diff --git a/scraper/internal/server/ui.go b/scraper/internal/server/ui.go
index 12669e3..daa318c 100644
--- a/scraper/internal/server/ui.go
+++ b/scraper/internal/server/ui.go
@@ -300,14 +300,9 @@ const homeTmpl = `
 
 <script>
 (function () {
-  /* ── state ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
-  var progress = {};
-  try { progress = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('reading_progress') || '{}'); } catch(_) {}
-  // progress = { slug: chapterNum, ... }
-
-  var progressTs = {};
-  try { progressTs = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('reading_progress_ts') || '{}'); } catch(_) {}
-  // progressTs = { slug: timestampMs, ... }
+  /* ── state (populated asynchronously from /api/progress) ───────────────── */
+  var progress   = {}; // { slug: chapterNum }
+  var progressTs = {}; // { slug: timestampMs }
 
   var booksGrid           = document.getElementById('books-grid');
   var continueSection     = document.getElementById('continue-reading-section');
@@ -321,149 +316,7 @@ const homeTmpl = `
 
   var allCards = booksGrid ? Array.from(booksGrid.querySelectorAll('[data-slug]')) : [];
 
-  /* ── reading_progress_ts: record timestamps for "recently read" sort ───── */
-  // On first load after upgrade, seed timestamps for existing progress entries.
-  var tsUpdated = false;
-  Object.keys(progress).forEach(function(slug) {
-    if (!progressTs[slug]) { progressTs[slug] = Date.now(); tsUpdated = true; }
-  });
-  if (tsUpdated) {
-    try { localStorage.setItem('reading_progress_ts', JSON.stringify(progressTs)); } catch(_) {}
-  }
-
-  /* ── progress bars + unread badges ─────────────────────────────────────── */
-  allCards.forEach(function(card) {
-    var slug       = card.dataset.slug;
-    var total      = parseInt(card.dataset.total, 10) || 0;
-    var downloaded = parseInt(card.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
-    var chapterNum = progress[slug] ? parseInt(progress[slug], 10) : 0;
-    var base       = downloaded || total;
-
-    if (chapterNum > 0 && base > 0) {
-      var pct = Math.min(100, Math.round(chapterNum / base * 100));
-      var wrap = card.querySelector('.book-progress-wrap');
-      var bar  = card.querySelector('.book-progress-bar');
-      var lbl  = card.querySelector('.book-progress-label');
-      if (wrap && bar && lbl) {
-        bar.style.width = pct + '%';
-        lbl.textContent = 'Ch.\u00a0' + chapterNum + (base ? '\u00a0/\u00a0' + base : '') + '\u00a0\u2014\u00a0' + pct + '%';
-        wrap.classList.remove('hidden');
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Unread badge: downloaded > last-read chapter
-    if (downloaded > 0 && chapterNum > 0 && downloaded > chapterNum) {
-      var unread = downloaded - chapterNum;
-      var badge  = card.querySelector('.book-unread-badge');
-      if (badge) {
-        badge.textContent = '+' + unread + ' new';
-        badge.classList.remove('hidden');
-      }
-    }
-  });
-
-  /* ── stats strip ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
-  var totalChaptersRead = 0;
-  var booksCompleted    = 0;
-  Object.keys(progress).forEach(function(slug) {
-    var card = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + slug + '"]') : null;
-    var ch = parseInt(progress[slug], 10) || 0;
-    totalChaptersRead += ch;
-    if (card) {
-      var total = parseInt(card.dataset.total, 10) || 0;
-      var dl    = parseInt(card.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
-      var base  = dl || total;
-      if (base > 0 && ch >= base) booksCompleted++;
-    }
-  });
-
-  if (totalChaptersRead > 0) {
-    var estMins = Math.round(totalChaptersRead * 12); // ~12 min/chapter avg
-    var timeLabel = estMins >= 60
