Another beautiful story from one of my favorites, releasing on June 11. Thank you so much to #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio and #KatherineCenter for the opportunity listen to the audiobook in advance!

In an author’s note here, Katherine Center offers a defense of love stories, an oft-maligned genre. She speaks about how they’re stories of human connection and how by the end of these stories, the characters need to have figured some things out — how to nurture, how to communicate, how to forgive. Maybe I love her novels so much because of this; because they’re so relatable, because I always learn from the characters’ evolutions. In this one, there was a line from the MC’s father, who lives with multiple disabilities following a tragic accident— “Whatever the story you tell yourself about your life, that’s the way your life is going to be” — that I deeply needed to hear right about now and will resonate in my mind for quite some time.

A character you wouldn’t expect also gives a compelling speech in defense of love stories in this book, and love in general, after writing a surprise romantic comedy movie script that was not exactly in their wheelhouse. Along the way, there are fun and compelling plot points about:

* ferrets
* Esther Williams’ pool, complete with a high dive that probably wouldn’t pass a modern home inspection
* Jack Stapleton and his legendary visits to hospital patients, if you enjoy nods to other books!
* how we buy into narratives about what we deserve, to the point of punishing ourselves and becoming our own self-fulfilling prophecies (this one resonated with me so hard!)
* how there is life on the other side of tragedy, if you want it enough
* how “happily ever after” is relative, and that’s OK

This is a beautiful and worthwhile book. It’s also funny and had me laughing out loud several times. Grab it when it comes out! I will likely do the same to share a copy with my book club friends.

First, I want to give some love to Patti, our narrator. I Love listening to Patti Murin because she definitely does justice for all books she narrates. She has a comforting tone of voice and really knows how emote when she’s narrating all parts

Ok now the book… GAWD I haven’t had a 5star rating in over a month! And I thought my ‘emotions’ were off kilter, but no… I was just waiting for the right book to hit all the buttons in me to be a 5star read and Katherine did it. With every one of her books I read or listen to… I love her writing more and more.

I love Charlie and Emma! Laughter was out loud! Sarcasm was checked and I smirked! And man….tears were shed…. I had to keep those in check as I was listening to the end of the book driving to work, but if i had been at home i would be bawling!

The last 20% of the book… 😭🥹😩🙈🥺🙂🙃😆😅. All the emotions were had! And thats what makes this a 5 star for me, when I feel the butterflies in my stomach, when I cant stop listening even though im already late for work 😅. It was EVERYTHING. And i cant wait for her next book!!!!!

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲𝘀:
🧡Forced Proximity
🧡Grumpy/ Sunshine
🧡He’s Famous
🧡Witty Banter
🧡Care Giver
🧡Single POV

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved listening to Katherine Center’s new book The Rom-Commers! This was such a fun read. The story follows Emma, a romantic at heart, and Charlie who doesn’t believe in love. They are working together to rewrite Charlie’s movie script. After a few weeks of forced proximity, it isn’t a surprise when feelings develop.

This was a perfect rom-com book that will be released just in time for summer! I loved the interaction between the characters. Their banter and one liners had me laughing out loud at times. However, there were also some more serious topics addressed and I think it made the story more “real” for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!

If you love, love read this now! Also, read author’s note! Perfection!

Protagonist Emma Wheeler's journey from aspiring screenwriter to rewriting both her own and her hero's love story is both heartwarming and humorous. The narrative's strength lies in its well-drawn characters, particularly Emma and famous screenwriter Charlie Yates. Their dynamic is electric, as Emma's passion for rom-coms clashes with Charlie's cynical worldview. Watching their relationship evolve from reluctant collaborators to something more adds depth and emotional resonance to the story. What sets "The Rom-Commers" apart is its exploration of the power of storytelling and the impact of love on our lives. Through Emma's determination to prove that love stories matter, the novel celebrates the genre while also challenging its conventions. The witty dialogue and clever references to classic rom-coms will delight fans of the genre, while the authentic emotional moments will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Overall, "The Rom-Commers" is a charming and uplifting read that reminds us of the magic of love and the importance of chasing our dreams. With its blend of humor, heart, and romance, this novel is sure to leave readers smiling long after they've turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone in need of a feel-good escape into the world of love and laughter.

Well, another five star read by one of my favourite authors!

I listened to this one (thank you @netgalley, Macmillan audio & St. Martin’s Press) and I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely loved the main character Emma- I found her to be so funny, caring, and loveable, and I was just rooting for her from the very beginning. And I found myself quickly falling for Charlie too- who started off gruff and rude, and quickly won my heart when we peeled back the layers!

Absolutely recommend this one- heartwarming, filled with laughs, forced-proximity/grumpy meets sunshine, and some tear-jerker family moments!

This one comes out June 11, 2024! Be sure to get it :)

Okay this negative review is my fault because I kept reading this one after knowing it wasn’t going to be for me. I dislike romances with health issues tied in. I feel like they are just for the feels. So I kept reading. And it got worse, an emotionally unavailable guy that she keeps trying to like..etc. It reminded me of a hallmark movie but in book format.

