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An honest and heartfelt YA novel about a gender nonconforming teen
She’s struggling to know her authentic self. When a teenager loses her best friend, can she muster the strength to forge a different path? Small-town Oklahoma. Nic Summers feels deflated. Overweight and cruelly labeled as an “ugly lesbian” despite liking boys, the fifteen-year-old artist is devastated when her best and only friend announces their family is relocating to Scotland. And after a well-intentioned makeover freaks her out, the desperate introvert tumbles down an internet rabbit hole questioning her gender identity.
Trying but failing to make new friends before she’s left all alone, Nic is plagued by self-doubt. And when her soul-searching leads her to stumble on the label “gender-nonconforming,” she fears sharing that revelation might only make things worse.
As she battles uncertainty and cruel judgment, can Nic learn to feel comfortable in her own skin?
In a sensitive exploration of real teen struggles, author Kelly Vincent deftly weaves a compelling story of individual identity and social expectations. Navigating anxiety, confusion, and loneliness, Vincent crafts an authentic journey through one of life’s most difficult Figuring out and accepting who you truly are.
Ugly is a heartfelt contemporary YA novel. If you like rooting for the underdog, true friendship, and relatable LGBTQ+ characters, then you’ll love this empathetic coming-of-age tale.
Buy Ugly to live the truth today.
She’s struggling to know her authentic self. When a teenager loses her best friend, can she muster the strength to forge a different path? Small-town Oklahoma. Nic Summers feels deflated. Overweight and cruelly labeled as an “ugly lesbian” despite liking boys, the fifteen-year-old artist is devastated when her best and only friend announces their family is relocating to Scotland. And after a well-intentioned makeover freaks her out, the desperate introvert tumbles down an internet rabbit hole questioning her gender identity.
Trying but failing to make new friends before she’s left all alone, Nic is plagued by self-doubt. And when her soul-searching leads her to stumble on the label “gender-nonconforming,” she fears sharing that revelation might only make things worse.
As she battles uncertainty and cruel judgment, can Nic learn to feel comfortable in her own skin?
In a sensitive exploration of real teen struggles, author Kelly Vincent deftly weaves a compelling story of individual identity and social expectations. Navigating anxiety, confusion, and loneliness, Vincent crafts an authentic journey through one of life’s most difficult Figuring out and accepting who you truly are.
Ugly is a heartfelt contemporary YA novel. If you like rooting for the underdog, true friendship, and relatable LGBTQ+ characters, then you’ll love this empathetic coming-of-age tale.
Buy Ugly to live the truth today.
- GenresLGBTYoung Adult
Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2022
18 people are currently reading
1071 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Vincent
11 books220 followersKelly Vincent wrangles data weekdays and spends the rest of their time playing with words. They grew up in Oklahoma but have moved around quite a bit, with Glasgow, Scotland being their favorite stop. They now live near Seattle with several cats who help them write their stories by strategically walking across the keyboard, with their first novel, Finding Frances, a fine example of this technique. Their three subsequent books, Ugly, Always the New Girl, and Binding Off, were released in 2022. Finding Frances won several indie awards and Ugly was selected as the Honor book for SCBWI’s Spark Award in the Books for Older Readers category for 2022. Kelly has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Oklahoma City University’s Red Earth program. Find them at kellyvincent.net, @kvbooks on Instagram, and @kv_books on TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 18, 2024
3.5 rounded to 4:)
This one surprised me - I honestly wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about it. While it is YA, I was easily able to relate to the main character in many ways. It definitely brought me back to my own high school days. There are quite a few things that I think this book does very well. It's a quick and technically easy read.
The main part I would like to focus on in my review is the journey Nic goes on and the growth you see throughout the book. It's incredibly realistic for the most part and I do think that this story would be a great read for any teenager, especially in todays world. I wish I had read something similar to this when I was in high school. Even as an adult who still faces some of the thoughts of inadequacy, this book made me feel a lot less alone.
While I did enjoy the book, sometimes the self-deprecation that Nic partakes in is a little bit annoying. I get it, they're a teenager who is struggling to find their worth as a person, but sometimes the lack of even just a little bit of confidence did get on my nerves.
Overall I think its an important read for adults and young adults alike. The topics covered and the emphasis on things like therapy are important at any age.
This one surprised me - I honestly wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about it. While it is YA, I was easily able to relate to the main character in many ways. It definitely brought me back to my own high school days. There are quite a few things that I think this book does very well. It's a quick and technically easy read.
The main part I would like to focus on in my review is the journey Nic goes on and the growth you see throughout the book. It's incredibly realistic for the most part and I do think that this story would be a great read for any teenager, especially in todays world. I wish I had read something similar to this when I was in high school. Even as an adult who still faces some of the thoughts of inadequacy, this book made me feel a lot less alone.
While I did enjoy the book, sometimes the self-deprecation that Nic partakes in is a little bit annoying. I get it, they're a teenager who is struggling to find their worth as a person, but sometimes the lack of even just a little bit of confidence did get on my nerves.
Overall I think its an important read for adults and young adults alike. The topics covered and the emphasis on things like therapy are important at any age.
November 1, 2022
I had been interested in reading Ugly since the premise sounded interesting and because I love YA novels in the LGBTQ+ genre. I had no idea that when I picked it up, I would have such a difficult time putting it down!
Gender identity is just one small piece of the pie in this heart-wrenching story about bullying and trying to fit in. It was incredibly relatable throughout, having gone through some of that myself. I felt so bad for what Nic was going through. People were so unnecessarily cruel to her and I wanted to smack each and every one of them. I love that Nic held her own and refused to conform to what the ideal is when it comes to being female. I definitely applaud her for that. I rarely ever wear makeup these days and prefer to just dress comfortably. A lot of this novel reminded me of a high school version of Welcome to the Dollhouse, which I used to watch frequently. Another frustration for Nic was her home life, as things weren't going so well for her family. I also felt her pain on that front.
I liked that there was an armchair adventure in the story, due to a trip that Nic takes later in the book. It was fun to visualize settings of a place I've never been to.
There are so many layers to this story and so much going on in Nic's life. I felt like one potential storyline got dropped in the middle, where it could have gone somewhere. I also feel like another storyline that could be triggering for people was not completely necessary in the grand scheme of everything else going on. It was handled sensitively, but it just seemed like something extra. I also noticed that timing was off in one section, as she somehow gained an extra day. However, I really enjoyed this novel and none of these issues kept it from getting the five stars it deserves.
I think this is a novel everyone needs to read, especially when you think about how people should be treated. I have zero tolerance for bullying and am proud of Nic when she finally starts standing up for herself. I only hope there will be a sequel so we can see what is in store for her going forward.
Gender identity is just one small piece of the pie in this heart-wrenching story about bullying and trying to fit in. It was incredibly relatable throughout, having gone through some of that myself. I felt so bad for what Nic was going through. People were so unnecessarily cruel to her and I wanted to smack each and every one of them. I love that Nic held her own and refused to conform to what the ideal is when it comes to being female. I definitely applaud her for that. I rarely ever wear makeup these days and prefer to just dress comfortably. A lot of this novel reminded me of a high school version of Welcome to the Dollhouse, which I used to watch frequently. Another frustration for Nic was her home life, as things weren't going so well for her family. I also felt her pain on that front.
I liked that there was an armchair adventure in the story, due to a trip that Nic takes later in the book. It was fun to visualize settings of a place I've never been to.
There are so many layers to this story and so much going on in Nic's life. I felt like one potential storyline got dropped in the middle, where it could have gone somewhere. I also feel like another storyline that could be triggering for people was not completely necessary in the grand scheme of everything else going on. It was handled sensitively, but it just seemed like something extra. I also noticed that timing was off in one section, as she somehow gained an extra day. However, I really enjoyed this novel and none of these issues kept it from getting the five stars it deserves.
