The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. Pub date: June 11, 2024. Rating: 4 stars. Katherine Center is an automatic read author for me and this book did not disappoint. A grumpy male with a sunshine female sets the stage for a great story filled with hope, love, grief, relationships and comedy. Emma dreams of being a screenwriter, but after an unexpected accident on a family trip she has become the caretaker of her father. She gains an opportunity to follow her dreams and help one of Hollywood’s screenwriters fix his rom-com. Leaving the only world she’s ever known, she adventures to LA to team up with Charlie. Personalities clash, worlds collide and a beautiful story presents itself between these two characters. I loved the personal growth, the honesty, the love and compassion this story brings. Really solid read by this amazing author. I highly recommend! Thanks to #stmartinspress and #netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #igreads #theromcommers #katherinecenter @stmartinspress @netgalley

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Emma loves being a screenwriter, she gives it her all. However, that dream has been on hold for the past ten years while she became her dad’s caregiver. He had an accident and will always need assistance.

An amazing opportunity comes up for her to write with Charlie Yates, the famous screenwriter, who is also one of her all-time favorites. She watches every interview he has given and has read everything he has written and now with this opportunity she gets to work with him for 6 weeks to rework a romance script he is working on.

Her sister takes over her dad's caregiving duties, and Emma is off to LA.

I loved the banter between Charlie and Emma from the very beginning. They had such great chemistry and worked so well together. Charlie would do little things for her, like run to the local coffee shop because Emma said it was an emergency and she needed her backpack. He would always drop everything to be there for her.

All of the characters are so likable. Some people may find Charlie a jerk, especially in the beginning but I found him funny. You will fall in love with these characters by the end. And I will say I sobbed at the end from so many emotions.

Charlie and Emma are my new favorite couple!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished The Rom-commers by Katherine Center and here are my thoughts.

Emma Wheeler is a nobody in the screenwriting world after missing her shot all those years ago because of her dads accident. Then out of nowhere she gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Her idol, her moby dick, Charlie Yates has to produce a screenplay and she is being brought on board to rewrite his script.

With her sister taking over her dads care and her ticket to LA bought, Emma cannot believe her luck. Trouble is, Charlie isn’t interested in working with her, in fact he said a big heck no to it. He isn’t invested in this script anyway but has to produce something to get to the gig he actually wants. He isn’t the kind of man who should be writing a rom-com as he doesn’t even believe in love.

Emma isn’t swayed and she isn’t going to let a love hater ruin rom-coms. Taking Charlie on all kinds of romantic adventures, Emma pulls out all the stops to show Charlie what's missing from his screenplay and maybe what kind of woman is missing from his life.


Grumpy sunshine comedy perfection. This book had me side splitting laughing in its comedic genius. The tears that rolled down my face were hard to wipe away. I needed this book andI didn’t know it. Charlie is that moody man who doesn’t appreciate what he has. Emma is pure joy and so delightful. I loved her right from the beginning. Even with all the bad that has happened to her, she still sees the perfection in that perfect kiss. Relishes in the beauty of the small things.

I loved how she schooled Charlie in romance. He is the hot shot and he couldn’t bring the magic of the script to life without this bubbly beauty! They are such opposites but they balance each other out and I loved watching how their relationship developed and grew.

It was beautifully written and highly entertaining. I loved every single second.

5 stars… all the stars!!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my gifted copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and author Katherine Center for allowing me to read The Rom-Commers in exchange for honest review..
Charlie Yates is the greatest screenwriter of this century. Now he’s tried his hand at writing a romcom. It’s not very good.
Struggling writer, Emma Wheeler takes every job that her agent Logan sends her way to make ends meet. Not only is she a writer, but she is also a full-time caregiver for her father.
Logan is also Charlie’s agent and after reading his latest romcom screenplay he knows that it needs help. Enter Emma. Logan has arranged for Emma to help tweak Charlie’s latest work sadly it’s not that easy and order for this to work right Emma has to leave her home in Texas, and immerse herself in Charlie’s life in LA.
You’ll laugh out loud at the antics that these two get into and maybe even shed a tear as we learn both of their back stories.
Not only are we learning how to write a romcom we are reading it live as we make our way thru this story that will suck you in right away.
I rate The Rom-Commers 4⭐️

Katherine Center always writes such a good romcom, and this was no exception. I loved the timing of this book, and all the "will they, won't they" moments throughout the whole thing. I adored Emma, and how realistic her character was to someone who was going through her situation. Something about the way that Katherine Center does romcoms always feels like the happy ending of a movie, which feels like a fitting description for this book. This felt like watching a early 2000s romcom, where you know what they ending will be but not how they'll get there and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

The Rom Commers is a swoony, silly colleagues to lovers story that follows Hollywoods favorite screenwriter
and a writer turned caregiver fall in love.

