Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for the opportunity to read an advance copy of "The Rom-Commers By Katherine Center. Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors, and I just love how she writes realistic love stories. Every book I've read written by her always has me full of emotions. This book didn't disappoint. One minute, I'm laughing the other minute I'm crying. I enjoyed how she pulled characters from her book The Bodyguard into this novel; that always makes me feel even more connected to a book.

The story was about a writer named Emma who had pushed her dreams of becoming a screenwriter aside because she had an obligation to take care of her family. An opportunity came that she was able to read the script of her favorite and legendary writer, Charlie Yates. To her surprise, it was a horrible script, and she was offered a job to work with him in making it better. Im leaving the rest for you to discover. Just know from start to finish, I enjoyed the banter back and forth between the two main characters. Katherine Center definitely had me feeling happy, frustrated, and sad in such a seamless flow.
I highly recommend this novel, which I'll be available on June11,2024. Her books are always my top pick. Thank you again for this opportunity to read an advance copy for an honest review.

As Katherine Center books are wont to be, this book was a love letter to love stories and romance that I was absolutely enthralled and delighted by from start to finish.

Emma Wheeler is a girl after my own heart. An Eldest Daughter who takes responsibility for her whole family and is more or less shoved out of the nest in order to fulfill her lifelong dreams, I found her really endearing and loved her love of love stories and determination to share them. And Chalie Yates? Never have I ever been more simultaneously obsessed with and aggravated by a love interest. By the end, I understood why he did the things he did, and he did have some really sweet moments, but wow was he a little all over the place.

I loved the Grumpy x Sunshine dynamic between the two characters. and the hijinks they got into together. Katherine Center has such a talent for weaving together humor and heart and enough emotion to tug at your heartstrings.

If you need a smile or a cry or a reminder of why romance is so incredibly important, please pick up The Rom-Commers!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

HOW DOES KATHERINE CENTER DO IT?? This book had the most relatable, genuine, damaged but well-meaning and kind-hearted heroine; the swooniest, kindest but gruffest, most talented and DOWN BAD FOR HER hero possible; and the funniest, most page turning, voiciest pacing. I was obsessed start to finish. I loved this book and am recommending it to everyone!

I need a minute to put myself back together. Thank you so much Netgalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for the ebook. Katherine Center just never disappoints and this one is no exception. H
This book (along with any Kathrine Center book) just gives me all the feels and has me falling in love with all the characters. I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I screamed in frustration. When I tell you this book gives you all the feels I mean it! I'm not one for spicy and that's what I love about this book it just doesn't give too much spice just the real heart of everything. I cannot recommend enough.

Another win from Katherine Center! I have loved all her books that I have read. They have everything I look for in a contemporary romance. Characters that feel real and not just like a archetype or stereotype. They have complicated, messy. pasts.

This book follows the story of Emma and Charlie. Emma has spent most of her adult life caring for her father who has several health issues. She gets the chance to go to LA and work on a script re-write with her favorite screenwriter, Charlie. Charlie has been been having a rough few years too and is writing a rom-com against his will.

I loved the slow build in this story and that it felt very realistic and was not insta-love or anything like that. We got to watch these characters build a friendship and start to care for each other. This story had the perfect blend of angst and happiness. I like my happy endings to feel well earned and I prefer some angst along the way, which I know not everyone does! For people looking for a feel-good, funny, and realistic story, I would highly recommend this! I will continue to read anything and everything Katherine Center writes. A fun cameo in this one also of some characters from another book of her's. 4.5 stars! There is nothing I can think of that I would want to change or be different about this book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own!

Katherine Center you’ve done it YET AGAIN! I am sobbing oh my god! This book might be my favorite book of 2024!

Emma’s mother died in a tragic climbing accident years ago and since then Emma has been her father’s caregiver after he barely survived the climbing accident fall himself. Emma writes romance here and there and has her childhood first friend as her manager but she’s still trying to really catch a break with it. Until Charlie Yates comes along. Charlie has to publish a Rom-Com in order to get his other movie published like he wants. In order to do this Charlie needs a massive revamp of his romcom he wrote, it’s just horrible on every level. So Logan tricks Charlie and Emma and sets them up to work together to fix Charlie’s romance novel. Over the course of 6 weeks, Charlie and Emma conquer the novel as well as what love really is. Just a few days before the 6 weeks mark, Emma’s father has an accident and needs emergency surgery. Emma drops everything and flys back to Texas to be with her father and figure everything out. Once Emma’s father is better, Emma gets a call from Logan to fly her back because a big name wants to buy her rom com she wrote with Charlie! Emma is in absolute shock and the way the ending all wraps everything up - you’ll be crying tears of joy like I was 😭🥲🥲 a must read for me everyone! I will never stop raving about this book and how well done it was! Truly amazing from start to finish!

