diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 099626f..4fcfdf7 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "1.8.0"
+  ".": "1.9.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b4523c2..b1ce43f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.9.0](https://github.com/312-dev/scrolly/compare/scrolly-v1.8.0...scrolly-v1.9.0) (2026-03-02)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* reaction icons, GIF playback, comment UX polish ([#38](https://github.com/312-dev/scrolly/issues/38)) ([ed6417f](https://github.com/312-dev/scrolly/commit/ed6417feb05bea0b2882be623f617648927d3041))
+
 ## [1.8.0](https://github.com/312-dev/scrolly/compare/scrolly-v1.7.0...scrolly-v1.8.0) (2026-03-02)
 
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index c775cf6..ca3995c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
 	"name": "scrolly",
-	"version": "1.8.0",
+	"version": "1.9.0",
 	"lockfileVersion": 3,
 	"requires": true,
 	"packages": {
 		"": {
 			"name": "scrolly",
-			"version": "1.8.0",
+			"version": "1.9.0",
 			"license": "MIT",
 			"dependencies": {
 				"better-sqlite3": "^12.6.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a66e821..39ea47b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	"name": "scrolly",
 	"license": "MIT",
 	"private": true,
-	"version": "1.8.0",
+	"version": "1.9.0",
 	"type": "module",
 	"engines": {
 		"node": ">=24"