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Tenderness
Shay was no longer in the cult, but still, it made her wedding guests nervous that she was bringing them to an island . . .
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.
Told from the interwoven perspectives of Shay's brother William, her longtime friend Joel, and Shay herself, this slow-burn mystery excavates dark family histories and romantic regrets. As the wedding 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.
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.
Told from the interwoven perspectives of Shay's brother William, her longtime friend Joel, and Shay herself, this slow-burn mystery excavates dark family histories and romantic regrets. As the wedding 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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Rowan Beaird
4 books197 followersRowan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 26, 2026
I picked this up because the idea of a wedding on a remote island with a bride who had escaped a cult sounded really interesting. I was expecting a tense, suspenseful story, but it turned out to be much slower than I thought. The book focuses more on the relationships between the characters and their family problems than the mystery itself. There were quite a few points of view, which made it harder for me to stay connected to the story at times.
The island setting created a creepy atmosphere that I really enjoyed, and I liked the feeling that something wasn't quite right. The story did become more interesting towards the end when the secrets started coming out, but I wish the suspense had built up sooner. The ending worked well, although I was left wanting a few more answers.
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
The island setting created a creepy atmosphere that I really enjoyed, and I liked the feeling that something wasn't quite right. The story did become more interesting towards the end when the secrets started coming out, but I wish the suspense had built up sooner. The ending worked well, although I was left wanting a few more answers.
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TENDERNESS
By Rowan Beaird
Narrated by Evan Sibley, Katherine Chin, and Pete Cross
3.5 stars rounded down
Set in the 1970s on a remote island off the coast of Virginia, Tenderness unfolds over the weekend of Shay and Andrew’s wedding. Having recently escaped a violent cult, Shay arrives carrying emotional scars and secrets from her past. As family and friends gather to celebrate, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Shay’s brother, William, hopes to reconnect with her, while Joel, a former boyfriend, struggles with unresolved feelings. Rumors of an uninvited guest only add to the growing unease.
This is a slow-burn literary suspense novel that leans more heavily into family drama and character exploration than cult thriller. Told through the perspectives of Shay, William, and Joel, the story maintains a sense of foreboding, with the cult’s shadow lingering over much of the narrative. As the wedding weekend progresses, it becomes clear that nearly everyone is keeping secrets.
The emphasis here is on emotional tension, relationships, and character development rather than plot-driven suspense. The characters are messy and flawed—which I generally appreciate—but I found many of them frustrating, making it difficult for me to fully connect with their journeys. The mystery didn’t truly gain momentum for me until the final quarter of the book.
I did enjoy the isolated island setting, which added to the atmosphere and sense of confinement. This was my first experience with Rowan Beaird’s work, and while Tenderness was ultimately an okay read for me, I would be open to reading more from her in the future.
The audiobook narration was solid, and I appreciated having different narrators for each of the main characters, which helped distinguish the shifting perspectives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
By Rowan Beaird
Narrated by Evan Sibley, Katherine Chin, and Pete Cross
3.5 stars rounded down
Set in the 1970s on a remote island off the coast of Virginia, Tenderness unfolds over the weekend of Shay and Andrew’s wedding. Having recently escaped a violent cult, Shay arrives carrying emotional scars and secrets from her past. As family and friends gather to celebrate, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Shay’s brother, William, hopes to reconnect with her, while Joel, a former boyfriend, struggles with unresolved feelings. Rumors of an uninvited guest only add to the growing unease.
This is a slow-burn literary suspense novel that leans more heavily into family drama and character exploration than cult thriller. Told through the perspectives of Shay, William, and Joel, the story maintains a sense of foreboding, with the cult’s shadow lingering over much of the narrative. As the wedding weekend progresses, it becomes clear that nearly everyone is keeping secrets.
The emphasis here is on emotional tension, relationships, and character development rather than plot-driven suspense. The characters are messy and flawed—which I generally appreciate—but I found many of them frustrating, making it difficult for me to fully connect with their journeys. The mystery didn’t truly gain momentum for me until the final quarter of the book.
I did enjoy the isolated island setting, which added to the atmosphere and sense of confinement. This was my first experience with Rowan Beaird’s work, and while Tenderness was ultimately an okay read for me, I would be open to reading more from her in the future.
The audiobook narration was solid, and I appreciated having different narrators for each of the main characters, which helped distinguish the shifting perspectives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
May 22, 2026
“Follow the law of inertia. Allow what is at rest to remain at rest.”
There is an ominous atmosphere permeating this whole novel. The writing, coupled with the stellar narrators, Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross, brought us a gradual, full-circle seep of dread, til the island was returned to its stasis.
Friends and family have gathered to celebrate the marriage of Shay O’Conner and Andrew Pruitt. But as they arrive, they can't help but notice the eerie vibe of the isolated island. Shay has recently escaped the bizarre cult, Syanon. Her brother, William, and long-time friend, Joel, have suspicions about whether their leader is still on her trail, especially when they spot someone carrying the same characteristics as the cult members. Joel is also wary of Andrew. He and Shay have been best friends since they were little, and Andrew doesn't really seem like Shay's type. Nor does he know her as Joel does.
This slow, slow-burning mystery is told from multiple perspectives. It's a great story, but it is very slow, up until the last 85%. The characters are well-developed; I just kept waiting for something to happen most of the time, primarily regarding the possibility of the looming cult leader. It is fine to have slow development. The pacing just seemed the same, with a couple of important inciting incidents. Overall, I'm glad I read it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Rowan Beaird, narrators, and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There is an ominous atmosphere permeating this whole novel. The writing, coupled with the stellar narrators, Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross, brought us a gradual, full-circle seep of dread, til the island was returned to its stasis.
Friends and family have gathered to celebrate the marriage of Shay O’Conner and Andrew Pruitt. But as they arrive, they can't help but notice the eerie vibe of the isolated island. Shay has recently escaped the bizarre cult, Syanon. Her brother, William, and long-time friend, Joel, have suspicions about whether their leader is still on her trail, especially when they spot someone carrying the same characteristics as the cult members. Joel is also wary of Andrew. He and Shay have been best friends since they were little, and Andrew doesn't really seem like Shay's type. Nor does he know her as Joel does.
This slow, slow-burning mystery is told from multiple perspectives. It's a great story, but it is very slow, up until the last 85%. The characters are well-developed; I just kept waiting for something to happen most of the time, primarily regarding the possibility of the looming cult leader. It is fine to have slow development. The pacing just seemed the same, with a couple of important inciting incidents. Overall, I'm glad I read it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Rowan Beaird, narrators, and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2026
I loved this so, so much. Rowan Beaird is officially one of my fave authors of all time. Just gorgeous.
July 5, 2026
3.5 stars
This is my first introduction to Rowan Beaird. I was intrigued by the premise and the time period. The book is set in the 1970's against the backdrop of a wedding happening on an island off the coast of Virginia. There was a cult aspect described that involves the bride, Shay. This was enough to pique my interest, so I requested the advance copy.
I found Beaird's writing extremely readable and lyrical. The story weaves POV's from Shay, her brother William, and her ex-boyfriend Joel, who are all attending the wedding. We learn about each character's history and Shay and William's family growing up. The cult elements are there, but in the end, they fell a bit flat for me.
The most intriguing parts of this story for me were the clash of haves and have-nots, complicated family histories, and the lengths that the characters go to (especially William and Joel) in protecting Shay. The atmosphere of the island was a character in itself. It really brought the book to life for me. This is a character-driven story, so if you're looking for a fast-moving plot, this is probably not the choice.
Thank you to Flatiron Books, Book Browse, and NetGalley for the advanced e-ARC.
This is my first introduction to Rowan Beaird. I was intrigued by the premise and the time period. The book is set in the 1970's against the backdrop of a wedding happening on an island off the coast of Virginia. There was a cult aspect described that involves the bride, Shay. This was enough to pique my interest, so I requested the advance copy.
