diff --git a/lib/controllers/reader.js b/lib/controllers/reader.js
index b9dae27..9fcf4d0 100644
--- a/lib/controllers/reader.js
+++ b/lib/controllers/reader.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   getTimelineItems,
   getItemById,
   markItemsRead,
+  countReadItems,
 } from "../storage/items.js";
 import { getUserId } from "../utils/auth.js";
 import {
@@ -95,24 +96,37 @@ export async function channel(request, response) {
   const { application } = request.app.locals;
   const userId = getUserId(request);
   const { uid } = request.params;
-  const { before, after } = request.query;
+  const { before, after, showRead } = request.query;
 
   const channelDocument = await getChannel(application, uid, userId);
   if (!channelDocument) {
     return response.status(404).render("404");
   }
 
+  // Check if showing read items
+  const showReadItems = showRead === "true";
+
   const timeline = await getTimelineItems(application, channelDocument._id, {
     before,
     after,
     userId,
+    showRead: showReadItems,
   });
 
+  // Count read items to show "View read items" button
+  const readCount = await countReadItems(
+    application,
+    channelDocument._id,
+    userId,
+  );
+
   response.render("channel", {
     title: channelDocument.name,
     channel: channelDocument,
     items: timeline.items,
     paging: timeline.paging,
+    readCount,
+    showRead: showReadItems,
     baseUrl: request.baseUrl,
   });
 }
diff --git a/lib/storage/items.js b/lib/storage/items.js
index fe9299b..7e25096 100644
--- a/lib/storage/items.js
+++ b/lib/storage/items.js
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export async function addItem(application, { channelId, feedId, uid, item }) {
  * @param {string} [options.after] - After cursor
  * @param {number} [options.limit] - Items per page
  * @param {string} [options.userId] - User ID for read state
+ * @param {boolean} [options.showRead] - Whether to show read items (default: false)
  * @returns {Promise<object>} Timeline with items and paging
  */
 export async function getTimelineItems(application, channelId, options = {}) {
@@ -86,7 +87,12 @@ export async function getTimelineItems(application, channelId, options = {}) {
     typeof channelId === "string" ? new ObjectId(channelId) : channelId;
   const limit = parseLimit(options.limit);
 
+  // Base query - filter out read items unless showRead is true
   const baseQuery = { channelId: objectId };
+  if (options.userId && !options.showRead) {
+    baseQuery.readBy = { $ne: options.userId };
+  }
+
   const query = buildPaginationQuery({
     before: options.before,
     after: options.after,
@@ -256,6 +262,24 @@ export async function getItemsByUids(application, uids, userId) {
   return items.map((item) => transformToJf2(item, userId));
 }
 