This book was so fun - the cast of characters sets a tone of jovial goodness with a mix of deep and well fleshed out backstory’s that give each character a uniqueness and vibrancy that you don’t see often in books. Emma is one of my favorite characters I’ve read this year - her story arc of loss and forgiveness, along with her love story and fun quirks were captivating to read and I could absolutely relate to her unmanageable hair. Charlie is such a Hollywood hunk - with the biggest dork side thrown in for good measure. His background of illness mirrors Emma’s story of caregiving, and brought a new side to the plot that took the story from just a rom com to something much more meaningful.

This was my first novel by Katherine Center - and I can honestly say I fully understand the hype. The care with which she constructed every detail of the story is evident, and her handling of tough topics has a sincerity that reads clear off the page. I loved the intricate layers everyone has - even the Guinea pig!! - and the way she tied the book in a bow at the end was truly a master class in rom coms.

I’m not sure that you have really ever read a rom-com until you read a book by Katherine Center.

The BodyGuard
Hello Stranger
and The Rom-Commer needs to be studied by writers of all genres because of the pacing, the timing, the banter, and the characters. All of them seamlessly fit together, making my sides hurt in laughter and my feet kick in giggles and aww.

the deep confessions, the way you can see the MMC’s obsession, and how the FMC is almost completely blind to it in such an adorable way that it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

And the love confessions? There are none like Katherine Center’s!

The angst sneaks up on you…

like holy shit. I CANNOT right now.

If I live tweeted while I read it would look like 🤣🤣🤣🤣😍😍😍🤣🤣😍😍🥹🥹😭😭😭

This was such a sweet new release from Center. Full disclosure, Center is one of my favorite authors. I think the lowest rating I've ever given a book of her is 3.5 or 4 stars. This is so similar to The Bodyguard in feel and even has some cross over characters, which I think was done really well. As always, it has some rep for health issues, in this case Meniere's Disease and a few other issues related to a traumatic event. I thought Center's handling of chronic illness and the depiction of what it is like to be a caregiver was also handled with a lot of care and reality. I especially loved the self-respect that the main character displayed when it came time to walk away. I have already recommended this one to my audience and will continue to do so!

The Rom-Commers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katherine Center

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?

My Thoughts: This was such a wonderful book, I am HUGE Center fan and always excited when a new novel comes out every year. I am grateful to the publisher allowing me to review the books from Center the last few years, it has been a blessing. Center really blew it out of the park with this one. Emma was born to be a screenwriter, she has spent her life devoted to crafting her art and has won contests with her amazing screenwriting abilities. Ten years ago, her family suffered a tragic loss, as a result, her father requires full time care. Emma put her dreams on hold to take care of her father and allow her sister to follow her dreams. An opportunity presents itself when Charlie Yates, her most favorite author, needs a romance screenwriter. Her sister just graduated and steps in for caretaking duties so that Emma can go to L.A. for six weeks to do the project. They always say, when you meet your hero’s, they may disappoint you. Well, this is exactly the case. Charlie does not want to write with anyone, period, especially someone who has not been in the industry. Charlie does not care how this romance script comes across as it is just a means to get the script he really wants green lighted and will never see the light of day. Emma will stand up for herself and show Charlie that romance novels have their place in this world and that love matters. Will her dreams come true? Or will her heart get broken by her hero? This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, celebrity, and sunshine/grumpy.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by Charlie and Emma. Emma is definitely sunshine, even though she is suffering with guilt from her parent’s accident ten years ago. She is brave, courageous, and kind. By contrast, Charlie is the grumpiest grump. He is also charming, sexy, and when you get through that tough exterior, he is very sweet and kind. Charlie and Emma’s story really pulled me in, immersed me with the characters, carried me on their journey, and kept me invested in their ending, or maybe their beginning. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, authentic, they were balanced, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, thought-provoking, funny, poignant, raw, endearing, steamy, and kept me engaged cover to cover.

Center does a stellar job at balancing literally laugh out loud moments with tender, pull on my heartstrings, moments. One moment you are crying, and the next you are laughing. Center just has this amazing ability to pull at your heartstrings in a way that is uplifting. The message of the book was truly amazing, that even though the worse of the worse tragedy, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it is that light that we hang onto in faith for hope that things will get better.

