diff --git a/bindery/cwa.py b/bindery/cwa.py
index e488fb7..6ff08f7 100644
--- a/bindery/cwa.py
+++ b/bindery/cwa.py
@@ -80,8 +80,9 @@ class CwaClient:
             raise CwaError("CWA address is not set. Set CWA_URL.")
         # hrefs from the feed are absolute paths, and include any path prefix of CWA.
         url = urljoin(self.base_url, href)
+        kwargs.setdefault("timeout", self.timeout)
         try:
-            response = self.session.get(url, auth=auth or self.auth, timeout=self.timeout, **kwargs)
+            response = self.session.get(url, auth=auth or self.auth, **kwargs)
         except requests.RequestException as e:
             raise CwaError(f"Cannot reach CWA at {self.base_url}: {e}") from e
         if response.status_code == 401:
@@ -153,8 +154,8 @@ class CwaClient:
             return []
         return self._feed("opds/search", params={"query": query.strip()})[0]
 
-    def get_book(self, book_uuid: str) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
-        """A book by its calibre uuid, or None if CWA has no such book."""
+    def get_book(self, book_uuid: str, timeout: int | None = None) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+        """A book by its calibre uuid, or None if CWA has no such book. `timeout` is for a page that waits."""
         # The uuid can come from a request. Other characters could change the path.
         if not re.fullmatch(r"[0-9A-Za-z-]+", book_uuid):
             return None
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ class CwaClient:
                     return book
             except calibre_db.DatabaseUnavailable as e:
                 logger.warning(f"Cannot read the calibre library database. Trying CWA: {e}")
-        response = self._get(f"ajax/book/{book_uuid}")
+        response = self._get(f"ajax/book/{book_uuid}", timeout=timeout or self.timeout)
         if not response.text.strip():
             return None
         try:
diff --git a/bindery/orchestrator.py b/bindery/orchestrator.py
index 04a36a0..0076803 100644
--- a/bindery/orchestrator.py
+++ b/bindery/orchestrator.py
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ def list_stories() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     return stories
 
 
+# The seconds that the story page waits for CWA. A job waits for the full timeout of the client.
+PAGE_TIMEOUT = 5
+
 # Only raster images. An SVG cover could hold a script that runs on Bindery's origin.
 COVER_TYPES = frozenset({"image/jpeg", "image/png", "image/gif", "image/webp"})
 
@@ -222,7 +225,7 @@ def story_details(story_id: int) -> dict[str, Any]:
     book, library_error = None, None
     if story["calibre_uuid"] and _can_match_books():
         try:
-            book = cwa().get_book(story["calibre_uuid"])
+            book = cwa().get_book(story["calibre_uuid"], timeout=PAGE_TIMEOUT)
         except CwaError as e:
             library_error = str(e)
     story["recheck_days"] = store.get_setting(story_id, "recheck_days")
diff --git a/tests/test_api_flows.py b/tests/test_api_flows.py
index 1346442..524cfcf 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_flows.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_flows.py
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ def test_library_search_link_import_and_unlink(client, story, monkeypatch):
     assert client.get("/api/library/search?q=Title").json[0]["tracked_as"] == "Story"
     cwa.get_book.side_effect = CwaError("offline")
     assert client.get(f"/api/stories/{sid}").json["library_error"] == "offline"
+    cwa.get_book.assert_called_with("book-7", timeout=5)  # the page does not wait long for CWA
     cwa.get_book.side_effect = None
     cwa.get_book.return_value = None
     assert client.post(f"/api/stories/{sid}/link", json={"uuid": "missing"}, headers=H).status_code == 404
diff --git a/tests/test_cwa.py b/tests/test_cwa.py
index 3794fa2..edd2493 100644
--- a/tests/test_cwa.py
+++ b/tests/test_cwa.py
@@ -75,6 +75,17 @@ def test_get_book(fake):
     assert c.get_book("nope") is None
 
 
+def test_get_book_can_wait_for_a_shorter_time(fake, monkeypatch):
+    c = client(fake)
+    get = c.session.get
+    timeouts = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(c.session, "get", lambda url, **kw: timeouts.append(kw["timeout"]) or get(url, **kw))
+    c.get_book("uuid-2", timeout=5)
+    c.get_book("uuid-2")
+    c.search("Story")
+    assert timeouts == [5, 60, 60]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("book_uuid", ["../opds", "uuid-2?x=1", "uuid-2#x", "uuid%2F2", ""])
 def test_get_book_refuses_a_uuid_that_changes_the_path(book_uuid):
     # Nothing listens on this port, so a request would raise CwaError.