The more I read from this author. The more I love. Proof that great romance can be sweet despite having difficult and engaging subject matter. This story drives that point home. I was expecting a rom-com about rom-coms, and the author DID deliver that. But she also delivered so much more. The belief that love exists and that it can be lasting is explored through different avenues, including the pain of loss, illness, disability and the lack of belief in yourself. I didn't expect waterworks, but I got them, and it made the story all the sweeter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy of The Rom-Commers! It was such a delight when I was granted a copy of this new Katherine Center book!

For the past decade Emma has faithfully taken care of her father. All of his needs she puts before her own. Taking the primary role as his caretaker has allowed for her sister to pursue her life's ambitions. Emma is able to do this and also work as a screenwriter; one who is a huge fan of fellow screenwriter Charlie Yates. Charlie is a well known and respected screenwriter in the industry - if you can imagine it, a screenwriter comparable to Nora Ephron (gasp!). Thing is, Charlie has written a rom com and it's terrible. When Emma learns that her agent just so happens to also be Charlie's agent, it also comes along with the dream opportunity - travel to LA and work with Charlie to get his rom com screenplay into shape. Emma arranges for her sister to care for her father so she can take the opportunity. However, the dream opportunity doesn't end up going quite the way she would have envisioned.

I really enjoyed how Emma and Charlie's relationship (working and romantic) developed. You'll fall in love with them from the moment they meet. I always enjoy stories where the author does a really great job showing us how the characters innately know/can read the other as their relationship progresses. As with other Katherine Center books, she continues to do so well in balancing the building romance with very real tragic life situations. Definitely a book to check out for anyone who loves a grumpy-sunshine romance!

This is my first Katherine Center book! After reading The Rom-Commers... how was it my first Katherine Center book, and how quickly can I get my paws on another one?

The Rom-Commers is a forced proximity 'we are colleagues we are working together we fell in love' sort of thing, but with a LOT of tramatics and little twists along the way where even the third act breakup had me going "okay okay and--". I laughed aloud, I gasped, I slapped my desk, and over the two days it took to read this amongst my side hustle work I had a good time!

I really appreciate Emma's very down to earth (down to earth while completely being held by her own trauma responses) reactions to all the nonsense going on around her, and even when she's upset or angry she's good at speaking her mind and getting her needs across and not being trampled on or being taken advantage of! I was always surprised when she gave someone a what-for in response to something. And I see people have mixed feelings about Charlie but I loved him, he was very trying to just exist while being slapped in the face with "I'm going to fall in love with this girl like tomorrow" and getting a whole friend out of it too!

I had a great time and maybe... I'll toe more into being a romance/rom-com girlie??

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for review!

[ DNF at 79% ] Sadly, this ended up being disappointing. The beginning held my interest as we got to know the main characters and grounded in the story. After that, things became increasingly stagnant. Both MCs became more difficult to like. Even skim-reading wasn't enough to keep me going, so I gave up on finishing.

I liked that Emma and Charlie were screenwriters because I haven't read a story where the MCs had that as their occupation. It was nice getting a screenwriter's POV into the industry. Emma's passion for writing, movies, and rom-coms was undeniable and brightened the story. Emma and Charlie seemed to make a great team where writing the script was concerned.

Emma's perspective felt long-winded because she would repeat the same beginning phrases three or more to describe or make a point about something instead of getting straight to the point, which, for me, hindered the reading experience.

Emma's conflicting feelings about Charlie were confusing after all the disparaging things Charlie had said about her and her career. After everything she's been through and sacrificed, Emma deserved better.

Charlie is mostly unlikable and reads way older than 35. He's very blunt in his "critiques" of Emma, but there's a difference between constructive criticism and being downright mean. Charlie did have moments where he was utterly sweet and considerate. But all those tender moments were overshadowed by his less pleasant side. At least he was eventually open to Emma's feedback and made an effort to apply it to a script in a genre completely outside his usual films.

Like Charlie, I was also bothered by some of Emma's methods of getting to know Charlie, especially as it became clear that he has unresolved, deeply personal issues he hasn't dealt with properly or has just flat-out ignored. Yet Emma continued to ask questions or demand answers to things that she wasn't entitled to know or were any of her business. He deserves someone in his corner in all things that matter, too. I'm not sure Emma is that someone; perhaps under different circumstances.

