Tenderness

Tenderness by Rowan Beaird is a propulsive psychological thriller that blends cult fiction, family drama and a slow-burn sense of dread, set against the glittering promise of a wedding getaway. Shay has escaped the notorious Synanon, but freedom isn’t a clean break. She’s marrying Andrew, whose old-money family has long summered on a small island off the coast of Virginia, and their guests arrive carrying questions they’d rather not ask out loud. Shay’s former flame Joel turns up with a new girlfriend and unfinished feelings, while Shay’s brother William bristles at the wealth surrounding them and guards a private tragedy. Then a stranger appears, accidents start to stack up, and the island begins to feel less like an escape than a trap. Perfect for readers who love twisty domestic suspense, cult secrets and taut holiday settings where everyone has something to hide. Slip away to Tenderness and see what follows Shay to the shoreline.