Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me and I had pre-ordered this book long ago, but was thrilled to have the opportunity to listen early! The narration is excellent! I cannot believe that this was not more than one narrator! Patti Murin brought this story to life!
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This book is a defense of the rom-com, and it’s wonderfully done! I love the interaction between Emma and Charlie and the way they both learn things about themselves and grow as individuals and grow in understanding throughout this book! That’s one of the things I love about Katherines’s writing! She always deals with deep issues that get me thinking and speaks to me at surprising levels!
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There were so many great lines in this book, I want to re-read it soon, with my physical copy! If you can do an immersive read, with both the audio and the physical that’s what I would recommend for the ultimate enjoyment!

Thanks @NetGalley and @MacMillanAudio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
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Katherine (you literary genius you!) has woven literally the most epic deep amazing book you could ever wish for. You know those epic Romantic Comedies of the early 2000s….. this book delivers that and so much more! Like steamy but clean….. and literal PG13 goodness! The characters both have so much should I say baggage and personal growth throughout that it’s just perfect. I love how the romance unfolds melodically and with a one house trope that is just perfection!!! Also Charlie=swoon to the 10th degree🔥😍🔥!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone that loved “The Proposal” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 days” and “10 things I hate about you” growing up and wants to revisit that genre again.

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me! I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that I felt like the medical aspects were similar to Hello Stranger. I was hoping for more Bodyguard vibes.

Hey, rom-com lovers! Get ready to fall head over heels for this absolute gem of a book. The Rom-Commers is your favorite feel-good movie come to life on the page.

I listened to this one on audio (thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced copy), and I thought it was a great listen. The narrator Patti Murin did a great job bringing these characters, and their unique personalities, to life. Hearing the witty banter is even more enjoyable than reading it, in my opinion.

Now on to my spoiler-free look at The Rom-Commers . . .

Emma Wheeler is a total sweetheart with big dreams of making it as a screenwriter. She's been crushing it with her contest-winning scripts, all while taking care of her adorable dad.

When Emma lands the chance to work with the Charlie Yates (she loves Charlie Yates!), she packs her bags and heads to La La Land. But . . . her writing idol might be more of a grumpy nightmare than a dream come true.

Charlie's not exactly thrilled about teaming up, and his script? Let's just say it needs some serious TLC. But our girl Emma's not backing down without a fight. She's on a mission to save rom-coms, spread the love, and maybe even melt Charlie's icy heart along the way.

Things get spicy when Emma decides to show Charlie the magic of love stories firsthand. One kiss later, and suddenly their own real-life romance might be heating up! Is it really true that sometimes life is even better than the movies?

Trust me, you'll be rooting for Emma and Charlie from page one. It's funny, it's sweet, and everything you want in a rom-com!

The Romcommers is a delightful story of two very different people with the same aspirations. Emma Wheeler, of Texas, has always wanted to write successful screenplays for romcoms. However, her dreams were put on hold when a tragic accident left her father terribly disabled and cost her mother’s life. Emma had just graduated high school and her younger sister Sylvie was only a child. Unable to go away to college, Emma got her degrees from the local college where she now taught to supplement their meager income. Caring for her dad was almost a full time job for Emma and it took every ounce of her energy to keep up with his care and her job.

Charlie Yates was about the most famous screenwriter in Hollywood, having been discovered and had his breakthrough script become a blockbuster while he was still in college. And that was only the beginning with one major motion picture after another. But there is a darker side to the glamorous life he seems to be living. As a divorced thirty something and cancer survivor the lifestyle isn’t all its cracked up to be. And now, in order to get the picture made he really wants to do, he must do a romcom script for the director’s mistress. Knowing nothing about this genre, the script is awful. His agent, Logan Scott, is looking for a savior for the project and knows just who to call in. . .his high school friend Emma.

This is such a good story. While laugh out loud at times, it is also a touching tale with so many threads woven together to bring the reader a very satisfying reading experience. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Omg.... All the motherfreaking stars!
All. Of. Them!
I don't know if you can tell but this just became my newest favorite book. Can you tell? 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
How about now???? 😏

"Its not a romance unless everyone has an orgasm."

You know that moment where you're enjoying an audiobook so much that you do this crazy thing of adulting LONGER to keep listening?? Yea... I know. THAT is how much I loved this book. I equal parts wanted to keep going but didn't want it to end. The Rom-commers by Katherine Center is semi-opposites attract, Grumpy vs. Sunshine hilarity at its finest. I ugly laughed out loud with this one - you know when you freak ppl out around you because your gleeful cackle erupts out of nowhere. That was me. Cackle happy.

