The Rom Commers by Katherine Center
Narrator: Patti Murin
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 6/11

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. Big thanks to Katherine Center for my cute bookish gift, too!

Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter whose dreams are interrupted when a tragic accident forces her to become the full-time caretaker of her father. When an opportunity arises for her to help the famous writer, Charlie Yates, rewrite his terrible rom-com, she jumps at the chance to change her life.

This is a tough one to review. On the one hand, there is a lot to like! The banter was cute at times, and I loved Emma’s snark. The characters were flawed, but Emma was relatable. I enjoyed the celebrity sightings (including Jack Stapleton), the complicated family relationships, and the adorable guinea pig.

While I enjoyed most of this story, the real reason I couldn’t rate it higher was because of Charlie. He is a handsome, misunderstood writer who doesn’t believe in love, and at first, this seemed like it was going to be adorable. But he was SO mean to Emma throughout the book that it was hard to root for him and for a relationship to develop between them.

While the reasoning for Charlie’s bad behavior became clear later on, it was too late for me. Their chemistry felt forced after Charlie repeatedly told Emma he had no feelings for her. He spent so much time rejecting her advances (which are very cringey, by the way) that it became impossible to imagine them together. I honestly think Emma deserved better.

Patti Murin did a great job narrating this one! I loved her voice for Emma and she was able to bring the rest of the characters to life, as well.

This book has gotten great reviews, and no one is more disappointed than me that I didn’t love it. If this is on your TBR and you’re a fan of Katherine Center, I still highly recommend it. I am a huge fan of hers and will continue to read everything she writes.

The Rom Commers
🗓️ 6/11/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

“Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. 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? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?”

Sadly, this was a miss for me. I didn’t care for either of the main characters and never felt like I connected. Despite that, I love Katherine Center’s writing style and her ability to incorporate realistic life events into a fictional story. I could also appreciate multiple references to some of my all time favorite rom-com movies. It was a near DNF for me but the ending did tug at some heart strings.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC edition in exchange for my honest opinion.

Does anyone else feel a little guilty not finishing g a book or not giving a glowing review 🥴

#theromcommers #netgalley #netgalleyreview #earc #arcreview #newrelease #summerreading #bookstagram #kindlereads #kindle

4-4.5 Stars

Emma Wheeler is a screenwriter and although she has the talent, she hasn’t been able to focus on making a name for herself. As the main caregiver for her disabled father, she has put her dreams on the backburner. When she gets the opportunity of a lifetime, a call from her agent and an offer too good to be true. The chance to work with her favorite writer, Charlie Yates, rewriting his current screenplay. The catch? Emma soon learns, it is an ‘Apocalyptically shitty screenplay’ and Charlie doesn’t want any help.

The Rom-Commers was just as the name implies, romance and comedy at its best. Emma was a likeable mc, honest and vulnerable with a touch of grit. Charlie was ---- frustrating at times, but when you see him, he is adorable. From his love of his pet guinea pig, to using a can opener to open biscuits– he grew on me. I always appreciate characters who are flawed, the more relatable they are, the more I pull for them. And I pulled for Emma and Charlie. I laughed, I cried - felt the heartache and the love.

Katherine Center does a great job shining the light on the dark. This story has some serious elements but instead of drowning the reader and characters in the gloom - she reminds us that it is about what we hold on too - to focus on the joy and be grateful.


*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I wanted so badly to love this one since I’m a huge Katherine Center fan, but unfortunately her last two books haven’t been my favorite. I felt that the male MC was so mean at times. Especially when he would talk behind Emma’s back. I also felt as thought they lacked chemistry. Not my favorite Center book

I just loved everything about this. Katherine Center continues to keep the title of my favorite RomCom writer! After LOVING The Bodyguard (all the stars forever and always!) and thoroughly enjoying Hello Stranger, I knew I would love this one and she did not disappoint.

