diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 33145418..4636e5eb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ function App() {
     checkAuthStatus();
   }, []);
 
+  // Load user preferences when user changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (user) {
+      loadUserPreferences();
+    }
+  }, [user]);
+
   // Load user preferences from database
   const loadUserPreferences = async () => {
     if (!user) return;
@@ -84,8 +91,6 @@ function App() {
         const userData = await response.json();
         setUser(userData.user);
         setAuthAvailable(true);
-        // Load user preferences after setting user
-        setTimeout(() => loadUserPreferences(), 100);
       } else if (response.status === 501) {
         // Authentication not configured
         setAuthAvailable(false);
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/BookSelector.tsx b/frontend/src/components/BookSelector.tsx
index df4d3184..6113ee9e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/BookSelector.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/BookSelector.tsx
@@ -88,8 +88,11 @@ const BookSelector: React.FC<BookSelectorProps> = ({ books, onBookSelect, format
           })
         });
         
-        if (response.ok) {
+        if (response.ok || response.status === 409) {
+          // 409 means it already exists, which is fine - just update the UI
           setFavorites(prev => new Set(prev).add(book));
+        } else {
+          console.error('Failed to add favorite:', response.status, response.statusText);
         }
       }
     } catch (error) {