This was my first Katharine Center book and having heard great things, I was excited. The Rom-Commers is a fun premise with good narrators, but more filler than actual story. It won’t discourage me from giving another book of hers a try, though.

4.5 rounded up

I LOVED this book. It was cute, funny, and heart warming. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know. Everyone.

Katherine Center has done it again with this heartwarming, hug of a story. This may be my favorite of hers yet, it’s definitely my favorite romance of the year!

If you haven’t read a Katherine Center story, I would describe it best as being hugged by your favorite sweater when you need it most. She writes emotional and relatable storylines, her character’s are endearing and perfectly flawed, and she expertly balances real-life difficulties and humor, giving her stories emotion and depth. I haven’t read one book of hers that didn’t play with my heartstrings, and this one tugged on every emotion.

I fell in love with Emma and Charlie, both were beautifully flawed, but their story wasn’t all fluff. Both had experienced life changing events and had to learn to navigate through big change and all its own stressors, and neither made it through unscathed. I loved Emma, her strength in picking up the pieces and how she put her life on hold for the good of her family, but was saddened for the guilt and anxiety she felt that made it difficult for her to ask for or allow others to help. And I adored Charlie, right from the grumpy start and my heart broke for all he went through. I adored watching both them grow together, helping each other face their fears, as their feeling for one another grew. I loved their banter and silliness as they worked together and conducted their ‘research’, the angst of what was going on around them was palpable, but despite the heaviness of the situations each faced, I found the story to be beautiful and uplifting, packed with happiness and hope. Just perfect!!! I would also be remorse not to mention the secondary characters, especially Emma’s dad. I found them all just beautifully written adding their own bit of magic to this one, and for those that read The Body Guard, Jack Stapleton makes a cameo appearance.

Patti Murin does a fantastic job bringing this cast of characters to life, inciting just the right amount of enthusiasm, pacing and tone to fit the mood, while allowing the chemistry and banter between Emma and Charlie shine.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press AND Macmillan Audio for granting me access to this book AND audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book is scheduled to publish June 11, 2024. Reserve your copy now, you won’t be disappointed!

A wonderful Katherine Center novel. It was a great story that kept the reader reading. the characters are relatable. You get invested in their story, and their backstories.

A clean romance story with all the humor and some tear jerking moments. I enjoyed the audiobook. Well liked main characters. Good family relationships and sister relationship. Their insults were excellent. Enemy to lover trope. I liked the dad's advice about being grateful and focusing on the positive. I should read more rom com. This book left me with a good feeling. The dad focuses on making the lady in his life laugh as much as possible even though he's not in the best of shape.

This story is about two writers, one well-known and one not so well-known. The one well-known is trying to write a rom-com except it's not good as his other works. The one not well-known was reluctantly hired on to help him rewrite his story. It was a rocky start to this teamwork. The well-known writer was too cocky for his own good and he said some mean things. The not so well-known writer has some skills up her sleeve and she's ready to teach him a lesson, especially when he doesn't believe in love. She made him watch many kissing scenes as one of her lessons!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

4.5/5 stars
This book solidified Katherine Center as an auto buy author for me. I loved this story. Sweet and funny romance.
She falls first, he falls harder, a bit of a “workplace” romance

ARC Review! Release Date: June 10th, 2024

Rating: 4.5 / 5
No Spice

This was a very cute slow burn workplace romance.

You started off with your FMC, Emma, who is a struggling screen writer who has to take care of her ill father, and has put her dreams on hold. She gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with one of the greatest screen writers of all time. Enter your MMC, Charlie.

Their banter is so much fun, and I am obsessed with Emma‘s witty nature! The way that the author describes her overall personality and her looks just make the story that much more fun. Charlie is the perfect grumpy to Emma‘s sunshine and watching him slowly open up to a person He obviously loved from the moment he saw her was such a beautiful time.

I really felt that I was watching the story happen in real time and the imagery was so perfect. there’s also a really fun bonus chapter where you get to see a specific scene unravel through Charlie’s eyes, which was very unique and I was Living for it.

There is perfect amount of family drama, past trauma, and learning how to let people in on both sides. I could see this becoming a screen adaptation for sure.

