As soon as I finished this book, I wanted to rush to give a gushing review. But I felt like I needed to let the story marinate a bit before writing down my thoughts. Forget that- my thoughts are still the same days later. This book is AMAZING. Katherine center is a QUEEN who never fails to make me smile, laugh, cry, put a shocked hand to my heart and, best of all, dance.

Charlie won me over from the beginning with his corduroys. Emma won me over with her devotion to her family….and her high dive skills.

Everything I love about a rom com happened in this book about a rom com script. From a literal falling into you to the epic kiss (and a speech to go with it!). I adored nerdy Charlie and self-sufficient Emma. Plus, we can't forget about Cuthbert. There are so many things I love about this book, but I can't write them all down because then this review would be as long as the book. Suffice to say, GO READ IT YOURSELF!

But wait! The appearance of Jack Stapleton (and Hannah!). Plus that fork wave! I shall now carry a fork in my purse and use it exclusively to wave to people. So so so good. I giddily laughed until I swooned. Another absolute win from Katherine Center!

You can never go wrong when you pick up one of her books! Katherine Center will be the one you always have in your library. The Rom-Commers is wonderfully written and you will laugh so hard you might cry.

Wow I really loved this one! I’m a romcom girlie through and through and this gave me every single warm fuzzy feeling that those movies give me. I desperately want to watch this as a movie. Charlie was grumpy but adorable. Even when he was being the worst, I was still rooting for him hardcore! Ugh I can’t wait for this one to come out so I can buy a physical copy and reread over and over again.

Katherine Center hit it out of the park with this one... hands down my favorite book!

Emma's dream is to become a screenwriter. She has been writing romantic comedies for years now- winning many contests. But ever since she became her father's full-time caregiver she had to put her life and dream on hold. That is until a dream of a lifetime comes her way- the chance to re-write a script with her idol Charlie Yates. The Charlie Yates who doesn't want to write with anyone, especially a nobody like Emma. This chance only comes around once in a lifetime... could this be Emma's big break?

Oh, and did I mention, Charlie doesn't believe in love at all!

You can always count on Katherine Center for the feels. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions... and I loved every minute of it. A must read!

Katherine Center never fails to do it for me! This was everything I want in a romance. There was humor, angst, and just the right amount of heaviness and feelings. I will read everything Katherine Center writes. This book had me literally laughing out loud, then crying, then kicking my feet swooning. 5/5 stars. 10/10, would recommend. I couldn’t read fast enough!

Are you looking for a DELIGHTFUL and heartwarming book? Center nails it again with a rom-com read that is so much more than just fluff. From the first page, I was cheering on Emma as she tries to transition from being her Dad's full-time caregiver to an up-and-coming writer trying to create the perfect love story. When she's tasked with helping the salty, jaded, and Hollywood-famous Charlie with a rewrite, Emma realizes she has the additional task of making him believe in the power of rom-coms and love. Somewhere along the way, this odd couple's rewrite starts to feel like they're crafting their very own love story. The Rom-Commers was a joy to read, and it will be a perfect beach read this summer! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review Center's latest book!

I enjoyed Katherine Center's newest book! Her ability to create tension between characters is unparalleled. The Rom-Commers is just as the title implies, a delicious romantic comedy, that engages the reader from page 1.

Katherine Center does such a good job at writing wholesome and sweet love stories that just make you feel GOOD. Our FMC Emma is so fun, witty, and selfless - when she takes the opportunity to pursue her writing dreams in LA it's a huge deal. Enter our MMC Charlie, he's Emma's writing idol- successful, magnetic, and a grump who doesn't believe in love. The two of them are working together to rewrite a Rom-Com that Eddie recently wrote. In between their professional writing to do's, they begin to get to know each other very well and let their walls down in a way that they haven't before.

What to expect:
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*Closed-Door Romance
*Witty Banter
*Slow Burn Romance
*Tragic Family Event

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Katherine Center's latest novel THE ROM-COMMERS Emma is a screenwriter who has sidelined her ambitions to be her father's caregiver after a traumatic brain injury. When her friend Logan, who is a manager in Hollywood, calls Emma to rescue a famous screenwriter Charlie Yates (Emma's idol) from his first disastrous romantic comedy, Emma finds the offer too good to refuse. The wrinkle is that Charlie hasn't agreed to having Emma be his collaborator/ghostwriter on this project.

This was mostly an easy read that moved along at a nice pace. A few quirky things showed up, like sensitive guinea pigs (thanks to 90 Day Fiance for teaching me that this is indeed a thing!) and a strawberry writing hoodie, which made me smile. The banter was top notch, and you bought the connection between the main characters.

I wasn't fond of the ending of this one. I felt like this one was going to go in the vein of a very popular book from about 10 years ago (being vague on purpose), and I felt manipulated and then manipulated again for a second time. Also, I would have liked to know the plot of the actual movie they were collaborating on.

All in all, this was a fun romance that I'm sure others will enjoy as well!

As a side note, I felt like I learned a lot about Meniere's disease.

