Katherine Center has once again written a fun and unique love story. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope used but felt that third act miscommunication to be trite.

I dare you not to love this enemies-to-lovers romance with the two most lovable main characters of all time. It doesn't even matter that THE ROM-COMMERS was a closed-door romance. There is so much chemistry and heat between Emma and Charlie that you won't miss the smut (okay....you'll miss it, but you'll be okay).

Katherine Center does such a great job of adding quirky to her characters that feels genuine and also makes you love them. And talk about character flaws! Again, Emma and Charlie are able to be very flawed but still loveable to the point where you are dying for them to get their happily ever after.

THE ROM-COMMERS has plenty of snort-laughingly funny moments, but also tackles tough issues without ever feeling too bogged down with grief. This story never felt overly heavy even while exploring these characters' past trauma, health issues, and complex family dynamics.

In short, I loved, loved, loved this book! Definitely add it to your TBR and get ready for laughs, maybe a few tears, and all the feels!

Absolutely adore everything Katherine Center writes! I highly recommend! From the first page to the last, I was captivated.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Katherine Center is always a 5 star read for me and this was no different. She creates these amazingly flawed but lovable characters that I immediately fall in love with and cheer for throughout the novel. And I laugh out loud so many times during her books, that I’m glad I read alone most of the time so I don’t embarrass myself with the snorts I make. She leaves me with a message after each book that keeps me thinking about it for weeks. I found this one full of laughs and deep thoughts. It was perfectly what I needed to read today.

BOOK REVIEW: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
2024 Publication Date: June 11

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Best Workplace Romance
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

"A great rom-com is just like sex... If you're surpised by the ending, somebody wasn't doing their job..." — The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Pages: 325
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Workplace Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ Closed Door Romance
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Los Angeles, CA (US)
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Katherine Center has once again delivered a captivating and heartwarming novel with "The Rom-Commers." As my favorite author, she never fails to create engaging characters and stories that perfectly blend wit and pathos. This latest book is no exception and had me kicking my feet in giddy joy and feeling tender-hearted for the characters from start to finish.

In "The Rom-Commers," Center brings together two screenwriters—one famous and one unknown—who must navigate the complexities of both their professional collaboration and their personal lives. The banter between the characters is delightful, and the wisdom interwoven throughout the story reminds us that we have the power to write our own narratives based on our personal outlook.

This story is a testament to Center's talent for crafting romantic tales that are both fun and profoundly moving. I couldn't put it down and devoured it in less than a day. Another winner from Katherine Center, and a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Erica Martirano, for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. I enjoyed it immensely!

THE ROM-COMMERS is another volume of endorphin-releasing pleasure, witty dialogue, and warm, hopeful sentiments from gifted writer and author Katherine Center. Emma Wheeler, a screenplay writer, loves romantic comedies; and like the author herself, she’s good at it. More than good, she’s the best. But she hasn’t had her break and hit it big…yet. Her career seems sidelined by family woes, the death of her mother and a handicapped father. Emma is his caretaker, a task she chose and now puts before any personal ambitions.

Emma is asked by an ex to apply her writing expertise and fix famous Charlie Yates's new rom-com. I’m still not sure why she agreed, but Emma leaves home, bound for LA to work with Charlie for 6 weeks.

Sparks fly at first as adjustments are made to work together and to live together. But we know what’s going to happen, don’t we? You have to love Emma—open and honest, caring and kind, a good sister, and the perfect daughter. She’s not a wallflower, mind you, and she has a snarky side that brings a nice touch of humor. I was prepared to not like Charlie, but I just couldn’t do it. It just takes a little time for him to thaw.

Katherine Center has done it again, penning a story full of clever banter, superbly written narrative, and a touching emotional tone that never fails to move her readers. Her books are sweet without being sappy. And the characters are ones we all know. They’re loveable but humanly flawed. Most of all, they’re believable.

Is it too early to predict another sensational hit for author Katherine Center? I can even envision a film in the future. Yet, this story is different from her previous books, with a deeper feeling, maybe because it’s about a rom-com writer. And that is not only what KC does. It’s who she is. And I hope she keeps pushing her pen across paper and thrilling her devoted readers like me.

Published June 11, 2024.

I will never pass by another Katherine Center book without buying it. I loved her previous books, but this one hit absolutely all the right notes, and reminded me of what's really important in life. I laughed out loud, I wanted to cry, I rooted for the good characters and abhorred the bad ones. READ THIS BOOK! And, by the way, I don't typically give 'rom-coms" five stars, but I'd give this one six if I could. Thank you, KC, for a lovely, funny, fabulous read.

I was looking forward to Katherine Center's newest release, The Rom-Commers, which was a sweet, lighthearted read that also had its emotional and deeper moments. The opposites attract trope was so strong in this one, which I loved -- we have grumpy Charlie Yates who is trying to (and not doing so well at) writing a romcom since he doesn't really believe in love and sunshine Emma Wheeler, who is a lover of love and brought in as a ghostwriter to help with Charlie's romcom. The premise was so fun, but I did have a hard time buying into their relationship and getting invested, but one gesture after the next, around the 50% mark of the book, I started really enjoying it. 

