diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/list.py b/bookwyrm/models/list.py
index f280f1e28..1c27c2912 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/list.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class ListItem(CollectionItemMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     collection_field = "book_list"
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """create a notification too"""
+        """Update the list's date"""
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
         # tick the updated date on the parent list
         self.book_list.updated_date = timezone.now()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
index 726dc1beb..e7443b43c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
@@ -66,6 +66,27 @@ class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
         notification.read = False
         notification.save()
 
+    @classmethod
+    @transaction.atomic
+    def notify_list_item(cls, user, list_item):
+        """ Group the notifications around the list items, not the user """
+        related_user = list_item.user
+        notification = cls.objects.filter(
+            user=user,
+            related_users=related_user,
+            related_list_items__book_list=list_item.book_list,
+            notification_type=Notification.ADD
+        ).first()
+        if not notification:
+            notification = cls.objects.create(
+                user=user,
+                notification_type=Notification.ADD
+            )
+            notification.related_users.add(related_user)
+        notification.related_list_items.add(list_item)
+        notification.read = False
+        notification.save()
+
     @classmethod
     def unnotify(cls, user, related_user, **kwargs):
         """Remove a user from a notification and delete it if that was the only user"""
@@ -79,7 +100,6 @@ class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
 
 
 @receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=Favorite)
-@transaction.atomic()
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 def notify_on_fav(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
     """someone liked your content, you ARE loved"""
@@ -144,7 +164,6 @@ def notify_user_on_mention(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 @receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=Boost)
-@transaction.atomic
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 def notify_user_on_boost(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
     """boosting a status"""
@@ -210,7 +229,6 @@ def notify_admins_on_report(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 @receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=GroupMemberInvitation)
-@transaction.atomic
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 def notify_user_on_group_invite(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
     """Cool kids club here we come"""
@@ -233,19 +251,16 @@ def notify_user_on_list_item_add(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
     list_owner = instance.book_list.user
     # create a notification if somoene ELSE added to a local user's list
     if list_owner.local and list_owner != instance.user:
-        Notification.notify(
+        # keep the related_user singular, group the items
+        Notification.notify_list_item(
             list_owner,
-            instance.user,
-            related_list_item=instance,
-            notification_type=Notification.ADD
+            instance
         )
 
     if instance.book_list.group:
         for membership in instance.book_list.group.memberships.all():
             if membership.user != instance.user:
-                Notification.notify(
+                Notification.notify_list_item(
                     membership.user,
-                    instance.user,
-                    related_list_item=instance,
-                    notification_type=Notification.ADD,
+                    instance
                 )
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/add.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/add.html
index 6a0183ebe..fdd480ee1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/add.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/add.html
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 {% extends 'notifications/items/layout.html' %}
-
 {% load i18n %}
 {% load utilities %}
+{% load humanize %}
 
 {% block primary_link %}{% spaceless %}
-{% if notification.related_list_item.approved %}
-    {{ notification.related_list_item.book_list.local_path }}
+{% with related_list=notification.related_list_items.first.book_list %}
+{% if related_list.curation != "curated" %}
+    {{ related_list.local_path }}
 {% else %}
-    {% url 'list-curate' notification.related_list_item.book_list.id %}
+    {% url 'list-curate' related_list.id %}
 {% endif %}
+{% endwith %}
 {% endspaceless %}{% endblock %}
 
 {% block icon %}
@@ -16,25 +18,89 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block description %}
-{% with book_path=notification.related_list_item.book.local_path %}
-{% with book_title=notification.related_list_item.book|book_title %}
-{% with list_name=notification.related_list_item.book_list.name %}
+{% with related_list=notification.related_list_items.first.book_list %}
+{% with book_path=notification.related_list_items.first.book.local_path %}
+{% with book_title=notification.related_list_items.first.book|book_title %}
+{% with second_book_path=notification.related_list_items.all.1.book.local_path %}
+{% with second_book_title=notification.related_list_items.all.1.book|book_title %}
+{% with list_name=related_list.name %}
 
-    {% if notification.related_list_item.approved %}
-    {% blocktrans trimmed with list_path=notification.related_list_item.book_list.local_path %}
+{% url 'list' related_list.id as list_path %}
+{% url 'list-curate' related_list.id as list_curate_path %}
 
-    added <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em> to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
-
-    {% endblocktrans %}
+{% if notification.related_list_items.count == 1 %}
+    {% if related_list.curation != "curated" %}
+        {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        added <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
     {% else %}
-    {% url 'list-curate' notification.related_list_item.book_list.id as list_path %}
-    {% blocktrans trimmed with list_path=list_path %}
-
-    suggested adding <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em> to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
-
-    {% endblocktrans %}
+        {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        suggested adding <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_curate_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
     {% endif %}
+{% elif notification.related_list_items.count == 2 %}
+    {% if related_list.curation != "curated" %}
+        {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        added <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>
+        and <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
+    {% else %}
+        {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        suggested adding <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>
+        and <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_curate_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
+    {% endif %}
+{% else %}
+    {% with count=notification.related_list_items.count|add:"-2" %}
+    {% with display_count=count|intcomma %}
+    {% if related_list.curation != "curated" %}
 
+        {% blocktrans trimmed count counter=count %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        added <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>,
+        <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>,
+        and {{ display_count }} other book
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% plural %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        added <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>,
+        <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>,
+        and {{ display_count }} other books
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
+
+    {% else %}
+
+        {% blocktrans trimmed count counter=count %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        suggested adding <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>,
+        <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>,
+        and {{ display_count }} other book
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_curate_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% plural %}
+        <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a>
+        suggested adding <em><a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book_title }}</a></em>,
+        <em><a href="{{ second_book_path }}">{{ second_book_title }}</a></em>,
+        and {{ display_count }} other books
+        to your list "<a href="{{ list_curate_path }}">{{ list_name }}</a>"
+        {% endblocktrans %}
+
+    {% endif %}
+    {% endwith %}
+    {% endwith %}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% endwith %}
+{% endwith %}
+{% endwith %}
 {% endwith %}
 {% endwith %}
 {% endwith %}