Beautiful Ugly

Author: Alice Feeney

Rating: ⭐ 3/5

Date Read: 2025/01/01

Pages: 306

Beautiful Ugly is an atmospheric and entertaining popcorn thriller that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It requires a healthy suspension of disbelief, especially when it comes to how humans behave in both normal and abnormal situations. However, despite its (many) flaws it’s fun in a schlocky “I’m going to roll my eyes now but I’m also going to keep turning the pages” sort of way.

The writing is mostly not good, occasionally stumbling into serviceable. It won’t impress a discerning reader, nor does it care to be impressive. The twists kept coming in a way that felt like a parody of one of Steve Jobs’ keynote speeches, where there’s always “one more thing” behind the curtain.

I enjoyed turning off my brain and reading this in two sittings on a rainy holiday.