diff --git a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py b/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
index bfc543de..37a31766 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ def load_more_data(book_id):
     connector.expand_book_data(book)
 
 
-def search(query):
+def search(query, min_confidence=0.1):
     ''' find books based on arbitary keywords '''
     results = []
     dedup_slug = lambda r: '%s/%s/%s' % (r.title, r.author, r.year)
     result_index = set()
     for connector in get_connectors():
         try:
-            result_set = connector.search(query)
+            result_set = connector.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence)
         except HTTPError:
             continue
 
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ def search(query):
     return results
 
 
-def local_search(query):
+def local_search(query, min_confidence=0.1):
     ''' only look at local search results '''
     connector = load_connector(models.Connector.objects.get(local=True))
-    return connector.search(query)
+    return connector.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence)
 
 
-def first_search_result(query):
+def first_search_result(query, min_confidence=0.1):
     ''' search until you find a result that fits '''
     for connector in get_connectors():
-        result = connector.search(query)
+        result = connector.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence)
         if result:
             return result[0]
     return None
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 25db648c..a34eb301 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 ''' functionality outline for a book data connector '''
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from dateutil import parser
 import pytz
 import requests
+from requests import HTTPError
 
 from django.db import transaction
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 
 
-class ConnectorException(Exception):
+class ConnectorException(HTTPError):
     ''' when the connector can't do what was asked '''
 
 
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
         return True
 
 
-    def search(self, query):
+    def search(self, query, min_confidence=None):
         ''' free text search '''
         resp = requests.get(
             '%s%s' % (self.search_url, query),
@@ -155,9 +157,11 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
         ''' for creating a new book or syncing with data '''
         book = update_from_mappings(book, data, self.book_mappings)
 
+        author_text = []
         for author in self.get_authors_from_data(data):
             book.authors.add(author)
-        book.author_text = ', '.join(a.display_name for a in book.authors.all())
+            author_text.append(author.display_name)
+        book.author_text = ', '.join(author_text)
         book.save()
 
         if not update_cover:
@@ -287,25 +291,29 @@ def get_date(date_string):
 
 def get_data(url):
     ''' wrapper for request.get '''
-    resp = requests.get(
-        url,
-        headers={
-            'Accept': 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
-        },
-    )
+    try:
+        resp = requests.get(
+            url,
+            headers={
+                'Accept': 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
+            },
+        )
+    except ConnectionError:
+        raise ConnectorException()
     if not resp.ok:
         resp.raise_for_status()
     data = resp.json()
     return data
 
 
+@dataclass
 class SearchResult:
     ''' standardized search result object '''
-    def __init__(self, title, key, author, year):
-        self.title = title
-        self.key = key
-        self.author = author
-        self.year = year
+    title: str
+    key: str
+    author: str
+    year: str
+    confidence: int = 1
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<SearchResult key={!r} title={!r} author={!r}>".format(
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index d70ab3e2..0ae3ce35 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -129,10 +129,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         key = self.books_url + search_result['key']
         author = search_result.get('author_name') or ['Unknown']
         return SearchResult(
-            search_result.get('title'),
-            key,
-            ', '.join(author),
-            search_result.get('first_publish_year'),
+            title=search_result.get('title'),
+            key=key,
+            author=', '.join(author),
+            year=search_result.get('first_publish_year'),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
index 2711bb1a..0e77ecf6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult
 
 class Connector(AbstractConnector):
     ''' instantiate a connector  '''
-    def search(self, query):
+    def search(self, query, min_confidence=0.1):
         ''' right now you can't search bookwyrm sorry, but when
         that gets implemented it will totally rule '''
         vector = SearchVector('title', weight='A') +\
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         ).annotate(
             rank=SearchRank(vector, query)
         ).filter(
-            rank__gt=0
+            rank__gt=min_confidence
         ).order_by('-rank')
         results = results.filter(default=True) or results
 
