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The Tender Grave
From the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, The Rapture of Canaan, and steeped in the rich tradition of Southern writers like Carson McCullers and Sue Monk Kidd, The Tender Grave is the gripping story of two estranged sisters who find their unlikely way toward forgiveness--and each other--through a disturbing set of circumstances.
Dori, at age 17, participates in a hate crime against a gay boy from her school and runs away to escape prosecution--and her own harrowing childhood. In her pocket, she carries the address of an older, half-sister she's never met. She has no idea that her sister Teresa is married to another woman. When Dori and Teresa finally meet, they're forced to confront that, while they don't like or really even understand one another, they are inextricably bound together in ways that transcend their differences. Together, the sisters discover that shifting currents of family and connection can sometimes run deeper than the prevailing tides of abandonment and estrangement.
In The Tender Grave, Sheri Reynolds weaves complex themes of parenting, forgiveness, guilt, and accountability into a lyrical and lushly-woven tapestry that chronicles our enduring search for heart, home, and healing.
Dori, at age 17, participates in a hate crime against a gay boy from her school and runs away to escape prosecution--and her own harrowing childhood. In her pocket, she carries the address of an older, half-sister she's never met. She has no idea that her sister Teresa is married to another woman. When Dori and Teresa finally meet, they're forced to confront that, while they don't like or really even understand one another, they are inextricably bound together in ways that transcend their differences. Together, the sisters discover that shifting currents of family and connection can sometimes run deeper than the prevailing tides of abandonment and estrangement.
In The Tender Grave, Sheri Reynolds weaves complex themes of parenting, forgiveness, guilt, and accountability into a lyrical and lushly-woven tapestry that chronicles our enduring search for heart, home, and healing.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2021
8 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Sheri Reynolds
16 books307 followersSheri Reynolds is an author of contemporary Southern fiction.
Sheri Reynolds was born and raised in rural South Carolina. She graduated from Conway High School in 1985, Davidson College in 1989, and Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992.
Her published novels include Bitterroot Landing, The Rapture of Canaan (an Oprah book club selection and New York Times bestseller), A Gracious Plenty (98), Firefly Cloak (06), The Sweet In-Between (08), and The Homespun Wisdom of Myrtle T. Cribb (12) and The Tender Grave (21). Her first play, Orabelle's Wheelbarrow, won the Women Playwrights' Initiative playwriting competition for 2005.
Also Professor of English and the Ruth and Perry Morgan Chair of Southern Literature at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, Sheri teaches creative writing and literature classes. She won the Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia in 2003. In 2005, she received a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts in playwriting. She has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University, The College of William and Mary, and Davidson College.
Sheri lives in the town of Cape Charles on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Sheri Reynolds was born and raised in rural South Carolina. She graduated from Conway High School in 1985, Davidson College in 1989, and Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992.
Her published novels include Bitterroot Landing, The Rapture of Canaan (an Oprah book club selection and New York Times bestseller), A Gracious Plenty (98), Firefly Cloak (06), The Sweet In-Between (08), and The Homespun Wisdom of Myrtle T. Cribb (12) and The Tender Grave (21). Her first play, Orabelle's Wheelbarrow, won the Women Playwrights' Initiative playwriting competition for 2005.
Also Professor of English and the Ruth and Perry Morgan Chair of Southern Literature at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, Sheri teaches creative writing and literature classes. She won the Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia in 2003. In 2005, she received a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts in playwriting. She has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University, The College of William and Mary, and Davidson College.
Sheri lives in the town of Cape Charles on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 12, 2021
The Tender Grave opens in dramatic fashion. Seventeen year old Dori and her boyfriend are suspects in a hate crime committed against a gay classmate. Her mother gives her enough money to leave town and hands her the address of a half-sister she has never met. Right away Dori’s plight makes you question your own emotional responses. Do you have empathy for a girl running away from this terrible act as she is all alone and ill equipped to survive on her own or are you disgusted by the decision both she and her mother have made to avoid prosecution? Living by her wits and some theft Dori finds her way to her sister Teresa’s town when she is picked up by the local police for vagrancy.
Teresa and Jen are renovating an old motel and trying to get pregnant. When the police show up at Teresa’s door she is as shocked to meet Dori as Dori is shocked to find out her sister is married to another woman.
