I'm looking forward to Hoosier author Karen Garloch's book talk on Oct 14th. , Stray Voltage is a…read morefabulous read about an Indiana dairy farm struggling to solve the mystery of why their cows are dying. A heartwarming story that depicts a simple but full life on a farm. Come hear how Karen's story developed and buy her book!

My youngest child's birthday has happened to coincide with the pre-order dates for the new Diary of…read morea Wimpy Kid book for a few years now. (That Jeff Kinney cranks 'em out every year! I don't know how he does it.) Anyway, on my kid's birthday wish list each year is the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. You want a book for your birthday, my child? I'm happy to oblige. This same kid also recently asked me to buy him broccoli so he can eat it raw. He's a treasure. I try, each year, to pre-order the books at local Indy bookstores. Support local, and all that. This year, I pre-ordered the book at MacArthur Books in The Village of WestClay. I had visited this adorable Carmel bookstore during a Yelp event a couple of years ago, and I told myself that I needed to come back. Pre-ordering my book was super easy. I called them on the phone and told them that I wanted to pre-order the book, and they took down my name and number, and told me they'd text me when it was in. I suppose, if you don't want to call them on the phone, you can stop into the store. They didn't make me prepay or anything. When the book was in, I got a text saying so, and I went and paid for my book and brought it home. My child was so happy! MacArthur Books hosts book events, like drop-in book clubs. They're also very active on social media. The bookstore itself is a cozy place to read (they have comfy chairs here and there), plus a cute children's area.

We love a good trip to the bookstore, and this visit did not disappoint. We made a bee line to the…read moreperiodicals where I enjoyed looking through all of the very overpriced food and travel magazines. I then moved on to knick-knacks and trinkets. I love the magnetic bookmarks, as well as the tiny violins, trombones and other fun items that were staged near the cash registers. The cashier was nice but was really pushing the reward program at the tier where you have to pay for it. We were in a rush to claim our table at Texas Roadhouse, so we had to do the hard pass on that.

Barnes & Nobles is a great place to find gifts. I stopped in on Sunday to do some early Christmas…read moreshopping. I wasn't alone. A bunch of other people had the same idea. I was looking for a couple of books that they did not have because the books were out of print. The staff is helpful and will search and help find anything you looking for. They carry a really nice collection of STEM toys and LEGO kits. I picked up a flashcard game and several workbooks for my granddaughter. A nice assortment of crafting kits were on sale. There is a Starbucks inside the store if you need a coffee fix or want to sit and read after you shop.

Full disclosure this coffee shop is in a church. That threw me off a little bit. But the place is…read morevery spacious, plenty of seating areas to sit and work. It was also pretty quiet which made focusing on my work tasks easy. I sat in front of one of the windows and enjoyed being able to take mental breaks by looking at the well manicured flower beds and watching the birds flying around. The staff were just the sweetest people and so funny. My drink was made perfectly and the white chocolate macadamia nut cookie was the perfect finish!

I always forget about this place because you don't really see it from the road but this is a nice…read morelittle spot located at Northview Church. We tried them today and really enjoyed their coffee. The staff were very friendly and the shop itself is very spacious with nice seating. Can be a little loud but overall a great option for a coffee.

Very good selection of brews. It's a bit of a 'gamers' pub but the quiet ambiance is nice -…read moreespecially with the absence of televisions droning on. A good place to read or talk.

I visited Books & Brews to see my friend perform for the brewery's 11th anniversary celebration. My…read moregood buddy is a bit of a low-key musical virtuoso (the guy can play six instruments!), and I got to see him play three of the six instruments on the Books & Brews stage. It's such an intimate performance area, and the sound and lighting are great. They have open mic nights here every week, and I can see myself coming back in the future to listen to more music. This is the "mothership" B&B -- the OG. I've been to some of the other Books & Brews around Indy before they closed, and this one definitely feels like an original. It's very ... lived in, let's say. The layout makes no sense, and there's a lot of stuff everywhere. But it's a cozy space, and lots of people, including families with young kids, were there when I visited. I like that there are "third places" like this that adults and kids can visit to to play games and eat and have a beer. (The adults have a beer! Sorry, kids.) The food at any Books & Brews has never been my favorite. In fact, I usually avoid it altogether and just get beer. But this time, my drink of choice was kombucha, and I got an "Oliver Twist," which is a soft pretzel with beer cheese. That reminds me: The food and beverages on their menu have silly little literary names. You have to know something about me: When I see silly little names on menus for ordinary food items, a switch turns on inside me and I become a defiant brat. I will never play along and say "The Girl with the Chicken Nuggie Tattoo" instead of "chicken nuggets" or "A Tale of Two Piggies" instead of "the ham and bacon sandwich." Nope. It's not happening. And when I ordered the "soft pretzel" instead of the "Oliver Twist," they understood me just fine. There is a huge wall of shelves filled with board games that you can grab and play at your table. There had to have been at least 50 or 60 different games. They also have lots of new board games for sale, as well as things like Magic the Gathering decks, Pokemon cards, Funko and geeky swag. Oh! And, of course, they have lots and lots of books, new and used. I couldn't tell if they were arranged with any rhyme or reason. So if you're looking for something specific, you might have better luck finding it elsewhere. But if you're looking to let destiny choose your next read, you might want to pop into Books & Brews and let the B&B powers-that-be guide you to the perfect book.

