Customer Reviews

Beautiful Ugly (Urban Christian)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We have all heard the clichés; beauty is in the eye of the beholder; beauty comes from within, and other such sayings that have to do with a person's looks. In Beautiful Ugly by Shelia E. Lipsey, three friends are beautiful in their own way, but their ugly traits keep them from finding true happiness. They all keep running to the wrong solution to their problems.

Layla Hobbs has an angelic voice and uses it to sing praises to God at her church. However, her insecurities due to her being overweight have her doubting that she deserves to be loved. When a man shows interest in her, Layla's self-esteem fluctuates between believing she is worthy of his attention to thinking he is only playing games with her emotions. Will she ever do something to get over her weigh issues? Or, will she be alone for the rest of her life.

Kacie Mayweather was born with cerebral palsy, but that has not stopped her from finding men willing to engage in sexual activities resulting with her having child after child. She takes care of all her children as best she can with her limited resources. Due to her disability, Kacie uses men to prove to herself and others that she is as wholesome as a person without any. When she meets a new man, who happens to be a member of her church, she just knows he is the right man for her. He treats her good and does not ask much of her. Is he really the perfect man for Kacie?

Envy Wilson is the strongest of the three friends. However, she hates her name and believes that everyone really does envy her beauty including the person who named her. Even her outer beauty cannot cover up her ugly past. Envy is afraid to connect to any man and she will not allow anyone to know the real her, not even her two best friends. Will anyone ever be able to get pass her hard exterior?

Each one of these women needed to sit and listen to what God was trying to tell them. All the characters were well-developed, even the not so nice ones. The plot was believable and also well-developed. However, the editing was poor and because of that it slowed down the pace of the story for me. The transition from one character to the next had me flipping back to see if I read something wrong. Beautiful Ugly will make for an interesting read for those who enjoy Christian-fiction novels.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

This is the fourth book I've read by Shelia Lipsey. I find her to be an engaging story-teller who uses believable dialog and interesting plot twists. This "girlfriends" book follows the story of three thirty-somethings, Envy, Layla and Kacee, through their struggles in love and life. The book starts out a little slow and unfocused, but it picks up quickly when a tragedy occurs to one of the main characters that prompts all three to take a look at where their lives are headed. I would have given this book more stars, but unfortunately, it falls victim to such poor editing that it takes away from the quality of the work. As a result of numerous grammatical errors and misspellings, it sometimes reads like it was written by an eighth-grader. However, I still wouldn't let this put me off the book completely. Give it a try, it's a decent read, plot-wise.

Kacie Mayweather, Layla Hobbs, & Envy Wilson have been friends for sometime and they all have a unique beauty. Some have a beauty that comes from within, and others think that their beauty starts outward and goes in. But will their bad habits stop them from finding the true peace each of them desires?

Kacie Mayweather was born with a disability that limits the things she can do, but that has not stopped her from reproducing. With each man she has sex with, she always gets pregnant. She always manages to find a way to provide for her children. When Kacie meets someone that belongs to her church, she just knows that he was sent from God. He does not ask her for anything and just wants to be with her and her children. Is he the right man for her, or is he just a figment of her imagination?

Layla Hobbs has a voice that would make the angels in heaven jump up and sing. But her outer appearance is hindering her from truly enjoying her gifts from the Lord. When someone shows interest in her, the little confidence she had starts to spiral out of control. She cannot believe that someone could be interested in her knowing that she is having a problem with her weight. Will Layla be able to overcome her issues or just let her insecurities get the best of her?

Envy Wilson was the prettiest out of the bunch and she knew it. Even as a child, she hated her name, but she knew people envied her because of her beauty. Envy has a dark past that she will not share with anyone...not even those that are closest to her. Will Envy finally find that one person that can break down that barrier, or will she just go on with life as usual?

