diff --git a/components/app/AudioPlayerContainer.vue b/components/app/AudioPlayerContainer.vue
index 060a2878..2cd17531 100644
--- a/components/app/AudioPlayerContainer.vue
+++ b/components/app/AudioPlayerContainer.vue
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ export default {
       const libraryItemId = payload.libraryItemId
       const episodeId = payload.episodeId
       const startTime = payload.startTime
+      const startWhenReady = !payload.paused
 
       // When playing local library item and can also play this item from the server
       //   then store the server library item id so it can be used if a cast is made
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ export default {
       }
 
       console.log('Called playLibraryItem', libraryItemId)
-      const preparePayload = { libraryItemId, episodeId, playWhenReady: true, playbackRate }
+      const preparePayload = { libraryItemId, episodeId, playWhenReady: startWhenReady, playbackRate }
       if (startTime !== undefined && startTime !== null) preparePayload.startTime = startTime
       AbsAudioPlayer.prepareLibraryItem(preparePayload)
         .then((data) => {
diff --git a/pages/bookshelf/index.vue b/pages/bookshelf/index.vue
index 2eaffa05..14770ec6 100644
--- a/pages/bookshelf/index.vue
+++ b/pages/bookshelf/index.vue
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export default {
       shelves: [],
       loading: false,
       isFirstNetworkConnection: true,
+      isFirstAutoOpenPlayer: true,
       lastServerFetch: 0,
       lastServerFetchLibraryId: null,
       lastLocalFetch: 0,
@@ -247,6 +248,8 @@ export default {
           return cat
         })
 
+        this.openMediaPlayerWithMostRecentListening()
+
         // Only add the local shelf with the same media type
         const localShelves = localCategories.filter((cat) => cat.type === this.currentLibraryMediaType && !cat.localOnly)
         this.shelves.push(...localShelves)
@@ -261,6 +264,40 @@ export default {
 
       this.loading = false
     },
+    openMediaPlayerWithMostRecentListening() {
+      // If we don't already have a player open
+      // Try opening the first book from continue-listening without playing it
+      if (this.$store.state.playerLibraryItemId || !this.isFirstAutoOpenPlayer) return
+      this.isFirstAutoOpenPlayer = false // Only run this once, not on every library change
+
+      const continueListeningShelf = this.shelves.find((cat) => cat.id === 'continue-listening')
+      const mostRecentEntity = continueListeningShelf?.entities?.[0]
+      if (mostRecentEntity) {
+        const playObject = {
+          libraryItemId: mostRecentEntity.id,
+          episodeId: mostRecentEntity.recentEpisode?.id || null,
+          paused: true
+        }
+
+        // Check if there is a local copy
+        if (mostRecentEntity.localLibraryItem) {
+          if (mostRecentEntity.recentEpisode) {
+            // Check if the podcast episode has a local copy
+            const localEpisode = mostRecentEntity.localLibraryItem.media.episodes.find((ep) => ep.serverEpisodeId === mostRecentEntity.recentEpisode.id)
+            if (localEpisode) {
+              playObject.libraryItemId = mostRecentEntity.localLibraryItem.id
+              playObject.episodeId = localEpisode.id
+              playObject.serverLibraryItemId = mostRecentEntity.id
+              playObject.serverEpisodeId = mostRecentEntity.recentEpisode.id
+            }
+          } else {
+            playObject.libraryItemId = mostRecentEntity.localLibraryItem.id
+            playObject.serverLibraryItemId = mostRecentEntity.id
+          }
+        }
+        this.$eventBus.$emit('play-item', playObject)
+      }
+    },
     libraryChanged() {
       if (this.currentLibraryId) {
         console.log(`[categories] libraryChanged so fetching categories`)