I think this is a novel everyone needs to read, especially when you think about how people should be treated. I have zero tolerance for bullying and am proud of Nic when she finally starts standing up for herself. I only hope there will be a sequel so we can see what is in store for her going forward.
March 18, 2025
TW: transphobia, fat shaming, homophobia, sexual assault, bullying, depression and more.
thank you to the author for sending me a copy of their books, it means a lot to be able to read and uplift trans voices specially in the current political climate.
I liked the storyline of this, a young gender non conforming girl who I suspect is probably a little autistic trying to survive a homophobic and transphobic American state. I thought it was a really important story to tell and one that many young queer people around the world can unfortunately relate to. I liked how to author put the young person through therapy to show that support can be provided and to give hope that things can get better. I thought it was really heartwarming and tender.
my only critique is the writing style. it just felt quite clunky and stilted at times, for instance there was one paragraph where the word bus was written five times, a lot of information consistently got repeated throughout and sometimes at random times as if to remind us that they hadn’t forgotten about this plot point. It didn’t ruin the story and I still enjoyed but not to its fullest.
thank you to the author for sending me a copy of their books, it means a lot to be able to read and uplift trans voices specially in the current political climate.
I liked the storyline of this, a young gender non conforming girl who I suspect is probably a little autistic trying to survive a homophobic and transphobic American state. I thought it was a really important story to tell and one that many young queer people around the world can unfortunately relate to. I liked how to author put the young person through therapy to show that support can be provided and to give hope that things can get better. I thought it was really heartwarming and tender.
my only critique is the writing style. it just felt quite clunky and stilted at times, for instance there was one paragraph where the word bus was written five times, a lot of information consistently got repeated throughout and sometimes at random times as if to remind us that they hadn’t forgotten about this plot point. It didn’t ruin the story and I still enjoyed but not to its fullest.
August 16, 2022
I loved Always the New Girl so when I saw another Kelly Vincent book on tour, I knew I had to read it! I’ve also spent my career working in higher education and have worked with students as they have discovered (in some cases) and transitioned (in others) to being their authentic selves. For many, that means a non-gender conforming identity and coming to terms with how society will view them moving forward.
In Ugly we meet Nic Summers (dubbed the “ugly lesbian”) who has one friend named Sam. When Sam tells Nic her family is moving to Scotland, they devise a plan to get Nic more friends and call it Operation Social Interaction for Nic - OISN for short. Finding new friend before Sam leaves will be no easy feat. As Sam’s departure nears, Nic’s self-confidence continues to wane, and she starts questioning everything. When Nic stumbles upon the term “gender nonconforming” things start to make sense. Soon Nic realizes that to she must find her own path and live her own truth.
This book is a slow paced, brilliantly written coming of age story. I love Nic’s character and felt myself empathizing with them because of the weight they are carrying (identity questions, money issues at home, bff moving, bullying by others, loneliness, etc.). This is a lot for any teen to deal with. Kelly does a great job of creating realistic characters, I am sure many teens will see themselves in Nic and I hope that this book helps them find their path. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Kelly Vincent and Goddess Fish Promotions. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
In Ugly we meet Nic Summers (dubbed the “ugly lesbian”) who has one friend named Sam. When Sam tells Nic her family is moving to Scotland, they devise a plan to get Nic more friends and call it Operation Social Interaction for Nic - OISN for short. Finding new friend before Sam leaves will be no easy feat. As Sam’s departure nears, Nic’s self-confidence continues to wane, and she starts questioning everything. When Nic stumbles upon the term “gender nonconforming” things start to make sense. Soon Nic realizes that to she must find her own path and live her own truth.
This book is a slow paced, brilliantly written coming of age story. I love Nic’s character and felt myself empathizing with them because of the weight they are carrying (identity questions, money issues at home, bff moving, bullying by others, loneliness, etc.). This is a lot for any teen to deal with. Kelly does a great job of creating realistic characters, I am sure many teens will see themselves in Nic and I hope that this book helps them find their path. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Kelly Vincent and Goddess Fish Promotions. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
August 14, 2023
UGLY is a realistic story about a girl who doesn't fit in - anywhere. She is bullied at school, doesn't have any friends, the list goes on. And what made this such a good read is that she is completely 'normal' - whatever that is.
Nic is slightly overweight, doesn't like makeup or other girly-girl things, likes a boy who doesn't like her, and tries her hardest but doesn't always succeed. How refreshing to read about someone who isn't perfect! And then, to top it off, she stays that way throughout the book. There is no sudden weight loss and she's suddenly popular; she doesn't suddenly gain a boyfriend who smooths the way for her. She doesn't decide to change for the sake of conformity. She remains true to herself throughout, realising that not everyone is horrible, and some people will actually take her as they find her, without trying to change her. She doesn't have the answers, and that's okay.
I found the pacing to be smooth and the story flowed. It had ups and downs as Nic figured things out about her life. This book is unlike many others, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word of it. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 3, 2022
Nic is slightly overweight, doesn't like makeup or other girly-girl things, likes a boy who doesn't like her, and tries her hardest but doesn't always succeed. How refreshing to read about someone who isn't perfect! And then, to top it off, she stays that way throughout the book. There is no sudden weight loss and she's suddenly popular; she doesn't suddenly gain a boyfriend who smooths the way for her. She doesn't decide to change for the sake of conformity. She remains true to herself throughout, realising that not everyone is horrible, and some people will actually take her as they find her, without trying to change her. She doesn't have the answers, and that's okay.
I found the pacing to be smooth and the story flowed. It had ups and downs as Nic figured things out about her life. This book is unlike many others, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word of it. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 3, 2022
October 19, 2022
I was so happy when I read the synopsis for Ugly by Kelly Vincent. This sounded exactly like the kind of book I needed to get me out of my reading slump. I was correct in my assumption. I absolutely loved this book!
Ugly is the story of a teenager named Nicole, or Nic as she goes by since she hates being called Nicole, Nic is 16 years old and lives in Oklahoma. Nic is made fun of at school and everywhere she goes. She's constantly being mistaken for a male everywhere she goes. During her sophomore school year, she starts questioning her sexuality and her gender identity.
It's obvious that the author knew exactly what they were talking about before writing Ugly from being gender non-conforming to even the therapy sessions Nic goes to. Ugly is definitely a well written book for sure. I like how Ugly draws attention to the struggles of not conforming to every day gender and sexual standards. I also want to give a shout out to the author for mentioning asexuality in the book. (I wish more LGBTQ+ books would talk about asexuality.) However, one minor gripe I have is that it mentions a character might be asexual because they didn't want/hadn't been in a relationship. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction. Asexuals still can want a romantic relationship. Aromanticism is the lack of romantic attraction. (Even then, asexuality and aromanticism have many more identities under their umbrella.) If the character was an aromantic asexual, it would have made more sense why they didn't want a relationship. Other than that, I loved everything about Ugly. My favorite part of the book (although all of it was fantastic) was when Nic goes to Scotland and sees just how different the people over there are compared to the people in the United States. I felt the same way as Nic when I lived in the United Kingdom. It did feel like people in the UK were less judgmental and more accepting than people here in the US.
Reading Ugly was like being in the mind of a teenager throughout a school year in their life. While the book goes through even the mundane day to day life of Nic, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about Nic's life. Her struggle of trying to fit in whilst being made fun of and bullied really resonated with me. I felt like I was reading a biography about my life almost. I've never identified more with a book before! I think many teens and adults that were bullied, even those that are secure in their sexuality, will be able to relate to Nic on some level. Nic was the most relatable character I have ever read about. I would have loved to be friends with someone like her back in school (and even today). I also loved Nic's best friend Sam. Sam was just about the opposite of Nic both personality wise and looks wise. I loved how much Sam really cared about Nic.
Trigger warnings for Ugly include profanity, underage drinking, some minor drug use, some talks of politics, child molestation (though the book doesn't go into detail), bullying (including characters telling another character "kill yourself"), and depression.
