diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/css/format.css b/bookwyrm/static/css/format.css
index c37131f46..b1bf20cde 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/static/css/format.css
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/css/format.css
@@ -116,3 +116,8 @@ input.toggle-control:checked ~ .toggle-content {
     content: "\e903";
     right: 0;
 }
+
+/* --- BLOCKQUOTE --- */
+blockquote {
+    white-space: pre-line;
+}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_description.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_description.html
index f5fb3f439..12c9ccfb0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_description.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/book_description.html
@@ -1,6 +1,2 @@
-{% if book.description %}
-<blockquote class="content">{{ book.description }}</blockquote>
-{% elif book.parent_work.description %}
-<blockquote>{{ book.parent_work.description }}</blockquote>
-{% endif %}
+<blockquote class="content">{% if book.description %}{{ book.description }}{% elif book.parent_work.description %}{{ book.parent_work.description }}{% endif %}</blockquote>