Citrus Libraries Celebrates Summer with Worldwide Book Club’s Uplifting Beach Read “A Very Typical Family”

Looking for an entertaining beach read this summer? Citrus Libraries cardholders are invited to soak up the sun while enjoying an uplifting family drama for free during Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club. From July 13-27,  booklovers with a valid library card can join  thousands of others around the globe by borrowing Sierra Godfrey’s A Very Typical Family from their public library. Citrus Libraries card holders can borrow the ebook and audiobook for free without waiting on the Libby app or visiting libbyapp.com/library/citrus. Readers can then discuss online at biglibraryread.com/join-the-discussion/.

This Big Library Read novel is available in more than 22,000 libraries around the world including Citrus Libraries and approximately 90 percent of public libraries in North America. During the program, readers have the opportunity to participate in engaging online discussions about the title. The program is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for popular ebooks, audiobooks and magazines and creator of the Libby app.

“We have seen amazing growth in the popularity of digital services over the last few years,” said Citrus Libraries Acquisitions Manager Karen Fellows. “Digital checkouts through Libby have increased by more than 11% compared to this time in 2022, and more than 18% compared to 2021. The Libby app continues to allow our library patrons 24/7 access to books and materials, and the Big Library Read brings new titles and genres to them without having to wait – it is truly a win for everyone.”

In the darkly humorous A Very Typical Family, Natalie Walker is the reason her older brother and sister went to prison over 15 years ago. She fled California shortly after that fateful night and hasn’t spoken to anyone in her family since. Now, Natalie receives a letter from a lawyer saying her estranged mother has died and left the family’s historic Santa Cruz house to her. The only way for Natalie and her siblings to inherit is for all three adult children to come back and claim it—together. Natalie drives cross-country to Santa Cruz expecting to sign some papers, see siblings Lynn and Jake briefly and get back to sorting out her life in Boston. But Jake is missing, and Lynn shows up with a teenage son. While Natalie and her nephew look for Jake—meeting a very handsome marine biologist who immediately captures her heart—she unpacks the guilt she has held onto for so many years, wondering how (or if) she can salvage a relationship with her siblings after all this time.

Big Library Read is an international reading program that connects millions of readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. A Very Typical Family is the 31^st selection of this program which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year. Readers can join an online discussion about the book at https://biglibraryread.com/join-the-discussion/.

A Very Typical Family was published as an ebook by Sourcebooks and as an audiobook by Blackstone Publishing. The title can be read on all major computers and devices through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without waitlists or holds. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [U.S. libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.

To join the discussion, learn about past Big Library Read titles and download Libby, visit biglibraryread.com. You can also stay up-to-date on all of the happenings at Citrus Libraries by following us @citruslibraries on Facebook and Instagram.