diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
index 86321cd83..ff3c55fbd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ class ActivityStream(RedisStore):
         return (
             models.Status.objects.select_subclasses()
             .filter(id__in=statuses)
+            .select_related("user", "reply_parent")
+            .prefetch_related("mention_books", "mention_users")
             .order_by("-published_date")
         )
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index 7d821c5ba..d9f3eba99 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -381,17 +381,16 @@ class AnnualGoal(BookWyrmModel):
         return {r.book.id: r.rating for r in reviews}
 
     @property
-    def progress_percent(self):
-        """how close to your goal, in percent form"""
-        return int(float(self.book_count / self.goal) * 100)
-
-    @property
-    def book_count(self):
+    def progress(self):
         """how many books you've read this year"""
-        return self.user.readthrough_set.filter(
+        count = self.user.readthrough_set.filter(
             finish_date__year__gte=self.year,
             finish_date__year__lt=self.year + 1,
         ).count()
+        return {
+            "count": count,
+            "percent": int(float(count / self.goal) * 100),
+        }
 
 
 @app.task
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book/book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book/book.html
index fb0a45101..df76d8e11 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book/book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book/book.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {% extends 'layout.html' %}
 {% load i18n %}{% load bookwyrm_tags %}{% load humanize %}{% load utilities %}
 
-{% block title %}{{ book.title }}{% endblock %}
+{% block title %}{{ book|title }}{% endblock %}
 
 {% block content %}
 {% with user_authenticated=request.user.is_authenticated can_edit_book=perms.bookwyrm.edit_book %}
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
 
             {# user's relationship to the book #}
             <div class="block">
-                {% for shelf in user_shelves %}
+                {% for shelf in user_shelfbooks %}
                 <p>
                     {% blocktrans with path=shelf.shelf.local_path shelf_name=shelf.shelf.name %}This edition is on your <a href="{{ path }}">{{ shelf_name }}</a> shelf.{% endblocktrans %}
                     {% include 'snippets/shelf_selector.html' with current=shelf.shelf %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/book_preview.html b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/book_preview.html
index 578fef708..d8941ad50 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/book_preview.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/book_preview.html
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <div class="select is-small mt-1 mb-3">
         <select name="{{ book.id }}" aria-label="{% blocktrans with book_title=book.title %}Have you read {{ book_title }}?{% endblocktrans %}">
             <option disabled selected value>Add to your books</option>
-            {% for shelf in request.user.shelf_set.all %}
+            {% for shelf in user_shelves %}
             <option value="{{ shelf.id }}">{{ shelf.name }}</option>
             {% endfor %}
         </select>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
index bad1cb6e5..1158d82db 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
@@ -134,12 +134,14 @@
                                 <span class="is-sr-only">{% trans "Notifications" %}</span>
                             </span>
                         </span>
+                        {% with request.user.unread_notification_count as notification_count %}
                         <span
-                            class="{% if not request.user.unread_notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif request.user.has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% endif %}tag is-medium transition-x"
+                            class="{% if not notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif request.user.has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% endif %}tag is-medium transition-x"
                             data-poll-wrapper
                         >
-                            <span data-poll="notifications">{{ request.user.unread_notification_count }}</span>
+                            <span data-poll="notifications">{{ notification_count }}</span>
                         </span>
+                        {% endwith %}
                     </a>
                 </div>
                 {% else %}
@@ -193,8 +195,11 @@
 