I wish I could have liked this story because I had been looking forward to reading it. It's not a bad book; I was just too bored. I didn't really like the main characters enough to continue reading (Emma's family was nice, though). The romance also wasn't something I could root for (they were better as writing partners than romantic ones).

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Emma jumps at the opportunity to rework a movie for the famous screenwriter Charlie Yates only to find out that he is not what her seems. He doesn't care about the script and doesn't seem to believe in love. As frustrating as he is, Emma still finds herself wanting to make him believe in love by any means necessary. Another great romance from Katherine Center.

Emma Wheeler is obsessed with Charlie Yates. She's idolized him as the best screenwriter around, which is why she jumps at the chance to help him revise his movie script, even though it means leaving her father, who needs constant care. Soon Emma is a fish out of water, leaving Texas for LA, only to discover that Charlie doesn't WANT her help. But certain events change their relationship, and soon they realize that they gel not just professionally, but personally. Can they move past their traumas and beliefs about life in order to grasp the love they've never dreamed was even possible?!?

I ADORED this book. The main characters were flawed, but realistically so, and their growth made the ending that much more satisfying. I laughed out loud numerous times. It was humorous and heartfelt! I have to buy the physical book once it comes out, because the words of wisdom, especially in the third act, are begging to be highlighted and read over and over again!

Katherine Center provided an inside look at what writers are like, as well as how it feels to be a part of the industry. It was fascinating! This book leans into how the stories we tell ourselves impact our relationships and ourselves. The physical aspects of love were left largely out of the story in order to better feature the bond of two people who respected each other, and how that grew into affection, and ultimately, love. It was beautiful, and sometimes shocking, to read. I ADORED the selflessness, meditations on love and romance, and the grand gestures. This book made me look differently about my own life, which was perhaps my MOST favorite thing of all!

Trigger warnings: grieving the loss of a mother, caretaking of a paraplegic father, overcoming cancer, potential cancer diagnosis, near drowning/fear of drowning, parents divorcing, feelings of abandonment by parent

I'd like to thank @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the eARC of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The Rom-Coomers, by Katherine Center, is a lighthearted romance that dives into the Sunshine meets Grumpy trope. It’s a quick and easy read that I’m sure many people will enjoy.
Unlike many of Center’s other novels, however, I ended up not really liking either of the main characters by the end of the story. Don’t get me wrong. I truly enjoyed the first half, but the last half fell apart for me. I can’t go into details without revealing spoilers, but Emma’s treatment of her sister bothered me, and Center never provided any real resolution to that issue. Also, the relationship between Emma and Charlie had unhealthily and possibly even toxic vibes to me. I was hoping for more growth in the characters and felt like I got regression instead by the end of the story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

I love Katherine Center's romances and this story was lovely! It had a wonderful and emotional plotline and the characters were beautifully fleshed out! It also was a celebration to everything that makes rom-coms amazing and it was fun to read a romance where the MMC learns to love the romance genre. The plotline had so many twists and turns that I almost thought she was breaking a major rule of romances, having a happy ending! It would have been ironic as the first thing about romances that the MMC learns is that they MUST have a happy ending. Thankfully it was an adorable ending and I loved that everyone's stories were all wrapped up at the end. I love a romance series but I really like that I can pick up a Katherine Center book and know that I am getting a wonderful standalone romance!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars. Reads exactly like a rom-com and the banter, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine vibes were all here. Easy to recommend to anyone looking for a fun, light read.

As a huge fan of The Bodyguard, I was excited to jump into Katherine Center's next offering The Rom-Commers. The story is told from aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler as she navigates the offer of a lifetime in LA. Her agent Logan has procured her a gig working with her favorite writer Charlie Yates. The decision to take the job is hard as she is the only caregiver for her injured dad, but her family convinces her to stop postponing her dreams and go. The job? Help Charlie rewrite his horrible rom-com script so he can pursue his true passion of writing a new gangster movie. After a rocky introduction, can these two actually work together in creating a story and not rip each others heads off?

