Patti is such a great audiobook narrator and the team up between her and Katherine’s incredible writing is one of my greatest joys!

This is my second Kathrine Center book and I loved it just as much! The concept of writing a book about writing a rom com was super unique and I thought it was a fun spin. Not only just Emma teach Charlie how that looks, but it plays out in the book itself.

I have to admit that I was not a fan of Charlie in the beginning. He was so rude to Emma and yet she constantly tried to help him. She acted like his therapist at times, which was cute for the rom com but also just frustrating because Charlie treated her poorly time and time again.

I loved the family dynamic for Emma and thought it was a great addition to her life and backstory! As someone who lost their sister so close to going to college, I related to so many of the struggles that Emma faced.

All in all it was a cute, unique, fun and emotional book!

*Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center does it again! I have never met a book from Katherine Center that I didn’t like! In this new release, we meet Emma and Charlie. Emma is a writer and is chosen to rewrite a romantic comedy for Charlie, a famous screenwriter. Charlie’s romantic comedy screenplay is so atrocious, Emily realizes that she has her work cut out for her! Charlie’s original script reveals to Emily that he knows nothing of what a love story *must* include. As the story unfolds, you can’t help but cheer for Emily and Charlie as they navigate personal challenges that may keep the script from being finished. I could not put this one down! I highly recommend it!

I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading the Author’s Note at the conclusion of the book! Katherin’e treatise on why we need love stores had me cheering “Yes, Yes, Yes!” as I read it in it’s entirety. Thank you Katherine Center for the gift of your books!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC that I received to review. The opinions in this review are my own.

First of all,I must say the narration was very well done for the audiobook.

This book is very well written with some heart wrenching moments that have taken place in both the FMC and MMC's lives. I ultimately ended up rooting for them both; however, they both sell themselves so short which ended up being so frustrating to me. I will say that with how well written it was even the frustrating moments made sense.

I definitely recommend reading/listening to this book when it is released on June 11th.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and as expected it was amazing! I’m convinced she puts narcotics in her books just like Taylor Swift does in her songs. Once I start one, I can’t put it down and it’s all I can think about! I can always count on hopeful, emotional storylines, characters you can easily empathize with, and witty writing. This one especially broke my heart into a million pieces then put it back together and I loved how Jack from The Bodyguard was incorporated into the story. I also loved the narrator! Fantastic audio! 5⭐️

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @katherinecenter for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This romcom is out June 11 so preorder now! 🩷

This was an absolutely charming story! It has some of my absolute favorite tropes: grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. This story had me tearing up, cringing, and swooning. Such a lovely personal growth journey as well as a romance. 💘

TWs: loss of a loved one, care for a loved one, mention of loss of a pet, survivors guilt, ab*ndonment, divorce, PTSD, cancer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.5/5

Unpopular opinion incoming. I want to start by saying that Katherine is an excellent author and I have enjoyed several of her other books

"The Rom-Commers" had an interesting premise but ultimately fell a little short for me. I wanted to love it, I really did but I just didn't.

The story begins with a clever ABBA shout out and features a unique dynamic between the main character and her high school boyfriend, Logan, who comes out as gay and becomes a Hollywood success. Despite this strong start and an amazing narrator, the plot unfolds very slowly.

The main character Emma is heavily defined by her role as a caregiver for her father, which adds depth but also slows the pacing. By the halfway point, I wrote a note that I found the book to be my least favorite by Katherine Center due to its slow pace and lack of a compelling dialogue.

I struggled to form an emotional connection with the characters, and the slow-burn romance with standard miscommunications didn't keep me invested. I found the last 10% of the book enjoyable and swoony but also a bit predictable. I'm just not sure if it was all worth the wait for me.

‘The Rom-Commers' has its moments, but it didn't engage me as much as I had hoped. I didn't find myself reaching for it or as fully absorbed as I had hoped. Although it may appeal to fans of slow-burn romances, it didn't live up to my expectations.
It was a good romance and cute book but not a great one for me and at 11 hours and 21 minutes I expected a lot.

I’m definitely in the minority though so if this is one you’re looking forward to I would say check it out.

@deannsdailydrop

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Katherine Center for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center did it again !!!! My goodness. I listened to this book in 2 days ... I couldn't put it down.

