4 stars out of 5.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors and has written some great books so I was really excited to get this ARC. I thought the book was really engaging from the start and kept me turning the pages but this is not her best work. I really loved Emma's character and her relationship with her father. She had a great personality and was well written, then we get to Charlie. There was not enough character development with him. Why was he so mean all the time? I would have liked to get more back ground information about why he is the way he is. I also did not really feel the chemistry between Charlie and Emma until closer to the end. I did, however, really like the last 25% of the book and the epilogue was great. I love happy endings! Overall, this was a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who is a Katherine Center fan or a rom-com lover.

In The Rom-Commers, we meet Emma who is an unknown screen writer who has been taking care of her disabled father for the past 10 years. Her ex boyfriend from high school, still best friend, gets her a gig rewriting a rom-com screenplay with a well known writer named Charlie. Emma has her sister come live with their father and care for him while she goes to LA for 6 weeks to get the screen play fixed. Turns out, Charlie had no idea Emma was coming to rewrite his terrible work. Drama unfolds and finally Charlie agrees to work with Emma and lets her stay with him at his mansion. Emma ends up showing him that romance is not dead and they work well as team. Feelings and emotions are now involved but do they both feel the same way about each other?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've always been a huge fan of Katherine Center, and I've read about 80% of everything she's written. Her books are usually big hits for me, but I have to say this one was just "okay". I believe the main thing that turned me off to this book is the dialogue repetition. There was a ton of repeat questioning between the characters, which drove me bonkers. Also, the hero, Charlie, grated on my nerves a bit in the beginning. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first half, and Charlie finally redeemed himself toward the end of the story. The narrator was good and very entertaining, but listening to the repeat dialogue almost made me DNF this audiobook. I actually read the last few chapters of the eBook, and it wasn't nearly as annoying. Unless you're just a HUGE fan of audiobooks, I would recommend reading the print or eBook version instead.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. I liked the progression of Charlie and Emma’s relationship both romantically and in their writing. There were a lot of really cute moments between them and it was fun to see them connect more throughout the book as we learned more about them and their backstories.
I also really liked Emma’s relationship with her dad and how she took care of him. Her dad was so sweet and I loved how he was always looking out for her even though she was his caretaker.
Although this is overall a fun, happy book there is a fair amount of drama and angst which I think helped raise the stakes of what would otherwise just be two people living in the same house writing a screenplay together.
I do wish we got more of a character development arc for Charlie though. He was so rude to Emma when they first met and there’s really no resolution to that. Although we get an explanation for why he was rude later on, we never really address the initial issues.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a cute read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the Arc!!

Emma has put her ambitions of being a screenwriter on hold while taking care of her father. But then she gets an opportunity she can’t pass up: rewriting a rom-com by none other than famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates. Charlie may be able to write action films and mafia movies like a genius, but his rom-com is a disaster. Though initially hesitant to work with an unknown, Charlie relents and he and Emma get into the groove of writing together. But their lives soon mirror a rom-com with a will they/won’t they vibe. It becomes pretty clear they both want to, but obstacles (and obstinance) stand in the way.

This book gives great banter. It had me chuckling all the way through. I liked Emma. She was a sympathetic character without being too sweet or simpering. She could stand up for herself. Charlie was a little obtuse (and rude at times), but also vulnerable and willing to get better.

There are a lot of books lately where the love interest (typically a male) is meant to be grumpy. But some authors have a hard time keeping that grumpy character from being just a totally unlikeable a**hole. (I’m at an age where I don’t find a**holes attractive.) Author Katherine Center does a wonderful job managing to keep Charlie just on the correct side of that fine line.

This book is charming and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.

I really wanted to love this book, as I loved Hello Stranger and The Bodyguard and I LOVE rom-coms. However... this one was a bit of a letdown for me. Emma and Charlie Yates (because they say his full name about 120 times throughout the whole book) were both characters who didn't fully grab my heart, and therefore I didn't end up caring about their love story.

