I enjoyed this book however i feel as if it kept dragging on. Without giving away any spoilers I think the ending was the best.

Katherine Center is maybe my all time comfort author. Her romances never fail to disappoint and just feel like a warm blanket or a cozy summer day. They are always everything I expect and nothing I don’t which just…feels like a hug.

I absolutely loved the premise of this one. Two writers, one who is undiscovered and idolizes the other, have to team up in order to fix a script? Yes, please. Something else I love in books that this one delivered on are themes of family and watching sibling relationships play out (do I have some sort of only child syndrome? Maybe). I will be fair and say that Charlie got frustrating at some point, but he had the hurt man who can’t let someone in again thing going for him, so I decided to forgive him in the end.

In any case, if you love romances with a push/pull dynamic, forced proximity, and overarching themes of family you’re absolutely going to love this one!

Made the mistake of reading the last third of this in public and it was a struggle not to cry. I'm pretty confident I'd have been sobbing otherwise.

Katherine Center books are always such a comfort. And always so touching. Rom-Commers was no exception. I'm so impressed out how the plot, the relationship between Emma and her family, the witty dialog, and the heart weaved together to form such a simultaneously fun and incredibly touching story.

Also if Center ever wants to write a book version of Emma's Accidental Mermaid script... I would be first in the line to read it.

4am at the Edinburgh airport: a time that no one should be forcibly awake and a place that is impossible to romanticize. I’m on my way to a day-trip in London (running on zero coffee), but my flight is delayed by almost an hour and a half (this review is not sponsored by Ryanair). Feeling defeated and dehydrated, I pull out my Kindle and read the first half of “The Rom-Commers,” by Katherine Center.

Woah.

Not even having to run after a gate-change could make me tear my eyes away from the book (looking back, not the safest decision), and once onboard the plane, I was sure I could finish the book in the span of the 50min flight...

…Pause.

Like a fine wine, this book deserved to be savored. That savoring shouldn’t take place in the middle seat of a discount-airline flight. (I’m writing this review from the middle seat of a flight to Belgium. Funny how life works.)

Timeskip to my flight back to Edinburgh. Another hour and a half delay — boo. I take it as a sign to finish the book, and, as this book is absolutely window-seat-worthy, I finish it in the first-half of the flight, and spend the second-half sitting in silence contemplating how amazing the book was. The next morning (after getting home and collapsing after spending over 24 hours of awake), I’m convinced that I could not have read a book that was that silly and full of heart.

Not only was it such a fun read that I was convinced it was an airport-induced fever dream, but it has definitely earned the place of my top book of 2024.

With jokes that are reminiscent of “The Proposal,” emotional stakes that rival “When Harry Met Sally,” a romantic duo that gives Mia and Sebastian a run for their money, and, I cannot stress this enough, a sibling relationship that screams “27 Dresses,” “The Rom-Commers” is a prime example of the power of storytelling, and how fictional romance is anything but frivolous or self-indulgent.

Rom-coms are meant to make you feel — this book made me feel way too many emotions, and for that, I applaud it (through tears).

While being a tribute to romantic comedies, the story doesn’t fall victim to any tired tropes or cliches, and if, anything, Katherine Center puts her own twists on them that give them new life that is anything but boring.

Oh, and having a cute guinea pig named Cuthbert doesn’t hurt either :)

“The Rom-Commers” will be available on June 11th, and thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy!

Katherine Center is a must-read author for me. She never lets me down. Her romance novels always bring joy to my reading life, even as she covers serious topics along the way. The Rom-Commers is no different - it was just delightful.

Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter but life got in the way of her taking advantage of a prestigious Hollywood internship. Specifically, she became her father’s caretaker and a mother-substitute for her younger sister, after a tragic accident. So she put her life on hold, while she continued to write without achieving any success in that area. But an old friend in LA is her manager and one day he hands Emma the opportunity of a lifetime - to write (actually re-write) a rom-com with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, if she can come to LA from Texas. Apparently, Charlie is a masterful writer but this rom-com is a disaster and rom-coms are Emma’s specialty. So this is a rom-com about writing a rom-com! Very meta.

