Emma Wheeler is a glass-half-full kind of gal. Despite devastating tragedy impacting her family and causing her to become her father's full-time caretaker, she loves her life. She has made peace with giving up her dream to be a world-famous screenwriter and is content with her humble life as a writing teacher at the local community college and writing scripts here in there. Suddenly, an opportunity to write a script with her idol, Charlie Yates, falls into her lap and she decides to make a leap. Emma leaves her life behind, relinquishes her caretaking duties to her younger sister, and heads out to LA with nothing but a dream. The only problem is...Charlie doesn't know shes coming and he really, really, really doesn't want her help. Grumpy meets sunshine in this dynamic rom-com and Emma wonders if her heart will be able to remain unscathed after her whirlwind Hollywood adventure.

This book includes:
- the best grumpy-sunshine banter everrrrrrr
- optimism in the face of tragedy
- quirky friendships
- family tragedy and the strength that can grow from it
- Hollywood dream come true
- happily ever after
- spice-free romance

"The Rom-Commers" is so fun and lovely. It takes us through a wonderful journey of two people who have faced great personal tragedy and fall in love. I loved the way that the theme of joy and kindness in the face of grief was a major throughline in the story; it added an extra layer of tenderness and warmth to the reading experience. I loved Emma's ernest bubbliness and Charlie's gruff affection. Their banter kept me on my toes and their dynamic was exciting. They are the perfect match!

I listened to this book on audio and was a big fan of both of the narrators. The production was great as well.

I recommend this book to fans of "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" and those of us who will eat up any Katherine Heigl romcom movies from her 2008 - 2012 period. This book is so fun that my friend who loves romcoms, but hates audiobooks and never reads even fell in love with the story and listened with me.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Katherine Center, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

Funny, emotional, family ties, just a little bit cliche - everything I want in a romance story! Realistic in a way that it would absolutely never happen in my life - a nice escape from reality. Will look forward to other works by this author!

The Rom-Commers is SOOO cute! I absolutely adore Charlie & Emma! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Patti Murin is the perfect narrator for Emma! & I love that she's telling this story to us!

Publisher's summary
She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?
Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies—good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates—The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!—it’s a break too big to pass up.
Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone—much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script—it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.
But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter—even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules—and comes true?

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC

The Rom-Commers
A Novel
By: Katherine Center
Narrated by: Katherine Center, Patti Murin
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release date: 06-11-24

This was my first Katherine Center novel and I can say with confidence that it will not be my last. I really enjoyed this cute lil story!!

The Rom-Commers tells the story of Emma Wheeler. Emma's high-school-boyfriend-who-turned-out-to-be-gay-so-they're-still-friends, Logan, lives in LA as an agent for the stars. One of these being the wildly successful Charlie Yates, a screenwriter that Emma has looked up to and adored for years. When Logan calls Emma up with an opportunity to ghost write with THE Charlie Yates, she seizes it. However, upon her arrival in LA, she realizes <i>really</i> didn't know what she was in for.

Emma and Charlie's story is sweet, funny, and made me feel all the warm-fuzzies. I adored it. I have a hard time giving romances 5-star reviews just on premise because they're all (largely) the same. That's the only reason I'm keeping this one at a 4 haha. I'd definitely recommend this one if you want a quick-read love story that makes you grin, but still pulls at some of those emotional heart-strings with the depth of Emma and Charlie's character's personal circumstances.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook! :)

"The Rom-Commers" is a delightful rom-com that follows Emma Wheeler's dream of becoming a screenwriter. Despite her passion for the craft, her responsibilities as a caregiver for her father have kept her from whole-heartedly pursuing her career. When her high school sweetheart, now a literary agent, offers her a chance to rewrite a lackluster Rom-Com screenplay by renowned writer Charlie Yates, Emma sees it as a golden opportunity. However, Yates, who doesn't believe in love, presents a formidable challenge for Emma.

I thoroughly enjoyed both the audiobook and the e-book editions of "The Rom-Commers." The audiobook includes two additional treats not found in the e-book: a delightful bonus chapter narrated from Charlie's perspective and an insightful discussion by Katherine Center on her affection for love stories.

