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.
Would you prefer one-on-one help? Call or ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email ask-a- librarian.
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.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Choose one of these outstanding books by authors whose writing is made unique and compelling by the ancestry they trace to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South American or other Spanish-speaking country in the Caribbean. Read one, listen to one, suggest one for your book club, or read one to your child or class!
If You Like Horror
See our six tips for finding your next terrifying read including links to our staff’s best horror recommendations, horror book awards, and links to our favorite horror authors. Don’t miss If You Like Horror.
Honoring Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025), primatologist and humanitarian, was a fierce advocate for hope. Her groundbreaking work studying chimpanzees confirmed the creation and use of tools by non-human animals, literally changing how we define being human. She revolutionized the field and broke barriers for other scholars, all while learning to be a passionate champion for animals and the environment. Honor her by checking out some of the materials listed below, and by remembering one of her most famous quotes; “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
It’s the Climb
Rock climbing has been a recognized sport for more than a century. But now, with sport climbing gyms popping up all over the world, more people have access to climbing than ever before. If you want to learn more about the sport, hear from some of the best climbers in the world, or watch some historic ascents, you’ve come to the right list! Want more climbing related books for your TBR? Check out my other list titled “Rock Climbing Fiction”!
White House History in Memory of Marlyne Sexton
These titles were donated by the White House Historical Association in memory of Marlyne Sexton. Marlyne Sexton was a longtime friend and generous donor to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. She loved supporting opportunities for children to learn, grow and have fun. Learn more about Marlyne and the impact she had on the Library.
Listen with Liz – October 2025
I love nonfiction audiobooks especially memoir and autobiographies.
This is a totally random list of titles I listened to in September 2025.
Titles are listed in alphabetical order.
Stab That Wool! (Needle Felting)
Needle Felting… what’s that about? There are a TON of books about these topics, and it can be overwhelming so I’ve taking some time to identify which books you might like best.
Want to try hands-on? Check out the 2 different class options at the end of the list coming to a branch near you in Fall 2025 (3D Needle Felting & Needle Felt Painting).
Vegan Cookbooks from Around the World
Travel the world through an assortment of tastes and flavors with these vegan cookbooks. Plant based and whole foods prepared in foreign dishes and those close to home. From East Asia, to South American and Latin cuisine, there is much to explore. Let’s celebrate World Vegan Day with a bang! Register for Plant Based Cooking: Breast Cancer Basics on October 18 at Central Library.
The Great Gatsby Turns 100
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is considered by many scholars as the Great American novel. While it was not the blockbuster, garnering mixed reviews when it was published, over time it has made its way onto high school required reading lists winning the hearts of many; it has been a classic of American Literature ever since. If you haven’t read it since high school, it is worth a reread, and if you have not read it add it to your TBR.
Essential Horror Books by Indigenous Authors
In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, this curated list showcases adult horror novels and anthologies penned by Indigenous authors. These works delve into the supernatural, folklore, and the complexities of identity, offering readers a unique perspective on horror through the lens of Indigenous experiences.
Crafting Flowers Using Paper
Learn how to make beautiful, realistic flowers using paper. Whether you are looking to start a new hobby or are already a paper flower expert, discover new techniques and unique projects by checking out the titles on this list.
Stretch!
Looking for inspiration and guidance to help your body thrive? These books can get you moving!
Latine Fantasy
Check out a sampling of fantasy novels – with a bit of mythology, folklore, and magical realism – that explore Latin American worlds and cultures.
Buried Truths, Dangerous Hearts: Romantic Suspense Novels Where Secrets Refuse to Stay Hidden
In the world of romantic suspense, love is never simple—especially when it’s entangled with lies, hidden crimes, and secrets meant to stay buried. These books blend passion and peril, proving that sometimes the past doesn’t just haunt—it kills.
Indiana and Other Midwest Poets
Explore Hoosier and other Midwest poets and writers with a flare for the written word. Join us to celebrate the landscape of Indiana poetry at Central Library on Monday, November 10 at 6 pm for Poetry Through the Lens, presented by Brick St. Poetry.
Suspense Books Featuring Older Protagonists
If you enjoyed the charm and mystery of The Thursday Murder Club, this list is for you. These suspenseful reads feature older protagonists, retirees, detectives, and unlikely heroes, who bring wit, wisdom, and a rebellious streak to crime-solving and adventure.