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.

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.

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.

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.

2015 marked the fourth year of A Book A Week. Over those twelve months, I was able to read many books, discover new authors, and most importantly. . . connect with other readers. Personally, the year saw me complete my masters degree and begin several new jobs. 2016 is already shaping up to be a great year for the blog! From the start, I plan on reading a few of the books that I simply didn't have time to get to last year. Additionally, I have several new releases awaiting review, author interviews scheduled to post, and exciting new giveaways to host. But before I kick off 2016 with my first review, I thought it would be fun to look back on 2015 and list my favorite books of the past year!

Here are my top 5 books of 2015 listed in no particular order:

Beneath the Surface by John Hargrove

This non-fiction book by a former SeaWorld trainer provides an inside look at the company's treatment of their animals and the people tasked with caring for them. John Hargrove chronicles his years of working for the company and the corporate reaction to the tragic death of veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau. The book is a riveting expansion of the author's interview in the documentary Blackfish that provides new details and offers fair solutions. Read the full review here.

Not on Fire, but Burning by Greg Hrbek

In the most emotionally moving novel that I encountered in 2015, author Greg Hrbek presents a poignant and layered family drama that explores loss, grief, and prejudice. These difficult topics are approached with a poetic prose that allows the text to flow effortlessly from the page and to imbed itself into the deep recesses of your soul. Read the full review here.

Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson

Adam Johnson follows his Pulitzer winning novel The Orphan Master's Son, with this eclectic collection of short stories. The stories showcase Johnson's masterful skill and provide unique contemplations on life and the human condition. With this release, Johnson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Read the full review here.

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

This was perhaps the most controversial novel of 2015. The details surrounding the novel's discovery, publication, and content seemed to overshadow the fact that this was one of the best novels of the year! In the book, Lee challenges our perception of her beloved characters and forces us to face the realities of racism, politics, and gender inequality. Like the classic novel that preceded it, I believe that Go Set A Watchman will stand as a great work of American Literature and further cement Harper Lee's status as a legendary author. Read the full review here.

Slade House by David Mitchell

While this novel never attempts the same scope or depth of Mitchell's larger tomes, it is a taut and welcome departure that matches the imaginative originality of the author's best works. The fact that Slade House is a spooky story that never takes itself too seriously only adds to the delight of reading it and makes it one of the most enjoyable novels of 2015. Read the full review here.

And so we end the last chapter of 2015 and begin the adventure of a new year. What were your favorite books of 2015, and what are looking forward to reading this year?

Reviews

A growing library of books and the thoughts they inspired.

Browse the Library

Showing reviews Sort by:

No reviews match those filters.

A Book A Week by the Numbers

14 Years of A Book A Week

— Book Reviews

— Authors Reviewed

— Books Reviewed This Year

2 Comments

Comments

Olivia's CatastropheJanuary 5, 2016 at 10:47 PM
I am glad 2015 turned out to be such a good year for you! I hope 2016 will be just as brilliant as well. I remember reading some reviews for these books, and Go Set a Watchman is one I hopefully can get around to reading this year myself! Can't wait to try it :3

A Book A Week

Reviews

Browse the Library

A Book A Week by the Numbers

About Me

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.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

Contact