Charlie is kind of an a**hole throughout the entire book with a few moments here and there to try to lure you back into liking him (which didn't ultimately work). Emma was fine... until she wasn't. IS NO ONE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE NEVER APOLOGIZED TO HER SISTER?? Spoilers (but I'll leave it vague) but Emma and her sister fight over the phone towards the end and they both say something meant to wound the other. However, the sister does it in retaliation to Emma saying something EXTREMELY hurtful, and yet Sylvie is the one who has to apologize to Emma at the end. No apology from Emma, which is RIDICULOUS BECAUSE SYLVIE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. That was what really solidified the entire thing for me and almost brought my rating down even further.

I was more invested in Sylvie's relationships than I was with Emma or Charlie, and for that reason alone is why I don't think this is that good of a romance novel. There were so many good tropes put in this that are supposed to make you feel like there is romance there, but that's all there is are tropes and no actual chemistry.

One final thing that irked me, and maybe I just noticed this more because I was listening to the audiobook, but I hated Emma's way of "stream of consciousness" talking. So many moments were written as "And he looked at me like 'did you really just do that?'. And I looked back at him like 'yep, I sure did.'. IRRITATING TO THE NTH DEGREE!!

This wasn't a bad book by any means, but I just had so many annoyances throughout my reading experience that it left me wanting a lot more compare to Katherine Center's other novels. You may like this one... but you also might not.

Thank you Netgallery and Katherine Center for the opportunity to read this ARC. I now understand the hype around Katherine Center, this was the first book that I have read of her, and will not be the last. The Rom-Commers was exactly what you would expect for a cute sweet romcom. It had fantastic banter, great characters, physical tension, and just an overall good story.
Premise- Emma an inspiring screenwriter, who’s life circumstances have held her back, and Charlie Yates an A list screen writer, who can not write a romantic comedy to save his life, team up to write the great american romcom.
Things I loved:
Emma- I loved her hopeless romantic mind, she was witty, funny, and just downright lovable
Charlie- for being a wordsmith of the written word, he was horrible at the spoken word. I found it endearing, while other might have seen it as a red flag ( must be all those dark romances, where others see red flags I see a diamond in the ruff)
Banter- I LOVE the dialogue between Charlie and Emma I could read them bickering all day long.
The way it was written, I loved that it read like I was sitting down to coffee listening to my best friend tell me a story.
Things I wish were a little different not bad…
I thought it jumped around too much for my taste, I wish there was more day to day with Emma and Charlie. I found myself enjoying the chapters with them talking together my favorite.
The epilogue was a little too long….it just kept going could have ended a little quicker and still have been a great read.

My new favorite Katherine Center book! I loved the characters and the plot. I love a good meta story and this one is a lot of fun.

Quick summary
Emma Wheeler is a writer who is a hopeless romantic and lover of rom coms. She is also the primary caregiver to her father who had a terrible accident 10 years prior that has required her to stay at home in Houston and put her dreams on hold....UNTIL, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to write a rom com with her all time favorite, famous, Hollywood film writer, Charlie Yates. Unfortunately, after leaving her baby sister to take care of her dad and flying to LA she quickly finds out that 1) Charlie Yates doesn't know she's coming 2) he doesn't believe in love 3) doesn't even want to write this movie.

Emma decides to stay and change his mind... insert dramatic or romantic music here the rest you have to read to find out.

My thoughts:
I really did enjoy this book and the characters. Charlie and Emma were both very real and flawed people who had so many likable and relatable qualities.

The writing is told through the POV of Emma and it was a fast-paced and easy read. Was it anything life changing? Did I cry or have extreme emotions while reading? Not really. But, I don't think that is always necessary in order to have a book that means something. It was fun, funny and romantic. I absolutely adored the way that Katherine Center ended the book. Really great life lessons and takeaways.