Overall, Ugly is a book that should be in every school library as well as every public library. I feel like it's such an important book for teens (and adults), especially for those struggling with their sexuality and/or gender identity in this day and age. The research the author has put into the book as well as the author's ability to write a solid novel help to make Ugly such a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend Ugly by Kelly Vincent to everyone aged 14+ whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. This is a book that everyone should read due to its important topic.
(A special thank you to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with an eBook of Ugly by Kelly Vincent in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Merged review:
(This review can be found on my blog All the Ups and Downs.)
--
I was so happy when I read the synopsis for Ugly by Kelly Vincent. This sounded exactly like the kind of book I needed to get me out of my reading slump. I was correct in my assumption. I absolutely loved this book!
Ugly is the story of a teenager named Nicole, or Nic as she goes by since she hates being called Nicole, Nic is 16 years old and lives in Oklahoma. Nic is made fun of at school and everywhere she goes. She's constantly being mistaken for a male everywhere she goes. During her sophomore school year, she starts questioning her sexuality and her gender identity.
It's obvious that the author knew exactly what she was talking about before writing Ugly from being gender non-conforming to even the therapy sessions Nic goes to. Ugly is definitely a well written book for sure. I like how Ugly draws attention to the struggles of not conforming to every day gender and sexual standards. I also want to give a shout out to the author for mentioning asexuality in the book. (I wish more LGBTQ+ books would talk about asexuality.) However, one minor gripe I have is that it mentions a character might be asexual because they didn't want/hadn't been in a relationship. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction. Asexuals still can want a romantic relationship. Aromanticism is the lack of romantic attraction. (Even then, asexuality and aromanticism have many more identities under their umbrella.) If the character was an aromantic asexual, it would have made more sense why they didn't want a relationship. Other than that, I loved everything about Ugly. My favorite part of the book (although all of it was fantastic) was when Nic goes to Scotland and sees just how different the people over there are compared to the people in the United States. I felt the same way as Nic when I lived in the United Kingdom. It did feel like people in the UK were less judgmental and more accepting than people here in the US.
Reading Ugly was like being in the mind of a teenager throughout a school year in their life. While the book goes through even the mundane day to day life of Nic, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about Nic's life. Her struggle of trying to fit in whilst being made fun of and bullied really resonated with me. I felt like I was reading a biography about my life almost. I've never identified more with a book before! I think many teens and adults that were bullied, even those that are secure in their sexuality, will be able to relate to Nic on some level. Nic was the most relatable character I have ever read about. I would have loved to be friends with someone like her back in school (and even today). I also loved Nic's best friend Sam. Sam was just about the opposite of Nic both personality wise and looks wise. I loved how much Sam really cared about Nic.
Trigger warnings for Ugly include profanity, underage drinking, some minor drug use, some talks of politics, child molestation (though the book doesn't go into detail), bullying (including characters telling another character "kill yourself"), and depression.
Overall, Ugly is a book that should be in every school library as well as every public library. I feel like it's such an important book for teens (and adults), especially for those struggling with their sexuality and/or gender identity in this day and age. The research the author has put into the book as well as the author's ability to write a solid novel help to make Ugly such a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend Ugly by Kelly Vincent to everyone aged 14+ whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. This is a book that everyone should read due to its important topic.
(A special thank you to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with an eBook of Ugly by Kelly Vincent in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Ugly is the story of a teenager named Nicole, or Nic as she goes by since she hates being called Nicole, Nic is 16 years old and lives in Oklahoma. Nic is made fun of at school and everywhere she goes. She's constantly being mistaken for a male everywhere she goes. During her sophomore school year, she starts questioning her sexuality and her gender identity.
It's obvious that the author knew exactly what they were talking about before writing Ugly from being gender non-conforming to even the therapy sessions Nic goes to. Ugly is definitely a well written book for sure. I like how Ugly draws attention to the struggles of not conforming to every day gender and sexual standards. I also want to give a shout out to the author for mentioning asexuality in the book. (I wish more LGBTQ+ books would talk about asexuality.) However, one minor gripe I have is that it mentions a character might be asexual because they didn't want/hadn't been in a relationship. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction. Asexuals still can want a romantic relationship. Aromanticism is the lack of romantic attraction. (Even then, asexuality and aromanticism have many more identities under their umbrella.) If the character was an aromantic asexual, it would have made more sense why they didn't want a relationship. Other than that, I loved everything about Ugly. My favorite part of the book (although all of it was fantastic) was when Nic goes to Scotland and sees just how different the people over there are compared to the people in the United States. I felt the same way as Nic when I lived in the United Kingdom. It did feel like people in the UK were less judgmental and more accepting than people here in the US.
Reading Ugly was like being in the mind of a teenager throughout a school year in their life. While the book goes through even the mundane day to day life of Nic, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about Nic's life. Her struggle of trying to fit in whilst being made fun of and bullied really resonated with me. I felt like I was reading a biography about my life almost. I've never identified more with a book before! I think many teens and adults that were bullied, even those that are secure in their sexuality, will be able to relate to Nic on some level. Nic was the most relatable character I have ever read about. I would have loved to be friends with someone like her back in school (and even today). I also loved Nic's best friend Sam. Sam was just about the opposite of Nic both personality wise and looks wise. I loved how much Sam really cared about Nic.
Trigger warnings for Ugly include profanity, underage drinking, some minor drug use, some talks of politics, child molestation (though the book doesn't go into detail), bullying (including characters telling another character "kill yourself"), and depression.
Overall, Ugly is a book that should be in every school library as well as every public library. I feel like it's such an important book for teens (and adults), especially for those struggling with their sexuality and/or gender identity in this day and age. The research the author has put into the book as well as the author's ability to write a solid novel help to make Ugly such a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend Ugly by Kelly Vincent to everyone aged 14+ whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. This is a book that everyone should read due to its important topic.
(A special thank you to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with an eBook of Ugly by Kelly Vincent in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Merged review:
(This review can be found on my blog All the Ups and Downs.)
--
I was so happy when I read the synopsis for Ugly by Kelly Vincent. This sounded exactly like the kind of book I needed to get me out of my reading slump. I was correct in my assumption. I absolutely loved this book!
Ugly is the story of a teenager named Nicole, or Nic as she goes by since she hates being called Nicole, Nic is 16 years old and lives in Oklahoma. Nic is made fun of at school and everywhere she goes. She's constantly being mistaken for a male everywhere she goes. During her sophomore school year, she starts questioning her sexuality and her gender identity.
It's obvious that the author knew exactly what she was talking about before writing Ugly from being gender non-conforming to even the therapy sessions Nic goes to. Ugly is definitely a well written book for sure. I like how Ugly draws attention to the struggles of not conforming to every day gender and sexual standards. I also want to give a shout out to the author for mentioning asexuality in the book. (I wish more LGBTQ+ books would talk about asexuality.) However, one minor gripe I have is that it mentions a character might be asexual because they didn't want/hadn't been in a relationship. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction. Asexuals still can want a romantic relationship. Aromanticism is the lack of romantic attraction. (Even then, asexuality and aromanticism have many more identities under their umbrella.) If the character was an aromantic asexual, it would have made more sense why they didn't want a relationship. Other than that, I loved everything about Ugly. My favorite part of the book (although all of it was fantastic) was when Nic goes to Scotland and sees just how different the people over there are compared to the people in the United States. I felt the same way as Nic when I lived in the United Kingdom. It did feel like people in the UK were less judgmental and more accepting than people here in the US.
Reading Ugly was like being in the mind of a teenager throughout a school year in their life. While the book goes through even the mundane day to day life of Nic, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about Nic's life. Her struggle of trying to fit in whilst being made fun of and bullied really resonated with me. I felt like I was reading a biography about my life almost. I've never identified more with a book before! I think many teens and adults that were bullied, even those that are secure in their sexuality, will be able to relate to Nic on some level. Nic was the most relatable character I have ever read about. I would have loved to be friends with someone like her back in school (and even today). I also loved Nic's best friend Sam. Sam was just about the opposite of Nic both personality wise and looks wise. I loved how much Sam really cared about Nic.
