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Antique: A Novel
An uplifting, magical story about a once-celebrated antique appraiser who gets caught in the thrall of a strange, powerful necklace—one that has the power to transform her life, and the fortunes of those around her.
Grace Schaffer is adrift. Raised by an eminent but emotionally withdrawn scholar, her talent landed her a coveted spot on Antiques Roadshow, where she charmed legions of viewers. But she's recently fallen from her gilded perch, losing her career, her marriage and her very identity in the process, leaving her with the same question her clients so often ask of What is it worth? Or, the question that beats beneath it, What am I worth?
In a last-ditch attempt to revive her career, she signs on to an amateur travelling show, where an old, tarnished necklace catches her eye. Imbued with a strange and sudden confidence, she begins predicting the precise amount that objects will sell for at auction—far beyond their market values. As she performs act after act of this seeming divination, Grace catches the attention of detractors and fans alike, all clamoring to see what she’ll do next. Caught in the necklace’s strange and possibly dangerous thrall, Grace is soon thrust into the hunt to uncover a lost masterpiece… before it disappears forever, taking her hopes and dreams with it.
As Grace struggles to find her own worth outside the comfort of marriage, the limelight of career, of even the necklace’s awesome power, she comes face to face with the hardest appraisal of all…herself. Antique takes readers on an exhilarating journey of art and love, one that will leave them believing in the magic that lies within us all—should we dare to use it.
Grace Schaffer is adrift. Raised by an eminent but emotionally withdrawn scholar, her talent landed her a coveted spot on Antiques Roadshow, where she charmed legions of viewers. But she's recently fallen from her gilded perch, losing her career, her marriage and her very identity in the process, leaving her with the same question her clients so often ask of What is it worth? Or, the question that beats beneath it, What am I worth?
In a last-ditch attempt to revive her career, she signs on to an amateur travelling show, where an old, tarnished necklace catches her eye. Imbued with a strange and sudden confidence, she begins predicting the precise amount that objects will sell for at auction—far beyond their market values. As she performs act after act of this seeming divination, Grace catches the attention of detractors and fans alike, all clamoring to see what she’ll do next. Caught in the necklace’s strange and possibly dangerous thrall, Grace is soon thrust into the hunt to uncover a lost masterpiece… before it disappears forever, taking her hopes and dreams with it.
As Grace struggles to find her own worth outside the comfort of marriage, the limelight of career, of even the necklace’s awesome power, she comes face to face with the hardest appraisal of all…herself. Antique takes readers on an exhilarating journey of art and love, one that will leave them believing in the magic that lies within us all—should we dare to use it.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
9 people are currently reading
5256 people want to read
About the author
Seth Panitch
3 books23 followersSeth Panitch’s debut novel, ANTIQUE, will be released February 3, 2026 by Grand Central/ Hachette Publishing. His plays Dammit, Shakespeare!, Hell: Paradise Found (Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.), Alcestis Ascending, and Separate and Equal have all been produced Off Broadway, and his films Service to Man and The Coming are distributed by Freestyle Entertainment Studios and Terror Films. Seth is also a Professor of Theatre and directs the MFA Acting Program at the University of Alabama. Far more importantly, he is married to Laura Panitch, who does not seem to mind when he creeps upstairs to write, or when he lets their dog Moses use him as a jungle gym. Seth is a proud member of the Author’s Guild, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Society of Directors and Choreographers, and the Illuminati – although he has steadfastly refused to have their names tattooed onto his chest.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this debut novel. It started a little slow but the magical realism experienced by Grace, an antique appraiser, was a pick me up, for sure. Grace had reached the summit of appraisers by being on the popular Antiques Roadshow but fell out of grace (no pun intended) and had to start over. The appraisers were an interesting group, and Jerome Zwick, was probably my favorite character. He supported Grace in his own way and helped her regain her confidence and independence. It made me happy to see Grace come into her own. I rate this book a 3.5 rounded up to 4⭐️.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 7, 2026
Appraising art and ourselves (traveling roadshows NJ, New England, Indiana, upstate NY, NYC, London (ancient times to present-day): Antique is so electrifying, it’s hard to believe it’s Seth Panitch’s debut novel.