Synopsis
Emma has gotten the opportunity to go out to CA and help ghost re-write a screen play by her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates.

Emma was such a fun, quirky character who brings out the sunshine in everyone she meets. Like Charlie. Charlie was in a dark space when they first met but by the end, he was shining bright.

Their chemistry throughout the book was the chefs kiss. Their banter was a slow build and the best thing, it was not insta-love. It was a day by day build up.

Katherine. You are a genius. I can't wait to get my copy!!!!

Thank you macmillian audio!

The Rom Commers is a swoony, silly colleagues to lovers story that follows Hollywoods favorite screenwriter
and a writer turned caregiver fall in love.

This book was so fun - the cast of characters sets a tone of jovial goodness with a mix of deep and well fleshed out backstory’s that give each character a uniqueness and vibrancy that you don’t see often in books. Emma is one of my favorite characters I’ve read this year - her story arc of loss and forgiveness, along with her love story and fun quirks were captivating to read and I could absolutely relate to her unmanageable hair. Charlie is such a Hollywood hunk - with the biggest dork side thrown in for good measure. His background of illness mirrors Emma’s story of caregiving, and brought a new side to the plot that took the story from just a rom com to something much more meaningful.

This was my first novel by Katherine Center - and I can honestly say I fully understand the hype. The care with which she constructed every detail of the story is evident, and her handling of tough topics has a sincerity that reads clear off the page. I loved the intricate layers everyone has - even the Guinea pig!! - and the way she tied the book in a bow at the end was truly a master class in rom coms.

The audiobook narrator is perfect - she made the characters come to life and I really did hear Emma through her. I loved that at 2.0 speed I could clearly understand her words and inflections, and she did an incredible job nailing each emotional shift or funny punch line the chapters held. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Katherine Center for allowing me to read The Rom-Commers in exchange for honest review..
Charlie Yates is the greatest screenwriter of this century. Now he’s tried his hand at writing a romcom. It’s not very good.
Struggling writer, Emma Wheeler takes every job that her agent Logan sends her way to make ends meet. Not only is she a writer, but she is also a full-time caregiver for her father.
Logan is also Charlie’s agent and after reading his latest romcom screenplay he knows that it needs help. Enter Emma. Logan has arranged for Emma to help tweak Charlie’s latest work sadly it’s not that easy and order for this to work right Emma has to leave her home in Texas, and immerse herself in Charlie’s life in LA.
You’ll laugh out loud at the antics that these two get into and maybe even shed a tear as we learn both of their back stories.
Not only are we learning how to write a romcom we are reading it live as we make our way thru this story that will suck you in right away.
I rate The Rom-Commers 4⭐️

The Rom-Commers
By: Katherine Center
Narrated by: Katherine Center, Patti Murin
Macmillan Audio

Review:
The Rom-Commers is the most pleasurable and uplifting audiobook that I have listened to in 2024. Katherine Center poured joy directly into my heart with her themes of family loyalty, friendships, overcoming obstacles, writing, and romance.

Narrator Patti Murin's warm, appealing voice conveyed all of the humor and sentiment that Center intended for her readers. Murin's versatility and timing delivered exquisite portrayals of the entire cast of Center's well- developed characters. Listeners get to hear author Center's voice read a bonus scene, wonderful author's note, and acknowledgements.

The rom com style banter and professional/romantic vibes between want to be screenwriter, Emma from Texas, and famous screenwriter Charlie Yates in Los Angeles, kept me laughing. Emma's caretaking of her sweet father added tenderness and compassion to the story. Charlie's back story did, as well.

Center's plot is a perfect mix of not only Emma and Charlie's relationship, but also that of Emma and her sister Sylvie, and both Emma and Sylvie with their father. Charlie's friendships and career are captivating!
Katherine Center writes for joy! I felt that emotion, along with so many more, throughout this audiobook.

I am honored to be a member of the 2024 Macmillan Audio Influencer Program. Thank you to both Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for a gifted advance listener's copy. My review is my own.

#MacAudio2024
#TheRomCommers #NetGalley #Katherine Center
# MacmillanAudio #PattiMurin

The Rom-Commers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katherine Center

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

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

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?