This is a cute rare and used bookstore in downtown Zionsville. We enjoyed looking around and seeing…read morethe memorial to the dog who the store was named after. We couldn't read the tributes because they made us too sad but you could tell their mascot was so very loved! They have books for children as well and lots of vintage books! The staff working were super welcoming and friendly. Stop in if you're in the area.

Adorable book shop with welcoming atmosphere and accommodations that go above and beyond!…read more A wide variety of new books as well as vintage. Great prices and did you know that if you call ahead that they allow photo shoots? Such a great place and we will return soon!

I can always find something that I didn't know I needed at Books-A-Million. This location is…read moreconvenient for me and I was running a few errands nearby. I was looking for nice writing pens, but I could not find exactly what I wanted. I did find a couple of books that I purchased. They have some unique gifts in their gift section that were tempting as well. The clerk was super friendly and engaging. We asked if he wrapped and he thought we said rap, and we all had a good chuckle. Anyway, checkout was quick. There is plenty of parking in the strip mall lot including accessible parking.

Who doesn't love to randomly stop into a bookstore when they have a few extra hours on their hands?…read moreWho enjoys going to spend those extra hours in a bookstore that doesn't have coffee or a sitting area? Funny background on this location, I used to work here when I was 19 and pregnant as the barista in their now demolished cafe area. At "Joe's" we used to have maybe 3 small round tables with two chairs each & 2 cushioned chairs in the corner with a small table between them. They brewed hot coffee round the clock and also offered a large variety of tea & two slushy type drinks. There was also a food case that had a variety of pastry's & typically one or two savory options. Who made the decision to enclose that area, build a wall & put more books there? Terrible idea & drove me to try and find elsewhere to read in peace and quiet. Although I found quite a few books I wanted to pick up - the atmosphere gave rushed & "DON'T stay awhile" anywho, check out the photos I add- new reads for you all to look into!

I love books and Half-Price Books feeds that love without costing me an arm and a leg. They are…read morealways pretty busy in the store but it seems they always have enough help to get everyone checked out quickly. I do not read a lot of fiction anymore due to a lack of time but I do buy art books, how-to books, and magazines. I love when I can find a $17 magazine for a couple bucks or so. They also carry albums and cds. I also usually purchase a calendar in here for the new year. I will continue to shop here.

I think this is a great store, they have a great collection of books games dvds ect, the prices are…read morealso very reasonable! You can also sell books to them as well, which I love to do after I read them, to clear space. I picked up 2 maps, and the third book in the Sarah Maas series! Something for everyone here, check them out!

The depth of my book obsession truly comes out when I'm in a Barnes & Noble…read more It's so big that I can't spend less than an hour in here. When I was little, I used to just camp out and read books for hours. My wish is that bookstores never go out of business, so I try to support it when I can. They not only have a ton of books and music, but also great games, stationary, and home decorations. The women at the checkout desk are the absolute sweetest and one actually thanked me when I continued my family's loyalty card. With the card comes awesome coupons. There's just something about having a real, non-digital book in your hands.

I have fond memories of shopping here as a kid with my parents, discovering a new book or two…read more Bookstores may be a "thing of the past," but I still get a thrill walking through the aisles upon aisles of new books. At this B&N, you'll find: +A Starbucks cafe with ample seating. +A great selection of books, with helpful employees to aid you in your search, if needed. +Member discounts if you have a B&N card. +A lovely children's section with mini "stage" for book readings.

