Thank you Macmillion Audio for my copy! All thoughts are my own,

No one is more surprised than me that I loved this book. I really thought this author and I had parted ways after The Bodyguard, but I am back full force and obsessed. This is the kind of book you can read in a day because it’s so easy to fall into step with these characters. I loved getting a peek inside the reality of writing of Hollywood, esepcially as a woman, but also how to find yourself again after years of neglect. Emma spent more of her young adulthood caring for her father and feels like she’s missed her opportunities to further her career. On the flip side, Charlie’s career is the only thing that’s thriving and I sadly think a lot of people will feel seen by his story.

Synopsis:

What I Liked:

The Set Up—I love books about writers, from novels to TV and film. I thought this was a really fun set up because it allowed for a great use of the forced proximity/enemies to lovers/don’t meet your heroes tropes while still being swoony, fun, and a bit different.

The Banter—SO good. I didn’t love this author’s last book so I didn’t have high expectations, but I loved this one. The audio is exceptional for the banter.

The Emotional Development—Each of the main characters had a lot they needed to overcome in order to find a happily ever after. I loved their development together and separately.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Rushed Ending—I just wanted a bit more, especially due to the news Charlie receives. But I loved getting the bonus POV from Charlie!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

cancer, divorce, brain injury, loss of a parent, ill parent

The Rom-Commers is definitely nothing like I have read before and I loved it. I enjoyed getting to see the other side of writing with this book. The Rom-Commers was written by Katherine Center and this was my first book that I have read from her. I started off reading the ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review, but then forgot that I also requested the ALC from MacMillan Audio, so after I was about halfway through, I went back and listened to the story as well. I enjoyed both versions the same, but Patti Murin did a great job bringing this story alive.

In this book you will find a Grump MMC who is a sci-fi screen writer tasked to write a rom-com. Which he has never done before, and he is also in a writing slump. His Agent takes it upon himself to hire an unknown ghost writer to help him write. Enter the sunniest of all sunshines FMC, who puts everyone else before herself.

This was such a sweet story that I will forever recommend to any romance reader.

Tropes:
Grumpy x sunshine
Rich MMC
Forced Proximity
Anxiety Rep

Katherine Center, you've done it again! I have adored Katherine Center for awhile now, the banter is always on point, the romance adorable. This one worked on so many levels for me. It was dark and deep in parts, it was wholesome and wonderful, it was snarky and swoon-worthy. Plus, lets not even get me started on the level of googling and humor it entailed- I won't spoil any amazing jokes for you! This is how you do a modern romcom. So glad to have gotten a copy of this early from NetGalley, the audio narration was phenomenal!

Such a fun audiobook! The Rom-Commers is the story of Emma and Charlie (and their separate underlying traumas causing each to wrap themselves up in their private little cocoons) and how they open up while rewriting a terrible rom-com script. I really enjoyed the way Center wrote Emma and had her on occasion speak directly to the reader and the narrator was phenomenal. My only quibble was how fast it seemed that the two fell in love as the 6 weeks of writing wasn't clearly differentiated and it felt like days in the front end seemingly to make room for what's coming at the back end. I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it, though with some sensitivity considering the amount of trauma and medical complications throughout. This is not a super light book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion.

So so so so cute! I really enjoyed this story! It had its heartbreaking moments but ultimately gave us the HEA we were hoping for.

I really loved the characters! Logan was the supportive scheming best friend we all need. Emma was sweet and hopeful but also down to Earth. She KNOWS the world is not full of sunshine and rainbows but chooses (most of the time) to not let it get her down. I may have said "you idiot" to Charlie a few times, but the poor guy just couldn't get out of his own way. And I loved to hate TJ with his awful nickname, dude bro attitude and sadly miscalculated confidence.

Fun story, fun characters, great banter - rom-com gold!

WOW
ok new favorite Katherine Center book of her latest releases!
I have gone into each of these last 3 books totally unaware/without having read the blurb and have loved each one more than the last.
I struggled to pause my audiobook for the night so I could get some sleep - totally would have blown through it in one sitting if I had started it earlier in the day! I was hooked right away and couldn't stop rooting for Emma and Charlie. I did get nervous we wouldn't get a traditional HEA this time and was SOBBING at the end. The way Center tied up loose ends and switched directions was so funny and cute that I was able to let out the breath I had been holding and laugh at myself for thinking it was heading south. Definitely adding to my "10/10 recommend" list!

Fantastic audiobook production. Emma is an aspiring screen writer that has chosen to stay behind and care for her father for 10 years after an accident. Her friend/ex gets her the “gig of a lifetime” to help famous (and her complete idol) Charlie Yates, write his first ever Rom-Com. Problem is… he doesn’t believe in love or understand the genre at all.

This is more than just her chance to become a screen writer, it’s her chance to do something for herself, to teach her idol how to expand his genre, and change both of their lives forever.

