An easy 5 stars!! Just absolutely wow. First of all my heart was doing the whole bird suicide thing the entire time. I don't even know what to say othet than you need to read this. Centers voice in this is absolute perfection. It read like a best friend just talking to you. The little twists absolutely stilled my heart. I truly loved every word of this book.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Every Katherine Center book I read gets bumped up to my favorite Katherine Center, but I SWEAR THIS TIME. THIS IS MY FAVORITE KATHERINE CENTER BOOK. First off, there's not even a single drop of miscommunication in this entire book. Yes, there is a very valid fear the characters face of speaking their feelings out-loud, but even that doesn't last long. I didn't think grumpy-sunshine was my thing but then I met Charlie. If the witty banter, the scenes that had me giggling out-loud, the strong family ties or watching Charlie and Emma slowly fall in love all didn't have me already rating this 5-stars, Charlie alone would be bumping it up the list. His demeanor at the beginning made the ending feel even better. Every character has so much personality I felt like I was living the experiences with them.

Okay okay, aside from the romance which I clearly loved, I also appreciated how strongly Katherine Center writes family relationships. Emma and her sister is so cute and realistic. I love how this family continuously shows up for each-other and supports each-other. Although I will say I do think Emma owed her sister and apology she never gave and that's my ONLY complaint. Katherine sprinkles in some harder themes in here, like cancer and death of a parent, but she always handles the tougher aspects of the book with grace and care and this book is no different.

For fans of Emily Henry, Denise Williams or any other Katherine Center book: this is one you NEED TO READ.

Emma has put her life on hold to take care of her dad, but when an opportunity to work with one of the best screenwriters is dropped in her lap, she decides to make it work. Emma is determined to write the best rom-com with the award winning Charlie Yates. However, Charlie hates rom-coms and is determined to do as little a possible to make a passable screenplay. Emma and Charlie are at odds in every way, but they have to find some common ground to accomplish their goals. No one said it would be easy.

I adored this book. It was a perfect Katherine Center book - thoughtful, funny, and heart wrenching. This is the perfect book to curl up with and read in one sitting. One of my top picks for the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Rom-Commers.

Katherine Center writes like a goddess! All her books immediately go on my TBR, and they always live up to every expectation. This book was no different and I ate up every single word. Although not spicy, this was entirely swoony and sweet.

THE ROM - COMMERS - KATHERINE CENTER
4.5⭐
PLOT
Emma Wheeler wants to be a screenwriter and waiting for her big break but she is a full time caretaker for her father and now she gets a chance to re write a script for famous screenwriter Charles Yates whom she idolizes and an opportunity too good to miss.
But Charlie doesn't want to rewrite the script it's just a way to get another of his script a green light but Emma has sacrificed a lot leaving had dad with her you her sister and come to LA for 6 weeks. She ill convince him that love stories matter and even if she has to prove each and every stage to him and while doing so they inturn write their own rom com.
MY THOUGHTS
I really enjoyed this book. Esp the part where Emma and Charlie work together how a cynical Charlie starts believing in love once again. The writing was easy, fluid as if Emma was narrating the story to us, plot which has real life issues and problems incorporated well to make it relatable. Characters were well rounded though I just wanted a chapter from Charlie's POV.

Well this was such an (expected) delight! I always know I’m in for a good time when I pick up a Katherine Center book, but this is most definitely my favorite one so far. I adore rom-coms (duh), and I loved these two exploring the genre and teaching Charlie the basics of what makes a rom-com good (including a heavy amount of “research” which means oh so many things ). Charlie started out as a big ol’ meanie and I found myself thinking he had a LOT of work to do to make this up to me (okay fine, to Emma)- but woooork he did. He won me (and Emma) over swiftly and swoon…ily (?) and I was rooting for them from the get-go.
I was pleasantly surprised by some of the more serious topics that this book tackled, and it just made me even more invested in these lovebirds and their story as I watched them tackle their personal probs and get through them together (well….mostly).
As with all great rom-coms, this one comes with a lot of banter, almost-moments, people falling on top of other people, and gives us a perfect final act. If you want to laugh, cry, and swoon your way rapidly through your new favorite book, this is the one for you!

She did it again! Hello Stranger was one of my top books last year, and I was so excited when this one was announced. Boy, did it live up to my expectations.

Emma is an aspiring screenwriter who’s never gotten her chance to follow her dreams due to her role of caretaker for her dad. One day, an opportunity falls into her lap: a gig helping re-write a rom-com script that has been written by her favorite screenwriter Charlie. But when she gets there, she realizes he had no idea she was coming.

