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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Showing posts with label Horror. Show all posts

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden

Monday, July 27, 2026

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden

There's probably very little we wouldn't do for our family. For Malcolm, that means keeping watch beside his dying mother's bed ...

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Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay

Friday, July 24, 2026

Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay

Paul Tremblay has built a career writing clever, terrifying horror novels like A Head Full of Ghosts , The Cabin at the End of the World , a...

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Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Friday, July 10, 2026

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

There's one in every family. The kid who couldn't wait to leave home. The one people still ask about, even though they already know ...

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A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Some things haunt us for a lifetime. For the Esmie siblings, it’s the disappearance of their baby brother, Ben. They were only children, pla...

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The Bone Queen by Will Shindler

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

The Bone Queen by Will Shindler

There’s nothing a mother won’t do to protect her child. For single mom Jenna, that means traveling from London to the remote shores of Athel...

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We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Friday, December 26, 2025

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

When Charlie and Eve stumble upon an old house full of character in a perfectly picturesque neighborhood—at a reasonable price, no less—they...

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King Sorrow by Joe Hill

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

King Sorrow by Joe Hill

Some authors are born to tell stories. Joe Hill practically had no choice. As the son of Stephen King, he could’ve coasted on a famous name,...

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The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn

Friday, October 17, 2025

The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn

We’re deep into October now, and while the Texas heat refuses to loosen its grip, I’m not letting that stop me from sinking into some spooky...

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Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

Richard Chizmar’s Chasing the Boogeyman has been sitting on my TBR for years. I first discovered Chizmar’s work through his collaboration w...

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Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

It’s the 1990s, and video rental stores are king. In a small Iowa town, the mom-and-pop Video Hut holds its own against the threat of a shin...

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Spread Me by Sarah Gailey

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Spread Me by Sarah Gailey

October is here at last, and with it comes my annual dive into spooky reads. It doesn’t quite feel like fall in South Texas yet—the summer h...

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Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner

Monday, July 14, 2025

Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner

Summer is in full swing, and this is the time of year when I find myself craving fast-paced page-turners—books that hook me from the very fi...

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The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

Friday, July 11, 2025

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

There's something wrong with Iðunn. At least, that’s what she thinks. How else can she explain the way she sleeps soundly every night, o...

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Whistle by Linwood Barclay

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Whistle by Linwood Barclay

Haunted. That’s one word to describe how the past year has left poor Annie Blunt. First, her husband was killed in a hit-and-run accident, ...

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The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

With a hurricane bearing down on Galveston, Charlie Book gives his team the night off. They've been stationed offshore with the Texas Pa...

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Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare

Monday, April 28, 2025

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare

There’s nothing more certain in the horror genre than a sequel following a smash hit. Adam Cesare’s 2020 novel Clown in a Cornfield was pre...

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White Line Fever by K.C. Jones

Monday, March 24, 2025

White Line Fever by K.C. Jones

There’s something liberating about hitting the open road, leaving behind schedules and responsibilities, if only for a little while. Just yo...

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Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

Stay with me on this train of thought. I find a certain comfort in the thrill of a classic slasher movie. I know what you’re thinking: How d...

Read the review →
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