I have loved every Katherine Center book I've read, I still have a few to catch up on, but I know I'll love them too. I loved almost every single character in this book. Emma is a selfless daughter who passed on her dream to care for her father, which I can totally relate to. Luckily, Emma has a sister who is as wonderful as she is. I could not get enough of this story and I honestly wished it could go on forever!

Kathrine Center does no wrong! Always knows how to make me smile and give me such a good feel good book!

Katherine Center, known for her heartfelt and uplifting novels, delivers another gem with "The Rom-Commers". In this delightful story, Center explores the world of romantic comedy screenwriting with humor, warmth, and a refreshing dose of self-discovery.

At the center of the novel is Libby, a talented but struggling screenwriter who dreams of breaking into the competitive world of Hollywood rom-coms. When her latest project falls flat, she finds herself at a crossroads in both her career and personal life. Determined to regain her creative spark, Libby embarks on a journey that leads her to unexpected friendships, romantic entanglements, and the realization that sometimes, the best stories are the ones we live ourselves.

Center's characters are vividly drawn, each with their own quirks and aspirations that resonate with authenticity. Libby is a relatable protagonist, navigating the pressures of creative ambition while grappling with insecurities and setbacks. The supporting cast, from Libby's eclectic group of friends to the charming love interest who challenges her assumptions about romance, adds depth and charm to the narrative.

The novel unfolds with a blend of wit and heartfelt emotion, capturing the highs and lows of Libby's journey with sincerity and insight. Center's writing is engaging and filled with clever observations about love, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of life in the entertainment industry. As Libby navigates through the twists and turns of her professional and personal life, readers are treated to a story that celebrates the power of resilience and the importance of following one's passions.

"The Rom-Commers" is not just a love letter to romantic comedies; it's a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. Center seamlessly weaves together themes of creativity, ambition, and the courage to pursue happiness, making for a compelling and uplifting read. The novel's pacing is well-paced, ensuring that readers remain invested in Libby's journey from start to finish.

In conclusion, "The Rom-Commers" is a charming and insightful novel that showcases Katherine Center's talent for crafting stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. With its engaging characters, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments, this book is a delightful choice for fans of romantic comedy and contemporary fiction alike

The Rom-Commers strikes the perfect blend of humour and romance. With its charming but complicated characters, in true Katherine Center fashion, there was depth and lightheartedness that made this story so memorable.

I adored the female main character, Emma, with her emanating light and seeing the world through a positive lens even though she was placed with many difficult obligations. Charlie was almost as equally lovable but in his own unique way. The back and forth dialogue between the two was so good and I loved both of their character arcs.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for a honest review.

This is my second book I've read from Katherine Center and I loved this one more than Hello Stranger.

This one had me in my feelings. I loved the witty banter between the main characters. They were relatable and their love story was fun to read. Also, it was very entertaining. This is what a rom-com is suppose to be. Can't wait for my next read from this author.

Another great story by Katherine Center that had me in tears again! All the feels! She is quickly becoming my favorite author. Thank you @netgalley!

Yes, yes, yes, everything about this book, yes! Katherine Center is the best of the best. Her characters are beautiful, flawed, and incredibly relatable. The stories are absolutely divine and I want her to write faster!!!

Cute book! I really look forward to Katherine Center's books. This one did not disappoint. In fact, I stayed up until 3:45am to finish it. The characters were likable and overall a cute story. Great beach read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! Katherine Center is always an auto buy author for me because of the beautiful stories she writes about love and loss. This book is nothing short of that. Center's witty humor and portrayal of angsty characters in The Rom-Commers make for such a cute rom-com that does not disappoint! Katherine Center showed, once again, her ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions through the character's eyes with this beautiful story. Grateful for the opportunity to read this book!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I loved this book! It was fun and funny and sweet. As a big fan of RomComs, I appreciate the main character calling out what makes these movies so lovely- you're supposed to want a happy ending to come from the love match. As with all of Katherine Center's books, she always does a great job of working something serious into a story so that it doesn't feel super trivial and silly. Makes it feel almost realistic (except I love the escape of her stories). This was another win!

