From 8810d476583bef1af9c200ef51c2f455c2b79255 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: neon <18559658+neonsolstice@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:42:06 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] feat(books): remember a default read-aloud narration language

Resolve book languages stated as names ("English") to a code, so the
dialog and the server's fallback stop calling English unsupported. The
dialog groups the ebook and audiobook in a Sources card, shows
Highlighting without the Advanced disclosure, and saves a per-user
default under /user-preferences/read-aloud for books it cannot match.
---
 .../__tests__/ReadAloudDialog.spec.ts         | 115 +++++-
 .../read-aloud/components/ReadAloudDialog.vue | 379 ++++++++++--------
 .../composables/useReadAloudPreferences.ts    |  49 +++
 .../src/features/read-aloud/lib/read-aloud.ts |  10 -
 client/src/locales/en.json                    |   7 +-
 packages/types/src/language.ts                |  47 +++
 packages/types/src/read-aloud.ts              |  11 +
 .../read-aloud/read-aloud-language.test.ts    |  31 ++
 .../read-aloud/read-aloud.service.test.ts     |   7 +
 .../modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.ts  |   3 +-
 .../user-preferences.controller.test.ts       |  16 +
 .../user-preferences.controller.ts            |  12 +
 .../user-preferences.service.test.ts          |  28 ++
 .../user-preferences.service.ts               |  34 ++
 .../route-inventory/manifest.json             |   4 +-
 .../route-inventory/routes-09.json            |  24 ++
 16 files changed, 599 insertions(+), 178 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 client/src/features/read-aloud/composables/useReadAloudPreferences.ts
 create mode 100644 server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud-language.test.ts

diff --git a/client/src/features/read-aloud/__tests__/ReadAloudDialog.spec.ts b/client/src/features/read-aloud/__tests__/ReadAloudDialog.spec.ts
index f2f1d4f54..557b3892c 100644
--- a/client/src/features/read-aloud/__tests__/ReadAloudDialog.spec.ts
+++ b/client/src/features/read-aloud/__tests__/ReadAloudDialog.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { mount, type VueWrapper } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { flushPromises, mount, type VueWrapper } from '@vue/test-utils'
 import { defineComponent, nextTick } from 'vue'
 import { Permission, type CreateReadAloudJobRequest, type ReadAloudCapability, type ReadAloudJobInput } from '@bookorbit/types'
 import { activateI18nLocale, i18n } from '@/i18n'
@@ -7,12 +7,19 @@ import { formatLanguageName } from '@/i18n/formatters'
 import ReadAloudDialog from '../components/ReadAloudDialog.vue'
 import { makeCapability } from './fixtures'
 
-const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({ permissions: new Set<string>() }))
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  permissions: new Set<string>(),
+  savedLanguage: null as string | null,
+  saveOk: true,
+  api: vi.fn<(url: string, init?: RequestInit) => Promise<Response>>(),
+}))
 
 vi.mock('@/features/auth/composables/usePermissions', () => ({
   usePermissions: () => ({ hasPermission: (name: string) => mocks.permissions.has(name) }),
 }))
 
+vi.mock('@/lib/api', () => ({ api: mocks.api }))
+
 const t = i18n.global.t
 
 const DialogContentStub = defineComponent({ name: 'DialogContentStub', emits: ['closeAutoFocus'], template: '<div><slot /></div>' })
@@ -34,6 +41,13 @@ beforeAll(() => {
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   mocks.permissions = new Set([Permission.LibraryDeleteBooks])
+  mocks.savedLanguage = null
+  mocks.saveOk = true
+  mocks.api.mockReset()
+  mocks.api.mockImplementation(async (_url, init) => {
+    if (init?.method === 'PUT') return new Response(null, { status: mocks.saveOk ? 204 : 500 })
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify({ settings: { defaultLanguage: mocks.savedLanguage } }), { status: 200 })
+  })
 })
 
 afterEach(() => {
@@ -69,6 +83,10 @@ function buttonByText(target: VueWrapper, text: string) {
   return button
 }
 
+function buttonOrNull(target: VueWrapper, text: string) {
+  return target.findAll('button').find((candidate) => candidate.text().trim() === text) ?? null
+}
+
 function trackOrder(target: VueWrapper): number[] {
   return target.findAll('li[data-track-id]').map((row) => Number(row.attributes('data-track-id')))
 }
@@ -275,13 +293,13 @@ describe('ReadAloudDialog', () => {
     expect(unknown.text()).toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.model', { model: 'wav2vec2-base' }))
   })
 
-  it('submits word highlighting only when chosen under Advanced', async () => {
+  it('offers word highlighting without a disclosure, and submits it only when chosen', async () => {
     const dialog = mountDialog()
-    const advanced = buttonByText(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.advanced'))
-    expect(advanced.attributes('aria-expanded')).toBe('false')
+    const word = dialog.find<HTMLInputElement>('input[type="radio"][value="word"]')
+    expect(word.isVisible()).toBe(true)
+    expect(word.element.checked).toBe(false)
 
-    await advanced.trigger('click')
-    await dialog.find('input[type="radio"][value="word"]').setValue(true)
+    await word.setValue(true)
 
     expect((await submit(dialog)).granularity).toBe('word')
   })
@@ -295,6 +313,23 @@ describe('ReadAloudDialog', () => {
     expect(await submit(dialog)).toEqual({ epubFileId: 101, audioFileIds: [104, 102], language: 'de', granularity: 'word' })
   })
 
+  it.each(['English', 'english', 'eng'])('picks English for a book whose language is stored as "%s"', async (stored) => {
+    const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: stored })
+
+    expect(dialog.find('select').element.value).toBe('en')
+    expect(dialog.text()).not.toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageUnsupported', { language: stored }))
+    expect((await submit(dialog)).language).toBe('en')
+  })
+
+  it('prefills "Start over" from a job that stored a full language tag', async () => {
+    const dialog = mountDialog({
+      defaultLanguage: null,
+      initial: { epubFileId: 101, audioFileIds: [102, 103, 104], language: 'en-US', granularity: 'sentence', sourceBytes: 0, replaceFileId: null },
+    })
+
+    expect((await submit(dialog)).language).toBe('en')
+  })
+
   it('leaves the language unset and says why when the book language has no model', async () => {
     const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: 'nl' })
 
