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

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Archive for May 2020

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Friday, May 29, 2020

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

"Sometimes you just jump and hope it's not a cliff." I'm very late to the party with this one. I've seen Red, White ...

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Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

"Because we do not know how to talk to strangers, what do we do when things go awry with strangers? We blame the stranger." This...

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The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan

Working from my backlog again this week, I turn to The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan. I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries, so naturally there...

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Sea Wife by Amity Gaige

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige

"I've lived my whole life with a land mind. Thinking land thoughts. But I want to think sea thoughts. I want to have a sea mind....

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Hangman by Jack Heath

Friday, May 15, 2020

Hangman by Jack Heath

Last year I stumbled upon Just One Bite  by Jack Heath. That story about a cannibal turned FBI investigator was one of the most inventive an...

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If It Bleeds by Stephen King

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

There's no denying the fact that I'm a Stephen King fan. Be it his doorstop sized horror novels or the crime novels he's turned ...

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Magnolia Table, Volume 2 by Joanna Gaines

Friday, May 8, 2020

Magnolia Table, Volume 2 by Joanna Gaines

It is not every day that I do something new for a book review. After so many years of posting weekly, I've pretty much read and reviewed...

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The Whisper Man by Alex North

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

The Whisper Man by Alex North

"If you leave the door half open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken." One of my biggest challenges as a book blogger has ...

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The Gay Agenda by Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham

Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Gay Agenda by Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham

The history of LGBTQ+ people is one that is rich, but frankly, the masses are simply unaware of most of it. Sure, milestones like the repeal...

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