-      ? Math.floor(estMins / 60) + 'h ' + (estMins % 60) + 'm'
-      : estMins + 'm';
-    document.getElementById('stat-books').textContent    = allCards.length + ' book' + (allCards.length !== 1 ? 's' : '');
-    document.getElementById('stat-chapters').textContent = totalChaptersRead + ' ch read';
-    document.getElementById('stat-time').textContent     = '~' + timeLabel + ' read';
-    if (booksCompleted > 0) {
-      document.getElementById('stat-completed').textContent = booksCompleted + ' completed';
-      document.getElementById('stat-completed-wrap').classList.remove('hidden');
-    }
-    statsStrip.classList.remove('hidden');
-    statsStrip.style.display = 'flex';
-    if (statsFallback) statsFallback.classList.add('hidden');
-  }
-
-  /* ── hero card: most recently read ─────────────────────────────────────── */
-  var heroSlug = null, heroTs = 0;
-  Object.keys(progressTs).forEach(function(slug) {
-    if (progressTs[slug] > heroTs && progress[slug]) {
-      heroTs = progressTs[slug]; heroSlug = slug;
-    }
-  });
-  if (heroSlug && heroSection) {
-    var heroCard = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + heroSlug + '"]') : null;
-    if (heroCard) {
-      var heroChapter  = parseInt(progress[heroSlug], 10) || 0;
-      var heroTotal    = parseInt(heroCard.dataset.total, 10) || parseInt(heroCard.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
-      var heroPct      = heroTotal > 0 ? Math.min(100, Math.round(heroChapter / heroTotal * 100)) : 0;
-      var heroCover    = heroCard.dataset.cover || '';
-      var heroTitle    = heroCard.dataset.title || '';
-      var heroHref     = heroCard.getAttribute('href');
-      var heroGet      = heroCard.getAttribute('hx-get');
-
-      heroSection.innerHTML =
-        '<a href="' + heroHref + '"' +
-        ' hx-get="' + heroGet + '" hx-target="#main-content" hx-push-url="true" hx-swap="innerHTML"' +
-        ' class="group relative block rounded-2xl overflow-hidden border border-zinc-700 hover:border-amber-500 transition-colors cursor-pointer"' +
-        ' style="' + (heroCover ? 'background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#09090b 40%,rgba(9,9,11,0.4)),url(' + heroCover + ');background-size:cover;background-position:right center;' : 'background:#18181b;') + '">' +
-        '<div class="relative z-10 p-5 sm:p-6">' +
-          '<p class="text-[0.65rem] font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-amber-500 mb-1">Continue reading</p>' +
-          '<h2 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-bold text-zinc-100 group-hover:text-amber-400 transition-colors leading-snug mb-2 max-w-sm">' + escHtml(heroTitle) + '</h2>' +
-          '<p class="text-sm text-zinc-400 mb-4">Chapter\u00a0' + heroChapter + (heroTotal ? '\u00a0/\u00a0' + heroTotal : '') + (heroPct ? '\u00a0\u2014\u00a0' + heroPct + '%' : '') + '</p>' +
-          '<div class="w-48 h-1 rounded-full bg-zinc-700 overflow-hidden mb-4">' +
-            '<div class="h-full bg-amber-500 rounded-full" style="width:' + heroPct + '%"></div>' +
-          '</div>' +
-          '<span class="inline-block text-sm font-semibold px-4 py-2 rounded-xl bg-amber-500 text-zinc-900 group-hover:bg-amber-400 transition-colors">Resume</span>' +
-        '</div>' +
-        '</a>';
-      heroSection.classList.remove('hidden');
-      htmx.process(heroSection);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /* ── continue reading (excluding hero) ──────────────────────────────────── */
-  if (continueGrid) continueGrid.innerHTML = '';
-  var inProgress = Object.keys(progress).sort(function(a,b) {
-    return (progressTs[b]||0) - (progressTs[a]||0);
-  });
-  var moved = 0;
-  inProgress.forEach(function(slug) {
-    if (slug === heroSlug) return; // hero already shown
