diff --git a/fedireads/incoming.py b/fedireads/incoming.py
index a220d3107..abaaa8045 100644
--- a/fedireads/incoming.py
+++ b/fedireads/incoming.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 from fedireads import models
 from fedireads.remote_user import get_or_create_remote_user
 from fedireads.openlibrary import get_or_create_book
+from fedireads.sanitize_html import InputHtmlParser
 from fedireads.settings import DOMAIN
 
 
@@ -321,6 +322,9 @@ def create_review(user, activity):
         return HttpResponseNotFound('Book \'%s\' not found' % possible_book)
 
     content = activity['object'].get('content')
+    parser = InputHtmlParser()
+    parser.feed(content)
+    content = parser.get_output()
     review_title = activity['object'].get('name', 'Untitled')
     rating = activity['object'].get('rating', 0)
 
diff --git a/fedireads/sanitize_html.py b/fedireads/sanitize_html.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e1dc01f3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/sanitize_html.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+''' we're solving fizzbuzz with a little help from the web '''
+from html.parser import HTMLParser
+
+class InputHtmlParser(HTMLParser):
+    ''' Removes any html that isn't whitelisted from a block '''
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        HTMLParser.__init__(self)
+        self.whitelist = ['p', 'b', 'i', 'pre']
+        self.tag_stack = []
+        self.output = []
+        # if the html appears invalid, we just won't allow any at all
+        self.allow_html = True
+
+
+    def handle_starttag(self, tag, attrs):
+        ''' check if the tag is valid '''
+        if self.allow_html and tag in self.whitelist:
+            self.output.append(('tag', '<%s>' % tag))
+            self.tag_stack.append(tag)
+        else:
+            self.output.append(('data', ' '))
+
+
+    def handle_endtag(self, tag):
+        ''' keep the close tag '''
+        if not self.allow_html or tag not in self.whitelist:
+            self.output.append(('data', ' '))
+            return
+
+        if not self.tag_stack or self.tag_stack[-1] != tag:
+            # the end tag doesn't match the most recent start tag
+            self.allow_html = False
+            self.output.append(('data', ' '))
+            return
+
+        self.tag_stack = self.tag_stack[:-1]
+        self.output.append(('tag', '</%s>' % tag))
+
+
+    def handle_data(self, data):
+        ''' extract the answer, if we're in an answer tag '''
+        self.output.append(('data', data))
+
+
+    def get_output(self):
+        ''' convert the output from a list of tuples to a string '''
+        if not self.allow_html:
+            return ''.join(v for (k, v) in self.output if k == 'data')
+        return ''.join(v for (k, v) in self.output)
+
diff --git a/fedireads/static/format.css b/fedireads/static/format.css
index 85f3b11e4..ac07d1949 100644
--- a/fedireads/static/format.css
+++ b/fedireads/static/format.css
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
     padding: 0;
     line-height: 1.3em;
     font-family: sans-serif;
+}
+
+h1, h2, h3, h4 {
     font-weight: normal;
 }
 
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/feed.html b/fedireads/templates/feed.html
index 046a6883d..b185e2321 100644
--- a/fedireads/templates/feed.html
+++ b/fedireads/templates/feed.html
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 
                 <h3>{{ activity.name }}</h3>
                 <p>{{ activity.rating | stars }}</p>
-                <p>{{ activity.review_content }}</p>
+                <p>{{ activity.review_content | safe }}</p>
             </div>
             <div class="interaction"><button>⭐️ Like</button></div>
         {% elif activity.activity_type == 'Follow' %}