Katherine Center can do no wrong. There, I SAID IT!
She just keeps delivering one 5 star romcom after another… so of COURSE she nails it again with a title like this. I’m reminded of a British slogan “it does exactly what it says on the tin” - that’s how I feel about The Rom-Commers. There’s romance, there’s humor, witty banter, and that swoon-worthy HEA we long for.
Thank you, KC, for unapologetically sticking to the formula of predictability romance readers are here for. I for one, will absolutely eat it up with a spoon every single time you serve it! To quote the acknowledgements in the back of this novel: I am also very grateful we can show up for each other.

I truly love Katherine Center and how she weaves real life problems and issues into her stories, but something about this one fell a little flat for me. I loved Emma's dad and his outlook on life (talk about radiating positivity and sunshine!) but something about Emma and Charlie was just hard for me to buy into. I think what bothered me was how emotionally immature both of these characters were. I also wasn't crazy with how Emma handled a situation with her sister late in the book. But I did want to keep reading this book, so something about it hooked me, and Katherine Center is still an auto-read author for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Katherine Center is a master at Rom-Com. I loved this so much. The story was very Goldilocks - the just right everything! I loved the banter between the characters, and the humor. The first time they meet is so terrible I wasn’t sure how on earth they would have a HEA. Katherine Center doesn’t disappoint. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, for the review copies of the e-book and audiobook via NetGalley. (Available 11 June)

Where do I begin? I love Katherine Center. She’s a Ghirardelli chocolate brownie with chocolate chips, cooked in a cast iron skillet and topped with ice cream and hot fudge. She makes me smile, laugh, love love, and love stories. She reminds me that happiness is its own reward.

Emma put her screenwriting career on the back burner to care for her father. Only now, her high school best friend (and agent to superstar Charlie Yates) talks her into helping Charlie re-write an apocalyptically bad rom-com screenplay. Along the way, she teaches him why rom-coms provide so much joy.

As with other stories I love best, this one has interesting side characters to root for. There’s Emma’s spunky and sweet younger sister, who rolls in to take care of Dad while Emma gets her chance-of-a-lifetime. Then there’s Dad! “If there were a dad store, he’d be a bestseller. They’d have rows and rows of him for sale, right up front.”

As a bonus, take Center’s words, her joy, her love for love, and banter, and give them to actress/singer Patti Murin for delivery. She sparkles. The combination is pure genius, as I discovered last year with HELLO STRANGER. Even though I had a copy of the e-book, I knew to wait for the audiobook of this year’s gem.

To quote Emma, “All genres have a promise,” and romantic comedies promise to leave the audience happy and satisfied. In the hands of Katherine Center, it’s a promise you can take to the bank.

I LOVE Katherine Center. I always read everything she writes. In THE ROM-COMMERS, Emma Wheeler had been a full time caregiver for her dad, until she gets the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write a movie with one of her favorite screenwriters, Charlie. Emma moves to California for 6 weeks only to find out that Charlie is stubborn to work with and doesn’t want Emma’s help. Eventually he gives in. To write a good rom-com movie, Emma tries to make Charlie a believer in love. I loved their banter, Charlie’s grumpiness, and Emma’s energy. I found myself laughing and rooting for them. Katherine always has the ability to make you feel while you read! This is one of her best novels yet! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Katherine Center, what are you doing to me?! This is my second book from this author and I cried even more and even harder than the last one. The Rom-Commers might actually be my new favorite book - one I will grab from my shelf when I need a comfort read, a hug from a friend, a warm cup of tea... you get the idea. It follows Emma Wheeler who is a screenwriter but mostly a full-time caretaker for her father.
She gets the chance of a lifetime to work with her hero, Charlie Yates, on a rom-com screenplay. Charlie thinks love is made up by Hallmark, but luckily for him, Emma is strong, steady, resilient, and willing to teach this dolt (her father's word) a thing or two about love. Have I mentioned how much I love these two characters? I LOVE THEM. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book when it releases in June!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance audio-copy of The Rom-Commers, in exchange for an honest review.
Katherine Center's 'The Romcommers' is a charming and heartwarming novel that explores the complexities of love, life, and the power of storytelling.

