feat: continuous reader mode with persisted preference

Add a vertical-scroll continuous mode to the reader alongside the
existing single-page mode. A segmented toggle in the reader top bar
switches between them; in continuous mode a gap selector
(None/Small/Medium/Large → 0/12/32/64px) controls the spacing
between stacked pages. Settings page mirrors the same controls.

Backend: new user_preferences table (one row per user, lazily
inserted, ON DELETE CASCADE) and GET/PATCH /api/v1/auth/me/preferences
gated by the existing CurrentUser extractor. Allowed values are
enforced both by API validation and table-level CHECK constraints.
Eight integration tests cover defaults, persistence, partial
updates, validation errors, auth, per-user isolation, and cascade.

Frontend: a new preferences store mirrors the theme-store pattern
with a localStorage shadow so anonymous browsers get a consistent
experience and logged-in users don't flash defaults while the
server response is in flight. Server values that the frontend
doesn't recognize (forward-compat) are ignored rather than poisoning
the UI; non-401 PATCH errors revert the optimistic local update;
logout clears the shadow so user A's settings don't follow user B
on a shared browser.

In continuous mode native scrolling handles Space/PageDown/arrows;
Home/End remain wired and call scrollIntoView() so jumping to chapter
bounds stays one keystroke. Single-page mode (chevrons, arrow-key
pagination, next-page preload) is unchanged.

Versions bumped 0.13.0 → 0.14.0 in lockstep.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

frontend/src/lib/api/preferences.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import {
+    describe,
+    it,
+    expect,
+    vi,
+    beforeEach,
+    afterEach,
+    type MockInstance
+} from 'vitest';
+import { getPreferences, updatePreferences, GAP_PX } from './preferences';
+
+function ok(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+        status,
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' }
+    });
+}
+
+function envelope(status: number, code: string, message: string): Response {
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify({ error: { code, message } }), {
+        status,
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' }
+    });
+}
+
+const prefsFixture = {
+    reader_mode: 'continuous' as const,
+    reader_page_gap: 'medium' as const,
+    updated_at: '2026-05-17T12:00:00Z'
+};
+
+describe('preferences api client', () => {
+    let fetchSpy: MockInstance<typeof globalThis.fetch>;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        fetchSpy = vi.spyOn(globalThis, 'fetch');
+    });
+    afterEach(() => {
+        vi.restoreAllMocks();
+    });
+
+    it('GAP_PX exposes the four named options with increasing values', () => {
+        expect(GAP_PX.none).toBe(0);
+        expect(GAP_PX.small).toBeGreaterThan(GAP_PX.none);
+        expect(GAP_PX.medium).toBeGreaterThan(GAP_PX.small);
+        expect(GAP_PX.large).toBeGreaterThan(GAP_PX.medium);
+    });
+
+    it('getPreferences GETs /v1/auth/me/preferences and returns the row', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(ok(prefsFixture));
+        await expect(getPreferences()).resolves.toEqual(prefsFixture);
+        const url = fetchSpy.mock.calls[0][0] as string;
+        expect(url).toMatch(/\/v1\/auth\/me\/preferences$/);
+    });
+
+    it('getPreferences returns null on 401 (anonymous browsing)', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(envelope(401, 'unauthenticated', 'unauthenticated'));
