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.

"I just think you're meant to meet some people. I think the universe nudges them into your path.

There is something magical about this time of year. I spent the last couple of days eating way too much food, shopping for gifts, and decorating the house for the holidays. And though this year required us to do things differently than we have in years past, those holiday traditions still bring the same amount of magic that they always have. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to curl up next to the fire with a good book. The Texas weather finally brought us winter this weekend, so I decided to take full advantage and finish reading What If It's Us. This cute love story was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Arthur is soaking up every moment of his summer internship in New York. The soon-to-be high school senior is wholly committed to taking in all of the sights and sounds of the city life, even if that means neglecting the duties of his job. Today though, his internship has sent him on a mission that allows him to fulfill both of his desires. Today, he's been tasked with dropping off work documents at the post office. Yes, this is just a simple errand, but the city is ripe with adventure and opportunity.

Ben is at the post office for an entirely different reason. He's got a box full of stuff that belongs to his ex-boyfriend. The breakup is still so fresh and difficult that Ben can't bear to even see his ex. Having all of this stuff that reminds him of the relationship isn't helping either. It makes sense to just mail it all back to him and rid himself of that part of his life for good. As you can imagine, fate has other plans. Ben and Arthur meet in line at the post office and have a really cute conversation. The spark between the two is undeniable, but then they are separated. Was this just a chance encounter meant to fill that small moment of time, or is this something more? You'll have to read to find out.

I was so drawn into the story and characters that it is almost impossible for me to objectively comment on this book. In What If It's Us co-authors Becky Albertalli (of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda fame) and Adam Silvera deliver the kind of meet-cute YA romance that you'll have a hard time putting down. I don't normally read this genre, so I was a bit apprehensive at first. As I started reading, I couldn't help but find little pieces of myself in each of the characters. There's something about navigating the final years as a teenager that is universally relatable. Take away the fact that the main characters are gay (this story could have been equally effective with a heterosexual couple), and you are still left with a story that is just too compelling to not read. Is this a great work of literature that will be touted for its prose and structure? Of course not. But there's so much about What If It's Us to like about that you won't mind the little things that would normally detract from a novel. A sequel has recently been announced, and I really can't wait to read more about these characters.

For more information visit Albertalli's website, Silvera's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2020, 48)

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28 Comments

Comments

Lark November 30, 2020 at 3:31 PM
This does sound like a very cute story! :D Mostly this time of year I just want to curl up with a ton of books, some chocolate and a warm blanket and hibernate for the winter.
Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksDecember 1, 2020 at 2:14 PM
This was such a sweet read and it was easy to pull for Arthur and Ben. Between the meet cute, and their banter, and them trying to figure out where they stood with each other, I was all in.
Mary KirklandDecember 2, 2020 at 5:28 PM
Well that's awesome. I'm glad it was a good book and you're looking forward to the next one.
Samantha@WLABBDecember 5, 2020 at 7:58 AM
I was surprised to see a YA contemporary here, but glad to hear you enjoyed it and saw bits of yourself in there. Always a plus.
Carole's Random LifeDecember 8, 2020 at 7:16 PM
This sounds wonderful and as luck would have it, I actually have a copy on my bookshelf! It sounds like I should try to get to it sometime soon.
SusanDecember 9, 2020 at 7:21 AM
It's still warm here (it was 75 degrees yesterday), so I don't know when we'll actually be able to turn on our fireplaces. I guess we could crank the a/c way down, THEN make it toasty again with the fireplace. LOL. I'm hopeful we'll get some cold weather at some point so I can curl up by the fire. Enjoy all the coziness of the season :)
KarenDecember 9, 2020 at 1:47 PM
I have this one but haven't gotten to it yet.

I see you're already back to warmer weather. We're all in with the cold. In fact, I'm about to turn on my fireplace because I'm freezing lol

I'm glad your finding some comfort in the season even if it's not a typical one this year.

Karen @ For What It's Worth
Heather @ Random Redheaded RamblingsDecember 9, 2020 at 2:24 PM
This sounds cute!
VerushkaDecember 10, 2020 at 4:14 AM
This sounds utterly, entirely adorable!
Rachel @Waves of FictionDecember 10, 2020 at 4:19 PM
Isn't it lovely when the cooler weather makes it possible to snuggle up to a fire with a book? I just love it! This sounds like such a cute romance! It's nice to pick up something once in a while that's not your usual genre. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Ethan! :)
Lindsi December 16, 2020 at 9:20 AM
Amazing review! I always love it when I can see bits and pieces of myself in the characters I'm reading about. I also really like both of these authors, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this one. Maybe this was the push I needed? ;)

Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenDecember 19, 2020 at 11:55 AM
I love when we find pieces of ourselves in various characters - even better when those pieces are positive traits, lol. I too get kind of cautious when I read outside my normal genres but this sounds like it worked out wonderfully for you!
Shooting Stars MagDecember 23, 2020 at 2:54 PM
I feel like I enjoyed one-half of this book more than the other - I think it was the character that Adam wrote actually. At any rate, it was a cute read, and I love all the Broadway references. I'd read the sequel.

Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net

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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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