. Didn’t see the end coming.

I am beyond grateful to Alice Feeney, Pan Macmillan, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. Keep reading for my review of the book.

A-MAZ-ING! I have read a few Alice Feeney novels now and I can honestly say that they only get better and better. Feeney is fast establishing herself as the Queen of Plot Twists and in this eerie standalone novel she has me twisting, and turning, and looking over my shoulder so much so that I have whiplash!

Best Selling author, Grady Green, should be celebrating hitting the jackpot. Instead, he endures the most monumental day of his life going from one extreme to another in terms of emotions. Plagued by the mystery of his missing wife, and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, Grady finds himself stagnating, unable to work. Publicist and agent, Kitty, throws him a lifeline by suggesting a change of scenery on the isle of Amberley. However, all is not as it seems, and the haunting appears to have stepped up a notch. Held captive by the island, its inhabitants, and his torments, and his guilty little secret, will Grady complete his mission and manage to free himself of the invisible chains holding him back?

The characters are well drawn and interesting. I love how they are introduced and had the pleasure of watching them become more alive as the plot unfolded. That said, there was a deep-rooted creepiness throughout the novel, and I found myself wanting to devour each page whilst simultaneously wanting to close my eyes throughout certain parts. As well as the characters, in fact, probably better than the characters was the description of Amberley and all its nooks and crannies. The island was given its own multiple personalities with each and every part having its own backstory and significance. Not a single word goes to waste in the creation of this notable work of fiction. This is by far Feeney’s best book yet, although let’s hope she does not share the fate of those who have been in her position.

If I had a mere 2 seconds to belt out a headline for this novel, I would scream, ‘devilishly dark and devious’ from the rooftops. I could not get enough and now I am sorry I read it so fast and have to wait for Feeney’s next release. I secretly hope she is furiously writing with little to no distractions so that my insatiable appetite is once again satisfied soon.

So, who is this book for? It will suit all mystery lovers, especially though that are thrill seeking and want to set their heart racing with nuggets of fear. It is for readers that appreciate a love to hate villain, want to see a dose of girl power, and eager to see whether who will and will not get their comeuppance. It is literally for any adult reader that is not easily triggered or traumatized by child abuse and/or death that wants an exciting, remarkable read that will keep them on their toes. The pace is quite fast…can you keep up?

Grady Green is an author whose wife, Abby, disappears leaving him destitute. He goes into a depression, unable to write, and his publisher suggests some time away on a remote Scottish island to help him to heal and hopefully reignite his creativity. As he arrives on the island he quickly realises that all is not as it seems. This is a mysterious tale of love, hate, revenge and had me completely hooked. I could not foresee the ending at all and it completely took me by surprise….loved it!

Beautiful Ugly follows Grady whose wife Abby vanishes without a trace. He’s a writer and since her disappearance he’s been unable to write anything good so he get an invite to a writers cabin on a remote island where he can finally finish his book. As he meets the residents of the island it becomes clear all is not as it seems.

The first half of this book was good, Abby’s disappearance and Grady’s arrival on the island but then it soon descended into ridiculousness. The whole plot seemed to rely on the twist at the end but it was so ridiculously unrealistic it killed the book for me unfortunately.

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

Grady Green anxiously waiting the call from his publisher in America, keen to know whether he'll get the title of New York Times bestseller. Abby, his wife, was supposed to be with him, but she's late home. Again.
As Abby drove home, and on the phone with Grady, she saw a woman lying in the road and the phone just seems disconnected after Abby decided to check on the woman.
That's the last of Abby, as she then went missing, no trace, no body. His wife has disappeared.

A year later still grieving for his wife, Grady's editor sends him to The Isle of Amberly, a tiny rural island in Scotland, with the hope that Grady will be able to start his book again. The island only has twenty five residents. Once he arrives in this island, the story gets more interesting, it's no longer about whereabout Abby is, but someone in the island is up to no good.

The mystery will keep you on edge, and the twists are just jaw dropping.

