Ugliest

The Art of Being Ugly #3

by Kelly Vincent

Life, academics, and activism. Facing hate and bigotry, can this agender teen make a difference in LGBTQ+ rights?

Oklahoma City. Nic Summers is equal parts excited and nervous. Determined to excel, the seventeen-year-old strives to find time to survive physics, build confidence, and enter a competitive art mentorship. But the principled teen’s stress skyrockets when a protest video results in them and a trans friend being forced by the school to move to the female dorms.

Burning with a strong sense of justice, the normally shy teenager summons the courage to speak out against damaging state legislation. But when the vision goes viral, they’re shocked when the authorities hand down an ultimatum: stop or be expelled. Can Nic dig deep and prevail against institutional bullies ready to erase their identity?

Sharing the plight of those too often silenced, author Kelly Vincent opens the door to understanding and empathy. Through the eyes of a big-hearted main character, Vincent leads the way toward accepting and appreciating each other’s differences.

Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2024

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

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Mack from Ugliest is asexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Kirstie Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 3rd in a series, which follows Nic and their journey to discover who they are, in a small town that isn't very accepting of anyone who deems to be 'different'
In each book, Nic becomes stronger as a person , and it's genuinely been enjoyable seeing their journey and character develop.
This story in my opinion is quite a heavy read, and talks about politics in places - not in general but when it comes to LGBTQ and beliefs stemming in particular from small towns.
Because of it being heavy I found I couldn't read too much of it in one go - not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it's hard to read what some people have to go through to be themselves.
Many times throughout I got goosebumps, and felt almost proud of Nic, as if they were an actual real life friend of mine.
Great book, which I would recommend.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Being Ugly has turned into a wonderful series! Each book Nic grows, becomes stronger, embraces who they are and their art and it has been a wonderful experience to follow along as they took this journey! The books tackle so hard topics but I loved how the author brought in the current events and issues that are impacting our teens and shining a light on topics that need to be talked about! This is a wonderful series for our young readers to learn about the political and the personal side of these things in a friendly environment! Thank you Books Forward, Kelly Vincent and KV Books for sharing these wonderful books with me!

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

A nuanced look into the lives of teenagers who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community featuring BookTok, political action, and the courage to stand up for what one believes in.

Nic returns to their second semester of boarding school with a skip in their step. They have an amazing group of friends, an exclusive art mentorship, and faith in the fact that they can truly succeed at life. I mean, people here seem to accept their identity and things are really starting to look up. But then suddenly, their life is turned upside down. A complaint from a parent at the boarding school insists that Nic and their trans friend, Mack, shouldn't be recognized as the genders they are. This causes them to be forced to live together despite all their past history. The usually shy teens are fed up with this unconstitutional treatment and decide to speak out against the way that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are being treated, no matter the consequences.

"Ugliest" is a bit more heated than the prior installments in the series and it also features way more politics. I usually don't love reading things that are politically heated or filled with such hatred, but these topics that this book tackles are just so important. This novel takes a deep dive into a bunch of the anti-trans legislation and other such movements such as the "Don't Say Gay" laws. These laws are truly appalling, but I fear that many people have never heard about some of them. Reading "Ugliest" is a great way to introduce teens to some of these things in a friendly environment that leaves room for open discussion. The things that Nic and their friends get forced through are truly sickening and so important for readers to witness because there are people like them going through these things all over the world on a daily basis.

An aspect of this book that I wasn't expecting was for Nic's book club to turn into a BookTok thing. I think it is cool that they wanted to share their opinions on books featuring diverse characters. I recently read "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe, so it was really exciting to see this book brought up in the first dozen pages of "Ugliest." It is such a good guiding light for people who have ever questioned their sexual/gender identity, and I'm glad that Vincent brought this up as a resource. I really know very little about BookTok, but I thought it is a neat tie in for the modern reader. Yes, it may date this book more than it already is, but "The Art of Being Ugly" series really does take place in the early 2020s and I think it is one of those series that will need to be viewed through the time lens that it was written during.

I am really proud to see how much Nic has evolved throughout the series. They have way more confidence, are way less shy, and have really embraced their art and their identity. I really couldn't be more proud of them. I hope that this book finds its way into the right hands and inspires many people like them to take action or feel seen in a positive light, despite all the negative things that Nic goes through. I really appreciate Vincent sharing so much of her personal life experiences with the world; vulnerability is never easy, but is greatly appreciated by many.

Overall, "Ugliest" is brimming with insight on the LGBTQIA+ community and showcases important politics that are affecting Americans today. It is a bit of a loaded read, but it has many important messages concealed within its pages. I would love to see more of Nic's journey and would be delighted if Vincent decided to write more books in "The Art of Being Ugly" series.

[fanboyriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

♡ Booktok
♡ Political Vibes
♡ Wholesome Friendships

I loved this book. The character development is so satisfyingly shown in every character, the shy characters like Nic who came out of their shell more and more by the end of the book. I think the characters were all unique in personality and in general, they had flaws and depth to their personality. Even the side characters seemed to have an actual and believable life.

This book had great queer rep and it was really nice to see the detail the author went into with it all. The main character Nic had a mindset of not assuming anything about anybody because they learned from the past and I think that worked out well.

While this book does get a bit political it’s done in a tasteful way. It gets a bit depressingly accurate how it feels living in the the United States currently. It showed the good and bad. Not everyone was filled with hate but it taking place in a small town in a red state a lot of people were pretty hateful and it really didn’t matter what they looked like. But in the end, people genuinely cared and want change. It felt like what's going on currently of people finally learning the word “freedom” works for everyone and not just in favor of the hateful, ignorant lawmakers and their supporters.

This book overall though was rather hopeful, it was nice to read something so clear on topics that are sometimes brushed under the rug. While I tend to stay out of politics for my own mental health, it's like a balancing act of staying informed and not falling into hopeless despair and I really liked how the author went about this with each character. It was nice to see the realistic characteristics of it all, especially showing for Mack and how his mood declined for a while the more involved he got without taking a breather. It also showed in Nic as well, as they got braver with being able to stand up for themself and their friends.

I think this book is great for any age, people are always growing—but especially the younger audience who might want a less “in your face” way of learning the very real effects of our country and world when it comes to basic human rights for BIPOC communities or LGBTQIA+ communities all the while staying within the safety of a fictional book; if that makes sense.

A big thank you to the author for letting me be one of the beta reader for this.

Spice Level: n/a
POV: First Person
Release Date: 13, August 2024
Rep: Non-Binary (Main Character), Asexual Transmasc (Side Character), BIPOC (Side Characters) LGBTQIA+ (Main and Side Characters)

⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny, Violence, Sexism, and Classism

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Bullying, Profanity, Homophobia, Transphobia, Queerphobia, Religious Bigotry, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Mental Illness, Panic Attacks, Suicidal Thoughts, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Classism

C – Ugliest continues to follow the story of Nic, an agender teen who is going to OMAS, along with their friends Mack (trans man), Jenna (gay cis woman), and Jacon (bi cis man, and a person of color [Black]). All of these characters are so likable, and while I don’t really understand what it means to be anything other than cis, this series has helped me see things from the eyes of someone who is not born into the right gender. I know a lot of Christians say that God doesn’t make mistakes—so perhaps He doesn’t, and these people are meant to be that way.

A – The read was pretty immersive, and I must say it really took me back to being in school. I’ve never been to a school like OMAS, but I have been in a situation where I had a roommate sharing the same room with me and that’s never really fun. And I’ve definitely had a teacher that hated me before, though he hated me because I accidentally was so invested in reading a book I didn’t hear the Pledge of Allegiance come on and didn’t stand up for it. He spent the rest of class berating me and saying that people from other countries would call me unpatriotic. (Even though people from other countries wouldn’t have given a single damn.)

W – The writing was pleasant to read, and I found that it was much easier to read this book than the last two because the chapters weren’t so long. There were a few instances were it suggested that Nic was trans and I was a bit confused as to whether Nic considers themselves trans on top of agender or just agender but I think it was just an ease of writing thing to claim Nic and Mack were trans instead of having to say one was trans and the other nonbinary.

P – I liked the pacing of this book, and I was getting worried toward the end that the kids were going to be in some serious trouble that they couldn’t get out of. But things turned out pretty great in the end, and I can only hope that real life reflects this book someday and that the MAGA crazies lose as more and more young people enter into politics.

I – I wanted to keep reading this book, with the only reason I couldn’t finish it in a day being my own depression making me too tired to finish reading it in one sitting.

L – Logic was sound, and it seems that some research was put into this since it had real life references. It’s always nice to see that in a book. Also, love the “let kids be kids” sign the MAGA supporter was holding up, as if these teenagers are not, in fact, kids being kids. Kids might not always know for certain what their gender or sexuality is, but I can guarantee they know better than anyone else does.

E – I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nic is back in Oklahoma City’s boarding school. This school is so much better than the small-town high school they had been going to but Oklahoma is still a very conservative landscape. It isn’t just Nic experiencing discrimination but also their gender non-conforming friends. It’s a battle that’s becoming bigger than them but this time there might be even uglier consequences to speaking up.

“Things were looking up, but looks could be deceiving.” (Page 17).

