Katherine Center is the queen of romance. My favorite part about all of her books is she unabashedly defends this INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT genre! Each book of hers reminds us of the importance of love, connection, and HOPE! I simply can not get enough of her books, The Rom-Commers included!

The Rom-commers by Katherine Center
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Pub date: June 11

This book has me obsessed. I loved it so much! By far my favorite Katherine Center book I’ve ever read.

It is the perfect balance of hilarious and deeply emotional. The characters had so many real-life things that tried to break them and I loved watching how they got to the end.

Katherine Center in this book is a model to all authors and publishers on how a book can be phenomenal without needing to add a single explicit scene - and it’s so good, by the end you don’t even realize it wasn’t there. Katherine followed the characters wherever they led her and didn’t fall prey to the need to add spice for the sake of spice. BRAVO. 👏🏻

I also had so many FEELS for the way she called out anyone who doesn’t believe in love or the romance genre. ❤️‍🔥 It is so well written. (Especially after that authors note at the end of Hello Stranger. I see you Katherine. 💯👏🏻🔥)

I read this via audiobook and enjoyed it! It had no issues that stood out.

Perfect for you if you like:
Funny + emotional
Navigating grief
Hitting rock bottom + coming back
Forced proximity/roommates
Chronic illness/caretaker rep

Charlie and Emma are such fantastic characters in this well-written real-life romcom.

Charlie is a big-time screenwriter and when Emma gets her break to help him with a romcom, her dreams come true…or so she thinks…but not really… The banter and wit of this enemies-to-love float this plot along in a sea of fluff and sparks. I loved watching this duo work together like a match striking against sandpaper. All the feels for this one, especially as Emma managed to take the highroad time and time again.

Katherine Center successfully muddles through difficult topics like loss, grief, navigating broken relationships, and illness, and the lightness of a romcom is maintained. I loved the vibe and feel of this story, with the forced proximity and character growth. The narrators were fabulous and the author’s note at the end was the chef’s kiss to a sweet romance.

Content: fade-to-black romance with some innuendo; very strong language

This is a love story [book] about a woman who is writing a love story [screenplay]. I knew better. It's a pet peeve of mine when the character/narrator is oblivious to the meta-world they've been created in, so I had a hard time getting into this one. The male character, a wealthy successful writer, stayed a little angsty for a little too long and left some unfinished business for me (why did you say such horrible things to your ex wife about this new writer when you didn't know she was eavesdropping?). The excuse of "I pushed you away for your own good!" also never sits well with me, especially when the female lead is presented so strong and independent. The epilogue worked overtime to tie up a lot of loose ends but it turned out those were the parts I wanted more details about. I did enjoy some references to other Katherine Center books (The Bodyguard) and maybe these characters will appear in the future. Smooth writing and a story that was easy to follow kept me listening to this audiobook. I appreciate the copy I was given by NetGalley and look forward to more from this author.

Emma Wheeler is about to meet her idol, only to discover he is kind of a jerk (or at least he acts like one). When Emma is given the opportunity to ghost write a script with famous screenwriter Charlie Yates, she can't turn down the opportunity. . . that is until she realizes Charlie never agreed to bringing in a ghost writer. Cue glorious rivalry and bad first impression banter, that quickly evolves into a far deeper relationship.

Katherine Center won my heart with The BodyGuard and Hello Stranger and The Rom-Commers was just as delightful a read. It is funny, sexy, emotional and sweet. Reading this was a wonderful way to spend a weekend!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for granting me access to an ALC of this book! The Narrator, Patti Murin does a fantastic job of bringing each of the characters to life and the sound quality was outstanding.

Emma (whom I completely picture as Debra Messing) has dreamed of becoming a screenwriter and one of her all time favorite screenwriters is Charlie, she ends up getting the opportunity to work with him on a romantic comedy a subject he knows nothing about, what could possibly go wrong!
Patti Murin did great as the narrator, I was completely immersed into the story. Her voice was clear and distinctive between characters. At times the book did seem to drag but I think that was more on how descriptive the author was with the story. Overall this is a cute and witty, you guessed it, Rom-Com!

4.5 Stars! This is another great book by Katherine Center. I liked Emma and Charlie's characters. They are both struggling with their own issues, but they work as they write a novel together. I enjoyed the LA setting and the humor in this book as well. I liked the importance of family is emphasized and it's an enjoyable read overall! I listened to the audiobook and it is fantastic! Thank you Macmillan audio for an early copy of this great book!