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martins Press for my ebook arc! This one hits shelves June 11th!

“People say ‘marriage is hard’ all the time.””But I disagree. I don’t think marriage is hard. I think, in fact, if you do it right, marriage is the thing that makes everything else easier.”

Katherine Center returns following Hello Stranger and The Bodyguard with her latest captivating and witty romance, THE ROM-COMMERS. The novel stands out with its portrayal of an unconventional couple, their messy lives, and their journey toward a heartwarming love story. Katherine Center is known for her charming novels and movies with witty sparkling dialogue and heartfelt storylines with substance.

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

About...

Emma Wheeler, a former English teacher and a devoted caregiver to her father, has put her dreams of becoming a screenwriter on hold. Her struggle to balance her family responsibilities and her passion for writing is a poignant and relatable journey that will resonate with many readers. She had guilt over her mom's death (climbing accident) and her dad's paralysis. She is also the big sister of her 23-year-old younger sister, soon to graduate with her dreams.

However, when will Emma's dreams come true? When is her time? Is she procrastinating, trapped in her world of sadness and problems?

Emma's ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be her agent, offers her a chance to work on a romantic comedy with her idol, screenwriter Charlie Yates. Despite Charlie's initial cynicism and the script's poor quality, Emma is determined to prove herself and make the project a success.

However, things go differently than planned. Who is this guy? He is bitter, cynical, mean, and disrespectful. The script is terrible, and so is he. Yet, Emma is determined not to give up with a fight.

Emma will convince him that love stories matter. What if the love story they are writing about breaks all Emma's rules―and comes true? What has she got to lose? She will be honest and tell him everything wrong with his bloody script. What she did not see coming was losing her heart.

Audiobook...

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the talented Patti Murin, offering a fun, lively performance! The audio also features a bonus scene and author's note read by the author. A perfect listen for the beach, your summer vacation, a cozy porch read, or a hammock.

My thoughts...

THE ROM-COMMERS is a delight! In Center's signature style, this is another cracker of a read, a romance that sizzles with witty banter and depth.

Engaging and endearing, an unlikely pair team up with past burdens, baggage, guilt, family, and disappointments. Their emotional complexities, fears, and vulnerabilities will resonate with you, making you fall in love with these two!

While I am not a big fan of romance or rom-com novels, I appreciate Katherine Center's writing and snappy dialogue. Her fearless approach to tackling difficult topics such as loss, grief, sickness, family complexities, careers, and tragedy and her ability to infuse light even in the darkest times is commendable.

Bittersweet, the author skillfully weaves a narrative that pulls on your heartstrings. At times, it is emotional and heartbreaking, but there is also a balance of light, love, hope, joy, fulfillment, and lots of humor, making it a truly engaging romance. A mix of romcom, humor, action, and romance. Soulful, heartwarming, and full of wisdom and life lessons.

While The Rom-Commers isn't a sequel to The Bodyguard, Jack does make a cameo appearance, as Charlie wrote the screenplay that made Jack famous. (Check it out; it's also a fun read.)

Recs...

This is for fans of the author's novels and movies and those of Emily Henry, Emily Giffin, and Sherryl Woods. However, none are quite as funny or comforting as KC!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
June 2024 Must-Read Books
June Newsletter

This little sweet story is dazzling. It has humor and love and all of the emotions. My only tiny complaint is that I wish, as with many stories in this genre, that the happy ending was more showing than telling especially with a focus on that love story we've been waiting so long for. I had the opportunity to read the ebook and audiobook, and I loved both, switching between them. The narrator, Patti Murin, was great!
Massive thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of both the ebook and audiobook!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Emma is an aspiring screenwriter whose career was derailed by personal tragedy—but things might be about to turn around when she is hired to fix a terrible rom-com script with her favorite writer, Charlie Yates.