This is a powerful and thought provoking read. Both sisters have shared the same unstable mother and both have been damaged emotionally. Teresa’s constant yearning to have a child and her ongoing frustration at being unable to conceive masks underlying abandonment issues. Dori’s life with her erratic parents has left her with no moral compass and an inability to trust in others. Both are survivors and both are searching for the stability they have missed in their childhood.
Impressive and captivating literary fiction I won’t soon forget.
A copy of this book was given to LezReviewBooks by the publisher for review.
Teresa and Jen are renovating an old motel and trying to get pregnant. When the police show up at Teresa’s door she is as shocked to meet Dori as Dori is shocked to find out her sister is married to another woman.
This is a powerful and thought provoking read. Both sisters have shared the same unstable mother and both have been damaged emotionally. Teresa’s constant yearning to have a child and her ongoing frustration at being unable to conceive masks underlying abandonment issues. Dori’s life with her erratic parents has left her with no moral compass and an inability to trust in others. Both are survivors and both are searching for the stability they have missed in their childhood.
Impressive and captivating literary fiction I won’t soon forget.
A copy of this book was given to LezReviewBooks by the publisher for review.
November 23, 2021
Sheri Reynolds explores family dynamics, mental illness, love and abandonment, guilt and remorse and religious extremism all through unfiltered eyes. Seventeen year old Dori is raised by her mother who struggles with mental illness and addiction while her much older half sister Teresa was left by their mother to be raised by her father. Their lives and where they end up are diametrically different. Nature verses nurture is on full display.
There is a certain magic that Reynolds spins which makes you a bystander to Dori’s imploding life. You cannot turn away. Dori has just the right balance of ethos to attract and repel the reader but never lose their interest. We definitely do not agree with her actions and decisions but we understand how her past has influenced her todays.
Teresa is written as a flawed counter point to Dori. Although living in a happy and long term committed relationship with Jen, she is riddled with self doubt. Teresa’s strong sense of right and wrong is the corner stone from which her life is built on.
The Tender Grave is a riveting and thought provoking read. The prose is as delicious as a meal served by a Michelin Star chef. The descriptive narrative has hidden flavours which surface the deeper you read. The nuances from Reynolds’ word choices tickle your taste buds with surprise and uniqueness. And by the end you are left somewhat saddened and yet grateful to have had the pleasure to feast on The Tender Grave.
I received a free advance review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There is a certain magic that Reynolds spins which makes you a bystander to Dori’s imploding life. You cannot turn away. Dori has just the right balance of ethos to attract and repel the reader but never lose their interest. We definitely do not agree with her actions and decisions but we understand how her past has influenced her todays.
Teresa is written as a flawed counter point to Dori. Although living in a happy and long term committed relationship with Jen, she is riddled with self doubt. Teresa’s strong sense of right and wrong is the corner stone from which her life is built on.
The Tender Grave is a riveting and thought provoking read. The prose is as delicious as a meal served by a Michelin Star chef. The descriptive narrative has hidden flavours which surface the deeper you read. The nuances from Reynolds’ word choices tickle your taste buds with surprise and uniqueness. And by the end you are left somewhat saddened and yet grateful to have had the pleasure to feast on The Tender Grave.
I received a free advance review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 17, 2021
The Tender Grave by Sheri Reynolds is an extremely well-written novel shedding light on some very uncomfortable truths. As the blurb says, “In The Tender Grave, Sheri Reynolds weaves complex themes of parenting, forgiveness, guilt, and accountability into a lyrical and lushly woven tapestry that chronicles our endless search for home, heart and healing.”
The story concerns two sisters who have never met. They were raised separately after their mother left the older sister Teresa with her ex and began a new family with a grifter working as a roving evangelical pastor. At the beginning of the book, Dori, the younger sister is running from the law after she participates in a serious hate crime involving a gay student in her school. She heads to her sister’s address hoping to hide with her, not realizing Teresa is married to a woman. Thus begins a story that is tragic in many ways, and yet uplifting as well.
This is not an easy read, but I think it is an important one. These characters could be drawn from real life, they are so well developed. In fact, I knew a Dori (not her real name). My Dori was raised in some ways similar to the book’s Dori, and ended up in corresponding circumstances in her life. I think that is what connected me to this tale and especially to the character of Dori.