On display is a passion for the arts. Creative juices. A flair for the dramatic by the Professor of Theatre at the University of Alabama who runs their MFA Acting Program. Having written Off Broadway plays and films, he appears to have transmitted his performance art writing skills into another format to produce a wildly entertaining literary performance.
Crediting the “experts, appraisers, creators, producers, and guests of the Antiques Roadshow,” (now in its 30th season), his author notes also say he “cannot watch the legendary show without laughing, crying, or learning something new about the art within us all.” So it follows then that he’d want to open us to the mystique of the art world crafting an original story with heart, while offering an impressive knowledge of ancient history and antiquities pitting compassion against prevailing art market appraisals.
This fictional roadshow takes us to the world’s top auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s, to Bonham’s and Heritage Auctions, and to Main Street ones.
America’s Antiques Roadshow was inspired by the British version that launched in 1979. Even the description of it shows off Panitch’s energetic writing style: as “an empire that spanned nine British Prime Ministers and eight US Presidents spawning a worldwide sensation over which the sun, quite literally, never set.” Expect, then, to feel the sensational frenzy of an exciting auction as if you were sitting in the audience holding your numbered paddle glued to the auctioneer caught up in the process.
Inventing a struggling Appraisal Experts Roadshow with a cast of appraisal characters needing to prove their worth, the main character, Grace Schaffer, is most need of recovering her former glory and sense of worth.
Once a celebrity appraisal expert at Christie’s, Grace has fallen from grace. As a consequence, her Manhattan art gallery Schaffer and Schaffer has also fallen on hard times. Reputations in the art world can fall precipitously; trust is hard to earn back. The second Schaffer is a painful reminder of her renowned art historian father who passed away two years ago when the novel opens. Flailing, she feels disgraced and is terribly lonesome.
Grace could use a bit of magic. Panitch delivers it to her.
In so doing, his vision for putting on a brilliant literary show not only asks “What is it worth?” but “What am I worth?” Panitch’s immeasurable gifts – dazzling prose, setting up intrigue, and insight into human nature and groupthink – reveal a master at his game.
Antique raises the bar on fiction with its finesse of how all of us are constantly appraising everything and everyone in life. Including, especially, ourselves.
Grace’s story began in childhood, “swept up” into her father’s world. Albert was one of the “True Art Historians, and her “magnetic north.” In awe of him; he, sadly, in awe of himself. The only time she could enter his “forbidden world,” the only way she got to spend any time with him, was in his stately office. All it takes are two words to picture a young girl respectfully knocking on the door of her father’s kingdom, addressing him as his Columbia University students’ do, “Dr. Schaffer,” he never correcting her, for you to know something odd is afoot.
Meanwhile, Grace’s mother Shirley is treated with borderline disdain. Condescending messages sent that she couldn’t possibly grasp the complexities, intricacies, history of Art. The triangular family dynamics are provocative; gratifying when Grace and the reader see what the real Shirley is made of.
Grace’s story is one of second chances. A die-hard supporter from her previous life, Elaine demonstrates what’s it’s truly like when a colleague’s respect is no-holds back as she sticks her neck out to support discredited Grace, offering her a way to re-enter the appraisal world, revive her gallery business, and herself. When she invites Grace to join the Appraisal Experts Roadshow, Grace is unsure of herself, rusty, wary and weary of others appraising her, directly or indirectly. One appraiser is particularly nasty; satisfying when she gets what she deserves artfully without the crassness.
When Grace comes into possession of something her colleagues don’t have, something comes over her. You can guess at what might have happened to account for her downfall, but you’ll never guess what is about to happen.
