diff --git a/backend/src/schema/books/resolvers/Query/searchBooks.ts b/backend/src/schema/books/resolvers/Query/searchBooks.ts
index 68a0c7aa..288be837 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/books/resolvers/Query/searchBooks.ts
+++ b/backend/src/schema/books/resolvers/Query/searchBooks.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   sql,
   type SQL,
 } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { GraphQLError } from "graphql/error";
 import { db } from "~/db";
 import { bookGenres, books, bookToGenres } from "~/db/schema";
 import type { QueryResolvers } from "~/schema/types.generated";
@@ -19,6 +20,12 @@ export const searchBooks: NonNullable<QueryResolvers["searchBooks"]> = async (
   _parent,
   args,
 ) => {
+  if (args.limit < 0 || args.offset < 0) {
+    throw new GraphQLError("Limit and offset cannot be negative.", {
+      extensions: { code: "BAD_USER_INPUT" },
+    });
+  }
+
   const conditions: SQL[] = [];
 
   if (args.title && args.fuzzy) {
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/favorites/resolvers/Query/favoriteBooks.ts b/backend/src/schema/favorites/resolvers/Query/favoriteBooks.ts
index af54cc9d..041355ed 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/favorites/resolvers/Query/favoriteBooks.ts
+++ b/backend/src/schema/favorites/resolvers/Query/favoriteBooks.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ export const favoriteBooks: NonNullable<
     );
   }
 
+  if (arg.limit < 0 || arg.offset < 0) {
+    throw new GraphQLError("Limit and offset cannot be negative.", {
+      extensions: { code: "BAD_USER_INPUT" },
+    });
+  }
+
   const [foundBooks, totalCount] = await Promise.all([
     db.query.favoriteBooks.findMany({
       where: {
diff --git a/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.test.tsx b/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.test.tsx
index 93c083ef..8f323ee0 100644
--- a/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.test.tsx
@@ -81,4 +81,16 @@ describe("BookPagination", () => {
       screen.getByRole("link", { name: "Go to next page" }),
     ).toHaveAttribute("href", "/?q=blade&genres=Fantasy&page=3");
   });
+
+  it.each(["abc", "0", "-2", "1.5"])(
+    "treats page=%s as the first page",
+    (page) => {
+      render(<Stub initialEntries={[`/?page=${page}`]} />);
+
+      expect(currentPage()).toBe("1");
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole("link", { name: "Go to previous page" }),
+      ).toHaveAttribute("aria-disabled", "true");
+    },
+  );
 });
diff --git a/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.tsx b/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.tsx
index be34e25d..5e629624 100644
--- a/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/components/BookPagination/BookPagination.tsx
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ import {
   PaginationNext,
   PaginationPrevious,
 } from "~/components/ui/Pagination";
+import { parsePageNum } from "~/hooks/useBookSearchParams";
 
 const DISABLED_STYLE = "pointer-events-none opacity-50";
 
 function BookPagination({ totalPages }: { totalPages: number }) {
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
-  const currentPage = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") ?? "1");
+  const currentPage = parsePageNum(searchParams.get("page"));
 
   const isFirstPage = currentPage === 1;
   const isLastPage = currentPage === totalPages;
diff --git a/frontend/app/hooks/useBookSearchParams.ts b/frontend/app/hooks/useBookSearchParams.ts
index 41c610ba..a8f04d35 100644
--- a/frontend/app/hooks/useBookSearchParams.ts
+++ b/frontend/app/hooks/useBookSearchParams.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ function parseCount(value: string | null) {
   return value && Number.isInteger(count) && count >= 0 ? count : undefined;
 }
 
+function parsePageNum(value: string | null) {
+  const page = Number(value);
+  return Number.isInteger(page) && page >= 1 ? page : 1;
+}
+
 const FILTER_KEYS = [
   "genres",
   "language",
@@ -21,7 +26,7 @@ function useBookSearchParams() {
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
 
   const query = searchParams.get("q") ?? "";
-  const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") ?? "1", 10);
+  const page = parsePageNum(searchParams.get("page"));
   const sort = parseBookSort(searchParams.get("sort"));
 
   // Only update filters when searchParams change to avoid unnecessary re-renders
@@ -44,4 +49,4 @@ function useBookSearchParams() {
   return { query, page, filters, sort };
 }
 
-export { FILTER_KEYS, useBookSearchParams };
+export { FILTER_KEYS, parsePageNum, useBookSearchParams };
diff --git a/frontend/app/routes/profile.tsx b/frontend/app/routes/profile.tsx
index 438e7157..9735eeff 100644
--- a/frontend/app/routes/profile.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/routes/profile.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Link, Navigate, useSearchParams } from "react-router";
 import { authClient } from "~/api/auth";
 import { useFavoriteBooks } from "~/hooks/useFavoriteBooks";
+import { parsePageNum } from "~/hooks/useBookSearchParams";
 import { BookCard } from "~/components/BookCard/BookCard";
 import { BookPagination } from "~/components/BookPagination/BookPagination";
 import { PageBreadcrumb } from "~/components/PageBreadcrumb/PageBreadcrumb";
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ export function meta() {
 export default function ProfilePage() {
   const { data: session, isPending } = authClient.useSession();
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
-  const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") ?? "1", 10);
+  const page = parsePageNum(searchParams.get("page"));
 
   const { books, totalCount, topGenres, loading, error } = useFavoriteBooks({
     enabled: !!session,