Katherine Center does it again. I loved this book so much!! Emma and Charlie are so cute together and their chemistry is so good. This is such a cute forced proximity rom-com. I loved every second of it. This book made me laugh multiple times, and cry as well. 5 star in my book! The narration was perfect and made me feel even closer to the characters

I love Katherine Center books so much!!


THE ROM-COMMERS
● Emma & Charlie Yates
● ghost writer / screenwriter
● Emma has been taking of her dad for the last 10 years
● Emma is hired to fix “Charlie Yates” screenplay
● Charlie doesn’t want a writing partner but his agent is forcing him
● enemies-to-lovers
● forced proximity

Audiobook source: Netgalley
Narrator: Patti Murin
Length: 11h 21m

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

Katherine has done it again! She really does write the best romcom books and The Rom-Commers is no exception. This is a perfect blend of happiness, laugh out loud moments and moving past grief.

Emma and Charlie were so wonderful together and I loved the cameo of Jack Stapleton (from her book The Bodyguard)!

3.5 rounded up to a 4. I have loved Katherine’s pervious two books so much them being my favourite reads of the summer and I was so excited about this one but I have to say it fell a little flat for me and that had to do with our main characters. I did like Emma at first but as we went on she just wasn’t likeable to me, and the way she handled some conflict later on in the book and continued to carry on and make her self the victim when she was just as much in the wrong too, really bothered me! Also Charlie was okay in terms of a MMC boyfriend but he had a lot of issues that he needed therapy for and why I felt for him, I think it created so much miss communication between the two. I did love the story line tho characters aside I loved how they made the movie and all the side characters where great too especially her dad!. I really loved the connection to the body guard with Jack Stapleton! Over all this one was kinda of a miss for me but I still look forward to any book Katherine centre will put out, and still do recommend this to all my friends who love her because I think I am the odd one out not loving it as much as the others! I did the audiobook and thought the narration was done really well. I did feel transported into the story as I listened on!

I am a fan of Katherine Center and she is an automatic read when she releases a new book. This one was very good, but definitely not my favorite of hers. I enjoy Center's writing, the banter back and forth between characters, the one-liners that make me laugh out loud. The writing is The Rom-Commers was good, the characters were charming, and there were funny sections. I just didn't really connect with the characters. I wasn't a fan of Charlie's treatment of Emma, and felt like the spark between them was forced. I did love Emma's attachment to her family and the close knit connection between them!

I was privileged enough to get this audiobook as an ARC and I’ll start by saying I love audiobooks because hearing the author talk about their book - to me is so special!
I’ve read every Katherine Center book and appreciate her closed door TENSION heavy book. For a girl who loves tension and banter , this is it!
Her humor is wonderful and the characters Emma and Charlie’s story together was unique , much like I’m finding all Centers books to be.
If you want a fun novel with cameos from some of her other work look further , The Rom Commers is the book for you!

Loved loved loved this book from the very beginning. This was my first time reading a Katherine center book and i can say that it has lived up to the hype ive heard about her writing style. From the very beginning the story has you hooked and this was the perfect beginning of summer book to read if you want something that is full of connection between the characters, over coming obstacles and finding love in the face of hardship. I loved how the story talked about illness in a way that made you connect with the characters and I appreciated that their backgrounds were not just something that addressed in the beginning and then forgotten about. I am definitely going to be picking up her other two books because i love her writing style.

I have been a big fan of Katherine Center for a long time. Her books always put a smile on my face, make me shed a few tears and surround me with characters who I wished I knew personally. The Rom-Commers was no exception. In fact, I felt like it was my favorite book that she has written so far. I always enjoy the easy banter between the characters Catherine Center manages to get just right and the anticipation of romance that she brings to her books. The Rom-Commers possessed all those elements and more. I listened to the audiobook of The Rom-Commers that was narrated so well by Patti Murin. Her narration clearly distinguished between the many characters and easily drew me into the story. The Rom-Commers took place mostly in Los Angeles, California but also in Texas.

For the last ten years, Emma Wheeler had been her father’s primary caregiver. It was a twenty four hour, seven day a week job. Emma’s father was in a very serious accident that had left him partially paralyzed on his left side. He also suffered from Ménière’s disease. Emma had pledged at the time of her father’s accident that she would sacrifice her own plans for attending college and any career aspirations she might have had so that her younger sister, Sylvie, could live her dreams. The plan that Emma had devised all those years ago called for Sylvie to switch places with Emma in ten years.