My Thoughts: This was such a wonderful book, I am HUGE Center fan and always excited when a new novel comes out every year. I am grateful to the publisher allowing me to review the books from Center the last few years, it has been a blessing. Center really blew it out of the park with this one. Emma was born to be a screenwriter, she has spent her life devoted to crafting her art and has won contests with her amazing screenwriting abilities. Ten years ago, her family suffered a tragic loss, as a result, her father requires full time care. Emma put her dreams on hold to take care of her father and allow her sister to follow her dreams. An opportunity presents itself when Charlie Yates, her most favorite author, needs a romance screenwriter. Her sister just graduated and steps in for caretaking duties so that Emma can go to L.A. for six weeks to do the project. They always say, when you meet your hero’s, they may disappoint you. Well, this is exactly the case. Charlie does not want to write with anyone, period, especially someone who has not been in the industry. Charlie does not care how this romance script comes across as it is just a means to get the script he really wants green lighted and will never see the light of day. Emma will stand up for herself and show Charlie that romance novels have their place in this world and that love matters. Will her dreams come true? Or will her heart get broken by her hero? This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, celebrity, and sunshine/grumpy.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by Charlie and Emma. Emma is definitely sunshine, even though she is suffering with guilt from her parent’s accident ten years ago. She is brave, courageous, and kind. By contrast, Charlie is the grumpiest grump. He is also charming, sexy, and when you get through that tough exterior, he is very sweet and kind. Charlie and Emma’s story really pulled me in, immersed me with the characters, carried me on their journey, and kept me invested in their ending, or maybe their beginning. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, authentic, they were balanced, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, thought-provoking, funny, poignant, raw, endearing, steamy, and kept me engaged cover to cover.

Center does a stellar job at balancing literally laugh out loud moments with tender, pull on my heartstrings, moments. One moment you are crying, and the next you are laughing. Center just has this amazing ability to pull at your heartstrings in a way that is uplifting. The message of the book was truly amazing, that even though the worse of the worse tragedy, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it is that light that we hang onto in faith for hope that things will get better.

TW: loss of a parent, Ménière’s disease, cancer, guilt, grief, and panic attacks. I had the digital and audio ARC versions. I loved the audio. The narrator, Patti Murin, was amazing. Her voice variation was right on point with the character distinction. Her voice was smooth and inviting, I was able to listen at 2x speed with no issues keeping up or sounding off. Murin really elevated the story to another level, and allowed the reader to be immersed in the characters. Center is one of my favorite romance authors, I do have a lot, but for Center, she is an auto-buy, or auto-request (on NetGalley). This was just an amazing read, definitely one of my top books for this year. I HIGHLY recommend this book to readers, go buy or borrow from your library today!!

Katherine Center’s books always make me think, and this was no exception.
She also makes me laugh & cry, and it’s a beautiful thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
😘

💭 overall thoughts:
This was beautiful and deep, while also absolutely hilarious.

The way Emma felt about romcoms was such a love letter to the romance genre.

I adored Emma - her wit, her quirkiness, her ability to be unapologetically herself - a favorite heroine for sure.

Charlie was a tough character to love for a good part of the book, but his realness eventually had me falling for him as well.

They both come with a lot of baggage, and somehow seem to fit together, even though they’re quite opposite (at least on the surface).

Side note - absolutely adored the Bodyguard cameos 🥰

🎧 audio thoughts:
I adore Patti Murin, and her narration added so much for the story!

tropes + topics:
✍🏼 writers/workplace
🏠 temporary roommates
🌤️ grumpy sunshine
🔗 forced proximity
💖 single 1st person pov

*definitely has some heavier topics mentioned, check triggers if you have any.

✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ the Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, MacMillian Audio + NetGalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

My first Katherine Center, and I must say, it did not disappoint. It is a delightful blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and personal growth, making it a perfect and entertaining rom-com read.

We follow Emma Wheeler, a wannabe screenwriter juggling her dreams with the responsibilities of caring for her ailing father. When she lands a golden opportunity to collaborate with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, Emma’s life takes an unexpected turn. Despite Charlie’s initial resistance and grumpy demeanor, Emma's persistence and humor gradually break down his barriers, setting the stage for a classic grumpy-meets-sunshine tale.

