Tender

by Lauren Du Plessis

A debut, folkloric, body horror-tinged novel following a botanist who is tasked with unearthing truths about several bodies discovered in ritualistic, floral graves in South West England and who ends up digging deeper into her own unsettling past.

Nell has curated a perfect museum of the a successful career in archaeobotany, a pastel Instagram filled with flowers, and an uncompromising manicure routine. She’s convinced that her veneer of perfection will mask the parts of her she’d rather not think about.

When two "bog bodies" are discovered in elaborate floral graves in a Somerset fen, Nell seizes the opportunity to excavate their secrets. But the deeper she digs into the fertile, waterlogged earth, the more she uncovers 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 finds herself in a whirlwind of 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 with explorations of womanhood against a backdrop of eco-anxiety, Tender burrows into the quiet violence of overcoming and accepting our darkest sides.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2025

Reviews

[quillnqueer · 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.

[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…

[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

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not out in the US until 2027, but I did some research and you can read it with Everand now!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSSkVVRu/

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guys I… think she has acrylics

[Marla Moreau · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC (available in the USA March 30 2027) in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/5

I made a rookie mistake when I chose this "Read Now" book on NetGalley - I did not realize that there was no "Send to Kindle" option (why???). After failing to find a workaround or an ebook version of the 2025 UK release that I could buy, I ended up ordering the physical book for $22 from amazon.uk (because I HATE reading books on my phone or computer screen THAT MUCH) - which is why it took me such a long time to read and review it. So I was pretty invested in this book actually being worth it/one I would want to own anyway.

Was it? Eh. Sort of.

For over half the book, I was relieved/excited because it was lining up to be a 4.5-ish read for me. I was loving the atmosphere, the bog bodies, the botany, the richly descriptive writing, the uncertainty of what was real and what wasn't, and even the romance elements (which I usually don't care for). But then it all started falling apart.

I think the parts about Nell's background (mentioned in the blurb) really weakened the plot and made it generic "weird girl going through something" horror rather than the something special it was lining up to be. They seemed to be introduced out of the blue and took me out of what I thought was going to be the larger story. The most interesting plotline became background. The relationship plotline became convoluted. The metaphors started smacking you over the head instead of being subtle. And the wrap-up was nonsensical (because it didn't fit, not because what was happening was unclear). Mix all that with some unrealistic elements that killed suspension of disbelief (no __ would ever be that indifferent to __ - if you've read the book you can fill in the blanks LOL) and by the end, I was fairly disappointed - but I did very much enjoy the journey and the build up for a good 60-70% of the book. I just think it needed a few more passes by a developmental editor and it would have been amazing.

I struggled a bit over how I should rate this numerically, and even after settling on a rating I wasn't certain if I should round up or down for Goodreads. This was definitely way better than anything I would rate a 3, so I'm rounding up, but just barely.

That being said, I am interested to see what Du Plessis will come out with next. The first half really was brilliant.

#Tender #NetGalley

[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

[Emily Lomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this one hard to rate because I loved the concept, and the body horror aspect of the story was very cool, but it fell flat in many ways for me.
The main character’s emotions and motivations seemed to flip very quickly, and I didn’t really feel like she was completely consistent as a character. The link that was made between her and the prehistoric people that she was excavating could have been really interesting but I didn’t feel like the author made enough out of it. I also felt like more could have been made of how Nell and Gunner’s relationship was affected by her body/plant issues, because it felt like it ended over just standard jealousy. I also kind of felt like the backstory never made total sense to me.
Also, Nell has a blatant disregard for correct archaeological procedure. Digging into the earth with her fake nails and stealing a vital find from the trench for no apparent reason is crazy work.

[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!

[Cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this story


I personally only give 1 star ratings to things I have dnfd and I did finish this. But in all honesty I only finished it because it was an arc and I wanted to give an accurate review. If this was something I had picked up from the library I would have put it down after the first 25%.

My main issue with this was the writing style. I thought the concept was interesting but the execution was not it. I had a hard time focusing on the story and would have to reread paragraphs because of it. I feel like this was also overly descriptive about a lot of things and it really dragged this book along. It was almost 300 pages when it should have been about 200 for what it was.

