As a staff dedicated to fostering the pure enjoyment of reading and the pursuit of knowledge, we’re eager to help you find exactly what you’re looking for at the library. From personalized book lists and programs designed to connect readers with their favorite authors, to providing a wide array of online resources designed to assist in exploring the book world at large, the library is here to get you connected.
The library offers help with discovering new titles by your favorite authors as well as exploring new titles to enjoy. We can also assist with placing holds on items and navigating our digital collections ready for check out via OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla.
Author Match Program
Sign up to automatically be placed on hold when the library orders new books by your favorite authors.
Library Staff Picks
Looking for what to read next? Check out this list of what library staff are reading, watching and listening to, and enjoying. We love to share!
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Last Rites
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"People say to me, if you could do it all again, knowing what you know now, would you change anything? I'm like, f*** no. If I'd been clean and sober, I wouldn't be Ozzy. If I'd done normal, sensible things, I wouldn't be Ozzy."
Husband. Father. Grandfather. F*cking Icon.
1948 - 2025
In 2018, at the age of sixty-nine, Ozzy Osbourne was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world.
Then: disaster.
In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalized with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour - and all public life - as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down.
LAST RITES is the shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Ozzy's descent into hell. Along the way, he reflects on his extraordinary life and career, including his marriage to wife Sharon, as well as his reflections on what it took for him to get back onstage for the triumphant Back to the Beginning concert, streamed around the world, where Ozzy reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates for the final time.
Unflinching, brutally honest, but surprisingly life-affirming, Last Rites demonstrates once again why Ozzy has transcended his status as 'The Godfather of Metal' and 'The Prince of Darkness' to become a modern-day folk hero and national treasure. -
The Academy
From #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Couple Elin Hilderbrand, and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham: the irresistible, deliciously scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.
It's move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news arrives: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It's a seventeen-spot jump - was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let's just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun--lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night.
But just as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, the wheels begin to turn - and then they fall off the bus. One by one, scandalous blind items begin to appear on phones across Tiffin's campus, thanks to a new app called ZipZap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, international influencer and resident queen bee, to Simone Bergeron, the new and surprisingly young history teacher, to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, to Cordelia Spooner, Admissions Director with a somewhat idiosyncratic methodology - everyone has something to hide.
As if high school wasn't dramatic enough...As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin's students and staff are changed forever. The Academy is Elin Hilderbrand's fresh, buzzy take on boarding school life, and a thrilling new direction from one of America's most satisfying and popular storytellers. -
The Dark Maestro
His cello made him famous. His father made him a target.
“In this perfectly crafted thriller, Slocumb acts as the master conductor, bringing together a twisty plot and gorgeously wrought characters.” —The Boston Globe
Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.
And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state’s evidence, implicating his old bosses. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves the most: sharing his extraordinary music with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the criminals themselves. They must create new identities and draw on their unique talents, including Curtis’s musical ability, to go after the people who want them dead. But will it be enough to save Curtis and his family?
A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Brendan Slocumb at the height of his powers. -
Please Pay Attention
Three starred reviews!
A girl with cerebral palsy navigates loss, grief, and the aftermath of trauma following a school shooting in a world that wasn’t built for her in this “intimate, lyrical” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse from Jamie Sumner, the acclaimed author of Roll with It.
There is a Before and an After for sixth grader Bea Coughlin. Before the shooting at her school that took the lives of her classmates and teacher and After, when she must figure out how to grieve, live, and keep rolling forward. But as her community rallies in a tidal wave of marches and speeches and protests, Bea can’t get past the helplessness she felt in her wheelchair as others around her took cover.
Through the help of therapeutic horseback riding, Bea finally begins to feel like herself again. And as she heals, she finds her voice and the bravery to demand change. -
Ew, It's Beautiful
From the Eisner-nominated creator of the False Knees webcomic comes another witty and artful collection on themes of loneliness, creativity, wonder, and the beauty of the ordinary.
To hilarious effect, Joshua Barkman imagines the interior lives of birds as they navigate the seasons. With the occasional cat, raccoon, or insect thrown in for good measure, this masterful second collection offers a satisfying balance of humor and existentialism, visual jest and quiet contemplation.
Perfect for fans of Strange Planet and Poorly Drawn Lines, this memorable collection will also delight readers of classic strips like Calvin & Hobbes and The Far Side. -
The Tenant
"So addictive it should come with a warning." -- Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author
"The queen of twists has done it again!" -- Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author
A new, jaw-dropping thriller from the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boyfriend and The Housemaid!
