I think we all have authors that seem to write in a way that’s perfectly suited to us, and for me, one of those is Katherine Center. I get sucked into her books immediately and always enjoy the characters, dialogue, and romance. There’s just something about the level of humor, pining, and chemistry that really hooks me.
This story was a delight to read. There were serious elements—death, disease, and sacrificing for your family—but they were tempered by some fantastic banter and a few ridiculous situations that only seem to happen in romcoms. The romance between Charlie and Emma built slowly but beautifully, and I absolutely loved how everything was tied together when they got their essential, blissfully happy ending.

I'm so glad I got to read this as a ARC. I'm never disappointed when I read a Katherine Center book and this is one of my favorites. She is a great storyteller and I always become so invested in the characters. This book had a good amount of angst, which I love. It brought me to tears in places. When an author can bring those kind of emotions out in me, I feel like they are truly a great writer. This book is worth your time!!

Katherine Center writes the most heartfelt, funny rom-coms, and her latest is not exception - literally lives up to the name! Center is an author who has been able to capture that Ephron vibe in all the books I've read of hers so far, and it's very present in this one. If you're looking for a summer read that is evocative of the genre and leave a big smile on your face, definitely add THE ROM-COMMERS to your TBR; you won't regret it!

What a delight!! So much heart in this story. I love how Center writes complex families and weaves her characters’ worlds together.
I was wary of this after finding the FMC in Hello Stranger difficult, but I was rooting so hard for our screenwriting, strawberry hoodie wearing heroine Emma! I loved the forced proximity as she worked along side her idol/hero/crush writer Charlie and they learned from each other.
I was a little frustrated with some of the later miscommunication (or lack of communication entirely) towards the end but the grand gesture absolutely paid off.
In all, this was a joyful story with the core belief that our relationships don’t complete our identities, but they can change our lives.

Katherine Center is a must read author for me and her newest book does not disappoint. This story moved me and I could not put it down. I finished it in one night. I loved the cameo of the stars of her book, The Bodyguard.

This book made me laugh, angry, giddy, and it made me cry (just a little). I was immersed in this beautiful and messy story of Emma and Charlie, a story of conquering fears, finding hope, and, of course, love. I enjoyed the whole journey. It’s a rom-com masterpiece.

Thank you to Net Galley, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! This book releases on June 11, 2024.

The Rom-Commers was, in true Katherine Center fashion, a heartfelt romance that made me laugh and cry. It was also a very fast read, and it got me out of a bit of a slump. So, much thanks to KC, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is June 11.

The Rom-Commers follows talented but inexperienced screenwriter Emma as she receives an offer to ghostwrite a rom-com screenplay with Charlie Yates, a talented and experienced screenwriter who doesn’t write rom coms. Emma has been taking care of her dad for over ten years after he was injured in a tragic climbing accident. Emma suffers from a lot of guilt and anxiety over what happened and sacrificed her life after that. So, the opportunity to write with Charlie Yates is one she can’t pass up - even if it means she has to let her younger sister pick up the slack at home.

Can Emma convince cynical Charlie that love is real, or will the two of them write a successful screenplay without experiencing romance?

Read if you like:
Grumpy x sunshine
Forced proximity
Witty banter
Closed door romance
Found family vibes
He falls first
Jack Stapleton and Hannah cameos
Cinnamon rolls

I enjoyed this book a lot, but I did find some of Charlie’s behavior to be *not the best*. I understand where Center was coming from given his background, but I would have liked it more had it come with an explanation or apology about why he did what he did. I think that would’ve made the book longer and probably less meta rom-commy, but it may have meant I rated this a little higher. I’m glad that Emma stood up for herself and began to chase what she wanted! And I loved the quiet scenes where she and Charlie Yates did small things and built up their trust and their friendship. That gave me When Harry Met Sally vibes, and who doesn’t love a good Nora Ephron movie?

All said, I really liked this read and left it feeling happy- just like Center wants for her readers.

Center never disappoints, and her latest heartfelt romance is a winner. I love how she brings emotion to the forefront by placing her characters in real-life situations that we all deal with over the years. In this novel, Emma is a caretaker for her father, and as someone who took care of my own parents as they aged, I could relate to many of her feelings. I loved the banter and play between her and Charlie and especially loved the glimpses into the writerly life. If you’re looking for a book with hope and goodness at its core, pick up this one!

I loved this book! Don't let this title fool you. This book was enjoyable yet had enough meat in it to make it serious and heartfelt. I would definitely recommend took this book to my friends and anyone who like romantic comedies.

Katherine Center's romcoms always have me giggling away and this was no exception. I read this one on audio while walking my dog, so the neighbors probably think I'm a bit batty now but I was enjoying myself too much to mind.

Charlie was hard to love at first. He's crabby (which I didn't mind - grumpy/sunshine is my favorite romcom trope) but more notably he seems to be doing some underhanded things that I didn't love. But this is a romcom, so he redeemed himself in the end, of course. Poor Emma has been through the wringer with her life, but I liked the growth in her character as well as the way her family role and the relationships she has with her sister and dad grew.

The banter was great but the story did veer into the overly dramatic and unlikely a couple of times which I didn't love. Overall, this isn't my absolute favorite of Center's romcoms to date, but I had such a blast with Charlie and Emma that I'm not mad about it.


