diff --git a/src/client/chat.jsx b/src/client/chat.jsx
index 2686875..651e183 100644
--- a/src/client/chat.jsx
+++ b/src/client/chat.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import './chat.scss';
 
-import React, {useRef} from 'react';
+import React, {useEffect, useRef} from 'react';
+import {useHistory} from 'react-router-dom';
+
+import hydration from '~/common/hydration';
 
 import useBreakpoints from './hooks/useBreakpoints';
 import ChatCenter from './chat--center';
@@ -8,8 +11,17 @@ import ChatLeft from './chat--left';
 import ChatRight from './chat--right';
 
 export default function Chat() {
+  const history = useHistory();
   const ref = useRef(null);
   const {tablet} = useBreakpoints();
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!hydration('user')) {
+      history.goBack();
+    }
+  });
+  if (!hydration('user')) {
+    return null;
+  }
   let origin;
   const abstract = {
     down: ({pageX}) => {
diff --git a/src/client/store.js b/src/client/store.js
index c98a227..8f5b8cb 100644
--- a/src/client/store.js
+++ b/src/client/store.js
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import merge from 'deepmerge';
+import {combineReducers} from 'redux';
 
 import createCommonStore from '~/common/store';
+import user from '~/common/state/user';
+
+const reducer = combineReducers({
+  user,
+});
 
 export default function createStore(options = {}) {
   return createCommonStore(
@@ -8,7 +14,7 @@ export default function createStore(options = {}) {
       options,
       {
         middleware: [],
-        reducer: () => {},
+        reducer,
       },
     ),
   );
diff --git a/src/common/hydration.js b/src/common/hydration.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..857cba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/hydration.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export default (key) => window.__HYDRATION__[key];
diff --git a/src/common/state/user.js b/src/common/state/user.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e6e56e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/state/user.js
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-param-reassign */
+import {
+  createSelector,
+  createSlice,
+} from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
+
+import hydration from '../hydration';
+
+export const userSelector = (state) => state.user;
+
+export const friendsSelector = createSelector(
+  userSelector,
+  (user) => user.friends,
+);
+
+export const activeFriendsSelector = createSelector(
+  friendsSelector,
+  (friends) => Object.values(friends).filter(({state}) => 'active' === state),
+);
+
+export const pendingFriendsSelector = createSelector(
+  friendsSelector,
+  (friends) => Object.values(friends).filter(({state}) => 'pending' === state),
+);
+
+export const redditUsernameSelector = createSelector(
+  userSelector,
+  (user) => user.redditUsername,
+);
+
+const slice = createSlice({
+  name: 'user',
+  initialState: hydration('user') || {
+    friends: {},
+    redditUsername: 'anonymous',
+  },
+  reducers: {
+    addFriend: (state, action) => {},
+    blockUser: (state, action) => {},
+    removeFriend: (state, action) => {},
+    updateFriendshipStatus: (state, action) => {},
+  },
+});
+
+export const {
+  addFriend,
+  blockUser,
+  removeFriend,
+} = slice.actions;
+
+export default slice.reducer;
diff --git a/src/server/models/user.model.js b/src/server/models/user.model.js
index 41df6d2..8200283 100644
--- a/src/server/models/user.model.js
+++ b/src/server/models/user.model.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class User extends BaseModel {
         ],
       },
     });
-    return Promise.all(
+    const friendList = await Promise.all(
       friendships.map(async ({adderId, addeeId, state}) => {
         const otherId = adderId === this.id ? addeeId : adderId;
         const user = await User.findByPk(otherId);
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class User extends BaseModel {
         };
       }),
     );
+    return friendList.reduce((r, friend) => ({...r, [friend.id]: friend}), {});
   }
 
   validatePassword(plaintext) {
diff --git a/src/server/session.js b/src/server/session.js
index 2dab20e..4707516 100644
--- a/src/server/session.js
+++ b/src/server/session.js
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ registerHooks({
     const hydration = {};
     const {user} = req;
     if (user) {
-      hydration.redditUsername = user.redditUsername;
-      hydration.friends = await user.friends();
+      hydration.user = {
+        friends: await user.friends(),
+        redditUsername: user.redditUsername,
+      };
     }
     else {
       hydration.user = null;