Panitch never bores. Starting on page one, he introduces an ancient object that’s at least five thousand years old. Its powers are bewitching, as is the prose:
“The object is a necklace, once “six strings . . . threaded with the riches of Empire.” Its provenance traced back to the “Babylonian God of Wisdom.” Passed down through the Biblical ages to Egypt, to the Sinai, to the Ottoman Turks to 1917, the “Common Era,” when it’s “stolen by an American spy. What’s left is one string: “twelve cylindrically shaped stones of pure onyx spaced with Nubian gold nuggets . . . fastened in the very center, between two crimson bloodstones, hung the celestial globe itself: a marble-size stone of the finest lapis lazuli, mined in the ancient limestone beds of Pakistan. It emerged from the earth a perfect sphere” with “golden pyrite inclusions that shimmer like starbursts across the deep blue face of the stone. To hold the globe was to grasp the Cosmos.”
Grace is drawn to the deep blue stone artifact despite its poor condition. Lapis lazuli is a stone with ancient and modern spiritual history. Believed to have “healing” powers that can reveal “inner truth.” Again, fitting for Grace. Her appraisal of the object shocks. Grace doesn’t back down, instead digs in, not wanting to crush the dreams of someone in need of a break, luck, a boost.
An element of the appraisal process we might not have considered, given we’re inclined to focus on the currency side of it, is the emotional impact of letting down the owner of the object. Grace will surely win your heart. So too her low self-esteem believing the “celestial globe” has granted her fantastical powers.
The ancient stone conveys ancient history of the Cosmos. How the Earth was considered spherical “dates all the way back to the 6th century BC,” chimes in the oldest appraiser Jerome on the fictional roadshow. At seventy, the thirty-year age difference with Grace charms as their relationship comes alive for each other.
Panitch’s antique roadshow makes stops in shopping malls, historic venues, small cities, and big ones. At each one, Grace holds the “celestial globe” in her hands, feels it go from cold to warmer, then starts spinning “faster and faster,” getting hotter, “metamorphosing into dizzying, impossible combinations.” The force of its energy fires up Grace to appraise seemingly worthless objects at astronomical valuations.
Along with the drama, you’ll detect a melancholy sentiment on how the “Modern and Avant-Garde” movements have taken over today’s art market beyond anything imaginable.
So too Panitch’s spinning of Grace’s extraordinary appraisals. How they turn out, and what they say about Grace.
On display is a passion for the arts. Creative juices. A flair for the dramatic by the Professor of Theatre at the University of Alabama who runs their MFA Acting Program. Having written Off Broadway plays and films, he appears to have transmitted his performance art writing skills into another format to produce a wildly entertaining literary performance.
Crediting the “experts, appraisers, creators, producers, and guests of the Antiques Roadshow,” (now in its 30th season), his author notes also say he “cannot watch the legendary show without laughing, crying, or learning something new about the art within us all.” So it follows then that he’d want to open us to the mystique of the art world crafting an original story with heart, while offering an impressive knowledge of ancient history and antiquities pitting compassion against prevailing art market appraisals.
This fictional roadshow takes us to the world’s top auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s, to Bonham’s and Heritage Auctions, and to Main Street ones.
America’s Antiques Roadshow was inspired by the British version that launched in 1979. Even the description of it shows off Panitch’s energetic writing style: as “an empire that spanned nine British Prime Ministers and eight US Presidents spawning a worldwide sensation over which the sun, quite literally, never set.” Expect, then, to feel the sensational frenzy of an exciting auction as if you were sitting in the audience holding your numbered paddle glued to the auctioneer caught up in the process.
Inventing a struggling Appraisal Experts Roadshow with a cast of appraisal characters needing to prove their worth, the main character, Grace Schaffer, is most need of recovering her former glory and sense of worth.