+        await expect(getPreferences()).resolves.toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('getPreferences re-throws non-401 errors', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(envelope(500, 'internal_error', 'boom'));
+        await expect(getPreferences()).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 500 });
+    });
+
+    it('updatePreferences PATCHes JSON and returns the new row', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(ok(prefsFixture));
+        const r = await updatePreferences({
+            reader_mode: 'continuous',
+            reader_page_gap: 'medium'
+        });
+        expect(r).toEqual(prefsFixture);
+        const url = fetchSpy.mock.calls[0][0] as string;
+        expect(url).toMatch(/\/v1\/auth\/me\/preferences$/);
+        const init = fetchSpy.mock.calls[0][1] as RequestInit;
+        expect(init.method).toBe('PATCH');
+        expect(JSON.parse(init.body as string)).toEqual({
+            reader_mode: 'continuous',
+            reader_page_gap: 'medium'
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('updatePreferences sends only the keys it was given (partial)', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(ok(prefsFixture));
+        await updatePreferences({ reader_mode: 'single' });
+        const init = fetchSpy.mock.calls[0][1] as RequestInit;
+        expect(JSON.parse(init.body as string)).toEqual({ reader_mode: 'single' });
+    });
+
+    it('updatePreferences surfaces 400 invalid_input via ApiError', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+            envelope(400, 'invalid_input', 'reader_mode must be one of ...')
+        );
+        await expect(
+            updatePreferences({ reader_mode: 'continuous' })
+        ).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 400, code: 'invalid_input' });
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/api/preferences.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import { ApiError, request } from './client';
+
+export type ReaderMode = 'single' | 'continuous';
+export type ReaderPageGap = 'none' | 'small' | 'medium' | 'large';
+
+export type Preferences = {
+    reader_mode: ReaderMode;
+    reader_page_gap: ReaderPageGap;
+    updated_at: string;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Maps a named gap option to a CSS pixel value. Centralised here so the
+ * settings UI, the reader, and any future surfaces all show the same
+ * spacing.
+ */
+export const GAP_PX: Record<ReaderPageGap, number> = {
+    none: 0,
+    small: 12,
+    medium: 32,
+    large: 64
+};
+
+/**
+ * Returns the current user's stored reader preferences, or `null` if there
+ * is no valid session. Anything other than 401 is re-thrown so the caller
+ * can surface real errors.
+ */
+export async function getPreferences(): Promise<Preferences | null> {
+    try {
+        return await request<Preferences>('/v1/auth/me/preferences');
+    } catch (e) {
+        if (e instanceof ApiError && e.status === 401) return null;
+        throw e;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Partially updates the user's reader preferences. Unspecified fields are
+ * left unchanged on the server.
+ */
+export async function updatePreferences(
+    patch: Partial<Pick<Preferences, 'reader_mode' | 'reader_page_gap'>>
+): Promise<Preferences> {
+    return request<Preferences>('/v1/auth/me/preferences', {
+        method: 'PATCH',
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+        body: JSON.stringify(patch)
+    });
+}

