My first Katherine Center book, and it did not disappoint!!

The Rom-Commers is about Emma and Charlie, two screenwriters who work together to re-write a script for a romantic comedy movie.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read! I really liked Center’s writing style.

This was a really sweet romance, but it had also had much deeper themes which I liked. It focuses on the realities of life with both the happy and the sad moments. This was really tied together in the last chapter, and it was so beautifully written and tugged at my heart strings. You’ll come away with many life lessons.

I think I really enjoyed this just due to the depth of the storyline. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of Charlie, and I didn’t like the way he treated Emma for the majority of the book. Yes, he did redeem himself a little bit near the end, but I think Emma could do better lol

I will definitely be checking out more of Katherine Center’s works.

WOW. Wow. wow.

I seriously have no words because Katherine never ceases to amaze me! Each of her books feels uniquely different but also still holds her very unique tone of writing.

Rom-commers is my favorite of hers to date. That being said, I honestly didn’t love the beginning. Some things felt far fetched. Such an Emma’s indecision of staying in LA, Charlie’s very rude comments to and behind Emma’s back. The fact that they actually ended up working together felt very much like a fictional thing. Which I guess is the point! So the first half I had my struggles with parts of the plot and then characters, but the last half was the redemption for me. It was BRILLIANT. I felt like I was watching a Nancy Meyer’s film. The theatrics, the miscommunication, the ending. I CRIED. How dare you, Center, make me feel so many dang feelings. Overall this was such a win. A win for me (thank you St. Martin’s Press!!), a win for all those who adore rom-coms, a win for those who have lost hope in love. I took so many personal notes for my own life and relationship, it felt like therapy. The best kind, where you laugh, you cry but you walk away just feeling a tad bit light and happier.

Will post link to review on pub date! Thank you for the advanced copy!

I love the setting of this novel and the general premise! I also really loved the FMC’s backstory and family history. It was so relatable and so heartbreaking! However, the male main character was hard to root for and I really think he needs to learn how to communicate. I didn’t love the way he treated her, even if he was trying to “protect” her. He was just a totally awful person. Fun read but she has better.

It’s no secret that I love Katherine Center’s books. She has this beautiful gift of storytelling that simply makes you fall in love with love. When I found out she was writing a grumpy sunshine book about writing, I couldn’t wait!!

I related so strongly to Emma and her caregiving relationship with her father. Her father is such a joy! You can definitely tell where Emma gets her sunshine personality from. I love how she finally took her opportunity to shine and jumped on the chance to write with her writer crush, Charlie.
Charlie really plays the stereotypical grump so well, but he also has a caring side, and I love seeing him slowly let his well constructed walls down. These two seemed made for each other, and I loved watching them grow together! This story was sweet, funny, emotional, and filled with so many heartwarming moments. I read The Rom-Commers a few months ago, and I am still swooning. This is quite possibly the perfect rom-com! 🩷

Also, did you know you could make easy homemade donuts from refrigerator biscuits, and they are absolutely delicious? 🍩 I have no idea how I never knew this, but I do know I will definitely be making them again, just like I know The Rom-Commers will definitely be one of my tops reads this year!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true."

I read this in like, six hours and I regret NOTHING. Katherine Center has written another thoroughly enjoyable and deliciously eccentric love story.

Struggling screenwriter and steadfast caretaker Emma Wheeler gets the opportunity of a lifetime to help overhaul a truly terrible rom-com script with her ultimate writing inspiration -- only to find out that Charlie Yates, her idol, doesn't want help, and doesn't believe in love. The two embark on a mutually reluctant partnership to create a workable -- and truly romantic -- script. Then: WHOOPS FEELINGS!!!! It's so captivating, swoony, and laugh-out-loud funny. There's line dancing, guinea pigs, bags of frozen peas, pining, curly girl hair rep (preach!), and an accepted and applauded hate of douchebags in backwards baseball caps (*cough JABLOWMIE cough*).

It's also, true to Center's mastery, imbued with depth and thought-provoking discussions of grief, caretaking, forgiveness, illness, and gratitude. It's enjoyable and lovely. I laughed, I felt, I cried, and I had some ponder-my-own-life moments that I really appreciate as a reader.