-    var card = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + slug + '"]') : null;
-    if (!card) return;
-    var a = buildContinueCard(card, progress[slug]);
-    continueGrid.appendChild(a);
-    moved++;
-  });
-  if (moved > 0) continueSection.classList.remove('hidden');
-
-  /* ── recently added (top 4, excluding books already in continue reading) ── */
-  if (recentlyAddedGrid) recentlyAddedGrid.innerHTML = '';
-  var progressSlugs = new Set(Object.keys(progress));
-  var byAdded = allCards.slice().sort(function(a, b) {
-    return (parseInt(b.dataset.added,10)||0) - (parseInt(a.dataset.added,10)||0);
-  });
-  var addedShown = 0;
-  byAdded.forEach(function(card) {
-    if (addedShown >= 4) return;
-    if (progressSlugs.has(card.dataset.slug)) return; // already in continue reading
-    recentlyAddedGrid.appendChild(buildSimpleCard(card));
-    addedShown++;
-  });
-  if (addedShown > 0) recentlyAddedSec.classList.remove('hidden');
-
-  /* ── genre chips ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+  /* ── genre chips (no progress dependency) ────────────────────────────── */
   var allGenres = {};
   allCards.forEach(function(card) {
     (card.dataset.genres || '').split('|').forEach(function(g) {
@@ -508,7 +361,6 @@ const homeTmpl = `
 
   function applySortAndFilter() {
     var q = input ? input.value.trim().toLowerCase() : '';
-    // Sort cards
     var sorted = allCards.slice().sort(function(a, b) {
       if (currentSort === 'alpha')      return (a.dataset.title||'').localeCompare(b.dataset.title||'');
       if (currentSort === 'downloaded') return (parseInt(b.dataset.downloaded,10)||0) - (parseInt(a.dataset.downloaded,10)||0);
@@ -521,7 +373,6 @@ const homeTmpl = `
       }
       return 0;
     });
-    // Re-append in sorted order, apply visibility
     var shown = 0;
     sorted.forEach(function(card) {
       var matchText  = !q || card.dataset.filter.toLowerCase().indexOf(q) !== -1;
@@ -532,7 +383,7 @@ const homeTmpl = `
       var match = matchText && matchGenre;
       card.style.display = match ? '' : 'none';
       if (match) shown++;
-      booksGrid.appendChild(card); // re-order in DOM
+      booksGrid.appendChild(card);
     });
     if ((q || activeGenres.size > 0) && countEl) {
       countEl.textContent = shown + ' result' + (shown !== 1 ? 's' : '');
@@ -579,7 +430,7 @@ const homeTmpl = `
         }
       }
     }
-    // dismiss button
+    // dismiss button — calls DELETE /api/progress/{slug}
     var dismissBtn = document.createElement('button');
     dismissBtn.type = 'button';
     dismissBtn.title = 'Remove from continue reading';
@@ -590,12 +441,9 @@ const homeTmpl = `
       var cardEl   = this.closest('[data-slug]');
       var cardSlug = cardEl ? cardEl.dataset.slug : null;
       if (cardSlug) {
-        var p = {}; try { p = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('reading_progress') || '{}'); } catch(_) {}
-        delete p[cardSlug];
-        localStorage.setItem('reading_progress', JSON.stringify(p));
-        var ts = {}; try { ts = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('reading_progress_ts') || '{}'); } catch(_) {}
-        delete ts[cardSlug];
-        localStorage.setItem('reading_progress_ts', JSON.stringify(ts));
+        delete progress[cardSlug];
+        delete progressTs[cardSlug];
+        fetch('/api/progress/' + encodeURIComponent(cardSlug), { method: 'DELETE' });
       }
       var target = cardEl || this.parentElement;
       target.style.transition = 'transform 0.25s ease, opacity 0.25s ease';
@@ -612,6 +460,158 @@ const homeTmpl = `
     return a;
   }
 
+  /* ── render: called once progress is loaded ──────────────────────────── */
+  function renderWithProgress() {
