diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
index d934681e0..2c2e5a72d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import operator
 import logging
 from uuid import uuid4
 import requests
+from requests.exceptions import HTTPError, SSLError
 
 from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA
 from Crypto.Signature import pkcs1_15
@@ -440,7 +441,7 @@ def broadcast_task(sender_id, activity, recipients):
     for recipient in recipients:
         try:
             sign_and_send(sender, activity, recipient)
-        except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
+        except (HTTPError, SSLError) as e:
             logger.exception(e)
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/discover/large-book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/discover/large-book.html
index 401411a11..7881a33ab 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/discover/large-book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/discover/large-book.html
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <div class="columns">
     <div class="column is-narrow">
         <a href="{{ book.local_path }}">{% include 'snippets/book_cover.html' with book=book size="large" %}</a>
-        {% include 'snippets/stars.html' with rating=ratings|dict_key:book.id %}
+        {% include 'snippets/stars.html' with rating=book|rating:request.user %}
     </div>
     <div class="column">
         <h3 class="title is-5"><a href="/book/{{ book.id }}">{{ book.title }}</a></h3>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/discover/small-book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/discover/small-book.html
index d1676b6b1..72108c309 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/discover/small-book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/discover/small-book.html
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 {% load bookwyrm_tags %}
 {% if book %}
 <a href="{{ book.local_path }}">{% include 'snippets/book_cover.html' with book=book %}</a>
-{% if ratings %}
-{% include 'snippets/stars.html' with rating=ratings|dict_key:book.id %}
-{% endif %}
+{% include 'snippets/stars.html' with rating=book|rating:request.user %}
 
 <h3 class="title is-6"><a href="/book/{{ book.id }}">{{ book.title }}</a></h3>
 {% if book.authors %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
index d251d8e49..67354ac65 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/bookwyrm_tags.py
@@ -22,11 +22,8 @@ def dict_key(d, k):
 @register.filter(name='rating')
 def get_rating(book, user):
     ''' get the overall rating of a book '''
-    queryset = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
-        user,
-        ['public', 'followers', 'unlisted', 'direct'],
-        queryset=models.Review.objects.filter(book=book),
-    )
+    queryset = views.helpers.privacy_filter(
+        user, models.Review.objects.filter(book=book))
     return queryset.aggregate(Avg('rating'))['rating__avg']
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
index 10221933c..eff083072 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
 
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
             self.local_user,
-            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
+            privacy=['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
             following_only=True,
             queryset=models.Comment.objects
         )
@@ -115,20 +115,21 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
 
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
             self.local_user,
-            ['public', 'followers'],
+            privacy=['public', 'followers'],
             local_only=True
         )
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 2)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[1], public_status)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[0], rat_public)
 
-        statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(self.local_user, 'direct')
+        statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
+            self.local_user, privacy=['direct'])
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 1)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[0], direct_status)
 
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
             self.local_user,
-            ['public', 'followers'],
+            privacy=['public', 'followers'],
         )
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 3)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[2], public_status)
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
 
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
             self.local_user,
-            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
+            privacy=['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
             following_only=True
         )
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 2)
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
         rat.followers.add(self.local_user)
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
             self.local_user,
-            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
+            privacy=['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
             following_only=True
         )
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 5)
@@ -170,18 +171,18 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
                 content='blah blah', user=rat)
 
             statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
-                self.local_user, ['public'])
+                self.local_user, privacy=['public'])
             self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 2)
 
         # block relationship
         rat.blocks.add(self.local_user)
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
-            self.local_user, ['public'])
+            self.local_user, privacy=['public'])
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 1)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[0], public_status)
 
         statuses = views.helpers.get_activity_feed(
-            rat, ['public'])
+            rat, privacy=['public'])
         self.assertEqual(len(statuses), 1)
         self.assertEqual(statuses[0], rat_public)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/books.py b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
index 9d1965631..e05c47264 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/books.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
@@ -45,15 +45,9 @@ class Book(View):
         if not work:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
-        reviews = models.Review.objects.filter(
-            book__in=work.editions.all(),
-        )
         # all reviews for the book
-        reviews = get_activity_feed(
-            request.user,
-            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers', 'direct'],
-            queryset=reviews
-        )
+        reviews = models.Review.objects.filter(book__in=work.editions.all())
+        reviews = get_activity_feed(request.user, queryset=reviews)
 
