Uglier

The Art of Being Ugly #2

by Kelly Vincent

A new school. An opportunity to fuel her passion. A mean girl waiting in the wings to burn it all down.

Oklahoma City. Nic Summers is ready for a fresh start. Entering her first semester at a boarding school far from her narrow-minded hometown, the talented teen artist hopes to continue exploring her gender identity in a safer environment. And after meeting a boy she likes, connecting with another student, and discovering a supportive teacher, she’s relieved things are looking up... until once again she faces a cruel bully.

Trying to stay positive, the shy artist focuses on nurturing her fledgling friendships and honing her skills under the guidance of a kind mentor. But after Nic’s crush is vengefully outed as trans, she blurts out something awful and fears she’s ruined everything.

Can she mend shattered trusts and reclaim her authentic self?

Written with heartfelt empathy, author Kelly Vincent gives voice to modern youth as they face challenging social issues. With sensitivity and insight, Vincent puts the reader in the shoes of young people desperate to thrive and find their place in this universe.

Uglier is the emotional second book in the Ugly World contemporary YA series. If you like big-hearted protagonists, LGBTQ+ themes, and powerful journeys of self-discovery, then you’ll adore Kelly Vincent’s candle in the dark.

Genres: Young Adult

Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Kelly 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.

Reviews

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pride Book Tours for including me on the tour and to the author for sending me a finished paperback of book two in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5 rounded up.

Uglier is book two in the series and they follow teenage Nic Summers who is from rural Oklahoma. Nic has always been made fun of for their appearance, for being weird and for being fat. Now that they’ve been accepted to a new school outside Oklahoma City, Nic is hoping things will be better. And to an extent they are, but small minded people are everywhere and Nic’s classmate has decided that she’s going to do whatever she can to make Nic’s friend, Mack, as uncomfortable as possible.

I enjoyed continuing Nic’s coming of age story and seeing their gender journey progress. Will say I’m a bit jealous of this gender workbook they have. I want one lmao. I also really enjoyed the exploration of Nic’s artistic journey. I liked seeing them become more confident and assertive about what they liked and wanted to draw. I would recommend reading book one, Ugly, before this one as there’s important context, but if you wanted to you could start with this one.

I did enjoy this one, but the way the asexual side character was handled really hurt as someone who is both agender and asexual. Nic was completely valid in how they felt, but to take it out on the side character like they did was not fair and quite aphobic. There are also two instances of Nic outing this character to other people. Please read with care if you pick this one up!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Uglier: A moving YA novel about a teen finding their gender identity just as much as I enjoyed Ugly. This is a great followup to the first novel and it was nice to reconnect with Nic and to see what would happen for them in a new location.

Even though Nic was still in high school, setting the story on a college campus made me think of being in college and I had fun reminiscing about that time in my life. I love that they were making friends and things were starting to turn around for them a bit. However, there were still a lot of obstacles for Nic to deal with and new questions they had about their gender.

Kelly brought up current events and related them smoothly into the story. It didn't feel forced and it was an honest look at the things people go through when their gender is attacked. It makes me so angry when people think they can have a say in someone else's gender. One of the characters was the absolute worst about it too! I also got annoyed with some other people in regard to this.

Some parts of the story surprised me in a good way and I was rooting for Nic the entire time. I also really liked some of the new characters. I already can't wait to read a third book in this series, which I heard will be happening at some point soon!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Ugly, the first book in the series, but I loved Uglier more. I didn’t even think that would be possible!

I love Nic and reading about their life. The way Kelly writes, it feels like Nic is a person I know really well. I love Kelly’s writing style.

Oh, I also love how socially awkward Nic is. I’m wondering if Nic might be Autistic? As someone who js a diagnosed Autistic, I could totally relate to their social awkwardness. (It would be amazing to see some proper Autistic representation more in books and everywhere really.)

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I never want it to end.

