Every time I read a Katherine Center book, I don't see how she can out do herself, but she always does. This has to be one of the funniest, relatable, entertaining books I have ever read. I literally snort-laughed out loud in a public place, several times, while reading this. You will both love and hate Charlie, the famous screen writer, as he "allows" Emma to help him get his writing groove back. You will love Emma's strength and wit as she stands up to Charlie and his overinflated ego. A truly wonderful read!

Overall I really enjoyed this read! I find Katherine Center's books very easy to get into and fast to finish! I loved the banter, and the re-creation of rom com scenes in the purpose of "research" for the new script that Charlie and Emma are writing together. The book was heartbreaking but also funny and makes you smile for the characters in the best way, and 100% root for their happiness in the end! I definitely recommend giving this one a read when it comes out!

4.25 stars

Good. Emotional. Angsty. I actually cried at one point, which I don’t do with a lot of books right now (there were extenuating circumstances, but still- this one was making me feel things). I liked the ending. All in all, I’ve been pretty happy with the handful of books I’ve read from this writer, and I look forward to exploring her next story as well.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed that I knew I would get the happy ending that a typical rom-com delivers.

There's something in Katherine Center's romcoms that makes me devour them SO fast. The Rom-Commers was no different! I binged this so hard. I never wanted to stop reading it, and even when I had to stop reading, I thought about the characters constantly. I adored this story and its characters.

I loved the setup of two screenwriters writing a romcom together and falling in love along the way! It made for a unique story and the perfect excuse for forced proximity. The two main characters were so vibrant in my mind. I appreciated Emma's wild red hair and her witty, dependable personality. I had a soft spot for Charlie's grumpy but kind demeanor. And I loved the journey they took together discovering what love looked like for them.

As expected for Katherine Center's book, this book dealt with some tough themes. Emma and Charlie went through some really hard times. But that's what I love about Center's romcoms. The banter and chemistry was delicious, but it was made even more special though the hard times the characters overcame. And while I had some issues with the ending (no spoilers here), I really appreciated this story and would absolutely recommend!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the arc!
Releases June 11, 2024

Trigger/Content Warnings: death of a parent (recounted), chronic injury, care-taking, cancer (recounted), kisses, near drowning

This was a surprisingly moving read. Based on the title and description, I assumed this book would be an average romantic comedy, so I was surprised at the depth of emotion this book invoked. The characters were very well written and although it followed some traditional romance tropes, this book’s plot still had a lot of refreshing uniqueness to it.
In this book, Emily is the sole caretaker of her dad. He needs round the clock care so she’s basically given up everything in her life to care for him. However, when the chance of a lifetime come up, her sister convinces her to take a leap of faith. She agrees to go to L.A. to work on a screenplay with her favorite screenwriter. However, she soon finds that he isn’t interested in the screenplay and doesn’t believe in love, despite the screenplay being a romantic comedy!
I really liked the characters in this book. I rooted for Emily most of all but could tell that Charlie was worth rooting for behind his gruff exterior. I really enjoyed seeing Emily break through Charlie’s walls to teach him how to feel and express emotions again. Emily’s relationship with her dad was also special although I wish we got to see a little more of that in the book rather than solely her care for him.
This book does deal with heavy themes of death, illnesses, and catastrophic accidents. Yet, Center manages to balance the many emotions in this book with humor, hope, and kindness shining through to balance the good and the bad. I felt like the book ended on a great and realistic note, as well. It was optimistic but not overly so, which I appreciated.
This was the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center, but it certainly won’t be the last!

I have been known to be fairly wishy-washy on KC books. I love How to Walk Away and Happiness for Beginners, but I’m kind of not into anything else. I’m in the minority here, but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I found it to be incredibly boring and the characters to be flat and repetitive. There were also some weird interactions; i.e. Emma’s heart is beating rapidly and she thinks there’s an earthquake and her bed is shaking. Like… what? 🤔

I think a lot of people will enjoy this one and it will make them happy, it just wasn’t for me.