I found Beaird's writing extremely readable and lyrical. The story weaves POV's from Shay, her brother William, and her ex-boyfriend Joel, who are all attending the wedding. We learn about each character's history and Shay and William's family growing up. The cult elements are there, but in the end, they fell a bit flat for me.
The most intriguing parts of this story for me were the clash of haves and have-nots, complicated family histories, and the lengths that the characters go to (especially William and Joel) in protecting Shay. The atmosphere of the island was a character in itself. It really brought the book to life for me. This is a character-driven story, so if you're looking for a fast-moving plot, this is probably not the choice.
Thank you to Flatiron Books, Book Browse, and NetGalley for the advanced e-ARC.
May 31, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
On a small island off the coast of Virginia, a wedding is being prepared. Shay and Andrew and a small group of friends and family arrive, but instead of celebrating the joy and happiness of the young couple, everyone is whispering about the bride.
Shay, with her head shaved and her spirit dampened, has just left Synanon, a cult which has recently been making headlines.
No one can understand why an Ivy League educated woman with a wealthy and doting fiancée would fall prey to such a group.
With time counting down to the inevitable vows, Shay’s story begins to unravel, exposing secrets and truths.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
I really enjoyed this quiet exploration of the complexities of human nature.
Told through three different points of view: Joel, Shay’s best friend, William, her younger brother, and Shay, the stories are intricately interwoven to slowly reveal the mysteries of their parts and how they influenced each other.
The 1970s setting adds a layer of nostalgia to the story that felt true and interesting.
There are small secrets and big regrets and it all plays out against the wedding to a wealthy family looking to protect a reputation.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
This is a quiet character driven novel with an ending that fits, so if you’re looking for something explosive, you won’t find that here.
𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢
The audio is superb, with each of the three main characters voiced by a different narrator.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
If character driven family messes are your jam, if you don’t need an explosive reveal, I highly recommend this one.
On a small island off the coast of Virginia, a wedding is being prepared. Shay and Andrew and a small group of friends and family arrive, but instead of celebrating the joy and happiness of the young couple, everyone is whispering about the bride.
Shay, with her head shaved and her spirit dampened, has just left Synanon, a cult which has recently been making headlines.
No one can understand why an Ivy League educated woman with a wealthy and doting fiancée would fall prey to such a group.
With time counting down to the inevitable vows, Shay’s story begins to unravel, exposing secrets and truths.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
I really enjoyed this quiet exploration of the complexities of human nature.
Told through three different points of view: Joel, Shay’s best friend, William, her younger brother, and Shay, the stories are intricately interwoven to slowly reveal the mysteries of their parts and how they influenced each other.
The 1970s setting adds a layer of nostalgia to the story that felt true and interesting.
There are small secrets and big regrets and it all plays out against the wedding to a wealthy family looking to protect a reputation.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
This is a quiet character driven novel with an ending that fits, so if you’re looking for something explosive, you won’t find that here.
𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢
The audio is superb, with each of the three main characters voiced by a different narrator.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
If character driven family messes are your jam, if you don’t need an explosive reveal, I highly recommend this one.
July 13, 2026
Tenderness by Rowan Beaird is a slow burn, character driven novel that follows our characters to a remote island for a wedding. There are questions surrounding the bride to be, Shay but with that, we have lots of questions and drama amongst her closest guests including her brother William and her old college friend, Joel. Those 3 characters are our 3 POVs. Their perspectives bring us to the past and lead us to the present and the mystery that has followed them to the island.
After reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued with the 1970's setting and the mention of a cult. The story itself was great the way it built the characters and gave us so much background information. But it started to feel slow, like it wasn't exactly building up to anything and soon lost my attention until the last 20% or so. Then I was invested again.
With that said, I'm glad I listened to the audio with 3 different narrators for the 3 characters. Katherine Chin, Evan Sibley, and Pete Cross really brought Shay, William and Joel to life and allowed me to feel their journeys from the past to the present. Although the story didn't hit all the right notes, I'm glad I read it and liked the character development. I just wish there was more excitement to the plot.
After reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued with the 1970's setting and the mention of a cult. The story itself was great the way it built the characters and gave us so much background information. But it started to feel slow, like it wasn't exactly building up to anything and soon lost my attention until the last 20% or so. Then I was invested again.
With that said, I'm glad I listened to the audio with 3 different narrators for the 3 characters. Katherine Chin, Evan Sibley, and Pete Cross really brought Shay, William and Joel to life and allowed me to feel their journeys from the past to the present. Although the story didn't hit all the right notes, I'm glad I read it and liked the character development. I just wish there was more excitement to the plot.
July 22, 2026
Tenderness AUDIO by Rowan Beaird was a pleasant enough listen, but the story was really pretty pointless. There were a bunch of people at a wedding, kind of a slice-of-life, but the were all totally concerned with themselves. There were hints of a story: a cult, an unfulfilled love story, people who were more for show than reality. None of them went anywhere. I listened but I did not come away with anything. Pointless.
The narrators were Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross. There were excellent and made more of this book than really existed. Each read their own parts masterfully.
I was invited to listen to Tenderness by Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @MacmillanAudio #EvanSibley #KatharineChin #PeteCross @RowanBeaird @Tenderness
The narrators were Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross. There were excellent and made more of this book than really existed. Each read their own parts masterfully.
I was invited to listen to Tenderness by Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @MacmillanAudio #EvanSibley #KatharineChin #PeteCross @RowanBeaird @Tenderness
July 8, 2026
I wanted more. More cult, more eerie atmosphere, more chaos…just more.
The premise pulled me in, but the story never fully developed for me.
I never became fully invested in the characters or their relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this title in exchange for my honest review.
The premise pulled me in, but the story never fully developed for me.
I never became fully invested in the characters or their relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this title in exchange for my honest review.
Did Not Finish
July 20, 2026This was a slow burn family drama that had potential but I ultimately got bored at 20%. The audio had a full cast of narrators. If my mood permits, I might come back to finish this.
Did Not Finish
July 22, 2026The writing is excellent but the story just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A SOLEMN ISLAND WEDDING VS. THE CORROSIVE SHADOW OF A CULT.
“A young woman escapes a notorious 1970s cult only to step straight into a luxury island wedding, where the secrets of her past refuse to stay left behind.”
In Tenderness, bestselling author Rowan Beaird follows up her acclaimed debut, The Divorcées, with a simmering, historical slow-burn psychological mystery. Moving her character-driven precision into the mid-1970s, Beaird crafts a disquieting, atmosphere-heavy narrative saturated with themes of privilege, family fractures, and the lingering threat of psychological control.
The story hinges on a deeply fractured family gathering on an isolated island, forcing everyone to look closely at the thin line where protection ends, and manipulation begins.
📌 The Hook
~A lavish 1976 wedding on a remote Virginia island.
~A wealthy, Ivy League bride who recently fled a violent cult.
~Shaved-headed figures lurking in the island shadows.
🛗 Elevator Pitch
A taut, atmospheric historical suspense novel following family and friends gathered for a luxurious destination wedding on a private island. But instead of celebratory romance, the air is thick with paranoia as everyone whispers about the bride, who has just mysteriously walked away from the infamous California cult, Synanon.
🔍 Review Breakdown
Intro
In 1976, guests assemble on the private, sun-bleached landscape of Wakefield Island to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Ivy League graduate Shay O'Connor and her wealthy fiancé, Andrew. But behind the elegant cocktail parties and manicured lawns, absolute unease saturates the air.
Everyone is obsessed with the fact that Shay has just escaped Synanon—a headline-making rehab clinic turned dangerous, religious cult. Though Shay claims she simply walked away unharmed, whispers of shaved-headed figures on the island persist. Driven by guilt and romantic regret, her timid younger brother, William, and her long-lost college friend, Joel, begin pulling at the loose threads of her narrative, slowly uncovering a threat far greater than any of them could have anticipated.
