Beautiful Ugly : A Novel

Beautiful Ugly follows Grady Green, a novelist whose life unravels when his wife, Abby, vanishes mysteriously. On the day Grady’s latest book becomes a bestseller, Abby disappears after a frantic phone call, leaving behind an open car door and unanswered questions. A year later, Grady, haunted by grief and writer’s block, retreats to a remote Scottish island to heal. But the isolated community of Amberly holds secrets, and Grady soon spots a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

As Grady navigates the island’s eerie atmosphere—where locals whisper of myths and the ferry is the only link to the mainland—he questions his sanity. The line between reality and paranoia blurs, especially when Abby’s voice begins to echo in his mind. Feeney masterfully weaves dual perspectives, revealing Abby’s side of the story through fragmented memories, challenging everything Grady (and the reader) believes.

The novel explores the fragility of marriage, the weight of secrets, and the duality of human nature. Themes of revenge and obsession simmer beneath the surface, culminating in a twist that redefines the characters’ shared history. Feeney’s signature unreliable narration keeps readers guessing until the final pages, blending psychological suspense with gothic undertones.

The Scottish setting amplifies the tension, creating a claustrophobic backdrop where nothing—and no one—is as it seems. With pacing that builds dread steadily, Beautiful Ugly is a chilling meditation on love, loss, and the lies we tell to survive. Fans of Feeney’s earlier work will find her trademark unpredictability here, though the story’s emotional core lingers long after the last page.