Charlie Yates, a renowned Hollywood screenwriter, decides to venture into the uncharted territory of romantic comedies. However, his initial attempts prove disastrous, threatening to derail his career. Enter Emma, an aspiring writer and longtime friend of Charlie's agent.

With a lifetime of experience in love and relationships, Emma agrees to mentor Charlie in the art of writing a rom-com. As they delve into the nuances of the genre, Charlie learns not only how to craft a compelling love story but also how to open his heart to the possibility of love in his own life.

Center's writing is witty, relatable, and emotionally resonant. She deftly weaves together the personal journeys of Charlie and Emma, exploring themes of loss, grief, and the transformative power of connection. Through their interactions, readers gain valuable insights into the human experience and the importance of embracing both the joys and sorrows of life.

While the novel is primarily a romantic comedy, it also delves into deeper themes of self-discovery and resilience. Center encourages readers to reflect on their own lives, to cherish the people around them, and to find light even in the darkest of times.

The pacing is well-balanced, with a steady flow of humor, romance, and introspection. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with their struggles and triumphs.
The Romcommers' is a delightful and heartwarming read that will appeal to fans of romantic comedies and those seeking a deeper exploration of love and life. Katherine Center's charming prose and relatable characters will leave readers feeling uplifted and inspired. Whether you're looking for a lighthearted escape or a story that will resonate with your soul, this novel is highly recommended.

4 stars!

Katherine Center's "The Rom-Commers" is another fabulous addition to her already stellar catalog of work. Is there anything she can't do?! Seriously! Every single book she writes is wonderful. Center is in the business of writing comfort books, and that's just what we've got here. I found myself fully immersed in Emma and Charlie's story from the very beginning. Chapter one hooks you and then never lets you go. I liked the differences between Emma and Charlie. Where she is an unknown writer obsessed with Charlie's entire career, he is a famous, decorated writer with tons of money and fame and has no idea who she is. Where she loves love and loves writing about love, he doesn't believe in all that mumbo jumbo despite it fueling his career for years. Their vast differences make their pairing all the more delicious. Though Charlie starts out being a huge d1ck to Emma, he eventually comes around. As we learn more about why they both act as they do, we find that they are both carrying a lot of baggage with them. Their problems feel realistic and mostly fully fleshed-out, integrating well with the work and love aspects of the story. I found this story to be heartfelt and well-paced. I laughed a lot while reading it, and even got a little misty when it came to Emma's father and family dynamic. That part was very compelling (but I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say much more!). The book has a great ending and excellent side characters. My chief complaint is that I didn't feel a humongous spark between Emma and Charlie until the last few percentage points of the book. I would have liked a bit more depth between them. A lot of their connection felt surface level and convenient because of their proximity to one another. It's not until the very end of the book that that changed for me. Still, I think almost everyone will enjoy this book (honestly, everyone should enjoy *most* of Katherine Center's books!). She is one of the few authors I've read who knows no misses.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This book was such a fun time to read.

This book follows Emma and Charlie as they cowrite a screenplay for a rom-com. Charlie is a big shot screenwriter who has a drawer of awards for everything that he has written. Charlie lives in a mansion by himself and expresses how he likes to write by himself and doesn't need any help. Charlie was told that in order to get his mafia movie made, he had to write a rom-com. Therefore, Charlie writes a sub-par rom-com.

Emma lives in Texas as a caregiver to her dad after a rock climbing accident. Emma writes Rom-coms on a small scale and hasn't been able to have a big break in her life due to current circumstances. Emma gets pulled into a ploy that get her to LA to write with her idol, Charlie.

The banter between the two of these characters was sublime! Emma was hard for me to connect with, but I got there in the end. Charlie seems to be a brute on the outside, but is a teddy bear when it comes to those he cares about. This book was fun to read and I enjoyed watching both of these characters develop throughout the book. This book does a great job touching on some hard topics (Sickness, homesickness, independence) and I feel like did it justice.

