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Reading Recommendations

2023 Staff Picks and Top Checkouts

Explore our 2023 staff picks and top checkouts for adults, teens, and kids! Furthermore, discover your next great read from our curated selections. In addition, find the perfect audiobook to accompany your morning walk, or choose a movie to enjoy on a cozy winter afternoon. Additionally, browse through our recommendations for holiday gift ideas that will delight your favorite readers. Whether you’re searching for engaging books, entertaining media, or thoughtful gifts, our picks offer something for everyone to enjoy.

You can keep up with our staff’s reading recommendations throughout the year by visiting What We’re Reading, What We’re Reading for Teens, and What We’re Reading Kids. Additionally, you can find our suggestions prominently displayed on the library catalog home page. These resources provide a continually updated list of book recommendations for all ages, ensuring you always have fresh ideas for your next read. Whether you’re seeking captivating books for yourself, your teens, or your kids, our curated selections will inspire and guide your literary journey.


2023 Top Checkouts

Click on any book cover to access our catalog, where you can easily place a request for the title. Our catalog provides detailed information about each book and allows you to check availability, place holds, and manage your requests seamlessly. This streamlined process allows you to quickly and efficiently secure the books you’re interested in.

Top Checkouts for Adults

title - Sparetitle - Happy Placetitle - Lessons in Chemistrytitle - Fourth Wingtitle - The 1619 Projecttitle - Atlas of the Hearttitle - The New Yorkertitle - Atomic Habitstitle - It Ends With Ustitle - The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*cktitle - The Light We Carrytitle - I'm Glad My Mom Diedtitle - Top Guntitle - Someone Else's Shoestitle - The Coworkertitle - Hello Beautifultitle - I Will Find Youtitle - The Five-star Weekendtitle - The Last Thing He Told Metitle - Pineapple Street

Top Checkouts for Teens

title - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakestitle - A Court of Thorns and Rosestitle - The Hate U Givetitle - One of Us Is Lyingtitle - Witch & Wizardtitle - Uzumakititle - Divine Rivalstitle - Curtsies & Conspiracies

Top Checkouts for Kids

title - Diper överlödetitle - The Super Mario Bros. Movietitle - The Pigeon Has to Go to School!title - Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Seatitle - Cat Kid Comic Clubtitle - Mary Anne's Bad-luck Mysterytitle - Stealing Freedomtitle - I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

2023 Staff Best of Recommendations

Best of Fiction for Adults

Here are a few of our staff members favorite literary and contemporary fiction selections of 2023– featuring complicated family dynamics, love affairs, theft, and more. If you’re looking for genre fiction (like romance, horror, and fantasy) please be sure to check out our other lists!

Best of Nonfiction for Adults

IndyPL Staff members have compiled their favorite nonfiction books of 2023 for those who are eager to learn more about our strange world. These books feature real life sea voyages, the rise of the KKK in Indianapolis, tales of the first women astronauts, a biscuit-specific cookbook and more. Find a new book you’ll love.

Title - Poverty, by AmericaTitle - The WagerTitle - Master Slave Husband WifeTitle - A Fever in the Heartland

Best of Biographies and Memoirs for Adults

Immerse yourself in someone else’s world with one of these Biographies or Memoirs, selected by IndyPL Staff Members. Dive deep into the lives of an astrophysicist, Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter, a queer hijabi woman, an intersex Texan, elite runners, and more.

Title - Hijab Butch BluesTitle - KingTitle - StarstruckTitle - The Talk

Best of Romance

Looking to add a touch more romance to your 2023? Check out these swoony recommendations from IndyPL Staff Members, featuring a queer farm commune, drunken emails, and sweet kindergarten teachers.

Title - Happy PlaceTitle - RosewaterTitle - That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A HumanTitle - Emma of 83rd Street

Best of DVDs for Adults

IndyPL Staff Members have shared their favorite films and TV shows of 2023. While 2023 has jokingly been referred to as “The Year of the Barbie Movie,” our staff members have found dozens of other fabulous watches.

Title - Spider-Man, Across the Spider-VerseTitle - Polite SocietyTitle - PreyTitle - Barbie

Best of Sci-Fi and Fantasy for Adults

Enjoy our staff members favorite scifi and fantasy reads of 2023. In between dragons and pirates and faeries, you’ll also find tales of grilled cheese and talking cats. We hope you find a new favorite magical read.

Title - To Shape A DragonTitle - Mammoths At The GatesTitle - The Adventures of Amina Al-SirafiTitle - Chain-Gang All-Stars

Best of Suspense, Mystery, and Horror for Adults

IndyPL Staff members have compiled their favorite suspense, mystery, and horror novels of 2023 for those who prefer a book that will unsettle them. These books feature cults, funeral home models, creepy puppets, true crime podcasts, mermaids, phone scam revenge, and more. Find new books from your favorite authors or add a new favorite author to your shelf.

Title - All the Sinners BleedTitle - Our Share of NightTitle - House of CottonTitle - How to Sell A Haunted House

Best of Picture Books for Kids

Some of our favorite picture books that we read in 2023!

Title - Dim Sum PalaceTitle - More Than WordsTitle - Something, SomedayTitle - Mr. S

Best of Fiction and Graphic Novels for Kids & Tweens

We hope you will find something to share with the young readers in your life on this list. You will find early chapter books, fiction novels, and graphic novels that we liked that were published in 2023.

Title - Eerie Tales From the School of ScreamsTitle - A First Time for EverythingTitle - The Moth KeeperTitle - One Smart Cookie

Best Non-Fiction for Kids

Staff across The Library sent in some of their favorite non-fiction titles for kids. The list contains a few folk tales as well.

Title - MaryTitle - Ancient NightTitle - The Mona Lisa VanishesTitle - In Between

Best of for Teens

Our IndyPL Staff has selected their favorite teen reads of 2023. From queer love triangles to homecoming murders to a real life social media tale, these novels are sure to entertain!

Title - Warrior Girl UnearthedTitle - In LimboTitle - Belle of the BallTitle - The Black Queen

We hope you discover some excellent reading recommendations in our 2023 staff picks and top checkouts. Our carefully curated selections offer a diverse range of books and media, designed to cater to all tastes and interests. As we move into 2024, we eagerly anticipate sharing even more reading recommendations and literary discoveries with you. Stay tuned for fresh picks, exciting new releases, and our continued commitment to helping you find your next great read. Here’s to another year of fantastic reading and exploration!