Skip to main content

Member Reviews

OMG!!! Run, don't walk, get on your computer to order, whatever it takes!!! Katherine Center is an incredible author but she hit this one out of the park. The Rom-Commers will make you laugh, cry, stop your heart and then make it melt. Every page has.something new to discover about relationships, assumptions and love. Five stars+++ for this wonderful.novel.

Was this review helpful?

This book. It has insight of why I love reading, story construction, hero worship, trusting others, selflessness and letting go of trauma. And yet it was hilarious and kept me chuckling throughout. I've already recommended it widely and I'm so excited for others to read it. It might be my newest favorite from Katherine Center.

#arc
#netgalley
#theromcommers

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center will continue to be one of my favorite authors for the way that she blends humor and heart into her writing. Her latest novel’s structure followed the same as some of her others in that you have a complicated family backstory, a medical disease or ailment you might not have previously known about, and a woman who is learning to overcome those obstacles despite her hardships. If you know KC’s writing, you know what to expect in the most comforting way.

Writing wise on this one, I found several instances of a writing “crutch” that threw me off but I’m hoping that was only due to it being an early copy. Also, you are immediately dropped into the story so it took a minute for me to get my bearings. Still, I flew through this one. Many times the narrator adopts a direct to reader style that was quirky and gives the reader a view into that fun KC humor.

I very much enjoyed the father in this novel, his storyline, and his relationship with Emma (as well as the sister relationship). Often romance is hard for me because of the believability factor, but my enjoyment of Center’s books is always high. For me, her books have always been categorized in either the women’s fiction with a romance subplot or the romance genre with a bit more depth. I think if you enjoy both sides, this is a good mix and maybe something a little different from this author than you’re used to.

Thank you St Martins and NetGalley for the egalley.

Was this review helpful?

4 Stars

Katherine Center does it again: she makes us swoon while also feeling big feels in the most delightful and heartwarming of ways.

I'm. not normally a huge fan of Hollywood/Screenwriting/Actor tropes because its a world that I just don't idolize or connect with, but Katherine made me love not only Emma (our driven and classic eldest-child heroine), but her surly counterpart, Charlie (Hollywood's former big hit writing wonder-kid who is struggling).

Charlie doesn't want to admit he needs help from his polar opposite, Katherine, but he doesn't know the first thing about writing a rom-com ass he has always wrote the big and explosive blockbusters. But he really does need help, so Emma is persuaded by her agent to leave her ailing father and embark on a journey of finding herself again.

As Emma lives with Charlie and they start to push the professional envelope as she tries to prove to him the tropes of a rom-com, Emma can 't help but feel torn between herself and her goals, and that of the dutiful daughter who helps care for her father at the sacrifice of herself.

We navigate that tricky journey of balancing our life roles and learning to prioritize ourselves, all while falling for the person we maybe never saw coming in the first place.

I truly loved this book and can't wait to see what Katherine delivers next!

Was this review helpful?

I mean what can I even say to accurately portray the amount of fun I had reading this book that still dealt with such serious themes as physical health, divorce, and loss? How does Katherine Center balance the serious with such enjoyable scenes? I think the answer is simply in her grasp and understanding that that is what life is. It's heavy and sad and difficult, but it's also amazing and funny and full of hope.
I loved Emma and the relationships she had with her family. I loved how dedicated to love she was! I do always end up wishing for the POV of the MMC as I am always left wanting a little more from him, but that is maybe more a personal preference than critique.
Overall, another great book by KC who is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me!

Was this review helpful?

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I loved the dialogue and witty dynamic throughout. I was fascinated from the start and stayed engaged until the acknowledgments. The FMC was adorable and hilarious. The MMC was just the perfect ratio of hard shell/squishy center. There was tension, steam and boundless humor! I also highlighted at least a dozen lines of solid wisdom. It was just a beautifully well-rounded story!

So why the mixed review? The characters were wildly immature in how they handled their attraction to each other. So much so, it kept pulling me out of the story. And the FMC repeated the MMC name at least 50 times. I am not normally picky about things like this, so it had to be a LOT to get my attention.