 <div class="section is-flex-grow-1">
     <div class="container">
+        {# almost every view needs to know the user shelves #}
+        {% with request.user.shelf_set.all as user_shelves %}
         {% block content %}
         {% endblock %}
+        {% endwith %}
     </div>
 </div>
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/blocks.html b/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/blocks.html
index 72d4abd40..24866fa35 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/blocks.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/blocks.html
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
             <a href="{{ user.local_path }}">{% include 'snippets/avatar.html' with user=user %} {{ user.display_name }}</a>
         </p>
         <p class="mr-2">
-            {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=user %}
+            {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=user blocks=True %}
         </p>
     </li>
 {% endfor %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/block_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/block_button.html
index 7e9fcaea3..3cad78f6d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/block_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/block_button.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% load i18n %}
-{% if not user in request.user.blocks.all %}
+{% if not blocks %}
 <form name="blocks" method="post" action="/block/{{ user.id }}">
     {% csrf_token %}
     <button class="button is-danger is-light is-small {{ class }}" type="submit">{% trans "Block" %}</button>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/boost_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/boost_button.html
index 5b84ea44e..0f9274068 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/boost_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/boost_button.html
@@ -3,14 +3,31 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 
 {% with status.id|uuid as uuid %}
-<form name="boost" action="/boost/{{ status.id }}" method="post" class="interaction boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} {% if request.user|boosted:status  %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
+{% with request.user|boosted:status as boosted %}
+<form
+    name="boost"
+    action="/boost/{{ status.id }}"
+    method="post"
+    class="interaction boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} {% if boosted %}is-hidden{% endif %}"
+    data-id="boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}"
+>
     {% csrf_token %}
-    <button class="button is-small is-light is-transparent" type="submit" {% if not status.boostable %}disabled{% endif %}>
+    <button
+        class="button is-small is-light is-transparent"
+        type="submit"
+        {% if not status.boostable %}disabled{% endif %}
+    >
         <span class="icon icon-boost m-0-mobile" title="{% trans 'Boost' %}"></span>
         <span class="is-sr-only-mobile">{% trans "Boost" %}</span>
     </button>
 </form>
-<form name="unboost" action="/unboost/{{ status.id }}" method="post" class="interaction boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} active {% if not request.user|boosted:status %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
+<form
+    name="unboost"
+    action="/unboost/{{ status.id }}"
+    method="post"
+    class="interaction boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} active {% if not boosted %}is-hidden{% endif %}"
+    data-id="boost-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}"
+>
     {% csrf_token %}
     <button class="button is-small is-light is-transparent" type="submit">
         <span class="icon icon-boost has-text-primary m-0-mobile" title="{% trans 'Un-boost' %}"></span>
@@ -18,3 +35,4 @@
     </button>
 </form>
 {% endwith %}
+{% endwith %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/fav_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/fav_button.html
index 40fa2d25f..6c4cfe9aa 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/fav_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/fav_button.html
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 
 {% with status.id|uuid as uuid %}
-<form name="favorite" action="/favorite/{{ status.id }}" method="POST" class="interaction fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} {% if request.user|liked:status %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
+{% with request.user|liked:status as liked %}
+<form name="favorite" action="/favorite/{{ status.id }}" method="POST" class="interaction fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} {% if liked %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
     {% csrf_token %}
     <button class="button is-small is-light is-transparent" type="submit">
         <span class="icon icon-heart m-0-mobile" title="{% trans 'Like' %}">
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@
         <span class="is-sr-only-mobile">{% trans "Like" %}</span>
     </button>
 </form>
-<form name="unfavorite" action="/unfavorite/{{ status.id }}" method="POST" class="interaction fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} active {% if not request.user|liked:status %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
+<form name="unfavorite" action="/unfavorite/{{ status.id }}" method="POST" class="interaction fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }} active {% if not liked %}is-hidden{% endif %}" data-id="fav-{{ status.id }}-{{ uuid }}">
     {% csrf_token %}
     <button class="button is-light is-transparent is-small" type="submit">
         <span class="icon icon-heart has-text-primary m-0-mobile" title="{% trans 'Un-like' %}"></span>
@@ -19,3 +20,4 @@
     </button>
 </form>
 {% endwith %}
+{% endwith %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
index 495bc3e98..0cbe6b8cd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 {% if request.user == user or not request.user.is_authenticated %}
 {% elif user in request.user.blocks.all %}
-{% include 'snippets/block_button.html' %}
+{% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with blocks=True %}
 {% else %}
 
