Member Reviews
This is my first Katherine Center book and all I can say is WOW! I completely understand the hype and can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!
I absolutely loved Emma and Charlie. The banter throughout the story proves that opposites do fall for each other and I’m so happy they got their happy ending!
I laughed, I cried and overall just didn’t want it to end.
Thank you Net Galley and St. Martins press for the ARC.
I loved this book! I have read many Katherine Center novels so I was so excited to receive an ARC of her latest. Not going to lie, I wasn't intrigued by the first few pages (the gushing for the work of the MMC was a bit much), but once we get the two main's chemistry and banter, I was hooked! This ended up being one of my very favorites from the author and if you read this book, you'll fall in love with Emma and Charlie's story.
The Rom-Commers is the titular tale of two screenwriters who write completely opposite things. Emma has always loved romance and rom-coms, which keep her going as she cares for her father. After a tragic accident, she has felt unable to leave his complicated medical care to anyone else. When her agent lures her out to LA, she meets her screenwriter hero- Charlie. Only Charlie isn’t anything like she thought he would be and is completely disinterested in working with her. Yet when they are forced to work together, will romance spark off the page?
I loved The Rom-Commers so much! Every time I read a new Katherine Center book, it becomes my new favorite and The Rom-Commers is no exception. Center writes outstanding dialogue and lovable characters. There is always an undertone that pulls at your heart and Emma’s devotion to her dad in the wake of his accident feels so realistic. While she loves her dad dearly, it is hard to serve as both a daughter and a caregiver. Charlie is a fascinating character who has achieved milestones in his career, yet remains unsatisfied. Emma is such a strong and determined heroine who refuses to put up with Charlie’s dismissive attitude toward romance. I loved the diving board scene so much! Charlie and Emma have excellent banter and tension-filled scenes as they each strive toward their goals.
Readers who enjoy opposites-attract romance, hilarious dialogue, and lovable characters will enjoy The Rom-Commers.
Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Storygraph, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.
Katherine Center is easy to read with an enjoyable story. This book does not disappoint! It was a little predictable, but an easy fun read nonetheless!
I absolutely adored this book and have struggled with what to read next. I also am not sure I am a master of words and will do this review justice. Let’s start with Charlie and Emma. Both characters were quirky in their own ways. But both were extremely relatable. Emma often speaks to the reader as she shares the story which made me feel more involved in the book. I also loved that the book had a few twists and things I did not see coming which was a nice change for a romance. I have not been able to get Charlie and Emma out of my head and would recommend this story to any reader!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. The plot for the The Rom-Commers is brilliant. I felt it was super unique and had depth. In fact, some of the medical issues throughout the book resonated with me because of family members suffering from the same types of things. When you find those connections in a book, it immediately hooks your attention and you feel a kinship with it. While not my favorite of Center's books, The Rom-Commers fits the parameters of what makes Center fans love her writing and characters.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
I absolutely loved it! I loved the characters and the enemies to lovers trope. This is my third read by Katherine Center and I love her writing. Highly recommend.
Emma Wheeler is a single, so called “failed writer” who has put her dreams on hold after having to assume full-time care of her father after a horrific camping accident. That is, until Logan, Emma’s ex-high school boyfriend calls and presents her with an offer she can’t refuse. To ghostwrite the screenplay for a Rom-Com written by one of her favorite writers, Charlie Yates.
Emma makes arrangements for her father’s care and flys to LA where she will be working with Charlie on the re-write of his less than stellar screenplay.
Only one problem. Charlie hasn’t agreed to it and doesn’t even know she’s coming.
Can Emma convince Charlie that love is real and tangible, and not just something invented by Hallmark?
This was my first Katherine Center book and it did NOT disappoint! The banter, the character arcs, the moments of heartbreak, and joy, and pain, and laughter all made for an incredible read. Will definitely be recommending to friends and family and will definitely be reading more by her! A slam dunk romance.
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.
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!