This is an excellent novel with a gripping story and unforgettable characters. I’m glad I was given a chance to read this book.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
The story concerns two sisters who have never met. They were raised separately after their mother left the older sister Teresa with her ex and began a new family with a grifter working as a roving evangelical pastor. At the beginning of the book, Dori, the younger sister is running from the law after she participates in a serious hate crime involving a gay student in her school. She heads to her sister’s address hoping to hide with her, not realizing Teresa is married to a woman. Thus begins a story that is tragic in many ways, and yet uplifting as well.
This is not an easy read, but I think it is an important one. These characters could be drawn from real life, they are so well developed. In fact, I knew a Dori (not her real name). My Dori was raised in some ways similar to the book’s Dori, and ended up in corresponding circumstances in her life. I think that is what connected me to this tale and especially to the character of Dori.
This is an excellent novel with a gripping story and unforgettable characters. I’m glad I was given a chance to read this book.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
March 1, 2021
The Tender Grave is not a fluffy, feel-good tale. But it will make you think about the people you meet, the teenagers you might cross paths with and their families. This novel shines a light on hidden fractures that can influence decisions and sway the course of a life. It brings into sharp focus rifts and chasms in families and what kind of rippling damage a moment of indecision can do.
The main characters in The Tender Grave are far from perfect, and even some of the secondary ones are nearly shattered as well. But their pain and struggles are so real, we almost can't help but watch as they flounder to make themselves better. The watching is almost painful.
But books and essays should make us think, they should force us to study the world around us, as well as ourselves. The Tender Grave is well-written, and I won't lie, it has disturbing moments. Sometimes it's hard to read. But in the quest for redemption and belonging, there is growth. In growth, there is hope and promise. You'll find all of this and more in The Tender Grave.
My thanks to BywaterBooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The main characters in The Tender Grave are far from perfect, and even some of the secondary ones are nearly shattered as well. But their pain and struggles are so real, we almost can't help but watch as they flounder to make themselves better. The watching is almost painful.
But books and essays should make us think, they should force us to study the world around us, as well as ourselves. The Tender Grave is well-written, and I won't lie, it has disturbing moments. Sometimes it's hard to read. But in the quest for redemption and belonging, there is growth. In growth, there is hope and promise. You'll find all of this and more in The Tender Grave.
My thanks to BywaterBooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 24, 2022
It’s always wonderful to read a book by Sheri Reynolds.
March 16, 2021
The Tender Grave by Sheri Reynolds is unbelievably good. The writing is rich and smooth, and nearly impossible to put down. Reynolds’s storytelling stirs things inside its readers and blows them away.
Be forewarned: this is not light-hearted reading for a lazy Sunday. This is gripping fiction. It will prompt readers to consider the weight of duty and responsibility, especially for one’s family when wrong-doing and life-changing consequences are involved. Readers will be captivated as the characters from The Tender Grave grapple with what is right, what is forgivable and what can be leveraged with enough justification.
Reynolds does a wonderful job developing the characters in The Tender Grave. Both of the main characters are flawed, but relatable. Dori is especially flawed; one might even suggest that she’s beyond repair. However, readers do empathize with her. They seem to have a surprising amount of compassion for her, even when her paper thin moral fiber is glaringly exposed. One can attribute this to Reynolds’s finesse and skill as a writer. Using Dori’s family history and backstory, Reynolds paints a vivid picture of who Dori is and what she’s become. This technicolor illustration magnifies Dori’s desperation and loneliness, and peels back the facade she hides behind. Readers come to understand Dori’s fears, and, most importantly, her motivation. Dori is an adapter and a modifier of her situation. It’s often what keeps her alive. It’s evident that Reynolds labored over the creation of this harrowing character. That attention to detail is precisely why Dori emerges as an utterly compelling character.
Teresa is the other main character in this dramatic piece of fiction. She is Dori’s half-sister and she, too, has been marred by the trauma of a painful childhood and an unbalanced mother. Like Dori, this trauma created deep, raw wounds within her. Fortunately, over time, Teresa was able to bury those horrible childhood memories. She graduated from high school, went to college, and married a lovely woman. Together, the two built a life in a small coastal town in Virginia. However, when Dori suddenly and unexpectedly makes an appearance in Teresa’s life, it rattles her to the core. Dori’s presence threatens to unhinge the well-constructed life Teresa has built with her wife. In the span of just a few days, Teresa goes from not knowing Dori, to knowing way more than she ever desired.