@@ -304,6 +339,72 @@ describe('ReadAloudDialog', () => {
     expect(start.attributes('disabled')).toBeDefined()
   })
 
+  it('fills in the saved default when the book states no language', async () => {
+    mocks.savedLanguage = 'de'
+    const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: null })
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(dialog.find('select').element.value).toBe('de')
+    expect(dialog.text()).toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageIsDefault'))
+    expect(buttonOrNull(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage'))).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it("keeps the book's own language over the saved default", async () => {
+    mocks.savedLanguage = 'de'
+    const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: 'English' })
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(dialog.find('select').element.value).toBe('en')
+    expect(dialog.text()).toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageFromBook'))
+  })
+
+  it('uses the saved default for an unsupported book language and still says why', async () => {
+    mocks.savedLanguage = 'en'
+    const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: 'nl' })
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(dialog.find('select').element.value).toBe('en')
+    expect(dialog.text()).toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageUnsupported', { language: formatLanguageName('nl') }))
+  })
+
+  it('never overrides a language picked before the saved default arrives', async () => {
+    mocks.savedLanguage = 'de'
+    const dialog = mountDialog({ defaultLanguage: null })
+    await dialog.find('select').setValue('fr')
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(dialog.find('select').element.value).toBe('fr')
+  })
+
+  it('saves the chosen language as the default and confirms it', async () => {
+    const dialog = mountDialog()
+    await flushPromises()
+    await dialog.find('select').setValue('fr')
+
+    await buttonByText(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage')).trigger('click')
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(mocks.api).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/api/v1/user-preferences/read-aloud', expect.objectContaining({ method: 'PUT' }))
+    const [, init] = mocks.api.mock.calls.find(([, options]) => options?.method === 'PUT')!
+    expect(JSON.parse(init!.body as string)).toEqual({ settings: { defaultLanguage: 'fr' } })
+    expect(dialog.text()).toContain(t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageSavedAsDefault'))
+    expect(buttonOrNull(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage'))).toBeNull()
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(dialog.find('select').element)
+  })
+
+  it('says so when the default could not be saved', async () => {
+    mocks.saveOk = false
+    const dialog = mountDialog()
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    await buttonByText(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage')).trigger('click')
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    const alert = dialog.findAll('[role="alert"]').find((node) => node.text() === t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.defaultLanguageFailed'))
+    expect(alert).toBeDefined()
+    expect(buttonOrNull(dialog, t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage'))).not.toBeNull()
+  })
+
   it('shows its own error once', () => {
     wrapper = mount(ReadAloudDialog, {
       props: {
diff --git a/client/src/features/read-aloud/components/ReadAloudDialog.vue b/client/src/features/read-aloud/components/ReadAloudDialog.vue
index 40db7d991..724ef333d 100644
--- a/client/src/features/read-aloud/components/ReadAloudDialog.vue
+++ b/client/src/features/read-aloud/components/ReadAloudDialog.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed, ref, useId, watch } from 'vue'
+import { computed, nextTick, ref, useId, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { AudioLines, ChevronDown, Cpu, Loader2, TriangleAlert, X } from '@lucide/vue'
 import { DialogContent, DialogDescription, DialogOverlay, DialogPortal, DialogRoot, DialogTitle } from 'reka-ui'
 import {
   estimateReadAloudWorkBytes,
+  languageSubtagOf,
   Permission,
   type CreateReadAloudJobRequest,
   type ReadAloudCapability,
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ import { formatBytes } from '@/lib/formatting'
 import { formatLanguageName } from '@/i18n/formatters'
 import { Select } from '@/components/ui/select'
 import { usePermissions } from '@/features/auth/composables/usePermissions'
-import { baseLanguage, deviceLabel, formatReadAloudDuration } from '../lib/read-aloud'
+import { useReadAloudPreferences } from '../composables/useReadAloudPreferences'
+import { deviceLabel, formatReadAloudDuration } from '../lib/read-aloud'
 import ReadAloudTrackList from './ReadAloudTrackList.vue'
 
 /** Display names for the model ids the server reports; an id this build does not know shows as sent. */
@@ -36,15 +38,20 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{ close: []; create: [input: CreateReadAloudJobRequest]
 
 const { t, locale } = useI18n()
 const { hasPermission } = usePermissions()
+const preferences = useReadAloudPreferences()
+const savingDefault = preferences.saving
 const ids = useId()
 const trackListId = `${ids}-tracks`
+const languageHintId = `${ids}-language-hint`
 
 const epubFileId = ref<number | null>(null)
 const trackOrder = ref<number[]>([])
 const skippedTracks = ref<number[]>([])
 const orderOpen = ref(false)
-const advancedOpen = ref(false)
 const language = ref('')
+/** Whether the selection was just saved as the default, so the hint can confirm it. */
+const defaultSaved = ref(false)
+const defaultSaveFailed = ref(false)
 const granularity = ref<ReadAloudGranularity>('sentence')
 /** The read-along to overwrite, or "keep" to add the new one beside it. */
 const existingChoice = ref<number | 'keep'>('keep')
@@ -88,14 +95,29 @@ const languageOptions = computed(() =>
     .sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name, locale.value)),
 )
 
-/** Say why the book's own language was not picked, rather than leaving an unexplained empty select. */
-const unsupportedLanguageHint = computed(() => {
-  if (language.value) return null
-  const base = baseLanguage(props.defaultLanguage)
-  if (!base || isSupportedLanguage(base)) return null
-  return t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageUnsupported', { language: formatLanguageName(base) })
+/** The book's language as a code; metadata often states it as a name such as "English". */
+const bookLanguage = computed(() => languageSubtagOf(props.defaultLanguage, props.capability.supportedLanguages))
+
+/**
+ * Where the selection came from. A book language the model cannot use is said even once a default
+ * fills in, because aligning narration in one language against a model for another fails.
+ */
+const languageHint = computed(() => {
+  const isDefault = language.value !== '' && language.value === preferences.defaultLanguage.value
+  if (isDefault && defaultSaved.value) return t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageSavedAsDefault')
+  const base = bookLanguage.value
+  if (base && !isSupportedLanguage(base)) {
+    return t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageUnsupported', { language: formatLanguageName(base) })
+  }
+  if (isDefault) return t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageIsDefault')
+  if (language.value && language.value === base) return t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.languageFromBook')
+  return null
 })
 
