This was a fun read! I really liked Emma's character and all her quirky thoughts, but I didn't love Charlie. I felt that he wasn't the best at communicating with her and it never seemed to improve. He would lash out at Emma when she would ask him certain questions and it was a little annoying to see that she just let it go and moved on every time. I also felt like we got the tiniest bit of romance in this book, even though this is marketed as a romance. It felt more like they were fighting their feelings for 80% of it. Overall, I would recommend because there were a lot of cute moments, but it was just different than I had expected.

Emma has been offered the job of her dreams, ghost writing a romantic comedy script with the legendary Charlie Yates. Except, Yates is a nightmare who doesn't believe in love and doesn't want her help...

I did not enjoy this book at all. I couldn't stand Charlie, who was needlessly horrible to and about Emma constantly (and didn't grow as a person in the slightest). I also couldn't stand Emma, the wishy washy doormat. Nothing about them together was even remotely romantic. Not the book for me!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy.

This book was absolutely FANTASTIC! This is definitely my new favorite book of Katherine Center's!
Her main characters were so fun and hilarious and relatable! And also complex and broken and their growth was so well done!!
The chemistry and banter between our two main MCs was also AMAZING. Katherine Center's romance/heat level is always spot on! I also love and appreciate that she can ALWAYS bring the romance and passion without the smut and spice!
I also loved the workplace romance vibes and forced proximity in this book! Also the plug for romance and romcoms!!! so good!
Loved this book, highly recommend!

An incredible novel by the amazing Katherine Center. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves an enemies to lovers romance and quick witty banter.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

What I loved:
📖The banter between the characters.
📖The car scene. It was slightly funny but mostly really heartwarming.
📖Charlie's end speech.

This was a pretty entertaining read that dealt with quite a few heavier topics. However, I felt the romance was severely underdeveloped and pushed to the side for the heavier topics. This book lacked balance and comes across as more of a drama than a true romance. I had a good time reading it but felt Charlie and Emma should have stayed friends.

That's not to say I didn't like the MCs together. Charlie and Emma had great scenes together and had me laughing and smiling pretty frequently. The research scenes for the script were all incredible. The quieter scenes where they get to know each other and Charlie rescuing Emma from making a mistake with a famous director were so sweet and perfect. But these all felt like friend scenes. The characters had chemistry, but Charlie pulled away too much and thus the romance didn't develop.

The romance really lacked here for me. The banter, meaningful scenes and friendship between the MCs were really good, but there was next to no romance. There were times it felt like the characters were going to transition to romance, and then Charlie backed away. Charlie kept giving mixed signals to the point it became beyond annoying and Emma deserved better. This book just missed everything a romance is supposed to be. Charlie was never swoon worthy and I never knew if he had feelings because of all the backing away he did. The romance missed the mark. By miles.

I also wasn't a fan of the broken fourth wall by Emma. It felt weird everytime it happened and pulled me out of the story.

The ending was alright. We got the love speeches from the MCs, explanation for Charlie's behavior, and an epilogue. I really did like Charlie's speech. It was well done and fitting. The epilogue, though, felt jumpy and too long. I was also irritated that Emma never apologized to her sister, even though her sister apologized to her? She said awful things, too, and her sister deserved an apology.

Overall, I had fun reading this. There were a lot of fun and funny moments between the characters. But I felt Charlie pulled away too much and too soon. It made it seem he didn't have feelings for Emma, and when Emma kept pushing it started to feel creepy. I think if Charlie only pulled away once, that final time, the reader would know it was for a reason rather than being confused if he even had feelings.

Maybe my expectations were just too high. I've heard great things about Center and this book sounded like everything I love. But I was underwhelmed. There was a lot of good things in this novel, but sadly, it wasn't balanced properly with the romance and heavier topics. I felt the relationship between the MCs didn't have enough time, either. This was a flop for me. I really wanted to like this and it was readable and enjoyable, it just lacked a romance. I'd recommend skipping it if you're looking for a romance.

If you want a book that will make you both laugh out loud and reach for a box of tissues, Katherine Center is your girl. I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the banter had me kicking my feet!! I don’t want to give too much away but I was a little triggered by a health condition only because i lived it for 5 years with my little girl. But other than that I just loved this so much. I know we all love books about fellow book lovers/writers but I really enjoyed the screen writer aspect!