The whole sequence of events after Emma gets to LA is pretty hilarious, while also touching on Emma’s fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, and her fangirl idolization of Charlie and other Hollywood writers and actors. There’s a fun cameo appearance by Jack Stapleton, who we met in The Bodyguard - and Meryl Streep! We have a bunch of tropes: enemies-to-lovers and/or friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, grouchy-sunshine, etc., but Center somehow pulls it together in her expert way. Among the serious topics covered are: Meniere’s disease (I don’t think I’ve seen another book that covers this, a disease a friend of mine deals with); cancer; death of a parent; disabling injury; and more.

Do not miss this book if you like rom-coms at all!

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Patti Murin, and the audiobook includes a short piece by the author (read by the author).

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This is easily going to be one of my favorite books of the year!!

Katherine Center has created a story that will stick with me for a long time! This book is told from the POV of Emma, who is one of THE most selfless characters because she has sacrificed everything for her family. She is a caregiver to her father and has put her life on hold to take care of him until an opportunity of a lifetime comes up to work with her favorite screenwriter.

Charlie is in a writers slump (and also a life slump!). He is very analytical and does NOT believe in love. This is a HUGE issue since he is tasked to write a RomCom. He ends up getting Emma’s help and they work together.

I just can’t even describe how good this was! The Rom-Commers had the absolute perfect pacing for a slow burn book. You couldn’t figure out WHY he would not give in and would be such a jerk sometimes and I loved it!!!

The ending… whew.. it’s rare to find a book where you get a happy ending that makes you feel so good for a long time after! I could not stop thinking about this story hours after I read it.

I loved both characters, their growth, and everything about this book! It was an absolutely perfect read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a great rom-com and I loved it. This is the first book of Katherine Centers that I have read which was on the recommendation of my boss who loves this author and she didn’t steer me wrong since it was right up my alley. The chemistry and banter between Emma and Charlie was so good and just jumped off the page and oh man how she eviscerated his screenplay when they met was just so good. Emma finally gets the push to pursue her dreams that she has put on hold these last 10 years while taking care of her dad and of course it starts off as a disaster since Charlie is not expecting her at all. Emma is determined to show Charlie that love stories matter even if she has to kiss him to prove it which she ends up doing but misunderstandings ensue which are compounded by an emergency at home that requires Emma to go back. All is well at the end and true love prevails and this was such a fast read and now I have to check out her other novels.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Katherine Center is my go-to author when I need a story that will make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The Rom-Commers was exactly that, and I loved every minute of it.

As the sole caretaker for her dad, Emma Wheeler’s dreams of being a screen writer have been on hold for the past 10 years. When she gets the unexpected chance to re-write a rom-com script with the famous Charlie Yates, a writer she idolizes, she’s finally in the position to make her dreams come true.

I really enjoyed Emma’s determination, resilience, loyalty, and optimism. You’ll fall in love with her and root for the happy ending she deserves.

This book is available June 11, 2024 and should definitely be on your summer reading list. I was given this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found "The Rom-Commers" disappointing, despite my usual enjoyment of Katherine Center's work. The chemistry between the main characters, Emma and Charlie, felt lacking throughout the book. Charlie's harsh and emotionally unintelligent behavior was off-putting, and Emma's passive acceptance of his treatment was frustrating. It seemed that both characters needed therapy rather than a romantic relationship.

Additionally, character development was lacking. Emma's insecurities, immaturity, and Charlie's toxic behavior were major drawbacks. Emma's rapid transformation from depressed to uplifted by her father's words felt unrealistic and left her character arc incomplete. Both characters seemed to have unresolved issues by the end, making it hard to root for their relationship.

Overall, "The Rom-Commers" failed to engage me due to its underdeveloped characters and unconvincing romance. While I usually enjoy Center's books, this one fell short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this title. This is a wonderful romance; Katherine Center writes from the heart without any trace of triteness. We meet Emma who has been the sole caretaker for her father for 10 years. Emma is a talented writer, but feels obligated to devote the majority of her time to caring for her dad. Emma's sister has recently graduated from college, and could take over, but Emma seems reluctant to let her do so.

When Emma gets a call from her friend, a Hollywood agent, to ghost screenwrite a Rom-Com, she initially defers. Her sister steps up to care for her dad, and off Emma goes to work with her writer-idol, Charlie, in Hollywood. Charlie is a bundle of anxiety, and has to be led kicking and screaming into the mindset of a Rom-Com. Emma drags him along, and they seem to be falling in love, until Charlie mysteriously pulls back. Emma is called back to Texas when her father has a medical emergency, and refuses any assistance Charlie offers.

