Read if you like:
🎥 4th Wall Breaks
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💋 Just Kissing
🏠 Forced Proximity
💻 Coworkers to Lovers
🥺 Hard Topics Mixed In
💕 Learning the Value of Living Life & Love

I don’t know how to start out this review other than to say this was such an amazing romance that truly made me sooo happy and was exactly what I needed with the sunshine Emma brought to the story.

Also, the way the story is told to the reader made me LOVE it so much and loved the 4th wall break with this style of storytelling.

I really loved the opposites attract with Emma and Charlie and how she was so sparkling and full of so much sunshine to Charlie’s grumpy personality that doesn’t believe in love.

The story was a bit silly, ridiculous and I loved every second of it and it truly made me swoon and oh so happy which was exactly what I needed! And loved the author’s note so much too!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Last year’s Hello Stranger was a home run in my book, and I was thrilled to get my ears on an ALC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center; thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the review copy!

Emma’s career as a unknown screenwriter gets blasted into the spotlight when she is handed the opportunity of a lifetime- to co-rewrite a rom-com screenplay with her idol * celebrity crush, Charlie Yates. There’s just… a few problems. 1, Emma must relinquish the full time care of her dad to her younger sister for the time she’s away. 2, Charlie doesn’t write with anyone, and he certainly doesn’t want to write with her. And 3, the screenplay is truly horrendous… almost as if the original writer doesn’t believe in romance or comedy!

It's a tale as old as time, folks. Grumpy meets sunshine, forced proximity, cue the montage of adorable and hilarious mini-adventures. Add in some family drama, mistakes, and one depressed hamster, and you’ve got The Rom-Commers. Center is certainly not the first or last author to rely on these themes in a romance novel, but she does them quite well. I flew through this book just as quickly as Hello Stranger. Romance readers take note- this book is very light on spice- I prefer romances this way, so this did not detract any points from my rating. I must admit that these MCs did not work as well for me as I hoped they would, however I do think that most chick lit readers will like this one for a light summer romance— Happy reading!

The Rom-Commers

"Read it. You will lose your mind with joy. It's a love letter to fun. And to love. And to you, I think."

Y'all. This one is it. I love all of Katherine Center's work, but this one takes the cake. It genuinely is a love letter to fun and love and joy and romance readers everywhere. I cannot emphasize enough how much I loved the business case for hope, love and joy that Center imbues in this work. With care and craft, Center shows us the power of writing your own story, and choosing how you see the world. As Center says, "It's all about the details you notice. And the joys you save. And the hope you refused to give up on."

This book brought me all of that joy and hope and love. I have butterflies and warm fuzzies and while there were some tears (I cry at everything, y'all), "Happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness."

In The Rom-Commers, we follow Emma, a curly-haired rom-com screenwriter who dedicates her life to being her father's caretaker. At a once in a lifetime opportunity, Emma takes on the task of helping her screenwriting celebrity crush, Charlie, write a rom-com and also learn to believe in love. There is banter, funny antics, a pet guinea pig named Cuthbert. There is also loss, grief, illness, and anxiety, woven in through the story in a realistic parallel to real life.

Check this book out. You do not want to miss it. If you need more convincing, there is:
- Banter
- Forced proximity
- Coworkers to lovers
- Line dancing with an Italian cowboy instructor
- A cameo from Jack Stapleton of The Bodyguard

Note: This is a standalone. You do not need to read The Bodyguard first, but I do recommend it to enjoy Jack and Hannah's story!

The audio narration is absolutely delightful. Patti Murin absolutely smashed it - bringing Emma and Charlie to life off the page. I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the ALC. My opinions are my own. The Rom-Commers is on shelves June 11, 2024.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Katherine Center for the opportunity to ARC read this audiobook. I thought this book was so beautifully narrated, both narrators were exactly the voices I would envision for these characters and I honestly just adored them. The subtle quirkiness came through so well with Emma's character. I loved the characters' complexity and the real world trauma mixed with the celebrity lifestyle and how well it mixed together to create an engaging story. I also adored the focus on HEAs, everything Emma said was true... I go into a romance knowing I'll get a HEA and that's part of the reason I read them. Real life is so hard, and so painful sometimes, that we just need a little love and joy in our fantasy worlds.

Katherine Center does it again💕

This is my fourth Katherine Center read, and she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I love how she makes her main characters adorably quirky and somehow incredibly down to earth and relatable. I love how she infuses humor and wit into her writing and dialogue. I haven’t necessarily noticed it in previous books, but I love how she draws the reader in and almost involves them in the story. And I love that her stories are not just romantic fluff, they are deep and sometimes sad and confront real, big issues.

As a romance and rom-com lover, I loved the premise of this book. I loved Emma, and I even loved Charlie (even though he was kind of a jerk at the beginning, he was really thoughtful and sweet on the inside). This was a super fun book full of classic romcom hijinks that will make you laugh and moving moments that may make you tear up. I can’t wait for my next Katherine Center read.💕

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Marten’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook of The Rom-Commers! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center was exactly the fun summer read I was looking for! As a fan of Center's work, I was anticipating this book's release, and it did not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advanced digital audio copy!

