Book Smart Kate

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (Jan 14, 2025) Many thanks to @macmillan.audio and @flation_books for the advanced listening copy of this absolutely mind-bending thriller. #macaudio2024 Here’s my spoiler-free review:

Grady Green’s life changes in an instant. Just as he’s celebrating his book hitting the US bestseller list, he’s on the phone with his wife as she drives home. He hears her stop the car to investigate something in the road… and then silence. When Grady arrives at the scene, he finds her car running, her phone inside, but no sign of her.

Fast forward, and Grady’s life is in shambles. His wife’s disappearance has consumed him. He hasn’t been able to write a single word since, and his finances have been completely drained. Just as he’s convinced his agent is about to drop him, she instead offers him a lifeline: a secluded writing cabin on a small Scottish island, inherited from a former client. It’s the perfect chance for Grady to get his life back on track—or so it seems.

Once on the island, Grady’s fragile grip on reality begins to unravel. He starts seeing his missing wife everywhere—or is it just his imagination? The isolation, the haunting memories, and the eerie surroundings blur the lines between what’s real and what’s not, pulling Grady (and the reader!) deeper into the mystery.

Oh, friends, this thriller got me—not once, not twice, but multiple times. And just when I thought it was done, it hit me again after I finished. I usually pride myself on guessing twists, but I didn’t see a single one coming in this book. Feeney’s writing is razor-sharp, and the story folds in on itself like an intricate origami figure—layer upon layer, twist upon twist.

This is exactly the kind of thriller I adore: immersive, unpredictable, and utterly satisfying. If you’re a fan of thrillers that mess with your head and keep you guessing until the very last page, Beautiful Ugly is an absolute must-read. It 100% delivered.