diff --git a/client/src/apollo/client.ts b/client/src/apollo/client.ts
index 4bd2d72..a5875be 100644
--- a/client/src/apollo/client.ts
+++ b/client/src/apollo/client.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,29 @@
 import { ApolloClient, HttpLink, InMemoryCache } from '@apollo/client';
 
-//GraphQL server address. Override with VITE_GRAPHQL_URL in .env (e.g. on the VM)
+// GraphQL server address. Override with VITE_GRAPHQL_URL in .env (e.g. on the VM)
 const uri = import.meta.env.VITE_GRAPHQL_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3001/graphql';
 
 export const client = new ApolloClient({
-  link: new HttpLink({ uri }), //how requests reach the server
-  cache: new InMemoryCache(), //where query results are stored
+  link: new HttpLink({ uri }), // how requests reach the server
+  cache: new InMemoryCache({
+    typePolicies: {
+      Query: {
+        fields: {
+          // ===== Cache rules for the books list =====
+          books: {
+            // ===== keyArgs: which arguments make a result "different" (not `after`, pages of one list share a key) =====
+            keyArgs: ['search', 'genres', 'yearFrom', 'yearTo', 'sort'],
+
+            // ===== merge: combine cached books with the newly fetched page =====
+            merge(existing, incoming, { args }) {
+              // no `after` = first page or refetch: replace
+              if (!args?.after) return incoming;
+              // "Load more": old books first, then the new ones
+              return { ...incoming, items: [...(existing?.items ?? []), ...incoming.items] };
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  }),
 });
diff --git a/client/src/apollo/queries.ts b/client/src/apollo/queries.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e85dc87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/apollo/queries.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import { gql } from '@apollo/client';
+
+export const BOOKS_QUERY = gql`
+  query Books($search: String, $after: String) {
+    books(search: $search, after: $after) {
+      items {
+        id
+        title
+        subtitle
+        authors
+        coverURL
+        description
+        genres
+        language
+        pageCount
+        publishedYear
+      }
+      totalCount
+      nextCursor
+    }
+  }
+`;
+
+export const BOOK_QUERY = gql`
+  query Book($id: ID!) {
+    book(id: $id) {
+      id
+      title
+      subtitle
+      authors
+      coverURL
+      description
+      genres
+      language
+      pageCount
+      publishedYear
+    }
+  }
+`;
diff --git a/client/src/components/BookCard/BookCard.module.css b/client/src/components/BookCard/BookCard.module.css
index 752b6fe..db47f13 100644
--- a/client/src/components/BookCard/BookCard.module.css
+++ b/client/src/components/BookCard/BookCard.module.css
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 .coverWrap {
   position: relative;
   z-index: 1;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 /* ===== Shelf plank (only rendered when showShelf is true) ===== */
diff --git a/client/src/components/BookGrid/BookGrid.module.css b/client/src/components/BookGrid/BookGrid.module.css
index d0a30b9..0917d1f 100644
--- a/client/src/components/BookGrid/BookGrid.module.css
+++ b/client/src/components/BookGrid/BookGrid.module.css
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 /* ===== Base grid (both pages) ===== */
-/* auto-fill: as many columns as fit, each at least 10rem wide.
-   No media queries; gives about 2 columns on a phone and 4 beside the sidebar. */
+/* auto-fill: as many columns as fit, each at least 8rem wide.
+   No media queries; gives 2 columns on a phone and more on wider screens. */
 .grid {
   list-style: none;
   margin: 0;
   padding: 0;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(10rem, 1fr));
-  gap: 2.75rem 1.5rem; /* row gap, column gap */
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(8rem, 1fr));
+  gap: 1.5rem 1rem; /* row gap, column gap */
 }
 