Setting
The deceptive, uneasy paradise of Wakefield Island off the coast of Virginia—a wealthy family estate trapped between the encroaching Atlantic sea and an oppressive atmospheric heat.
Vibe
Simmering, dreamlike, and intensely psychological. It carries the heavy historical dread of an Emma Cline novel mixed with a dark, "culty" twist on The Wedding People.
Genre
Historical Mystery / Psychological Suspense / Literary Fiction
Themes
~The corrosive power of domestic self-deception
~The fragile, messy connective tissue between siblings
~The permanent trauma of cultic conditioning and brainwashing
~Class privilege acting as a shield for dark family histories
👥 Standout Characters
~Shay O'Connor: The enigmatic, highly intelligent bride whose terrifyingly calm demeanor and time inside the Synanon cult position her as a beautiful puzzle.
~William O'Connor: Shay’s anxious younger brother who arrives on the island saddled with immense guilt over letting her fall victim to the cult in the first place.
~Joel: Shay's complex college friend, navigating years of romantic regret and unrequited love while trying to determine if she is truly safe.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Rowan Beaird excels at drilling down into the quiet, interior headspace of complex characters using lush, incredibly piercing prose. By purposefully anchoring Shay's perspective firmly in the past while William and Joel struggle in the present day, she creates a haunting psychological disconnect. She treats the dark, real-life history of the Synanon cult with immense care, letting the underlying paranoia slowly build into a gripping countdown clock.
Takeaway
You can walk away from a cage, but that doesn't mean you've left the bars behind in your mind.
Title Significance
"Tenderness" acts as a brilliant, heartbreaking irony. The lives, histories, and memories of these characters require a remarkably gentle touch, yet the reality they face on the island is sharp, cold, and entirely unforgiving.
Metaphor
The wedding dress functions as a central metaphor—a pristine, white symbol of high-society normalcy and recovery that attempts to hide the psychological scars and dark secrets beneath it.
🎧 Audio Standout (ALC Review)
“A captivating and enchanting multi-voice narration that will leave you spellbound.”
The stellar multi-cast narration features Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross (favorites). Having distinct, highly expressive voices for the three rotating points of view adds an extraordinary layer of emotional depth. Sibley captures William's fragile anxiety flawlessly, Chin infuses Shay's perspective with an eerie, detached dreamlike quality, and Cross carries Joel's deep romantic longing beautifully. If you love historical thriller audiobooks with a masterfully acted cast, you must grab this version.
💭 My Thoughts
“What begins as an elite, sun-drenched destination wedding fast becomes a tense, claustrophobic reckoning with a past that refuses to let go.”
Having thoroughly loved Beaird's debut, The Divorcées, I was highly anticipating her sophomore novel—and she completely blew me away. Her ability to peel back the layers of human intimacy, guilt, and self-delusion is spectacular. The pacing behaves like a beautifully constructed, mesmerizing slow-burn, ensuring you feel the rising baseline tension in your chest with every single chapter. It is intensely character-driven, lushly written, and builds to a final sequence of truths that will leave you entirely breathless. An absolute standout for your literary suspense shelf!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5). "A mesmerizing, lushly written, deeply disquieting historical mystery that masterfully turns a private island wedding into a profound psychological battlefield."
📚 Recs: What to Read Next (Read-Alikes)
If the cult dynamics, private island isolation, and slow-burning historical mystery of Tenderness have you completely hooked, add these to your TBR list:
~The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird
~The Girls by Emma Cline
~The Guest List by Lucy Foley
~The Wedding People by Alison Espach
~Lady in the Lakea by Laura Lippman
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts>
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars (audio)
Pub Date: July 21, 2026
July Newsletter
July Must-Read Books
“A young woman escapes a notorious 1970s cult only to step straight into a luxury island wedding, where the secrets of her past refuse to stay left behind.”
In Tenderness, bestselling author Rowan Beaird follows up her acclaimed debut, The Divorcées, with a simmering, historical slow-burn psychological mystery. Moving her character-driven precision into the mid-1970s, Beaird crafts a disquieting, atmosphere-heavy narrative saturated with themes of privilege, family fractures, and the lingering threat of psychological control.
The story hinges on a deeply fractured family gathering on an isolated island, forcing everyone to look closely at the thin line where protection ends, and manipulation begins.
📌 The Hook
~A lavish 1976 wedding on a remote Virginia island.
~A wealthy, Ivy League bride who recently fled a violent cult.
~Shaved-headed figures lurking in the island shadows.
🛗 Elevator Pitch
A taut, atmospheric historical suspense novel following family and friends gathered for a luxurious destination wedding on a private island. But instead of celebratory romance, the air is thick with paranoia as everyone whispers about the bride, who has just mysteriously walked away from the infamous California cult, Synanon.
🔍 Review Breakdown
Intro
In 1976, guests assemble on the private, sun-bleached landscape of Wakefield Island to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Ivy League graduate Shay O'Connor and her wealthy fiancé, Andrew. But behind the elegant cocktail parties and manicured lawns, absolute unease saturates the air.
Everyone is obsessed with the fact that Shay has just escaped Synanon—a headline-making rehab clinic turned dangerous, religious cult. Though Shay claims she simply walked away unharmed, whispers of shaved-headed figures on the island persist. Driven by guilt and romantic regret, her timid younger brother, William, and her long-lost college friend, Joel, begin pulling at the loose threads of her narrative, slowly uncovering a threat far greater than any of them could have anticipated.
Setting
The deceptive, uneasy paradise of Wakefield Island off the coast of Virginia—a wealthy family estate trapped between the encroaching Atlantic sea and an oppressive atmospheric heat.
Vibe
Simmering, dreamlike, and intensely psychological. It carries the heavy historical dread of an Emma Cline novel mixed with a dark, "culty" twist on The Wedding People.
Genre
Historical Mystery / Psychological Suspense / Literary Fiction
Themes
~The corrosive power of domestic self-deception
~The fragile, messy connective tissue between siblings
~The permanent trauma of cultic conditioning and brainwashing
~Class privilege acting as a shield for dark family histories
👥 Standout Characters
~Shay O'Connor: The enigmatic, highly intelligent bride whose terrifyingly calm demeanor and time inside the Synanon cult position her as a beautiful puzzle.
~William O'Connor: Shay’s anxious younger brother who arrives on the island saddled with immense guilt over letting her fall victim to the cult in the first place.
~Joel: Shay's complex college friend, navigating years of romantic regret and unrequited love while trying to determine if she is truly safe.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Rowan Beaird excels at drilling down into the quiet, interior headspace of complex characters using lush, incredibly piercing prose. By purposefully anchoring Shay's perspective firmly in the past while William and Joel struggle in the present day, she creates a haunting psychological disconnect. She treats the dark, real-life history of the Synanon cult with immense care, letting the underlying paranoia slowly build into a gripping countdown clock.
Takeaway
You can walk away from a cage, but that doesn't mean you've left the bars behind in your mind.
Title Significance
"Tenderness" acts as a brilliant, heartbreaking irony. The lives, histories, and memories of these characters require a remarkably gentle touch, yet the reality they face on the island is sharp, cold, and entirely unforgiving.
Metaphor
The wedding dress functions as a central metaphor—a pristine, white symbol of high-society normalcy and recovery that attempts to hide the psychological scars and dark secrets beneath it.
🎧 Audio Standout (ALC Review)
“A captivating and enchanting multi-voice narration that will leave you spellbound.”
The stellar multi-cast narration features Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross (favorites). Having distinct, highly expressive voices for the three rotating points of view adds an extraordinary layer of emotional depth. Sibley captures William's fragile anxiety flawlessly, Chin infuses Shay's perspective with an eerie, detached dreamlike quality, and Cross carries Joel's deep romantic longing beautifully. If you love historical thriller audiobooks with a masterfully acted cast, you must grab this version.
