I think the mark of a good reader writer is when a book ends you actually are sad to see it over. You want the story to continue on and on.

This book is everything. From humor and sarcasm to awesome one-liners that keep on giving, The Rom-Commers deliver a story that you will not forget.

The characters are so well-developed you feel like you know them. Friends and family are tight and selfless. Center clearly has thought of everything and found a way to make it perfect. Be still my heart!

This author has captured my heart. The Rom-Commers is about finding joy and being open to love, no matter what it looks like. Fabulous writing and a story like none other!

This novel was truly un-put-downable! I can’t remember the last book I read straight through without stopping like I just did with The Rom-Commers. Once again Katherine Center has created wonderful characters in interesting situations which make for a pleasurable reading experience. I’ll be recommending this novel to everyone.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Emma has been through so much in her life and I found myself rooting for her immediately. I loved her insight and compassion. This is such a sweet romance story, but also has a depth to the plot that revolves around family. It’s a hopeful and heartwarming story that I couldn’t put down.

Thanks to Katherine Center and NetGalley for an arc of The Rom-Commers, coming out June 11,2024!

Well… I’m a huge fan of Katherine and this novel evoked all the feelings and more. From the get go, I knew I was going to love both Charlie and Emma.

Emma was a struggling screenwriter and wanted to hit the big screens one day. But a tragic accident left her at home for ten years, putting her dreams on hold while her younger sister lived out her life. When her friend Logan presents her with the opportunity to work with thee Charlie Yates, she is over the moon. Charlie Yates is a famous screenwriter and her biggest crush of all time. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get there…

Emma and Charlie both suffered greatly in their lives, yet she still believes in love while Charlie… the famous screenwriter that he is, does not feed into the hype. When Emma is presented with his latest screen play… a RomCom… she can’t help but tear it apart. It’s that bad. Emma soon learns that she will be living with Charlie in his mansion while they work together on fixing his screenplay. While this was not all butterflies and roses, I enjoyed watching each character stay true to themselves, while simultaneously growing as an individual Their struggles and joys were quite the rollercoaster, and my eyeballs became quite wet at the end. I should have known the tears would come at some point!

Love, love, loved it!!!!

“If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you’re at the mercy of darkness.”

This book was fantastic! I love this author’s novels, and this was a beautiful story. This book brought joy and hope and love. We follow Emma, a curly-haired rom-com screenwriter who dedicates her life to being her father's caretaker. Emma takes on the task of helping her screenwriting celebrity crush, Charlie, write a rom-com and also learn to believe in love. Witty banter, forced proximity, coworkers to lovers… Real life emotions and situations. Just what my heart needed!

If you’re looking for an old-school, epic, gut-wrenching love story that is gonna redefine your idea of love, this is the book for you.
If you aren't, let me ask you: why don't you like fun?

I don't know if every Katherine Center’s book is so easy to read but, if it is, I may have found my favourite author of the year. I mean, as soon you've opened it, you blink and it’s already over.
I should warn you that you’ll experience every type of feeling in the meantime - I’ve mostly giggled and silent-screamed and cried my weight in tears, but I don't exclude you might go through something else.

Also, it's not only a love story. Of course the two fall in love with each other but, during the process, the author basically schools us on what romance is as a genre, and how to properly make it.
And she has the right to do so since she's obviously mastered this topic.

Last but not least, as a movie junkie, I just loved the fact that they're not the usual actors who fall in love on set - not a pair of actors and directors, for that matter.
When we think about writing, it’s common to think about book authors or journalists, but we don't give screenwriters enough credit for their role. And yes, my mind went straight to Greta Gerwig after I formulated this thought.

What else can I say to make you read this book? Ah, I know: for my fellow happily-ever-after lovers, there's an epilogue at the end of the book that could be nominated best epilogue of the five last year for how much it's good.
Now I have your attention, haven't I?

5 STARS! Wow! I loved this book so much, and I must read everything else by the author ASAP!! SWOON.

Emma Wheeler seizes the chance to rewrite a script for her longtime idol, screenwriter Charlie Yates. As they collaborate, she discovers he's a skeptic regarding love—a significant obstacle for a romcom writer. To salvage the script, Emma must persuade him otherwise, leading to a charming tale of unlikely allies finding common ground in the world of love stories.