This story was FUN! I loved the peek into the movie industry - a universe completely foreign to me. The characters were unpacked slowly but surely which helped the story to move along even when it was unclear how the various subplots would resolve. Details came to light at a really great pace which kept me invested in the story. And the two main "stars" of the story were a delight to get to know. Each of them brought unique characteristics into the storyline which just made this whole story really entertaining. Really enjoyable read.
I don’t know how Katherine Center does it, but she takes something that sounds kind of cheesy, like a nobody rom-com screen play writer helping a super famous action screenplay writer fox his horrible rom-com, and she just makes it lovely. Her books are so nice and readable and I think this is one of her best ones.
I absolutely loved this new Katherine Center, enemies to lovers romp. Emma and Charlie are both equally fraught with emotional baggage that impacts their relationships and how they make their way through the world. Brought together in order to write the ultimate Rom-Com, these two are forced to make it work, despite their pasts and their perceptions of one another. This is a wonderful example of the relationships that can develop behind closed doors. This books pub date will be in June, and I absolutely recommend picking it up as your next summer read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Marten’s Press for the e-ARC version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to get an ARC copy of the Rom-Commers because I love Katherine Center’s books. Her stories mostly center on women who overcome tragedy and find some romance along the way.
Emma is a writer who is obsessed with romantic comedies. She’s also care-giver to her father who was injured in a hiking accident, and she has given up everything to be with him 24/7.
When her ex-boyfriend/literary agent offers her an opportunity to ghost re-write a movie with her all-time favorite screenwriter, she heads out to LA to rescue him from this script, which has pretty much been deemed the worst thing ever written.
The screenwriter, Charlie, is quirky and cantankerous. He’s got a drawer full of major awards. And he doesn’t really want Emma’s help.
Emma and Charlie make a great team, even though they often clash and misunderstand each other. This story is funny and cute, even though the characters have some sad backstories, like most of Center’s characters. Be on the lookout for a cameo from the actor Jack from The Bodyguard.
I received an ARC copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.
This was funny, charming, and had a unique point of view that was really refreshing. The most well respected and award-winning screenwriter tries his hand a a rom-com and it is terrible. Career-ending level of awful. So they bring in an unknown writer who has a tough road to help ghost write it and make it passable. Shenanigans ensue, can these two broken people find their way, alone or together? Comes out June 11th!
A solid addition to Katherine Center's arsenal. The addition of writing aspects will appeal to readers and writers everywhere. Enjoyable easter eggs from other Center books. As expected, in such a lovely way.
This is my favorite kind of rom-com. Lovable characters, great dialogue, swoony chemistry that is sweet and fun. This was my first title by this author but will certainly read her back list now!
Clearly I’m in the minority here, but I just did not vibe with this book at all. I kind of …hated Charlie? This review may have spoilers 🤐
I’ll start with a general issue I have. IMO, when you have a romance where there’s a power imbalance between the two MCs, the only way for it to work is if the person with more power is down SO bad. Preferably they fall first, but they definitely need to fall hardest, otherwise it just kind of gives me the ick. I honestly need their life to be hell over it for a short period of time lol that just was not the case here.
My other issue is if you are going to have a single POV romance, you have to show the reader why we should be invested in the other person through their words and actions throughout the book. By the time Charlie’s “true feelings” are conveyed at the very end, it’s too late…he had already yelled at her several times, stormed out on her, etc. etc. by then- I had written him off long before his declaration.
Also, the reason behind why he was pushing her away is SUCH a pet peeve of mine. Taking agency away from someone because you think it’s in their best interest is so incredibly infuriating.
And finally, and quite possibly the MOST egregious part of the book was the totally unnecessary throwaway line about the guinea pig on the very last god damn page 😩 literally wtf why lol #justiceforcuthbert
If you liked this book, I am happy for you!!
Katherine Center has become one of my new favorites. The Rom-Commers is emotional, funny, and just an enjoyable read. Once again the 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.
Quick easy read. The author does a great job at capturing your attention right away. A writer heads to LA to help rewrite a rom-com after 10 years of giving up her dreams to become a writer and taking care of her dad. Once she gets to LA will the writer allow her to stay or make her go back home? Can home survive without her while she’s in LA?
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.