Honest Book Review of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Check out my full book review of Alice Feeney’s latest thriller, Beautiful Ugly, including what I thought of the big twist and other recommendations to read. I’d love to here what you thought about the book below, and any recommendations that you have as well.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“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.”
Full Book Review Without Spoilers
I’m a big fan of psychological thrillers (even though they scary me easily), and also a big fan of some of Alice Feeney’s books. I loved Daisy Darker and Rock, Paper, Scissors, but then was disappointed by Sometimes I Lie and I Know Who You Are (for different reasons). So I was exciting but a little skeptical for her new book.
Beautiful Ugly did not disappoint, and now I can’t wait to read more of her books. This book has a very similar feel to Rock, Paper, Scissors (probably because of the secluded setting on a remote island), so if you liked that book you should give this one a try. This book feels like a true psychological thriller that keeps you guessing throughout the entire book, and literally makes you gasp more than once.
Through her impeccable writing skills and the setting of this story, Feeney’s book has the best suspenseful atmosphere for a thriller. Feeney’s strength of making you question literally every character, event, and even idea you have really shines through in this book. She’s so good at making you think you know what’s going on, but do you really?
There’s always a drastic turn you don’t see coming at just the right time. Multiple times while reading at night I had to take a short break because I was getting too creeped out. And I really had to start questioning if Grady was crazy, if the other characters were crazy, if I was just crazy, or if anything I read was real.
This one is worth the read if you’re a fan of thrillers, and is now one of my favorite of her books.
Characters
None of the characters really stood out to me, but they were all suspicious. They all added to the mystery and the thrill of the story. The main character also didn’t really sway me one way or another, and yet I was still invested in the book.
Plot
The plot of this story, first pulls you in right away with Abby’s disappearance, and then keeps you entertained throughout the whole book with everything that happens. The pacing of the plot along with the short chapters and flashbacks work so well for this type of book. And the story itself is so intriguing you can’t stop reading.
This plot works so well because it takes place on the Isle of Amberly in a setting that’s secluded and a little bit creepy on it’s own before anything even happens. It’s so cut off from the outside world that you really start to question everything. While I didn’t feel especially strongly towards the characters, I did enjoy reading the story.
Writing
Feeney has such a perfect way of making you question everything you read, so you can’t possibly guess all the twists coming. She set up the story for a great thriller and uses the layout of the book to really shock you at the end. The last few chapters of her books really feel like a rollercoaster.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers. Continue on to the conclusion section to avoid them.
Being a fan of thrillers and most of Feeney’s writing, I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a vibe reader and not necessarily full on critiquing the book, but there was a lot a liked and just a little I didn’t. It’s worth the read if you’re also a thriller fan.
You start to think you have it all figured out about the island and what’s happening to him, but then you get to the last few chapters where SO MUCH happens. But at the same time the book did not feel slow at all because of the way the chapters were broken up or just all the small weird details that start to add up.
Even if you’re actively aware of the unreliable narrator possibility, as most thriller readers are, Feeney still pulls one over on you with this story. Even if you’re suspicious of Grady, he’s painted as the typical grieving husband losing his mind that the suspicion then shifts away from him by the end. But that only makes the second twist more unexpected.
I will say that some of the elements in this book are predictable if you’ve read all of Alice Feeney’s work before this one. The interlude chapters that are actually a different character than she’s leading you to believe is very similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors, so it did cross my mind that maybe this wasn’t the Abby we thought.
I’ve seen a lot of people talking about the ending (which I actually like the vagueness), and I definitely think it was real. Abby, Kitty, and the rest of the women weren’t going to let him get away with attempting to murder Abby (and Sandy really). They put something in his champagne, and he was really in that coffin.
Pros of the Book
The best thing about this book for me was the fact it’s set on a remote Scottish island. Somewhere truly secluded and just a little odd is such a good setting for a psychological thriller, and really adds to the creepy atmosphere. The whole set up of the island and everything on it is great.
The other real pro is Feeney’s writing. The first time I read her books (Daisy Darker), I was immediately taken in by her storytelling and ability to thrill a reader. Her writing makes you feel like you’re actually in the middle of the story, and you just can’t put the books down.
Cons of the Book
The biggest con for me (that’s really a small complaint) is that I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. There’s usually a character I either really like, can relate to, am rooting for, rooting against, or really dislike, but all the characters were sorta the same to me. The upside to that is that the characters were all equally suspicious.
Conclusion
Overall, if you’re looking for a thriller that makes you question everything and everyone with lots of dark twists, I recommend you pick this book up. This is one of Feeney’s books that I think is definitely worth the read.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating-4.25 Out of 5 Stars
This was a satisfying book to read, and I’m glad I did. If you’re looking for a thrill or a creepy but enticing book, give this one a read.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
For fans of classic psychological thrillers, this would be a good book to add to your TBR. This book is an especially good option if you like thrillers that are heavy on the suspense, but not the horror or violence. If you’re looking for more horror or more on the mystery side, you may not love this one.
What to Read After Beautiful Ugly
If you liked this book as much as I did, either because of the characters or the writing style, check out more of my recommendations below.
Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney
If you liked this book because of Feeney’s writing, make this your next book! This is another twisty story that’s unpredictable with creepy vibes and a shocking ending.
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
If you liked the feel and the thrill of Beautiful Ugly, give this one a try. Really any Lisa Jewell book would be a good option, but this one has an especially well written plot and creepy vibes.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
If you liked the premise and the big twist of Beautiful Ugly, you should read this one. While this one is less of a thrill, it has a similar twist that aligns well with the premise of this book. I have a full review and summary, too.