TW: loss of a parent, Ménière’s disease, cancer, guilt, grief, and panic attacks. I had the digital and audio ARC versions. I loved the audio. Center is one of my favorite romance authors, I do have a lot, but for Center, she is an auto-buy, or auto-request (on NetGalley). This was just an amazing read, definitely one of my top books for this year. I HIGHLY recommend this book to readers, go buy or borrow from your library today!!

Emma has dreamed of being a screenwriter her whole life. However, she is also a full time caregiver for her dad. A once in a lifetime opportunity comes along for her to help re-write a rom-com script for a famous screenwriter. Not any screen writer but Charlie Yates, a writer she has idolized for years. Emma soon realizes it might be too good to be true and Charlie doesn't want help with the re-write of his awful romantic comedy. Charlie ends up changing his mind and their journey to screen writing and love begins.

This is such a feel good story with both emotional and lighthearted moments. I really enjoyed this peek into the world of screen writing. Emma and Charlie perfectly complimented each other with their grumpy/sunshine dynamic and fun banter. I loved the line dancing scene, the guinea pig, the diving board scene and the following bathroom scene. I would consider this clean or closed door romance. I highly recommend this adorable yet deep romance!

Tropes: Grumpy X Sunshine, Workplace
Trigger Warnings: Death of a Parent, Parent with an Illness, Cancer, Divorce

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Katherine Center’s books always make me think, and this was no exception.
She also makes me laugh & cry, and it’s a beautiful thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
😘

💭 overall thoughts:
This was beautiful and deep, while also absolutely hilarious.

The way Emma felt about romcoms was such a love letter to the romance genre.

I adored Emma - her wit, her quirkiness, her ability to be unapologetically herself - a favorite heroine for sure.

Charlie was a tough character to love for a good part of the book, but his realness eventually had me falling for him as well.

They both come with a lot of baggage, and somehow seem to fit together, even though they’re quite opposite (at least on the surface).

Side note - absolutely adored the Bodyguard cameos 🥰

🎧 audio thoughts:
I adore Patti Murin, and her narration added so much for the story!

tropes + topics:
✍🏼 writers/workplace
🏠 temporary roommates
🌤️ grumpy sunshine
🔗 forced proximity
💖 single 1st person pov

*definitely has some heavier topics mentioned, check triggers if you have any.

✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ the Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, MacMillian Audio + NetGalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

Katherine Center never disappoints to deliver the perfect rom com! There are some heavy subject matters in this one. (Cancer & death of a loved one) I do enjoy when there are deeper parts in books because it seems more like real life. I do wish there was a tad more comedy but I did enjoy this. Perfect summer read!

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ever since reading The Bodyguard, Katherine Center has been an auto read author for me so I was excited about being accepted to read this one prerelease date. Unfortunately it was not my favorite.
This is about Emma, who is a writer but has had to pause her career to become a caregiver for her father. She has her sister take over when she is given the opportunity to rewrite a script with the famous Charlie Yates. It’s an opportunity that she cannot pass up but it wasn’t the experience she was expecting.
While the romance was progressing, I couldn’t understand how our female main character was falling for the love interest. With everything that was said and being pushed away so many times, I began to get frustrated with Emma for still pursuing Charlie. I couldn’t see how they had that connection to be together at the end of the story. So unfortunately it was not for me. I did appreciate the sweet message at the end of the book.
2.5 🌟

This book was so fun! I adored the characters so much; the dynamic between Emma and Charlie, their banter, their tension, their GROWTH! Another beautifully written book by Katherine Center. This one is definitely up there with The Bodyguard for me. I so look forward to rereading this book!!

Thank you, NetGalley, for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: An "I'm not crying, you are" wo-fi romance

My Review: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a women's fiction novel. Its highly anticipated publication date is 6/11/24.

About the Book: Two writers with tragic histories are brought together for work. One writer views the opportunity as a dream come true, while the other views it as an unwanted burden. Little by little, as they learn to work together, they discover more about each other and about themselves. They explore new experiences and connect with real emotions that help them to realize that each journey brings growth, no matter how difficult it seems.

About the Characters/Conflict: The wonderful thing about this novel, as well as all of the Katherine Center novels, is that the characters are imperfect. They are messy and complicated, in a sense. They feel what they feel and stand on their own perceived truths. Much of what they have dealt with in their lives has shaped them and tainted (if you will) their sight. Their emotions or seeming lack thereof steer how they act, how they react, what they say, and how they engage. Because of the aforementioned, it oftentimes creates conflict and tension, which makes it all the more challenging to bridge relational gaps.

