diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/user.py b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
index ba224d671..2de60a23f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ class User(View):
                 {
                     "name": user_shelf.name,
                     "local_path": user_shelf.local_path,
-                    "books": user_shelf.books.all()[:3],
+                    "books": user_shelf.books.order_by(
+                        "-shelfbook__shelved_date"
+                    ).all()[:3],
                     "size": user_shelf.books.count(),
                 }
             )