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For Human Use
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Modern dating is dead.
Finding a human connection online has become impossible. Enter a dating app that matches people with dead bodies. Somehow, it has taken the world by storm. Millions of users are convinced that life with a corpse presents a better alternative to conventional relationships.
Flailing against Liv’s popularity, venture capital superstar Tom Williamson—whose company is funding Liv—isn’t buying it. Mostly because dating an embalmed cadaver, let alone monetizing it, is obscene.
Believing that Liv is the future, Auden White, the insufferable “visionary” behind the app begins demanding more and more funding, quickly making enemies with Tom.
It's no secret that Tom struggles with people, dead or alive, but when he has a chance meeting with the woman who knows Auden (and his secrets) best, Mara Reed, he realizes everything is about to change for all three of them.
With Liv’s userbase growing by the day, the need for cadavers rapidly increases. Humanity might not want to connect with other living, breathing people anymore, but they do want to connect with something. What could go wrong?
Finding a human connection online has become impossible. Enter a dating app that matches people with dead bodies. Somehow, it has taken the world by storm. Millions of users are convinced that life with a corpse presents a better alternative to conventional relationships.
Flailing against Liv’s popularity, venture capital superstar Tom Williamson—whose company is funding Liv—isn’t buying it. Mostly because dating an embalmed cadaver, let alone monetizing it, is obscene.
Believing that Liv is the future, Auden White, the insufferable “visionary” behind the app begins demanding more and more funding, quickly making enemies with Tom.
It's no secret that Tom struggles with people, dead or alive, but when he has a chance meeting with the woman who knows Auden (and his secrets) best, Mara Reed, he realizes everything is about to change for all three of them.
With Liv’s userbase growing by the day, the need for cadavers rapidly increases. Humanity might not want to connect with other living, breathing people anymore, but they do want to connect with something. What could go wrong?
463 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
24 people are currently reading
10490 people want to read
About the author
Sarah G. Pierce
1 book30 followersHailing from California, Sarah moved to New York to study photography at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and later, earn a master’s degree from NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, where she specialized in minimalist painters. An avid 49ers fan, she lives in Manhattan with her poker-playing husband, whom she met on a dating app, and their two sons. For Human Use is her first novel.
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August 30, 2025what in the ever-loving fuck? i must read it
December 20, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
When I saw the absolutely unhinged premise for this book, I knew I had to pick it up. In For Human Use we follow Tom, a venture capitalist whose company has been approached to fund a new dating app. The twist? The app — called Liv — matches users with corpses, touting the psychological benefits of spending time with the dead.
Tom is a great main character and acts as the straight man in this satirical horror comedy. He is one of the only people in the narrative that is (rightfully) horrified by the concept of hanging out with a corpse. We follow the anxious and stressed out Tom as he tries to draw attention to the flaws in this concept, and along the way, meets a kindred spirit in Mara.
I enjoyed the premise of this a lot as a thought experiment— it was a unique critique of how capitalist interests can shift the Overton window. It also had a lot of commentary on culture wars and social media behaviour (including corpse influencers) that was fascinating to read about.
The connection between Mara and Tom was another element that worked well for me. I found myself caring deeply about them both and rooting for them against all odds. The scenes when they were together or interacting were noticeably engrossing. Other characters were less interesting, and Auden in particular is someone whose motivations confused me and were never fully explained.
There were other things that didn’t work well for me — I felt like overall, this novel could have used a more critical editor. The writing style felt overwrought at times, yet stilted at others, and there were many sentences that either didn’t quite make sense or devolved into word salad. I think cutting 50 or 100 pages from this would have improved it a lot. There were also a number of time jumps that left me confused about how much time had passed; it would have been helpful to get some sense of timeframe throughout the novel. Finally, there was a LOT of finance terminology that wasn’t really explained and I expect that many readers (including me) will be a bit lost when reading because of that.
I would describe this as a mix between Emily St. John Mandel’s The Glass Hotel and John Marrs’ The One — it was wide-ranging, complex, but still quite silly. Overall, I enjoyed it and would pick up future books by this author.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
When I saw the absolutely unhinged premise for this book, I knew I had to pick it up. In For Human Use we follow Tom, a venture capitalist whose company has been approached to fund a new dating app. The twist? The app — called Liv — matches users with corpses, touting the psychological benefits of spending time with the dead.
Tom is a great main character and acts as the straight man in this satirical horror comedy. He is one of the only people in the narrative that is (rightfully) horrified by the concept of hanging out with a corpse. We follow the anxious and stressed out Tom as he tries to draw attention to the flaws in this concept, and along the way, meets a kindred spirit in Mara.
I enjoyed the premise of this a lot as a thought experiment— it was a unique critique of how capitalist interests can shift the Overton window. It also had a lot of commentary on culture wars and social media behaviour (including corpse influencers) that was fascinating to read about.
The connection between Mara and Tom was another element that worked well for me. I found myself caring deeply about them both and rooting for them against all odds. The scenes when they were together or interacting were noticeably engrossing. Other characters were less interesting, and Auden in particular is someone whose motivations confused me and were never fully explained.
There were other things that didn’t work well for me — I felt like overall, this novel could have used a more critical editor. The writing style felt overwrought at times, yet stilted at others, and there were many sentences that either didn’t quite make sense or devolved into word salad. I think cutting 50 or 100 pages from this would have improved it a lot. There were also a number of time jumps that left me confused about how much time had passed; it would have been helpful to get some sense of timeframe throughout the novel. Finally, there was a LOT of finance terminology that wasn’t really explained and I expect that many readers (including me) will be a bit lost when reading because of that.
I would describe this as a mix between Emily St. John Mandel’s The Glass Hotel and John Marrs’ The One — it was wide-ranging, complex, but still quite silly. Overall, I enjoyed it and would pick up future books by this author.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
November 24, 2025
Tinder for corpses. That is indeed the premise of Sarah G. Pierce‘s upcoming debut novel, For Human Use.
Online dating is rough, a fact we know all too well in the year 2025. But what if, instead of sorting through the social muck of the living, we turn to the dead for company? A corpse that doesn’t talk back, doesn’t have strong opinions, or doesn’t ghost. That’s entrepreneur Auden White’s vision, a service called Liv where the living match with the dead. It sounds absolutely audacious, especially to Tom Williamson, a venture capitalist who is (unfortunately) tied to this app/service through his employer’s investments. As the money begins to flow, Tom realizes things are even more dire than previously thought. Perhaps the only silver lining is meeting Mara Reed, a woman in Auden’s circle who may just see things the way Tom does. What starts out as a weird social practice snowballs into a monstrous shift in public attitudes, habits, and rhetoric, affecting Tom, Auden, and Mara in unthinkable ways.
I’ll be the first in line to admit the premise of this novel seems rather open and shut, a plot without much room to run. Matching with corpses? Creating space for necrophilia? Hard no. No way that could work. But, I’ll also be the first to loudly admit my wrongness in this presumption as Pierce expertly crafts a social situation of horrifically believable proportions. What makes this seemingly outlandish set-up even more plausible is the darkly comedic moments of stark realization, the political interests that reveal themselves in true dramatic fashion, and the interpersonal drama bubbling beneath all of this. Mara, Tom, and Auden are written with an easy relatability, a familiarity that makes reader investment paramount. All of this is just bloody brilliant.
Even more stunning is Pierce’s unspoken dialogue with all advancements, social, technological, or other, that have emerged in recent years without guardrails. While For Human Use may use the shock factor of dead bodies to usher a response of disgust, the same arguments being made in this text can be applied to the out-of-control growth of AI, the unchecked landscape of the internet, autonomy, and so much more. For Human Use is a smart book, one that combines comedy and shock to oh-so-frighteningly point out that we aren’t so removed from this fictional reality as we think.
Audacious, darkly satirical, and absolutely gripping, For Human Use feels like the most entertaining social study of our current culture, a sandbox where gruesome castles are built under Sarah G. Pierce’s masterful hand. This is a debut novel that feels timely, deeply original, and oh so, captivating through a culmination of real-world anxieties, romantic dramas, and macabre social alternatives. Utterly enthralling and a true achievement, For Human Use is the exact kind of horror we should be reading in 2026, a shining beacon in daring, modern fiction.