Once a celebrity appraisal expert at Christie’s, Grace has fallen from grace. As a consequence, her Manhattan art gallery Schaffer and Schaffer has also fallen on hard times. Reputations in the art world can fall precipitously; trust is hard to earn back. The second Schaffer is a painful reminder of her renowned art historian father who passed away two years ago when the novel opens. Flailing, she feels disgraced and is terribly lonesome.
Grace could use a bit of magic. Panitch delivers it to her.
In so doing, his vision for putting on a brilliant literary show not only asks “What is it worth?” but “What am I worth?” Panitch’s immeasurable gifts – dazzling prose, setting up intrigue, and insight into human nature and groupthink – reveal a master at his game.
Antique raises the bar on fiction with its finesse of how all of us are constantly appraising everything and everyone in life. Including, especially, ourselves.
Grace’s story began in childhood, “swept up” into her father’s world. Albert was one of the “True Art Historians, and her “magnetic north.” In awe of him; he, sadly, in awe of himself. The only time she could enter his “forbidden world,” the only way she got to spend any time with him, was in his stately office. All it takes are two words to picture a young girl respectfully knocking on the door of her father’s kingdom, addressing him as his Columbia University students’ do, “Dr. Schaffer,” he never correcting her, for you to know something odd is afoot.
Meanwhile, Grace’s mother Shirley is treated with borderline disdain. Condescending messages sent that she couldn’t possibly grasp the complexities, intricacies, history of Art. The triangular family dynamics are provocative; gratifying when Grace and the reader see what the real Shirley is made of.
Grace’s story is one of second chances. A die-hard supporter from her previous life, Elaine demonstrates what’s it’s truly like when a colleague’s respect is no-holds back as she sticks her neck out to support discredited Grace, offering her a way to re-enter the appraisal world, revive her gallery business, and herself. When she invites Grace to join the Appraisal Experts Roadshow, Grace is unsure of herself, rusty, wary and weary of others appraising her, directly or indirectly. One appraiser is particularly nasty; satisfying when she gets what she deserves artfully without the crassness.
When Grace comes into possession of something her colleagues don’t have, something comes over her. You can guess at what might have happened to account for her downfall, but you’ll never guess what is about to happen.
Panitch never bores. Starting on page one, he introduces an ancient object that’s at least five thousand years old. Its powers are bewitching, as is the prose:
“The object is a necklace, once “six strings . . . threaded with the riches of Empire.” Its provenance traced back to the “Babylonian God of Wisdom.” Passed down through the Biblical ages to Egypt, to the Sinai, to the Ottoman Turks to 1917, the “Common Era,” when it’s “stolen by an American spy. What’s left is one string: “twelve cylindrically shaped stones of pure onyx spaced with Nubian gold nuggets . . . fastened in the very center, between two crimson bloodstones, hung the celestial globe itself: a marble-size stone of the finest lapis lazuli, mined in the ancient limestone beds of Pakistan. It emerged from the earth a perfect sphere” with “golden pyrite inclusions that shimmer like starbursts across the deep blue face of the stone. To hold the globe was to grasp the Cosmos.”
Grace is drawn to the deep blue stone artifact despite its poor condition. Lapis lazuli is a stone with ancient and modern spiritual history. Believed to have “healing” powers that can reveal “inner truth.” Again, fitting for Grace. Her appraisal of the object shocks. Grace doesn’t back down, instead digs in, not wanting to crush the dreams of someone in need of a break, luck, a boost.
An element of the appraisal process we might not have considered, given we’re inclined to focus on the currency side of it, is the emotional impact of letting down the owner of the object. Grace will surely win your heart. So too her low self-esteem believing the “celestial globe” has granted her fantastical powers.
The ancient stone conveys ancient history of the Cosmos. How the Earth was considered spherical “dates all the way back to the 6th century BC,” chimes in the oldest appraiser Jerome on the fictional roadshow. At seventy, the thirty-year age difference with Grace charms as their relationship comes alive for each other.
