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I really loved The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger so I was really excited to receive this ARC! Katherine Center is always a beautiful writer and I love how she talks about the value of romance and reading about love. That being said, I didn't love the characters or story in this book.

Emma and Charlie had both been through a lot. I do think they both ended up in a better place as a result of meeting each other but throughout the story I really just wanted everyone to get therapy. Charlie was often not very nice to Emma. He often had good reasons for this but I still felt like the ratio of him being sweet to rude wasn't great.

Emma was pushy, dramatic and in a lot of ways never got to grow up as more than a caregiver. I thought her behavior was realistic given her history but at times I found her behavior manipulative and self-destructive and would have liked that addressed more.

I think if you like a book that is a bit of an emotional roller coaster you might enjoy this one. I tend to prefer lower angst. It is also important to me that the relationships I read about are healthy in contemporary romance (throw in werewolves and I'm much more flexible). If you like writing and story more than the likeability of the characters you may love this one. Lots of people seem to but it wasn't for me.

I listened to the audio and thought Patti Murin was a great narrator! Romance readers may recognize her from The Paradise Problem or other Christina Lauren titles as well as earlier Kathrine Center titles.

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It has been a long time since I've read a book in one day, but I did exactly that with this one! Emma has obsessed over screenwriter Charlie Yates for years, and finally gets a chance to work with him. Charlie is the opposite of Emma in every way -- he doesn't believe in love, he hates romcoms -- but the way they worked together was done so well. I loved their banter, their working relationship, and the overall story arc in this one. I will say there were times Emma was exasperating, but that was also part of her charm. The secondary characters added a lot to this story, especially Emma's family (I loved them all!). This is a sweet, not at all spicy, romance. I switched between the audio and kindle version and I loved the audio version as well! Katherine Center remains one of my favorite romance authors and this one is definitely one of my favorites from her!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to review!

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Happy release day to one of the best authors out there!

I was very nervous going into this book, I have to admit. This is only because Katherine Center’s last book “Hello Stranger” to this day is still my favorite book of all time. So how are you supposed to follow that up? With this kick ass love story, that’s what!

This book is absolutely adorable and I love it so so much! I will still admit that writing reviews for books I love is still incredibly hard. I can pick things apart all day long, but wax poetic? Why can’t you just trust me and go get it already?

I think I can safely say for most of my fellow book nerds that one of our favorite plots of all time is anything centered around a male lead that is an author. Famous or not. However, I know a lot of people have a kink for famous male leads. Not particularly my thing, but brooding and writerly……Check check check check check.

Anyways, our male lead, Charlie Needs help writing. Cue our adorably quirky and awesome female lead, Emma. She is tasked to help him and shenanigans ensue.

My only complaint is that I still think the epilogues are too long and preachy. I think that they would have a higher impact if they were more punchy. This is the one area where kill your darlings really needs to be taken to heart. However, I still think she is the queen and I stand behind her mission and will read every book she ever publishes.

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

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The QUEEN of RomCom does it again! I fell in love with Katherine Center with The Bodyguard, and then again with Hello Stranger, and now I’m at the point of obsession with The Rom-Commers! I’m slowly making my way to reading her older works, but it’s apparent that she loves love — I’m here for it and this particular book is PERFECTION 🤌🏽

It’s a romcom about writing a romcom! Emma gets the opportunity of a lifetime to re-write a screenplay with her favorite writer Charlie Yates. He’s uber famous for writing all sorts of screenplays and decides to write a romcom, but it’s terrible. In comes Emma to save the day, but not without some hiccups.

I listened to this on audio and @pattimurin has a voice that makes you fall in love with Emma immediately. She brought so much life to this character and I found myself constantly listening. I think this one set a record for the fastest book I’ve read! I will listen to anything Patti Murin puts a voice to. She’s a magical unicorn in the audiobook world!!!

This book has all the things I adore about romcoms — a feel good story with no spicy scenes, adorable characters with hilarious banter, family and lots of love. I LOVED everything about it! I never really do star ratings, but I’d definitely give it 100 stars ⭐️

It’s out 6/11 so make sure to pick it up or listen to it on audio. You can’t go wrong either way!