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nic works to come into their newfound identity in a new setting away from home in this follow up to Vincent's "Ugly."

Nic is finally getting out of their toxic hometown to attend the boarding school of their dreams. Yes, it may be based around STEM, not art, but at least they can finally escape the bullies that plagued their life. Upon arriving in Oklahoma City, Nic meets several allies almost immediately: their spunky art teacher, a poetic girl who loves to read, and an attractive boy that they can't help but crush on. Unfortunately, with all the good comes newfound bullies, too. But no matter, the new and improved Nic is here to conquer and they are ready to find a place where they truly belong.

I must say, I enjoyed this one more than the first one. I feel that there is more at stake, the characters are more interesting, the art aspects are explored in more detail, and there is an even more diverse discussion of LGBTQIA+ themes. They are more things that worked really well in this book and it is a tad less repetitive than the first.

One of my favorite things about this book has to be the friend group that Nic surrounds themself with. Jenna, Jacob, and Mack are all nerds and it is fun to see Nic find their type of people. I am totally a part of the nerd club, so it was very fun to follow these four on all their ups and downs. The fact that they are all different parts of the LGBTQIA+ community is also really fun to see and leads to great learning experiences for the reader. However, I will not discuss this in more detail, because it reveals much of the plot. I must say, this book is packed with even more info on the LGBTQIA+ community than "Ugly" and would be a great resource for questioning teens.

This book had a book club element, which made me very nostalgic for the book club that I did with my friends this year prior. I really miss reading with people and I might need to start group readalongs up again. I love the friends discussions on certain books, though they could be a bit spoilery at times. I'm pretty good at zoning this kind of thing out, so I was mostly unfazed by this. I love how Vincent advertises diverse reads and how the characters (especially Jenna) stand up against reading "the norm" and gives diverse fiction the attention that it deserves.

I feel that Nic's self-discovery journey is really pushed to the max in this one. Between obtaining their first boyfriend, officially coming out as nonbinary, and embracing their identity, they really come a long way as a character. They still have many hurdles to tackle, but I am very proud of them in the long run.

The thing that really jarred me with this one was the time jumps. All of a sudden, it would be a month later and the only distinction of this was the break in the page. I really wish that this series would have been written as diary entries. I feel it would have really elevated the series and would have kept me from being confused how much time had past between the days that start out each section break. This is a minor thing, but I think it would have made my reading experience quite a bit more enjoyable.

Overall, I enjoyed reading "Uglier." I like the new additions to the cast, the exploration of more LGBTQIA+ themes, and the complicated road to self-discovery that this book presents. I'm excited to read the next one and see where Nic's journey takes them next!

[fanboyriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read For:
Artist MC
Light Angst
Self-Discovery
Good Friendships
Accepting Parents

Uglier was even better than the first book. I really enjoyed seeing the character development in this book. Nic came out of their shell a bit and made friends, finding out what they wanted to do with art, being less selfish, and actually coming out as non-binary.

I’m really happy with a lot of the self-growth Nic went through. Finding a home where they could be around people like them or who accepted them. It was like a breath of fresh air compared to their old school, even if things weren’t perfect.

I loved the friendships in this. Jenna, Mack, and Jacob were all amazing. I was so happy to see Nic make more friends and their long-distance friendship with Sam still. It was so nice. Though I do have to say Jenna was my favorite, loved her from the beginning. She was very much an awesome badass. The fully queer book club was goals.

On that note, Rachel literally made me so mad since the moment she started talking, I knew I’d hate her. She was awful and people like her deserve the worst in life.

There were a few moments that I wasn’t a fan of like Nic accidentally blurting out something transphobic at the worst time ever. I understand they were shocked but, oh my gosh, it hurt to read at that moment. I felt so bad for the dude—at least Jenna passed the vibe check in that moment—and Nic’s apology was well-written and genuine at least. The other moment was about “turning someone asexual” because they got rejected. It just rubbed me the wrong way even after Nic did educate themselves a bit more.

