diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/data/database.ts b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/data/database.ts
index a7e5a0b5d..8c73a8d1d 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/data/database.ts
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/data/database.ts
@@ -412,9 +412,14 @@ for (const [appId, tables] of Object.entries(SYNC_APP_MAP)) {
 			});
 			trackFirstContent(appId);
 			fireTrigger(appId, tableName, 'insert', { ...obj });
-			checkInlineSuggestion(appId, tableName, { ...obj }).then((sug) => {
-				if (sug) window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('mana:automation-suggest', { detail: sug }));
-			});
+			// Defer cross-table reads outside the Dexie hook's transaction scope
+			const objCopy = { ...obj };
+			setTimeout(() => {
+				checkInlineSuggestion(appId, tableName, objCopy).then((sug) => {
+					if (sug)
+						window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('mana:automation-suggest', { detail: sug }));
+				});
+			}, 0);
 		});
 
 		table.hook('updating', function (modifications, primKey) {
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/calendar/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/calendar/ListView.svelte
index 75f72fab0..4970a553d 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/calendar/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/calendar/ListView.svelte
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   Clicking an event opens the detail view.
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+	import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 	import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 	import type { LocalEvent } from './types';
 	import { eventsStore } from './stores/events.svelte';
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	let events = $state<LocalEvent[]>([]);
+	let events$ = useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
+		return db
+			.table<LocalEvent>('events')
+			.toArray()
+			.then((all) => all.filter((e) => !e.deletedAt));
+	}, [] as LocalEvent[]);
+	let events = $derived(events$.value);
 
 	const now = new Date();
 	const todayStr = now.toISOString().split('T')[0];
@@ -52,18 +58,6 @@
 			.sort((a, b) => a.startDate.localeCompare(b.startDate))
 	);
 
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = liveQuery(async () => {
-			return db
-				.table<LocalEvent>('events')
-				.toArray()
-				.then((all) => all.filter((e) => !e.deletedAt));
-		}).subscribe((val) => {
-			events = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
-
 	function formatTime(iso: string): string {
 		return new Date(iso).toLocaleTimeString('de', { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' });
 	}
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/contacts/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/contacts/ListView.svelte
index 62afa6c0d..2976db87c 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/contacts/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/contacts/ListView.svelte
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   Clicking a contact opens the detail view.
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+	import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 	import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 	import type { LocalContact } from './types';
 	import { contactsStore } from './stores/contacts.svelte';
@@ -29,21 +29,15 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	let contacts = $state<LocalContact[]>([]);
+	let contacts$ = useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
+		return db
+			.table<LocalContact>('contacts')
+			.toArray()
+			.then((all) => all.filter((c) => !c.deletedAt && !c.isArchived));
+	}, [] as LocalContact[]);
+	let contacts = $derived(contacts$.value);
 	let search = $state('');
 
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = liveQuery(async () => {
-			return db
-				.table<LocalContact>('contacts')
-				.toArray()
-				.then((all) => all.filter((c) => !c.deletedAt && !c.isArchived));
-		}).subscribe((val) => {
-			contacts = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
-
 	const filtered = $derived(() => {
 		if (!search.trim()) return contacts;
 		const q = search.toLowerCase();
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/ListView.svelte
index 7d4a69d5d..1515711ba 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/ListView.svelte
@@ -22,22 +22,8 @@
 
 	let txs$ = useAllTransactions();
 	let cats$ = useAllCategories();
-	let txs = $state<Transaction[]>([]);
-	let categories = $state<FinanceCategory[]>([]);
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = txs$.subscribe((val) => {
-			txs = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = cats$.subscribe((val) => {
-			categories = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
+	let txs = $derived(txs$.value);
+	let categories = $derived(cats$.value);
 
 	let month = currentMonth();
 	let monthTxs = $derived(getTransactionsForMonth(txs, month));
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/queries.ts b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/queries.ts
index 90430f33e..84a5f454c 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/queries.ts
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/finance/queries.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * Reactive Queries & Pure Helpers for Finance module.
  */
 
