What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (or former neighbor). Brew up a batch of your favorite tea from Tea's Me or grab a latte from Kaffeine Coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally written books in the Indy area.

Fiction

“Cat's Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut | Release date: 1963 | You might have read this dark sci-fi novel that satirizes technology, religion, and science in school.
"All Good People Here" by Ashley Flowers | Release date: 2022 | This debut thriller novel is written by the host of the wildly popular true crime podcast "Crime Junkie."
“When Stars Rain Down” by Angela Jackson-Brown | Release date: 2021 | Explore the Deep South through this portrait of a family and their community in 1936.

For the family

“You Should See Me in a Crown” by Leah Johnson | Release date: 2020 | This TIME Magazine "Best YA Book of All Time" depicts the life of a high school girl in a fictional Indiana town.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green | Release date: 2012 | The novel-turned-movie is a coming-of-age romance that features The Funky Bones sculpture seen in 100 Acres Park at Newfields.
“Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters on Stepping Into Your Power” by Tamara Winfrey Harris | Release date: 2021 | The voices of Black women take center stage in this collection of affirmations and empowerment for girls everywhere.

Loudmouth Books is one of our favorite places in town to shop small and support local authors. | Photo by @loudmouthindy

Learn something new

“You Are an Artist: Assignments to Spark Creation” by Sarah Urist Green | Release date: 2020 | Break through a creative rut with over 50 prompts, ideas, and assignments.
“Roller Derby: The History of an American Sport” by Michella M. Marino | Release date: 2021 | Learn how roller derby made waves as a coed sport through media coverage, archival materials, and personal experiences.
“The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland” by James H. Madison | Release date: 2020 | This book tells the history of the KKK's creation and reign in Indiana and the Midwest.

Part of a series

“King Maker” by Maurice Broaddus | Release date: 2010 | "The Knights of Breton Court" series is a retelling of King Arthur set among rival gangs.
“The Magnificent Ambersons” by Booth Tarkington | Release date: 1918 | The second in Tarkington's "Growth" trilogy, the story revolves around a fictionalized version of Woodruff Place and the declining fortunes of three generations of the aristocratic Ambersons.
“Princess Diaries” by Meg Cabot | Release date: 2000 | This former IU Hoosier's series was made popular by its film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway.

The Whispering Shelf is one of Indy's newest bookstores — it opened in April of 2024. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Personal stories

“Somebody's Daughter” by Ashley C. Ford | Release date: 2021 | Explore the complicated relationship between Ashley and her mother in this New York Times bestseller set in Fort Wayne.
“Hillbilly Queer” by J.R. Jamison | Release date: 2021 | Travel through a rural landscape and watch the differences unfold between a father and son.
“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay | Release date: 2014 | This book of essays from a former Purdue professor discusses a number of political and cultural issues.
"Transangelicism" by Jody Galadriel Friend | Release date: 2024 | The frontwoman of local band Public Universal Friend brings you the story of her transformation from Southern evangelist to trans punk musician.

Is there another book you love by a local author? Write in.