I really enjoyed Emma and Charlie’s story! Emma is an aspiring romance screenwriter and Charlie is a well established screenwriter who had a failed attempt at writing a rom-com which is out of his wheelhouse. When Emma is given the opportunity to work with her idol Charlie Yates, she’s excited. Upon meeting Charlie, he’s not what she expected as he’s somewhat of a grump. Well, Emma and Charlie both have internal issues going on that neither know about one another. As they work together on the rom-com, it also helps them to work on themselves. While this one is a romantic comedy, it is also mixed with tragedy, loses, grief, and internal struggles. With Emma and Charlie working closely together, they are able to help one another with other things aside from screenwriting!

I found myself laughing out loud so many times with the interactions between Emma and Charlie. Just like the bright colorful cover of this one, the content is just as bright and is sure to leave a smile on your face. I do remember towards the end I had goosebumps listening to the HEA!

Charlie Yates is a famous and award winning screenwriter but he's finally met his match with his first romcom. His producer insists on a screenplay remake of a classic romantic film before he'll consider the movie Charlie really wants. Charlie's never written romance before and it's an emotion he doesn't believe in. Enter Emma, who gave up her writing career to care for her sick father, and is now being given her big chance to help rewrite Charlie's epically bad screenplay. Only Charlie doesn't want her help and isn't afraid to share his opinions on love, the romance genre, and Emma herself. Can she show him that love is real without falling herself?
This story had me on a roller coaster of emotions from laughter, happiness, frustration, heartbreak, and lots of romance. It's a slow burn clean romance with lots of fun flirty banter and the characters seem so realistic. This author has definitely become a must read for me!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first romance by Katherine Center and it was so good! The angst and tension was great in this book. I can’t wait to read more books by this author! 🫶

What I've always enjoyed about Katherine Center as an author is that she writes lovely, low-angst, Happily Ever After stories that leave me with a smile on my face. The premise of this is fun: a peek behind the curtains of writing a screenplay for a rom-com. Emma (a floundering screenwriter) is a major fangirl of successful screenwriters Charlie Yates. So when she gets the opportunity to work on a project with him, she overcomes multiple obstacles to make it happen. After a rocky start, the two begin working together and... attempt to maintain a strictly professional relationship.

In these pages you'll find banter, self-discovery, and crazy situations perfect for a budding romance. But you'll also find severe miscommunication (or lack of communication) between Emma and Charlie and between Emma and her family. I unfortunately also found the ending to be completely overly dramatic and frustrating. I still am a huge Katherine Center fan and love the heart behind her stories, but this one missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center kept me intrigued from start to finish. I was fully invested in the story of Emma, an inexperienced screenwriter that is offered an amazing opportunity to go to Los Angeles for six weeks to re-write a script for another screenwriter who is pretty much her idol. Emma is also the caregiver for her disabled father, but is able to work it out with her younger sister to take over, which is a major deal in itself. Once in Los Angeles, things start off about as bad as can be when she finds out that the screenwriter, Charlie, had no idea she was coming and it was expected that she would be staying at his mansion. The other kicker is that he hates rom-coms, her specialty and the genre of the screenplay they are to work on together. Emma has some major spunk and decides to stick with the situation and make the best of it. This book has a lot of feels to it, mostly the cute rom-com sort, but there are also some touching moments, as well as a lot of funny banter between the two of them.

The Rom-Commers is a well-done, and interesting genre bender. You have a complicated family backstory, a medical disease or ailment you might not have previously known about, and a woman who is learning to overcome those obstacles despite her hardships. You also have wonderful banter, funny side characters, and an excellent slow burn romance. The key to this book is Emma and Charlie's relationship, and how it shifts from a writing partnership, to friends, and the romantic build. I also very much enjoyed how parent/child, and sibling relationships are explored. There is a lot of hurt in both the main characters backstory, and author Katherine Center does a wonderful job of showing how they together and apart heal those wounds.

“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that’s the one that’ll be true.”

The Rom-Commers is the latest Katherine Center romance novel. There are some familiar themes and plot points, including a chronic injury impacting mobility, Texas, and a female MC who has put her own dreams on hold, possibly permanently. Oh, and a move halfway across the country. We have the old standbys but the thing about Center is she does create characters with wildly different professions. Some of my favorite of her novels featured a firefighter and a teacher. In this book, we’ve got a screenwriter specializing in rom-coms. This is one of the random niche tropes I adore—rom com writers writing together. Katherine Center does not disappoint.

