Fugly

by Jenny Rachel Weiner, Tavi Gevinson (Narrator), Ethan Jones (Narrator)

From Executive Producer Elizabeth Banks comes this hilarious and heartfelt story about second chances that’s Never Been Kissed meets 21 Jump Street

31-year-old Lee has her dream job at tech startup Everfore—but being the youngest-looking person in the office means she's always fighting to be taken seriously among the bros on her team who treat her more like a kid sister than a colleague. When her boss challenges the team to develop the next viral app for Gen Z, Lee sees her chance to finally shine—even if it means going undercover as a high school student in the process.

Armed with her baby face and the jargon she learned on TikTok, Lee infiltrates Woodrow Wilson High to study her target audience up close, secretly determined to be a high school success this time around. Lee’s real high school experience was less-than-perfect; back in the day, she was included on the “Fugly List,” a hot-or-not summary of the least attractive girls at school, and spent the rest of high school hiding, even graduating early to free herself from the social shame.

This time, as Lee navigates cliques, crushes, and cafeteria politics, something unexpected happens—she actually starts to belong. She forms authentic friendships with a group of girls who remind her of everything she missed the first time around. They’re not like the mean girls of her Millennial they’re kind, hype up their besties, and are politically engaged. Lee struggles to come up with a pitch for Everfore that encompasses all that this next gen is about. She manages to stall her boss as she slips deeper and deeper into her high school 2.0 undercover identity...

Then an infamous "Fugly List," similar to the one that tormented Lee in high school, comes out...except this time, instead of being taped to every locker, it's public on Instagram. Suddenly, Lee must confront the trauma she's carried for years while trying to save both her job and the friendships that have become surprisingly real.

Fugly is a hilarious and heartfelt story about second chances, finding your voice, and realizing that sometimes in order to move forward, you have to go back to high school.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published March 26, 2026

Reviews

[Sassy Mystic Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going back to highschool? Heck no!

[Kristina L. | bookinandcookintx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Think Never Been Kissed meets 21 Jump Street. The premise was strong, but the execution didn’t quite work for me. I liked the narrator, though the added car horns and traffic noises were genuinely anxiety‑inducing while I was driving. I likely would have enjoyed it more as a read or in an audio version without sound effects.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great audio! Story was mid.

[Karin Baxter · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the things that made 'Never Been Kissed' a classic 90s movie was the fact that it was so cheesy and ridiculous, it was barely believable. (It also didn't hurt that the majority of the actors who played 'teenagers' during this era were, indeed, actors in their 20s, making the whole thing a bit tongue in cheek).

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of 'Fugly'.

The idea that no one would notice a 31 year old woman was attending high school was utterly preposterous. So, too, was the weird 'relationships' she developed with a cast of 17 year old students (one of whom she later unironically dubs "the best friend she ever had"). Everything about this just felt weird, creepy and it didn't land for me at all.

'Never Been Kissed' was cute and silly. 'Fugly' was desperate, out of touch and tone deaf.

[LuckyPalm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern day Josie Grossie, called Lee, goes undercover at Woodrow Wilson High School to research an APP that will appeal to Gen Z.

Lee works at Everfore Tech and desperately wants to be taken seriously and to create the next viral APP. She takes advantage of her assignment to re-do her own High School history of landing on the “fugly list” to a positive experience. Lee makes friends and comes up with a brilliant APP. Everfore is excited about Lee’s pitch, however her new friends are not so impressed with her betrayal of pretending to be one of them.

The audio performance takes audible books to the next level with a great cast, sound production and direction!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the actress who narrated the main character. Unfortunately, it seems she has been pigeonholed into playing emotionally stunted adult who seeks to be the main character of Gen Z teens (she is in the Gossip Girl reboot). Her love interest is a prick narrated by the guy who played Commander Bell in Handmaid’s Tale.

It was produced well.

But it was so cringy. So so so cringy and uncomfortable and just not worth the hour and a half it took to finish. I feel like I need to wash my brain out with soap or borax or something.

[LaShana Royaltey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was decent amd reminded me of 21 Jump Street. I stayed entertained and never bored. I also was not invested in these characters at all. But it was a very short audiobook. So like all novellas, you can't expect to be blown away in such few words.

[kristen mcdade · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been better as a read than a listen. Graphic audio drives me bonkers, awful background noise and rumblings. And thw story jumps around with no clear indicators.
Story concept was good.
Audio was rough.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not light and funny.

[Tiffany Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not to bad. Cute little funny story.

[Regis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted so much more from this, though I'm not exactly sure what. Good performances.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Holy Fck…this was BAD and STUPID! Normally I would never be this blunt, but it was that bad.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75
I liked the premise and had high hopes for how it would go. It went in a different direction and left me feeling the ick.

[Logan Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually not bad at all! Tell me why this is not already in production as a Never Been Kissed sequel?

[Taylor G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its good but also not great. I wish it was longer and didnt seem so rushed.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back to high school when nerds are top of the food chain. Cute story about friendship and self discovery.

[Bella Potter 99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was strong, the ending felt rushed and not really a resolution.

[Ana Passos · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like listening to the modern version of the movie Never Been Kissed.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but sweet read

[Mindy Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audible. Some of the mixing was too loud while other parts were too quiet. Story was interesting but the conclusion felt rushed and missed an opportunity to be really impactful.