frontend/src/lib/preferences.svelte.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import {
+    describe,
+    it,
+    expect,
+    vi,
+    beforeEach,
+    afterEach,
+    type MockInstance
+} from 'vitest';
+import { preferences } from './preferences.svelte';
+
+function ok(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+        status,
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' }
+    });
+}
+
+function envelope(status: number, code: string, message: string): Response {
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify({ error: { code, message } }), {
+        status,
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' }
+    });
+}
+
+const flush = () => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 0));
+
+describe('preferences store', () => {
+    let fetchSpy: MockInstance<typeof globalThis.fetch>;
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+        localStorage.clear();
+        // Default fetch implementation returns 401 so the reset calls below
+        // don't escape as real network requests (jsdom can't resolve
+        // /api/...). Each test overrides with mockResolvedValueOnce.
+        fetchSpy = vi
+            .spyOn(globalThis, 'fetch')
+            .mockResolvedValue(envelope(401, 'unauthenticated', 'reset'));
+        // Reset the singleton's state for the next test.
+        preferences.setMode('single');
+        preferences.setGap('none');
+        await flush();
+        fetchSpy.mockReset();
+    });
+    afterEach(() => {
+        vi.restoreAllMocks();
+        localStorage.clear();
+    });
+
+    it('init hydrates from localStorage immediately and pulls server values when authenticated', async () => {
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-mode', 'continuous');
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-gap', 'small');
+
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+            ok({
+                reader_mode: 'single',
+                reader_page_gap: 'large',
+                updated_at: '2026-05-17T12:00:00Z'
+            })
+        );
+
+        const p = preferences.init();
+        // Synchronous hydration from localStorage happens before the await.
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('continuous');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('small');
+
+        await p;
+        // Server response overrides the localStorage values.
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('single');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('large');
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-mode')).toBe('single');
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-gap')).toBe('large');
+    });
+
+    it('init keeps localStorage values when the user is anonymous (401)', async () => {
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-mode', 'continuous');
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-gap', 'medium');
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(envelope(401, 'unauthenticated', 'no session'));
+
+        await preferences.init();
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('continuous');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('medium');
+    });
+
+    it('setMode updates state, writes localStorage, and PATCHes the server', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+            ok({
+                reader_mode: 'continuous',
+                reader_page_gap: 'none',
+                updated_at: '2026-05-17T12:00:00Z'
+            })
+        );
+        preferences.setMode('continuous');
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('continuous');
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-mode')).toBe('continuous');
+
+        await flush();
+        expect(fetchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+        const init = fetchSpy.mock.calls[0][1] as RequestInit;
+        expect(init.method).toBe('PATCH');
+        expect(JSON.parse(init.body as string)).toEqual({ reader_mode: 'continuous' });
+    });
+
+    it('setGap survives a 401 (guest) without throwing', async () => {
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(envelope(401, 'unauthenticated', 'no session'));
+        preferences.setGap('large');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('large');
+        await flush();
+        // localStorage still holds the choice — the guest preference persists.
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-gap')).toBe('large');
+    });
+
+    it('setMode reverts the optimistic update when the server returns 5xx', async () => {
+        // Suppress the expected console.error so the test output stays clean.
+        const errSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {});
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(envelope(500, 'internal_error', 'boom'));
+        preferences.setMode('continuous');
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('continuous');
+        await flush();
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('single');
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-mode')).toBe('single');
+        errSpy.mockRestore();
+    });
+
+    it('clearForLogout resets state and removes localStorage entries', () => {
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-mode', 'continuous');
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-gap', 'large');
+        preferences.clearForLogout();
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('single');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('none');
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-mode')).toBeNull();
+        expect(localStorage.getItem('mangalord-reader-gap')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('init ignores an unknown reader_page_gap from the server (forward compat)', async () => {
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-mode', 'continuous');
+        localStorage.setItem('mangalord-reader-gap', 'medium');
+        fetchSpy.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+            ok({
+                reader_mode: 'continuous',
+                reader_page_gap: 'huge',
+                updated_at: '2026-05-17T12:00:00Z'
+            })
+        );
+        await preferences.init();
+        // Mode comes through (known value); unknown gap is rejected, the
+        // pre-existing 'medium' value is retained.
+        expect(preferences.readerMode).toBe('continuous');
+        expect(preferences.readerPageGap).toBe('medium');
+    });
+});