4/5 Stars. Highly recommend if you like close proximity, GrumpyXSunshine and He fell for her first. Thank you Thank you Thank you to Netgalley, St Martins Press and Katherine Center for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I feel like I can definitely say I am a Katherine Center stan!!!

I loved this book! I thought it was very charming. I would be comfortable recommending this book to many of the patrons at my library. I thought the line dancing scene was very funny and the relationships between the characters to be earned. As someone with a sister, I thought the confrontation between Sylvie and Emma to be realistic. Their dad was delightful and I appreciated what I learned about Meniere's disease while reading this book. Overall, I think The Rom-Commers is a great read, especially for the summer, and give it five stars.

Any book that is related to The Bodyguard, no matter how tangentially, was always going to have a bit of an uphill battle for my affections. I love that book. And while Jack Stapleton does appear, he is by no means even a minor character. Pure cameo. I did come to really appreciate Emma and Charlie a lot, but I also felt like Charlie remained a bit more mysterious than I wanted him to. Also, I needed some more of Emma and her relationship with her sister, especially at the end, because there was some heavy stuff there.

Anyhow, really fun overall, maybe I would have enjoyed a bit more without that Bodyguard association, but who knows. If you like Katherine Center, you'll almost certainly enjoy this.

I found this book to be extremely insightful as to the choices that one has to live their lives. At the beginning, Emma was simply existing as she took care of her father but limited herself to surviving in a five mike radius around their apartment. She took no chances due to her concern that something would happen despite the fact that the possibility it could was low. But as her father said, what you tell yourself about your life is the truth. Due to the accident and the his physical ailments that resulted because of rock climbing, he could have become bitter and angry; yet, he stated that he became calmer and kinder. When Emma took a chance and went to LA to help write a screenplay with Charlie of whom happened to be her hero, her life became brighter and bigger. She allowed herself to feel and experience love. She became open to the idea that she didn't have to watch scenes from a movie as that could be her actual life. She forgave herself and chose to not only write about her best life but to tell the stories that resulted because of it. This book is joyful and filled with love. A true pleasure to read.

Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms. There, I said it. It's true. Her stories are full of well-developed characters, interesting plot lines, miscommunications that drive a reader crazy, and satisfying endings. If you're looking for spice or smut, you won't find it here. You will find a story that tugs at your heart and some poignant statements about love and life. I'm definitely re-reading this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book in audio and digital versions. I thoroughly enjoyed both!

TW: death of a parent, cancer, chronic health issues, grief,
I want to start this off by saying that I have loved every book I've ready by Katherine Center and anytime I see a new release, I HAVE to read it ASAP and this book did not disappoint.
Emma has always taken care of everyone and helped everyone follow their dreams, but along the way she forgot to allow herself the same joys. After an accident that kills her mom and seriously injures her dad, Emma takes over as primary caregiver to her fathers complex medical needs in order to keep him safe and allow for her sister to lead a full life without worry. Being passionate about happily ever afters, movies, and writing for for ever... the isolation she has kept herself in has allowed her to continue honing in on her craft and becoming quite good.
When the opportunity to work with her screen writing idol, Charlie Yates, becomes avaliable, Emma is pushed by her family to unleash her control on her dads care and travel across the country to work with Charlie. Their dynamic is complicated with Charlie not believing in happily ever afters and hating Rom-Coms and those being Emmas forte. Eventually they create a peaceful dynamic full of the best banter, homecooked meals, and productive days spent working out a rom-com screen play that is more than just good enough.
I absolutly loved Charlie and Emma's dynamic. Both pushed eachother to go outside of their comfort zones and make room for love in their lives. Their banter was funny and there were some seriously sad moments. From laughing to crying, this book had it all.

As always, Katherine Center writes a story with all the pain of real life phobias, loss, & responsibilities artfully crafted into a heartwarming narrative that will have you feeling ALL the feels. Perfect beach read! I loved this one as always by Katherine Center - shes awesome.

