diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
index 01ca3f77..bad7c59f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
@@ -199,6 +199,40 @@ class BooksStream(ActivityStream):
             privacy_levels=["public"],
         )
 
+    def add_book_statuses(self, user, book):
+        """add statuses about a book to a user's feed"""
+        work = book.parent_work
+        statuses = privacy_filter(
+            user,
+            models.Status.objects.select_subclasses()
+            .filter(
+                Q(comment__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(quotation__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(review__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(mention_books__parent_work=work)
+            )
+            .distinct(),
+            privacy_levels=["public"],
+        )
+        self.bulk_add_objects_to_store(statuses, self.stream_id(user))
+
+    def remove_book_statuses(self, user, book):
+        """add statuses about a book to a user's feed"""
+        work = book.parent_work
+        statuses = privacy_filter(
+            user,
+            models.Status.objects.select_subclasses()
+            .filter(
+                Q(comment__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(quotation__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(review__book__parent_work=work)
+                | Q(mention_books__parent_work=work)
+            )
+            .distinct(),
+            privacy_levels=["public"],
+        )
+        self.bulk_remove_objects_from_store(statuses, self.stream_id(user))
+
 
 # determine which streams are enabled in settings.py
 available_streams = [s["key"] for s in STREAMS]
@@ -316,3 +350,33 @@ def populate_streams_on_account_create(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwarg
 
     for stream in streams.values():
         stream.populate_streams(instance)
+
+
+@receiver(signals.pre_save, sender=models.ShelfBook)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def add_statuses_on_shelve(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
+    """update books stream when user shelves a book"""
+    if not instance.user.local:
+        return
+    # check if the book is already on the user's shelves
+    if models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
+        user=instance.user, book__in=instance.book.parent_work.editions.all()
+    ).exists():
+        return
+
+    BooksStream().add_book_statuses(instance.user, instance.book)
+
+
+@receiver(signals.post_delete, sender=models.ShelfBook)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def remove_statuses_on_shelve(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
+    """update books stream when user unshelves a book"""
+    if not instance.user.local:
+        return
+    # check if the book is actually unshelved, not just moved
+    if models.ShelfBook.objects.filter(
+        user=instance.user, book__in=instance.book.parent_work.editions.all()
+    ).exists():
+        return
+
+    BooksStream().remove_book_statuses(instance.user, instance.book)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_activitystreams.py
index ba495089..ac57d8b3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_activitystreams.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from bookwyrm import activitystreams, models
 
 @patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay")
 @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.add_status")
+@patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.BooksStream.add_book_statuses")
 @patch("bookwyrm.suggested_users.rerank_suggestions_task.delay")
 class Activitystreams(TestCase):
     """using redis to build activity streams"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
index ccfb4c90..df89d5b0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ class EditUserViews(TestCase):
                 "rat@local.com", "rat@rat.rat", "password", local=True, localname="rat"
             )
 
-            self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title="test")
+            self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
+                title="test", parent_work=models.Work.objects.create(title="test work")
+            )
             with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
                 models.ShelfBook.objects.create(
                     book=self.book,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_user.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_user.py
index 0efdf16a..740f0d29 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_user.py
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ class UserViews(TestCase):
             self.rat = models.User.objects.create_user(
                 "rat@local.com", "rat@rat.rat", "password", local=True, localname="rat"
             )
-        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title="test")
+        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
+            title="test", parent_work=models.Work.objects.create(title="test work")
+        )
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             with patch("bookwyrm.suggested_users.rerank_suggestions_task.delay"):
                 models.ShelfBook.objects.create(