A Book A Week

“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)

Do you believe in giving second chances? I'm an avid reader, devouring numerous books yearly, and I'm always looking for the next great read. With so many options at my fingertips, I can be hesitant when it comes to trying out new authors. Several years ago, I got caught up in the buzz surrounding Alice Feeney's debut novel, Sometimes I Lie. I never got around to reading that book, so my first experience with her work was I Know Who You Are. I have to admit, I didn't enjoy it. It felt like it was twisting the plot for the sake of shock value, and I found the big revelation at the end to be in poor taste. It was a disappointing experience that made me steer clear of Feeney's books from that point on. Still, many readers continue to find enjoyment in her novels. My fellow book enthusiasts have urged me to give her another chance, and that day has finally come. I recently picked up Rock Paper Scissors, and I finally understand the fervor surrounding Feeney's writing.

Adam and Amelia Wright's marriage is in a state of turmoil. Adam, a successful screenwriter, grapples with a unique condition known as face blindness. Essentially, he struggles to recognize people's faces, unable to distinguish one person from another. The only way he identifies his wife is through the length of her hair and the fragrance of her perfume. In a dedicated effort to support her husband and his career, Amelia painstakingly assists him by discreetly whispering the names of individuals he encounters.

Yet, Adam's single-minded focus on his work often causes him to overlook his wife. Every year, the couple exchanges gifts to celebrate their anniversary, selecting items corresponding to the traditional materials associated with each year of marriage. While some years see them carefully choosing thoughtful presents, others lead to hastily assembled gifts. This variability reflects the ups and downs of their relationship. In a way, they can't stand each other, but they also can't bear to be apart. Their connection is inextricable.

Amelia unexpectedly wins a weekend getaway to Scotland, a vacation that could either rekindle their love or drive a deeper wedge between them. As they embark on their journey, a snowstorm sets in. Upon arrival, they are met with the sight of an old stone chapel cloaked in snow, a far cry from the luxurious getaway they had anticipated. This weekend is poised to be a turning point in their relationship. Will it bring them closer, allowing them to find their marital happiness, or will it push them further apart?

Rock Paper Scissors is a mind-bending thriller that progressively releases layers of sinister intrigue with every turning page. Alice Feeney crafts the narrative through multiple shifting perspectives, allowing us to delve into the inner workings of both the husband and wife. Alongside these viewpoints, a shadowy third perspective surfaces, shrouded in initial ambiguity, intensifying the enigma that unfolds. The story's atmosphere is palpable, casting a chilling suspense over the entire narrative, keeping readers engrossed and disquieted. Feeney's character development shines brightly in this tale. Although both protagonists share responsibility for their ailing marriage, I couldn't help but root for their redemption. The alternating perspectives culminate in an ending that's a whirlwind of twists, shocks, and a well-deserved resolution. I'm delighted that I gave this author a second chance. If Rock Paper Scissors represents the caliber found in her other works, I'm eager to explore more of her writing.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 84)

Sometimes things are just too good to be true. As an avid reader, I love to browse my local library's digital catalog. I usually listen to audiobooks on my daily commute, so I've grown to love the options my library has available. My only complaint with this free resource is that sometimes the wait to read or listen to newer releases can be unbearable. Even 5 or 6 people waiting for a book ahead of you can equate to months of waiting to read. Because of this, I was excited to see that Alice Feeney's latest novel I Know Who You Are was available to listen to. I've had her popular Sometimes I Lie on hold for months now, so I eagerly downloaded her latest. I thought it was my lucky day, but after finishing the novel I realize there may have been a reason no one else had downloaded it.

The novel alternates between two time periods. In the present day sections, we meet Aimee Sinclair, a budding actress who is on the brink of becoming a huge star. She comes home to discover that her husband is missing. His phone is still there and it doesn't look like he packed any clothes, but he is nowhere to be found. The couple's relationship had been on the rocks for a while, but he would never leave without saying something. As the investigation into his disappearance starts to mount, Aimee finds herself turning from worried wife to suspect number one. After years of pretending to be other people, Aimee isn't sure who she really is. Could she be responsible for her husband vanishing?

The flashback sections of the novel see Aimee as a six-year-old. She has an abusive father, so she often turns to her brother for refuge. One day as she is out wandering the streets, she encounters an older woman. The woman convinces her that Aimee is lost, so she should come with the woman to contact her parents. Aimee complies, leaving with the woman and never seeing her family again.

I Know Who You Are sees Alice Feeney play out two storylines into a thriller that tries too hard to shock. I was initially intrigued by the premise of the novel, a kind of Room meets Gone Girl setup, but Feeney seemed unsure of where her story was going. She kept throwing in new narrative darts seemingly hoping that any of them would stick. The end result is a story that moves at a rapid pace but with no clear direction. There's an obligatory twist at the end that really shocked me with pure disgust at the revelation. I'm all for the dark or taboo subject matter, but this one wasn't earned. Because I wasn't truly invested in the character or the narrative, the twist came off as simply distasteful. Clearly, I didn't love this novel. I'll hold out hope that Sometimes I Lie is as good as everyone says it is, but I Know Who You Are did not live up to my expectations.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 23)