diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index 8207f6c..fd42374 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
   saveMeta,
   Recent,
 } from "./project.js";
-import { listRecents, addRecent, removeRecent, renameRecent, migrateLegacyRecents } from "./recents.js";
+import { listRecents, addRecent, removeRecent, renameRecent, hideRecent, unhideRecent, migrateLegacyRecents } from "./recents.js";
 import { buildMenu } from "./menu.js";
 import {
   createChapter,
@@ -363,6 +363,20 @@ handleIpc("folio:renameBook", (_e, p: string, rawTitle: string) => {
   return { ok: true, title };
 });
 
+// Hide/unhide a recents entry. List-only: the book folder on disk is never
+// touched, and opening the book again un-hides it (addRecent clears the flag).
+handleIpc("folio:hideRecent", (_e, p: string) => {
+  hideRecent(p);
+  refreshMenu();
+  return { ok: true };
+});
+
+handleIpc("folio:unhideRecent", (_e, p: string) => {
+  unhideRecent(p);
+  refreshMenu();
+  return { ok: true };
+});
+
 handleIpc("folio:closeBook", () => {
   bookPath = null;
   mainWindow?.setTitle("Folio");
diff --git a/src/main/menu.ts b/src/main/menu.ts
index 0bd9cb1..52c3951 100644
--- a/src/main/menu.ts
+++ b/src/main/menu.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import path from "path";
 import { app, Menu, BrowserWindow } from "electron";
-import { listRecents } from "./recents.js";
+import { listVisibleRecents } from "./recents.js";
 import type { Recent } from "./recents.js";
 
 type MenuItem = Electron.MenuItemConstructorOptions;
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function buildMenu(
   onRequestOpen: () => void
 ) {
   const isMac = process.platform === "darwin";
-  const recents = listRecents();
+  const recents = listVisibleRecents();
 
   const recentItems: MenuItem[] = recents.length
     ? recents.map((r: Recent) => {
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ export function buildMenu(
         accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+R",
         // Always usable: falls back to the most recent valid book when none
         // is currently open, so the item never looks clickable yet do nothing.
-        enabled: !!getState().bookPath || listRecents().some((r) => !r.missing),
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath || listVisibleRecents().some((r) => !r.missing),
         click: () => {
           const target =
             getState().bookPath ??
-            listRecents().find((r) => !r.missing)?.path ??
+            listVisibleRecents().find((r) => !r.missing)?.path ??
             null;
           if (!target) return;
           getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:reveal-requested", target);
diff --git a/src/main/preload.ts b/src/main/preload.ts
index df26b10..e926b6b 100644
--- a/src/main/preload.ts
+++ b/src/main/preload.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("folio", {
   newBookNamed: (name: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:newBookNamed", name),
   deleteBook: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:deleteBook", p),
   renameBook: (p: string, title: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:renameBook", p, title),
+  hideRecent: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:hideRecent", p),
+  unhideRecent: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:unhideRecent", p),
   restoreBook: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:restoreBook", p),
   openBook: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:openBook"),
   openBookPath: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:openPath", p),
diff --git a/src/main/project.ts b/src/main/project.ts
index 73dc9a5..4c310e9 100644
--- a/src/main/project.ts
+++ b/src/main/project.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ export interface Recent {
   path: string;
   title: string;
   lastOpened: string;
+  // Hidden entries stay in the recents file (and the book on disk is
+  // untouched) but are omitted from the visible recents list and menu.
+  hidden?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface BookResult {
@@ -121,8 +124,10 @@ export function listRecents(filePath: string): Recent[] {
 }
 
