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.
2025 Staff Picks
Explore our 2025 Staff Picks for adults, teens, and kids to discover your next great read from our curated selections. Find the perfect audiobook to accompany your morning walk, or choose a movie to enjoy on a cozy winter afternoon. Whether you’re searching for engaging books, entertaining media, or thoughtful gifts, our 2025 Staff Picks offers something for everyone to enjoy.
March 2026 Staff Picks
Who’s That Pokémon?! & Questions (Adults)
This list is for all of our 16+ patrons who can’t get enough of Pokémon! Check out our top books on this world as Pokémon turns 30 — books about crafts, history, game guides, and even our most popular Pokémon movies! This list doesn’t include very many of our children’s Pokémon series, but that’s okay — we have a list for that, too!
Picture Books that Grown-Ups Might Like
For a breath of fresh air in between your novels, histories, memoirs, poetry, or other words-only books, don’t be afraid to check out a picture book. Sometimes when I read a picture book with my kids, it resonates deeply with me or it seems like I’m enjoying it more than they are. These are some of those books. Whether they serve as a reminder of what matters most in life, are nostalgic, or have exciting or intriguing illustrations or artwork, these books may be worth your grown-up time even if you aren’t sharing them with a child.
Winter Mysteries and Thrillers
Need a chilly read? Here are some winter thrillers to keep you up at night!
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Celebrating Women’s Wrongs: Revenge Movies & TV
March has a lot going for her — it’s Women’s History Month and the ides of March, as Shakespeare coined. Why not celebrate both? Gretchen Wieners might’ve said it best: “We should all just totally stab Caeser!!!” These are our go-to women’s revenge movies!
Non-monogamy and Polyamory // Explorations and Stories
This starter list alternates fiction and non-fiction titles that feature non-monogamy and/or polyamory. Non-monogamous relationships (sometimes called consensual or ethical non-monogamy) involve partners who agree to have multiple romantic and/or sexual partners, with an emphasis on open, honest communication, and explicit consent from everyone involved. Non-monogamy can be an umbrella term that encompasses polyamory (multiple loving relationships, with an infinite range of how everyone relates to everyone else) or open relationships (where primary partners are romantically involved, but agree to be open to each other having other sexual and/or romantic partners).
There’s a lot to unpack in the words above, especially if these are new-to-you terms, so the non-fiction titles below are a great resource for any questions you may have. The fiction titles all feature polyamory, in varying levels of how much the plot revolves around it, and are across different genres, including romance, science fiction, and fantasy.
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Drawing Books
Here are some recent books on drawing and drawing instruction that I think are helpful.
My Criterion Closet Picks
Criterion Closet Picks is a popular YouTube series by The Criterion Collection where filmmakers, actors, and artists visit their NYC office to select free Blu-rays and DVDs from a stocked, wall-to-wall closet. Closet picks are: “Stocked with more than 1,000 of the greatest films from around the world, the Criterion Closet may offer more cinematic inspiration per square foot than any other place on the planet.” ~ Here are my Closet Picks. Usually, you give 10 or less, but I could’t help myself. Here’s 28 personal picks.
If You Liked…Project Hail Mary
these are books that capture the humor, science, survival, cosmic wonder, and big-hearted problem-solving of Andy Weir’s hit novel.
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Myth & Magic: A Chinese Zodiac Fantasy Reading List
Spellbinding fantasy books by Asian American authors — one for every sign. From clever Rats to powerful Dragons, this reading list pairs each Chinese zodiac symbol with a book by Asian American authors whose stories echo the traits, themes, and legends of each animal. Whether readers want fierce warriors, hidden magic, quiet wisdom, or shape-shifting creatures, these books highlight the depth, diversity, and imagination of contemporary Asian American fantasy writing.
If You Liked…People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry’s iconic writing voice will bring you somewhere warm and sunny, where you’ll meet bookish and heartfelt characters along the way. This list is comprised of some of her recent fiction, as well as other notable summer romance novels.
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23 Films to Celebrate 23 Years of Indy Film Fest
The 23rd annual Indy Film Festival takes place April 22-26 at Kan-Kan Cinema & Dance Kaleidoscope. While you wait to see what Indy Film Fest programmers have to share this year, look back at some of the award-winning films featured in past seasons.
A Beginner’s Guide to Houseplants
Bring the outdoors inside on Houseplant Appreciation Day! This list features several beginner’s guides on how to choose houseplants, how to style houseplants in your living space, and how to take care of houseplants. Whether or not you consider yourself someone with a green thumb, these titles offer plenty of guidance and useful information for brand new and seasoned houseplant enthusiasts.
Women in Conservation & Environmental Justice
Let’s pause to honor some of the remarkable women in the ongoing fight to preserve the Earth and its natural resources for generations to come. Learn more by digging into the titles below!
BL & GL Stories in Adult Manga
Manga is made up a wide variety of genres including romance. Romances depicting same-sex relationships are often marketed as BL (Boys’ Love) or GL (Girls’ Love) by manga publishers. These romance titles can range from realistic, down-to-earth dramas to cheesy, over-the-top romcoms. They can also include other genres like historical fiction and fantasy. Some works may touch upon real life LGBTQ+ issues while others focus more on the drama brought about by the developing relationship at the center of the story.
Here are a few BL and GL manga series for adults that you can find at IndyPL!
#IndyPLAdults #IndyPLAdult #Queer #LGBTQ #Romance #BL #GL #BoysLove #GirlsLove
Disreputable Genres
You don’t have to admit to listening to this stuff.