I would recommend this for the lover of a rom com genre.

Charlie Yates is a well-known Holywood screenwriter, and Emma Wheeler is a strictly romantic comedy type of screenwriter. However, she has been the sole caretaker for her father after an accident. A phone call has changed Emma's life with the once in a lifetime opportunity to work with Charlie Yates, who Emma loves so much as one of the best screenwriters. This opportunity has completely changed her life.

I love Emma's resilience in this book and how both Charlie and Emma are willing to communicate with their opinions about love. It is heartwarming with some heartbreaking elements and humor in the story.

Each of Katherine Center's book - I can find some life lessons. For this one, there is grief, tragedy, gratitude, the process of your life (instead of focusing on the ending). This book is not a typical romance, it has so much depth in it which I love. I would highly recommend this book! Please add it to your TBR and it will be released on June 11th!

Favorite quotes:
"Whatever story you tell yourself about your life is the one that will be true."
"Tragedy is a given. There's no version of human life that doesn't have tons of it. The question is, what do we do in the face of it all?"
"Tragedy really is a given. There are endless human stories, but they all end the same way. So it can't be where you're going. It has to be how you get there."

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the generous ARC provided via NetGalley. It was my first ARC, and I was very happy to provide my honest review in exchange for this one.

Well, she's done it again! I just love Katherine Center's books. Her stories keep me entranced from start to finish. Her characters are delightful, and her plots are heartwarming. This book holds up to all her others. I loved the setup that gets the plot going. I love the character arcs. I also really enjoyed the moments where I could just imagine the tension or humor or romance. It was a great read!

Fascinated by the narrative's depth, I found myself drawn into a world where imperfections became the very essence of life's beauty. From the outset, I felt a deep connection to the characters, immersed in their journey of struggles and triumphs.

The companionship I felt with the main characters was truly profound. Together, we shared moments of laughter, tears, and heartfelt emotion, forging a bond that transcended the pages of the book. Their challenges resonated deeply with me, evoking a myriad of emotions from empathy to joy.

What struck me most was the author's ability to evoke such a diverse array of feelings. With each turn of the page, new layers of complexity were unveiled, offering insights into the richness of the human experience.

The narrative held me fascinated until the very end, with each chapter delivering fresh revelations and insights. It was a testament to the transformative power of storytelling to illuminate the human condition.

In the end, this experience left an indelible mark on my soul. It served as a poignant reminder that life's beauty often lies in its imperfections, and that true resilience is found in embracing the challenges we face. The impact of this extraordinary journey will linger in my heart for years to come, regardless of its title.

Spoiler Free ARC Review: 5 ⭐️

Katherine Center has done it again. I have never read one of her books and not gasped, laughed and cried. I was so excited when I got approved to read The Rom-Commers! I started reading this book and did not get up until I finished it. I seriously adored this deep, character driven rom-com.

Successful screenwriter, Charlie, wrote a terrible rom-com. That’s where Emma Wheeler, a romance savant comes in. Reluctantly paired together, (Charlie because he works alone and Emma because she’s the caregiver to her sick father) the duo have to rewrite a romance filled screenplay together. The main issue? Charlie doesn’t believe in love.

This book is so swoon-worthy. There are some heavy topics in this book. Trigger warnings for chronic illness. But, the way both MCs and the supporting cast was written was done beautifully. Every sentence Katherine writes is integral to the plot. She’s an incredible story teller and this book is no exception. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone wanting to read a beautiful story. Tropes include: forced proximity, strangers to enemies to lovers, and workplace romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

Picked this one up because I had read one other Katherine Center book and really enjoyed it. I liked this one as well. She has a really good grasp on what makes romance satisfying and even though I could predict everything that was okay.

I liked the self-aware and occasionally meta commentary about romance as a genre and would read more of her books.

4/5 just because there is definitely some room for improvement and it didn’t wow me, but want to be clear that’s a great rating for me.