The two things I didn't *love* were Emma's breaking of the fourth wall (too excessive and took me a bit out of the story), and how MEAN Charlie could be at times. I ultimately bought his redemption arc (and hey, I don't hate a grump character), but some of the things he said would have earned him a big ol' SLAP in the face if he were real. I hope he thoroughly apologized and groveled to Emma off page. Ha. And while I'm thinking about it, I guess I wouldn't have minded more detail/discussion on their screenplay(s) and certain things they worked on or fixed, since that was such a huge part of the story.

A big thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC, and St. Martin's Press for the physical ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE ROM-COMMERS is out 6/11/24.

Thank you @stmartinspress for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
In Katherine Center’s newest novel, Emma is a writer from Texas who has spent the last ten years as the sole caregiver for her father. She is hired (begrudgingly) by Charlie, her favourite screenwriter on the planet, to move to Hollywood for six weeks to help get his new Rom-Com into better shape (from the disaster it started out as). Charlie is decisively not a Rom-Com fan, and Emma is determined to not only improve his script, but to change his mind on Rom-Coms as a genre overall. She employs a variety of tactics, including lived experience for some of the scenes in his movie, like reenacting the perfect Rom Com kiss.
This was an enjoyable read! I loved the banter and dynamic between Emma and Charlie, and the forced proximity of them living together while writing. I loved the routine they settled into. I was impressed with Emma’s confidence around him, especially considering she how she spent the last decade, within a five-mile radius of her Texas apartment. And I loved the Jack Stapleton cameos – including a very vital role he plays at one point!
In Katherine Center’s books, while they are Rom-Coms (like the title suggests), she alway goes deeper with her characters – giving them backstory and hard things they had to overcome, or are still in the process of overcoming. I think this makes for more well-rounded characters and a more interesting read.
Fans and newbies to Katherine Center’s books will love that this book dives into what makes a great Rom-Com, while being a Rom-Com.

Katherine Center knows what she's doing - The Rom-Commers is a binge-worthy book I'd definitely recommend you take to the beach this summer. It has all the great components you'd expect: witty banter, characters with heart and a plot with just the right amount of twists and turns.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @katherinecenter for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This romcom is out June 11 so preorder now! 🩷

This was an absolutely charming story! It has some of my absolute favorite tropes: grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. This story had me tearing up, cringing, and swooning. Such a lovely personal growth journey as well as a romance. 💘

TWs: loss of a loved one, care for a loved one, mention of loss of a pet, survivors guilt, ab*ndonment, divorce, PTSD, cancer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.5/5

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and as expected it was amazing! I’m convinced she puts narcotics in her books just like Taylor Swift does in her songs. Once I start one, I can’t put it down and it’s all I can think about! I can always count on hopeful, emotional storylines, characters you can easily empathize with, and witty writing. This one especially broke my heart into a million pieces then put it back together and I loved how Jack from The Bodyguard was incorporated into the story. 5⭐️

I always jump at the chance to read Katherine Center’s books, and The Rom-Commers was no exception! I think we’ll be seeing this one all over this summer - it’s a great beach read! There’s a reason Katherine Center is one of my auto-buy authors - her books are adorable, have great dialogue, and always make me smile.

One thing I love about Katherine Center’s books is that her main characters always have well developed backstory and evolve on a journey throughout their romance. The Rom-Commers is no exception, and I found myself feeling invested in Emma’s story and growth as much as her romance with Charlie. I loved the fact that Emma and Charlie are screenwriters - such a fun profession to learn more about in the book!

Grab this one for a cute, quick beach read this summer - also, the hardcover has the prettiest sprayed edges! Thank you to @stmartinspress for the Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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🏷️ #katherinecenter #sprayededges #advancedreaderscopy #beachread #netgalley #romancenovels #romancereaders #bookreview #pubweek #stmartinspress

Katherine’s 2023 novel, was an absolute delight. She’s done that once again with The Rom-Commers.

