The great feature of our newly improved user profiling system is that you can find out more about where reviewers are coming from (critical authority, as AggieH has pointed out, accrues over time). The downer, for anyone compiling this reader reviews blog, is that it can become too fascinating, dragging one across virtual mountainscapes and down digital rabbitholes.

This week's reviewers included a newcomer with the intriguing name thankstoMrsWard, who filed five short reviews in quick succession ranging from Hugh Howey's self-publishing sensation Wool, to John Grisham's The Last Juror. ThankstoMrsWard doesn't tell us much about him/herself beyond the fact that "Mrs Ward was my school librarian. An amazing woman who made a difference. I'd like to thank her."

What is clear from this first batch of reviews, and from ThankstoMrsWard's website, is that this is an enthusiast who's not afraid to point out a shovel where others might see a silver spoon (and then to forgive it its shovelishness).

Take this review of E Squared, by Matt Beaumont:

Oh, this is trivial nonsense. If you've read it, you'll know that. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Everyone needs a bit of comforting ephemera in the bath now and then. This doesn't disappoint if you keep your expectations at that level. Don't speak French? Me either! I found completely skipping past the sub plot did no harm to the story. Don't like swearing or naughty drugs? It's not for you.

So, a warm welcome to Thanksto... and ...MrsWard.

Elsewhere, there was a perceptive review from the aforementioned AggieH of Niall Griffiths' A Great Big Shining Star.

Though she had reservations, she felt that:

Griffiths' dramatic cautionary tale is so strong that it compensates for the book's literary weaknesses. He is excellent at dialogue, at voices, at natural conversation. He is observant and has a nice turn of phrase (the stress of a phone 'bleeping like a small animal crying to be fed').

Finally, in a week in which we learn that one of the UK's leading poetry publishers is ceasing to publish individual collections, an invaluable review of a collection from one of the valiant smaller presses, North Wales-based Cinnamon. Though the subject matter seems tough – "There are a number of poems, written with sensitivity and courage, that explore the world of serious illness" – Novamarie makes such a strong case for Gill McEvoy's Rise that I think I'm going to order it right now.

And that's it for this week. If I've mentioned your review, drop me an email on claire.armitstead@theguardian.com and I'll send you a book from the cupboards.