 /* ===== Only when the shelf plank is shown ===== */
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 .withShelfPlank {
   overflow-x: clip;
   padding-inline: var(--space-2); /* room so focus rings and shadows aren't clipped */
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.module.css b/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.module.css
index 5b491ed..8102205 100644
--- a/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.module.css
+++ b/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.module.css
@@ -24,13 +24,3 @@
     opacity: 0.3;
   }
 }
-
-/* ===== Hidden from sight, not from screen readers ===== */
-.visuallyHidden {
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 1px;
-  height: 1px;
-  overflow: hidden;
-  clip-path: inset(50%);
-  white-space: nowrap;
-}
diff --git a/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.tsx b/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.tsx
index fd057a5..ff7c923 100644
--- a/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/LoadingState/LoadingState.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export function LoadingState({ label = 'Loading…', announceOnly = false }: Loa
   return (
     <div role="status" className={announceOnly ? undefined : styles.wrapper}>
       {!announceOnly && <span className={styles.dot} aria-hidden="true" />}
-      <span className={styles.visuallyHidden}>{label}</span>
+      <span className="visually-hidden">{label}</span>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/client/src/data/mockBooks.ts b/client/src/data/mockBooks.ts
index 18f7f1e..7f4664e 100644
--- a/client/src/data/mockBooks.ts
+++ b/client/src/data/mockBooks.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Book } from '../types/book';
-import booksJson from '../../../server/test-data/books.json';
 
 export type ShelfEntry = {
   bookId: Book['id'];
@@ -8,9 +7,4 @@ export type ShelfEntry = {
   updatedAt?: string; // ISO date, set whenever the note is saved
 };
 
-export const mockBooks: Book[] = booksJson.map(({ googleBooksId, ...rest }) => ({
-  id: googleBooksId,
-  ...rest,
-}));
-
 export const mockShelfEntries: ShelfEntry[] = [];
diff --git a/client/src/pages/BookDetailPage/BookDetailPage.tsx b/client/src/pages/BookDetailPage/BookDetailPage.tsx
index bc1dbe8..dc36dae 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/BookDetailPage/BookDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/BookDetailPage/BookDetailPage.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { useQuery } from '@apollo/client/react';
 import { BookCover } from '../../components/BookCover/BookCover';
 import { ConfirmDialog } from '../../components/ConfirmDialog/ConfirmDialog';
 import { Eyebrow } from '../../components/Eyebrow/Eyebrow';
 import { MyNotesPanel } from '../../components/MyNotesPanel/MyNotesPanel';
 import { ShelfRibbon } from '../../components/ShelfRibbon/ShelfRibbon';
-import { type ShelfEntry, mockBooks, mockShelfEntries } from '../../data/mockBooks';
+import { type ShelfEntry, mockShelfEntries } from '../../data/mockBooks';
+import type { Book } from '../../types/book';
+import { BOOK_QUERY } from '../../apollo/queries';
 import styles from './BookDetailPage.module.css';
 import { LoadingState } from '../../components/LoadingState/LoadingState';
 import { ErrorState } from '../../components/ErrorState/ErrorState';
@@ -18,10 +21,16 @@ export function BookDetailPage() {
   const { id } = useParams<{ id: string }>();
   const navigate = useNavigate();
 
-  // ===== TEMPORARY! TODO: replace with a query by id once the backend is ready =====
-  const book = mockBooks.find((b) => b.id === id);
+  // ===== The book, from the server =====
+  // `data.book` is null when no book has this id (not an error), undefined while loading.
+  const { data, loading, error, refetch } = useQuery<{ book: Book | null }>(BOOK_QUERY, {
+    variables: { id: id! },
+    skip: !id,
+  });
+  const book = data?.book;
 
   // ===== TEMPORARY: the user's entry for this book (undefined = not on shelf) =====
+  // TODO: replace with `myEntry` from the query once the user ID header is set up
   const [entry, setEntry] = useState<ShelfEntry | undefined>(
     mockShelfEntries.find((e) => e.bookId === id),
   );
@@ -29,20 +38,19 @@ export function BookDetailPage() {
 
   const [pendingConfirm, setPendingConfirm] = useState<PendingConfirm>(null);
 
