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Ugly Things We Hide
"We all bend the truth from time to time."
It's 2007 in idyllic Costa Rica, and 24-year-old Daniel is carefree while surfing, falling in love, and getting high on the beach with friends. But reality crushes him like a tidal wave when he returns home to Hawaii. Ten years go by, and Daniel is haunted by buried family secrets, questionable decisions, and memories of a girl he never stopped loving.
Vegas. New York.
Restless with his island life, Daniel moves to the mainland and delves into the shadowy world of the filthy rich, catering to their whims for money. But his cool and practical exterior starts to crumble under the weight of his clients’ ugly secrets, though he is most wounded by his own secret shame.
Daniel is a surprising new voice, and his story breaks convention. With its surprising twists and dark turns, Ugly Things We Hide shatters our divisive bubbles and illuminates our pain, hopes, and desires.
5-STARS, San Francisco Book Review
"McIvor has a gift for presenting characters succinctly and deeply, something I once thought impossible. ... In a world full of books about young people trying to find their way, Ugly Things We Hide deserves to rise above the competition. I can’t recommend it highly enough."
It's 2007 in idyllic Costa Rica, and 24-year-old Daniel is carefree while surfing, falling in love, and getting high on the beach with friends. But reality crushes him like a tidal wave when he returns home to Hawaii. Ten years go by, and Daniel is haunted by buried family secrets, questionable decisions, and memories of a girl he never stopped loving.
Vegas. New York.
Restless with his island life, Daniel moves to the mainland and delves into the shadowy world of the filthy rich, catering to their whims for money. But his cool and practical exterior starts to crumble under the weight of his clients’ ugly secrets, though he is most wounded by his own secret shame.
Daniel is a surprising new voice, and his story breaks convention. With its surprising twists and dark turns, Ugly Things We Hide shatters our divisive bubbles and illuminates our pain, hopes, and desires.
5-STARS, San Francisco Book Review
"McIvor has a gift for presenting characters succinctly and deeply, something I once thought impossible. ... In a world full of books about young people trying to find their way, Ugly Things We Hide deserves to rise above the competition. I can’t recommend it highly enough."
387 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2018
33 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
M. Ocampo McIvor
3 books44 followersSeattle writer. Author of Ugly Things We Hide and Who Knows You Best.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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May 5, 2019DNFed because l can't get into the story for now and because there are hawaiian terms that l don't understand and there are not any explanation for them at the end of the page/chapter. Though, l plan to come back to it one day because l like the writing style of the author.
September 16, 2018
Wow, what a tale full of drama! I was pretty much pulled into the story and characters from the opening lines. I really felt for the main character even though he made lots of terrible moral decisions and really lost himself. It made sense though, with the life and experiences he had endured. I felt that near the end of the story some of the most dramatic scenes were a bit rushed but overall a very enjoyable read.
January 21, 2018
Characters
Daniel is a bit of a mess but does so with flare and ease. He is easy to relate to on some regards and draws the reader in with this deep thoughts and restlessness. Although I would say he is pulled along through life it doesn't feel contrived - in fact it feels quite natural that he should wander. From his sweet Auntie to his brother Noah to Frank his friend and Jackie his "friend" this host of supporting characters is varied and colorful. All I can say is, awe Phoebe.
Plot
I was surprised by this book. The concept seemed interesting but I didn't know where the author was going. Even though you knew from chapter one where Dan ends up and what happens to him, the journey mattered more. Although I suspected some aspects of the book I was surprised by how it was presented. The beautiful prose scarred by ugly truths. Absolutely stunning and shocking.
Overall
Just wow! I was absolutely floored by this book. After a slow start I was just sucked in. Phoebe was such a star in his life but she burned out because of his choices. I don't want to give anything away but I just couldn't put this book down - I had to know the ending. Which left me both unsatisfied and wanting more in many regards. It does seem like there is going to be a second book - so there's that.
The writing was flowing although a little lengthy (almost unnecessarily in some regards) but didn't distract from the power behind the book. This hit me square in the chest because of the complexity of humanity striped bare and shown in its beauty and horror. I'll be honest that I didn't really like the cover but after reading the book even the cover made sense and should be changed. Overall - a resounding yes!
Rating
5 stars
This book will not go the way you expect - even getting a glimpse of the beginning. The authors subtlety and painful realism will leave you reeling. Well worth the time!
Daniel is a bit of a mess but does so with flare and ease. He is easy to relate to on some regards and draws the reader in with this deep thoughts and restlessness. Although I would say he is pulled along through life it doesn't feel contrived - in fact it feels quite natural that he should wander. From his sweet Auntie to his brother Noah to Frank his friend and Jackie his "friend" this host of supporting characters is varied and colorful. All I can say is, awe Phoebe.