Now almost ten years later, Sylvie had just graduated from college and she had secured a very prestigious internship. Emma was busy preparing a celebratory dinner for Sylvie when she received a phone call from Logan, Emma’s former boyfriend from her high school days and who was also her manager. Over the years, Emma had written many rom-coms that Logan had helped her enter in contests. She had even won some of the contests but Emma’s real dream was to write a screenplay. Logan had called Emma to offer her the chance of a lifetime job. Emma was offered the chance to work with screenwriter, Charlie Yates, as a ghostwriter. She was needed to help Charlie Yates rewrite a rom-com script. Charlie Yates was Emma’s idol. She admired and loved everything that he had ever written. How had Charlie Yates come to write a rom-com though? It was not his style at all. Of course Emma wanted the opportunity to work with Charlie Yates! She was totally on board until Logan told Emma that she had to go to Los Angeles to work with Charlie Yates in person for a minimum of six weeks. How could Emma leave her father for all that time? Who would take care of him the way she does? How could she not take advantage of this once in a lifetime chance, though? Sylvie gladly stepped up and insisted that Emma go. She would assume the role of caretaker for their father. In a matter of days, Emma found herself boarding a plane bound for Los Angeles to meet Charlie Yates face to face. If everything went according to plan, Emma would soon get to rewrite a rom-com with Charlie Yates. She had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming this. Emma was more nervous than she had ever been in her entire life. What would Charlie Yates be like? She worried about his reaction to her curly red hair that had a mind of its own. Would Emma be able to accomplish everything that Charlie would require of her to rewrite the rom-com? Would Charlie Yates prove to be all that Emma had hoped he would be? Would her writing be good enough to make an impression on Charlie Yates? Would Emma’s father be alright without her?

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center was everything I had hoped it would be and then some. It was funny, sad, frustrating at times and had the promise of romance that I have come to expect in Katherine Center’s books. I really enjoyed Emma’s and Charlie’s characters. They were both flawed but so endearing at the same time. From the beginning there so many unexpected moments that played on my various emotions. The Rom-Commers was the perfect beach read. I didn’t want it to end. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Rom-Commers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Somehow I'd never been aware of Katherine Center's books until a couple of years ago, when I read The Bodyguard. It was, to use a rom-commy phrase, insta-love. The Rom-Commers has cemented my insta-love into perma-love. (If that's not a thing, it should be. Just sayin'...)
I so enjoyed this story of a woman who's always dreamed of being a screenwriter, but a tragic accident has left her as the sole caretaker for her father. When an old friend offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to write with her screenwriting idol, she reluctantly gives in to her father and sister's demands that she take advantage of her opportunity. She ends up moving into the writer's mansion for six weeks to help him rework his amazingly bad script for a rom-com. I loved these two characters together. They were funny and imperfect and real. They'd both been through some stuff, their reactions and outlooks on life were very different in many ways, but all informed by the stuff they'd experienced. One of the truisms of reading a romance is that we know where the two main characters are going to end up. It's just a matter of the road they take to get there. And this journey was thoroughly enjoyable for me. I listened to the audiobook, and Patti Murin's narration was perfect, hitting all the right notes for all the different emotions involved.
Now bring on Katherine Center's backlist to keep me happy until her next release!
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Im obsessed with Emma and Charlie’! I lost track of time reading this book! Im always a sucker for enemies to lovers.

Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me, and although The Rom-Commers is a bit different than her last few books, I still loved it. Ten year's ago, the Wheeler family went on a vacation. After a tragic accident, Emma's mother was dead and her father was left with a traumatic brain injury. Emma blames herself for the accident and has happily placed her life on hold to help her dad and allow her younger sister to finish school. Emma has always wanted to be a screen writer, and is the author of several rom-coms, so when she gets a call from an old friend to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates, her hero, she wants to take it. It's only for 6 weeks, and her sister has offered to move home and take care of her father. What could go wrong? For starters, Charlie doesn't want to write with anyone. He wrote a terrible script, because he doesn't want to write a rom-com. He doesn't think much of Emma, at first, in fact is quite critical of her, but as they get to know each other, with forced proximity, will these enemies become friends or lovers?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved that it was about writing rom-coms, or at least a script for a rom-com movie. I am a rom-com lover, whether it is a book, movie or TV show, so this was right up my alley. Emma was a great character. She had given up what she loved to take care of her dad, but her reasoning and her guilt got a bit tiring after a while. She was serious about her goal and desire to be a screen writer and was willing to do what she had to in order to reach that goal. Charlie was annoying at first, and I didn't like how he treated Emma. I thought he was pretty selfish, but as the story goes forward, I began to like him more. This was a clean romance with some humor and side stories that meshed well together. I really liked Emma's dad. For someone who had a TBI, he made a lot of sense. This was a quick read or listen that kept me entertained from start to finish. The only reason I took off half a star was the use of a cancer diagnosis as a plot point to put a roadblock in the way of a happily ever after. I enjoyed this story, getting to know Emma and Charlie and seeing how things in their past effected their present decisions. The tropes of enemies to lovers and forced proximity are two of my favourites as well. The banter was fun, and I really enjoyed some of the activities Emma put Charlie through to teach him about love and rom-coms. This was a great book to listen to. Patti Murrin does a great job narrating this one. She gave them great voices, with wonderful tone and expression. If you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend you listen to this one.