This book was a little too predictable, even for a rom-com. Emma meets Charlie, he is standoffish, will they or won't they, insert sad backstories and big misunderstanding, and end with love. The problem for me was that I did not connect with Emma at all. I would literally forget her name and then be like, Emma? Who is Emma? However, I loved Charlie and Emma's friends and family and was able to fly through the pages pretty quickly so landed on three stars.

This will come as a surprise to no one but I completely ADORED The Rom-Commers by @katherinecenter . I love all of her books. They’re so well written, funny, charming, and heartwarming. I fall in love with the characters every single time but Charlie and Emma now have a special place in my heart.

I loved everything about this book. The story was so interesting from the main plot to the characters’ personal lives and histories. (I always love books about authors and writing anyway.)

And there’s no higher praise than the fact that I gave the book to my 20-year-old daughter yesterday and she just texted me to say how much she’s loving it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I have been a big Katherine Center fan since reading Things You Save in a Fire, but her last book really let me down. The Rom-Commers resparked my love for Center's work and her ability to write love stories that are bingeable and enjoyable.

If you're looking for a heartwarming rom-com with witty characters and surprising depth, you will enjoy this novel. Emma and Charlie are both lovely and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. Sweet and entertaining!

There is no world in which I will not read a Katherine Center new release.

This one focuses on Emma. She stays home to give her dad round the clock care after a tragic accident rendered him unable to stay home alone. She always dreamed of being a screenwriter and even had the opportunity for an internship, but the accident changed her life as much as her father’s. When she gets a call from old friend and agent Logan, Emma asks her sister to step in to care for their dad while she goes to LA to write a screenplay for a romcom with her hero Charlie Yates. Shenanigans and misunderstandings ensue, and the book follows their experiences together as they write the screenplay and deal with the other factors in their lives.

This book was fun but also made me want to cry. While the center of the story is a romance, there is a lot of heart that goes into. Emma’s father and her struggle to let someone else take care of him is a huge factor for her day-to-day. We find out through the book that Charlie has had some pretty tragic experiences that he too needs to deal with. So even though the book is lighthearted, it also has a balance of serious themes. This, to me, is what makes Center’s books so good.

She’s also a closed-door romance writer, which I love too. I really feel the development of the relationship between the characters without getting bogged down in the physicality.

This one has her trademark snappy dialogue that makes me laugh, and I can’t stop picturing Charlie’s sticky-up hair and Emma’s pompom.

Yes, read this one. Fans of Center will feel right at home, and if you like romcoms, this one is beautifully done.

“It’s all about the details you notice. And the joys you savor. And I hope you refuse to give up on. It’s all about writing the very best story of your life. Not how you live it – but how you choose to tell it.”

I always love Katherine Center’s books and The Rom-commers was no exception. What I appreciated about this book was that it was as much a love story between the FMC and herself as it was a rom-com. I found myself resonating with the many life lessons she learned and embraced throughout the book, and it brought a depth to the book that I enjoyed. I loved Emma and Charlie’s banter, the fun they had together, and the shenanigans that ensued.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC of this sweet book!

“I had a theory that we gravitate towards the stories we need in life. Whatever we are longing for - adventure, excitement, emotion, connection - we turn to stories to help us find it.”

Omg the way that I adored this 🥰 KC books hold a special place in my heart. I love how all of her books have much deeper things going on other than the romance. And this one was no different. Also we love a grumpy book boyfriend. That’s all.

THE ROMCOMMERS delivers:
🥹emo romance
⛅️grumpy sunshine
✍️rom com writers
🥊enemies to lovers
❤️swoon worthy romance
🎧amazing on audio

4 stars!

I’ve become a big fan of Katherine Center the last few years and The Rom-Commers was one of my most anticipated books for 2024! I was so grateful to receive this ARC from the publishers and even picked it up as my June BOTM!

This book is another stellar read to add to her ever growing “must read” collection for me. I was completely immersed in the story of Emma and Charlie from the start. Emma is this unwavering pillar of support for her disabled father, taking care of every single thing he needs while her younger sister finishes up school and she teaches at a local college. She has a side gig of helping her ex-boyfriend turned manager with writing projects and is offered the best job on the planet- writing a script with her idol, Charlie Yates! Emma knows everything about Charlies movies, projects, and him as a person. Not as as super fan, but as someone who just loves his art of the craft.

