Ugly

by David Michael Slater, Lauren Irwin (Narrator)

An epic tragicomedy spanning three generations, Ugly explores the horrifying and hilarious truths of man's inhumanity to woman, delivered with unforgettable characters and indelible dark humor in the grand tradition of John Irving.

Three generations of women, one horrifying and hilarious story of defiance.

Charlotte Adams escapes a destitute orphanage in prewar London, only to find herself in the lavish but equally treacherous home of one of England's wealthiest families. Her daughter, Margot Kenworthy, flees to America's heartland, where she takes refuge in a dangerously misunderstood finishing school. Her daughter, Cleo Portman, heads to Hollywood, where she takes on the predatory modeling business in shocking and unprecedented ways.

In the grand tradition of John Irving, David Michael Slater, acclaimed author of Fun & Games and The Vanishing, delivers a sprawling tragicomedy chock-full of remarkable characters and indelible scenes. An unforgettable listen, Ugly is a breakneck rollercoaster of a ride.

Audible Audio

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

David Michael Slater is an acclaimed author of over 40 books of fiction and nonfiction for children, teens, and adults.

Reviews

[Kathleen Alexandria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really tried with this one, but I just couldn’t do it. I received the audiobook of Ugly by David Michael Slater as an ARC, and while I always try to finish books, I made it to about 55% before making the tough decision to DNF.

I have to say, I admire the cover design, and the narrator did a wonderful job. Her voice fit the tone well and was genuinely enjoyable to listen to. But the story itself… just wasn’t working for me.

The book is described as a tragicomedy exploring “the horrifying and hilarious truths of man’s inhumanity to women” mixing dark humour with serious, brutal themes like abuse, power, corruption, and objectification. While the premise had potential, I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with how women’s experiences were written - especially given that it’s a story so deeply rooted in female identity and trauma, yet written from a male perspective. Unfortunately, that disconnect came through in the writing. For me, the story didn’t feel emotionally grounded or authentic, and the humour didn’t land in a way that balanced the heavy themes.

It’s a lengthy novel, and by the halfway mark, I realised I was listening out of obligation rather than enjoyment. And honestly? Life’s too short (and the TBR too long) to force it.

That said, I can see how this might land differently for other readers. There’s a provocative, edgy concept beneath it, and the writing itself is clear and deliberate. I know others may have a very different experience and may connect more with the tragicomic tone and the dark observations.

So, sadly, this one’s a DNF for me at 55%. Sometimes it’s just not the right book for the right reader, and that’s okay.

I appreciate being given the chance to read this early, but this one just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and David Michael Slater for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy and comedy through the 20th century women in one family.

4.5 stars

A family epic. From generation to generation we follow women fighting against the restrictions and expectations of their eras to make better lives for themselves and their children. From those born at the turn of the century to those living through the turbulent 60s, 70s, 80s... it didn't seem to get much better for the generations!

Don't come to this expecting some lovely period romances, or women overcoming the odds. Each female here has a brutal backstory, and nobody seems immune from violence (pretty much always at the expense of men). Written by a man, this makes for a puzzling conception.

I read this as an audiobook, and though it was quite long, I was swept along in the century's changes as three (and actually four) women lived their lives in such different situations.

From the orphan-raised Charlotte, who manages to find a wealthy husband by chance, and try to claw her potential debutante daughter's way to future prosperity. Charlotte begins what becomes a family saga in the Ugly Book, describing her struggles for the next generation. Marrying into a wealthy family appears to not be the happy resolution we might have come to expect. What follows are shocking scenes and revelations (no spoilers but it's EYE-OPENING) and leads to her and her nearly grown daughter Margot taking a voyage to the New World.

Where Margot meets a couple, with their own detailed story of poverty, abuse and pulling themselves up to a better place. One where Margot can find a home and position. And raise her own children, including twin Cleo, who uses her finishing school situation to self-educate herself into the new feminist and anthropological opinions and ideologies of the 1960s. And continue the tradition of being used and abused by men her forebears have also borne.

I don't think men reading this will enjoy it particularly. It does not paint many of its male characters in positive lights. And Cleo's long and frequent diatribes and oral essays (reminding me of Desmond Morris in part) would I expect make them feel that women are all angry and want nothing to do with them.

You can see why Cleo is angry at her own treatment, why women like her mother and grandmother should feel this. It holds a mirror up to historical and more recent attitudes to women, their bodies, their ambitions, and those that are much more recent.

Shocking. Still humorous but darkly so. I was with it all the way, though the increasing violence and abuse I felt might be more than some readers will be comfortable with. It doesn't let up.

An overall positive experience, intellectually challenging at times, and definitely NOT for everyone.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Michael Slater’s UGLY is a masterclass in tonal balance — a novel that can make you laugh out loud one moment and leave you stunned, heart in your throat, the next. It’s horrifying and hilarious in equal measure, a story that somehow feels both epic in scope and intimately, achingly real. Slater’s characters are larger than life yet utterly human, flawed and funny and unforgettable. Beneath the wild twists and dark humor lies a beating heart of empathy and truth. UGLY is that rare book that dares to be everything at once — and somehow succeeds brilliantly.