Online dating is rough, a fact we know all too well in the year 2025. But what if, instead of sorting through the social muck of the living, we turn to the dead for company? A corpse that doesn’t talk back, doesn’t have strong opinions, or doesn’t ghost. That’s entrepreneur Auden White’s vision, a service called Liv where the living match with the dead. It sounds absolutely audacious, especially to Tom Williamson, a venture capitalist who is (unfortunately) tied to this app/service through his employer’s investments. As the money begins to flow, Tom realizes things are even more dire than previously thought. Perhaps the only silver lining is meeting Mara Reed, a woman in Auden’s circle who may just see things the way Tom does. What starts out as a weird social practice snowballs into a monstrous shift in public attitudes, habits, and rhetoric, affecting Tom, Auden, and Mara in unthinkable ways.
I’ll be the first in line to admit the premise of this novel seems rather open and shut, a plot without much room to run. Matching with corpses? Creating space for necrophilia? Hard no. No way that could work. But, I’ll also be the first to loudly admit my wrongness in this presumption as Pierce expertly crafts a social situation of horrifically believable proportions. What makes this seemingly outlandish set-up even more plausible is the darkly comedic moments of stark realization, the political interests that reveal themselves in true dramatic fashion, and the interpersonal drama bubbling beneath all of this. Mara, Tom, and Auden are written with an easy relatability, a familiarity that makes reader investment paramount. All of this is just bloody brilliant.
Even more stunning is Pierce’s unspoken dialogue with all advancements, social, technological, or other, that have emerged in recent years without guardrails. While For Human Use may use the shock factor of dead bodies to usher a response of disgust, the same arguments being made in this text can be applied to the out-of-control growth of AI, the unchecked landscape of the internet, autonomy, and so much more. For Human Use is a smart book, one that combines comedy and shock to oh-so-frighteningly point out that we aren’t so removed from this fictional reality as we think.
Audacious, darkly satirical, and absolutely gripping, For Human Use feels like the most entertaining social study of our current culture, a sandbox where gruesome castles are built under Sarah G. Pierce’s masterful hand. This is a debut novel that feels timely, deeply original, and oh so, captivating through a culmination of real-world anxieties, romantic dramas, and macabre social alternatives. Utterly enthralling and a true achievement, For Human Use is the exact kind of horror we should be reading in 2026, a shining beacon in daring, modern fiction.
November 25, 2025
This is...not what I thought it was going to be. The blurb describes it like a funny horror satirical romcom about this insane app, but the focus of the book doesn't seem to be the app at all. I would describe it more as a business/legal drama.
It's mainly focused on the interpersonal relationships of the three main characters, where both of the guys (Tom and Auden) have dated this girl, Mara. Also Mara is Auden's stepsister?? I think this could've been an interesting thing cuz there's a lot more to the relationships than that, but I feel like we didn't get enough time building up their relationships to begin with.
I really wish we got more insight into the app itself. Things are just kind of mentioned as facts here, without ever explaining how society actually got to that point. I don't understand how the app itself works, why people were okay with this to begin with, what people do with the bodies, etc.... I understand that it's satirical, but I feel like there needs to be at least a little more information about the app as a whole.
I also felt like there was some interesting commentary sprinkled throughout the book, but a lot of it was bogged down by financial/legal gibberish. If I ever read another monologue about hedge funds, IPOs, stock market attacks, profit valuations, or investment trading, it'll be too soon. I feel like that just distracted me so much, and those spaces could've been used for relationship building and app dealings. But I'm not a finance person, so I could see other people finding those parts more interesting than I did.
I just really thought this book was going to go in a different direction, and unfortunately the direction it did go in, was not for me at all. Though, I could see where people might find it more enjoyable for sure.
It's mainly focused on the interpersonal relationships of the three main characters, where both of the guys (Tom and Auden) have dated this girl, Mara. Also Mara is Auden's stepsister?? I think this could've been an interesting thing cuz there's a lot more to the relationships than that, but I feel like we didn't get enough time building up their relationships to begin with.
I really wish we got more insight into the app itself. Things are just kind of mentioned as facts here, without ever explaining how society actually got to that point. I don't understand how the app itself works, why people were okay with this to begin with, what people do with the bodies, etc.... I understand that it's satirical, but I feel like there needs to be at least a little more information about the app as a whole.
I also felt like there was some interesting commentary sprinkled throughout the book, but a lot of it was bogged down by financial/legal gibberish. If I ever read another monologue about hedge funds, IPOs, stock market attacks, profit valuations, or investment trading, it'll be too soon. I feel like that just distracted me so much, and those spaces could've been used for relationship building and app dealings. But I'm not a finance person, so I could see other people finding those parts more interesting than I did.
I just really thought this book was going to go in a different direction, and unfortunately the direction it did go in, was not for me at all. Though, I could see where people might find it more enjoyable for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
Thank you to edelweiss and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
So I was obsessed with the premise of this book from the beginning. Like it gives you such a wtf feeling and I love that when reading.
I don’t even know what to say about the main parts of this story. Like the concept of a dating app to match you with corpses might sound ridiculous but is it really? Like how far along are the weirdest men you know from doing this? There is so much moral dilemma here and it was interesting to see the different perspectives. This mostly divides into 3 POVs. Tom who is a main member of the corporation funding Liv, Auden who is the founder of Liv, and Mara who is Auden’s stepsister. The drama between these 3 was even more interesting to read. Like I was eating up this drama. You come for the bonkers premise and stay for the people in their 30s and 40s acting like idiots. While this is pitched as a horror book I don’t think it’s scary. More like revolting how some people can believe certain things. I was trying my hardest not to scream through so much of this. The frustration was real.
So I was obsessed with the premise of this book from the beginning. Like it gives you such a wtf feeling and I love that when reading.
I don’t even know what to say about the main parts of this story. Like the concept of a dating app to match you with corpses might sound ridiculous but is it really? Like how far along are the weirdest men you know from doing this? There is so much moral dilemma here and it was interesting to see the different perspectives. This mostly divides into 3 POVs. Tom who is a main member of the corporation funding Liv, Auden who is the founder of Liv, and Mara who is Auden’s stepsister. The drama between these 3 was even more interesting to read. Like I was eating up this drama. You come for the bonkers premise and stay for the people in their 30s and 40s acting like idiots. While this is pitched as a horror book I don’t think it’s scary. More like revolting how some people can believe certain things. I was trying my hardest not to scream through so much of this. The frustration was real.
2026
September 24, 2025📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Run For It
November 11, 2025
This book was lovely and fresh. A disturbing take on what companionship is and how loneliness can pervade who someone is. A wild ride from start to finish and I enjoyed every second of it. The story comments on our society’s acceptance and at times, resistance of values important to some and reviled by others. I really enjoyed the premise and I also look forward to more from this author!
January 12, 2026
Thank you so much Orbit & Netgalley for this eARC!!
Ended up rating this a 3.
So here's the thing, I didn't really find this funny or a "horror romcom", like at all. It was marketed as this darkly funny thing and I really didn't see that come through; in all honesty I was profoundly horrified by most of this book, as I think it's intended to be.
I would not, I repeat, WOULD NOT recommend this as a horror romcom.
I have seen other reviews denote this as a "satire of venture capitalism and online influence culture" and HIGHLY resonate with that depiction.
I had a hard time connecting with our MC Tom, as he was very sterile. I related to his abhorrence of a dating app for corpses and living with corpses, but that was about it. When it came to him thinking about his ex-wife and his thoughts about the stillbirth and his child (that he refused to accept as a child??) I was lost. Tom's panic attacks were written very well, but the overall prose was stagnant and sort of all over the place.
I almost DNF'd at 25%, but then Tom & Mara started having interest in each other and I was FINALLY given something other than Tom's indifferent hatred for Auden and everything he stood for.
While I was absolutely rooting for Tom & Mara, at the same time I hated that we didn't get any Mara POVs especially towards the end. I think the whole novel would've made way more sense had we seen into her POV more. I was honestly under the impression that she might've been killed off for effect.
