I love Emma Wheeler’s devotion to her family, her love of all things Rom-Com and her desire to never give up on her dreams. She has always been a serious student of Charlie Yates’s writing and has read all of his screenplays, watched all of his interviews and has meticulously dissected every word, facial expression and sentence to the point where she could practically recite them in her sleep. Why wouldn’t she want to fly to Los Angeles for a once in a lifetime opportunity of co-writing a screenplay with her literary idol? Well, the answer to that was simple: she was her father’s caretaker and hadn’t left his side in ten years. Who could possibly replace her for six weeks while she hob-nobbed with the stars in Hollywood, while finally getting the recognition she deserved?

I am sure most of us dream of meeting our favorite actor or rock star, but what would we talk about? Would we be too starstruck to carry on an intelligent conversation and merely settle for a handshake or a sexy wink? Emma dwelled on all of this while sitting uncomfortably on the crowded airplane. She had no idea why Charlie Yates, the world famous screenwriter, would need her assistance with his latest screenplay, a Romantic Comedy. Emma was prepared to spend late nights brainstorming ideas with her dream screenwriter, while at the same time, worrying about her father. Emma was excited about this next chapter in her life, but she wondered “if maybe dreams were better off never trying to become reality.”

I liked the backstory for the characters and found pieces relatable. That's where the like for the story stopped as the whole idea of getting to write a famous script seemed very unlikely. Also, the first part of the book was a very slow read. Finally the forgiveness in the end I didn't think should happen. I know given the genre a happily after is necessary but I think it would have been better for separate happily ever afters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for this wonderful ARC ❤️

4.5/5!

Ugh, I just love Katherine Center's writing. Her books are just a delight to read: rich, engaging, painful, beautiful. I was so stoked to read this & it was amazing!

Loved it!!

I’m so sad to say this, but I just wasn’t feeling this book in the way that I usually do with Katherine Center’s stories.

The premise of the book is pretty straightforward: Emma is hired to help famous screenwriter Charlie write a rom com that he doesn’t want to write. I feel like Center’s plots usually have a little more to them than that, so I found it to be slightly lacking in that regard.

Additionally, I really don’t like it when characters aren’t just honest with each other. That bothered me in this book too.

Lastly, there seemed to be more crude language and references in this book than I’m used to from Center’s work, including a good amount of f-words and an entire crass conversation that I could definitely have done without.

In terms of the good, Center’s writing style is always fun. I also enjoyed and appreciated the importance of family throughout the story. Emma’s relationships with her dad and sister (specifically her dad) were really sweet.

I really wanted to love this. It sounds like I should love it. But honestly I disliked Charlie for a solid 80% of the book. And MAYBE I could have gotten over it but he didn’t even have to beg or grovel. She just forgave him easily and they lived happily ever after. The ending was good, it made me want to rate it higher but the first 200+ pages were hard to get past. Not my favorite of hers at all.

Katherine Center has done it again! The Rom-Commers definitely stands out to me as one of her strongest romantic comedies and if you're especially invested in the drama, you won't want to miss out on this one.

Emma Wheeler has spent the last 10 years of her life being a caregiver to her father, but her true passion has always been screenwriting. When her agent (her ex-boyfriend from high school) reaches out with an unexpected opportunity that makes her drop everything in her life to pursue. That opportunity? Helping her screenwriter crush and Hollywood darling - Charlie Yates - rewrite his romantic comedy... his romantic comedy that is absolutely terrible.

When I say I DEVOURED this book... I truly mean it... Devoured in less than 24 hours! I love rom-coms set in the Hollywood space which I know is not for everyone, but I think Rom-Commers at it's core is just a sweet story of giving yourself the opportunity to have the things that you want, even if against all odds you want to stop yourself from wanting it. It's been awhile since I've read a rom-com where I truly cared about the main protagonists and felt as though they had lives off of the page. Katherine Center, just has such a way with witty back and forth dialogue that is so natural, but also so fun. Sometimes I find that the back and forth between the two love interests can almost be too cheesy, over the top or cringe, but Center's is just so excellent. I for sure fell in love with Mr. Charlie Yates while reading this book!

If you read The Bodyguard as well, you'll be please to know that Jack Stapleton does make a cameo, and if you're a Ji Chang-wook lover, Katherine Center also manages to work his swoon worthy capabilities into the story as well.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC for this review. This is my honest opinion.

This story was way more emotional than I was expecting from a book called The Rom-Commers. It had some funny moments and parts I really liked but I'm honestly feeling pretty blue having read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press!

After a tragic accident that completely changed her family 1o years ago, Emma put all of her dreams on hold to be the primary caretaker for her father. She blames herself for the accident and has given up everything to help her family as a result. But when her ex-boyfriend/best friend Logan, offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, her family encourages her to go and finally chase her dreams. The opportunity is a chance to work with her hero, screenwriter Charlie Yates, and help him rewrite his terrible rom com. As they live, write, and work together, they get to know each other more, and as Emma tries to convince him love exists, she might also accidentally develop feelings for him.

Katherine Center does it again with another perfect book. The moment this book hit my email, I knew I needed to drop everything and read it. I was sold from the title and cover alone. But with Katherine’s incredible story telling, this book exceeded my already high expectations, and to no one’s surprise, I read it in one sitting. This book had me cackling from laughter and also had me Kim Kardashian ugly crying. The full spectrum of emotions I experienced when reading this book is testament to how deeply invested I was in these characters. I loved Emma and Charlie as individuals and together. Their banter was perfection, and the emotional hurdles they each had to overcome were heartbreaking and led to some beautiful journeys. I can’t say enough how much I adored this book, this beautiful love letter to rom-coms. I can promise this book will end up being one of my top books of the year.