+    /* ── progress bars + unread badges ─────────────────────────────────── */
+    allCards.forEach(function(card) {
+      var slug       = card.dataset.slug;
+      var total      = parseInt(card.dataset.total, 10) || 0;
+      var downloaded = parseInt(card.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
+      var chapterNum = progress[slug] ? parseInt(progress[slug], 10) : 0;
+      var base       = downloaded || total;
+
+      if (chapterNum > 0 && base > 0) {
+        var pct = Math.min(100, Math.round(chapterNum / base * 100));
+        var wrap = card.querySelector('.book-progress-wrap');
+        var bar  = card.querySelector('.book-progress-bar');
+        var lbl  = card.querySelector('.book-progress-label');
+        if (wrap && bar && lbl) {
+          bar.style.width = pct + '%';
+          lbl.textContent = 'Ch.\u00a0' + chapterNum + (base ? '\u00a0/\u00a0' + base : '') + '\u00a0\u2014\u00a0' + pct + '%';
+          wrap.classList.remove('hidden');
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (downloaded > 0 && chapterNum > 0 && downloaded > chapterNum) {
+        var unread = downloaded - chapterNum;
+        var badge  = card.querySelector('.book-unread-badge');
+        if (badge) {
+          badge.textContent = '+' + unread + ' new';
+          badge.classList.remove('hidden');
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
+    /* ── stats strip ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+    var totalChaptersRead = 0;
+    var booksCompleted    = 0;
+    Object.keys(progress).forEach(function(slug) {
+      var card = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + slug + '"]') : null;
+      var ch = parseInt(progress[slug], 10) || 0;
+      totalChaptersRead += ch;
+      if (card) {
+        var total = parseInt(card.dataset.total, 10) || 0;
+        var dl    = parseInt(card.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
+        var base  = dl || total;
+        if (base > 0 && ch >= base) booksCompleted++;
+      }
+    });
+
+    if (totalChaptersRead > 0) {
+      var estMins = Math.round(totalChaptersRead * 12);
+      var timeLabel = estMins >= 60
+        ? Math.floor(estMins / 60) + 'h ' + (estMins % 60) + 'm'
+        : estMins + 'm';
+      document.getElementById('stat-books').textContent    = allCards.length + ' book' + (allCards.length !== 1 ? 's' : '');
+      document.getElementById('stat-chapters').textContent = totalChaptersRead + ' ch read';
+      document.getElementById('stat-time').textContent     = '~' + timeLabel + ' read';
+      if (booksCompleted > 0) {
+        document.getElementById('stat-completed').textContent = booksCompleted + ' completed';
+        document.getElementById('stat-completed-wrap').classList.remove('hidden');
+      }
+      statsStrip.classList.remove('hidden');
+      statsStrip.style.display = 'flex';
+      if (statsFallback) statsFallback.classList.add('hidden');
+    }
+
+    /* ── hero card: most recently read ─────────────────────────────────── */
+    var heroSlug = null, heroTs = 0;
+    Object.keys(progressTs).forEach(function(slug) {
+      if (progressTs[slug] > heroTs && progress[slug]) {
+        heroTs = progressTs[slug]; heroSlug = slug;
+      }
+    });
+    if (heroSlug && heroSection) {
+      var heroCard = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + heroSlug + '"]') : null;
+      if (heroCard) {
+        var heroChapter  = parseInt(progress[heroSlug], 10) || 0;
+        var heroTotal    = parseInt(heroCard.dataset.total, 10) || parseInt(heroCard.dataset.downloaded, 10) || 0;
+        var heroPct      = heroTotal > 0 ? Math.min(100, Math.round(heroChapter / heroTotal * 100)) : 0;
+        var heroCover    = heroCard.dataset.cover || '';
+        var heroTitle    = heroCard.dataset.title || '';