Overall, The Rom-Commers was a quick read and I flew through the chapters. The writing is easy and flows with snarky dialogue. I wasn't a huge fan of Charlie's characterization and his successful attempts to gaslight and hurt Emma. There is also a plot twist trope that I cannot stand and drastically reduced my enjoyment of the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by a favorite, Katherine Center, narrated by the amazing Patti Murin, with the author reading an extra scene and the author's notes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Emma Wheeler has put her dreams of being a screenwriter on hold to take care of her dad. But when she gets the chance to rewrite a screenplay that her idol, Charlie Yates, wrote, she's beyond thrilled. Charlie Yates is famous for writing big action movies, but his latest is a rom-com, and it's terrible. Emma knows rom-coms and knows she can fix this script, but working with Charlie, who doesn't believe in love, may be too much for both of them.

Katherine Center has done it again - I seem to love each of her books more than her previous one! She writes with such heart and it will make you feel all the feels, without falling into the sappy zone. She tackles difficult subject matters without making the book depressing; in fact, it's just the opposite. She shows you the good that can come from the bad. I fell in love with these characters and this book, and Murin's narration just topped it off. Center's author note at the end is a must read too. Do not miss this one - out just in time to add to your vacation book list!

4.25 stars

Not me just sitting here crying in the bathtub, reading the words of wisdom Emma’s Dad shares with her on how to live a happy life.

This book was so much more than a dime a dozen Romantic Comedy. It definitely has plenty of light happy moments with witty banter and slow burn love. However, it has messy lives and bad things happening to good people, making it so much more relatable than most Rom Coms.

The Rom-Commers started a little slow, but is totally worth the wait. The story is of a famous screenwriter and a no name writer teaming up on a rom com project. The personalities of these characters keep you invested. Emma really had me laughing at times! Cute little awkward Emma. And Charlie grows on you with the turn of every page. Rugged, aloof, sweet Charlie. It’s fine to go into this book skeptical like I did, because it will earn your adoration.

Rom Com Summer 2024! I am a converted Romantic Comedy fan!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.

The Rom-Commers, is written by Katherine Center and narrated by Katherine Center and Patti Murin. These two narrators do an amazing job of bringing the story to life! This is a uniquely themed romantic comedy story about a rom-com screenplay writer who teaches a famous blockbuster action writer about love, romance, and happily-ever-after in order to write a rom-com of his own.

Emma Wheeler is a writer who unexpectedly receives a chance of a lifetime to work with one of her all-time favorite screenwriters, Charlie Yates. The catch is, she has to move to LA for the six weeks, and up to this point, she has been a full-time caretaker for her father who suffered a tragic accident years earlier, something she blames herself for. Emma holds her responsibility as caretaker very seriously. In fact, this role has taken over her life, and though this is an exceptional opportunity, she’s reluctant to hand the reigns over to her sister, whom she helped raise.

To make matters worse, Charlie is unaware that Emma is coming to help him rewrite his one-off romantic comedy, something he is highly unskilled at. This disastrous rom-com is more of an obligation than a project he truly cares about. But Emma’s name will be attached to it and since it’s a remake of one of her favorite rom-coms of all time, she wants it to be a success. After a good deal of pushing and prodding, Charlie reluctantly agrees. Now Emma has to help him believe in love and experience romance in order to more effectively write a rom-com hit.

This story was entertaining and sweet at times, but there were elements that felt a bit silly and unbelievable. Ultimately, I really did not like either of the main characters for various reasons. I found it hard to buy into how out of touch with any emotion Charlie was and overall, he just didn’t seem very kind. His treatment of Emma was not very healthy or rational, and Emma’s treatment of her sister at a climatic moment was uncaring, hurtful, and unfair. And sadly, she never even recognized it. I have loved many of Katherine Center’s books, and will continue to read them. Her dialogue is always witty and fun, and while the Rom-Commers was enjoyable, it just wasn’t a favorite.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a delightful and heartwarming read that earns a solid four stars for its engaging plot, lovable characters, and charming celebration of romantic comedies. Center’s latest novel offers a refreshing blend of humor, romance, and heartfelt moments that will resonate with fans of the genre.

