Wow wow wow! Katherine Center does it again! What an absolute joy of a book. I absolutely loved Emma and Charlie and all the other characters throughout the story. I appreciated their perfectly imperfect story. I loved the banter and the avoidance. I even didn’t mind the story that caused them to separate and then come back together. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy to review.

The Rom-Commers is the story of Emma and Charlie (and their separate underlying traumas causing each to wrap themselves up in their private little cocoons) and how they open up while rewriting a terrible rom-com script. I both read and listened to this title and really enjoyed the way Center wrote Emma and had her on occasion speak directly to the reader, on the page and with the phenomenal narrator on audio. My only quibble was how fast it seemed that the two fell in love as the 6 weeks of writing wasn't clearly differentiated and it felt like days in the front end seemingly to make room for what's coming at the back end. I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it, though with some sensitivity considering the amount of trauma and medical complications throughout. This is not a super light book. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

I wanted so much to like this book more than I did. It had such a promising premise--I'm a sucker for books about writers, particularly aspiring or down-on-their-luck ones, and I'm always down for a sunshine/grumpy pairing, as this book's synopsis seemed to be hinting at. I've also really enjoyed many of Katherine Center's novels in the past. However, I was burned by HELLO STRANGER last year, and unfortunately this book was only a marginal improvement.

I truly disliked both Emma and Charlie. Emma struck me as painfully naive and all too happy to be walked on. She was far too content to be a martyr, and I really did not like how she treated her sister. I can understand the desire to be the father's caretaker, particularly as the older sibling, but she essentially did not trust her sister to take care of their father. (Never mind the fact that the father is not a complete invalid and can in fact speak up for himself and ask for the treatment he needs!)

But then Emma's martyr-ism translated so poorly into her "relationship" with Charlie. It was so frustrating how often she was okay with him insulting her interests or work, or condescending to her in an entirely unnecessary way. There is truly no justification for how much bullshit she was willing to take from him, even if he did pay her to fix his manuscript. And it did little to convince me that she was ever in love with him.

As for Charlie...well. If the above wasn't clear enough, he was an asshole. I hated how he literally had to insult Emma at every turn, not only to her face but to other people as well. There was absolutely no reason for it, and I'm shocked how readers are supposed to find him charming. I also hated the reveal of his health troubles; it felt added in for shock value and more to justify why he's allowed to be such a terrible person, especially towards the end of the novel.

There were positives here--the peek into the writing/creative process, for example, and Emma's relationship with her father. However, the main characters and their romance were a pass for me.

I've rounded up to 4 stars for this book, mainly because I'm a fan of Katherine Center. While I did enjoy it overall, after reading some other reviews, I find myself agreeing with certain criticisms.

Charlie, at times, was a difficult character to root for. His demeanor toward Emma often bordered on rude and mean-spirited, and even though we eventually understand his motivations, it felt somewhat excessive. This dynamic certainly added drama to the story but affected my perception of his character. Emma, too, had her flaws and moments that were hard to like, but on the whole, I found both characters flawed yet relatable. Their banter and the glimpse into the writing process were highlights for me.

The emotional rollercoaster really kicked in during the latter half of the book. I appreciated the concept of the two characters writing together, though as a fan of rom-coms, I wished there had been more romance. While there were plenty of dramatic and comedic moments, a bit more romance would have made it even more enjoyable for me.

Overall, despite its shortcomings, I felt a wide range of emotions while reading, as one does with Katherine Center's books. I enjoyed it and can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So full disclosure, Katherine Center is a huge hit or miss for me, and thankfully this was a huge hit. I love Emma and Charlie and their dynamic with my whole heart. I am a huge sucker for a mmc who doesn’t believe in love, so Charlie definitely scratched that itch for me! Such a fun book that had me from the opening sentence.

The Rom-Commers is another win from Katherine Center!! Once again her characters feel true to life with real challenges. Even though Emma and Charlie are in the screenwriter world mixed in with Hollywood, they still felt relatable. They have fears and anxieties that are complicated but not unbelievable. The Rom-Commers didn’t take over my top Katherine Center spot (The Bodyguard), but if you enjoy her writing, you’ll enjoy this story too!