+        var heroHref     = heroCard.getAttribute('href');
+        var heroGet      = heroCard.getAttribute('hx-get');
+
+        heroSection.innerHTML =
+          '<a href="' + heroHref + '"' +
+          ' hx-get="' + heroGet + '" hx-target="#main-content" hx-push-url="true" hx-swap="innerHTML"' +
+          ' class="group relative block rounded-2xl overflow-hidden border border-zinc-700 hover:border-amber-500 transition-colors cursor-pointer"' +
+          ' style="' + (heroCover ? 'background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#09090b 40%,rgba(9,9,11,0.4)),url(' + heroCover + ');background-size:cover;background-position:right center;' : 'background:#18181b;') + '">' +
+          '<div class="relative z-10 p-5 sm:p-6">' +
+            '<p class="text-[0.65rem] font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-amber-500 mb-1">Continue reading</p>' +
+            '<h2 class="text-xl sm:text-2xl font-bold text-zinc-100 group-hover:text-amber-400 transition-colors leading-snug mb-2 max-w-sm">' + escHtml(heroTitle) + '</h2>' +
+            '<p class="text-sm text-zinc-400 mb-4">Chapter\u00a0' + heroChapter + (heroTotal ? '\u00a0/\u00a0' + heroTotal : '') + (heroPct ? '\u00a0\u2014\u00a0' + heroPct + '%' : '') + '</p>' +
+            '<div class="w-48 h-1 rounded-full bg-zinc-700 overflow-hidden mb-4">' +
+              '<div class="h-full bg-amber-500 rounded-full" style="width:' + heroPct + '%"></div>' +
+            '</div>' +
+            '<span class="inline-block text-sm font-semibold px-4 py-2 rounded-xl bg-amber-500 text-zinc-900 group-hover:bg-amber-400 transition-colors">Resume</span>' +
+          '</div>' +
+          '</a>';
+        heroSection.classList.remove('hidden');
+        htmx.process(heroSection);
+      }
+    }
+
+    /* ── continue reading (excluding hero) ──────────────────────────────── */
+    if (continueGrid) continueGrid.innerHTML = '';
+    var inProgress = Object.keys(progress).sort(function(a,b) {
+      return (progressTs[b]||0) - (progressTs[a]||0);
+    });
+    var moved = 0;
+    inProgress.forEach(function(slug) {
+      if (slug === heroSlug) return;
+      var card = booksGrid ? booksGrid.querySelector('[data-slug="' + slug + '"]') : null;
+      if (!card) return;
+      var a = buildContinueCard(card, progress[slug]);
+      continueGrid.appendChild(a);
+      moved++;
+    });
+    if (moved > 0) continueSection.classList.remove('hidden');
+
+    /* ── recently added (top 4, excluding books in continue reading) ────── */
+    if (recentlyAddedGrid) recentlyAddedGrid.innerHTML = '';
+    var progressSlugs = new Set(Object.keys(progress));
+    var byAdded = allCards.slice().sort(function(a, b) {
+      return (parseInt(b.dataset.added,10)||0) - (parseInt(a.dataset.added,10)||0);
+    });
+    var addedShown = 0;
+    byAdded.forEach(function(card) {
+      if (addedShown >= 4) return;
+      if (progressSlugs.has(card.dataset.slug)) return;
+      recentlyAddedGrid.appendChild(buildSimpleCard(card));
+      addedShown++;
+    });
+    if (addedShown > 0) recentlyAddedSec.classList.remove('hidden');
+
+    /* ── re-apply sort in case "recently read" is active ─────────────────── */
+    applySortAndFilter();
+  }
+
+  /* ── load progress from server, then render ──────────────────────────── */
+  fetch('/api/progress')
+    .then(function(r) { return r.ok ? r.json() : {}; })
+    .catch(function() { return {}; })
+    .then(function(data) {
+      Object.keys(data).forEach(function(key) {
+        if (key.slice(-3) === '_ts') {
+          progressTs[key.slice(0, -3)] = data[key];
+        } else {
+          progress[key] = data[key];
+        }
+      });
+      renderWithProgress();
+    });
+
 }());
 </script>`