Emma is the frizzy haired, awkward, big hearted MC that has an inner monologue worthy of a stand-up comedic award. Charlie is the adorable author whose hit the writers block wall. Required to write a romcom, Emma is enlisted to save his awful manuscript. A little forced proximity and a lot of revelations slowly bring these two together. I officially need a shirt that says "My heart is a suicidal bird."

Its not just the humor that got me. Center really brought the emotion. With the caregiver aspects for Emma's dad, the family's tragic history, topics like cancer, hemiplegia and Ménière's disease all tied around the bonds of family, I got hit pretty hard in the feels too. All around this novel brought everything I love in my romcoms to the table.

The audio is read by Patti Murin wonderfully. This is the type of audio that has you buying the physical when it's done because you enjoyed it so much. Obviously you can tell by now how much I loved this. Absolutely recommend to romcom readers. However, if you're looking for smut, this isn't it. All the lols and feels instead 💋

Thank you macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC!

This was so fantastic on audio (as per usual from Katherine Center books narrated by Patti Murin). I loved that he falls first, the family values, and the humor! This was such a love letter to romance readers and romcom movie lovers and I adored this. This was uplifting and tender hearted and I am so grateful to have gotten to read this story!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan audio for this ALC!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for review copies, and @daniallreads magic giveaway winner picker for choosing me to win this beautiful finished copy!

One might think that reading a book called “The Romcommers” would be just a fun little easy read that skates right by your heart without shredding it into a million pieces. And one would be wrong, because while it has all the funny charm and humor that I love from Katherine, this book also packs several emotional punches. So much so that while listening to the last ~30% of the book, I sat and quietly sobbed on the couch (Brian was cautiously concerned until I told him it was just me being moved by the written word). There were thoughts that Emma voiced about grief, guilt, and holding together families in the aftermath that illuminated deep seeded feelings I didn’t realize I was carrying. There is still so much romance and swoon and my god Charlie should be on the Mount Rushmore of Men Written By Women. In short, this is my new favorite Katherine Center book and while I recommend asking about CWs to take care of yourself, it is a book I don’t think anyone should miss. If you’re an audio lover, Patti Murin is exceptional as always and you won’t be disappointed.

#MacAudio2024 #macmillanaudio #stmartinspress #katherinecenter #theromcommers #romance #womensfiction #fivestarreads

Five stars. Five million stars! Literally cannot out in to words how much I loved this book. Katherine Center has quickly become my favorite author. Such a fantastic premise. On the heels of another rom com that was cheesy and a little hallmarky predictable, I was not sure if rom coms were for me. But this book is like comparing a hallmark movie to an Oscar winner. This was book oscar worth to me. I could totally see it as a movie. Here’s hoping!! The banter. The characters. The depth. The details. I loved all the googling! Ha! The whole book felt authentic and not too over the top. So so good!

Read this book. Katherine Center writes such flawed but loveable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This is not a light romance but has so much depth to it as the characters deal with death, cancer, panic attacks, etc... that really drew me and had me emotionally invested. This is a story about love and about allowing yourself to be loved and I could not recommend this book more!

The set up was strong and the banter and dialogue was also strong. It was a lot to juggle between the two characters back stories and overcoming them

I enjoy the way that Katherine Center writes a romcom. It’s a bit different than many which I enjoy and the fast pace really sucks me in. This one has plenty of drama involved and I find it just delightful. Definitely recommend.

A huge thanks to #partner Macmillan Audio for my #gifted audiobook 💗

I just love Katherine Center!! Her books always bring the warm and fuzzies, and this book was no different. The Rom-Commers follows an aspiring screenwriter who gets the chance to work with her idol, a brooding yet brilliant screenwriter who's convinced love doesn't exist.

There's so much to love in this grumpy sunshine romcom: the depth of the story and backstories (this is no surface level romcom!!!), the incredible banter, the loveably flawed characters who undergo the most satisfying transformations, the way Center pulls the reader into the story and keeps you there, invested until the final word, and of course, the swoonworthy romance at the center.

I read this one entirely with my ears as I've read ever Center book I've read, and the delightful Patti Murin knocked it out of the park. She brought the perfect blend playfulness and emotional depth to the story. Pure bliss!

