diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
index d3b01f7a..a63a788e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ def search(query, min_confidence=0.1):
     return results
 
 
-def local_search(query, min_confidence=0.1):
+def local_search(query, min_confidence=0.1, raw=False):
     ''' only look at local search results '''
     connector = load_connector(models.Connector.objects.get(local=True))
-    return connector.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence)
+    return connector.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence, raw=raw)
 
 
 def first_search_result(query, min_confidence=0.1):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
index c5d58a59..f57fbc1c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult
 
 class Connector(AbstractConnector):
     ''' instantiate a connector  '''
-    def search(self, query, min_confidence=0.1):
+    # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
+    def search(self, query, min_confidence=0.1, raw=False):
         ''' search your local database '''
         if not query:
             return []
@@ -22,10 +23,14 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
             results = search_title_author(query, min_confidence)
         search_results = []
         for result in results:
-            search_results.append(self.format_search_result(result))
+            if raw:
+                search_results.append(result)
+            else:
+                search_results.append(self.format_search_result(result))
             if len(search_results) >= 10:
                 break
-        search_results.sort(key=lambda r: r.confidence, reverse=True)
+        if not raw:
+            search_results.sort(key=lambda r: r.confidence, reverse=True)
         return search_results
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
index 1a6c065e..fe8a7509 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@
             <a href="/#feed" class="navbar-item">
                 Feed
             </a>
-            {% endif %}
             <a href="{% url 'lists' %}" class="navbar-item">
                 Lists
             </a>
+            {% endif %}
         </div>
 
         <div class="navbar-end">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/lists/list.html b/bookwyrm/templates/lists/list.html
index 38be3edf..04fd5e11 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/lists/list.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/lists/list.html
@@ -65,6 +65,23 @@
     {% if not list.curation == 'closed' or request.user == list.user %}
     <section class="column is-one-quarter">
         <h2>{% if list.curation == 'open' or request.user == list.user %}Add{% else %}Suggest{% endif %} Books</h2>
+        <form name="search" action="{% url 'list' list.id %}" method="GET" class="block">
+            <div class="field has-addons">
+                <div class="control">
+                    <input aria-label="Search for a book" class="input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search for a book" value="{{ query }}">
+                </div>
+                <div class="control">
+                    <button class="button" type="submit">
+                        <span class="icon icon-search" title="Search">
+                            <span class="is-sr-only">search</span>
+                        </span>
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            {% if query %}
+            <p class="help"><a href="{% url 'list' list.id %}">Clear search</a></p>
+            {% endif %}
+        </form>
         {% for book in suggested_books %}
         <div class="block columns">
             <div class="column is-narrow">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/list.py b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
index c126102d..ff2a2f21 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from django.views.decorators.http import require_POST
 
 from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from bookwyrm.activitypub import ActivitypubResponse
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
 from .helpers import is_api_request, object_visible_to_user, privacy_filter
 
 
@@ -52,16 +53,22 @@ class List(View):
         if is_api_request(request):
             return ActivitypubResponse(book_list.to_activity())
 
-        suggestions = request.user.shelfbook_set.filter(
-            ~Q(book__in=book_list.books.all())
-        )
-        suggestions = [s.book for s in suggestions[:5]]
-        if len(suggestions) < 5:
-            suggestions += [s.default_edition for s in \
-                models.Work.objects.filter(
-                    ~Q(editions__in=book_list.books.all()),
-                ).order_by('-updated_date')
-            ][:5 - len(suggestions)]
+        query = request.GET.get('q')
+        if query:
+            # search for books
+            suggestions = connector_manager.local_search(query, raw=True)
+        else:
+            # just suggest whatever books are nearby
+            suggestions = request.user.shelfbook_set.filter(
+                ~Q(book__in=book_list.books.all())
+            )
+            suggestions = [s.book for s in suggestions[:5]]
+            if len(suggestions) < 5:
+                suggestions += [s.default_edition for s in \
+                    models.Work.objects.filter(
+                        ~Q(editions__in=book_list.books.all()),
+                    ).order_by('-updated_date')
+                ][:5 - len(suggestions)]
 
 
         data = {
@@ -69,6 +76,7 @@ class List(View):
             'list': book_list,
             'suggested_books': suggestions,
             'list_form': forms.ListForm(instance=book_list),
+            'query': query or ''
         }
         return TemplateResponse(request, 'lists/list.html', data)