Thank you St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance copy of The Rom-Commers. All opinions are my own.

I find such comfort picking up a Katherine Center book knowing that there will be a unique plot, filled with laughs and eccentric, lovable characters. The Rom-Commers is no different. However, I found that plot twist at the end of the book to be a bit lackluster. Plus, it ends a bit fast with a giant epilogue that gives a glimpse into the future because it could somehow not fit into the initial plot...maybe. I don't know. Because of this, I give it 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars.

Do I recommend reading it? ABSOLUTELY. It's a great beach / pool side/ summer read.

I like to think of most romance novels as palate cleansers. Not in a bad way, but sometimes you just need a book that is cute and happy and maybe funny too, that doesn't require too much brain power to read- it's an escape from reality for a while. The Rom Commers definitely fit that bill for me. Emma and Charlie were both a bit cliche, and of course there were some cheesy moments, but really, that was what I expected, and what I wanted out of this book. And it delivered. Overall I rated this book 3 stars, and I will definitely recommend to readers who enjoy the romance genre, but are wanting to avoid the "spice" that often accompanies romance books these days.

I’m calling it now! This is my 2024 book of the year (or at least top 5).

This book was quite literally everything I love in the romcom genre and one of the first books in a long time that I couldn’t stop thinking about when I wasn’t able to read it.

One thing about Katherine Center is she will make you FEEL. Her books will be funny and sweet but emotional and ultimately you’ll emerge out the other side strapped with a new life lesson.

I loved both Emma and Charlie in their own individual ways. Emma was positive and caring and selfless despite everything she had been through. Charlie was our tortured little cinnamon roll. He repeatedly claimed to not feel or care about anything but the way he was with Emma just constantly proved otherwise. And also the way he was with CUTHBERT like you’re joking 😭

Charlie was incredibly sweet and the banter between him and Emma was PERFECT. I laughed, I swooned, I cried 💖

Hugging this book tightly and wishing I could read it all over again for the first time.

Emma is an aspiring writer who meets her hero and he actually turns out to be a little bit of an ass. You know what they say- never meet your hero’s but then again, who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers?

This book was so fun and reminded me of a 90s feel-good rom-com. It somehow was the perfect mix between a light and fluffy read and one that hit hard topics such as sickness and grief. It has been awhile since a book made me stay up late to finish it and I am happy to report that this one did it!

This newest title from Katherine Center does not disappoint! Match a crusty male writer who specializes in action movies and mafia dramas with a female writer who specializes in romantic comedies, and you've got a great novel! Emma is asked by her agent to help Charlie "re-write" a script that Charlie is having problems with finishing. (Charlie doesn't really want any help, but the agent knows that he needs it!)

The story of Emma and Charlie makes a great "meet your hero/enemies t0 friends/friends-to-lovers" plot! If you love r0m-coms, you'll love The Rom-Commers! This title is set to be published on June 11th! Don't miss it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this great book!

A few years ago when I read Katherine Center's The Bodyguard, I remember saying it felt so much like a 90's rom-com. And here she is writing the rom-com of rom-coms. Emma, a hopeful screenwriter, gets her big break by getting asked to help re-write a script with Charlie Yates, a famous screenwriter and one of her idols. Charlie, a stubborn, anti-romance recluse must be taught a thing or two about love.

Funny and charming, this will make an excellent beach read this summer. IMO, more books need to feature loveable guinea pigs.

I enjoyed this story! Thank you for the opportunity.

The FMC Emma has spent her life obsessing and writing romantic comedies. She is amazing at her writing however her career took a back burner to taking care of her father who needs full time care due to an accident when they were younger.

Emma’s friend is a producer and contacts her about the offer of a lifetime. The chance to write or rewrite, with her icon Charlie Yates, a famous screen writer. Charlie does not write Rom-Coms and he is not in the least bit interested and the rom com he has written is “apocalyptically” terrible! Charlie has some secrets of his own and he becomes more open with Emma as the book goes on.

I liked these characters. Emma seemed happy go lucky and a little too trusting but she was also strong and knew what she liked. Charlie was so rude in the beginning of the book. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the character but he redeemed himself.