Our FMC, Emma, has spent her adult life taking care of her father, navigating guilt she has, and writing romantic comedies while wishing to have success as a screenwriter.

Our MMC, Charlie, is a notable, famous screenwriter who needs assistance writing a romantic comedy so that he can get the script he wants to do, green-lit.

Immediately they get off on the wrong foot, but of course, simultaneously there is something there. The care they develop for each other is palpable.

Katherine writes such joyous and hopeful love stories with likeable leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc of this one.

Emma Wheeler has taken care of her dad for ten years. Then gets the chance to rewrite a script thanks to her previous boyfriend/friend Logan. It’s a rewrite with her favorite idol Charlie Yates. The original script is terrible and she lets him know it. They work together and come up with a new title “The Rom-Commers”. This is a great read and fantastic love story.

Though I'm not a big romance reader, I can't resist a Katherine Center book because they always have the perfect amount of witty banter, heartfelt moments, and likeable characters that draw you in. Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for e-mailing me an advanced copy - pub day is 6/11/24!

I loved the storyline of this book! The contrast between Emma and Charlie's personalities was perfect for the grumpy/sunshine relationship the begin to build, and I enjoyed reading how each of them changed and grew through the experience. With sprinkled in moments that made me laugh and swoon, I think this one might move into the top KC book in my heart.

This is such a perfectly Katherine Center book. The main character is fantastic. I loved Emma’s character arc and could’ve read a whole lot more about her. I loved her family and can we get a follow up love story about her dad?!?!? Charlie had his quirks….i didn’t always love how he handled things but I loved their love. Highly recommended

I absolutely loved this from start to finish, the end had me worried (I should expect to be in a rom com, that third act always gets me) but ended in the perfect way. Seriously the most likable cast of characters I’ve read in a long time. This was a new author for me and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any other books!

“‘I would write a hundred happy endings for us if I could.’”

This book has single-handedly turned Katherine Center into an auto-read author for me. If she writes a grocery list, I will probably read it and fall in love with everything about it. Everything about this book was enjoyable, from the quirkiness of both characters, particularly Emma, who was so lively and jovial that you couldn’t help but fall in love with her, and her banter with Charlie was so cute. There’s a formula to romance, particularly a good rom-com, and the author checks every box.

The story follows a screenwriter named Emma Wheeler, who works with a critically acclaimed screenwriter (and her biggest crush), Charlie Yates, to rewrite a screenplay about a romantic comedy. I loved the banter between these two, particularly the cheesiness that makes a good rom-com, and of course, the perfect romantic comedy set-up with a character who is adamantly against love and one who wholeheartedly believes in true love.

I also enjoyed the cameo from Jack Stapleton and Hannah, which I thought was a cute touch. I cannot wait to read more books by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine center does it againnnnn!!! This was yet again another winner of hers! Absolutely loved it! 🥰 thank you for the advanced copy - would love to read any and all books she ever writes!

This fun rom-com is a story about two writers writing a rom-com screenplay!

A bad hiking accident left Emma's father with Ménière's disease, requiring 24/7 care. After 10 years of caring for him, an opportunity arises that she cannot pass up-- a chance to fly to LA to work with her favorite writer of all time, Charlie Yates. Charlie is used to writing action, sci-fi, and mafia scripts but is tasked with writing a rom-com which is where Emma's expertise comes in.

The dynamic between Charlie, a well accomplished and wealthy screenwriter, and Emma, a mega fan, was well executed. I loved the banter between them and how Emma came parading into his life and made it more interesting. I also loved seeing Charlie start as a man who doesn't believe in love and how his story evolved. Katherine Center never fails to write a heart warming story that also brings a few tears and reminds us that love always finds a way!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for my ecopy of this book.

This was a cute, bingeable read! Emma gets a break when she lands a 6-week gig in LA to help rewrite a rom-com with big name screenwriter Charlie who isn't happy about riding around, or having help.

This book had humor and emotion. I really liked Emma's character but it took me a bit to warm up to Charlie as he came off abrasive though he turned it around in the end.

Give this book a try if you enjoy forced proximity, workplace romance or rom-com movies.