The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a clean grumpy/sunshine romantic comedy about two writers, one who loves romance and the other who doesn’t believe in it. Emma and Charlie agree to work together to improve his terrible rom-com screenplay. They butt heads due to their differences in opinions about love and Emma makes it her goal to convince Charlie that he’s missing out on the magic of rom-coms.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it did not disappoint. I loved it! I loved all of the characters and the personal growth we saw from them. This story took me through roller coaster of emotions and I cried throughout the last quarter of the book. It’s funny, sweet, heartbreaking, and lighthearted all at the same time. Themes related to loss of a parent, caregiving, identity and self-worth, cancer are explored in a thoughtful way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes rom-coms with a bit of substance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me an eBook ARC in return for my honest review. This book is expected to be published on June 11, 2024.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I will give my thoughts once SMP addresses their readers with an explanation. Until then, all my reviews will be withheld.

The Rom-Commers, by Katherine Center: Emma wants to be a screenwriter, but instead, she’s stuck in Texas taking care of her dad, who suffered an accident years ago and now needs round-the-clock care. But then an unexpected opportunity arises – to work alongside famous screenwriter Charlie – so she moves to LA for six weeks to work on a new rom com movie with him, while her younger sister cancels her own summer internship to take care of their dad. Unfortunately, Emma arrives to find that Charlie is a jerk who doesn’t even want her there… and he HATES rom coms. This is a sweet grumpy-sunshine romance, and has a fun cameo from Center’s last book. There are a lot of great lines and funny humorous bits, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but this just wasn’t my favorite book by Katherine Center; the burn was a little too slow, and I didn’t really love either character (endearing though they may be). That said, Katherine Center’s books are SO good that I think I may have set my expectations too high! It was still a good, fun read.

I liked that this one showed that not everyone's home life is as it seems on the outside.
It showed real people dealing with real things.
Center knows how to weave a good romance.
A feel good read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

This was my first ever Katherine Center book and it did not disappoint! I love that it wasn't your typical romance at all, and Emma had a non-fantasy life as her dad's full time caretaker. It added to the reality of the situation, that not everyone has this shiny, perfect home life. I also loved the chemistry between Charlie and Emma, I think they complemented each other incredibly well. Also, this book had a great balance of fun and heavy, I appreciate a romance that's not all fluff.

I ADORED THIS BOOK SO DANG MUCH!! This is actually my favorite KC book to date and I’ve read almost all of them! And I loved that Jack made his appearances. I just loved the romance, the story, the setting, all of it was GOLDEN!

I was fortunate to receive an early copy of The Rom-Commers thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. This is the first novel by Katherine Center that I've read and she has officially turned me into a rom-com convert!

The plot focuses on Emma, a screenwriter whose dream of going to Hollywood was foiled by a tragic family accident, which left her as the caretaker to her disabled father for the past decade. A high school friend turned movie executive offers Emma a once in a lifetime job of rewriting a bad rom-com for a famous, award winning male screenwriter. Charlie, who is divorced and has no interest in romance (in real life or film), has to produce this script in order to get another one his movies made. Some of the usual romance tropes are included in the book, such as forced proximity (Emma stays at Charlie's mansion while in LA) and grumpy x sunshine, but Center's witty banter, physical comedy, and descriptive visuals delivered this story in a totally fresh and quirky manner.

If you're usually skeptical of rom-coms because you find them too cheesy and predictable (especially as their cartoonish covers may suggest), TRUST ME when I say that this one is the exception to the rule. This book was so much more than a cliché romance novel. It was a touching tale of the inner conflict between family loyalty vs. chasing your dreams. Center's poignant writing made me alternate between tears of laughter and genuine empathy and sadness for these fictional characters, who she so aptly brought to life in my mind and heart. I'm sorry that it took me so long to give this author a chance, but I'm glad that I have found her and can't wait to read more of her work!

Ahhh, my first Katherine Center done and dusted and I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long because I loved it! Cute and fun with some deep and moving moments involving family trouble, health scares, and redemption, this had it all. I thought the banter between Charlie and Emma was realistic and not OTT which is something I tend to struggle with when it comes to romcoms so yay for that. This has made Center an auto-read author though and I couldn't be happier.

I laughed so hard I cried. But then I CRIED. For real. Emotional whiplash this whole book. I’ve never gone through such high and low human emotions while reading before. Well, recently anyways. This is her best book so far. I don’t want to spoil anything but truly cannot wait to own this and display it like an emotional warfare trophy in my bookcase.

Katherine Center does it again.

This book was phenomenal and might be my favorite Katherine Center book of all time and my favorite read of 2024. The story is hilarious, relatable, and so emotional. I did not want it to end.

The amount of thought and research Katherine puts into her writing is evident, and this book brought me so much joy. I cannot recommend it enough..

I absolutely LOVED this book. Emma is one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved everything about her. She was such a secure, kind, and strong female character. I aspire to be like her. The way Emma and Charlie slowly became close to one another and appreciate each other’s company was so much fun to read. The Rom-Commers is my favorite book read so far this year and I hope to reread it before it comes out this summer. Katherine Center is the queen of writing beautiful, happy, and feel-good love stories. I will never stop reading her books.

