Katherine Center has done it again, and I think this is my favorite of hers yet.

A love letter to fun and love and family and all the baggage that comes with it.

While it follows some familiar beats, I couldn’t put this one down. As always, the author writes characters that are easy to connect with and root for. There are plenty of heartfelt familial moments and the rom-com within a rom-com really worked for me.

As a fellow Houstonian, I always appreciate her nods to our city and state. This will make a perfect summer read.

Such a sweet and hopeful story that reminds you to find joy in life. Emma and Charlie have each had a rough go but through their screen writing together, Emma teaches Charlie about love and also finds some for herself. I love the way Emma addresses the reader to give updates. And her updates are usually funny which makes them even more fun! If you need a heartwarming read, this is it!

Emma Wheeler's dream of becoming a screenwriter takes an unexpected turn when she lands a gig rewriting a script for her idol, Charlie Yates. But as she delves into the world of rom-coms, she finds that reality may not be as charming as fiction.

While the premise had promise, The Rom-Commers fell short for me. The characters lacked depth, and their supposed romantic chemistry didn't quite spark. The writing style, with the narrator speaking directly to the reader, was a bit distracting, and the stereotypical portrayal of Los Angeles didn't sit well with me.

Despite its flaws, the book had its moments of sweetness and swoon, especially with the caretaker trope. The secondary characters added depth to the story, and the Jack Stapleton cameos were a fun touch.

Overall, while it had a hopeful and uplifting message, it didn't fully live up to my expectations. But for fans of rom-coms, it might still offer some enjoyable moments.

Outstanding so far! I love everything Katherine Center, she is a great storyteller.
Looking forward to finishing this one. So far, as always 5 stars!!

Katherine Center knows relationships, of every kind! When you pick up one of her books you are presently surprised to not just get a run of the mill romance but to also get an in-depth look at all the relationships in the characters lives! Another excellent multifaceted story!!

A cute premise with quirky and loveable characters. While I had a feeling I knew how this romance trope would end, I was surprised a few times at the real-life issues pulling on my heart strings. Katherine Center has a knack for complex stories mixing with a blooming romance.

I was wanting the uniqueness of Center’s other books. I did finally get this about halfway in. I liked Emma and how she dedicated her life to her Dad. I loved how her story with Charlie ended up (like a rom com would). I loved how her Dad wound up loving the neighbor and how he never blamed Emma for what happened to their mother. I will remain a Center fan.

The Rom-Commers has everything you want in romantic comedy- it's an endearing romance with plenty of drama and a splash of humor. Katherine Center has the most incredible knack for taking a familiar plot line and transforming it into a story that feels fresh and vibrant. When Emma is hired to help esteemed Hollywood screenwriter Charlie Yates salvage his abysmal first attempt at writing a rom-com (Charlie is beloved for his action filled westerns), the sparks truly fly. Charlie is arrogant and stubborn, and has little interest in working with an "amateur writer" as he dubs Emma. Miss Center is a strategic story teller-her novels often feature strong women, a path to "happily ever after" that is stalled due to family or medical issues, and appearances by characters from previous novels in secondary roles (hello Jack Singleton!) And what a winning strategy it is! You'll know how The Rom-Commers ends-but the journey is so delightful you'll want to take your time getting to the destination.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Katherine Center is an author I enjoy more and more with each book she writes. She is a humorous, intelligent and articulate writer. I never feel like my time has been wasted. I am entertained and learn a thing or two. The Rom-Commers is another engaging story with several opportunities to laugh out loud. Need a pick me up, then pick this up!

I adored this book! When I was finished I truly had book hangover. It hit all of my favorite notes when it comes to romance reads - the perfect amount of swoon! I rooted for most of the characters - a wonderful read!

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter who loves romcoms and Charlie Yates, a big time Hollywood screenwriter who writes everything but. So when she’s given the opportunity to work with him to fix one of his works, a very sad attempt at a romcom, she jumps at the chance. The only problem is, Charlie Yates is a grump who doesn’t think he needs any help, especially not from somebody with zero credibility in the industry, and he has no problem saying so.
Katherine Center’s main characters are always so well written and developed and genuinely funny. The antics that take place are somehow always ridiculous in a wonderful and believable way. The dialogue is quirky and I loved the ode to some of the old time Hollywood romance flicks.

5 stars (of course - it's Katherine Center, y'all!)

I knew I didn't want to start this book. Why? Because, I knew that once I started, I wouldn't put it down, And then I'd be bereft when I finished since now I have nothing to look forward to in life. Nothing.