This romcom hits all the right notes, delivering precisely what one expects from the genre. "The Rom-Commers" unfolds as a beautiful, heartwarming tale, tinged with the struggles of Emma and Charlie, yet balanced by the sweetness of their journey. The pacing is spot-on, and Emma, our main protagonist, is a delight. Center skillfully weaves a tapestry of themes throughout the narrative—caretaking, grappling with self-worth, the instinct to flee at the slightest hint of rejection, the struggle to trust others with something you've devoted a decade to, the uncertainty of where you fit in, and the weight of past mistakes—all of it laid bare. It's a story that resonates deeply, inviting readers to see themselves mirrored in its pages. And amidst exploring romance's nuances, there's a delightful playfulness in dissecting its key elements. Both protagonists are easy to root for, and the epilogue ties everything up in a satisfying bow. Despite the potential for cliché, Center manages to render misunderstandings believable with a touch of magic.

Overall, it's a joyous read. As someone who harbors an unconditional love for well-crafted romcoms, this swiftly became a favorite. Every facet shines—the characters, their dynamic, the tension, and the witty exchanges. It's not just uproariously funny but also genuinely touching, with a hint of melancholy adding depth. Undoubtedly, it is a standout read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

My new favorite Katherine Center book! Can I give this 10 stars!? This book had me smiling, laughing out loud, crying, falling in love with the characters, angry at the characters while still rooting for them because you just love them so much! Truly a feel good book, I want to read this again and again.

The Rom-Commers
By Katherine Center

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we’re longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with—sometimes ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them—we look for answers in stories.”

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me, so I was thrilled when NetGalley gave me access to this early read.

Emma, a not-so-famous rom-com author is tricked by her friend, and agent, into traveling to LA to assist Charlie Yates, her personal hero, with re-writing his rom-com. The only issue is, Charlie is a famous screenwriter who wants nothing to do writing, or love, and doesn’t know she’s coming.

Katherine Center is the queen of banter, and she doesn’t disappoint here. There were hilarious moment, but also tender and emotional moments. This is definitely a must read for any romance lovers.

Spectacular!!!

I laughed, I cried...

A whole spectrum of emotions flowed out of me as I watched Emma Wheeler roll that proverbial Sisyphean boulder (aka acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter, Charlie Yates) kicking and screaming up the true-believer's Rom-Com hill

Charlie Yates did not believe in romantic love.

He wrote action-packed, alien-invaded, gangster-ridden, world-ending screenplays that had garnered him - quite literally - a drawer full of awards.

Then, out of the blue, Emma is asked by her agent (and former high school boyfriend), Logan Scott, to help rewrite her screenwriting idol's recent attempt at a (gasp!) Rom-Com (a retelling of the iconic It Happened One Night.) After reading his latest script, Emma Wheeler had to admit: Charlie Yates - that prolific creator of a stream of blockbuster movie scripts - had written a total stinker!

I love stories where the central characters are writers. I adore following along their creative process. I had just finished Elizabeth Berg's Home Safe (the central character is also a writer) several weeks ago and wanted more. Imagine my euphoric glee when I saw that Katherine Center had penned this gloriously funny, sometimes tragic, but always engrossing story about not one but TWO screenwriters!

I did not want to put this stellar read down! Center's characters are always relatable and human. Emma has put her own writing career on hold to take care of her father, who was injured in a climbing accident on her birthday. Charlie Yates - that grouchy, lovable bear - has his own demons to battle. (No spoilers!)

And, as always in a Katherine Center story, the road to love is rocky and full of seemingly insurmountable impediments. The supporting cast of characters were just as appealing as the the main characters. Emma's relationship with Logan Scott had me roaring with laughter more than once. No spoilers here, but that running joke these two shared about being twins based on the matching colour of their eyes had me in stitches! Loved their crazy dynamic!

I started my review with the word "Spectacular" and I will end it with my heartfelt exclamations of "Dazzling, Magnificent and downright Sensational!!!" When I got to the last, very satisfying page of this story, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and read it again!

My blissed-out thanks to the author, Katherine Center, her publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this beautifully scripted, highly entertaining, and thoroughly thought provoking novel in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommended! 5 out of 5 glowing, love and life affirming stars!

I’ll start with this…I am a huge Katherine Center fan. Her books will always be automatic buys for me. Going into this I didn’t think anything could beat the Bodyguard….I was wrong! This book was one I stayed up until the middle of the night to read in one sitting. I COULD NOT put it down. This is the absolute standard for rom coms. A strong and spunky female character, a tad bit crabby but loveable main character who is a good guy and a host of really solid background characters. This book made me laugh out loud, scared me at one point and made me cry tears of sadness and joy. This book also has some fantastic relationship wisdom. Savor the good stuff, bad stuff happens to everyone…find joy in your now.

This line right here. Such truth…
“I don’t think marriage is hard. In fact, if you do it right, marriage is the thing that makes everything else easier”.

Thank you St Martins Press for the ARC via NetGalley. This one comes out June 2024 and it’s an absolute must read. This will for sure be my top five in 2024.

