diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/ChapterPickerOverlay.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/ChapterPickerOverlay.svelte
index e824d17..887e2ec 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/ChapterPickerOverlay.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/ChapterPickerOverlay.svelte
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 		zIndex?: string;
 		/** Called when a chapter row is tapped. The overlay does NOT close itself. */
 		onselect: (chapterNumber: number) => void;
-		/** Called when the close / chevron-down button is tapped. */
+		/** Called when the close (✕) button is tapped. */
 		onclose: () => void;
 	}
 
@@ -40,12 +40,6 @@
 			  )
 	);
 
-	/** Scroll the active chapter into view instantly (no animation) when the
-	 *  list is first rendered so the user never has to hunt for their position. */
-	function scrollIfActive(node: HTMLElement, isActive: boolean) {
-		if (isActive) node.scrollIntoView({ block: 'center', behavior: 'instant' });
-	}
-
 	function handleClose() {
 		search = '';
 		onclose();
@@ -73,9 +67,9 @@
 			class="p-2 rounded-full text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
 			aria-label="Close chapter picker"
 		>
-			<!-- chevron-down -->
+			<!-- close / ✕ -->
 			<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7"/>
+				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12"/>
 			</svg>
 		</button>
 		<span class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-muted) uppercase tracking-wider flex-1">Chapters</span>
@@ -105,7 +99,6 @@
 			<button
 				type="button"
 				onclick={() => handleSelect(ch.number)}
-				use:scrollIfActive={ch.number === activeChapter}
 				class={cn(
 					'w-full flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-(--color-border)/40 transition-colors text-left',
 					ch.number === activeChapter ? 'bg-(--color-brand)/8' : 'hover:bg-(--color-surface-2)'
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/CurrentlyReadingModal.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/CurrentlyReadingModal.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4711b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/CurrentlyReadingModal.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { browser } from '$app/environment';
+	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { cn } from '$lib/utils';
+
+	interface Book {
+		slug: string;
+		title: string;
+		cover?: string;
+		author?: string;
+		genres?: string[] | string;
+	}
+
+	interface ReadingEntry {
+		book: Book;
+		chapter: number;
+	}
+
+	interface Props {
+		/** The slug of the book currently being read — highlighted in the list. */
+		currentSlug: string;
+		onclose: () => void;
+	}
+
+	let { currentSlug, onclose }: Props = $props();
+
+	let entries = $state<ReadingEntry[]>([]);
+	let loading = $state(true);
+	let error   = $state('');
+
+	// ── Fetch in-progress books on mount ──────────────────────────────────────
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (!browser) return;
+		(async () => {
+			try {
+				const res = await fetch('/api/home');
+				if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
+				const data = await res.json() as { continue_reading: ReadingEntry[] };
+				entries = data.continue_reading ?? [];
+			} catch {
+				error = 'Failed to load your reading list.';
+			} finally {
+				loading = false;
+			}
+		})();
+	});
+
+	// ── Body scroll lock ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (!browser) return;
+		const prev = document.body.style.overflow;
+		document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+		return () => { document.body.style.overflow = prev; };
+	});
+
+	// ── Keyboard: Escape closes ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+	function onKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+		if (e.key === 'Escape') onclose();
+	}
+
+	// ── Navigate to a book's current chapter ─────────────────────────────────
+	function openBook(entry: ReadingEntry) {
+		onclose();
+		goto(`/books/${entry.book.slug}/chapters/${entry.chapter}`);
+	}
+
+	function parseGenres(genres: string[] | string | undefined): string[] {
+		if (!genres) return [];
+		if (Array.isArray(genres)) return genres;
+		try { const p = JSON.parse(genres); return Array.isArray(p) ? p : []; } catch { return []; }
+	}
+</script>
+
+<svelte:window onkeydown={onKeydown} />
+
+<!-- Backdrop -->
+<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+<div
+	class="fixed inset-0 z-[70] flex flex-col"
+	style="background: rgba(0,0,0,0.6); backdrop-filter: blur(4px);"
+	onpointerdown={(e) => { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onclose(); }}
+>
+	<!-- Panel — matches SearchModal style -->
+	<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+	<div
+		class="w-full max-w-2xl mx-auto mt-0 sm:mt-16 flex flex-col bg-(--color-surface) sm:rounded-2xl border-b sm:border border-(--color-border) shadow-2xl overflow-hidden"
+		style="max-height: 100svh;"
+		onpointerdown={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+	>
+		<!-- Header row -->
