I got a copy of this book from Net Galley because yes I did not have enough books to read already.

Honestly my issue with Katherine Center’s books stem from the fact that the first book I ever read of hers (How to Walk Away) was a five star favorite book of mine and I think that book is pretty different than anything else she’s written since and I’ve been chasing it ever since. If you generally like her books, you will like The Rom-Commers I think. I just like my books a little darker and less fluffy than most of her work.

I did appreciate how in general this book did not do too many strange physical slapstick moments that do not make sense and take me out of the story, I don’t know why but those tend to show up a lot in these books and then I’m stuck thinking “what? How did that happen, this is so odd” (Emily Henry does this so much).

This book also has a genuinely sad and interesting back story, points for that, I liked the characters perfectly well, and I loved the dedication to the rom-com as I also am a devoted fan of the rom-com, but points removed for the use of a character saying Wah-lah twice oh my god people it is VOILA.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
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This book is about a woman who gets the chance of a lifetime to co-write a rom-com script with her FAVORITE screenwriter ever. The problem is, the screenwriter doesn’t want her help and doesn’t want to write a rom-com.
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What I LOVED:
-Everything! 😂 Ok first of all, the plot was excellent! I loved how positive and upbeat Emma was despite her overactive anxious, and to contrast Charlie and her pessimistic self, it was the best ingredients for this entertaining plot!
-This book was laugh out loud hysterical. There were so many funny moments.
-There was also a lot of emotional moments that had me crying a LOT. My eyes were definitely puffy once I was done. I absolutely adore a book that can make me both laugh and cry.
-The ending was so fantastic. It was so sweet and so hopeful and my heart was full.
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5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Katherine Center can do no wrong in my book. I have a couple of her backlist that I still need to read but I think The Rom-Commers is my second favorite book of hers, Hello Stranger is still my favorite.

📚ᗷOOK ᖇᗴᐯIᗴᗯ 📚
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝔓𝔘𝔅 𝔇𝔄𝔗𝔈: 6:11:24

This was my second book by @katherinecenter and wow! It’s my favorite so far. This is my second 5 star read of the year. We’ve had bad weather days here in Louisiana which equals no school and work. So I was able to finish this very quickly. As a doctor I can always depend on the author to give me a zebra diagnosis (my medical ppl know) for a character that makes me giggle. I honestly have said i think that may have been on my boards 😂. If you’re looking for that book that gives you all the smiles after you finish it’s this one.
𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨:
✅humor. I laughed a lot in this one. Emma setting Charlie straight 🤣.
✅the cutest pet guinea pig.
✅2 adorable nerdy characters that will drive you nuts and make you swoon at the same time. Emma and Charlie are brilliant but completely opposites.
✅best dad award 🏆. Emma’s dad was my favorite character for so many reasons. Like too many to count 🥹.
✅the ending was all the warm fuzzies a reader could need 💗.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 @netgalley 𝙖𝙣𝙙 @stmartinspress 𝙛𝙤𝙧
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾. 𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣.

🏷️#theromcommers #katherinecenter #romance #romcom #cancer #cancersucks #hemipelgia #bookstagramfeature #bookstagtammer #books #read #ilovebooks

Simply put, Katherine Center writes books that make me HAPPY. I am not much of a romance reader, but at this point she's one of two romance authors I'll leap to read anything by (Casey McQuinston being the other). And this more than lived up to the high hopes I've come to have!

The Rom-Commers tells the story of Emma, an aspiring screenwriter who unexpectedly gets the opportunity to partner with her all-time favorite writer on a romance script he's VERY reluctantly agreed to take on. To paraphrase Taylor Swift, you can see the end as it begins - but to paraphrase Emma, our delightfully earnest protagonist, just because you know that great sex culminates in an orgasm doesn't make it any less worth having.

I laughed, I teared up, I devoured The Rom-Commers in one sitting. The story isn't all sunshine and roses, but it's *actively not cynical* and that's a trait I've come to admire. I love my dark and twisty novels, but I really appreciate how Center writes - and nails - an authentic ode to joy every single time.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love Katherine Center books. All of them. The Rom-Commers was absolutely fabulous and probably one of my favorites of hers. The story of Emma and Charlies literally made me laugh out loud AND cry in one sitting. Oh - and I finished this book in one day. It was THAT good! 5 stars!

Katherine Center has done it again!!!! This is my new favorite book of hers. Have you ever read a book so good that you feel like something exciting has happened or you just got good news and then you remember your good mood is because of the book you’re reading? This book is did that to me. You know a love story is really good when you feel like you can’t stop smiling. You know the writer is REALLY good when they manage to get all of that emotion out of their reader with ZERO sex scenes. Like how?!? I didn’t realize until I was finished with the book, but I didn’t even miss the spice. The chemistry of these two characters was off the charts. Charlie is my new favorite male MC and I loved Emma too. I cannot wait for everyone to read this book this summer, I only wish it came out sooner!!!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for my ARC of this treasure! It comes out 6/11/24, mark your calendars! Better yet, pre-order this mood booster!