Emma Wheeler has put her own dreams to the sideline as she supports her younger sister and tends to her father after a tragic accident that leaves their family devastated. When Emma's long-time friend and agent gives her an opportunity she can't pass up - to help do a rewrite for one of her favorite screenwriters' new romantic comedy movie script - her father and sister give her the push she needs out of her comfort zone and into a chance for her big break.

Emma arrives in LA to find her idol Charlie Yates not all she expected him to be. For one, he doesn't see why his screenplay needs rewrites. Second, he does NOT want Emma's help. And third, despite the fact that he seems to have no idea what love and romance actually mean, Emma finds herself slowly becoming more and more attracted to Charlie. But she cannot let herself fall for Charlie, she has 6 weeks to make this script useable and then she needs to get back home to take care of her father.

I loved following Emma and Charlie in this romantic comedy love story. I felt the connection to Emma right away, and her need to keep her family healthy and happy, and yet come to terms with the fact that she needs to do the same for herself. As Emma doesn't give up to help Charlie write his screenplay, she finds she is in store for a lot more than she bargained for! Another homerun from Katherine Center - this was one of my favorites!!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emma is a rom-com girlie who dreams of being a screenwriter and the sole caretaker for her absolute gem of a father. She ends up with a dream of an opportunity to assist in rewrites of a romantic comedy script for the Charlie Yates! Her sister steps up to the plate to help take care of their father in Emma’s absence. Issue is he is terrible at rom-coms and only looks at this script as a means to get another green lit. Emma doesn’t want to let it be that and wants to take an honest crack at this screenwriting opportunity.

Drama and romance ensue in this romantic comedy about writing a romantic comedy. The storyline involving Emma’s family is real and relatable with characters that don’t get along at times and you become incredibly invested in the sister dynamic and Emma’s journey in realizing she has to make time to live her life. The romance is sweet and funny and has it’s own set of real challenges that makes you feel connected to these characters and the story being told.

This was my first Katherine Center book I’ve read and will be reading more! So enjoyed this book and am so grateful for the opportunity to have had an early listen!

Favorite Quotes:
“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that’s the one that’ll be true.”

“If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you’re at the mercy of darkness.”

My favorite Katherine Center book by far.

What I Liked:

Charlie and Emma's story is so heartwarming and endearing. I was kicking my feet, blushing, and smiling reading this (which was difficult at times since I listened to this while I was driving for work travel).

Charlie and Emma's banter is so good. Give me a book with good banter and I will fall in love so hard.

The relationship Emma had with her father and sister. Not just the good parts, but the difficulties (physical/mental/ emotional) that come with being a sole caretaker for a loved one. I cried so many times during these parts of the book.

The audio narration is so well done. Highly recommend listening to this one.

What didn't work for me:

Not a thing

The Rom-Commers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness!! A funny, laugh out loud, feel good, fun, story!! You will fall in love with the Characters. Katherine did it again. This might be her best! I love ALL her books. This one raised the bar super high! Take it to the beach or on your summer vacation and enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley!!

I absolutely loved this book!

As usual, Katherine Center brings the feels, the laughs, and the heartwarming moments. This book was so GOOD. I thoroughly enjoyed The Rom-Commers.

Im usually not a romance book reader due to its predictability. I usually read them when I need a break from the dark thriller books I typically read. However, whenever I see a Katherine Center book, it usually jumps to the front of my “to read” list. I don’t know what it is about this author: her humor? The relatable characters? No idea…but there is something!
Although ROM COMMERS wasn’t my favorite of hers, I did really enjoy it. Emma and Charlie’s playful banters were cute and fresh. There was just the right amount of romance to keep the story going (aka: not 57 pages worth of 1 sexual experience told in excruciating detail). A light hearted happy read that met my expectations

4.25 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio #Macaudio2024 for this book in exchange for an honest review.


I absolutely loved this book. I felt like the pacing made sense, the banter was great and I truly see what was stopping the couple from getting together and it made sense. The tension between the characters was done so wonderfully any it left me anticipating their next move. The story had characters with depth and trauma to deal with and it left me with sadness and joy all at the same time.

The narrators were incredible. They made the characters come to life. They were fabulous and dynamic.

I will say some trigger warnings may be in order. If you are a caregiver or have lost a parent this might be a difficult read for you so please proceed with caution.

It was a bit hard to get into at first but once I was in it, I was in it. I will definitely be reading more by Katherine Center in the future.

Such a cute read! This is for lovers of wholesome romances with a shameless touch of cheese. I love that Katherine Center defends the rom-com genre through her characters' banter and through the plot itself. Her writing style is playful and her characters are lovable. I loved the many ways she had me giggling through typical romance cliches. I'll be referring to this book to stand up for cheesy, happy stories! The audiobook performance was perfection. Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

I keep waffling between 4.5 and 5 stars for this one. It truly was so fun to listen to. I just had minor issues with some of the story, but that's my preferences for female MCs.

I think Katherine Center's essay at the end of the book is one that ought to be paired with Stephen King's "Why We Crave Horror Movies" in classrooms. I would teach both in my AP Lang classroom.

