📚Book Review - The ROM-Commers 📚

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Katherine Center is an auto buy author for me so I was super excited to get The Rom-Commers from NetGalley.

Emma aspires to be a screenwriter but after her mother’s death and father’s injury she sets her dreams aside to manage her dad’s health and help raise her younger sister. When her agent lands her a deal rewriting her favorite screenwriter’s rom-com script, it’s an offer she can’t refuse.

There’s always so much I adorable about Katherine Center’s books. I loved the humor woven throughout the book, the connections to her previous book The Bodyguard and the polar opposite main characters.

Emma is sweet, thoughtful and puts the people she loves before herself in every situation. Charlie is stubborn, eclectic and initially self-absorbed. I love the grumpy sunshine trope and Katherine Center does it so well! I appreciate that her characters grow and change throughout the book from the lessons they learn and the relationships they form.

I love listening to Katherine Center books on audio. They are always so well done and I enjoy every minute.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

This is an amazing read. I absolutely love Charlie and Emma from their first appearance on page until their very last. Their romance is full of twists and turns that is enjoyable to read. Their quirkiness adds to the enjoyment of the story and characters. These two were so much fun to spend time with. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I love the family and friend aspects of this story.

Katherine Center has this amazing way of expressing human experiences and emotions through her characters and what they go through during her stories. This book is no different. I cried, laughed and swooned. This book touched my heart and soul and left me wanting to read it all over again. This book packs a punch in the best possible way.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this audiobook was just PERFECT! I loved the narrator, the story, the banter, and the ending. I would 100% recommend this book- it’s definitely in my top 3 favorite Katherine Center books (yeah I still can’t decide) and it gave me all the warm & fuzzies.

This is one of those Katherine Center's that very feely, made me cry, and had a good romance. On the Rom-com spectrum, it's much closer to a drama than a comedy. It was heart wrenching, but never made me laugh.

This book is so bingeable! I read this so fast in a day. I was so invested in how everything would turn out (mostly the movie script that they were writing, and the character of of Charlie). It's primarily about the joy of writing, caretaking of your family, and letting people in despite past relationship trauma.

The audiobook performance is average. Not annoying or bad in any way, not it didn't blow me away.

A video review including this book will be on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks, @ChloeFrizzle

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.

when I say that I REALLY enjoyed this book, that is very much high praise indeed! The narrator, Patti Murin did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and plot to life.

I opted to read this book because I’ve seen the book community gush over how excellent Katherine center books are and decided it was worth an honest shot, and I am very happy to say I had a blast and it was absolutely worth my time. I will definitely choose to read more of her work in the future.

The rom-commers follows two screen writers. Our MMC is a highly successful screen writer with many movies and awards under his belt, living up the high life in LA. Our FMC is a “failed” screenwriter (I feel it’s unfair to say failed as her dreams where halted due to being the sole caretaker of her father after a tragic incident), but as it stands her career just never took off.

Lucky for her, her ex beau is her manager and he sets her up with the task of helping our MMC resurrect his abominable attempt at his first ever rom-com write.

There is angst, banter, sexual tension, laughs, cries, everything your heart could desire. We have enemies to lovers, grumpy vs sunshine and an extraordinary loving and supportive family to the point they just make me want to cry happy tears.

At some points did I think wow this guy is an asshole? Yes, did sometimes I think wow that was so harsh I don’t know how I can emotionally recover? Also yes, but I loved every second and fully recommend. This may actually be my favourite romance book of all time, no cap.

Thank YOU Katherine center for this joyful work of art, thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy!

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒎-𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓
Pub date: June 11, 2024

I received this ARC audiobook and started it blindly expecting a rom-com (obviously), and I really enjoyed it! I would laugh and ✨ swoon✨ while cleaning or cooking as I listened; it reminded me of 90's romcom. Charlie's character was intriguing; his initial 'mean persona' only made me curious about his motivations or past. Emma’s selflessness towards her family was relatable, and I can understand all her frustrations. The blend of emotions and humor was beautifully done and the chemistry between them...chef's kiss. I LOVED the banter.

I also really loved that this book gives you a sense of hope and encourages you to find joy in the best way possible as harder days leave you no choice. I'd definitely go watch this, if made into film! I was also pleasantly surprised that she also added an extra layer of fun cameos, prompting me to want to read more of her work.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for providing me an advanced copy of this book!

[Content warning: cancer, death of a parent, traumatic brain injury, divorce]

I listened to this book as an audiobook. Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan audio! This was so funny. The voice actors did a great job on this. As the description suggests, the book is told about two writers who team up together on a project. Emma is a nobody while Charlie is a really big somebody. Emma is staying in his home for six weeks and during that time they really connect. This story is littered with drunken nights, test results, family troubles and even a guinea pig. It’s funny, touching and sweet.

I discovered this author last year and now I am in love with her books.
The book was utterly adorable and the perfect easy read for summer. The relationship and chemistry between the main characters was perfectly written.
The beginning was a little slow, but that is my only complaint.

