diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py b/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
index 39fced09a6..8fcc67a241 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import lru_cache
 from qt.core import (
     QAbstractNativeEventFilter, QApplication, QColor, QIcon, QPalette, QSettings,
-    QStyle, Qt, QTimer, pyqtSlot, QObject
+    QStyle, Qt, QTimer, pyqtSlot, QObject, QDataStream, QByteArray, QIODeviceBase
 )
 
 from calibre.constants import DEBUG, dark_link_color, ismacos, iswindows
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ from calibre.constants import DEBUG, dark_link_color, ismacos, iswindows
 dark_link_color = QColor(dark_link_color)
 dark_color = QColor(45,45,45)
 dark_text_color = QColor('#ddd')
+light_color = QColor(0xef, 0xef, 0xef)
+light_text_color = QColor(0,0,0)
+light_link_color = QColor(0, 0, 255)
 
 
 if iswindows:
@@ -61,10 +64,39 @@ def linux_is_system_dark_mode_enabled():
 
 
 def palette_is_dark(self):
-    return self.color(QPalette.ColorRole.Window).lightnessF() < self.color(QPalette.ColorRole.WindowText).lightnessF()
+    col = self.color(QPalette.ColorRole.Window)
+    return max(col.getRgb()[:3]) < 115
+
+
+def serialize_palette(self):
+    ba = QByteArray()
+    ds = QDataStream(ba, QIODeviceBase.OpenModeFlag.WriteOnly)
+    ds << self
+    return bytes(ba)
+
+
+def unserialize_palette(self, data: bytes):
+    QDataStream(QByteArray(data)) >> self
+
+
+def serialize_palette_as_python(self):
+    lines = []
+    for group in QPalette.ColorGroup:
+        if group in (QPalette.ColorGroup.All, QPalette.ColorGroup.NColorGroups):
+            continue
+        for role in QPalette.ColorRole:
+            if role == QPalette.ColorRole.NColorRoles:
+                continue
+            c = self.color(group, role)
+            lines.append(
+                f'self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.{group.name}, QPalette.ColorRole.{role.name}, QColor({c.red()}, {c.green()}, {c.blue()}, {c.alpha()}))')
+    return '\n'.join(lines)
 
 
 QPalette.is_dark_theme = palette_is_dark
+QPalette.serialize_as_bytes = serialize_palette
+QPalette.serialize_as_python = serialize_palette_as_python
+QPalette.unserialize_from_bytes = unserialize_palette
 
 
 def fix_palette_colors(p):
@@ -103,6 +135,96 @@ def dark_palette():
     return p
 
 
+def light_palette():
+    # generated by serializing the light palette on my Linux system
+    self = QPalette()
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.WindowText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Button, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Light, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Midlight, QColor(202, 202, 202, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Dark, QColor(159, 159, 159, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Mid, QColor(184, 184, 184, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Text, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.BrightText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.ButtonText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Base, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Window, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Shadow, QColor(118, 118, 118, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight, QColor(48, 140, 198, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.HighlightedText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.Link, QColor(0, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.LinkVisited, QColor(255, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase, QColor(247, 247, 247, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipBase, QColor(255, 255, 220, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.PlaceholderText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 128))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, QPalette.ColorRole.NoRole, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.WindowText, QColor(190, 190, 190, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Button, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Light, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Midlight, QColor(202, 202, 202, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Dark, QColor(190, 190, 190, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Mid, QColor(184, 184, 184, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Text, QColor(190, 190, 190, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.BrightText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.ButtonText, QColor(190, 190, 190, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Base, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Window, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Shadow, QColor(177, 177, 177, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight, QColor(145, 145, 145, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.HighlightedText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.Link, QColor(0, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.LinkVisited, QColor(255, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase, QColor(247, 247, 247, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipBase, QColor(255, 255, 220, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.PlaceholderText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 128))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Disabled, QPalette.ColorRole.NoRole, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.WindowText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Button, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Light, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Midlight, QColor(202, 202, 202, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Dark, QColor(159, 159, 159, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Mid, QColor(184, 184, 184, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Text, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.BrightText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.ButtonText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Base, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Window, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Shadow, QColor(118, 118, 118, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight, QColor(48, 140, 198, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.HighlightedText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.Link, QColor(0, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.LinkVisited, QColor(255, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase, QColor(247, 247, 247, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipBase, QColor(255, 255, 220, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.PlaceholderText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 128))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, QPalette.ColorRole.NoRole, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.WindowText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Button, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Light, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Midlight, QColor(202, 202, 202, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Dark, QColor(159, 159, 159, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Mid, QColor(184, 184, 184, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Text, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.BrightText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.ButtonText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Base, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Window, QColor(239, 239, 239, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Shadow, QColor(118, 118, 118, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight, QColor(48, 140, 198, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.HighlightedText, QColor(255, 255, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.Link, QColor(0, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.LinkVisited, QColor(255, 0, 255, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase, QColor(247, 247, 247, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipBase, QColor(255, 255, 220, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.ToolTipText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.PlaceholderText, QColor(0, 0, 0, 128))
+    self.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Current, QPalette.ColorRole.NoRole, QColor(0, 0, 0, 255))
+    return self
+
+
 class PaletteManager(QObject):
 
     color_palette: str
@@ -167,6 +289,11 @@ class PaletteManager(QObject):
                 self.set_dark_mode_palette()
             elif self.original_palette_modified:
                 self.set_palette(self.original_palette)
+            if self.has_fixed_palette and (self.color_palette == 'dark') != QApplication.instance().palette().is_dark_theme():
+                if self.color_palette == 'dark':
+                    self.set_dark_mode_palette()
+                else:
+                    self.set_light_mode_palette()
 
         if DEBUG:
             print('Using calibre Qt style:', self.using_calibre_style, file=sys.stderr)
@@ -247,6 +374,9 @@ class PaletteManager(QObject):
     def set_dark_mode_palette(self):
         self.set_palette(dark_palette())
 
+    def set_light_mode_palette(self):
+        self.set_palette(light_palette())
+
     if not iswindows and not ismacos:
         @pyqtSlot(str, str, QDBusVariant)
         def linux_desktop_setting_changed(self, namespace, key, val):