 export function addRecent(filePath: string, recent: Recent): Recent[] {
+  // Opening a book always surfaces it: a previously hidden entry is
+  // un-hidden here, so re-opening is the natural way back.
   const recents = listRecents(filePath).filter((r) => r.path !== recent.path);
-  recents.unshift(recent);
+  recents.unshift({ ...recent, hidden: false });
   writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
   return recents;
 }
@@ -140,3 +145,22 @@ export function renameRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string, title: string
   writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
   return recents;
 }
+
+// Hide/unhide are list-only operations: the entry stays in the recents file
+// and the book directory on disk is never touched. Hiding a path that is not
+// in the list is a no-op (there is nothing to hide).
+export function hideRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string): Recent[] {
+  const recents = listRecents(filePath).map((r) =>
+    r.path === recentPath ? { ...r, hidden: true } : r
+  );
+  writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
+  return recents;
+}
+
+export function unhideRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string): Recent[] {
+  const recents = listRecents(filePath).map((r) =>
+    r.path === recentPath ? { ...r, hidden: false } : r
+  );
+  writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
+  return recents;
+}
diff --git a/src/main/recents.ts b/src/main/recents.ts
index 50c6178..7f7a6f8 100644
--- a/src/main/recents.ts
+++ b/src/main/recents.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import {
   addRecent as _addRecent,
   removeRecent as _removeRecent,
   renameRecent as _renameRecent,
+  hideRecent as _hideRecent,
+  unhideRecent as _unhideRecent,
 } from "./project.js";
 import { readJsonArray, writeJsonFile } from "./json-store.js";
 import type { Recent } from "./project.js";
@@ -60,6 +62,8 @@ export function listRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
   // Keep every saved entry so a book never "disappears" from the list just
   // because its folder moved or was renamed. Mark entries whose book can't be
   // found so the UI can show them as missing instead of hiding them.
+  // Hidden entries are returned too (flagged) — the UI decides visibility so
+  // it can offer a "Hidden (n)" disclosure to bring them back.
   // Dedupe by PATH: keying on title used to hide genuinely distinct books
   // that happened to share a display name ("Untitled"), making one of them
   // unreachable from the recents menu.
@@ -74,6 +78,12 @@ export function listRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
   return deduped;
 }
 
+// Entries shown in the Open Recent menu and the welcome Recents list:
+// everything except explicitly hidden ones.
+export function listVisibleRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
+  return listRecents().filter((r) => !r.hidden);
+}
+
 export function addRecent(recent: Recent): Recent[] {
   return _addRecent(recentsFilePath(), recent);
 }
@@ -85,3 +95,11 @@ export function removeRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
 export function renameRecent(recentPath: string, title: string): Recent[] {
   return _renameRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath, title);
 }
+
+export function hideRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
+  return _hideRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath);
+}
+
+export function unhideRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
+  return _unhideRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath);
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/types.ts b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
index 11aebda..95d1c00 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/types.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ export interface Recent {
   path: string;
   title: string;
   lastOpened: string;
+  hidden?: boolean;
+  missing?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface OpenedBook {
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ export type FolioAPI = {
   revealInFolder: (p: string) => Promise<boolean>;
   getRecents: () => Promise<any[]>;
   renameBook: (p: string, title: string) => Promise<any>;
+  hideRecent: (p: string) => Promise<any>;
+  unhideRecent: (p: string) => Promise<any>;
   closeBook: () => Promise<boolean>;
   getSpellcheck: () => Promise<boolean>;
   setSpellcheck: (on: boolean) => Promise<any>;
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts b/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
index d2543b6..4939609 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
@@ -185,91 +185,155 @@ export function createWelcomeFeature(ctx: BookCtx): WelcomeFeature {
     try {
       const recents = await api.getRecents();
       recentList.innerHTML = "";
-      if (!recents.length) {
+      const visible = (recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]).filter(
+        (r) => !r.hidden
+      );
+      const hidden = (recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]).filter(
+        (r) => r.hidden
+      );
+      if (!visible.length && !hidden.length) {
         const li = document.createElement("li");
         li.className = "muted";
         li.textContent = "No recent books.";
         recentList.appendChild(li);
         return;
       }
-      for (const r of recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]) {
-        const li = document.createElement("li");
-        li.className = "recent-item";
-        li.tabIndex = 0;
-        const label = document.createElement("span");
-        label.className = "recent-title";
-        label.textContent = (r.title || r.path) + (r.missing ? " (missing)" : "");
-        label.title = r.path;
-        // Single click selects the row (reveals Rename/Delete actions);
-        // double-click or Enter opens the book. Replaces the old always-on
-        // "×" button, which deleted on a mis-click.
-        label.addEventListener("click", () => selectRecent(li));
-        li.addEventListener("dblclick", () => void openPath(r.path));
-        li.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
-          if (e.key === "Enter") void openPath(r.path);
-          else if (e.key === "Escape" && li.classList.contains("selected")) deselectRecent(li);
-        });
-        const actions = document.createElement("span");
-        actions.className = "recent-actions";
-        if (!r.missing) {
-          const ren = document.createElement("button");
-          ren.className = "recent-action icon-button";
-          ren.type = "button";
-          ren.title = "Rename book";
-          ren.setAttribute("aria-label", "Rename book");
-          ren.textContent = "✎";
-          ren.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-            e.stopPropagation();
-            const name = await promptInput("Rename book", r.title || "");
-            if (name === null) return;
-            const trimmed = name.trim();
-            if (!trimmed || trimmed === r.title) return;
-            const res = await api.renameBook(r.path, trimmed);
-            if (res && "error" in res) {
-              await alertMessage("Could not rename", (res as { error: string }).error);
-              return;
-            }
-            await renderRecents();
-          });
-          actions.appendChild(ren);
-        }
-        const del = document.createElement("button");
-        del.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-delete";
-        del.type = "button";
-        del.title = "Delete book";
-        del.setAttribute("aria-label", "Delete book");
-        del.textContent = "Delete";
-        del.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-          e.stopPropagation();
-          const res = await api.deleteBook(r.path);
-          if (res && "error" in res) {
-            await alertMessage("Could not delete", (res as { error: string }).error);
-            return;
-          }
-          await renderRecents();
-          // Only promise an in-app Undo where restore actually works (Linux
-          // home trash). Elsewhere the book sits in the OS trash, which the
-          // user can restore manually — no false "Undo" button.
-          if (!(res as { canUndoRestore?: boolean }).canUndoRestore) return;
-          showUndoToast(`Deleted "${r.title || r.path}"`, async () => {
-            const rr = await api.restoreBook(r.path);
-            if (rr && "error" in rr) {
-              await alertMessage("Could not restore", (rr as { error: string }).error);
-              return;
-            }
-            await renderRecents();
-          });
-        });
-        actions.appendChild(del);
-        li.appendChild(label);
-        li.appendChild(actions);
-        recentList.appendChild(li);
+      for (const r of visible) {
+        recentList.appendChild(recentRow(r, false));
+      }
+      if (hidden.length) {
+        recentList.appendChild(hiddenDisclosure(hidden));
       }
     } catch {
       // Recents are best-effort; never block the welcome screen.
     }
   }
 
