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

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Showing posts with label Friday Flicks. Show all posts

Friday Flicks: Project Hail Mary

Friday, April 24, 2026

Friday Flicks: Project Hail Mary

Before I dive into just how much I enjoyed the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary , based on Andy Weir ’s novel , I have a bit of a confes...

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Friday Flicks: Clown in a Cornfield

Friday, August 15, 2025

Friday Flicks: Clown in a Cornfield

Earlier this year, I discovered Adam Cesare's hit horror novel Clown in a Cornfield . I devoured it, impressed by the way Cesare blended...

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Friday Flicks: Conclave

Friday, May 2, 2025

Friday Flicks: Conclave

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday Flicks post here on the blog. Yes, I’m still watching plenty of movies, but I’ll admit that revi...

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Friday Flicks: American Fiction

Friday, June 7, 2024

Friday Flicks: American Fiction

Author Percival Everett has built a career on writing sharp, satirical novels that delve into the complexities of race and identity without ...

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Friday Flicks: A Haunting in Venice

Friday, December 8, 2023

Friday Flicks: A Haunting in Venice

Actor and director Kenneth Branagh has reinvigorated the murder mystery genre with his acclaimed portrayal of Agatha Christie's renowned...

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Friday Flicks: Mr. Harrigan's Phone

Friday, October 20, 2023

Friday Flicks: Mr. Harrigan's Phone

During the ongoing Spooky Season, I've been diligently making my way through a list of eerie films that I've been wanting to watch. ...

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Friday Flicks: Knock at the Cabin

Friday, October 13, 2023

Friday Flicks: Knock at the Cabin

M. Night Shyamalan is a name synonymous with horror. His breakout directorial hit The Sixth Sense set the stage for an incredible run of ori...

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Friday Flicks: Red, White, & Royal Blue

Friday, September 22, 2023

Friday Flicks: Red, White, & Royal Blue

Representation matters. The presence of diverse and relatable characters in literature and media plays a crucial role in enabling individual...

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Friday Flicks: The Wonder

Friday, September 8, 2023

Friday Flicks: The Wonder

After nearly a year, my "Friday Flicks" feature returns to review a movie on the blog. While my trips to the movie theater have be...

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Friday Flicks: The Black Phone

Friday, July 1, 2022

Friday Flicks: The Black Phone

The Black Phone  has been one of my most anticipated films of the year since I first heard it was being made. Director Scott Derrickson and ...

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Friday Flicks: Dune

Friday, October 29, 2021

Friday Flicks: Dune

Earlier this year I faced my fears and finally tackled the literary behemoth that is Frank Herbert's Dune . The book is a sprawling tale...

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Friday Flicks: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Friday, June 19, 2020

Friday Flicks: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

If it feels like it has been a long time since I last did a Friday Flicks review, that's because it has been. I've always been a fan...

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Friday Flicks: It Chapter Two

Friday, September 27, 2019

Friday Flicks: It Chapter Two

I love a good horror movie. There’s something fun about getting sucked into the suspense of a spooky story that plays with your imaginatio...

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Friday Flicks: Pet Sematary (2019)

Friday, April 12, 2019

Friday Flicks: Pet Sematary (2019)

Over the last several years, horror movies have seen a resurgence in the public eye. Series like The Conjuring films have proven to be both ...

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Friday Flicks: The Girl in the Spider's Web

Friday, November 9, 2018

Friday Flicks: The Girl in the Spider's Web

Released in 2005, author Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo became an internationally best-selling novel that launched a fr...

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Friday Flicks: Crazy Rich Asians

Friday, August 17, 2018

Friday Flicks: Crazy Rich Asians

Much will be made about the financial success of director Jon M. Chu's film Crazy Rich Asians out in wide release today. Based upon Kevi...

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Friday Flicks: Ready Player One

Friday, April 13, 2018

Friday Flicks: Ready Player One

Ernest Cline's Ready Player One  rocked the literary world with a killer combination of 80's pop culture references, relatable chara...

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Friday Flicks: Love, Simon

Friday, March 23, 2018

Friday Flicks: Love, Simon

Simon is a normal teenage boy. He is in the midst of his senior year of high school. His parents were high school sweethearts who married an...

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Friday Flicks: Murder on the Orient Express

Friday, December 8, 2017

Friday Flicks: Murder on the Orient Express

Earlier this year, I read Agatha Christie's famed Murder on the Orient Express . It was easy to see why Christie's novel has been a ...

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Friday Flicks: American Assassin

Friday, October 6, 2017

Friday Flicks: American Assassin

"You go down out there, you're a ghost. There's nobody, nobody coming back for you." A couple months ago, I read America...

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