frontend/src/lib/preferences.svelte.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+// Reader preferences. Stored server-side per user, with a localStorage
+// shadow so anonymous browsers still get a consistent experience across
+// page loads and so logged-in users don't flash defaults while the
+// server response is in flight.
+//
+// Mutated client-side only — same pattern as session.svelte.ts. SSR
+// always sees the post-construct defaults; `init()` is called from the
+// root layout's onMount and reads localStorage / pulls the server row.
+
+import {
+    getPreferences,
+    updatePreferences,
+    type Preferences,
+    type ReaderMode,
+    type ReaderPageGap
+} from './api/preferences';
+
+const MODE_KEY = 'mangalord-reader-mode';
+const GAP_KEY = 'mangalord-reader-gap';
+
+const MODES: ReaderMode[] = ['single', 'continuous'];
+const GAPS: ReaderPageGap[] = ['none', 'small', 'medium', 'large'];
+
+function readStoredMode(): ReaderMode {
+    if (typeof localStorage === 'undefined') return 'single';
+    const v = localStorage.getItem(MODE_KEY);
+    return (MODES as string[]).includes(v ?? '') ? (v as ReaderMode) : 'single';
+}
+
+function readStoredGap(): ReaderPageGap {
+    if (typeof localStorage === 'undefined') return 'none';
+    const v = localStorage.getItem(GAP_KEY);
+    return (GAPS as string[]).includes(v ?? '') ? (v as ReaderPageGap) : 'none';
+}
+
+class PreferencesStore {
+    readerMode: ReaderMode = $state('single');
+    readerPageGap: ReaderPageGap = $state('none');
+    loaded = $state(false);
+    // Bumped before each server fetch so a slow response that resolves
+    // after a newer one can't clobber the state.
+    private seq = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * One-shot init: hydrate from localStorage (instant), then ask the
+     * server (slow but authoritative). Safe to call multiple times — the
+     * seq guard makes overlapping calls converge on the latest result.
+     */
+    async init(): Promise<void> {
+        this.readerMode = readStoredMode();
+        this.readerPageGap = readStoredGap();
+        await this.refresh();
+    }
+
+    async refresh(): Promise<void> {
+        if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
+        const seq = ++this.seq;
+        try {
+            const server = await getPreferences();
+            if (seq !== this.seq) return;
+            if (server) this.apply(server);
+        } finally {
+            if (seq === this.seq) this.loaded = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Reset to defaults and clear the localStorage shadow. Called on
+    /// logout so user A's settings don't follow user B (or an anonymous
+    /// browser) on a shared device.
+    clearForLogout(): void {
+        this.seq++;
+        this.readerMode = 'single';
+        this.readerPageGap = 'none';
+        if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') {
+            localStorage.removeItem(MODE_KEY);
+            localStorage.removeItem(GAP_KEY);
+        }
+    }
+
+    setMode(mode: ReaderMode): void {
+        const prev = this.readerMode;
+        this.readerMode = mode;
+        if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') localStorage.setItem(MODE_KEY, mode);
+        this.pushToServer({ reader_mode: mode }, () => {
+            this.readerMode = prev;
+            if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') localStorage.setItem(MODE_KEY, prev);
+        });
+    }
+
+    setGap(gap: ReaderPageGap): void {
+        const prev = this.readerPageGap;
+        this.readerPageGap = gap;
+        if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') localStorage.setItem(GAP_KEY, gap);
+        this.pushToServer({ reader_page_gap: gap }, () => {
+            this.readerPageGap = prev;
+            if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') localStorage.setItem(GAP_KEY, prev);
+        });
+    }
+
+    private apply(p: Preferences): void {
+        // Validate against the allowlist so a future server-side value
+        // we don't yet understand can't poison the UI (e.g. an unknown
+        // gap would render `style:gap="undefinedpx"` and break layout).
+        const mode = (MODES as string[]).includes(p.reader_mode)
+            ? (p.reader_mode as ReaderMode)
+            : this.readerMode;
+        const gap = (GAPS as string[]).includes(p.reader_page_gap)
+            ? (p.reader_page_gap as ReaderPageGap)
+            : this.readerPageGap;
+        this.readerMode = mode;
+        this.readerPageGap = gap;
+        if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') {
+            localStorage.setItem(MODE_KEY, mode);
+            localStorage.setItem(GAP_KEY, gap);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private pushToServer(
+        patch: Partial<Pick<Preferences, 'reader_mode' | 'reader_page_gap'>>,
+        revert: () => void
+    ): void {
+        // Optimistic local update already happened. 401 (anonymous user)
+        // is the expected path for guests — the localStorage write keeps
+        // their choice. Any other failure (network, 5xx) means the
+        // server doesn't agree with our local state, so roll the
+        // optimistic change back.
+        updatePreferences(patch).catch((e) => {
+            const status = (e as { status?: number })?.status;
+            if (status === 401) return;
+            console.error('updatePreferences failed', e);
+            revert();
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+export const preferences = new PreferencesStore();

