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Thrillers by the Bookclub Philly

Calling all thriller lovers in the Philadelphia region! We exclusively read thrillers, mysteries, and whodunnit’s. Welcome to all, can’t wait to meet

Beautiful Ugly: A Novel

"Her best book yet." --Harlan Coben
The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . .
. . . and revenge.

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.

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

"Magnetic and jaw-dropping." --Mary Kubica, bestselling author
"Unforgettable." --Chris Whitaker, bestselling author

BUY THE BOOK

320 pages

Average rating: 7.33

206 RATINGS

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15 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Anns Bibliotherapy
Feb 13, 2025
10/10 stars
Having read Alice Feeney before I knew to expect some twists and turns, things that were going to surprise me, and even knowing that I was not prepared for the ending. This story is brilliant; it kept me guessing and had me on the edge of my seat and jumping at every little noise; that being said, I loved every moment of it and would love to see more from this world; I've got so many questions about the children... Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton brought this book to life in a way that exceeded my wildest expectations; I'd watched both of them in movies and knew of their talent, they both blew me away in this, and I'd love to see additional collaborations from them, they truly are a dream team. Speaking of dream teams, our main characters in this book, even though Grady and Abby spend most of this book apart (this isn't a spoiler) their relationship and how they both saw it is a huge part of this book, which for me was fascinating, I found myself listening to certain chapters over and over seeing different perspectives from each of them. It surprised me how differently they saw some things and how they were on the same page on others. Alice Feeney, if you ever see this let me just say you've made me remember what it is I love about horror and suspense, the jump scares, the questions, the moments that suspend reality, everything is packed into this story and that was before the ending, and OMG that ending, I didn't see it coming. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook. I have voluntarily listened to it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Suspense Queen
Feb 13, 2025
6/10 stars
This book was a page turner until about midway through. It’s then I discovered the narrator was unreliable which made ME feel a little crazy. The ending was strange and unsatisfying.
Juliaj
Feb 09, 2025
10/10 stars
Amazing. Keeps you guessing until the end. Well written. Loved every minute
Larry Burns
Feb 03, 2025
9/10 stars
A great read…kept me engaged!
thebooktroup
Jan 30, 2025
10/10 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early listen

4.5-Star rounded up

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a twisty psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page— and maybe even longer. I listened to this one on audiobook, and I can't imagine a better pairing than Feeney's gripping narrative combined with Richard Armitage's exceptional narration. His voice alone adds so much tension and atmosphere to the story. Tuppence Middleton also did a stellar job portraying layers of complexity to the characters and their emotions.

Feeney’s use of oxymorons, both in the title and each chapter heading, is clever and thought-provoking. The title, Beautiful Ugly, encapsulates the contradictions explored in the novel, and by the time I reached the final twists, I realized that the real oxymoron was man himself—particularly how men can simultaneously be seen as figures who are supposed to protect women, yet can also be the source of danger or violence against them

Feeney's trademark twists are present here, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was blindsided around 80% through the audiobook. The way she weaves in misdirection, all while layering in emotional depth and some social commentary, made Beautiful Ugly not just a twisty thriller but a book that lingered with me long after it was over. It’s not often that a thriller leaves you with something to ponder about human nature and society, but Feeney pulls it off brilliantly.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a bit of substance, Beautiful Ugly is a must-read (or must-listen). The combination of a tight, unpredictable plot and insightful commentary makes this one stand out in the genre. Highly recommend! Alice Feeney will forever and always be an auto-read for me.

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