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The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

I AM OBSESSED. This was so surprisingly good and I was not expecting it whatsoever. Dare I even say I have found a new favorite author? Because I am that obsessed with this story, and these characters.

The Rom-Commers is about a very unlikely pair who work together to re-write a Romantic Comedy Screenplay & I loved every minute of it. I felt like I was actually watching the most adorable rom-com to ever rom-com.

I loved both Emma and Charlie. I even love the Guinea Pig. I found their struggles extremely believable and didn’t find that I was annoyed by any misunderstandings or miscommunications - which usually I hate to my core. But it really just works in this story.

If you like a cliche Romantic Comedy, read this. I found myself laughing out loud MULTIPLE times, and I love the overall message of the story that no matter your circumstances, you should always be grateful and look for the good in your life, while never discrediting the hard times or forgetting them.

This is going to be the book of the summer and I cannot wait to own my own copy. I see lots more Katherine Center reads in my future.

Thank you SOOO much SMP Romance and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

🎬 Book Review 🎬

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Publication: June 11, 2024

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (I loved it)

This is my second book by Center and I was a little worried since I was mixed on “Hello Stranger”. I was sucked into this and the book did not let me go until I finished.

I think the biggest thing that I resonated with, on both Emma and Charlie, is the feeling of losing your identity. I loved how they both balanced each other out plus this story wasn’t just about the romance but rather working through issues together.

Perfect for fans of:
🎬 First person POV
🖊️ Single POV (Emma)
🎬 Disability rep (parent)
🖊️ Screenwriters
🎬 Forced proximity
🖊️ Loss of identity FMC
🎬 Grumpy x sunshine
🖊️ Egotistical MMC
🎬 Anxiety rep
🖊️ Kissing only


🛑 Triggers
⚠️ Death of a parent (past)
⚠️ Grief

Emma is the sole caretaker for her dad who needs round the clock care after he was in an accident. The accident happened after her graduation and she changed her whole life, making her dreams of being a screenwriter much more difficult. When her friend calls her with the opportunity of a lifetime - to work with her favorite screenwriter, she would have to leave her father in the care of her sister to go to LA for six weeks. But this is her dream so her family urges her to go. Unfortunately when she gets there, not only did Charlie write a HORRIBLE rom-com, he's really only trying to get the story passable so the project he really wants done gets green-lit. To make matters worse, he doesn't believe in love or understand what's romantic!

I LOVED Emma and Charlie! Katherine Center's books always pull at my heartstrings with her characters, who usually have major flaws but are living their lives the best they can. Emma's focus on caring for her father has left her emotionally stunted in relationships as she really hasn't had time for them. Yet, she believes in rom-com love and does her best to see the bright side of bad situations. Charlie has the yips after an illness and is a bit of a grouch. He is quite rude to Emma several times, but she is determined to see the best in him. Even when he rejects her. I really enjoyed their process of making a screenplay and the progression of their relationship. I was very invested in them getting a HEA and seeing them bring out the best in each other.

I’ll admit it: I didn’t think I was a fan of Katherine Center.

I’ve only read one book, The Bodyguard which seems to be the spiritual predecessor to The Rom-Commers, but after a truly scathing review that made question just what it is that everyone was raving about, I made a bet to myself: if I got accepted to read this book from NetGalley, I’d give Center another shot.

Much like Charlie in this book, maybe I don’t always know what’s good for me.

Charlie, the main LI and Emma the MC, were characters that leaped off the page. Something I’ve long complained about (in reviews but mostly to friends) is how much romance books refuse to let characters have dark and troubling pasts (that don’t feel like a Dickensian attempt for angst). Imagine my delightful surprise when both Charlie and Emma have these conflicting, expansive histories that not only provide depth to their characterization but help inform each of their decisions every step of the way. Call me a sucker for how much I love a story about Hollywood, writing, or two people being forced to work together but the Rom-Commers had each of these things in spades. It was revitalizing, like coming up for air, to read a romance that didn’t feel trite or forced.

The banter was still a little quippy for my taste (at least at first) and the only POC in the entire novel being a quickly introduced (and then shuttled off) side character is something I can’t ignore. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this; enough that if and when there’s ever a chance to read another Center book, I’ll make it a point of seeing that I can.

Really loved The Rom-Commers! Katherine Center really knows how to write characters you really care about. Couldn't put this one down!

Loved every about this book. Starting with Emma Wheeler, a talented screenwriter, who shelved her big dreams to take care of her father after a rock climbing accident and head trauma left him partially paralyzed on one side and with an intense case of Menieres Disease that necessitates full-time caregiving. After high school friend called with an incredible opportunity to rewrite a rom-com script with a Hollywood icon, she initially turns it down. Then her father and sister, who just returned home after college, gang up on her to accept the offer. Packing up and heading to Hollywood for a six-week period, she finds the job isn't quite as described. On top of that, she keeps overhearing people discussing her and comments break her heart, and confidence. Resilient, courageous with just enough sass to hold her own, she is captivating. The story has heart and some of the best written banter that you'll ever read.