+/**
+ * Count read items in a channel
+ * @param {object} application - Indiekit application
+ * @param {ObjectId|string} channelId - Channel ObjectId
+ * @param {string} userId - User ID
+ * @returns {Promise<number>} Number of read items
+ */
+export async function countReadItems(application, channelId, userId) {
+  const collection = getCollection(application);
+  const objectId =
+    typeof channelId === "string" ? new ObjectId(channelId) : channelId;
+
+  return collection.countDocuments({
+    channelId: objectId,
+    readBy: userId,
+  });
+}
+
 /**
  * Mark items as read
  * @param {object} application - Indiekit application
diff --git a/locales/en.json b/locales/en.json
index a10b441..66de21d 100644
--- a/locales/en.json
+++ b/locales/en.json
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
       "title": "Reader",
       "empty": "No items to display",
       "markAllRead": "Mark all as read",
+      "showRead": "Show read ({{count}})",
+      "hideRead": "Hide read items",
+      "allRead": "All caught up!",
       "newer": "Newer",
       "older": "Older"
     },
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 018d1c6..41cd116 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@rmdes/indiekit-endpoint-microsub",
-  "version": "1.0.16",
+  "version": "1.0.17",
   "description": "Microsub endpoint for Indiekit. Enables subscribing to feeds and reading content using the Microsub protocol.",
   "keywords": [
     "indiekit",
diff --git a/views/channel.njk b/views/channel.njk
index 79e12a8..8274fbf 100644
--- a/views/channel.njk
+++ b/views/channel.njk
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
         {{ icon("previous") }} {{ __("microsub.channels.title") }}
       </a>
       <div class="channel__actions">
+        {% if not showRead and items.length > 0 %}
         <form action="{{ baseUrl }}/api/mark-read" method="POST" style="display: inline;">
           <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="{{ channel.uid }}">
           <input type="hidden" name="entry" value="last-read-entry">
@@ -14,6 +15,16 @@
             {{ icon("checkboxChecked") }} {{ __("microsub.reader.markAllRead") }}
           </button>
         </form>
+        {% endif %}
+        {% if showRead %}
+        <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels/{{ channel.uid }}" class="button button--secondary button--small">
+          {{ icon("hide") }} {{ __("microsub.reader.hideRead") }}
+        </a>
+        {% elif readCount > 0 %}
+        <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels/{{ channel.uid }}?showRead=true" class="button button--secondary button--small">
+          {{ icon("show") }} {{ __("microsub.reader.showRead", { count: readCount }) }}
+        </a>
+        {% endif %}
         <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels/{{ channel.uid }}/feeds" class="button button--secondary button--small">
           {{ icon("syndicate") }} {{ __("microsub.feeds.title") }}
         </a>
@@ -33,14 +44,14 @@
     {% if paging %}
     <nav class="timeline__paging" aria-label="Pagination">
       {% if paging.before %}
-      <a href="?before={{ paging.before }}" class="button button--secondary">
+      <a href="?before={{ paging.before }}{% if showRead %}&showRead=true{% endif %}" class="button button--secondary">
         {{ icon("previous") }} {{ __("microsub.reader.newer") }}
       </a>
       {% else %}
       <span></span>
       {% endif %}
       {% if paging.after %}
-      <a href="?after={{ paging.after }}" class="button button--secondary">
+      <a href="?after={{ paging.after }}{% if showRead %}&showRead=true{% endif %}" class="button button--secondary">
         {{ __("microsub.reader.older") }} {{ icon("next") }}
       </a>
       {% endif %}
@@ -48,11 +59,19 @@
     {% endif %}
     {% else %}
     <div class="reader__empty">
+      {% if readCount > 0 and not showRead %}
+      {{ icon("checkboxChecked") }}
+      <p>{{ __("microsub.reader.allRead") }}</p>
+      <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels/{{ channel.uid }}?showRead=true" class="button button--secondary">
+        {{ icon("show") }} {{ __("microsub.reader.showRead", { count: readCount }) }}
+      </a>
+      {% else %}
       {{ icon("syndicate") }}
       <p>{{ __("microsub.timeline.empty") }}</p>
       <a href="{{ baseUrl }}/channels/{{ channel.uid }}/feeds" class="button button--primary">
         {{ __("microsub.feeds.subscribe") }}
       </a>
+      {% endif %}
     </div>
     {% endif %}
   </div>
@@ -97,6 +116,62 @@
             break;
         }
       });
+
+      // Handle individual mark-read buttons
+      const channelUid = timeline.dataset.channel;
+      timeline.addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+        const button = e.target.closest('.item-actions__mark-read');
+        if (!button) return;
+
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+
+        const itemId = button.dataset.itemId;
+        if (!itemId) return;
+
+        // Disable button while processing
+        button.disabled = true;
+
+        try {
+          const formData = new URLSearchParams();
+          formData.append('action', 'timeline');
+          formData.append('method', 'mark_read');
+          formData.append('channel', channelUid);
+          formData.append('entry', itemId);
+
+          const response = await fetch('{{ baseUrl }}', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: {
+              'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
+            },
+            body: formData.toString(),
+            credentials: 'same-origin'
+          });
+
+          if (response.ok) {
+            // Hide the item with animation
+            const card = button.closest('.item-card');
+            if (card) {
+              card.style.transition = 'opacity 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease';
+              card.style.opacity = '0';
+              card.style.transform = 'translateX(-20px)';
+              setTimeout(() => {
+                card.remove();
+                // Check if timeline is now empty
+                if (timeline.querySelectorAll('.item-card').length === 0) {
+                  location.reload();
+                }
+              }, 300);
+            }
+          } else {
+            console.error('Failed to mark item as read');
+            button.disabled = false;
+          }
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error('Error marking item as read:', error);
+          button.disabled = false;
+        }
+      });
     }
   </script>
 {% endblock %}