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

Your information will only be used to respond to your message.

Showing posts with label Heist. Show all posts

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Friday, May 8, 2026

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Adora Hazzard has life figured out. Or at least, she believes she does. A philosopher and devoted follower of Stoicism, Adora has built her ...

Read the review →
An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

Friday, November 8, 2024

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

Election cycles are always full of headline-grabbing news, especially when a polarizing candidate dominates the stage with viral moments tha...

Read the review →
Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang

Friday, May 10, 2024

Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang

How do you typically find your next read? I've developed a range of techniques to discover the next book that will capture my interest. ...

Read the review →
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Monday, February 19, 2024

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

After relishing my previous read and taking my time with it, I sought a book that would immediately captivate me. While I didn't have a ...

Read the review →
The Great Gimmelmans by Lee Matthew Goldberg

Friday, November 3, 2023

The Great Gimmelmans by Lee Matthew Goldberg

How do you decide on your next book to read? Being a book blogger and reviewer, I regularly receive offers from authors and publishers, pres...

Read the review →
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead

Friday, September 1, 2023

Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead is one of those rare authors whose new books immediately jump to the top of my reading list. As the only living writer to w...

Read the review →
Camino Island by John Grisham

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Camino Island by John Grisham

John Grisham holds a special place on my bookshelf. I remember really getting into his books during high school, a time when I was finding m...

Read the review →
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

"He'd spent so much time trying to keep one half of himself separate from the other half, and now they were set to collide." H...

Read the review →
Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay

With just three books to go before completing my goal of reading a book a week this year, I'm finding that the end of this journey is lo...

Read the review →
Artemis by Andy Weir

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Artemis by Andy Weir

Confession: I have yet to read Andy Weir's The Martian . I know what you're thinking, "How could he have missed reading that on...

Read the review →
Sidney Sheldon's Chasing Tomorrow by Tilly Bagshawe

Monday, October 20, 2014

Sidney Sheldon's Chasing Tomorrow by Tilly Bagshawe

For years, Tracy Whitney and Jeff Stevens were an unstoppable con team. Together, they pulled off impossible heists against rich, greedy, ...

Read the review →
Shot All to Hell by Mark Lee Gardner

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Shot All to Hell by Mark Lee Gardner

Jesse James is perhaps one of the most famous criminals in American history. With the assistance of his notorious gang of outlaws, James s...

Read the review →
Powered by Blogger.