+const canSetDefaultLanguage = computed(
+  () => preferences.loaded.value && language.value.length > 0 && language.value !== preferences.defaultLanguage.value,
+)
+
 const deviceLine = computed(() => deviceLabel(props.capability.workerDevice, t))
 const estimatedSize = computed(() =>
   props.capability.estimatedOutputBytes != null
@@ -124,6 +146,13 @@ function isSupportedLanguage(code: string): boolean {
   return (props.capability.supportedLanguages as readonly string[]).includes(code)
 }
 
+/** A previous job's language, then the book's, then the user's saved default: the first the model supports. */
+function preferredLanguage(): string {
+  const candidates = props.initial ? [languageSubtagOf(props.initial.language)] : [bookLanguage.value]
+  candidates.push(preferences.defaultLanguage.value)
+  return candidates.find((code): code is string => !!code && isSupportedLanguage(code)) ?? ''
+}
+
 /** BookOrbit's own output is safe to overwrite; an imported one may be the only copy of someone's work. */
 function defaultExistingChoice(): number | 'keep' {
   if (!canReplace.value) return 'keep'
@@ -151,10 +180,10 @@ function initialise(): void {
   }
   orderOpen.value = false
 
-  const preferred = initial?.language ?? baseLanguage(props.defaultLanguage)
-  language.value = preferred && isSupportedLanguage(preferred) ? preferred : ''
+  language.value = preferredLanguage()
+  defaultSaved.value = false
+  defaultSaveFailed.value = false
   granularity.value = initial?.granularity ?? 'sentence'
-  advancedOpen.value = granularity.value !== 'sentence'
 
   const existingIds = capability.existingReadAlongs.map((file) => file.fileId)
   existingChoice.value =
@@ -194,10 +223,22 @@ watch(
     if (!open) return
     returnFocusTo = document.activeElement instanceof HTMLElement ? document.activeElement : null
     initialise()
+    void loadPreferences()
   },
   { immediate: true },
 )
 
+/** The saved default arrives after the dialog opens; it only fills a selection nobody has made yet. */
+async function loadPreferences(): Promise<void> {
+  await preferences.load()
+  if (props.open && !language.value) language.value = preferredLanguage()
+}
+
+watch(language, () => {
+  defaultSaved.value = false
+  defaultSaveFailed.value = false
+})
+
 function handleCloseAutoFocus(event: Event): void {
   const target = returnFocusTo
   returnFocusTo = null
@@ -230,8 +271,18 @@ function handleRestoreOrder(): void {
   skippedTracks.value = []
 }
 
-function handleToggleAdvanced(): void {
-  advancedOpen.value = !advancedOpen.value
+async function handleSetDefaultLanguage(): Promise<void> {
+  const code = language.value
+  if (!code || preferences.saving.value) return
+  defaultSaveFailed.value = false
+  const saved = await preferences.saveDefaultLanguage(code)
+  if (language.value !== code) return
+  defaultSaved.value = saved
+  defaultSaveFailed.value = !saved
+  if (!saved) return
+  // The button goes once the selection is the default; the select reads out the new hint instead.
+  await nextTick()
+  document.getElementById(`${ids}-language`)?.focus()
 }
 
 function existingOrigin(generatedByJobId: string | null): string {
@@ -280,37 +331,88 @@ function handleSubmit(): void {
           </button>
         </header>
 