💭 My Thoughts
“What begins as an elite, sun-drenched destination wedding fast becomes a tense, claustrophobic reckoning with a past that refuses to let go.”
Having thoroughly loved Beaird's debut, The Divorcées, I was highly anticipating her sophomore novel—and she completely blew me away. Her ability to peel back the layers of human intimacy, guilt, and self-delusion is spectacular. The pacing behaves like a beautifully constructed, mesmerizing slow-burn, ensuring you feel the rising baseline tension in your chest with every single chapter. It is intensely character-driven, lushly written, and builds to a final sequence of truths that will leave you entirely breathless. An absolute standout for your literary suspense shelf!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5). "A mesmerizing, lushly written, deeply disquieting historical mystery that masterfully turns a private island wedding into a profound psychological battlefield."
📚 Recs: What to Read Next (Read-Alikes)
If the cult dynamics, private island isolation, and slow-burning historical mystery of Tenderness have you completely hooked, add these to your TBR list:
~The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird
~The Girls by Emma Cline
~The Guest List by Lucy Foley
~The Wedding People by Alison Espach
~Lady in the Lakea by Laura Lippman
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts>
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars (audio)
Pub Date: July 21, 2026
July Newsletter
July Must-Read Books
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Flat Iron Books for the advance copy!
This book has elements of mystery, romance, and a slice of life all at once. The characters and writing style pull all the pieces together in a way I found myself missing when I wasn’t reading. I honestly put off finishing this book because I didn’t want it to be over.
This book has elements of mystery, romance, and a slice of life all at once. The characters and writing style pull all the pieces together in a way I found myself missing when I wasn’t reading. I honestly put off finishing this book because I didn’t want it to be over.
July 21, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Narrated by Evan Sibley and Katharine Chin, this audiobook was wonderfully performed. Both narrators brought so much emotion and personality to the characters that it was easy to become invested in their stories. Their performances elevated the experience and kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Summary
Set in the 1970s on a remote island off the coast of Virginia, Tenderness follows Shay O'Connor as she prepares to marry after escaping the notorious Synanon cult. As family and friends gather for the wedding weekend, long buried secrets begin to surface. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel slowly peels back layers of trauma, family history, regret, and the lasting impact of manipulation while asking whether anyone can ever truly leave the past behind.
My Review
This is one of those books that I can absolutely appreciate, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
Going in, I saw the words "cult" and immediately pictured a tense psychological thriller filled with suspense, danger, and constant twists. Instead, Tenderness is a quiet, character driven literary mystery that takes its time exploring grief, trauma, relationships, and the emotional scars left behind after surviving something unimaginable.
Shay's story is heartbreaking. Escaping a cult does not magically erase the damage, and Rowan Beaird does an excellent job showing how trauma lingers long after someone has physically left a dangerous situation. The emotional weight carried throughout the novel felt honest and believable. Rather than focusing on shocking moments, the story spends its time examining how people try to rebuild themselves while carrying wounds that never completely disappear.
The audiobook was fantastic. Evan Sibley and Katharine Chin made every character feel distinct and believable. Their performances added depth to the emotions on the page and made the slower pacing much easier to settle into. They truly brought these characters to life, and I found myself wanting to keep listening because of them.
For me, the story itself fell a little flat. I kept waiting for a bigger mystery or a stronger thriller element that never really arrived. Looking back, I think that's more about my expectations than the novel itself. I went in wanting suspense, but what I received was something much quieter, more reflective, and ultimately more tender. The title fits the story perfectly.
Even though it wasn't completely my type of read, I still think this book will find the right audience. Readers who enjoy literary fiction, historical fiction, emotional family stories, and thoughtful character studies will likely connect with it far more than I did. It is beautifully written, emotionally rich, and filled with characters who feel incredibly human.
Would I Recommend?
Yes. If you enjoy slow burn literary fiction with layered characters, emotional depth, and stories about healing after trauma, I absolutely recommend giving Tenderness a chance. I especially recommend the audiobook because the narrators truly made the experience shine.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Narrated by Evan Sibley and Katharine Chin, this audiobook was wonderfully performed. Both narrators brought so much emotion and personality to the characters that it was easy to become invested in their stories. Their performances elevated the experience and kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Summary
Set in the 1970s on a remote island off the coast of Virginia, Tenderness follows Shay O'Connor as she prepares to marry after escaping the notorious Synanon cult. As family and friends gather for the wedding weekend, long buried secrets begin to surface. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel slowly peels back layers of trauma, family history, regret, and the lasting impact of manipulation while asking whether anyone can ever truly leave the past behind.
My Review
This is one of those books that I can absolutely appreciate, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
Going in, I saw the words "cult" and immediately pictured a tense psychological thriller filled with suspense, danger, and constant twists. Instead, Tenderness is a quiet, character driven literary mystery that takes its time exploring grief, trauma, relationships, and the emotional scars left behind after surviving something unimaginable.
Shay's story is heartbreaking. Escaping a cult does not magically erase the damage, and Rowan Beaird does an excellent job showing how trauma lingers long after someone has physically left a dangerous situation. The emotional weight carried throughout the novel felt honest and believable. Rather than focusing on shocking moments, the story spends its time examining how people try to rebuild themselves while carrying wounds that never completely disappear.
The audiobook was fantastic. Evan Sibley and Katharine Chin made every character feel distinct and believable. Their performances added depth to the emotions on the page and made the slower pacing much easier to settle into. They truly brought these characters to life, and I found myself wanting to keep listening because of them.
For me, the story itself fell a little flat. I kept waiting for a bigger mystery or a stronger thriller element that never really arrived. Looking back, I think that's more about my expectations than the novel itself. I went in wanting suspense, but what I received was something much quieter, more reflective, and ultimately more tender. The title fits the story perfectly.
Even though it wasn't completely my type of read, I still think this book will find the right audience. Readers who enjoy literary fiction, historical fiction, emotional family stories, and thoughtful character studies will likely connect with it far more than I did. It is beautifully written, emotionally rich, and filled with characters who feel incredibly human.
Would I Recommend?
Yes. If you enjoy slow burn literary fiction with layered characters, emotional depth, and stories about healing after trauma, I absolutely recommend giving Tenderness a chance. I especially recommend the audiobook because the narrators truly made the experience shine.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC.
Gorgeously written atmospheric historical fiction. The narration on the audiobook was very well done and I loved listening to this. Tenderness is told through alternating points of view and past and present timelines. For each character, the past haunts the present, casting a large shadow of uncertainty over the events unfolding on this small island off the coast of Virginia.
As literary fiction with just a hint of mystery, this worked well. The first 75% of the story focuses on the family and relationship complexities between Shay, William, and Joel. For both male protagonists, their accounting and perspective of the events leading up to Shay's wedding day are framed through their respective relationships to Shay herself. As Shay's brother, William is harboring guilt around whether he missed the signs of trouble in the wake of Shay joining, though ultimately escaping, a cult. Interwoven with this guilt is his own insecurity surrounding choices he's made in terms of how he's chosen to live - or better yet, coast through - his life in Chicago. As Shay's childhood friend, Joel is a bit of a sad sack with a white knight complex when it comes right down to it. He's still in love with Shay but most definitely in denial about that fact at the beginning of the wedding weekend. And then there's Shay. When the story shifts to her perspective, you finally see so much more than just the inferences and assumptions made by both William and Joel. However, since the majority of Shay's perspective is rooted in reflections on the past and her experience within the cult, Synanon, you never quite get a strong sense of who she is in the present timeline. And perhaps that is by design and reflective of Shay's unmoored and uncertain self after leaving the cult.
The mystery elements reach a crescendo in the last 25% of the book. Since the underlying tension has been so slowly pulled along, the impact of wedding day revelations and impending danger is quite muted. While I think it works within the broader context of the story and the writing style, especially since such a heavy focus was given to the complicated relationships in play, this may understandably frustrate some readers.