Another winner from Katherine Center! Add this audiobook to your TBR if it's not already there. 💗

📌 Available now!

What a story!! Katherine Center never ceases to amaze me. I always walk away from her stories with a nugget of wisdom about the human condition that makes me contemplate my own life.

“The Rom-Commers” was a hilariously crafted romcom with so much heart and depth. Charlie & Emma were such real and raw characters with difficult pasts that shaped their personalities and views of the world. I truly loved their story and the way they healed one another❤️

Overall, I highly recommend this story if you’re looking for a sweet, closed-door romance with humor, heart, and swoonworthy fun😍 Read if you enjoy screenwriter romances, celebrity romances, and tonssss of witty banter!!

⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW!!!!⚠️
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🚨TW: grief associated with losing a parent, mentions of a near-drowning incident (past), cancer (past)
🚨CW: infrequent strong/mild language & just kisses!!

Emma Wheeler, was a promising young writer, after a terrible accident leaves her the primary caregiver of her father, Emma puts her dreams aside, putting the needs of her family first. When the opportunity to write alongside her writing idol comes her way, Emma can't pass this up. Leaving her father in the care of her sister Emma heads to LA.
There is a reason people say, 'don't meet your heroes'

In classic Katherine Canter fashion this adorable story had :
1. Great characters, with the right amount of depth.
2. Witty banter that made me smile from start to finish.
3. A full circle, wrapped with a bow ending.

There is a reason this author is one so many peoples autobuy list.
This was a cute, feel good romance that I did not want to put down.

4.5 stars!

I didn’t have a copy of the book until a few days before pub day, but I was going to do the audio anyway because the only way to do KC books is to listen to them. (In my opinion.) Why? Because @pattimurin narrates them and there is no other way in the world I would want to hear the genius character dialogue that KC comes up with than narrated by Patti Murin. I’m telling you, this is going to become a Patti Murin fan account soon. I love her and she did the BEST job reading this really wonderful book. I giggled out loud at times. It put a huge smile on my face. I don’t know how else to describe it - it was just fun and important that crappy things happen, but through all that there can be snappy dialogue and jokes and self deprecating humor full of sarcasm to make yourself feel better. And I live for that.

Bonus: If you loved KC’s book from two years ago (The Bodyguard) a character makes a cameo or two and it’s so great! I loved that book also.

If you need a pick me up, or just something to make you smile - be sure to grab this one and actually grab two so you can give it to a friend. You don’t want to miss it!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the gifted finished copy and Macmillan Audio + Netgalley for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 06/11/2024
Review Date: 06/11/2024

This was sweet! I enjoyed the story. The characters were real and endearing. A perfect summer read.

Emma Wheeler has spent the last ten years of her adult life taking care of her family after a tragic accident forever changed their lives. She dedicated herself to being there for her sister and father. One day, Emma got to work with Charlie Yates, a successful Hollywood writer who wrote a terrible Rom-Com. Her family insisted that she help him rewrite it.

During this process, she and Charlie became roommates. The rom-com is terrible because Charlie does not believe in love. Over the six weeks, Emma helped with the screenplay and may have changed Charlie's mind about love.

Katherine Center's writing is funny and simultaneously evokes deep emotions for the characters. She is one of my favorite authors, and I hope she continues writing these sweet stories. Also, if you are a Katherine Center fan, a character from a previous book makes a guest appearance in this story.

Once again Katherine Center hits it out of the park with a fresh rom-com that packs a lot of feelings into a sugar-coated package. Emma is a screen writer who put her dreams on hold due to a family tragedy. When she's practically forced into a working relationship with her screen writing idol things should be looking up. But Charlie doesn't want to work with her, plus he's got some serious baggage of his own. Sparks fly, but will they be from anger or lust? Let's be honest, it's THE Katherine Center! We're going to get deep in our feels over the plot, but she's going to deliver the perfect, REALISTIC, happy ending that these characters need. Swoon!