Nic is back, anxiety and all! The quote above encapsulates how Nic goes through the world. Even when things are going well, there’s always an edge of possible negativity and a sliver of anxiety. Nic’s anxiety is obvious, loud, and all over their life. And that is sometimes how anxiety is. For those without anxiety, maybe seeing it portrayed continuously in Nic’s inner voice will help them understand what living with anxiety is like and how that manifests in everyday interactions, actions, and thoughts.

Nic is more than just their anxiety. Nic is blossoming into a complex and very interesting person with their own personality, desires, and needs. Gender nonconforming and non-binary are two terms that are so general that it can be difficult to understand what they mean. As a reader, I get to live the everyday reality of what it means to be non-binary with Nic and their friends. I think all of Nic’s friends are gender nonconforming but they embody their own gender (or non-gendered) identities in unique and very personal ways. I appreciated getting multiple aspects and perspectives on gender and non-binary in this novel.

This novel takes Nic and their identity from discovery to action. Trans rights are human rights. LGBTQ rights are human rights. If they start taking away human rights for a group that identifies in one way, what’s to say they won’t come for others? It is up to Nic and their friends to stand up for their rights as individuals, as humans, and as people representing a vulnerable population. But with that action comes consequences and it’s so powerful to see such active characters. It was very rewarding to read this book and to see Nic and their friends stand up for themselves. The ending was also very rewarding, especially through all the aggressions Nic faces during this series.

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

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugliest is a courageous, timely, and deeply human YA novel that captures the emotional, social, and political realities faced by many queer and agender teens today. Kelly Vincent crafts a story that is both intensely personal and universally resonant, diving into themes of identity, belonging, and the difficult cost of speaking out against injustice.

Nic Summers is a beautifully rendered protagonist vulnerable yet determined, scared yet brave, unsure yet grounded in a powerful sense of truth. Their internal journey is written with a rare sensitivity that reflects the struggles many teens face when their identity becomes the center of public scrutiny and institutional pushback. The emotional honesty of Nic’s voice is compelling, heartfelt, and undeniably real.

Vincent brings remarkable clarity to the ugly consequences of discrimination: the forced dorm reassignment, the tension between safety and authenticity, and the internal chaos of being seen as a “problem” for simply existing. Yet the novel never loses sight of hope. Nic’s activism, growth, artistic aspirations, and community connections reveal an empowering message about resilience especially when the world feels hostile.

The storytelling is crisp, accessible, and infused with empathy. It invites readers to step into Nic’s world and understand, through lived experience, why identity is not a debate but a reality deserving of respect, dignity, and protection.

Ugliest is a bold, relevant, and emotionally sophisticated YA novel that gives voice to those too often silenced. It lingers long after the final page, urging readers toward empathy, courage, and understanding.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to recieve a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review it.

This book is ripped from the headlines, from a reality which is far, far too real for teens living in conservative states. I haven't read the prior two in the series, but found this one compelling and it easy to connect to Nic, as an agender teen in Oklahoma, and their friends Mack, who is trans masc, and Jenna and Jacob, who are LGB.

Nic starts out the book in a good place. Sure, they're still in OK, but they've left their more conservative hometown for the Oklahoma Academy of Math and Science. They've won a place in a weekly art residency. They have good friends. And they've been granted permission to have a private room with a shared bathroom with Mack, as the two out trans kids at the school. The four friends begin doing book reviews and videos discussing LGBT legislation and how it is affecting them on TikTok.


And, just as is reality for trans teens now, it doesn't stay that way.

Kelly Vincent has done an amazing job. There are many times when "Ugliest" is hard to read. Because the pain that Nic and Mack, especially, face is real and raw. And, it could be so, so much worse.


As a parent, as a teacher, this is a valuable book. I plan to include it, and the prior two in the series, in my Little Free Library. Alas. It cannot be included in school libraries or classrooms in my state-due to exactly the same things that Nic and friends discuss in their TikToks.

[Mysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I really wanted to like Ugliest, but the writing style made it difficult to get into. I often found myself confused—especially with the italicized text. Were they messages? Whispers? In some instances it was clear, but in others, not so much. Overall, the story felt disjointed, as if it hadn’t gone through a thorough editing process.

The premise had potential, but nothing about the story moved me. I realized I had more criticisms than praise by the time I finished. I also struggled to see how this book fits into the "sapphic" category—it didn’t feel central or clearly defined in the narrative.

The characters felt one-dimensional, particularly the antagonistic side characters like Rachel and Briana, who weren’t fully fleshed out. I honestly had to push myself to finish the book.