Gorgeously written atmospheric historical fiction. The narration on the audiobook was very well done and I loved listening to this. Tenderness is told through alternating points of view and past and present timelines. For each character, the past haunts the present, casting a large shadow of uncertainty over the events unfolding on this small island off the coast of Virginia.
As literary fiction with just a hint of mystery, this worked well. The first 75% of the story focuses on the family and relationship complexities between Shay, William, and Joel. For both male protagonists, their accounting and perspective of the events leading up to Shay's wedding day are framed through their respective relationships to Shay herself. As Shay's brother, William is harboring guilt around whether he missed the signs of trouble in the wake of Shay joining, though ultimately escaping, a cult. Interwoven with this guilt is his own insecurity surrounding choices he's made in terms of how he's chosen to live - or better yet, coast through - his life in Chicago. As Shay's childhood friend, Joel is a bit of a sad sack with a white knight complex when it comes right down to it. He's still in love with Shay but most definitely in denial about that fact at the beginning of the wedding weekend. And then there's Shay. When the story shifts to her perspective, you finally see so much more than just the inferences and assumptions made by both William and Joel. However, since the majority of Shay's perspective is rooted in reflections on the past and her experience within the cult, Synanon, you never quite get a strong sense of who she is in the present timeline. And perhaps that is by design and reflective of Shay's unmoored and uncertain self after leaving the cult.
The mystery elements reach a crescendo in the last 25% of the book. Since the underlying tension has been so slowly pulled along, the impact of wedding day revelations and impending danger is quite muted. While I think it works within the broader context of the story and the writing style, especially since such a heavy focus was given to the complicated relationships in play, this may understandably frustrate some readers.
July 24, 2026
I absolutely loved The Divorcees, and wondered how Rowan Beaird could possibly follow it.
I simply could not have imagined this. Only Rowan Beaird could. Those of us who love Historical Fiction often debate how centred the historic events and characters have to be - how far a novelist can remove their invented main character from the action. In Tenderness, Beaird gives us Shay, a highly gifted young woman from a family she loves but who never talk about anything, and we see her lose herself in the raw grief of her father’s death - her fear she will be just like him and die in the same way - and seek safety by marrying her wealthy college boyfriend.
Shay, her Mother, her brother William and her true love Joel all come together on a strange private island for Shay’s wedding, and the real action of the story, in which Shay becomes a member of the Synanon cult, is told through a series of well-placed flashbacks.
I’ll be honest, in my first read through I really did not like Shay for most of the novel. She seemed such a princess, with fiancé Andrew, brother William and far-too-perfect-at-first-read Joel apparently competing to save her, as members of the cult start appearing on the island, their aims unknown but undoubtedly sinister.
But then in a way that seemed totally unexpected to me, in this one the princess saves herself. I won’t say how, for fear of giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say the ending of this novel was such that I just had to start rereading it straight away, spotting all the places I had missed where the author makes it clear that Shay is the very opposite of the vacant young woman I thought I had met first time round. The clues to the ending were in there all along. Inside Shay.
In short, if you love Historical Fiction as a genre and wonder how it is evolving in the 21st century, with this second novel, Rowan Beaird has established herself as the author to watch.
A brilliant book that took me by surprise and more than delivered on the early promise of The Divorcees.
In three words: Princess saves herself
📚AD:PR 🙏 Bonnier Books 📚
I simply could not have imagined this. Only Rowan Beaird could. Those of us who love Historical Fiction often debate how centred the historic events and characters have to be - how far a novelist can remove their invented main character from the action. In Tenderness, Beaird gives us Shay, a highly gifted young woman from a family she loves but who never talk about anything, and we see her lose herself in the raw grief of her father’s death - her fear she will be just like him and die in the same way - and seek safety by marrying her wealthy college boyfriend.
Shay, her Mother, her brother William and her true love Joel all come together on a strange private island for Shay’s wedding, and the real action of the story, in which Shay becomes a member of the Synanon cult, is told through a series of well-placed flashbacks.
I’ll be honest, in my first read through I really did not like Shay for most of the novel. She seemed such a princess, with fiancé Andrew, brother William and far-too-perfect-at-first-read Joel apparently competing to save her, as members of the cult start appearing on the island, their aims unknown but undoubtedly sinister.
But then in a way that seemed totally unexpected to me, in this one the princess saves herself. I won’t say how, for fear of giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say the ending of this novel was such that I just had to start rereading it straight away, spotting all the places I had missed where the author makes it clear that Shay is the very opposite of the vacant young woman I thought I had met first time round. The clues to the ending were in there all along. Inside Shay.
In short, if you love Historical Fiction as a genre and wonder how it is evolving in the 21st century, with this second novel, Rowan Beaird has established herself as the author to watch.
A brilliant book that took me by surprise and more than delivered on the early promise of The Divorcees.
In three words: Princess saves herself
📚AD:PR 🙏 Bonnier Books 📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25 stars
Shay and Andrew are having an east coast island wedding. It's the 1970s and Shay has just left an increasingly well-known cult. Her hair is starting to grow back after being shaved, her fiancé's wealthy family is paying for island improvements, including repainting the interior of the local inn. Everything seems to be going well, except for some of the odd occurrences throughout wedding week (broken windows, pests—all rowdy kids or coincidence, right?)... Except for the secrets her brother, William, is keeping. Except for the unresolved feelings her friend, Joel, is holding. Except for the full story of Shay's time at Synanon and whether cult members may still be keeping an eye on her.
I liked this one, but didn't love it. The characters were interesting and layered. The family dynamics were complicated and messy. The narration was great with three different voice actors performing the parts of Shay, William, and Joel. The pacing is slow and the plot unfolds gradually. There's a bit of mystery and intrigue to it, but it's not a thriller and does not lead readers into a huge reveal at the end. The ending feels a bit anti-climactic, but in a way that fits with the story.
I don't really have any big complaints about this one, except that I wanted a little more resolve for all of the characters. We hear memories of their pasts, but the entire novel occurs over the course of one week, so there isn't really a big chance for them to develop or grow. I'd like to see where this group of family and friends ends up 5 years from now. I also might have clocked more development and made more connections if I'd had the print in front of me in addition to the audiobook.
Overall, I liked the 1970s setting, the multiple points of view, the complex family, and the look at wealth and belonging. If any of that piques your interest, this could be a great read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener copy and the opportunity to read early.
Shay and Andrew are having an east coast island wedding. It's the 1970s and Shay has just left an increasingly well-known cult. Her hair is starting to grow back after being shaved, her fiancé's wealthy family is paying for island improvements, including repainting the interior of the local inn. Everything seems to be going well, except for some of the odd occurrences throughout wedding week (broken windows, pests—all rowdy kids or coincidence, right?)... Except for the secrets her brother, William, is keeping. Except for the unresolved feelings her friend, Joel, is holding. Except for the full story of Shay's time at Synanon and whether cult members may still be keeping an eye on her.
I liked this one, but didn't love it. The characters were interesting and layered. The family dynamics were complicated and messy. The narration was great with three different voice actors performing the parts of Shay, William, and Joel. The pacing is slow and the plot unfolds gradually. There's a bit of mystery and intrigue to it, but it's not a thriller and does not lead readers into a huge reveal at the end. The ending feels a bit anti-climactic, but in a way that fits with the story.
I don't really have any big complaints about this one, except that I wanted a little more resolve for all of the characters. We hear memories of their pasts, but the entire novel occurs over the course of one week, so there isn't really a big chance for them to develop or grow. I'd like to see where this group of family and friends ends up 5 years from now. I also might have clocked more development and made more connections if I'd had the print in front of me in addition to the audiobook.
Overall, I liked the 1970s setting, the multiple points of view, the complex family, and the look at wealth and belonging. If any of that piques your interest, this could be a great read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener copy and the opportunity to read early.