Trigger warnings for Ugly include profanity, underage drinking, some minor drug use, some talks of politics, child molestation (though the book doesn't go into detail), bullying (including characters telling another character "kill yourself"), and depression.
Overall, Ugly is a book that should be in every school library as well as every public library. I feel like it's such an important book for teens (and adults), especially for those struggling with their sexuality and/or gender identity in this day and age. The research the author has put into the book as well as the author's ability to write a solid novel help to make Ugly such a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend Ugly by Kelly Vincent to everyone aged 14+ whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. This is a book that everyone should read due to its important topic.
(A special thank you to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with an eBook of Ugly by Kelly Vincent in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
July 29, 2024
A raw narrative showing the often brutal nature of high school and one girl's journey to self discovery.
Nic has always been a bit of a loner. Luckily, she has her extremely loyal friend Sam at her side. That is, until Nic learns that Sam is moving to Scotland. Now, Nic is forced to grapple with the difficulties of high school on her own. Constantly bullied and feeling more alone then ever, Nic begins to question her sexuality and her place in the world.
"Ugly" is a book that can be a tad difficult to stomach at times, but it does a great job of showcasing just how mean some people are and the terrible things that our fellow humans sometimes have to live through. Nic is relentlessly bullied throughout the entire book and is often misidentified as a male. Characters such as Logan, Carlos, and Kyle can be truly awful, but Vincent does a great job of representing bullies authentically.
This book really does cover a bunch of really sensitive topics, but their handled in a mature way. From sexual assault, bullying, gender identity, teenage sex, financial struggles, depression and much more, this book truly does cover a lot of ground. I never found it too overwhelming, but some of these topics can be hard to chew. Nic herself can be a tad pessimistic at times, so it isn't the most uplifting story, but I really enjoyed watching Nic learn to cope with many of her struggles and begin to stand up to her demons in the end.
My favorite part about this novel has to be its exploration of sexual identity and different parts of the LGBTQIA+ community. Nic has never felt feminine and people have called her a lesbian for as long as she can remember. The discussions surrounding her self-discovery are very solid, and I always appreciate seeing things like this in literature, especially in things written for teens.
One thing that did bother me however is the transitions. Pretty much every break in the story resumed with saying "On x day, Nic did this." I found this to be a tad tedious, but it didn't take away from the story too much. The fact that I consciously noticed this does show that it bothered me though.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Nic as I made my way through "Ugly." It is a realistic story that showcases high school at its best and worst. I appreciated Nic as a character and thought that many of the themes explored are interesting. I'm intrigued to see what will happen in the next two volumes of the series; the only thing I can truly guess at this point is that they will take her all the way through high school.
Nic has always been a bit of a loner. Luckily, she has her extremely loyal friend Sam at her side. That is, until Nic learns that Sam is moving to Scotland. Now, Nic is forced to grapple with the difficulties of high school on her own. Constantly bullied and feeling more alone then ever, Nic begins to question her sexuality and her place in the world.
"Ugly" is a book that can be a tad difficult to stomach at times, but it does a great job of showcasing just how mean some people are and the terrible things that our fellow humans sometimes have to live through. Nic is relentlessly bullied throughout the entire book and is often misidentified as a male. Characters such as Logan, Carlos, and Kyle can be truly awful, but Vincent does a great job of representing bullies authentically.
This book really does cover a bunch of really sensitive topics, but their handled in a mature way. From sexual assault, bullying, gender identity, teenage sex, financial struggles, depression and much more, this book truly does cover a lot of ground. I never found it too overwhelming, but some of these topics can be hard to chew. Nic herself can be a tad pessimistic at times, so it isn't the most uplifting story, but I really enjoyed watching Nic learn to cope with many of her struggles and begin to stand up to her demons in the end.
My favorite part about this novel has to be its exploration of sexual identity and different parts of the LGBTQIA+ community. Nic has never felt feminine and people have called her a lesbian for as long as she can remember. The discussions surrounding her self-discovery are very solid, and I always appreciate seeing things like this in literature, especially in things written for teens.
One thing that did bother me however is the transitions. Pretty much every break in the story resumed with saying "On x day, Nic did this." I found this to be a tad tedious, but it didn't take away from the story too much. The fact that I consciously noticed this does show that it bothered me though.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Nic as I made my way through "Ugly." It is a realistic story that showcases high school at its best and worst. I appreciated Nic as a character and thought that many of the themes explored are interesting. I'm intrigued to see what will happen in the next two volumes of the series; the only thing I can truly guess at this point is that they will take her all the way through high school.
August 16, 2024
TW: Bullying, Fatphobia, Anxiety, Sexual Assault of a Child, Body Shaming, School Shooting (mentioned), Child Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Depression, Mental Illness, Panic Attacks
C – I sympathize with the main character—I, too, was an ugly fat kid. I wasn’t teased as relentlessly, but I remember losing friends for seemingly no reason and being called “thunder thighs” and having boys be like, “Hey, my friend likes you,” and then their friend looking at me with disgust. It’s hard to deal with kids being cruel, but I think there was some really good growth with Nic.
A – The atmosphere was pretty tense through a lot of the book, which isn’t surprising seeing as this poor girl gets told she’s fat, ugly, a lesbian, etc. It took me back to high school, and the descriptions of the stairwell where they ate lunch was just enough for me to picture it.
W – The writing style is pretty readable, I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the pace of the book or have to stop to look up long words I didn’t know, and it seemed to flow pretty steadily. I’m fairly sure I’ll be reading Uglier and Ugliest as well.
P – I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the plot of this book, but in all honesty I grew fond of the main character pretty quickly and found myself wondering how her life would change by the end of the book. I’m excited to read Uglier to see if things get any better with her life, or if things suck even more now.
I – At first I wasn’t super intrigued in this book, but the more I read the more into it I got. And then I finished it in 2 days, whoops.
L – All the logic in this book seemed pretty sound. Boys in high school can be jerks—I feel like middle school was worse for me than high school, but there were still plenty of pricks in high school. And the girls could be just as mean, even if they weren’t intentionally doing it, like the girls who convinced Nic to put on makeup. I don’t think they were trying to be malicious, but it still ended up hurting Nic in the end.
E – I quite enjoyed this book, and I find I have a lot in common with Nic, though I did have more friends than she did in school and I wasn’t as bad at social interactions. For the most part, anyway.
C – I sympathize with the main character—I, too, was an ugly fat kid. I wasn’t teased as relentlessly, but I remember losing friends for seemingly no reason and being called “thunder thighs” and having boys be like, “Hey, my friend likes you,” and then their friend looking at me with disgust. It’s hard to deal with kids being cruel, but I think there was some really good growth with Nic.
A – The atmosphere was pretty tense through a lot of the book, which isn’t surprising seeing as this poor girl gets told she’s fat, ugly, a lesbian, etc. It took me back to high school, and the descriptions of the stairwell where they ate lunch was just enough for me to picture it.
W – The writing style is pretty readable, I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the pace of the book or have to stop to look up long words I didn’t know, and it seemed to flow pretty steadily. I’m fairly sure I’ll be reading Uglier and Ugliest as well.
P – I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the plot of this book, but in all honesty I grew fond of the main character pretty quickly and found myself wondering how her life would change by the end of the book. I’m excited to read Uglier to see if things get any better with her life, or if things suck even more now.
I – At first I wasn’t super intrigued in this book, but the more I read the more into it I got. And then I finished it in 2 days, whoops.
L – All the logic in this book seemed pretty sound. Boys in high school can be jerks—I feel like middle school was worse for me than high school, but there were still plenty of pricks in high school. And the girls could be just as mean, even if they weren’t intentionally doing it, like the girls who convinced Nic to put on makeup. I don’t think they were trying to be malicious, but it still ended up hurting Nic in the end.
