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The Found Object Society
An atmospheric speculative suspense novel following a mysterious society offering its members the chance to relive the death of another person whenever they want—and the self-destructive woman determined to uncover its secrets
This ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel fiction including Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Gareth Brown’s The Book of Doors
For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.
A fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, The Found Object Society examines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma—all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk’s wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.
This ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel fiction including Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Gareth Brown’s The Book of Doors
For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.
A fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, The Found Object Society examines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma—all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk’s wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.
448 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
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13671 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 28, 2025
This book hit me like a ton of bricks 🤯
Michelle Maryk’s THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY has been on my TBR since 2024! I was so excited to see what this debut had to offer, so I jumped at the chance when offered a copy—thank you @kccpr @hyperionavebooks for this gifted copy!
Our main character Greta is wealthy and messy, with a drinking problem and grief that is hard to overcome. After a near death experience, Greta is offered the chance to join The Found Object Society. This book has such a cool idea at its core. Objects can hold the final moments of the people who died with them, and those moments become these quick, vivid little trips through different times and lives. The main character is not likable, but I enjoyed seeing her antics. The bigger plot can feel a bit light, but the voyages (IYKYK) themselves are the real draw. They move fast, stay interesting, and kept me wanting to know where we would end up next.
Michelle Maryk’s debut mixes grief, addiction, mystery, and a strange underground world built around chasing one last high. The Found Object Society gives Blake Crouch’s Recursion vibes meets The Substance (kinda, you’ll see when you hear about the voyages experience) in this speculative science fiction saga. If you like stories that are a little weird, a little dark, and full of feeling, this one will definitely be a book to consider picking up. STARS: 4, PUB: 2/10/26
Michelle Maryk’s THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY has been on my TBR since 2024! I was so excited to see what this debut had to offer, so I jumped at the chance when offered a copy—thank you @kccpr @hyperionavebooks for this gifted copy!
Our main character Greta is wealthy and messy, with a drinking problem and grief that is hard to overcome. After a near death experience, Greta is offered the chance to join The Found Object Society. This book has such a cool idea at its core. Objects can hold the final moments of the people who died with them, and those moments become these quick, vivid little trips through different times and lives. The main character is not likable, but I enjoyed seeing her antics. The bigger plot can feel a bit light, but the voyages (IYKYK) themselves are the real draw. They move fast, stay interesting, and kept me wanting to know where we would end up next.
Michelle Maryk’s debut mixes grief, addiction, mystery, and a strange underground world built around chasing one last high. The Found Object Society gives Blake Crouch’s Recursion vibes meets The Substance (kinda, you’ll see when you hear about the voyages experience) in this speculative science fiction saga. If you like stories that are a little weird, a little dark, and full of feeling, this one will definitely be a book to consider picking up. STARS: 4, PUB: 2/10/26
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had so many mixed feelings while reading this book (and even more after finishing it- seriously, what was that ending?). The writing was amazing and loved the story so much. However, I hated the main character immediately. Of course, it's not necessarily to like the main character for the book to be good. I just don't understand people who drive drunk (obviously this is fiction but so many people do this). Then replaces it with another addiction.
Also, I just don't understand why you would want see the deaths of other people. The only reason I can think is to solve a murder, but I am not sure that I would want to put myself through that. Let someone else do it. Of course, these are rich people, and as we all know, rich people think differently than regular people. Not just rich. The $500,000 is spare change rich.
The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, which, even though I probably would have chosen a different direction, at least it wasn't predictable.
Definitely would recommend this book.
Also, I just don't understand why you would want see the deaths of other people. The only reason I can think is to solve a murder, but I am not sure that I would want to put myself through that. Let someone else do it. Of course, these are rich people, and as we all know, rich people think differently than regular people. Not just rich. The $500,000 is spare change rich.
The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, which, even though I probably would have chosen a different direction, at least it wasn't predictable.
Definitely would recommend this book.
February 8, 2026
Holy cow! A twisty fever dream of a read, The Found Object Society was an intoxicating trip into one truly talented mind. You see, between the onion-like plot, real-life traumas, and the touch of the supernatural, it was a mind-blowing premise that was also beyond original. Giving me a Blake Crouch-like time-travel vibe plus the feeling that I just watched The Matrix, this genre-bending mashup was everything I didn’t know that I needed. Combining magical realism, historical fiction, suspense, and speculative thrills into one jaw-dropping premise, it took me out at the knees by the time I reached the final earth-shattering chapter. Yup. It was one of those kinds of conclusions. Perfectly plotted and wrapped up with precision, I ended up with a Cheshire Cat-like grin cemented to my face thanks to a finale that made me rethink the whole flippin’ thing. Bravo, Ms. Maryk!
So what else did I love about this stunning debut novel? Well, to say that nothing was as it seemed would be the understatement of the year. Dark and twisted, but also thought-provoking in the extreme, it explored themes such as guilt, love, morality, and addiction with a deft hand. You see, despite the fact that the narrator was hardly endearing and the historical “visits” went on a bit too long, this was a rollercoaster ride that I couldn’t put down. After all, the suspense, tension, and dread oozed from the pages and made me want to know all of the whos, whats, and whys of this razor-sharp novel. All said and done, if you loved The Book of Doors but you also like your tales with an even darker feel, this one is sure to whisk you off your feet in no time at all. Complex, spine-tingling, and poignant, it was a truly unputdownable read with a *chef’s kiss* conclusion. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.