All the things I loved:
Main Characters - Especially loved that they were both writers
Behind the Scenes of Book World & Hollywood
Closed Door Romance - this girl who blushes easily thanks you as always
The side characters!!! - Katherine Center books always have the best friend & family characters that make them so much more than JUST a romance
Witty banter and all the fun rom-com trope references
Jack Stapleton cameo (if you read The Bodyguard, you get it!)

Thank you Katherine Center for continuing to write these beautiful romcoms where I just so root for the main characters but also fall in love with the non-romantic relationships. This what really makes me love your books so much - these relationships really make your main characters such fully developed and relatable characters that so deserve a happily ever after.

Thank to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Rom- Commers
This title is perfect for this book, I truly felt like I was watching the newest Netflix Romcom with my friends the whole time I was reading it. Thank you SMP and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy!

The Rom-commers follows Emma, a romance screenwriter who is also the full-time caretaker for her dad, because of that her career has always been on the back burner. Until she gets a call offering her a position to help rewrite the script for the famous Charlie Yates who has written an absolutely terrible RomCom. In order to do so she must move to LA, stay in his home (we love a forced proximity) and convince him that love exists (we also love a grumpy sunshine moment). You can see where this story is going from here.

I absolutely loved every character in this story, Charlie had the perfect amount of charm, and Emma felt like a really well developed character. One thing I especially loved about there dynamic was that Emma saw through his indifference so quickly, rather than taking every cold thing he said and making it about her she could see that it was a reflection on his own fear. I will say though, drunk Emma had me cringing HEAVILY, but I guess that was the point really, I was embarrassed for her.

Katherine Center always does such a great job of developing characters, giving them goals, and never leaving you wondering what there motive was (unless it’s an intentional mystery).

I cant wait to see this book in stores!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter but things just haven't been going her way, until the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself to her. Now, Emma is being offered the chance to work on the script of a new film adaptation of "It Happened One Night" with the famous, award-winning screenwriter Charlie Yates. Now, Emma must leave her ailing father and home behind for California. But the one thing standing in the way of her new start just so happens to be Charlie, who denies agreeing to any re-writes on his script and doesn't want to work with a no-name screen writer. Emma must convince Charlie that her ideas are good and that his script could use some help in the romance department. With humor and heart-felt emotion, the Rom-Commers is a perfect read for romance fans. Readers of Katherine Center's the Bodyguard will also be thrilled at the guest appearance of Jack Stapleton!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60050674063 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

I should start my admitting that I haven't been the biggest fan of Katherine Center's previous books. But I seem to always read them thanks to the gorgeous covers and book world hype that always tempts me so much!!

I actually think The Rom-Commers is my favorite Center book that I've read so far. To me, it was a little less cheesy than many of them are and it had a cute and fairly unique premise. I listened to the book on audio and for me, I think this is the way to go with Center's books.

The main thing that bothered me, and this is a biggie, is that I just didn't really sense the romantic connection between the two main characters, Emma and Charlie. And there's not really any building of feelings, it seemed like. Maybe Emma was in denial about her feelings and obviously she didn't get any sense that Charlie liked her romantically. But everything seemed to happen suddenly but also kind of vaguely, where I still wasn't totally sure the couple actually really liked each other in a romantic kind of way.

Overall, I think this will be a hit with Katherine Center's usual fanbase. She knows what formula works and she uses it. The book has a deeper lesson as many of her books do and I think this was an important one and that many of us can learn from Emma's life. I found the listening experience to be enjoyable; I just wish I felt that romantic spark a bit more!

Emma is a 'failed' screenwriter whose manager (who happens to be her ex) offers her a job to rewrite a rom-com with big-name screenwriter Charlie Yates. Only problem? The original script is awful, and Charlie does not want help. After Emma convinces him to let her help him, she also decides that Charlie needs to learn how to love again. From line dancing, falling onto each other, and swoony kisses, these writers may find a rom-com of their own.
If you need a book that will have you crying on a plane (like me), this book is for you. The book explores heavy topics of caring for chronically ill parents and cancer. Many sections (especially of the dad) had me moved to tears on how we should live our lives fully. That our outlook on life drives the outcome of our life. Center always writes beautiful stories about challenges real people face in such a graceful way, that you feel like you've known them all along.

