What an amazing short graphic novel! There is plenty of body horror and it you kind of feel like you're trapped in a nightmare. It deals with grief and mental illness. The illustrations were well done. I don't know why, but this gave me The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Stetson meets Uzumaki by Junji Ito vibes. This was a quick but very powerful story about society's expectations of women and the mental trauma that can be caused by them.

Carolanne and Lee fall in love. They get married, she gets pregnant, leaves her job, plays homemaker - everything’s going perfectly! But who’s that strange shadowy figure living in the nearby apartment that haunts Carolanne…

Wow. I’m not sure what I was expecting with this one, having never read anything by Beth Hetland before, but I definitely didn’t expect what Tender turned out to be. It’s certainly not the relationship drama that it starts off as and I feel like the twists are too good to even hint at in a review so, if you’re intrigued by this one - and I do highly recommend this comic, which is easily, already, one of 2024’s best comics - go into it blind and let the story take you where it’ll take you - all I’ll say is, it goes to some really, really dark places in that final act, so be warned.

Otherwise, I’ll talk a bit more about the book below, which touches on SPOILER-y stuff, so if that doesn’t bother you, or you’ve already read it, here begins the review proper:

The cover already tells you this is an unusual book, not about domestic bliss, and that, along with those opening couple pages, meant that I could guess immediately where the story was headed. It’s a testament to Hetland’s storytelling though that predictability in no way impinges on the enjoyment of the book - seeing Carolanne’s descent is never less than completely engrossing to follow.

Hetland skilfully uses the comics medium to foreshadow Carolanne’s doomed lifepath, highlighting moments of reality breaking through to what is clearly someone living in happier times, in the past, with intrusive bright blues - look out for those panels where Carolanne feels unnerved by something and the appearance of the bright blue shading; they’re telling you that Carolanne’s mind is subconsciously reminding her of her horrible present life.

Hetland’s art style (which is excellent by the way) really sells the final act beautifully. Gone are the clear lines, replaced by shaky, ethereal lines and overlapping text boxes to reflect Carolanne’s complete break with reality.

The story starts off happy, showing us Carolanne and Lee’s courtship, etc. but it wouldn’t be much of a story if it was just about a happy marriage, would it? And sure enough Hetland suggests trouble is in the works with splash pages showing Carolanne’s vivid, disturbing nightmares.

I wonder if this is meant to be a modern witch’s story. There’s lot of clues dotted throughout the book. Carolanne’s weird behaviour, eating her own flesh, nails and hair; her black and white cat (a familiar?) and it's weird glowing eyes; the mention of tarot reading in her friend’s circle (coven?); her one friend who looks like a cartoon witch in comparison to her other friends who are drawn more realistically; the night she burns wedding invites in a stockpot (cauldron?) to make Lee marry her, like she’s casting a spell - which works.

But that’s one of many ways you could read the story. It could be the story of a tragic marriage; the story of untreated depression; the story of how social media/peer pressure forces us to pine for a perfect life that isn’t attainable for everyone and what happens to us when we fall short; an inspired, great horror story; or all of the above!

Tender is also one of the few books that lives up to its label of “thriller” - I read the book in one sitting, it was that compelling. An absolute powerhouse of a comic - bravo Beth Hetland, you’ve made one of the best comics, if not the best, of the year. Tender is a virtuoso comic - do yourself a favour and check it out for an astonishing read!

An interesting storyline for a graphic novel that unfortunately wasn’t fully developed. Both the plot and the characters had zero depth and it seems like the author didn’t assign any rhyme or reason as to why the story was progressing the way it was. I always appreciate a short read, and Tender was exactly that. However, the story was bigger than what the length of what the final product ended up being.

The illustrations were far too simplistic devoid of a style and trended towards being difficult to read off of the page. The illustrated dream sequences were the only highlight of the novel. I wish the author had incorporated more of that specific illustration style to the rest of the novel. The overall end product felt very rushed and unfinished.

Tender is a graphic novel set in Chicago about Carolanne, a woman who like many people sets goals for her life. Her goals include a house, husband, children--the perfect life! why not me?!--and sure enough, there's a sweet guy, who loves her! One piece of the puzzle! But when things begin to unravel, and hard things happen to her, as they will, her mental health unravels as well, and a carefully-paced and well drawn sad story evolves, complete with body horror. I thought it was a really well done sad/scary story which maybe (because it is a woman with rather conventional domestic goals), speaks to feminist themes (on the expectations for women, or the expectations they set for themselves?). I thought it was--because it is psychological horror--somewhat disturbing, which is also to say well done for what it sets out to do.

