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!

I enjoy Katherine Center's ability to make you feel close to her characters. Her writing has a very "down-to-earth" vibe while being in situations that you would never actually be in. It's very refreshing.

Oh, how a Katherine center book always hits the spot and makes life a little better. Whenever I need to take a break from life and just enjoy the moment, her books are a perfect opportunity to do just that. I so enjoyed her new book. I laughed, I cried, and savored every moment of this reading journey. Thank you, Netgalley and McMillan, Audio of the ARC of this audiobook.

THIS IS THE BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE I'VE READ IN YEARS. 'The Rom-Commers' is wholesome, laugh-out-loud funny, with the best characters and character development. The audio narration is perfect. While I was listening, I found myself waking up thinking about the book. Exceptional. I recommend this to anyone from avid romance readers to skeptics of the genre. I will be recommending this to my audience as an ideal starting place for getting into contemporary romance.

I AM UNWELL

I didn’t think Katherine Center could get any better, but here we are. This is her best work yet! I smiled, laughed, and went through all five stages of grief. This one is a must read.

Emma gets the chance to write with the well known Charlie Yates who tried to write a rom com when his typical genre is action movies. She is a master at her work, and has some things to teach him, but he is a closed door and uninterested in her opinions or help.

I love how KC always implants some medical awareness in her books. This one references TBIs and some cancers. It’s always done so well without feeling like a textbook, and I love that she adds them to her storyline. Also, all of the Jack Stapleton cameos were great! And the narrated bonus chapter by Katherine Center herself.

Read if you love:
-grumpy x sunshine
-the Bodyguard
-medical info/hospital settings
-Guinea pigs
-books with amazing epilogues

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC!

I am new to the fan club of Katherine Center & am only excited to catch up on ALL her books!! I was blessed to listen to "The Rom-Commers" through NetGalley & the narrator was perfect.

I love the way Katherine Center tackles the specific plot format when it comes to rom-coms. Usually, as a reader, I don't dive too deep into this line of thought.

Without giving too much of the story away, Emma sacrificed her life to take care of her dad in order for her younger sister to achieve her dreams. When there's a chance for Emma to chase her dreams, for a short 6 weeks, her sister selflessly cancels her plans & encourages Emma to chase her screen writing dreams.

To write a screen play with famous Charlie Yeats??!! How could Emma turn this opportunity down?! When she arrives in LA, only to find out that Charlie didn't know she was coming to help fix his terrible rom-com screenplay & doesn't want her help, or her company -- Emma begins to doubt why she's there.

You will have to pick up a copy of the book, coming out on June 11th, to see what happens to Emma!!

You're gonna LOVE it!!

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. Katherine Center is my go to for light, fun reads. This one did not disappoint. She always throws some twists and turns in there that you won't be expecting - which makes the books even better! This is one of my favorite Katherine Center books! The perfect summer beach read!

While The Rom-Commers isn’t my favorite Katherine Center novel, I still enjoyed it. Miscommunication is my least favorite romance trope, so that is likely why this wasn’t a slam dunk for me, and some of the dialogue was a bit immature. However, I will not hesitate to pick up Center’s next romance, because I love her characters.

Patti Murin did a wonderful job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a delight! I think it was my favorite Katherine Center book I've read. The Rom-Commers follows two screenwriters as they overhaul a new movie script. The banter and writing was really well done, smart and also genuinely funny. Emma, the lead is a die hard romcom fan who has to win over grouchy Charlie. Emma talks about her love of rom coms at one point and says something along the lines of- you always know what's going to happen in the end but it's about how you get there that's enjoyable. I love rom-coms and romantic comedy books, I know that's not a real category but it should be. This was such a well done book in that genre. You know it's going to be an enemies to lovers story right from the start, but the journey to get there is what makes this so fun!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review!

This book was entertaining but it seemed to lose focus occasionally from its main storyline. The characters were adults but spoke and behaved like emotionally immature young adults. I really wanted to like it since I so enjoyed Katherine’s last two books, but this one missed the mark for me. I can see that a reader looking for a gentle romance novel without any spice would be drawn to this one, and I would definitely direct them to the author’s two earlier titles.

While I love grumpy sunshine, I hate miscommunication as a trope, and that's all this book was.

Emma has put her life on hold to care for her dad. She gets the opportunity to help a very famous writer with a rom com and goes to LA for six weeks, leaving her little sister as the caretaker. There is a lot of heavy family stuff in this book, as Emma's dad requires full time care and that has been her life for ten years.. However, there is also a lot of funny banter between Emma and Charlie, and, in fact, I laughed out loud many times. Emma and Charlie didn't really have any chemistry though. There was no attraction in the writing, just companionable existence until there was a big needlessly dramatic third act.

I found the writing very good, if a tad overdone. The narrator was good but a bit slow, I found myself wishing I could speed it up faster than the 3x NetGalley maxes out at.

Bottom line, I could not stand Charlie. All the trash talking he does that Emma overhears? nope. And the ending? nope. It did not work for me. He straight sucked and she deserved to be treated better. Be an adult, have a real conversation, the end.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this story. The narrator was perfect for the main character and made it really easy to get into the story. It was sweet and funny. I loved seeing how Charlie and Emma’s relationship slowly developed. And it tackled hard themes like loss and illness of a loved one so well.

I do feel like it minimized the feelings of some of the other characters, which I didn’t love and kept it from being a 5 star read. For example, towards the end, Emma was very upset at her sister for something she said and didn’t want to forgive her. However, she said some equally hurtful things as well, but that was never acknowledged.

I love Katherine Center's books! This one wasn't my favorite of her's but it was still great! Great character development, as always!