After a bit of back and forth, Emma stays with him to work on the script and teach non-believing Charlie the magic that is romance. There’s even a melancholic guinea pig! This book truly has it all.

I read this book so fast, and I was saddened to finish it because I wanted more! Katherine is truly becoming a must-read author for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was just what I needed. Just fun. I totally knew where it was going and I was here for it.

Katherine Center just writes delightful stories that have just enough “meat” to make it a little more involved, but it is the ideal beach/pool read. Popcorn read at its finest! Posted @carolinehoppereads

HOW DARE YOU KATHERINE CENTER! How dare you write such a gorgeous, funny, heartwarming AND heartbreaking story! Oh my little heart. This is my favorite of Katherine Center’s books to date. Emma is an incredible heroine, she is vulnerable and flawed, caring to the point of vigilantism, her passion and enthusiasm leap off the page. And do not even get me started Charlie Yates, wearer of corduroy and sayer of the most romantic phrase I’ve ever heard. I won’t write it here for spoiler purposes but CANNOT wait to discuss with everyone once this book comes out in June.

Thank you Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC, excited to bring THE ROM-COMMERS to our customers this summer!

Charlie Yates has written many screenplays in various genres, but when he tries to write a rom com he fails- epically. In comes Emma Wheeler to help her “celebrity” crush fix his terrible rom-com by ghost writing for him.

The Rom-Commers will be the perfect sweet summer time romance. I found it interesting when the MFC broke the fourth wall and addressed the readers a couple times. I did get frustrated with how long it took Emma and Charlie to figure their stuff out. Slow burn indeed! But their banter was so good! I really felt for Emma because she has so much on her plate and is always putting other’s needs before her own. I was also blown away with how cruel Emma and Sylvie were to each other towards the end. The side characters really added another level to the story.

Read this if you like:
-Work place romance
-Opposites attract
-Great one-liners
-Pet guinea pigs

HOW could I have gone so long without being aware of Katherine Center?! The Rom-Commers was so good I was sent scrambling to peruse her backlist, and my TBR pile just got much higher.

For me, what sets this book apart isn't its concept or plot (as good as they are). It's the VOICE - so funny, thoughtful and intimate. I felt like my new best friend was telling me this story, and I was completely with her from the very first chapter.

I'll be recommending this book to anyone who enjoys romance, and many who don't think they do. It just might convert them!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital version of this manuscript in advance of publication.

This is my first read from Katherine Center and I am charmed! This is an opposites attract workplace romance.

For a decade, aspiring screenwriter Emma cared for her sick father post-accident. When her high school boyfriend, now managing Hollywood's elite, offers her a job she can't refuse, Emma heads to L.A. to re-write a rom-com with her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates. However, Charlie Yates is unaware of her arrival and doesn't want her help mainly because he doesn't believe in love. Emma makes it her goal to change his perspective during their 6-week collaboration on the screenplay.

Katherine Center's writing style is a breath of fresh air—witty, engaging, and easy to follow. It took until about chapter five to get into the story, but then I was hooked. While I usually prefer multiple viewpoints, Katherine Center's execution is so well done that I didn't miss them.

She truly captures Emma's voice with funny comebacks and insights. Emma's journey delves into hope, healing, and rediscovering joys, recognizing how grief can hinder living fully. The book tugged at my heartstrings often, and Emma and Charlie's banter adds humor to their challenges, creating a rich and enjoyable love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC.

thank you netgalley for the ARC!

oh i have so many things to say about this book and all of it starts with the word Love.

I love love love the characters, all of them.
I love the writing style, the humor, the conversations, the way of describing places things and people.

i love the love that evolves in this book and i even love the way they’re writing about how there’s no way falling on someone can be romantic and THEN THEY FALL ON EACH OTHER ROMANTICALLY.

this had my heart thumping and my face laughing and crying. Katherine Center might be the queen of Rom Coms.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I ADORE Katherine Center's writing! She is one of my all time favorite authors and I absolutely love her writing. I about screamed when I got the ARC for her new one and of course, I devoured it and loved every minute of it! I love how easily KC can bring out every emotion in a book and then wrap it up at the end so perfectly. This was such a great + entertaining book! 5 stars!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s for the gifted copy The Rom-Commers, my most anticipated read of the year. I’m happy to report that it lives up to the hype - there’s nothing I don’t love about this book!

Sometimes the books you love the most are the hardest to review. For The Rom-Commers, it’s probably faster for you to just read the book than for me to list out all the things I love about it and why. The TL;DR is that it’s a sweet, relatable story chock full of character growth and witty banter. It funny, highly quotable, and will make you forget you’re reading.

