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.

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

"What's a self-respecting amusement park without a ghost?"

Devin Jones is looking for an escape. His girlfriend Wendy left him for another guy, and now Devin is finding it nearly impossible to get over her. Everywhere he goes, everything he does, he is constantly reminded of Wendy. Even though she left him for another boy, Devin can't help but imagine what might have been. Determined to leave his past behind, he ends up getting a summer job at Joyland.

Joyland is one of those amusement parks from a bygone era. It is the kind of place that used to exist before the big corporate parks like Disney and Universal Studios captured the majority of their customers. Like the many other seasonal employees, Devin is immediately consumed by the magic of the place. The park is filled with a cast of quirky characters who slowly begin to take Devin under their wing.

A Stephen King novel wouldn't be complete without a tinge of horror lurking beneath the surface. Devin soon learns of a gruesome murder that occurred in one of the dark rides many years ago. The young woman, whose murder remains unsolved, haunts the ride to this day. Following a cryptic message from Joyland's resident fortune teller, Devin attempts to decipher the meaning and to find more answers about the ghost.

This is easily the best novel that Stehpen King has published in recent years. Beyond the horror elements, which have become extremely light compared to his earlier works, King's characters are the crowning achievement of his most successful stories. He casts his tale with engaging and believably flawed people who keep the novel grounded in reality through even the wildest events. At its heart, Joyland is a coming of age story that reminds us to appreciate our time here on earth. After all of these years, King has evolved from giving us nightmares to teaching us that, "life isn't always a butcher's game. Sometimes the prizes are real. Sometimes they're precious."

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(2016, 5)

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6 Comments

Comments

Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerFebruary 11, 2016 at 9:10 PM
I love King, and I am enjoying the Mr. Mercedes trilogy on audio. I need to grab this and dive in ..it sounds fantastic!
Olivia's CatastropheFebruary 12, 2016 at 3:18 AM
Seems like this one is a new favourite for you! I have been meaning to break into Ste[hen King for a while now, and maybe this will be the one that brings me there. Of course, it does need to have its dose of horro to be a King novel!
RebeccaFebruary 14, 2016 at 10:12 PM
I have not read Joyland yet but have every intention of doing so! I did recently read Revival (truly twisted) and 11/22/63 which is incredible.
Rebecca @ The Portsmouth Review
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A Book A Week

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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.

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