diff --git a/static/css/app.css b/static/css/app.css
index 6b91d1f..bb9f3de 100644
--- a/static/css/app.css
+++ b/static/css/app.css
@@ -1576,6 +1576,7 @@ body.dnd-mode .timer-display {
   flex: 1;
   overflow-y: scroll;
   overflow-x: auto;
+  position: relative;
   padding: 24px 16px;
   line-height: 1.8;
   font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;
@@ -1690,6 +1691,26 @@ body.reader-immersive.reader-show-bottom .reader-overlay  { bottom: var(--bar-h)
 .reader-content.pdf-paginated { overflow:hidden !important; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; }
 .pdf-paginated .pdf-page-wrapper { margin:0; }
 
+/* PDF loading overlay */
+.pdf-loading-overlay {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  background: var(--bg, #000);
+  z-index: 10;
+}
+.pdf-loading-spinner {
+  width: 36px;
+  height: 36px;
+  border: 3px solid #333;
+  border-top-color: var(--accent, #e63946);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  animation: pdf-spin 0.7s linear infinite;
+}
+@keyframes pdf-spin { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+
 /* PDF two-page spread */
 .pdf-spread-wrapper { display:flex; flex-direction:row; gap:8px; justify-content:center; margin-bottom:1rem; }
 .pdf-spread-wrapper .pdf-page-wrapper { margin:0; }
diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 4230479..1449eb8 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -3127,6 +3127,7 @@ async function openBook(bookId) {
 
     if (isPdfBook) {
       currentPdfDoc = null; // reset so renderPdf creates fresh doc
+      contentEl.innerHTML = '<div class="pdf-loading-overlay"><span class="pdf-loading-spinner"></span></div>';
       const result = await renderPdf(plain, contentEl);
       title = result.title || title;
       author = result.author || author;