Thank you Michelle Maryk and Hyperion Avenue for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 10, 2026
Content warning: drunk driving, violence, blood, murder, addiction, sexual content, grief, suicidal thoughts, car accident, death of a parent, death of a child
So what else did I love about this stunning debut novel? Well, to say that nothing was as it seemed would be the understatement of the year. Dark and twisted, but also thought-provoking in the extreme, it explored themes such as guilt, love, morality, and addiction with a deft hand. You see, despite the fact that the narrator was hardly endearing and the historical “visits” went on a bit too long, this was a rollercoaster ride that I couldn’t put down. After all, the suspense, tension, and dread oozed from the pages and made me want to know all of the whos, whats, and whys of this razor-sharp novel. All said and done, if you loved The Book of Doors but you also like your tales with an even darker feel, this one is sure to whisk you off your feet in no time at all. Complex, spine-tingling, and poignant, it was a truly unputdownable read with a *chef’s kiss* conclusion. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.
Thank you Michelle Maryk and Hyperion Avenue for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 10, 2026
Content warning: drunk driving, violence, blood, murder, addiction, sexual content, grief, suicidal thoughts, car accident, death of a parent, death of a child
October 13, 2025
2 ⭐ I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy from NetGalley, but unfortunately the ARC was almost unreadable due to formatting. Words, lines, punctuation bled together making for a really unenjoyable reading experience. Also I found the MFC to be unlikeable, which makes it hard for me to get into a book. The plot was interesting but the format I received (and I tried redownloading, reading on different format, etc) was extremely distracting.
July 7, 2025
The Found Object Society is a mindwreck in the very best way. Wholly original and intoxicatingly hypnotic, Maryk’s debut will sweep you into a lush and dangerous world where nothing is as it seems. Prepare to be spellbound.
July 20, 2025
4/10.
I received early access to this book on Netgalley.
The Found Object Society by Michelle Maryk is a speculative suspense novel following Greta Davenport after she is contacted by the titular society and invited to join other extremely wealthy people who are running from their pasts by indulging in "voyages," experiences of inhabiting the body of someone who died a traumatic death in the days or weeks leading up to that death. I was intrigued by this premise and excited to see where it was taken by the story, but ended up not feeling that the prose or characters lived up to the premise. The writing was very breezy and readable, but devoid of any of the elevated diction that I feel would better have served the setting and premise. I'm told how incredibly mysterious, intriguing, and enigmatic the society is, but I was never really made to feel it. I consistently did not enjoy the dialogue and did not engage very strongly with any character's voices. One exception is the story of Lassiter, whose deeply disturbing point of view and story effectively got under my skin in the way a good thriller does. It made me wish the rest of the book was more of a thriller, rather than a speculative novel, because I never felt that the latter was executed in a compelling way. Greta is an out-of-touch, super-rich woman whose perspective we follow throughout the book. She is someone I never related to, or wanted to root for, which is fine, but when an unrelatable/selfish character is the PoV I like to see more over-the-top aspects of the characters personality or situation to be compelled by. However, it felt like most of the book treated Greta like a relatable protagonist, rather than leaning into her role as an example of how sick people become when they have that much money. The result is that I found Greta a very bland character to follow, even through a plot that had a lot of aspects I was interested in. The plot was fairly strong, but I felt that the ending missed the mark. This one wasn't for me, but I might still recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced contemporary speculative stories with more colloquial prose.
I received early access to this book on Netgalley.
The Found Object Society by Michelle Maryk is a speculative suspense novel following Greta Davenport after she is contacted by the titular society and invited to join other extremely wealthy people who are running from their pasts by indulging in "voyages," experiences of inhabiting the body of someone who died a traumatic death in the days or weeks leading up to that death. I was intrigued by this premise and excited to see where it was taken by the story, but ended up not feeling that the prose or characters lived up to the premise. The writing was very breezy and readable, but devoid of any of the elevated diction that I feel would better have served the setting and premise. I'm told how incredibly mysterious, intriguing, and enigmatic the society is, but I was never really made to feel it. I consistently did not enjoy the dialogue and did not engage very strongly with any character's voices. One exception is the story of Lassiter, whose deeply disturbing point of view and story effectively got under my skin in the way a good thriller does. It made me wish the rest of the book was more of a thriller, rather than a speculative novel, because I never felt that the latter was executed in a compelling way. Greta is an out-of-touch, super-rich woman whose perspective we follow throughout the book. She is someone I never related to, or wanted to root for, which is fine, but when an unrelatable/selfish character is the PoV I like to see more over-the-top aspects of the characters personality or situation to be compelled by. However, it felt like most of the book treated Greta like a relatable protagonist, rather than leaning into her role as an example of how sick people become when they have that much money. The result is that I found Greta a very bland character to follow, even through a plot that had a lot of aspects I was interested in. The plot was fairly strong, but I felt that the ending missed the mark. This one wasn't for me, but I might still recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced contemporary speculative stories with more colloquial prose.
