diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/group.py b/bookwyrm/models/group.py
index fdba04ea5..dbded1154 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/group.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/group.py
@@ -133,21 +133,27 @@ class GroupMemberInvitation(models.Model):
         with transaction.atomic():
             BookwyrmGroupMember.from_request(self)
 
-            # let the other members know about it
             model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.Notification", require_ready=True)
+            # tell the group owner 
+            model.objects.create(
+                user=self.group.user,
+                related_user=self.user,
+                related_group=self.group,
+                notification_type="ACCEPT",
+            )
+
+            # let the other members know about it
             for membership in self.group.memberships.all():
                 member = membership.user 
-                if member != self.user:
+                if member != self.user and member != self.group.user:
                     model.objects.create(
                         user=member,
                         related_user=self.user,
                         related_group=self.group,
-                        notification_type="ACCEPT",
+                        notification_type="JOIN",
                     )
 
     def reject(self):
         """generate a Reject for this membership request"""
 
         self.delete()
-
-        # TODO: send notification
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
index 3632fa10f..a2ddb8747 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from . import Boost, Favorite, ImportJob, Report, Status, User
 
 NotificationType = models.TextChoices(
     "NotificationType",
-    "FAVORITE REPLY MENTION TAG FOLLOW FOLLOW_REQUEST BOOST IMPORT ADD REPORT INVITE ACCEPT",
+    "FAVORITE REPLY MENTION TAG FOLLOW FOLLOW_REQUEST BOOST IMPORT ADD REPORT INVITE ACCEPT JOIN LEAVE REMOVE",
 )
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications.html
index 8dba38c6e..8c076ccbd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications.html
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
                 <span class="icon icon-comment"></span>
                 {% elif notification.notification_type == 'REPLY' %}
                 <span class="icon icon-comments"></span>
-                {% elif notification.notification_type == 'FOLLOW' or notification.notification_type == 'FOLLOW_REQUEST' or notification.notification_type == 'INVITE' or notification.notification_type == 'ACCEPT' %}
+                {% elif notification.notification_type == 'FOLLOW' or notification.notification_type == 'FOLLOW_REQUEST' or notification.notification_type == 'INVITE' or notification.notification_type == 'ACCEPT' or notification.notification_type == 'JOIN' or notification.notification_type == 'LEAVE' or notification.notification_type == 'REMOVE'%}
                 <span class="icon icon-local"></span>
                 {% elif notification.notification_type == 'BOOST' %}
                 <span class="icon icon-boost"></span>
@@ -131,9 +131,25 @@
                                 {% endif %}
                             {% elif notification.notification_type == 'ACCEPT' %}
                                 {% if notification.related_group %}
-                                {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %} accepted an invitation to join your group "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a>"{% endblocktrans %}
+                                {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %} accepted your invitation to join group "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a>"{% endblocktrans %}
+                                {% endif %}
+                            {% elif notification.notification_type == 'JOIN' %}
+                                {% if notification.related_group %}
+                                {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %} has joined your group "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a>"{% endblocktrans %}
+                                {% endif %}
+                            {% elif notification.notification_type == 'LEAVE' %}
+                                {% if notification.related_group %}
+                                {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %} has left your group "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a>"{% endblocktrans %}
+                                {% endif %}
+                            {% elif notification.notification_type == 'REMOVE' %}
+                                {% if notification.related_group %}
+                                {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %} has been removed from your group "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a>"{% endblocktrans %}
                                 {% endif %}
                             {% endif %}
+                        {% elif notification.notification_type == 'REMOVE' and notification.related_group %}
+                            {% blocktrans with group_name=notification.related_group.name group_path=notification.related_group.local_path %}
+                            You have been removed from the "<a href="{{ group_path }}">{{ group_name }}</a> group"
+                            {% endblocktrans %}
                         {% elif notification.related_import %}
                         {% url 'import-status' notification.related_import.id as url %}
                         {% blocktrans %}Your <a href="{{ url }}">import</a> completed.{% endblocktrans %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/group.py b/bookwyrm/views/group.py
index 5ae2cecdb..b8c45a4da 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/group.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/group.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ def invite_member(request):
 @require_POST
 @login_required
 def remove_member(request):
-    """invite a member to the group"""
+    """remove a member from the group"""
 
     group = get_object_or_404(models.BookwyrmGroup, id=request.POST.get("group"))
     if not group:
@@ -192,19 +192,28 @@ def remove_member(request):
         except IntegrityError:
             pass
 
-        # let the other members know about it
+        memberships = models.BookwyrmGroupMember.objects.filter(group=group)
         model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.Notification", require_ready=True)
-        memberships = models.BookwyrmGroupMember.objects.get(group=group)
+        notification_type = "LEAVE" if "self_removal" in request.POST and request.POST["self_removal"] else "REMOVE"
+        # let the other members know about it
         for membership in memberships:
             member = membership.user 
             if member != request.user:
                 model.objects.create(
                     user=member,
-                    related_user=request.user,
-                    related_group=request.group,
-                    notification_type="REMOVE",
+                    related_user=user,
+                    related_group=group,
+                    notification_type=notification_type,
                 )
 
+        # let the user (now ex-member) know as well, if they were removed
+        if notification_type == "REMOVE":
+            model.objects.create(
+                user=user,
+                related_group=group,
+                notification_type=notification_type,
+            )
+
     return redirect(user.local_path)
 
 @require_POST