I can’t imagine getting the chance to work with someone who I have been a fan of for years, but that’s exactly what happens to Emma. The tension between Emma and Charlie from the very beginning was everything I wanted. This story made me laugh, but it also made me tear up. It can be hard to put both in a story, but Kathrine Center managed both exquisitely.

I loved this so much! The banter, the humor, and Katherine’s signature stance that the romance genre holds value. Emma still grieves over the loss of her mother, & works through family conflict while taking a shot at fulfilling a dream to write a rom com with her idol. Problem is, Charlie is a romance cynic. The pacing of their relationship going from butting heads to love was perfection.

I enjoyed the narration! Voices were distinct, it was easy to follow, and brought the story to life.

Center is one of my favorite romance authors, and this may be her best yet! This one is grumpy/sunshine + enemies-to-lovers. My two favorite tropes in one book 😍. I laughed, I cried, I guffawed. Center pulled out all the stops for this one 🫶.
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Emma Wheeler has always dreamed of becoming a screenwriter. Her dedication as a full-time caretaker for her father has prevented her from going all-in on a screenwriting career. But when she’s offered the job of a lifetime rewriting a rom-com script with her idol, Charlie Yates, she knows it’s an opportunity too big to pass up. Turns out, Charlie doesn’t want to work with a nobody writer, doesn’t actually believe in love, and thinks rom-coms are a joke. Never meet your heroes 😬. He’s surly, sullen, and so dang dreamy. Emma is not giving up on this project. She’s determined to prove to Charlie that love is real, both on and off the page.
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This book is a beautiful tribute to rom-coms and love. But Center also handles the subjects of trauma, loss, and grief with such grace.
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Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for these ARCs! I cannot recommend the audiobook enough! The narration by @pattimurin was everything, and there are 2 audio exclusives!! (A bonus scene and an author’s note 😍.)
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Rom-Commers - Katherine Center
5/5⭐️
🎉Out Now!🎉
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“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.”
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“Be grateful—all the time—and laugh the rest off… There it is. The whole trick to life. Be aggressively, loudly, unapologetically grateful.”

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started off really strong, and as it progressed I did not feel any connection with either main character, and did not connect with their relationship at all. There are definitely heavier themes (TBI parent, death of parent, cancer) prevalent throughout the story. This will work well for some readers but definitely has a target audience - which I am not.

Things I enjoyed:
- FMC is chaotic and funny
- forced work proximity
- FMC taking care of sick parent

Things that should have worked for me but didn't:
- meddling friend
- enemies to lovers
- the actual romance
- the cancer subplot

Things that definitely did not work:
- what man in his 30s parts his hair?
- without spoiling, there were a lot of "near misses"
- no spark

Readers should be prepared for a no-spice, two kiss scenario in this book, with none of the romance starting until about 65-70% into the story. But - you typically get a lot of character development and buildup that make the relationship believable when you have a slow burn. That did not happen for me here, so I mostly felt disconnected.

The narration was good. I listened at 2x which is the fastest Netgalley audio goes, and probably would have sped it up a little bit more. This narrator does a good job of both male and female voices. Since this book is single POV, having one narrator makes sense.

I will read more by this author. This is my second book of hers and I enjoy her writing style, but will be more careful when picking books based on themes.

Emma Wheeler is a little-known screenwriter whose career has taken a backseat to devotedly caring for her dad and managing his medical issues. When her agent presents an opportunity to work with Charlie Yates, her favorite writer ever, she can hardly believe it – hardly believe how bad his screenplay is, that is! But this is THE Charlie Yates, so Emma reluctantly leaves her dad in the care of her younger sister and heads out to L.A. to save Charlie’s script, where she just might find love – and herself – in the process.

Readers who love Katherine Center are going to love The Rom-Commers. I once saw someone describe Katherine’s books like a warm hug, and I don’t remember who you are, but THANK YOU, because that’s exactly what they’re like. Her books are like being wrapped in a big warm hug; a tender, funny, sometimes teary hug that makes you believe in love and happy ever afters. Charlie and Emma have chemistry for DAYS, and even when Charlie was a grumpy curmudgeon (okay, even when was downright mean), I was rooting for him to redeem himself and realize how awesome Emma was. I also loved Emma’s character growth from a single-minded caretaker to letting go a little, learning to trust other people, and ready to embrace life and love. If grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and sweet romance with a heaping dose of witty banter are your jam, The Rom-Commers is the book for you!