I was hooked from the beginning with this novel. I love Katherine’s writing style and the way she always eases into difficult topics and handles grief so well. **The bonus chapter is EPIC

How ingenious for a romantic-comedy writer to write a novel about a writer who writes Rom-Coms!! As with all Katherine Center's novels, you know you will get a happy ending, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The Rom-Commers is exactly what we expect, and look forward to, from Katherine Center...lots of fun, witty banter between the protagonists and topics from which we learn something new. With each novel, I wonder how the next could possibly be better, and each time, Katherine Center pulls it off. READ the BOOK!!!

This was my 2nd novel by Katherine Center and it didn’t disappoint! After reading Hello Stranger and absolutely loving it, I knew I had to get my hands on Center’s newest romance.

The Rom-Commers focuses on Emma Wheeler, a screen writer who hasn’t had her big breakthrough moment quite yet. She’s had to put her career on hold to be the primary caretaker for her handicapped father. Emma’s agent is her good friend and ex-boyfriend from high school, and has made her an offer she literally cannot refuse- to be a co-writer with famous screenwriter Charlie Yates. Emma is obsessed with Charlie and has been for years- this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! The catch? She has to go to Charlie in LA for 6 weeks. Can Emma trust her younger sister to watch over her father while she’s gone?

Emma takes the chance and shows up with her agent on Charlie’s doorstep. Well, guess what? Charlie didn’t know she was coming. Oops! Her agent thought that springing this on him would make him more willing to take her in. Charlie has wrote a rom-com which is absolutely terrible and needs an expert to help him fix it, Emma. He does eventually agree to accept Emma’s help and as all rom-coms go, there is a 2nd act breakup but of course we get a HEA.

I listened to this one on audio and absolutely devoured it in less than 36 hours! I didn’t want to put it down and listened to it every chance I got! I loved Emma’s quirkiness, her ability to take risks, her sense of self. I loved Charlie’s obliviousness, his relationship with Tugbert the Guinea pig, and his eventual relationship with Emma. Charlie was a tough cookie to crack, but he eventually came around. 5 stars for the Rom-Commers!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Audio narration was great for this! Love KC’s books - there are some common elements across all of her books, but she writes them so well! This was no exception. I adored Emma and Charlie and Emma’s family as well. I’ve been reading a lot of books with actors and screenwriters recently, but this was a fun and different look into that life. KC always does such a great job with banter and building believable relationships. She can write about tough topics in such a beautiful way as well.

I really wanted to like this one. The dialogue between Charlie & Emma was too much and made me like them less. I didn’t think either of them were intelligent or desirable. It’s a great premise for a story, but it felt like a YA romance, with a couple kisses and a lot of dramatic assumptions. It had some weird, unnecessary moments like the car over the cliff embankment and the drunk diving board incident with the peculiar & gangly blind wet undressing experience. If it had been re-worked into a more enjoyable and cohesive manuscript, this could have been great.

‘The Rom-Commers’ premise is a fun concept by Katherine Center. Emma is a generous, likable, and not always predictable protagonist. She is given a once in a lifetime Hollywood opportunity and takes leave from being the full-time caretaker of her father. Upon arriving in LA, the promised screenplay and script author don’t measure up to Emma’s dreams. Our plucky lead puts her head down and plows forward - right into love. Or unrequited love. Or is it actually mutual?
(I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the character voicing the narrator used!)

Unfortunately, the first half of this book was pretty slow going. I did not feel motivation to continue reading day after day. A character primed to be the antagonist just fades away, as though forgotten about. A lot is made of Emma being ill suited for working with legend Charlie Yates, but again, never seems to come to resolution and seems forgotten. In general, lots of slow moving details and backstory that don’t seem to give forward motion to the plot.

The second half of the book was much more what I’ve come to love and expect from Katherine Center. Fast-paced, lively banter, twists and surprises, and a bevy of beautiful and thought-provoking one-liners. Really, we could all stand to read more of Center’s advice. My favorite in this book -
“If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you’re at the mercy of darkness.”

Rating: ★★★★½ rounded up

"The Rom-Commers" by Katherine Center is a charming romantic comedy that will leave readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Center's writing style, combined with the flawless narration by Patti Murin in the audiobook version, creates a perfect blend of humor, romance, and entertainment.

As a fan of Katherine Center's previous works, I was excited to dive into this book, and it did not disappoint. Center has a knack for crafting light and enjoyable romantic comedies that are easy to read and hard to put down. "The Rom-Commers" is no exception.

One of the standout features of Center's books is the appealing covers, and "The Rom-Commers" is no different. The cover art draws you in and perfectly captures the essence of the story within.

Center's characters are always a highlight, and "The Rom-Commers" is no exception. Emma, the protagonist, is a lovable and relatable character, while Charlie adds a touch of quirkiness to the story. At times, I found myself wishing Emma had someone better suited for her, but Charlie's redemption towards the end of the book made up for it.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. Center's witty dialogue and humorous situations add to the overall enjoyment of the book. It's the kind of story that will make you laugh out loud and swoon with delight.