This is definitely a book you need to pay attention to while reading, it's not one you can just skim.
Ended up rating this a 3.
So here's the thing, I didn't really find this funny or a "horror romcom", like at all. It was marketed as this darkly funny thing and I really didn't see that come through; in all honesty I was profoundly horrified by most of this book, as I think it's intended to be.
I would not, I repeat, WOULD NOT recommend this as a horror romcom.
I have seen other reviews denote this as a "satire of venture capitalism and online influence culture" and HIGHLY resonate with that depiction.
I had a hard time connecting with our MC Tom, as he was very sterile. I related to his abhorrence of a dating app for corpses and living with corpses, but that was about it. When it came to him thinking about his ex-wife and his thoughts about the stillbirth and his child (that he refused to accept as a child??) I was lost. Tom's panic attacks were written very well, but the overall prose was stagnant and sort of all over the place.
I almost DNF'd at 25%, but then Tom & Mara started having interest in each other and I was FINALLY given something other than Tom's indifferent hatred for Auden and everything he stood for.
While I was absolutely rooting for Tom & Mara, at the same time I hated that we didn't get any Mara POVs especially towards the end. I think the whole novel would've made way more sense had we seen into her POV more. I was honestly under the impression that she might've been killed off for effect.
This is definitely a book you need to pay attention to while reading, it's not one you can just skim.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
Thank you to the publish and NetGalley for the eARC!
I really loved this. Its so weird but not in a gross way. I love the cover, the whole premise of this, the pacing, the writing. I'm so glad I got to read this already. I don't even know how to concisely sum up my thoughts on this, but I linked my full review below. I loved it.
I will say, if you can't just suspend your belief and accept that most people are just OK with corpse companionship, I wouldn't read this.
Full review here: https://heyimreading.com/2025/10/28/r...
I really loved this. Its so weird but not in a gross way. I love the cover, the whole premise of this, the pacing, the writing. I'm so glad I got to read this already. I don't even know how to concisely sum up my thoughts on this, but I linked my full review below. I loved it.
I will say, if you can't just suspend your belief and accept that most people are just OK with corpse companionship, I wouldn't read this.
Full review here: https://heyimreading.com/2025/10/28/r...
November 23, 2025
Truly bizarre concept, but I could not put it down! A lot of great parallels were made; people IRL sometimes just want a "body" and not have to put effort into a relationship. I do think the ending was a bit unclear, but maybe it was a set up for a sequel?
Definitely recommending to friends when this comes out!
Definitely recommending to friends when this comes out!
January 13, 2026
I ate this UP. I loved the theoretical exploration of the impacts that an experiment like this would cause on society. Not to mention how capitalism and consumption on any front can lead to mass psychological chaos. I enjoyed the characters and the differentiating viewpoints and devoured the ending quickly especially as it got more twisty and unexpected. 10/10.
November 12, 2025
My Kindle version of this advanced reader copy was provided to me via #NetGalley by Orbit Books.
Let’s talk about the loneliness epidemic. Because that’s what this novel is about.
Well, that and a cadaver dating app.
As a lifelong mortuary science student I was really excited about this book because it tells an interesting story about the dead in ways that haven’t been told before. Liv is an app that matches living human beings to dead ones to live together. And it has TAKEN OFF in ways that it shouldn’t have. Tom Williamson works for the original venture capital firm that decided to back Liv. The story takes place over 18 months and as readers, we’re randomly dropped into moments where it matters, meaning we aren’t subjected to pages of unneeded exposition while the author (Sarah G Pierce) tries to fill the space between the scenes that matter to us. It’s a technique that Pierce does well, when we have seen it not do well so many times in the past.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the way the book is narrated with a lot of epistolary elements like social media comments, emails, and text messages. I do think the book could have included more of those because the way they broke up the text was a fun way to read the story.
Liv’s creator, Elon Musk, I mean Auden White, hates Tom. Tom questions the bloated and fictional numbers that Auden keeps providing to prove Liv is profitable (it isn’t, from what I can tell Auden provides bodies for free) and Auden hates anyone who doesn’t believe him.
They have a back and forth which only gets more chaotic when we meet Mara, Auden’s stepsister/ex-girlfriend who later becomes Tom’s girlfriend. Also Tom has a lot of issues with people having sex with/living with dead bodies, but is totally chill with dating a girl who was equally as chill with having sex with her stepbrother. Other characters are not as chill with it and they let you know.
Anyway. This whole book is an excellent metaphor for the loneliness epidemic that has plagued our current way of living. People feel more alone now than they ever have before, it’s even been considered a public health risk like smoking. Auden’s app addresses that, it’s dating without the small talk, it’s someone who exists in your house without having to worry about fights or other conflict. There is one person in the book who uses the app so there is ‘someone’ there with her dog everyday while she’s at work.
But, like with all things, the app quickly becomes an issues and the descent into madness is swift and bloody. I think Pierce does well to capture the obsession and addiction to entitlement that people feel when using an app.
Overall though, I will say the book is just good. It’s been hard to figure out what to write about it over the last couple of days because it’s good, but it doesn’t resonate with me like other books have. When I was done with it, I was just done with it. I didn’t have any strong opinions or theories or any real commentary on it. I don’t want to be misconstrued either, Pierce tells the story very well. According to the acknowledgements page this was an 8 year project, which is an incredible amount of time to spend on anything. But, at the same time, that might have been too much time to work on it.
I see it with ‘forever projects’ a lot. The story is good. Why wouldn’t it be? So much time has been spent on this project, the story is well founded. However, that means that so much of the story exists in the author’s head, that there are certain parts of the book that feel like we, as readers, aren’t really given context for. It’s not that the context doens’t exist, it does, but only in Pierce’s head and in the writing group that the book was born in. All of the people involved have the context we don’t. Which again, the story is good, there’s just a missing ‘wow’ factor (to sound like a bad fashion editor/Tyra Banks on ANTM).
I also feel that this book relies to much on bombastic emotions. Tom is an angry angry dude. Mara is seemingly in a constant state of anxiety where she’s pretty sure Tom hates her (relatable, but too much on the page). Auden is just a neurotic mess with a daddy complex. There is so much of this book that wouldn’t have been conflict has people just talked to and/or trusted each other and it did feel like a miss on occasion where, instead of the story moving forward, we’re stuck as someone obsesses over their thoughts about someone else.
I will also say, and acknowledging the disclaimer at the beginning that this isn’t the final version, some weird formatting where I’m exposed to text conversation between Tom and another character, Lorraine, basically explaining what Liv is before I even get to the table of contents. I thought my copy was glitched originally, and then even more so because that complete conversation is later in the book.
Let’s talk about the loneliness epidemic. Because that’s what this novel is about.
Well, that and a cadaver dating app.
As a lifelong mortuary science student I was really excited about this book because it tells an interesting story about the dead in ways that haven’t been told before. Liv is an app that matches living human beings to dead ones to live together. And it has TAKEN OFF in ways that it shouldn’t have. Tom Williamson works for the original venture capital firm that decided to back Liv. The story takes place over 18 months and as readers, we’re randomly dropped into moments where it matters, meaning we aren’t subjected to pages of unneeded exposition while the author (Sarah G Pierce) tries to fill the space between the scenes that matter to us. It’s a technique that Pierce does well, when we have seen it not do well so many times in the past.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the way the book is narrated with a lot of epistolary elements like social media comments, emails, and text messages. I do think the book could have included more of those because the way they broke up the text was a fun way to read the story.
Liv’s creator, Elon Musk, I mean Auden White, hates Tom. Tom questions the bloated and fictional numbers that Auden keeps providing to prove Liv is profitable (it isn’t, from what I can tell Auden provides bodies for free) and Auden hates anyone who doesn’t believe him.
They have a back and forth which only gets more chaotic when we meet Mara, Auden’s stepsister/ex-girlfriend who later becomes Tom’s girlfriend. Also Tom has a lot of issues with people having sex with/living with dead bodies, but is totally chill with dating a girl who was equally as chill with having sex with her stepbrother. Other characters are not as chill with it and they let you know.