-        <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 space-y-6 overflow-y-auto px-5 py-5 sm:px-6">
-          <!-- Ebook -->
-          <fieldset v-if="showEpubChoice">
-            <legend class="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.ebook') }}</legend>
-            <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.ebookHint') }}</p>
-            <div class="mt-2.5 grid gap-1.5">
-              <label
-                v-for="file in capability.epubFiles"
-                :key="file.id"
-                class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border px-3 py-2.5 transition-colors"
-                :class="epubFileId === file.id ? 'border-primary bg-primary/5' : 'border-border hover:bg-muted'"
-              >
-                <input
-                  v-model="epubFileId"
-                  type="radio"
-                  :name="`${ids}-epub`"
-                  :value="file.id"
-                  class="size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                />
-                <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-sm text-foreground" :title="file.filename">{{ file.filename }}</span>
-                <span class="shrink-0 text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">{{ formatBytes(file.sizeBytes) }}</span>
-              </label>
+        <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 space-y-5 overflow-y-auto px-5 py-5 sm:px-6">
+          <!-- Sources -->
+          <section class="rounded-lg border border-border" :aria-labelledby="`${ids}-sources`">
+            <h3 :id="`${ids}-sources`" class="px-3.5 pt-3 text-[10.5px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+              {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.sources') }}
+            </h3>
+            <div class="divide-y divide-border">
+              <div v-if="showEpubChoice || singleEpub" class="grid gap-x-4 gap-y-1 px-3.5 py-2.5 sm:grid-cols-[7rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
+                <span :id="`${ids}-ebook`" class="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.ebook') }}</span>
+                <div
+                  v-if="showEpubChoice"
+                  role="radiogroup"
+                  class="min-w-0"
+                  :aria-labelledby="`${ids}-ebook`"
+                  :aria-describedby="`${ids}-ebook-hint`"
+                >
+                  <p :id="`${ids}-ebook-hint`" class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.ebookHint') }}</p>
+                  <div class="mt-2 grid gap-1.5">
+                    <label
+                      v-for="file in capability.epubFiles"
+                      :key="file.id"
+                      class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border px-3 py-2 transition-colors"
+                      :class="epubFileId === file.id ? 'border-primary bg-primary/5' : 'border-border hover:bg-muted'"
+                    >
+                      <input
+                        v-model="epubFileId"
+                        type="radio"
+                        :name="`${ids}-epub`"
+                        :value="file.id"
+                        class="size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                      />
+                      <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-sm text-foreground" :title="file.filename">{{ file.filename }}</span>
+                      <span class="shrink-0 text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">{{ formatBytes(file.sizeBytes) }}</span>
+                    </label>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+                <p v-else-if="singleEpub" class="flex min-w-0 items-baseline gap-2 text-sm text-foreground">
+                  <span class="min-w-0 truncate" :title="singleEpub.filename">{{ singleEpub.filename }}</span>
+                  <span class="shrink-0 text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">{{ formatBytes(singleEpub.sizeBytes) }}</span>
+                </p>
+              </div>
+
+              <div role="group" class="grid gap-x-4 gap-y-1 px-3.5 py-2.5 sm:grid-cols-[7rem_minmax(0,1fr)]" :aria-labelledby="`${ids}-audio`">
+                <span :id="`${ids}-audio`" class="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.audio') }}</span>
+                <div class="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
+                  <p class="text-sm text-foreground">{{ audioSummary }}</p>
+                  <p v-if="skippedTracks.length > 0" class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                    {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.audioSkipped', { count: skippedTracks.length }) }}
+                  </p>
+                  <button
+                    v-if="capability.audioFiles.length > 1"
+                    type="button"
+                    class="-mx-1 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center gap-1 rounded px-1 text-[13px] font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    :aria-expanded="orderOpen"
+                    :aria-controls="trackListId"
+                    @click="handleToggleOrder"
+                  >
+                    {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.changeOrder') }}
+                    <ChevronDown
+                      class="size-3.5 transition-transform motion-reduce:transition-none"
+                      :class="orderOpen ? 'rotate-180' : ''"
+                      aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                <div v-show="orderOpen" :id="trackListId" class="mt-1.5 sm:col-span-2">
+                  <ReadAloudTrackList v-model:order="trackOrder" v-model:skipped="skippedTracks" :tracks="capability.audioFiles" />
+                  <button
+                    v-if="orderChanged"
+                    type="button"
+                    class="-mx-1 mt-1.5 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center rounded px-1 text-[13px] font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    @click="handleRestoreOrder"
+                  >
+                    {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.restoreOrder') }}
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                <p v-if="includedTrackIds.length === 0" role="alert" class="text-xs text-destructive sm:col-start-2">
+                  {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.noTracks') }}
+                </p>
+              </div>
             </div>
-          </fieldset>
-          <div v-else-if="singleEpub">
-            <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.ebook') }}</h3>
-            <p class="mt-1 flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-foreground">
-              <span class="min-w-0 truncate" :title="singleEpub.filename">{{ singleEpub.filename }}</span>
-              <span class="shrink-0 text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">{{ formatBytes(singleEpub.sizeBytes) }}</span>
-            </p>
-          </div>
+          </section>
 
           <!-- Existing read-alongs -->
           <fieldset v-if="existingReadAlongs.length > 0 && canReplace" class="rounded-lg border border-border bg-muted/40 p-3.5">
@@ -386,131 +488,94 @@ function handleSubmit(): void {
             <p class="mt-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.existing.replaceNotPermitted') }}</p>
           </section>
 
-          <!-- Audiobook -->
-          <section :aria-labelledby="`${ids}-audio`">
-            <h3 :id="`${ids}-audio`" class="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.audio') }}</h3>
-            <div class="mt-1 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
-              <p class="text-sm text-foreground">{{ audioSummary }}</p>
-              <p v-if="skippedTracks.length > 0" class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.audioSkipped', { count: skippedTracks.length }) }}
-              </p>
-              <button
-                v-if="capability.audioFiles.length > 1"
-                type="button"
-                class="-mx-1 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center gap-1 rounded px-1 text-[13px] font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                :aria-expanded="orderOpen"
-                :aria-controls="trackListId"
-                @click="handleToggleOrder"
-              >
-                {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.changeOrder') }}
-                <ChevronDown
-                  class="size-3.5 transition-transform motion-reduce:transition-none"
-                  :class="orderOpen ? 'rotate-180' : ''"
-                  aria-hidden="true"
-                />
-              </button>
-            </div>
-            <div v-show="orderOpen" :id="trackListId" class="mt-2.5">
-              <ReadAloudTrackList v-model:order="trackOrder" v-model:skipped="skippedTracks" :tracks="capability.audioFiles" />
-              <button
-                v-if="orderChanged"
-                type="button"
-                class="-mx-1 mt-1.5 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center rounded px-1 text-[13px] font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                @click="handleRestoreOrder"
-              >
-                {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.restoreOrder') }}
-              </button>
-            </div>
-            <p v-if="includedTrackIds.length === 0" role="alert" class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-destructive">
-              {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.noTracks') }}
-            </p>
-          </section>
-
           <!-- Language -->
           <div>
-            <label :for="`${ids}-language`" class="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{
+            <label :for="`${ids}-language`" class="block text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{
               t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.language')
             }}</label>
-            <Select
-              :id="`${ids}-language`"
-              v-model="language"
-              class="mt-2 sm:max-w-xs"
-              :aria-describedby="unsupportedLanguageHint ? `${ids}-language-hint` : undefined"
-            >
-              <option value="" disabled>{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.chooseLanguage') }}</option>
-              <option v-for="option in languageOptions" :key="option.code" :value="option.code">{{ option.name }}</option>
-            </Select>
-            <p v-if="unsupportedLanguageHint" :id="`${ids}-language-hint`" class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-              {{ unsupportedLanguageHint }}
+            <div class="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1.5">
+              <Select
+                :id="`${ids}-language`"
+                v-model="language"
+                class="sm:max-w-xs sm:flex-1"
+                :aria-describedby="languageHint ? languageHintId : undefined"
+              >
+                <option value="" disabled>{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.chooseLanguage') }}</option>
+                <option v-for="option in languageOptions" :key="option.code" :value="option.code">{{ option.name }}</option>
+              </Select>
+              <button
+                v-if="canSetDefaultLanguage"
+                type="button"
+                class="-mx-1 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center gap-1.5 rounded px-1 text-[13px] font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring disabled:opacity-50"
+                :disabled="savingDefault"
+                @click="handleSetDefaultLanguage"
+              >
+                <Loader2 v-if="savingDefault" class="size-3.5 animate-spin motion-reduce:animate-none" aria-hidden="true" />
+                {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.setDefaultLanguage') }}
+              </button>
+            </div>
+            <p v-if="languageHint" :id="languageHintId" class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ languageHint }}</p>
+            <p v-if="defaultSaveFailed" role="alert" class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-destructive">
+              {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.defaultLanguageFailed') }}
             </p>
           </div>
 