+  function recentRow(r: Recent & { missing?: boolean }, isHidden: boolean): HTMLLIElement {
+    const li = document.createElement("li");
+    li.className = "recent-item" + (isHidden ? " recent-hidden-entry" : "");
+    li.tabIndex = 0;
+    const label = document.createElement("span");
+    label.className = "recent-title";
+    label.textContent = (r.title || r.path) + (r.missing ? " (missing)" : "");
+    label.title = r.path;
+    // Single click selects the row (reveals Rename/Hide/Delete actions);
+    // double-click or Enter opens the book. Replaces the old always-on
+    // "×" button, which deleted on a mis-click.
+    label.addEventListener("click", () => selectRecent(li));
+    li.addEventListener("dblclick", () => void openPath(r.path));
+    li.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
+      if (e.key === "Enter") void openPath(r.path);
+      else if (e.key === "Escape" && li.classList.contains("selected")) deselectRecent(li);
+    });
+    const actions = document.createElement("span");
+    actions.className = "recent-actions";
+    if (!r.missing) {
+      const ren = document.createElement("button");
+      ren.className = "recent-action icon-button";
+      ren.type = "button";
+      ren.title = "Rename book";
+      ren.setAttribute("aria-label", "Rename book");
+      ren.textContent = "✎";
+      ren.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        const name = await promptInput("Rename book", r.title || "");
+        if (name === null) return;
+        const trimmed = name.trim();
+        if (!trimmed || trimmed === r.title) return;
+        const res = await api.renameBook(r.path, trimmed);
+        if (res && "error" in res) {
+          await alertMessage("Could not rename", (res as { error: string }).error);
+          return;
+        }
+        await renderRecents();
+      });
+      actions.appendChild(ren);
+    }
+    if (isHidden) {
+      const unhide = document.createElement("button");
+      unhide.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-hide";
+      unhide.type = "button";
+      unhide.title = "Show in recents (book on disk is untouched)";
+      unhide.setAttribute("aria-label", "Unhide book in recents");
+      unhide.textContent = "Unhide";
+      unhide.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        await api.unhideRecent(r.path);
+        await renderRecents();
+      });
+      actions.appendChild(unhide);
+    } else {
+      // Hide is list-only — safe by design, so it needs no confirmation and
+      // sits BEFORE the destructive Delete so a mis-click lands on the safe one.
+      const hide = document.createElement("button");
+      hide.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-hide";
+      hide.type = "button";
+      hide.title = "Hide from recents (book on disk is untouched)";
+      hide.setAttribute("aria-label", "Hide from recents");
+      hide.textContent = "Hide";
+      hide.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        await api.hideRecent(r.path);
+        await renderRecents();
+      });
+      actions.appendChild(hide);
+    }
+    const del = document.createElement("button");
+    del.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-delete";
+    del.type = "button";
+    del.title = "Delete book";
+    del.setAttribute("aria-label", "Delete book");
+    del.textContent = "Delete";
+    del.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      const res = await api.deleteBook(r.path);
+      if (res && "error" in res) {
+        await alertMessage("Could not delete", (res as { error: string }).error);
+        return;
+      }
+      await renderRecents();
+      // Only promise an in-app Undo where restore actually works (Linux
+      // home trash). Elsewhere the book sits in the OS trash, which the
+      // user can restore manually — no false "Undo" button.
+      if (!(res as { canUndoRestore?: boolean }).canUndoRestore) return;
+      showUndoToast(`Deleted "${r.title || r.path}"`, async () => {
+        const rr = await api.restoreBook(r.path);
+        if (rr && "error" in rr) {
+          await alertMessage("Could not restore", (rr as { error: string }).error);
+          return;
+        }
+        await renderRecents();
+      });
+    });
+    actions.appendChild(del);
+    li.appendChild(label);
+    li.appendChild(actions);
+    return li;
+  }
+
+  // Collapsible "Hidden (n)" row: click to expand the hidden entries inline,
+  // each offering Unhide. Hidden books stay reachable without polluting the
+  // main list.
+  function hiddenDisclosure(hidden: (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]): HTMLLIElement {
+    const wrap = document.createElement("li");
+    wrap.className = "recent-hidden-group";
+    const toggle = document.createElement("button");
+    toggle.type = "button";
+    toggle.className = "recent-hidden-toggle";
+    toggle.textContent = `Hidden (${hidden.length})`;
+    const sub = document.createElement("ul");
+    sub.className = "recent-list recent-hidden-items hidden";
+    for (const r of hidden) sub.appendChild(recentRow(r, true));
+    toggle.addEventListener("click", () => {
+      sub.classList.toggle("hidden");
+      toggle.classList.toggle("open");
+    });
+    wrap.appendChild(toggle);
+    wrap.appendChild(sub);
+    return wrap;
+  }
+
   // At most one recents row is selected at a time; selection reveals the
   // row's action buttons (see .recent-actions CSS).
   function deselectRecent(li: HTMLElement) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.css b/src/renderer/index.css
index ad9509d..54d9612 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.css
+++ b/src/renderer/index.css
@@ -665,6 +665,50 @@ html, body {
   color: #ff6b6b;
 }
 