Let me just start by saying that I am the biggest Katherine Center fan and have read a majority of her books and loved just about all of them. However. this one was disappointing for me. I just knew at 50% through that this one was going to be a 3 star book. That definitely doesn't mean I hated it, but I also didn't love it.

What I liked: Emma is genuinely kind and loving. She is strong, not in a tough-girl, badass way, like many of Katherine Center's other characters are, but in a more subtle way. She is honest, vulnerable, genuinely kind, smart, and a little sassy. Also, Emma's dad is wise and funny and I loved him as a supporting character. I loved the general plot- the concept of two screenplay writers working together to write a Rom-Com was fun.

What I didn't love: Charlie is mean to Emma, like really mean and personality, by the time he shows his true feelings and is actually kind, it was too little too late. He just couldn't quite redeem himself at that point in my eyes. Also, why is he letting his terrible ex-wife walk all over him like a spineless jellyfish?! The banter in this one just didn't hit me like I needed it to. I wish there was less mean comments and more playful, witty banter.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.

Katherine Center is another author whose books never miss for me. The Rom-Commers is a win for sure and I loved this book. I liked the humor and the banter between Emma and Charlie and it really balanced out the at times heaviness that Center incorporated into the story. I loved that writers were the sole focus and it took place kind of in the behind the scenes aspect of Hollywood. Both characters felt so real and vulnerable which I enjoyed and I think Center handled their different traumas with such a high level of care. The fact that love was the main focus of the book made me love it even more. I couldn't put it down and felt Emma's declations about romcoms in my own soul. All of her books manage to both get me to laugh and cry and this was no exception. The concept was brilliant and the execution was a delight. I also loved the quick cameos from The Bodyguard. Overall, this was a fantastic one! Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and Macmillan audio for providing me with an e-ARC/ ALC to read and review!

Oh my god I did not want this book to end under any circumstances!!!!! The chemistry Charlie and Emma have is undeniable and their banter back and forth is immaculate. Quick chapters, one person POV, chefs kiss all around. I would not change one bit about this book except for the length because I wanted more!!!!! The ongoing love and loss themes resided heavily with me which made me appreciate this novel even more.

WOW! I absolutely adored this book! It has delightful characters, real life problems, amazing dialogue, and the most perfect happy ending. You'll find yourself riding the emotional ups and downs with all of the characters, and rooting for all of them to get their happy ever afters. This truly was such a win for me! 5 star read for sure!

Come on! A Rom-Com about two authors writing a Rom-Com screenplay?! I was certain that I would fall in love with this book. Add Katherine Center's witty dialogue, careful portrayal of emotional topics and amazing supporting character development, and it's impossible not to devour this book! This fantastic read exceeded my already high expectations. There were many instances where I found myself smiling or feeling a lump in my throat. This book evoked a variety of emotions from me. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a well written, witty, romantic comedy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and Katherine Center for giving me the opportunity to review this fabulous read.

I don't have access to enough stars to assign this book the correct rating. 5 stars feel insufficient. This is the Rom-com to END all Rom-coms, while also being a tutorial on Rom-coms. The characters are endearing and beautifully flawed, the witty banter had me laughing out loud, and I was fully invested in the story of Emma and Charlie (as well as the ancillary characters). It's a love letter to all the classic romantic comedies, including "Pretty Woman", "When Harry Met Sally", "The Holiday", and "Notting Hill", to name a few. It's intelligent and sweet, but never schmaltzy. This needs to be made into a movie, stat.

The Rom-Commers isn't my favorite book from Katherine Center but was still an enjoyable read! This book deals with some dark topics in a delicate way and is still lighthearted enough to be considered romance. The romance is charming and sweet with a lot of banter between Charlie and Emma. It took me a bit to warm up to Charlie. Also keep an eye out for a Jack Stapleton from The Bodyguard appearance :).

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. The Rom-Commers will be published on June 11, 2024.