There's no place like home...
Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone he shares with his fiancée, he's desperate to make ends meet.
Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?
Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...
Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour...
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The Favorites
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
“Part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.
Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.
As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines. -
She's Not Sorry
The instant New York Times bestseller that BookTok is calling "absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G" (@hollylovesbooks1519) and "impossible to put down" (@kurryreads), from the author of Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple
Everyone has secrets, but not everyone has remorse...
A terrible accident.
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom and working full time as an ICU nurse, when a patient named Caitlin arrives in her ward with a traumatic brain injury. They say she jumped from a bridge and plunged over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
A shocking revelation.
When a witness comes forward with new details about Caitlin's fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was a crime committed? Did someone actually push Caitlin, and if so, who... and why?
No one is safe.
Meghan lets herself get close to Caitlin until she's deeply entangled in the mystery surrounding her. Only when it's too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims...
"A tense, compelling thriller with completely gasp-worthy twists." --Nita Prose, #1 bestselling author of The Maid
Look for these other pulse-pounding thrillers by New York Times bestselling author Mary Kubica:
- The Good Girl
- The Other Mrs.
- Local Woman Missing
- Just the Nicest Couple
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The Borrowers
A enchanting and enduring children's classic, The Borrowers is the award-winning tale of three tiny people who are big heroes.
The Clock family--Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty--are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an English manor. All their minuscule home furnishings, from postage stamp paintings to champagne cork chairs, are "borrowed" from the "human beans" who tromp around loudly above them. All is well until Pod is spotted upstairs by a human boy! Can the Clocks stay nested safely in their beloved hidden home, or will they be forced to flee?
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Salt & Broom
A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate--and its enigmatic owner--in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre.
Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls'-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he's hired her only as a last resort.
Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester--who's becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she's growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.
Book & Author Programs
Mystery Book Club: Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson
Join us at the library as we discuss
Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson
Books are available at the Adult Help Desk
Beyond Fiction Book Club - The Stained Glass Window by David Levering Lewis
Beyond Fiction Book Club - The Stained Glass Window by David Levering Lewis
Join us to discuss this month's Beyond Fiction Book Club selection, The Stained Glass Window: A Family History as the American Story, 1790-1958 by David Levering Lewis.
All the Books Quarterly Book Club
If you love to talk about books, but don't want to commit to a monthly meeting, our quarterly book club is just the place for you!
Only Murders in the Library Podcast Club
Love true crime podcast? Join us at the library for a lively discussion about your favorite podcasts and compelling cases.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
The Wauconda Area Public Library District is dedicated to making sure everyone can use and enjoy our services—whether you visit us in person or connect with us online. This includes access to our collections, programs, events, meetings, and reference support.
Your feedback helps us improve. If you encounter any accessibility issues—physical, digital, or technological—please reach out and let us know.
801 N. Main Street, Wauconda, IL 60084
Phone: 847.526.6225, TTY: 711
Novel Thoughts Book Club: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Join us as we discuss Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Books are available at the Adult Help Desk.
About the book:
Disclaimer(s)
Food Allergies
We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.
Accessibility
The Wauconda Area Public Library District is dedicated to making sure everyone can use and enjoy our services—whether you visit us in person or connect with us online. This includes access to our collections, programs, events, meetings, and reference support.
Your feedback helps us improve. If you encounter any accessibility issues—physical, digital, or technological—please reach out and let us know.
801 N. Main Street, Wauconda, IL 60084
Phone: 847.526.6225, TTY: 711
Read Online
Digital Library of Illinois (Libby)
Powered by Libby (formerly known as Overdrive), we have combined our exclusive e-content titles with other libraries to provide a much larger selection of materials to choose from, while still maintaining first dibs on titles we will continue to add regularly.
EBSCO
Hoopla
Stream & download movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on most any device.
Kanopy
Stream full-length independent, foreign, classic & documentary films for free, brought to you by your public library. Over 30,000 films are offered.
KanopyKids
Browse educational and engaging videos for children of all ages that promote positive social and emotional development and inspire creativity in young minds.
NoveList Plus K-8
Great for kids, parents and teachers! Browse recommended reads by age, get book discussion guides as well search titles, authors, plot summaries, and series. Includes lexile scoring for both fiction and non-fiction titles.