4.85⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for this arc, I got lucky. This book means SO much to me, truly. I read it at the perfect time in my life, wow. The idea of this book is so unique and fun, and the execution is 100x better. I became obsessed with this book from page one, i loved the writing style, its so casual yet quirky in its own way. I haven’t read a romcom that lived up to its name in a while. This book put the ‘COM’ in rom-com. I mean, i genuinely laughed out loud, multiple times!!!! This book had me smiling, and lit up my heart. This book balanced heavy topics like grief and trauma with the topics of romance and pure joy in such a good way. The romance in this book healed a part of me. The character developement of both Emma and Charlie? Amazing. And the developement of their relationship was even better. I mean this man started as an asshole, but was he…? 🤭. The jealousy in this book was REALLLLL!!!! And its not in the unrealistic “ill kill a man if he looks at u” way, its the realistic and heartwarming “ill tie your shoes for you because ill die before i see another man flirt with you again” type of way. It sounds weird when i say it like that, but i understand myself. And it wasn’t just him who was jealous, it was her too, ughhhh so cuteeeeeee. They make me smile so damn hard, i love them, like FULL ON uncontrollable smiling. They’re such a perfect couple, u didnt even mind the miscommunications that happened through out. This book had me kicking my legs, but also rethinking my whole life. I was gonna throw up, cause why is Emma so relatable, she is me, i am her. The themes about mental health and healing in this book hit close to home. This book made me crave that type of raw and unconditional love. And i took some advice from this book, i mean who does that, actually learn from a book? LOSER!!!! [Me, i did that]. “All we have is what we have.” Damn. This book is therapy for me, i turned into a philosopher. No one will understand how much i love this book; this is my book only, im taking it off the market. I loved this book. Its one of the best books ive read this year, i havent felt pure glee over a book in so long. This is THEE rom com of rom coms.

working through writers block with Charlie & Emma 📝🎧🌸

The Rom-Commers by @katherinecenter

When I say this has been one of my favorite reads to date, I am not exaggerating.

Charlie is a celebrated screen writer, “living it up” in LA, while Emma is close to home with family and responsibilities. When she’s offered the job opportunity of a lifetime to help her all time favorite writer and role model ghost write a rom-com she hesitates to take it but is finally convinced it’s her time to shine.

I never knew I needed to experience a friendship like theirs. The wit, humor, banter and overall literal friendship they develop as they’re working together was absolutely amazing.

She challenges him, he challenges her. He doesn’t believe in love which is a huge reason why his rom-com is so terrible. She only believes in love and has a 257 part best kiss during rom-coms spreadsheet to refer back to at any given moment. All she does is believe in love.

Line dancing lessons, the toll of living with someone who’s health isn’t what it once was, a touch of celebrity status perspective and overall regular life and normalcy in grocery shopping and cooking together give this so many different emotions and keep you hooked from page one.

I have yet to pick up a story by K. Center I haven’t liked, but this is an all time favorite of all favorites for me.

The Rom-Com of all Rom-Coms 💖✨🧡

5⭐️, I wish I could give it 10⭐️.

I had such a fun time listening to this! I loved the entire story from start to finish and will definitely be looking for more from this author. I laughed countless times, loved all the banter and thought the overall story was really great!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for early access to this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me, and her new book The Rom-Commers did not disappoint! I was hooked from beginning to end of this audio book, and I couldn't stop smiling and yelling with delight throughout the whole narrative. You're left on the edge of your seat, counting down the pages to see how Emma and Charlie, the main characters, would react to each turn of the story.
Emma Wheeler's dream to become a renowned screenwriter is put on hold when an accident in her past leads to her being her father's full-time caregiver. She bolts at the chance to rewrite a screenplay for her hero, Charlie Yates, coming to L.A. to take the job. Charlie, though, is unwilling to work with anyone. Emma is determined to prove herself and uphold the value of romantic comedies despite their differences. Together, she and Charlie explore surprising emotions and possibilities that change Emma's fixed ideas about love.

2.75 stars

i'm honestly so unimpressed by this and im sad abt it cuz it had everything to be a good book but omg the mmc was so unlikeable. like towards the end he didn't get on my nerves anymore but i still did not like him and idrk what the fmc likes about him but oh well.

speaking of Emma, i liked her but not that much 😭 her story made me super emotional and shes a good person but i just couldn't connect with her at all.

also Logan? it's on sight when i catch him, he's a TERRIBLE friend

I was more interested in literally all my side characters rather than the main ones

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. I was given an audiobook copy.

This was a witty, quirky, romantic, and hilarious story. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and I was laughing and crying in parts.

Two screen writers, one with romance on the brain and the other stubborn towards the idea of romance but Emma won’t let Charlie get away with his thoughts so easily.

You will laugh, get mad and cheer on the underdog throughout this book. Well written and enjoyable.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! I enjoyed the audiobook narration. This was cute and made for a nice pallet cleanser. It was my first Katherine Center book so I went in not really knowing what to expect.. I LOVE a good forced-proximity rom-com, but this felt a little lack-luster given the potential for more dialogue and romance build. I found Emma's inner dialogue a bit annoying/repetitive and Charlie will not go down as one of my favorite MMC's.

I needed a lighter book after reading something heavy, so what better book to pick up than The Rom-Commers by one of my favorite authors? This book has KC's signature quirk and fun side while also tackling heavier topics... but it's more akin to The Bodyguard than How To Walk Away/Things You Save In A Fire (iykyk).

