diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index a65317fa3..108f4345f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -112,6 +112,16 @@ class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
 
     activity_serializer = activitypub.Person
 
+    @classmethod
+    def viewer_aware_objects(cls, viewer):
+        ''' the user queryset filtered for the context of the logged in user '''
+        queryset = cls.objects.filter(is_active=True)
+        if viewer.is_authenticated:
+            queryset = queryset.exclude(
+                blocks=viewer
+            )
+        return queryset
+
     def to_outbox(self, filter_type=None, **kwargs):
         ''' an ordered collection of statuses '''
         if filter_type:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
index 3a2a6aa75..3ead69eab 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book.html
@@ -42,26 +42,10 @@
                 <h3 class="title is-6 mb-1">Add cover</h3>
                 <form name="add-cover" method="POST" action="/upload-cover/{{ book.id }}" enctype="multipart/form-data">
                     {% csrf_token %}
-                    <div class="field has-addons">
-                        <div class="control">
-                        <div class="file is-small mb-1">
-                            <label class="file-label">
-                                <input class="file-input" type="file" name="cover" accept="image/*" enctype="multipart/form-data" id="id_cover" required>
-                                <span class="file-cta">
-                                    <span class="file-icon">
-                                        <i class="fas fa-upload"></i>
-                                    </span>
-                                    <span class="file-label">
-                                        Choose file...
-                                    </span>
-                                </span>
-                            </label>
-                        </div>
-                        </div>
-                        <div class="control">
-                            <button class="button is-small is-primary" type="submit">Add</button>
-                        </div>
-                    </div>
+                    <label class="label">
+                        <input type="file" name="cover" accept="image/*" enctype="multipart/form-data" id="id_cover" required>
+                    </label>
+                    <button class="button is-small is-primary" type="submit">Add</button>
                 </form>
             </div>
             {% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/edit_book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/edit_book.html
index 6e7e434e8..fb0bb81c3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/edit_book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/edit_book.html
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
                 <div class="column is-narrow">
                     <div class="block">
                         <h2 class="title is-4">Cover</h2>
-                        <p>{{ form.cover }} </p>
+                        <p>{{ form.cover }}</p>
                         {% for error in form.cover.errors %}
                         <p class="help is-danger">{{ error | escape }}</p>
                         {% endfor %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
index 7db69191e..f7286e67a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/follow_button.html
@@ -5,20 +5,29 @@
 Follow request already sent.
 </div>
 
+{% elif user in request.user.blocks.all %}
+{% include 'snippets/block_button.html' %}
 {% else %}
 
-<form action="/follow/" method="POST" class="interaction follow-{{ user.id }} {% if request.user in user.followers.all %}hidden{%endif %}" data-id="follow-{{ user.id }}">
-    {% csrf_token %}
-    <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}">
-    {% if user.manually_approves_followers %}
-        <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit">Send follow request</button>
-    {% else %}
-        <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit">Follow</button>
-    {% endif %}
-</form>
-<form action="/unfollow/" method="POST" class="interaction follow-{{ user.id }} {% if not request.user in user.followers.all %}hidden{%endif %}" data-id="follow-{{ user.id }}">
-    {% csrf_token %}
-    <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}">
-    <button class="button is-small is-danger is-light" type="submit">Unfollow</button>
-</form>
+<div class="field has-addons">
+    <div class="control">
+        <form action="/follow/" method="POST" class="interaction follow-{{ user.id }} {% if request.user in user.followers.all %}hidden{%endif %}" data-id="follow-{{ user.id }}">
+            {% csrf_token %}
+            <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}">
+            {% if user.manually_approves_followers %}
+                <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit">Send follow request</button>
+            {% else %}
+                <button class="button is-small is-link" type="submit">Follow</button>
+            {% endif %}
+        </form>
+        <form action="/unfollow/" method="POST" class="interaction follow-{{ user.id }} {% if not request.user in user.followers.all %}hidden{%endif %}" data-id="follow-{{ user.id }}">
+            {% csrf_token %}
+            <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}">
+            <button class="button is-small is-danger is-light" type="submit">Unfollow</button>
+        </form>
+    </div>
+    <div class="control">
+        {% include 'snippets/user_options.html' with user=user class="is-small" %}
+    </div>
+</div>
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/user/user_layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/user/user_layout.html
index 979ee0b0b..9abc469aa 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/user/user_layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/user/user_layout.html
@@ -43,14 +43,7 @@
         </div>
     </div>
     {% if not is_self and request.user.is_authenticated %}
-    <div class="field has-addons">
-        <div class="control">
-            {% include 'snippets/follow_button.html' with user=user %}
-        </div>
-        <div class="control">
-            {% include 'snippets/user_options.html' with user=user class="is-small" %}
-        </div>
-    </div>
+    {% include 'snippets/follow_button.html' with user=user %}
     {% endif %}
 