         # the reviews to show
         paginated = Paginator(reviews.exclude(
@@ -96,9 +90,8 @@ class Book(View):
             'rating': reviews.aggregate(Avg('rating'))['rating__avg'],
             'tags':  models.UserTag.objects.filter(book=book),
             'lists': privacy_filter(
-                request.user,
-                book.list_set.all(),
-                ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers']),
+                request.user, book.list_set.all()
+            ),
             'user_tags': user_tags,
             'user_shelves': user_shelves,
             'other_edition_shelves': other_edition_shelves,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
index c229b7c9e..3a2805b4f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ from django.views import View
 from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from bookwyrm.activitypub import ActivitypubResponse
 from bookwyrm.settings import PAGE_LENGTH
-from .helpers import get_activity_feed
-from .helpers import get_user_from_username
+from .helpers import get_activity_feed, get_user_from_username
 from .helpers import is_api_request, is_bookwyrm_request, object_visible_to_user
 
 
@@ -29,14 +28,13 @@ class Feed(View):
 
         if tab == 'home':
             activities = get_activity_feed(
-                request.user, ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
-                following_only=True)
+                request.user, following_only=True)
         elif tab == 'local':
             activities = get_activity_feed(
-                request.user, ['public', 'followers'], local_only=True)
+                request.user, privacy=['public', 'followers'], local_only=True)
         else:
             activities = get_activity_feed(
-                request.user, ['public', 'followers'])
+                request.user, privacy=['public', 'followers'])
         paginated = Paginator(activities, PAGE_LENGTH)
 
         data = {**feed_page_data(request.user), **{
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ class DirectMessage(View):
             queryset = queryset.filter(Q(user=user) | Q(mention_users=user))
 
         activities = get_activity_feed(
-            request.user, 'direct', queryset=queryset)
+            request.user, privacy=['direct'], queryset=queryset)
 
         paginated = Paginator(activities, PAGE_LENGTH)
         activity_page = paginated.page(page)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index fac3ab0c6..cecb65e33 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ''' helper functions used in various views '''
 import re
 from requests import HTTPError
+from django.core.exceptions import FieldError
 from django.db.models import Q
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub, models
@@ -59,8 +60,11 @@ def object_visible_to_user(viewer, obj):
     return False
 
 
-def privacy_filter(viewer, queryset, privacy_levels, following_only=False):
+def privacy_filter(viewer, queryset, privacy_levels=None, following_only=False):
     ''' filter objects that have "user" and "privacy" fields '''
+    privacy_levels = privacy_levels or \
+            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers', 'direct']
+
     # exclude blocks from both directions
     if not viewer.is_anonymous:
         blocked = models.User.objects.filter(id__in=viewer.blocks.all()).all()
@@ -95,30 +99,56 @@ def privacy_filter(viewer, queryset, privacy_levels, following_only=False):
 
     # exclude direct messages not intended for the user
     if 'direct' in privacy_levels:
-        queryset = queryset.exclude(
-            ~Q(
-                Q(user=viewer) | Q(mention_users=viewer)
-            ), privacy='direct'
-        )
+        try:
+            queryset = queryset.exclude(
+                ~Q(
+                    Q(user=viewer) | Q(mention_users=viewer)
+                ), privacy='direct'
+            )
+        except FieldError:
+            queryset = queryset.exclude(
+                ~Q(user=viewer), privacy='direct'
+            )
+
     return queryset
 
 
 def get_activity_feed(
-        user, privacy, local_only=False, following_only=False,
-        queryset=models.Status.objects):
+        user, privacy=None, local_only=False, following_only=False,
+        queryset=None):
     ''' get a filtered queryset of statuses '''
-    # if we're looking at Status, we need this. We don't if it's Comment
-    if hasattr(queryset, 'select_subclasses'):
-        queryset = queryset.select_subclasses()
+    if queryset is None:
+        queryset = models.Status.objects.select_subclasses()
 
