Beautiful Ugly: A Novel

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of His & Hers, now a #1 Netflix show, and the hit bestseller My Husband's Wife!

“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

Published Jan 14, 2025

320 pages

Average rating: 6.99

1,768 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading Beautiful Ugly: A Novel!

Phoenix, AZ Bookclub

A Phoenix local bookclub with a goal to read diversely and discuss respectfully. We love connecting with local/indie authors in to have author meet an

Big Comfy Couch

We have 3 meetings/books per month plus 1 monthly wrap-up meeting where we discuss all 3 books from that month. Min participation Req'd, avid readers!

ALL BOOKED OUT 📚

All Booked Out is a vibrant and inclusive book club that brings together book lovers from all walks of life. We are passionate about exploring the world of literature and fostering a community of avid readers.

Dog Ears & Dead Guys

Hi there, fellow murder mystery lovers! If you love the all things murder, deception and suspense, then you are in the right place.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Beautiful Ugly* by Alice Feeney is a dark, twisty psychological thriller set on a haunting Scottish island, praised for its atmospheric w...

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 stars
Wow. This is a dark, dark read. Starts out pretty tamely, but we end up in a place that I could never have foreseen. Obsession, disappearance, obfuscation, abduction, cult(?), murder, bombastic gaslighting, Scottish island. This book is one helluva ride.
OttawaBookclub
Jan 12, 2026
Meeting at Crystal Cafe. Missing Steph
Beth Earley
Oct 10, 2025
Added at Sharon's for Dec read 2025
815 Wine and Book Club
Jul 02, 2025
8/10 stars
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney feels like a perfect blend of emotional depth and visual storytelling, making it easy to imagine as a film. The novel follows a woman’s struggle with self-image, trapped between her inner beauty and outer imperfections. Feeney’s writing is poignant and evocative, capturing the raw complexities of identity and self-worth. The atmosphere of the book—set against the backdrop of emotional turmoil—reminds me of the smell of rain on a summer camp day. There's something about that mix of nostalgia, tension, and reflection that ties the story together. Feeney uses this ambiance to bring the protagonist’s journey to life, creating moments of quiet introspection, much like a summer shower that clears the air and forces change. With its blend of psychological suspense and emotional drama, Beautiful Ugly would translate perfectly to the screen—imagine soft, rainy landscapes paired with introspective moments that hit hard. If you're drawn to books that explore the human condition and leave you thinking long after, this one’s definitely worth a read—and maybe even a watch one day.
fromlizaslibrary
Apr 07, 2025
8/10 stars
My immediate thought upon finishing this book was “What the actual hell did I just read?!” and I think it sums things up pretty well. This was my first Alice Feeney read and I learned afterwards she is coined as the Queen of Twists and I completely understand why. I feel I’m pretty good at predicting outcomes but this one got me. I wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t and I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. This was so twisty and it’s a good thing I finished it in two days because I was actually anxious reading this. That being said, I wasn’t the biggest fan of any of the characters. None of them stood out and frankly I liked and disliked each of them equally. There are a lot of specific details put into the portrayal of the setting that added to all the mystery for me and supported a lot of my feelings while reading. This might be one of my favorite thrillers and highly recommend you pick it up, asap!

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.