Anyway. This whole book is an excellent metaphor for the loneliness epidemic that has plagued our current way of living. People feel more alone now than they ever have before, it’s even been considered a public health risk like smoking. Auden’s app addresses that, it’s dating without the small talk, it’s someone who exists in your house without having to worry about fights or other conflict. There is one person in the book who uses the app so there is ‘someone’ there with her dog everyday while she’s at work.
But, like with all things, the app quickly becomes an issues and the descent into madness is swift and bloody. I think Pierce does well to capture the obsession and addiction to entitlement that people feel when using an app.
Overall though, I will say the book is just good. It’s been hard to figure out what to write about it over the last couple of days because it’s good, but it doesn’t resonate with me like other books have. When I was done with it, I was just done with it. I didn’t have any strong opinions or theories or any real commentary on it. I don’t want to be misconstrued either, Pierce tells the story very well. According to the acknowledgements page this was an 8 year project, which is an incredible amount of time to spend on anything. But, at the same time, that might have been too much time to work on it.
I see it with ‘forever projects’ a lot. The story is good. Why wouldn’t it be? So much time has been spent on this project, the story is well founded. However, that means that so much of the story exists in the author’s head, that there are certain parts of the book that feel like we, as readers, aren’t really given context for. It’s not that the context doens’t exist, it does, but only in Pierce’s head and in the writing group that the book was born in. All of the people involved have the context we don’t. Which again, the story is good, there’s just a missing ‘wow’ factor (to sound like a bad fashion editor/Tyra Banks on ANTM).
I also feel that this book relies to much on bombastic emotions. Tom is an angry angry dude. Mara is seemingly in a constant state of anxiety where she’s pretty sure Tom hates her (relatable, but too much on the page). Auden is just a neurotic mess with a daddy complex. There is so much of this book that wouldn’t have been conflict has people just talked to and/or trusted each other and it did feel like a miss on occasion where, instead of the story moving forward, we’re stuck as someone obsesses over their thoughts about someone else.
I will also say, and acknowledging the disclaimer at the beginning that this isn’t the final version, some weird formatting where I’m exposed to text conversation between Tom and another character, Lorraine, basically explaining what Liv is before I even get to the table of contents. I thought my copy was glitched originally, and then even more so because that complete conversation is later in the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5 ⭐Please check your trigger warnings. Your mental health matters. 🖤
Disclaimer: I read this book as an eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Oh boy howdy where do I even start? Reading the synopsis that is presented for this book I went in thinking this story is going to be ridiculous and gross because, well, dating app for corpses. That’s weird and uncomfortable because it’s relatable. A lot of people have experienced dating apps. I met my fiancé on a dating app. The juxtaposition is going to be awkward due to similarities the author is going to make between the two.
And then I read the book and the entire time Sarah G. Pierce laughed at my naivety of thinking this is going to be a silly little story that is a commentary on dating apps. No, no. It is so very much more than that.
This book presses the gas pedal and just doesn't let up on its social commentary about the world we live in today, relations to social media, press coverage and political stances. This novel is incredibly satirical and dark throughout. It presents this seemingly outlandish idea and holds a mirror up to the world we live in and very quickly shows you how easy this idea could be a reality. And it is terrifying.
This feels like the novel equivalent to the movie Idiocracy , but with the added pressure of social media and advocacy groups for the rights of human cadavers, corpses, or The Dead.
This book gives you whiplash with how vehemently the MMC disagrees with what is going on while others in the novel argue about a corpse's ability to consent while blurring the edges of the definition of necrophilia. Focus groups are formed and the conclusion to them is that people would rather pursue necrophilia than risk an unpleasant or non consensual encounter with the living. (Possibly commentary on people being chronically online or seeing the world through their phone or a social media lens, but that’s just my two cents that no one asked for, just like this review.)
For me personally, this novel stumbles a bit due to the length of it; I don’t feel like it needs to be over 400 pages. I feel like the same points, accusations and comparisons could have been made in a more reasonable page count. After a while it did feel like a bit of a slog to get through. I do understand the length helps to emphasize the empire rising and falling and the characters in the book having time to watch the world around them burn, literally and metaphorically. Personally, I feel like it took away from the experience a bit and will be a barrier to the idea of me ever re-reading this book.
Disclaimer: I read this book as an eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Oh boy howdy where do I even start? Reading the synopsis that is presented for this book I went in thinking this story is going to be ridiculous and gross because, well, dating app for corpses. That’s weird and uncomfortable because it’s relatable. A lot of people have experienced dating apps. I met my fiancé on a dating app. The juxtaposition is going to be awkward due to similarities the author is going to make between the two.
And then I read the book and the entire time Sarah G. Pierce laughed at my naivety of thinking this is going to be a silly little story that is a commentary on dating apps. No, no. It is so very much more than that.
This book presses the gas pedal and just doesn't let up on its social commentary about the world we live in today, relations to social media, press coverage and political stances. This novel is incredibly satirical and dark throughout. It presents this seemingly outlandish idea and holds a mirror up to the world we live in and very quickly shows you how easy this idea could be a reality. And it is terrifying.
This feels like the novel equivalent to the movie Idiocracy , but with the added pressure of social media and advocacy groups for the rights of human cadavers, corpses, or The Dead.
This book gives you whiplash with how vehemently the MMC disagrees with what is going on while others in the novel argue about a corpse's ability to consent while blurring the edges of the definition of necrophilia. Focus groups are formed and the conclusion to them is that people would rather pursue necrophilia than risk an unpleasant or non consensual encounter with the living. (Possibly commentary on people being chronically online or seeing the world through their phone or a social media lens, but that’s just my two cents that no one asked for, just like this review.)
For me personally, this novel stumbles a bit due to the length of it; I don’t feel like it needs to be over 400 pages. I feel like the same points, accusations and comparisons could have been made in a more reasonable page count. After a while it did feel like a bit of a slog to get through. I do understand the length helps to emphasize the empire rising and falling and the characters in the book having time to watch the world around them burn, literally and metaphorically. Personally, I feel like it took away from the experience a bit and will be a barrier to the idea of me ever re-reading this book.
November 28, 2025
For Human Use — 4.5 ⭐️
This book was fun, weird, and truly original, though the worldbuilding occasionally reminded me of Tender Is the Flesh—just a much lighter, more satirical version of that kind of ethical nightmare!
An app called “Liv” where you swipe left or right on dead bodies and if you swipe right…an actual corpse gets delivered to your doorstep. 👁️👄👁️
I was in shock from page one — just like the main character, Tom, a boardmember who works on funding this app and is desperately trying to figure out how any of this is ethical or even remotely legal. The more we learn through field studies, user data, focus groups, and internal reports, the more unhinged (and fascinating) the whole operation becomes.
Meanwhile, society is suddenly expected to talk about dead people the way we talk about any marginalized group: respectfully, conscientiously, and without “necroshaming.”
The entire premise circles around legalizing necrophilia… except supposedly “no one has ever gone that far.” Which only raises the obvious question: So what ARE people doing with these bodies? It becomes the giant dead elephant in the room — one that the app’s creator, Auden, hilariously talks around in inflated, corporate nonsense without ever once giving a real answer for us.
The drama is top-tier juicy as well. The satire is relentless. “Necrophobia.” “Temperature masking” (using heating pads to warm corpses to 97–99 degrees). “Necro-flexing” (pretending you’re comfortable with the dead when you absolutely aren’t).
Critique: It could’ve shaved about 50 pages — 400 is my personal comfort ceiling for a book — but that’s my only real complaint! I thought the story was fast-paced enough!
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing my first ARC. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy for my shelf and force this fever dream on others. I’ve been trying to explain this book to my friends and coworkers and it’s nearly impossible without sounding deeply unwell (not entirely inaccurate).
Edit: This story is told from the perspective of the business/legal side of the app developer team’s POV rather than getting to experience the app from a user’s POV (which would make an excellent sequel, following alongside this story’s POV!)
This book was fun, weird, and truly original, though the worldbuilding occasionally reminded me of Tender Is the Flesh—just a much lighter, more satirical version of that kind of ethical nightmare!