Book Review: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Katherine Center is quickly turning me into a fan of romance novels. I read a lot of romance in my youth and became incredibly disillusioned with unrealistic and toxic relationships that bled into my own personal life. I recall regularly being told “JJ, that only happens in books” frequently as a young adult. I was slightly delusional and fully expected people to become obsessed with me, burn my name into the grass, and all sorts of nonsense. However, I am loving the shift that contemporary romance is taking to focus on healthier relationships and hilight consent, communication, and healthy boundaries. Katherine Center is the first author whose book “Things You Save in a Fire” began flipping my expectations about romance novels on their head. I have since devoured every novel she has written and was beyond thrilled to recieve the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Rom-Commers from NetGalley.
Center’s books are quickly melting my frosty heart and teaching me to believe in, and enjoy romance novels again. The Mermaid is similarly obsessed and is probably a bigger fan of Katherine Center than I am. From Center’s leading characer’s personal triumphs and growth in each book, to her unique writing style making her books feel like a warm hug from a close friend, Centers books are a triumph and should be studied in creative writing classes.

For this review I was fortunate to recieve a copy of the audiobook version, narrated by Patti Murin. Murin has also read many books that I’ve loved, including “The Bodyguard” and “Hello Stranger” by Katherine Center. Murin is an exceptional narrator whose way of conveying the emotional tone of a book is absolutely incredible. I would happily listen to any book she narrates, regardless of the author or genre. She’s that good.

After a camping accident leaves her Father severely disabled, Emma sacrifices her dreams and ambitions to become his full-time caregiver. She takes care of everything she possibly can in order to allow her younger sister, Sylvie, to chase her own dreams. But when her ex-boyfriend-turned-agent calls with the opportunity of a lifetime, Emma is forced to put herself first for once. Encouraged to leave and accept this opportunity by Sylvie and her Father, Emma finds herself in Los Angeles on the doorstep of her favourite screen-writer. Charged with ghost-writing his awful screenplay, Emma has to face her fears to give herself the change at a life she hasn’t dared dream about since the camping trip that changed the course of her family’s lives. Emma’s journey will bring her face-to-face with a writing partner less-than-thrilled with her presence, her own personal struggle with trust, and charged with convincing a skeptic that love is real and romance isn’t dead.

Content Warning: There are very few. Possible triggers for mentions of medical diagnoses and hospitalizations, and some brief mentions of drowning and car accidents.

I would recommend anyone who loves romance novels to devour this book. Anyone who wants to read a novel with healthy communication, consent, and a hint of grand gestures are sure to love this book.

I loved this book. I happily re-read it to ensure I could provide a thorough review, but mostly because it was an excuse to listen to Patti Murin read a Katherine Center book. This book is also in the same universe as The Bodyguard, one of my other favourites. Seeing some of the characters from that book make appearances was like having a visit from a friend you haven’t seen in a while. I’m now on a mission to read through her books again to see if they’re all similarly connected. Center’s books have insane re-readability, and I don’t re-read often!

In my opinion, Emma is slightly more naive than I would like, probably due to severely under-appreciating herself, which results in her frequently doubting herself, Charlie, and especially the romantic undertones that exist between them. I should mention that this is HIGHLY ironic coming from me, whose wife had to literally sit them down and explicitly state that they had been hitting on me all night. SO I should probably give Emma a break. I also have the benefit of the outside view when listening to this book, so in spite of me not being able to see the neon sign above my wife’s head that she’s into me, I can see Charlie’s very clearly. There are elements of this book I struggle with, due to being a bit of a cynic and struggling to believe in romance and romantic gestures. There are elements in this novel, particularly the hospital bits at the end, Katherine Center is convincing in her portrayal of these events. Although, again, Emma is incredibly gullible and naive during this time and I struggled to believe that she couldn’t connect the dots. Again, however, I’m looking from the outside in and who knows? Maybe if I were in Emma’s shoes I would be pretty gullible too. All of that being said, I can’t help but listen to my inner cynic a little bit towards the end of the novel. It was not as satisfying of an ending as there are elements that stretched my ability to suspend my disbelief.

Katherine Center’s ability to use language that previously didn’t feel belonged in a novel masterfully is one of the main reasons I love reading her work. Using “like” frequently is a rule I thought could never be broken but she uses it so well that I genuinely felt like I was hearing a friend telling me about her life. Center is also absolutely amazing at showing rather than telling, my favourite from this particular novel is when Emma is described as “cluck-clucking” around her kitchen. I was inside her kitchen. I have cluck-clucked around my own chicken. I knew exactly what was happening and similar instances of this happen throughout all of her novels.

Katherine Center is an incredible author who I encourage everyone to give a chance. Especially if you’re a cynic like me who had given up on romances. Center will convert you, I promise that.

All in all, I would rate this book an 8/10 purely for the struggles I mentioned previously.