 <div class="field{% if not minimal %} has-addons{% else %} mb-0{% endif %}">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/goal_progress.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/goal_progress.html
index 2d46181ef..d0229b689 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/goal_progress.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/goal_progress.html
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 {% load humanize %}
+
+{% with goal.progress as progress %}
 <p>
-    {% if goal.progress_percent >= 100 %}
+    {% if progress.percent >= 100 %}
         {% trans "Success!" %}
-    {% elif goal.progress_percent %}
-        {% blocktrans with percent=goal.progress_percent %}{{ percent }}% complete!{% endblocktrans %}
+    {% elif progress.percent %}
+        {% blocktrans with percent=progress.percent %}{{ percent }}% complete!{% endblocktrans %}
     {% endif %}
     {% if goal.user == request.user %}
-    {% blocktrans with read_count=goal.book_count|intcomma goal_count=goal.goal|intcomma path=goal.local_path %}You've read <a href="{{ path }}">{{ read_count }} of {{ goal_count}} books</a>.{% endblocktrans %}
+    {% blocktrans with read_count=progress.count|intcomma goal_count=goal.goal|intcomma path=goal.local_path %}You've read <a href="{{ path }}">{{ read_count }} of {{ goal_count}} books</a>.{% endblocktrans %}
     {% else %}
-    {% blocktrans with username=goal.user.display_name read_count=goal.book_count|intcomma goal_count=goal.goal|intcomma path=goal.local_path %}{{ username }} has read <a href="{{ path }}">{{ read_count }} of {{ goal_count}} books</a>.{% endblocktrans %}
+    {% blocktrans with username=goal.user.display_name read_count=progress.count|intcomma goal_count=goal.goal|intcomma path=goal.local_path %}{{ username }} has read <a href="{{ path }}">{{ read_count }} of {{ goal_count}} books</a>.{% endblocktrans %}
     {% endif %}
 </p>
-<progress class="progress is-large" value="{{ goal.book_count }}" max="{{ goal.goal }}" aria-hidden="true">{{ goal.progress_percent }}%</progress>
+<progress class="progress is-large" value="{{ progress.count }}" max="{{ goal.goal }}" aria-hidden="true">{{ progress.percent }}%</progress>
 
+{% endwith %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelf_selector.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelf_selector.html
index 0036a4e90..ca5a39f6e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelf_selector.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelf_selector.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block dropdown-list %}
-{% for shelf in request.user.shelf_set.all %}
+{% for shelf in user_shelves %}
 <li role="menuitem" class="dropdown-item p-0">
     <form name="shelve" action="/shelve/" method="post">
         {% csrf_token %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button.html
index 76ed32a9e..f7077b264 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button.html
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     </div>
     {% else %}
     <div class="control">
-        {% include 'snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_options.html' with class="shelf-option is-small" shelves=request.user.shelf_set.all active_shelf=active_shelf button_uuid=uuid %}
+        {% include 'snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_options.html' with class="shelf-option is-small" shelves=user_shelves active_shelf=active_shelf button_uuid=uuid %}
     </div>
     {% include 'snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_dropdown.html' with class="is-small" button_uuid=uuid%}
     {% endif %}
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 {% include 'snippets/shelve_button/finish_reading_modal.html' with book=active_shelf.book controls_text="finish-reading" controls_uid=uuid readthrough=readthrough %}
 
-{% include 'snippets/shelve_button/progress_update_modal.html' with book=shelf_book.book controls_text="progress-update" controls_uid=uuid readthrough=readthrough %}
+{% include 'snippets/shelve_button/progress_update_modal.html' with book=active_shelf_book.book controls_text="progress-update" controls_uid=uuid readthrough=readthrough %}
 
 {% endwith %}
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_dropdown.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_dropdown.html
index 4439bfc28..353a37a1c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_dropdown.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_dropdown.html
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block dropdown-list %}
-{% include 'snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_options.html' with active_shelf=active_shelf shelves=request.user.shelf_set.all dropdown=True class="shelf-option is-fullwidth is-small is-radiusless is-white" %}
+{% include 'snippets/shelve_button/shelve_button_options.html' with active_shelf=active_shelf shelves=user_shelves dropdown=True class="shelf-option is-fullwidth is-small is-radiusless is-white" %}
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/layout.html
index 6fd7ebde6..b1d361fe0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/layout.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 <div class="card-footer-item">
 