I personally didn't like ANY of the characters. Nells character was definitely undiagnosed with something. She was doing concerning stuff and getting upset when it was brought up. She would hurt people then beg them not to hate her. I hated her relationship with gunner and the way she acted with him. In all honesty gunner was my least favorite. I don't really understand his role in this story and he was so annoying I think it could have been a lot better without him or without them having a relationship outside of work. I was honestly surprised they had a relationship and didn't understand his draw to her. I mean she was sick every time he tried flirting with her. They kiss and she starts throwing up and he is still trying to fuck her?? It didn't make any sense to me. When she continues the relationship after finding out he has someone else on the side I was really done with it and couldn't even feel bad when he left her at the end.

I also felt like her sister was unnecessary in this. I'm sure with the way this ended there will be a second book but since the sister was talked about so much in this I expected more from her. I think nells relationship with her sister also made nell more unlikable. I felt bad for her sister constantly trying to reach out to get some support and she just could not be bothered but after not talking and not really caring about her sisters problems in the end is like let's live together??

The author is also CONSTANTLY mentioning the fact that Nell has acrylic nails! Like we get it move on. I personally don't like modern things in stories it's not a killer for me but this also mentions Instagram alot and COVID. The girl also apparently lives surrounded by pink which also got annoying to keep reading about after a while.

The actual ending of this felt kind of sudden and unexplained. Which really reaffirmed me not liking this.

I really did want to like this based off the description and I feel terrible leaving a bad review on an arc but this was just not for me

[dasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked it them the ending was strange. i wish there was more exploration of her and beth’s relationship

[Kit Wheels · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the hell? I’m actually so confused about what happened at the end.

I was planning on giving this book a higher rating and greater praise but the final chapter fully ruined this for me - it was so unexpected and so unexplained.

The character of Nell is so hate-able and so is Gunner, to be honest everyone but Beth in this book is so easy to dislike - so when something bad happened to her I struggled to feel sympathetic- which I’m not sure if this was Du Plessis’ intent? If it was 10/10 that was great, if not, i’m so sorry.

[ReadwithNicc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an advance reader copy through NetGalley ..

Nell is a botantist at the beginning of her career though she has quite a few accolades already she is fighting with financial stability and takes a job investigating the remains of 2 ancient people on a farm near her hometown that are weirdly preserved with thistles and other flowers. Once she arrives to the dig site she starts to feel sick and is overcome with hallucinations of the same thistles that the remains were wrapped with, but they are now growing out of her own skin.

The story is incredibly written and elaborately detailed. You feel every ounce of Nell’s pain and confusion. Her inner turmoil plays as small clues to past trauma and builds throughout the story. There’s layers to her pain whether it’s her past haunting her being so close to home or the remains she’s there to study. The bread crumbs of something bigger happening here kept me hooked from page 1.

There are a lot of English/UK terminology that aren’t common knowledge to the states, I had to use a lot of context clues and sometimes look up the meaning to understand what the characters were referring to but it wasn’t too difficult.

I’ve seen other reviews saying the main character was unlikable or unrelatable but I completely disagree, I think Nell is human (mostly) and is struggling with her past, current reality and what her mind is telling her which any normal person who has ever struggled could relate to. I think she’s fighting her demons and trying to hold onto reality and it takes a while to grasp what’s happening. Her family demonizes her and fails her over and over again.

There are many ways this book could have gone, and I think the premise does get lost a little in the middle, is it in her head? Is it supernatural? Is she a witch? it’s searching for an identity. The scenes also occasionally jump around which is jarring at times. Maybe that is by design. To really feel the psychosis that Nell is experiencing. The ending really brought it all together and gave very much “The Substance” vibes. Throughout the story she struggles with feeling alone and like she doesn’t fit in but in the end she was never really alone.

[Gilly-Tamar K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender is a quiet, unsettling piece of ecological folk horror that lingers long after you’ve finished it.

The story follows Nell, a botanist whose lifelong connection to plants deepens when she is invited to an archaeological dig where human remains have been buried in graves lined with wildflowers. From the moment she arrives, something stirs — not suddenly, but like a long-suppressed awareness resurfacing. The land, the plants, and the dead feel entangled, and Nell herself begins to change.

What I loved most about this book is its refusal to give easy answers. Nell’s transformation can be read psychologically — a reawakening shaped by environment, memory, and the body’s deep attunement to the natural world — or it can be read as something more literal, where the Earth itself is active, responsive, and alive. The novel never forces a choice between these interpretations, and that ambiguity is where its strength lies.