Id like to give a huge, HUGE thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Rom-Commers!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a Katherine Center book I didn’t love. Her stories take you on a heartwarming journey every single time - I laugh, I cry, my heart smiles. The Rom-Commers delivers on all the feels. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would!

Emma lands a dream writing job with Charlie, a screen writer she has admired for years. She can’t believe her lucky starts only to find out he didn’t even know she was going to be working with him. In true Katherine Center fashion, they work out their little predicament and come out on top, making you laugh, cry, and smile along the way.

I adored this. It started out a bit slower for me than most of Center's other stories, but it more than made up for it in the end. It packed an emotional punch while remaining true to Center's beautiful yet somewhat simplistic writing style that I always love.

Emma Wheeler is a talented screenwriter who never had the chance to accomplish her dreams. She has been the sole caretaker for her father after a tragic accident. Now she has an amazing opportunity to help the famous Charlie Yates rewrite his failure of a rom-com script. This book is sweet. I liked the characters and felt invested in their story even though it was predictable. The spice levels are mild in this romance. I enjoyed it and would recommend for an easy and quick summer read!

Are you looking for some fun characters and hilarious scenes? The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center has it.

"Emma is desperate to be a screenwriter. When she is asked to help another screenwriter fix his new Rom-Com, it turns out to be Charlie Yates - her favorite writer ever. And he's written a terrible Rom-Com, mostly because he doesn't think love is real. So Emma will do anything to convince him that love stories matter. But what happens when the love story hits close to home?"

There are so many funny scenes in this book - Lorenzo the Cowboy at Line Dancing lessons - and the scene on the high dive in Charlie's pool. I would watch this on Netflix just for that.

This is a romance so you have some idea about where the story is headed. But KC takes a different way to get there. When you meet someone and are attracted to them, you each have to work through the other's issues and hang-ups and hope it works. You're cheering for Emma and Charlie to get there.

This is a great book and characters from Center. Look for a lot of copies of this at the beach this year.

From the moment I started this book, I was completely enchanted. Katherine Center has once again crafted a story that feels like a warm embrace, filled with heart and authenticity.

Emma, a screenwriter whose career has been on hold for a decade, is an incredibly relatable and endearing protagonist. Ten years ago, she put her dreams on pause to care for her father after a devastating accident. When the opportunity of a lifetime arises to re-write a rom-com screenplay by her favorite screenwriter in Hollywood, her family’s unwavering support allows her to chase her dreams once more. This act of familial love and sacrifice sets the tone for a narrative rich in emotion and genuine connection.

Upon arriving in Hollywood, Emma finds herself faced with unexpected challenges. Her idol repeatedly disappoints her, shattering her idealized vision of him. But as they navigate their professional differences and come to an uneasy truce, something magical begins to happen. Working together on the screenplay, they not only create cinematic magic but also develop real, palpable feelings for each other.

The evolution of their relationship is beautifully paced, embodying the quintessential slow-burn romance that Katherine Center is so adept at writing. Their collaboration turns into a journey of mutual respect and admiration, gradually blossoming into something deeper. But with their lives seemingly worlds apart, the question lingers: can they overcome the obstacles standing in their way, or are their lives simply too incompatible?

This story is more than just a sweet romance; it’s a testament to the power of dreams, resilience, and the support of loved ones. It’s about finding love in the most unexpected places and the courage to pursue what truly makes you happy. The narrative is imbued with warmth and tenderness, making it feel like a comforting hug in book form.

Katherine Center has delivered another remarkable book that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves you with a sense of hope and joy. Emma's journey is one of self-discovery and love, both familial and romantic. This story is a beautiful reminder that it's never too late to follow your dreams and that sometimes, the biggest obstacles can lead to the most rewarding outcomes. An absolute must-read for anyone who loves heartfelt, emotionally rich stories!

💏📝📽️🌴🎬

Emma Wheeler is an aspiring screenwriter who finally gets her big break working with her idol, Charlie Yates. Moving to L.A. for a six-week gig, Emma discovers that Charlie is more cynical about love than ever imagined, challenging her passion for romantic comedies. Despite their rocky start, Emma's determination to defend the genre she loves sparks an unexpected connection between them. This charming and witty rom-com is a heartfelt celebration of love, resilience, and the power of rewriting your own story. This was the perfect summer read, though The Bodyguard remains my favorite of Katherine Center's books!

I love Katherine Center, she is one of the authors I always read and this book did not disappoint. I loved the main character (as the eldest daughter I completely understand her character and her need to put her own needs last and take care of everyone else). The writing was great - I love the little things where the character is speaking to us ("I'll let you digest that for a second"). Another homerun by Katherine Center that I highly recommend.