Ok - WHAT. This book was so good. I kept thinking as I was reading, "what is this feeling in my chest?" that I kept experiencing every time Charlie was with Emma, and then it hit me - BUTTERFLIES. This book, legit, gave me butterflies. In the best possible way. Charlie and Emma were the perfect grumpy/sunshine slow burn with laugh-out-loud banter. A very solid 4.5/5 stars. I would have loved a bit more spice, but also appreciate that everything else about this book made up for it being "PG-13".

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for the eARC of this book. I can't wait to recommend it to my friends.

I really liked this book! I have copy/pasted my review below as well as linking my Bookstagram post about it.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was so happy to have already read an arc for it! Every book that I’ve read by Katherine Center has been feel good and fun! The Rom-Commers was heartfelt, entertaining, funny and a great comfort read! Ultimately, I did love Hello, Stranger more than this one. The miscommunication did get to me a bit, and believe if it had dual pov it would have been a 5 star read. Still, having a 4.5 star rated book is nothing to be sad about!

The Rom-Commers follows the story of Emma, who dreams of being a screenwriter but has spent the majority of her adult life taking care of her disabled dad. Therefore, her desires and dreams have been on hold. One day, she gets a job offer from ex-boyfriend/ friend Logan to rewrite a rom com script with award winning screenwriter Charlie. She reluctantly lets her sister Slyvie take care of her dad while accepting the job in Los Angeles working with Charlie. Initially, things don’t get off on the right foot as Charlie did not agree to rewrite his script. Charlie also doesn’t believe/ enjoy rom coms which is contrary to Emma’s personality. Charlie does change his mind and agrees to work with Emma. They take an immersive way of writing, by experiencing the parts in the script while writing. Soon, Charlie and Emma have to wonder if there can be a real life love story or is it just fiction?

Thank you St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the free advance reader copy in exchange for a review. The Rom-Commers will officially release on June 11 and recommend reading it when it does!

5 Stars. What a wonderful story! Katherine Center has created another beautiful book that tugs at your heartstrings. It’s a grumpy/sunshine trope but so much more! Emma Wheeler is a romance writer that has the amazing opportunity to work with her screenplay idol Charlie Yates to re-write one of his screenplays. The kicker is that Charlie wrote a romance, and it is horrible as he doesn’t believe in love/romance. Emma teaches Charlie about love stories (and love) in the process of re-writing the script. Lots of laughter and tears as you read this one.

Thank you to publishers at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc. Thank you to Katherine Center for writing such a heartwarming story.

I read this book in one sitting and I had a giant smile on my face almost the whole time. It’s the perfect rom com, it’s classic Katherine Center and it’s up there now as one of my favorites of hers.

I adored Emma and the way she narrates the story, how she talks a little too much, how she is anticipating the next bad thing while being a ray of sunshine. I adored Charlie and his grumpy attitude, how he lets Emma in slowly, how he shows up. But most of all I adored their chemistry, they were perfect for each other. And I adored the way the story is told, learning about something new, the Guinea pig, the side characters and that amazing epilogue.

This book was exactly what I needed to read at the right moment and will be a book I reread and cherish.

Katherine Center knows how to write books that have amazing depth, character development, and are genuinely fun, feel good reads. The Rom-Commers is no exception!

I loved the entire premise - it has the perfect mix of grumpy/sunshine, tragic backstory, and hilarious moments. I loved the cameo of a certain actor and I’ll watch power washing with Cuthbert any day. This story is the perfect way to brighten your day!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katharine Center for my ARC copy of The Rom-commers in exchange for an honest review. According to Google, “The average time for men to fall in love is 88 days, while those same feelings of true love take women 134 days.” Just so you know this little Google fact will appear within the pages of this book. I ask you dear reader, how many times after you laugh out loud at a book does it take you to realize this is the book to beat in 2024 with only 18 days into the new year?

Favorite mini paragraph:

“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we’re longing for – adventure, excitement, emotion, connection – we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with – sometimes one so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them– we look for answers in stores.”

Ms. Center! I could not have said it better myself. There is soooooo much truth in those 54 words! Kudos to you!

My wishes:

I wanted more scenes with Logan popping in to check on Emma and Charlie and their progress revising the screenplay.
I wanted more scenes with Cuthbert, the guinea pig. There was something about him that reminded me of both Humphrey the Hamster and the guinea pig from Bedtime Stories. He definitely needed more page space and adventures.
I wanted Emma’s dad, sister and brother-in-law to come to LA and stay at Charlie’s mansion. I needed a scene that we could witness between Charlie and Emma’s dad and simply not hear a second hand conversation about birthday doughnuts.
I need Emma, who has not had a vacation in 10 years, to go to the beach. To Rodeo Drive. I needed her to have an actual scene with some rom-com queen like Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan.
I wish through the screenwriting process, that Emma would have had more of her rom com ideas show up in the screenplay vs just fixing Charlie disaster of a rom com screenplay

Rom Com Allusions

Loved the Pretty Woman allusion where Emma and Charlie were negotiating her consulting fee.
Loved Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet fish tank meeting scene allusion where Emma overhears Logan & Charlie talking.
Loved her own allusion to Jack Stapleton from The Bodyguard. He makes several appearances in this book if you are a Katharine Center fan.