Overall. I’d call this a tender, endearing summer read that will take your heart from aching to bursting throughout!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ebook.

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center does it again with her newest book “The Rom-Commers.” This book sucks you in from the first page and makes you want to keep reading. The banter between the characters makes you want to cheer them on and hope they get the happy ending they deserve.
Emma is a writer who has taken time off to help out her family. Charlie is a writer who is going through a tough time. When a friend helps to put them together to rewrite a script they each have something to teach the other.
Highly recommend to all. This will be a great summer read!

Was this review helpful?

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center has quickly become my go-to romance writer. I love her story arcs, characters, and unique (and often emotional!) plots and The Rom-Commers totally hit the mark for me.

The tension between Charlie and Emma was palpable and I loved that Center kept us waiting with bated breath until what felt like the final page to give us all what we wanted and needed! I usually like a little steam with my romance and this book didn't have that, but what it lacked in steam, it made up for in emotion. There was more than one occasion this novel brought me to tears!!

I was so invested in these characters and I particularly loved Emma's dad. He was so optimistic and positive and wise. I loved that his disability didn't set him back and that he was so supportive of his daughters.

I also really enjoyed the writer aspect of this novel. While I have read many books about novel writers, I appreciated that Emma and Charlie were working on a screenplay and that Center showed us the work and research that went into developing it.

While Emma and Charlie were so different and unique, they were still very relatable and I loved how well-developed each character was.

I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator, Patti Murin. She has a good voice for audio and it didn't feel overacted but her inflection and added drama had me totally hooked.

Overall, I really loved this book and I highly recommend. Thank you St. Martin's Press, MacmIllan Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Emma is a screenwriter who had to give up her dreams to take care of her dad. Charlie is a famous screenwriter who is trying to write a rom com but he is having a hard time. When Emma is hired to help him write it, they quickly learn what love is and how to write the perfect rom com.

I adored this book! This book was funny, it was sad, it was romantic, and it was infuriating at times. This book handled a lot of tough topics but in a way that was sensitive and shows the goodness of people.

I loved all of the characters and their relationships. We had some family relationships, some friendships, and some romance. Charlie and Emma are both complicated characters and I really loved that about them. All of the characters seemed real and it was a delight to read.

I loved the tension and the conflicts in this book. I read this one in one sitting because I was sucked in. I really enjoyed all of the rom com references as well. I loved Emma as a narrator as well, she had a bit of spunk and was overall a great character to follow. While she had a bit of spunk, she was also very caring and loving, especially toward her family. She was also very funny and I just loved that. Charlie was a bit of a jerk at times but it was nice to see him grow. I think they really worked as a couple.

I also really liked how there was no spice in this one. That may deter some but for me it was perfect because I don't like spice in my books.

I need to read more Katherine Center because I might have just found a new favorite author!! I really don't have anything bad to say about this one, it was an easy five star and I adored it!

Was this review helpful?

Emma Wheeler wants to be a writer but has spent the last 10 years taking round the clock care of her dad after an accident. When she gets an offer to help rewrite a screenplay with her hero, Charlie Yates!, she can’t turn it down. When she arrives to LA she finds she living in his mansion with him and things are complicated. Can she show Charlie what a rom-com is suppose to be like if he doesn’t believe in love?

I like Katherine Center books and this is what you would expect from her:) A fun, cute rom-com with some deeper topics and meaning. I didn’t always love the characters is the one complaint I have. Charlie was pretty mean at some points in the story. I enjoyed seeing Emma’s dream come true and how she was out of place in the Hollywood environment. There were some funny moments and some moments that made me tear up.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book! I found the characters of Emma and Charlie to be so relatable that I did not want to put it down. This is a laugh-out-loud, charming, and heartfelt romance for the ages. Perfect for fans of the genre.

Was this review helpful?

PROPER REVIEW TO COME... but this might be my favorite Katherine to date. She is MY romance queen forever and ever.

Was this review helpful?

F you, Katherine Center for making me cry as much as you did!