This is folk horror without spectacle. The unease comes from intimacy: soil, roots, burial, growth, and the unsettling idea that humans are not separate from the land, but part of it — subject to the same cycles of decay and renewal. The body horror is subtle rather than graphic, and it feels organic rather than gratuitous.

Tender is less about fear and more about remembrance — remembering that we are animals, that we belong to the Earth, and that this connection can be both beautiful and disturbing. It won’t be for everyone, especially readers looking for fast pacing or clear resolutions, but if you enjoy ecological themes, quiet dread, and stories that blur the line between mind and landscape, this is a deeply rewarding read.

[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.

[Ben Pommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Lauren du Plessis for the ARC of this book.
Be advised, this book has already been published in the UK and is scheduled for release in the US.
“Tender” is a weird girl horror story with a healthy dose of body horror, ecological horror, fractured family dynamics, and the ever looming, inevitable change of the human form and the unique brand horror that that itself can bring.
In the novel, we follow Elinor — or Nell — an archaeobotanist who is given the opportunity to partake in the excavation of bog bodies found near her childhood hometown. When she arrives, she gets is faced with more than just the pressure of the dig. Her tenuous relationship with her family — specifically her sister —, a whirlwind but ultimately unhealthy
romantic relationship, and memories she had long since buried and forgotten, all take root and begin pushing to the surface. Her body reacts in a way she could never expect.
The pacing of the novel is even and makes the story easy to follow along. The characters are well developed and I formed unique connections each one, even Gunner. One of the biggest high points of the novel was the incredible body horror and the picture she was able to paint without overly flowery (no pun intended) language.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who was a fan of “Wife Shaped Bodies” and anyone who is a fan of incredible body horror.

[Cait · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

*3.75 stars*
I absolutely love the fever dream elements and prose that Lauren Du Plessis offers us in this story. It pairs so well with Nell's hallucinations and backstory as a child in the fields. The botanical overgrowths are almost palpable when there are descriptions of Nell taking care of her thistles; it was a great way of exploring themes of body horror without the inclusion of gore.

I enjoyed Nell as a main character even though she is a bit unreliable and unlikeable. Her past mistakes are a solid reasoning for her current day actions, even if they're not the most morally white. It was enjoyable to follow her throughout her growth further into womanhood as an adult, and her connection to nature as a child.

What missed the mark for me was the romance, it seemed obviously toxic (not my issue with it) but seemed an unnecessary addition to propel the plot forward. I don't think it really added to Nell's character development and would not have impacted the ending if it wasn't included in the story--Nell's growth was obvious without it.

I'd really love to know why some characters were also able to see Nell's thistles, as this isn't really explained besides her sister's reasoning. Did the other person also have similar experiences in nature? Another POV added to this world and folklore would have been neat to see, albeit not necessary!

Thank you to Diversion Books, Influx Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc!

[coven · Rating 5 out of 5]

i received this arc for free through netgalley and am writing this review voluntarily

i’m FOAMING at the mouth over this book. this was my botanical horror wet dream. this is lauren’s debut novel and it’s perfection. full of gorgeous botanical prose, an atmospheric fenland, a bog full of skeletal remains, and a woman losing her mind/body. i unashamedly read it in one day, i was enthralled. a beautiful story about guilt, trauma and hiding away those shadow parts of yourself that you’re not ready to face. ughhh. my heart (or i should say roots) have been RIPPED from my body.

the story follows nell, an archaeobotanist working in the somerset fen, where bog bodies and flora have been discovered. not to be dramatic, but i would die for nell. getting to be inside her mind felt very much like my own. she’s such a compelling character that i think many of us can relate to. trying to curate the perfect, digestible version of herself for those around her. hiding away all her nasty parts. i will not give too much away, but i’m obsessed with how her relationships with the other characters mirror the horror going on with her body. the way this shadow self becomes a physical manifestation. it’s just magnificent. my mind is absolutely blown. and the ending was *chef’s kiss* so beautiful, i was ugly crying.

i fell HARD for this book and characters, i will never shut up about it. my partner is already very annoyed MWAHAHAHA. and my tbr really needs to CHILL with these phenomenal books because it’s getting so hard to choose a top 3 for this year. but this one has left such an imprint on me that i do believe it deserves a spot there. if you write a botany horror, you know I’m there!!

[Sabrina · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This is my second horror book and the way the author invokes vivid imagery and casts you in a spell is truly amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever read so many words about botany and I was scrambling to annotate and review words I’ve never heard of. The prose kind of reminded me of Midsommar but more nature and an emphasis on the way plants can open a story as to what happened thousands of years ago.