Thanks so much to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. Such a phenomenal audiobook 👏🏽

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happy release day to the rom-commers by katherine center!!⁣

this book has so much humor and heart, and it was a delight to read from beginning to end.⁣

emma wheeler’s screenwriting dreams have been on hold for years, but when an old friend calls her up with an unbelievable opportunity, it seems like the perfect time to make a change. of course, change never comes easily…⁣

emma not only has to convince charlie yates (an inspiration and hero of hers) that she is good enough to help him, but also that rom-coms are a worthwhile genre.⁣

this is exactly the kind of story i hope to find when i read a katherine center book. it has plenty of light-hearted and fun moments, but doesn’t shy away from tougher moments, too, to give the characters some well-rounded personal growth. it all blends together so well in this romance.⁣

i also loved getting a bit of a defense for romance and rom-coms, as emma teaches charlie. these stories aren’t usually accepted as highbrow and noteworthy, but that doesn’t mean the stories are any less important to tell.⁣

i loved it and definitely think you can’t go wrong picking the rom-commers for a summer read.

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The Rom-Commers: the second book I've read by Katherine Center.

Okay, so... this book just didn't work for me.

(Spoilers ahead.)

Things that didn't work:
-the cover
-not finding myself invested in the story, even after reading 73%
-somehow, I didn't even know for certain what Emma's name was and needed to look it up
-many toxic male characters; I'll start with Logan, and end with Jablowmie
-readers are expected to A) trust Emma's judgement on Charlie and B) rationalize that Charlie is a good guy based on his less than stellar friendships!?
-I found the lack of Emma’s internal dialog concerning her dad alarming once she (quickly) settled in at Charlie’s. Being away from her dad didn't seem to bother Emma like it should have; I expected a moral struggle
-Emma, the queen of playing it safe, had a major and dangerous drunk escapade. WTF!? I have ISSUES with this scene
-playing house does not a romance/relationship make
-the phrase "soft pooch"
-timeline issues with Emma's dad's ICU stay
-overall, the relationship between Emma and Charlie seemed toxic, although I can't pinpoint why
-nothing was remotely funny

Things that did work:
-the dedication
-Emma's dad was a good guy
-the Author's Note and the love that Center feels for romance as a genre
-the Author's Note and Acknowledgements being narrated by Center

The audiobook narration was alright, although at times I noticed similar voices used for some characters.

In summery, I just wished I liked my second book from Center more!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

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Every single one of Katherine Center’s books is a joy to read. The narrator of the audiobook makes it that much better. I loved reading about Emma and her struggles of becoming a screenwriter and taking care of her family. She has had so much heartbreak in her life that she doesn’t know how to move forward without the past trailing alongside her. When Emma gets the opportunity to work on an awful screenplay written by famous writer Charlie Yates, she jumps at the chance. The character development is outstanding as they both grew and changed together. The banter between Emma and Charlie was top notch. Charlie doesn’t believe in love and Emma is determined to show him what love is so they can effectively write the romcom together. I had a smile on my face and could not put this one down. I cannot wait for the next Katherine Center book!

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The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
Contemporary romance.
Emma Wheeler writes romance. She’s good at it. But her dreams, and financial needs have her longing to transition to script writing. Her agent pairs Emma up with Charlie Yates, who has written a truly awful romance. It’s up Emma to teach Charlie what makes a romance come alive for the audience. Charlie doesn’t care enough to fix his script but there’s something about the effervescent woman that captures his attention.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook version of this book. The narration is done by Katherine Center and Patti Murin. The performance is engaging, with emotions clearly heard and felt. There are distinct voices for Emma and Charlie that made their arguments come alive. I listened to this at my usual 1.5.
The audiobook was immersive and made visualizing the scenes easy. Pick your preferred format as this would be a toss up for me.
The audiobook includes a bonus scene from Charlie’s POV that my ecopy did not have.

There are some very harsh arguments between Emma and Charlie, and then Emma and her sister. Unforgivable comments. Yes, in hurt and from a frightened frame of mind, but really harsh and shocking that the words would be said out loud by Emma.
I don’t know that I would ever be able to forgive or forget.

The romance is bumpy and amusing at times and ultimately satisfying. The arguments shocked me out of reading at the time which is impressive writing. Too much so IMO for a romantic comedy. But I know I won’t forget this story because of the “too far” words. Does that make the rating go up or down?

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher.

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I enjoyed listening to this book. Patti Murin did a nice job narrating the entire story and portraying the character of Emma Wheeler.
Listeners Note: Playback listening speed 1.5X
There are parts of this story that I found humorous but overall I think it is a heartfelt romance that has a lot of aspects about it that make it feel a little less rom-com fiction and a bit more true to life contemporary romance. This story tugs at all the heartstrings while delivering the HEA romance readers crave. It is a journey to the very end and Katherine Center delivers an emotional read with a lot of care and consideration that help the reader through the more difficult parts.
Worth it all for the HEA or more the ending that is also just a beginning as some of the best endings are.