While Emma is this unknown writer, Charlie is THE It guy in Hollywood who has an abundance of fame, awards, and money. These two could not be more different. While Emma loves love and can back it up with hours of bookmarked declaration of love scenes, endless kiss scenes, and countless references to popular love stories, Charlie has no interest and focuses on the macho-man, mafia, alien genre that leaves no room for romance. His latest movie is s remake of a romantic classic and it’s a complete flop. He needs Emma to help him make it passable for good so that the producer funding it will support his next dream project. While Emma is hoping this will be the step in her career that will finally get her seen as a serious writer she also wants to make Charlie believe in love. The two clashing personalities set up for an incredible workplace comedy.

In the beginning, I despised Charlie. He was rude and dismissive of Emma before learning her story. I loved watching their relationship grow from an adoring fan and artist, to tolerable coworkers, to comfortable friends and eventually lovers. While it wasn’t a huge grand gesture of love, their spark was subtle and founded on a bed of mutual admiration for their passion of writing movies. The forced proximity aspect was definitely the powder keg of their relationship even with the looming deadline of only 6 weeks to write the script. I also found the power-imbalance a bit off for this to be a believable romance as Charlie is older, more well-known, extremely more wealthy than her and Emma’s literal idol. She is very vocal about her adoration of him several times that didn’t come off as sweet, but more of super-fan-esque.

Katherine Center does it again with The Rom-Commers. Fun with lots of heart, you’ll want to read this one!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

THE ROM-COMMERS - Katherine Center

Great characters! - 4.5 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Emma Wheeler longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies. Now she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates, her personal writing god. But Charlie doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is extremely terrible. Actually, he doesn’t really care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one produced. 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?

Writing - 4.5 stars - Center usually writes with ease and humor, and this book was no exception. I was grabbed by the characters right from the beginning, and it was fun to watch them interact with each other and work together, despite all the odds against them. I loved seeing Emma develop her writing skills by working with Charlie and actually teaching him about rom-coms. She's the tutor here, and it was great that he actually listened to her comments and accepted her greater knowledge about the genre.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Charlie is a great character. He's brilliant at what he does, and he doesn't want to work with anyone, especially on a job that doesn't interest him. But when he meets Emma, he realizes that she's someone special, even if he doesn't want her to know how he feels. I love that he's cynical, rumpled, and opinionated, but he's also loved by the industry as well as by his fans. His comment is apt: "You can get away with anything if everybody has already decided to like you." And he's a very likeable guy. Emma, on the other hand, is intense, because she believes so much in her cause--convincing Charlie about the existence of love. She has been the sole caretaker of her disabled father, so she's lived a quiet and unadventurous life. Now she has a wonderful opportunity to work with her idol, but she's not quite sure how to handle it or if it's even in her best interest. To add more substance to the story, I enjoyed Sylvie (Emma's sister) and Salvador (Sylvie's boyfriend) as they took over the care of their father. It struck me that it's hard to give up your own method of doing things, thinking that your process is the only one, and Emma had a hard time with this. But Sylvie did a great job with caretaking, and it was healthy for everyone to make the change, even if temporarily.

Title - 4 stars - When we learn that Charlie and Emma are writers who are collaborating on a rom-com screenplay, then the title makes perfect sense.

Cover - 4 stars - I'm not a huge fan of the current trend of cartoon-y covers, but the bright colors are a definite plus and draw the eye.

Overall - 4.5 stars - This is another winner from Center. It is a warm and funny romantic comedy with excellent characters and light humor. I'll admit that it didn't quite draw me in as most of her other books do, but I enjoyed the read and found the story to be light and pleasant and very enjoyable. I felt that it lacked the intensity and strong story line that a Center book usually features, with Charlie's cancer history as kind of a back story rather than a focused part of the book. I still found the book to be fun and entertaining, and I did make note of several quotes that I found to be meaningful.