Thanks to the publisher, Katherine Center and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few of Katherine Center's books by now and this may be one of my favourites! The author manages to create a book with humour while addressing heavy topics, along with great banter and some good pining.

Emma Wheeler just got the big break she's been waiting for, after spending the past decade caring for her father, to write with Charlie Yates - her favourite screenwriter. Things don't go as planned when she arrives but, despite some guilt eating at her, she's determined to make it work. I loved Emma so much. She was such a relatable character to me. Optimistic, a caretaker, and the oldest daughter of a family trying to keep it together after an unimaginable loss. Charlie, however, could have done with a bit more work but was still a nice person in the end.

The only thing keeping me from giving this book five stars was that Charlie wasn't my favourite MMC, the end and the rationale for the actions of our main characters (who while human, make some very questionable choices).

Goodness me, this book was such a delight! We've got enemies to lovers with amazing banter. Mix in some vulnerabilities, loveable side characters and a few hilarious circumstances and you've got yourself a refreshing summer read!

This book was a touching ode to the romcom genre in fiction as well as film! The book within a book trope gets me every time. And a little Easter egg or two from Center's previous book will make her readers smile!

This one is not to be missed this summer! Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the eARC! Pub day is June 11.

I love love loved this one! I found myself crying multiple times throughout, but also would laugh out loud. It was very emotion-filled but had a great pace and character banter. I loved it!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Well, Katherine Center has done it again! I've read The Bodyguard and Hello, Again by Katherine Center before reading the Rom-Commers, and I think this one takes first place as favorite among the three.

Emma has been the primary caregiver for her father after a rockfall accident left him with mobility challenges for the last 10 years. She has prioritized her father and her sister, Sylvie, over herself for that time, and finally after Sylvie's college graduation, an opportunity like no other seemingly falls into Emma's lap: Her favorite screenplay writer of all time - Charlie Yates - needs someone to help him re-write his new romantic comedy screenplay. And he's chosen Emma to be his writing partner!

After getting her sister settled with Dad for caregiving, Emma hightails it to Los Angeles, only to find that Charlie actually has no idea that his agent (and Emma's longtime friend) has arranged for Emma to come help him. After a little bit of convincing, and Emma totally ripping Charlie's screenplay to shreds with critics, Charlie decides he does want Emma to help him for the next 6 weeks to make this abhorrent screenplay passable. And the hijinks ensue from there.

Emma is a total anxiety, hypochondriac who tries to maintain a sunny, optimistic outlook on life. Charlie is a jaded, slightly-pessimistic realist who believes love is unattainable and not worth the effort. Add in a forlorn guinea pig, writing and more writing, Hollywood/LA setting, and snappy banter, and you get Emma and Charlie realizing they work well together on so many levels. I laughed at several points in this book, and really think Center must have thought, "But what would make this even more chaotic, and more chaotic than that?" and wrote it all in and kept it all! I also really liked Charlie as our main character. There are some points where he seems underdeveloped for a 30 year old man, but when you find out about his past and history, it makes sense why he's a little stunted. But he's also so caring too. I really like how their relationship developed. And I also like how Emma broke the fourth wall several times. It made reading this very immersive for me as a reader and this was fast-paced. And at the end I shed a few tears with some of the difficult emotional things (guilt, grief, putting other first) that were addressed.

If you're looking for a fast-paced romance in Hollywood with 2 main characters who are writers, look no further than The Rom-Commers!

My first Katherine Center and it was adorable and sweet, entertaining, great dialogue, redemption, HEA. As it should be.

I loved this book! Katherine Center knows how to write a fabulous rom-com, about writing a rom-com no less! Emma Wheeler wants to be a romantic comedy screenwriter, but she has been consumed with taking care of her disabled father for the last 10 years. When her former high school boyfriend and current Hollywood screenwriter agent, Logan, calls with an incredible opportunity for Emma to rewrite/ghostwrite a rom-com with the famous and super talented Charlie Yates in Los Angeles, Emma and her family figure out how to make it work. However, when Emma gets out to California, things are not as she thought they would be. And here is where the fun begins!