-          <!-- Advanced -->
-          <div>
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              class="-mx-1 inline-flex min-h-7 items-center gap-1 rounded px-1 text-sm font-semibold text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-              :aria-expanded="advancedOpen"
-              :aria-controls="`${ids}-advanced`"
-              @click="handleToggleAdvanced"
-            >
-              <ChevronDown
-                class="size-4 transition-transform motion-reduce:transition-none"
-                :class="advancedOpen ? '' : '-rotate-90 rtl:rotate-90'"
-                aria-hidden="true"
-              />
-              {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.advanced') }}
-            </button>
-            <fieldset v-show="advancedOpen" :id="`${ids}-advanced`" class="mt-2.5">
-              <legend class="text-sm font-medium text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.granularity') }}</legend>
-              <div class="mt-2 grid gap-1.5">
-                <label class="flex cursor-pointer items-start gap-3 rounded-md px-1 py-1">
-                  <input
-                    v-model="granularity"
-                    type="radio"
-                    :name="`${ids}-granularity`"
-                    value="sentence"
-                    class="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                  />
-                  <span class="min-w-0 flex-1">
-                    <span class="block text-sm text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.sentence') }}</span>
-                    <span class="mt-0.5 block text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.sentenceHint') }}</span>
-                  </span>
-                </label>
-                <label class="flex cursor-pointer items-start gap-3 rounded-md px-1 py-1">
-                  <input
-                    v-model="granularity"
-                    type="radio"
-                    :name="`${ids}-granularity`"
-                    value="word"
-                    class="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                  />
-                  <span class="min-w-0 flex-1">
-                    <span class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5 text-sm text-foreground">
-                      {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.word') }}
-                      <span
-                        class="inline-flex h-[18px] items-center rounded bg-warning/15 px-1.5 text-[10.5px] font-bold uppercase tracking-wider text-foreground"
-                      >
-                        {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.experimental') }}
-                      </span>
+          <!-- Highlighting -->
+          <fieldset>
+            <legend class="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.granularity') }}</legend>
+            <div class="mt-2 grid gap-1.5">
+              <label class="flex cursor-pointer items-start gap-3 rounded-md px-1 py-1">
+                <input
+                  v-model="granularity"
+                  type="radio"
+                  :name="`${ids}-granularity`"
+                  value="sentence"
+                  class="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                />
+                <span class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                  <span class="block text-sm text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.sentence') }}</span>
+                  <span class="mt-0.5 block text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.sentenceHint') }}</span>
+                </span>
+              </label>
+              <label class="flex cursor-pointer items-start gap-3 rounded-md px-1 py-1">
+                <input
+                  v-model="granularity"
+                  type="radio"
+                  :name="`${ids}-granularity`"
+                  value="word"
+                  class="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 accent-primary focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                />
+                <span class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                  <span class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5 text-sm text-foreground">
+                    {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.word') }}
+                    <span
+                      class="inline-flex h-[18px] items-center rounded bg-warning/15 px-1.5 text-[10.5px] font-bold uppercase tracking-wider text-foreground"
+                    >
+                      {{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.experimental') }}
                     </span>
-                    <span class="mt-0.5 block text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.wordHint') }}</span>
                   </span>
-                </label>
-              </div>
-            </fieldset>
-          </div>
+                  <span class="mt-0.5 block text-xs text-muted-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.wordHint') }}</span>
+                </span>
+              </label>
+            </div>
+          </fieldset>
 
           <!-- What runs it -->
-          <div class="flex items-start gap-3 rounded-lg border border-border bg-muted/40 p-3.5">
-            <Cpu class="mt-0.5 size-4 shrink-0 text-primary" aria-hidden="true" />
-            <div class="min-w-0 flex-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-              <p class="text-sm font-medium text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.model', { model: modelName }) }}</p>
-              <p v-if="deviceLine || estimatedSize" class="mt-0.5 flex flex-wrap gap-x-3">
-                <span v-if="deviceLine">{{ deviceLine }}</span>
-                <span v-if="estimatedSize" class="tabular-nums">{{ estimatedSize }}</span>
+          <div class="flex items-start gap-2.5 border-t border-border pt-4 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            <Cpu class="mt-px size-3.5 shrink-0" aria-hidden="true" />
+            <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+              <p class="flex flex-wrap gap-x-1.5">
+                <span class="font-medium text-foreground">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.model', { model: modelName }) }}</span>
+                <template v-if="deviceLine">
+                  <span aria-hidden="true">·</span>
+                  <span>{{ deviceLine }}</span>
+                </template>
+                <template v-if="estimatedSize">
+                  <span aria-hidden="true">·</span>
+                  <span class="tabular-nums">{{ estimatedSize }}</span>
+                </template>
               </p>
-              <p class="mt-1.5">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.processingNote') }}</p>
+              <p class="mt-1">{{ t('book.detail.files.readAloud.dialog.processingNote') }}</p>
             </div>
           </div>
 
