Beautiful Ugly

A Novel

By: Alice Feeney

Narrated by: Richard Armitage, Tuppence Middleton

This program is read by actor Richard Armitage, best known for his role in The Hobbit film trilogy, and actress Tuppence Middleton, best known for her role in Downton Abbey.

Beautiful Ugly features sound design and special effects to enhance your listening enjoyment. Listen out for the sounds of the ocean surrounding the island and the tick tock of the metronome!

“Her best book yet.”—Harlan Coben

“Get ready for a bit of whiplash in mega-bestselling Feeney’s seventh thriller, superbly read by British actors Armitage and Middleton.”—Booklist

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

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2025 Alice Feeney (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“I was consumed by this book. It’s her best ever, a work of genius.”—Lisa Jewell, #1 bestselling author

“Alice Feeney is one of my favorite thriller writers and this is her best book yet. Highly addictive and beautifully written. Read Beautiful Ugly right now and thank me later.”—Harlan Coben, #1 bestselling author

“Alice Feeney is back with another magnetic and jaw-dropping thriller. With a dreamlike quality and atmosphere that is off the charts, Beautiful Ugly takes readers into a world that is charming on the surface, but with danger, hatred and revenge lurking just beneath. Both witty and terrifying; I couldn't put it down!”—Mary Kubica, bestselling author

Ehh

The cliche story of “men are bad” “get rid of the men” made the momentum die immediately.

The deeper representation

This took me on a very…”Oh I get!” ride, mostly because I’m a mature divorced female, to be honest. It’s definitely a work of fiction that extends your imagination, but also touches on life so true about differences between men and women. What we learn as women, we should have said and done, but in the end, never deserve! Individual needs male vs female sides on needs to feel seen, appreciated, and loved. Female empowerment, slow burn revenge, weakness of men…multiple nuisances! Just my take. One of the best I’ve listened to for a good while!

My first Alice Feeney book

I thought that this book was SO brilliantly performed and engaging right from the beginning. It was also the first Alice Feeney book I’ve read and I wonder where to go from here …

Great twists, bad editing

It was a solid book unlike any other plot I’ve ever listened to. Great twists and unexpected pivots. BUT PLEASE FTLOG WHAT IS WITH THE EDITING?! there are cuts in of clear re-recordings where his voice sounds completely different. It was distracting.

I’m not sure!

This book had so many good things and some fell short. I love Alice feeney and this book kept up with her very creepy atmosphere. I can absolutely see this being a crazy thriller movie but I also felt like it was too far fetched. I have mixed feelings but I did keep going and had a hard time putting it down. I do recommend. Worth the credit, especially if you like the author.

Twisty!

There are so many twists and turns that you almost get whiplash! It’s wild! Hang on and enjoy the ride.

I didn’t have it figured out.

Love the narrator, story was creepy and kept me listening to the end. Scary to think what people are capable of.

Characters were unlikable

Story was far fetched, and almost silly. I kept hoping it would get better. Do not recommend.

Depressing

The plot was well thought out, but from start to finish the story and all the characters were very depressing.

One of the best books I’ve read!

Twists and turns the whole way through! This is a must read! You’ll love it