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

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Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts

Fruit Fly by Josh Silver

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Fruit Fly by Josh Silver

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Mass Mothering by Sarah Bruni

Monday, February 16, 2026

Mass Mothering by Sarah Bruni

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

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Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

"Nothing mattered but the stories, my understanding of them, how the stories affected me, and the dreams the story ignited." The y...

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Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Monday, May 20, 2024

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Occasionally, a book emerges that feels perfectly attuned to the current cultural landscape. R.F. Kuang's Yellowface is one such example...

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Knife by Salman Rushdie

Friday, May 17, 2024

Knife by Salman Rushdie

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Verity by Colleen Hoover

Friday, May 19, 2023

Verity by Colleen Hoover

"I think the idea of me is better than the reality of me." Colleen Hoover is another one of those authors I've always been awa...

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The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Happy New Year! It is crazy to think that A Book A Week began way back in 2012, but I'm so excited to continue my goal of reading a new ...

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James Patterson by James Patterson

Saturday, November 19, 2022

James Patterson by James Patterson

When I think of authors who have helped sustain my weekly reading goal across the last decade, the first to come to mind is James Patterson....

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The Body Lies by Jo Baker

Monday, July 15, 2019

The Body Lies by Jo Baker

With the influx of review requests from authors and publishers alike, it has become a rare occasion for me to stumble upon a new book with n...

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