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.

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.