Infinity stars and alllll the feels for this book!! Katherine Center has absolutely mastered the art of lovable characters and witty banter and a healthy dose of hilarity/absurdity (guinea pig in a tabletop barn being serenaded by Queen tunes?!) in the face of tragedy and major life events and very relatable challenges/situations. The Rom-Commers is so very heartwarming and is exactly the type of book you’d want to pick up to pull yourself out of a rut, laugh out loud, and believe in the goodness and hope and joy of life again. Oh and there’s also a love story and a big happy ending and that’s like icing on top of the icing on a cake of an already beautiful and heartfelt story.

Well, Katherine Center is my new favorite romance author. I could not love this more. The banter! The romance! The stories of their past that shaped them into who they are.
I also have to say, as a person who lost my mother at the young age of 13 and really struggled with her death, Center writes about grief and loss in such a realistic way. I saw the same thing in Hello Stranger. It was nice to connect to a character who went though similar emotions that I went through.
Now I'll be reading all of Center's backlist books.
See more on my bookstagram - @bookish_starry_skies.

Thank you Netgalley, Katherine Center, and the publishers for this wonderful eARC.

I loved this book so much, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day! This is the first book I’ve read from the author but it won’t be my last. I felt every emotion as I was reading and was literally laughing out loud at certain parts. I loved both of the main characters, Emma and Charlie, and the build of their relationship. I love how the book addressed adversity and trauma so realistically, considering the light and darkness that we face in life. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

— 4 ⚝

Katherine Center is a master weaver of nuanced stories that feel grounded in reality and have eye opening profundity. i dove in expecting a swoony, fun, summer rom-com that would make me laugh & shed a few tears. but i felt like I got so much more. There were so many funny moments that had me giggling repeatedly, clutching my chest & gasping for air. lots of tears were shed in the reading of this book. all the profundity resonated with me viscerally. i love the deeper themes of this book which were about choosing to hold on to hope even when times are dark and that life is full of tragedy but can also be full of love if you choose. a lot of the book reminded me of beach read because of the similar themes and also the fact that they are writing a rom-com together and are doing immersive research for it, which was DELIGHTFUL.

i also go into a katherine center book expecting fun and come out with that AND so many life lessons that internalize deeply which I now really look forward to. Although, the mmc’s rude behavior for majority of the book is slightly off-putting, I did warm up to him by the end & actually loved him too. There were so many instances where I was like Emma deserves better but by the end, Charlie rlly did come through! I LOVE emma’s character and wanted to hug her to me tightly and never let go. I deeply sympathized with her situation. she’s such a compassionate and pure character that i was moved to tears whenever she said something tender & vulnerable. but if you ask me who my favourite character is, it's CUTHBERT. obviously.

However, I feel like what happened at the 80% mark with her dad was a little bit overwhelming because it was extremely emotionally heavy and that's just not something that I enjoy in my rom-coms. while i did appreciate the emotional depth and layers that all the tragedy added to the story, it felt very out of place with the general vibe of rom-coms. I also think this felt more on the women’s fiction side than the romance side which is also how i typically feel with her books because i always expect more romantic moments and chemistry but it always feels focused on the fmc. I would have liked seeing them do more things together instead of being told that they did those things, like grocery shopping for instance. As much as I understand choosing the route of single pov, i genuinely think having the mmc’s pov would have added more to the story romantically by explaining his behaviors initially especially for readers who think by the time his motivation is explained it's too late to redeem him.

that said, despite my few qualms, i loved & enjoyed this journey so very much and genuinely see myself reading it again. i think about this book very frequently & it was the same after i read hello, stranger. I fully recommended giving this a shot. I think it’s worth it for the humour and the depth alone! the nuance of the book also makes it so very memorable & interesting & Emma is everything.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for an e-arc of this book. All thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.

Katherine Center is a favorite author, so I was excited to read this new book! Overall, this was a fun, whitty read! I loved the banter of the main characters and Charlie's grumpiness! I loved the relatable inner dialogue of Emma! I loved the real discussion on life and love! I think the only thing I wanted was a little more! I wanted a little more story before the end! And at least one more kissing scene, because oh my heck! Enjoyable read overall! (Thank you Netgalley)