Katherine Center delivers warm and fuzzy romance in all of her work. There is humor, warmth and good messages. I reach for a Katherine Center novel when I want a fun and light read. It's similar to all the feelings one gets when watching a Japanese or Korean love drama. That being said, I think this novel could have been better. A romance novel (or any novel for that matter) is better if it's plausible, in my opinion. There were a lot of details that screamed fiction in this book. Starting with a famous (drawer full of awards and best of all time) screen writer who is thirty years old. I felt Charlie's character should have been older to have so much acclaim and fame for his work as well as lived life experiences. His character could be richer and more believable if we had a full realistic back-story for him. I also thought the accident and death of Emma's mother and Charlie's fear of water could have been more believable. Some of the language in the book makes it hard to take it seriously - would Emma's father really master so many one-handed hobbies (it's a lengthy and unlikely/implausible list)? These details are fun and cute but make for unrealistic fiction (which interrupts the flow for me). I prefer realistic romance novels that are funny, heartwarming and sweet to read. I still love Katherine Center and I enjoyed this novel but in my opinion it could have been better.

Proves yet again why Katherine Center is an auto-buy author when it comes to rom coms. Center manages to write flawed characters going through the challenges life throws at them with compassion, but never in a way that feels preachy or forced. The grumpy sunshine romance was delectable in this one!

The Rom-Commers is a delightful romance novel that follows the journey of two screenwriters navigating love and life in Los Angeles. Emma's tight-knit bond with her wise father adds a touching layer to the story, offering valuable insights into life and love.

Readers will empathize with the Emma's internal struggles and guilt, cheering her on as she finds her way to redemption. Meanwhile, Charlie's guarded exterior gradually melts away, revealing a deeply endearing character with a compelling backstory.

The encounters between Emma and celebrities add a fun and glamorous touch to the narrative, keeping readers entertained throughout. Overall, The Rom-Commers is a charming tale of love, resilience, and self-discovery that will leave readers swooning until the very end.

I was able to get a hold of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review. Katherine Center has become one of my automatic reads, and this book was especially funny.
This is the kind of book you want to pick up when you’re in the mood for a silly romance (meaning you have to stretch what you think could happen in real life to have some fun in this fictional world), I couldn’t help but smile and bookmark some of the cute quotes throughout this book. If you love positive main characters and very slightly pessimistic side characters, I would highly recommend Katherine’s books.
In this book particularly, Emma is a strong female lead that sticks to what she believes in and finds evidence whenever someone doesn’t believe it. For 10 years she helps take care of her father before she has an opportunity in LA to screen write with a famous screenwriter and her sister helps out while she’s away. Emma seems so fun and adventurous that it seems hard to believe that she held herself back for that many years, it was certainly a treat to see what happens to Emma and see her prove everyone- and maybe sometimes herself- wrong.

This was such a fun book that also tackled some serious issues. I enjoyed the female MC but not so much the male. I also felt like the assumption of having cancer and then finding out it was only bronchitis was a little far fetched.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an audiobook arc of The RomCommers in exchange for an honest review! I adored this book!!!! In an attempt not to be cheesy, I won’t say that it was the perfect romcom (though it was), I’ll just say that it made me feel all of the feelings that I love to feel while reading a book in this genre. I giggled, I cried, I got frustrated, and most importantly, I fell in love with both of these characters. Katherine Center knows how to nail the perfect formula of romance, humor, real life, and the magic of books, and I stand by that. This is simply a delightful book, and if you’re a fan of love, it’s going to be a book you adore.

This was SO good! Katherine Center and her ability to express the meaning of love and why love stories are so important is so profound. Loved these characters, the depth of their life experiences, and how they came together in the end.

The audio was very well done and brought so much emotion to the story it made me teary at points.

This book was like a warm hug for my soul. I was silly grinning the whole time. I love the grump and sunshine trope and this version did not disappoint. A little more of an emotional rollercoaster than I usually expect from Center, but I am HERE for it.

I absolutely adore Katherine Center and her novels. The Rom-Commers may be my favorite thing she has written yet. This story could not have been written by someone who didn’t have an adoring love for romance and romance stories.

This story does all of the best parts of romance. It takes romance and puts it in the perspective of real life. It proves that love can still happen even without the best of circumstances.

The relationship between Emma and Charlie was delightful to read. It takes someone special to write two people that are so well meant for each other. Each of their characteristics meant to work together to make the other better. The chemistry was so palpable that I hardly even noticed/cared that it was closed door. Because it felt like that was not even needed.