This was my first time listening to one of Katherine’s books on audio, and obviously I have been missing out before now! Patti Murin does a fantastic job of narrating! She’s perfection as Emma, bringing her to life with so much enthusiasm, humor, and emotion. Oh, and the audiobook has a bonus scene from Charlie’s perspective, which was a great surprise!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

The Rom-Commers is a great summer (or whenever you find it) read (listen) by Katherine Center. This forced proximity rom-com has all the emotions squeezed into it.
The main characters are well-developed, and have great chemistry and clever banter. Narrator Patti Murin, nails the deadpan delivery.. Her performance is excellent all around and I would absolutely rate the narration 5 out of 5 stars.
The backstory will pull you into rooting for the couple, especially Emma. There were a lot of intense moments that had me crying quite a bit, but I am a big softie and Katherine Center's books usually have pretty heavy backstories. The female main character, a screenwriter of romcoms, straight out says that in order for a story to be a true romance the couple must get together in the end, but there were points where it seemed really unlikely with Emma and Charlie so there were some moments where I was hesitant to keep going. But I persisted and I was glad I did. That's the only reason I gave this audiobook 4 stars instead of 5.
As a side note to all the medical professionals picking up The Rom-Commers: Katherine Center did an amazing job accurately representing the medical events in this book. You won't want to throw it across the room at all.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of Katherine Center's ''The Rom-Commers'.

Big thank you to Macmillan audio for the ALC copy of this incredibly sweet little rom com 🥹

This was just so dang cute. Fun banter, quick storyline, wonderful little ending! The audio was perfect for this!
The characters worked absolutely perfect for what the story needed!

I received an ARC to review this book from MacMillan audio and this is the first Katherine Center book that I have ever read so I was so pleased to get to listen to one of her books. The narration of this audiobook was done by Patti Murin and it was done beautifully. The way that Patti delivers some of the fantastic lines in this book had me chuckling out loud. This book is the epitome of a rom-com and has everything a great rom-com book should have in it including a main character who is obsessed with rom-coms herself. Emma, the lovable main character, is trying to make it big as a screenwriter when she gets an opportunity to help re-write a script for a slightly grumpy and quite unwilling albeit famous screenwriter named Charlie. The book follow their journey from reluctant coworkers to inevitably falling for one another. Rom-commers is a lighthearted and entertaining listen that is a great kick-off to anyone's summer reading list!

You will like this book if you like: grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, enemies to lovers. or workplace romance tropes.

Narrators: Patti Murin, Katherine Center
Duration: 11 hours, 21 minutes, 22 seconds

Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley and St.Martin Press for both the Audio and Ebook of The Rom-Commers!

If there is one thing that is true about me, it’s that I’m a Katherine Center girly. I’ve read multiple of her books, so when I found out that she was releasing a new book of course I had to read. Not only did I read this book in a couple of days, but I also talked about it on my podcast called Just One More Page.

This novel follows Emma who has spent most of her life, obsessing and writing romcoms. So when she is offered a job to help rewrite a screenplay from one of her favorite writers she jumps right on it. What she isn't aware of is the fact that her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates doesn't want her help. Let alone have her stay with him for weeks to help him rewrite his horrible rom-com. But Emma is determined to make it work, and more importantly, get Charlie to understand that romance does matter. Even if that means she has to kiss him multiple times to get the point across.


The one thing I will say about Katherine Center is that she will have you laughing one second then the next second crying your eyes out. I adore the way she writes her novel, because not only does she include an amazing romance but she also includes a well-developed family. A family that has their own issues, that effects her choices and actions in the novels.

Now as for the romance, I would say that I did really enjoy it but I say this with love. I wanted more scenes of them "acting" out scenes and even more action scenes. I understand that Katherine Center's books are not full of spice, but I just wanted a pinch more. I wanted more kisses, more hugs, and even more scenes where Charlie protects her. Now will I say that the ending of the novel was perfect, because well that would be a lie. I kind of felt like it was cringy and predictable. But we all knew how it was going to go, after all, romance is like sex, and we all know how it's going to end (lol).

I think another big reason why I adore this novel is the family aspect. I understood how Emma's brain worked, trying to hold it all together, trying her best to be the best daughter and then be the best writing partner. I honestly felt so bad for Emma and how she was holding it all together for it to go up in her face.

At the end of the day, I think Katherine Center is an underrated writer. I loved the writer's note at the end of the novel, where she talked about how important love stories are. I as a romance reader have to agree with you, love isn't stupid or lame. It's warm and cozy and feels just like a Katherine Center novel to me.

If you want to know more of my reaction and feelings about this novel please check out my podcast called Just One More Page Podcast!