This was my first Katherine Center novel and I already have a nice healthy amount of screenshots for more books of hers to add to my TBR!

Katherine Center has become one of my new favorites. The Rom-Commers is emotional, funny, and just an enjoyable read. The audiobook is a fast listen, the narrator is fabulous, and once again her author note is almost as wonderful as the story itself. I love that the characters actually have time together to grow and develop, even if I did want to thunk Charlie on the forehead once or twice. If you love love stories, Hollywood drama, cameos from past novels (hello Jack Stapleton!), sisterhood, and writing/writers in general, read this book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my audiobook to review. As always, no influence from that fact in any way.

3.5 stars

I do really enjoy reading Katherine Center’s books but find them to be either a hit or a miss. The Rom-Commers was actually both for me. The first half was definitely a hit! It was funny and the author did a great job of creating likeable characters. But the last half of the book was, unfortunately, a bit of a miss.

The story revolves around Emma, an unknown screenwriter who helps award-winning Charlie Yates write a Rom-Com. The banter between the two main characters was fun and I laughed out loud during a couple scenes. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Emma’s father. While the book is meant to be light and funny, it did introduce an element of grief and mourning. I appreciated that this aspect of the book was portrayed in a very realistic way.

But then the book became a bit of a cliché. I found myself cringing during the last half, which just did not live up to the first half of the story. The ending was satisfying, if not a bit predictable.

The audiobook narrator was fantastic and really brought the characters to life.

I loved this book, which is exactly what I predicted. I love Katherine Center every time I read her books and this was another winner for me! I ate it up. Emma and Charlie are the absolute best! I love the way Ms. Center tells a story and this one was in no way predictable (at least not for me) and I was there for it all. These characters—Emma, Charlie even the supporting characters—were terrific, and I was completely hooked. There was just enough angst and sadness to offset the silliness and humor that I enjoyed so much. This would be a great movie! It made me laugh out loud, cry, and forget my responsibilities for the day. That my friends, is a win.
The Rom-Commers was perfect for me. This cozy, cute, and self-reflective novel delivered on all fronts. All in all a very satisfactory reading experience!
Last but not least, I listened to an audio version of this book and the performance of the audiobook was marvelous. For me, the timing was perfection. I clearly heard the anxiety, the fear, the confusion and ultimately the hope in the story. Of course, those feelings are in the written word as well, but I think this book comes across phenomenally well by the narrator.

4.25🌟
0🌶 (but mentions)
I know I've only read 2 Katherine center books but honestly I think she may be a new auto buy author because this hit hard.
➳Tropes
- Forced proximity
- Celebrity + ghost writer
- She was obsessed with his work before they met
- Grumpy x Sunshine
➳Plot
Charlie needs help writing his new film which is his first ever attempt at writing a rom com. His manager Logan sends Emma to help him because she is the expert on rom coms. Even though she hasn't been involved in huge blockbuster films Charlie reluctantly agrees to let her stay with him (after she basically roasted his attempt at a rom com). Then you just follow them the rest of the story and I loved it.
➳Characters
Charlie- Kind of a grumpy guy thinks simple living is the best kind of living until he meets Emma. Has lots of trauma.
Emma- A sunshine character who loves rom coms and will sacrifice her entire life to take care of someone. (her dad) She also has quite a bit of trauma.
➳Writing
Whenever I listen to something it's hard for me to judge the writing but lets just say my ears were enjoying what they were listening to.

Emma Wheeler gave up her dreams of being a screenwriter to be the sole caretaker for her father, as well as looking after and supporting her younger sister Sylvie. When she’s given the opportunity to write with her all time favorite screenwriters Charlie Yates, to help rewrite his most recent script for a romantic comedy, that is terrible!
All the characters were done perfectly! I loved the relationship between Emma and her father. I loved how Emma cared for her sister. I loved the banter between Emma and Charlie.
I LOVED this on audio. The narrator really brought the characters to life.
This is my favorite book from Katherine Center to date, and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Really enjoyed this one! Loved the friendship, character development, dialogue, and descriptions. Laughed out loud a few times but the plot also had a seriousness at times that makes you tear up. Definitely recommend!