frontend/src/routes/+layout.svelte

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
     import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
     import { logout } from '$lib/api/auth';
+    import { preferences } from '$lib/preferences.svelte';
     import { session } from '$lib/session.svelte';
     import { theme } from '$lib/theme.svelte';
     import Upload from '@lucide/svelte/icons/upload';
@@ -15,9 +16,17 @@
 
     onMount(() => {
         theme.init();
+        preferences.init();
         if (!session.loaded) session.refresh();
     });
 
+    // Pull fresh server preferences whenever the user changes (login,
+    // logout, account switch). The store's seq guard keeps the most recent
+    // response authoritative.
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (session.user) preferences.refresh();
+    });
+
     onDestroy(() => theme.destroy());
 
     async function handleLogout() {
@@ -26,6 +35,10 @@
             await logout();
         } finally {
             session.setUser(null);
+            // Don't let user A's reader preferences linger for the next
+            // person who uses this browser (or as guest state for the
+            // same user). Resets state + localStorage.
+            preferences.clearForLogout();
             loggingOut = false;
             goto('/login');
         }

frontend/src/routes/manga/[id]/chapter/[n]/+page.svelte

@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
     import { fileUrl } from '$lib/api/client';
+    import { GAP_PX, type ReaderPageGap } from '$lib/api/preferences';
+    import { preferences } from '$lib/preferences.svelte';
     import ChevronLeft from '@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-left';
     import ChevronRight from '@lucide/svelte/icons/chevron-right';
     import ArrowLeft from '@lucide/svelte/icons/arrow-left';
     import BookImage from '@lucide/svelte/icons/book-image';
+    import FileText from '@lucide/svelte/icons/file-text';
+    import ScrollText from '@lucide/svelte/icons/scroll-text';
 
     let { data } = $props();
     const manga = $derived(data.manga);
     const chapter = $derived(data.chapter);
     const pages = $derived(data.pages);
 
+    const mode = $derived(preferences.readerMode);
+    const gapPx = $derived(GAP_PX[preferences.readerPageGap]);
+
     const pageTitle = $derived(
         chapter.title
             ? `${manga.title} — Ch. ${chapter.number}: ${chapter.title}`
@@ -18,6 +25,7 @@
     );
 
     let index = $state(0);
+    let continuousPageEls: HTMLImageElement[] = $state([]);
 
     function next() {
         if (index < pages.length - 1) index += 1;
@@ -36,6 +44,21 @@
         // Don't hijack keys while the user is typing in an input.
         const target = e.target as HTMLElement | null;
         if (target && (target.tagName === 'INPUT' || target.tagName === 'TEXTAREA')) return;
+        // In continuous mode, native scrolling handles Space/PageDown/arrows;
+        // we still wire Home/End to scrollIntoView so jumping to the chapter
+        // bounds stays a one-keypress action.
+        if (mode === 'continuous') {
+            if (e.key === 'Home') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                continuousPageEls[0]?.scrollIntoView({ block: 'start' });
+            } else if (e.key === 'End') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                continuousPageEls[continuousPageEls.length - 1]?.scrollIntoView({
+                    block: 'end'
+                });
+            }
+            return;
+        }
         // Space is deliberately *not* bound — on viewports where a page
         // image overflows (portrait phones, narrow desktop windows),
         // users expect Space to scroll the page, and stealing it for
@@ -90,14 +113,65 @@
         {/if}
         <span class="back-text">{manga.title}</span>
     </a>
+
+    <div class="controls" role="group" aria-label="reader options">
+        <div class="mode-toggle" role="radiogroup" aria-label="layout">
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                class="seg"
+                class:active={mode === 'single'}
+                onclick={() => preferences.setMode('single')}
+                aria-pressed={mode === 'single'}
+                title="Single page"
+                data-testid="reader-mode-single"
+            >
+                <FileText size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
+                <span>Single</span>
+            </button>
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                class="seg"
+                class:active={mode === 'continuous'}
+                onclick={() => preferences.setMode('continuous')}
+                aria-pressed={mode === 'continuous'}
+                title="Continuous (scroll)"
+                data-testid="reader-mode-continuous"
+            >
+                <ScrollText size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
+                <span>Continuous</span>
+            </button>
+        </div>
+
+        {#if mode === 'continuous'}
+            <label class="gap-field">
+                <span class="visually-hidden">Page gap</span>
+                <select
+                    value={preferences.readerPageGap}
+                    onchange={(e) =>
+                        preferences.setGap((e.currentTarget as HTMLSelectElement).value as ReaderPageGap)}
+                    data-testid="reader-gap"
+                >
+                    <option value="none">No gap</option>
+                    <option value="small">Small gap</option>
+                    <option value="medium">Medium gap</option>
+                    <option value="large">Large gap</option>
+                </select>
+            </label>
+        {/if}
+    </div>
+
     <span class="indicator" data-testid="page-indicator">
-        Page {index + 1} / {pages.length}
+        {#if mode === 'single'}
+            Page {index + 1} / {pages.length}
+        {:else}
+            {pages.length} {pages.length === 1 ? 'page' : 'pages'}
+        {/if}
     </span>
 </nav>
 
 {#if pages.length === 0}
     <p class="empty" data-testid="reader-empty">This chapter has no pages yet.</p>
-{:else}
+{:else if mode === 'single'}
     <div class="page-wrap">
         <button
             type="button"
@@ -142,6 +216,19 @@
             />
         {/if}
     </div>
+{:else}
+    <div class="continuous" style:gap="{gapPx}px" data-testid="reader-continuous">
+        {#each pages as p, i (p.id)}
+            <img
+                src={fileUrl(p.storage_key)}
+                alt={`${manga.title} chapter ${chapter.number} page ${i + 1}`}
+                class="page-image"
+                loading={i < 2 ? 'eager' : 'lazy'}
+                data-testid={`reader-page-${i + 1}`}
+                bind:this={continuousPageEls[i]}
+            />
+        {/each}
+    </div>
 {/if}
 
 <style>
@@ -153,6 +240,7 @@
         border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
         margin-bottom: var(--space-3);
         gap: var(--space-3);
+        flex-wrap: wrap;
     }
 
     .back {
@@ -191,6 +279,76 @@
         font-weight: var(--weight-medium);
     }
 
+    .controls {
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--space-2);
+        flex-wrap: wrap;
+    }
+
+    .mode-toggle {
+        display: inline-flex;
+        border: 1px solid var(--border-strong);
+        border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+        overflow: hidden;
+        background: var(--surface);
+    }
+
+    .seg {
+        display: inline-flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--space-1);
+        padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
+        background: transparent;
+        color: var(--text);
+        border: none;
+        font-size: var(--font-sm);
+        cursor: pointer;
+        transition:
+            background var(--transition),
+            color var(--transition);
+    }
+
+    .seg + .seg {
+        border-left: 1px solid var(--border-strong);
+    }
+
+    .seg:hover:not(.active) {
+        background: var(--surface-elevated);
+    }
+
+    .seg.active {
+        background: var(--primary-soft-bg);
+        color: var(--text);
+    }
+
+    .seg:focus-visible {
+        outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring);
+        outline-offset: -2px;
+    }
+
+    .gap-field select {
+        height: 32px;
+        padding: 0 var(--space-2);
+        background: var(--surface);
+        color: var(--text);
+        border: 1px solid var(--border-strong);
+        border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+        font-size: var(--font-sm);
+    }
+
+    .visually-hidden {
+        position: absolute;
+        width: 1px;
+        height: 1px;
+        padding: 0;
+        margin: -1px;
+        overflow: hidden;
+        clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        border: 0;
+    }
+
     .indicator {
         color: var(--text-muted);
         flex-shrink: 0;
@@ -208,6 +366,12 @@
         align-items: center;
     }
 
+    .continuous {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        align-items: center;
+    }
+
     .page-image {
         max-width: 100%;
         max-height: 90vh;
@@ -216,6 +380,13 @@
         display: block;
     }
 
