Having read, and loved, a few of Katherine Center's books, this one might be top tier for me. I loved that both the characters are writers who use writing to escape their real lives. I like how they spend time 'testing' out tropes, and even having some more added in, and try to learn how to write together and get this idea to land. Emma, who has been away from the world for bit because she's been taking care of her dad, is a believable character in the situation she is in. Charlie is afraid to lose anyone else, and even to be someone that Emma might lose. They spend a lot of time trying to sort out their feelings (or not feelings) and see how they might end up coming together. I think both characters are stubborn, but I truly liked how the story played out.

I loved, loved, loved everything about this book. It’s officially one of my favorites of all time. ❤️ Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the ARC!

I have a book hangover after plowing through this in less than 24 hours. Including staying up late because I started it close to bedtime and couldn't put it down until it was half done and I suddenly remembered I'm a high school teacher!

This is so very sweet. Never too sweet. And often bittersweet. It is one of my favorite novels Center has written, and I like all her books. And for once I feel comfortable recommending it to coworkers and students, because there is no funny business. I like funny business! I read everything! But this was just perfect the way it was. Two people overcoming grief and very real issues in ways that felt authentic. And it has the most beautiful things to say about love.

Five stars. No notes. Happy summer reading. I received a digital ARC through NetGalley, for which I am very very grateful, but it didn't affect my review in the slightest. This book warrants lots of joy all on its own.

This is probably my favorite Katherine Center book to date, and I’m a pretty big fan of hers. Hitting the right mix of spunky, funny, emotional and endearing, the Rom-Commers is a book you won’t want to put down. I loved the dialogue in this book, playful quick-witted banter that gave off major Gilmore Girls vibes. These interactions really show off the personalities of Emma and Charlie and highlight the chemistry these two have right off the bat. One of my favorite things about this book is just how easily these two fall for each other without it feeling contrived. There aren’t big trips, or big events that pull them together…they fall for each other because they really enjoy each other’s company in everyday settings.
As with all of her books, there are some tougher topics also discussed, but they are done with great sensitivity and are given their due justice. A perfect beach read if there ever was one, I can’t recommend this book enough if you want a light fun read!

**Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**

I enjoyed Center's latest rom-com despite some flaws and frustrations with the characters and the storyline. Emma has given up her entire life to take care of her father after a serious accident ten years earlier left him needing a permanent caretaker. When she is offered a dream career opportunity - to fix a romantic comedy screenplay by her screenwriter idol Charlie Yates - Emma's younger sister is conveniently newly graduated from college just in time to take over dad duties as Emma goes out to L.A. for her big chance. I loved the banter between Emma and Charlie, but I was never much of a Charlie fan throughout the novel. He was too much of a nonstop asshat, and Emma was a little too selfless of a doormat, for me to champion their HEA. That said, Center did a great job bringing out all the big emotions and I couldn't put this down. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital review copy.

What an absolutely delightful rom com. Charlie and Emma are tasked with writing a romantic comedy screenplay. Moving back and forth between the writing of the movie and watching Charlie and Emma's own love story unfold was crafted so well. This book gave me all the feels - straight up rollercoaster. It might be my new favorite Katherine Center. The title is absolutely perfect.

I was a big fan of this one! I love a romcom, so a book in defense of them was well appreciated. This book was cheesy, but in a welcome way. I do think the tragic backstory may have been a bit extreme, and Emma often veered far too much into annoying martyr character as a result. Overall, a really enjoyable, though predictable read that I would definitely recommend to any lovers of romcoms and the romance novel genre.

“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we are looking for- adventure, excitement, emotion, connection-we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with- sometimes ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them- we look for answers in stories.”

I waited as long as I could to read Katherine Center’s new book and I just couldn’t wait any longer. I started the book on Tuesday and didn’t want to leave Charlie and Emma while I had to work and do other life things. They immediately had me in a chokehold and I was lucky to get a listening copy. For the rest of the week this book became my personality.

Emma Wheeler might just be my spirit animal. And in true Katherine Center fashion, I was introduced to characters I fell in love with and followed along on a story I will never forget and hugged my heart. I laughed out loud, I highlighted a substantial amount of the story because the things these characters say are just that good, and I LOVED the ending.