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Wow, I loved The Rom-Commers!

The Rom-Commers is classic Katherine Center. Our heroine, Emma, has been through the mud, but she’s ready to blossom. She’s a writer, caretaker, believer in rom-coms and she’s going to change that award-winning, grumpy screenwriter, Charlie’s, mind about rom-coms one way or another.

It’s beautifully written, sweetly romantic, achingly sad, endearingly funny - it’s a love letter to rom-coms. The narration by Patti Murrin is impeccable. I highlighted so many phrases in defense of love, love stories and optimism to develop my mantra. There’s also line dancing. I’m only disappointed that it ended and that I have no more Katherine Center books to read for the first time. I can’t wait to re-read this and annotate the heck out of my book.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for sending me an advanced e-copy. All opinions are my own.

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(I got this as an ALC through NetGalley – it will be available on June 11, 2024.) You won’t be shocked based on the title to learn that this is a romcom, and I really loved it. Emma dreams of making it in screenwriting, but has been making a living by writing while also teaching at the local college, and being the primary caregiver for her dad after he was injured years earlier. But her agent calls her one day, offering her the opportunity to re-write a script for a rom com (her favorite!) with legendary screenwriter Charlie Yates… but she has to go to LA for six weeks for the job. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up, so she pushes down her guilt and her anxiety as her sister agrees to move in to care for their dad, and off Emma goes. Except, when she arrives, she learns that Charlie has no idea she was coming and doesn’t really care about making the script, either – he just want to make it ok enough to move on. Eventually, he agrees to let Emma stay and work on the script, and Emma is determined to spend the next six weeks changing his mind about romcoms, and about love. I will admit that I was a little worried that this book was going to be all about how much of a burden caregiving is, and, in turn, make me feel like a burden as someone who needs care. But it actually also showed the joy and the love that can come from caregiving, and I thought that was really special.

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This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Rom-commers has a premise which is Hollywood and over the top in aspects, but it was a lot of fun. Emma is such a pure, passionate character. She is stellar at everything from her writing, to her teaching, to her care for her father and sister. Emma has also been excellent at protecting herself from bad relationships by not having any.

Her whole life is upended by the opportunity to write a screenplay with her personal favorite Charlie Yates. Emma is surprisingly blunt about things, well it is a business relationship. Charlie is more closed off, actual a bit of a gaslighter. He's not talented at rom-coms either.

Their routine of writing and trying out different aspects of his screenplay over six weeks are hilarious and heart-breaking as they get to know each other. It's hard for each of them, but they grow to be more supportive and protective of each other.

Emma misses her dad and worries that her sister will properly take care of him. Charlie is worried about his guinea pig and his five year cancer remission. It feels light and funny but there are serious issues and feelings supporting their connection in the background.

I enjoyed this and had some real feelings. I cared about the characters and worried for them and laughed at their antics and cheered for their triumphs.

Narration:
Patti Murin is a familiar narrator to me. I appreciated her emotional performance for the characters. None of the voices pulled me out of the story, but they were distinct and felt comfortable. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.

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The Rom-Commers is a delightful and heartwarming novel by Katherine Center that is sure to leave you feeling happy and hopeful. It tells the story of Nora Stephens, a successful literary agent who is known as "the Shark" in the publishing industry. Despite her professional success, Nora's personal life is a bit of a mess, and she hasn't had a real relationship in years. When her sister challenges her to write a romance novel, Nora is forced to confront her own beliefs about love and happiness.

The Rom-Commers is a charming and witty novel that perfectly captures the essence of a rom-com. Center's writing is funny, engaging, and full of heart. The characters are relatable and well-developed, and the plot is both predictable and surprising.

One of the things I loved most about The Rom-Commers is the way it celebrates the power of love and hope. Nora's journey is one of self-discovery and healing, and it is a reminder that it is never too late to find happiness.

If you are looking for a fun and uplifting read, The Rom-Commers is the perfect book for you. It is a delightful and heartwarming story that is sure to leave you feeling happy and hopeful.

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"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 all about writing the very best story of your life. Not just about how you live it—but how you choose to tell it"

Thank you @StMartinsPress and @Macmillan.audo for the gifted eARC/ALC of THE ROM-COMMERS!

Katherine Center has been one of my autobuy authors for years now. I adore her writing and her characters. Somehow she is able to write about painful life experiences and infuse them with joy and hope and love, aka a world I would like to live in.