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, for the review copies of the e-book and audiobook via NetGalley. (Available 11 June)

Where do I begin? I love Katherine Center. She’s a Ghirardelli chocolate brownie with chocolate chips, cooked in a cast iron skillet and topped with ice cream and hot fudge. She makes me smile, laugh, love love, and love stories. She reminds me that happiness is its own reward.

Emma put her screenwriting career on the back burner to care for her father. Only now, her high school best friend (and agent to superstar Charlie Yates) talks her into helping Charlie re-write an apocalyptically bad rom-com screenplay. Along the way, she teaches him why rom-coms provide so much joy.

As with other stories I love best, this one has interesting side characters to root for. There’s Emma’s spunky and sweet younger sister, who rolls in to take care of Dad while Emma gets her chance-of-a-lifetime. Then there’s Dad! “If there were a dad store, he’d be a bestseller. They’d have rows and rows of him for sale, right up front.”

As a bonus, take Center’s words, her joy, her love for love, and banter, and give them to actress/singer Patti Murin for delivery. She sparkles. The combination is pure genius, as I discovered last year with HELLO STRANGER. Even though I had a copy of the e-book, I knew to wait for the audiobook of this year’s gem.

To quote Emma, “All genres have a promise,” and romantic comedies promise to leave the audience happy and satisfied. In the hands of Katherine Center, it’s a promise you can take to the bank.

Emma Wheeler has been writing on the side for years. She would love for it to be her full-time job, but her "bigbreak" just hasn't happened... yet. So when her high-school friend/big shoot manager in La tells her about an opportunity, she thinks its too good to be true. I mean, who wouldn't want to write with "THE Charlie Yates"? So after securing her sister in the role of full-time caretaker f their father, Emma is off to LA. But when she arrives, she realizes working with Charlie Yates may not be the easiest of most fun opportunity, and she is quickly re-thinking her options.

Despite being very predictable, I really enjoyed this book. It is perfect for a fun summer read, with well-developed characters, and laughable comedic scenes, mixed in with truly corny heartfelt emotions as well. The audio quality of the book was good, with the narrators being easy to listen to, and enjoyable.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a such a joy to read, mixed with laugh-out-loud moments and bits of heartache sprinkled throughout.

The novel follows the story of Emma, a screenwriter who never got her break since she spent most of her adult life as a caregiver for her father. When she gets a call from ex-boyfriend turned literary agent, she flies to LA to ghost write for a celebrated screenwriter who’s got the yips! Charlie, our screenwriter, has written a new romantic comedy…and it is just awful! After a rocky start, he and Emma decide to rewrite the movie, getting closer as they work together.

Without spoiling too much, I’ll say the depth of character was truly great, and Emma’s backstory made me root for her. Emma does everything for everyone else; it’s time for her to shine! Charlie is insecure, which makes him so personable. I loved Charlie’s complicated, slightly self-loathing confusion regarding love. As soon as I’d fall for Charlie, he would say something rude again. But together, their banter was electric!

The audiobook narrative by Patti Murin was exceptional as always. I’d like her to narrate my life, please!

I really loved this book. The writing is smart and funny, but also makes you reflect on life and the time we have together on this earth. I smiled like a goof but also cried for our MCs.

It was a joy and a pleasure to read, complete with a line dancing Italian cowboy! Once again, Katherine Center has delivered!! It’s perfect for summer!

4 stars!

Katherine Center's "The Rom-Commers" is another fabulous addition to her already stellar catalog of work. Is there anything she can't do?! Seriously! Every single book she writes is wonderful. Center is in the business of writing comfort books, and that's just what we've got here. I found myself fully immersed in Emma and Charlie's story from the very beginning. Chapter one hooks you and then never lets you go. I liked the differences between Emma and Charlie. Where she is an unknown writer obsessed with Charlie's entire career, he is a famous, decorated writer with tons of money and fame and has no idea who she is. Where she loves love and loves writing about love, he doesn't believe in all that mumbo jumbo despite it fueling his career for years. Their vast differences make their pairing all the more delicious. Though Charlie starts out being a huge d1ck to Emma, he eventually comes around. As we learn more about why they both act as they do, we find that they are both carrying a lot of baggage with them. Their problems feel realistic and mostly fully fleshed-out, integrating well with the work and love aspects of the story. I found this story to be heartfelt and well-paced. I laughed a lot while reading it, and even got a little misty when it came to Emma's father and family dynamic. That part was very compelling (but I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say much more!). The book has a great ending and excellent side characters. My chief complaint is that I didn't feel a humongous spark between Emma and Charlie until the last few percentage points of the book. I would have liked a bit more depth between them. A lot of their connection felt surface-level and convenient because of their proximity to one another. It's not until the very end of the book that that changed for me. Still, I think almost everyone will enjoy this book (honestly, everyone should enjoy *most* of Katherine Center's books!). She is one of the few authors I've read who knows no misses. Patti Murin's audiobook narration is perfection. She brings authenticity to these characters and these situations!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

When aspiring screenwriter Emma gets a chance to work with long-admired, award-winning screenwriter Charlie Yates, she quickly finds out he isn’t all she dreamed he would be. They can’t agree on anything, and Charlie just wants a finished script, not caring if the storyline is terrible. Despite it all, Emma falls for Charlie, who keeps sending mixed messages while repeatedly rejecting Emma. Katherine Center fans will read, while others may want to pass.