Whoa, it's surprisingly dark. It begins with Carolanne, happily married and pregnant. The narrative is told with simplicity and impeccable timing. After a while, Hetland takes readers into the past to illustrate how the idylla started. It's during this journey that you realize things aren't what they seem on the surface, or in the Instagram posts so important to the protagonist.

Carolanne is obsessed with an image of a perfect, happy life and yearns to control the uncontrollable. Once she experiences a devastating loss, the story transforms into one of obsession and body horror. It's a quick yet engaging read, well-crafted and compelling.

I genuinely did not like this nor do I believe I enjoy this genre. It is a very quick read. The story made sense in the beginning but then I was lost when the dreams were happening and how they correlate with the story. Definitely recommend reviewing trigger warnings before reading. Overall, this wasn’t for me, but if you like psychological thriller/horror you may enjoy this.

I honestly didn’t even realize this was a graphic novel. It ended up being my first horror graphic novel. I was pleasantly surprised. The illustrations were beautiful and conveyed a very dark and eerie sense. The dialogue was perfect for giving context without being over the top. I really enjoyed the story and it was certainly very sad and emotional. I think my only criticism is the jumping around. I liked how it was done however it wasn’t always clear and became hard to follow at some parts. That all being said, it is a must read in one sitting, I couldn’t stop once I started.

Tender is an unnerving story of societal expectations of women, jealousy, control, and madness. I was completely engrossed in reading the story and flew through it in one sitting. The ending sent chills up my spine, and I haven’t had a physical reaction to a book in a long time. I chuckled at how absolutely insane the main character Carolanne, acted; I felt sad and angry at other points and cringed every time she picked and pulled at her body.

The illustrations of picking were upsetting to look at; I had to pause and stop myself mid-pull, realizing how awful my own anxious picking and biting habits really are (my husband points it out and encourages me to stop all the time). I’m not squeamish at all when it comes to gore, but there is something about the way that Carolanne’s self-mutilation felt intensely uncomfortable to read. Hetland makes fantastic use of color and lines to illustrate Carolanne’s shifting state of mind.

Equally effective was that the story centered on performative femininity. Carolanne is single-minded in achieving all the hallmarks of womanhood: building a circle of gal pals, finding a boyfriend, having a dream wedding, getting pregnant, and quitting her job to become a perfect housewife. Every step feels forced and unnatural. This book was positively ghastly, and I ate it up.

Such a unique take on a story focussed on self control. The main character is obsessed with the idea of a perfect life to where she manipulates the world around her to fit in with her view. It starts off innocent and escalades into something disturbing. It starts of light hearted with some comedic aspects but turns dark and unnerving pretty quickly. Its easy to see the character begin to unravel and the conclusion is gruesome to witness. The artwork works perfectly in telling this unusual story. There is a trigger for body horror as some scenes may be difficult for some readers.

Disturbing and darkly funny! Lots of body horror so reader beware if you are sensitive to that. Loved the social commentary here.

A woman obsessed with appearances and keeping her life 'on track' finds herself suffering a loss that impacts her relationships and mental health.

The novel left me feeling unsettled in the way only body horror can. It has everything that I look for in short form horror.

In this story, we're following Carolanne, a woman obsessed with creating the picture-perfect life. But when her body "betrays" her and she suffers a great loss, her lack of control spirals into harming herself in an effort to have control of something.

First off, I think that the synopsis provides a bit more information than it should for a story such as this, but you should at least be aware of some content warnings going into this if that's important for you. (I've added them at the end of the review.) I just would have liked to make my own observations throughout reading than having it always swayed from the synopsis - hopefully that makes sense.

Anyways, onto the story itself - it's an interesting one. And DEFINITELY dark. I appreciate how much of the story is told in the art than in the dialogue itself as it's a bit more impact with a story such as this, in my opinion. The artwork was haunting and the images of self-harm in particular had my skin crawling. And while I was often shocked by the actions of Carolanne, I also understood them - through my own experience as a woman.

Not sure what else to say about this one as it didn't have a big lasting impression on me, but it did leave behind some lingering feelings of discomfort from the imagery. Overall, I'd recommend it and think that in print, it'd be appreciated even more!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy!