An app called “Liv” where you swipe left or right on dead bodies and if you swipe right…an actual corpse gets delivered to your doorstep. 👁️👄👁️
I was in shock from page one — just like the main character, Tom, a boardmember who works on funding this app and is desperately trying to figure out how any of this is ethical or even remotely legal. The more we learn through field studies, user data, focus groups, and internal reports, the more unhinged (and fascinating) the whole operation becomes.
Meanwhile, society is suddenly expected to talk about dead people the way we talk about any marginalized group: respectfully, conscientiously, and without “necroshaming.”
The entire premise circles around legalizing necrophilia… except supposedly “no one has ever gone that far.” Which only raises the obvious question: So what ARE people doing with these bodies? It becomes the giant dead elephant in the room — one that the app’s creator, Auden, hilariously talks around in inflated, corporate nonsense without ever once giving a real answer for us.
The drama is top-tier juicy as well. The satire is relentless. “Necrophobia.” “Temperature masking” (using heating pads to warm corpses to 97–99 degrees). “Necro-flexing” (pretending you’re comfortable with the dead when you absolutely aren’t).
Critique: It could’ve shaved about 50 pages — 400 is my personal comfort ceiling for a book — but that’s my only real complaint! I thought the story was fast-paced enough!
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing my first ARC. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy for my shelf and force this fever dream on others. I’ve been trying to explain this book to my friends and coworkers and it’s nearly impossible without sounding deeply unwell (not entirely inaccurate).
Edit: This story is told from the perspective of the business/legal side of the app developer team’s POV rather than getting to experience the app from a user’s POV (which would make an excellent sequel, following alongside this story’s POV!)
January 18, 2026
For Human Use follows Tom, a corporate employee whose company is investing in an app pitched as Tinder, but with the dead. While everyone else is blinded by the potential profit, Tom is the only one willing to ask the uncomfortable questions: ethics, consent, and isn’t this… weird? Meanwhile, the founder, Auden, starts making increasingly outrageous claims regarding the profitability of his company.
The story unfolds through three main points of view: Tom, Auden, and Auden’s stepsister/girlfriend (?!?!) Mara. What stood out to me the most was the writing. Despite knowing very little about business, I found the story very digestible and engaging. Based on the premise, I expected this would be more of a fun, wacky horror. Instead, this was very much a character-driven, literary novel. It was kind of reminiscent of 500 Days of Summer or even Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, just with dead people instead of video games.
I absolutely loved the satirical elements of this book, which were mostly focused on the younger generation buying into Liv (the company), exploring how this new societal ideation impacts language, politics, and culture. Watching a new social norm form so quickly was really intriguing and made the world feel uncomfortably realistic.
That said, the pacing wasn’t perfect. A large portion of the book focuses on the relationship between Tom and Mara (the drama), two awkward people so deeply obsessed with each other. At first it was really sweet, but then became a repetitive loop of miscommunication after miscommunication. I love a romance, but due to the back and forth I found it a lot less interesting than the larger ethical and societal impact of Liv. Even with these flaws, I really enjoyed this book. The writing felt very intentional and thoughtful, the premise was super fun and creative, and these characters will definitely stick with me! Thank you Orbit Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story unfolds through three main points of view: Tom, Auden, and Auden’s stepsister/girlfriend (?!?!) Mara. What stood out to me the most was the writing. Despite knowing very little about business, I found the story very digestible and engaging. Based on the premise, I expected this would be more of a fun, wacky horror. Instead, this was very much a character-driven, literary novel. It was kind of reminiscent of 500 Days of Summer or even Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, just with dead people instead of video games.
I absolutely loved the satirical elements of this book, which were mostly focused on the younger generation buying into Liv (the company), exploring how this new societal ideation impacts language, politics, and culture. Watching a new social norm form so quickly was really intriguing and made the world feel uncomfortably realistic.
That said, the pacing wasn’t perfect. A large portion of the book focuses on the relationship between Tom and Mara (the drama), two awkward people so deeply obsessed with each other. At first it was really sweet, but then became a repetitive loop of miscommunication after miscommunication. I love a romance, but due to the back and forth I found it a lot less interesting than the larger ethical and societal impact of Liv. Even with these flaws, I really enjoyed this book. The writing felt very intentional and thoughtful, the premise was super fun and creative, and these characters will definitely stick with me! Thank you Orbit Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
For Human Use is a novel about an app that matches you with dead bodies. The premise was super interesting to me right off the bat - fucked up but not wholly unrealistic (given the state of the world lol) so I was really drawn in by it.
I thought it would be a really interesting view on how social media and apps and societal approval dominate our lives to a detriment, but the app itself was more of a secondary plot to the complicated incestuous love triangle (?) between the three main characters.
I really wish the book had gone more in-depth on the app and how it works. Its rise to popularity, the logistics of it, maybe even a POV from a user to show another side of things. Instead, the book felt really bogged down by the main character's POV and the constant use of inaccessible financial jargon. Anytime IPOs or futures trading was mentioned I kind of felt my eyes glaze over as I waited for it to be over.
The three main characters are also wildly unlikeable unfortunately. I had a hard time making it to the end of this book because I didn't really care about what happened to any of them. It's difficult to root for a romantic relationship between protagonists when there's no real chemistry or development on the page besides just they are interested in each other, they're dating, and then some miscommunication trope thrown in for good measure.
This book was really promising and had an intriguing premise and atmosphere but it unfortunately did not hit the mark for me. I would have loved to delve more into the app and the social implications of it beyond the flimsy supporters vs. antis plotline and how it impacts the stocks or whatever. The ending was also sloppy and confusing and just overall dissatisfying. I think this could have been something really cool that got derailed somewhere toward the beginning and was never able to fully course-correct and deliver on what was promised.
I thought it would be a really interesting view on how social media and apps and societal approval dominate our lives to a detriment, but the app itself was more of a secondary plot to the complicated incestuous love triangle (?) between the three main characters.
I really wish the book had gone more in-depth on the app and how it works. Its rise to popularity, the logistics of it, maybe even a POV from a user to show another side of things. Instead, the book felt really bogged down by the main character's POV and the constant use of inaccessible financial jargon. Anytime IPOs or futures trading was mentioned I kind of felt my eyes glaze over as I waited for it to be over.
The three main characters are also wildly unlikeable unfortunately. I had a hard time making it to the end of this book because I didn't really care about what happened to any of them. It's difficult to root for a romantic relationship between protagonists when there's no real chemistry or development on the page besides just they are interested in each other, they're dating, and then some miscommunication trope thrown in for good measure.
This book was really promising and had an intriguing premise and atmosphere but it unfortunately did not hit the mark for me. I would have loved to delve more into the app and the social implications of it beyond the flimsy supporters vs. antis plotline and how it impacts the stocks or whatever. The ending was also sloppy and confusing and just overall dissatisfying. I think this could have been something really cool that got derailed somewhere toward the beginning and was never able to fully course-correct and deliver on what was promised.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
The intersection of social media, capitalism and loneliness combine to create a devastating change to society; living with human corpses in day to day life for human companionship when necrophilia becomes normalized.
In an effort to combat normal human experiences like anxiety, loneliness, dating, and rejection, the human cadaver company Liv is created. Company owner Auden identifies an untapped stream of profit with the dead, leading to a burgeoning IPO deal.
Through focus groups and clever language positioning, consumer and public opinion is swiftly and thoroughly manipulated through predatory ‘ gaslighting’ marketing, and social media glamorization.
All parts daily life become Liv focused; dating apps preferences, restaurants that exclude Livs are rare (and prejudice), buy a Liv to keep your dog company, etc.
Living among the dead becomes the norm. People take their dead with them everywhere like you take your phone.
Those who don’t partake are considered to be resistant, narrow minded, almost pariahs like, with unethical bias against the un-living.
As odd as that sounds, I think this could easily happen today. I was absolutely shocked at the parallels that the author was able to relay. Capitalism only needed the Supreme Court’s approval of legality, but doesn’t ever question or consider the morality in this book until it’s just too late!!