December 2, 2025
This book is amazing. The most bizarre, unique plot ever but everything makes sense in its context, and wonderfully written. I couldn’t stop reading it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This feels like a NaNoWriMo project that didn't get the editorial attention it really needed. The premise is interesting and genuinely unique (comparisons to Midnight Library only make sense at the absolute most superficial level), and the plotting and pacing are thoughtfully executed. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the prose, which was competent at best and unbelievably bad in its worst moments. That plus the sloppiness of the research make THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY about half the book it could have been with a stronger editor.
This feels like a NaNoWriMo project that didn't get the editorial attention it really needed. The premise is interesting and genuinely unique (comparisons to Midnight Library only make sense at the absolute most superficial level), and the plotting and pacing are thoughtfully executed. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the prose, which was competent at best and unbelievably bad in its worst moments. That plus the sloppiness of the research make THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY about half the book it could have been with a stronger editor.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Greta is ultra wealthy. She feels extreme guilt over her parent's deaths twenty years ago. Nothing gives her pleasure. So when she gets invited to be a member of the Found Object Society, she is intrigued. By choosing an object, the person can relive that person's death. But Greta has other plans...
I LOVED this book. I read it in great, greedy gulps. Such an original concept! I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly, highly recommended.
I LOVED this book. I read it in great, greedy gulps. Such an original concept! I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly, highly recommended.
July 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my review!
The Lost Object Society seems to take the phrase “I’ve lost someone” and stretch it into an allegory of emotional disconnection, grief, and the ache that follows the death of a loved one. The theme is clever and the feeling of “lostness” (people, self, time) is present throughout. The story has something to say about what happens when you try to sidestep pain rather than confront it, leaning into vices like sex, substance use, and emotional detachment as a way to create distance from the person or thing you’ve “lost”.
The plot and pacing are major strengths here. I felt like the novel moved quickly and the themes are present enough where I wanted to stick around to see what it was all leading to. Unfortunately, the writing itself doesn’t rise to the level of the ideas it wants to explore. Dialogue often feels unnatural, with the main character Greta using cringeworthy phrases like “doodads,” “gobbledygook,” and “high school steadies”. Greta talks about her Mercedes as a “Merc” and it just feels jarring and distracting. She’s supposed to be a hot, rich, 40-year-old and her inner monologue feels very “boomer”.
The repeated mention of a $500k payment to the Society is also hard to ignore, especially because it doesn’t seem to serve the story meaningfully. We’re already aware the main characters move in elite, wealthy circles so the emphasis on this astronomical figure feels unnecessary. If this group is meant to explore collective grief or healing, making it only accessible to the ultra-rich feels tonally dissonant and undercuts the emotional weight the book is trying to deliver. Why would only the elite be given the chance for redemption on a major loss?
Structurally, The Lost Object Society reads more like a screenplay than a fully fleshed-out novel. Descriptions of settings are thin, inner monologues lack depth, and in the final pages I found myself completely lost. The ending leaves more confusion than closure, and not in a deliberate, thought-provoking way.
Ultimately, there’s a compelling story here and I’m very impressed that it is a debut novel. The themes resonate, and the pacing keeps things moving, but the execution in character voice, dialogue, and worldbuilding leaves some to be desired.
The Lost Object Society seems to take the phrase “I’ve lost someone” and stretch it into an allegory of emotional disconnection, grief, and the ache that follows the death of a loved one. The theme is clever and the feeling of “lostness” (people, self, time) is present throughout. The story has something to say about what happens when you try to sidestep pain rather than confront it, leaning into vices like sex, substance use, and emotional detachment as a way to create distance from the person or thing you’ve “lost”.
The plot and pacing are major strengths here. I felt like the novel moved quickly and the themes are present enough where I wanted to stick around to see what it was all leading to. Unfortunately, the writing itself doesn’t rise to the level of the ideas it wants to explore. Dialogue often feels unnatural, with the main character Greta using cringeworthy phrases like “doodads,” “gobbledygook,” and “high school steadies”. Greta talks about her Mercedes as a “Merc” and it just feels jarring and distracting. She’s supposed to be a hot, rich, 40-year-old and her inner monologue feels very “boomer”.
The repeated mention of a $500k payment to the Society is also hard to ignore, especially because it doesn’t seem to serve the story meaningfully. We’re already aware the main characters move in elite, wealthy circles so the emphasis on this astronomical figure feels unnecessary. If this group is meant to explore collective grief or healing, making it only accessible to the ultra-rich feels tonally dissonant and undercuts the emotional weight the book is trying to deliver. Why would only the elite be given the chance for redemption on a major loss?
Structurally, The Lost Object Society reads more like a screenplay than a fully fleshed-out novel. Descriptions of settings are thin, inner monologues lack depth, and in the final pages I found myself completely lost. The ending leaves more confusion than closure, and not in a deliberate, thought-provoking way.
Ultimately, there’s a compelling story here and I’m very impressed that it is a debut novel. The themes resonate, and the pacing keeps things moving, but the execution in character voice, dialogue, and worldbuilding leaves some to be desired.
