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.

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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.

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Book Review

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin

Monday, July 29, 2019

A Book A Week
Review / archive
"WELCOME TO THE ESCAPE ROOM. YOUR GOAL IS SIMPLE. GET OUT ALIVE."

Any reader of my blog will know that I can't pass up a good thriller. There is something about the discovery that takes place as you race to the finish of a twisted read that keeps me coming back each time. The best in the genre are the books that hook you from the beginning and demand to be read.  I accepted an offer to read The Escape Room from the publisher, and the rest was history. My eyes were glued to this book from start to finish.  If you are looking for your next "can't put down" read, then Megan Goldin's The Escape Room is the book for you!

The setup is simple enough. A group of high power Wall Street investment bankers are summoned to complete a team-building activity at an under-construction office complex. Normally the elite group wouldn't pause their busy lives for something as trivial as team building, but the company is rumored to be planning a massive round of layoffs. Their affluent lifestyles can't risk a layoff. They begrudgingly enter the elevator to begin the escape room challenge. But things aren't what they seem. Stuck in a darkened elevator with some of the most ruthless, win at all cost people in the world, they soon begin the fight for their lives.

Chapters of the elevator escape room alternate with flashbacks focussing on Sara Hall. The young woman has a prestigious MBA from a fantastic school, but those expensive pieces of paper are a dime a dozen in the high stakes world of Wall Street. She's moved back home to help with her ill father. Staggering debt and no job opportunities in sight leave Sara waitressing to make ends meet. Her latest expensive trip into the city for a job interview seems to be as hopeless as the rest. As she rides down the elevator for her trip back home, her resume catches the eye of a man in the elevator. He's in a high up position at another financial institution, and he agrees to take a look at her resume. Like something out of a dream, Sara finds herself with a high-paying job with one of the most ruthless teams in the business. Some of their practices are morally questionable at best, but the money flying into her bank account is too great to pass up. "Success is not for the squeamish."

The Escape Room sees Megan Goldin writing the kind of breakneck read that is too captivating to pass up. For the day it took me to read, I kept my eyes glued to my kindle until I was finished. As a quick aside, reading this one also forced me to become oddly proficient at reading while walking. Just because my dog needed to be fed didn't mean I had to stop reading! This is escapist fiction at its finest. To Goldin's credit, the pacing and suspense are so well done that I easily suspended my disbelief of even the wildest plot points. Saying more about where the characters go and how they evolve would rob you of the chance of discovering things for yourself. Still, trust me when I say this is the kind of fast-paced entertainment that thriller readers crave. If you're looking for more believable fiction, this is probably too far out there for you. But if you're willing to drop all pretensions and just enjoy the ride, The Escape Room is a solid choice.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 27)
Posted by Ethan EmailComments

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10 Comments

Comments

  1. This one sounds so good! I love a good thriller, and I can usually just go along for the ride with mysteries. They don't have to be entirely realistic.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  2. I love when a book holds me hostage as you describe above. You have me curious about Sara and the whole escape room set up too. Sounds fantastic!

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  3. Replies
    1. It certainly had me hooked from the start!

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  4. You know you're reading a good book when you take it around the house with you! I've heard good things about this book, and your review has me even more interested in picking this one up!

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    1. Could not put down would be an understatement lol

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  5. Oh wow, this sounds incredible -- I have seen this about, but wasn't sure about the premise, so your review just upped my interest nso much!

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    Replies
    1. I went into it only the basic premise. It was so much fun!

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