This book follows two screenwriters - one is well-established in his career, has the awards in a drawer to prove it, while the other is a ghostwriters and has no accolades at all. He hires her to help him fix a screenplay for a romcom he's writing - something out of his depth, especially given that he doesn't believe in love.

I really enjoyed this one for the most part, but both of the characters REALLY got on my nerves at points. Her self-esteem issues made me want to shake her at points, and there is nothing I hate more than when a man says REALLY mean things about a woman and they just get brushed under the rug (which happens a lot in this book).

I thought the audiobook was well-produced, but the narrator wasn't a favorite of mine. Still enjoyed listening to it, though!

Despite the bumps in the road, I was rooting for these two, and the ending had me absolutely sobbing by the end. I overall would recommend giving it a read!! 3.5 star rating, rounded up since she's a favorite author of mine.

This is so painful for me to do but I have to give this book 2 stars. I honestly wanted to give it 1, but I've read and liked many other Katherine Center books so I couldn't in good faith go all the way to 1.

I am SO CONFUSED by this book. Neither of the main characters were interesting. Their banter felt forced and over the top. They had NO chemistry and in fact he was mean to her over and over again and she didn't even really seem to like him all that much either.

The story felt ironic because it centered around a screenwriter who wrote a terrible Rom-Com which is exactly what this book is.

There were so many cringey, eye roll moments and the ending was terrible. I'm honestly so confused about what is going on here. Usually with most books I don't enjoy, I can find something salvageable in the writing or I can understand how the story might resonate with others - I'm struggling with this one.

My favorite of hers is The Bodyguard which was the most recent one of hers and compared to this one is why I'm just so confused.

Emma is a writer who has passed up opportunities to further her career because she is her father’s primary caretaker. But when a friend calls her and describes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-write a romantic comedy script with one of the most famous screenwriters of today, Charlie Yates, Emma can’t say no. And after her dad and sister hear about the opportunity, they make it impossible for her to not go. Unfortunately, Emma finds out too late what Charlie Yates thinks about romance and love, and the journey she sets out on to prove to him that love is not “an emotional Ponzi scheme” turns out to be something she never bargained for.

I simply ADORE this book and storyline! Katherine Center never fails to deliver a truly heart-warming and slightly heart-breaking story about love, the realities of life, and truly comedic moments. I fell in love with Emma and Charlie, their stories, and all the other characters that made this story so incredibly special. Not a single character was presented as one-sided, but rather each character was presented with their flaws as well as their strengths, making the story complete and realistic. I felt like I could relate to the characters.

THANK YOU Macmillan Audio for providing me with the audiobook version of this book through NetGalley. All opinions listed here are only mine. The audiobook made it that much more special. The narrator was excellent and brought life to the story that took it up a notch. For each character, she created a distinct voice which greatly helped in the reader experience. Personally, I typically opt to read the physical copy of books, but this was a wonderful audiobook production. My recommendation is the audiobook, as it gave the story a fullness that I do not think I would’ve gotten from an ebook or physical copy. The overall experience with the audiobook was all-around enjoyable.

This is the perfect spring/summer read for lovers of Katherine Center’s other books, lovers of happily-ever-afters, and even for those who do not really “believe” in love. Let this book surprise you. Open up your world to a genre you may not generally lean toward.

This was yet another great Katherine Center read for me! While she heavily incorporates injury, illness and/or tragedy in her stories, it is written so well into the plot. Knowing this may want some to consider their trigger warnings. If you're looking for an enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, romcom about romcoms and heartwarming romance as your next read/listen.. I highly recommend this one!
The narrator does an amazing job of changing up her voice to distinguish between characters - definitely recommend as an audiobook!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story was very interesting and I was rooting for the main characters the whole time. The romance was very well written as well.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my free audioARC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center — available Jun 11!

Read this if you:
🩷 need a laugh — it's a solid romcom about romcoms
🔆 ever made sacrifices for your loved ones
🤠 have gone line dancing and been terrible at it (meee)

Emma is obsessive about her dream to become a screenwriter, but she's always worked from home, as she's the caretaker for her father. When the chance comes up to rewrite a romcom script with her idol, Charlie Yates, she heads to LA for six weeks to get it done. Only two giant problems — the script is abysmal and Charlie doesn't want her help. Can Emma change his mind, not only about her helping, but also about whether or not love is even real?

Katherine Center has thus far been hit (The Bodyguard) or miss (Hello Stranger) for me, and fortunately this one was a hit! I found the back-and-forth between Emma and Charlie pretty hilarious, and enjoyed watching them fall for each other over the course of the story. I do find that Katherine Center leans so heavily on illness, injury, and tragedy in her books, so that can be sort of off-putting in a romance, but I think those elements come together decently well in this particular case. I'd watch the screenplay these two wrote, for sure!

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