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 Spring Reading. Show all posts

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

From the outside looking in, Natalie has the perfect life. She lives on the picturesque Yesteryear Ranch, tucked into the quiet hills of Ida...

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Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin

Monday, March 30, 2026

Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin

In her debut novel,  Wandering Souls , Cecile Pin delivered a searing portrait of a family shaped by war, immigration, and assimilation. It...

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Kin by Tayari Jones

Friday, March 20, 2026

Kin by Tayari Jones

How strong are the ties that bind us to another person? Are we shaped more by who we are at our core, or by the lives we’re forced to live? ...

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Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg

Friday, May 24, 2024

Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg

Take a moment to consider the individuals who have left the most significant imprint on your life. Who comes to mind? Perhaps it's frien...

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The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

In 2017, I had the privilege of embarking on a backpacking trip across Europe. I was overwhelmed by the sheer scope of history that unfolded...

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Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Monday, May 20, 2024

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Occasionally, a book emerges that feels perfectly attuned to the current cultural landscape. R.F. Kuang's Yellowface is one such example...

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Knife by Salman Rushdie

Friday, May 17, 2024

Knife by Salman Rushdie

 "I’ll just say that we would not be who we are today without the calamities of our yesterdays." The news of Salman Rushdie's ...

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Brother by Ania Ahlborn

Monday, May 13, 2024

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

I've always had a penchant for horror. There's an undeniable allure to the spine-tingling excitement of a good scare, especially whe...

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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. ...

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The Morningside by Téa Obreht

Friday, May 3, 2024

The Morningside by Téa Obreht

Téa Obreht has been a fixture in the literary landscape for as long as I can remember. I recall when I first began blogging about books, her...

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Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols

In his latest novel, Granite Harbor , Peter Nichols masterfully blends elements of familiarity and originality to craft a gripping murder my...

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Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

Friday, April 26, 2024

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

How well do we really know the people we love? Despite our efforts to connect and understand them, there are always layers of their lives th...

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Toxic Prey by John Sandford

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Toxic Prey by John Sandford

April has proven to be a month abundant with new releases from several of my favorite authors. The sheer volume of titles on my April TBR ha...

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Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Monday, April 22, 2024

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

For years, Sally Hepworth was an author whose name I was familiar with, yet I had never taken the plunge into her works. That changed last y...

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The Gathering by C.J. Tudor

Friday, April 19, 2024

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor

Since debuting with The Chalk Man in 2018, author C.J. Tudor has established herself as a master of crafting original novels that toe the l...

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None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Monday, April 15, 2024

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Last year, I embarked on a mission to dive into the works of authors I hadn't previously explored. This endeavor introduced me to many f...

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The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Since my early reading days, I've been captivated by mysteries that entice me with an enigmatic puzzle and keep me engaged until the fin...

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Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

Friday, April 5, 2024

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

Think back to the early months of 2020. COVID-19 was on the rise as a global health crisis, incidents of police brutality were escalating, a...

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Dark Ride by Lou Berney

Monday, April 1, 2024

Dark Ride by Lou Berney

At twenty-one, Hardy “Hardly” Reed finds himself at what seems like the pinnacle of his contributions to the world, which, frankly, isn'...

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One in the Chamber by Robin Peguero

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

One in the Chamber by Robin Peguero

The current news headlines vividly illustrate American politics' intense and dysfunctional state. While political contention, tit-for-ta...

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