Charlie credits Emma with a fantastic new Rom-Com script, and she is forced back to Hollywood to iron out details. While there, she discovers the reason for Charlie's reticence, learns to forgive herself from family burdens, and live her own life.

These are fully drawn characters with relatable feelings and neuroses, the family dynamics are truthfully written, and Center delivers a Romance novel that is sweet and enjoyable, without any trace of saccharine or unbelievability.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

The short and sweet of it all - I loved every page of this story. Emma and Charlie completely captured my heart.

I am an absolute sucker for a good grumpy/sunshine trope along with the tension of enemies-to-lovers where he falls first (ish). This was everything and more. An ode to love stories built into a love story of many layers. It had all the makings for a thoughtful, dynamic and page-turning romance.

Disclaimer: For a book with “rom-com” in the title I wasn’t expecting to cry as much as I did, but it was only because I was that far gone in love with the characters and their story. There were devastated sobs and happy tears. Plus that savage conversation between Emma and her sister on the phone while she rushed to the airport are truly only blows known between two sisters. It was a punch in the gut while also feeling wholly authentic - putting words to your worst family fears.

All in all, this was a great read.

My favorite and most relatable quotes:

“I frowned like he was bananas. ‘I don’t have anxiety. I just worry all the time.’”

“‘And they goes for kids, too, by the way — and pets, and waiters, and even our own selves,’ he said. ‘There it is. The whole trick to life. Be aggressively, loud, unapologetically grateful.’”

Another classic Katherine Center rom com that was a solid read. Center has a go-to formula-- a heroine with some sort of tragic backstory, a leading man who is a bit of a jerk, a whirlwind falling in love, a classic misunderstanding and a happily ever after. In the case of The Rom-Commers, Emma Wheeler is a writer who spends her days taking care of her father. Charlie Yates is a multi-award winning screenwriter who has written his first romcom-- and it needs help! Emma's longtime friend gets her in with the gig of being Charlie's ghost writer, and things follow the plot from there. The novel was enjoyable, and fans of Katherine Center will eat this one up!

An English teacher finally gets the chance of a life time to work with her favorite screenplay writer — and her chance to make a name for herself.

I always enjoy a book by Katherine Center — I’ve never regretted a read by her — nor did this book disappoint. I quite enjoy this authors style of romance story — fiction with a good dose of reality at the same time.

The characters are full of real struggles, worries, playfulness,chemistry and Witty banter .

The writing was great and the characters were likable overall — from time to time I questioned Charlie’s authenticity as his values and attitude changed a bit too quickly in my mind— I loved Emma and her quick witted lines .

I was granted an ARC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center via NetGalley.

Pub Date: June 11, 2024

This is such a cute book! I was immediately taken in with the storyline and the supporting cast , but I mostly loved the banter between the main characters! It was smart, quick and made me laugh out loud on several occasions.

I am such a fan of ROM-coms and this book did not disappoint! I will easily recommend this book! It was such a delight! I’m sure if we lived close to each other, @katherinecenter and I would be fast friends 💛🩷😂
I easily gave this 4⭐️ on Goodreads (more like 4.5⭐️)

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy

This book has it all–humour, heart, and a happily ever after!

The book features one of my favourite tropes–the roommates reluctantly falling for each other. Emma is a screenwriter who writes rom coms, but before she had the chance to launch her career, there was a terrible accident that killed her mother and left her father disabled. For the last ten years, she’s been his sole caretaker while her sister finishes her education. But now, there’s an opportunity for her that she just can’t ignore. Charlie Yates, a famous, award-winning screenwriter who’s best known for his action films, has been tasked with writing a rom com–and the result is terrible. His manager is also Emma’s manager, and he convinces her to go to LA to work with the reclusive screenwriter as a ghostwriter. The catch that she only finds out after she’s knocking on his mansion door? Charlie doesn’t know she’s coming. And he doesn’t want her help.

I find that the publishing industry has been pretty liberal with the word “comedy” in romances, saying that books that are more of a typical “contemporary romance” are rom coms. But in this case, The Rom-Commers is actually a rom com, and had numerous parts that had me giggling hysterically.