A HUGE thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Who doesn’t love a good Katherine Center book? She has become a favorite of mine and won’t miss a new one. Thank you to #Netgalley and the publishers for the early edition. I love this s as much as I have her others. Dont miss out!

Katherine Center is a must-read author for me, and the Rom-Commers did not disappoint! Emma is a gifted writer, but her career has taken a back seat to her family responsibilities. She receives the chance of a lifetime to help re-write a screenplay with Charlie Yates, a famous screenwriter who unbeknownst to her, has the writing "yips". This is the story of how Emma and Charlie re-write the screenplay and ultimately the plans they have for their lives. Don't sleep on this one! An absolute delight.

Wow! Another great read by Katherine Center. I’ve enjoyed many of Center’s books and count Things You Save in a Fire as one of my all time favorites. As a huge fan of rom-com movies, like our female lead Emma, I really enjoyed the rom-com of it all in this book. Charlie was a great male lead too. The Hollywood setting was great too. The love story felt very real in that Charlie and Emma both had traumatic life experiences, including sickness and parents leaving or passing away. But as with all great romcoms, they were able to find a way past the mess of life to each other in the end. I love romances with heart and depth, and this definitely fits in that category. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publish date 6/11/2024

Synopsis: “Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?”

I wanted to love this one, but it was a bit of a miss for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the main characters, and I think it dragged on too long in the beginning before we saw any sparks. I liked the premises, I thought the main character was likable, but overall it just wasn’t the romance book for me. I loved the Bodyguard and will continue to try Katherine Center’s books. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

Katherine Center does it again! Grief, humor, love, and hope - all wrapped up on one delicious romance package. I read this one in under 6 hours...? So, needless to say, I found it difficult to put down.

rating: 5 STARS
genre: romance
format: ebook
release date: 6/11/2024

I think my absolute FAVORITE thing about this book was that it felt like Emma was just a friend talking to me and updating me on her day or her life. Her thoughts and feelings came across the page more like a conversation - or even a movie VoiceOver - than a book...and I really, really enjoyed that.

It made me think though: Are all books written kind of like a movie VoiceOver where you're in one character's head and I just didn't even notice? My exact notes reading this book: "Feels like a movie voice over...Actually - it reads a lot like e movie. With flashbacks and voiceovers and exposition - is this all books?" Food for thought.

On that note, it also kind of made me think of Jane Eyre in the way that the narrator speaks to you. "And reader, I married him." You get updates in Center's book that way - and, again, I loved it.

LASTLY, because this book is about screenwriters writing a romantic comedy, it's also a beautiful commentary on the romance genre and a love letter to romance readers. We often get a lot of hate for reading romance - "What's the point when you know how it ends?" The point is the journey , folks. And Center highlights that here.

Cannot recommend enough. Just read it.

Heart warming plot with likable characters. I enjoyed the behind the scenes Hollywood vibe along with the love of writing and words that permeated the book.

Katherine Center is one of my auto read authors, so I couldn’t wait to read her newest book! I unfortunately did not love this book as much as I hoped I would. I found this book to be so boring and all over the place. It didn’t even feel like she had written it herself, it didn’t feel like any of her other books.

What I did enjoy about the book was the growth between the characters. They changed so much throughout the book and it was so nice to see them grow. I also enjoyed their research dates for the script, I thought that was a good addition to the book. The pet guinea pig was such a funny part of the story as well. I know others loved this book, so it might just not have been for me! I recommend checking out others thoughts on it as well.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Rom-Commers
Katherine Center
Publication date: June 11, 2024

5/5 stars

I love anything and everything Katherine Center writes and this book was no exception. She takes all of her books to another level with depth and character development. I loved Emma and Charlie’s banter and the whole unique storyline. There is a cameo from The Bodyguard so it’s fun if you read that one first, but not required. I would love to see this one made into a movie! This is such a heartwarming story that I stayed up wait too late reading. Can’t wait for the next Katherine Center book!

Thank you Katherine Center, Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well Katherine Center has done it again and I think The Rom-Commers is my new favorite book by her. As an anxious older sister, I identified so much with Emma and her need for control and safety, so watching her spread her wings a bit and let go of the control reigns was so satisfying and heartwarming. The banter between Emma and Charlie was top notch and had me laughing out loud on several occasions. I just loved watching them fall in love and absolutely ate their story up!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. If I could give it a million stars, I would.

Let's start with the cover. I've seen a lot of hate towards it. If you've had the opportunity to devour this story, you will appreciate it in all its awkwardness.

The Rom-Commers is shamelessly my first Katherine Center read. (That will promptly be corrected). An excellent book has to have relatable and interesting characters. Everyone we meet in the Rom-Commers plays a huge part in this gripping story. I want to meet them all and feel I have through Center's character development.

The story! Oh my goodness. Emma really went through it and involved us readers through her many, many downs and high highs. I didn't want this book to end. Now, I'm level with a huge book hangover - the only cure is more Katherine Center!

Emma and Charlie are characters with complex, messy backgrounds that come together beautifully!

In the book, Emma talks about why people gravitate to fiction; people turn to stories to help find what they are longing for or to deal with struggles. Reading can be a form of escapism for many, and I loved seeing this concept being woven into a book 💞

Thank you Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my favorite Katherine Center book! It’s so nice and compassionate, every character will hold onto your heart page after page. Emma is given the opportunity of a lifetime after spending what seems to be her lifetime taking care of everyone else. Emma makes the temporary move to LA to ghostwrite with her favorite author. He has written and abysmal rom com and Emma is there to help fix it. As she is teaching him the magic of love, she falls in deeper while Charlie Yates seems to be pulling further and further away. All the happily ever after that you didn’t know you needed right here!