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 Summer Reading. Show all posts

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

Monday, August 31, 2026

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

Is that a chill in the air, or is it just wishful thinking? Reality check: it's still the end of August, and I live in Texas, but I'...

Read the review →
Sunrise by Téa Obreht

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Sunrise by Téa Obreht

I first learned about Téa Obreht around the time I started my blog in 2012. Her debut, The Tiger's Wife , was taking the reading world b...

Read the review →
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson

Monday, August 17, 2026

The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson

I do this thing where I really enjoy a book, vow to read the sequel, and then somehow wait years before I actually get around to it. It'...

Read the review →
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

Friday, August 14, 2026

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

In her debut novel, The Witch's Orchard , Archer Sullivan introduced readers to private detective Annie Gore. The story pulled Annie bac...

Read the review →
Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek

Friday, August 7, 2026

Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek

"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you." At the start of the summer, I spent a day at Space Center Houston, home of the J...

Read the review →
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

It starts with a chance encounter at an airport bar. Ted spots the stunning Lily sitting alone, nursing a martini, and strikes up a conversa...

Read the review →
The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Monday, August 3, 2026

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

Riley is desperate for a job. Living out of her car, she answers an ad seeking a live-in caregiver for an elderly widow. The house she arriv...

Read the review →
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...

Read the review →
The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

Monday, July 20, 2026

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

There's nothing better than a summer vacation. Okay, hold on. If I'm being honest, the season matters a lot less than the fact that ...

Read the review →
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Monday, July 13, 2026

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Dear Readers, I found myself wondering, "How do I possibly write a review of The Correspondent  that conveys just how original and bril...

Read the review →
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 ...

Read the review →
The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

Monday, July 6, 2026

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

It's the height of summer here in South Texas, but that doesn't mean I'm staying indoors. In fact, I spent much of the holiday w...

Read the review →
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Have you ever found yourself in a situation you felt completely unprepared to face? That's exactly how Leila feels when she's assign...

Read the review →
Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley

Friday, June 26, 2026

Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley

Ivy Harcourt is riding high on the success of her debut romance novel. A reimagining of Wuthering Heights with a much happier ending, the b...

Read the review →
Whistler by Ann Patchett

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Whistler by Ann Patchett

My introduction to Ann Patchett came a few years ago with Tom Lake . That novel contemplated the lives we live, the lives we imagine, and t...

Read the review →
It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Monday, June 22, 2026

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell 's novels are the literary equivalent of quicksand. You step in intending to read a chapter or two, and suddenly it's mi...

Read the review →
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day

Friday, June 19, 2026

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day

It's summer vacation season, and this week I've been taking full advantage of some time away from work. The break began with a famil...

Read the review →
Father Material by Alexis Hall

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Father Material by Alexis Hall

First comes love. Luc and Oliver have come a long way in their relationship. When we first met them in Boyfriend Material , the pair were fa...

Read the review →
Heather by Caitlin Mullen

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Heather by Caitlin Mullen

I love it when an author can transport you to a specific place and time. That's exactly what Caitlin Mullen accomplished with her debut...

Read the review →
Powered by Blogger.