Overall, this was really a cozy read. Nothing too majorly angst happened but it did talk about trans healthcare in the United States and how damaging those laws can be. It had a lot of queer rep and it was nicely written.

Thank you to both @pridebooktours on Instagram and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 01, August 2023
POV: First Person
Spice: n/a
Rep: Non-Binary MC, Trans (ftm)/Asexual SC, Fat MC, Gay SCs, Bisexual SC (possibly)

⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Homophobia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Outing, Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, Cursing, and Body shaming
Minor: Religious bigotry, Dysphoria, Lesbophobia, and Medical content

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nic is back – this time at a boarding school in Oklahoma City. Still mistaken for a boy, even in the bigger city, Nic is still discovering her own identity and who she wants to be. This is the fresh start she’s been wanting, but there are new growing pains in this new environment.

“My mere existence seemed to be a problem for some people.” (Kindle Edition).

Nic’s perspective continues to be true, full of anxiety, and full of heartbreak. Her thoughts still skew negative and anxious but with tones of hope and self-bolstering. Within the new school, she knows that she has the opportunity to rewrite her story a bit, to be more confident, to be perceived differently even if people try to push her into a box. Continuously, Nic is mistaken for a boy (especially given her height), multiple times in the very first chapter and throughout the novel as well as in different places and contexts. It’s sad to think that there are places where people are still shocked at those who dress more androgenously or don’t conform to societal ‘norms’ for female or male presenting selves. I do disagree with Nic that ‘normal’ girls always wear makeup but perhaps that was my upbringing.

There were multiple aspects of gender and identity presented in this book and all of Nic’s friends were part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I liked how this book dived deeper into different experiences and how the characters’ lives were affected by their gender identity. “This was the whole problem with the binary, and the way other people felt like they had the right to determine your gender.” (Kindle Edition). I loved that there are multiple fiction books mentioned that also touch on themes of identity.

It was neat to see Nic grow in this second novel and I can’t wait to read more of their journey in book three of the series.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Anxiety, Child Sexual Assault (mentioned), Body Shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Mental Illness, Transphobia, Misgendering, Deadnaming

C – “I also couldn’t help but notice that newborns aren’t that cute.” Finally, someone besides me who thinks that. They kind of look like aliens to me. Way to go, Nic, you’re even more like me this book than last book. Also, I wonder if the author ever read Tower of God, which also has an evil Rachel.

A – The book was actually pretty light and cheery up until the incident with Mack, then it turned tense like the first book was. There were definitely moments that were tense before that though, like when people would call Nic a freak or something.

W – Still enjoying the writing style, though I do wish the chapters were a little shorter so I could take breaks more often.

P – This time, instead of Nic being in small-town Emerson in OK, they are in OMAS, in a bigger city where acceptance isn’t completely forthcoming from all people but hey, finally Nic has some friends. That couldn’t have happened back in Emerson, and I’m really enjoying reading about how Nic, Mack, Jenna, and Jacob all get along together.

I – I was quite into this book after reading Ugly. I was curious how Nic’s life would change, and I’m glad to see it changed for the better.

L – I thought the last book said it was in 2018? How is this book the 2022-23 school year? Also, for the book club, I swore they decided on 2 o’clock and not 3 o’clock? And I thought the guy’s name from the last book was Zach, not Zack.

E – I truly enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read Ugliest.

[Winnie Pagora · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.75 stars rounded off to five)

A Beautiful Fiction About Self-Discovery and Acceptance.

"Uglier" is a well-written novel about a young student's journey of self-discovery and acceptance. I loved the protagonist and all the other characters and empathized with them. I really liked the way the author has written how their friendship bloomed. It was realistic and heart-warming.

I learned so much about many LGBTQ+ themes in this book. This was my favorite part. The conversational way the author used to explain the information is fantastic and easy to understand. This novel is a must-read for everyone, particularly those who are struggling with the complex identity labels of today.