July 8, 2026
I received an advance copy of this book courtesy of the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
I feel like I've not been picking great books lately. I went into this one expecting a juicy mystery with cult creepiness and maybe a few chills. Instead, I was bored and tuned out for a lot of it.
Set on a remote island off Virginia, family and friends gather for Shay's wedding to her fiance Andrew. Everyone is quietly buzzing about the fact that Shay recently left a headline making cult, and nobody can figure out why someone with her background would have joined. The story is told from three perspectives, Shay, her brother William, and her longtime friend Joel, and as the wedding approaches, William and Joel start pulling at the threads of what actually happened to her.
The writing is genuinely good, and I appreciated the multiple perspectives. The problem is I finished it and struggled to figure out what the book was actually trying to say.
William was the only character I really connected with, and honestly his sections were the most interesting part of the book. This is a guy who comes home, discovers his aunt has died, and still goes to the wedding and tells everyone she simply chose not to come. That's such a specific, unsettling choice, and I wanted so much more time inside his head.
The cult storyline, which should have been the engine of this whole book, just sort of sits there. It never became the central mystery it was clearly set up to be nor was it especially creepy. It was like a threat that just fizzled.
I listened to this one, and the narration team of Katharine Chin, Peter Cross, and Evan Sibley did a great job, fully inhabiting their characters. Even so, my mind kept drifting while I listened.
Overall, this one just did not click for me.
I feel like I've not been picking great books lately. I went into this one expecting a juicy mystery with cult creepiness and maybe a few chills. Instead, I was bored and tuned out for a lot of it.
Set on a remote island off Virginia, family and friends gather for Shay's wedding to her fiance Andrew. Everyone is quietly buzzing about the fact that Shay recently left a headline making cult, and nobody can figure out why someone with her background would have joined. The story is told from three perspectives, Shay, her brother William, and her longtime friend Joel, and as the wedding approaches, William and Joel start pulling at the threads of what actually happened to her.
The writing is genuinely good, and I appreciated the multiple perspectives. The problem is I finished it and struggled to figure out what the book was actually trying to say.
William was the only character I really connected with, and honestly his sections were the most interesting part of the book. This is a guy who comes home, discovers his aunt has died, and still goes to the wedding and tells everyone she simply chose not to come. That's such a specific, unsettling choice, and I wanted so much more time inside his head.
The cult storyline, which should have been the engine of this whole book, just sort of sits there. It never became the central mystery it was clearly set up to be nor was it especially creepy. It was like a threat that just fizzled.
I listened to this one, and the narration team of Katharine Chin, Peter Cross, and Evan Sibley did a great job, fully inhabiting their characters. Even so, my mind kept drifting while I listened.
Overall, this one just did not click for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Manilla for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I own a copy of Rowan's book The Divorcees but haven't read it yet, so she was a new author for me.
There are quite a lot of characters and interweaving stories to keep on top of so you have to have your wits about you.
The synopsis made it sound like a thriller and I suppose it is, in a way. It's a quiet, mysterious, suspense novel more than an actual thriller. So there's no real all-guns-blazing thrill, it's more psychological than that. Which isn't a negative, I like slow thrillers and fast thrillers. But it did make the overall story a bit slow for the most part, and then everything seemed to happen in the last 20% or so. But the ending worked well.
It focusses more on the characters than the plot - which I generally prefer - but I felt on this occasion there were just too many characters to focus on, which meant I couldn't invest in any so wasn't fussed by what happened to them. There was no standout one or two to focus on.
I think the isolated island setting added to the mysterious suspense feeling so that was a big tick. The island itself becomes a character because of the atmosphere Rowan has created.
There is a lot to like about this book and I can see other people really loving it - and I will definitely be reading The Divorcees sooner rather than later. But there were a few issues for me. The slow pacing is one yes, but the main one is the characters. None of them are standout enough to carry a quite minimalist plot, which meant I didn't have much investment in it. I think it's got the bones of a great story but it just needs a bit more meat to it to really impress me.
I own a copy of Rowan's book The Divorcees but haven't read it yet, so she was a new author for me.
There are quite a lot of characters and interweaving stories to keep on top of so you have to have your wits about you.
The synopsis made it sound like a thriller and I suppose it is, in a way. It's a quiet, mysterious, suspense novel more than an actual thriller. So there's no real all-guns-blazing thrill, it's more psychological than that. Which isn't a negative, I like slow thrillers and fast thrillers. But it did make the overall story a bit slow for the most part, and then everything seemed to happen in the last 20% or so. But the ending worked well.
It focusses more on the characters than the plot - which I generally prefer - but I felt on this occasion there were just too many characters to focus on, which meant I couldn't invest in any so wasn't fussed by what happened to them. There was no standout one or two to focus on.
I think the isolated island setting added to the mysterious suspense feeling so that was a big tick. The island itself becomes a character because of the atmosphere Rowan has created.
There is a lot to like about this book and I can see other people really loving it - and I will definitely be reading The Divorcees sooner rather than later. But there were a few issues for me. The slow pacing is one yes, but the main one is the characters. None of them are standout enough to carry a quite minimalist plot, which meant I didn't have much investment in it. I think it's got the bones of a great story but it just needs a bit more meat to it to really impress me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 🌟 rounded to 4
“She wasn't soft like William; she fancied herself tough in the way men were tough, not so easily hurt.”
A fabulous holiday read, the tension tantalisingly builds as we see guests flock to Wakefield Island to celebrate the wedding of Shay and Andrew. But are they all there to bear witness to the wedding of the season, or to see for themselves whether Shay has really walked away from the cult that changed her life?
The opening chapter has a staccato rhythm as Beaird sets the scene in photography style snapshots. From then on the wedding weekend unfolds through the eyes of three narrators: Shay (the ex cult member come bride to be), William (her vulnerable and lonely younger brother), and Joel (the best friend who is so obviously in love with the bride).
I loved the build up of tension and how the story unfolded piece by piece. The character development was also brilliantly executed. We go from seeing Shay through everybody else’s judgemental eyes to understanding what drove her to the cult, how and why she escaped, and the heartbreaking realisation that she isn’t the young woman just “going along” with Andrew’s meticulous plans, but that she has chosen the path she believes will hurt the least amount of people.
Beneath the shiny facade of the Synanon Cult the underlying themes of the novel are grief, relationships and survival.
I only wish the cult had been explored a little more; but maybe that’s the history major in my wanting far more history in a historical fiction novel (there’s never too much).
“She wasn't soft like William; she fancied herself tough in the way men were tough, not so easily hurt.”
A fabulous holiday read, the tension tantalisingly builds as we see guests flock to Wakefield Island to celebrate the wedding of Shay and Andrew. But are they all there to bear witness to the wedding of the season, or to see for themselves whether Shay has really walked away from the cult that changed her life?
The opening chapter has a staccato rhythm as Beaird sets the scene in photography style snapshots. From then on the wedding weekend unfolds through the eyes of three narrators: Shay (the ex cult member come bride to be), William (her vulnerable and lonely younger brother), and Joel (the best friend who is so obviously in love with the bride).
I loved the build up of tension and how the story unfolded piece by piece. The character development was also brilliantly executed. We go from seeing Shay through everybody else’s judgemental eyes to understanding what drove her to the cult, how and why she escaped, and the heartbreaking realisation that she isn’t the young woman just “going along” with Andrew’s meticulous plans, but that she has chosen the path she believes will hurt the least amount of people.
Beneath the shiny facade of the Synanon Cult the underlying themes of the novel are grief, relationships and survival.
I only wish the cult had been explored a little more; but maybe that’s the history major in my wanting far more history in a historical fiction novel (there’s never too much).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎙️ Narration Review
First listen from all three narrators for me! One thing I appreciated right away was how distinct the voices felt. Joel and Carmen could not sound more different if they tried! Joel has a much deeper, more traditionally "manly" voice while Carmen's is noticeably softer and younger, which made it easy to settle into the POV shifts. Katharine Chin captured Shae perfectly…reserved, thoughtful, intelligent, and carrying so much emotion beneath the surface. A lot of Shae's story relies on subtle character work and Katharine handled it beautifully.
