i liked the idea of this story and i liked MOST of the story. some parts had me not liking Emma (the fmc) very much but she learned in the end and forgave and grew from her mistakes. and, all the characters had to learn and forgive in some way.
so, all in all, it was a good story. it showed someone how to believe in love, by falling in love.
(3.5 stars)

*thank you St. Martin's press and Netgalley for letting me read this! thoughts and opinions stated are my own.

First off, THANK YOU, NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this ARC for an honest review!

Remember the cliché line, don’t judge a book by its cover? I fell for it hook, line, and sinker with this book, The Rom-Commers! Based on the front cover, the summary blurb on the back, the title, and of course it’s KATHERINE CENTER!!! There is not a book she writes that I don’t love. And this new title of hers stayed on that path. Now don’t take the title Rom-Commers to think there’s no depth to this book. Because believe me there is. But, just in case you haven’t read KC yet and are a fan of Josie Silva, Emily Henry, or Emily Stone; then get ready to eat your heart out with this Contemporary Fiction Second Chance Romance.

Set mostly in L.A., California, unknown screenwriter, Emma Wheeler, is a true student of the romance and comedy genres. She lives, eats, and breathes anything and everything RomCom. But life threw her some hard hands so she remained home with her father as his primary caretaker. One day her long-time school friend calls and presents an opportunity she can’t refuse. Enter Charlie Yates. Yates, the screenwriting god of Hollywood, and Emma’s prickly heartthrob. He has written a romantic comedy that is so bad, SO BAD; and yet refuses to write with anyone, especially a nobody like Emma. With other plans in mind, Emma is not going to allow Charlie off the hook. She’s determined to rewrite the screenplay, to stand up for herself, her talent, and most importantly for love itself.

What worked well for this book was it checked off many of my emotional (romantic at heart) and real-to-life boxes. There is a great storyline, good build-up of conflict, consistent pacing, hilarious witty banter, laugh-out-loud situations, and familial support to reach one’s dreams. I enjoyed this book immensely and will absolutely buy a copy when released (6.11.2024). So for any reader out there who is not sure if there is a book for them; the answer is yes. Yes, it is! Grab this book before heading on vacation, before chilling around the pool, or sitting on your couch; you must experience the beautiful ride!

Final rating of The Rom-Commers is a 5 Star!

I don't always love the "grumpy guy, happy girl" trope, but it really seemed to fit this story well.

Charlie had his reasons for being grumpy, although maybe not to the level he took it. Emma had even more reasons to be grumpy but she rose above it and lived (somewhat) happily.

That they come together to write a horrible romantic-comedy movie hardly seems important in the big picture. Great book. Read it!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think this is my least favorite from Katherine Center, which is weird to realize because I absolutely love everything else I’ve read from her!!!

Film writers with opposite experiences and fields work together to fix a rom-com script

🗣️ single POV
❤️‍🔥 enemies-ish to lovers, co-workers, forced proximity
🛠️ different types of healing growth
🌹 writing about love, experiencing rom-com tropes for research

Her familiar voice is there, we easily slip into this story but my disconnect comes from our two main characters. I have loved how Katherine Center writes flawed relatable characters but it was hard to like these two, let alone root for them to fall in love. It was kind of cringe at times, the situations and dialogue often felt like it was trying too hard to be “quirky”. There were the classic KC sweet moments that had heart and I waited for it to get deeper, but it only sorta trickled through.

Emma’s devotion of sacrifice for the family gets so twisted? Is it an eldest daughter who went through trauma thing or is it just her? I usually always side with eldest siblings but this was pretty unsettling even with her circumstances.

Along the way, especially towards the end, the few drops of the heartfelt gems that humanize a shared experience, Center’s absolute strength were a balm for the feels!

I will forever always love Katherine’s author’s notes!!! Her proclamation for love stories, I wholeheartedly believe it! I will always read love stories & whatever Center keeps writing!

Katherine Center has a way of writing that brings together delightful characters, heartwarming moments, and tons of fun. Emma Wheeler is a screenwriter, but she had put her life on hold to take care of her father. Now she has a chance to write with the very famous Charlie Yates, who happens to be her idol. What do they say about never meeting your idols? Charlie needs Emma to write a Rom-Com with, but he doesn't believe in romance and has no interest in creating something good, The two do not hit it off as Emma's passion and Charlie's ambivalence clash.

I felt I could relate to Emma immediately as she struggled to leave her father in the care of her younger sister. She has spent so much of her life and sacrificed so much for his care. I made her need to make her time writing with Charlie valuable believable and poignant. Charlie has been burned by love. He is at the top of his industry and it makes sense that he wasn't invested in this project. But as the two struggle on together, they come to really see each other. This makes for a nice slow-burn romance. The time they spend together is fun and entertaining. I especially loved the ending. Katherine Center has a way of creating both a satisfying and unique closure for her characters. This is one of my favorite books by the author so far.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm the minority but this wasn't doing it for me .I usually love Center's books but couldn't get into this & wasn't invested in the characters at all.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press
& MacMillan Audio for an advance copy

This was such a fun read! I flew through this one in a little more than a day. The story was great. A classic tale of a grumpy, jaded man forced to spend time with a sunshine woman who teaches him about love. Katherine Center has had some great releases, but this one might be my favorite to date! I also loved seeing some old characters from some of her previous books in this book. This one is a great read or listen for the summer, as well as for anyone who loves rom-coms.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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