-import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 import type {
 	LocalTransaction,
@@ -43,23 +43,23 @@ export function toCategory(local: LocalFinanceCategory): FinanceCategory {
 // ─── Live Queries ──────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export function useAllTransactions() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalTransaction>('transactions').toArray();
 		return locals
 			.filter((t) => !t.deletedAt)
 			.map(toTransaction)
 			.sort((a, b) => b.date.localeCompare(a.date) || b.createdAt.localeCompare(a.createdAt));
-	});
+	}, [] as Transaction[]);
 }
 
 export function useAllCategories() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalFinanceCategory>('financeCategories').toArray();
 		return locals
 			.filter((c) => !c.deletedAt)
 			.map(toCategory)
 			.sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order);
-	});
+	}, [] as FinanceCategory[]);
 }
 
 // ─── Pure Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/ListView.svelte
index 80247a552..a838e41d6 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/ListView.svelte
@@ -23,22 +23,8 @@
 
 	let habits$ = useAllHabits();
 	let logs$ = useAllHabitLogs();
-	let habits = $state<Habit[]>([]);
-	let logs = $state<HabitLog[]>([]);
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = habits$.subscribe((val) => {
-			habits = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = logs$.subscribe((val) => {
-			logs = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
+	let habits = $derived(habits$.value);
+	let logs = $derived(logs$.value);
 
 	let activeHabits = $derived(getActiveHabits(habits));
 	let todayCounts = $derived(getTodayCounts(habits, logs));
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/queries.ts b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/queries.ts
index f04ce368a..8a9042e4c 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/queries.ts
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/habits/queries.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /**
  * Reactive Queries & Pure Helpers for Habits module.
  *
- * Uses Dexie liveQuery on the unified database.
+ * Uses useLiveQueryWithDefault on the unified database.
  */
 
-import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 import type { LocalHabit, LocalHabitLog, Habit, HabitLog } from './types';
 import { EMOJI_TO_ICON_MAP } from './types';
@@ -38,21 +38,21 @@ export function toHabitLog(local: LocalHabitLog): HabitLog {
 // ─── Live Queries ──────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export function useAllHabits() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalHabit>('habits').orderBy('order').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((h) => !h.deletedAt).map(toHabit);
-	});
+	}, [] as Habit[]);
 }
 
 export function useAllHabitLogs() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalHabitLog>('habitLogs').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((l) => !l.deletedAt).map(toHabitLog);
-	});
+	}, [] as HabitLog[]);
 }
 
 export function useHabitLogsForHabit(habitId: string) {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db
 			.table<LocalHabitLog>('habitLogs')
 			.where('habitId')
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export function useHabitLogsForHabit(habitId: string) {
 			.filter((l) => !l.deletedAt)
 			.map(toHabitLog)
 			.sort((a, b) => b.timestamp.localeCompare(a.timestamp));
-	});
+	}, [] as HabitLog[]);
 }
 
 // ─── Pure Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/ListView.svelte
index 192e6f0cc..43f369f3f 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/ListView.svelte
@@ -13,14 +13,7 @@
 	let { navigate, goBack, params }: ViewProps = $props();
 
 	let notes$ = useAllNotes();
-	let notes = $state<Note[]>([]);
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = notes$.subscribe((val) => {
-			notes = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
+	let notes = $derived(notes$.value);
 
 	let searchQuery = $state('');
 	let editingId = $state<string | null>(null);
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/queries.ts b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/queries.ts
index afeafdb99..1921e4851 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/queries.ts
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/notes/queries.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * Reactive Queries & Pure Helpers for Notes module.
  */
 
-import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 import type { LocalNote, Note } from './types';
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export function toNote(local: LocalNote): Note {
 // ─── Live Queries ──────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export function useAllNotes() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalNote>('notes').toArray();
 		return locals
 			.filter((n) => !n.deletedAt && !n.isArchived)
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export function useAllNotes() {
 				if (a.isPinned !== b.isPinned) return a.isPinned ? -1 : 1;
 				return b.updatedAt.localeCompare(a.updatedAt);
 			});
-	});
+	}, [] as Note[]);
 }
 
