#macmillan audio

Richard reads an excerpt from My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney.

macmillan.audio Richard Armitage brings Grady Green to life in BEAUTIFUL UGLY, an instant New York Times bestseller!⁣

Narrated by @richardcarmitage and @twopencemiddleton, BEAUTIFUL UGLY by @alicewriterland is available now, wherever you get audiobooks 🎧⁣

This has: fantasy set in a dystopic city, found family, complex character dynamics, lots of bugs

The last 20% of this are an absolute gutpunch. Unfortunately the 80% before that are... not quite as compelling. The world built for this story is wonderfully atmospheric and I did genuinely enjoy learning more and more about the city the story takes place in, because it seems like a fascinating place. But the bits and pieces of lore are handed out so slowly that it takes a long time to find that appreciation for it. The dynamics between the characters in the last 20% are incredible, and obviously couldn't have existed that way had it not been for the previous 80%, but I felt like those first 80% only served the purpose to build up the emotionality for the finale, but was not in itself very enjoyable. I did feel like I had to fight my way through the first part, and it was ultimately worth it for the finale, but the overall book could've been so much better if the first part hadn't felt like such a  slog. The narrator did help keep me going, as I felt like his almost whimsical tone made everything a lot more interesting, and made the emotional gutpunch of the end hit even harder. I felt like the pauses between sentences were way too long, but that's not on the voice actor.

If you are willing to read a book that is 4/5ths  just set-up and 1/5th incredible pay-off, read this. If not, this isn't for you.

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5 enthusiastic stars!

I absolutely ADORED this book. Yes, the sapphic romance was wonderful, but also the characters! They're all so well-rounded and interesting and exactly the sort of people you meet and live with in college. It reminded me of my college days. I wasn't in New York, but it was all so, so familiar. I love them all and I didn't want the story to end. I didn't think Casey McQuiston could top their previous book but I think I might even love this one more.

It was so unapologetically queer, and seeing Jane react to the differences in 1977 New York and 2020 New York in how queer people could be and were reacted to - it was beautiful and heartbreaking.

I loved the mystery of Jane and her past and how all of it tied into August's past. Just. So well-crafted.

I had the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook and it was so well done. The narrator's voice was perfect for the story, and she brought so much emotion to the characters and just brought it to life. I wanted to live inside the audiobook.

If you, like me, enjoy the found family trope then I highly recommend this book.

Hear Richard Armitage read an excerpt from the 20th Anniversary Edition of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell! Featuring a new introduction written and read by V. E. Schwab--you don't want to miss this audiobook!