August 15, 2025
Out February 10th, 2026
If you’ve ever wandered into a thrift store and felt like every dusty trinket had a secret story to tell, this book is your vibe. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and just a little bit mysterious—like a scavenger hunt for meaning in the middle of everyday chaos. The characters are delightfully offbeat, each carrying their own emotional baggage (and sometimes literal baggage), and the way their lives intersect feels like fate with a sense of humor.
There’s something quietly magical about how the story unfolds—like watching a mosaic come together piece by piece. It’s not flashy or dramatic, but it sneaks up on you with its charm. The relationships are messy in the best way, full of awkward moments, unexpected connections, and the kind of vulnerability that makes you want to hug a stranger (or at least text someone you haven’t talked to in a while).
This one’s for the sentimental scavengers, the people who keep old ticket stubs and believe in second chances. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes the most meaningful things are the ones we almost overlook. And honestly, it’ll make you want to start your own found object society—just to see what stories might be hiding in plain sight.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC!
If you’ve ever wandered into a thrift store and felt like every dusty trinket had a secret story to tell, this book is your vibe. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and just a little bit mysterious—like a scavenger hunt for meaning in the middle of everyday chaos. The characters are delightfully offbeat, each carrying their own emotional baggage (and sometimes literal baggage), and the way their lives intersect feels like fate with a sense of humor.
There’s something quietly magical about how the story unfolds—like watching a mosaic come together piece by piece. It’s not flashy or dramatic, but it sneaks up on you with its charm. The relationships are messy in the best way, full of awkward moments, unexpected connections, and the kind of vulnerability that makes you want to hug a stranger (or at least text someone you haven’t talked to in a while).
This one’s for the sentimental scavengers, the people who keep old ticket stubs and believe in second chances. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes the most meaningful things are the ones we almost overlook. And honestly, it’ll make you want to start your own found object society—just to see what stories might be hiding in plain sight.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC!
August 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you Net Galley, Michelle Maryk, and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC!
The Found Object Society follows FMC Greta Davenport on a journey of grief after the death of her parents 20 years prior. Greta essentially has hit rock bottom emotionally and has become numb, until she is connected to The Found Object Society that becomes her newest addiction.
This book does a great job of painting a picture for the reader, especially when narrating the voyages to different time periods. Although the first quarter felt slow, the pacing of the book picks up and is easy to get into. Michelle Maryk does a great job of intertwining realistic elements of addition, power, greed, and privilege throughout the book.
You’ll either love or hate the action packed ending of the book. I loved it and felt like the author did a good job of cleaning up some loose ends while still leaving enough room for the reader’s imagination to wander.
Thank you Net Galley, Michelle Maryk, and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC!
The Found Object Society follows FMC Greta Davenport on a journey of grief after the death of her parents 20 years prior. Greta essentially has hit rock bottom emotionally and has become numb, until she is connected to The Found Object Society that becomes her newest addiction.
This book does a great job of painting a picture for the reader, especially when narrating the voyages to different time periods. Although the first quarter felt slow, the pacing of the book picks up and is easy to get into. Michelle Maryk does a great job of intertwining realistic elements of addition, power, greed, and privilege throughout the book.
You’ll either love or hate the action packed ending of the book. I loved it and felt like the author did a good job of cleaning up some loose ends while still leaving enough room for the reader’s imagination to wander.
September 30, 2025
The premise of this book is so interesting. Would you want to relive someone’s death? If you could change the past, would you do whatever you could to do it? I felt the first part of the book was really building and then everything happened very quickly and left me a little disappointed. But it did make me think!
July 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley & Hyperion for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review.
My rating would be 2.5/5
The Found Object Society is a story about Greta Davenport, a woman who’s lived through the death of her parents and continues to grieve the choices she made 20 years later. The book follows her through her journey with the Found Object Society, where she is able to live through the deaths of individuals through the objects they last held.
Some things that were great about the book:
- the different stories that were incorporated into the plot through each persons death/voyage were so fun to read
- the different time periods felt really nostalgic
- the way Greta would grieve in her ways felt very real. Wanting to simultaneously erase an event from your memory but also punish yourself with it to feel something. That really struck me.
Other things that were not so great:
- the authors attempt to comment on race was so odd. if you’re going to talk about racism there’s a better way to do it than to just reference to Ezra’s blackness twice. it felt really weird to read Greta talk about being in a “white as white as it gets” newspaper…like she is an upper class white woman, what exactly about this newspaper column bothers her? It’s not like she was some sort of activist or even an ally, she was just a rich privileged white woman as seen through her actions with her drivers. That bit about race just felt unnecessary because it wasn’t done well
- Greta & Ezra’s relationship lacked chemistry. As much as I wanted to see it work it just felt so bleh. It didn’t make sense to me that they fell in love within a week over the society’s antics. Like yes they shared a trauma bond but honestly all they did was talk about death & be intimate with each other. It felt like they didn’t have anything else going and that those two things were not enough to be in love and again like there was no chemistry at all. Also the way they met was ridiculous and made me cringe.
