diff --git a/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/network/translators/item/translators/nbt/BookPagesTranslator.java b/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/network/translators/item/translators/nbt/BookPagesTranslator.java
index 15279c7a0..e802f0174 100644
--- a/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/network/translators/item/translators/nbt/BookPagesTranslator.java
+++ b/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/network/translators/item/translators/nbt/BookPagesTranslator.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class BookPagesTranslator extends NbtItemStackTranslator {
 
             CompoundTag pageTag = new CompoundTag("");
             pageTag.put(new StringTag("photoname", ""));
-            pageTag.put(new StringTag("text", MessageUtils.getBedrockMessage(textTag.getValue())));
+            pageTag.put(new StringTag("text", MessageUtils.getBedrockMessageLenient(textTag.getValue())));
             pages.add(pageTag);
         }
 
diff --git a/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/utils/MessageUtils.java b/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/utils/MessageUtils.java
index 3c924912a..d79cdab82 100644
--- a/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/utils/MessageUtils.java
+++ b/connector/src/main/java/org/geysermc/connector/utils/MessageUtils.java
@@ -137,6 +137,23 @@ public class MessageUtils {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Verifies the message is valid JSON in case it's plaintext. Works around GsonComponentSeraializer not using lenient mode.
+     * See https://wiki.vg/Chat for messages sent in lenient mode, and for a description on leniency.
+     *
+     * @param message Potentially lenient JSON message
+     * @return Bedrock formatted message
+     */
+    public static String getBedrockMessageLenient(String message) {
+        if (isMessage(message)) {
+            return getBedrockMessage(message);
+        } else {
+            final JsonObject obj = new JsonObject();
+            obj.addProperty("text", message);
+            return getBedrockMessage(obj.toString());
+        }
+    }
+
     public static String getBedrockMessage(String message) {
         Component component = phraseJavaMessage(message);
         return LegacyComponentSerializer.legacy().serialize(component);