E – I quite enjoyed this book, and I find I have a lot in common with Nic, though I did have more friends than she did in school and I wasn’t as bad at social interactions. For the most part, anyway.
December 14, 2024
I've been sitting her for over an hour, trying to figure out how to write this review. On the one hand, this was incredibly well-written, and in a technical sense, a breeze to read. Emotionally, it was a gut punch that took me back decades to my own middle and high school experiences. I just wanted to reach through my kindle and hug Nic and tell her that things really do get better when you leave small towns and small minds behind and go to college. Of course, hearing that doesn't help when your reality is still rough af (I know first hand). Vincent does an amazing job of capturing the realities of struggling socially and with your own identity in a small town as a teen. The pain, the way people around you act, all of it. I was lucky that HS for me happened when MySpace and AIM were the big ways to keep in touch with your friends, and calls were done with a landline (yes, I'm old). I really wish I was able to express how much this book touched me, and I will admit, as much as I see myself in Nic, I also see a lot of my ms/hs best friend in Sam. Y'all...this book pulls no punches, and there's no happy, wrap it up in a bow, magic ending. But it's a book you need to read, whether it's to feel less alone, or to understand what it's like to be the outcast. A final note - this book made me feel incredibly seen in a way I wish I had when I was a teen struggling with my identity and bullying.
June 29, 2024
I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
I think this is an important novel that people interested in gender identity issues should read.
I was very intrested in this story going in but ultimately there were many moments I found frustrating. Which was probably to be expected as the subject matter the story deals with is difficult.
There are some readers who may struggle with certain aspects of the content and it should probably have some trigger warnings up front.
With that being said really love the way a lot of the characters interacted and the way certain topics were handled, especially the topic of bullying. I very much enjoyed when the MC finally stuck up for herself.
I was ultimately happy with the way the story ended. Where it seemed like things were looking up for our MC and that was a pretty positive way to end a tought story.
TBH, while reading this story I was glad I didn't grow up in Oklahoma. It wasnt a nice place to visit, and I definitely wouldn't want to live there. It sounds like a nightmare that would be a hell to be anyone slightly different than the stereotypical norm.
I dont think that I would want to read a sequel of this story.
I think this is an important novel that people interested in gender identity issues should read.
I was very intrested in this story going in but ultimately there were many moments I found frustrating. Which was probably to be expected as the subject matter the story deals with is difficult.
There are some readers who may struggle with certain aspects of the content and it should probably have some trigger warnings up front.
With that being said really love the way a lot of the characters interacted and the way certain topics were handled, especially the topic of bullying. I very much enjoyed when the MC finally stuck up for herself.
I was ultimately happy with the way the story ended. Where it seemed like things were looking up for our MC and that was a pretty positive way to end a tought story.
TBH, while reading this story I was glad I didn't grow up in Oklahoma. It wasnt a nice place to visit, and I definitely wouldn't want to live there. It sounds like a nightmare that would be a hell to be anyone slightly different than the stereotypical norm.
I dont think that I would want to read a sequel of this story.
May 11, 2025
This book is absolutely amazing! I have never read a book I relate to more than this one. I have had very similar experiences as the protagonist, Nic. It's almost like the author knew of my life growing up and captured it in the book. Nic was "lucky" though, as hard as their life was they just kept going, becoming a great artist and finally doing something about their situation. I have not read the sequels yet but I am hoping Nic has good times ahead because they really suffered bullying, honestly if mine was that bad I don't think I would have made it out of high school. Unfortunately, my experiences caused me to be very misanthropic and I keep to myself. I'm glad she had a supportive mom, which I never did.
I don't know Kelly personally and this is the first book of theirs that I have had the joy to read. I wish I could thank them for actually seeing us. Oh yeah, one more thing I am thought of as Ugly too, quite a bit. I grew up in Los Angeles during the 1970s and have had many males inform me of how ugly I am. It took quite a long time before that stopped hurting (maybe 50 years). Sometimes my extended family was worse, my grandmother never missed an opportunity to inform me how ugly I am.
I don't know Kelly personally and this is the first book of theirs that I have had the joy to read. I wish I could thank them for actually seeing us. Oh yeah, one more thing I am thought of as Ugly too, quite a bit. I grew up in Los Angeles during the 1970s and have had many males inform me of how ugly I am. It took quite a long time before that stopped hurting (maybe 50 years). Sometimes my extended family was worse, my grandmother never missed an opportunity to inform me how ugly I am.
July 30, 2024
This book was an average read for me, there wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was a good book overall. I didn’t love the writing style. Everything felt very direct, with every thought and detail, even insignificant, relayed to the reader. Nic dealt with a lot of major traumas and this character’s storyline did come to a good conclusion with acceptance to the boarding school. I think some of the money struggles seemed a bit overdone. There are a lot of students whose parents can’t afford a car, don’t have a college fund, and must do chores since both parents’ work. The fact that Nic seemed so angry about these things was a little off putting to me. Overall, I will be reading the rest of the series because I am interested to see where Nic’s storyline goes. Thank you to BFF for providing me with copies of this series!
January 15, 2025
Love, love, loved this one! If I loved this YA story at 52 and thought it was relatable, the demographic it was written for should absolutely find it spot on. High school is rough, for kids like Nic it is even tougher. I found my heart breaking for her over and over. I especially found myself angry at the adults, the adults who should have been guiding this young lady, not bullying her along with the teenagers! Especially her first psychiatrist, he pissed me off the most. However, my biggest complaint about this book is the way it ended. It was quite abrupt. After such a beautifully detailed story, the ending felt as if she ran out of time to complete the writing. I look forward to reading book #2.
June 4, 2024
A tale of self-discovery, identity, and resilience...
Kelly Vincent's Ugly weaves an intricate narrative about Nic Summers, a youngster in small-town Oklahoma, and her problems. Nic, who has been bullied and stigmatized as an "ugly lesbian," struggles with her identity and self-esteem after her best friend moves away. As she navigates the intricacies of puberty, Vincent expertly depicts Nic's journey of self-discovery and courage in the face of tragedy. Ugly's sensitive storytelling and familiar characters take readers on an empathetic journey through identification, acceptance, and the search for authenticity. Recommended.
Kelly Vincent's Ugly weaves an intricate narrative about Nic Summers, a youngster in small-town Oklahoma, and her problems. Nic, who has been bullied and stigmatized as an "ugly lesbian," struggles with her identity and self-esteem after her best friend moves away. As she navigates the intricacies of puberty, Vincent expertly depicts Nic's journey of self-discovery and courage in the face of tragedy. Ugly's sensitive storytelling and familiar characters take readers on an empathetic journey through identification, acceptance, and the search for authenticity. Recommended.
July 15, 2024
"Ugly" by Kelly Vincent is an extraordinary read that captures the raw, unfiltered essence of teenage struggle and self-discovery. Vincent masterfully delves into the complexities of identity and self-worth through the eyes of her protagonist, presenting a narrative that is both heart-wrenching and deeply inspiring. The authenticity of the characters and the emotional depth of the storyline make this book an unputdownable gem. Ugly is not just a book; it’s an experience that will leave you reflecting long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a profound and impactful read.
March 20, 2025
This was a great easy read but with hard hitting issues.
Narrated from the POV of the main character, so you get everything that's going on plus their thought processes at a critical developmental time in their life.
Nic is figuring out who they are for themselves while dealing with prolific bullying, and trying to find her place in a world that expects them to conform to what they want them to be instead of who they are.
I think this a great read for everyone to show no matter who we are, we are all people and society should allow us to be ourselves. No matter our race, religion, sexuality or gender identity.
Narrated from the POV of the main character, so you get everything that's going on plus their thought processes at a critical developmental time in their life.
Nic is figuring out who they are for themselves while dealing with prolific bullying, and trying to find her place in a world that expects them to conform to what they want them to be instead of who they are.
I think this a great read for everyone to show no matter who we are, we are all people and society should allow us to be ourselves. No matter our race, religion, sexuality or gender identity.
