Ahhh… 3.5 stars rounded to 4. I’ve always loved stories by Katherine Center and had really high hopes for this book. Emma was cute and lovable and funny but there was a spark missing the writing and story. The rom- commers was a miss for me. I however will still recommend this book and when it comes out on audio, I will give it a listen.

Possibly my new favorite Katherine Center (and I have read them all!). This book has the BEST underlying message and is so so well written. It made me laugh, cry, and roll my eyes. I loved the MC and the love interest and just felt so happy the entire time I was reading it.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

A special thank you to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the ARC of this amazing and heartwarming ebook.

Publication Date: June 11, 2024

I love @katherinecenter ‘s writing! I’m a huge fan of her work, so will have my moment to fangirl a little here - especially because it only seems fitting after reading The Rom-Commers (you’ll see what I mean once you read this book).

💭:

I read this delightful story in two sittings. It easily could have been one had I not fallen asleep. Who needs sleep? 🫢

An aspiring and very talented writer named Emma has had to put her writing on the back burner due to being a FT caregiver for her dad. She has spent the past 10 years caring for him - selflessly giving her younger sister the freedom to pursue her dreams.

Emma gets a call from her ex-bf Logan, who offers her a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly to LA and meet her favourite Screenwriter Charlie Yates. THE Charlie Yates! The man she could only ever dream of meeting in real life, and whose writing she held in high regard.

This book is grumpy x sunshine ☀️, forced proximity, a found second family, with an amazing ending, which will likely have you in tears. Honestly, there were many parts throughout that pulled at my heartstrings.

The plot is clever and goes into great detail on the specifics of how to write a rom-com; leaving me thinking maybe I can write a rom-com too! Lol 😂

If this isn’t on your radar, it should be! I highly recommend this to everyone.

THE ROM-COMMERS is my favorite book of author Katherine Center!!! I really enjoyed the premise and all the heart and charm throughout the story. Romantic comedy screenwriter Emma has the chance to work with her favorite screenwriter of all time, Charlie Yates. And by working, I mean giving all of her honest feedback to Charlie's terribly-written no-happy-ending rom-com script. Together, they rewrite his rom-com script, while writing their own love story at the same time.

I loved Charlie so much. He comes across as aloof and pompous, but when you learn more about him, he is an incredible softie and romantic, with an extremely big heart. I enjoyed the tropes of grumpy vs sunshine, forced proximity, and "co-writers off to a rocky start" to lovers. Emma challenges Charlie in a healthy way that allows him to confront his fears and beliefs. Charlie uses his connections to make Emma's dreams come true.

I appreciated the personal depth and individual growth to the characters. Emma believes she is responsible for the accidental death of her mother. Charlie believes whenever he is sick, the people he loves leave him. With forgiveness and the courage to challenge one's beliefs allows both of them to move on and live the lives they were meant to live. It was a feel-good story that still felt so real and truthful.

I loved the ending and epilogue. Frankly I just loved everything about this endearing love story and am so happy to have witnessed Charlie and Emma's love. One of my favorite quotes: "Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true."

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

NetGalley coming through with some Katherine Center love!

I’ve mentioned it before, but I appreciate Center’s romance novels because they are smut free! Despite being free of steamy scenes, Center is still able to give us the heart swells that we’d read in romance/rom-com novels.

Emma is a screenwriter who hasn’t yet made her big break, but she knows she’s talented and she has an arsenal of rom-com movie knowledge under her belt. Her ex-bf and manager, Logan, calls her up one day offering her the job of a lifetime: fixing and ghostwriting the famed Charlie Yates’ film script… which to everyone’s horror is an absolutely terrible rom-com story. The issue? Upon arriving at Yates’ doorstep, Emma awkwardly realizes that Yates never agreed to hire her. However, after falling for her charm, talents, and unruly hair, Yates hires Emma for 6 weeks as a consultant. After living together for 6 weeks and “researching” rom-coms, can these two resist falling in love?

If you want to unlock all the secrets of the quintessential rom-com, then pick up The Rom-Commers! This book is super cute and I most definitely finished it in 2 sittings. Center’s books remind me of Korean dramas and are like a guilty pleasure, but without any of the guilt.

Something I appreciate about Center’s latest books is that she highlights different medical conditions. In “Hello Stranger,” Center’s story focused around the condition prosopagnosia (or face blindness), which interested me bc my husband has a condition that causes partial blindness. In this latest book, Emma’s dad suffers from a condition called Meniere’s disease, which is a condition my mom also suffers from. All to say, it’s been interesting to identify with Center’s characters in these little ways and to make people aware of these different conditions.

Tbh, I’d probably rate this book a 3.5/5 since I liked The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger more. However, I’m rounding up and giving this a 4/5.

I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in a day! It was a wonderful rom com about a rom com! The characters were well developed and likable. I can’t say enough good things about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies. My favorite by Katherine Center so far!

I loved this book so much. My favorite book of 2024 so far. It was an emotional roller coaster, but it was so worth the ride. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. My emotions were all over the place. I could sit and write about this book all day. The storyline, the characters, the details, the slow burn, it was all spot on. A huge Kudos to the author for a phenomenal book! I am so glad I got an ARC for this, but I will definitely own it. It’s so worth another read and I hardly ever reread a book. I want to see this in a movie!!!