     {% if is_self and user.follower_requests.all %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
index b3a79b326..10221933c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
@@ -56,12 +56,14 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
     def test_get_user_from_username(self):
         ''' works for either localname or username '''
         self.assertEqual(
-            views.helpers.get_user_from_username('mouse'), self.local_user)
+            views.helpers.get_user_from_username(
+                self.local_user, 'mouse'), self.local_user)
         self.assertEqual(
             views.helpers.get_user_from_username(
-                'mouse@local.com'), self.local_user)
+                self.local_user, 'mouse@local.com'), self.local_user)
         with self.assertRaises(models.User.DoesNotExist):
-            views.helpers.get_user_from_username('mojfse@example.com')
+            views.helpers.get_user_from_username(
+                self.local_user, 'mojfse@example.com')
 
 
     def test_is_api_request(self):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_rss_feed.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_rss_feed.py
index 2b5e415e7..3d5bec49a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_rss_feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_rss_feed.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class RssFeedView(TestCase):
         ''' load an rss feed '''
         view = rss_feed.RssFeed()
         request = self.factory.get('/user/rss_user/rss')
+        request.user = self.user
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.SiteSettings.objects.get") as site:
             site.return_value = self.site
             result = view(request, username=self.user.username)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
index 059237b98..c229b7c9e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/feed.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class DirectMessage(View):
         user = None
         if username:
             try:
-                user = get_user_from_username(username)
+                user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
             except models.User.DoesNotExist:
                 pass
         if user:
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class Status(View):
     def get(self, request, username, status_id):
         ''' display a particular status (and replies, etc) '''
         try:
-            user = get_user_from_username(username)
+            user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
             status = models.Status.objects.select_subclasses().get(
                 id=status_id, deleted=False)
         except ValueError:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
index c59f2e6d2..e1b1a0bbd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def follow(request):
     ''' follow another user, here or abroad '''
     username = request.POST['user']
     try:
-        to_follow = get_user_from_username(username)
+        to_follow = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def unfollow(request):
     ''' unfollow a user '''
     username = request.POST['user']
     try:
-        to_unfollow = get_user_from_username(username)
+        to_unfollow = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def accept_follow_request(request):
     ''' a user accepts a follow request '''
     username = request.POST['user']
     try:
-        requester = get_user_from_username(username)
+        requester = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def delete_follow_request(request):
     ''' a user rejects a follow request '''
     username = request.POST['user']
     try:
-        requester = get_user_from_username(username)
+        requester = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/goal.py b/bookwyrm/views/goal.py
index 4f2d1b6f4..97f139136 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/goal.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/goal.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class Goal(View):
     ''' track books for the year '''
     def get(self, request, username, year):
         ''' reading goal page '''
-        user = get_user_from_username(username)
+        user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         year = int(year)
         goal = models.AnnualGoal.objects.filter(
             year=year, user=user
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class Goal(View):
 
     def post(self, request, username, year):
         ''' update or create an annual goal '''
-        user = get_user_from_username(username)
+        user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         if user != request.user:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index 6eeaa9262..fac3ab0c6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ from bookwyrm.status import create_generated_note
 from bookwyrm.utils import regex
 
 
-def get_user_from_username(username):
+def get_user_from_username(viewer, username):
     ''' helper function to resolve a localname or a username to a user '''
     # raises DoesNotExist if user is now found
     try:
-        return models.User.objects.get(localname=username)
+        return models.User.viewer_aware_objects(viewer).get(localname=username)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
-        return models.User.objects.get(username=username)
+        return models.User.viewer_aware_objects(viewer).get(username=username)
 
 
 def is_api_request(request):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/list.py b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
index cfdf6d769..7286bfb4f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/list.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class UserLists(View):
             page = int(request.GET.get('page', 1))
         except ValueError:
             page = 1
-        user = get_user_from_username(username)
+        user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         lists = models.List.objects.filter(user=user).all()
         lists = privacy_filter(
             request.user, lists, ['public', 'followers', 'unlisted'])
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
index 496689ff1..aad227bff 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/rss_feed.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class RssFeed(Feed):
 
     def get_object(self, request, username):
         ''' the user who's posts get serialized '''
-        return get_user_from_username(username)
+        return get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
 
 
     def link(self, obj):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index a4cd73374..98be166f4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Search(View):
             handle_remote_webfinger(query)
 
         # do a  user search
-        user_results = models.User.objects.annotate(
+        user_results = models.User.viewer_aware_objects(request.user).annotate(
             similarity=Greatest(
                 TrigramSimilarity('username', query),
                 TrigramSimilarity('localname', query),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py b/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
index 02502ff64..70d3d1dea 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/shelf.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Shelf(View):
     def get(self, request, username, shelf_identifier):
         ''' display a shelf '''
         try:
-            user = get_user_from_username(username)
+            user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         except models.User.DoesNotExist:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/user.py b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
index 4da0fdac1..7a238ce7c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/user.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class User(View):
     def get(self, request, username):
         ''' profile page for a user '''
         try:
-            user = get_user_from_username(username)
+            user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         except models.User.DoesNotExist:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class Followers(View):
     def get(self, request, username):
         ''' list of followers '''
         try:
-            user = get_user_from_username(username)
+            user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         except models.User.DoesNotExist:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class Following(View):
     def get(self, request, username):
         ''' list of followers '''
         try:
-            user = get_user_from_username(username)
+            user = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
         except models.User.DoesNotExist:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()