This book unfortunately was a letdown, with only a few funny moments in the first half and overall mediocre and boring. It didn’t live up to its rom-com promotion.

The characters lack charisma and depth. Charlie's actions are cruel, belittling Emma, who forgives him too easily. She overanalyzes everything, trying to save a man who doesn’t respect her. Charlie's habit of calling his ex-wife "wife" after four years is also annoying.

Despite a few good actions, Charlie remains disrespectful. Emma's constant understanding while he avoids responsibility is frustrating. Examples of his behavior include belittling comments and dismissive remarks.

Emma repeatedly makes a fool of herself, and by the end, I can't feel sorry for her. The writing is repetitive and frustrating. The story’s resolution felt forced, with poor excuses for Charlie's behavior. Having loved the author's previous book, "The Bodyguard," this one was a real disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.

I feel like the best way I can describe this book is warm and fuzzy. I immediately felt like I knew the main character Emma, and was rooting for her from the get go. Charlie was likable as the leading man, albeit a little frustrating at times.

I liked the idea of a rom-com book being about rom-com storylines (screenplays). It made it seem deeper, while at the same time showcasing the importance and validity of the genre. Anyone who says rom coms don’t matter needs to read the epilogue and get back to me. It really put the profound message cherry on top.

As far as predictability, I thought that it had just enough twists and turns that it was balanced between realistic and still not totally predictable. I never expect to be totally surprised when the two main characters get together in the end, so I appreciate some surprises along the way. After all, aren’t we always wishing for that happy ending?

I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press!

4.5/5 - Emma’s life came to a standstill 10 years ago when she gave up her future to become the full-time caregiver to her father after a terrible accident. Emma is given the chance of a lifetime to go work with her favourite screenwriter and help him create a rom-com, which is her favourite genre. When she arrives in Los Angeles she realizes she has been fooled, and not only does Charlie not want her there, he thinks she doesn’t have the passion for writing. They develop a truce and agree to work together for six weeks, and then go on their way. Emma has a bit of an ulterior motive to stand up for her beloved rom-coms and get Charlie to experience some of those rom-com tropes. But what happens when the love story they are writing starts to feel a little bit true?

I fell in love with Emma and Charlie and loved how they worked in their ways to get each other to live their lives again. Charlie is gruff, and straight to the point. Sometimes it felt like he was being mean to Emma, but I felt that he really cared. He cared in the same way Emma cared for him.

Emma and Charlie have a relationship filled with banter and a deep amount of care and respect. On top of that, we explore the importance of family, caring for those you love and moving forward after a great loss. I loved the sibling relationship between Emma and her sister Sylvie and though complex, you know there is so much love between them.

The only thing I missed a little in this book was the lack of a dual perspective. I think if we had some of Charlie’s thoughts it would have been easier to feel compassion and love toward him the whole time. Katherine Centre’s writing has a way of getting you to live the lives of the characters and feel everything they are.

This was a great book filled with emotion. It would be a perfect summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

4.25 stars
I have liked every other book by this author so I was hoping this one kept up that pattern since I wasn't a huge fan of the last one and it did. This book was at times heart-wrenching and frustrating and other times so sweet and hopeful. There were parts, like every other book by this author, that had incredibly childish and/or uncomfortable interactions (the jumping to get keys, the insistent begging for something more after rejection) but the rest of the story helped me move past those things. I do think this book could've been even better as a dual POV rather than the constant accidental eaves-dropping (after the third time, it felt a bit repetitive). However, I believed the characters motivations and reactions so I think character building was well-done. I would say this was my favorite book by this author so far.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Rom-Commers is a fun read that delves into a reality turned fiction love story. While predictable and a cliched ending, the story makes you feel good, much like the main characters express a romantic comedy should. The female protagonist Emma is quirky, but stereotypically flawed in a way that was more forced, making her difficult to embrace. Charlie was also quite flawed in his stoicism and “grumpy” demeanor. While a fun read, the characters fell a little flat.

I LOVED this! Center always brings a hopeful depth to her light-hearted books, and this one captured the angsty challenge of caregiving so well. This was a delightful ode to the rom-com! Pub Date: June 11. Thank you, St. Martin's Press (@stmartinspress) and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I absolutely adored this book. Emma is a screen writer whose career is pretty stalled because she gave up everything 10 years ago to stay home to care for her father after his accident. When Emma gets the chance of a lifetime to go to Hollywood to help re-write a rom-com screenplay by her favorite screen writer, her family rallies around her to make it happen. However when she gets there, nothing is as she expected. And her hero, keeps disappointing her over and over. But then they come to a truce of sorts and start working together and everything changes. As they get into their research for the rom-com real feelings begin to develop. But can they overcome all the obstacles they’d face to be together, or are their lives just not compatible? This was such a sweet story with so much heart, a true hug in book form. Another fabulous book by Katherine Center! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.