The ROM Commers

By Katherine Center

This might be my favorite Katherine Center book yet, and I have loved all of the other ones!

Two screenwriters are forced into the same house… to write a romcom together… what could possibly go right?

A few twists and turns within the story allows for growth, movement, and excitement in the story. Yet it all ties up neatly at the end - just like a romcom should, right Katherine?

Very clever and snarky banter, I devoured it in a day.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This is a review of an ARC. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC REVIEW: THE ROM-COMMERS

If Katherine Center writes it, I'm going to read it!

I absolutely LOVED THIS. How cleverly done!! The breaking of the fourth wall at all times had me hooked. This had me laughing non stop. This had me grabbing at my face in full giddiness. This had me crying. What a delight.

I loved Charlie and Emma, together and apart. I loved their dichotomy in pretty much everything they do and believe in. But then you had the moments where he's trying to flip a dollop of whipped cream off his arm and into his mouth and then HUGGING HER and it was like OH OKAY YEAH THIS ALL MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OF THIS RIGHT HERE. And lemme tell you. I ate it UP. Line dancing! Pool shenanigans! Jack Stapleton!

This book is an absolute love letter and champion for the rom-com genre. I absolutely loved Emma's refusal to let anyone, not even her idol, not even The Charlie Yates, tell her that love isn't worth it, that it isn't real, that she's any less a writer because she loves rom-coms.

This was a joy to read and I already can't wait to re-read it again soon.

Thank you SMP and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, this is my new favorite Katherine Center book. I loved every bit of it. So heartwarming, smart and delightful. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

5/5
Tropes: Close proximity, grumpy/sunshine
TW: Caregiver fatigue, illness/loss in the family

Emma Wheeler and Charlie Yates.

Can a highly promising, aspiring screenwriter and a highly honored, famous screenwriter come together to rewrite an epically failing rom com screenplay?

For the last decade, Emma has willingly assumed the primary role as her father’s caregiver, forcing her own life and dreams to take a backseat. Propositioned by a life-altering opportunity to work together with Charlie, she cautiously stumbles into this chance.

Leading polar opposite lives, Emma and Charlie somehow make complete sense together. Obscure circumstances that surround each of their lives become less dire in each others' presence. For once, Emma is countered to confidently and fearlessly put herself first, and to unapologetically pursue her dream wholeheartedly. But it’s not just Emma who encompasses personal growth. Charlie’s character development is evident, as his once stoic view and approach to love and relationships starts to soften, and he ultimately evolves out of the old shell of himself. This is a story that is brimming with light. A reminder that your story in fact, does not end when tragedy strikes uninvited.

Katherine Center is a beautiful storyteller, and she always has a way of integrating major life themes into her impeccable stories to convey strength and hope. This was my most anticipated read for Summer 2024. I loved every minute of The Rom-Commers. I would love to see a movie adaptation!

If you are a fan of closed-door romance, strong character development, and witty banter- this should be on your TBR this summer!

[Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this eARC]

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center was such a delight to read! The story is deep, and touchingly heartfelt while still hitting on the light-hearted, funny banter that you expect from a romantic comedy. The story follows Emma Wheeler, an aspiring screenwriter, whom is tasked to help her screenwriting hero, Charlie Yates, re-write his latest screenplay.

The story follows how both Emma and Charlie grow from their tragic back stories and find companionship even when they’re reluctant to do so. It’s another beautiful story by Katherine Center full of laugh out loud moments and swoon-worthy moments.

Thank you again to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed the Rom Commers by Katherine Center.!
Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screen writer and a rom com expert. She has put her dreams on hold for the past ten years taking care of her invalid, kind father who requires full time care. Through a twist in circumstances, Emma has the opportunity to transfer the care of her father to her younger sister- and to head to LA for six weeks to cowrite a rom com screenplay by her favorite author- famous, award winning screen writer, Charlie Yates. Obstacles include the fact that Charlie’s rom com screenplay is terrible and he doesn’t write with others- ever. Most importantly Charlie doesn’t believe in love. It’s fun to watch how Emma and Charlie’s relationship unfolds and to see if Emma can help Charlie realize love is real after all. I recommend this book and will continue to read all of the novels Katherine Center continues to write and publish!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy!

When you title a book “The Rom-Commers” it’d better be an incredible romantic comedy - and it is! Katherine Center is an incredible author who always creates complex and sympathetic characters. I loved everything about Emma from her big hair to her big love of RomComs. Charlie grew on me slowly, but stole my heart. Two very different people, one mansion, and a rewrite of the script of the greatest RomComs of all time. Emma and Charlie prove that ANYTHING can be romantic with the right person. I absolutely loved this book!

