This story starts out with a family to love; and a family that cares for each other enough to put each other first. Getting a peek at Emma’s character through her heart-wrenching family history grabs a hold right away. Then it was a treat to sit back and enjoy the fun as the work on Charlie and Emma's rom-com collaboration takes off and the chemistry between these two slowly simmers. There are always so many unexpected chuckle moments throughout Katherine Center's stories and this time biscuit birthday donuts was just one of the scenes that filled my heart with laughter and smiles; another sweet and satisfying five-star story!!

I’m so happy to have had the chance to read this Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is such a emotional but endearing and even fun read. Emma is the kind of character you just get—she’s real, relatable, and so easy to root for. I loved watching her navigate the ups and downs of love, family, and life in general. Center’s writing is super witty and charming, making you laugh one minute and tear up the next. While some parts were a little predictable (hello, rom-com tropes!), the emotional depth really made it stand out. It’s got all the feel-good vibes, with a dash of real talk about second chances and personal growth. Perfect for anyone who loves a sweet, uplifting romance with a little heart. Definitely a cozy, uplifting read to curl up with!

Absolutely INCREDIBLE!

I've been a fan of Center's writing for some time now, but this story takes it to an entirely different level.

Emma and Charlie were positively adorable together. Their chemistry flew off the page. You couldn't miss it. I was rooting for them all the time. Even during the moments I wasn't supposed to.

Center could teach a masterclass is writing dialogue. So witty. Fantastic back and forth banter. She pulls so much emotion out of you. I was along for this ride from the first sentence.

OUTSTANDING!!!

This book was so good! I loved it! The writing, the chemistry, chefs kiss!!!!!! I ate this book up!!!!!!

A Cute ride that mixes humor, romance, and with a bit of humor.
It is charming and feel-good read that will leave you smiling. It's perfect for anyone looking for a fun romance with a good dose of humor.
Overall, it was a fun read, but I like some of her other books more and just felt this one was ok.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for providing an advance reader copy.

I always love Katherine Center’s books, but this one was not my favorite of hers. I saw a lot of myself in Emma, being the oldest daughter and feeling the weight of many responsibilities while also trying to please everyone, and I love her quirkiness, heart, and humor. She was driven and wanted to genuinely make something of herself.

However, my main problem with this book was Charlie. He was so cold to Emma and rude to her so many times during her time in LA. If I had been Emma, I would have left the first day, so props to her for sticking it out and standing up for herself. There were glimmers where I thought I’d start to like him more, but then he would go back to being a total jerk. When Charlie rejected her the second time, that would have been the last straw for me and I would not have forgiven him. But through a series of grand gestures, Charlie wins Emma over. I felt like the ending was really rushed and I was left wanting more emotion and more explanation from Charlie for why he acted like a jerk the way he did.

I DID enjoy learning more about screenwriting and the nuances that come with writing a good one. All the pop culture references, real and fake, were also fun too. Katherine Center has such a fun, warm tone of writing that makes you want to keep reading that also held my attention. I just wish the MMC had to grovel a bit more at the end to win Emma’s heart.

I didn't care for the MMC and how he treated the FMC at the beginning and then I didn't really buy their relationship after that. Not Center's best rom com, sorry The Rom-Commers. 😬 I read this in May 2024 while boycotting SMP.

Katherine Center always does a great job of writing a romcom (no pun in intended) that keeps you page turning and sad that the book is over at the end. This was a perfect enemies to lovers that makes you hate Charlie in the beginning but man does he grow on you as the book continues. The way she was able to loop in the fact that she is a care taker for her dad was perfect, as some readers may be in the sandwich role, and feel a kinship with the characters even more. Ready for the next one!

Katherine Center’s "The Rom-Commers" is an absolute delight from start to finish! If you're a fan of feel-good stories that mix humor, romance, and real-life challenges, this book is a must-read. Center's signature writing style shines through as she creates an irresistibly fun yet heartfelt narrative that perfectly captures the magic and messiness of love.

I had zero expectations going into this book. I always love Katherine Center’s writing. I pick up every book she’s written. Needless to say, I LOVE this book. I definitely can see myself in the FMC. Grief and moving past hardships is a topic here that is highly spoken about. The relationship between Charlie and Emma felt so real.

Katherine Center’s The Rom-Commers is a spirited, meta-romantic comedy that playfully deconstructs the genre while celebrating its enduring appeal. Center introduces us to Emma Wheeler, an aspiring screenwriter who has long been content writing perfect rom-coms from behind the scenes—until a six-week stint in L.A. forces her to confront her own story. Balancing the demands of caregiving with her creative dreams, Emma’s journey becomes a heartfelt exploration of sacrifice, ambition, and the transformative power of love.