The romance wasn't alway the centre of the story as there were other storylines as well, including Emma's family situation and her role as caretaker for her father and Charlie's health. I found myself less interested in some of the side stories than the love story which at times pulled me out of the book. I wanted to focus more on Emma and Charlie at times to get more invested in them, which eventually happened. I did really enjoy the ending of the book though and the commentary around life and how it isn't perfect or easy but to make the most of it with your people. I also really enjoyed the appearance of Jack Stapleton from The Bodyguard (which still remains as my fav by KC!)

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 3.5 to 4 stars! If you are looking for a light yet emotional opposites attract, grumpy x sunshine romance about two screenwriters that also has side stories about family, health, and being happy in life, check out The Rom-Commers!

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

There is a reason that Katherine Center is so loved for her stories and particularly, her romance books. Her books are the type that will have you swooning and feeling giddy as you are reading it. She has the ability to give you all the feels, and her books always leave you wanting more. Her newest book, The Rom-Commers, is no exception. Thank you to the publisher to giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book. It is so hard to do Katherine Center justice in a book review so I will say this, go read this book!

I really enjoyed The Rom-Commers! I thought that it was such a refreshing fun romance book. This may be my favorite Katerine Center book!

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much that as soon as I was finished with it I wanted to read it again. Emma and Charlie are the most endearing characters and I loved their love story. This is fan Katherin Center book and I am a huge fan of all of her books!

The Rom-Commers, an emotional tug-of-war, pairs perfectly with the classic 1934 romantic-comedy, “It Happened One Night.” The movie, known for humor, sexiness, and wisdom, is a mirror for Charlie’s screenplay. Emma deems the screenplay’s script terrible and explains, “The job of a rom-com is to give you a simulated feeling of falling in love, and that stories exist for the emotions they create.” Charlie’s script did neither, so Emma is hired to fix the screenplay.
Katherine Center believes we and her characters gain wisdom through struggles. Through thought provoking dialogue with Charlie, Emma reveals her true feelings realizing she is the supporting character in her own story. Themes of unfulfilled dreams, sacrifice and guilt immerge in the kitchen, poolside, and at the worktable as Emma and Charlie spend time together. The emotional tug-of-war is filled with rom-com snooty disrespect, admiration mixed with some flirty banter, and even a distrusting, quitting attitude! How will this end? That’s what Katherine Center’s readers look forward to!
Wise beyond her years, Emma describes love as “feeling hopeful, and kind, sunshiny and soothing…like your heart is glowing.”
To experience humor, sexiness, and wisdom like Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert’s “It Happened One Night,” read The Rom-Commers. Your heart will glow.

Every Katherine Center book I have picked up has been a winner. She has a way of sucking you into a story right out of the gate, and not letting go until you close the final page. Emma has had tragedy in her life that has deprived her of chasing her dreams. After a tragic accident, Emma has been taking care of her Dad 24/7. Although she has been an inspiring screenwriter, she had put aside the opportunity to make it big on account of her responsibilities. But that is about to change: she gets the chance to work on a script with her longtime writer hero, Charles Yates. Charles has been in the midst of a writing drought. If he finishes this script - a rom com, no less - he can make the movie he actually wants to write. Problem: he loathes rom coms and doesn’t believe in love. The banter in this book is outstanding. These two fight all the time but the chemistry is electric. While they eventually get their happily ever after, there is quite a bit of sadness in both of their lives. That is my only warning in an otherwise delightful romance.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Katherine Center just doesn't disappoint.

While I enjoyed her last novel (Hello Stranger), The Rom-Commers brought back my love for her angsty-but-satisfying stories. I loved Charlie and Emma, and the callbacks to her novel, The Bodyguard. Emma’s internal and external dialogue often made me laugh out loud.

This is one of my favorite summer reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you St Martin’s Press for the gifted finished copy and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.

I first read Katherine Center when The Bodyguard came out and have made it a mission to read all of her backlist. I’m getting close but The Bodyguard will I think forever be my favorite. I’m happy to report that The Rom-Commers gave me a lot of the same feels as The Bodyguard. I did a tandem read of audio and digital at the same time on the plane to Rome and the time literally flew by. I loved both the banter between Emma and Charlie and the true devotion Emma had for her father.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
Witty banter
Family devotion
Reaching for your dreams

This was a fun, glowy binge read!! I loved the snark, banter, and character development in this story.

My one hang up from giving it 5 stars was the cancer scare tossed in. I felt that was needlessly emotionally manipulative and insensitivity VW for many readers.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this great book!

5/5 - get in line for this book NOW!

My new favorite book by Katherine Center. Great plot, wonderful characters, inspiring message. I could go on but that would keep you from reading this book. Get your highlighter ready!

*thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was unfortunately not for me 🙃 I thought both of the characters were super immature and I could connect with either of them on any level. I also was not invested in the plot. Even though this book was a miss for me, I will still be picking up her future books!

Wow. I... kind of hated this.

First of all, Charlie is an awful person. He constantly berates Emma on both personal and professional levels, lies constantly, and achieves a state of arrogance that would've numbered his days in any other genre.

Emma laps it all up because apparently she loves to be negged and refuses to live a life of her own. It's clear she never grew up past her pre-teen years, and the level to which she loves playing nursemaid to all the men in her life is honestly nauseating.

And what is up with how many times the plot hinges on overhearing other people's private conversations? It happened at least 5 times.

This author is usually a great big yes from me, but to this, I am clearly and plainly saying no.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.