Plot
I was surprised by this book. The concept seemed interesting but I didn't know where the author was going. Even though you knew from chapter one where Dan ends up and what happens to him, the journey mattered more. Although I suspected some aspects of the book I was surprised by how it was presented. The beautiful prose scarred by ugly truths. Absolutely stunning and shocking.
Overall
Just wow! I was absolutely floored by this book. After a slow start I was just sucked in. Phoebe was such a star in his life but she burned out because of his choices. I don't want to give anything away but I just couldn't put this book down - I had to know the ending. Which left me both unsatisfied and wanting more in many regards. It does seem like there is going to be a second book - so there's that.
The writing was flowing although a little lengthy (almost unnecessarily in some regards) but didn't distract from the power behind the book. This hit me square in the chest because of the complexity of humanity striped bare and shown in its beauty and horror. I'll be honest that I didn't really like the cover but after reading the book even the cover made sense and should be changed. Overall - a resounding yes!
Rating
5 stars
This book will not go the way you expect - even getting a glimpse of the beginning. The authors subtlety and painful realism will leave you reeling. Well worth the time!
June 16, 2019
It kept me reading but, to be honest, I had some major issues with this book. And it mostly boils down to editing. The big things - the plot and build up - just weren't clear. It was cloudy and there were moments of clarity, but I didn't see the point in the big secret, for the most part. There were lots of unexplored themes mentioned, almost in passing, like they might come up later, but didn't. Dialogues were forced and awkward. I gave up on it for a couple of months before picking it up and trying again.
It had good bones. If I only consider the outline of this story - it was complicated, heavy, emotional, dark. A story that is rarely told, and a point of view that will probably weigh on my mind for a while. Unfortunately, the nitty-gritty execution of the story just wasn't there for me.
It had good bones. If I only consider the outline of this story - it was complicated, heavy, emotional, dark. A story that is rarely told, and a point of view that will probably weigh on my mind for a while. Unfortunately, the nitty-gritty execution of the story just wasn't there for me.
September 21, 2017
What an amazing debut novel. I couldn’t not put this book down once I’d started reading. The main character’s life and random lifestyle backed up by well written supporting characters allowed me into his life leaving me wanting to know more. Even now as I’ve finished it I’m desperate to know what happens to him next. A really great page turner that I’ve already recommended
June 24, 2018
The cover is haunting and heightened my expectation. Ugly Things We Hide is McIvor's debut novel and is written in the first person, from Daniel's perspective. The Prologue tells us that Daniel has been in prison for two years, awaiting trial, and that the only witness to the events that put him there, is in a coma. I was immediately hooked, wanting to know whether Daniel was guilty or not, and, if he had tried to kill someone, what were his motives?
The story is then delivered in 4 parts.
Parts I and II take us back to a much earlier time in Daniel's life - a time which I felt had no bearing on events in the Prologue. At this point, I struggled to maintain interest in the story, as this section was so completely different to what I had been expecting. I did not see the relevance of Part 1, and it was late on in Part 2 before I got a hint of the 'ugly things' in the title, and which brought me back to the dark psychological story I was excited to read. I should say that this hint was so subtle, I almost missed it.
Parts III and IV deal with Daniel starting a new life in New York, the revelation of more ugly truths, and bringing the story to a close by glimpsing Daniel's life after the trial had finished. This section provided me with the relevant and compelling background of how Daniel came to be in prison and the outcome of the trial. For me, this was 'the story', the best and most enthralling part of the book and I look forward to reading more in this vein from this author.
The story is then delivered in 4 parts.
Parts I and II take us back to a much earlier time in Daniel's life - a time which I felt had no bearing on events in the Prologue. At this point, I struggled to maintain interest in the story, as this section was so completely different to what I had been expecting. I did not see the relevance of Part 1, and it was late on in Part 2 before I got a hint of the 'ugly things' in the title, and which brought me back to the dark psychological story I was excited to read. I should say that this hint was so subtle, I almost missed it.
Parts III and IV deal with Daniel starting a new life in New York, the revelation of more ugly truths, and bringing the story to a close by glimpsing Daniel's life after the trial had finished. This section provided me with the relevant and compelling background of how Daniel came to be in prison and the outcome of the trial. For me, this was 'the story', the best and most enthralling part of the book and I look forward to reading more in this vein from this author.
September 25, 2017
So, this book surprised me. It made me squirm. I didn't really know what to expect from a new author but the characters and their situations (trying to not spoil here) are either a) not what you expect or b) just plain make you uncomfortable. Either way you're in for a great story that turns the tide on social stereotypes and exposes perhaps some of your own deep-seated psychological cul-de-sacs. All the while, it keeps a fast pace that means you won't put it down once you pick it up.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews