diff --git a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
index 71f02231..a1c35ef7 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/importers/importer.py
@@ -205,3 +205,5 @@ def handle_imported_book(item):
             )
         # only broadcast this review to other bookwyrm instances
         review.save(software="bookwyrm", priority=LOW)
+        item.linked_review = review
+        item.save()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0115_importitem_linked_review.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0115_importitem_linked_review.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8cff9b8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0115_importitem_linked_review.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.5 on 2021-11-13 19:35
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("bookwyrm", "0114_importjob_source"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name="importitem",
+            name="linked_review",
+            field=models.ForeignKey(
+                blank=True,
+                null=True,
+                on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL,
+                to="bookwyrm.review",
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index 6b8f0b46..ddd9eaec 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         related_name="book_guess",
     )
     fail_reason = models.TextField(null=True)
+    linked_review = models.ForeignKey(
+        "Review", on_delete=models.SET_NULL, null=True, blank=True
+    )
 
     def resolve(self):
         """try various ways to lookup a book"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py b/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
index 45d87171..99cdcd28 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/importers/test_importer.py
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ class GenericImporter(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(review.rating, 2.0)
         self.assertEqual(review.privacy, "unlisted")
 
+        import_item.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(import_item.linked_review, review)
+
     @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.add_status_task.delay")
     def test_handle_imported_book_rating(self, *_):
         """rating import"""
@@ -250,6 +253,9 @@ class GenericImporter(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(review.rating, 3.0)
         self.assertEqual(review.privacy, "unlisted")
 
+        import_item.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(import_item.linked_review.id, review.id)
+
     def test_handle_imported_book_reviews_disabled(self, *_):
         """review import"""
         import_job = self.importer.create_job(