I liked the way this story ends. Some might argue that Reynolds leaves readers hanging, but I disagree. This story’s tone and tenor dovetails nicely with its ending. The Tender Grave is a raw and gritty story; it’s ending should be no different. Ultimately, it is very fitting and quite powerful.
Final remarks…
The Tender Grave is a marvelous piece of fiction; the writing is simply exquisite. Its perfectly crafted prose leaves its readers a little breathless at times. With its captivating layers, the storytelling is nothing short of gripping and complex. The result is an absolutely enthralling and engrossing novel. This is a must read, for sure.
Strengths...
Well-written
Well-crafted
Compelling characters
Gripping
Captivating
Powerful
Be forewarned: this is not light-hearted reading for a lazy Sunday. This is gripping fiction. It will prompt readers to consider the weight of duty and responsibility, especially for one’s family when wrong-doing and life-changing consequences are involved. Readers will be captivated as the characters from The Tender Grave grapple with what is right, what is forgivable and what can be leveraged with enough justification.
Reynolds does a wonderful job developing the characters in The Tender Grave. Both of the main characters are flawed, but relatable. Dori is especially flawed; one might even suggest that she’s beyond repair. However, readers do empathize with her. They seem to have a surprising amount of compassion for her, even when her paper thin moral fiber is glaringly exposed. One can attribute this to Reynolds’s finesse and skill as a writer. Using Dori’s family history and backstory, Reynolds paints a vivid picture of who Dori is and what she’s become. This technicolor illustration magnifies Dori’s desperation and loneliness, and peels back the facade she hides behind. Readers come to understand Dori’s fears, and, most importantly, her motivation. Dori is an adapter and a modifier of her situation. It’s often what keeps her alive. It’s evident that Reynolds labored over the creation of this harrowing character. That attention to detail is precisely why Dori emerges as an utterly compelling character.
Teresa is the other main character in this dramatic piece of fiction. She is Dori’s half-sister and she, too, has been marred by the trauma of a painful childhood and an unbalanced mother. Like Dori, this trauma created deep, raw wounds within her. Fortunately, over time, Teresa was able to bury those horrible childhood memories. She graduated from high school, went to college, and married a lovely woman. Together, the two built a life in a small coastal town in Virginia. However, when Dori suddenly and unexpectedly makes an appearance in Teresa’s life, it rattles her to the core. Dori’s presence threatens to unhinge the well-constructed life Teresa has built with her wife. In the span of just a few days, Teresa goes from not knowing Dori, to knowing way more than she ever desired.
I liked the way this story ends. Some might argue that Reynolds leaves readers hanging, but I disagree. This story’s tone and tenor dovetails nicely with its ending. The Tender Grave is a raw and gritty story; it’s ending should be no different. Ultimately, it is very fitting and quite powerful.
Final remarks…
The Tender Grave is a marvelous piece of fiction; the writing is simply exquisite. Its perfectly crafted prose leaves its readers a little breathless at times. With its captivating layers, the storytelling is nothing short of gripping and complex. The result is an absolutely enthralling and engrossing novel. This is a must read, for sure.
Strengths...
Well-written
Well-crafted
Compelling characters
Gripping
Captivating
Powerful
February 13, 2022
A slow moving but beautifully written story of family, loss and guilt. Dori runs away at 17 after kicking and hospitalizing a gay classmate. With little money she heads toward the much older half sister she has never met.
Would have liked the book to continue past its conclusion, a happy ending in fact however unrealistic that would be.
“It was his tone that made her mad – and then ashamed.
Or maybe she had it backward. Which came first? Shame or rage? Was one the mother of the other-or were they more like siblings, even twins?”
Would have liked the book to continue past its conclusion, a happy ending in fact however unrealistic that would be.
“It was his tone that made her mad – and then ashamed.
Or maybe she had it backward. Which came first? Shame or rage? Was one the mother of the other-or were they more like siblings, even twins?”
May 8, 2021
This is the fifth book I’ve read by Sheri Reynolds. I’ve enjoyed all five, but none more than this one. It’s filled with the characteristic natural rhythm that Reynolds always exhibits. It is so beautifully written that sometimes I found myself just floating along with her organic descriptions of beach scenes, flora, fauna and even architectural details.