If you're a fan of Heartstoppers and Loveless by Alice Oseman, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes, and Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales, you will love this book.

A teeny complaint I have about this book - The manuscript could have been tighter. There were long conversations about books that were sometimes irrelevant to the story, which slowed down the pace of this otherwise wonderful book.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Tour: Uglier by Kelly Vincent.

Thank you @pridebooktours and @kvbooks for my copy and trusting me to be a part of this tour.

Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book!! I devoured it within a matter of hours, I just couldn’t put it down!

I loved being back with Nic and following them on their journey at their new school. There was something so captivating yet mundane about the way the days panned out. I thoroughly enjoyed just joining Nic throughout their day and getting lost in the emotional, and physical, developments of the story. I especially loved following Nic’s artistic development!

This book really expresses the journey of self-discovery and highlights the thoughts and feelings during that period of time. I found the behaviour towards Mack and Nic heartbreaking, to be honest. It really highlighted the importance of properly listening to your peers and being there for support.

Nic, Mack, Jenna and Jacob’s friendship made me so unbelievably happy!! I love the way they bonded and supported each other. Let’s just talk for a second about the book club they created… oh my, amazing!! I need more of this friendship group asap!

4.5/5 — Lost half a point for a couple of character flaws. Overall throughly enjoyed and recommend!

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[Susmita Ghosh Sau · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Views - Uglier is the sequel of the author's previous book 'Ugly' which follows 'Nic' or Nicole Summers. Here she is in the first semester at a boarding school in Oklahoma City. Nic is finally hoping to spread her wings and explore her gender identity far from her small hometown and in a safer environment. Everything was going smoothly and she even finds a boy she likes but she again faces the same situation here as well, a bully who has decided to make Nic's life as uncomfortable as possible.

The book starts from where the first one ends. Nic here is at a new place with new hopes. Here she is more confident about how she presents herself or talks with others. I really enjoyed her progression as an artist. The author here also has done a very good job at the narration and the storyline.

I would also recommend this book as much as the first one. But first do read the first book to get to know the context.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series following Nic as they navigate their identity and finding friends at their new school in Oklahoma City. I enjoyed the coming of age and gender journey that this book brought me on. I liked Nic’s artistic journey as well, as they challenged their abilities and grew as an artist. I didn’t love the way Nic handled themselves most of the time with their friends. Specifically with Mack, Nic took a lot of frustration out on him after he told them he was asexual. Nic’s feeling were valid, but the way they handled it came off a little selfish. The writing often feels a little lack luster to me while reading, with the author continuously restating plot points when it isn’t needed. I am excited to finish the series. Thank you to BFF for providing me with a copy of the series!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this story to be just as interesting and captivating as book one, and I’m looking forward to book three. Nic’s at a new school, new start, but as any high school student can tell you, there are always bullies. I truly wish I could just wrap Nic up in a big hug, I understand how hard high school is when you’re an outsider. The story itself moves along at a smooth pace, and keeps you interested. It felt like watching a show or movie about a teen struggling to figure out themselves and survive high school unfold before my eyes. Nic’s reactions and how she handles everything felt true to the Nic you get to know in book one, but you can tell how she’s changed and grown as well. This series is perfect for any teens who are struggling with their gender identity or who are simply part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

[Kara (Books.and.salt) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I loved Uglier even more than its predecessor. Watching Nic blossom at their new school made my heart soar, and I completely adored the new friends they meet along the way.

Nic continues on their path of self discovery, finally finding comfort with the "agender" label, while also navigating new friendships and a possible romantic relationship. The diverse cast of characters were all wonderful - I was totally smitten with Jenna and Mack by the end. Their little queer book club was adorable and I am FULLY jealous.