"I've just read a romantic comedy script that will destroy human civilization as we know it."

"Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that's the one that'll be true."

This book is romcom perfection. The multiple layers of romcom happening within the story, the characters, the banter, the barriers and challenges. I'm a huge Katherine Center fan, in general, but this was on another level. I couldn't put it down. It's within the same world as The Bodyguard, which is another favorite in the genre.

My favorite part? The little moments throughout the book were exquisite and so intentionally and carefully crafted. They had me so invested in this love story.

Thank you SO MUCH to publishers at St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Publication date is June 11, 2024.

Absolutely devoured this in less than 24 hours. So sweet and exactly what I needed to read. Katherine Center never misses!

One quick note is that the whole “he said, ‘blank’ like, *insert adverb*” got super repetitive. Loved the book regardless, but feel like that was just overdone.

I LOVE a hollywood romance and have enjoyed many of Katherine's books so I was excited to read this once. I really liked the characters and how everything flowed. My one potential issue was the conflict was frustrating and I hate total lack of communication. I kind of got it but at the same time it kind of ruined the slow burn? BUT I loved the male MC and the subtle hints we as readers got that he was smitten.

Emma has been a caretaker for her father for the last ten years and has put her life on hold to do so. When a writing opportunity comes along to work with her idol, she can’t pass it up and her family works together to make it happen. However, Emma finds that Charlie is difficult to work with, isn’t taking her project seriously, and doesn’t believe in love. She fears she’s made a mistake leaving her family, but maybe she’s just the thing Charlie needs in his life.

I love all of Katherine Center’s books, and this one is no exception! She has such a talent for writing characters in a way that you can’t help but adore them. I also love the way she tackles hard subjects with such optimism and positivity without ignoring their difficulty. She always manages to tug on my heartstrings and make me smile and laugh. In this story, I felt such empathy for both characters because they’d been through such traumatic events, but yet it still managed to be light hearted, sweet, and fun. I don’t know how she does it, but I’ll continue to consume it like the serotonin boost it is! I’ll be recommending this book to anyone and everyone!

Thank you to Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I just love starting the year off with good romance. And more perfect: another brilliant romantic comedy from Katherine Center. I love her writing style and how she engages her audience with ease. I love the way she unfolds the complex layers of her characters with charm, wit, and warmth; much like how she reveals her entire story. Charlie and Emma are wonderful main characters to bring this story to life, also charming and witty, you can’t help but root from them, Emma especially, from the very first page. Romance is my favorite genre to read and it’s very obvious that Katherine Center wants to preserve its essence and purity and renown with her works. The interest she takes her people as human beings with complex feelings and gumption and strength is heart warming and refreshing. I've said it before in reviews for Center's works: Katherine Center took a tried and true romance trope and gave readers a story that takes that trope, gives a few unique twists to make it her very own and the end result just soars - and I'm saying it again. She hits it out of the park every time. This newest addition will be a huge hit for 2024 releases and for romance and human interest lovers everywhere.

This morning, I woke up at 2:00AM and thought to myself, "I guess I might as well read." And read I did. I finished
The Rom-Commers" in one sitting because I was not able to put it down. The main characters, Emma and Charlie, are so likeable and quirky that you can't help to root for them. I loved the dynamic of Emma being a perpetual caretaker paired with Charlie's history. Written from Emma's point of view, the quips she provided were hilarious. I remain a huge fan of Katherine Center's work, and she truly hit it out of the park with this one.

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a ARC of "The Rom-Commers." All opinions expressed are my own.

Just when you think an author can’t get any better, Katherine Center releases The Rom-Commers.

This book is just a beautiful read - there is no other way to describe it. I can’t remember another romance novel where I underlined so much, because she just finds a way to write exactly to my life — even when the story has nothing to do with me. The Rom-Commers seems like Katherine Center’s love story to love stories, and I am here for it.

Emma is the caretaker for her dad, and an aspiring, incredibly talented writer. She gets asked to ghost re-write a remake of a rom-com with her favorite author, and to live with him during the process. He immediately disappoints her by being nothing like who she imagines him to be. We travel a journey with Emma and Charlie as they write the screenplay of a lifetime, and maybe learn a bit about love and forgiveness along the way.

Bonus: we get to see Jack Stapleton again, and I just love when we have the chance to visit old, beloved characters.

Extra bonus: there is a scene about peonies in the book, and I happened to snag some at Trader Joe’s last week because they are my favorite flower. When I was given this ARC, I thought “oooh, I’ll use them for a pic, because peonies seem like a flower @katherinecenter would love. Then I read the scene, and it felt like it was meant to be! 🌸🌺💐

I truly didn’t want this one to end. It felt a bit like therapy to me — reading it helped me made me think about and begin to untangle things I didn’t realize I was feeling. It’s rare that a book renders me speechless, and this one did. I laughed, I cried, and I hope this one also finds its way to the big screen!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for this advanced copy — it was a gift!