August 24, 2024
A heart-wrenching story of a teenager traversing the hellish landscape that highschool can be for those who don't conform to the "norm". The story draws you in and you experience the bullying, confusion, sadness, and determination right along with Nick. I can't wait to read book 2 to see how she fairs at OAMS!
July 25, 2024
engaging and informative
I liked learning about how Nic felt about herself and how truly mean kids can be. I had a flashback of my own highchool experience. I loved the travel to Scotland and learning about the area there. I really liked it.
I liked learning about how Nic felt about herself and how truly mean kids can be. I had a flashback of my own highchool experience. I loved the travel to Scotland and learning about the area there. I really liked it.
June 5, 2025
I received a review copy of this book
This was definitely a YA book and I didn’t really enjoy it as I think it was aimed at an audience a bit younger than I am. Some parts also seemed a bit unrealistic which made me struggle to enjoy it
This was definitely a YA book and I didn’t really enjoy it as I think it was aimed at an audience a bit younger than I am. Some parts also seemed a bit unrealistic which made me struggle to enjoy it
August 7, 2024
Slow boil. Not my speed. About the typical life of an average teen who doesn’t fit in with the social norms.
August 26, 2024
Bloody loved it!!
May 27, 2024
I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
So I had high hopes going into this and ultimately it just didn't end up appealing to me as much as I thought it would.
It isn't an awful book, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't really love the way a lot of the characters interacted and the way certain topics were handled.
I spent a lot of this book glad I didn't grow up in Oklahoma, since it sounds like it's a state that would be a nightmare to be any kind of different in. Obviously, the portrayal in this book could very well be a dramatisation, but still. Big yikes. On so many levels.
It was difficult for me to connect with Nic because it really just seems like they do have a lot of things going for them- definitely dealing with major trauma and bullying as well as some dysphoria, not trying to discount that at all, but reading the sections about the way their parents struggled with money and the way Nic would be expected to start doing chores so their mom could work just kind of like. Blew my mind? I dealt with all of those things on top of being very poor growing up. I was expected to do all of those things and also work. I didn't have a car until I could afford to buy one myself. There was no expectation of someone buying one for me, ever. There was no expectation of a college fund. So some of the things that Nic thinks about the situations they go through were just, to me, like. Boo hoo?
Everyone has a different threshold for pain and suffering and no one can tell someone another person's anguish is greater or less than what they are personally able to handle- the same puddle can soak two different people in completely different places.
But from my perspective, having gone through what I've been through just made it difficult for me to emphasize with our MC the way I had hoped to and that made it difficult to really enjoy the story. I just kept catching myself being very annoyed.
There are also some people who may struggle with certain aspects of the content and it should probably have some trigger warnings somewhere in the beginning.
For me, it was fine, but I definitely had some moments where it was like woah- hold up. Roll the tape back. What????
So I can only imagine how blindsided someone who is actively working through or living with serious trauma might feel.
I was ultimately happy with the way it ended as it seemed like things were taking a much better turn for our MC and that was nice.
It's unlikely I'd go for the second one immediately, I think I need a break from these characters.
So I had high hopes going into this and ultimately it just didn't end up appealing to me as much as I thought it would.
It isn't an awful book, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't really love the way a lot of the characters interacted and the way certain topics were handled.
I spent a lot of this book glad I didn't grow up in Oklahoma, since it sounds like it's a state that would be a nightmare to be any kind of different in. Obviously, the portrayal in this book could very well be a dramatisation, but still. Big yikes. On so many levels.
It was difficult for me to connect with Nic because it really just seems like they do have a lot of things going for them- definitely dealing with major trauma and bullying as well as some dysphoria, not trying to discount that at all, but reading the sections about the way their parents struggled with money and the way Nic would be expected to start doing chores so their mom could work just kind of like. Blew my mind? I dealt with all of those things on top of being very poor growing up. I was expected to do all of those things and also work. I didn't have a car until I could afford to buy one myself. There was no expectation of someone buying one for me, ever. There was no expectation of a college fund. So some of the things that Nic thinks about the situations they go through were just, to me, like. Boo hoo?
Everyone has a different threshold for pain and suffering and no one can tell someone another person's anguish is greater or less than what they are personally able to handle- the same puddle can soak two different people in completely different places.
But from my perspective, having gone through what I've been through just made it difficult for me to emphasize with our MC the way I had hoped to and that made it difficult to really enjoy the story. I just kept catching myself being very annoyed.
There are also some people who may struggle with certain aspects of the content and it should probably have some trigger warnings somewhere in the beginning.
For me, it was fine, but I definitely had some moments where it was like woah- hold up. Roll the tape back. What????
So I can only imagine how blindsided someone who is actively working through or living with serious trauma might feel.
I was ultimately happy with the way it ended as it seemed like things were taking a much better turn for our MC and that was nice.
It's unlikely I'd go for the second one immediately, I think I need a break from these characters.
June 29, 2022
I picked Ugly because the novel featured a genderfluid flag on the cover and the description sounded fascinating. Unfortunately, I felt disappointment through much of the novel.
I think that if I'd read Ugly five, six years ago, I might have liked it a lot more. As it stands, I found the way that this novel treated woman insufferable; I understand that it's about a gender non-conforming woman coming to terms with young adulthood and the world -- and as someone who is gender non-conforming and gender fluid, I get it! -- but it was more than a little frustrating to read Nic talking about how society forces women to be, and yet have absolutely no sympathy for the women/girls around her just trying to fit into the mold. She, and her best friend, talk about most other girls in the novel derogatorily, not to mention that I just found it unrealistic for Nic to be The One Girl who wasn't a prep. The only (teenage) girl besides Sam who's treated with kindness by the narrative/Nic was Mia, who's introductory description made me uncomfortable for entirely unrelated reasons (the whole "Mia is cute, Mia looks like a little girl, Mia is so innocent" thing felt weird and borderline fetishizing to do to the only notable character of color, especially since she's Asian)
Another thing that hit me poorly was the protagonist refusal to use her sister's full name, despite her sister repeatedly asking her (and everyone around her!) to; nearly every time, it was accompanied by a thought of "We've always called her Izzy" or "No matter what she says, she'll be Izzy forever" which is not the attitude that I like to read from protagonists who are exploring transness and gender nonconformity. It all just felt more than a little inconsiderate.
Overall, I think this novel could be good for people who aren't me; if you're an afab teen struggling with gender, maybe you'll really love this! I just didn't. The short chapters, ironically, just made the book feel longer and if it hadn't been a booksprout review, I probably would've DNF'd this.
Also, because it wasn't mentioned anywhere in the description and completely jarred me (another reason I would've DNF'd!) here are some trigger warning spoilers:
Childhood sexual harassment/assault mentions in chapter 16, 46, 47, 52, 66, 69, 72, obliquely mentioned at the end of 80 and start of 81
Intimate partner violence mentions from chapter 25, 63, 75
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think that if I'd read Ugly five, six years ago, I might have liked it a lot more. As it stands, I found the way that this novel treated woman insufferable; I understand that it's about a gender non-conforming woman coming to terms with young adulthood and the world -- and as someone who is gender non-conforming and gender fluid, I get it! -- but it was more than a little frustrating to read Nic talking about how society forces women to be, and yet have absolutely no sympathy for the women/girls around her just trying to fit into the mold. She, and her best friend, talk about most other girls in the novel derogatorily, not to mention that I just found it unrealistic for Nic to be The One Girl who wasn't a prep. The only (teenage) girl besides Sam who's treated with kindness by the narrative/Nic was Mia, who's introductory description made me uncomfortable for entirely unrelated reasons (the whole "Mia is cute, Mia looks like a little girl, Mia is so innocent" thing felt weird and borderline fetishizing to do to the only notable character of color, especially since she's Asian)
Another thing that hit me poorly was the protagonist refusal to use her sister's full name, despite her sister repeatedly asking her (and everyone around her!) to; nearly every time, it was accompanied by a thought of "We've always called her Izzy" or "No matter what she says, she'll be Izzy forever" which is not the attitude that I like to read from protagonists who are exploring transness and gender nonconformity. It all just felt more than a little inconsiderate.