This is out June 11th and one you are definitely going to want to read!

I loved the ability to transition back and forth between audio and physical copy and if you can do that I highly recommend it! Patti Murin narrates and I loved the way she differentiated the characters and told this story.

5 stars

Emma is a screenwriter...well, she is aspiring to be one. Now 28 years old and having provided care for her dad for the last 10 years, there hasn't been much of a chance to pursue her own dreams. When an amazing opportunity comes up for her to go to LA to work on a project with THE Charlie Yates, she says yes. Her sister has just graduated from college and is ready to take her turn with their dad. What ensues is a crash course in writing, understanding, and most of all lessons in love.

This book was precious. The feel from early on was that Emma and Charlie would fall for one another, but man, the obstacles in their way make you really question if it will happen or if it is even worth it for them. I really enjoyed their journey! Center has a way with weaving a storty every time!!

****Publishing June 11, 2024****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emma Wheeler hadn’t had much luck getting big screen writing jobs until one day a call came in from her ex-boyfriend, Logan, to screen write for a famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates. It was for a Rom-Com, he wrote. The only catch is she has to move to LA. Her sister, Sylvie, agrees to take care of their Dad, who needs care because he has a traumatic brain injury and Ménière’s disease.

Logan has arranged for Emma to stay with Charlie Yates and has given her strict orders not to get into a relationship with him. But then Emma realizes nothing was prearranged, including the job. Is it all that it seems? Will it work out? Or will she go home without the opportunity? Will she be able to write her own love story?

I love Katherine Center’s books since they are funny and entertaining. This heartfelt read will have you turning the pages to find out Emma’s fate. Katherine Center creates characters that are relatable, which makes for an entertaining read! A perfect book for your pool or beach bag!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press , I was provided an ARC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Humorous and emotional and all the in-between feels…an overall fantastic closed-door romance! The narration, dialogue, banter and comedic interactions truly brought Emma and Charlie to life. It was refreshing to read a rom-com where the main female character does not put herself first and constantly self-sabotages and a main male character that is well, not really lovable. Their story was full of hope and encouragement, not without its ups and downs. Just saying, the line dancing scene was top notch hilarious. Also, what a seriously cool way to get the inside scoop on how a romantic comedy is developed and written.

I adore Katherine Centers writing, I think it’s witty and fun and I love her fourth wall breaking. However. The characters in this were so unlikable. The MMC was so mean for no reason and never redeemed himself. The FMC was portrayed as desperate and allowed this man to speak to her that way and still begged him to like her. She was horrid to her sister and somehow she thought she was the only one who deserved an apology?!? I wanted to like this as much as previous novels but this was a total miss for me.

If I had a life that was conducive to reading this in one day, I most definitely would have. It was delight.

Being a writer, Emma is perhaps more of a typical rom-com protagonist than some of Center’s other leads. But like the others, she is complex and dynamic and bold.

And Charlie - also a writer - is bitter and jaded about love, and forced to write a rom com screenplay.

This was a book I couldn’t put down for its wonderful banter, loving family dynamics, and easy to follow storyline. And yes, a highly satisfying ending.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: tragic death of a parent recounted, traumatic brain injury, cancer

Emma Wheeler should be a successful screenwriter, but she's put her dreams aside for the past ten years to be her father's primary caretaker. Now, her agent has a once-in-a-lifetime offer for her: help her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, fix his terrible rom-com screenplay. As Emma and Charlie save his script, they also help each other come back to life after years of suffering. Will the rom-com they're working on lead simply to financial success, or will these two also be writing their own love story?