I kept imagining a Southern US for some reason even though it’s based in England. An audio book instead of a physical would probably get rid of that thinking with the accent.

The ending was crazy. I wish it was just a tad longer instead of it being so abrupt. The author showcases how Nell’s (Elinor) facade starts to break after her dig at the farm and how her behavior becomes more and more erratic. The fragments of memories that come and go on the farm and how they shape what she sees and who she becomes is fascinating. I never knew thistles could be so significant to a character and their spiraling.

[Rach_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic indie debut, even if I'm a little biased as my friend wrote it!

Tender is unlike anything I've read before, weaving a strong picture of Nell's life in the present day and key flashbacks to her childhood that have shaped who she is.

Working as a botanist at an archeological dig, Nell, already an anxious individual, keen to impress and appear perfect, begins feeling prickling sensations and growing bumps that no-one else can see. As she delves deeper into the dig, the worse it, and her attempts to control it become... Culminating in a freaky twist.

The prose is full of descriptions, adding to the picture of Nell as an expert in her field, bringing to life the fauna and flora around the boggy dig site.

Overall a really strong debut, unlike anything I've read before. If you're a body horror or psychological fan check it out 😊

[Ash D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing debut novel which makes a great addition to the modern folk-horror body of work. Du Plessis has created a fever-dream tapestry that seamlessly braids traditional themes in folk-horror with many modern-day worries. This also serves to keep you guessing as to what will happen next. I wish that some of the other characters had been fleshed out more but the limited insight into them is perhaps reflective of the limited insight Nell has into these others. If you're looking for a fresh take in the folk-horror genre, I definitely recommend this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 (3 for Goodreads).

This book is beautifully written and with in depth botanical knowledge but unfortunately I could not engage with the character who was very unlikeable. An unlikeable character doesn't always put me off, but this one sadly did and I was somewhat confused by events (probably because I started skimming, it was either that or just not finishing).

I would also say the book is more body horror with a touch of folk horror and I would have loved more of the latter.

Not for me, but I'm sure there are many others who will love it. Readers are all different.

[Cel · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ARC Version)

Holy shit that was crazy.

What a thrilling read. I couldn’t put the book down once I started and go through the first part fast, it lulled a bit in the middle but picked right back up soon enough until the end.

I love this fever dream of a body horror story. I love the imagery and the disturbing atmosphere. I love the dreamscape writing style. And I especially loved the characterisation of Nell. She is so relatable in her struggles in so many ways to me.

I wish she’d had left Gunner for Beth! But I get that wouldn’t be the same story.

[Anne Augustyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent debut book, the hardest thing for me was the personality of the main character - it didn’t stay consistent throughout the book and I feel there wasn’t enough description of her feelings from her during certain events or responses from her. (Just “X” happened. Next.) I also got kind of tired from the mention of her acrylics? Like okay yes you have them, let’s move on. Aside from that, the folkloric horror aspect was fun and the body horror was also cool when it comes to being a woman in her own body.

[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.

[Lily Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending of this book was fabulous but it was a bit of a slog, conceptually I think Du Plessis could’ve gone further into the grotesque. As for the reviews which claim it to be folkloric I think I missed this, sure it’s folk horror adjacent but there could’ve been more play with British isles mythology which I felt was hinted at but never indulged in. Definitely potential there though and I wouldn’t shy away from reading her next work.

[jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

i sort of knew i wasn't gonna love this from the very first page even though the subject matter is so so up my alley. the book opens with our protagonist eating a pomegranate with her hands at a service station. if that sounds super cool and symbolic to you then you'll probably love tender. but if you just rolled your eyes at the overuse of pomegranates in contemporary 'feminist' fiction like i did, maybe give this one a miss.

[ROSIE !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so obsessed with folk horror, and I think the ending of this book was perfectly fitting. BUT, to me, the journey to get to THAT ending detracted from the experience. The main character felt inconsistent, and the pacing was a little off. Beautiful writing style, but repetitive at times. The "Romance" with Gunnar felt off-putting. All in all, not a terrible read, but needed a bit more UMPH to be more enjoyable.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! The pace of the story was perfect, I felt so uneasy throughout. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the nature, it was so beautiful.

'The earth here is so alive she feels watched.' I loved this imagery, I felt like this really summed up the story and Nell's experience.