“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 ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them—we look for answers in stories.”

Emma Wheeler experienced deep, deep trauma as a teenager, losing a parent and becoming a caregiver for a badly injured other parent. Plus surrogate mom to her younger sister. She’s spent ten years in a standstill, putting her father’s care over a once-promising future as a screenwriter. Then her ex boyfriend, now a Hollywood agent, gets her a gig ghost rewriting her fave screenwriter’s disaster of a rom-com script. Turns out Charlie Yates has the yips and zero intention of this script ever seeing daylight. But Emma has left home for the first time for her own self, and she will not be doing anything to the standard of just good enough.

“Had I decided in some place deep below my consciousness that the best way to avoid disaster was to just never do anything?”

It wouldn’t be a rom-com if Emma and Charlie didn’t hit it off. It wouldn’t be a romance novel if both characters didn’t contrive reasons they couldn’t be together, though the reasons in this book are fairly decent compared to some books I’ve read. We all know what to expect by the end, but these characters earn it.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Katherine Center has become one of my top 5 favorite Rom Com authors. This book checked off all my requirements for a great romantic comedy.

I will admit there were a few things that did annoy me but not enough to knock off any stars. To start, the repetition of last names got on my nerves (Charlie Yates, Charlie Yates, Charlie Yates….Jack Stapleton, Jack Stapleton. Jack Stapleton)….we could pick up on Emma’s infatuation within the first few chapters, the last names did NOT need to be stressed throughout the whole entire book. Another thing that I didn’t love was Emma’s character. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate her. She was just okay. She had some good qualities and I did love the idea of her and Charlie together, but I didn’t like her attitude at times…especially towards her sister at the end. In my opinion, the way she treated her sister after something awful that happened, could have been left out. It just made Emma’s character seem worse to me.

To wrap it up, even though this isn’t my favorite 5 star Katherine Center book, I still definitely recommend picking up a copy with the pub date right around the corner. (6/11/24)

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

Check out my Instagram and Goodreads pages for more reviews:
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*Goodreads - Cherihy808

Another good book by Katherine! I loved Emma, she’s strong and feisty! Charlie is all over the place. He’s so up and down, just when you think he’s being sweet then the next second he acts like a jerk! Their banter was so good! The sexual tension was through the roof! I loved Emma’s family dynamics, it was great to see how close she was with her dad and sister. I loved the cameo from Jack and Hannah from her other book The Bodyguard! Overall it was a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

A big thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress for the ARC & @macmillianaudio for the ALC of this book!

Katherine Center has been called “the queen of comfort reads” and after reading only two of her books thus far, I can still see the truth in that designation! Her books are so cozy, silly, fun, and laugh out loud funny all at the same time, while also including some very though provoking and important sentiments.

This way in which this enemies to lovers trope played out was very well done, a good balance of the unique dynamic between Charlie and Emma. The background about her admiration for him as a screenwriter, followed by his inability to work with anyone provided the unique storyline played out in these pages!

The themes around caregiving, physical illnesses/limitations, family dynamics and relationships really hit home for me. While I don’t want to give too much away, my personal ties (due to my husband’s chronic form of leukemia etc) to these themes was definitely in the forefront of my mind while reading and enjoying this book - and I appreciate the way in which this was handled in such a responsible way.

When thinking of the audiobook specifically, Patti Murin did a beautiful job narrating this book, and conveying the various emotions involved in the story! I also appreciated the audio bonus chapter - which was a fun perspective shift in the book too!

“The Rom-Commers” by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 6/11
Genre: romcom

Surprise surprise another 5 star rating for one of my favorite authors!! I was ecstatic when I got approved through Netgalley for this arc! I wish she had two books out a year, but I know that’s too much to ask for! I read this in two days and probably would have finished it in one day if it wasn’t from my husband, kids, and responsibilities 😆

Emma Wheeler would have been a recognizable screenwriter if it wasn’t for her taking care or her dad for the last 10 years. When her old high school friend/ex calls her about a screenwriting collaborative with her favorite screenwriter in LA , but that’s would mean leaving Texas and her dad for six weeks. She calls her little sister and asks her to come stay with her dad so she doesn’t miss this opportunity. After she arrives in LA she realizes Charlie had no idea she was coming, but worse she has to break the news that his script is awful and needs a lot of work. For the next six week they work daily on the script, but they quickly become close. What they didn’t expect was how close they really were and how magnificent the script would be.

