diff --git a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
index 0968cdd79..caa137ecb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import csv
 import logging
 
 from django.utils import timezone
+from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.models import ImportJob, ImportItem
@@ -71,19 +72,20 @@ def import_data(source, job_id):
                 item.resolve()
             except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                 logger.exception(err)
-                item.fail_reason = "Error loading book"
+                item.fail_reason = _("Error loading book")
                 item.save()
                 continue
 
-            if item.book:
+            if item.book or item.book_guess:
                 item.save()
 
+            if item.book:
                 # shelves book and handles reviews
                 handle_imported_book(
                     source, job.user, item, job.include_reviews, job.privacy
                 )
             else:
-                item.fail_reason = "Could not find a match for book"
+                item.fail_reason = _("Could not find a match for book")
                 item.save()
     finally:
         job.complete = True
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0094_importitem_book_guess.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0094_importitem_book_guess.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be703cdde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0094_importitem_book_guess.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.4 on 2021-09-11 14:22
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("bookwyrm", "0093_alter_sitesettings_instance_short_description"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name="importitem",
+            name="book_guess",
+            field=models.ForeignKey(
+                blank=True,
+                null=True,
+                on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL,
+                related_name="book_guess",
+                to="bookwyrm.book",
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0095_merge_20210911_2143.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0095_merge_20210911_2143.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea6b5a346
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0095_merge_20210911_2143.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.4 on 2021-09-11 21:43
+
+from django.db import migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("bookwyrm", "0094_auto_20210911_1550"),
+        ("bookwyrm", "0094_importitem_book_guess"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = []
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index 69d5f5da7..7d8ce9e30 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
     index = models.IntegerField()
     data = models.JSONField()
     book = models.ForeignKey(Book, on_delete=models.SET_NULL, null=True, blank=True)
+    book_guess = models.ForeignKey(
+        Book,
+        on_delete=models.SET_NULL,
+        null=True,
+        blank=True,
+        related_name="book_guess",
+    )
     fail_reason = models.TextField(null=True)
 
     def resolve(self):
@@ -78,9 +85,13 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         if self.isbn:
             self.book = self.get_book_from_isbn()
         else:
-            # don't fall back on title/author search is isbn is present.
+            # don't fall back on title/author search if isbn is present.
             # you're too likely to mismatch
-            self.book = self.get_book_from_title_author()
+            book, confidence = self.get_book_from_title_author()
+            if confidence > 0.999:
+                self.book = book
+            else:
+                self.book_guess = book
 
     def get_book_from_isbn(self):
         """search by isbn"""
@@ -96,12 +107,15 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         """search by title and author"""
         search_term = construct_search_term(self.title, self.author)
         search_result = connector_manager.first_search_result(
-            search_term, min_confidence=0.999
+            search_term, min_confidence=0.1
         )
         if search_result:
             # raises ConnectorException
-            return search_result.connector.get_or_create_book(search_result.key)
-        return None
+            return (
+                search_result.connector.get_or_create_book(search_result.key),
+                search_result.confidence,
+            )
+        return None, 0
 
     @property
     def title(self):