[Molly Nored · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not something I would typically pick up but was still engaging through the whole thing. With multi-generational trauma, it is communicated through comedy, satire, and irony. I enjoyed the book but one thing I wish was different is I wish the characters were expanded upon more. At some points, it felt like it kept bouncing, bouncing, bouncing from one trauma to the next.

I enjoyed the narrator's voice and it made picturing the scenes easier as well.

[Kimy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, HighBridge and David Michael Slater for the advance copy of the audiobook.

I liked the book, it is really well written, but I also found it pretty disturbing. I wouldn’t call it funny at all, more like intense and thought-provoking. It was a tough read at times.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5. I don’t think this kind of story is best told by a man. Nothing against the author, but some experiences are hard to fully capture unless you are a woman.

The narrator was fantastic and really brought the story to life.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the mid-1980s, just after college, I took a job in San Francisco and spent two hours a day commuting on BART. Those long, rattling rides quickly turned me into a serious reader. I sought out novels substantial enough to drown out the noise and chaos of the train—stories that could fully absorb me. It was during this time that I discovered John Irving. The Hotel New Hampshire hooked me immediately (those Berry kids were unforgettable), The World According to Garp opened my eyes to ideas and possibilities I had never before considered, and The Cider House Rules spoke directly to my newly minted adulthood.
What stayed with me most, though, were Irving’s characters. Beyond the themes of feminism, sexism, and the quiet ironies of everyday life, he created people I wanted to know—people I rooted for, worried about, and felt strangely connected to, as though they might step off the page and become friends.
Recently, I read Ugly by David Michael Slater, and it transported me right back to those daily BART rides. A clear tribute to Irving, the novel echoes his sweeping language and ambitious scope, tracing the lives of three generations of women. Yet Ugly never feels derivative; it is fresh, confident, and wholly its own.
I immediately fell in love with Charlotte Adams, following her journey from a war-torn orphanage to the polished estates of England’s extended royalty—two worlds that appear vastly different but prove equally treacherous. The next generation introduces Margot Kentworthy, whose resilience and unmistakable moxie take the story in surprising directions, eventually rippling outward and across the Atlantic. Woven throughout these lives are familiar Irving-esque motifs—boarding schools, coming-of-age moments, and the struggle to overcome adversity—handled with wit, heart, and inventiveness.
Slater fills the novel with vivid characters and situations that spark genuine laughter, often set alongside moments of deep heartbreak. The result feels strikingly like real life: messy, unfair, and beautiful, with just enough surrealism to make it both entertaining and quietly sobering.
My only advice is this: don’t read Ugly alone. There is simply too much here to process in isolation. This is a book that begs to be talked about—to be questioned, laughed over, and cried through with someone else. Otherwise things might just get ugly.

[Wil Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, when I first read the synopsis for Ugly, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. It didn’t sound like something that would normally grab my attention. But having read David Michael Slater’s other books — and never once being disappointed — I decided to give it a try. Boy, was I glad I did.

How a story so deeply rooted in the experiences of women and their complex relationships with men could be written so authentically by a man is nothing short of astonishing. Slater captures emotion, vulnerability, and strength with such precision that I often forgot who the author was — I was simply lost in the story.

Every day I looked forward to picking up the book again, eager to see what would happen next to each generation of women. The writing is sharp, heartfelt, and immersive, pulling you into a multi-generational journey that feels both intimate and universal. And let me tell you — it’s filled with so many “Oh my god!” moments that had me audibly reacting more than once.

Ugly is raw, real, and profoundly relatable — no matter your age or background. It’s one of those rare books that lingers after the final page, making you reflect on identity, resilience, and the complicated beauty of human connection.

[A Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a massive amount of violence against women that was included in this work. Content like this can be impactful when used correctly or critically, but it felt gratuitous, unnecessarily graphic, and overused in this book. This isn’t uncommon when stories that are so centered on female trauma and identity are written by a male author, and this is one of those instances where it just didn’t work. I think it was much too heavy-handed and not at all balanced by other areas that were lacking development.

This also made the novel feel exceedingly long, to the point where it took much effort to power through. I think if I’d been able to feel anything for the characters it would have made this less of an issue, but it was impossible to connect with them. The pacing and writing style (often feeling like a continuous monologue) also made the work feel slower. I also generally don’t prefer slapstick comedy in my reads, and this one strayed very heavily into it throughout.

If you’re looking for a “tragicomedy” then you may enjoy this one but keep the many darker themes in mind. My thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Ash Wren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF’d Ugly by David Michael Slater at 13%, for extreme overuse of sexual abuse against girls. Up to that point, I’d spent three hours listening (audiobook) to a narrative where women and children are repeatedly demeaned and raped under the guise of satire. The author frames the sexual violence and degradation of women as dark comedy so egregiously that there is no comedy to it and neither is it subversive as intended.