Pick this one up if you like:
*Hilarious banter
*Inside jokes that repeat throughout the book
*Quirky MCs
*Books about movies and screenwriting
*Jack Stapleton ;)
*Life lessons
*Books about finding hope
*Ending that will make you cry

THE ROM-COMMERS is out today!

CW: Character with cancer, character with disabilities due to accident, death of a parent

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6557891684
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8FIhITpIZd/

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This is a romantic comedy about two writers who are writing a screenplay for romantic comedy. I absolutely loved Emma and Charlie. Emma Wheeler is an up and coming writer who gets the opportunity to work with her all time favorite screenplay writer, Charlie Yates. She loves rom-coms, Charlie not so much. Emma is determined to make Charlie love rom-coms as much as she does so she everything she can to convince him as they work together on their screenplay. This was fun, emotional at times, happy, sad, all of the things you want in a good rom com. I laughed, cried, smiled, sometimes all in the same chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I suggest you go pick it up!!

One of my favorite quotes from the book that I just had to write down, “Happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness”

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You guys, Katherine Center is just amazing. I joined her fan club late in the game when The Bodyguard came out. It was the first book I read by her and I absolutely loved it! Followed by Hello Stranger and now The Rom-Commers, which might be my new favorite. Patti Murin did such a fantastic job on the audiobook. It was such a delight to listen to. I started it early on my birthday hike and it was just truly a wonderful experience. Side Note, if you aren't listening to audiobooks on hikes or walks, definitely try it! (But keep one ear free, safety first)! Okay back to the story. Emma is a hopeful (but very skilled) writer who has been devoting her life to taking care of her Dad. After a horrific rock climbing accident that killed her mom, and left her Dad never the same, she's been his primary caregiver for the past ten years. Her best friend Logan, who lives in LA, has been giving her jobs when he can and wowzas did he just land her a big one... a rom-com re-write for the very famous and talented writer, Charlie Yates. With a lot of notes, spreadsheets, and books, Emma hands the torch over to her younger sister to care for their Dad while she goes to LA for six weeks. What unfolds is a truly wonderful story about integrity, believing in yourself and the power of love. I didn't want this one to end. I will promptly be buying a physical copy because I know this is worthy of a re-read! Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. #MacAudio2024

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Hard for me to review this one because I think it depends on your mood. It was a cute, fluffy, typical (non spicy) romance novel. The plot reminded me a lot of By the Book by Jasmine Guillory. Emma is quirky in the sense that she has crazy red hair and talks like a Gilmore Girl. She kind of got annoying after awhile (the audiobook narrator's voice may have affected that - it was very cutesty). I don't think I like the trope where the guy is mean because he's trying to protect the woman from him. Charlie was a little too mean at times. But like I said, overall a cute, fluffy, romance novel, if that's what you're in the mood for :)

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3/5

I am a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers and/or grumpy/sunshine romance, however this one was hit or miss for me. Charlie was too much of a jerk for me. He didn't seem to have any respect for Emma. He was incredibly self-centered and only thought of himself until he started to have feelings for her. To me, that is not a representation of someone with good character. Also, Emma seemed to be incredibly gullible at times. Unbelievably so. Her flight miraculously decides to wait for her, her dads hospital stay gets upgraded because it was the 10,000th surgery and she somehow doesn't realize it was because of Charlie. However, other than that, I enjoyed the story. It was entertaining, well-written, and kept me interested until the end. If you can forgive the MMC being an ass and the FMC being naive, you will probably love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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This was my first Katherine Center story and what a wonderful launching pad! I now look forward to all her other books. This book gave me my favorite things I look for in a classic Rom-Com: heart, laughter, clever banter, a strong female lead, and a gentleman!

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Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan for the ARC of The Rom-Commers by @katherinecenter. I always get super excited whenever Katherine Center releases a new book because I know it's going to be amazing. Her latest novel, The Rom-Commers, follows an unlikely duo who collaborate on writing a romantic comedy screenplay and end up falling for each other in the process. It has the grumpy sunshine trope and hints at romance, but it keeps things closed-door and clean. Despite facing significant challenges, the story is filled with warmth and hope. I adored Emma and Charlie, and the way they brought out the best in one another. If you're in the mood for a heartfelt and hilarious read, look no further than this book.

The audiobook narration was exceptional, with Patti Muran bringing Emma to life with her vibrant energy and charm. It's a must-listen. The bonus chapter and author's note read by Center really elevate the audiobook experience.

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