The story follows Emma Wheeler, an aspiring screenwriter who has dedicated her life to studying and crafting romantic comedies. Despite her talent and success in writing contests, Emma has been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted father, who requires full-time care. When she gets the opportunity to rewrite a script for the legendary Charlie Yates, Emma knows she can't let this chance slip away.

Emma’s younger sister steps in to care for their father, allowing Emma to move to L.A. for six weeks to work on the script. However, her dream quickly turns into a nightmare when she meets Charlie Yates. Charlie is a disillusioned screenwriter who dismisses Emma as a "failed, nobody screenwriter" and has no passion for the terrible romantic comedy he’s written. He only cares about the script because it's a stepping stone to get another project green-lit. To top it off, Charlie believes love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

Despite the setbacks, Emma refuses to give up. She stands up for herself, her beloved rom-coms, and the power of love. Determined to change Charlie’s mind, she sets out to prove that love stories matter. Along the way, Emma and Charlie’s collaboration takes an unexpected turn, leading to an amazing accidental kiss that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.

Katherine Center’s writing shines with wit and warmth, making The Rom-Commers an absolute joy to read. Emma is a relatable and endearing protagonist whose passion for romantic comedies and resilience in the face of challenges make her easy to root for. Her journey from caretaker to confident screenwriter is inspiring and heartening.

Charlie Yates, with his cynicism and brooding demeanor, provides a perfect foil to Emma's optimism and enthusiasm. Their chemistry is palpable, and their banter adds a delightful spark to the narrative. As Emma slowly breaks through Charlie’s tough exterior, their evolving relationship becomes a testament to the transformative power of love and storytelling.

The novel’s pace is well-balanced, with a mix of humorous and tender moments that keep the story engaging. The behind-the-scenes look at screenwriting and the film industry adds an interesting layer to the plot, enhancing the overall reading experience.

However, the story does have some predictable elements typical of the romantic comedy genre, which might feel familiar to avid rom-com readers. Despite this, the execution is charming and heartfelt, making the journey enjoyable even if some outcomes are foreseeable.

In conclusion, The Rom-Commers is a heartwarming and hilarious tribute to romantic comedies and the power of love. Katherine Center’s engaging writing and well-drawn characters make this a must-read for fans of the genre. Emma’s journey from an aspiring screenwriter to a confident advocate for love is both inspiring and entertaining, leaving readers with a smile long after the last page.

I have loved reading all my life, but for the past few years I have experienced reading slumps that have lasted months at a time. I always think if I could just find that one book to drag me out the slump, and The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center was definitely it! I have not loved a book like this in ages.

The story follows Emma and Charlie as they try to help Charlie out a writing slump. Emma has sacrificed her dreams to care for her father and sister. Charlie has been Hollywood’s favorite screenwriter and everything he writes turns to gold until he is forced to write a romantic comedy. Enter Emma, the self-professed lover of all rom-coms, who reads her favorite writer’s idea of a romantic comedy and immediately hates it.

The relationships in this book are sweet and so realistic. I enjoyed that while both main characters have been dealt tragic heartbreaks, they continue to strive and live with hope. I cried through reading and loved every minute of this book.

I was given The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center in exchange for my honest review.

📚ARC Review 📚

The Rom-Commers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter. She’s spent her life obsessing over, studying and writing romantic comedies. Really good ones at that! She is also the full time caretaker of her father so she doesn’t get out much and do things for herself. However, when she gets an opportunity to help rewrite the script for her favorite screenwriter, she can’t pass it up. With the help of her sister, Emma gets the break she deserves. But what is it that they say? Don’t meet your hero’s. Charlie isn’t exactly the person Emma had thought he would be.

Y’all this book was so good!! I laughed so much and also got teary eyed a few times as well. It’s a great romcom but it does have heavy topics within. I love how Katherine Center writes them though, she shows the realness of these situations but handles the subject with care. I liked both characters in this book. Charlie does seem grumpy and socially awkward at times but deep down he really does care. Emma cares so much about everyone. Both characters have their own personal issues to overcome. While they are different personalities, they compliment each other perfectly. Their banter was so funny and sweet at times. It was more of a closed door romance but you can feel the chemistry between them. It was a great read and I really hope this one gets turned into a movie.