This is a forced proximity, slow burn, and low to no steaminess. It was a cute story that would make a wonderful summer read!!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I am not trying to sound dramatic, but this book ripped me to shreds and then put me back together again in the best possible way and is now one of my favorite romances of all time. Center created the perfect book for me at this time in my life, but saying that, it’s hard for me to believe that people won’t just fall in love with this beautiful book. Emma is a screenwriter who has given up her career to care for her father, when she’s sent to help the very famous screenwriter Charlie get over writer's block to create a romantic comedy - even though he doesn’t believe in love. This is a great set up in so many ways, creating two great leads who are funny and damaged and find each other in a messed up world. This book has it all: comedy, tragedy, swoon moments, and great banter. I highly recommend this book for fans of Center, romantic comedies, and great books.

4.5 Stars

Katherine Center has become an author I really look forward to seeing new releases from! Hello Stranger was one of my favorites from last year by her and I would say it’s still my overall favorite.

I really enjoyed The Rom-Commers! It was engaging right from the beginning. The characters were likable and funny. And they seemed like real people! Not like the super-model good looking characters you often times read about.

I will say, Charlie was kind of a tough egg to crack? He mostly seemed like a solid good guy. He could be sweet, unaware and really honest. But he also seemed at times super cold and almost TOO UNAWARE. I'm not a psychologist or here to diagnose anyone but I have questions because he reminded me of a less nerdy Sheldon Cooper! I also wanted more answers about his "situation" with Margaux and how it even began (I'm being ultra vague to avoid spoilers.)

I know my comments on Charlie seem really negative but I don’t mean it to be! He was a great character and overall, I really did love this book and I know many others will as well. Also just an FYI it’s clean with no spicy scenes!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️, rounded down.
I struggled with this one at the beginning. It just didn’t hook me right away like the authors other books. A big factor was the fact that I didn’t connect with or enjoy the MMC, Charlie. At first, I envisioned an older man (like a Stephen King). It seemed weird, as age gaps aren’t my favorite. There was a clue led me to believe that I envisioned him wrong later on, he was actually younger, but by that time I just wasn’t connected. Emma was ok, but again, I just didn’t connect. She seemed, off. Sylvie, the sister was annoying. Logan, the agent… meh. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters. They just kind of existed in the book.

I don’t know, I typically adore Katherine Center’s books, but this one just didn’t quite do it for me. My least favorite of the author’s so far. The storyline wasn’t it for me. Will I read her next? Absolutely! She’s an automatic pre-order for me. I’m going to try again with audio when it drop and see if maybe my perception is off.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book prior to release.

I loved the banter in this book& it was just so enjoyable and bingeable.

My first Katherine Center book and I think I’ll be searching for more!

Um, amazing!

Katherine Center does NOT miss and each of her plots are so wacky and unique. The Rom-Commers was no different! I always love seeing how she'll make everything work out, I never can figure out how she'll do it but she'll always pull it off. This was total grumpy/sunshine (sometimes Charlie was a bit tooooo grumpy, but he redeemed himself) but it was still new and interesting, with two very different screenwriters coming together to collaborate. Her books always cover different and important topics, here it's caregiving, illness, delayed careers and more. I was obsessed and read until 1am even though I had to be up at 6am - worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for an eARC of this!

💻Loved the plot & principal characters!😊🎬🎥

Emma, Charlie and Cuthbert: I loved them all. Texan Emma's adventure as a screenwriter in Hollywood was warm, touching, occasionally humorous, and had me totally committed to a happy ending for Emma that could rival the HEAs of her most treasured romantic comedy movies. And the way she works her belief-in-love magic with her cynical screenwriter idol: a real treat.

This is a novel with both sadness and joy, particularly in Emma's family history and her constant fears for her disabled father. Her family tragedy ten years earlier has directed her path ever since and kept her focused on service to others, putting her needs aside. Yet here she gets the chance to grab for her own dream of crafting a successful screenplay and, with an award-winning writer no less.

The author had me totally involved in the romance and the couple's journey, particularly Emma's reactions to life in Hollywood, mountain lions, guinea pigs and all! Family conflicts and health problems can't fend off a happy ending. I can't say enough good things about my reaction to the writing, the characters and the plot.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

A sweetly yet comical romance! I enjoyed this read. I believe the poolside scenes were my favorite. This story has wit, grit, an a little clean love/hate relations. I love the fact that this story can draw you in & make you root for the couple without overuse of foul language or smut. Katherine Center does a fantastic job with this concept which is why she will stay a go-to author of mine.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was a wonderful book!