+		<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-(--color-border) shrink-0">
+			<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-muted) shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M12 6.253v13m0-13C10.832 5.477 9.246 5 7.5 5S4.168 5.477 3 6.253v13C4.168 18.477 5.754 18 7.5 18s3.332.477 4.5 1.253m0-13C13.168 5.477 14.754 5 16.5 5c1.747 0 3.332.477 4.5 1.253v13C19.832 18.477 18.247 18 16.5 18c-1.746 0-3.332.477-4.5 1.253"/>
+			</svg>
+			<span class="flex-1 text-base font-semibold text-(--color-text)">Currently Reading</span>
+			<button
+				type="button"
+				onclick={onclose}
+				class="shrink-0 px-3 py-1 rounded-lg text-sm text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
+				aria-label="Close"
+			>
+				Cancel
+			</button>
+		</div>
+
+		<!-- Scrollable body -->
+		<div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain">
+
+			{#if loading}
+				<!-- Loading skeleton -->
+				<div class="px-4 pt-3 pb-4 space-y-1">
+					{#each [1, 2, 3] as _}
+						<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-0 py-3 border-b border-(--color-border)/40">
+							<div class="shrink-0 w-10 h-14 rounded bg-(--color-surface-3) animate-pulse"></div>
+							<div class="flex-1 space-y-2">
+								<div class="h-3.5 bg-(--color-surface-3) rounded animate-pulse w-3/4"></div>
+								<div class="h-3 bg-(--color-surface-3) rounded animate-pulse w-1/2"></div>
+							</div>
+						</div>
+					{/each}
+				</div>
+
+			{:else if error}
+				<p class="px-5 py-8 text-sm text-center text-(--color-danger)">{error}</p>
+
+			{:else if entries.length === 0}
+				<div class="px-5 py-12 text-center">
+					<p class="text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-text) mb-1">No books in progress</p>
+					<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)">Books you start reading will appear here.</p>
+				</div>
+
+			{:else}
+				{#each entries as entry, i}
+					{@const genres = parseGenres(entry.book.genres)}
+					{@const isCurrent = entry.book.slug === currentSlug}
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						onclick={() => openBook(entry)}
+						class={cn(
+							'w-full flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 text-left transition-colors border-b border-(--color-border)/40 last:border-0',
+							isCurrent ? 'bg-(--color-brand)/8' : 'hover:bg-(--color-surface-2)'
+						)}
+					>
+						<!-- Cover thumbnail -->
+						<div class="shrink-0 w-10 h-14 rounded overflow-hidden bg-(--color-surface-2) border border-(--color-border) relative">
+							{#if entry.book.cover}
+								<img src={entry.book.cover} alt="" class="w-full h-full object-cover" loading="lazy" />
+							{:else}
+								<div class="w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center">
+									<svg class="w-5 h-5 text-(--color-muted)/40" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+										<path d="M18 2H6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v16c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h12c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V4c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2z"/>
+									</svg>
+								</div>
+							{/if}
+						</div>
+
+						<!-- Info -->
+						<div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+							<div class="flex items-start gap-2">
+								<p class={cn(
+									'text-sm font-semibold leading-snug line-clamp-1 flex-1',
+									isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand)' : 'text-(--color-text)'
+								)}>
+									{entry.book.title}
+								</p>
+								{#if isCurrent}
+									<span class="shrink-0 text-[10px] font-semibold px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-(--color-brand)/15 text-(--color-brand) border border-(--color-brand)/30 leading-none mt-0.5">
+										Now
+									</span>
+								{/if}
+							</div>
+							{#if entry.book.author}
+								<p class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) mt-0.5 truncate">{entry.book.author}</p>
+							{/if}
+							<div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 mt-1 flex-wrap">
+								<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted)/60">Ch. {entry.chapter}</span>
+								{#each genres.slice(0, 2) as g}
+									<span class="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-(--color-surface-3) text-(--color-muted)">{g}</span>
+								{/each}
+							</div>
+						</div>
+
+						<!-- Chevron (dimmed for current, normal for others) -->
+						<svg class={cn('w-4 h-4 shrink-0', isCurrent ? 'text-(--color-brand)/40' : 'text-(--color-muted)/40')} fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M9 5l7 7-7 7"/>
+						</svg>
+					</button>
+				{/each}
+			{/if}
+
+		</div>
+	</div>
+</div>
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
index ad7f071..e02514f 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@
 	// ── Chapter click-to-play ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	function playChapter(chapterNumber: number) {
 		audioStore.autoStartChapter = chapterNumber;
-		onclose();
 		goto(`/books/${audioStore.slug}/chapters/${chapterNumber}`);
 	}
 
