Tender is a very misleading title. The most used word in the book is "fuck". Most of the characters use it. The portrayal of casual sex, shagging, is even encouraged by the parents of the college students.
The reason that Sharon Stone showed herself in Fatal Attraction was to promote sales. I think it is a shame that reviewers of this book are blindsighted by the plot and the last chapters of poetic language. I am a former English teacher and attorney. Just because we have freedom of speech doesn't mean that we should forget our civility and our literary heritage.