Title: Ugly
Author: Margaret McHeyzer
Publication: October 26, 2015
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Genre: Teen & YA Fiction
Pages: 443
Source: Netgalley
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
If I were dead, I wouldn’t be able to see.
If I were dead, I wouldn’t be able to feel.
If I were dead, he’d never raise his hand to me again.
If I were dead, his words wouldn’t cut as deep as they do.
If I were dead, I’d be beautiful and I wouldn’t be so…ugly.
I’m not dead…but I wish I was.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Margaret McHeyzer has taken a subject that is hard to read about and wrote about it. Abuse is not an easy subject to read or write in a way that is true to form. McHeyzer is no new author, With a handful of other titles out, Ugly is just the newest release.
“Ugly” follows the story of Lily. She grew up in a bad situation and she gets herself into an even worse situation. Abuse is all she has ever known. So is it possible for her to overcome it? McHeyzer did a great job of portraying the emotions one would go through during such an abusive and negative time in their life. The fear, anxiety, and blame a victim feels from an abusive situation. Lily is something you cheer for throughout the book. You want her to do better, realize what she is worth, and move forward. You want her to do great.
The one complaint I have about this book is there are times I feel it is highly unbelievable. There is a “too much” when it comes to bad things happening to people. There were times when, aside from the abuse parts, bad things kept happening in an unrealistic and overwhelming fashion. I also felt that sometimes the good was overpowering too. While she had people helping, sometimes it was to an extreme that seemed unrealistic. Maybe I am a cynic, but I think good and bad usually come in semi-believable doses.
However, with all of that being said, I feel that McHeyzer did a great job of bringing the reader into the story. She also delivered a great message, that abuse is real but there is always hope of a better life. You just have to have a little courage to do so. A good story with a constant stream of action ending with a great peak. I’ll definitely be checking out McHeyzer’s other works in the future.
Pick up your copy of Ugly on Amazon now and make sure to leave your reviews for the author!