I hope you’re not tired of reading rave reviews of Katherine Center’s latest yet! Because I have one more! 😆

The Rom-Commers is one of my top romance reads of the year. It has the heart and emotion and swoon of all of Center’s novels but something about it really grabbed me and shot the book to the top of my KC favorites list.

Emma’s passion and ambition for screenwriting was the perfect counter to Charlie’s grumpy reluctance to move forward. Their forced proximity/“let me prove it to you” romance while they worked together blossomed in such a lovely, organic way. I adore the way that Center writes relationships. They never feel forced, the chemistry always burns off the page, and the dialogue is both realistic but also better than real life?!

My favorite romance novels are ones that make me laugh and cry and KC books always fit the bill. There’s a lot of seriousness in her stories but it’s balanced by humor. And her characters don’t exist in a bubble; there are always family and friends filling out the plot and making the books even more addictive!

Absolutely recommend this sweet and romantic story about two people writing a love story!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up since there are no .5 options here.

The Rom-Commers was an unexpected delight. I went into it without knowing a single thing about the plot and I think that’s just the way to read this one.

This isn’t a spicy romcom, but this is a beautiful story of life, love, and gratitude. Emma and Charlie have such a cute love story and they both deal with some really heart-wrenching hardships in their lives. The Rom-Commers was filled with so many reminders of how we need to approach life with gratitude and give ourselves grace.

I laughed. I cried. I got the butterflies.

In the midst of trying to catch up on a Katherine Center backlog, I couldn't resist reading her upcoming novel as well.

Emma Wheeler is stuck, willingly. Since her mom died and her dad was injured in a camping accident when she was a teen, Emma has been the chief caretaker of her disabled father and substitute mom for her younger sister, Sylvie. Her dreams of being a rom-com script writer have been on hold for ten years while she cares for her father and encourages Sylvie to chase her dreams.

Her manager and high school friend Logan calls with the offer of a lifetime - assist Emma's idol, legendary screenwriter Charlie Yates, with a rewrite of a truly awful rom-com he wrote. After much convincing from Sylvie and her dad, an anxious Emma flies from Texas to LA for the six-week job. And then it all blows up. Amidst confusion and conflict, Emma is still trying to keep up with complicated family dynamics from afar.

I'm not going to spoil some twists for you, but there were several things I like about this that stand out from a "typical" rom-com. First of all, the whole "rom-com in a rom-com" plot is fun and gives Center the chance to simultaneously poke fun at and champion a devotion to rom-com. Next, the characters are much more relatable. I read a lot of romances where the female lead is described initially as "mousy" or "bland," but then suddenly, an impossibly handsome man falls in love with them and thinks they are the most beautiful girl in the world. I love that Emma is self-conscious about her curly red hair and that she has a feature that some men think is crazy and others might find appealing. That's real life. What I especially appreciate is how she describes the male lead, Charlie. Emma sees him as a bedraggled mess, but she admits that he could be found attractive and that he appeals to her even though he might not appeal to others. He's not an Adonis; he's more of a personal preference. This is so much more relatable to me than many other rom-coms I've read.
Finally, read the book for the banter and the humor if nothing else I've said resonates with you. There are some sparkling debates and hilarious asides. Jablowmie - enough said.

This is absolutely required summer reading.

I found my way to Katherine Center’s books in fall of 2023. I have loved every one I’ve been able to read so far! They are a delightful blend of humor, real life, and classic rom-com storylines. In The Rom-Commers, Emma believes she’s been given the job of her dreams - helping to re-write a Rom-Com movie script written by her idolized screenwriter, Charlie Yates. What she doesn’t realize is that Charlie doesn’t know she’s coming and doesn’t want her help!

Will Emma convince Charlie that Rom-Coms are worth the time and effort like all his other famed screenplays? Will they fall for each other while she does? If you love Rom-Com, you’ll love this double Rom-Com - a Rom-Com about a Rom-Com!

Katherine Center has a wonderful way of combining all the emotions into one lovable story. I also love how she dropped Jack Stapleton into this book, so be sure to read The Bodyguard too!

The Rom Commers was very cute! I loved the cameos from The Bodyguard!

My only complaint is the ending. I’m not a fan of 3rd act break ups and miscommunication!

Overall, 4 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so fun! This author has quickly become an author I look forward to reading. I know her books have heart, but also are light enough to make me smile throughout. This was no exception. I didn't love the characters as much as I usually do-but I loved their story as they rewrote a rom com script. I would have liked even more of the actual story of the script. But I read in two days, rooting for Charlie and Emma the whole time!

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
Available June 10/24!