My biggest hurdle was the writing style. It felt overly simple in some areas while unnecessarily complex in others. The chapters dragged on and often didn’t wrap up thoughts cleanly, which made it harder to stay engaged. With more editing and maybe a couple hundred additional pages to fully develop the plot and characters, this story could have been much stronger.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been an absolute roller coaster of emotions, but watching as Nic grew and changed with each challenge kept me reading, and it’s a little odd to realize I’ve reached book three already. I feel like I know Nic so well at this point, like a friend I’ve had for years. It was so heartwarming to see Nic had found a good, supportive community, even if it was being threatened by the powers that be. This can be hard to read at times, especially as someone part of the community that grew up in a small town, but the tough things are real things that happen to teens and young adults in the US today. I appreciate how real everything felt, and I was rooting for Nic and friends the entire time. Cannot recommend this series enough for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, especially those who feel alone.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic Summers doesn’t fit neatly into a preconceived gender norm. They also find all kinds of bigotry in Oklahoma City, where they’re attending school and striving to find their place in the world. When they and a friend are forced into the female dorm, Nic decides they can no longer be silent. They start to engage in activism, but the state legislation hands down an edict to stop. Can Nic fight back against bigotry or be silenced once and for all?

This book feels very timely. It is well written, with a compelling central character who faces issues that some individuals in the country must deal with every day. It’s a provocative tale, and one that as many people as possible from all walks of life should take some time to read and consider.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay. I'm kind of giving it a pity extra star because there are so few agender rep books. The writing style was very clunky and unpolished--tons of day-in-the-life extraneous details that never went anywhere and people exchanging monologues. It was extremely didactic in a way that I think people think teens need, but in reality just feels annoyingly patronizing (or at least did to me when I was that age). It was long* and not much happened, but it has an important message. I would like to see more books like this, just executed better

*EDIT: okay, I just realized the page number on the paperback edition is only 282 so it's not actually long but it FELT long lol.

[Books Forward · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a YA with a big hearted, non-binary lead then this is it!

I really enjoyed how the author, Kelly Vincent, drew from current events that are impacting teens (and queer adults) such as the "don't say gay" bills, and other legislative attempts to ban gender affirming care. I think it is really important that trans and agender teens are able to see their stories reflected in YA books and I think the author does an incredible job of tackling these hard topics in a nuanced and compelling manner. Highly recommend!

[Penny Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

LGBTQ+ Rights ARE Human Rights!

The journey that Nic and their friends go through at OAMS truly shows the importance of staying up to date on legislation and making sure you are standing up for freedom of speech and human rights for those that are being specifically targeted by these hateful laws.
I am so glad that I found this trilogy. It has helped me to better understand and relate to things that my children are going through today. This straight, white, female Gen Xer is with you all.

[Margarita Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

''Ugliest'' is the third book in the series The Art of Being Ugly. In this opportunity, Nic Summers is a trans teenager who will fight for their rights and acceptance in one conservative state. This will take him into a rollercoaster of emotions and events that will mark the lives of many people in the state and the country. This is a nice read that wants to redeem the rights of the LGBTQ+, it is a book that opens our eyes. It is a great story that I am sure will resonate.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book

I loved this book, it is so real and has a very beautiful teaching.
It is about the protagonist's struggle for self-acceptance in a completely superficial world. I felt identified with the book since I consider myself a person with many insecurities and the message it leaves is about embracing our imperfections, authenticity and self-love. I highly recommend this book

[Espen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 20 year old trans person, I can't write a review on this book without it being biased.

This book means so much to me. We are sadly still living in a time where people who are viewed as different from others are also seen as inferior and often seen as unworthy of basic human rights. We still have to fight every day to get the right to live, and this book portrays that perfectly. But we can't fight alone. We need people who stand with us, and luckily, Nic had these people.

[Julia M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an impactful and important read for young people, especially trans and non-binary folks! This is the kind of book that I wish I had when I was in high school. I loved watching Nic stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and I found it very inspirational. Would recommend to folks who enjoy LGBTQ+ fiction, young adult books, and books with really compelling main characters!

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favorite book in the series, and it was the most impactful for me. I really appreciated how informative it was in terms of the anti-LGBTQ laws in Oklahoma. I enjoyed the incorporation of Tik Tok as a form of speaking out and advocating for themselves. Nic becomes a much stronger person and branches out in terms of art and themself. I felt really proud of Nic by the end of the book.

[Saya Jacaranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and heartfelt story

"Ugliest" by Kelly Vincent is a powerful and heartfelt story. The writing makes you feel all the emotions Nic is going through. There are moments of frustration, but also hope and empowerment. I think many readers will connect with Nic’s journey, especially those who have ever felt different or marginalized.

[Gianfranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book, which brings us back in many ways to the rebelliousness of adolescence, is perfectly thought out. But it's not just the rebellion, it's the possibility to think, to contradict and fight against what you think you want.
This book tackles many complex, current issues that really make you think. At the same age as the main character, similar doubts arise about how you should behave, what is fair, and the difference between right and wrong.

[Michael Mesarch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful series that really helped to open my eyes to new viewpoints. I'm so glad I read it!