This was a fun read!  It’s funny, witty, and cozy.  The deeper emotional story underneath all the lighthearted wit is captivating.  I love the way Katherine Center has a way of writing emotional stories with the perfect balance of humor and quirkiness.  There was so much to enjoy, but the pacing was a bit slow for me at times.  This is against the plot, story, or writing. I just prefer a faster-paced book that keeps my attention.  There were times when things felt a bit sluggish.

The plot was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the banter between the two characters. I can’t resist a broody character and Charlie was a perfectly GRUMPY closed-off character but he knows how to bring the swoon when needed. There were so numerous subtle romantic moments that captured my heart.  I found myself rooting for these two, and on the edge of my seat waiting for Emma to realize Charlie’s true feelings…despite his denial.

This is a standalone but if you are a fan of The Bodyguard you’ll join me in my giddiness from some surprise cameos. .

”Don’t meet your heroes. Isn’t that what they say? Oh, god. They’re so right.”

Emma Wheeler has put her life and screenwriting career dreams on hold for the last 10 years. After a tragic camping accident the year she graduated she became the sole caregiver of her dad and younger sister, Sylvie. Sylvie’s just graduated and a once in a lifetime opportunity for her to write alongside her favorite screenwriter and crush, Charlie Yates, has been dropped in her lap. And, now she’s on a flight to LA to fix the terribly terrible romance screenplay that Charlie has written in hopes to get his Mafia film produced. Only, something’s been left out. Charlie has no clue that Emma is coming. She’s now the unexpected guest who’s standing on his doorstep with her friend and his manager, Logan. Logan’s bright idea was to make it so he couldn’t refuse. A lot of writing, romance 101 and comedy follows. Both have pasts and feelings that they are having to come to terms with.

“Why are you doing this, Charlie?” Charlie squared his shoulders like he was steeling himself to say something true. “Because last night, when I was reading your stuff, I wanted to work with you. And I haven’t wanted anything—anything at all—in a very, very long time.”

I laughed out loud (literally), got mad about the miscommunication, I cried and swooned. This is my first book I’ve read from Katherine Center. Needless to say, her books are now on my TBR. She writes characters with depth, mental hurdles and human flaws. I couldn’t have loved getting to experience Charlie and Emma wade through their messy lives to each other more.

“Maybe I’d fallen madly in love with his writing for a reason. Maybe we shared some kind of essential linguistic rhythm, or some comic outlook, or some moral framework that made it easier to be friends than enemies. Or maybe we both just really loved writing—in the exact same way. Maybe writing was our love language.”

A special thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for a review.

Book Review - The ROM-Commers

Katherine Center is an auto buy author for me so I was super excited to get The Rom-Commers from NetGalley.

Emma aspires to be a screenwriter but after her mother’s death and father’s injury she sets her dreams aside to manage her dad’s health and help raise her younger sister. When her agent lands her a deal rewriting her favorite screenwriter’s rom-com script, it’s an offer she can’t refuse.

There’s always so much I adorable about Katherine Center’s books. I loved the humor woven throughout the book, the connections to her previous book The Bodyguard and the polar opposite main characters.

Emma is sweet, thoughtful and puts the people she loves before herself in every situation. Charlie is stubborn, eclectic and initially self-absorbed. I love the grumpy sunshine trope and Katherine Center does it so well! I appreciate that her characters grow and change throughout the book from the lessons they learn and the relationships they form.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

#bookstagram

I am SO fucking over Katherine Center books being trash. Do not waste your time with this one. 1 whole star because at least I finished the book.

Emma Wheeler spent the last 10 years of her life caring for others and putting her dreams of being a screenwriter on the back burner. When it’s finally her turn to shine, her role model turns out to be wildly different than she anticipated. Enemies to lovers and miscommunication tropes are included - it’s fun and full of banter and kept my attention, but I hated the ending.

The book in general was 4 stars for me but the ending made me livid. It brought into play a very serious topic that was then covered over in a “oops, just kidding” type of way.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an amazing read. I absolutely love Charlie and Emma from their first appearance on page until their very last. Their romance is full of twists and turns that is enjoyable to read. Their quirkiness adds to the enjoyment of the story and characters. These two were so much fun to spend time with. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I love the family and friend aspects of this story.