At the heart of the narrative is the electrifying, if somewhat contentious, collaboration between Emma and the cynical Charlie Yates. Their dynamic—brimming with snarky banter, surprise kisses, and a reluctant mutual admiration—offers a clever twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Center’s signature warmth and wit shine through as she deftly navigates both the humorous absurdities and the quiet, poignant moments of real life. The novel’s self-aware nods to rom-com clichés and its occasional forays into fourth-wall-breaking narration might feel a bit jarring at times, yet these moments only underline the audacity of a story that refuses to be boxed into a formula.

Moreover, The Rom-Commers delves into themes of grief, healing, and the relentless pursuit of one’s passion. Emma’s struggle to care for her father while chasing her screenwriting dreams is rendered with both sensitivity and humor—a balancing act that resonates deeply with anyone familiar with the costs of personal sacrifice. Although the character dynamics sometimes lean toward the conventional, and the conflict in the third act might catch some readers off guard, Center’s insight into the messy reality of relationships adds a refreshing layer of depth to the tale.

Overall, The Rom-Commers is a rollicking, thought-provoking romp that offers as much heart as it does hilarity. It’s a love letter to second chances and the messy, beautiful process of writing our own stories. For its blend of smart dialogue, emotional sincerity, and playful genre subversion, I’m giving this novel a solid 4.25 out of 5.

Emma has set aside her dreams for the past 10 years to help take care of her father when she gets the chance to ghostwrite for her favorite screenwriter. Only problem is, he has no idea she’s coming and that their shared agent made her think he did. The two form an unlikely team to help Charlie rewrite his romantic comedy screenplay. Watching these two go through what makes a good romantic comedy screenplay was such a fun read. Charlie was such a pessimist and Emma wanted him to see that you had to experience love to write it.
I did struggle with their miscommunication, which came up quiet a bit. Also, I never really understood the relationship with the ex-wife. Something just felt odd there.
I did love how Charlie showed his love in quiet ways especially once Emma had gone back to Texas to care for her dad. He showed her that even though she didn’t want him there, he could still support her from afar.
Overall, I did enjoy this book!

The queen of romcom, center know how deliver a closed door romance story but full of emotions.
In this writer sunshine helps a grumpy tv director deliver and rewrite a comedy scrip

Katie has not had the best of luck with love and now things at work are not looking promising. . This is what pushes her to make a decision to step out of her comfort zone. She agrees to take a gig profiling a coast guard rescue swimmer, Hutch, in key west. There is just one teeny tiny problem- she can’t swim and is terrified of wearing a swim suit. She decided to keep that to herself and heads off to paradise. While she is there things get a little complicated

I was so excited to get an ARC for this one. Katherine Center is a favourite author of mine and she did not disappoint. I really loved the focus around working on a positive body image, and I could connect greatly with Katie. I laughed so much and got so drawn in I stayed up till the wee hours of morning as I couldn’t stop reading. There were a few things that gave me a little bit of anxiety due to my own fear of water, so heads up if you experience that. I loved so many of the characters and I’m a sucker for a dog.

I am grateful to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for the opportunity.

Delightful. The characters were likeable and adorable. The storyline, while cheesy and predicable, was also cute and funny.

3.5

This wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite book of hers. I really liked Emma but I wasn't a huge fan of Charlie and thought he needed therapy more than he needed to be in a relationship. The ending was a bit better once he explained why he pushed Emma away (he thought he had cancer and didn't want her to have to take care of him like she had her dad) but at that point I had already checked out. That said, the romance part of this, with the forced writing, gentle bickering and "what is romance" explanation from Emma to Charlie was super, super cute. I especially liked the queue of romcom youtube kisses for research haha. And I did enjoy the overall theme of 'you choose to write your own story each day' because I do think that is true. I just, again, wasn't the hugest fan of Charlie so it colored my overall feelings about this book. Still worth the read though! This author knows how to write people well and I really enjoyed getting a look inside Emma's head.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Katherine Center's books are always a joy for me to read. She does a fantastic job at creating hilarious interactions and building up a fun, believable romance between her characters. Is It realistic? Probably not, but sometimes you just need a fun romantic comedy. I think she did a great job at constructing her characters back stories and truly making the readers understand their intentions and why they are the way they are. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to others. There is some medical aspects to it, so check trigger warnings if that could be an issue for you.

Poignant and super relatable!

Girl meets her idol and has to collab in writing a romance story with him
Idol disappoints girl
Girl sticks it out and gets under idol’s skin
Idol grows on girl
Girl embarks on a journey of self discovery about her own insecurities and anxiety
Idol realizes his relationship with girl is a lot more than he ever imagined.

Flawed characters exploring themes of anxiety, guilt, chasing your dream, and following your heart.
Witty, sarcastic,and humorous banter included!

4.5 Stars

I really loved this! As a massive film fan, I love reading romances about people in the industry with screenwriting and how the process worked.

This was another fun read from Katherine Center. I would absolutely recommend it for readers looking for a sweet romance that is light on spice.