- The ending felt rushed and didn’t really explain anything. the ending was actually a little confusing. Miranda saying she’s going to put Greta out of her misery & that she can’t exist in two places? It didn’t make sense like yes I know she’s dying but I just didn’t understand how & why anything was happening. Ezra showing up at her voyage didn’t make sense either. Greta saying no to Bridget was so confusing because didn’t she kill her parents anyway????? Like either she was just stuck in the past or she just died and that was a dream but the author literally did not explain anything it felt so unsatisfying to finish the book.
And then Lisbeth getting an invitation at the end and how Miranda mentioned the paradox / complicated voyage. UGH. Like it felt so unresolved at the end I was not happy with it at all especially because they built up so much suspense around Greta’s last voyage.
For a debut novel Michelle Maryk did great, but she definitely needs to work on her plot lines/endings a little more to be successful in the future.
Last thing, I think it’s so funny that she’s swedish and she was making fun of that swedish actress in one of the voyages hahaha
My rating would be 2.5/5
The Found Object Society is a story about Greta Davenport, a woman who’s lived through the death of her parents and continues to grieve the choices she made 20 years later. The book follows her through her journey with the Found Object Society, where she is able to live through the deaths of individuals through the objects they last held.
Some things that were great about the book:
- the different stories that were incorporated into the plot through each persons death/voyage were so fun to read
- the different time periods felt really nostalgic
- the way Greta would grieve in her ways felt very real. Wanting to simultaneously erase an event from your memory but also punish yourself with it to feel something. That really struck me.
Other things that were not so great:
- the authors attempt to comment on race was so odd. if you’re going to talk about racism there’s a better way to do it than to just reference to Ezra’s blackness twice. it felt really weird to read Greta talk about being in a “white as white as it gets” newspaper…like she is an upper class white woman, what exactly about this newspaper column bothers her? It’s not like she was some sort of activist or even an ally, she was just a rich privileged white woman as seen through her actions with her drivers. That bit about race just felt unnecessary because it wasn’t done well
- Greta & Ezra’s relationship lacked chemistry. As much as I wanted to see it work it just felt so bleh. It didn’t make sense to me that they fell in love within a week over the society’s antics. Like yes they shared a trauma bond but honestly all they did was talk about death & be intimate with each other. It felt like they didn’t have anything else going and that those two things were not enough to be in love and again like there was no chemistry at all. Also the way they met was ridiculous and made me cringe.
- The ending felt rushed and didn’t really explain anything. the ending was actually a little confusing. Miranda saying she’s going to put Greta out of her misery & that she can’t exist in two places? It didn’t make sense like yes I know she’s dying but I just didn’t understand how & why anything was happening. Ezra showing up at her voyage didn’t make sense either. Greta saying no to Bridget was so confusing because didn’t she kill her parents anyway????? Like either she was just stuck in the past or she just died and that was a dream but the author literally did not explain anything it felt so unsatisfying to finish the book.
And then Lisbeth getting an invitation at the end and how Miranda mentioned the paradox / complicated voyage. UGH. Like it felt so unresolved at the end I was not happy with it at all especially because they built up so much suspense around Greta’s last voyage.
For a debut novel Michelle Maryk did great, but she definitely needs to work on her plot lines/endings a little more to be successful in the future.
Last thing, I think it’s so funny that she’s swedish and she was making fun of that swedish actress in one of the voyages hahaha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! What an absolutely fantastic debut this was! I absolutely loved it!
Greta Davenport's parents died in a car crash 20 years ago. She feels guilty every day because she was the reason they were on the road and she survived. They left her a huge inheritance and a self-destructive streak. She tests her limits daily, trying to feel something she can't quite achieve. Until the night the blank card shows up. It's an invite to The Found Object Society. The society is for the uber rich since it costs $500k a visit. What she finds there becomes her new addiction. She picks out an object someone held while they died and goes on a "voyage" to experience their death. She's completely hooked but she has questions that she can't seem to get the answers too. What if she takes control while on her voyage? Can she alter the person's death?
This book was incredibly unique. It was like nothing I've ever read before, and I really enjoyed it. A great work of speculative fiction that really makes you think. I was fully invested in Greta's story, and my heart broke for the pain she carried, and for Ezra too. They definitely had their flaws, but sometimes trauma and grief can make a person spiral. This was truly an unputdownable, immersive, captivating read. It blended genres. It was intriguing, mysterious, suspenseful, dark, and there was time travel, and even a little romance! This is a book I HIGHLY recommend adding to your TBR!🩷
Greta Davenport's parents died in a car crash 20 years ago. She feels guilty every day because she was the reason they were on the road and she survived. They left her a huge inheritance and a self-destructive streak. She tests her limits daily, trying to feel something she can't quite achieve. Until the night the blank card shows up. It's an invite to The Found Object Society. The society is for the uber rich since it costs $500k a visit. What she finds there becomes her new addiction. She picks out an object someone held while they died and goes on a "voyage" to experience their death. She's completely hooked but she has questions that she can't seem to get the answers too. What if she takes control while on her voyage? Can she alter the person's death?