This book is so timely, disturbingly brilliant, and could have a masters thesis written off if it! I didn’t like the characters, although I don’t think they were intended to be likable, and it matters none because of the lesson and the greater impact. This book has an Orwellian vibe and a Caveat Emptor to the modern day reader: careful! Woah! Refuse what you have always known. Avoid your eyes. Do not question morality. Indulge thy self at any expense.
The author said it took her 8 years to write! How did she know that in 2026 this message would land as it did. Octavia Butler type forecasting? Let’s hope not!
In an effort to combat normal human experiences like anxiety, loneliness, dating, and rejection, the human cadaver company Liv is created. Company owner Auden identifies an untapped stream of profit with the dead, leading to a burgeoning IPO deal.
Through focus groups and clever language positioning, consumer and public opinion is swiftly and thoroughly manipulated through predatory ‘ gaslighting’ marketing, and social media glamorization.
All parts daily life become Liv focused; dating apps preferences, restaurants that exclude Livs are rare (and prejudice), buy a Liv to keep your dog company, etc.
Living among the dead becomes the norm. People take their dead with them everywhere like you take your phone.
Those who don’t partake are considered to be resistant, narrow minded, almost pariahs like, with unethical bias against the un-living.
As odd as that sounds, I think this could easily happen today. I was absolutely shocked at the parallels that the author was able to relay. Capitalism only needed the Supreme Court’s approval of legality, but doesn’t ever question or consider the morality in this book until it’s just too late!!
This book is so timely, disturbingly brilliant, and could have a masters thesis written off if it! I didn’t like the characters, although I don’t think they were intended to be likable, and it matters none because of the lesson and the greater impact. This book has an Orwellian vibe and a Caveat Emptor to the modern day reader: careful! Woah! Refuse what you have always known. Avoid your eyes. Do not question morality. Indulge thy self at any expense.
The author said it took her 8 years to write! How did she know that in 2026 this message would land as it did. Octavia Butler type forecasting? Let’s hope not!
January 14, 2026
i had a lot of conflicting thoughts on this novel. there are a lot of things it does well, notably the premise of a dating app for the dead and the possibilities of what could go wrong with delivering corpses at will to the general public. the prose and differing narration styles worked brilliantly, and each character had a different distinct voice that was just as compelling.
however, when we get into how the actual premise was enacted, i was disappointed! less time is spent grappling with our ideas of humanity and what it actually means when a large portion of the youth prefers the dead to the living than i hoped, and far more time was spent on the intricacies of business investment and increasingly complicated relationships. it also satirized and mocked our contemporary dating culture, which to be fair, deserves it, but some of the mocking takes serious topics and feelings that are in fact valid a little too far. my main issue with this is the notable lack of publically queer characters, so in some moments it can feel like the author is using the people interested in the Dead as a metaphor for queer people becoming more visible and generally accepted in most spaces, which really rubbed me the wrong way.
despite the fact that i was invested in the novel due to the writing style, there were moments where i felt the novel became boring or simply too slow due to the focus on the business side of things, which is just really not my thing. i went into this novel expecting more horror, as it was advertised to me, but found it to be more of a satirical science fiction drama. nothing wrong with that, it just felt misrepresented to me as a horror fan looking for upcoming horror novels. thank you to netgalley for the arc and the opportunity to read pre-release!
however, when we get into how the actual premise was enacted, i was disappointed! less time is spent grappling with our ideas of humanity and what it actually means when a large portion of the youth prefers the dead to the living than i hoped, and far more time was spent on the intricacies of business investment and increasingly complicated relationships. it also satirized and mocked our contemporary dating culture, which to be fair, deserves it, but some of the mocking takes serious topics and feelings that are in fact valid a little too far. my main issue with this is the notable lack of publically queer characters, so in some moments it can feel like the author is using the people interested in the Dead as a metaphor for queer people becoming more visible and generally accepted in most spaces, which really rubbed me the wrong way.
despite the fact that i was invested in the novel due to the writing style, there were moments where i felt the novel became boring or simply too slow due to the focus on the business side of things, which is just really not my thing. i went into this novel expecting more horror, as it was advertised to me, but found it to be more of a satirical science fiction drama. nothing wrong with that, it just felt misrepresented to me as a horror fan looking for upcoming horror novels. thank you to netgalley for the arc and the opportunity to read pre-release!
December 2, 2025
Let me start by clarifying what this novel is and what it isn’t. Despite the marketing, this is not a satire about the loneliness epidemic or the chaos of online dating. It’s not even primarily about a macabre dating app. Instead, For Human Use is a sharp commentary on corporate culture and the world of investment management. That is a very different book than the one I expected to read.
To be fair, the writing is gorgeous, the pacing is strong, and the character arcs are well developed. Pierce is undeniably skilled. But the mismatch between the pitch and the actual story left me disappointed. The premise suggests a darkly funny, satirical horror take on a service that lets people date corpses, yet out of 400+ pages, maybe only 40 pages actually explores the app, the public’s reaction, or its implications for humanity.
The bulk of the narrative focuses instead on an Elon Musk/Steve Jobs like CEO and the investment firm evaluating his big idea. The satire aims at corporate absurdity, but the CEO character feels more like a stock caricature than a new or particularly incisive take. If humor was the goal, I personally didn’t find much of it. I don't recall a single chuckle or genuine laugh throughout my reading experience.
I did enjoy the novel for what it is: a well crafted corporate satire with a strange speculative hook. But readers should be aware that the marketing sets very different expectations. If you go in wanting a horror comedy about a corpse dating app, you’ll likely end up feeling misled.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Sarah G. Pierce for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
To be fair, the writing is gorgeous, the pacing is strong, and the character arcs are well developed. Pierce is undeniably skilled. But the mismatch between the pitch and the actual story left me disappointed. The premise suggests a darkly funny, satirical horror take on a service that lets people date corpses, yet out of 400+ pages, maybe only 40 pages actually explores the app, the public’s reaction, or its implications for humanity.
The bulk of the narrative focuses instead on an Elon Musk/Steve Jobs like CEO and the investment firm evaluating his big idea. The satire aims at corporate absurdity, but the CEO character feels more like a stock caricature than a new or particularly incisive take. If humor was the goal, I personally didn’t find much of it. I don't recall a single chuckle or genuine laugh throughout my reading experience.
I did enjoy the novel for what it is: a well crafted corporate satire with a strange speculative hook. But readers should be aware that the marketing sets very different expectations. If you go in wanting a horror comedy about a corpse dating app, you’ll likely end up feeling misled.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Sarah G. Pierce for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
✨ Quick Summary (no spoilers): Auden White introduces a seemingly crazy idea for a dating app to find dead people to have for companionship (in more than a few ways). This is an interesting look at how the world views deceased people, impact on the individual and our interactions with each other, and the reaction to a system collapse. There's also a love triangle?
💭 My Thoughts: This was insane. The premise alone was enough for me to be interested, and I was thrilled to get a copy from Goodreads Giveaway. I liked the mix of dystopian and horror. As someone who has used her fair share of online dating apps, the idea that it could go further into finding companionship with dead people doesn't seem entirely too far off in today's climate. No surprise that most of the user focus group was men in their 20s and teenagers using the app for clout purposes.
I could have done without the love triangle. I felt the book tried to fit too much in that regard. I wanted to focus more on how the app and its use affected the greater social structure instead of how Tom and Mara and also Mara and Auden faired as romantic partners.
I appreciate that the book tried to wrap up the dissolution of the app, its societal effects, and next steps, but it felt a bit rushed. It could have taken more chapters!
👍 Recommended For: horror lovers, dystopian readers,
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: suicide, emotional trauma, abuse, sexual assault
📌 Final Verdict: While the first part read a bit slow to me, it quickly picked up. I enjoyed the second half a great deal.
💭 My Thoughts: This was insane. The premise alone was enough for me to be interested, and I was thrilled to get a copy from Goodreads Giveaway. I liked the mix of dystopian and horror. As someone who has used her fair share of online dating apps, the idea that it could go further into finding companionship with dead people doesn't seem entirely too far off in today's climate. No surprise that most of the user focus group was men in their 20s and teenagers using the app for clout purposes.
