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.*This is a dark YA/NA standalone, full-length novel. Contains violence and some explicit language.
A haunting story that will stay with you long after you’re done. Lily could be someone that we know so the story of her abuse is heart-wrenching but the beauty is watching her evolve because of the people that come into her life at the right time. The story is touching and beautifully told. Please read.
MM has opened her chest and showed us her heart in this story. It’s a sobfest from the word go. It squeezes out every tear of frustration and every cry for help from Lily Anderson and ME. The people in her life which were supposed to love her unconditionally and shelter her from all the evils of the world, become monsters and trap her in the tower of torture & abuse. The sharp blades of slurs and criticism ripped MY soul to shreds. All the slaps and punches rained down upon ME!
This story has hit too close for comfort for me and brought back some UGLY memories of my own. I don’t know if Margaret deserves applause or brickbats for this experience.
The character of Lily is an object of ridicule and neglect. Her painful journey through her formative years and subsequent married life is stuff nightmares are made of. The Words:
You’re UGLY
you’re Worthless
are molten lead poured in her ears constantly, till they burn grooves in her soul.
The story is all too real and exhausting for my poor achy, break heart, but I persist.
Lily staggers under the weight of All the debasement and affliction. I prayed and pleaded for her to find her legs and walk out. She very slowly finds her mettle and starts to stand up shakily and take a few hesitant steps.her friends and colleagues become her crutches she could lean on and her upward journey to find herself was remarkably courageous.
The pace was slow, the research extensive but I couldn’t let go of lily’s hand even or a minute. I’ve been actually lengthening my walks just so I could listen to one more chapter!
Engrossing in agony and hypnotic in salvation, this book will shred your heart like in a wood chipper. Even the stoniest of readers shall be forced to beg for mercy for lily and howl at the injustice of it all.
I won’t ever forget Lily or forgive Margaret for making my heart and eyes swell.
A huge bottle of Dom Perignon for the narrator Becka Ballinger, she did an outstanding job of infusing wide range of emotions in her voice. It made the story come alive and it’s effect magnified hundredfold.
5 stars for The Emancipation Of Lily
Lily Anderson has been abused by her dad since she was 9 years old and is told as soon as she graduates she needs to be out of his house. At school Lily catches the eye of Trent Hackley, a popular boy whom is deemed out of Lily’s reach and social circle.
Lily is excited to be accepted into Trent’s family but soon she realizes that everything is not always as it seems. Now Lily has found herself in a new version of hell and she has no idea how she will ever escape.
This was such a great book that was full of emotion and difficult situations that were so heartbreaking. I do love books like this though as they can give people hope to get through and put themselves first.
I thought Lily was an amazing character who has escaped from one version of hell straight into another. I kept hoping that she was going to find a way out but when I thought there was an opening something would happen and it would close and my heart would break. I kept my fingers crossed but some of the things that happened to her were so difficult to read about and I know that this happens to so many women.
Trent was such a jerk but I could see that he was raised that way. His dad was awful and it looks like he was probably raised the exact same way. My heart did break a little for Trent’s mom and I was glad she told Lily how she felt a little bit when she thought it was safe.
I was happy when Lily began a friendship with Max as he was there for her when no one else was. I also really liked Lily’s relationship with her two bosses, Dale and Peter, and how they were really there for her when she needed a helping hand. I loved that so much and I hope there are more people like that around.
I liked how Lily was slowly able to achieve her dream of editing books but more importantly how she finally began to realize her own strengths and worth. That part of the book was so uplifting and empowering!
I loved the end how things began to finally turn for Trent although I was so mad that he got another shot in!!
The end was so awesome and I loved it!
This was the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be reading more!
This is an early Margaret McHeyzer book that has been recently released on audio. This deals with the sensitive, difficult and possibly triggering topic of domestic violence. Some books you read not so much because they will be enjoyable, but because they have a message you think is important. This is one of those books.
Lily is a teenager on the verge of turning 18. She should be overjoyed and looking forward to the exciting life ahead of her, instead, thanks to years of abuse at the hands of her father she feels worthless, ugly and unlovable. This sets her up for a romantic relationship that is just as unhealthy and abusive. At first when Lily and the reader meet Trent, you hope for a second that he will save her from her life. All too quickly you see red flags. He is obsessive, he wants her only for himself. No one else can look at her and she certainly cannot have a life outside of him.
This book was upsetting and at times painful to read. You wish you could shake a Lily and help her realise she needs to break free from the cycle of abuse, but that is so much easier said than done. I found this to be a sad, but necessary look into an upsetting topic.
Amount of sex 1.5 / 5
How explicit is the sex scenes 2.5 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Wow!