I can't believe I'm giving a Katherine Center book one star, but here we are.

1. A "cancer diagnosis, but whew it's not cancer" plot is never a good idea, but especially when it's not executed well. Can a character have a scare and worry? Sure. Should a character get an official diagnosis over the phone and then find out whoops, it was just bronchitis from another phone call later? No. That's not realistic.

2. The female main character spewed several terrible, hurtful, disgusting sentences at her sister, and then she gets pissed and decides not to speak to said sister ever again after the sister retaliates with one hurtful sentence. Then later the sister apologizes to her, and the FMC basically says, "good, you should be sorry," and in no way acknowledges how truly horrendous she was in the first place. I already didn't love this FMC, but this made me hate her. This is what bumped the book to one star.

3. How many times does a character's whole ass government name need to be used? Honestly.

I am glad I got this audiobook on NetGalley and decided to cancel my hardcover preorder. I planned to get the paperback later to match my others, but I won't be doing that now.

I'll still read Center's next book, but this one and "Hello Stranger" weren't it.

I think I’ve found my new fav Katherine Center book and I know I say that about every one of her books but this one for sure rises to the top! I mean, a romcom about romantic comedy writers? Sign me up!
Emma has been her father’s caregiver for the past 10 years after a life altering accident leaves him disabled and her mother is killed. She has been writing in her spare time but she gets an amazing opportunity to write a screen play with the one and only Charlie Yates. Only when she looks at it, it’s a total mess s she breaks down and agrees to get her sister to come home and take care of her dad so she can go to California, only to find out when she gets there that Charlie knows nothing of this whole plan cooked up by their agent to have them work together.
Charlie is a screenwriter who is looking to get his next story into production and to do that he needs to get his romcom fixed but there’s just one problem-he doesn’t believe in love!
Side note: I loved the Jack Stapleton from the Bodyguard cameo!!
Despite this being a romcom, there are a few triggers: death of a parent, traumatic brain injury, fear of water being just a few of them
The audiobook was narrated by Patti Muran who did a great job at portraying the various characters. There is also a bonus chapter at the end that is narrated by Katherine Center
Thanks to Macmillan Audion for this ALC in exchange for my review.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center was a book to make you laugh, cry, and love. I strongly resonated with our female main character, Emma, as an eldest sister myself. I saw so much of myself in her, and it made the story more special to me. I enjoyed reading about Emma and Charlie together. Their wit, humor, and charm together made this book. However, the more emotional aspects of their relationship, and this book overall, made the message and themes hit home. Patti Murin was a fantastic narrator, and I felt that her soft-spoken voice was lovely to listen to while also being able to capture Emma's personality. I highly recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center in physical, eBook, or audiobook format!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Patti Murin, and Katherine Center for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️
TW: parental death, trauma, parental illness, caregiver responsibilities, fear of water, divorce

I truly loved this book. It hit close for me as one of my parents had an accident that left them needing round the clock care. I related to Emma as the eldest daughter and to her selfless personality. I love her wit, humor, and humility. Charlie’s charm was everything.

I enjoyed the narration by the soft spoken Patti Murin. When I closed my eyes, at times, I thought Selena Gomez was narrating.

I wish I felt the connection between Emma and Charlie more strongly. Especially, in the closet scene. I don’t know if it was because I listening to the audiobook or what. I wanted to feel more tension in those close scenes. Emma and Charlie are a grumpy sunshine trope, but it works. I do wish Charlie wasn’t so mean to Emma throughout the book. It would have been a turn off for me if I was in Emma’s place.

I can’t recommend this book enough. This was my first read of Katherine Center’s, and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love books that make me laugh and this one did. What a great story about dreams, family and love.

What happens when you fall in love with someone who does not believe in love? What happens when the writer that you think is the best doesn't want to work with you or even meet you? How do you trust anyone to look after a family member that you love?. The only way to find out the answers to these questions is to read this wonderful book.

My favorite way to finish books is to go back and forth between an audiobook and an ebook. So I read this one and listened. The narrators - Katherine Center and Patti Murin did a great job of making the story come to life. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook.

YES! Katherine Center is here to save our summer. This is yet again another ray of sunshine, warm hug of a book...while also delivering a few gut punches along the way. As a fan of Golden Age Hollywood this was an especially fun treat. References to the romantic classics and more modern romantic comedies abound! Emma and Charlie were both great MCs with serious baggage to sort through and the supporting cast was solid as well. The only characters I took exception to were Logan - he felt like a pretty annoying and manipulative friend in most parts of the book for me, and TJ - no explanation needed.
Content warnings for: death of a parent, serious illness, near death experiences.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It makes me so sad that this is the first Katherine Center book that I have picked up. I immediately need to read her back list!! I listened to this book in one sitting, I could not put this down. This truly had everything I love in my books. Fun, Loving, Humor, sassy female main characters, and broody male main characters. It was just such a fun loving book. Even though this seem like it is just a cutesy romance, there is a lot more emotional topics in this book that actually took me by surprise. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and being frustrated with out characters but all in the best way. I was invested in Charlie and Emma story from the get to and was rooting for them the entire time.

I cannot wait to read more of Katherine's book!