     {# moderation options #}
-    <form name="delete-{{status.id}}" action="/delete-status/{{ status.id }}" method="post">
+    <form name="delete-{{ status.id }}" action="/delete-status/{{ status.id }}" method="post">
         {% csrf_token %}
         <button class="button is-danger is-light" type="submit">
             {% trans "Delete status" %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/status_options.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/status_options.html
index 1b2c56957..7eb613d3b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/status_options.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/status_options.html
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 {% if status.user == request.user %}
 {# things you can do to your own statuses #}
 <li role="menuitem" class="dropdown-item p-0">
-    <form name="delete-{{status.id}}" action="/delete-status/{{ status.id }}" method="post">
+    <form name="delete-{{ status.id }}" action="/delete-status/{{ status.id }}" method="post">
         {% csrf_token %}
         <button class="button is-radiusless is-danger is-light is-fullwidth is-small" type="submit">
             {% trans "Delete status" %}
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 </li>
 {% if status.status_type != 'GeneratedNote' and status.status_type != 'Rating' %}
 <li role="menuitem" class="dropdown-item p-0">
-    <form class="" name="delete-{{status.id}}" action="{% url 'redraft' status.id %}" method="post">
+    <form class="" name="delete-{{ status.id }}" action="{% url 'redraft' status.id %}" method="post">
         {% csrf_token %}
         <button class="button is-radiusless is-danger is-light is-fullwidth is-small" type="submit">
             {% trans "Delete & re-draft" %}
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     {% include 'snippets/report_button.html' with user=status.user status=status %}
 </li>
 <li role="menuitem" class="dropdown-item p-0">
-    {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=status.user class="is-fullwidth" %}
+    {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=status.user class="is-fullwidth" blocks=False %}
 </li>
 {% endif %}
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/user_options.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/user_options.html
index 01cc09bf5..3db3c2b17 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/user_options.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/user_options.html
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
     {% include 'snippets/report_button.html' with user=user class="is-fullwidth" %}
 </li>
 <li role="menuitem">
-    {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=user class="is-fullwidth" %}
+    {% include 'snippets/block_button.html' with user=user class="is-fullwidth" blocks=False %}
 </li>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
index 70228799f..3f33643bf 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ from django import template
 from django.db.models import Avg
 
 from bookwyrm import models, views
-from bookwyrm.views.status import to_markdown
-from bookwyrm.templatetags.utilities import get_user_identifier
 
 
 register = template.Library()
@@ -71,9 +69,14 @@ def related_status(notification):
 @register.simple_tag(takes_context=True)
 def active_shelf(context, book):
     """check what shelf a user has a book on, if any"""
-    shelf = models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
-        shelf__user=context["request"].user, book__in=book.parent_work.editions.all()
-    ).first()
+    shelf = (
+        models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
+            shelf__user=context["request"].user,
+            book__in=book.parent_work.editions.all(),
+        )
+        .select_related("book", "shelf")
+        .first()
+    )
     return shelf if shelf else {"book": book}
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/interaction.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/interaction.py
index 6e8d0549c..bbe74600c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/interaction.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/interaction.py
@@ -9,14 +9,10 @@ register = template.Library()
 @register.filter(name="liked")
 def get_user_liked(user, status):
     """did the given user fav a status?"""
-    try:
-        models.Favorite.objects.get(user=user, status=status)
-        return True
-    except models.Favorite.DoesNotExist:
-        return False
+    return models.Favorite.objects.filter(user=user, status=status).exists()
 
 
 @register.filter(name="boosted")
 def get_user_boosted(user, status):
     """did the given user fav a status?"""
-    return user.id in status.boosters.all().values_list("user", flat=True)
+    return status.boosters.filter(user=user).exists()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
index 4d9984c86..69c0c2a50 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ def get_parent(status):
 @register.filter(name="boosted_status")
 def get_boosted(boost):
     """load a boosted status. have to do this or it won't get foreign keys"""
-    return models.Status.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=boost.boosted_status.id)
+    return (
+        models.Status.objects.select_subclasses()
+        .select_related("user", "reply_parent")
+        .prefetch_related("mention_books", "mention_users")
+        .get(id=boost.boosted_status.id)
+    )
 
 
 @register.filter(name="published_date")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/books.py b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
index ef3a6e28c..a4b9f312a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/books.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
@@ -62,13 +62,16 @@ class Book(View):
             queryset = queryset.filter(user=request.user)
         else:
             queryset = reviews.exclude(Q(content__isnull=True) | Q(content=""))
+        queryset = queryset.select_related("user")
         paginated = Paginator(queryset, PAGE_LENGTH)
 
         data = {
             "book": book,
             "statuses": paginated.get_page(request.GET.get("page")),
             "review_count": reviews.count(),
-            "ratings": reviews.filter(Q(content__isnull=True) | Q(content=""))
+            "ratings": reviews.filter(
+                Q(content__isnull=True) | Q(content="")
+            ).select_related("user")
             if not user_statuses
             else None,
             "rating": reviews.aggregate(Avg("rating"))["rating__avg"],
@@ -89,15 +92,15 @@ class Book(View):
                 )
             data["readthroughs"] = readthroughs
 
