diff --git a/spine.el b/spine.el
index 4a42125..2a84e4d 100644
--- a/spine.el
+++ b/spine.el
@@ -120,6 +120,107 @@ Returns nil if the file is missing or cannot be parsed."
                 spine-org-file (error-message-string err))
        nil))))
 
+(defun spine-render-index (books &optional selected-id)
+  "Render the index page HTML for BOOKS, expanding the book matching SELECTED-ID."
+  (let ((order '("WANT" "READING" "READ" "ABANDONED"))
+        (grouped (make-hash-table :test 'equal)))
+    ;; Group books by status
+    (dolist (book books)
+      (let* ((status (or (plist-get book :status) "WANT")))
+        (push book (gethash status grouped))))
+    ;; Render
+    (with-temp-buffer
+      (insert "<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html lang=\"en\">\n<head>\n")
+      (insert "<meta charset=\"utf-8\">\n")
+      (insert "<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1\">\n")
+      (insert "<title>Spine</title>\n</head>\n<body>\n")
+      (insert "<div class=\"frame\">\n")
+      (insert "<div class=\"titlebar\">Spine</div>\n")
+      ;; Each group in order
+      (dolist (status order)
+        (let ((group-books (nreverse (gethash status grouped))))
+          (when group-books
+            (insert (format "<div class=\"group\">%s (%d)</div>\n"
+                            status (length group-books)))
+            (dolist (book group-books)
+              (let ((selected (equal (plist-get book :id) selected-id)))
+                (insert (format "<div class=\"row%s\">\n"
+                                (if selected " selected" "")))
+                ;; Format glyph
+                (let ((fmt (plist-get book :format)))
+                  (insert (format "<span class=\"glyph\">%s</span>\n"
+                                  (cond ((equal fmt "hardcover") "[H]")
+                                        ((equal fmt "ebook")    "[E]")
+                                        ((equal fmt "audiobook") "[A]")
+                                        (t                      "")))))
+                ;; Title + author
+                (insert "<span class=\"title\">")
+                (insert (spine--h (plist-get book :title)))
+                (let ((author (plist-get book :author)))
+                  (when author
+                    (insert (format " <span class=\"muted\">%s</span>"
+                                    (spine--h author)))))
+                (insert "</span>\n")
+                ;; Tags
+                (let ((tags (plist-get book :tags)))
+                  (when tags
+                    (insert (format "<span class=\"tags\">%s</span>\n"
+                                    (mapconcat (lambda (t) (concat ":" t ":"))
+                                               tags " ")))))
+                ;; Recommendation trail
+                (let ((rec-by (plist-get book :rec_by))
+                      (rec-note (plist-get book :rec_note)))
+                  (when (and rec-by (> (length rec-by) 0))
+                    (insert
+                     (format "<span class=\"trail\">%s%s</span>\n"
+                             (spine--h rec-by)
+                             (if (and rec-note (> (length rec-note) 0))
+                                 (concat ": " (spine--h rec-note))
+                               "")))))
+                ;; Status pill
+                (let ((status (or (plist-get book :status) "WANT")))
+                  (insert (format "<span class=\"pill %s\">%s</span>\n"
+                                  (downcase status) status)))
+                ;; Expanded detail
+                (when selected
+                  (insert "<div class=\"detail\">\n")
+                  (dolist (note (plist-get book :notes))
+                    (insert (format
+                             "<div class=\"logline\"><span class=\"logdate\">[%s]</span> %s</div>\n"
+                             (spine--h (car note))
+                             (spine--h (cadr note)))))
+                  (let ((rating (plist-get book :rating)))
+                    (when (and rating (> (length rating) 0))
+                      (insert (format "<div>Rating: %s/5</div>\n"
+                                      (spine--h rating)))))
+                  (let ((isbn (plist-get book :isbn)))
+                    (when (and isbn (> (length isbn) 0))
+                      (insert (format "<div>ISBN: %s</div>\n"
+                                      (spine--h isbn)))))
+                  (let ((fmt (plist-get book :format)))
+                    (when (and fmt (> (length fmt) 0))
+                      (insert (format "<div>Format: %s</div>\n"
+                                      (spine--h fmt)))))
+                  (let ((added (plist-get book :added)))
+                    (when (and added (> (length added) 0))
+                      (insert (format "<div>Added: %s</div>\n"
+                                      (spine--h added)))))
+                  (insert "</div>\n"))
+                (insert "</div>\n"))))))
+      (insert "</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n")
+      (buffer-string))))
+
+(defun spine-render-empty-state ()
+  "Render a page indicating no books file was found."
+  (concat "<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html lang=\"en\">\n<head>\n"
+          "<meta charset=\"utf-8\">\n"
+          "<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1\">\n"
+          "<title>Spine</title>\n</head>\n<body>\n"
+          "<div class=\"frame\">\n"
+          "<div class=\"titlebar\">Spine</div>\n"
+          "<div class=\"row\">No books yet.</div>\n"
+          "</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n"))
+
 (defvar spine-skip-server-start nil
   "When non-nil, do not start the HTTP server.
 Set by test harnesses that only need the model functions.")