I could have done without the love triangle. I felt the book tried to fit too much in that regard. I wanted to focus more on how the app and its use affected the greater social structure instead of how Tom and Mara and also Mara and Auden faired as romantic partners.
I appreciate that the book tried to wrap up the dissolution of the app, its societal effects, and next steps, but it felt a bit rushed. It could have taken more chapters!
👍 Recommended For: horror lovers, dystopian readers,
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: suicide, emotional trauma, abuse, sexual assault
📌 Final Verdict: While the first part read a bit slow to me, it quickly picked up. I enjoyed the second half a great deal.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I really wanted to love this book because the cover is amazing, the title pulled me in, and most importantly, the premise is SO interesting. However, this seems to be a classic case of me loving the premise but not loving the execution.
First off, I found this to be *way too long.* So much of it felt like filler, dragged on, and I really thought it could be edited down.
I also didn't find myself caring for any of these characters. I don't necessarily need to like a character in order to enjoy a book, but I do want to at least find them interesting, and I don't know if I can say that here. Auden and Mara was probably the more interesting characters, if I had to choose (but even that is stretching a bit), but I found Tom really tired and boring (even if one of his line's was the only time I actually laughed out loud while reading this).
I just constantly felt like something was missing while reading this. Heart, maybe? It felt very cold and sterile, and sure, that's probably the point, but it didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.
I also thought the pacing was really odd: sometimes it felt like it was going too slow and taking too long to get to the point/to what we want to know, other times it felt like it skipped over a lot of what we should know.
I will admit that there were at least some interesting passages and lines. As a satire of venture capitalism, it felt fairly spot on too. Other than that though, this didn't really land for me.
I really wanted to love this book because the cover is amazing, the title pulled me in, and most importantly, the premise is SO interesting. However, this seems to be a classic case of me loving the premise but not loving the execution.
First off, I found this to be *way too long.* So much of it felt like filler, dragged on, and I really thought it could be edited down.
I also didn't find myself caring for any of these characters. I don't necessarily need to like a character in order to enjoy a book, but I do want to at least find them interesting, and I don't know if I can say that here. Auden and Mara was probably the more interesting characters, if I had to choose (but even that is stretching a bit), but I found Tom really tired and boring (even if one of his line's was the only time I actually laughed out loud while reading this).
I just constantly felt like something was missing while reading this. Heart, maybe? It felt very cold and sterile, and sure, that's probably the point, but it didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.
I also thought the pacing was really odd: sometimes it felt like it was going too slow and taking too long to get to the point/to what we want to know, other times it felt like it skipped over a lot of what we should know.
I will admit that there were at least some interesting passages and lines. As a satire of venture capitalism, it felt fairly spot on too. Other than that though, this didn't really land for me.
December 27, 2025
I knew “For Human Use” would be a wild ride, but boy did it truly blow my mind. The story starts of with a truly bonkers first chapter with Auden White, entrepreneur and genius behind “Liv,” somehow convinces a multibillion dollar corporation to invest in a new app that functions like Tinder but, instead of dates, matches you with human cadavers to be delivered right to your door. Like I said, WILD.
This is a very smart satire that confronts topics like toxic (and often predatory) family dynamics, consent, grief, taboo desires, and the complex and often double standards for men and women, all set against a corporate backdrop. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, this is a GREAT commentary of the so-called “male loneliness epidemic” (gag me with a spoon 🤢).
Overall, I did enjoy the book quite a bit. I found the characters frustrating, often morally repugnant, and brutally honest representations of humans trying to navigate the crazy world we live in. Some things weren’t my favorite - I audibly yelled “WTF” multiple times - but I do think this is a very engaging read. Just…be warned. You will get mad.
For a debut novel, Pierce’s “For Human Use” is wonderfully well written and is super original, mind melting, and very smart.
For Human Use by Sarah G. Pierce will be released on February 10th, 2026.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC!
This is a very smart satire that confronts topics like toxic (and often predatory) family dynamics, consent, grief, taboo desires, and the complex and often double standards for men and women, all set against a corporate backdrop. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, this is a GREAT commentary of the so-called “male loneliness epidemic” (gag me with a spoon 🤢).
Overall, I did enjoy the book quite a bit. I found the characters frustrating, often morally repugnant, and brutally honest representations of humans trying to navigate the crazy world we live in. Some things weren’t my favorite - I audibly yelled “WTF” multiple times - but I do think this is a very engaging read. Just…be warned. You will get mad.
For a debut novel, Pierce’s “For Human Use” is wonderfully well written and is super original, mind melting, and very smart.
For Human Use by Sarah G. Pierce will be released on February 10th, 2026.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC!
January 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
DNF @23%.
The concept of this book was intriguing, and I was looking forward to seeing how the author intended on executing this. However, I found that it was implemented poorly. The premise of a dating app for corpses hinges on the idea that there would be a market for people desiring said corpses. I requested, due to interest in understanding how the author would make me feel that this was believable. Unfortunately, this was never achieved. This concept hinges on the idea that average Americans are interested in corpse companionship. There were interviewers from users of LIV, but they were just regular people, casually talking about why they preferred corpse company. Perhaps, under mass hysteria this would be understandable, but it was so utterly unrealistic, that I was constantly drawn out of the story. Every single page had me wondering, "how does the government allow this?" "Where is law enforcement?" "Where are they getting these bodies?"
Phrases such as, "Can you imagine being the first person in history to realize the benefits of living with corpses?" and "Kids who never held a living hand and now preferred a dead one" just came off as so illogical. I tried to continue on and tell myself—well it is happening, but ultimately, I could not buy a world in which this becomes trendy, legal and safe.
DNF @23%.
The concept of this book was intriguing, and I was looking forward to seeing how the author intended on executing this. However, I found that it was implemented poorly. The premise of a dating app for corpses hinges on the idea that there would be a market for people desiring said corpses. I requested, due to interest in understanding how the author would make me feel that this was believable. Unfortunately, this was never achieved. This concept hinges on the idea that average Americans are interested in corpse companionship. There were interviewers from users of LIV, but they were just regular people, casually talking about why they preferred corpse company. Perhaps, under mass hysteria this would be understandable, but it was so utterly unrealistic, that I was constantly drawn out of the story. Every single page had me wondering, "how does the government allow this?" "Where is law enforcement?" "Where are they getting these bodies?"
Phrases such as, "Can you imagine being the first person in history to realize the benefits of living with corpses?" and "Kids who never held a living hand and now preferred a dead one" just came off as so illogical. I tried to continue on and tell myself—well it is happening, but ultimately, I could not buy a world in which this becomes trendy, legal and safe.
December 5, 2025
Pierce's debut novel "For Human Use" is definitely one of the most original/ unconventional satires I've read in a while. Reviews saying it was "unfunny" and more of a business drama miss the entire point of the story: drawing light to the absurdities within modern-day dating scene.
Within a wild story about the launch of a "tinder but for corpses" app, the author confronts issues like consent, double standards for men vs. women, predatory/ incestuous family relationships, reactionary conservativism, amongst others. Is the cure to the so-called "male loneliness epidemic" to give these communities of self-described involuntarily celibate young men to corpses? Is it okay to outsource "taboo fetishes" or behavior that would otherwise be unethical towards a living, breathing human being onto a dead body? They won't rat you out, after all.
I think overall I liked more what the book stood for than the actual storyline. The strange dynamics between Tom and Auden took away from the reading for me, and all the business jargon with the launching of the company was not my cup of tea. I would still recommend this book for its unique concept and the way it deals with complex social issues. This isn't your average dating app rom-com story, and I'm here for it.
Within a wild story about the launch of a "tinder but for corpses" app, the author confronts issues like consent, double standards for men vs. women, predatory/ incestuous family relationships, reactionary conservativism, amongst others. Is the cure to the so-called "male loneliness epidemic" to give these communities of self-described involuntarily celibate young men to corpses? Is it okay to outsource "taboo fetishes" or behavior that would otherwise be unethical towards a living, breathing human being onto a dead body? They won't rat you out, after all.