diff --git a/client/src/features/read-aloud/composables/useReadAloudPreferences.ts b/client/src/features/read-aloud/composables/useReadAloudPreferences.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2bba86bfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/features/read-aloud/composables/useReadAloudPreferences.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+import type { ReadAloudPreferences } from '@bookorbit/types'
+import { api } from '@/lib/api'
+
+const ENDPOINT = '/api/v1/user-preferences/read-aloud'
+
+/**
+ * The signed-in user's read-aloud defaults. Fetched each time a dialog asks rather than cached for
+ * the session, so a different account signing in on the same tab never inherits them.
+ */
+export function useReadAloudPreferences() {
+  const defaultLanguage = ref<string | null>(null)
+  const loaded = ref(false)
+  const saving = ref(false)
+
+  async function load(): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      const response = await api(ENDPOINT)
+      if (!response.ok) return
+      const body = (await response.json()) as { settings?: Partial<ReadAloudPreferences> }
+      const stored = body.settings?.defaultLanguage
+      defaultLanguage.value = typeof stored === 'string' && stored ? stored : null
+    } catch {
+      // Without a saved default nothing is preselected, which the dialog already handles.
+    } finally {
+      loaded.value = true
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function saveDefaultLanguage(code: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    saving.value = true
+    try {
+      const response = await api(ENDPOINT, {
+        method: 'PUT',
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ settings: { defaultLanguage: code } satisfies ReadAloudPreferences }),
+      })
+      if (!response.ok) return false
+      defaultLanguage.value = code
+      return true
+    } catch {
+      return false
+    } finally {
+      saving.value = false
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { defaultLanguage, loaded, saving, load, saveDefaultLanguage }
+}
diff --git a/client/src/features/read-aloud/lib/read-aloud.ts b/client/src/features/read-aloud/lib/read-aloud.ts
index 478817070..3ee8f270e 100644
--- a/client/src/features/read-aloud/lib/read-aloud.ts
+++ b/client/src/features/read-aloud/lib/read-aloud.ts
@@ -344,16 +344,6 @@ export function formatReadAloudDuration(seconds: number, t: (key: string, values
   return t('book.detail.files.duration.minutes', { minutes: Math.max(minutes, 1) })
 }
 
-/** The primary language subtag of a BCP 47 tag, so "en-GB" picks the English model. */
-export function baseLanguage(value: string | null | undefined): string {
-  if (!value) return ''
-  try {
-    return new Intl.Locale(value).language
-  } catch {
-    return ''
-  }
-}
-
 export const READ_ALOUD_I18N_KEYS = {
   reasons: [...Object.values(REASON_KEYS), NO_EPUB_WITH_EXISTING_KEY, UNKNOWN_REASON_KEY],
   errors: Object.values(ERROR_KEYS),
diff --git a/client/src/locales/en.json b/client/src/locales/en.json
index 64392122c..8dde4ae0d 100644
--- a/client/src/locales/en.json
+++ b/client/src/locales/en.json
@@ -7110,6 +7110,7 @@
           "dialog": {
             "title": "Create a read-aloud",
             "description": "Matches the narration to the ebook text and adds an EPUB that highlights along with the audio.",
+            "sources": "Sources",
             "ebook": "Ebook",
             "ebookHint": "Pick the plain EPUB that matches the narration.",
             "existing": {
@@ -7138,7 +7139,11 @@
             "language": "Narration language",
             "chooseLanguage": "Choose a language",
             "languageUnsupported": "{language} isn't supported by the speech model.",
-            "advanced": "Advanced",
+            "languageFromBook": "From this book's details.",
+            "languageIsDefault": "Your default language.",
+            "languageSavedAsDefault": "Saved as your default language.",
+            "setDefaultLanguage": "Set as default",
+            "defaultLanguageFailed": "Couldn't save your default language. Try again.",
             "granularity": "Highlighting",
             "sentence": "Sentence",
             "sentenceHint": "Highlights one sentence at a time. Recommended.",
diff --git a/packages/types/src/language.ts b/packages/types/src/language.ts
index b6d95fccd..07c933538 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/language.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/language.ts
@@ -121,3 +121,50 @@ export function toRequestLanguage(value: string | null | undefined): string | nu
   const code = normalizeLanguage(value.trim());
   return /^[a-z]{2}$/.test(code) ? code : null;
 }
+
+/** Codes that say there is no single language, which no language-specific model can use. */
+const NO_LANGUAGE_SUBTAGS = new Set(["und", "mul", "mis", "zxx"]);
+
+let englishLanguageNames: Intl.DisplayNames | null = null;
+const languageNamesByCode = new Map<string, readonly string[]>();
+
+/** A code's name in English and in the language itself, lowercased. */
+function languageNamesOf(code: string): readonly string[] {
+  let names = languageNamesByCode.get(code);
+  if (names) return names;
+  englishLanguageNames ??= new Intl.DisplayNames(["en"], { type: "language", fallback: "none" });
+  const found = new Set<string>();
+  try {
+    const english = englishLanguageNames.of(code);
+    if (english) found.add(english.toLowerCase());
+    const own = new Intl.DisplayNames([code], { type: "language", fallback: "none" }).of(code);
+    if (own) found.add(own.toLowerCase());
+  } catch {
+    // Not a language code; nothing to match by name.
+  }
+  names = [...found];
+  languageNamesByCode.set(code, names);
+  return names;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The language subtag a stored language value names ("en" for "en-GB", "eng" or "English"), or null.
+ *
+ * Book metadata states a language as a tag, a three-letter code or a name, and a name is not a tag:
+ * `Intl.Locale` accepts "english" as a well-formed subtag and hands it straight back. Names are
+ * matched in English and in the language's own name, against the request languages plus
+ * `extraCodes` for anything those do not list.
+ */
+export function languageSubtagOf(value: string | null | undefined, extraCodes: readonly string[] = []): string | null {
+  const lowered = value?.trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (!lowered) return null;
+  const named = [...REQUEST_LANGUAGE_CODES, ...extraCodes].find((code) => languageNamesOf(code).includes(lowered));
+  if (named) return named;
+  let language: string | undefined;
+  try {
+    language = new Intl.Locale(lowered).language;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return language && /^[a-z]{2,3}$/.test(language) && !NO_LANGUAGE_SUBTAGS.has(language) ? language : null;
+}
diff --git a/packages/types/src/read-aloud.ts b/packages/types/src/read-aloud.ts
index 59739c62e..b4f8111e6 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/read-aloud.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/read-aloud.ts
@@ -264,6 +264,17 @@ export type ReadAloudCapability = {
   latestJob: ReadAloudJob | null;
 };
 