Overall, I think this novel could be good for people who aren't me; if you're an afab teen struggling with gender, maybe you'll really love this! I just didn't. The short chapters, ironically, just made the book feel longer and if it hadn't been a booksprout review, I probably would've DNF'd this.
Also, because it wasn't mentioned anywhere in the description and completely jarred me (another reason I would've DNF'd!) here are some trigger warning spoilers:
Childhood sexual harassment/assault mentions in chapter 16, 46, 47, 52, 66, 69, 72, obliquely mentioned at the end of 80 and start of 81
Intimate partner violence mentions from chapter 25, 63, 75
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 21, 2022
Nic has never been self-confident and only has one friend, Sam. People often mistake Nic for a boy. It's not just the kids at school who call Nic names because Nic also refers to herself negatively. Sam keeps trying to coax Nic out of her introverted shell and has cooked up a plan. The plan is Operation Social Interaction for Nic and they're running out of time before Sam leaves the country. Meanwhile, Nic is prepping for the school's art contest and has begun questioning more than just her sexuality. Is there even a label for how she feels and would people accept her as a gender nonconforming individual?
Nic's perspective is so true and raw and heartbreaking at times. She has repetitive and increasingly negative thoughts about how she's a loser and ugly. There are multiple and repetitive scenes where she's mistaken for a boy. Her mind tends to gravitate to the negative and the worst-case scenarios because she’s been burned so many times before and has a healthy distrust of others. Nic is also relatively shy and a bit socially awkward. As an introvert-extrovert, I've totally been there!
In some ways, I identify so much with Nic's experiences and her introverted head talk. "Eye contact was dangerous. It triggered interactions." (10%, Kindle Edition). Yes, Nic, this is so true! In other ways, I think she's too black and white about her thoughts. On the one hand, she's so harsh about gender and its binary-ness, "... but it would be so awesome to be a person without all the stupid trappings of girl-ness." (60%, Kindle Edition). On the other hand, she's just voicing her own experience and frustration, "... even if I tried to wear feminity, it would come off all wrong on me." (74%, Kindle edition).
At times the book was hard to read because of all the self-doubting and self-hate thoughts. There is a lot of repetition of Nic's thoughts. At times, it seems like she's being whiny while other times it is wholly justified. At all times she is a teenager questioning her own identity. Towards the end, we learn that there is a reason for her repetitive thoughts and it makes her much more endearing as a character. Her most redeeming characteristic was her unwavering love of art.
This book was slow-paced, very much a contemporary coming-of-age book.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.
Nic's perspective is so true and raw and heartbreaking at times. She has repetitive and increasingly negative thoughts about how she's a loser and ugly. There are multiple and repetitive scenes where she's mistaken for a boy. Her mind tends to gravitate to the negative and the worst-case scenarios because she’s been burned so many times before and has a healthy distrust of others. Nic is also relatively shy and a bit socially awkward. As an introvert-extrovert, I've totally been there!
In some ways, I identify so much with Nic's experiences and her introverted head talk. "Eye contact was dangerous. It triggered interactions." (10%, Kindle Edition). Yes, Nic, this is so true! In other ways, I think she's too black and white about her thoughts. On the one hand, she's so harsh about gender and its binary-ness, "... but it would be so awesome to be a person without all the stupid trappings of girl-ness." (60%, Kindle Edition). On the other hand, she's just voicing her own experience and frustration, "... even if I tried to wear feminity, it would come off all wrong on me." (74%, Kindle edition).
At times the book was hard to read because of all the self-doubting and self-hate thoughts. There is a lot of repetition of Nic's thoughts. At times, it seems like she's being whiny while other times it is wholly justified. At all times she is a teenager questioning her own identity. Towards the end, we learn that there is a reason for her repetitive thoughts and it makes her much more endearing as a character. Her most redeeming characteristic was her unwavering love of art.
This book was slow-paced, very much a contemporary coming-of-age book.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.
August 2, 2022
This is a story that I really felt. While I wasn't questioning my gender or sexual preferences at that age, I was definitely not the girly girl. And being bigger, I was made fun of a lot, though I hadn't been called a boy since I was 7 and had short hair. I've also known plenty of other teen girls who have gone through a lot of these feelings and questions. It's hard to be true to yourself when you're not the kind of person who fits into that preconceived mold of how girls "should act and look." And it can be hard to find friends. I also related to that part of the story. I just didn't like how everyone fixated so much on Nic finding friends. Putting that kind of pressure on someone doesn't make friendships any easier. And yet, we also expect this out of our kids as well.
Plus she has all kinds of other added pressures on her. Money is tight at home, so her parents are fighting and making changes. Her best friend is moving to the other side of the world. It's a lot on a kid at any given time, let alone with all of this other added pressure. She does still have her art, but there's even pressure there at times.
Oh, and then trying to figure out boys? It's still difficult in adulthood, let alone those teenage years. No wonder Nic is so confused.
When an incident at school triggers the counselors, Nic finally starts getting some help. A secret from her past emerges, but they don't go too deeply into it for a while. It is a significant thinking point for her, though. Conversations about it may help some readers in their own thought processes.
I was highly annoyed with a lot of adults in this story. I especially hate when I read about teachers being so flippant with the feelings of students because I am a teacher and try really hard to not do that. But I also realize that a lot of teachers out there don't care the way that I do.
As in Kelly Vincent's other books, there are a lot of issues that this teenager is dealing with. Many other teens are going to read this and see themselves in it. I hope that if they do, they are inspired to take steps to truly figure out who they are and to feel comfortable in their own skin. I know they can because I did and I have seen my former students do the same.
Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish for a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Plus she has all kinds of other added pressures on her. Money is tight at home, so her parents are fighting and making changes. Her best friend is moving to the other side of the world. It's a lot on a kid at any given time, let alone with all of this other added pressure. She does still have her art, but there's even pressure there at times.
Oh, and then trying to figure out boys? It's still difficult in adulthood, let alone those teenage years. No wonder Nic is so confused.
When an incident at school triggers the counselors, Nic finally starts getting some help. A secret from her past emerges, but they don't go too deeply into it for a while. It is a significant thinking point for her, though. Conversations about it may help some readers in their own thought processes.
I was highly annoyed with a lot of adults in this story. I especially hate when I read about teachers being so flippant with the feelings of students because I am a teacher and try really hard to not do that. But I also realize that a lot of teachers out there don't care the way that I do.
As in Kelly Vincent's other books, there are a lot of issues that this teenager is dealing with. Many other teens are going to read this and see themselves in it. I hope that if they do, they are inspired to take steps to truly figure out who they are and to feel comfortable in their own skin. I know they can because I did and I have seen my former students do the same.
Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish for a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 6, 2023
Emotionally, I loved this book. I was really there for Nic as she went through her abuse. I felt for her with a lot of the stuff that happened, and thought that the way she explored her gender identity and sexuality was sensitive and even handed. Having been bullied I can sympathise with what she is going through, and every 'ugly' girl has had a lot of the same feelings. This is a story about the troubles of being who you really are, and having to deal with the [badword] storm that follows being your authentic self in a world where everyone wants to fit in. I had a moment of hesitation about the first psychiatrist, because that is really really really not the way to do it, but was relieved when we met the second one. This shows to people that if your therapy isn't working for you, it is probably the therapist not you, everyone deserves to find their safe therapy. I was so emotionally invested in this book, that I forgo after dinner TV and just kept reading, I was so involved that my partner kept asking if I was ok, and that they had never seen me so anxious about a book before.