+/* Hide is list-only, so it reads quieter than the destructive Delete. */
+.recent-item .recent-hide:hover {
+  opacity: 1;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.22);
+}
+
+/* "Hidden (n)" disclosure at the bottom of the recents list. */
+.recent-hidden-group {
+  list-style: none;
+  margin-top: 4px;
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-toggle {
+  border: none;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: inherit;
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+  padding: 2px 6px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-toggle:hover {
+  opacity: 1;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-toggle::before {
+  content: "▸ ";
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-toggle.open::before {
+  content: "▾ ";
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-items {
+  margin-left: 6px;
+}
+
+.recent-hidden-items .recent-title {
+  opacity: 0.75;
+}
+
 .muted {
   color: var(--color-muted);
 }
diff --git a/tests/run-project-test.mjs b/tests/run-project-test.mjs
index 1ff5a34..67fba72 100644
--- a/tests/run-project-test.mjs
+++ b/tests/run-project-test.mjs
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ const {
   hasBook,
   listRecents,
   addRecent,
+  hideRecent,
+  unhideRecent,
   makeChapterId,
   chapterFileName,
 } = mod;
@@ -65,6 +67,19 @@ ok(r2.length === 2 && r2[0].path === "/other", "second recent added to top");
 const r3 = addRecent(rf, { path: dir, title: "My Novel", lastOpened: "2026-03-03T00:00:00Z" });
 ok(r3.length === 2 && r3[0].path === dir, "duplicate path deduped + moved to top");
 
+// Hide/unhide: list-only — entry stays in the file, disk untouched.
+const h1 = hideRecent(rf, "/other");
+ok(h1.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === true, "hide marks entry hidden");
+ok(h1.length === 2, "hide keeps the entry in the file");
+ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, "folio.json")), "hide leaves book on disk intact");
+const h2 = addRecent(rf, { path: "/other", title: "Other", lastOpened: "2026-04-04T00:00:00Z" });
+ok(h2.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === false, "re-opening un-hides");
+const h3 = hideRecent(rf, "/other");
+const h4 = unhideRecent(rf, "/other");
+ok(h4.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === false, "unhide clears the flag");
+ok(h3.length === 2 && h4.length === 2, "hide/unhide never drop entries");
+ok(hideRecent(rf, "/nowhere").length === 2, "hide of unknown path is a no-op");
+
 const id = makeChapterId("Chapter One");
 ok(id.startsWith("chapter-one-"), "chapter id slugified: " + id);
 ok(chapterFileName(id) === `${id}.md`, "filename is <id>.md");