And the story is unlike any of her previous work - much more rough-around-the-edges than usual. She handles this style with great skill, occasionally leaving you kind of stunned at various points. There is even sort of a co-story running along with the main plot. This treatment will cause you to continue to think about this book for days after you finish it.
In any case, you will be very happy you picked up this book.
And the story is unlike any of her previous work - much more rough-around-the-edges than usual. She handles this style with great skill, occasionally leaving you kind of stunned at various points. There is even sort of a co-story running along with the main plot. This treatment will cause you to continue to think about this book for days after you finish it.
In any case, you will be very happy you picked up this book.
February 3, 2022
The Tender Grave is a complex and beautiful novel about a teenage girl that must come to terms with her part in a horrible act of violence. Without mitigating the seriousness of her crime, we learn Dori is also a victim at the hands of those who should have protected her growing up. Throughout the novel, readers must grapple with the tension of empathizing with Dori's vulnerability without ever excusing her actions. It's difficult and uncomfortable, but that seems to be exactly Reynolds's point. "Most people want things clear-cut and simple: a good guy and a bad guy, a right way and a wrong." Here, we get a reality that is far more complicated and painful, but also healing.
April 30, 2021
Sheri Reynolds does not disappoint. This is a thought provoking story that really brings into focus our need to not make assumptions about the people we meet. Reynolds' writing brings to life her characters and setting. You can smell the Chesapeake Bay and hear the back door closing.
April 10, 2021
Dori is a trouble young teen living with her unstable mother when she takes part in a violent assault against a young gay boy. Her mother helps her to escape justice by sending her to live with her older sister, Teresa, a woman Dori has never met before, a woman who is not only a lesbian but in a committed relationship with her wife, Jen.
The Tender Grave is a beautifully written story that shines a lights on families, how they affect people and actions, both for good and bad. The narrative is split between Dori and Teresa and, in many ways they are very different despite their shared parent. Dori is impulsive and headstrong while Teresa rarely reacts without thinking things through carefully. But, perhaps most important, Dori has been involved in a murder while Teresa is trying desperately to conceive. All of this may make it seem like a very dark novel and, in some places, it is but, overall, it leaves the reader with a sense of hope, that family isn't necessarily destiny and change is possible.
The story is left open at the end, leaving both sister's stories unfinished but that seems fitting here. This is the kind of story that makes you think long after the last page is read and I recommend it highly.
The Tender Grave is a beautifully written story that shines a lights on families, how they affect people and actions, both for good and bad. The narrative is split between Dori and Teresa and, in many ways they are very different despite their shared parent. Dori is impulsive and headstrong while Teresa rarely reacts without thinking things through carefully. But, perhaps most important, Dori has been involved in a murder while Teresa is trying desperately to conceive. All of this may make it seem like a very dark novel and, in some places, it is but, overall, it leaves the reader with a sense of hope, that family isn't necessarily destiny and change is possible.
The story is left open at the end, leaving both sister's stories unfinished but that seems fitting here. This is the kind of story that makes you think long after the last page is read and I recommend it highly.
August 14, 2021
Sheri Reynolds shows off her considerable talent in this story of shifting viewpoints and fractured relationships. After committing a hate crime against a gay classmate, a teenage girl goes on the run and seeks asylum at her estranged half-sister’s home on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Following the “show don’t tell” maxim, Reynolds develops her characters with action and dialogue. Instead of telling the reader that the teenage girl’s mother is a hardscrabble survivor, she shows the mom pulling cash from an envelope designated as the tire fund for her dilapidated car. Before we get too comfortable with that representation of the mom, we see her through her daughter’s eyes and get an image of a lunatic barely holding things together. And then, just when we think that maybe we’ve got the mom figured out, we get another image of her from her other daughter, the one who she’d abandoned years ago; from her we get an image of a mother who impulsively took her child up on the roof during thunderstorms so she wouldn’t be scared of the rain.
That all of these images could reflect the same person is due to Reynolds’ empathetic portrayals. The mother is but a minor character, but she, along with the two daughters at the heart of this story, are shown in full as individuals whose hearts can be generous and kind one moment, spiteful and mean-spirited the next. The story takes many twists and surprising turns, and eschews any sort of happy, Hollywood ending, but throughout there is an underlying theme that life is messy but maybe we can all get through it if we help each other out.