Another feel good, delightful read from Center!

I confess to going into this one mostly oblivious, as I prefer to do with favorite authors. I was immediately drawn into the world of Emma and Charlie. There was amazing banter and wit from both characters. Since the story unfolded from Emma's POV, I felt especially devoted to her plight. Of course, the slow bum romance was sweet torture. There were a few minor people, but this was definitely centered around the main characters. The balance of humor and emotion was perfect. Yes, there were sad moments, but I ended the book feeling positive and high spirited.

For Center fans, I am happy to report there was a beloved Easter Egg.

This is one I would recommend to any romance fan, and I cannot wait for whatever KC writes next.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for my complimentary review copy.

The Rom-Commers:⁣
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Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copy.⁣
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“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that’s the one that’ll be true.”⁣
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In true Katherine Center style, this was adorable. From the line dancing to the random guinea pig, I loved how quirky this book was. The miscommunication part was irritating, but once that was cleared we were smooth sailing.⁣
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There was a lot going on in this book, and the type of grief Emma faced is hard. We always get the tough with the fluff, but this was tough. The guilt she felt was very sad and I wanted to give ole girl a little hug. ⁣
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Charlie was easy to like at first. He just gave grumpy of the sunshine band. The cafe scene? The swoon of that man. But that miscommunication really got me. To be a wordsmith, you’re horrible at saying words out loud. ⁣
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I liked them together and was happy to see how it all played out. Also, Emma girl. Great job on setting boundaries. Proud of you! ⁣
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The audio had bonus scenes and an author’s note, so I definitely recommend the audio. Hello bonus! Patti Murin, the amazing reader she is, did exactly what she always does. I love her narration and couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather listen to.⁣
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Overall, a good one for all the love bugs around! Out June 11th!⁣
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QOTD: Any plans this weekend?

One thing about books about Katherine Center is that they always show the main character trying to overcome a significant hurdle in their life. The lives of the characters are always messy and disorganized. There’s nothing that feels fictional about them. Her stories always end happily and show a real human connection and struggle. If Katherine writes it, I will read it!

It took me some time to read this story, not because it wasn’t great, but because I didn’t want it to end. The story is fantastic and honestly so well-written. It breaks down the fourth wall where the story you’re reading is a rom-com, but the main characters are writing the rom-com. Emma references many vital points that need to be included in a rom-com for it to be successful, while Charlie is writing this to get his thriller movie approved. He doesn’t believe in love and thinks Emma is naive about modern romance. Not only was this key for the story, but it was like Katherine was saying, “Here’s how to write a rom-com,” and giving the reader the steps. Example quote, “The job of a rom-com…is to give you a simulated feeling of love.”

Some notable quotes:

”There’s a joke that writers don’t like to write- they like to have written.”

”Because the bad thing you’re worried about is never the bad thing that happens.”

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

”Charlie Yates the human is complicated…but Charlie’s Yates the writer is the love of my life.”

”Choose a good, imperfect person who leaves the cap off the toothpaste, puts the toilet paper roll on upside down, and loads the dishwasher like a ferret on steroids-and then appreciate the hell out of that person. Train yourself to see their best, most delightful, most charming qualities. Focus on everything they’re getting right. Be grateful-all the time-and laugh the rest off.”

”So it can’t be where you’re going that matters. It has to be how you get there. That’s what I’ve decided. It’s all about the details you notice. And the joys you savor. And the hope you refuse to give up on. It’s about writing the very best story of your life. Not just how you live it-but how you choose to tell it.”

When I was approved to get an ARC of this story, I knew I would enjoy it (and I was right). Trust me (and the Goodreads reviews) that it’s the perfect summer read.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a story that I can picture as a hallmark movie. A famous writer, a ghost writer who has been taking care of her dad and has been given a chance to work with her favorite writer, is the premise of this book.