@@ -42,11 +42,12 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
 
     def format_search_result(self, search_result):
         return SearchResult(
-            search_result.title,
-            search_result.local_id,
-            search_result.author_text,
-            search_result.published_date.year if \
+            title=search_result.title,
+            key=search_result.local_id,
+            author=search_result.author_text,
+            year=search_result.published_date.year if \
                     search_result.published_date else None,
+            confidence=search_result.rank,
         )
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/goodreads_import.py b/bookwyrm/goodreads_import.py
index 7b64baa3..73057e43 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/goodreads_import.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/goodreads_import.py
@@ -42,13 +42,10 @@ def import_data(job_id):
             if item.book:
                 item.save()
                 results.append(item)
+                # shelves book and handles reviews
+                outgoing.handle_imported_book(job.user, item)
             else:
-                item.fail_reason = "Could not match book on OpenLibrary"
+                item.fail_reason = "Could not find a match for book"
                 item.save()
-
-        status = outgoing.handle_import_books(job.user, results)
-        if status:
-            job.import_status = status
-            job.save()
     finally:
         create_notification(job.user, 'IMPORT', related_import=job)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0058_remove_importjob_import_status.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0058_remove_importjob_import_status.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61f41546
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0058_remove_importjob_import_status.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.0.7 on 2020-10-29 23:48
+
+from django.db import migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0057_auto_20201026_2131'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.RemoveField(
+            model_name='importjob',
+            name='import_status',
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index 085cfea6..240e0694 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ class ImportJob(models.Model):
     user = models.ForeignKey(User, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
     created_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     task_id = models.CharField(max_length=100, null=True)
-    import_status = models.ForeignKey(
-        'Status', null=True, on_delete=models.PROTECT)
+
 
 class ImportItem(models.Model):
     ''' a single line of a csv being imported '''
@@ -64,13 +63,17 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
 
     def get_book_from_isbn(self):
         ''' search by isbn '''
-        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(self.isbn)
+        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(
+            self.isbn, min_confidence=0.5
+        )
         if search_result:
             try:
                 # don't crash the import when the connector fails
                 return books_manager.get_or_create_book(search_result.key)
             except ConnectorException:
                 pass
+        return None
+
 
     def get_book_from_title_author(self):
         ''' search by title and author '''
@@ -78,12 +81,16 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
             self.data['Title'],
             self.data['Author']
         )
-        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(search_term)
+        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(
+            search_term, min_confidence=0.5
+        )
         if search_result:
             try:
                 return books_manager.get_or_create_book(search_result.key)
             except ConnectorException:
                 pass
+        return None
+
 
     @property
     def isbn(self):
@@ -95,6 +102,7 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         ''' the goodreads shelf field '''
         if self.data['Exclusive Shelf']:
             return GOODREADS_SHELVES.get(self.data['Exclusive Shelf'])
+        return None
 
     @property
     def review(self):
@@ -111,12 +119,14 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         ''' when the book was added to this dataset '''
         if self.data['Date Added']:
             return dateutil.parser.parse(self.data['Date Added'])
+        return None
 
     @property
     def date_read(self):
         ''' the date a book was completed '''
         if self.data['Date Read']:
             return dateutil.parser.parse(self.data['Date Read'])
+        return None
 
     @property
     def reads(self):
@@ -126,6 +136,7 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
             return [ReadThrough(start_date=self.date_added)]
         if self.date_read:
             return [ReadThrough(
+                start_date=self.date_added,
                 finish_date=self.date_read,
             )]
         return []
diff --git a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
index 4681a670..eca3a2c8 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
@@ -155,51 +155,49 @@ def handle_unshelve(user, book, shelf):
     broadcast(user, activity)
 
