When an Unexpected Twist Isn't Enough

Beautiful Ugly left me feeling conflicted. There were aspects of the book that made me think, moments that left me unsettled, and others that stretched my suspension of disbelief a little too far. What started as a potential five-star read ultimately fizzled into a thriller that didn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for.

And that’s a shame, because for much of the book, I was completely invested.

The Beauty of Feeney’s Prose

I was pulled into this story immediately. Alice Feeney has a way of drawing me right in every time. Her prose just soaks into my veins like a linguistic IV. It’s such an enjoyable reading experience because of how skillfully she gets me into the minds of her characters. Their thoughts, emotions, and backstories are woven so seamlessly into the prose that I find myself immersed in their experiences almost effortlessly.

Character depth and complexity are definitely strengths of Beautiful Ugly.

I particularly enjoyed watching Grady, the primary narrator, navigate a complicated personal and professional dilemma. It was fascinating to watch him rationalize his choices, especially when those choices weren't necessarily easy to defend.

His internal struggles made me reflect on decisions I’ve made in my own life when all my options seemed to land somewhere or another on the spectrum of gray. Sometimes, we make choices that feel justified in the moment, even when we recognize that our reasoning might be questionable.

And I appreciate when fiction invites me to explore that uncomfortable territory.

I like seeing myself in characters, even in the ones I judge.

Especially in the ones I judge.

An Island Shrouded in Mystery

The setting adds another compelling layer to the story. The isolated island of Amberley provides an eerie, atmospheric backdrop, but its unsettling quality comes from more than its remote location or unpredictable weather.

The island dwellers themselves contribute considerably to the mystery. Their peculiar behavior, along with their puzzling comings and goings, creates a persistent sense that something isn't quite right.

There’s an underlying uneasiness to the island that complements the story beautifully. Even when nothing particularly sinister is happening, the atmosphere suggests that something might be lurking just beneath the surface.

And for much of the book, that sense of uncertainty kept me turning the pages.

When Suspense Gives Way to Disbelief

Unfortunately, somewhere around the 70% mark, my enthusiasm began to fade. As the pieces started falling into place and the story's mysteries were gradually revealed, I found myself becoming less convinced by what was unfolding.

The biggest problem for me was the main twist. When it was revealed, my immediate reaction was, Eh, I’m not buying it. It simply felt too far-fetched.

I can appreciate an unexpected twist, and I certainly don't need every aspect of a thriller to be perfectly realistic. Part of the fun of reading fiction is allowing ourselves to entertain possibilities beyond our everyday experiences.

But I do need a story to maintain some sense of plausibility within the world it has established.

And that's where Beautiful Ugly lost me.

I had been imagining—and hoping—that the plot and subplot were moving in a different direction. There were possibilities I had entertained that, at least for me, would have felt more believable while still delivering a satisfying mystery.

Instead, the revelations seemed to ask more of my suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give.

I've noticed that when a story becomes so implausible that I can't realistically imagine its events happening, I tend to disconnect from the narrative. Even when the writing is excellent and the characters are compelling, that loss of believability can diminish my emotional investment.

That's essentially what happened here.

However, I will give Feeney credit for one final development involving Grady at the very end. Without revealing anything, I'll say that this particular moment felt entirely congruent with the story's framework and what I had come to understand about its characters.

It was an ending I could believe, even if I struggled to accept much of what led up to it.

An Enjoyable Journey, Even If the Destination Disappointed

Despite my reservations, I can absolutely see why thriller enthusiasts might enjoy Beautiful Ugly. Feeney delivers immersive prose, an atmospheric setting, psychologically complex characters, and a domino sequence of twists that will likely keep many readers guessing until the end.

I certainly didn't predict most of the revelations, so readers who love being blindsided by unexpected developments may find plenty to appreciate here. For me, though, an unpredictable twist isn't necessarily a satisfying twist. The revelation still needs to feel plausible within the world the author has created. I want to be surprised, but I also want to look back and recognize how the story earned that surprise.

Ultimately, Beautiful Ugly reminded me that a book can succeed in several important ways and still leave me disappointed in the overall experience. I loved Feeney's prose. I appreciated the complexity of Grady's character and the opportunities his internal struggles gave me to examine my own thinking. I enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere of Amberley and the uncertainty surrounding its inhabitants.

Those elements made the first two-thirds of the novel a genuinely compelling experience.

But the final revelations simply didn't land for me.

What began as a potential five-star read settled closer to 3.5 stars in my overall experience. And when I separate the story itself from the audiobook performance, my ratings become a little more definitive.

The story didn't quite earn my full buy-in, but the audiobook performance certainly deserves recognition. And despite my disappointment with the plot's resolution, Alice Feeney remains an author whose prose I genuinely love spending time with.

My Final Ratings

Book: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Audiobook Performance: ★★★★★ (5/5)