“The human being is the cause of all evil in this world. We are our own virus.”
If you’ve just finished Tender is the Flesh and are still reeling from its dark, disturbing vision of society, you’re not alone. This unsettling dystopian novel leaves a lingering impression thanks to its provocative themes of human consumption, dehumanisation, and moral decay. But, what do you read after a book like that? Here at What We Reading, we’ve rounded up the best books like Tender is the Flesh – intense, thought-provoking, and often deeply disturbing stories that explore similar ideas. Whether you’re drawn to dystopian horror, dark speculative fiction, or books that mess you up in the best ways, these reads offer haunting worlds and chilling social commentary. Be warned, though, from dystopias criticising capitalism to unsettling literary fiction that upends your worldview, these novels aren’t for the faint of heart. Let’s dive into the darkness.
Tender Is The Flesh Summary
Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans, though it’s been a long time since they were called that. His wife has left him, his father is plunging further into dementia, and Marcos does all he can to avoid having to think about what he does for a living. After all, it all happened so quickly. First, it was reported a strange new virus made all animal meat poisonous to humans. Next, the government sanctioned the “Transition”, legalising the consumption of human meat (dubbed “special meat”).
Then, one day, Marcos is given a live specimen of the finest quality. Though he’s aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden on pain of death, little by little he begins to treat her like a human being. And soon, he finds himself tortured by what has been lost – and what might still be saved.
The Eyes Are The Best Part – Monika Kim
First up on our list of books like Tender is the Flesh is Monika Kim’s feminist psychological horror novel, The Eyes Are the Best Part. Ji-won’s life is upended by her appa’s extramarrital affair. With her family reeling and her own life spiralling downward, she finds herself increasingly overwhelmed by horrifying, yet enticing, dreams about her mother’s new obnoxious boyfriend, George.
George doesn’t deserve anything from her family. Ji-won will make sure of that. And, no matter how many victims pile up around her campus or how many people she must deceive and manipulate, Ji-won’s increasing hunger and rage deserve to be sated. A brilliant, inventive and subversive novel about a young woman unravelling, The Eyes Are the Best Part follows a family falling apart, and struggling to find a way back to one another.
The Vegetarian – Han Kang
Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived perfectly ordinary, controlled lives. Yet the dreams – invasive images of blood and brutality – torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and swear off eating meat altogether. It’s a simple act of independence, but it soon begins to interrupt her marriage and sets in motion an increasingly grotesque series of events at home.
As her husband, her brother-in-law, and sister all fight to reassert control of her, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the decision that has become sacred to her. Soon their attempts become more desperate, subjecting first her mind then her body to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiralling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement not only from those closest to her, but also from herself. Similar to Tender is the Flesh, The Vegetarian is a disturbing tale of power, obsession, and one individual’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Vegetarian
A Certain Hunger – Chelsea G. Summers
Food critic Dorothy Daniels loves what she does. Discerning, meticulous, and very, very intelligent, Dorothy’s mastery of the culinary arts means she is more than able to whip up a heavenly meal than any of the chefs she writes about. Dorothy loves sex just as much as she does food. And whilst she’s yet to find a long-term partner, she happily indulges in her two great pleasures whilst frequently travelling between Manhattan and Italy.
Yet there is something within Dorothy that is different from everyone else and, having suppressed it long enough, she begins to embrace what makes her uniquely, terrifyingly herself. From an idyllic farm-to-table upbringing to plunging an ice pick in a man’s neck, Chelsea Summers’ A Certain Hunger is a satire of early foodieism and a critique of how gender is defined, perfect for anyone who loved Tender is the Flesh.
Meat – Joseph D’Lacey
Meat by Joseph D’Lacey is a disturbing dystopian novel that immerses readers in the horrors of industrialised meat production and religious fanaticism. Set in the brutal town of Abyrne, society revolves around one sacred, unquestionable act: the consumption of meat. The townspeople worship the processing plant as holy, and the “Farm” provides the flesh that sustains all their lives, though it comes at a harrowing cost. When one man begins to question the system and uncover the true nature of what they eats, he risks everything to expose the horrifying truth.
This deeply unsettling speculative horror book shares many of the same themes as Tender is the Flesh, including dehumanisation, blind conformity, and the ethical collapse of a society built on flesh. With intense social commentary, grotesque imagery, and a dark, oppressive atmosphere, Meat is the perfect follow-up for anyone who loved Agustina Bazterrica’s work.
The Lamb – Lucy Rose
Margot and Mama have lived by the forest for as long as Margot can remember. When Margot is not at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Mama calls them ‘strays’. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she picks apart their bodies and toasts them off with vegetable oil.
But Mama’s want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a beautiful, white-toothed stray named Eden turns up during the middle of a snowstorm, Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, unpick her own desires, and make her own bid for freedom. One of the best books like Tender is the Flesh, The Lamb is a gothic coming-of-age story that explores how women swallow their anger and animal instincts, and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it.
Monstrilio- Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased eleven-year-old son Santiago’s lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into a carnivorous little Monstrilio she keeps hidden within the walls of her family’s crumbling estate in Mexico City. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago it once was, but his innate impulses threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life.
A thought-provoking meditation on grief, acceptance, and the monstrous side of love and loyalty, Gerardo Sámano Córdova’s debut novel blends bold imagination and evocative prose with deep emotional rigour in a way that any fan of Tender is the Flesh is sure to recognise.
The Unit – Ninni Holmqvist
In a future where people are valued only for their contributions to the economy or reproduction, anyone deemed “dispensable” is sent to live in the luxurious Second Reserve Bank Unit. There, residents are pampered with comfort, healthcare, and companionship – until they are called upon to “donate” their organs and bodies for medical experiments, all in service to the more “useful” members of society.
Similar to Tender is the Flesh, The Unit is a dystopian novel that uses a calm, clinical tone to deliver devastating emotional weight and haunting social commentary. It raises disturbing questions about bodily autonomy, the cost of compliance, and what it means to live a meaningful life. If you’re on the hunt for unsettling books like Tender is the Flesh that pair introspective literary fiction with dystopian terrors, The Unit needs to be on your TBR pile.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