I truly love Katherine Center. I’ve loved every book I’ve read by her. Her points of view on life, her descriptions, her plots, are all wonderfully written and well-researched. She’s truly one of the best!

Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms. There, I said it. It's true. Her stories are full of well-developed characters, interesting plot lines, miscommunications that drive a reader crazy, and satisfying endings. If you're looking for spice or smut, you won't find it here. You will find a story that tugs at your heart and some poignant statements about love and life. I'm definitely re-reading this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book in audio and digital versions. I thoroughly enjoyed both!

This beautifully crafted story is incredibly compelling. The plot is so thoughtfully constructed and skillfully written that I can't recommend it enough. The title grabs your attention and hints at a fresh take on romance, and that's exactly what you get. The characters are so richly developed that they feel like people you might know.

Let me just say -
Katherine Center DOES NOT FAIL and totally maintains her crown as queen of the Rom-Com (yes, I think I'm funny!) Emma is the perfect heroine - She's sacrificed her own personal life for 10 years to take care of her father after losing her mother in a tragic accident that she feels was her fault :( She's had no personal life - not much of a professional life - and she's still in it until something so magically perfect literally falls into her lap. Enter Charlie - who is Emma's very favorite writer ever - and is also a whole hot mess. I generally hate it when people are manipulated "for their own good" - but I have to admit - it works here!!! I loved the love story - because, who doesnt!?? There was an amazing amount of minor characters in this story that I came to love as well - especially sweet little broken hearted Cuthbert!! Patti Murin knocked it out of the park with the narration - one of my favorites!!! Many Many thanks to Netgalley, Katherine Center and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listeners copy of The Rom-Commers in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6461378669

TW: death of a parent, cancer, chronic health issues, grief,
I want to start this off by saying that I have loved every book I've ready by Katherine Center and anytime I see a new release, I HAVE to read it ASAP and this book did not disappoint. Patti Murin reads the MCs dialoge in a believable manner with the perfect character and qualities.
Emma has always taken care of everyone and helped everyone follow their dreams, but along the way she forgot to allow herself the same joys. After an accident that kills her mom and seriously injures her dad, Emma takes over as primary caregiver to her fathers complex medical needs in order to keep him safe and allow for her sister to lead a full life without worry. Being passionate about happily ever afters, movies, and writing for for ever... the isolation she has kept herself in has allowed her to continue honing in on her craft and becoming quite good.
When the opportunity to work with her screen writing idol, Charlie Yates, becomes avaliable, Emma is pushed by her family to unleash her control on her dads care and travel across the country to work with Charlie. Their dynamic is complicated with Charlie not believing in happily ever afters and hating Rom-Coms and those being Emmas forte. Eventually they create a peaceful dynamic full of the best banter, homecooked meals, and productive days spent working out a rom-com screen play that is more than just good enough.
I absolutly loved Charlie and Emma's dynamic. Both pushed eachother to go outside of their comfort zones and make room for love in their lives. Their banter was funny and there were some seriously sad moments. From laughing to crying, this book had it all.

From the moment I cracked open the pages of The Rom-Commers, I was transported to a world where every sentence felt like a revelation. I found myself enveloped in a world where laughter and heartache intertwine seamlessly, leaving an indelible mark on the soul.

Center, known for her knack for weaving tales of love and resilience, takes readers on a delightful journey through the trials and triumphs of her characters. Set against the backdrop of California and New York City "The Rom-Commers" introduces us to a cast of characters. Emma, the wanna be writer who takes care of her father and younger sister leaving little time for herself. Sylivie, Emma little sister who is not so little anymore and wants to help take care of their dad. Dad, 55, is plagued with health issues since falling while rock climbing with Emma's mom, needs constant care. Enter Logan, Emma's best friend since childhood. Logan encourages Emma to fly out to California to meet with the famous screen play writer Charlie Yates. Emma adores Charlie's work so she lines up her sister to care for their dad and heads out. When she arrives she has a few unexpected surprises in store. She must live with Charlie for six weeks while the rewrite a horrible screen play. That's the beginning of many antics throughout the story. Center deftly explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationships and what it means to truly find happiness.

"The Rom-Commers" is not just a book – it's an experience that will leave you smiling long after you've turned the final page.

Special thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really like this sweet story of a would-be screenwriter coming to in to fix the awful screenplay of one of her idols. Emma Wheeler loves Charlie Yates’ work & is excited to read his newest screenplay- a romantic comedy. Only to realize it’s terrible. This has a lot of fun rom-com tropes, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine. I loved the slow burn of their relationship. They both have a lot of baggage that’s slowly revealed. And great chemistry!