-            data["user_shelves"] = models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
+            data["user_shelfbooks"] = models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
                 user=request.user, book=book
-            )
+            ).select_related("shelf")
 
             data["other_edition_shelves"] = models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
                 ~Q(book=book),
                 user=request.user,
                 book__parent_work=book.parent_work,
-            )
+            ).select_related("shelf", "book")
 
             data["user_statuses"] = {
                 "review_count": book.review_set.filter(user=request.user).count(),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
index a03d6b4cc..9a85dbb16 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
@@ -162,14 +162,15 @@ def get_suggested_books(user, max_books=5):
             else max_books - book_count
         )
         shelf = user.shelf_set.get(identifier=preset)
-
-        shelf_books = shelf.shelfbook_set.order_by("-updated_date")[:limit]
-        if not shelf_books:
+        if not shelf.books.exists():
             continue
+
         shelf_preview = {
             "name": shelf.name,
             "identifier": shelf.identifier,
-            "books": [s.book for s in shelf_books],
+            "books": shelf.books.order_by("shelfbook").prefetch_related("authors")[
+                :limit
+            ],
         }
         suggested_books.append(shelf_preview)
         book_count += len(shelf_preview["books"])
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index 31e5f0317..95a1cbbe3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ from bookwyrm.utils import regex
 
 def get_user_from_username(viewer, username):
     """helper function to resolve a localname or a username to a user"""
+    if viewer.is_authenticated and viewer.localname == username:
+        # that's yourself, fool
+        return viewer
+
     # raises 404 if the user isn't found
     try:
         return models.User.viewer_aware_objects(viewer).get(localname=username)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py b/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
index 758e290ed..99e22fa95 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from django.db import IntegrityError
-from django.db.models import Count, OuterRef, Subquery, F, Q
+from django.db.models import OuterRef, Subquery
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
 from django.core.paginator import Paginator
 from django.http import HttpResponseBadRequest, HttpResponseNotFound
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ class Shelf(View):
         """display a shelf"""
         user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
 
-        shelves = privacy_filter(request.user, user.shelf_set)
+        is_self = user == request.user
+
+        if is_self:
+            shelves = user.shelf_set
+        else:
+            shelves = privacy_filter(request.user, user.shelf_set)
 
         # get the shelf and make sure the logged in user should be able to see it
         if shelf_identifier:
@@ -53,26 +58,28 @@ class Shelf(View):
         if is_api_request(request):
             return ActivitypubResponse(shelf.to_activity(**request.GET))
 
-        reviews = privacy_filter(
-            request.user,
-            models.Review.objects.filter(
-                user=user,
-                rating__isnull=False,
-                book__id=OuterRef("id"),
-            ),
+        reviews = models.Review.objects.filter(
+            user=user,
+            rating__isnull=False,
+            book__id=OuterRef("id"),
         ).order_by("-published_date")
 
-        books = books.annotate(rating=Subquery(reviews.values("rating")[:1]))
+        if not is_self:
+            reviews = privacy_filter(request.user, reviews)
+
+        books = books.annotate(
+            rating=Subquery(reviews.values("rating")[:1])
+        ).prefetch_related("authors")
 
         paginated = Paginator(
-            books.order_by("-updated_date"),
+            books.order_by("-shelfbook__updated_date"),
             PAGE_LENGTH,
         )
 
         page = paginated.get_page(request.GET.get("page"))
         data = {
             "user": user,
-            "is_self": request.user == user,
+            "is_self": is_self,
             "shelves": shelves.all(),
             "shelf": shelf,
             "books": page,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/user.py b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
index ffc352d88..d186fe97f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
@@ -59,10 +59,15 @@ class User(View):
                 break
 
         # user's posts
-        activities = privacy_filter(
-            request.user,
-            user.status_set.select_subclasses(),
+        activities = (
+            privacy_filter(
+                request.user,
+                user.status_set.select_subclasses(),
+            )
+            .select_related("reply_parent")
+            .prefetch_related("mention_books", "mention_users")
         )
+
         paginated = Paginator(activities, PAGE_LENGTH)
         goal = models.AnnualGoal.objects.filter(
             user=user, year=timezone.now().year