Emma is a full-time caretaker for her dad and dreams of being a writer. She is given a chance to work with Charlie Yates, her favorite writer. Charlie is not exactly keen to do that. What follows is both Emma and Charlie learning what love is.

Right at the foremost, I appreciate Katherine Center writing about a trauma/illness and the effect of it on the individual as well as their caretakers. I understand the tendencies of Emma to fix everything and Charlie's fear. Both these characters are not perfect, and honestly, I don't mind. I really enjoyed the funny bits in this story. I read this book in one setting and just couldn't put it down.

The Rom-Commers-a standalone

Author: Katherine Center- I've read The Bodyguard (4*)-nice cameos from Jack and Hannah in this novel and Hello Stranger(5*)

Publication 6-11-24, Read 6-9-24

Rating: 4⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC 🧡! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

🤔What to Expect

-Rom-Com/Adult Fic
-H&h book lovers/writers
-h is a caretaker/h has a disabled parent
-h's deceased parent
-family drama
-workplace romance
-slow burn romance
-wealthy H/celebrity H

Summary: Emma Wheeler has sacrificed her life for her younger sister Sylvie and her father. She's given up her dream of becoming a successful screenwriter to be her dad's caregiver for the past 10 years. When her ex-high school boyfriend Logan gives her an offer she can't refuse, her sister steps up to care for their dad. Emma goes to LA and will be a writing partner with her favorite author Charlie Yates but he has to be convinced.

The narrators Katherine Center and Patti Murin match their voices perfectly with the characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync, and they fit together perfectly. The narrators paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

Overall this was another solid romance from Center. Emma and Charlie kept me entertained with their banter and jokes. I'm glad the caregivers were given representation because it is a thankless and difficult job. Emma's dad finding love again was a nice touch and made me believe you can always start over.

I'd recommend listening to the audiobook because it's a fast read that you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly.

This was my second book from Katherine Center and another 5 star read, solidifying her as a new favorite. It was the perfect blend of swooniness and angst, and light hearted wit and serious issues.

They say to never meet your heroes, but aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler gets the opportunity to do just that when her Hollywood agent best friend Logan passes her name along to hotshot writer Charlie Yates to assist him with a rewrite of his terrible rom-com script. After a family tragedy that left Emma unable to pursue her dreams, she finally is able to go to Hollywood, only to find out that Logan mislead them both, and Charlie makes it very clear that he doesn't want any help, and he doesn't want her. Realizing she might not like Charlie the person as much as Charlie the screenwriter, Emma is ready to go home to her broken dreams, but Charlie relents and lets her stay in his home and work with him for 6 weeks. The two become closer as they realize they work together so well, and Emma starts to fall hard, though Charlie is frustratingly hot and cold with her for his own reasons. When tragedy strikes her family yet again and she must abruptly return home, Charlie tries to follow and make amends, but Emma feels it may be too little too late. I enjoyed how this poked a little fun at the rom-com genre while still following the same arc, in a more realistic manner. I felt Emma's pain of unrequited love and frustration of giving so much of herself for so long only to not be given the same level of help in return. I didn't much care for Charlie in the beginning with his pompous attitude, but his motivations were explained in a way that it all made sense in the end. Every rom-com has a HEA, and this was no exception, but it was still down to earth and felt entirely feasible and not just a burst of hearts and unicorns, which the cynic in me appreciates.

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. There's just something about her books and writing that completely suck me in. Her stories feel realistic and I fall in love with the characters so easily, and this was no exception. I loved everything about this- the banter, the tension, everything was just done so well and I loved the premise that it was all built around. I immediately decided to read some of her backlist books after I finished this one because I wasn't quite ready to stop reading her stories! I'll be highly recommending this one to as many people as I can!

I adored the Rom-Commers! I loved the character development and change over time. Thanks for the ARC!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 11, 2024

A love letter to rom coms and the people who love them! I cautiously approached this one because I loved Center’s The Bodyguard but didn’t care for Hello Stranger. Jack Stapleton (MC from The Bodyguard) makes an early cameo which should have been a sign that I didn’t need to worry, because this had me from start to finish—all the tropes, all the chemistry buildup and tension, and all the feels! A bit predictable, but as the writers in this romance novel will tell you—that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Docking a 1/2 star because this actually writes out the non-words “wah-lah!” instead of “voilà!” and that is a sin too great to let slide.