+    .continuous .page-image {
+        /* In continuous mode the user is scrolling — let each page take
+           its natural height instead of capping at viewport height, so
+           there are no scroll dead-zones inside a single page. */
+        max-height: none;
+    }
+
     .nav {
         display: inline-flex;
         align-items: center;
@@ -255,5 +426,8 @@
             grid-column: 1;
             justify-self: center;
         }
+        .seg span {
+            display: none;
+        }
     }
 </style>

frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte

@@ -2,11 +2,26 @@
     import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
     import { changePassword } from '$lib/api/auth';
     import { ApiError } from '$lib/api/client';
+    import type { ReaderMode, ReaderPageGap } from '$lib/api/preferences';
+    import { preferences } from '$lib/preferences.svelte';
     import { session } from '$lib/session.svelte';
     import { theme, type Theme } from '$lib/theme.svelte';
     import Monitor from '@lucide/svelte/icons/monitor';
     import Sun from '@lucide/svelte/icons/sun';
     import Moon from '@lucide/svelte/icons/moon';
+    import FileText from '@lucide/svelte/icons/file-text';
+    import ScrollText from '@lucide/svelte/icons/scroll-text';
+
+    const READER_MODES: { value: ReaderMode; label: string }[] = [
+        { value: 'single', label: 'Single page' },
+        { value: 'continuous', label: 'Continuous (scroll)' }
+    ];
+    const READER_GAPS: { value: ReaderPageGap; label: string }[] = [
+        { value: 'none', label: 'None' },
+        { value: 'small', label: 'Small' },
+        { value: 'medium', label: 'Medium' },
+        { value: 'large', label: 'Large' }
+    ];
 
     function setTheme(next: Theme) {
         theme.set(next);
@@ -108,6 +123,55 @@
     </fieldset>
 </section>
 
+<section class="card" aria-label="Reader">
+    <h2>Reader</h2>
+    {#if !session.user}
+        <p class="hint" data-testid="reader-prefs-guest-hint">
+            Sign in to sync these settings across devices. Until then they live in this browser.
+        </p>
+    {/if}
+    <fieldset class="theme-picker">
+        <legend>Layout</legend>
+        {#each READER_MODES as opt (opt.value)}
+            <label class="theme-option" class:selected={preferences.readerMode === opt.value}>
+                <input
+                    type="radio"
+                    name="reader-mode"
+                    value={opt.value}
+                    checked={preferences.readerMode === opt.value}
+                    onchange={() => preferences.setMode(opt.value)}
+                    data-testid={`reader-mode-radio-${opt.value}`}
+                />
+                {#if opt.value === 'single'}
+                    <FileText size={18} aria-hidden="true" />
+                {:else}
+                    <ScrollText size={18} aria-hidden="true" />
+                {/if}
+                <span>{opt.label}</span>
+            </label>
+        {/each}
+    </fieldset>
+
+    {#if preferences.readerMode === 'continuous'}
+        <fieldset class="theme-picker gap-picker">
+            <legend>Page gap</legend>
+            {#each READER_GAPS as opt (opt.value)}
+                <label class="theme-option" class:selected={preferences.readerPageGap === opt.value}>
+                    <input
+                        type="radio"
+                        name="reader-gap"
+                        value={opt.value}
+                        checked={preferences.readerPageGap === opt.value}
+                        onchange={() => preferences.setGap(opt.value)}
+                        data-testid={`reader-gap-radio-${opt.value}`}
+                    />
+                    <span>{opt.label}</span>
+                </label>
+            {/each}
+        </fieldset>
+    {/if}
+</section>
+
 {#if !session.loaded}
     <p class="status" data-testid="settings-loading">Loading…</p>
 {:else if !session.user}
@@ -238,6 +302,10 @@
         margin: 0;
     }
 
+    .gap-picker {
+        margin-top: var(--space-3);
+    }
+
     .theme-picker legend {
         font-size: var(--font-sm);
         color: var(--text);