There was so many good deals, new and old books, and the quality/condition of the books, movies,…read moreand comics was excellent. The value was good for the quality of the books as well.

I've long been a fan of the Half Price Books chain, a chain started in Dallas in 1972. You could…read morepretty much say I've grown up with Half Price Books. I'm pretty stunned that I've never reviewed this location, though I don't frequent it nearly as much since I moved into Lawrence Township. I grew up in Pike Township and this really was my location for many years. In my opinion, it's one of the most accessible of the Indy HPB locations and I've always been pleased with my experiences here. I was in this area checking out His Place Eatery and nostalgia demanded I return for a visit to this HPB. This location has two entrances. Both sides offer accessible parking, though the side facing West 86th Street is definitely more accessible. One side has a double glass doorway, the other has a single glass door. Both sides offer curb cuts, though the side facing West 86th Street has a much easier grade. For those familiar with HPB, there's the consistency you can expect - reasonably priced books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and even some VHS. Books are incredibly well organized and there's always a nicely done clearance section. They also have novelty stuff - like t-shirts, games, etc. The employees here are always friendly - I've had multiple friends work for HPB over the years and they always praise the chain. Most, of course, end up leaving for financial reasons, however, they all remember HPB with a sense of nostalgia. On this visit, I noticed there was a local author doing a book signing. Since I nearly always support local authors, I bought his book. The aisles are always in good shape here. The store is clean. There's a public bathroom that's pretty accessible. Employees are always willing to help. And yes, you can still sell them your used books/CDs/movies. And yes, you still won't get much. I've been to just about every HPB location in Central Indiana. This one has a special place in my heart as I really kind of grew up with it. I guess you could say it's my favorite HPB in Indy. This HPB is well organized, has a wonderful selection, offers friendly and helpful service, and is likely the most accessible HPB in the society. All in all, it's a winner and it sure was nice to get back for a visit.

Artemis I know I'm not spelling her name right. She is the manger I come from Muncie & I go to…read moreBarnes & Nobles because of the atmosphere that they have given me since I was a child. I have a lot of criterion's ordered & she is of course making sure that I get them all. Because they all come in at different times. & they work with you here & make sure you get the stuff you want. I'm always so happy in this store. I drive far to just spend time here still. Barnes & Nobles one of the only true safe places in this state for EVERYONE! That is a hard thing to achieve! The criterion sales I spend so much money but worth every penny! & I want to support Barnes & Nobles before Anyone else! When you have a great manager. They make sure to hire people that are kind & patient! Because they are happy there! Everyone is great in this store I have met but Artemis has an energy no one can deny. She could pull ANYONE out of a bad mood! Great SERVICE!!

My daughter sent me a second electronic gift card to spend on a book. So this trip was not my first…read morerodeo. I decided to go by the Noblesville, IN, location since I live nearby and browse the books. I found one that was really good. I take it to the front desk and walk to the first guy available. He rudely says I need to go to the other cashier who was already busy with another customer. I'm like OK. So when the other cashier was done and I told her that I wanted to purchase this book with a gift card; that's when I was forced into Barnes & Noble hell. The cashier apparently knew nothing about B&N policies, their gift card program, or even good customer service! Rather than go into specifics, this cashier tells me I could not use the gift card IN the store but had to use it ONLINE! I'm like what? You mean to tell me I have the book I want in my hand but I've got to go online to order it and pay shipping fees? She says yes and I thought she was absolutely nuts! It didn't make sense. So I press on telling this cashier I've done it before! She insists I couldn't use it in-store! I thought instantly my poor daughter who sent me the card was doing something nice for her dad and look at this stupidity! The cashier then consults the other rude cashier and he says thee same thing and I slam the book down and tell them I will NEVER shop at Barnes & Nobles again! The I call customer service for B&N and who do I get? Some Filipino 8000 miles away! I go home and do my research and nowhere on the B&N website does it say a customer can only use a gift card online. My experience at B&N changed my entire day! But while I'm on the subject of negative impressions of B&N, this new location is much smaller and there is a serious lack of place to sit and peruse the books! The chairs that are available are like those at the airport. Don't get up for a moment because someone is waiting and will take your seat since they are a hot commodity there! Also why is there a lack of technology magazines like the ones B&N used to carry? The magazine selection looks like the ones that used to be at CVS and other pharmacies! I will most certainly go ONLINE in the future to get my books. There are choices like Thriftbooks and Amazon available for my book buying rather than subject myself to the tyranny and very poor customer service of B&N.