“Life is a fairytale that rarely hands out happy endings.”
Grady Green’s world crumbles on what should have been the happiest day of his life. The moment of his greatest triumph as an author instantly shatters into his worst nightmare. He's on the phone with his wife, Abby, sharing the great news. While driving, Abby stops for something on the road. Despite Grady’s pleas, she steps out of the car. The call goes silent. When Grady reaches the scene, all he finds is Abby’s abandoned car—door open, headlights illuminating an empty cliffside. Abby is gone.
A year later, Grady is a broken man. With Abby still missing and no answers in sight, he drowns in grief and alcohol, unable to move forward. His writing career has collapsed, too. His second novel remains unwritten, prompting his publisher to cancel his contract. Grady's agent, desperate to salvage her client and his career, offers him an escape in the form of a retreat to a secluded writing cabin on a remote Scottish island.
At first, the isolation seems like it might provide the clarity Grady needs. But as he settles into the cabin and its eerie surroundings, unsettling stories about the island’s past begin to surface. Then, Grady sees the unthinkable: a woman who looks exactly like Abby. As reality and grief blur, Grady must confront the mysteries of the island, his wife’s disappearance, and his unraveling mind. Is Abby truly gone? Or is there something on the island that defies explanation?
Beautiful Ugly sees Alice Feeney craft a missing-person tale that intertwines themes of creativity, marriage, and grief. While I’ve had mixed reactions to her previous novels, I eagerly accepted a copy of this one from her publisher. Feeney hooked me immediately with the intriguing mystery of Abby’s sudden disappearance. The novel pulses with a sense of unease, heightened by the eerie setting of an isolated island cabin disconnected from the outside world. The story unfolds through Grady’s present-day perspective as he uncovers the island’s dark secrets, interwoven with flashbacks from Abby’s point of view, revealing her life in the days leading up to her disappearance. Both narrators prove unreliable, keeping readers unmoored and engrossed throughout.
Feeney’s signature shocking twists are in full force here, and Beautiful Ugly culminates in one that I didn’t anticipate. While surprising, though, the twist didn’t feel entirely earned. The best plot twists carry a sense of inevitability upon reflection, with breadcrumbs scattered along the way. Though effective in delivering an over-the-top shock, this one feels abrupt and disconnected from the story's foundation. Despite this, the novel’s suspenseful build-up and immersive atmosphere make it a compelling read. Fans of literary suspense will find much to appreciate in the tension and mood that Feeney so expertly weaves.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 4)
I don't always like those kinds of twists.
ReplyDeleteMe either. This was a page-turner, but the twist really took it down a notch for me.
DeleteI love a good twist and this sounds like it has that plus an exciting missing person mystery. I like that there's also some creepiness about the cabin.
ReplyDeleteThe atmosphere in this one was so creepy!
DeleteI didn't entirely love His & Hers so I wasn't sure about this one but I've heard rave reviews. Glad to hear your balanced review.
ReplyDeleteI still think I'll try it but maybe put it a little further down the list.
Her books are pretty hit or miss for me. This one is very middle of the road.
DeleteI never thought about that, the way a twist makes me look back at what I missed. Interesting. Glad you were still able to enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteIt really helps me appreciate the construction of everything when that happens.
DeleteI liked His & Hers but HATED I Know Who You Are. I may give this one a try but I absolutely can't stand when the answer comes out of nowhere. It feels so cheap, like the author wasn't confident enough in their abilities to leave clues without being super obvious.
ReplyDeleteI Know Who You Are was TERRIBLE! I haven't read His & Hers, but I really liked Rock, Paper Scissors. This one is very middle of the road. Great atmosphere and buildup, but unsatisfying ending.
DeleteI want twists! It has been some time since I read a good twisty book
ReplyDeleteIf you are okay with twists being a bit over the top, I highly recommend Freida McFadden's The Housemaid.
DeleteI've read DAISY DARKER and GOOD BAD GIRL and enjoyed them both (with the former being my favorite). I'm looking forward to BEAUTIFUL UGLY, even though it seems to be getting mixed reviews.
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to read more from here. While this wasn't my favorite, I really enjoyed Rock, Paper, Scissors.
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