I loved this narration of The Rom-Commers. The story came alive in my car and I laughed (and at times cried). I had previously read an advanced copy of the book and this audiobook made me fall in love with the characters even more. If you love Rom-Coms, this book is for you

This book will make you laugh and cry!
Emma dreams of being a screenwriter. Despite being super talented, her career has been on the backburner for the past 10 years while caring for her father. Her agent/friend sets her up with the gig of a lifetime-- to help Charlie (famous, talented screenwriter who is basically her idol) to write a rom-com (despite him not actually believing in love or happily ever after). I'm sure you can guess where things go from there...
I loved their grumpy-sunshine relationship, their witty banter, and Emma's voice--her stream of consciousness and occasional breaking of the fourth wall was a lot of fun. I thought the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing these characters to life. Lots of fun-totally recommend! 4.25* Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access in exchange for my honest opinions.

A fun, funny story with sweet family relationships and a good love connection.

What worked for me:
- mostly likable characters and a spunky main female lead that knew what she wanted
- professions of the main characters that were different and interesting
- lovable side characters
- a small connection to a previous book of hers (Jack Stapleton) was so fun!
- the audio has an extra chapter, told from the male lead's point of view and read by the author - It was "chef's kiss" perfection!

What didn't work for me:
- nothing

“It’s all about the details you notice and the joys you savor and the hope you refuse to give up on.” There are many great quotable lines in this book!

Emma and Charlie are both broken people who develop a friendship and eventual relationship through the common trope of forced proximity. The way the characters continue to carry baggage from past trauma leading to the eventual conflict led to me feeling a little frustrated and disappointed toward the end of the story. However, the earlier steps taken toward growth by each character and the banter between them kept me invested in the love story.

I love a story that includes lovable side-characters and this has a mix of easy to love and easy to hate side characters.
Emma’s father is a lovely example of overcoming and one of my favorite quotes from him: "Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true."

I absolutely loved the audiobook and found it an easy and engaging listen. Patti Murin’s performance lends a lot to the story giving each character a distinctive voice.

A great big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I always find Katherine Center books so addicting! The premise of two writers working on a romcom was perfect. The plot had me hooked and I loved the dynamic between the two leads. I also appreciate how the book reminds you that your attitude in life can make or break your experiences. My only complaint is that there is a lot of internal narration; it would be nice if we could spend some of that page time with more bonding scenes between the leads. But overall it's a great book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Also a shoutout to the audiobook narrator; I've listened to a few of her narrations and she always does a great job!

This was cute. I love Katherine Center. I like what Emma does for Charlie and how she changes him. I did not love the ending. Felt it was a bit of a bait and switch but I have a history with that subject matter so maybe that was part of it.

I liked the narration except for Logan. I didn’t like his accent.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Rom-Commers was a fun take on a typical romance. I loved how the FMC and MMC were screenwriters, as I haven’t read any books with that trope before. I loved the style in which the book was written! I felt that I was Emma’s best friend and she was telling me all about her trip. I felt connected to her and loved that the author did that. I also was becoming frustrated with the characters because they weren’t the flawless people you typically see in books- and I was happy about this! Charlie was doing something that someone would do, especially in his position, but I wish I could’ve shaken him by the shoulders and told him he was bonkers! I did feel bad for Emma with their situation- but as Emma herself pointed out, we all know that the couple so clearly mad for each other will end up with each other; otherwise, it is just unsatisfying. Katherine wrote an excellent book that made me emotional in the best ways. This was the first time I was tearing up while listening to an audiobook because their story was so beautiful!! The Rom-Commers is another great summer read, and I recommend reading it once it is released!
Emma would tell you what makes a rom-com good while foreshadowing the events of the book, which I found both creative and funny. The bonus chapter with Charlie was a great surprise, and I was pleased. The ONLY reason why I did not give this book five stars was because it was a tad repetitive but not storyline wise. The timing, story, and overall flow of the book was terrific! But, sometimes, I would hear the same sentence repeatedly when discussing other characters. I understand some fangirling was happening, but it was a bit much for me.
The narrator did a great job with this book, and I enjoyed her telling the story. She totally embodied Emma and made me more connected to the story. There were some scenes where I could just feel the emotions through the “page.” During a pivotal scene at the end, she even changes breathing patterns so you can feel the characters' emotions. Overall, this book is excellent, and I highly recommend it!