Storywise however, is where this book loses its star. It was a great book, and perhaps even an important one. If I take my heart (bleeding alongside Nic's) out of the equation, this book is far from solid. The whole section about Glasgow was too long and descriptive. The important bits were covered well, how people -can- accept you once they pull the stick out of their [badword]. But I don't need a tour of Glasgow/Edinburgh. There was a lot of jumps in time, there were a lot of undeveloped characters, no one seemed to be very fleshed out. The whole section about the abusive relationship was just kinda glossed over as 'well, that sucks'. But I suppose the most important story line - Nic finding herself took the spotlight.
I would like to know what happens to Nic now. At her new school and if she finally begins to feel comfortable in her own skin.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Storywise however, is where this book loses its star. It was a great book, and perhaps even an important one. If I take my heart (bleeding alongside Nic's) out of the equation, this book is far from solid. The whole section about Glasgow was too long and descriptive. The important bits were covered well, how people -can- accept you once they pull the stick out of their [badword]. But I don't need a tour of Glasgow/Edinburgh. There was a lot of jumps in time, there were a lot of undeveloped characters, no one seemed to be very fleshed out. The whole section about the abusive relationship was just kinda glossed over as 'well, that sucks'. But I suppose the most important story line - Nic finding herself took the spotlight.
I would like to know what happens to Nic now. At her new school and if she finally begins to feel comfortable in her own skin.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
Read For:
Hurt/Comfort
Coming of Age
Depression Rep
Gender Nonconforming MC
Wholesome Sibling Friendship
This was something I would have loved to read in high school or even middle school, to be honest. The self-discovery, mental health rep, the helpless loneliness, and the healing and finding your voice were all written nicely.
I’m not going to lie, I thought Nic was annoying for a small part of the beginning of the book but by the end, she was such a lovely character. Seeing her stand up for herself after so many years of bullying and having very few people who even cared, her development was so nice to see. I could go on about how happy I was when she switched therapists and found one who was a decent human being who listened to her and helped her.
Growing up with little to no friends it was relatable to see the familiarity, the loneliness, depression, and not really having people around you that get you or dare to step out of societal normalities. Nic’s trip to Scotland to see Sam was proof that the people around you have a big effect on your mental health.
Last but not least, I loved Izzy so much and how she really comforted Nic; it was nice to see that Nic had supportive parents even if they assumed wrong it was still heartwarming to read.
Thanks to the author and @pridebooktours on Instagram for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
(First Person POV)
Spice: None
Rep: Gender Nonconforming MC, Depression, Mental Health, LGBTQIA+ characters mentioned throughout
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexism, Gaslighting, Cursing, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault
Read For:
Hurt/Comfort
Coming of Age
Depression Rep
Gender Nonconforming MC
Wholesome Sibling Friendship
This was something I would have loved to read in high school or even middle school, to be honest. The self-discovery, mental health rep, the helpless loneliness, and the healing and finding your voice were all written nicely.
I’m not going to lie, I thought Nic was annoying for a small part of the beginning of the book but by the end, she was such a lovely character. Seeing her stand up for herself after so many years of bullying and having very few people who even cared, her development was so nice to see. I could go on about how happy I was when she switched therapists and found one who was a decent human being who listened to her and helped her.
Growing up with little to no friends it was relatable to see the familiarity, the loneliness, depression, and not really having people around you that get you or dare to step out of societal normalities. Nic’s trip to Scotland to see Sam was proof that the people around you have a big effect on your mental health.
Last but not least, I loved Izzy so much and how she really comforted Nic; it was nice to see that Nic had supportive parents even if they assumed wrong it was still heartwarming to read.
Thanks to the author and @pridebooktours on Instagram for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
(First Person POV)
Spice: None
Rep: Gender Nonconforming MC, Depression, Mental Health, LGBTQIA+ characters mentioned throughout
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexism, Gaslighting, Cursing, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault
August 9, 2022
Nic Summers is a sophomore in high school. Nic only has one friend and that is her best friend Sam. Sam and her family are moving soon to Scotland leaving Nic all alone in a world where everyone picks on her and calls her names. Nic is called names in and out of school. Even people on the streets and in stores refer to Nic as a guy.
Nic is very confused as to who she is. Nic is struggling to try to come to turns as to who she is. Nic is not certain of her sexuality or her gender. Nic is a very shy person and is not very good with people. She has a hard time making eye contact with others.
Nic and Sam make a plan to try and get Nic a few friends before Sam leaves so she won’t be all alone. Sam tries to help Nic step outside of her shell and talk to people. She tries to get her to go to parties with her but Nic does not like parties.
But for Sam and herself, Nic does try to take that step to make friends but the thing is it takes two, when she does try to reach out it is always slammed back in her face crushing her heart once again.
I can’t blame Nic for not wanting to try when no one seems to want to be your friend. She makes that one step and then she is slammed back two making it that more difficult to ever try again. I can only imagine she wanted to go home and curl up in a ball as she is pulled once again back into her shell, her safe place.
Ugly is not the first book by Kelly Vincent that I have read and it won’t be the last. I was first introduced to Kelly when I read Finding Frances. Ugly is one of those stories that will pull at your heartstrings. It will also bring out many other emotions as well. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I would recommend Ugly to YA Contemporary fans! One-click your copy of Ugly today!
Nic is very confused as to who she is. Nic is struggling to try to come to turns as to who she is. Nic is not certain of her sexuality or her gender. Nic is a very shy person and is not very good with people. She has a hard time making eye contact with others.
Nic and Sam make a plan to try and get Nic a few friends before Sam leaves so she won’t be all alone. Sam tries to help Nic step outside of her shell and talk to people. She tries to get her to go to parties with her but Nic does not like parties.
But for Sam and herself, Nic does try to take that step to make friends but the thing is it takes two, when she does try to reach out it is always slammed back in her face crushing her heart once again.
I can’t blame Nic for not wanting to try when no one seems to want to be your friend. She makes that one step and then she is slammed back two making it that more difficult to ever try again. I can only imagine she wanted to go home and curl up in a ball as she is pulled once again back into her shell, her safe place.
Ugly is not the first book by Kelly Vincent that I have read and it won’t be the last. I was first introduced to Kelly when I read Finding Frances. Ugly is one of those stories that will pull at your heartstrings. It will also bring out many other emotions as well. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I would recommend Ugly to YA Contemporary fans! One-click your copy of Ugly today!
September 23, 2023
My Views - Nic Summers is a sophomore in high school and often bullied by others as ' Ugly Lesbian ' . She has only one friend, Sam , who is also soon moving to Scotland. Nic is very confused as to who she is and what she is supposed to be. Sam and Nic make a plan to try and get Nic a few friends. She also has a bigger concern that is to prepare for the school's art contest. Sam and Nic start Operation Social Interaction or OSIN for short to make Nic more socially inclusive which is hard for Nic being an introvert. As Sam's last day approaches , Nic's self-confidence starts to waver even more and she starts to question everything, even her identity. Before she can realise what to do next, Sam is gone. So, Nic now has to muster her resources and needs to find her own path.
.
This book is a coming of age YA Contemporary read which explores topics such as Gender Identity, Sexuality, , Mental Health, Bullying. Nic , being an introvert is extremely conscious of talking with others and often feels awkward around people,which is really relatable. Ugly is my first book by the author and I must say I am amazed by the storyline, narration and characterization. Many teens who are going through this phase can easily relate with the book.
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The book deals with some heavy topics, so the reader's discretion is required. Having said so, the book is a must read for everyone.
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Eagerly waiting for the sequel.
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This book is a coming of age YA Contemporary read which explores topics such as Gender Identity, Sexuality, , Mental Health, Bullying. Nic , being an introvert is extremely conscious of talking with others and often feels awkward around people,which is really relatable. Ugly is my first book by the author and I must say I am amazed by the storyline, narration and characterization. Many teens who are going through this phase can easily relate with the book.
.
The book deals with some heavy topics, so the reader's discretion is required. Having said so, the book is a must read for everyone.
.
Eagerly waiting for the sequel.
September 24, 2024
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
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