Katherine Center has this amazing way of expressing human experiences and emotions through her characters and what they go through during her stories. This book is no different. I cried, laughed and swooned. This book touched my heart and soul and left me wanting to read it all over again. This book packs a punch in the best possible way.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am so heartbroken. This was a most anticipated book for me. I was thrilled with a young woman whose dreams were put on hold being thrown together with the screenwriter she most admired. I pictured the banter and the sizzle and the slowish burn. Wheat a got was a woman whose life had taken a different path who is determined to just accept whatever some asshole wants today to her. She’s a martyr, ready to run home because this asshole is sad. She also likes to play amateur therapist and try to fix people. The screenwriter is a complete douche nozzle who thinks because he’s had success he can speak to everyone however he’d like. The only thing he cares about is the pet he shares with his wife, I mean ex wife.
And the former boyfriend/ best friend is a self absorbed narcissistic moving people around like chess pieces to suit him.
But there was some good banter.

Emma is an aspiring screen writer who has put her ambitions aside for 10 yrs to take care of her beloved father. Until her friend (and ex boyfriend) calls her and gives her a chance to work with THE Charlie Yates. Only problem is, she needs to move to LA and actually… live with him while she helps him rewrite the worst rom-com screenplay she’s ever read.

To say he’s against it, is to remember he’s got the arrogance of success. And to say she’s nervous is to remember that she’s been living in the shadows of a caregiver for years.

What unfolds in the story is utterly predictable, wholly loveable and completely grabbed my heart. This is the first 5 stars I’ve given to the author’s books and it was worth it for me.

It will not surprise me if this is up on the big screen in the next couple years

You just gotta “appreciate your person”

"If those are the only stories we tell about ourselves, then those are the only stories we have."

Emma Wheelers life has been turned upside down by a tragic accident. She has to put her dreams aside to care for her father.
When the opportunity comes along for her to rewrite a script with her idol, Charlie Yates she jumps at the chance and heads to L.A.
Emma has her work cut out as Charlie doesn't believe in rom-coms or love.
I was so pulled into the story as I was rooting for Charlie and Emma as I watched this story unfold.
A rollercoaster ride of emotions as these two flawed, lovable, relatable characters find their own story. I laughed and had tears.
A Katherine Center book is an automatic must read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed the book, but I kind of wish I had gotten Charlie’s perspective for some of it. The one sided narrative felt really, really one sided. There were a couple of odd scenes that felt jumbled, like the one with TSA. Emma talks about the ID then the scanner and then the ID again. I was surprised by how short the book was, but I don’t know that it needed to be longer. I like Center’s writing style, the dialogue flowed and the character driven narrative was good.

This is one of those Katherine Center's that very feely, made me cry, and had a good romance. On the Rom-com spectrum, it's much closer to a drama than a comedy. It was heart wrenching, but never made me laugh.

This book is so bingeable! I read this so fast in a day. I was so invested in how everything would turn out (mostly the movie script that they were writing, and the character of of Charlie). It's primarily about the joy of writing, caretaking of your family, and letting people in despite past relationship trauma.

A video review including this book will be on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks, @ChloeFrizzle

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Halfway through reading this book, I bought another Katherine Center novel, and this was my first of hers. That’s how mesmerizing her writing is. It is so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. She breaks the fourth wall, but in such a charming and engaging way that you don’t even feel it happening because it feels so natural. Her main character Emma is so bubbly and full of joy that you feel yourself start to embody her. Her dialogue is delicious, and this story was one of the most fun reads I’ve had the pleasure of reading! This plot was adorable, and executed perfectly. I gave this four stars because I didn't feel like I could connect to the male main character as much as the female main character, but that didn't take me out of the story or change how much fun this story was! I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her genius.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, I found the characters to be a bit immature and not easy to relate to. I enjoyed the concept of the book and the witty dialogue, but I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. I've appreciated the author's previous works in creating complex characters and writing uncomfortable scenes, but in this book, the characters' storylines didn't resonate with me. I acknowledge that many people will enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.