Highly entertaining. I love a good enemies to lovers story, especially when the banter is well written. There’s also a lot of depth injected into the characters and their interactions. The heart-to-hearts have… well… a lot of heart. Each of the leads have their own versions of life-interrupted that they have to work through and it’s satisfying to see them grow and understand each other, but mostly themselves.

Chemistry-wise, I think it needed a smidge more to be perfect. While they understand each other on a professional and emotional level (which is amazing, don’t get me wrong) there was something still missing. They had a lot of fun together but I wanted even more outings and shenanigans to bring it out of the inner monologues into some outer adventure.

The characters aren’t perfect, they have some definite flaws, which was mostly good but had me wanting to demand an apology or two here and there. And I thought the endgame was an easy guess but it was still a great emotional rollercoaster. Not perfect but still amazing writing overall.

…and I definitely recommend the audiobook. I’ve done all my Katherine Center reads on audio and the production is always spot on and highly bingeable.

Oh my gosh, I absolutely adored Katherine Center's The Rom-Commers! Center has unique voice, and I always really enjoy the way she spins a story. These characters are unique and fresh, and totally quirky and likable.

Emma is a marvelous leading lady, and Charlie is just wacky enough to be a true and believable guy. They have great chemistry, and I was rooting for them from the get-go.

I was also completely charmed by Emma's dad and sister. What a well done family drama.

The audio version of The Rom-Commers is beautifully performed by Patti Murin.

I have no amazing words to describe how much I love Katherine’s writing and stories. This is yet another 5⭐️ read for me! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so that I can annotate so many amazing quotes. I felt so many emotions in this book but I leave it feeling so much hope and so much joy. Her books always inspire me to do better, to love harder and to hope always! 🩷

I highly recommend this book!⭐️🩷💐

Katherine Center hits it out of the park again! I LOVED Emma and how adorable she was. She had this perfect level of goofiness that didn't feel like forced quirkiness, but she was also so perceptive and smart. I teared up multiple times at one point (you'll know which scene if you read the book ;) ) and felt so much hope throughout the ending. I will definitely be rereading this one ASAP. Also, I started listening to this book as I headed out for a two-hour run and ran a PR for my ten-mile. So the current evidence suggests that listening to a new Katherine Center book while running will make you run faster. You're welcome in advance, fellow reader-runners.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Wheeler had to give up a lot to take care of her father after a tragic accident. She doesn't regret it for a moment. When her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates, desperately needs help doctoring his latest script - an out of his genre Rom Com - she cannot pass up not only the opportunity to work with him but to save everything that is sacred about the Romcom genre. The only catch, Charlie has not been informed that Emma has been hired to help him.

After he begrudgingly accepts the need for help, it turns out that Emma and Charlie make a great writing team. As they craft their script, they unknowingly find themselves within their very own romcom, but will they get their happily ever after?

The narrator was one that I recognized from other Katherine Center books and has a great sense of conveying the emotions of the characters whether it's finding the joy in a moment or a more somber reflection. I will admit, there were times that I felt it was difficult to determine what was being said as dialogue and what was a general narration. Oftentimes, I find narrators will alter the voice they use when reading a passage of the book as opposed to speaking as a character's dialogue. However, I still found myself getting lost in the story which was only helped along by listening to the audiobook.

I love everything that Katherine Center puts out into the world. I love the way she's able to bring these stories full of such heart to the page but also that grief and tragedy are just as much a part of life as happiness. It's how we choose to live through these moments that end up defining us.

It's clear at the beginning that Emma has devoted so much time to taking care of her father that she's lost a little bit of herself in the process. The prospective job in LA is both exciting and a little fish-out-of-water. But I like how she still exudes that confidence in her writing that it, seemingly, doesn't phase her.

This allows Emma and Charlie to go toe to toe quite often throughout the book which are some of the highlights. I appreciate the fact that, if nothing else, Emma has confidence in her writing and her knowledge/love of romcoms, to the point where Charlie - the admittedly more commercially experienced writer - is forced to take a step back and acknowledge that how talented she really is. We don't always know a person's situation. Just because Emma doesn't necessarily have the same writing resume as Charlie doesn't mean she doesn't equally know what she's talking about when it comes to crafting or reading a good script.

I loved how the book slowly moved through all these well-known romance book / movie tropes. It felt very meta. Our characters were like living in their very own romcom while writing a screenplay for a romcom in which they're trying to kind of dismantle yet also uphold the stereotypes of romcoms everywhere.

It sounds a little confusing, but it's so much fun, but also doesn't lean too far into to being over-the-top about it. Katherine Center knows how to balance and The Rom-Commers is a perfect balance of the fun with the serious.

The Rom-Commers continues Katherine Center's tradition of giving us heartfelt stories brimming with fun and romance that also tell an important message.

Katherine Center does it again! This book has a great balance of serious topics vs funny banter between the characters. It made me that much more invested in the story! I loved it! Didn’t want to stop listening! 5 stars!

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.