Panitch’s antique roadshow makes stops in shopping malls, historic venues, small cities, and big ones. At each one, Grace holds the “celestial globe” in her hands, feels it go from cold to warmer, then starts spinning “faster and faster,” getting hotter, “metamorphosing into dizzying, impossible combinations.” The force of its energy fires up Grace to appraise seemingly worthless objects at astronomical valuations.
Along with the drama, you’ll detect a melancholy sentiment on how the “Modern and Avant-Garde” movements have taken over today’s art market beyond anything imaginable.
So too Panitch’s spinning of Grace’s extraordinary appraisals. How they turn out, and what they say about Grace.
February 7, 2026
Captivating!
I was so intrigued from the beginning to the end, the characters, the mystery, the magic, all kept me on the edge not wanting to put it down! Every part of me cheering Grace on through the journey as I could easily relate to her feelings. It was beautifully written with emotional connection. I love how the past was interwoven with the present and how it all came together at the end. I couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 days! We’ll done!
I was so intrigued from the beginning to the end, the characters, the mystery, the magic, all kept me on the edge not wanting to put it down! Every part of me cheering Grace on through the journey as I could easily relate to her feelings. It was beautifully written with emotional connection. I love how the past was interwoven with the present and how it all came together at the end. I couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 days! We’ll done!
Want to read
February 14, 2026ty hachette for the copy!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Other than watching a handful of Antique Roadshow episodes I know nothing of the antique dealing world, but I know a good story when I read one.
February 11, 2026
Grace Schaffer follows in the footsteps of her father who is a scholar of historical artifacts. She got her father’s attention after digging in their own backyard and finding an arrowhead as a child. As an adult she eventually landed a coveted spot on Antiques Roadshow. Her time there was too short. She loses her job, gets a divorce, and feels like she has lost her identity.
Grace accepts a job on an amateur antiques tour show. She makes friends but she has lost her confidence and fears, letting everyone down until one day she appraises a necklace.
The necklace gives her a magical ability that helps build her confidence. While wearing the necklace and appraising the items, a number pops into her head. A number much higher than she and the other appraisers think is reasonable. Somehow, each item is sold for the amount she was given. She is successful and begins to feel like a celebrity. Each of her appraisals have helped people in need and it makes her feel good about herself and her world.
While appraising a painting, she goes head-to-head with her ex-husband who is famous for art appraisals. Because he questions her appraisal, they are both brought in at the auction. One of them will be destroyed.
This is a story about doing good for both you and others and how that can conflict. It has a little magic involved so you will need to be willing to believe in something that science can’t measure.
It’s a story about what is important in life and what we can do to make the world better.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little fantasy. I think that if you have ever watched Antiques Roadshow, you might enjoy seeing what goes on in the background knowing that one decision can often make or break someone whose counting on finding that one in a million treasure.
First published February 3, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
You can follow my reviews at Get Lost in a Book - Virginia-Gruver.com
Grace accepts a job on an amateur antiques tour show. She makes friends but she has lost her confidence and fears, letting everyone down until one day she appraises a necklace.
The necklace gives her a magical ability that helps build her confidence. While wearing the necklace and appraising the items, a number pops into her head. A number much higher than she and the other appraisers think is reasonable. Somehow, each item is sold for the amount she was given. She is successful and begins to feel like a celebrity. Each of her appraisals have helped people in need and it makes her feel good about herself and her world.
While appraising a painting, she goes head-to-head with her ex-husband who is famous for art appraisals. Because he questions her appraisal, they are both brought in at the auction. One of them will be destroyed.
This is a story about doing good for both you and others and how that can conflict. It has a little magic involved so you will need to be willing to believe in something that science can’t measure.
It’s a story about what is important in life and what we can do to make the world better.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little fantasy. I think that if you have ever watched Antiques Roadshow, you might enjoy seeing what goes on in the background knowing that one decision can often make or break someone whose counting on finding that one in a million treasure.
First published February 3, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
You can follow my reviews at Get Lost in a Book - Virginia-Gruver.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. My mom was big into antiques, so it brought back such fond memories of my childhood.
