diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
index ebc0cf3c..f4a22c41 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
@@ -63,3 +63,9 @@ class Quotation(Comment):
     ''' a quote and commentary on a book '''
     quote: str
     type: str = 'Quotation'
+
+@dataclass(init=False)
+class Progress(Comment):
+    ''' a progress update on a book '''
+    quote: str
+    type: str = 'Progress'
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 09ceda85..c56fa395 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -201,6 +201,35 @@ class Quotation(Status):
     activity_serializer = activitypub.Quotation
     pure_activity_serializer = activitypub.Note
 
+class Progress(Status):
+    ''' an update of where a user is in a book, using page number or % '''
+    class ProgressMode(models.TextChoices):
+        PAGE = 'PG', 'page'
+        PERCENT = 'PCT', 'percent'
+
+    progress = models.IntegerField()
+    mode = models.TextChoices(max_length=3, choices=ProgessMode.choices, default=ProgressMode.PAGE)
+    book = models.ForeignKey('Edition', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
+
+    @property
+    def ap_pure_content(self):
+        ''' indicate the book in question for mastodon (or w/e) users '''
+        if self.mode == ProgressMode.PAGE:
+            return 'on page %d of %d in <a href="%s">"%s"</a>' % (
+                self.progress,
+                self.book.pages,
+                self.book.remote_id,
+                self.book.title,
+            )
+        else:
+            return '%d%% of the way through <a href="%s">"%s"</a>' % (
+                self.progress,
+                self.book.remote_id,
+                self.book.title,
+            )
+
+    activity_serializer = activitypub.Progress
+    pure_activity_serializer = activitypub.Note
 
 class Review(Status):
     ''' a book review '''