-  // ===== TEMPORARY: fake loading and error states, replace with the query's `loading` and `error` =====
-  const isLoading = false;
-  const isError = false;
-
   // ===== Page-level states =====
   // Order matters: while loading there is no `book` yet, and a failed query has none either.
   // Neither is "not found", so those two are checked first.
-  if (isLoading) return <LoadingState label="Loading book…" />;
+  if (loading) return <LoadingState label="Loading book…" />;
 
-  if (isError) {
+  if (error) {
     return (
       <ErrorState
-        message="We couldn't load this book. Please try again in a moment."
-        onRetry={() => console.log('TEMPORARY: replace with the query refetch')}
+        headingLevel={1}
+        message="Couldn't load this book. Please try again in a moment."
+        onRetry={() => {
+          void refetch();
+        }}
       />
     );
   }
diff --git a/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.module.css b/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.module.css
index 7c6a346..34586fd 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.module.css
+++ b/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.module.css
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 /*mobile first */
-/* TODO: replace the raw values with the shared design tokens in src/styles/. */
-
 .page {
   max-width: 1200px;
   margin: 0 auto;
-  padding: 1.5rem 1rem;
+  padding: var(--space-6) var(--space-4);
 }
 
 .header {
@@ -12,7 +10,7 @@
   flex-wrap: wrap;
   align-items: baseline;
   justify-content: space-between;
-  gap: 0.25rem 1rem;
+  gap: var(--space-1) var(--space-4);
   margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
 }
 
@@ -25,9 +23,17 @@
   opacity: 0.75;
 }
 
+.loadMore {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  margin-top: var(--space-8);
+}
+
 @media (min-width: 40rem) {
+
   /*tablets and bigger devices*/
   .page {
-    padding: 2rem 1.5rem;
+    padding: var(--space-8) var(--space-6);
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.tsx b/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.tsx
index 069c856..10a74c1 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/BrowsePage/BrowsePage.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router';
+import { useQuery } from '@apollo/client/react';
 import type { Book } from '../../types/book';
 import { BookGrid } from '../../components/BookGrid/BookGrid';
+import { Button } from '../../components/Button/Button';
 import { EmptyState } from '../../components/EmptyState/EmptyState';
+import { ErrorState } from '../../components/ErrorState/ErrorState';
 import { LoadingState } from '../../components/LoadingState/LoadingState';
-import { mockBooks, mockShelfEntries, type ShelfEntry } from '../../data/mockBooks';
-import { searchBooks } from '../../data/searchBooks';
+import { mockShelfEntries, type ShelfEntry } from '../../data/mockBooks';
+import { BOOKS_QUERY } from '../../apollo/queries';
 import styles from './BrowsePage.module.css';
 
 export function BrowsePage() {
@@ -20,8 +23,8 @@ export function BrowsePage() {
       return params;
     });
   }
-  //shelf
 
+  //shelf (still mock data, replaced later by the myShelf query)
   const [shelf, setShelf] = useState<Map<Book['id'], ShelfEntry>>(
     () => new Map(mockShelfEntries.map((entry) => [entry.bookId, entry])),
   );
@@ -38,11 +41,34 @@ export function BrowsePage() {
     });
   }
 
-  //temporary: search the mock data, replaced by the apollo query
-  const books = searchBooks(mockBooks, query);
-  // ===== TEMPORARY: fake loading state, replace with the query's `loading` =====
-  const isLoading = false;
-  const noResults = !isLoading && query !== '' && books.length === 0;
+  //books come from the server, which does the searching
+  const { data, loading, error, refetch, fetchMore } = useQuery<{
+    books: { items: Book[]; totalCount: number; nextCursor: string | null };
+  }>(BOOKS_QUERY, { variables: { search: query || undefined } });
+
+  const books = data?.books.items ?? [];
+  const totalCount = data?.books.totalCount ?? 0;
+  const nextCursor = data?.books.nextCursor;
+  const isLoading = loading && !data;
+  const noResults = !isLoading && !error && query !== '' && books.length === 0;
+
+  //load more: ask the server for the page after the current last one
+  const [loadingMore, setLoadingMore] = useState(false);
+  const [loadMoreFailed, setLoadMoreFailed] = useState(false);
+
+  async function handleLoadMore() {
+    if (!nextCursor) return;
+    setLoadingMore(true);
+    setLoadMoreFailed(false);
+    try {
+      // the original variables (search) are reused automatically
+      await fetchMore({ variables: { after: nextCursor } });
+    } catch {
+      setLoadMoreFailed(true);
+    } finally {
+      setLoadingMore(false);
+    }
+  }
 