Antique by Seth Panitch painted a fun world of antique appraisals. The novel follows Grace, an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow whose life gets turned upside down due to personal affairs, so she joins a traveling appraisal company to get back into the industry.
In her new position, Grace appraises an ancient necklace with a strange stone and impulsively buys it for herself. She beings to realize the stone seems to guide her appraisals, giving her insights she couldn't possibly know on her own. The touch of magical realism adds intrigue and gives the story a mystical vibe which was a huge strong point for me in this novel. As the story continues, Grace finds herself grappling with the truth about some artwork she appraises, forcing her to confront some things she has been avoiding about her past, self-worth, and the life she wants to rebuild.
This book was a fun, fast-paced read for me. The magical element was intriguing and kept me going. This was a solid three stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Antique by Seth Panitch painted a fun world of antique appraisals. The novel follows Grace, an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow whose life gets turned upside down due to personal affairs, so she joins a traveling appraisal company to get back into the industry.
In her new position, Grace appraises an ancient necklace with a strange stone and impulsively buys it for herself. She beings to realize the stone seems to guide her appraisals, giving her insights she couldn't possibly know on her own. The touch of magical realism adds intrigue and gives the story a mystical vibe which was a huge strong point for me in this novel. As the story continues, Grace finds herself grappling with the truth about some artwork she appraises, forcing her to confront some things she has been avoiding about her past, self-worth, and the life she wants to rebuild.
This book was a fun, fast-paced read for me. The magical element was intriguing and kept me going. This was a solid three stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
February 25, 2026
I really enjoyed reading Antique by Seth Panitch. It is a pleasureable escape into the world of antique buying & selling, but whats more, a reflection into deciding one's own worth. Refreshing instead of heavy and dictitorial, the book presents a likeable character, Grace, who is at a low point in life and struggling to decide her own worth. Choosing an interesting environment, ie. Antique auctions and road shows, the author pulls the reader into an exciting world and distracts with a strong, adult female lead. Readers can identify with Grace, regardless of their age and be entertained while having their own introspection. there is an element of magic which enhances the storyline and a few surprises which show Panitich's ability to deftly describe relationships.
Great book for bookclubs looking for inticing discussion and renewing old memories brought on by familiar objects.
Can't wait for his next work.
Great book for bookclubs looking for inticing discussion and renewing old memories brought on by familiar objects.
Can't wait for his next work.
February 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It was about an antiques appraiser who gains the ability to predict the exact price that items she appraises will sell for at a future auction. The story is also about her personal life, the emotions that she goes through and her co-workers and others reactions to her special ability.
This book was imaginative and the theme very original. The characters made the story come alive with their emotions and reactions. The story line was easy to follow. I found that I would get so interested in the story, that it was difficult to put the book down. The story was very entertaining.
If you like books that take people and put them in unusual situations, you will likely want to check this one out.
I received a free advance reader copy of Antique. The opinion that I express is my own.
This book was imaginative and the theme very original. The characters made the story come alive with their emotions and reactions. The story line was easy to follow. I found that I would get so interested in the story, that it was difficult to put the book down. The story was very entertaining.
If you like books that take people and put them in unusual situations, you will likely want to check this one out.
I received a free advance reader copy of Antique. The opinion that I express is my own.
February 18, 2026
Antique is a mesmerizing exploration of value, both of objects and the self. Grace Schaffer’s journey from fame and loss to rediscovering her own worth is beautifully told, with just the right mix of suspense, charm, and magical intrigue. The story captures the thrill of art, the allure of the unknown, and the courage it takes to confront one’s true self. A captivating read that lingers long after the final page.
March 2, 2026
Such an engrossing read. It takes place in such a fascinating world (Antiques, Art). The characters all had their own charm (except the lead character’s ex-husband, and even he had his time to shine). The story started in a softer, gentle pace, but picked up speed as it progressed, really flying toward the climax (no spoilers, but there’s a good twist near the end). Passing this book along to friends. 5 star.