📚 Story Review
The cult here begins as a rehabilitation facility, which immediately adds an interesting layer to the story. The narrative follows Joel and Will in the days leading up to a wedding, while Shae's chapters mostly look backward, slowly revealing how she became involved with the group in the first place. This is definitely a character driven slow burn. In fact, the pacing reminded me a lot of historical fiction, not because of the setting, but because the book is more interested in people, relationships, motivations, and emotional growth. The conversations between Will and his mother felt especially authentic. Those scenes had the kind of messy honesty that makes family dynamics so compelling to read.
This won't be the right fit for readers looking for a fast paced thriller about cults, but if you enjoy women's fiction, layered characters, complicated relationships, and watching a story slowly unfold, it's absolutely worth the listen!
First listen from all three narrators for me! One thing I appreciated right away was how distinct the voices felt. Joel and Carmen could not sound more different if they tried! Joel has a much deeper, more traditionally "manly" voice while Carmen's is noticeably softer and younger, which made it easy to settle into the POV shifts. Katharine Chin captured Shae perfectly…reserved, thoughtful, intelligent, and carrying so much emotion beneath the surface. A lot of Shae's story relies on subtle character work and Katharine handled it beautifully.
📚 Story Review
The cult here begins as a rehabilitation facility, which immediately adds an interesting layer to the story. The narrative follows Joel and Will in the days leading up to a wedding, while Shae's chapters mostly look backward, slowly revealing how she became involved with the group in the first place. This is definitely a character driven slow burn. In fact, the pacing reminded me a lot of historical fiction, not because of the setting, but because the book is more interested in people, relationships, motivations, and emotional growth. The conversations between Will and his mother felt especially authentic. Those scenes had the kind of messy honesty that makes family dynamics so compelling to read.
This won't be the right fit for readers looking for a fast paced thriller about cults, but if you enjoy women's fiction, layered characters, complicated relationships, and watching a story slowly unfold, it's absolutely worth the listen!
Read
July 24, 2026I don't really know how to feel after finishing this book. I knew this was more of a literary fiction work with a suspenseful background, but despite this knowledge, I wasn't able to immerse myself in the story. "Tenderness' was strongly character driven with the three central POVS - William, Joel, and Shay making up the bulk of the story. Usually when a work places characters over plot, I understand why that happens and I can glean something of value in the character arcs. But here, I found it very difficult to care about the characters. The one character whose POV I was most keen to read - Shay - was sparse, which perhaps was intentional. But it just meant that I was stuck in the perspectives of two men who were difficult to care about.
The setting of this book was executed well enough - an island added a layer of intensity to the plot. But again, it was not as vividly depicted as I would've imagined. The plot was thin and although there was suspense permeating the entire narrative, it didn't feel that sustained.
However, I do think the depiction of the cult was well done and I appreciated how Beaird showed Shay's descent into it. This is exactly why I wanted to read more from her perspective.
While this book was not for me, it could still be for someone else. I think it would fit well with readers that appreciate character studies and cult narratives with a focus on dysfunctional families and old friendships.
The setting of this book was executed well enough - an island added a layer of intensity to the plot. But again, it was not as vividly depicted as I would've imagined. The plot was thin and although there was suspense permeating the entire narrative, it didn't feel that sustained.
However, I do think the depiction of the cult was well done and I appreciated how Beaird showed Shay's descent into it. This is exactly why I wanted to read more from her perspective.
While this book was not for me, it could still be for someone else. I think it would fit well with readers that appreciate character studies and cult narratives with a focus on dysfunctional families and old friendships.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was excited for this after a brief read of the description: cults and secrets at a wedding! I mean what more could a person want. That said, I was kind of disappointed in the execution of the novel. For most of it, I was honestly bored and didn't really care about the characters or the story. I really enjoyed the multi-perspective narration and the narrators themselves did a great job with what they were given.
Tenderness by Rowan Beaird takes place at the wedding weekend of Shay and Andrew as they bring their families and friends together at an island owned by Andrew's family. In the story we get Shay's perspective, along with her brother William's and her college friend/lover Joel's. Shay has recently departed from the Synanon cult, William is holding a family secret close to his chest, and Joel is trying to prove to everyone (including himself) that he is no longer in love with Shay. A lot of secrets are both held and shared, mysterious people show up to the island, and plot pieces seem to just fizzle out rather than become resolved.
I feel like this novel has the bones to really be something interesting, it just fell flat for me. I was finding myself listening not to enjoy it, just to get it over with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Tenderness by Rowan Beaird takes place at the wedding weekend of Shay and Andrew as they bring their families and friends together at an island owned by Andrew's family. In the story we get Shay's perspective, along with her brother William's and her college friend/lover Joel's. Shay has recently departed from the Synanon cult, William is holding a family secret close to his chest, and Joel is trying to prove to everyone (including himself) that he is no longer in love with Shay. A lot of secrets are both held and shared, mysterious people show up to the island, and plot pieces seem to just fizzle out rather than become resolved.
I feel like this novel has the bones to really be something interesting, it just fell flat for me. I was finding myself listening not to enjoy it, just to get it over with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Macmillan audio for the early audiobook copy!
I really enjoyed this book. I think my favorite part was the setting. The island is a bit unsettling, and there's an ominous undertone to the entire book, just because of where it's taking place. It was just the right amount of unsettling.
Each POV had a distinct voice and I enjoyed the way the way the author wove their stories together, both past and present. This is not a book that has explosive action or jaw dropping scenes, but it's a wonderful display of humans and incredibly character driven. I loved all their secrets coming out slowly throughout this book. Despite there not being huge dynamic moments in this story, my attention was so focused on learning more about these people and wondering how the wedding weekend would go.
NARRATION: this narration was wonderful. Each narrator did a wonderful job capturing the essence of who they were voicing, and they felt like perfect matches for their characters. It made it really easy to follow along.
My only wish was for a little bit more on the actual cult. I would have loved a deeper dive into it. I do believe that was the author's choice to leave us wanting more, though.
If you like slowly paced, very character driven stories, this might be one you should pick up!
I really enjoyed this book. I think my favorite part was the setting. The island is a bit unsettling, and there's an ominous undertone to the entire book, just because of where it's taking place. It was just the right amount of unsettling.
Each POV had a distinct voice and I enjoyed the way the way the author wove their stories together, both past and present. This is not a book that has explosive action or jaw dropping scenes, but it's a wonderful display of humans and incredibly character driven. I loved all their secrets coming out slowly throughout this book. Despite there not being huge dynamic moments in this story, my attention was so focused on learning more about these people and wondering how the wedding weekend would go.
NARRATION: this narration was wonderful. Each narrator did a wonderful job capturing the essence of who they were voicing, and they felt like perfect matches for their characters. It made it really easy to follow along.
My only wish was for a little bit more on the actual cult. I would have loved a deeper dive into it. I do believe that was the author's choice to leave us wanting more, though.
If you like slowly paced, very character driven stories, this might be one you should pick up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Audiobook Version
Tenderness brings together a lot of interesting elements, blending intricate family dynamics and a complex love triangle with a determined cult leader to create a compelling premise. The storyline is told from three perspectives: Shay (the main female protagonist), her brother William, and their longtime friend Joel.
Where the novel lost some of its momentum for me was in its pacing and depth. Given the high-stakes themes, I wanted a racing heart, a page-turner and perhaps even some tears, but the emotional intensity didn't quite deliver. Because of that, staying fully invested until the end was a bit of a challenge.
However, the audiobook narration by Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross truly brought the story to life. Having three distinct narrators for the three main points of view was the absolute chef’s kiss, giving each character, literally, their own voice.
Overall, Tenderness is a well-written novel with a great foundation, anchored by the standout sibling bond between Shay and William, and the deep history and love found in Joel.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy, the opinions expressed are my own.