Adore Alice Feeney books, have read them all. This one is no different a massive 5 stars. Will always be one of my auto buy authors. Excellent plot and great character choices. Have recommended to book club girls

beautiful ugly was an absolute twist of a thriller that i enjoyed form the start until the end … it left me guessing, completely puzzled … i have absolutely no words other than the fact this book was such a good psychological thriller / horror that kept me on my toes and made me feel sick to my stomach

Beautiful Ugly is a chillingly, dark, atmospheric thriller that had me hooked from the beginning to the very end.

It is cleverly plotted and has a cast of well drawn characters, who are mostly unlikeable, add an unreliable narrator and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout and you have a gripping and compelling read.

Highly recommended!

Grady is struggling with life a year after his wife’s disappearance. He is given a lifeline by his agent Kitty to go and stay at her cabin on a remote Scottish island. At first this works well for Grady, but are things quite as they seem……

I really enjoyed this book, I found myself immersed in island life and visualising the scenes throughout the story.

A great tale unfolds with twists along the way and you are kept guessing throughout. I loved the edition of a secret message written throughout the book, which you’ll have to look out for!

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advanced reader copy.

Look out for Beautiful Ugly when it is released on 30 January 2025.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney | Pub Date Jan 30 2025
First of all, thank you NetGalley for introducing me to Alice Feeney. Her books had somehow passed me by, but after reading this one, I’m definitely going to fix that. Secondly, this book absolutely made my year and secured a spot in my personal Top 5. What a gripping story! I don’t even know where to begin because it’s all one big black rabbit hole. To uncover its secrets, you have to dive in yourself.
The story begins by introducing us to Grady, a writer who experienced both the best and worst night of his life in a single moment. On the night he became a New York Times bestselling author and he also lost his wife, Abby, on her way home. He can’t believe what happened – she just simply stopped to help someone on the road and vanished.
A year later, Grady is nothing more but a shell of former himself. He’s lost everything - his money, his house, his will to live. And worst of all, he stopped writing. His wife is officially missing, her body never found. Everyone around him thinks she just left him, but Grady refuses to accept that. They were a happily married couple. At this moment, Kitty, his agent and Abby’s godmother, decides to help Grady and offers him to move temporary to a remote Scottish island where she owns a cabin. She assures him it’s a free stay and that the solitude and natural surroundings might help heal his soul, and perhaps reignite his writing talent. And Grady reluctantly agrees. But as soon as he arrives, it becomes clear that this island is nothing like he would imagined. Every single person there has secrets of their own and somehow its all connected to him and his missing wife. From now on Grady starts to wonder if he ever find his way back or perhaps even uncover the truth about Abby?
I have to say, the setup and atmosphere of this book are simply beyond words, it’s so vivid and believable that it was very hard for me to put this book down. And that sick twist at the end? Mind blowing, fair play to the author. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes atmospheric and gripping thrillers. Absolute non-stop page-turner!

This book had a good creepy feel from the get go, but at the same time it feels very surreal, a little weird, and discombobulating. I never felt comfortable during the book, constantly on tenterhooks. I felt knocked off my axis.
It’s very different to her other books, and as such might be a marmite book. It’s also highly original and different which I crave in a book, so I loved it. Top marks!

One year after the mysterious disappearance of his wife, an author retreats to a remote Scottish island with a population of just 25. Desperate to rediscover the inspiration he needs to save himself from both financial and psychological ruin, he soon begins to uncover mysterious items and finds himself questioning everyone and everything around him.
Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly is an atmospheric, character-driven mystery that captivated me for most of the journey but ultimately it left me feeling let down by its far-fetched conclusion.
What I loved most about the book was its setting. The isolated island with its small, community is nicely described, and Feeney does a brilliant job of introducing the inhabitants one by one. Each character feels distinct and contributes to the eerie atmosphere that surrounds the story. The mysteries pile up nicely and kept me guessing - “What the hell is going on here?”  The suspense hooked me, and I found myself more and more engaged as the story progressed.
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t live up to the strong expectations the book had created. The explanations felt implausible and left me struggling to suspend my disbelief. What had the potential to be a stunning conclusion ended up feeling rushed and unsatisfying, undermining much of the tension and intrigue that had been built.
For most of the book, I was convinced it would be a 5-star read, but the ending brought my rating down to 3.5 stars.

