Reading in the Mountains

I spent all Christmas eagerly waiting for Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly because I just knew it was going to be incredible. It helps that she’s one of my favorite authors. But even so, I didn’t expect the story to hook me as deeply as it did.

The story is narrated by Grady, a man in his 40s who’s trying to win back his wife’s affection. His wife is a successful journalist who covers controversial topics, and she goes missing on her way home. She was supposed to arrive early to celebrate Grady’s return to the New York Times bestseller list.

Her disappearance wasn’t entirely shocking—after all, she often stirred up the lives of the rich and powerful. But I expected her to come back. Instead, things spiral for Grady. He loses their home because, before vanishing, his wife withdrew large sums of money from their joint account. Now, it’s just Grady, his dog, and his literary agent, Abby’s aunt—a fierce, wealthy woman in her 70s who has seen it all in the publishing world.

To help Grady get back on his feet (and out of his grief), she offers him access to a secluded cabin on an island—a property inherited from another famous author she used to manage. With the keys in hand and some financial backing, Grady heads to the island with his dog, hoping to write his next bestseller.

The island is… odd, to say the least. With only 25 residents spread across 10 square kilometers, it’s eerily quiet. Things take a turn when Grady starts seeing his missing wife around the island. Is it her? Or just his mind playing tricks?

As Grady begins to settle in, he meets the local sheriff, who invites him to dinner with her sister. During the evening, her sister mentions that a woman vanished from the island a year ago under mysterious circumstances. Shortly after, the body of an unknown man is discovered—someone no one on the island seems to recognize.

It’s a bit chilling if you think about it. Even more so when you consider that Grady isn’t exactly in the best mental state—he’s sleep-deprived and drinks a little too much.

The island is fascinating, full of mysteries and an odd collection of quirky residents. Interestingly, there are far more women than men living there. Sure, the natural beauty of the place makes sense, but I wouldn’t want to stay on an island like this, no matter how picturesque it is.

The book itself is fantastic. I loved every twist, and the horror elements added an extra layer of tension that worked so well. The ending wasn’t what I expected—though I had partially guessed what might happen—but it still managed to surprise me.

For me, this book is a solid 5/5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and it might just be my favorite book of the year. That said, I’m still processing how I feel about the ending.