Twinge Moments:
Just like in the movie, where the main character breaks the fourth wall, there are a couple of scenes where Emma breaks the fourth wall and addresses us, the reader. I am not sure that worked for me. I would have rather Ms. Center, find another way to address backstories. Maybe through flashbacks or a journal entry reflection. Or even maybe some other invention like Mrs. Whistletdown gossip column entry.

Bottomline, This book just resonated with me. I laughed out loud in so many places at the dialogue between Emma and Charlie. I teared up as Ms. Center was climbing us towards the climax. So far, this is my personal favorite read for 2024!

This was the cutest book by far from her. I have loved all her books and this one became my new favorite. I love how the characters felt real and how you felt their pain and happiness. I look forward to buying this book when it comes out and adding it to my collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc.

I really loved this book. Katherine Center is a brilliant writer and I just sucked in so easily.

Oooo it's so good!! Love Katherine Center and her stories, and this was no exception! Such a good read--enjoyed it all and would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Katherine Center!

I adore Katherine Center. If she were to publish material she wrote on a used napkin, I’d swoop that right up.

In all seriousness, I read The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger by her which I love. (They were 5-star reads for me too, so get on that if you haven’t read them!) With that said, I was beyond over the moon when I received an arc of The Rom-Commers. As with the other books I’ve read of hers, this one gets all the stars!

I can’t say how many times I laughed out loud 🫛🫛(IYKYK), earning me side-eye by those around me, or had those tear-jerky moments either… but those are the moments that make reading special… and The Rom-Commers is just that. It’s quick paced, so makes for a fast read, but so much fun! Enjoy it! “…it can’t be where you’re going that matters. It has to be how you get there. It’s all about the details you notice. And the joys you savior.”

Thank you #NetGalley and #stmartinspress for an arc of #theromcommers in exchange for an honest review.

There is no one in this world who writes a book like Katherine Center. Somehow all of her books are hits. And this one was up for the challenge.

I loved this book. The chemistry and the banter between Emma and Charlie was perfection. This book had everything I love in a Katherine Center book: depth, heart, and well-rounded characters.

I am a big fan, and will continue to be a big fan.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Center is in one of my must read authors. I know I’ll be entertained with her stories. Her latest was no exception. I studied Television and Film in college so this was a cute plot about working on a romantic comedy film with the screenwriter… add some giggles and banter and family issues and boom - the book was great! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center


Fainting. Canned doughnuts. Whipped cream dollops. Heart Attacks. "Dazzling!"

"Maybe Writing Was Our Love Language."

There is not a book that this beautiful author could write that I wouldn't read and wouldn't love!

Right out of the park, the family obligations send me into the valid responsibilities of the everyday, difficult life tasks due to very unfortunate and tragic happenstance. Then, just like that, the beginning unfolds in a way that steals your attention, refusing to let go.

This strong, funny, witty MC is striking and responsible -- too much, some would say, but all the best ones are. The sordid love story playing out, history unfurling before my eyes... I could have easily gobbled it up in one sitting if I had the endurance and strength not to fall asleep at night.

I don't think I've ever laughed harder. Rom-coms are supposed to be cheesy; there is cheesy cringe and a good kind of butterflies in my tummy cheesy. This was definitely the latter, whenever a trope would occur (the whole close proximity, the oops! I tripped and accidently tackled you resulting in a romantic embrace...although to be fair, this was more of a ouch! embrace)

Katherine Center has such a talent for laying out anxieties, fears, the working through hard time moments, and the really sad tragic parts make me wanna cry. Everything Emma recommended Charlie as a writer, she herself has done!

Make likable characters with tragic backstories? Check. Make the audience yearn for and cheer for the the main leads to get together by the end of the book? Check. Writing a believable issue that comes up where the romance almost dies and makes you really scared that your new new ship might not work out because of a hurdle or severe bump in the road? Also check.

Also, my favorite character in this entire book is Guthbert. No, I will not explain why this perfect character who enjoys power-washing video games is the greatest side character of all time.

You'll just have to read this masterpiece to find out. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness.”

This is the perfect rom-com with a grumpy sunshine trope. Emma, the FMC is extremely relatable. She puts her family first and is witty, charismatic, and most importantly, she believes in true love.

Synopsis: Emma is a writer who is given the opportunity to work with celebrity screenwriter Charles Yates, who she is a massive fan of. Her objective is to help rewrite Charlie’s rom-com (this man does not know how to write rom-coms), and he is extremely grumpy about it and rejects her assistance. Throughout the story we get amazing banter between Emma and Charlie, and we slowly start to see Charlie’s walls come down.

I love how unique this story is. I’ve read many rom-coms, but this one stands out to me because we get to see so much of the main characters’ personality. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and safe to say it will not be my last.

Some of my favorite scenes include:
- Charlie cooking for Emma’s birthday
- Charlie and Emma’s kiss for ‘research purposes’
- Charlie being afraid of water but Emma teasing him by going on the high dive
- The entire epilogue

This book will be published on June 11th, 2024!