@@ -434,17 +433,6 @@
 		</div>
 	{/if}
 
-	<!-- Chapter modal (full-screen overlay) -->
-	{#if showChapterModal && audioStore.chapters.length > 0}
-		<ChapterPickerOverlay
-			chapters={audioStore.chapters}
-			activeChapter={audioStore.chapter}
-			zIndex="z-[80]"
-			onselect={playChapter}
-			onclose={() => { showChapterModal = false; }}
-		/>
-	{/if}
-
 	<!-- ── Controls area (bottom half) ───────────────────────────────────── -->
 	<div class="flex-1 flex flex-col justify-end px-6 pb-6 gap-0 shrink-0 overflow-hidden" style="z-index: 2; position: relative;">
 
@@ -670,3 +658,16 @@
 
 	</div>
 </div>
+
+<!-- Chapter picker rendered OUTSIDE the transformed overlay so that
+     fixed inset-0 anchors to the real viewport, not the CSS-transformed
+     containing block (transform: translateY breaks fixed positioning). -->
+{#if showChapterModal && audioStore.chapters.length > 0}
+	<ChapterPickerOverlay
+		chapters={audioStore.chapters}
+		activeChapter={audioStore.chapter}
+		zIndex="z-[80]"
+		onselect={playChapter}
+		onclose={() => { showChapterModal = false; }}
+	/>
+{/if}
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
index 66ec0e5..e36d4a1 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 	import { page } from '$app/state';
 	import AudioPlayer from '$lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte';
 	import CommentsSection from '$lib/components/CommentsSection.svelte';
+	import CurrentlyReadingModal from '$lib/components/CurrentlyReadingModal.svelte';
 	import type { PageData } from './$types';
 	import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 	import { audioStore } from '$lib/audio.svelte';
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@
 	let settingsPanelOpen = $state(false);
 	let settingsTab = $state<'reading' | 'listening'>('reading');
 
+	// ── Currently reading modal ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+	let readingModalOpen = $state(false);
+
 	const READER_FONTS = [
 		{ id: 'system', label: 'System' },
 		{ id: 'serif',  label: 'Serif'  },
@@ -517,6 +521,18 @@
 
 <!-- Chapter heading + meta + language switcher -->
 <div class="mb-6">
+	<!-- Book title — tappable, opens Currently Reading modal -->
+	<button
+		type="button"
+		onclick={() => (readingModalOpen = true)}
+		class="flex items-center gap-1 text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-brand) text-sm font-medium transition-colors mb-1.5 max-w-full"
+		title="Switch book"
+	>
+		<span class="truncate">{data.book.title}</span>
+		<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 shrink-0 opacity-60" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+			<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7"/>
+		</svg>
+	</button>
 	<p class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-brand) uppercase tracking-widest mb-1.5">
 		{m.reader_chapter_n({ n: String(data.chapter.number) })}
 	</p>
@@ -1315,3 +1331,11 @@
 </div>
 {/if}
 {/if}
+
+<!-- Currently Reading modal -->
+{#if readingModalOpen}
+	<CurrentlyReadingModal
+		currentSlug={data.book.slug}
+		onclose={() => (readingModalOpen = false)}
+	/>
+{/if}