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 Sci-fi. Show all posts

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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Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Friday, April 17, 2026

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

With as many books as I read each year, I try to strike a balance between new releases, backlist titles on my shelves, and literary classics...

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Simultaneous by Eric Heisserer

Monday, November 3, 2025

Simultaneous by Eric Heisserer

Have you ever had a premonition? That strange feeling that something is about to happen—a ripple in the fabric of the day that only makes se...

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Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson

In the spring of 2011, I was the kind of reader who mostly read out of necessity. My mom, a teacher, had instilled in us the value of readin...

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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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You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Monday, June 3, 2024

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

For five decades, Stephen King has captivated audiences with his richly developed characters, imaginative narratives, and knack for crafting...

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Timeline by Michael Crichton

Friday, March 15, 2024

Timeline by Michael Crichton

Lately, my husband has rekindled his interest in reading. While I indulge in a couple of books every week, he has refrained from reading for...

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Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

Monday, January 22, 2024

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

The enduring fascination between humanity and the vast sea has a rich literary history. Renowned authors like Ernest Hemingway and Jules Ver...

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The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Justin Cronin has been on my radar since his novel The Passage captured audiences' attention in 2010. At that time, I was just getting b...

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Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel

In the past three decades, the rise of the internet has connected people and information across the globe. Before that, there simply wasn...

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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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Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

"Being smart doesn't make people infallible. It just makes them more dangerous." It is finally here! Blake Crouch's Upgrad...

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The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart

Friday, April 1, 2022

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart

The older I've gotten, the more I've come to appreciate the value of time. It may be cliche to say, but time really is the one commo...

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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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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

For as long as I can remember, scientists, politicians, and large corporations have gone back and forth about how to best respond to climate...

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Dune by Frank Herbert

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Dune by Frank Herbert

For as many new releases as I read each year, I always make a point to read a few classics as well. Dune Frank Herbert's science fiction...

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Prey by Michael Crichton

Friday, October 23, 2020

Prey by Michael Crichton

Even if you've never heard of him, you probably have some sort of familiarity with Michael Chrichton's work. His bestselling novel J...

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Cold Storage by David Koepp

Friday, April 24, 2020

Cold Storage by David Koepp

While I certainly wish I could be going to work and going about my life as normal, I do enjoy some of the perks of staying at home. At the s...

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Recursion by Blake Crouch

Monday, June 17, 2019

Recursion by Blake Crouch

"That's what it means to be human--the beauty and the pain, each meaningless without the other." Several years ago, Crown Pu...

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

We are at a point in pop culture where nostalgia seems to be the hot topic. Star Wars and Jurassic Park rule the box office while revived ...

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