My Final Say: This is such an emo-rich story. It's not neat and precise; rather, it is untidy and heart-wrenching. It is haunting and humorous. It is up and down, back and forth, and just plain touching. The beauty in the story lies in the movement that happens in the lives of the leads and in the lives of the supporting characters. Each life is linked together in a most peculiar way. In the end, it all works.

Other: Lovers of stories with opposites coming together, with family healing from hurts, and with individuals growing in new directions will adore this novel. I would encourage readers to look beneath the surface level while reading this book.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💛

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (St. Martin's Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for making this work available in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley & St. Martins Press, for allowing me to read this eARC. I am a new fan of Katherine Center. Her writing is quite captivating and entertaining. I felt like I was watching a true romantic comedy movie while reading this. Her writing really comes to life and is so vivid. This book will make you laugh, and it will make you cry. Witty banter between characters is my favorite part of a rom-com book, and Katherine Center really knows how to write it. 4/5 star book for me. I will definitely be reading future books by this author. I highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a cute romantic comedy book that is lighthearted and a fun read.

The Rom-Commers
By: Katherine Center
St. Martin's Press
Romance, Women's Fiction
Pub Date: June 11, 2024

This book makes me wish for wild, curly red hair, instead of straight and brown. You will learn why when you read it! Katherine Center writes for joy! I felt that emotion, along with so many more in The Rom-Commers. The rom com style banter and professional/romantic vibes between want to be screenwriter, Emma from Texas, and famous screenwriter Charlie Yates in Los Angeles, kept me laughing. Emma's caretaking of her sweet father, now one of my all-time favorite characters, added tenderness and compassion to the story. So did Charlie's back story.

Center's plot is such a perfect blend of not only Emma and Charlie's relationship, but also that of Emma and her sister Sylvie, and both Emma and Sylvie with their father. Charlie's friendships and career are captivating! This book is the most overall enjoyable and uplifting book that I have read in 2024. It melted directly into my heart with its components of family loyalty, friendships, overcoming obstacles, writing, and romance.

I love and highly recommend this this book, along with every one of the seven books that I have read so far by Katherine Center.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for a gifted advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

#TheRomCommers #NetGalley #Katherine Center
#StMartinsPress

This book is perfection! A lot of reviews are calling it a love letter to the romantic comedy genre and that it is! It also has tension, banter, multi-dimensional characters, and love! At the same time Katherine Center balances some pretty heavy storylines. I can't say enough about how much I loved it so just go read it. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

Looking for a heartwarming and hilarious read? Look no further!

"The Rom Commers" by Katherine Center follows Emma Wheeler, an aspiring screenwriter, as she gets the chance of a lifetime to rewrite a script for the legendary but cynical Charlie Yates. Emma's journey from caretaker to Hollywood dream-chaser is filled with humor, romance, and poignant moments, as she battles Charlie’s disbelief in love and proves that the best stories make us believe in happily ever after. With witty banter, unforgettable characters, and a perfect blend of comedy and heartfelt emotion, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance. Grab your copy today and fall in love with Emma and Charlie's story—it's a rom-com you'll want to revisit again and again!

4.5 stars! Thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 Stars

In typical fashion, I found myself sometimes giggling, often swooning, and nearly always smiling. That's the joy of a Katherine Center novel and this book had it all - engaging banter, entertaining characters, and poignant backstories. And the swoon factor was top-notch.

I enjoyed Charlie, grumpy brusqueness, and all. Although, it made his occasional guilelessness feel out of character. I understood it regarding his aquaphobia, but not with some of his ineptness. Not a dealbreaker, but it felt odd. Emma was an entertaining heroine. I understood her relationships and control issues. Charlie and Emma together? All the swoon.

Unfortunately, I feel compelled to comment on a major issue I had. What’s up with breaking the fourth wall? Granted, I've never been a fan of the device. Once or twice I can deal with its use, as long as the rest of the story is immersive. Sadly, it was a consistent writing device in this one. I’ve read each of Katherine Center's books and I don’t remember it being used before. If it had, it was minimal. Each time Emma addressed the reader it took me out of the story. Every. Single. Time. I had to work on tamping down my annoyance as it continued.

Katherine Center remains one of my favorite authors and The Rom-Commers is still a gluttonously ingestible story. A fun experience overall, but maybe not my favorite by the author.

Audiobook Notes: I read and listened to the ebook and audio interchangeably. Patty Murin is a regular narrator of Katherine Center's books and does a great job bringing life to the characters with spot-on diction, expression, and inflections.