This book publishes on June 11, 2024. Be sure to add to your TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

3.5 * rounded up

I enjoyed this book and read it very quickly, I enjoyed that it had a funny light tone but it dealt with grief and heaver topics in a very optimistic way. The main character was lovable and so kind hearted, I just wanted to be her friend. The main male character was ok but definitely took some time to warm up to him. Overall it was sweet and definitely felt like a cute rom-com movie.

Emma is a screen writer. Well, she wants to be a screen writer. So when her long time friend, turned ex boyfriend, turned manager calls her with an opportunity to ghost write for her favorite screen writer of all time, she can't pass it up- despite how much she also wants to pass it up. Emma has a very planned out life. She has taken care of her semi paralyzed father dutifully for the last 10 years, and she does so with a very specific schedule. Six weeks in LA is a non-starter. But while in LA, she learns that her favorite writer isn't who she thought he was, he doesn't believe in love, and doesn't care if this screenplay goes anywhere. It's a lot to be going on with. Determined to prove him wrong on all counts, she embarks on a journey to show him that love is real, and that rom-coms are the best the film industry has to offer.

Is there a Katherine Center book that I haven't enjoyed? No I really don't think there has been. Her writing is just so good. It pulls you in and makes you forget time, and your real life. I loved how in this story, she breaks the 4th wall between writer and reader. Just a few times at key moments. It adds something special to the story. Like, "oh! thank you for noticing me! I do care about the story. Thank you for the additional context." Idk. That's how I feel anyway. Love the anxiety representation as well. Both from Emma and Charlie. I thought it was honestly one of KC's best, and that's saying something as all of her books have been excellent.

5⭐'s !

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Emma Wheeler's dreams of being a screenwriter were derailed when her father had an accident and needed full-time care. But now her sister is done and ready to pitch in, and she's been handed the opportunity of a lifetime to work with a screenwriter she idolizes--Charlie Yates--to re-write his truly terrible rom-com script. But when she arrives to find out not only does Charlie not want her help, but he also wants the script to fail, she has her work cut out for her to not only make this something truly wonderful, but also convince Charlie that love stories do matter.

As usual, Katherine Center delivers a wonderful mental health rep, and this time it's alongside a great chronic disease rep too. I really like how Center works with a single POV in this one, making the story more realistic and less omniscient. This was a cute and bubbly story with clever dialogue and a wonderful, redemptive arc. Joy from tragedy is her brand. I love Center's work, so I was disappointed because I didn't get either chemistry OR character development from this one, and in a rom-com I need at least one of those. And, on top of that, there was a horrible miscommunication trope-ish-thing going on, which turns me off. Not one of Center's best from my perspective.

Katherine Center has been a fave of mine for years, and it is always a joy when I get the gift of reading her books early!! Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Rom-Commers which is out in the world on TUESDAY!

And ooooh is the premise for this one JUICY! Emma Wheeler has long had dreams of being a screenwriter. But she had to put those dreams on the back burner years ago, when a horrific accident changed her life forever. She's spent the last ten years taking care of her father and doing the occasional writing job that her high school ex-turned agent sends her way. The plan had always been that she would take the first ten years post-accident to care for her father so her younger sister could graduate from college, and then she would take over. So when she gets the call to help her favorite screenwriter, the very famous and successful Charlie Yates, write a romcom, she knows she can't say no and heads to LA for a short stint hoping that this is the big break she never thought would come her way.

And then she meets Charlie... and it couldn't have gone worse. He is everything she dreamed he wouldn't be - rude, dismissive, thinks love and rom coms are a crock and is not remotely interested in a writing partner. But Emma isn't the type to go down without a fight, and she is determined to change his mind, and ignore the fact that she is wildly attracted to him.

This was another one of my vacation reads, and I couldn't put it down! A perfect beach companion with characters that were complicated, nuanced and easy to cheer for. I adored it, and can't wait for y'all to devour it!


Will post this review on retail sites, Goodreads and my bookstagram @scottonreads