diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/rss/edition.html b/bookwyrm/templates/rss/edition.html
index f3bfe8c26..a8036f4bb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/rss/edition.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/rss/edition.html
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-{% blocktrans %}{{{obj.title}} by {{obj.author_text}}{% endblocktrans %}
+{% load i18n %}
+{% blocktrans trimmed with book_title=obj.title book_author=obj.author_text %}
+  ‘{{ book_title }}’ by {{ book_author }}
+{% endblocktrans %}
 {{obj.description|default:""}}
 {% if obj.description %}{% trans "ISBN13:" %} {{item.isbn_13|default: ""}}{% endif %}
 {% if obj.description %}{% trans "OCLC Number:" %} {{item.oclc_number|default: ""}}{% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
index 5731ea91c..31523a3d6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
@@ -233,5 +233,5 @@ class RssShelfFeed(Feed):
         """description of the shelf including the shelf name and user."""
         # if there's a description, lets add it. Not everyone puts a description in.
         if desc := obj.description:
-            return _(f"{obj.user.name}’s {obj.name} shelf: {desc}"
-        return _(f"Books added to {obj.user.name}’s {obj.name} shelf"
+            return _(f"{obj.user.name}’s {obj.name} shelf: {desc}")
+        return _(f"Books added to {obj.user.name}’s {obj.name} shelf")