diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/convert_book.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/convert_book.py
index fc1885d496..2b53e09653 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/convert_book.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/convert_book.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def save_metadata(metadata, f):
     f.seek(0), f.truncate(), f.write(as_bytes(json.dumps(metadata, indent=2)))
 
 
-def prepare_book(path, convert_func=do_convert, max_age=30 * DAY):
+def prepare_book(path, convert_func=do_convert, max_age=30 * DAY, force=False):
     st = os.stat(path)
     key = book_hash(path, st.st_size, st.st_mtime)
     finished_path = safe_makedirs(os.path.join(book_cache_dir(), 'f'))
@@ -135,11 +135,15 @@ def prepare_book(path, convert_func=do_convert, max_age=30 * DAY):
             metadata = {'entries': {}, 'last_clear_at': 0}
         entries = metadata['entries']
         instances = entries.setdefault(key, [])
-        for instance in instances:
+        for instance in tuple(instances):
             if instance['status'] == 'finished':
-                instance['atime'] = time.time()
-                save_metadata(metadata, f)
-                return os.path.join(finished_path, instance['path'])
+                if force:
+                    robust_rmtree(os.path.join(finished_path, instance['path']))
+                    instances.remove(instance)
+                else:
+                    instance['atime'] = time.time()
+                    save_metadata(metadata, f)
+                    return os.path.join(finished_path, instance['path'])
         instance = prepare_convert(temp_path, key, st)
         instances.append(instance)
         save_metadata(metadata, f)
@@ -234,6 +238,12 @@ def find_tests():
             third_path = prepare_book(book_src, convert_func=convert_mock)
             self.assertNotEqual(path, third_path)
 
+            # Test force reload
+            fourth_path = prepare_book(book_src, convert_func=convert_mock)
+            self.ae(third_path, fourth_path)
+            fourth_path = prepare_book(book_src, convert_func=convert_mock, force=True)
+            self.assertNotEqual(third_path, fourth_path)
+
             # Test cache expiry
             open(book_src, 'wb').write(b'bcd')
             prepare_book(book_src, convert_func=convert_mock, max_age=-1000)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
index 5d5711bc6d..b3b9b9e006 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class EbookViewer(MainWindow):
         self.inspector_dock = create_dock(_('Inspector'), 'inspector', Qt.RightDockWidgetArea)
         self.web_view = WebView(self)
         self.web_view.cfi_changed.connect(self.cfi_changed)
+        self.web_view.reload_book.connect(self.reload_book)
         self.setCentralWidget(self.web_view)
 
     def handle_commandline_arg(self, arg):
@@ -76,18 +77,22 @@ class EbookViewer(MainWindow):
         self.load_ebook(path, open_at=open_at)
         self.raise_()
 
-    def load_ebook(self, pathtoebook, open_at=None):
+    def load_ebook(self, pathtoebook, open_at=None, reload_book=False):
         # TODO: Implement open_at
         self.web_view.show_preparing_message()
         self.save_annotations()
         self.current_book_data = {}
-        t = Thread(name='LoadBook', target=self._load_ebook_worker, args=(pathtoebook, open_at))
+        t = Thread(name='LoadBook', target=self._load_ebook_worker, args=(pathtoebook, open_at, reload_book))
         t.daemon = True
         t.start()
 
-    def _load_ebook_worker(self, pathtoebook, open_at):
+    def reload_book(self):
+        if self.current_book_data:
+            self.load_ebook(self.current_book_data['pathtoebook'], reload_book=True)
+
+    def _load_ebook_worker(self, pathtoebook, open_at, reload_book):
         try:
-            ans = prepare_book(pathtoebook)
+            ans = prepare_book(pathtoebook, force=reload_book)
         except WorkerError as e:
             self.book_prepared.emit(False, {'exception': e, 'tb': e.orig_tb, 'pathtoebook': pathtoebook})
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
index dfd8df0885..0bb0f1b638 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ def create_profile():
 class ViewerBridge(Bridge):
 
     set_session_data = from_js(object, object)
+    reload_book = from_js()
 
     create_view = to_js()
     show_preparing_message = to_js()
@@ -244,6 +245,7 @@ class Inspector(QWidget):
 class WebView(RestartingWebEngineView):
 
     cfi_changed = pyqtSignal(object)
+    reload_book = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
         self._host_widget = None
@@ -256,6 +258,7 @@ class WebView(RestartingWebEngineView):
         self._page = WebPage(self)
         self.bridge.bridge_ready.connect(self.on_bridge_ready)
         self.bridge.set_session_data.connect(self.set_session_data)
+        self.bridge.reload_book.connect(self.reload_book)
         self.pending_bridge_ready_actions = {}
         self.setPage(self._page)
         self.setAcceptDrops(False)
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
index 2a59096a72..d52c1b7fa3 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
@@ -72,4 +72,6 @@ ui_operations = {
     'update_url_state': None,
     'update_last_read_time': None,
     'show_error': None,
+    'redisplay_book': None,
+    'reload_book': None,
 }
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
index 7da105ff40..e1329dae34 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
@@ -5,19 +5,21 @@ from __python__ import bound_methods, hash_literals
 from elementmaker import E
 from gettext import gettext as _
 
