Are you looking for your next great read? We can help! Visit us in person, explore reading recommendations online, join an in-person or online book discussion, get recommendations on Facebook, tune in to our televised book club segments, and more. Get started here!
Personalized Reading Recommendations
Whether you are in a reading frenzy or a reading slump, you might just need a short list of title suggestions to support your reading habit or to get inspired. Hoosier Next Read is a personalized book recommendation service from The Indianapolis Public Library. Share your reading preferences, and our Library staff will send you a custom list of 2–5 titles within 7 business days so you’ll always have your next great read ready.
Sunday Nights on Facebook
Join us on Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. on Facebook for Currently Reading. Enjoy this hour during which book enthusiasts share favorite books and offer suggestion about what to read next. Find out about the books that have everyone talking.
Indy Now Book Club
Catch book recommendations and Library program highlights from your own local librarians once a month on the Indy Now Morning Show with Ryan and Jillian on Fox59. The show airs at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Browse our past appearances.
In-Person & Online Book Discussions
Do you love talking about books? Join one of our book discussions or book clubs available both in-person and online.
Online Reading Recommendations
NovelList and NovelList K-8 are online services that offer reading recommendations. Browse both fiction and nonfiction, read-alike suggestions, series information, reviews, and lists of recommended and award-winning books for adults, teens and kids. Learn how to start on this video tutorial. Also try Book Connections which includes a “find the right book for you” feature.
Make a selection from one of the book lists below created by our staff of avid readers. You can also follow our staff’s most recently published lists on the library catalog home page. Don’t miss our If You Like… suggestions that cover all the favorite genres like science fiction, graphic novels, romance, and more. Finally, don’t miss What We’re Reading Teens and What We’re Reading Kids.
Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian.
Staff Picks
Parent’s Back-to-School Guide
Back to school isn’t only taxing on students — parents and caregivers can often use a little help too. Whether you’re preparing kids for preschool, middle school, high school, or college, these resources can help you navigate the upcoming academic year and equip your students with strong study strategies, communication skills, and time management habits.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.): A Balanced Guide
Does everything you read feel like an infomercial for a.i.? Investigate what experts have to say about what a.i. is, what it can do, and how to make it work for you.
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Greek Mythology Retellings
Love the immersive world of Greek mythology, but sick of rereading Homer? This list includes retellings of 15 different myths. Some of these reimaginings are set in modern settings, others retain their historical atmosphere, but all of them bring a unique perspective to these ancient tales.
Listen with Liz – August 2026
I love nonfiction audiobooks especially memoir and autobiographies.
This is a totally random list of titles I listened to in July 2026.
Titles are listed in alphabetical order unless the titles don’t have cover art included those titles are at the end.
Affordable Cooking
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.” — Paul Prudhomme If your expenses are outpacing your wallet, check out some of these newer titles with ideas to make eating at home tasty and budget friendly.
Science Fiction: Discovering Aliens
After Project Hail Mary’s success, there has been an uptick in interest in sci-fi books that have discovering alien societies/planets/biology as a large portion of the story. This is a list for all those who wonder what might be out there, including any different takes on how “aliens” might evolve, communicate, and live, and how humans might find and interact with them! Rather than alien invasion stories, these books focus on the science, possible evolution, and anthropological aspects of human encounters with aliens.
College Prep Reading List
From non-fiction that guides and historical biographies that pave the way to fiction that inspires, these books will aid you in your preparation for college!
Dying to Dye with Plants
Have you been wondering how you might combine your love of growing with your love of fiber arts? Learn a bit here – through books, then learn more with Danielle at Pike Branch. Register for Natural Dyes From the Garden beginning September 13.
Sisterhood in Sci-Fi and Fantasy
In honor of National Sisters Day, check out these SF/F books and media about sisterhood, whether by blood or by choice.
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If You Like Monty Don
The Brits love their celebrity gardeners, and one of the biggest stars is Monty Don, host of shows like “Gardeners’ World” and “Big Dreams, Small Spaces.” This list is inspired by Monty: his willingness to work hard and get his hands dirty, his down-to-earth and approachable demeanor, his well-worn blue cotton jackets and corduroy trousers, and of course, his gardening expertise.
Chair Exercises
I recently attended the Low Impact Exercise (Chair Aerobics) – with Through the Ages Fitness program and had so much fun. Here are some resources for doing chair exercises at home. See our Chair Aerobics Class Schedule.
Slow Cooking
Never have enough time to throw dinner together? Frozen entrees not cutting it? You might enjoy using a slow cooker (put the ingredients in and come back hours later for dinner). The Library has a very nice collection of cookbooks for Crockpots, Instant Pots, and air fryers. You just might find tomorrow night’s entre!
Books to Read When it’s Too Hot to Run
I don’t know about you, but I am a fair weather runner. Now that the temperatures are cranked up, I am going to check out some new books about running to hold me over until it cools off again.
Short Story Collections
Do you not have the time or attention span to get through a whole novel? Do long books or big series intimidate you? Are you trying to get out of a reading slump? Do you really like short stories? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have come to the right list. While the following collections vary in genre and perspective, they all offer short stories that leave lasting impressions.
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Milhous
Reflect on the anniversary of the Watergate break-in by going beyond Woodward and Bernstein.
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