 // ─── Pure Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/ListView.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/ListView.svelte
index 23e7deaf4..daae2f2b8 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/ListView.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/ListView.svelte
@@ -50,14 +50,7 @@
 	let filter = $state<ViewFilter>('inbox');
 	let newTitle = $state('');
 	let tasks$ = useAllTasks();
-	let tasks = $state<import('./types').Task[]>([]);
-
-	$effect(() => {
-		const sub = tasks$.subscribe((val) => {
-			tasks = val ?? [];
-		});
-		return () => sub.unsubscribe();
-	});
+	let tasks = $derived(tasks$.value);
 
 	const stats = $derived(getTaskStats(tasks));
 	const filtered = $derived(() => {
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/queries.ts b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/queries.ts
index 5521b38af..35df6da46 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/queries.ts
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/lib/modules/todo/queries.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * Reactive queries & pure helpers for Todo — uses Dexie liveQuery on the unified DB.
  */
 
-import { liveQuery } from 'dexie';
+import { useLiveQueryWithDefault } from '@manacore/local-store/svelte';
 import { db } from '$lib/data/database';
 import type {
 	LocalTask,
@@ -43,34 +43,34 @@ export function toTask(local: LocalTask): Task {
 // ─── Live Queries ──────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export function useAllTasks() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalTask>('tasks').orderBy('order').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((t) => !t.deletedAt).map(toTask);
-	});
+	}, [] as Task[]);
 }
 
 // Labels/Tags: use shared global tags from @manacore/shared-stores
 export { useAllTags as useAllLabels } from '@manacore/shared-stores';
 
 export function useAllBoardViews() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalBoardView>('boardViews').orderBy('order').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((v) => !v.deletedAt);
-	});
+	}, [] as LocalBoardView[]);
 }
 
 export function useAllReminders() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalReminder>('reminders').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((r) => !r.deletedAt);
-	});
+	}, [] as LocalReminder[]);
 }
 
 export function useAllProjects() {
-	return liveQuery(async () => {
+	return useLiveQueryWithDefault(async () => {
 		const locals = await db.table<LocalTodoProject>('todoProjects').orderBy('order').toArray();
 		return locals.filter((p) => !p.deletedAt);
-	});
+	}, [] as LocalTodoProject[]);
 }
 
 // ─── Pure Filter Functions ────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
index 1936dc9b0..e23217153 100644
--- a/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
+++ b/apps/manacore/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@
 	}
 
 	// ── Guest Mode ──────────────────────────────────────────
-	let guestMode: GuestMode | null = null;
+	let guestMode = $state<GuestMode | null>(null);
 
 	// ── Onboarding ──────────────────────────────────────────
 	function handleOnboardingComplete() {
diff --git a/packages/shared-auth/src/core/authService.ts b/packages/shared-auth/src/core/authService.ts
index f86561594..f45967b2e 100644
--- a/packages/shared-auth/src/core/authService.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-auth/src/core/authService.ts
@@ -1110,12 +1110,15 @@ export function createAuthService(config: AuthServiceConfig): AuthServiceInterfa
 				}
 
 				// Try to get session from cookie (credentials: 'include' sends cookies)
+				// Use AbortController with timeout so the app doesn't hang when auth is unreachable
+				const ssoAbort = AbortSignal.timeout(5000);
 				const response = await fetch(`${baseUrl}${endpoints.getSession}`, {
 					method: 'GET',
 					credentials: 'include', // Send cookies cross-origin
 					headers: {
 						'Content-Type': 'application/json',
 					},
+					signal: ssoAbort,
 				});
 
 				if (!response.ok) {
@@ -1132,12 +1135,14 @@ export function createAuthService(config: AuthServiceConfig): AuthServiceInterfa
 
 				// Now get tokens by signing in with the session
 				// We need to exchange the session for JWT tokens
+				const tokenAbort = AbortSignal.timeout(5000);
 				const tokenResponse = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/v1/auth/session-to-token`, {
 					method: 'POST',
 					credentials: 'include',
 					headers: {
 						'Content-Type': 'application/json',
 					},
+					signal: tokenAbort,
 				});
 
 				if (!tokenResponse.ok) {