I know what I like and what I like are books by Katherine Center! This book is so good. Yes I am going to gush. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters, and everything else about this book. The concept of a young writer getting the opportunity to show her skills and to do this with her author ‘God’ is so much fun.
This grumpy/sunshine book is fun, sweet, sexy, and has a Guinea Pig with emotional needs ❤️. The characters are endearing and clever; people you might enjoy spending time with and getting to know better.
I really cannot say enough about this book. I am a huge fan of Katherine Center because she writes stories that are engaging, fun, and unique. Ones where I can escape for a while from this crazy world. Do yourself a favour and join me in the wonderful world of The Rom-Commers.

Many thanks to Katherine Center, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This was my first Katherine Center book and I have obviously been missing out! Great characters, plot - great fun read!

Emma Summers has the kind of talent that is rare and special, but she hasn't been able to take her writing in the direction that she originally intended due to staying home to care for her father. That limits her from traveling and networking. When her friend/agent presents an opportunity that she cannot pass up, Emma gives up everything to meet and to work with Charlie Yates, the famous screenwriter who inspires her beyond all others.

There are so, so many things I loved about this story. Emma has the most adorable father, he is an absolute gem of a guy who unconditionally believes his daughters are the greatest people on the planet. Emma herself has already sacrified so much, and thinking she can help Charlie while also boosting her own career seems like a win-win, but her friend/agent might have misconstrued things.

I laughed at a lot of the dialogue and scenes in this book. But I also felt my heart squeeze in sympathy or tenderness for these characters. Emma is still a bit naive to the way of the world especially when it comes to dealing with celebrities and Charlie Yates is no exception in his eccentricity. He is anti-romance and she is pro-romance, hoping to salvage this rom-com story they are working on and even teaching Charlie what love is. Charlie does have a sensitive side under that bah humbug bravodo that is slowly waking up to Emma's presence and feels the warmth that she exudes. The chemistry is already there, but the build up takes time because Emma is adjusting to not looking at him as a figure on a pedestal and he is trying to be more open to her suggestions. Assumptions are made, insults are slung and Charlie has to learn the art of sincerely apologizing...more than once. He makes some pretty authentic gestures that are definitely demonstrable of someone who isn't hopeless in the romance department.

The only thing that I couldn't get on board with, and it's not a big thing, but it irked me nonetheless, was the detailed description (more than once) of Charlie Yates' sexy nostrils. Just no thank you. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and the character development for both Emma and Charlie. How does a girl like Emma wind up charming a guy like Charlie who has all the wealth, accolade and network at his fingertips? By simply being honest and genuinely sweet with a compassionate heart. There are also some conversation exchanges that deal with hard topics which Katherine Center still manages to inject a bit of humor into, but the gut punch feels are there regardless. For art imitating life, this rom com collaboration between two writers becomes the real deal between them.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center tells the story of Emma, an aspiring screenwriter and live-in caretaker for her father, who picks up and moves to LA to assist her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, in re-writing a rom com script. Only, Emma’s friend / Charlie’s manager that got her the job failed to mention to Emma that Charlie didn’t know she was coming. That Charlie didn’t even WANT help. Oops!

I’m all for a grumpy-sunshine trope, but in this case I just could not get behind Charlie. Why did Emma idolize him SO much? I mean, apparently he has great nostrils (what?) but I found him to be incredibly unlikeable. No real redeeming qualities at all. Sure, there were things revealed piece by piece about his past that explained some of his quirks, and I definitely sympathized with him, but it didn’t excuse a lot of his behavior and I certainly wasn’t rooting for him for most of the book.

I love rom-coms, and Katherine Center will continue to be an author I auto-add to my TBR, but this one wasn’t my favorite.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ACR and giving me the opportunity to share my honest opinions.

This was the first book that I’ve read that’s written by Katherine Center and I have to say, it did not disappoint.

It’s such a cute and clean story! I didn’t even miss the missing smut part of the other books I read.

Emma and Charlie, two writers (one success, one pending), work together to work on a rom com. Instead, they found their love for each other (not very easily). Did they live happily ever after?

**Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC**

I was so excited to read The Rom-Commers! Katherine Center always seems to find a way to tell a unique story that keeps you hooked until the very end!

I swear, I open a Katherine Center book and I cannot help but devour it. I've read nearly all her books, and I'm always hooked by her warm blend of meaningful topics within an otherwise breezy, cheerful story. She makes me feel all the emotions!

This was very much a validating love letter to the romance genre. And Charlie Yates certainly gets a lesson! With his script for an upcoming romantic comedy being downright terrible, aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler is tasked with helping him rewrite it.

Let's just say, it took me time to warm up to Charlie. He is a realist, and for understandable reasons, but his bitterness was uncalled for at times. Emma was a darling powerhouse of personality, and it irritated me to see Charlie continually push away a good thing.

But he won me over!

Through writing sessions and research (hehe), I loved seeing Charlie experience all that romance has to offer. Leaving you with the message of finding joy within the hardships, it's a delightful ending with a totally memorable grand gesture!