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.

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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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Childhood trauma is inevitable, though its impact varies for each individual. Stella Hudson's trauma, stemming from losing her mother to drug addiction, has led her to a career as an attorney specializing in child advocacy. Her latest case involves nine-year-old Rose Barclay. Rose's parents, Ian and Beth, are in the midst of a divorce, and Stella has been called in to determine Rose's final custody. Both parents have agreed to abide by Stella's decision as a neutral third party. During her investigation, Stella gets to know the parents, Ian's mother, Harriet, who lives with the family, and, of course, young Rose.

Divorce isn't the only dark shadow over the Barclay family. Rose's young nanny, Tina, recently met a tragic end, falling from the third-story window of the family home and plummeting to her death. Rose witnessed this event and has been so traumatized that she hasn't spoken a word since. Beth was equally impacted, developing a phobia of glass that has led the family to replace all the windows with plexiglass. Ian was affected in a more personal way. Before Tina's death, he had been involved in a passionate affair with her. The investigation into Tina's fall found no obvious sign of foul play, but the question lingers: was the young nanny pushed? If so, who was responsible? Was it the father, Ian, or the scorned mother, Beth? Or, most disturbingly, could the quiet young Rose be the one responsible for the tragedy?

Sarah Pekkanen has a knack for crafting page-turning thrillers centered on compelling family dramas, and her latest book, House of Glass, is no exception. After enjoying her previous standalone thriller, Gone Tonight, I was eager to dive into her newest release and was thrilled to receive both a physical and audio copy from her publisher. Pekkanen skillfully plays with genre conventions, using familiar tropes to present tantalizing red herrings. I'll admit, I thought I had the plot figured out, only to be surprised by an unexpected twist at the end.

House of Glass hooked me from the start, drawing me into the mystery of a mute child whose perspective may hold the key to the truth. This irresistible puzzle kept me reading non-stop. I had noted some uneven pacing in Pekkanen's previous novel, but House of Glass showed no such inconsistencies. It's sheer fun, popcorn reading at its finest—slightly over the top but thoroughly enjoyable.

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

(2024, 60)

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24 Comments

Comments

Lark@LarkWritesAugust 6, 2024 at 10:26 AM
A mystery with a mute child is such a great hook! And I do love a good summer popcorn thriller. :D
BlodeueddAugust 6, 2024 at 2:27 PM
I have not tries Pekkanen, but I am sure I have seen one of her books at the library
Mary KirklandAugust 6, 2024 at 2:44 PM
Is it bad that my first thought was that Rose pushed her? lol I may have watched too many of those Omen movies.
Samantha@WLABBAugust 7, 2024 at 5:46 AM
I cannot lie. When I read the part about the nanny falling from the window and the mute kid, Damien Omen came to mind. Glad this one delivered surprises for you. Always a plus with a mystery/thriller.
Samantha@WLABBAugust 7, 2024 at 5:48 AM
My mind right where Mary's did. HA! Glad this one delivered some surprises. Always a plus with a mystery/thriller.
Ashley SappAugust 7, 2024 at 10:43 AM
I'm so glad this was an enjoyable thriller. I love when a twist can surprise me. I'll have to check this one out.
KarenAugust 7, 2024 at 12:03 PM
The Omen comments made me laugh. Glad you found this to be so compelling.
Roberta R.August 7, 2024 at 3:13 PM
With so few characters, it shouldn't be hard to guess the culprit...except, apparently, it wasn't!

Nothing wrong with popcorn reading when done right.
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerAugust 7, 2024 at 7:47 PM
I am going to grab this. Hopefully, on audio. This is the second review that sold me on this today!
Rachel @Waves of FictionAugust 9, 2024 at 4:11 PM
I didn't grab up the arc, but I'll request the audio from my library. Sounds like page-turning fun!
Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenAugust 10, 2024 at 3:39 PM
I didn't really care for The Wife Between Us or The Golden Couple, but I didn't hate them. I am willing to give this one a try because the premise is fantastic and you really liked it.

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.

Contact