March 2, 2026
It's been a while since I've read a novel cover to corner in under a week. Between work, school, and rehearsals, books tend to get lost in the shuffle. But I could not put this down. I found time. And when there wasn't time to be found, I made it. Beautifully illustrative language, a story that appealed to my specific niche interests as well as my broader desire to feel that there is hope for adventure after 40… everything I needed, I found in this book.
February 23, 2026
This was pure enjoyment. I’ve always watched Antiques Roadshow here and there, and felt I’d gotten into the thick of it with this book: the mystery, the sleuthing, and the excitement of the chase. The writing is sharp, lush, and the characters are all charming in their own ways- even ones I didn’t expect to be charmed by. Worth the read, for sure.
February 24, 2026
Grace is a fragile, recently divorced art works appraiser who finds a celestial globe necklace that magically turns her into a riveting price setter of antiques.
Her story unfolds as she discovers a William Kent painting, or is she overreaching?
The story concludes at a Sotheby’s auction and we learn the true provenance of the painting. Grace learns more about herself.
Her story unfolds as she discovers a William Kent painting, or is she overreaching?
The story concludes at a Sotheby’s auction and we learn the true provenance of the painting. Grace learns more about herself.
March 2, 2026
I was so excited to read this book because it was on my recommendation list. It really fell flat for me. The characters are not well developed and the dialogue was too predictable that it almost felt cliche. This is the type of book that you will read and soon forget. I hate being so harsh, but it really wasn’t for me.
November 24, 2025
What a fun book! I love going antique shopping, so the setting of this book really hooked me in. I also found the main character Grace very believable and relatable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
gorgeously interesting book about antiques with a touch of magical realism and a unique necklace. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
February 16, 2026
Interesting premise. Good audio with dual narrators. Solid, but I didn't find it compelling in the listening.
March 16, 2026
This was a cute and cozy book.
March 22, 2026
Too slow
February 19, 2026
As someone who grew up watching antique shows, I was really excited for this one. I loved the premise but it fell a bit flat for me. I struggled with connecting to the characters and felt like some parts dragged. It wasn’t a bad read by any means, but it wasn’t for me.
March 13, 2026
Grace Schaffer, a gallery owner and antiques appraiser, has faced recent setbacks in her personal and professional life. Her marriage fell apart, she lost her father and she stopped appearing as an expert on Antiques Roadshow. To revive her career, Grace joins a small traveling antiques appraisal group, where she acquires a necklace that appears to possess a magical power enhancing her appraisal skills. Grace continues her quest for the "holy grail" of antiques and now might have the opportunity to find it. But will her ability to uncover what objects are worth help Grace recognize her own worth?
In Antique, author Seth Panitch, in his debut novel, brings us into the world of antiques, appraisals, and the value of cherished items. The appraisers form an interesting, entertaining group, offering support to Grace as she tries to navigate her drastically changed life. The presence of the necklace, a celestial globe, introduces an element of magical realism, which adds to the appeal of the story. Fans of Antiques Roadshow and those who love exploring antiques stores and galleries will surely find this book enjoyable.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
In Antique, author Seth Panitch, in his debut novel, brings us into the world of antiques, appraisals, and the value of cherished items. The appraisers form an interesting, entertaining group, offering support to Grace as she tries to navigate her drastically changed life. The presence of the necklace, a celestial globe, introduces an element of magical realism, which adds to the appeal of the story. Fans of Antiques Roadshow and those who love exploring antiques stores and galleries will surely find this book enjoyable.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
March 28, 2026
The book was surprisingly good. The main characters were well developed. At times descriptions in the book were fairly lengthy which in turn bogged down the reader. Adding the characters mother to the story was absolutely irrelevant. In my opinion the sections with the character’s mother could have been deleted. Overall I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the book. It made for an entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews