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A Couple of Notes

A Couple of Notes

By Rome Johnson

Welcome to a Couple of Notes. Each episode writer Rome, and writer/editor Kaitlin will read a book they felt had an interesting premise, and discuss how successful, or unsuccessful, the author was in their execution. As this podcast does discuss every book in its entirety, spoiler warnings are in effect.
Connect with A Couple of Notes on twitter @coupleofnotes and support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes
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And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

A Couple of NotesSep 09, 2023

00:00
38:04
And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

Two little bookworms sitting in the sun, reading the book And Then There Were None. Agatha Christie's reputation as a mystery writer is well known and well deserved. And Then There Were None is arguably her most famous stand-alone mystery.

SPOILER WARNING: Tis is a whodunnit murder mystery, and we will be telling you whodunnit. And howdunnit. And whydunnit

Connect with us on socials! Twitter "X" @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes


Sep 09, 202338:04
Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Do you like the 1980's, family drama, and surfing? Yes? We have great news. No? We have terrible news. We're reading Malibu Rising!

Connect with us on socials! Twitter "X" @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes


Aug 18, 202335:07
Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

It's either the best book of the year or the worst. Either way, you've probably heard of this fantasy romance. Mount your dragon and come with us as we explore Fourth Wing.

Connect with us on socials! Twitter @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Aug 04, 202301:13:28
Seven Days in June, Tia Williams

Seven Days in June, Tia Williams

Seeing anyone you knew in high school can be awkward. Seeing the person you spent a week with in a drug house before they disappeared from your life forever? That's worth writing a book about.

Connect with us on socials! Twitter @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Jul 14, 202324:48
Less, Andrew Sean Greer

Less, Andrew Sean Greer

How far have you gone to avoid seeing your ex? Probably not as far as Arthur Less. Come with us and meet the 50 year old man who thinks his love life is a Jules Verne novel, as we review Less by Andrew Sean Greer.

Connect with us on socials! Twitter @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Jun 16, 202349:09
This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

Do you like time travel? Do you like lesbians? Do you like imagery that gives life to a future the mind can hardly comprehend? Well step right up, folks, because we have the book for you!

Connect with us on socials! Twitter @coupleofnotes Insta @couple_of_notes_podcast TikTok @coupleofnotespodcast and Patreon www.Patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Apr 24, 202330:38
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin
Mar 31, 202301:41:53
The One, John Marrs
Mar 17, 202359:02
The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren
Feb 20, 202341:35
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Feb 07, 202352:42
My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh
Jan 21, 202341:22
2022 New Year's Wrap Up Special

2022 New Year's Wrap Up Special

We're ringing in 2023 with some reflections on our first year of recording. We'll hand out some prestigious and entirely made up superlatives, tell you a little about what we've been reading behind-the-scenes, and announce our first Patron of the Year! This has been such an experience, and we can't wait to see what the future brings.

Jan 02, 202353:56
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

Behind every New Year's resolution is an end of the year regret. Nora Seed is about to experience infinite chances to change her life in search of the one thing more elusive than perfection, contentment. 

Find us on Patreon www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes and twitter @coupleofnotes. Our New Year's resolution is to give you an alternative to twitter next year. 

Jan 01, 202301:00:29
If We Were Villains, M.L. Rio

If We Were Villains, M.L. Rio

"There is no sure foundation set on blood, No certain life achieved by others' death." When a troupe of Shakespeare actors become too invested in their Year of Tragedy, lies, love, and murder can't stay contained to the stage. 

Share your thoughts with us on twitter @coupleofnotes and on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes.

Dec 18, 202258:38
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Disney said, "follow your dreams" and our main character took that literally. Join us as we follow Santiago, the shepherd boy, while he travels internationally without a plan and puts his trust in strangers. What could possibly go wrong?

Share your thoughts with us on twitter (before it too is butchered) @coupleofnotes and on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes.

Nov 30, 202249:16
The Butcher and The Wren, Alaina Urquhart

The Butcher and The Wren, Alaina Urquhart

Deep in the swamps of Louisiana, something villainous lurks. It's up to medical examiner, Wren to unlock the secrets of the dead, and catch the Bayou Butcher. She doesn't know, the man she's hunting, may be hunting her as well. Dive into this chilling crime thriller with us, as we review The Butcher and The Wren by Alaina Urquhart.  

Share your thoughts with us on twitter (before it too is butchered) @coupleofnotes and on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes. 

Nov 19, 202240:38
The Girl Who Drank The Moon, Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank The Moon, Kelly Barnhill

It is here, it is here, it is here. For an average length children's novel, this one took us a while to read and review. The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a high fantasy story with enough points of view to rival a George RR Martin tale, and we have some thoughts. Join us as we pick apart Kelly Barnhill's swampy moonlit tale, and share your thoughts with us on twitter @coupleofnotes and on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes.

Oct 09, 202239:02
Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt

You know your family is dysfunctional when you have to rely on an octopus to solve your problems. Meet Marcellus, the greatest octopus you'll wish there was more of; and Tova and Cameron, the human protagonists just developed enough for book clubbers around the country to project onto. Dive in with us, as we review, Shelby Van Pelt's, Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Follow us on twitter, @coupleofnotes and support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Sep 17, 202201:10:30
Daisy Jones and The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones and The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Welcome to the 1970's! Love is free, drugs are plentiful, and the future is Rock and Roll. The Six are a band on the fast track to success. But, will the addition of vocalist Daisy Jones take them to new heights, or see them crash and burn? This episode, we're reviewing Daisy Jones and The Six, the rock band mockumentary climbing the Goodreads charts.

Connect with us on social media! Twitter: @coupleofnotes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes

Aug 27, 202234:21
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

The fate of the world rests in the hands of one man. If only he could remember who he is and what he's doing in space. And are those dead bodies? Space can be spooky, but don't worry, we have dad jokes and lengthy science lessons to light the way! 

Connect with us on social media! Twitter: @coupleofnotes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes 

Aug 13, 202201:07:34
Beach Read, Emily Henry

Beach Read, Emily Henry

When a romance author loses her faith in love, she'll learn to write from a new source: spite! This episode we're reviewing the enemies-to-lovers summer romcom, Beach Read.

Connect with us on social media! Twitter @coupleofnotes Patreon www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes


Jul 22, 202201:07:28
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton

When I stepped out of the darkness of my recording closet, and into the bright sunlight, I had two things on my mind, Diane Lane and teen smoking.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is the book some say created the YA genre. Written when the author herself was in high school, The Outsiders tells the story of teens dealing with poverty, family tensions, and gang violence. This episode we'll discuss if the era-defining story holds up after almost 60 years. 


Jul 08, 202201:29:49
Meet Cute Club, Jack Harbon

Meet Cute Club, Jack Harbon

Have you ever wanted a book with all the charm of a Hallmark romance, but make it gay? We found that book. This episode we're discussing Meet Cute Club, an interracial queer romance about two perfectly imperfect men in a perfect little town, learning to love one another. Prepare for warm fuzzy feelings! **Note: Since the publication of this episode the author has changed her name to Brynn and now goes by she/they pronouns. We do not want to intentionally deadname or misgender anyone. As Brynn is currently still using Jack as their author moniker that is what we will continue to list the book under until such a time that the author chooses to change it**
Jun 24, 202256:45
Tender Is The Flesh, Agustina Bazterrica

Tender Is The Flesh, Agustina Bazterrica

In a world where animal meat is inedible, the world turns to cannibalism to get those tasty cheeseburgers. McDonalds needed to stay in business somehow! Join us as we dive into Agustina Bazterrica's twisted dystopia.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and animal cruelty. Listener Discretion is advised.

Final Thoughts begin at 1:32:15 for the verbal warning we give near the end.

May 27, 202201:34:13
Where The Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

Where The Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

Do you ever watch the nature channel and think, "I wish I could just live in a swamp with all the animals and only follow the laws of nature." Us either, but our protagonist this week sure does! This episode we reviewed Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, the story of an abandoned girl surviving on her own in the North Carolina wilderness. 

Connect with us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes and on twitter @coupleofnotes

May 01, 202201:13:21
Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

Welcome to the magical world of Ingary, where life is simple and the rules are clear. Never catch a falling star, elder siblings don't get to have dreams, and for goodness sake stay away from the Wizard Howl. They say he steals hearts! He's certainly stolen ours with this month's episode. Follow us as we dive into Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones. Look out for witches!

Connect with us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes and on twitter @coupleofnotes

Mar 30, 202251:10
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
Feb 28, 202201:01:33
Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell

Have you ever read a coming-of-age novel about a shy college girl who finds love and self-worth and thought, "This is great, but would it be better with gay wizards?" Well, Rainbow Rowell is here to answer that question! This week we'll review Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, the story of a college freshman navigating romance, family, academia, and online fanfiction. 

Connect with us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes and on twitter @coupleofnotes

Jan 30, 202201:31:13
My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult

Welcome to A Couple of Notes. What do bad parenting, poorly related Greek myths, arson, and service dog jokes all have in common? The love between sisters, of course! Join us for our premiere episode, featuring My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

Connect with us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/coupleofnotes and twitter @coupleofnotes.

Dec 31, 202101:45:12