diff --git a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
index 0cebd2f..d5eb3c4 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
@@ -139,10 +139,14 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Keyboard nav for paginated mode
+	// Keyboard nav for paginated mode + Escape to close settings overlay
 	$effect(() => {
 		if (!browser) return;
 		function onKey(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+			if (e.key === 'Escape' && settingsPanelOpen) {
+				settingsPanelOpen = false;
+				return;
+			}
 			if (layout.readMode !== 'paginated') return;
 			if (e.key === 'ArrowRight' || e.key === 'PageDown' || e.key === ' ') {
 				e.preventDefault();
@@ -669,28 +673,37 @@
 </div>
 {/if}
 
-<!-- ── Reader settings bottom sheet ─────────────────────────────────────── -->
+<!-- ── Reader settings overlay ───────────────────────────────────────────── -->
 {#if settingsCtx}
 {#if settingsPanelOpen}
-<!-- Backdrop -->
-<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_click_events_have_key_events a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
-<div role="none" class="fixed inset-0 z-40 bg-black/40" onclick={() => (settingsPanelOpen = false)}></div>
-
-<div class="fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 bg-(--color-surface-2) border-t border-(--color-border) rounded-t-2xl shadow-2xl flex flex-col max-h-[80dvh]">
-
-	<!-- Drag handle -->
-	<div class="flex justify-center pt-3 pb-1 shrink-0">
-		<div class="w-10 h-1 rounded-full bg-(--color-border)"></div>
+<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+<div
+	class="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex flex-col"
+	style="background: var(--color-surface);"
+>
+	<!-- Header -->
+	<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-(--color-border) shrink-0">
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			onclick={() => (settingsPanelOpen = false)}
+			class="p-2 rounded-full text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-2) transition-colors"
+			aria-label="Close settings"
+		>
+			<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"/>
+			</svg>
+		</button>
+		<span class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-muted) uppercase tracking-wider flex-1">Reader Settings</span>
 	</div>
 
 	<!-- Tab bar -->
-	<div class="flex gap-1 mx-4 mb-3 p-1 rounded-xl bg-(--color-surface-3) shrink-0">
+	<div class="flex gap-1 mx-4 mt-3 mb-1 p-1 rounded-xl bg-(--color-surface-2) shrink-0 border border-(--color-border)">
 		<button
 			type="button"
 			onclick={() => (settingsTab = 'reading')}
 			class="flex-1 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-semibold transition-colors
 				{settingsTab === 'reading'
-					? 'bg-(--color-surface-2) text-(--color-text) shadow-sm'
+					? 'bg-(--color-brand) text-(--color-surface)'
 					: 'text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text)'}"
 		>Reading</button>
 		<button
@@ -698,13 +711,13 @@
 			onclick={() => (settingsTab = 'listening')}
 			class="flex-1 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-semibold transition-colors
 				{settingsTab === 'listening'
-					? 'bg-(--color-surface-2) text-(--color-text) shadow-sm'
+					? 'bg-(--color-brand) text-(--color-surface)'
 					: 'text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text)'}"
 		>Listening</button>
 	</div>
 
 	<!-- Scrollable content -->
-	<div class="overflow-y-auto px-4 pb-6 flex flex-col gap-0">
+	<div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-4 pb-6 flex flex-col gap-0 mt-2">
 
 		{#if settingsTab === 'reading'}