+/** What a user's read-alouds start with, under `/user-preferences/read-aloud`. */
+export interface ReadAloudPreferences {
+  /**
+   * The narration language preselected when a book states none the speech model supports, as a
+   * language subtag. The book's own language still wins when it is supported.
+   */
+  defaultLanguage: string | null;
+}
+
+export const DEFAULT_READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES: ReadAloudPreferences = { defaultLanguage: null };
+
 export type CreateReadAloudJobRequest = {
   epubFileId?: number;
   audioFileIds?: number[];
diff --git a/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud-language.test.ts b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud-language.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..643c72ead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud-language.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { languageSubtagOf, READ_ALOUD_QUARTZNET_LANGUAGES } from '@bookorbit/types';
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+describe('languageSubtagOf', () => {
+  it.each([
+    ['English', 'en'],
+    ['english', 'en'],
+    ['en', 'en'],
+    ['en-US', 'en'],
+    ['eng', 'en'],
+    ['ja-jp', 'ja'],
+    ['Spanish', 'es'],
+    ['español', 'es'],
+    ['Deutsch', 'de'],
+    ['ger', 'de'],
+  ])('reads %s as %s', (value, code) => {
+    expect(languageSubtagOf(value)).toBe(code);
+  });
+
+  it('names nothing for empty, undetermined and unrecognised values', () => {
+    for (const value of [null, undefined, '', '  ', 'und', 'UND', 'mul', 'zxx', 'Klingon', 'not a language']) {
+      expect(languageSubtagOf(value)).toBeNull();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('matches names of languages the request list does not offer when asked to', () => {
+    expect(languageSubtagOf('Faroese')).toBeNull();
+    expect(languageSubtagOf('Faroese', READ_ALOUD_QUARTZNET_LANGUAGES)).toBe('fo');
+    expect(languageSubtagOf('Kazakh', READ_ALOUD_QUARTZNET_LANGUAGES)).toBe('kk');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.test.ts b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.test.ts
index 0a926a3cb..04cca027b 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.test.ts
@@ -227,6 +227,13 @@ describe('ReadAloudService.create', () => {
     expect(jobs.create).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('reads a book language stated as a name when the request names none', async () => {
+    const { service, jobs } = makeService({ book: bookDetail({ language: 'English' }) });
+    await service.create(12, Object.assign(new CreateReadAloudJobDto(), { epubFileId: 101, audioFileIds: [102] }), OWNER);
+
+    expect(jobs.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ input: expect.objectContaining({ language: 'en' }) }));
+  });
+
   it('refuses unsupported languages, unmounted libraries, and an unavailable worker', async () => {
     await expect(makeService({ book: bookDetail({ language: 'nl-NL' }) }).service.create(12, new CreateReadAloudJobDto(), OWNER)).rejects.toThrow(
       BadRequestException,
diff --git a/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.ts b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.ts
index fc56bf189..48e4feb87 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/read-aloud/read-aloud.service.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import type {
 import {
   isAudioFormat,
   isContentBookFile,
+  languageSubtagOf,
   Permission,
   READ_ALOUD_ACTIVE_JOB_STATUSES,
   READ_ALOUD_MAX_AUDIO_FILES,
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ export class ReadAloudService {
       replaceFileId = dto.replaceFileId;
     }
 
-    const locale = this.parseLocale(dto.language ?? book.language ?? 'en');
+    const locale = this.parseLocale(dto.language ?? languageSubtagOf(book.language, READ_ALOUD_QUARTZNET_LANGUAGES) ?? 'en');
     if (!QUARTZNET_LANGUAGES.has(locale.language)) {
       throw new BadRequestException(`QuartzNet15x5 does not support language "${locale.language}"`);
     }
diff --git a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.test.ts b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.test.ts
index 5e38cb586..03296d672 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.test.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ describe('UserPreferencesController', () => {
       upsertLocalePreferences: vi.fn(),
       upsertCoverSearchPreferences: vi.fn(),
       upsertBookRequestPreferences: vi.fn(),
+      getReadAloudPreferences: vi.fn(),
+      upsertReadAloudPreferences: vi.fn(),
       getAnnotationColorNamePreferences: vi.fn(),
       upsertAnnotationColorNamePreferences: vi.fn(),
     } as unknown as Mocked<UserPreferencesService>;
@@ -187,6 +189,20 @@ describe('UserPreferencesController', () => {
     expect(service.upsertBookRequestPreferences).toHaveBeenCalledWith(42, dto.settings);
   });
 
+  it("GET /read-aloud returns the current user's saved default language", async () => {
+    service.getReadAloudPreferences.mockResolvedValueOnce({ defaultLanguage: 'en' });
+
+    await expect(controller.getReadAloudPreferences(makeUser({ id: 11 }))).resolves.toEqual({ settings: { defaultLanguage: 'en' } });
+    expect(service.getReadAloudPreferences).toHaveBeenCalledWith(11);
+  });
+
+  it('PUT /read-aloud forwards the current user id and settings', async () => {
+    const dto = { settings: { defaultLanguage: 'de' } };
+
+    await expect(controller.upsertReadAloudPreferences(dto, makeUser({ id: 42 }))).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(service.upsertReadAloudPreferences).toHaveBeenCalledWith(42, dto.settings);
+  });
+
   it('GET /locale returns null settings when no saved preferences exist', async () => {
     service.getLocalePreferences.mockResolvedValueOnce(null);
 
diff --git a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts
index 50211df0e..d64e90557 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,18 @@ export class UserPreferencesController {
     await this.userPreferencesService.upsertBookRequestPreferences(user.id, dto.settings);
   }
 
