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.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

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.

Find Me Elsewhere

Send a Message

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Archive for 2022

Top 5 Favorite Reads of 2022

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Top 5 Favorite Reads of 2022

2022 was a banner year for A Book A Week in more ways than one. In January, I celebrated my milestone 10th anniversary of the blog. It is cr...

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Shadow Prey by John Sandford

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Shadow Prey by John Sandford

What's the longest-running series that you read? In the crime fiction genre, establishing a well-received character and spawning a serie...

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Here's To Us by Becky Albertalli & Adan Silvera

Friday, December 16, 2022

Here's To Us by Becky Albertalli & Adan Silvera

"Just because someone says they love you doesn't mean they'll never say it to someone else." Love was in the air this past...

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Livid by Patricia Cornwell

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Livid by Patricia Cornwell

This is the time of year when every day seems busier than the last. It can be a miracle to cook dinner in the evening, let alone sit down to...

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Suspect by Scott Turow

Friday, December 2, 2022

Suspect by Scott Turow

Believe it or not, we are in the final month of 2022! Please tell me I'm not the only one wondering where the time has gone! December te...

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

What makes a great book? I'm at that point in the year where I'm beginning to reflect on which of the many books I've read this ...

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I recently completed my goal of reading 52 books in a year. This is the fastest I've ever completed this objective, meaning that I read ...

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Con/Artist by Tony Tetro and Giampiero Ambrosi

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Con/Artist by Tony Tetro and Giampiero Ambrosi

I've always thought that my reading mood changes with the season, and that's certainly been true this month. I've mostly put dow...

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James Patterson by James Patterson

Saturday, November 19, 2022

James Patterson by James Patterson

When I think of authors who have helped sustain my weekly reading goal across the last decade, the first to come to mind is James Patterson....

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Later by Stephen King

Monday, November 14, 2022

Later by Stephen King

"I don't mean to scare you, but sometimes a scare is the only lesson that works." For nearly half a century, author Stephen Ki...

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The Wheel of the Doll by Jonathan Ames

Friday, November 11, 2022

The Wheel of the Doll by Jonathan Ames

What's your go-to genre? My tastes have evolved and varied, but I always return to crime fiction. There's just something about follo...

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A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor

After three years of facing a global pandemic, there is no denying that our world has forever changed. Each of us can probably point to ways...

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Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Monday, November 7, 2022

Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Looking out upon the night sky, it is easy to get lost in view of the stars. Throughout history, humans have been fascinated by the stars ye...

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The Troop by Nick Cutter

Monday, October 31, 2022

The Troop by Nick Cutter

"That’s what’s different about kids: they believe everything can happen, and fully expect it to." When you were a child, what were...

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Breed by Chase Novak

Friday, October 21, 2022

Breed by Chase Novak

How far would you go to make your dream a reality? Alex and Leslie Twisden seem to have it all. Money is no issue, and they live in a beauti...

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Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Monday, October 17, 2022

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

 "A life lived in simulation is still a life." Emily St. John Mandel is an author who has been on my radar for several years. I...

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In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt

Monday, October 10, 2022

In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt

October is here, bringing my favorite time of the year. The humidity of the South Texas summer has given way to a slight crispness in the ai...

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Righteous Prey by John Sandford

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Righteous Prey by John Sandford

If you ask me for my recommendation of a great detective series, I won't hesitate to suggest John Sandford's Virgil Flowers series. ...

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The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

Thursday, September 29, 2022

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

I was pretty disappointed by the last thriller I read, so I decided my next read needed to be completely different. My bookstagram buddy Jon...

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The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson

Friday, September 23, 2022

The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson

Most of my yearly reading tends to fall into the thriller genre. There's just something about these stories' quick pace and twisted ...

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The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Imagine for a moment you start your day, a day just like any other. You wake up, brew a pot of coffee, and prepare to go to work. When you s...

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The Push by Ashley Audrain

Monday, September 12, 2022

The Push by Ashley Audrain

I have a habit of rushing to buy the book everyone is reading and buzzing about, then ignoring it for so long that the hype has completely d...

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The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

Friday, September 9, 2022

The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

As the hardships of The Great Depression emerged, the people of the hills of North Carolina buckled down to make ends meet. For many familie...

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