   return (
     <section className={styles.page} aria-labelledby="browse-heading">
@@ -51,20 +77,45 @@ export function BrowsePage() {
           Browse
         </h1>
         <p className={styles.count} aria-live="polite">
-          {resultLabel(books.length, query)}
+          {!isLoading && !error && resultLabel(totalCount, query)}
         </p>
       </header>
 
       {isLoading && <LoadingState announceOnly />}
 
-      {noResults ? (
+      {error ? (
+        <ErrorState
+          message="Couldn't load the books. Check connection and try again in a moment."
+          onRetry={() => {
+            void refetch();
+          }}
+        />
+      ) : noResults ? (
         <EmptyState
           title="No books found"
           message={`Nothing matches "${query}". Try another title or author.`}
           action={{ label: 'Clear search', onClick: () => handleSearch('') }}
         />
       ) : (
-        <BookGrid books={books} shelf={shelf} onToggleSaved={toggleSaved} isLoading={isLoading} />
+        <>
+          <h2 className="visually-hidden">Books</h2>
+          <BookGrid books={books} shelf={shelf} onToggleSaved={toggleSaved} isLoading={isLoading} />
+        </>
+      )}
+
+      {nextCursor && !error && !isLoading && (
+        <div className={styles.loadMore}>
+          {loadMoreFailed ? (
+            <ErrorState
+              message="Couldn't load more books. Check connection and try again in a moment."
+              onRetry={() => void handleLoadMore()}
+            />
+          ) : (
+            <Button disabled={loadingMore} onClick={() => void handleLoadMore()}>
+              {loadingMore ? 'Loading…' : 'Load more'}
+            </Button>
+          )}
+        </div>
       )}
     </section>
   );
@@ -72,7 +123,7 @@ export function BrowsePage() {
 
 //resultLabel: the count next to the heading
 function resultLabel(count: number, query: string) {
-  if (!query) return count === 1 ? '1book' : `${count} books`;
-  const results = count === 1 ? 'result' : 'results';
-  return `Searchword: "${query}" gave ${count} ${results}`;
+  const books = count === 1 ? '1 book' : `${count} books`;
+  if (!query) return books;
+  return count === 0 ? `No results for "${query}"` : `${books} found for "${query}"`;
 }
diff --git a/client/src/styles/base.css b/client/src/styles/base.css
index 3c272e9..7971217 100644
--- a/client/src/styles/base.css
+++ b/client/src/styles/base.css
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ a {
   outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
+/* ===== Hidden from sight, not from screen readers ===== */
 .visually-hidden {
   position: absolute;
   width: 1px;
diff --git a/client/src/types/book.ts b/client/src/types/book.ts
index 9f7069e..45f37b3 100644
--- a/client/src/types/book.ts
+++ b/client/src/types/book.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-/* ---------- Book: mirrors the GraphQL schema / Mongoose model ---------- */
-// TODO: check field names against the backend's typeDefs once they exist
+/* ---------- Book: mirrors the GraphQL `Book` type (server schema) ---------- */
 export type Book = {
-  id: string; // TODO: agree with backend: googleBooksId or Mongo _id
+  id: string; // Mongo _id, exposed by the server as `id`
   title: string;
   subtitle: string; // "" when none
   authors: string[]; // [] when none