diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
index 328dfd7fa..d49ae30f7 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
     @transaction.atomic
     def post(self, request, status, book_id):
         """Change the state of a book by shelving it and adding reading dates"""
+        next_step = request.POST.get("next", "/")
         identifier = {
             "want": models.Shelf.TO_READ,
             "start": models.Shelf.READING,
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
             if current_status_shelfbook.shelf.identifier != desired_shelf.identifier:
                 current_status_shelfbook.delete()
             else:  # It already was on the shelf
-                return redirect("/")
+                return redirect(next_step)
 
         models.ShelfBook.objects.create(
             book=book, shelf=desired_shelf, user=request.user
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
         if is_api_request(request):
             return HttpResponse()
 
-        return redirect("/")
+        return redirect(next_step)
 
 
 @method_decorator(login_required, name="dispatch")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
index d2aa7d566..62bad3111 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def delete_shelf(request, shelf_id):
 @transaction.atomic
 def shelve(request):
     """put a book on a user's shelf"""
+    next_step = request.POST.get("next", "/")
     book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=request.POST.get("book"))
     desired_shelf = get_object_or_404(
         request.user.shelf_set, identifier=request.POST.get("shelf")
@@ -64,13 +65,14 @@ def shelve(request):
             .first()
         )
         if current_read_status_shelfbook is not None:
+            # If it is not already on the shelf
             if (
                 current_read_status_shelfbook.shelf.identifier
                 != desired_shelf.identifier
             ):
                 current_read_status_shelfbook.delete()
-            else:  # It is already on the shelf
-                return redirect("/")
+            else:
+                return redirect(next_step)
 
         # create the new shelf-book entry
         models.ShelfBook.objects.create(
@@ -86,13 +88,15 @@ def shelve(request):
         # Might be good to alert, or reject the action?
         except IntegrityError:
             pass
-    return redirect("/")
+
+    return redirect(next_step)
 
 
 @login_required
 @require_POST
 def unshelve(request, book_id=False):
     """remove a book from a user's shelf"""
+    next_step = request.POST.get("next", "/")
     identity = book_id if book_id else request.POST.get("book")
     book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=identity)
     shelf_book = get_object_or_404(
@@ -100,4 +104,4 @@ def unshelve(request, book_id=False):
     )
     shelf_book.raise_not_deletable(request.user)
     shelf_book.delete()
-    return redirect("/")
+    return redirect(next_step)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/status.py b/bookwyrm/views/status.py
index 42f903c05..c29413816 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/status.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class CreateStatus(View):
     # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
     def post(self, request, status_type, existing_status_id=None):
         """create status of whatever type"""
+        next_step = request.POST.get("next", "/")
         created = not existing_status_id
         existing_status = None
         if existing_status_id:
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ class CreateStatus(View):
             if is_api_request(request):
                 logger.exception(form.errors)
                 return HttpResponseBadRequest()
-            return redirect("/")
+            return redirect(next_step)
 
         status = form.save(request, commit=False)
         status.ready = False
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ class CreateStatus(View):
 
         if is_api_request(request):
             return HttpResponse()
-        return redirect("/")
+        return redirect(next_step)
 
 
 @method_decorator(login_required, name="dispatch")
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ def update_progress(request, book_id):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 def edit_readthrough(request):
     """can't use the form because the dates are too finnicky"""
     # TODO: remove this, it duplicates the code in the ReadThrough view
+    next_step = request.POST.get("next", "/")
     readthrough = get_object_or_404(models.ReadThrough, id=request.POST.get("id"))
 
     readthrough.start_date = load_date_in_user_tz_as_utc(
@@ -198,7 +200,7 @@ def edit_readthrough(request):
 
     if is_api_request(request):
         return HttpResponse()
-    return redirect("/")
+    return redirect(next_step)
 
 
 def find_mentions(user, content):