This book was incredibly unique. It was like nothing I've ever read before, and I really enjoyed it. A great work of speculative fiction that really makes you think. I was fully invested in Greta's story, and my heart broke for the pain she carried, and for Ezra too. They definitely had their flaws, but sometimes trauma and grief can make a person spiral. This was truly an unputdownable, immersive, captivating read. It blended genres. It was intriguing, mysterious, suspenseful, dark, and there was time travel, and even a little romance! This is a book I HIGHLY recommend adding to your TBR!🩷
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. The author created this mysterious society that caters to the ultra rich and Greta having lived her life regretting her actions that led to her parents death was quickly swept in.
The premise pulled me in but it feels like the execution fell short. Greta's character is insufferable. I actually found the embedded object stories to be more interesting and engaging that the primary plot. If this hasn't been an arc, I likely would have DNF. The version I read could use more editing to scale it down. There are excessive descriptions that end up not adding to the story.
There's an obnoxious overuse of Greta's full name. The slangy references like 'coffin nail' and 'merc' got to be really annoying. Add to that the poor formatting and inaccurate spacing between words and I was constantly being pulled out of the story. Hopefully before launch the story will have a chance to be cleaned up.
The premise pulled me in but it feels like the execution fell short. Greta's character is insufferable. I actually found the embedded object stories to be more interesting and engaging that the primary plot. If this hasn't been an arc, I likely would have DNF. The version I read could use more editing to scale it down. There are excessive descriptions that end up not adding to the story.
There's an obnoxious overuse of Greta's full name. The slangy references like 'coffin nail' and 'merc' got to be really annoying. Add to that the poor formatting and inaccurate spacing between words and I was constantly being pulled out of the story. Hopefully before launch the story will have a chance to be cleaned up.
February 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
I loved the concept and thought it was really interesting but the chemistry between the two main characters in the book didn’t feel real to me and felt more like a tool for the advancement of the plot vs. real developed love connection. Like you’re saying I love you, but I’m not believing it. The main character was also a bit insufferable to her best friend in the book and it’s kind of explained as a grief response, but the level of feeling behind the grief feels too high for 20 years post-accident. I wouldn’t tell someone how to grieve, but also she has seemingly infinite resources so it seems odd that none of them have been used to even begin to resolve the trauma of her parent’s deaths.
Overall, I think it’s a pacing issue, but I didn’t have any issues finishing it, so this was middle of the road for me.
I loved the concept and thought it was really interesting but the chemistry between the two main characters in the book didn’t feel real to me and felt more like a tool for the advancement of the plot vs. real developed love connection. Like you’re saying I love you, but I’m not believing it. The main character was also a bit insufferable to her best friend in the book and it’s kind of explained as a grief response, but the level of feeling behind the grief feels too high for 20 years post-accident. I wouldn’t tell someone how to grieve, but also she has seemingly infinite resources so it seems odd that none of them have been used to even begin to resolve the trauma of her parent’s deaths.
Overall, I think it’s a pacing issue, but I didn’t have any issues finishing it, so this was middle of the road for me.
January 22, 2026
Would you want to experience another persons death? This is what The Found Objects Society offers and it is by invitation only.
Greta has lived with the guilt of being the only survivor in a car crash that killed her parents and when the invitation arrives she is intrigued. This story is filled with suspense and brings you to a world you didn’t know existed. From the first chapter the dialogue is witty and the characters are very relatable. This is a book you will want to have discussions about.
I loved this book and it’s not a light read at almost 450 pages, they are pages I flew through. Coming February 10th, this book is an excellent read!
Greta has lived with the guilt of being the only survivor in a car crash that killed her parents and when the invitation arrives she is intrigued. This story is filled with suspense and brings you to a world you didn’t know existed. From the first chapter the dialogue is witty and the characters are very relatable. This is a book you will want to have discussions about.
I loved this book and it’s not a light read at almost 450 pages, they are pages I flew through. Coming February 10th, this book is an excellent read!
February 10, 2026
Gretchen is on a voyage of self destruction never getting over the guilt of causing her parents death. Even though Gretchen is a mess, and a bit, snobbish, you can’t help but like her as she goes through her journey in this story. The plot was depressing and self destructive. It was interesting having the characters enter someone’s story and see/feel their last moments on earth. Having said all that, the author could have done so much more with this story. The potential was there, it just lacked execution.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
February 8, 2026
One of the most original novels I’ve read in a long, long time, THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY is THE STARLESS SEA and THE LOST APOTHECARY all rolled into one dazzling and ambitious speculative suspense novel. This richly drawn story of loss, grief, and humanity’s obsession with death, told through the eyes of plucky protagonist Greta Davenport, is one I won’t soon forget. I adored every page.
January 12, 2026
Loved this- felt like a black mirror episode
January 2, 2026
I finished it in one afternoon! Loved the premise/plot.
December 26, 2025
Like The Matrix, but yet not, this book explores time and choice and regret through a totally unique lens. The original plot and realistic characters kept me turning the pages and needing to know where their stories would led. Ultimately, the resolution was smart and satisfying.
August 20, 2025
ARC read- releases February 10, 2026
20 years ago Greta Davenport survived the car accident that took her parents lives and has lived in guilt since. She escapes her grief by finding a rush in near death experiences and one night receives an invitation to the Found Object Society. The society allows her to experience another persons death by touching the last object they touched. Greta’s immediately addicted to the voyages but she soon discovers something that could change her life.