Following the “show don’t tell” maxim, Reynolds develops her characters with action and dialogue. Instead of telling the reader that the teenage girl’s mother is a hardscrabble survivor, she shows the mom pulling cash from an envelope designated as the tire fund for her dilapidated car. Before we get too comfortable with that representation of the mom, we see her through her daughter’s eyes and get an image of a lunatic barely holding things together. And then, just when we think that maybe we’ve got the mom figured out, we get another image of her from her other daughter, the one who she’d abandoned years ago; from her we get an image of a mother who impulsively took her child up on the roof during thunderstorms so she wouldn’t be scared of the rain.
That all of these images could reflect the same person is due to Reynolds’ empathetic portrayals. The mother is but a minor character, but she, along with the two daughters at the heart of this story, are shown in full as individuals whose hearts can be generous and kind one moment, spiteful and mean-spirited the next. The story takes many twists and surprising turns, and eschews any sort of happy, Hollywood ending, but throughout there is an underlying theme that life is messy but maybe we can all get through it if we help each other out.
March 29, 2022
I have been a fan of Sheri Reynolds books since The Rapture of Canaan. What I loved was her writing style, her obvious love of language, particularly when it came to the depth of emotion her characters showed when looking at something "ordinary" and seeing something unique, the kind of language where you underline passages because they stands out. This book was devoid of that style, with each word and description used to further the plot.
Her question seemed to be, "Can we empathize with people even when we don't like them and don't approve of their choices?" She has characters who are not likeable combined with the subjects of bullying, bad parenting, mental illness, assault on a boy who "acted gay," teenage angst and self loathing. These are large subjects with limited space (the book is 204 pages) and a limited caste of characters, so the result is a gift box stuffed to overflowing because the box was not big enough to fit all contents into and tape was in short supply! Disappointing, as it had all the elements for a great book about all the subjects mentioned above.
Her question seemed to be, "Can we empathize with people even when we don't like them and don't approve of their choices?" She has characters who are not likeable combined with the subjects of bullying, bad parenting, mental illness, assault on a boy who "acted gay," teenage angst and self loathing. These are large subjects with limited space (the book is 204 pages) and a limited caste of characters, so the result is a gift box stuffed to overflowing because the box was not big enough to fit all contents into and tape was in short supply! Disappointing, as it had all the elements for a great book about all the subjects mentioned above.
August 30, 2022
Listened to the audiobook. I've enjoyed Ms Reynold's books prior, and figured this would keep me company as I drove. I liked the story - there was so much in it: mental illness, love and forgiveness, family dynamics of many varieties, LGBTQ, small towns, friendship, life lessons...life lessons...life lessons, desire for pregnancy and what can be involved in making that happen, enabling, etc, etc. It all fit together in a rather face paced story that reached the end and left me with..."what?" Okay, I got it, don't get me wrong (not going into detail as I'm not into ruining stories for others...) but I wanted more. I understand the ending, even to the point of why it ended like that - but there were some many subplots left hanging as well. Don't know that a sequel is the answer - as it is like real life....
March 27, 2022
What a beautifully tragic story. I feel conflicted about Dori and about Teresa. They both make me feel sympathy; they both make me feel aggravated. But that's what makes this story so meaningful and complex and authentic.
And there's one character that I cannot forget to mention because he is a steady, fun, pure positive light - young little Randy. The pureness that is Randy's imagination juxtaposes the chaotic tragedy that follows Dori. At least for moments, Dori experiences his joy and innocence even if those moments are fleeting.
That's my greatest takeaway from this story - enjoy moments of pure happiness, even if I know they are destined to be short-lived.
And there's one character that I cannot forget to mention because he is a steady, fun, pure positive light - young little Randy. The pureness that is Randy's imagination juxtaposes the chaotic tragedy that follows Dori. At least for moments, Dori experiences his joy and innocence even if those moments are fleeting.
That's my greatest takeaway from this story - enjoy moments of pure happiness, even if I know they are destined to be short-lived.
July 14, 2021
it was a good book, a fine book. mother hilda was by far the most complex but starred a smaller role - jen & eric i also liked but the most unlikable characters, teresa & dori had the biggest stages. i appreciated the story writing and most of the prose, but all of the action happened in this novel prior to our beginning - the biggest thing that happened was the cat dying. :-/ not a lot to pull from.
