“Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife as she’s driving home to share some exciting news. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by a 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.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. Beautiful Ugly was published by Pan on 11th September 2025 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats.

Beautiful Ugly was EVERYWHERE when it was first published in hardcover at the start of 2025. The reviews were glowing, my FOMO kicked in, and more than anything, I wanted a copy of this book. Good news, I didn’t have to wait long, by the end of February I had a copy in my mitts (a fabulous signed copy, no less!). But me being me, it took until the summer before I got a chance to read it. It went straight to the top of the list though (that list being my #20BooksofSummer2025 list!).

If you’re a psychological thriller or suspense reader, then chances are you’ve read at least one of Alice Feeney’s books. I have read several over the years, so I came to Beautiful Ugly with high expectations. Feeney’s novels are always enthralling, unexpected and superbly paced. Beautiful Ugly was no exception, and my unrealistic expectations were easily met, swept aside without a care in the world!

Author Grady Green is on the phone to his wife, Abby, sharing some monumental news when he hears a screech of brakes. Immediately fearing the worst, he begins to panic. Abby, however, allays his fears by confirming she’s okay. She sounds uncertain though, troubled. She tells her husband there is a body in the road. She didn’t hit them, but they were the cause of the harsh breaking. Abby tells Grady she’s going to get out of the car and check on the person. Grady pleads with her not to, but Abby has already left the vehicle. Later, he finds her car at the edge of the cliff. There’s no sign of Abby. One year later, Abby is still missing. Grady is still searching for answers and struggling with grief, which is also affecting his writing. So when his agent offers him the chance to stay on a remote Scottish island, untouched by modern technology and other distractions, he can’t say no. But on arrival, Grady realises exactly how remote the island truly is. There’s something about the place he can’t quite put his finger on. The locals are a little unusual, a little hostile. Life is far from idyllic on Amberley for Grady. And then he sees her. Someone who looks the image of his missing wife, Abby…

Twisty, atmospheric, creepy and irresistible. Beautiful Ugly is a cleverly written, compulsive page turner that I devoured with glee. The characters are believable, wholly unreliable and highly unlikeable. This is a thriller with a female-led cast, and I was 100% there for it.

The island setting is divine; remote and isolated. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? A small community that is cut off from the mainland, making the most of the peace, quiet and solitude. I’m not sure the isolation suits everyone though. Particularly when things start to go awry. Grady lands on the island with his dog, Columbo (best name for a dog, ever!) and discovers his imagined idyll isn’t quite as expected. He’s holing up in a cabin in the woods, which was owned by a prolific, bestselling writer. So when Grady discovers the writer’s last unfinished manuscript, he knows his prayers have been answered. Or have they? Does he have the courage to finish the work and submit it as his own to his agent? Will his agent see straight through the lie? Could this be the end of his career? And let’s not forget the fleeting glances he keeps having of a woman who looks very much like Abby, his missing/presumed dead wife.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Beautiful Ugly is a compelling, character-driven psychological thriller that keeps the reader on the very edge of their seat. The story uses dual timelines and dual perspectives well, leading the reader down a certain path. But let’s face it, it may not be the path you think it is! There are always shocks and surprises in an Alice Feeney novel, and this latest book takes things, perhaps, a step further than ever before. Very cryptic, but I don’t want to say any more in case of spoilers (sadly, there are plenty out there already, which I suggest you try your best to avoid). I really liked this book. All in all, Beautiful Ugly is an intriguing, unsettling and atmospheric psychological thriller. I’m excited for more from this author in the future. Recommended.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney was published in the UK by Pan on 11th September 2025 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, produced by Jessica Chastain, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years. Her seventh novel, Beautiful Ugly, will be published around the world in January 2025.