💰✨🕰️
While I did find this book to be interesting, there was much more that I didn’t like than I did like. I found it really hard to care about the story because of how much I disliked the fmc.
The first chapter literally starts with Greta’s, the fmc, inner monologue saying she doesn’t care that she’s about to drive drunk, which is icky but then the chapter just keeps going on and on about how she takes pride in being a good drunk driver and then she does in fact drive drunk. I understand that the point is to establish she doesn’t care about dying but it was so uncomfortable.
The obvious thing is that Greta is literally getting high off of experiencing other people’s deaths, which I found kinda gross. I understand that it is the entire point of the book but the way Greta talks about it is icky. Like I get it, they’re escaping their own grief by experiencing another’s but that’s not how Greta describes it. She always talks about the “rush” and the “pleasure” she gets from her voyages.
Another issue I had was that Greta’s inner monologue is constantly talking about how wealthy Greta is. She’s filthy rich but its like the author just gave her trauma to make her more relatable or to make it okay that she’s literally getting high off of other peoples deaths. I cannot even count the amount of times that Greta says, in one way or another, that she’s rich. It wouldn’t be an issue if there wasn’t so much attention called to their wealth especially when it usually involved her calling someone else poor- it just felt unnecessary and distanced me from the story every time it was mentioned.
Greta is also always talking about the drugs shes taken and the similarities of addiction between them and the society but then turns around and talks about how she looks down on people on the street who have addictions and sees them as inhuman. Granted, she realizes she may have been wrong to think that but only because she realizes that her and Ezra aren’t much different than those “sidewalk drifters”.
I understand her and Ezra’s relationship- it lacks chemistry and is extremely rushed but that makes sense for what’s happening in the story. It could have used a little bit more development though.
There is also some parts where the author tries to comment on race that just felt weird- some other reviewers explain it better.
The books ending feels so rushed and random and doesn’t completely make sense. It is set up for another book but I felt like there should have been a bit more explanation, especially if it is a stand-alone.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own
20 years ago Greta Davenport survived the car accident that took her parents lives and has lived in guilt since. She escapes her grief by finding a rush in near death experiences and one night receives an invitation to the Found Object Society. The society allows her to experience another persons death by touching the last object they touched. Greta’s immediately addicted to the voyages but she soon discovers something that could change her life.
💰✨🕰️
While I did find this book to be interesting, there was much more that I didn’t like than I did like. I found it really hard to care about the story because of how much I disliked the fmc.
The first chapter literally starts with Greta’s, the fmc, inner monologue saying she doesn’t care that she’s about to drive drunk, which is icky but then the chapter just keeps going on and on about how she takes pride in being a good drunk driver and then she does in fact drive drunk. I understand that the point is to establish she doesn’t care about dying but it was so uncomfortable.
The obvious thing is that Greta is literally getting high off of experiencing other people’s deaths, which I found kinda gross. I understand that it is the entire point of the book but the way Greta talks about it is icky. Like I get it, they’re escaping their own grief by experiencing another’s but that’s not how Greta describes it. She always talks about the “rush” and the “pleasure” she gets from her voyages.
Another issue I had was that Greta’s inner monologue is constantly talking about how wealthy Greta is. She’s filthy rich but its like the author just gave her trauma to make her more relatable or to make it okay that she’s literally getting high off of other peoples deaths. I cannot even count the amount of times that Greta says, in one way or another, that she’s rich. It wouldn’t be an issue if there wasn’t so much attention called to their wealth especially when it usually involved her calling someone else poor- it just felt unnecessary and distanced me from the story every time it was mentioned.
Greta is also always talking about the drugs shes taken and the similarities of addiction between them and the society but then turns around and talks about how she looks down on people on the street who have addictions and sees them as inhuman. Granted, she realizes she may have been wrong to think that but only because she realizes that her and Ezra aren’t much different than those “sidewalk drifters”.
I understand her and Ezra’s relationship- it lacks chemistry and is extremely rushed but that makes sense for what’s happening in the story. It could have used a little bit more development though.
There is also some parts where the author tries to comment on race that just felt weird- some other reviewers explain it better.
The books ending feels so rushed and random and doesn’t completely make sense. It is set up for another book but I felt like there should have been a bit more explanation, especially if it is a stand-alone.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own
September 8, 2025
This book had such a cool and unique premise. The idea of a secret society where members can relive the final moments of someone else’s life is both eerie and fascinating, and it set the stage for some really atmospheric, imaginative scenes. I especially loved the glimpses we got inside the Society itself. It felt vivid, mysterious, and full of possibility. Those moments had a cinematic quality, and I found myself wishing we could have spent more time there, traveling through its corridors, experiencing more of its rules, and uncovering its secrets alongside Greta.
By contrast, much of the time spent outside the Society felt slower and less engaging. The external plotlines stretched on longer than necessary, while the parts I was most invested in, the Society and its inner workings, were more limited. That imbalance in focus made the pacing feel uneven. And when the story finally reached its climax, the ending came across as rushed, leaving me wanting more space for the revelations and fallout to fully land.