The Rom-Commers is out now! Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my e-arc!

If you are looking for a cutesy rom-com for the summer with a predictable ending (isn’t that why one reads a romance?) and some awkward laughable moments, then The Rom-Commers is for you.

Emma is a screenwriter who hasn’t been able to fulfill her dreams as she is the full-time caretaker for her father after a tragic accident left him partially paralyzed. But when her friend offers her the chance to work with the screenwriter of her dreams, Charlie Yates, she is terrified to take it. Who will take care of her dad? Her sister, Sylvie, and her father assure Emma that they can survive for 6 weeks while she heads to LA and so she does.

Except that Charlie did not know she was coming and had no desire to work with a nobody like her, let alone give her the guest house at his estate. But as it turns out, Emma impressed him with her insights and he agreed to work with her and learn a bit about how to write a good rom-com. What neither of them expected was that they might end up in a rom-com of their own…

I will preface by saying I’m not big on romance but after reading Katherine Center’s Author’s Note on romance novels in a previous book, my entire perspective changed. One reads a romance for the HEA and so this one is predictable in that. The journey, the characters, the obstacles are different and that’s what makes these “fun”.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this gifted ARC

Not what I was expecting, but then, the only constant with Katherine Center is that the story is much deeper than the synopsis and cute cover would indicate.

This book made me laugh, made me tear up, and made me think. I also liked the "meta" of it all--a romantic comedy about romantic comedies.

I like how Emma gradually learns to accept help--which is so very difficult for many of us. In fact, her growth as a person is one of the best things in this story.

✨𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀✨
• they fall at the same time
• screenwriters falling in love
• the big C
• traumatically injured parent
🌶️ no spice

✨ 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨
Emma is roped into helping award winning screenwriter Charlie Yates to write a rom-com.

✨ 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨
I struggled liking the MMC as he was a little bit a lot of a douche bag just because he was an acclaimed screenwriter. He said some pretty douchey things to Emma even though he didn’t know her circumstances. Both of them are going through difficulties in their own but learn to lean on others for help.

This book gave us a front row seat into not only the writer life but also the film industry. We also get to know two very flawed people who grow to like each other when their initial meeting was rocky.

The target audience for this story is those interested in the film writing process and also those who are looking for a sweet romance with no spice, just kisses.

This book is so good, it makes your heart feel warm ☀️
If you do not own this gorgeous book, go buy it! This is like the absolute best feel good, swoon worthy , heart warming romantic comedy movie but in BOOK form. Katherine is one of my favorite authors. I will return to this book again and again. I would rate it hundred stars if I could. It gave everything and more.

I really enjoyed this book! It.was more women's fiction than romance but I enjoyed it all the same. The author tackled a lot of heavy topics and did a great job with them. But also included a lot of lightheartedness and fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣?

📍 Read if you like:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Workplace Romance
• Funny Banter
• Slow Burns

Katherine Center has done it again, this might be my absolute favorite KC book now.

Am I surprised I loved this book? Absolutely not. Between the hilarious banter and lovable characters, what’s not to enjoy?

This story gave all the rom-com vibes and I was here for it, I was absolutely hooked from the very first page and couldn’t put this book down. The story essentially revolves around Emma Wheeler and Charlie Yates - and if you’re a fan of screenwriting and romcoms, you’ll absolutely adore this story.

No review could do this book justice, so I just recommended picking it up. There’s something about Katherine Center’s way of writing quirky and relatable characters that pull your emotions in. Was I sobbing?! Shh, maybe a little bit.

I absolutely loved the tension and build-up between the main characters. And I adored Charlie! I related so much to his character and loved the way this author handled how life isn’t always going to be sunshine - though, despite the dark times, there’s always a positive side to life.

Overall, I absolutely adored this book and can’t recommend it enough. It’s a new favorite book by this author and a strong contender for my favorite book of the year!