This was my first time reading a novel by Katherine Center. This was cute; however I feel like I'm not particularly fond of the "guy doesn't believe in love but I change his mind" trope. There were elements of this that I enjoyed. But overall I felt disconnected from the characters. I just think this book was not for me. I don't think it was bad. I had a good time reading it, but it didn't blow me away.

A true winner by a favorite author!

Emma Wheeler is a screenplay writer. She loves romantic comedies and she is amazing at it. Too bad she is not famous. Her career is stagnant due to her personal family troubles. Emma has been the sole caretaker of her father who is unable to live by himself. Emma chose him over her own career. However, now her sister is coming back home after graduating and Emma gets the opportunity of a lifetime. She is asked to "fix" Charlie Yates's new rom-com. She just needs to leave home and fly to LA for six weeks to do it.

Emma has her work cut out for her. Charlie Yates doesn't want help with his rom-com. He only wrote it to be able to get another project approved. He doesn't believe in rom-coms. He doesn't believe in love period. Changing his mind is going to take all of Emma's time.

Will she be able to do it?

I love Emma. She was down-to-earth, half-full-glass type of person. She was sweet and a nice daughter. It took me longer to love Charlie. He was so standoffish at the beginning and it did bother me when he rejected Emma time after time. Yet, I ended up loving him.

Another favorite from Katherine Center. I hope she writes many more.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was funny, heartwarming, and the perfect grumpy/sunshine rom com!

Emma catches a break and gets to write with superstar Charlie Yates. The man she ADORES! She quickly learns that he does not feel as lucky as she does and she soon realizes that maybe she shouldn't have flown across the country to work with this rude guy! But Emma Wheeler is NOT a quitter so she works with Charlie to improve his disastrous rom com script.

Charlie does not believe in love or doesn't think it really exists and we get to see how writing together just might change his thoughts on this!

The Rom-Commers is a delightful new offering from much loved author Katherine Center about a blocked, emotionally distant screenwriter and the romance author called in to ghostwrite his terrible manuscript. (According to our heroine rescue-writer, the screenplay is so terrible that terrible is not a terrible enough word to describe it.) Naturally, the screenwriter rejects help from the romance writer whom he deems unqualified. And the romance writer, unrenowned for compelling reasons of her own, steps firmly into the fray. Soon, protective layers between the rom-commers begin to peel off, revealing humanness and humor.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have so many of the author’s other novels. (Check out my reviews of Hello Stranger and What You Wish For.)

Why do I love Katherine Center novels so much? Partly it’s her characters. But as lovable as her characters are, what brings me back time and again to Katherine Center’s books is voice. There is a continuity of voice in her novels. The writing is flowy, personal, impassioned, and often self-deprecatingly funny.

Katherine Center novels make me feel…dare I say it? Centered. Warm and gooey and centered.

While writing this review, I returned to The Rom-Commers to refresh my memory because I actually love reading books more than I love writing reviews about them. Imagine. And then because of the flow-worthy element of The Rom-Commers, I was caught up all over again and spent that day’s allocated book-review-writing time re-reading. Enter aforementioned warm and gooey sensations. And no regrets.

All of that to say that I loved this book. And you will, too, if you love characters that make you smile and situations that make you think and stories that make you sigh out loud.

I received a copy of The Rom-Commers from NetGalley.

2.5 stars
No one can say I haven’t tried with Katherine Center’s books but I need to give it up. On the surface, I should have loved this book. There were moments where I actually did. Emma was such a great character. Some of her scenes were so emotionally compelling. All the feels! But our main male character, Charlie needed as much of a rewrite as his first draft script. He was a jerk at the beginning of the book and even when we were supposed to be melting for him over the course of the book, his secrets and lies in the last half just made it worse. How can you root for a couple to have a HEA when it’s non-stop toxic behavior?

Let me start by saying I absolutely love Katherine Center. She writes such happy, feel good books and this one is no exception.

In The Rom Commers, Emma’s high school friend sets her up with a gig to help Charlie Yates, big time Hollywood writer, rewrite his most recent project. Charlie is a star with a big ego who doesn’t need help and this doesn’t go over well because Emma had to give up a lot to take on this opportunity.

Emma is everything we love in a Katherine Center protagonist. She is quirky, funny, an underdog, and ultra caring. Charlie has a heart that has been hardened by wounds. I loved these two together. The dialogue between them had me smiling and even laughing out loud. Both characters have flaws and have overcome serious past hurdles.

At times I thought that Charlie got away with mean things he said or did a little bit too easily, but this is my only complaint. Both characters check each other and say things in the heat of the moment which I felt made them relatable. This book has a large overall theme of forgiveness of self and others.

I will absolutely (have already saturated to…) recommend this book to my audience. It is a fun and very sweet read that will leave readers feeling good. Thank you KC for another hit!

Pros: Katherine Center has become a dependable author of rom coms for me, and I thought this book was a fun meta-commentary on and celebration of the rom com genre. One of my favorite things about the author’s books is there is often a Houston setting. I also love when, like in this book and The Bodyguard, she uses the famous person-normal person trope. I especially enjoyed the Jack Stapleton cameo in this book as The Bodyguard is my favorite of the author’s books.

I read this book in both ebook and audiobook formats . . . and accidentally read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. I really like when authors use the same narrator for multiple books, and Patti Murin reads Center’s books so well.