There is just something about KC's writing that brings me joy. The banter, the crazy catastrophes (swan dive, anyone?), the positivity. I highlighted so many passages in this book that were meaningful, about living life, about appreciating it, warts and all.

I don't really need to recap the story, because that's what the back of the book is for. I'm just going to say that if you need to smile, to remember why life is to be lived, to believe in love (in all forms - family, romantic, friendship), read Katherine Center.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

P. S. Macmillan Audio, please approve my request to listen to the audio book so I can spend time with Emma and Charlie again. Please!?!

Really this is more of a 4.5 than 4! Katherine Center is an automatic read for me, every time. Her stories never fail to make me laugh, cry, and feel all the feels. And The Rom-Commers is battling for that number one spot amongst her other books right now. It was witty, smart, slow burn fantastic. The only thing that kept me from jumping up to 5 stars was the random narration of addressing the reader. It through off the rhythm of the book for me. But that’s probably more of a personal preference. This is definitely one to pre-order and put on your TBR! Releasing in June 2024!

The Rom Commers is a perfect!
Emma Wheeler is a talented writer who has been unable to launch her career. When her high school ex contacts her with a job she grabs it and finds herself helping her idol, screenwriter Charlie Yates with a fix up job for a Rom Com that is being shopped in LA. She uproots herself and arrives in Los Angelos to find that Charlie neither knew she was coming nor wants any help.

What happens next will keep you glued to your seat as you furiously flip the pages. Can't wait for this to be a movie, I loved it that much!
What else do you need to know? Katherine Center has the goods! Pick up this Rom Commy book now! #katherinecenter #therom-commers
#stmartins

I inhaled this book. Katherine Center has an incredible ability to completely pull you in. I really loved both Emma and Charlie. I would read this over and over.

I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I swooned.

This is the ultimate rom-com and truly has it all—the funniest meet-cute, great banter, lots of comedic moments, a slow burn romance, and one of the BEST first kiss scenes. I just loved every minute of reading this book and didn’t want it to end.

Despite the premise and the cover, this story isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It also deals with some heavy themes, which only gave the characters more depth and made them feel more real, and honestly made me love the story even more.

This is only my second Katherine Center book (I read Things You Save in a Fire when it came out years ago), so obviously I have some backlist digging to do!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC!

This was such a sweet read! THE ROM-COMMERS follows Emma Wheeler, who's always wanted to become a screenwriter. However, being the sole caretaker for her dad has forced her to put her dreams on the back burner. When she gets the opportunity to rewrite a romantic comedy script for award-winning screenwriter Charlie Yates, she jumps at the chance. With caretaking duties left to her younger sister Sylvie, Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks to help write the hit romcom she knows she can deliver, and show Charlie that true love is real—and worth believing in.

This book hooked me instantly! I was rooting for Emma from start to finish, and loved her chemistry and banter with Charlie. I also thought all of the romcom and Classic Hollywood references were so much fun to spot (like Charlie living in Esther Williams' house—how cool is that?); Center does a fantastic job of weaving those tidbits throughout the story. Beyond the romance and the comforting, lightheartedness tone of THE ROM-COMMERS, I also appreciated the overarching theme of being torn between showing up for your family and following your dreams. Emma carries a lot of guilt about her mom's death and her dad's condition, and sometimes struggles to balance her responsibility to her family with her screenwriting goals. It was heartwarming to see her realize that she didn't necessarily have to choose one or the other. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone in search of a swoon-worthy romcom that will make you laugh and tear up in equal measures! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC of The Rom-Commers in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will begin by saying Katherine Center quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading just a few of her books. When I start one of her books, I know that I will quickly become engrossed and basically get nothing done for the next day or 2.

That’s exactly what happened with The Rom-Commers. When Emma gets the opportunity to work alongside her favorite author, Charlie Yates, she is beyond thrilled. Hesitant to leave her father in the care of her sister, she goes to live with Charlie, for several weeks, to rewrite a rom-com with him. Her first meeting with him does not go as planned. It’s basically a nightmare.

Prepare to fall in love with Emma, get angry with Charlie, and then just not want the story to end! I look forward to more Katherine Center books!

Katherine Center has done it again. The Rom-Commers was an adorable book, I love how she has so many different parts storylines come together. You get so many different facets of the main characters lives that make you love them even more (even people you didn’t think you would). You get it all with her books. The Rom-Commers was no exception.

Katherine Center is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The Rom-Commers was such a cute book with quirky loveable characters. I thought the story was well written, funny, and so cutely romantic.
Katherine Center writes such...what I call "well-adjusted romance" where the love interests are always adults about their feelings and have adult relationships. It's refreshing!