diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 96c6443..9c834ca 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -9,3 +9,6 @@ READER_PASSWORD=your-reader-password-here
 # A long random string used to sign JWT tokens.
 # Generate one with: node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('hex'))"
 JWT_SECRET=change-this-to-a-random-secret
+
+# Discord webhook URL for first-read notifications (optional)
+DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL=
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/letters.ts b/backend/src/routes/letters.ts
index 6a7fb8d..572b8c8 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/letters.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/letters.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,18 @@ export async function letterRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
     if (role === "reader" && !rows[0].readAt) {
       const readAt = new Date().toISOString();
       await db.update(letters).set({ readAt }).where(eq(letters.id, id));
+
+      const webhookUrl = process.env.DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL;
+      if (webhookUrl) {
+        const date = new Date(rows[0].letterDate ?? rows[0].createdAt.slice(0, 10))
+          .toLocaleDateString("en-US", { weekday: "long", year: "numeric", month: "long", day: "numeric" });
+        fetch(webhookUrl, {
+          method: "POST",
+          headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ content: `💌 Your letter from **${date}** was just opened!` }),
+        }).catch(() => {});
+      }
+
       return { ...rows[0], readAt };
     }