The Rom-Commers is captivating, hilarious and heartwarming. It's really well done. I felt for Emma and her patience with everything life had thrown at her. Even though there are some serious things happening, the storyline is light, witty and funny. I was laughing out loud at many points throughout the book. I enjoyed the evolving connection between Emma and Charlie too. The Rom-Commers is one of the best rom-coms I have read! I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Katherine Center held my attention through the whole book. The characters in this story were well written. Emma and Charles characters were likable and relatable. This book checks all the right boxes for a terrific Rom-Com story. It's funny, sad, endearing, and simply an all-around great read. I didn't want to stop listening to this book. I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I look forward to reading more of Katherine Center's books.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

I devoured this book! The Rom-Commers was a book I was super excited to get to read, and it really didn’t disappoint. I thought that Emma’s control freak lifestyle was super relatable, and that seeing her chase her dream was inspiring. I also was like shocked by how much I enjoyed their relationship. I wasn’t sure it would be my cup of tea when I first started, but by the end I was really into Emma and Charlie’s love story. Also, I thought it was so cute we got some cameos from previous Katherine Center characters. I love when writers write within the same universe like that! Overall, it was a 4.5 star read.

I flew through this one in a single day.

I like Katherine Center's writing. She writes romances, and while that's a main focus of the story, she weaves in bigger life issues. This gives it a little bit more substances than just a straight, fluffy romance. I guess it makes the story a little more relatable.

Overall, a fantastic read. I'd definitely recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm struggling a bit with how to rate this because I overall liked the story here. The screenplay revival by two screenwriters with different areas of expertise was fresh. Emma's backstory was nicely developed. Some of the interactions between Charlie and Emma were funny and kind of charming in a non-conventional romcom kind of way.

That said, there were a few Very Problematic things that we simply must address. (1) Logan's stunt at the beginning of this book is so out of pocket!! How that didn't result in the end of his relationship with Emma nor Charlie firing him is beyond me. I think readers would have benefited from a bit more resolution of that conflict within the story because what he did was very uncool. It was clear that Emma and Charlie were upset by it and then the conflict just kind of fizzles away like it was no big in the long run. (2) Charlie was, like, evil to Emma at various points throughout the book and for what reason? Saying you're trying to conceal/protect your feelings for someone is not a valid excuse to talk like that about other people. Let alone someone you (claim to) care about. What kind of iron constitution does Emma have that she stuck around at multiple points (where she should have left IMO) without addressing the things he said about her? This plot point and Emma's response made me tres uncomfortable. (3) the fight between Emma and Sylvie toward the end of the book had my jaw on the floor. Based on the exchange between those two, I feel like there needed to be more development of the debrief and apology within the book because the brief grudge and then moving along is so unhealthy!! Especially in the context of what they said to one another... (4) The ending between Charlie and Emma really bummed me out. The basic premise of what was going on with Charlie is what I had expected, but the way Charlie handled things with Emma relationship-wise was not ok. Taking away someone's autonomy to make their own decisions about what they can /can't handle is never gonna fly with me. In the same way that throwing money at problems isn't an effective way to solve them either.

I know that was a heavy lift on my Hot Takes, but hear me out - I don't think these things are fatal plot points so much as missed opportunities for character development in things the FMC clearly struggles with (i.e. addressing conflict, conflict resolution). It felt like Emma was presented with the same opportunity repeatedly to handle conflict better, and she just kept falling back to the same old (toxic) coping skills. This was a fun read overall, but my criticisms above left me feeling kind of icky about certain aspects of the plot in a way that made me hesitate to rate this higher.

This is a classic Katherine Center novel that had all the parts of a good romance! You got a slow build, quirky characters, misunderstandings, past trauma, heartfelt life lessons, and a happy ending. It does not have a lot of steam, so if you like a cleaner romance, this is a great choice. I particularly liked the development of the characters and their quirky personalities. Just another great novel by one of my favorite authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!