December 11, 2021
More like 4.5. A gripping story of a guilt filled 17 year old from a very unstable background. Her involvement in a hate crime causes her to run away and search for a sister she has never met. This book is filled with heavy topics including mental illness, suicidal thoughts, the desire for a child and the misunderstanding and hate directed towards those who are LGBT.
Since this was written by a local author, I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Since this was written by a local author, I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
April 1, 2021
Loved it — it takes a writer with real guts to create a character like Dori and dare you to empathize with her. Dori is a thief, a liar, and possibly a murderer ... but she’s also a young girl with a difficult past and a sense of humor who is capable of real kindness. I was fascinated by her and wanted to know even more about her after reading the final page.
February 2, 2022
Most of what can be said has already been said by other reviewers. I'd like to add that it was interesting to read a book set in my region. Most of what I read clearly illustrated that the author knows the area well. Other than the number of people at MotorWorld, although she definitely was able to describe the feel of it and that was really what mattered. I'm looking forward to our book discussion. 3.5 stars
March 28, 2021
I love this author and waited impatiently for this book to publish. While compact, it is hefty read. Trigger warning for everything really, but it’s not gratuitous. Lyrical and painful. I’m mourning it, yet I do not think I could read it again. All the feels.
May 8, 2022
Truly a great book, one of the best in this category of the year so far. Beautiful imagery made me feel like I was in the middle of their messy lives. Bold characterization. So good I couldn’t look away.
March 21, 2021
Great read
As always, Sheri Reynolds did not disappoint. I was immersed into the lives of these characters. I really enjoyed this book.
As always, Sheri Reynolds did not disappoint. I was immersed into the lives of these characters. I really enjoyed this book.
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April 24, 2021a heartfelt story of picking up the pieces
May 14, 2021
Reynolds' characters are remarkably three-dimensional. Good and bad as we all are. The plot keeps you flipping the pages. I became immersed in this world.
April 26, 2022
Loved this book and the setting of the Eastern Shore it.was written about. Had me captured from.the first page. Thank you, Sherry, for another wonderful read!
January 8, 2024
I love Sheri Reynolds writing. This book was good.
October 2, 2025
Lekker lees
May 14, 2023
Sheri Reynolds takes a chance writing a dislikeable character such as Dori in The Tender Grave. Be warned there are acts of homophobia. There are also racist and homophobic comments. This is not a happy story.
The Tender Grave is the point of view of Dori, who is only seventeen-years-old. Reynolds showcases the dilemma of a teenager growing up influenced by an unstable environment. The choices that can be made in the spur of the moment. Then the permanent impact of those choices.
The Tender Grave also tells the view of Dori’s half-sister Teresa. Teresa has never met Dori until she shows up on her doorstep. This is not the best time as Teresa and her wfie Jen are trying to have a baby. They also purchased a run-down hotel and are remodeling it as their income allows. Dori’s presence brings forth a past that Teresa thought she had dealt with and put aside.
Reynolds doesn’t give us easy answers as Teresa and Dori struggle with how family can impact you and how long you will let it own you.
Reading this story can make you wince, but then so can life. Reynolds does not let up on this realistic story - not even on the last page. The Tender Grave is deep, dark, and honest. Take a deep breath and dive into The Tender Grave, it’s worth the trip.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
The Tender Grave is the point of view of Dori, who is only seventeen-years-old. Reynolds showcases the dilemma of a teenager growing up influenced by an unstable environment. The choices that can be made in the spur of the moment. Then the permanent impact of those choices.
The Tender Grave also tells the view of Dori’s half-sister Teresa. Teresa has never met Dori until she shows up on her doorstep. This is not the best time as Teresa and her wfie Jen are trying to have a baby. They also purchased a run-down hotel and are remodeling it as their income allows. Dori’s presence brings forth a past that Teresa thought she had dealt with and put aside.
Reynolds doesn’t give us easy answers as Teresa and Dori struggle with how family can impact you and how long you will let it own you.
Reading this story can make you wince, but then so can life. Reynolds does not let up on this realistic story - not even on the last page. The Tender Grave is deep, dark, and honest. Take a deep breath and dive into The Tender Grave, it’s worth the trip.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
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