While male characters in the novel meet various misfortunes for their flaws, that doesn’t balance out the relentless sexual violence and humiliation of children throughout the beginning of this book.
Just the beginning!
The tone trivializes trauma and uses female suffering as a punchline. Yes, Violence and tragedy are part of women’s stories, but they should be written (preferably by women) with purpose and empathy, not as entertainment. And while I understand that this novel is an intended commentary on the horrors of actually being a woman, it was too heavy handed and not done well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book, unfortunately it was not for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugly is a powerful story. At times you laugh, at times you cry, at times you cringe with the reality. This is an incredible story of the vagaries and tragedies of life, especially for women. The story reads well and keeps readers wondering what will happen next. 'Ugly' has the long range and multi-layered-ness that is similar to the John Irving style. This multi-generational tale defines and examines the many facets set before Charlotte, Margot, and Cleo as each generation tries to hold onto their personal power and make themselves more independent. I strongly recommend this book. It is an intriguing and enthralling family saga.

It saddens me to read another review with such misunderstandings about such a complex and challenging story. It is not easy to read about women being used because of sex and their sex, but the other review misinterpreted (trying to be generous) the whole premise. Points being: 1) there are no women raped in the first part of the book 2) no violence against women anywhere in the book is framed for comedy. It’s the tragic part of the tragicomedy

Again, I strongly recommend this thought provoking and powerful book.

[Mrs. Jackal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely do not know what to say about this book. We follow a family of women through 3 generations. It is supposed to be comedic tragedy, and while there were some one liners from the characters that made me laugh, I never found any humor in the situations they found themselves in. It just consistently pissed me off over and over again. And maybe that raises its literary value? When I wasn't listening to it, I was thinking about it. It's got good world and character building. It was engaging. It never really lulled. I just consistently felt disappointment in and or for these women, and frustration for their situations all the way to the end. I'm giving this book three stars, because while it was well written, it was written by someone who seems to find situations where women being taken advantage of, sexually or otherwise, funny? And maybe I'm not the target audience. Or maybe I'm simply too jaded, but this book was a difficult read and is not going to be for everybody.

[Critter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I had some issues with how some of topics are portrayed in a matter of fact way. This book felt emotionless despite the heavy topics which do include topics such as rape. I really wanted the characters to be fleshed out more. Some of the writing flowed like a continous monolouge, which is a writing style that I admittedly struggle with. The pacing also didn't work for me as it just didn't feel we were going anywhere except to another tragedy with what to me felt little expansion. I can certainly see that this book would appeal to some readers, but it didn't work for me.

[JenJenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugly is a wild, and strangely beautiful ride through three generations of women determined to survive a world stacked against them. It is darkly funny, unflinching, and full of moments that made me wince and cheer. I can see this not being for everyone, but it is satirical, tragic, and bold and I could not stop listening. Lauren Irwin was a perfect narrator for these characters. 4.25⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my opinion.

[Linda Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGLY is one wild ride. It’s a serious and thought-provoking book about awful things, but it’s also somehow insanely funny. Just when you think you know where it’s going, you get hit with another twist you didn't see coming. It's a long book, but it flies by, and you'll be sorry when it ends. The John Irving comparisons are dead on. If you love Garp, and Cider House, and Owen Meany--this will be one of your new favorite books.

[Meg Richman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a propulsive plot that keeps you reading through the misfortunes of three generations. At first it feels a bit like Henry Fielding or even Charles Dickens but soon its harsh satire begins to give Art Crumb vibes!! A riotous critique of sexism, socio-biology, and any human attempts to control one's own fate.
Trigger warning: there is a lot of sexual violence in this book.

[Nicole Joy]

I had high hopes for this book and it started off strong, then it fell flat. It started to get boring. I made it 21% of the way through. Had some funny moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge audio for the ALC. the narrator did a good job.

[Leah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb on this book was for a 'tragicomedy', I would say it is HEAVY on the tragedy, with levity of the traumatic events. It's thought provoking, and sad, and frustrating, with the occasional hopeful glimmer shining through. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a brilliant job.

Every single main character experiences some form of CSA/rape (male and female), often multiple incidents by multiple perpetrators, with open door, but vague (not over-the-top explicit) scenes, followed by deep emotions of the characters following their traumas.

The story follows through generations of daughters in a family, and how they are used and mistreated by men with the occasional 'bad' woman thrown in. The first half had a great pace and I was enjoying the story a lot, despite some of the heinous experiences of the characters.

The second half, as we landed on our final main characters, was a bit of a slog. Cleo's continuous monologues, teachings, essays etc. on feminism and the patriarchy, were annoyingly drawn out and repetitive. Also for someone so book and emotionally 'smart', she made some absolutely abysmal decisions which left me not caring about her.

Overall the first half was a solid 4 stars for me, and the second was between 3 and 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher/writer/NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

[Justyna]

Everything from the characters to the story just gave me the ick. And I'm sure that may have been part of it, but the way everything was described so non-chalant but yet it was definitely going for the whoa-factot just didn't match up. I felt like it was a lot of description of the vile things that were done or were "normal" but had no feeling behind it. I just couldn't get invested in the characters or care where the story was going to go. I got the tragic of the idea but almost felt like the actual tragic was just whatever, and the comedy I didn't get at all. Maybe it was coming, but again I wasn't invested to find out.

Because I only got about 33% of the way in, I don't know if it's fair to rate.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.