The Rom-Commers is everything I wanted it to be and MORE. The build up, the arguments, the anxiety, the grief, all incredibly written.
I saw myself in Emma, and also Charlie. I loved the friendship they had, and the rom com things spread throughout the book.

Sometimes I feel rom com books can be SO cheesy so I was a little nervous, but all of the cheese was perfect. Nothing too much, just the right amount. I will be recommending this book to literally anyone and everyone, even my husband who is wonderful and amazing...but doesn't read rom coms.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, my heart! This has to be a top favorite Katherine Center novel for me. I laughed and cried and inhaled this book. It is so good! This one features a super grumpy, reclusive screenwriter who has written the worse rom-com. He needs help but doesn't want help. Unfortunately for Charlie, Emma has arrived to do just that....help Charlie improve his screenplay. This is the dream job for Emma with the dream writer. She has been such a fan....until she meets him. They decidedly do not hit it off. Emma has left her ailing father for the first time to travel to LA to work with Charlie for six weeks only to learn that he didn't ask for her and doesn't want her. They do end up working together but it is fraught from the start.

I think what is so fantastic about Charlie and Emma is how fully formed they are. There is wit, banter, and laughs but there are also real discussions and there is true depth to these two. It was a delight to see their relationship develop through their vulnerabilities. Emma is a lover of the rom-com and Charlie is very much not. Watching these two work through their very different feelings about the work they are doing was so much fun. I smiled throughout this whole book and became a bit annoying telling all of my friends that they had to read this book right now! I will continue this trend by telling you....read it. Right now. You will not be sorry.

Was this review helpful?

Another amazing book from Katherine Center! This is going to be a great addition to your summer reading pile! Emma is a delightful character. Selfless, funny, hopeful romantic. Charlie is a big time Hollywood writer and is totally grumpy sunshine. I loved the banter and small moments between Emma and Charlie. And can we talk about Cuthbert? So freaking adorable!!
Just like all of her books, there are heavy moments but they are meaningful and balanced perfectly with humor and happiness.
We even got a surprise cameo from a character in one of her prior novels! Just a perfect rom-com! This one publishes on June 11 so get your pre-orders in now!

Thank you St Martins Press and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

The Rom-Commers delivers on its title — a delightful blend of romance and comedy, with pathos and sorrow and day-to-day challenges that keep it grounded and real. Katherine Center once again provides a book with terrific lead characters, great chemistry, a plot that makes you feel all the feelings, and a promise of a happy ending to cheer for. Don’t miss it!

Was this review helpful?

This has been such a banner season for swoony rom coms, so how could I resist a book literally called The Rom Commers? My favorite subcategory of this genre is the kind with hilarious banter, real emotional stakes, and zany side plots, so if you like that too, be sure to pick this one up. I really loved Katherine Center’s last book, Hello Stranger, which fits this description, and The Rom-Commers was just as charming, funny & satisfying.

Our protagonist Emma is on her way to be the next Nora Ephron before family obligations hinder her writing career, and Charlie is an amazingly successful Hollywood writer who needs to write an amazing rom com despite the fact that he doesn’t believe in love and just wants to be left alone to moulder in his mansion like a grouchy vampire wearing wrinkled corduroy pants. This is their one shot to get it right, but you know how it is—first they need hundreds of pages of witty banter and sexual tension. This was such a fun read—I would recommend!

Also, never before has a guinea pig been used to persuade me that a man might have a heart of gold. A genre first!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this sneak peek at one of this summer’s dreamiest romances.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book!! I haves loved every book I’ve read of Katherine centers. I expect them to be easy fun reads. A great beach read!

Was this review helpful?

3.75⭐️
The premise of this book sounded fun and I really liked Emma’s characters and overall I do think this book was fun and it had its good moments. Even though I really wanted to love this book there was something missing… I can appreciate a grumpy sunshine situation but Charlie was so rude and insulting (even 45% into the book) and I just needed him to redeemed himself more for me to truly fall for him and the relationship. I appreciated the fact that Emma was so insistent with her passion for telling love stories and their importance. The “plot twists” at the end did have me scared but thankfully the magic of romances is a HEA.

Was this review helpful?