A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'm quite biased as I love Katherine Center's books and this one didn't disappoint. It started a bit light story-wise for me but I very much enjoyed how she went deeper into developing the main characters Emma Wheeler and Charlie Yates. The location in Los Angeles, writing a screenplay together and living in the same house really set it up for a lot of tension and plot lines. Yet, the thing Iove the best about her books are the gems of the "moral of the story". The characters are always reminded of what's most important in life and to make the harder decisions which are better in the end. I loved this one and highly recommend it!

As a big Katherine Center fan, I'm never surprised to love her books. Her upcoming release The Rom-Commers, which comes out this summer, is going to be the perfect book to put into your pool/beach bag.

Emma has put her dreams aside to care for her father after an accident that killed her mother. She's been so busy taking care of everyone else that she's forgotten who she really is. But when Emma's best friend gets her a gig writing a rom-com screenplay with Charlie Yates. Yates, one of the most famous and notorious screenwriters for writing alone, doesn't want Emma's help or anyone else's help for that matter. Having flown out to L.A. already, Emma isn't giving up without a fight and has made it her mission to convince Charlie that true love can be real.

Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, paired with one of my favorite authors and I'm sold! While this wasn't my favorite of Center's, it was still such a great read. The overall tone is a bit darker than some of Center's other books and does focus on some deeper topics such as: Meniere's disease, cancer, death of a parent, and more. But in traditional Center fashion, she handles these topics with care and adds in her signature 'bright side' perspective.

Emma and Charlie while not my favorite romance couple, were a joy to read about. Emma stressed me out a bit a first, I did enjoy how upfront she was about her feelings and open to sharing she was. I eventually really loved the way Emma and Charlie balanced each other out and you could feel the chemistry jumping off the pages.

With ton of life lessons, plenty of witty banter, and chemistry, this romance should definitely be on your list to read. I just adore Katherine Center and I'm already ready for her next book to come out!


The Rom-Commers comes out June 11, 2024. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

I am so disappointed in this book. I usually like Katherine Center’s books. I loved the Bodyguard and I enjoyed Hello Stranger. But this? No. I hated the main male character. He is a complete and utter jerk to Emma when she shows up and then tries to Spider-man his way out of a relationship with her. And the main female character learns absolutely no lessons and treats her little sister like garbage.

Just a big ole no from me. Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC. I hope I like her next one. This hurt MY feelings to write.

Every time I pick up a book from Katherine Center, I know I am in for a ride. She effortlessly weaves comedy, challenges, love, and triumph into a beautiful story that is always worth the wait. From the moment I "met" Emma, I found myself rooting for her, laughing with her, loving with her, and mourning with her. She is relatable on so many levels and I found myself fully invested in her journey. Charlie is endearing as an old-young curmudgeon. He puts on a unflappable front, but deep down we all know he has a kind, tender heart. I loved watching their story unfold and getting to watch these character grow with each other and independently!

I have loved Katherine Center's previous novels, but ultimately decided to dnf this one at 50%. I was enjoying what I was reading in the beginning, but it just kept falling flat for me. I didn't connect to the characters and I found some of the dialogue to be odd. I will still read over book by Katherine in the future, but I don't think this one was for me.

Absolute five star read! I knew I was going to love this book I just didn’t know how much. It was cute, quirky, funny, and emotional. Both Emma and Charlie have really been through it in life. They have survived trauma but until they meet each other, they haven’t thrived. Their banter is adorable. A little forced proximity mixed with opposites attract mixed with some workplace romance. I love how Emma breaks the fourth wall talking directly to the reader throughout. It was fast paced and just a super sweet romance. Definitely one you will want to pick up for your summer TBRs!

I enjoy Katherine Center's books and The Rom-Commers was no different. This is a cute, light read filled with entertainment involving both laughter and tears.

When yet-to-be-discovered talent Emma Wheeler gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with Hollywood giant Charlie Yates, she finally decides to do something for herself and seizes the moment — with a healthy nudge from her younger sister and her father, for whom Emma has been a round-the-clock caregiver for a decade.

Once in Los Angeles, Emma discovers that her high school friend Logan, now a Hollywood manager to big names (one of whom is Charlie Yates), has not told Charlie that Emma has been hired to help him completely rewrite his rom-com screenplay, penned as an exchange in hopes of getting his mafia movie made.

After the initial shock for them both and Emma's rash decision to hoof it to a hotel, followed by some in-between moments, Charlie ends up offering to accept Emma's help with the terrible (and unholy abomination) screenplay — a modernization of the grandmother of all rom-com films ever, "It Happened One Night", which is untouchable (it won the BIG FIVE, after all).

What are the right words for effusive love of a romantic comedy book about the genre of romantic comedy films? Center's unabashed, no-holds-barred defense of rom-coms, be it a book or a film, was so utterly enjoyable. This is my first five-star book of 2024, and I cannot express how glad I am that it was this book with this story.

Center always writes exactly in a style that seems written just for me, and The Rom-Commers is no exception. She nails the humor, the characters, and the story, all with the right amount of lightness and reality. I flew through this book, and I think I'm going to buy a copy just for a reread.

Another winner from Katherine Center! I like how she handles some tough subjects with respect and care and also injects humor into the story. Emma is a delightful, slightly awkward character who is very relatable. Of course there’s a romance but it’s not too gushy, it’s just right.

This story was a slow start for me. However, once it got going, I enjoyed it. It is a light weekend read for anyone needing a small escape. It is not my favorite of Katherine Center’s works but it was good.