In Beautiful Ugly, Sheila E. Lipsey gives just enough details about each character that you will know what each of them is going through. I enjoyed the way that the author puts showed that each lady was battling their own insecurities in some way. But when God was trying to talk to them, they were not listening. The storyline was well developed, but the only problem was the way each character was introduced. I found that I kept going trying to figure out if I skipped a page. That was just a little confusing. But once you get over that hump, Beautiful Ugly is a good read.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

Beautiful Ugly is an elegant story about three lovely ladies that have been friends for years. These women go through some trials in their lives that make them dig into themselves so that they can let go and let God! Layla is obese with a very low self esteem. Kacie has cerebral palsy and six children. Envy is everyone's back bone that also has a secret that no one else knows.

When I first started reading this book my first thought was, "oh my preachy." As I continued to read it the more I see the storyline started to blossom. The craziest part of the book is when Kacie started dating a deacon. Even though he would come at her with every excuse in the book, she would fall for it every time. Even after getting pregnant, she still was under his spell until she found out that he had a secret of his own...you have to read it to find out what.

This book taught me a life lesson. Don't get revenge, let God! It works out better in the end to let him handle it.

Thanks for a great read.

Reviewed by:
Nateche
[...]

Envy Wilson is a single, black, hardworking woman with no children; she continuously sleeps with men and does not believe in love. Meanwhile, behind closed doors she is battling other demons from her "dark" past. Will she regain reality of her future and close the doors to her past?

Layla Hobbs is also a single, black female with no children that is obese and battling with many insecurities within her until a terrible incident changes her life forever. She has a very loving family but cannot seem to find a "good" man to save her. When the tables are turned for Layla, will she overcome her insecurities?

Kacie Mayweather is a single mom with many kids...yes, many. She's also battling a physical medical condition but acts as though she isn't. She loves her kids and takes care of them; but she does not see the terrible mistakes made while searching for love in the wrong places. Will Kacie ever learn the "error" of her trifling mistakes?

"Beautiful Ugly" by Shelia E. Lipsey is one of the most inspirational novels that I've read this year! I found that the characters in this novel, Envy, Layla, and Kacie, without a doubt reminded me of one of my current friends. These women will remind you of someone close to you; whether it's a sister, cousin, aunt, friend, etc. Do you think these women will actually find the ugliness within their heart and bring out the beauty? I truly did not understand the meaning of the title of this novel until I read this novel...excellent choice of words! There were many errors, but even still, I would recommend "Beautiful Ugly." I would continue to read more books by Shelia E. Lipsey in the near future.

Exquisite Novel!


Reviewed by: Tekisha

Shelia Lipsey's fourth novel, Beautiful/Ugly begins with a jolt. What does an old newspaper clipping mean?

We move into the present to meet three unlikely friends all looking for real love...in the wrong places. I love Shelia's characters. Envy has the perfect name, coming out of the life scramble that she does, a mother who pitted her children against each other and who chose to look at the outside of a person for validation. Envy has it all - good job, nice place to live and the company of any man she wants. And she wants a lot. She's punishing herself, but for what, we wait on the story to unravel. It is Envy's annoying neighbor lady who holds the answers. Layla is perhaps the most needy, with her obesity and dependence on her friends for company and shopping trips. She has the voice of an angel with the body of a Sumo wrestler and lets people take advantage of her to fill the void of being needed. Kacie, the third woman in the friendship triangle, fills her emptiness with the children born of "bad choice" relationships, in her words. She suffers from Cerebral Palsy, but doesn't let the disease beat her. Instead, she chooses her passions over common sense.

These women each discover that real beauty cannot be measured by what is shown on the outside of a person - that it must come from the inner knowledge and acceptance of forgiveness and the love of Christ. Find out who leans this lesson for life-redeeming changes.

Readers of traditional inspiration may find the world of Beautiful/Ugly somewhat disturbing with Shelia's frank sexual and alcohol scenes, even if you have experience with the culture in which she writes. We are all flawed, and that's Shelia's point. We all find ways to justify our behavior and all are in desperate need of the redeeming love of Christ. I think Shelia will continue to improve her writing skills the more she writes.

"Beautiful Ugly" has taken me to another level, which is another heartrending drama with some inspirational insights to keep these three female (sistahs) going and facing their insecurities. We can relate to one or all these women: Envy Wilson; Layla Hobbs, and Kacie Mayweather.