     # exclude deleted
     queryset = queryset.exclude(deleted=True).order_by('-published_date')
 
     # apply privacy filters
-    privacy = privacy if isinstance(privacy, list) else [privacy]
     queryset = privacy_filter(
         user, queryset, privacy, following_only=following_only)
 
+    # only show dms if we only want dms
+    if privacy == ['direct']:
+        # dms are direct statuses not related to books
+        queryset = queryset.filter(
+            review__isnull=True,
+            comment__isnull=True,
+            quotation__isnull=True,
+            generatednote__isnull=True,
+        )
+    else:
+        try:
+            queryset = queryset.exclude(
+                review__isnull=True,
+                comment__isnull=True,
+                quotation__isnull=True,
+                generatednote__isnull=True,
+                privacy='direct'
+            )
+        except FieldError:
+            # if we're looking at a subtype of Status (like Review)
+            pass
+
     # filter for only local status
     if local_only:
         queryset = queryset.filter(user__local=True)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/landing.py b/bookwyrm/views/landing.py
index 3be3eb312..2774e7428 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/landing.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/landing.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 ''' non-interactive pages '''
-from django.db.models import Avg, Max
+from django.db.models import Max
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.views import View
 
 from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from .feed import Feed
-from .helpers import get_activity_feed
 
 
 # pylint: disable= no-self-use
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@ class Discover(View):
         ''' tiled book activity page '''
         books = models.Edition.objects.filter(
             review__published_date__isnull=False,
+            review__deleted=False,
             review__user__local=True,
             review__privacy__in=['public', 'unlisted'],
         ).exclude(
@@ -42,18 +42,9 @@ class Discover(View):
             Max('review__published_date')
         ).order_by('-review__published_date__max')[:6]
 
-        ratings = {}
-        for book in books:
-            reviews = models.Review.objects.filter(
-                book__in=book.parent_work.editions.all()
-            )
-            reviews = get_activity_feed(
-                request.user, ['public', 'unlisted'], queryset=reviews)
-            ratings[book.id] = reviews.aggregate(Avg('rating'))['rating__avg']
         data = {
             'title': 'Discover',
             'register_form': forms.RegisterForm(),
             'books': list(set(books)),
-            'ratings': ratings
         }
         return TemplateResponse(request, 'discover/discover.html', data)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/list.py b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
index 7286bfb4f..e7b70a286 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class Lists(View):
         ).filter(
             item_count__gt=0
         ).distinct().all()
-        lists = privacy_filter(request.user, lists, ['public', 'followers'])
+        lists = privacy_filter(
+            request.user, lists, privacy_levels=['public', 'followers'])
 
         paginated = Paginator(lists, 12)
         data = {
@@ -67,8 +68,7 @@ class UserLists(View):
             page = 1
         user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         lists = models.List.objects.filter(user=user).all()
-        lists = privacy_filter(
-            request.user, lists, ['public', 'followers', 'unlisted'])
+        lists = privacy_filter(request.user, lists)
         paginated = Paginator(lists, 12)
 
         data = {
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
index aad227bff..d24b636ea 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ class RssFeed(Feed):
     def items(self, obj):
         ''' the user's activity feed '''
         return get_activity_feed(
-            obj, ['public', 'unlisted'], queryset=obj.status_set)
+            obj,
+            privacy=['public', 'unlisted'],
+            queryset=obj.status_set.select_subclasses()
+        )
 
 
     def item_link(self, item):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index 98be166f4..8acb28363 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ class Search(View):
 
         # any relevent lists?
         list_results = privacy_filter(
-            request.user, models.List.objects, ['public', 'followers']
+            request.user, models.List.objects,
+            privacy_levels=['public', 'followers']
         ).annotate(
             similarity=Greatest(
                 TrigramSimilarity('name', query),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/user.py b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
index 7a238ce7c..a218375fd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ class User(View):
         # user's posts
         activities = get_activity_feed(
             request.user,
-            ['public', 'unlisted', 'followers'],
-            queryset=user.status_set
+            queryset=user.status_set.select_subclasses(),
         )
         paginated = Paginator(activities, PAGE_LENGTH)
         goal = models.AnnualGoal.objects.filter(