If Katherine Center writes it I'm going to read it! Another hit filled with utterly relatable characters you can't help empathize with as they struggle to find love, overcome life challenges and figure out a way to work together.

Jaded in love and life, best-selling screen writer Charlie has a severe case of writer's block and when his agent brings in Emma, an aspiring rom-com writer and huge fan of Charlie's the two clash in the worst way. With great banter and tons of emotional depth, this was another love letter to the romance genre and I was totally here for all of it!

Great on audio with a must listen author's note and bonus scene from Charlie's POV included at the end, this is a definite must read for Katherine Center fans! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the privilege of reading an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

CW: past death of a parent, cancer

The Rom-Commers was fun, funny, and sweet, with just the right amount of swoon! Emma and Charlie had a hilarious dynamic with a lot of heart. Watching their professional relationship bloom into something more, all while writing a rom-com (basically, the visual version of a romance novel!) made for a lovely read. I've never read a book by Katherine Center that I didn't enjoy, but this is one of my favorites!

The first thing I would say about this book is that one, get a box of tissues out and second, if you start this in the evening, get ready to read this one through the night. I started this book on a weekend morning when I was sick and was just lying in bed hoping to find a book that tugs my heart and gives me joy at the same time. I picked this one because I loved the book description and found it enticing. Once I started reading, I absolutely adored Emma and Charlie. My heart bled for the pain both of them had gone through until they met each other. After that, they just made me feel all the feels. I couldn’t put this down and even on a day when I had fever and was feeling absolutely horrible, this book brought joy into my day. Thank you so much, Katherine. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

this is such a cute, tender, emotional, hilarious story! Emma & Charlie are such an opposites attract kinda coupling; they both have lead such different lives, leading to such different perspectives on life & love. Emma has such a sunshine personality, even with a life she really didn’t expect to be living, and she shows Charlie her perspective on human connection & romance & love. and Charlie’s grumpiness is built on some unfair & traumatic experiences, & with his professional success, has morphed into a shield against further emotional pain. Emma really shows Charlie how beautiful & unstoppable love is.

I feel like I have very wide ranging emotions abt this story. the repetitive “lying -> eavesdropping on the truth -> changing intentions” was a little onoxious to me (just bc it happened too many times). and the way Charlie spoke about Emma behind her back (that Emma overheard…many times) was also so cringey like you can be grumpy and still be respectful to another person yanno? but then I completely adored the way Emma showed how qualified & talented she was to be taking up the space she was in, I loved how she never backed down in an argument always standing up for what she believes. I loved how Charlie eventually shows his feelings for her, but I hated the way he treated her to get there….theres just SO MANY FEELINGS IM HAVING HERE!!! parts of the story were 2 stars, parts were 5 stars…i’m calling it even at 4 bc I can line-item rate this story :)

overall, another beautifully unique story from katherine center; adorable, irritating, lovely, deeply tender & lovely people. thank you for the arc :)

This was my first book by Katherine Center. I’m hooked and need to read every thing by her now.
The Rom-Commers was an incredible story. I was emotionally invested from the start. Emma is on a journey of giving up control of her father’s health and following her dreams. Charley and Emma are the perfect duo, I was rooting for them as soon and he picked her up off the street with her luggage.
The banter these two have is top notch!
Also I’m so glad Charley has bronchitis because I was getting so emotional during the video. Also his character development is everything and more! I’m so glad he was able to push past so many hurdles to please Emma. They both needed each other and never knew it.
This book was amazing and I’ll be recommending it to all my friends.

I had the pleasure of delving into the delightful world of "The Rom-Commers" by Katherine Center thanks to NetGalley. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity to read this witty and heartwarming book in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Wheeler, a struggling screenwriter, gets a dream job rewriting a terrible rom-com script for the legendary Charlie Yates. But Charlie has no faith in rom-coms and sees them as an emotional Ponzi scheme.

Despite the initial clash, Emma is determined to prove that love stories matter. And as they work together, sparks fly, not just on the page but also between them. However, Emma has always believed in the perfect meet-cute, while Charlie thinks love is a trap.

This book is a charming exploration of love, relationships, and the power of storytelling. Emma and Charlie's witty banter and undeniable chemistry kept me hooked from beginning to end. Center's writing is sharp, funny, and utterly swoon-worthy.

If you're a fan of rom-coms, this book is a must-read. It celebrates the genre while also delivering a fresh and unpredictable love story. It's the perfect escape for anyone who believes in the magic of love and the transformative power of a good story.

I can’t get enough Katherine Center! She was born to write! I adore all of her books. This book was amazing. The writing. The characters. The conflict. The angst. The journeys. It was all 5 stars! The emotional pull of this books wraps you up in your grandmother’s afghan and lets you forget all the real stuff for a while. I’m already ready for the next one. Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

This was my first book by Katherine Center and I am obsessed!

The characters, the writing, the development - all of it. I stayed up way too late finishing the last 3 hours of this book as I just could not stop reading. If you like fun romances pick up this book! I am adding all of her other books to my wishlist!

5 stars, I wish I could give this book more!

I loved the premise of writers falling in love while writing a rom-com! The heroine was so endearing and the themes will definitely hit you in the feels in the best possible way. I love all of this author's characters and will read anything she puts on a page.