+  @Get('read-aloud')
+  async getReadAloudPreferences(@CurrentUser() user: RequestUser) {
+    const settings = await this.userPreferencesService.getReadAloudPreferences(user.id);
+    return { settings };
+  }
+
+  @Put('read-aloud')
+  @HttpCode(204)
+  async upsertReadAloudPreferences(@Body() dto: UpsertUserPreferenceDto, @CurrentUser() user: RequestUser) {
+    await this.userPreferencesService.upsertReadAloudPreferences(user.id, dto.settings);
+  }
+
   @Get('locale')
   async getLocalePreferences(@CurrentUser() user: RequestUser) {
     const settings = await this.userPreferencesService.getLocalePreferences(user.id);
diff --git a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.test.ts b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.test.ts
index 8f39058a6..dcdd02ac0 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.test.ts
@@ -205,6 +205,34 @@ describe('UserPreferencesService', () => {
     expect(repo.upsert).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('getReadAloudPreferences returns no language when nothing was saved', async () => {
+    await expect(service.getReadAloudPreferences(7)).resolves.toEqual({ defaultLanguage: null });
+    expect(repo.findByCategory).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, 'read-aloud');
+  });
+
+  it('getReadAloudPreferences returns the saved language, and none when the stored row is malformed', async () => {
+    repo.findByCategory.mockResolvedValueOnce({ data: { defaultLanguage: 'fr' } } as never);
+    await expect(service.getReadAloudPreferences(7)).resolves.toEqual({ defaultLanguage: 'fr' });
+
+    repo.findByCategory.mockResolvedValueOnce({ data: { defaultLanguage: 'English' } } as never);
+    await expect(service.getReadAloudPreferences(7)).resolves.toEqual({ defaultLanguage: null });
+  });
+
+  it('upsertReadAloudPreferences saves and clears the default language', async () => {
+    await expect(service.upsertReadAloudPreferences(11, { defaultLanguage: 'de' })).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(repo.upsert).toHaveBeenCalledWith(11, 'read-aloud', { defaultLanguage: 'de' });
+
+    await expect(service.upsertReadAloudPreferences(11, { defaultLanguage: null })).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(repo.upsert).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(11, 'read-aloud', { defaultLanguage: null });
+  });
+
+  it('upsertReadAloudPreferences rejects a language name, a full tag and unknown fields', async () => {
+    for (const settings of [{ defaultLanguage: 'English' }, { defaultLanguage: 'en-US' }, { defaultLanguage: 'en', unexpected: true }]) {
+      await expect(service.upsertReadAloudPreferences(11, settings)).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(BadRequestException);
+    }
+    expect(repo.upsert).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('getBookRequestPreferences returns no language when nothing was saved', async () => {
     await expect(service.getBookRequestPreferences(7)).resolves.toEqual({ defaultLanguage: null });
     expect(repo.findByCategory).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7, 'book-requests');
diff --git a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.ts b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.ts
index a171e4410..f212b4233 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.service.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   COVER_SEARCH_DEFAULT_PROVIDERS,
   COVER_SIZE_SCOPES,
   DEFAULT_BOOK_REQUEST_PREFERENCES,
+  DEFAULT_READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES,
   RETIRED_BOOK_REQUEST_PREFERENCE_FIELDS,
   DEFAULT_COVER_SEARCH_PROVIDER,
   FONT_FAMILY_NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ import {
   type LocalePreferences,
   type PodcastPlaybackPreferences,
   type PodcastPlaylistPreferences,
+  type ReadAloudPreferences,
   type ServerFontPreferences,
   type ThemePreferences,
   type WhatsNewPreferences,
@@ -151,6 +153,20 @@ const BOOK_REQUEST_PREFERENCES_SCHEMA = z.preprocess(
     .strict(),
 );
 
+/**
+ * Any well-formed language subtag, not only the current speech model's: the model's language list
+ * can grow, and the dialog ignores a stored language it cannot offer.
+ */
+const READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES_SCHEMA = z
+  .object({
+    defaultLanguage: z
+      .string()
+      .regex(/^[a-z]{2,3}$/, 'must be a lowercase language subtag')
+      .nullable()
+      .default(null),
+  })
+  .strict() satisfies z.ZodType<ReadAloudPreferences>;
+
 const LOCALE_PREFERENCES_SCHEMA = z
   .object({
     locale: z.enum(SUPPORTED_LOCALES),
@@ -472,6 +488,24 @@ export class UserPreferencesService {
     await this.repo.upsert(userId, 'book-requests', result.data);
   }
 
+  async getReadAloudPreferences(userId: number): Promise<ReadAloudPreferences> {
+    const row = await this.repo.findByCategory(userId, 'read-aloud');
+    const result = READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES_SCHEMA.safeParse(row?.data);
+    return result.success ? result.data : { ...DEFAULT_READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES };
+  }
+
+  async upsertReadAloudPreferences(userId: number, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<void> {
+    const result = READ_ALOUD_PREFERENCES_SCHEMA.safeParse(data);
+    if (!result.success) {
+      const firstIssue = result.error.issues[0];
+      const issuePath = firstIssue?.path.length ? firstIssue.path.join('.') : 'settings';
+      const issueMessage = firstIssue?.message ?? 'Invalid settings payload';
+      throw new BadRequestException(`Invalid read-aloud preferences at "${issuePath}": ${issueMessage}`);
+    }
+
+    await this.repo.upsert(userId, 'read-aloud', result.data);
+  }
+
   async upsertThemePreferences(userId: number, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<void> {
     const start = Date.now();
     this.logger.log(`[user_preferences.upsert_theme] [start] userId=${userId} - upsert theme preferences started`);
diff --git a/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/manifest.json b/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/manifest.json
index 9f5e13f91..0fab869c7 100644
--- a/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/manifest.json
+++ b/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/manifest.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "totalRoutes": 677,
+  "totalRoutes": 679,
   "byPermission": {
-    "(none)": 287,
+    "(none)": 289,
     "Permission.ManageMetadataConfig": 41,
     "Permission.EmailSend": 34,
     "Permission.LibraryEditMetadata": 37,
diff --git a/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/routes-09.json b/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/routes-09.json
index f02a1f98b..0c0321d44 100644
--- a/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/routes-09.json
+++ b/server/test/e2e/authorization-matrix/route-inventory/routes-09.json
@@ -814,5 +814,29 @@
     "isPublic": false,
     "allowDefault": false,
     "useGuards": []
+  },
+  {
+    "file": "server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts",
+    "className": "UserPreferencesController",
+    "methodName": "getReadAloudPreferences",
+    "httpMethod": "GET",
+    "path": "/user-preferences/read-aloud",
+    "permissions": [],
+    "libraryAccess": [],
+    "isPublic": false,
+    "allowDefault": false,
+    "useGuards": []
+  },
+  {
+    "file": "server/src/modules/user-preferences/user-preferences.controller.ts",
+    "className": "UserPreferencesController",
+    "methodName": "upsertReadAloudPreferences",
+    "httpMethod": "PUT",
+    "path": "/user-preferences/read-aloud",
+    "permissions": [],
+    "libraryAccess": [],
+    "isPublic": false,
+    "allowDefault": false,
+    "useGuards": []
   }
 ]