Cons: This is not a con but is one thing that puts the book at a disadvantage--I compare all the author’s books to The Bodyguard, and it remains my favorite of hers.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and SMP for a digital ARC of The Rom-Commers in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge Katerine Center fan & was thrilled to have an early listen on The Rom-Commers. And that cover is STUNNING!

I loved this story, although, I was a bit disappointed in one portion of Katherine’s writing that I will get to in a minute.

Emma is a fabulous, but not known, screenwriter who gets the opportunity to help her idol screenwriter, Charlie, rewrite his first ever romance script, which just happens to be the worst script in the history of ever. Emma is stoked, but Charlie, not so much. What makes matters worse is that Charlie is only using this script to get to write a different script that he desperately wants, so he doesn’t even care about.

This was a classic & fabulous enemies to lovers, slow burn rom-com. I will definitely be recommending it as it was a 4/5 Stars for me.

My one & only beef with this book was the tone deaf, stereotyping of people who wear cowboy hat, line dance or just generally give off a Southern feel. I’m from the South. I don’t wear a cowboy hat or line dance, but to stereotype someone who does as a hillbilly was extremely offensive. I don’t offend easily – like hardly ever, but this one really pissed me off. And then to say “that guy rode here on his lawnmower crunching corn nuggets” – Katherine, I love you & I love your books, but this was not funny.

Book Title: The Rom-Commers
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction. Romance
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
My Rating: 3.7 Stars Rounded up
Pages: 336

Aww although not a romance fan- I am a Katherine Center fan
~BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.”
I have enjoyed her laugh-and-cry out loud books.
She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, and Things You Save in a Fire.

In the Rom-Commers, Emma Wheeler a twenty something English teacher wants to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies.
She’s also been the sole caretaker for her dad, who is only fifty-five but was in an accident that left him with Traumatic Brain injury” and paralyzed on one side.
Emma’s ex-boyfriend Logan is also her agent, and offers her the opportunity she has dreamed of that is to work on a rom-com with a Charlie Yates: the screenwriter she adores. She knows she has to turn it down as she has to care for her father. However, Sylvie her sister just graduated from college is willing to help to take care of her father and even her father wants Emma to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. SO she is off to Hollywood.

When she meets Charlie she discovers that he does not believe in HEA In fact, he swears he will never love anyone; Emma is on a mission to show Charlie that romance isn’t a bad thing.

I love a good audiobook and I did listen to this story. However, Charlie’s swearing as well as sweet Emma’s nasty language got in the way of my enjoyment. The problem with an audiobook is that I cannot ‘unhear the nasty words.
So I found reading this was far more enjoyable as I am able to skip over them and often don’t remember them.
As for HEA- As Emma would say ‘and they built a life together and looked after each other, and made the absolute best of their lives.”
However since there aren’t initials for all of that I’ll stick to HEA knowing it is something you have to work at.

Personal Note: I love to line dance and go to classes three times a week and attend as many dance events as I can so I just loved that Emma went to line-dance classes. In Ms. Center’s Acknowledgements (which I love and it is a story in itself) she gives thanks to her many supporters.
I especially liked that she thanked line dance instructor Britt Beresik of Line Dance Houston for not shaming her in class. I know Britt as she is not only an instructor but a Choreographer as well.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin's Press for granting me this pleasure of this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 11, 2024

Emma Wheeler always wanted to be a screenplay writer but life got in the way. She has been her father's caretaker for the past decade and has just been given the opportunity to work with her favorite screenplay writer of all time on his new romance script. Her sister insists on taking over their father's care and Emma cannot believe her luck... the only problem is that the screenplay is absolutely terrible.

I really enjoyed this one and really felt for both Emma and Charlie's situations. They were really well developed characters and felt so real, imperfections and all. Katherine Center knows how to draw a reader in and I was totally immersed in this story.

I do, however, have a few critiques. I thought this book was a bit wordy - it often took multiple pages to get to the point. There was a lot of "suspense building" in the writing, but it felt like a ton of "I have something to tell you... I really want to tell you... ok I'm gonna tell you... here it goes..." and it got repetitive at times. I also wish Emma stuck up for herself more when Charlie was being a complete jerk; she often walked the line between being empathetic and a doormat, sometimes crossing over to the wrong side. I also thought she was WAY too harsh on her sister at the end, considering her sister basically just said back to Emma what Emma had said to her, and in my opinion what Emma said was way worse. Yet everyone tiptoed around Emma and thought she was the only one who deserved an apology? That part didn't make sense to me and I wanted more of a mutual apology there. I did love how everything wrapped up in the end, it made my heart happy.

Overall I did really enjoy this one and definitely will be recommending it to all the romance lovers out there! I'll also definitely be adding a copy to my Katherine Center shelf, feels weird to have one without flowers! It's a beautiful cover nonetheless.

4 stars from me. Katherine center will always be an instant read from me. Her last one was a miss for me but I'm happy to say this one is much better. I loved Emma and Charlie's stories and how well developed they were. It wasn't a 5 stars can't put down book for me (like her others have been) but I enjoyed it very much