Envy Wilson cannot understand why her mother would name her "Envy" and being the dark-skin sister of the group that finds love through all the wrong men. She also carries a deep dark secret that eventually will come to the light. She delivers her cold-cut-throat words to her friends, but gets them lashed back at her from Kacie. Although she does not have any kids that anyone sees or knows of, Kacie knows that she sleeps with many men to find love too. However, Kacie, is on the same bandwagon as Envy, except she has six kids to show for and working on baby number seven, believing this time it will be different. She is seeking for love due to her disability and believes that one day she will attract the right man, but she needs to build up her love for God and self-esteem. Then, there is Layla, who is the overweight sistah in the house (Heavy D song is ringing in my head). She has a distraught and violent brother (who she dated in the past) on her hands. She overcomes this tragic incident and possibly finds new love!

I love most about this book is that we are faced with either disabilities, obscurities, insecurities, do not like what God has given us (beauty-wise), or not loving ourselves therefore how can we love anyone else. Shelia Lipsey gets a humanity award for putting out a well-needed book, to see we can face these obscurities and see the love that God has for us (and our friends/family). We were fearfully and wonderfully made. A must-read for those facing insecurities, obscurities, or sisterhood (best friends forever) and many who are looking for a heart-felt book (good read)!

Adrienna Turner
AAMBC Book Reviewer

Beautiful ugly is a story of three women who've known each other since college. Envy, Layla, and Kacie are three women who equate outward beauty with true beauty. For that reason the title of this book is appropriate.

After facing a myriad of crises between the three of them in the end they eventually find that God sees the beauty inside each of them.

This book starts out very slowly. Several times I wanted to put it down and I honestly only continued reading because I knew that I had to write a review. I wanted to know and care about Envy, Layla, and Kacie unfortunately the book did not allow the opportunity for that to occur. I feel if the author had spent more time on each person individually then that would have helped. Instead their lives were intertwined in an almost confusing manner.

My other source of confusion happened several time in this book due to the author changing things that had previously been written. At one point in the book she mentions an event that happened to Envy at fifteen years old, then later it changes to thirteen years old. In a shameless plug the characters plan to attend the new stage play Sinsatiable which is another title by this author. In the next chapter, Sinsatiable is referred to as a movie. There are other instances but to include them all would spoil the book for other readers.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a story of women struggling with self esteem issues who eventually turn to God. If you are facing self esteem issues it also could be helpful to hear God's message to these women and apply it in your own life.

BEAUTIFUL UGLY is an apropos title for the story enclosed by Sheila Lipsey. Three friends, Envy, Layla and Kacie, are opposites in terms of life's offerings. Envy is a beautiful and financially stable young woman with a dangerous secret that she believes fuels her needs. Layla is a 300 pound-plus beauty who cannot seem to shed the weight until a tragedy occurs; and Kacie has a debilitating disease and six children all with different daddies. What they all have in common is the love of God; all are church-going women, but none of them heed his words.

BEAUTIFUL UGLY takes you on a journey through the lives and loves of these three best friends and offers some insight into their familial history, which provides a necessary element to the story. BEAUTIFUL UGLY displays, at a repetitive pace, the changes each woman makes through the power of the Lord. Their needs are realistic, their methods, at times, scandalous. With a catching dialogue amongst the characters, Lipsey was able to portray each woman's hopes and dreams for the future.

BEAUTIFUL UGLY genre is Christian fiction and it reveals the power of leaving your burdens with Him. When left to us and others, we fail every time.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

The acknowledgement in the beginning"To Ugly"just made me weep. How many times have YOU seen something or someone so ugly, it made you cringe? Did it ever occur to you that they need love too? This was the perfect siegway to a great story about how people see themselves and live in such a ugly life because of demons that haunt them. And most of it's in their mind. The three ladies in this wonderful and truly heart felt story are beautiful, but they all are harboring silent uglies that only they see. Shelia tell each one's story, beautifully. Forgiving your ugllies is such a haunting task, but a doable one.
4****