-from book_list.globals import get_read_ui
 from book_list.library_data import sync_library_books
 from book_list.router import home
 from book_list.theme import get_color
 from dom import add_extra_css, build_rule, clear, set_css, svgicon, unique_id
 from modals import error_dialog
-from utils import full_screen_element, request_full_screen, safe_set_inner_html, is_ios
+from read_book.globals import ui_operations, runtime
 from read_book.goto import create_goto_panel
 from read_book.prefs.font_size import create_font_size_panel
 from read_book.prefs.main import create_prefs_panel
 from read_book.toc import create_toc_panel
 from read_book.word_actions import create_word_actions_panel
 from session import get_device_uuid
+from utils import (
+    full_screen_element, is_ios, request_full_screen, safe_set_inner_html
+)
 from widgets import create_button, create_spinner
 
 
@@ -86,6 +88,10 @@ class DeleteBook:  # {{{
         pass  # Dont allow panel to be closed by a click
 
     def delete_book(self):
+        if runtime.is_standalone_viewer:
+            if self.reload_book:
+                ui_operations.reload_book()
+            return
         self.show_working()
         view = self.overlay.view
         view.ui.db.delete_book(view.book, def(book, errmsg):
@@ -94,7 +100,7 @@ class DeleteBook:  # {{{
                 view.ui.show_error(_('Failed to delete book'), _('Failed to delete book from local storage, click "Show details" for more information.'), errmsg)
             else:
                 if self.reload_book:
-                    get_read_ui().reload_book()
+                    ui_operations.reload_book()
                 else:
                     home()
         )
@@ -207,6 +213,14 @@ class MainOverlay:
 
             return E.li(icon, '\xa0', text, onclick=action, title=tooltip)
 
+        sync_action = ac(_('Sync'), _('Get last read position and annotations from the server'), self.overlay.sync_book, 'cloud-download')
+        delete_action = ac(_('Delete'), _('Delete this book from the device'), self.overlay.delete_book, 'trash')
+        reload_action = ac(_('Reload'), _('Reload this book from the {}').format( _('computer') if runtime.is_standalone_viewer else _('server')), self.overlay.reload_book, 'refresh')
+        if runtime.is_standalone_viewer:
+            reload_actions = E.ul(reload_action)
+        else:
+            reload_actions = E.ul(sync_action, delete_action, reload_action)
+
         actions_div = E.div( # actions
             E.ul(
                 ac(_('Home'), _('Return to list of books'), def(): home();, 'home'),
@@ -219,11 +233,7 @@ class MainOverlay:
                 ac(_('Go to'), _('Go to a specific location in the book'), self.overlay.show_goto, 'chevron-right'),
             ),
 
-            E.ul(
-                ac(_('Sync'), _('Get last read position and annotations from the server'), self.overlay.sync_book, 'cloud-download'),
-                ac(_('Delete'), _('Delete this book from the device'), self.overlay.delete_book, 'trash'),
-                ac(_('Reload'), _('Reload this book from the server'), self.overlay.reload_book, 'refresh')
-            ),
+            reload_actions,
 
             E.ul(
                 ac(_('Table of Contents'), None, self.overlay.show_toc, 'TC', True),
@@ -350,7 +360,7 @@ class PrefsOverlay: # {{{
     def on_hide(self):
         if self.changes_occurred:
             self.changes_occurred = False
-            get_read_ui().redisplay_book()
+            ui_operations.redisplay_book()
 
 # }}}
 
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
index 009b3e85eb..b355ccd57a 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ class ReadUI:
         ui_operations.update_url_state = self.update_url_state.bind(self)
         ui_operations.update_last_read_time = self.db.update_last_read_time
         ui_operations.show_error = self.show_error.bind(self)
+        ui_operations.redisplay_book = self.redisplay_book.bind(self)
+        ui_operations.reload_book = self.reload_book.bind(self)
 
     def on_resize(self):
         self.view.on_resize()
diff --git a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
index 30a0249757..502ecfecf0 100644
--- a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
@@ -206,12 +206,22 @@ def onerror(msg, script_url, line_number, column_number, error_object):
     return True
 
 
+def redisplay_book():
+    view.redisplay_book()
+
+
+def reload_book():
+    to_python.reload_book()
+
+
 if window is window.top:
     # main
     ui_operations.get_file = get_file
     ui_operations.get_mathjax_files = get_mathjax_files
     ui_operations.update_url_state = update_url_state
     ui_operations.show_error = show_error
+    ui_operations.redisplay_book = redisplay_book
+    ui_operations.reload_book = reload_book
     document.body.appendChild(E.div(id='view'))
     window.onerror = onerror
     create_modal_container()