I have read several books from author Margaret McHeyzer and loved every one of them. So, when I saw her newest book, Ugly, I jumped at the chance to read it! Ms. McHeyzer is an excellent writer, and Ugly is a beautiful, powerful, and heartbreaking story. I was absolutely absorbed in the story, and not much could have pulled me away from this story!
Ugly can be challenging to read at times as it touches on abuse, both physical and mental. I will warn you that this is not a light and fluffy book. It will break your heart, as it did mine, but Ms. McHeyzer does an outstanding job of telling us Lily’s story. I had a difficult time putting my Kindle down, and was up late into the night. It was worth every yawn the next day!
I absolutely love this book!
*Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Copy*
WOW
It’s now 3am in Australia and I couldn’t put this book down until I finished this book.
Let me begin by saying how silly I am (that’s putting it nicely), I have had this book staring at me in my library for months and months and I give my self a massive slap on the forehead for not starting this sooner.
Where to start what an amazing story, the way the author wrote this story was fantastic. There’s not many books I can say, I have wanted to cry, get angry, get so frustrated with the main character Lily but also feel so sorry for her. I just loved Lily and how many times I was screaming in my head at her to just go just get the hell out.
I loved her best friends Liam and Shayne they were fantastic characters as well.
To stuttering Max goodness me loved loved loved him, I’d take one of him if he walked into my local cafe.
If you into books with a strong as hell main character, that comes from the lowest of lows to come out on top and you don’t mind violent abuse and crazy family’s then you have to read this book if you haven’t already.
Thank you Margaret McHeyzer firstly for keeping me up all night, thank you for providing a book with so many feels in the best possible way. I am so glad I finally read this and now can’t wait to read your other books 5++++
Meet Lily.
Young, just twelve years old.
She should be enjoying life, going to school, socialising with friends. just simply being a young girl.
But she isn’t.
She’s living in hell.
She’s living with a monster.
Each day is the same.
Always hungry, always fearful that he’ll come for her.
She lives in fear.
Death would be so much better.
Lily prays for it, the darkness, the stillness to take her pain away.
But it never comes.
This is the life of a girl abused at a level so many suffer from each and every single day.
This is Lily’s story.
This is her voice.
Ugly…Guys this hurt….And I mean hurt beyond hurt. My chest ached, I ugly cried, it hurt to breathe.
And I absolutely loved every minute of it.
It’s extremely rare and unique that a novel can capture you and take you hostage just by reading the prologue, but Ugly did.
From the first word to the very last I was transfixed, I honestly couldn’t put it down.
The emotion.
The subject matter.
The rawness.
The grittiness.
The detail.
Ugly had it all.
At times I’ll be honest I found some scenes distressing, but I pushed through and why?
Because Ugly is a perfect example of so many women and men in this world that are affected by domestic abuse. A real problem in the real world that I personally don’t believe is addressed enough.
So many victims are unheard, left to deal with the trauma on their own, suffering each and every single day because the fear grips them so tightly that they cannot see a way to claw themselves out of it. And yes although Ugly is fictional of sorts, this novel brings the subject of abuse to the forefront and shows us how people can survive and no longer be a victim.
Ugly is perfection on the highest of levels.
An absolute heart crushing read that will leave you just……Speechless because right now I have no words….You can’t put a label on brilliance.
An outstanding 5 star read.
Very sad story about a girl who is abused who finally finds love and peace.
Ugly started out as one of those books I couldn’t not put down. The child abuse on a young girl had me feeling sad and trying to hold back tears. But then when she turned 17 the author still wrote lily as if she was a 12 year old girl. And about half way through the book the author stops talking about Trent and brings unnecessary things. You can tell this was one of her earliest books she wrote.
The first half of this book is so agonizing and harrowing. I can see why and how this happened to her. But I seriously wanted to straighten her out and say can’t you see the lies and omission. Thank goodness she finds the strength to move on. The second half is all about her finding herself and moving forward. There are setbacks but with the grace of God and her friends she struggles through.
I want to give a “Hey” a few of the secondary characters. Shane and Liam. Shane is a great BF but Liam is what really caught my eye. He is strength but fun and he’s always there when needed. Her two bosses….wow I have never had a boss like these two! And last but not least Max. You have amazing strength and you share well.
This is a first time author for me. This is a harrowing story that can’t help bring something out of the reader. I listened to this on audio. Becca Ballenger was the narrator. My first time listening to her as well. She did a wonderful job. The stuttering?!? That was amazeballs!
Had potential to be a really great story but dialogue between characters seemed forced and cliché. I stopped reading about 75% of the way through.
I didn’t enjoy this book. It was a bit slow in the telling of the story.