Mind. Blown. THE TWISTS! OMG!

Best selling author Grady Green is a mess. After the mysterious disappearance of his beloved wife, Abby, he is bereft and unable to write, he loses everything. Abby’s godmother Kitty, also Grady’s agent, offers him a lifeline; she inherited a cabin on a remote Scottish island and suggests Grady takes some time to stay in the cabin, re-ground himself and, hopefully, find his writing mojo again.

When Grady sees Abby on the ferry, he is stunned! But when he looks again, she is gone. On the island, so many strange things start to happen; notes are left in the cabin, things disappear and Abby seems to be everywhere. Grady is convinced he is losing his mind.

This brilliant book had me hooked from the start and I found it hard to stop reading as I needed to know what happened to Abby. Flashbacks from Abby’s POV from before her disappearance added to the intrigue. When the truth comes out, I was blown away! What a read!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Alice Feeney and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Alice Feeney does it again! Beautiful Ugly is a chilling, atmospheric thriller set on a remote and stunning Scottish island. Known as the "Queen of Twists," Feeney lives up to her title—I was certain I had the ending figured out at 75%, but I was completely wrong. The story is packed with unreliable narrators, revenge, and blame, all wrapped in an eerie, feminist narrative. This is my third Feeney read, and it’s hands down my favorite so far. Impossible to predict and impossible to put down!

What a powerful, gripping, twisted book. This is an unusual story but it keeps you guessing and just as you think you have worked things out, it twists again. I really enjoyed this and in my opinion it is well worth a read.

Writer Grady Green has been struggling with writer's block since the mysterious disappearance of his wife a year ago. His agent suggests a retreat on a remote Scottish island to help him overcome his problems.

Alice Feeney writes wonderful psychological thrillers that have so many twists and turns that you are kept guessing until all is revealed. Beautiful Ugly follows in the same vein but this time there is an added level of creepiness to the storyline and a slightly surreal feeling.

The opening of the novel seems to offer a straightforward missing-person tale. We join writer Grady Green awaiting a call from his agent. Grady has a few published novels to his name, but his most recent is likely to be his most successful, the one that makes him a household name. We join Grady as he waits by the phone to hear if his new novel has made the New York Times bestsellers list. He had hoped his wife Abby would be by his side when he received the news, so he's a little upset that she's running late.

When the phone rings it isn't his agent but his wife. She's apologetic and lets him know that she's only a mile away from their isolated cottage. As they speak Abby has to slam on her brakes to avoid hitting a woman lying in the middle of the road. Grady begs Abby not to get out of her car but she defies him, and that is the last time anyone hears from her. Abby's car is found abandoned close to home with her bag and phone untouched. In the car, there is also a box containing a creepy antique doll with its mouth stitched shut.

Despite Grady achieving the success he craved he's struggled to come to terms with Abby's disappearance. Unable to write he's exhausted his savings, sold their house, and is living in a cheap hotel, one he can't afford anymore.

The only person who seems to understand what Grady is going through is his agent, Kitty. Wanting to help Grady rediscover his writing ability, along with helping him financially, she suggests he takes advantage of a cabin she was left in a will. The cabin is on the remote Scottish island of Amberly and once belonged to a highly successful, but reclusive, author.

Grady, along with his dog and a few possessions head to the island. As soon as Grady arrives things begin to take a surreal turn. All the red flags that readers are used to are there; there's no communication with the mainland and the residents act strangely, one minute they are warm and welcoming, and the next they ignore him. The most disturbing thing is that he's convinced he keeps glimpsing a familiar figure.

The longer Grady remains on the island the creepier things become, there were a couple of instances where I was close to putting the book aside as I wasn't sure about the turn the storyline was taking - I'm an absolute wimp! As the behaviour of the residents becomes more erratic and he learns more about the history of the island you understand Grady's reluctance to remain where he is. I was willing him to simply abandon everything and flee.

The build-up to the conclusion throws even more confusion and obfuscation into the plot; even if you're convinced you've figured out what is happening the author still has surprises in store for the reader.