I really did mostly enjoy this book. Charlie was way too uptight and grumpy for me. I know that he and Emma put were dealing with a lot, but there were sometimes when I hoped that she didn’t forgive him and get back with him. The whole family needed help to really deal with some of the issues that they had. I do think the romance was sweet and enjoyed that nothing was graphic when it came to that. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC even though I read it after it came out.

hey! so i loved this book way too much:) it was so perfect and everything I want in a rom-com. katherine center can genuinely do no wrong. i was hooked. it was an easy read but also complex and wise and entertaining

thank you net galley for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

GAHHHH! My brain has just become a lovely pile of romantic goo...Katherine Center has captured my rom-com loving heart again!! Yes, this has some of your typical tropes: sunshine vs grump, enemies to more, forced proximity...but it is done so perfectly! I absolutely adored everything about Emma and Charlie (book boyfriend ALERT!) This felt like a classic, but also so fresh. The banter and the situations were pure A-plus hilarity at its finest. And while I snort laughed a time or twelve, I also felt so much emotional depth mixed into the writing that my heart felt bruised. This is not just a romantic comedy! There are some deeper topics and tragedies that give another layer to the plot. Thankfully, we can count on a full circle moment that ends with the most perfect happily ever after...for more than just our main couple. Total contented sigh...absolutely brilliant ending!!

I will be listening to this on audiobook in the future, too.

5 stars

This book derives all of the praise it can get. I devoured it in a matter of hours. I enjoyed laughing out loud as Emma works to convince the grumpy “love doesn’t exist” Charlie on the merits of the rom-com. You can intimately feel as the two main characters fall for one another. Katherine did a fantastic job making the reader feel like they are a part of the story they are reading - you are in their story, not a bystander.
While there are fun and games, there is also the matter of caring for a loved one full-time. I took the opportunity of a life time to get Emma to leave home and even then it was a struggle. For Charlie, the rom-com is a means to an end and he has no plans to make it the best he can, even under Emma’s tutelage. Emma slowly cracks the ice surrounding Charlie’s heart with her positive outtake on life and love. There really are many moments where I was practically in tears with laughter.
I recommend this book for anyone that loves rom-coms or still needs convincing, loves a good grumpy-sunshine story or even a dash of forced-proximity. The release of this book is perfectly timed for a great summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

For as long as she can remember, aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler has idolized the great Charlie Yates. When an opportunity arises to work with him on a rom com script, she can’t believe her luck. However, it requires going to California and leaving her sick dad behind. When she gets there, Charlie is not expecting her, they reluctantly become writing partners, and she develops feelings for him. She thinks that they’re reciprocated, but he sends mixed signals and obstacles keep getting in their way. As they write and research the romantic scenes from the book, will they find their happy ending, or will their own rom com end in heartbreak?
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💭 Thoughts 💭
We loved this one! Emma and Charlie’s chemistry was great, and some scenes were laugh out loud funny! One of my favorite Katherine Center books for sure, her books are rom coms but still have substance to them.
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⌛️ Favorite Moment ⌛️
The scenes where Emma was trying to prove that Charlie’s rom com tropes like falling on eachother or going line dancing weren’t actually romantic (then they turned out to be romantic) were some highlights.

This was such a fun read! I love Katherine Center’s writing - she truly knows how to draw a reader in, especially ones like me who aren’t huge rom-com fans 🙈 I loved both main characters, but I wish we saw more scenes with the two of them. A lot of their time together was narrated by Emma’s internal monologues. Because of that, everything seemed to happen fast, so I felt we didn’t really see the development of their relationship. Overall, I did enjoy this one, and it was a quick listen on audio!

Irresistible, quirky, and unbelievably adorable, just like its heroine, this commentary on happily ever after does so many things well!

Great characters and a thoughtful plot combined with wit and awesome tension, make for a sweet yet poignant take on modern love. I think you’ll love this tale of heart and heartache.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

i read The Bodyguard by Katherine Center last year and fell in love with her writing. This book has the KC charm and vibe of her other books where they’re rom-coms but also make you rethink your life. I loved this story and these characters and how they navigated struggles and also high points, and just them themselves. This book was addicting in the way you wanted to read it at every second no matter what you were doing, and the characters have real struggles and feel real to the point where I almost looked up the movie they were writing as screenwriters. This book is everything i could have hoped for for a rom-com and it’s a love letter to the genre!