 
-def handle_import_books(user, items):
+def handle_imported_book(user, item):
     ''' process a goodreads csv and then post about it '''
-    new_books = []
-    for item in items:
-        if item.shelf:
-            desired_shelf = models.Shelf.objects.get(
-                identifier=item.shelf,
-                user=user
-            )
-            if isinstance(item.book, models.Work):
-                item.book = item.book.default_edition
-            if not item.book:
-                continue
-            shelf_book, created = models.ShelfBook.objects.get_or_create(
-                book=item.book, shelf=desired_shelf, added_by=user)
-            if created:
-                new_books.append(item.book)
-                activity = shelf_book.to_add_activity(user)
-                broadcast(user, activity)
+    if isinstance(item.book, models.Work):
+        item.book = item.book.default_edition
+    if not item.book:
+        return
 
-                if item.rating or item.review:
-                    review_title = 'Review of {!r} on Goodreads'.format(
-                        item.book.title,
-                    ) if item.review else ''
+    if item.shelf:
+        desired_shelf = models.Shelf.objects.get(
+            identifier=item.shelf,
+            user=user
+        )
+        # shelve the book if it hasn't been shelved already
+        shelf_book, created = models.ShelfBook.objects.get_or_create(
+            book=item.book, shelf=desired_shelf, added_by=user)
+        if created:
+            broadcast(user, shelf_book.to_add_activity(user))
 
-                    models.Review.objects.create(
-                        user=user,
-                        book=item.book,
-                        name=review_title,
-                        content=item.review,
-                        rating=item.rating,
-                    )
-                for read in item.reads:
-                    read.book = item.book
-                    read.user = user
-                    read.save()
+            # only add new read-throughs if the item isn't already shelved
+            for read in item.reads:
+                read.book = item.book
+                read.user = user
+                read.save()
 
-    if new_books:
-        message = 'imported {} books'.format(len(new_books))
-        status = create_generated_note(user, message, mention_books=new_books)
-        status.save()
+    if item.rating or item.review:
+        review_title = 'Review of {!r} on Goodreads'.format(
+            item.book.title,
+        ) if item.review else ''
 
-        broadcast(user, status.to_create_activity(user))
-        return status
-    return None
+        # we don't know the publication date of the review,
+        # but "now" is a bad guess
+        published_date_guess = item.date_read or item.date_added
+        review = models.Review.objects.create(
+            user=user,
+            book=item.book,
+            name=review_title,
+            content=item.review,
+            rating=item.rating,
+            published_date=published_date_guess,
+        )
+        # we don't need to send out pure activities because non-bookwyrm
+        # instances don't need this data
+        broadcast(user, review.to_create_activity(user))
 
 
 def handle_delete_status(user, status):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
index 5e488199..1d5aaa72 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class ImportJob(TestCase):
             'Number of Pages': 416,
             'Year Published': 2019,
             'Original Publication Year': 2019,
-            'Date Read': '2019/04/09',
+            'Date Read': '2019/04/12',
             'Date Added': '2019/04/09',
             'Bookshelves': '',
             'Bookshelves with positions': '',
@@ -97,11 +97,9 @@ class ImportJob(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(actual.reads[0].finish_date, expected[0].finish_date)
 
     def test_read_reads(self):
-        expected = [models.ReadThrough(
-            finish_date=datetime.datetime(2019, 4, 9, 0, 0))]
         actual = models.ImportItem.objects.get(index=2)
-        self.assertEqual(actual.reads[0].start_date, expected[0].start_date)
-        self.assertEqual(actual.reads[0].finish_date, expected[0].finish_date)
+        self.assertEqual(actual.reads[0].start_date, datetime.datetime(2019, 4, 9, 0, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(actual.reads[0].finish_date, datetime.datetime(2019, 4, 12, 0, 0))
 
     def test_unread_reads(self):
         expected = []
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views.py b/bookwyrm/views.py
index 9bf02959..b1bb25f4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views.py
@@ -489,7 +489,8 @@ def book_page(request, book_id):
         ).values_list('identifier', flat=True)
 
         readthroughs = models.ReadThrough.objects.filter(
-            user=request.user
+            user=request.user,
+            book=book,
         ).order_by('start_date')