Content warnings: self-harm, loss of a child (stillborn), body horror, gore, animal death (occurs off page)

This graphic novel was indeed graphic. My biggest issue with this was feeling like things were happening for no reason. I wanted to feel connected to the main character, but the novel spends such a short amount of time describing her that I didn't feel enough empathy for her situation. The way the graphic novel is arranged makes it difficult to understand where you are in the timeline. The jumping around from scene to scene makes it hard to really bond with any of the characters.

This unique graphic novel is just as sad as it is disturbing. It is a little bit gory, and there’s one part that I found upsetting.

I thought the writing was really good, as well as the illustrations.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

I really liked this graphic novel. Creepy and unsettling in the best way. I love how the art style changes as the book changes.

Beth Hetland's graphic novel debut, 'Tender,' is a psychological thriller that delves into the dangers of societal expectations and the destructive effects of trying to control the uncontrollable. Set in Chicago, the story follows Carolanne, a woman who strives for the perfect life - a perfect wedding, husband, family, and pregnancy. However, her obsessive need for control ultimately leads to her downfall.

Carolanne is a complex and deeply flawed character, driven by her desire for perfection and control. As the story unfolds, we see her carefully performing her roles as a gal pal, bestie, girlfriend, wife, and expectant mother, manipulating those around her to get the results she wants. Her constant need for dominance and control over everything in her life becomes her undoing, as she spirals into a delusional state after suffering a devastating loss.

Hetland's use of body horror in the story is both shocking and thought-provoking. One of the most striking aspects of 'Tender' is Hetland's use of illustrations. As a cartoonist and educator, her artwork is both beautiful and haunting, perfectly capturing the dark and unsettling tone of the story. The use of muted colors and stark lines adds to the overall sense of unease and tension throughout the book.

What sets 'Tender' apart from other body horror stories is that it is written and illustrated by a woman. Hetland's perspective brings a unique and refreshing take on the genre, breaking down the stereotypes of male-dominated horror. She uses the genre to tackle important themes such as societal expectations, self-sacrifice, and female empowerment.

In conclusion, 'Tender' is a gripping and thought-provoking read that will leave you unsettled long after you finish it. Hetland's writing and illustrations are a perfect match, creating a powerful and visceral reading experience. This graphic novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone looking for a fresh take on the body horror genre.

4.5 This is quite sad because it's more relatable than it's not. The message can be understood plainly by women from their early 20s to older even after menopause. The idea of living a life filled with expectations, unable to control what is around us, not even our bodies that sometimes betray us in the worst possible way. Not having a person around who can truly understand what one is going through, although we've been there one way or another. The nightmares that more and more become heavier and more crude and nonsensical but that makes all sense. It is a sad lonely journey for women sometimes, and very true.
The art format and almost silent pages are perfect for this story.
Themes: Friendship, job, relationships, marriage, wishing and expectations, loss of a child, endless work of a housewife, routine, sadness, depression, therapy, loneliness, self-punishment, mental health.
Thank you, Publisher and Netgalley for this digital advance readers copy.

I’ll begin with this, I rarely read Graphic Novels. I found the premise interesting. I read this novel in a few minutes. I started reading this and wondering what I was reading. It caught me by surprise. A story of a woman who is obsessed with having a perfect life and getting impatient that she hasn’t achieved her dream. She starts doing strange things to herself and starts hallucinating things. When her dreams of her “perfect” life seems to comes to fruition, things start going wrong. I get the what the author was trying to do here, to get the point across. The artwork added to the story in the same way. This novel captures what this character was going through and her obsessions. An interesting story and it will get the reader thinking. Kudos to the author.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gritty and gruesome. A woman tries to create the perfect life for herself. She wants a home, a husband, and a child. Unfortunately when her dream unravels so does her mind and she descends into serious self harm. The descent is slow and creeps up on the reader and this adds to the horror. Her friends know that something is wrong but they don’t know how wrong.

The best aspect of this story is how it manages to convey the horror and pain through the artwork. It doesn’t have a lot of prose which is excellent. The story is told through the artwork in a way that grips the reader. It is also based on circumstances that are familiar in our competitive social media world. What is revealed on the surface is not what might be happening in the mind. If you like psychological drama this is a good one.

Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Honestly, this has to be one of the best horror graphic novels of all time. It was so cleverly done that I cannot help but applaud both the author and the artist. The story really hooked me in and soon enough I was engrossed in it. A hauntingly beautiful depiction of the human obsession with perfection.