🥰 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ✍🏼

By: @katherinecenter
★★★★★/5 (more if I could!!!)

From the very first pages I knew I’d love this book because of its reference to Meneire’s Disease, an inner ear disorder which is right up my alley as an audiologist. Shortly after that, there was a Parent Trap reference… and after that was a Jack Stapleton cameo (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥)!? I mean, come on.

The banter between Emma and Charlie was 👌🏼. The real emotions about what Emma is going through with her family were 🥺. And I loved Emma’s narration “breaking the fourth wall” (as @beth.read.books wrote in her review) in second person, talking directly to me as the reader. Oh, and the character growth between both Emma AND Charlie 🤌🏼. So dang good!

I laughed and I cried… and then laughed again. The epilogue was perfection - the philosophical truths of life that Katherine put into words made me melt.

As we all know, Katherine Center has become my favorite romance author over the last couple years and this one definitely held up to my standards. As my most anticipated read of 2024, I can easily say, it will be a top 5 of the year if not the top. Bring it on, every other book 😂

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @katherinecenter for this eARC !!! 🥹 I’ve preordered it with pretty pink sprayed edges and it is out on June 11, 2024!!!

Is this book on your radar?? (Only correct answer is yes) 🙌🏼

I always get excited for a new Katherine Center book.. This one did not disappoint. It made me laugh and cry and want to read on.. I missed a few important chores so I could relax and read the story of Emma and Charlie Yates.
Emma start out thinking her life long dream of writing and meeting her favorite screen play writer has come true...but when she meets Yates...is entirely a different event. Can they work together and can she transform him into a rom-com writer? His new book is awful and she has the difficult task of re=writing it with him...but will she "re=write him" as well. Read this one...its worth the time...

When I got the email from St Martins that I got the ARC for The Rom-Commers, I dropped my KU book and jumped right in!

First things first, my little ear nerd self knew this was going to draw me in as soon as Meniere’s Disease was mentioned. This is a condition I see patients with often at work, and Katherine did a great job showing the most severe side of it!

Something about how Katherine writes is just 👩‍🍳😘. Every single character is so relatable. I mean the quote “I don’t have anxiety, I just worry all the time” was so accurate 😂 The FMC, Emma, breaks the fourth wall and it’s as if she’s telling the story directly to the reader and talking to you at the same time (and in the most real way too). Soooooo good. While Emma’s backstory was heartbreaking in and of itself, the way she told it, it felt like you were there-could see it, hear it, feel it.

And come on, a rom com about WRITING a rom com?!?! Beyond perfect. The build up between Charlie and Emma was done so well and his monologue had me in tears 🥹.

And the ending!!!! Every rom com needs a good happily ever after and Katherine delivered on that over and over!!!

This one comes out June 11th, and I’d absolutely recommend you pick it up!!!!

Thank you again Katherine and St Martins for the opportunity to read this early!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this title. I was so excited to get to read this one early because in exchange fo an honest review because , goodness, I just love Katherine Center books. This one was absolutely just as good as I thought it would be and more. The way she tells a story and weaves heartache amongst a love story is beautiful. The characters are relatable and warm and the banter between them is oh so fun. She had me rooting for both of them the whole time.

Emma is an aspiring screenwriter, who hasn't had much time to pursue her dream because of the tragic death of her mom plus an accident that has left her as the full time caregiver for her dad. She has basically put her entire life on hold for everyone else. When she gets a call from her former high school boyfriend, who happens to be a big time Hollywood manager, offering her a role helping her favorite screenwriter rewrite a rom com she is admittedly hesitant to take the job. It sounds too good to be true, afterall. After some encouragement from her dad and sister, she arrives in LA to a less than stellar welcome. She makes it her mission anyway to teach Charlie, the writer, what a true rom com is about and to help him rewrite his screenplay. Charlie on the other hand is only writing the screenplay to satisfy a favor and isn't all the interested in Emma's help. The book has both main characters facing their demons in more ways than one. The reader gets to witness them both learning lots about themselves and their value as people and also the value of love. It was genuinely an amazing book and I just loved it. Katherine Center is an author I will always automatically read and this book is the exact reason why. Thanks for the opportunity review this book!

This book was perfection. I laughed and I cried. Katherine Center wrote a beautiful book that is inspiring and heartfelt about love and tragedy. The epilogue, LOVED, I want to carry around with me for inspiration daily.

Emma is an aspiring screenwriter who is her father's caretaker. She receives a phone call for an opportunity to rewrite a script with her favorite, handsome writer, Charlie. He is a bigshot in Hollywood and she can't pass this up even though she is anxious to leave her father.

Charlie isn't that excited about this partnership but he realizes he needs the help, because this movie is a romcom and not his speciality. Emma is someone who feels love and helps Charlie explore that. But now can they work together in a forced proximity and create the perfect love story on and off screen?

Emma and Charlie are the perfect sunshine/grumpy combo. They understand each other but can be stubborn at times. Their growth together is emotional to read in the best ways.

Highly recommend everyone to read this!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Absolutely adored this book!! Finished it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. Love the witty banter between the two main characters and the rom com spin.