Tiffany's Best Book of 2015: Ugly by Margaret McHeyzer

Publication Date: October, 26 2015

Rating: 5 Stars!

Official Blurb: 

If I were dead, I wouldn't be able to see.

If I were dead, I wouldn't be able to feel.

If I were dead, he'd never raise his hand to me again.

If I were dead, his words wouldn't cut as deep as they do.

If I were dead, I'd be beautiful and I wouldn't be so...ugly.

I'm not dead...but I wish I was.

I was asked what my top book for 2015 would be, after thinking about all the others I have read I was completely stumped. ONE book, as was my favorite out of the WHOLE year? Hmmm I thought and then I remembered Ugly by Margaret McHeyzer. I bought it on a whim, I saw a blog share the cover and blurb, it was simple but it spoke to me. I like a darker read, a story that the heroine has to endure, triumph and ends up BEATING the odds. This book has torn me to pieces, it is a long book and at times you will cry or be so pissed off at the characters that you will want to stop reading for a bit. In the end its worth it and I think it deserves recognition for what it is, a survivor’s story. It tells you that no matter what may happen in life, you can and will overcome it and survive to live another day. That the world is not all bad and you are worth everything. So let’s go into my original review of how I felt right after reading this book that still lives inside me, and always will.

Wow when I started this book, I thought to myself, I'm not sure I'm going to like this at all. Although I have read a lot of dark books, this one just really socks it to you. I just couldn't believe everything that this poor girl had to go through and endure even as a child.

Her name is Lily, and her parents weren't very caring for as long as she could remember. She has wonderful dreams though, of caring parents and a wonderful little brother. Sleep is her only escape while she lives with her alcoholic father and tries to finish school. Being

neglected, starved, and beat is all she has ever known, since she was 6 years old. At 17 she meets this good looking young man, Trent and it seems like everything changes and her world doesn't seem so dark. But things aren't always what they seem and she trades one evil for another. After fleeing from the beating her father gave her, Trent and his parents seem like a Godsend, but it's not so. As a reader, we pick up on these red flags right away, but to a girl who has been both mentally and physically abused her whole life, she doesn't catch things that are amiss. Though she does question certain things.

While reading Lily's story I became so sad, and angry at what she has to go through and suffer. It was quite a long journey for Lily to actually get away from the horrible people in her life who just took from her and belittled her. She was lucky to be alive. For me, this was a really good book, it kept me interested and wanting to know if Lily was going to be able to cope and move on with her life after everything. I also wanted closure and an explanation as to why her parents treated her the way they did. I feel like it wrapped up nicely. But even though I'm not a parent myself, I don't think that my reaction would have been the same as theirs, and treat my child as the culprit, placing blame on the young child’s shoulders. Overall I really enjoyed it, she stood up for herself, took a chance and made it out alive. Lily is a survivor, she has strength and she finally saw herself, and knew she was worthy of anything and everything her heart desired.