Overall, "The Rom-Commers" is a delightful read that will appeal to both romance enthusiasts and those who are not typically drawn to the genre. Katherine Center's writing style, combined with Patti Murin's exceptional narration, creates a truly enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, fun, and heartwarming romantic comedy.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for my advanced listening copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I had so much fun reading Katherine Center’s <i>The Rom-Commers</i>! In fact, I’m beginning to realize that Center may be one of my favorite romance novelists as I’ve not read a miss by her yet. Granted, this was only the second of hers that I picked up. And speaking of which, I’d be remiss if I did not also mention a little theme I’ve begun to notice with her books, but it seems all her male leads are deathly afraid of drowning. If I were any other person, this probably wouldn’t be something I’d pick up on too much, but as someone who generally shares those fears I felt so seen by these characters.

<i>The Rom-Commers</i>, though, is generally just a fantastic fun time. The story follows a young woman whose familial medical needs have prevented her from following her dream of being a screenwriter getting the chance of a lifetime to teach her very favorite screen writer the ins and outs of what makes a Rom Com great, as he has never written one before. Thus further ensues one of the most entertaining stories as she basically dares him to try out all the wacky events he included in his bad screenplay to better understand not only how to write the emotions of the moment, but also to recognize when they do and do not fit the story.

Emma is downright adorable through the whole book, well rounded enough that you can feel alongside her. You understand why she drives Charlie nuts at times and also why the two of them are perfect for each other. They are truly a couple to root for and even though you can see most of the plot twists coming a mile away, you’re still eager and pleased to be there for the ride. I loved all of the dynamics, the characters, and the flow of the story so much that I immediately recommended my sister pick up a copy for herself at some point.

Center and <i>The Rom-Commers</i> are both definitely worth keeping on your radar!

CONSUMED this in one day. Loved loved loved. New fave KC book. Full review to come but dang girl, you killed it.

THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE KATHERINE CENTER BOOK, EVERYONE. I just loved it so much.

I absolutely adored the story's premise, and then you gotta add in a grumpy, semi-recently divorced writer who has the yips and IS TRYING TO WRITE A ROM-COM WITHOUT ANY EXPERIENCE WITH ROM-COMS.

I loved that our FMC is pushed into taking a brave step forward in her career by her former-boyfriend turned gay-agent and her sister and dad. I absolutely admired her family for recognizing her need to be shoved on a plane to LA to chase her dreams, because she's sacrificed so much for her family after an emotionally damaging tragedy.

The MMC is grumpy. He's sheltered himself from the world. And then the FMC enters and she forces him OUT of his shelter. She freaking TAKES HIM LINE DANCING. SHE TEACHES *HIM* ABOUT ROMANCE.

In the end, there were so many things I loved about this story:
- The father-daughter relationship
- The supporting cast of characters, including pets with shared custody
- HER teaching HIM
- Practice kisses
- The fact that the FMC loves things that terrify the MMC.... she makes him brave
- The super sweet gestures
- Ugh, the ending after the time apart. The relief. The tension snapping. All the love.
- THE POCKET SQUARE/HANKY
- THE ROM-COMMERS FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
- The uniqueness of all of Katherine's characters, who bring real life, heavy things into these magical stories and make us feel seen by their individuality

AND, the audio for this one was SO EASY TO LISTEN TO and I just DIDN'T EVER WANT TO STOP. It was well narrated and produced. I would recommend this to any of my female family members, and I feel like that should tell you how accessible it is to everyone. *5 freaking stars* from me!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for early access to this book. These are my honest thoughts. Pubs June 11th!

Katherine Center does it again with a laugh out loud rom-com that’s a quick and enjoyable read! Highly recommend!

The Rom-Commers was a delightful treat. It's a book full of laughter, love, and and lessons on what life is all about.
This is the first book I've ever listened to by Katherine Center and I was not disappointed. The main characters are rich with emotion and have a way of making you feel everything they are experiencing.
I found myself laughing and crying with the story and I didn't want it to end. Emma and Charlie are opposites in a way that creates a fun balance of optimism and pessimism. I had a blast listening to their banter and all the fun ways Emma got under Charlies skin and into his heart.
The narration itself was a joy to listen to and I would absolutely listen to more books narrated by Patti Murin.
Note: the bonus chapter had me absolutely swooning. Charlie is totally smitten with Emma and it was great seeing his perspective at the end.

The Rom-Commers is the third Katherine Center book I have read and it didn't disappoint. I love the way she can create a swoon-worthy rom com where we get characters that have depth. You really feel for the difficulties that both main characters are facing in their lives and it gives the story more substance compared to a lot of rom coms. It is clean, it is fun, you will laugh. This is the perfect summer read.

Emma Wheeler, a devoted aspiring screenwriter, gets the chance of a lifetime to rewrite a script for her idol, renowned screenwriter Charlie Yates. However, Charlie is dismissive of her and her work, and he views love cynically. Despite their differences, Emma is determined to prove to Charlie the importance of love stories. As they work together, they unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other, challenging Emma's own beliefs about romance. The story explores themes of passion, validation, and the transformative power of love. I really loved listening to this one!

How is this the first book I've ever read or listened to by Katherine Center? I am OBSESSED. One of the best written romance books I have ever read. The life lessons, the meaning behind things, the love, the humor. So perfect. 10/10 would recommend. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this free audio book ARC in exchange for my honest review!