The relationship with Emma, her father, and her sister was beautiful. It showed growth and real, genuine struggle in a way that made it feel realistic. It touched on those things we think deep down, even when we know it isn’t true and acknowledges those feelings. It shows that sometimes people say hurtful things in the heat of the moment, but proves that that’s all it was. It shows that hard times do not have to last.

This is the first time an audiobook has made me cry, and I will forever love it for that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this story.

Honestly? This is a better book to listen to than physically read, but it's a good book either way! Also, I loved the callback towards the end. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved listening to the Rom-Commers! I especially enjoyed the extra chapter and note from the author included in my edition. This book was a length that felt like I really got to know and invest in the characters! Put it at the top of your to be listened to stack!

I think this may just be the best rom-com I have ever read.

Katherine Center so perfectly translates the complexities and nuances of human relationships to page. Her characters have so much depth, contradiction, humor and lovability. There is drama without being dramatic. (*I just can’t with the Colleen Hoover books* ). I love that her stories are so down to earth that I could see myself being a friend or neighbor to her characters, and live easily in their worlds. Her books are somehow just normal and also extraordinary.

The Rom-Commers follows Emma, our neurotic and fiery heroine who after years of putting herself aside to take care of her ailing dad, finally takes the chance of a lifetime- to rewrite a script for one of her idols, the broody, but sexy, Charlie Yates. Of course Charlie, is, maybe must a *tad* reluctant. This set-up is everything. I eat up grumpy-sunshine and there is no shortage here. However, Charlie is so much more than just a grump. He’s a cinnamon roll with a complicated, protective backstory that took me on an emotional ride. And Emma too is more than just the quirky sunshine she seems. Her hurt runs deep, bottled up to protect her, and when it finally bubbles up, it’s so raw and relatable that I was left gut crying in the school drop-off line. Oops 😅 (Not me waving at the teacher, yelling out the window that I’m ok, it’s just a good book). Yep, that happened.

Read this book. If you love Bridget Jones, Notting Hill, One Fine Day, Jerry McGuire, Never Been Kissed, etc. If you live for a good 90s romcom. Do yourself this favor. It reads like a movie. I don’t know how to explain it, but it does. Some books are just magic.

Fav quote: “A world without me was suboptimal, but a world without Emma was impossible”. 😭 If you can listen to the audiobook and hear this bonus chapter, do it. It crushed my heart and I loved every second.

To Katherine Center, YES, YOUR “hopeful stories about human connection [DO] have cultural value”! 🧁


Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the chance to listen to and review this book.

💖 What’s it about?
Emma has given up her screenwriting dreams to care for her father, who was seriously injured in a hiking accident and needs full time care. But when her friend Logan secures her the opportunity of a lifetime—to ghost write a romcom for the famous screenwriter of her dreams in L.A. for six weeks—her sister won’t let her say no.

Emma flies to L.A. with stars in her eyes—only to learn that the opportunity is not at all what it seems. Screenwriter Charlie wants nothing to do with Emma or love, but they come to an agreement to try and make it work.

Soon the two lonely writers come to a comfortable living arrangement, and their pull to each other is undeniable.

💖 My thoughts:

Katherine! This book is amazing. I laughed out loud the whole time. Not only is this book a beautiful story about what love means in all of its forms (family, caretaking, romance), but it’s the perfect ode to romance movies and books.

And also, did I mention it’s hilarious?

So many small quirks made me guffaw. And the line-dancing chapter alone was enough to bring tears of laughter to my eyes.

I just loved this book so, so much and can’t wait to add a hard copy to my shelves!

🎧 And if you are an audiobook person like me, you will love @pattimurin reading this one! Amazing work!

4.5/5 (rounded up)

I really enjoyed this. The narrator did a good job with distinct voices for each character. This was a slow burn, but the story itself I felt was a good pace, and it held my attention throughout. There were many parts that had me laughing 🤣 and I even cried a little. Highly recommend.

This was everything I needed and more without even knowing it . It was sweet and real and heartbreaking. It made me want to shout, cry, and not care if the entire town heard me and complained to everyone else about my dramatics. The narration was excellent. The characters were so relatable. The dialogue flowed naturally and the pacing was perfect. You couldn’t help but be fully invested in the plot. I am going to definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me enjoy this book in anticipation of its release. The views presented are my own.