diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/verbs.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/verbs.py
index a56eb2fe..3a7910cf 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/verbs.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/verbs.py
@@ -145,15 +145,6 @@ class Add(Verb):
     object: CollectionItem
     type: str = "Add"
 
-    def action(self):
-        """ add obj to collection """
-        target = resolve_remote_id(self.target, refresh=False)
-        # we want to get the related field that isn't the book, this is janky af sorry
-        model = [t for t in type(target)._meta.related_objects if t.name != "edition"][
-            0
-        ].related_model
-        self.to_model(model=model)
-
 
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Remove(Add):
@@ -163,11 +154,7 @@ class Remove(Add):
 
     def action(self):
         """ find and remove the activity object """
-        target = resolve_remote_id(self.target, refresh=False)
-        model = [t for t in type(target)._meta.related_objects if t.name != "edition"][
-            0
-        ].related_model
-        obj = self.to_model(model=model, save=False, allow_create=False)
+        obj = self.object.to_model(model=model, save=False, allow_create=False)
         obj.delete()