Tenderness

by Rowan Beaird

From the beloved author of THE DIVORCEES, a novel set in the 1970s during an island wedding, where the bride has recently left a sinister cult that might still be trailing her.

On a remote island off the coast of Virginia, family and friends gather to celebrate the wedding of Shay O’Connor and Andrew Pruitt. From the moment the guests arrive, all they can whisper about is the bride, who recently left the headline-making cult Synanon. Why would someone like Shay, an Ivy League graduate with a wealthy, doting fiancée, join Synanon? And has she really escaped their grasp?

Told from the interwoven perspectives of Shay’s brother William, her longtime friend Joel, and Shay herself, Tenderness is a slow-burn mystery that excavates dark family histories and romantic regrets. As the wedding day approaches, Joel and William pull at the loose threads of Shay’s story, and it becomes clear there is an even greater threat on the island than the secrets each character is keeping from one another.

Set in the tinderbox of the 1970s, Tenderness is a lit match, bringing hidden truths to light and asking if we can ever see ourselves or the people we love for who they truly are.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Cults

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 21, 2026

About the author

Rowan Beaird's first novel, The Divorcées, was named a best book by Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, People, The Independent, and the Chicago Review of Books. Her second novel, Tenderness, will be published in July 2026. She is the recipient of the Ploughshares Emerging Writer Award, and her short fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart.

Reviews

[Lindsay Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so, so much. Rowan Beaird is officially one of my fave authors of all time. Just gorgeous.

[Rachel Hyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am constantly in awe of Rowan's talent as a storyteller! This book is suspenseful, romantic, a little scary at times, and an expert study in grief and how vulnerable we truly are as humans. It illustrates the lengths we will go to for the people we love, good or bad. Where do we put all that love we have for someone when they're out of our life? Each character goes on a journey to answer that question and I was hooked immediately.

I absolutely loved the ending and wish I could continue reading about the characters, but then it would be a full blown TV show and not this gorgeous snapshot of a wedding where everyone has a secret (although, I would definitely watch that TV show...someone call Bob Netflix). Will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tenderness was super interesting. I usually like when fiction brings in something from history, and while this one did that, it’s FAR more a study of our three main characters than the real cult one briefly joined. I’m still thinking about how fully a weekend can capture a person. Do I REALLY know these characters, or did I just take in a snapshot of the most extreme versions of themselves? Is it all the same? This one leaves you with a lot to wonder about, but I’m okay with that. The narration and alternating perspectives are woven together meaningfully and they keep the pace going. Recommend for fans of locked-room thrillers who want to dip into general.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ALC. This one is out 7/21.

[lori pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. The cast of narrators, Evan Sibley; Katharine Chin; Pete Cross, did a wonderful job reading this story!

A wedding on a remote island leads to secrets being revealed among the families.

I was originally interested in the book as the bride, in the story recently left a cult, so I thought this could be an interesting story. However, the story fell flat and I had a hard time remaining engaged. Overall an okay listen that was a bit if a let down.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this sounded awesome to me but I kind of feel like it didn’t accurately describe what happened in the book. There were also some storylines that I don’t understand why they were needed. That said, I did enjoy it, and the narrators did a great job. Thanks NetGalley for an ALC.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of the last time this happened and I'm a voracious reader: I read Tenderness cover to cover in one go because it's paced like a thriller and I just couldn't put it down — then went back and read it again because the writing is so powerful and precise and knowing, and I cared about the characters so much. This is a beautiful piece of writing that rewards your time. (Note: I received an ARC of this book from author/publisher.)