This story tackles tons of important topics like Trans healthcare in the US and the ins and outs of asexuality. Beautifully and tactfully written, I highly recommend this coming of age story!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We got to see Nic flourish more in this book. I liked that they were able to find friends and explore their artistic side. But as is with people, there are growing pains. You have mean girls like Rachel and moments when Nic was not their stellar self (outing someone is never ok). I enjoyed the discourse on gender affirming laws and how harmful it can be to ban folks from seeking healthcare. Overall, I liked the character development and seeing Nic come into their own. Rounded up from 3.75.

A huge thank you to the author via @pridebooktours for this ARC! It in now way influences my review. Uglier is out now so make sure to get your copy!

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many teens struggle with their gender identity, especially in modern times. Some individuals are quick to mock and ridicule these struggles. These attitudes can be tremendously harmful, and that is part of what this book is about.

Nic Summers has moved to Oklahoma City in the hopes of being able to explore her gender identity without being repressed by those around her. However, the bullying that she experienced earlier in her life is not so quick to go away. Nic finds that bullies are seemingly everywhere. It is how she decides to cope with her situation that readers should find uplifting, especially those who are going through something similar to what Nic is experiencing.

[Carol Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school girl/boy struggles with her identity as she enters a new school.

Nic left her home town, because of all the bullying she has endured, for a new town and boarding school. The classes were advanced and work needed to be done to keep your marks up. Nic meets a few fellow students and they began to hang out together. There is romance or anticipation of romance between two of them but, it was followed by a bit of heartbreak 💔.
The school year ends and they all go home for the summer leaving us with their intentions of staying in touch over the summer.

[Kirstie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books are completely different to my usual sort of reads.
My genres of choice is either psychological thriller or Typical Chick lit - and this one is nothing closer to being either.
I actually enjoyed this one more than I did the first - Nic finally moves away from her small judgemental town and explores who she really is and makes new friendships.
Her journey wasn't easy, in fact at times it was quite hard to read but I loved how the character plowed through and finally accepted herself.
Great book, and I can't wait for the 3rd one.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very nice themes explored in this book such as resilience, identity, and self-discovery in a teen mind. The author managed to capture in her writing all the struggles and victories of a teen mind while navigating life and their own ups and downs.
Overall, a great story to share with younger adults. I like that the book follows a very contemporary narrative not very common in teen books yet.

[Alyssa Jastremski-mcgowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and slice of life

This book was way better than I expected. It's down to earth. Relatable to many people in this day and age. The main character Nik learns so much and goes through stuff to figure out who they are. It was cute, sad, Funny and I highly recommend it for others who like a slice of life book. Not everyone will accept you but this book shows you need to accept yourself. Great book.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Confusion resolving

This story is full of teenage angst, the main character leaves "her" close minded home town for special opportunities at an out of town school. Social interaction opportunities expand and life improves. Character starts to know self and others with their growth.

[Sean Wright Neeley]

Simple but genuine

The scenes sagged in a few spots but this was overall a good book. I truly felt for Nic & was so glad that she found her tribe. Books like this are important for teens to learn about tolerance & for them to understand that there's absolutely nothing wrong with being on the LGBTQ spectrum.

[Penny Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic's journey is relatable, informative, and the author's writing style draws you in...

Nic's journey is relatable, informative, and the author's writing style draws you in to the storyline. A compelling read that I highly recommend to YA readers and the families and friends of those in the LGBTQ+ Community.

[Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic’s Story

I enjoyed the continuation of Nic’s story in Uglier. The conversations and experiences took me back to high school but also represented the challenges kids today face extremely well. I recommend this to young adults and adults looking to understand others and their experiences.

[Michael Mesarch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and can't wait to read the next one. The author really reminds you of your "inner dialogue" when you were a teen. And, they're giving a look from a nonbinary aspect that is new to me.

[Laurie Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself deeply embedded in the lives of these characters. Such a well-written and angsty story about what it means to become one's true beautiful self. I loved this story.