This book is, first and foremost, a love letter to the genre of romance and I am HERE FOR IT. Watching Charlie come around to the importance of joyful stories was such a beautiful and meaningful character arc it genuinely made me cry, and the awards show scene was one of my favorite moments I’ve read in a book this year (or maybe ever).

Also, this book is DELIGHTFULLY funny. I found myself literally laughing out loud so many times (even though there are definitely some super sad moments and pretty big CWs as well, see below). The chemistry and banter between Emma and Charlie was SO good, and I was rooting for them SO HARD the whole way through.

Highly HIGHLY recommend this (ideally after THE BODYGUARD because there are some fun Easter eggs/cameos if you care about that sort of thing!)

CW: Cancer; death of parent; chronic illness/disability; medical content; grief; mild sexism

Katherine Center is always a must-read author for me. Her latest "The Rom-Commers" was such a fun read. I LOVED it!
Imagine being hired to rewrite a famous screenwriter's script? Emma, the new hire, loves Rom -Coms; Charlie does not. He definitely does not believe in love either.
A perfect set-up for conflict. May the sparks fly!

Will there be a time where I am not wowed by Katherine Center's books? I hope not. This book topped the list for me. Arguably one of my favorites of the year, and we're only halfway through.

It cannot be overstated how much I wish I could read this book again for the first time. It packed Center's usual punch of emotion (making me weep at multiple points), but it was also full of comical moments. The voice of the protagonist, Emma, was so full of life, witty, and entertaining. I always love the characters that Center creates because they are complex, flawed, and sometimes traumatized humans who have the ability to evolve and become better people as the story continues.

Everyone should give this one a read, just maybe save the last few chapters for when you're in private if you don't like publicly sobbing!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

Emma is a screenwriter- or at least desperately wants to be one. Instead, she’s pretty pre-occupied being her dad’s full time caregiver after a tragic hiking accident. Emma has been taking care of her dad for years, giving up her dreams, friendships, social life, and personal time. However, Emma loves her dad so much that she really doesn’t mind doing these things for him, especially since the thought of ever leaving him creates a lot of anxiety.

Emma has to come face to face with her fears one day when her old friend (and ex boyfriend) Logan reaches out to her about re-writing a script. Only, it’s not just any script- it’s a script for a rom-com for her favorite screenwriter in the world, Charlie Yates. Emma reads the script and can’t believe how terrible it is. Knowing that this awful script would be an injustice to the rom-com genre, Emma knows she has to write the script. However, there’s one huge issue- she would have to be in LA for several weeks to work with Charlie on the re-write.

Emma’s younger sister convinces her to go to LA and agrees to take care of their dad while she’s gone. Even though she’s nervous, Emma sets off to LA, having no clue what awaits her there.

Charlie, on the other hand, is less than thrilled when Emma arrives. He doesn’t want someone re-writing his script, a script that he knows is bad but doesn’t care about in any way. Emma is shocked to learn that Charlie doesn’t even believe in love, despite having been married before. Despite Charlie’s difficult attitude, Emma is determined to turn this script around for the sake of the genre- which means showing Charlie that love does exist in the process.

As Charlie and Emma spend more time together and get closer, feelings start to develop that are more than just professional. But how can two people have a love story when one doesn’t even believe in love?

This book was so cute, funny and enjoyable!! Charlie was frustrating to no end but a genuinely caring character, and Emma was so genuinely herself and brave about her feelings. Charlie and Emma were a great team in more ways than one, and what made this a 5 star for me (besides really enjoying the book) was the message that perhaps sadness makes the happiness better.
I loved the adventures that Charlie and Emma went on in their goal of improving the script, and I thought this was such a fun read for summer!

I enjoyed this book. I loved the banter and the humor. I liked that you could tell she did her research on many many topics and for that she has my respect. Katherine center is an auto buy author for me. Her writing is like talking to a friend. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

I love when the right book hits at the right moment. Enter The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, picked up as I slid into the inevitable late-spring head cold mixed with a gloomy rainy day, and you have the recipe for a two-sitting read.