I LOVED this! It might be my new favorite Katherine Center book (an honor previously held by The Bodyguard). Center writes such wonderful rom-coms that it was fun to see her take on screenwriters writing their own rom-com. Emma and Charlie were delightful; his grumpy vs. her sunshine was perfection. I loved their banter and the way they developed a friendship before a romance. Center's books also have depth and heart and The Rom-Commers was no exception. I loved Emma's backstory and felt like it really gave meaning to her choice to love the idea of love. I cried, I laugh, I swooned...I could not put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book.

I love everything that Katherine Center writes and this is no exception. I enjoyed the buildup of the writing partnership as well as the exploration of grief that both characters face. I loved the loving relationship that Emma has with her family as well as the recurrence of Jack Stapleton! I think it was a little weird how Charlie was told he was going to die when he only had bronchitis ...seems like something fairly serious that was mistaken for something very benign...like he could sue his doctor for that mistake!

4 ⭐️s
Katherine Center is definitely one of my favorite rom-com authors and her newest aptly titled, The Rom-Commers, was a sweet, charming, slow burn love story with witty banter and relatable characters. I didn’t initially love Charlie’e character, but over time his grumpy nature turned into teddy bear lovable. He did have a way of making you love him one minute and thinking he was a complete jerk the next. This wasn’t my favorite KC novel ever, but still a very enjoyable read! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one in advance.

Absolutely loved this book. I needed more. I love a slow burn, but I wish we’d gotten to see more of them as a couple. I think the author effortlessly blends humor, heart, and a touch of realism.

The character development is a standout feature. Both characters here are relatable and authentic. Would love to see more of them and future stories by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I think I say this every time I read one of Kathryn‘s books, but she is an automatic read for me, and I am never disappointed. These are the cute and fluffy, romantic comedies that I love. She develops the characters so well- she makes them likable or unlikable, depending on who they need to be.
Are they predictable? Mostly. Does that stop me from falling in love with the story? Never.
Her newest, The Rom-commers is straight up Katherine in her prime.
We’ve got fantastic characters that you get angry at, and laugh at and fall in love with.
I can’t imagine myself ever not recommending a book by Katherine Center.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review

I have been a big fan of Katherine Center ever since stumbling onto her book The Bodyguard. The Rom-Commers highlights all Katherine's strengths. Aspiring screen writer Emma Wheeler and her writing hero/reluctant writing partner Charlie Yates are both delightful and funny. You want to cheer for them and shake them asking "what are you thinking?" in equal measure, and really, isn't that the mark of a good rom-com?

Each character is clearly coming to this story with their own baggage, and watching them unpack their pasts together (with the assistance of a cast of very likable characters- shout to some cameo appearances from some Bodyguard alum) allows the reader to become emotionally invested in each of them.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC though Netgalley in exchange for a review!

Rom-Com (obvi). Emma is an aspiring screenwriter who’s dreams have been put on hold for the last 10 years as she is the main caretaker for her father after a camping accident paralyzed one side of his body. She gets the chance of a lifetime to work with her screenwriting hero, Charlie Yates, to help re-write a remake of Emma’s most beloved rom-com. Her baby sister takes over caretaking duties and Emma is on her way to LA. The only problem? Emma finds out she’s to live with Charlie FOR THE 6 weeks, he has no idea she’s coming, and he doesn’t believe in love. Determined to make this big break work for her, Emma convinces Charlie to do the re-write with her and ropes him into researching all things rom-com. But as they continue to work together, Emma can’t help but wonder: is this just research? Or are they starting to fall for each other?

Katherine Center has done it again! I love books about a book, and this is that genre’s cousin: a book about a movie. And I could totally picture this being a cute rom-com movie! It has banter, it has chemistry, it has falling into one another and falling in love, it has miscommunication, all things perfect for a rom-com. And in her signature style, there were also a few scenes that made me tear up. Center is an auto-buy author for me, and this may be my most favorite of hers yet. Kick off your summer reading when this comes out 6/11!

Katherine Center does it again!! What an amazing read with great story and great characters. You’ll fall in love with them.

“Bearing witness to the suffering of others? I don’t know if there’s anything kinder than that. And kindness is a form of emotional courage. And I’m not sure if this is common knowledge, but emotional courage is its own reward.”
And this was the first 1/3 that had me thinking, pausing, crying.

I read this in one day. The banter, the comedic timing, the family dynamics were great. She does wholesome, witty dialogue, female protagonist, family dynamics so well. I loved the dad’s heart. I loved her talking about her mom. I loved Emma (flaws, confidence, wit and all).

I enjoyed how KC drew out very specific interactions and moments that left you wanting more. Although, I did wish there was more. Sometimes it was fast with a lot of time jumps.

I’m sad it’s over and I’m glad I read it.