My favourite books in this genre have serious topics to complement the humour, and this book is no exception. Both Emma and Charlie have trauma in their pasts, and their character arcs bring this book from a simple good time to a thoughtful and uplifting read.

There are a few miscommunications in the story, but they’re done well and add to the plot.

All in all, I recommend this book if you’re looking for a well-plotted and meta rom com!

4 stars

In a world where het romance can be so cliche, boring, and frequently misogynistic, Katherine Center keeps showing up as a shining star in that all-too-frequent dark landscape. This most recent effort is another treat from a now proven author.

It's really hard to not want to root for Emma. She's had to sacrifice a lot because of an injury that incapacitated her father in fundamental ways years ago. So that her younger sister could go out and realize her dreams, Emma has mostly forgone hers, and this has kept her opportunities and experiences - romantically and otherwise - limited. When she gets the chance to work on a dream project (sort of) with a dream partner, external forces push her to go against her usual choices and take the opportunity. Enter Charlie, another likeable, if curmudgeonly, character.

There's a subtlety to this love story that makes it feel fresh. It's not overblown or saccharine, and the result is a compelling, character driven connection that keeps readers engaged and entertained from cover to cover. There are some health-related rollercoaster rides in here that some readers may want to be aware of (since this is a genre for escapism and some of this content might feel a little to raw...like a thing a reader might be trying to escape FROM) at times.

Added props to the audiobook narration. I recommend this format when and where available. I'm already looking forward to Center's next release!

The rom-commers ! I highly recommend
I felt so much depth and understanding reading the ebook and audiobook! All that has occurred for the main character as a child to now as an adult !
Her fear to live life and the fact she didn’t truly live the life she deserved for so long because she served her family so well! The pure and perfect love she gives everyone through out this book !
Oh and is she so funny, some how innocent to some of her thoughts and understanding of things. Not in a “blonde” way but in the way she thinks the best of everyone until she doesn’t !

Emma a screen writer that has no career but care taking, is given and opportunity of a life time from he ex bf!? This novel is about love loss and the complete and utter truth of feeling pain and love and life all at once ! It’s about living and pushing ur boundaries when u are afraid it’s about how u can’t live and love with no repercussions of pain , just wow Katherine center ! Just wow

Emma Wheeler is her father's caretaker but always aspired to be a screenwriter. Charlie is a beloved Hollywood screenwriter. When Emma's childhood friend turned Hollywood manager asks Emma to relocate to LA for six weeks to help Charlie rewrite a script, things are not at all what Emma expected. Nor are they what Charlie expected. This book had me laughing out loud and crying. There were so many great scenes and life lessons. Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms.

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

I'll be honest, I was a little worried about this book when I first started it - I didn't immediately love the characters, like I usually do with this author. However, I am so glad I continued. My initial reservation was unfounded. Emma is a character that developed over the book, and it was an enjoyable payoff. As we learn more and more about Emma, I found it easier to understand her, and appreciated her more. The book became more captivating as it continued. While there are some tough topics in the book, they assist with character development and are relevant to the backstories. This is definitely a book I will reread, and enjoy multiple times.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of Katherine Center's new book, The Rom-Commers!

Everyone knows that I love Katherine Center's books and I look forward to her newest every year. This is going to be all over everyone's hot summer book list and it's the perfect rom-com for your beach tote. I promise you'll read this in one sitting.

Katherine Center's newest book pulls all the classic rom-com stops for the ultimate feel-good romance. Emma Wheeler is well versed in the anatomy of a romantic comedy, as a screenwriter she works on mostly small projects saving her own stories for herself. But when her agent offers her the opportunity to write a screenplay with one of the most prolific writers of her time, she jumps at the chance. One problem, Charlie Yates - yes, the Charlie Yates.- doesn't want anything to do with her and he doesn't care if his new screenplay (a romantic comedy btw) is a disgrace to the genre. But without a passable romantic comedy, one of Charlie's most important projects is stalled. Seeing no way forward, Charlie and Emma team up to co-write the ultimate romantic comedy and maybe they'll find their own love story along the way.

This is KC at her best, the dialogue sparkles, the rom-com references are plentiful. If you read and loved The Bodyguard, you'll be delighted to revisit characters and experience cameos from that novel. As always, Center balances optimism with some really difficult subject matter and leads her characters to a happily ever after. If you loved Katherine's prior books, you'll love The Rom-Commers as well.