I think overall I liked more what the book stood for than the actual storyline. The strange dynamics between Tom and Auden took away from the reading for me, and all the business jargon with the launching of the company was not my cup of tea. I would still recommend this book for its unique concept and the way it deals with complex social issues. This isn't your average dating app rom-com story, and I'm here for it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was juggling a few novels when I stumbled across FOR HUMAN USE; when I read the first few chapters, I immediately shelved everything else I was reading so I could focus on Pierce’s debut. This book is BRILLIANT. As a writer, I plan to buy a copy of this once it’s released just to study Pierce’s skill with language and scene construction.
I found the characters mostly likable, with solid arcs. I understood their motivations and was invested in their stories. I know some other reviewers struggled with the corporate-speak sections, but I feel it made the entire premise more believable. I have no idea how accurate any of the proceedings would be in reality, but I found myself nodding along: “Yup, sounds about right. Sure thing.”
Some scenes made me laugh / exclaim out loud, and I'm so glad Pierce had the courage to "go there." The premise alone is bonkers, but the author explored it deftly. It’s a perfect modern satire in the tradition of Swift’s A MODEST PROPOSAL. The romance between Mara and Tom is a grounding throughline, and I found myself truly rooting for them, but the dark humor and keen-eyed social commentary alone would have kept me turning pages.
This is “weird lit” that won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me.
I found the characters mostly likable, with solid arcs. I understood their motivations and was invested in their stories. I know some other reviewers struggled with the corporate-speak sections, but I feel it made the entire premise more believable. I have no idea how accurate any of the proceedings would be in reality, but I found myself nodding along: “Yup, sounds about right. Sure thing.”
Some scenes made me laugh / exclaim out loud, and I'm so glad Pierce had the courage to "go there." The premise alone is bonkers, but the author explored it deftly. It’s a perfect modern satire in the tradition of Swift’s A MODEST PROPOSAL. The romance between Mara and Tom is a grounding throughline, and I found myself truly rooting for them, but the dark humor and keen-eyed social commentary alone would have kept me turning pages.
This is “weird lit” that won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I really appreciated the concept and found it genuinely thought-provoking. It’s unsettling in a way that feels intentional, and I can absolutely see how a man could read this, step forward, and begin to believe he is god, and start LIV. That possibility is what made the story so compelling, and why I firmly stand with Tom in his resistance.
I also liked that the book made room for romance between real people. That grounding element was a welcome break from the larger societal hellscape and helped humanize the story. That said, I continue to struggle with subplots that have miscommunication. Spending multiple chapters stuck in characters’ internal thoughts, when a single honest conversation could move things forward, really tested my patience. At this point, that kind of narrative choice pulls me out of the story.
Ultimately, this book earns its 3.5 stars because while the ideas are strong and timely, the pacing and communication gaps held it back from fully delivering on its potential. Still, it’s a thought-provoking read that will likely spark conversation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I also liked that the book made room for romance between real people. That grounding element was a welcome break from the larger societal hellscape and helped humanize the story. That said, I continue to struggle with subplots that have miscommunication. Spending multiple chapters stuck in characters’ internal thoughts, when a single honest conversation could move things forward, really tested my patience. At this point, that kind of narrative choice pulls me out of the story.
Ultimately, this book earns its 3.5 stars because while the ideas are strong and timely, the pacing and communication gaps held it back from fully delivering on its potential. Still, it’s a thought-provoking read that will likely spark conversation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For human use is smart, funny and thought provoking! Welcome to a world where there is a tinder like website but it’s called “Liv” and the people on the app aren’t “living”.. they are dead.. dead bodies. Swipe left or right and one can be delivered to your door! To.. Liv with you?
I enjoyed this book. The writing was easy and not too stiff or stuffy. Also there is some luv. Between living people not “living” people.
A couple of things that were a challenge for me were the timeline. The plot is very dense. A lot of separate irons in this book fire. I had trouble understanding how much time at passed in any given situation. I also experienced like a suspension of understanding, something would happen and then when it came back it was a big deal and I was surprised by that bc upon getting information initially it didn’t seem like a big deal? I’m open to being an idiot.
Definitely would recommend and if this ever becomes a movie Auden should be played by the human version of Vecna (not baby Vecna). TY.
trigger warning*** mentions hedge funds, dividends, deals are brokered, more seriously though, grooming and like people are dead and around being dead**
I enjoyed this book. The writing was easy and not too stiff or stuffy. Also there is some luv. Between living people not “living” people.
A couple of things that were a challenge for me were the timeline. The plot is very dense. A lot of separate irons in this book fire. I had trouble understanding how much time at passed in any given situation. I also experienced like a suspension of understanding, something would happen and then when it came back it was a big deal and I was surprised by that bc upon getting information initially it didn’t seem like a big deal? I’m open to being an idiot.
Definitely would recommend and if this ever becomes a movie Auden should be played by the human version of Vecna (not baby Vecna). TY.
trigger warning*** mentions hedge funds, dividends, deals are brokered, more seriously though, grooming and like people are dead and around being dead**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unsettling and thought-provoking. With some books, I tell people to sit back and just go along for the ride, but this would NOT be one of those... so, we know it's about an app that matches living users with corpses as companions but what is it really ABOUT? Business ethics? Consent? Cultural brain rot? I'm not sure that I've totally figured it out yet and I'm dying (no pun intended) to gather some fellow weirdos to talk about it with me. If you're worried about the necrophilia theme, it was actually a relatively small part of the story-- the app in question could have been replaced with any taboo or deviant phenomenon and the book could have told a similar overall story. A large cast, multiple POVs and some underdeveloped characters made it tricky for me to keep track of who's who at times. Also, some of the financial sector jargon went over my head. Overall this was a delightfully strange book -- so unlike anything I've read in quite a while. I'm very curious to see where other readers land with this. Thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.
December 2, 2025
For Human Use was such a wonderful surprise! The premise is WILD, and the story does not let down. I found this to be very intelligent and insightful, Pierce skillfully weaves multiple themes, tying them up in a really satisfying way by the end of the story.
I really appreciated the poignant look at the absurdity of VC and corporate culture, this was a smart poke in the arm, and such a clever way to illustrate how crazy these industries have gotten. I also saw a wink and a nudge critiquing AI culture, which was timely (and appreciated), and artfully ties into a parallel critique of romance culture, and modern day dating on a whole.
Decided to read this on a whim, and I am so happy I did! This was a well paced read, with heavy themes, and wonderful characterization, I can’t wait to see what Pierce writes next!
Thank you NetGalley and Run For It for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated the poignant look at the absurdity of VC and corporate culture, this was a smart poke in the arm, and such a clever way to illustrate how crazy these industries have gotten. I also saw a wink and a nudge critiquing AI culture, which was timely (and appreciated), and artfully ties into a parallel critique of romance culture, and modern day dating on a whole.
Decided to read this on a whim, and I am so happy I did! This was a well paced read, with heavy themes, and wonderful characterization, I can’t wait to see what Pierce writes next!
Thank you NetGalley and Run For It for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The premise of this book is both creepy and fascinating, and allowed for some great bits of humor throughout the book. Our main cast of characters, Tom, Auden, and Mara, while not necessarily likeable, are interesting to ride shotgun in the minds of. I particularly enjoyed seeing the differing narratives of Tom and Mara as their relationship progresses. The conversation snippets from social media throughout were also a fun addition.
I did find this book dragged on a bit long and didn't seem to have a direction. I was really hoping for something weirder based on the concept of a dead body dating app.
Verdict: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
While I didn't find a new favorite, I did enjoy this book for the premise and the humor. If you like general or literary fiction and want to dabble in a bit of weird, this could be a great jumping off point.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book to review. All opinions are my own.
I did find this book dragged on a bit long and didn't seem to have a direction. I was really hoping for something weirder based on the concept of a dead body dating app.
Verdict: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
While I didn't find a new favorite, I did enjoy this book for the premise and the humor. If you like general or literary fiction and want to dabble in a bit of weird, this could be a great jumping off point.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book to review. All opinions are my own.
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