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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"Today I will be my best self, the person I'm capable of being. Today will be different."

Like many other readers, I was enamored with Maria Semple's novel Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I loved everything about Bernadette. The quirky observations, humor, and characters all had me excited to read Semple's latest Today Will Be Different. Following up a critical and commercial success is a daunting task, but I was hopeful that Semple would be up for the challenge.

The book peeks into a day in the life of Eleanor Flood. Lately her life has been in shambles. She is eight years past due on delivering her graphic memoir to her publisher. She has a strained relationship with her family. She doesn't really fit in with the other parents at her son Timby's school. The list goes on and on, but today she has decided to take a step in the right direction. She is determined to slowly rectify the wrongs in her life.

Unfortunately, life has other plans. Timby decides to fake an illness and school, so Eleanor has to rush from her poetry lesson to pick him up. When she calls her husband Joe's office, she is informed that he is out on vacation. This is news to her! To make matters worse, a chance encounter with a former employee brings to light secrets from her past that Eleanor has tried to ignore. Clearly, she is in for an uphill climb.

Today Will Be Different ironically ends up being more of the same. Semple's trademark humor and quirkiness is present, but does not have a fully formed story to lend itself to. Eleanor is essentially Bernadette reincarnated, but is never as endearing as the original character. In fact, her persistent complaints about mundane things became pretty annoying as the book went on. To Semple's credit, the flashbacks about Eleanor's strained relationship with her sister were really interesting. That being said, I almost feel like the book would have benefited from being set in the past rather than the present day. Today Will Be Different is a quick read, but it offers little substance to readers expecting greatness from an author who has shown she can achieve it.

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

(2017, 17)

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5 Comments

Comments

James J. CudneyApril 18, 2017 at 4:54 PM
Good one! Nice to e-meet you.
LoriApril 21, 2017 at 9:06 AM
That's too bad that it wasn't better. I've had Bernadette on my TBR for a really long time. I guess I'll just stick with that one.
Angela's Anxious LifeMay 14, 2017 at 10:29 PM
It's hard when there is a great book and the author has to follow up on it. Reminds me of Ready Player One. That was an AMAZING book to me. The Armada came out and I was just as excited for that book and it was a let down.

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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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