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Review of ‘Beautiful Ugly’ by Alice Feeney – Wordy Witterings
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.
* * * * * * *
I really enjoy Alice Feeney’s writing, and I’ve read all of her novels. I think this one is now my favourite! This twisty new novel is guaranteed to keep you guessing right until the end.
Following his wife’s mysterious disappearance, author Grady Green loses everything. Unable to write, and desperate for solace, Grady takes up the offer taking refuge at a writer’s cabin on a remote island. But the island is strange and disorienting, and its inhabitants seem to have a whole range of secrets.
There are a whole host of strange and unsettling characters encountered by Grady as he tries to claw back his sense of self. Abby won’t leave his dreams, and when he begins to see her everywhere, Grady starts to question how much of his visions are due to his continuing insomnia.
With its grim beginning and the shift of setting to the mysterious island of Amberley, ‘Beautiful Ugly’ is much darker than Feeney’s previous novels. I loved it!
‘Beautiful Ugly’ is published on 30th January 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley UK, Pan MacMillan and Alice Feeney for this ARC in return for my honest review.
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British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding 2024 — Lonesome Reader
Although I primarily read fiction I also like to explore quality non-fiction. I’ve followed The British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding for years and through it I’ve discovered many fascinating and enjoyable books about history, culture, science, language and technology. I appreciate how these knowledgable non-fiction authors are able to present their thorough research and knowledge in a way which builds an engaging story. The shortlist for this year’s prize was revealed a few weeks ago and the winner will be announced on October 22nd.
The first book I’ve read from this list is Amitav Ghosh’s “Smoke and Ashes” which gives an account of how the opium trade was closely connected to colonialism. Crucially he shows how the patterns of behaviour around this trade and the rhetoric which arrises from it repeat throughout history. This discourse surrounding it continues into the modern day opioid crisis and opportunistic pharmaceutical companies. By focusing on the plant itself as an agent which will inevitably lead to addiction and social disruption, Ghosh shows that regulation is crucial and an emphasis has to be placed on social welfare over profit. Ghosh also meaningfully shows his own familial connections to the history of this trade and discusses the issue in relation to novels he’s written which are set immediately before The First Opium War.
The rest of the diverse group of books on the shortlist encompass topics including racism in healthcare/medicine, an exploration of endangered languages through examples of the few remaining speakers of different languages, a new history of colonialism which focuses on humans relationships with animals in the Americas vs Europe, the story of six crucial substances and the increasing expense of mining them and a history of mathematics which focuses on innovators who have often been overlooked due to their race, gender or nationality. I’m looking forward to reading more of these books and the online shortlist event which will explore these books more in depth. This will take place on October 21st and it’s free to register to watch it here: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/we-are-the-british-academy/british-academy-book-prize-2024-shortlist-event/
Books to read based on your favourite romance tropes!
If you’re the type of romance reader who wants to know what is going to happen before you’ve even opened the first page of your book then let this trope-led reading list be the ultimate guide to your TBR! Including books with: fake dating, best-friends-to-lovers, neighbours-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother, marriage of convenience, high society and scandal.
Fake Dating 💟
Fast-Track Fiancé by Amanda Cinelli
Ready, set…engaged!
When racing driver Nina gets benched, she demands early release from her contract. The team’s new, infuriatingly handsome boss refuses—but then a suggestive photo of their heated argument goes viral! Now Tristan needs Nina to play his bride-to-be to stop the bad press. Agreeing to his proposal seems the simplest way for Nina to get what she wants. Until she’s blindsided by an inconvenient craving for her convenient fiancé…
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Neighbours-to-lovers 💖🏘️
Fake Fling With The Billionaire by Rachael Stewart
Royal meet cute on her doorstep . . .
While navigating a high-profile divorce, ex-princess Cassie is lying low at a friend’s Paris apartment. She doesn’t expect to become intimately acquainted with new neighbour Hugo, who’s locked out—and naked! Despite their…unusual encounter, Cassie and the billionaire form an unlikely connection, both struggling under the weight of predetermined destinies. When a leaked photo creates a media frenzy Hugo suggests faking a captivating romance, giving Cassie the cover to rebuild her life. But what started as a charade only draws them closer, blurring the lines between fact and fiction…
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies-to-lovers 😡💞
Tempted by the Outback Vet by Becky Wicks
Resisting…the irresistible!
Haunted by the loss of her family and beloved dog, doctor Sage devotes herself to saving animals in her remote clinic. She has no time for distractions! Particularly not a charismatic, arrogant TV horse whisperer from the Outback, who has been hired by an owner to help treat a troubled animal in her care. They disagree on sight. And yet, even when forced to admit that Ethan is an excellent vet, Sage is determined to resist developing feelings for a man who’s clearly afraid of loving again. He’ll only break her heart when he leaves…but taking the risk is oh-so-tempting…
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️🌶️
Best friend’s brother 👫💘
Falling for Her Forbidden Flatmate by Alison Roberts
Living with temptation . . .
In this A Tale of Two Midwives story, to escape her abusive ex-husband, midwife Grace will move to the other side of the world. Even if it means sharing an apartment with her best friend’s brother! Yet while obstetrician Jock’s cheeky charm and ‘boy next door’ good looks are difficult to ignore, Grace feels safe in the knowledge that the guarded playboy is firmly off-limits. Although as their friendship grows so does their attraction… Succumbing to their physical desire is inevitable. But what happens when she finds herself falling for her flatmate?
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️
Marriage of convenience 💍👰
Greek Pregnancy Clause by Maya Blake
Her freedom… for a price!
Desperate to escape the misery of her childhood home, Odessa begs Greek tycoon Ares to marry her. His agreement comes with clear terms: Odessa’s complicity in their marriage façade to appease his beloved father. And one additional clause: a good Greek wife must produce good Greek heirs! Odessa fears another gilded cage—but might their fiery magnetism incinerate any limits between them?
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
High society & scandal 👗😮
A Wager to Win the Debutante by Eva Shepherd
May the best gentleman win…
A debutante?To save her family, Grace must marry the Duke. And yet in dashing Thomas she’s found a man she can finally be herself with. But focussing on her goal is paramount…until she discovers the wager and—annoyingly!—that it’s Thomas she’s falling for!
Chili pepper rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
***
Happy reading!