The long version of why I love it:

The characters:
* Emma’s head is a nice place to be. Have you ever read a book where the first person POV was immature or obnoxious and you just couldn’t stand to be in their head? This is the opposite of that.
* Emma really goes for it with Charlie. She’s upfront about what her feelings and what she wants. There’s nothing more frustrating than reading a rom com and yelling at the character through the page to say what they mean.
* There’s undeniable chemistry between Emma and Charlie and their banter is absolute fire.

The writing:
* It’s funny without trying too hard. It’s not chock full of colloquialisms trying to imitate your hilarious off-the-cuff IRL BFF. It’s a perfect mix of how people talk in books and real life.
* The writing itself is beautiful and evocative - Katherine is the master of “showing” instead of “telling”.

The story:
* There are so many quotable moments about working through grief, embracing joy, and how to get back at the one who breaks your heart (spoiler: it’s by diving off his high dive in your sister’s fancy dress).
* The Rom-Commers has major Nora Goes Off Script vibes and I mean that as the highest compliment to both books (celeb-normal trope, stagnant/resigned-to-caretaking FMC who is also a screenwriter, adorably clueless celeb MMC). If you loved NGOS, you’ll love this one too!
* Per usual for KC, there’s a lot more going on in The Rom-Commers than just a love story. Emma is going THROUGH it. She’s on a journey of self discovery and learns how to live her life without fear. I always walk away from Katherine’s books feeling wiser and more grounded, having learned about myself alongside the main character.
* Being about writing - and writing a rom com, at that - it’s fairly meta, which I love.

Other random things I love:
* A moment for the cover! It’s a perfect representation of Emma and Charlie… down to the wide wales of his corduroys to her wild red hair.

There’s nothing I didn’t love about this book.

Favorite quotes:
* “A great rom com is like sex. If you’re surprised by the ending, somebody wasn’t doing their job”
* “Why can’t you just have a conversation? Tell him you like him and see if he likes you?” - please, if human relationships worked like that, I’d be out of a job.

"So if I say, This terrible thing happened, and it ruined my life' —then that's true.
But if I say, 'This terrible thing happened, but, as crazy as it sounds, it made me better,' then that's what's true."

Katherine Center does it again, writing the most beautiful, heart-wrenching story that makes you believe in beautiful things again despite how circumstances can be.

Charlie is an incredible screenwriter - the most incredible. Emma is a caregiver to her father and an aspiring screenwriter who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to rewrite a script for a ROMCOM that Charlie doesn’t care about because love is a Ponzi scheme. Emma has her work cut out for her, convincing Charlie that love stories are real.

4.5 - Another fun, engaging rom-com from one of my favorite authors! A good mix of levity and seriousness, and a fun plot. I also really appreciated the Jack Stapleton cameos. Would recommend adding to your summer beach read list!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the ARC. I screamed in excitement when I got this one!

#HowToWalkAway was my first Katherine Center book and ranks among my top reads of all time. Because I loved it SO much, I’m always a little worried when I crack open one of her new books that my expectations are too high and that I’ll be disappointed.

But I never am. She delivers.
Every.
Single.
Time.

In her latest, we meet Emma, a writer whose screenwriting dreams have been put on the back-burner for a decade while she functions as the sole caretaker for her father.

But then she gets the opportunity to ghostwrite a rom-com for THE Charlie Yates. It takes convincing, but she finally agrees to let her sister Sylvie step in as caretaker so she can go to LA for six weeks to work with Charlie Yates. Her idol and her favorite genre.

But nothing goes the way she planned. Meeting Charlie is…worse than terrible.

Emma was so relatable. I cheered her when she had moxie. I felt her pain when she suffered rejection. I understood her guilt. And I loved when she found ways to be brave despite everything else.

Charlie was complex and confusing, yet thoughtful and charming at the same time. He was so frustrating, but built up so much angst!

The banter between Charlie & Emma was delicious! I wanted to read this as fast as I could, but at the same time never wanted this book to end.

#TheRomCommers #KatherineCenter #BookReview #ARCReview #Netgalley #StMartinsPress

I loved this book! Read three books from Katherine Center and this is by far my favorite. Charlie won my heart with his grumpiness and the build up of her not knowing how in love he was with her. I am so glad I got a chance to read this early!

I have read other books by this author but this one quickly became my favorite! All my favorite tropes were in this story enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy and sunshine. The chemistry and character development was what stood out to me the most! The heavy themes that were mentioned in the book made the story seem more real life and relatable which I enjoyed. Would definitely recommend this book to everyone!