diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
index 0a42a8327..903372003 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ draft: an existing Status object that is providing default values for input fiel
     id="id_content_{{ type }}_{{ book.id }}{{ reply_parent.id }}"
     placeholder="{{ placeholder }}"
     aria-label="{% if reply_parent %}{% trans 'Reply' %}{% else %}{% trans 'Content' %}{% endif %}"
-    {% if type != "quotation" %}required{% endif %}
+    {% if not optional and type != "quotation" %}required{% endif %}
 >{% if reply_parent %}{{ reply_parent|mentions:request.user }}{% endif %}{% if mention %}@{{ mention|username }} {% endif %}{{ draft.content|default:'' }}</textarea>
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html
index fdb5d7bb2..84e762c59 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Finish "<em>{{ book_title }}</em>"
 
 {% block modal-form-open %}
 <form name="finish-reading" action="{% url 'reading-status' 'finish' book.id %}" method="post">
+{% csrf_token %}
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block reading-dates %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/layout.html
index 5190ada49..00e453350 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/layout.html
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 <div id="reading_content_{{ local_uuid }}_{{ uuid }}">
     <hr aria-hidden="true">
     <fieldset id="reading_content_fieldset_{{ local_uuid }}_{{ uuid }}">
-        {% include "snippets/reading_modals/form.html" %}
+        {% include "snippets/reading_modals/form.html" with optional=True %}
     </fieldset>
 </div>
 {% endwith %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html
index 08191c798..6b04a32e5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Start "<em>{{ book_title }}</em>"
 
 {% block modal-form-open %}
 <form name="start-reading" action="{% url 'reading-status' 'start' book.id %}" method="post">
+{% csrf_token %}
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block reading-dates %}