About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Line drawing portrait of Ethan

Hi, I'm Ethan

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

Review Disclaimer

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Contact

Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a note using the form below.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

Publishers & Authors

Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

General Inquiries

Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

Find Me Elsewhere

Send a Message

Your information will only be used to respond to your message.

Archive for 2018

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand

Monday, December 31, 2018

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand

As the year comes to an end, it is important to reflect upon the days that have preceded this one. Today marks the final day of my seventh y...

Read the review →
Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

Latest Review

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

A new year brings new triumphs and challenges to the ever-engaging Quinn family. Kelley, the patriarch of the family, has been reunited with...

Read the review →
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

Latest Review

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

The get-togethers are over, the presents are all unwrapped, and I'm left in the afterglow of another successful Christmas. Amongst the h...

Read the review →
Elevation by Stephen King

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Elevation by Stephen King

In recent years, Stephen King has strayed from his horror roots to write novels that focus more on real-life scenarios. The Outsider , relea...

Read the review →
Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan

We've only got a few days until Christmas, and I'm struggling to get all of my preparations in order. The past week has seen me unex...

Read the review →
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Monday, December 3, 2018

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Having enjoyed both The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm , I eagerly purchased Robert Galbraith's latest novel, Lethal White . Bef...

Read the review →
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

Friday, November 30, 2018

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

The holidays are officially upon us. There may not be snow at my Texas home, but it is certainly snowing on the blog! Readers of the blog wi...

Read the review →
Holy Ghost by John Sandford

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Holy Ghost by John Sandford

Each year, I eagerly await the release of John Sandford's latest Virgil Flowers novels. The series has become one of the few that I rout...

Read the review →
Apollo to the Moon by Teasel E Muir-Harmony

Monday, November 19, 2018

Apollo to the Moon by Teasel E Muir-Harmony

I'll never forget the year my middle brother broke his arm. We were at an aunt's house for a Sunday lunch. All it took was a bunk be...

Read the review →
Friday Flicks: The Girl in the Spider's Web

Friday, November 9, 2018

Friday Flicks: The Girl in the Spider's Web

Released in 2005, author Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo became an internationally best-selling novel that launched a fr...

Read the review →
The Outsider by Stephen King

Thursday, October 11, 2018

The Outsider by Stephen King

"The supernatural may exist in books and movies but not in the real world." Although Stephen King is known mostly for his horror...

Read the review →
Alert by James Patterson

Friday, September 21, 2018

Alert by James Patterson

Besides his Alex Cross series, James Patterson's Michael Bennett series is one of the more consistent of the author's prolific outpu...

Read the review →
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

It is safe to say that Lisa's life revolves around being a mother. Not that she's upset about that. As a single mom, Lisa devotes mo...

Read the review →
Rules of Prey by John Sandford

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Rules of Prey by John Sandford

For years now, I've been a huge fan of John Sandford's Virgil Flowers series. I was first aware of Sandford through his long-running...

Read the review →
Friday Flicks: Crazy Rich Asians

Friday, August 17, 2018

Friday Flicks: Crazy Rich Asians

Much will be made about the financial success of director Jon M. Chu's film Crazy Rich Asians out in wide release today. Based upon Kevi...

Read the review →
Circe by Madeline Miller

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Circe by Madeline Miller

"When I was born, the word for what I was did not exist." For months now I've seen the gorgeous cover of Madeline Miller...

Read the review →
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Friday, August 10, 2018

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

I've had a busy summer keeping up with a reading schedule of mostly new releases. I have a few weeks before my next ARC hits the shelves...

Read the review →
The Restless Wave by John McCain

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The Restless Wave by John McCain

John McCain has been a fixture of American politics for over thirty years. He is a respected Senator from Arizona, a two-time presidential c...

Read the review →
The Day of the Dead by Nicci French

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The Day of the Dead by Nicci French

Earlier this year, I read Sunday Silence by Nicci French as part of a TLC Book Tour . Although I was jumping into the series with the penu...

Read the review →
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Saturday, July 21, 2018

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

"Sometimes a lie is more than just a lie. Sometimes it's the only way to win." I've recently recognized that a popular t...

Read the review →
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Monday, July 9, 2018

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Every once in a while, a novel comes along that surpasses your expectations and defies explanation. Such is the case with Paul Tremblay'...

Read the review →
Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

Martin Reese is harboring a secret that threatens to completely alter his life as he knows it. He knows that his unique hobby is unconventio...

Read the review →
Cross Kill by James Patterson

Friday, June 15, 2018

Cross Kill by James Patterson

There's no denying the mixed quality of James Patterson's massive output. I've always maintained that his best books continue to...

Read the review →
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

We are at a point in pop culture where nostalgia seems to be the hot topic. Star Wars and Jurassic Park rule the box office while revived ...

Read the review →
All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson

This year is shaping up to be the year with books about lies. After the success of books like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl , a...

Read the review →
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo is one of those authors who I'm familiar with, but wish I would read more of. I can't begin to tell you how many of my book...

Read the review →
Powered by Blogger.