When I say I loved this, I mean I absolutely LOVED this! From page one I was hooked, and I was flying through the pages waiting to see what was coming next. Katherine Center always does a great job mixing light-hearted moments with heavy topics. I felt the pain of Emma's past so deeply and had tears in my eyes reading about what happened to her parents years ago. Seeing her forgive herself and realize she deserved to find happiness was so beautiful and moving. Charlie had his own trauma to work through, and he made me emotional with a certain video he made. Thank goodness this had humor and happiness to balance it out! I loved the dynamic between Charlie and Emma. Yes, Charlie is super quirky and aloof, but he had the sweetest soul underneath. You really have to focus on his actions rather than his words to see his heart. Just trust that it's all going to work out in the end. There were just so many great moments in this: Jablowmie, the dress, the hospital, the pocket square... You just need to read it to understand! And I highly recommend reading The Bodyguard first to catch some fun references and character cameos. Thank you Katherine Center for curing my book slump!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know if this book just hit at the right time but I thoroughly enjoyed this! This isn’t a swoony angsty spicy romance, but more emotional, sometimes frustrating, laugh out loud romance. The MMC definitely has some flaws but it made him realistic. A rom com about two screenwriters thrown together to write a rom com worked really well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So maybe my toxic trait is that I read books and then don't write a review and then promptly forget all about it and all my thoughts! Luckily I wrote a short synopsis about this one on my good reads- not good enough to jog my memory though:
4.5-5 stars. Loved Emma and Charlie. And her dad! All the feels!
As always, I love the hope and joy that is portrayed in Katherine's books!
I read this in January (thank you @netgalley) but l think the fact that I don't remember too much about how this one made me feel means it's really 4-4.5 stars.
I love Katherine Center and think I feel guilty admitting when I don't have a five star experience with her books.
But l've got to say- I remember finishing Happiness for Beginners and Things You Save in a Fire and I wanted to re-start those books as soon as I finished them. I didn't feel that way about this one which is why, looking back, I don't think it's five stars for me. I did still like it though so make of that what you will!

4.5 Stars! This is another great book by Katherine Center. I liked Emma and Charlie's characters. They are both struggling with their own issues, but they work as they write a novel together. I enjoyed the LA setting and the humor in this book as well. I liked the importance of family is emphasized and it's an enjoyable read overall! I think this book is best to go in without knowing too much and just enjoy the book! It is a great read!

This is my first book by Katherine Center (I've had 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 on my TBR for the longest. I'll be reading it soon! lol ) and it did not disappoint!

So this book focuses on Emma Wheeler, a woman who longs to be a Hollywood screenwriter. She cares fulltime for her physically disabled dad, and has put her dreams on hold until she gets the call of a lifetime - to help Charlie Yates write romantic comedy.
Not only is Charlie Yates a uber successful screenwriter, but Emma looks up to him & aspires to be like him.
With the job taking her to LA for 6 weeks, her younger sister moves in to care for their father & Emma finally begins to live again. However, Charlie doesn’t want to write with anyone - especially a “nobody” like Emma.
Emma decides to show Charlie she is an amazing writer & will stop at nothing to prove this; but in writing their romantic comedy it breaks all of Emma’s romantic comedy rules but will the screenplay come true?

4/5 ✨: one word to describe this book - cute & I normally do not like rom-coms!
I absolutely enjoyed this book & the last part had me feeling all types of ways - my jaw dropped, I almost cried, I smiled & I laughed.
I definitely recommend this one if you’ve been reading a lot of heavy books or you just want to read something cute! So definitely pick this one up when it’s published 🩷
PS - I recommend reading 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 first. I didn’t & I wish I did

Katherine Center can do no wrong in my opinion! I did not want to put this down! I love her writing and her characters feel so real!! Emma was such a fun mc and even though I still don’t really understand why Charlie had to say some of the sings he did say, I really liked him as well. I love how Katherine Center can make me feel for these people in 350-ish pages. I cried my way through the end!! I loved Emmas and Charlies dynamic and banter and the storyline was so cute as well!! Im so looking forward to rereading this and I can not wait for her next book! The biggest thanks to netgalley and the publisher!! Im so grateful that I got the arc for this book

thank you netgalley and katherine for the arc!

I really loved this book and whole heartedly enjoyed the characters, their banter, and the overall writing! it read like a true rom-com and made you giggle out loud and kick your feet! emma and charlie were both so stubborn, which is relatable, but i wish they communicated better or were able to relay how they were feeling about situations without making the decisions for each other! silly gooses!

i cannot wait to see this story on the big screen, because i know it'll make a phenomenal movie. everyone go make this your book of the summer!

"there it is. the whole trick to life. be aggressively, loudly, unapologetically grateful."