diff --git a/documentation/phase3/ranking-algorithm.md b/documentation/phase3/ranking-algorithm.md
index 5c86d34..0fd997f 100644
--- a/documentation/phase3/ranking-algorithm.md
+++ b/documentation/phase3/ranking-algorithm.md
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@ Evaluates and scores torrents to automatically select best audiobook download.
 
 **1. Title/Author Match (50 pts max) - MOST IMPORTANT**
 - Title matching: 0-35 pts
-  - Exact substring match → 35 pts
+  - Complete title match (followed by metadata: " by", " [", " -") → 35 pts
+  - Title is substring but continues with more words → fuzzy similarity (partial credit)
+  - Prevents series confusion: "The Housemaid" vs "The Housemaid's Secret"
   - No exact match → fuzzy similarity (partial credit)
 - Author presence: 0-15 pts
+  - Exact substring match → proportional credit
+  - No exact match → fuzzy similarity (partial credit)
   - Splits authors on delimiters (comma, &, "and", " - ")
   - Filters out roles ("translator", "narrator")
-  - Proportional credit for partial matches
 - Order-independent, no structure assumptions
 - Ensures correct book is selected over wrong book with better format
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/audiobooks/request-with-torrent/route.ts b/src/app/api/audiobooks/request-with-torrent/route.ts
index ef0b73f..b83f641 100644
--- a/src/app/api/audiobooks/request-with-torrent/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/audiobooks/request-with-torrent/route.ts
@@ -96,11 +96,12 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
         });
       }
 
-      // Check if user already has an active request for this audiobook
+      // Check if user already has an active (non-deleted) request for this audiobook
       const existingRequest = await prisma.request.findFirst({
         where: {
           userId: req.user.id,
           audiobookId: audiobookRecord.id,
+          deletedAt: null, // Only check active requests
         },
       });
 
diff --git a/src/components/requests/InteractiveTorrentSearchModal.tsx b/src/components/requests/InteractiveTorrentSearchModal.tsx
index 0d3b1ae..4ed2848 100644
--- a/src/components/requests/InteractiveTorrentSearchModal.tsx
+++ b/src/components/requests/InteractiveTorrentSearchModal.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export function InteractiveTorrentSearchModal({
 
   const [results, setResults] = useState<(TorrentResult & { rank: number; qualityScore?: number })[]>([]);
   const [confirmTorrent, setConfirmTorrent] = useState<TorrentResult | null>(null);
+  const [searchTitle, setSearchTitle] = useState(audiobook.title);
 
   // Determine which mode we're in
   const hasRequestId = !!requestId;
@@ -52,6 +53,12 @@ export function InteractiveTorrentSearchModal({
     ? (searchByRequestError || selectTorrentError)
     : (searchByAudiobookError || requestWithTorrentError);
 
+  // Reset search title when modal opens/closes or audiobook changes
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    setSearchTitle(audiobook.title);
+    setResults([]);
+  }, [isOpen, audiobook.title]);
+
   // Perform search when modal opens
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (isOpen && results.length === 0) {
@@ -60,14 +67,17 @@ export function InteractiveTorrentSearchModal({
   }, [isOpen]);
 
   const performSearch = async () => {
+    // Clear existing results while searching
+    setResults([]);
+
     try {
       let data;
       if (hasRequestId) {
-        // Existing flow: search by requestId
+        // Existing flow: search by requestId (cannot customize search term)
         data = await searchByRequestId(requestId);
       } else {
-        // New flow: search by audiobook title/author
-        data = await searchByAudiobook(audiobook.title, audiobook.author);
+        // New flow: search by custom title + original author
+        data = await searchByAudiobook(searchTitle, audiobook.author);
       }
       setResults(data || []);
     } catch (err) {
@@ -76,6 +86,12 @@ export function InteractiveTorrentSearchModal({
     }
   };
 
+  const handleSearchKeyPress = (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+      performSearch();
+    }
+  };
+
   const handleDownloadClick = (torrent: TorrentResult) => {
     setConfirmTorrent(torrent);
   };
@@ -124,10 +140,42 @@ export function InteractiveTorrentSearchModal({
     <>
       <Modal isOpen={isOpen} onClose={onClose} title="Select Torrent" size="full">
         <div className="space-y-4">
-          {/* Audiobook info */}
+          {/* Search customization */}
           <div className="bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-900 p-4 rounded-lg">
-            <h3 className="font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">{audiobook.title}</h3>
-            <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">By {audiobook.author}</p>
+            {hasRequestId ? (
+              // Existing request: show static title (cannot customize)
+              <>
+                <h3 className="font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">{audiobook.title}</h3>
+                <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">By {audiobook.author}</p>
+              </>
+            ) : (
+              // New search: allow title customization
+              <>
+                <label className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 mb-2">
+                  Search Title
+                </label>
+                <div className="flex gap-2">
+                  <input
+                    type="text"
+                    value={searchTitle}
+                    onChange={(e) => setSearchTitle(e.target.value)}
+                    onKeyPress={handleSearchKeyPress}
+                    placeholder="Enter book title to search..."
+                    disabled={isSearching}
+                    className="flex-1 px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-600 rounded-md shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-blue-500 focus:border-blue-500 bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100 disabled:opacity-50"
+                  />
+                  <Button
+                    onClick={performSearch}
+                    disabled={isSearching || !searchTitle.trim()}
+                    variant="primary"
+                    size="sm"
+                  >
+                    Search
+                  </Button>
+                </div>
+                <p className="text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400 mt-2">By {audiobook.author}</p>
+              </>
+            )}
           </div>
 
           {/* Error message */}
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/ranking-algorithm.ts b/src/lib/utils/ranking-algorithm.ts
index a8b98ab..185de37 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/ranking-algorithm.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/ranking-algorithm.ts
@@ -201,10 +201,26 @@ export class RankingAlgorithm {
     // Title matching (0-35 points)
     let titleScore = 0;
     if (torrentTitle.includes(requestTitle)) {
-      // Exact substring match → full points
-      titleScore = 35;
+      // Found the title, but is it the complete title or part of a longer one?
+      const titleIndex = torrentTitle.indexOf(requestTitle);
+      const afterTitle = torrentTitle.substring(titleIndex + requestTitle.length);
+
+      // Title is complete if followed by clear metadata markers
+      // (not followed by more title words like "'s Secret" or " Is Watching")
+      const metadataMarkers = [' by ', ' - ', ' [', ' (', ' {', ' :', ','];
+      const isCompleteTitle = afterTitle === '' ||
+                              metadataMarkers.some(marker => afterTitle.startsWith(marker));
+
+      if (isCompleteTitle) {
+        // Complete title match → full points
+        titleScore = 35;
+      } else {
+        // Title continues with more words (e.g., "The Housemaid" + "'s Secret")
+        // This is likely a different book in a series → use fuzzy similarity
+        titleScore = compareTwoStrings(requestTitle, torrentTitle) * 35;
+      }
     } else {
-      // No exact match → use fuzzy similarity for partial credit
+      // No substring match at all → use fuzzy similarity
       titleScore = compareTwoStrings(requestTitle, torrentTitle) * 35;
     }