Tenderness brings together a lot of interesting elements, blending intricate family dynamics and a complex love triangle with a determined cult leader to create a compelling premise. The storyline is told from three perspectives: Shay (the main female protagonist), her brother William, and their longtime friend Joel.
Where the novel lost some of its momentum for me was in its pacing and depth. Given the high-stakes themes, I wanted a racing heart, a page-turner and perhaps even some tears, but the emotional intensity didn't quite deliver. Because of that, staying fully invested until the end was a bit of a challenge.
However, the audiobook narration by Evan Sibley, Katharine Chin, and Pete Cross truly brought the story to life. Having three distinct narrators for the three main points of view was the absolute chef’s kiss, giving each character, literally, their own voice.
Overall, Tenderness is a well-written novel with a great foundation, anchored by the standout sibling bond between Shay and William, and the deep history and love found in Joel.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy, the opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Tenderness” by Rowan Beaird is set around a wedding on a small island in the 1970s, where the bride is trying to start fresh after leaving a controversial cult. The story’s point of view moves between her, her brother and a close friend, gradually building a picture of their shared past—old loyalties, regrets and things left unsaid—while a quiet sense of tension grows as the wedding approaches and it becomes clear the past hasn’t quite stayed in the past.
What I really loved is how calm it all felt – even though the various story lines are anything but calm. The writing has this steady, unhurried flow and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with the characters, getting to know them and finding out more. It was difficult to stop listening once I got into the flow. Telling the story from three perspectives works beautifully together and gives a more rounded sense of everything without feeling repetitive.
The audiobook is just as good. Having three narrators for the three viewpoints makes it really easy to follow and adds to that sense of being properly inside each character’s head. Overall, a really absorbing book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Rowan Beaird for an advance listening copy of this book.
What I really loved is how calm it all felt – even though the various story lines are anything but calm. The writing has this steady, unhurried flow and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with the characters, getting to know them and finding out more. It was difficult to stop listening once I got into the flow. Telling the story from three perspectives works beautifully together and gives a more rounded sense of everything without feeling repetitive.
The audiobook is just as good. Having three narrators for the three viewpoints makes it really easy to follow and adds to that sense of being properly inside each character’s head. Overall, a really absorbing book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Rowan Beaird for an advance listening copy of this book.
July 20, 2026
Tenderness is one of those books that left me with mixed feelings. There were so many moments where I felt like it was building toward something memorable, but it never quite reached the emotional depth I was hoping for.
The pacing was the biggest issue for me. The story moves very slowly for much of the novel, taking its time with the characters and their relationships, only to rush through the ending. I found myself wishing the final act had been given more room to breathe.
That said, the characters felt incredibly human. They’re messy, flawed, and often frustrating in ways that felt authentic rather than manufactured. No one is perfect here, and I appreciated that realism.
What kept me reading was Rowan Beaird’s writing. The prose is thoughtful and engaging, making even the slower sections enjoyable to read. While I ultimately wanted more from this story, I came away impressed by the author’s voice and would absolutely pick up another one of Beaird’s books in the future.
Overall, Tenderness didn’t fully deliver for me, but its strong writing and deeply human characters make me interested to see what Rowan Beaird writes next.
The pacing was the biggest issue for me. The story moves very slowly for much of the novel, taking its time with the characters and their relationships, only to rush through the ending. I found myself wishing the final act had been given more room to breathe.
That said, the characters felt incredibly human. They’re messy, flawed, and often frustrating in ways that felt authentic rather than manufactured. No one is perfect here, and I appreciated that realism.
What kept me reading was Rowan Beaird’s writing. The prose is thoughtful and engaging, making even the slower sections enjoyable to read. While I ultimately wanted more from this story, I came away impressed by the author’s voice and would absolutely pick up another one of Beaird’s books in the future.
Overall, Tenderness didn’t fully deliver for me, but its strong writing and deeply human characters make me interested to see what Rowan Beaird writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tenderness by Rowan Beaird was a bit of a letdown for me, and I give it 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3). Initially, Tenderness caught my attention because I thought the 70s setting with the dark specter of a cult hanging over a wedding weekend could lend to a very unsettling read. Unfortunately, this fell flat. Although the book was advertised as just "fiction," and not in thriller/suspense/mystery genre, the book description really gave the vibe of something that would be suspenseful. It seemed as if the cult would play a more central role in the plot (which I would've liked!), but the book was really more focused on the complexities of family dynamics. This was an EXTREMELY slow burn, and often I found the pace to be quite sluggish. If I am being honest, there was no point at which I was bummed to have to put this down.
Although the story itself wasn't the most enthralling, I will say that Beaird really does a great job laying out a scene and painting a picture of the WHERE. I felt like I viewed the whole 70s island setting painted in sepia tones, and I did appreciate the artistry.
Although the story itself wasn't the most enthralling, I will say that Beaird really does a great job laying out a scene and painting a picture of the WHERE. I felt like I viewed the whole 70s island setting painted in sepia tones, and I did appreciate the artistry.
July 21, 2026
Tenderness is many things: a love-triangle romance, a cult-focused mystery, and a novel about family and connection. Beaird seamlessly weaves these threads together, and in contrast with other reviewers on this site, I found the book briskly paced and couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.
For me, it was the romance between Shay and Joel, backgrounded by Shay’s recent escape from the cult Synanon, that propelled me through the narrative. Yes, this book deals with a cult, and the threat of cult members pursuing Shay is omnipresent in the narrative. But the book’s heart is in human connection, as Shay, Joel, and her brother William reestablish the relationships that Shay’s entry into the cult destroyed.
This is a book about the human need for connection and certainty, and in these increasingly disconnected-feeling times, the characters were deeply relatable and real. Despite being set in the 1970s, Tenderness speaks acutely to the present moment. And most importantly, it was a thrilling read with great characters.
For me, it was the romance between Shay and Joel, backgrounded by Shay’s recent escape from the cult Synanon, that propelled me through the narrative. Yes, this book deals with a cult, and the threat of cult members pursuing Shay is omnipresent in the narrative. But the book’s heart is in human connection, as Shay, Joel, and her brother William reestablish the relationships that Shay’s entry into the cult destroyed.
This is a book about the human need for connection and certainty, and in these increasingly disconnected-feeling times, the characters were deeply relatable and real. Despite being set in the 1970s, Tenderness speaks acutely to the present moment. And most importantly, it was a thrilling read with great characters.
May 24, 2026
••• ARC/ALC REVIEW •••
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25)
Do I recommend: it’s fine!
***Out July 21***
Reminder that I enjoy a three-star read but they don’t stick with me long! Not mad I read it but also could have lived without it.
This book had an interesting premise (we’re on an island for a wedding, and the bride recently left a cult..but did she TRULY escape?!), but the execution left me wanting more. I don’t need all plot lines to be nearly wrapped up (I truly LOVE an ambiguous ending) but this one seemed to forget about some things entirely.
The narrators kept me listening and did an excellent job with bringing their characters to life. This is a slow-burn, character driven, literary fiction with a slight mystery vibe so if that sounds appealing to you I say go for it!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review as part of the Early Listeners program!
#MacAudio2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25)
Do I recommend: it’s fine!
***Out July 21***
Reminder that I enjoy a three-star read but they don’t stick with me long! Not mad I read it but also could have lived without it.
This book had an interesting premise (we’re on an island for a wedding, and the bride recently left a cult..but did she TRULY escape?!), but the execution left me wanting more. I don’t need all plot lines to be nearly wrapped up (I truly LOVE an ambiguous ending) but this one seemed to forget about some things entirely.
The narrators kept me listening and did an excellent job with bringing their characters to life. This is a slow-burn, character driven, literary fiction with a slight mystery vibe so if that sounds appealing to you I say go for it!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review as part of the Early Listeners program!
#MacAudio2026
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