That said, there’s a lot to admire here. The novel is ambitious, atmospheric, and thought-provoking, tackling big ideas about grief, trauma, and the addictive pull of both danger and escape. It has a dreamlike, speculative suspense quality that lingers, and at its best, it feels like stepping into a fever dream of time, memory, and mortality.
While it didn’t quite stick the landing for me, I still think it’s a compelling and original debut. For readers who enjoy concept-driven, genre-bending fiction like The Midnight Library or The Book of Doors, this one is worth picking up. Just know that the execution may not always match the brilliance of the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC!
By contrast, much of the time spent outside the Society felt slower and less engaging. The external plotlines stretched on longer than necessary, while the parts I was most invested in, the Society and its inner workings, were more limited. That imbalance in focus made the pacing feel uneven. And when the story finally reached its climax, the ending came across as rushed, leaving me wanting more space for the revelations and fallout to fully land.
That said, there’s a lot to admire here. The novel is ambitious, atmospheric, and thought-provoking, tackling big ideas about grief, trauma, and the addictive pull of both danger and escape. It has a dreamlike, speculative suspense quality that lingers, and at its best, it feels like stepping into a fever dream of time, memory, and mortality.
While it didn’t quite stick the landing for me, I still think it’s a compelling and original debut. For readers who enjoy concept-driven, genre-bending fiction like The Midnight Library or The Book of Doors, this one is worth picking up. Just know that the execution may not always match the brilliance of the premise.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC!
November 22, 2025
I loved how different this story was—unique, a bit dark, and completely engrossing. It kept my interest from start to finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something fresh and unexpected.
November 16, 2025
4.5! Thank you to Hyperion for sending me an ARC of The Found Object Society by Michele Maryk, coming in 2026!
Wow, this was truly unlike anything I’ve ever read. The premise is far-fetched in the best way, the kind of idea that instantly hooks you and keeps you turning pages just to see how it could possibly unfold. The story blends horror, romance, and speculative fiction.
The ending was a lot—complex, layered, and something I’m still processing—but in a way that makes me even more impressed with Maryk’s ambition and originality.
For a debut, this is incredibly bold and memorable. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
Wow, this was truly unlike anything I’ve ever read. The premise is far-fetched in the best way, the kind of idea that instantly hooks you and keeps you turning pages just to see how it could possibly unfold. The story blends horror, romance, and speculative fiction.
The ending was a lot—complex, layered, and something I’m still processing—but in a way that makes me even more impressed with Maryk’s ambition and originality.
For a debut, this is incredibly bold and memorable. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
August 8, 2025
Greta Davenport has been living with survivors guilt following the car crash that killed her parents 20 years ago. Since then, she has found ways to test her morality, until one night when she discovers the Found Object Society. At the society, members can go on voyages where they experience the death of another person by holding the last object they touched before their untimely death. Greta is hooked, but she has all these unanswered questions about how it all works. She is determined to get answers at all costs, even if that means breaking some rules.
I really enjoyed getting to go into these different time periods & perspectives as we went on the voyages, but also that there was an overall mystery to be solved outside of these experiences. I found myself eagerly waiting for the next voyage wondering where we would go next. Maybe it’s because I found those chapters a bit more captivating compared to the overall plot. The fast pace of the novel kept things moving along & left just enough to leave me wanting more.
Leading up to the climax, there didn’t seem to be any stakes or potential consequences which lead to a lack of tension. So once we got to the climax it didn’t feel like there was much build up aside from the final voyage. As others have said, the ending itself left me more confused than resolved. I think I enjoyed how things played out (from what I understand), but certain details left me confused as a reader & needed a bit more clarification.
3.5★ rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!
I really enjoyed getting to go into these different time periods & perspectives as we went on the voyages, but also that there was an overall mystery to be solved outside of these experiences. I found myself eagerly waiting for the next voyage wondering where we would go next. Maybe it’s because I found those chapters a bit more captivating compared to the overall plot. The fast pace of the novel kept things moving along & left just enough to leave me wanting more.
Leading up to the climax, there didn’t seem to be any stakes or potential consequences which lead to a lack of tension. So once we got to the climax it didn’t feel like there was much build up aside from the final voyage. As others have said, the ending itself left me more confused than resolved. I think I enjoyed how things played out (from what I understand), but certain details left me confused as a reader & needed a bit more clarification.
3.5★ rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!
November 12, 2025
The advance copy was very interesting. the premise and plot twists were fun. The ending though felt very rushed. There were things happening that made no sense. I mean...the future became the past that drove the future her to change the past but didnt know she had changed the past that made her want to go back to change it??? But then she was with Ezra still (again?) I would recommend this book to my friends, with no spoilers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The formatting of the digital ARC made it really difficult to read at times, which I do think impacted my experience reading this book.
I enjoyed the concept of this story, it was creative and fresh. I did feel that there were plot elements included that either needed to be removed, or the book needed to be expanded to develop those details.
Overall this was an “ok” read for me, but it left me wanting more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The formatting of the digital ARC made it really difficult to read at times, which I do think impacted my experience reading this book.
I enjoyed the concept of this story, it was creative and fresh. I did feel that there were plot elements included that either needed to be removed, or the book needed to be expanded to develop those details.
Overall this was an “ok” read for me, but it left me wanting more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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