Tender

by Lauren Du Plessis

Twenty-eight-year-old Nell has curated a perfect museum of the self: early accolades in her career as an archaeobotanist, a pastel Instagram filled with flowers, and a consistent manicure routine to give a veneer of control. But there has always been a part of her that doesn’t fit the mask of perfection she wears.

When two ‘bog bodies’ are discovered in elaborate floral graves in a Somerset fen, Nell gets the opportunity of a lifetime to excavate and uncover their secrets. But the deeper she digs into the fertile, waterlogged mud, the more she uncovers repressed memories of her unsettled childhood and strained relationship with her sister… and the more her body manifests her own wildness in ways she can’t ignore.

Under the pressure of a blazing summer, Nell whirlwinds into a heated but toxic romance, intense friendships, and the brutal process of reconciling her past and her future before the weight of it all buries her, too.

Blending folkloric horror and an exploration of womanhood, against a background of eco-anxiety, Tender beautifully depicts the quiet violence of overcoming and accepting our darkest sides.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

306 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2025

Reviews

[Sophy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a debut novel, this is a solid offering from Lauren Du Plessis.

The theme really struck a chord with me as a perimenopausal female, the invasion of nature over the body, the feeling of powerlessness, loss of self and unwanted change.

I loved the folkloric aspect of the story.

My criticism would be the length of this one. It comes in at just under 300 pages which feels a tad too long, and the Gunner storyline feels a little too protracted and drawn out.

Slight criticism apart, the imaginative element of the story reminds me of Midsommar (the film by Ari Aster) and In The Earth (a film by Ben Wheatley).

A good, solid folkloric story. 3.5 stars

[Liv Rix · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Nell is offered the chance to work as a botanist on an archeological dig in Glastonbury, it comes at the perfect time. It’s a chance to get back to where she is from, the fields; the primacy and anarchy of nature. Du Plessis plays with the meanings of words effortlessly and fruitfully: roots, digging, growth, budding. The digging at the site uncovers very old, dead bodies, but also Nell’s own past. The earth is in direct communion with Nell, and stranger and stranger things keep happening at the dig. Everyone can feel that something is different, something is changing the more they uncover from the ground. The body horror mixed with the beautiful and granular language used to describe the flowers and weeds is fantastic. The movement of the novel towards the ending is great, it mirrors the dig, and feels natural: as if the novel itself is an organic thing. Du Plessis writes mental illness with deftness: the intensity of it, the fear of it returning or getting worse, the confusion it gets out of others, the anger, the shame… In many ways this novel is about a return to roots, to the earth, and a rebellion against modern life which isolates us from nature: both our own, animalistic nature, and the wildflowers, fields and marshes. Both are carefully pruned and cut back to make room for modern life, killed and concreted over, but both are perhaps untameable…

[Quill&Queer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's extremely strange and cool to read a folk horror novel that's set down the road from my house.

[LX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to InfluxPress for the E-ARC

4.25!!

This.....oooof I honestly feel like what went on would help me LMAO

and that it self is troubling, but when Nell admits, "I'm tired" this part in particular hit me and the previous part of the book altogether at that point. The way this can be taken for a whole new becoming and beginning because you're that exhausted of who you are and what you're dealing with that a new you would be just the best option. If only it was that easy. Absolutely stunning.

[Sarah Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, the cover is stunning!

This debut novel was such a fantastic read!, I love weird fiction and especially love an unhinged female narrator. This story explores womanhood, folklore horror, mental health, a touch of prickly body horror and unhealthy relationships.

I enjoyed the anxiety as Nell’s behaviour and physical transformation were progressing throughout with the pace picking up somewhat leaving constant feelings of dread. I enjoyed some of the positive relationships with Nell and felt uneasy reading the unhealthy relationships she allowed. Although i was wanting Nell to make it through everything she was going through, I was also torn with what I felt was quite selfish and self absorbed traits that made her unlikeable but she was also very unreliable with gave everything a good edge.

I genuinely enjoyed the ecology theme throughout and learning about the work of archaeobotanists too.

The ending was wild!

I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend, Tender will be released September! Thank you to Influx Press and the author for sharing a copy with me to read and review

[Lia Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unhinged, atmospheric, surreal - an absolutely wild ride of a debut novel.

Exploring womanhood, control, and our relationship with the natural world, this horrible and beautiful story follows a botanist working on a site uncovering bodies, buried in eerily ritualistic floral graves.

The writing was so evocative and sensory, which added to the earthy and grotesque atmosphere of the novel. I am very impressed by this debut, and will certainly be anticipating further releases from this author!

[Henil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender by Lauren Du Plessis.....

A short *synopsis*

Twenty-eight-year-old Nell has curated a perfect museum of the self: early accolades in her career as an archaeobotanist, a pastel Instagram filled with flowers, and a consistent manicure routine to give a veneer of control. But there has always been a part of her that doesn’t fit the mask of perfection she wears.

When two ‘bog bodies’ are discovered in elaborate floral graves in a Somerset fen, Nell gets the opportunity of a lifetime to excavate and uncover their secrets. But the deeper she digs into the fertile, waterlogged mud, the more she uncovers repressed memories of her unsettled childhood and strained relationship with her sister… and the more her body manifests her own wildness in ways she can’t ignore.

My thoughts:

The novel is very atmospheric, surreal, and explores womanhood and one's relationship with nature. It has my favourite elements of eco- horror, bog bodies, and plants. Nell is an interesting character even though she can be unreliable and selfish at times. And the ending is wild. I enjoyed my time with the book and learning about the work of archaeobotanists and ecology. Definitely check out if you liked Girl in the creek, Eden, Annihilation, and Eat the ones you love. Overall, it's a 4 ⭐ read for me. The book comes out in September!

Intriguing: 2
Scariness: 1
Unsettling: 1

Thank you for @influxpress and @laurenduplessis.author for the ARC Copy.

[Lol R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished Lauren’s debut novel and what struck me most was how beautifully she captures the complexity and messiness of being human. It’s a story about how memory, identity and nature all get tangled together, and how the things we try to bury often shape us most. In the end, it’s a reminder that we are tender creatures - vulnerable, resilient and deeply connected to the people, places and histories around us.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has studied Archaeology in uni and loves a good folk horror, this book was extremely enjoyable for me! ! love how unique and captivating the story is and would highly recommend it to anyone!

[róisín · Rating 3 out of 5]

rly wanted to like this.. n the writing was good but like.. what. semi felt like three different books mushed togeth