diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
index 1da7c3f70..af5d4d695 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 
                 <p class="mb-2">
                     <label class="label" for="id_subtitle">{% trans "Subtitle:" %}</label>
-                    <input type="text" name="subtitle" value="{{ form.subtitle.value|default:'' }}" maxlength="255" class="input" required="" id="id_subtitle">
+                    <input type="text" name="subtitle" value="{{ form.subtitle.value|default:'' }}" maxlength="255" class="input" id="id_subtitle">
                 </p>
                 {% for error in form.subtitle.errors %}
                 <p class="help is-danger">{{ error | escape }}</p>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/books.py b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
index b1b2d0656..731fc24c6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/books.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """ the good stuff! the books! """
-from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from dateutil.parser import parse as dateparse
@@ -175,18 +174,18 @@ class EditBook(View):
             data["confirm_mode"] = True
             # this isn't preserved because it isn't part of the form obj
             data["remove_authors"] = request.POST.getlist("remove_authors")
-            # we have to make sure the dates are passed in as datetime, they're currently a string
+            # make sure the dates are passed in as datetime, they're currently a string
             # QueryDicts are immutable, we need to copy
             formcopy = data["form"].data.copy()
             try:
                 formcopy["first_published_date"] = dateparse(
                     formcopy["first_published_date"]
                 )
-            except MultiValueDictKeyError:
+            except (MultiValueDictKeyError, ValueError):
                 pass
             try:
                 formcopy["published_date"] = dateparse(formcopy["published_date"])
-            except MultiValueDictKeyError:
+            except (MultiValueDictKeyError, ValueError):
                 pass
             data["form"].data = formcopy
             return TemplateResponse(request, "book/edit_book.html", data)