Center knows how to write banter and how to create realistic characters with “all the blemishes”. Emma is a sweet, anxious, self-critical writer who is accustomed to taking care of everyone around her and ignoring her own needs. Charlie is the rugged, dismissive, successful screenwriter who has sheltered himself from feeling emotions, pain or *gasp* love. Put the two of them in Charlie’s mansion, with a bit of pushing from their agent Logan, to rewrite Charlie’s terrible attempt at writing a rom-com, and watch the fireworks fly. Of course, throw in a couple of moments with Jack Stapleton and I am a very happy reader. I giggled out loud several times, and then surprised myself with some tears when Emma’s dad shared some of his own thoughts on love and forgiveness. Perfect book to boost my mood!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The rom-commers is a delightfully entertaining story about a failed writer who is given a chance of a Iifetime opportunity to rewrite the screenplay for a rom com with her favorite writer. The only problem is that he knew nothing about this until she shows up on his doorstep. This meet-cute leads to a lot of witty banter and laugh out loud moments. I knew from the very first first page that I was going to love this book. The story is well written, the story arc flowed effortlessly and the characters were likable and relatable. The rom-commers had all of the elements of a great rom com. It made me laugh, cry, and swoon.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the earc in exchange for the honest review.

Katherine Center’s Rom-Commers is a delight! It’s a witty and self deprecating commentary on romance novels. As Emma is telling Charlie what romance novels are suppose to be like and what its readers expect, you feel seen - as in, yes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for….. and this book goves you that and more!

Katherine Center does it again. Her books are such a delight and this one is no different. Emma is quickly likeable. Charlie is rough around the edges, but Emma slowly wears away his layers. I love how Charlie was the seasoned writer, but Emma truly was the teacher in how to write a love story. I always love the depth of Katherine Center's characters; they have flaws, they are human, they are relatable, they are real but she always gives you a happy ending in the end. As I have with all her books I've read thus far, I get completely engrossed in them and have a hard time putting them down after starting. If you enjoy a good rom-com, playful banter and heartfelt conversations this one is for you!

Read if you like:
🎥 4th Wall Breaks
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💋 Just Kissing
🏠 Forced Proximity
💻 Coworkers to Lovers
🥺 Hard Topics Mixed In
💕 Learning the Value of Living Life & Love

I don’t know how to start out this review other than to say this was such an amazing romance that truly made me sooo happy and was exactly what I needed with the sunshine Emma brought to the story.

Also, the way the story is told to the reader made me LOVE it so much and loved the 4th wall break with this style of storytelling.

I really loved the opposites attract with Emma and Charlie and how she was so sparkling and full of so much sunshine to Charlie’s grumpy personality that doesn’t believe in love.

The story was a bit silly, ridiculous and I loved every second of it and it truly made me swoon and oh so happy which was exactly what I needed! And loved the author’s note so much too!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. The characters had great banter and an inconvenience to love back and forth. I enjoyed that their hardships brought them together and all of the side characters were a great addition to the trajectory of the plot.
I loved that Jack Stapleton was also in this book, I love a cross-book character mention.
Overall, this book was really good and is a great rom-com!

Last year’s Hello Stranger was a home run in my book, and I was thrilled to get my hands and ears on an ARC of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center; thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy!

Emma’s career as a unknown screenwriter gets blasted into the spotlight when she is handed the opportunity of a lifetime- to co-rewrite a rom-com screenplay with her idol * celebrity crush, Charlie Yates. There’s just… a few problems. 1, Emma must relinquish the full time care of her dad to her younger sister for the time she’s away. 2, Charlie doesn’t write with anyone, and he certainly doesn’t want to write with her. And 3, the screenplay is truly horrendous… almost as if the original writer doesn’t believe in romance or comedy!

It's a tale as old as time, folks. Grumpy meets sunshine, forced proximity, cue the montage of adorable and hilarious mini-adventures. Add in some family drama, mistakes, and one depressed hamster, and you’ve got The Rom-Commers. Center is certainly not the first or last author to rely on these themes in a romance novel, but she does them quite well. I flew through this book just as quickly as Hello Stranger. Romance readers take note- this book is very light on spice- I prefer romances this way, so this did not detract any points from my rating. I must admit that these MCs did not work as well for me as I hoped they would, however I do think that most chick lit readers will like this one for a light summer romance— Happy reading!