What really struck me about this book is how Center masterfully handles the emotional journeys of her characters. Emma’s relationship with her family, particularly her father and supportive sister, Sylvie, is both touching and realistically portrayed. These relationships added depth to the narrative and made Emma a character I genuinely rooted for.

The writing shines with witty banter and a keen sense of emotional balance. The banter between Emma and Charlie was a highlight for me. However, I did find that the chemistry between Emma and Charlie was a bit lacking and that “magical spark” was somewhat muted for me. Additionally, the narrative occasionally leans too heavily on Emma's internal monologues, which I felt detracted from the development of their on-screen chemistry. The romance took a backseat to the more profound themes of grief, self-discovery, and personal sacrifice.

Despite these minor quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story’s exploration of what makes a perfect rom-com, both within its narrative and meta-commentary, added an extra layer of fun for me as a fan of the genre.

If you are looking for a clean romance with snappy dialogue, complex characters, and a heartfelt family story, this book is a perfect pick. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Katherine Center or, like me, new to her work, this book is a great addition to your summer reading list.

Looking forward to reading more of her work soon.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listening Copy.

4.25 Stars

In typical fashion, I found myself sometimes giggling, often swooning, and nearly always smiling. That's the joy of a Katherine Center novel and this book had it all - engaging banter, entertaining characters, and poignant backstories. And the swoon factor was top-notch.

I enjoyed Charlie, grumpy brusqueness, and all. Although, it made his occasional guilelessness feel out of character. I understood it regarding his aquaphobia, but not with some of his ineptness. Not a dealbreaker, but it felt odd. Emma was an entertaining heroine. I understood her relationships and control issues. Charlie and Emma together? All the swoon.

Unfortunately, I feel compelled to comment on a major issue I had. What’s up with breaking the fourth wall? Granted, I've never been a fan of the device. Once or twice I can deal with its use, as long as the rest of the story is immersive. Sadly, it was a consistent writing device in this one. I’ve read each of Katherine Center's books and I don’t remember it being used before. If it had, it was minimal. Each time Emma addressed the reader it took me out of the story. Every. Single. Time. I had to work on tamping down my annoyance as it continued.

Katherine Center remains one of my favorite authors and The Rom-Commers is still a gluttonously ingestible story. A fun experience overall, but maybe not my favorite by the author.

Audiobook Notes: I read and listened to the ebook and audio interchangeably. Patty Murin is a regular narrator of Katherine Center's books and does a great job bringing life to the characters with spot-on diction, expression, and inflections.

I tend to voice-text myself lots of notes when I listen to audiobooks and want to remember something. One of the first notes I made while listening to The Rom-Commers was that in the first little bit of this book, I had already literally laughed out loud and then had to pause the book while walking Target because I was choking back tears. This about sums up the last couple of Katherine Center books I have read. Her books are more women’s fiction than romance for me, and she really is the queen of writing heavier stories for her characters in a way that still sets her books up as light, comforting reads.

To this very point, one of my favorite parts of this story is actually when she has her meltdown with her sister when learning of her dad’s most recent accident when Sylvie was supposed to be his primary caregiver. Her reaction is nearly cruel towards her sister yet feels imperfectly relatable.

Another favorite moment goes the opposite direction. Emma and Charlie teaming up (rather reluctantly) to rewrite a terrible rom-com screenplay leads them both to figure out just how romantic rom-coms can be-

“Had I really been insisting all this time that there was nothing even remotely romantic about two people randomly falling on top of each other?
Because this was working.
Had I just proved myself wrong? In front of the Great Charlie Yates?
This was not going to end well.”

This was a great, easy listen and I think all Katherine Center fans will enjoy this! If you haven’t read her work and enjoy rom-coms, then definitely read this one, but then after this one, read How to Walk Away. It’s still my favorite of hers.

Katherine Center can do no wrong in my eyes. I devoured this book in a day, and wish I could have stayed in their world longer. Who doesn't love a crotchety MMC? Then along comes the girl who finally gets him to stop being so frustrated and angry with the world and open up his heart. I'm going to soak that story line up every single time.

Center does such a great job of creating characters that are extremely realistic, with flaws and back stories that fit the actions that take place. It's always frustrating when you're reading a story and think to yourself, "this character would never do that." I believed everything Emma and Charlie said and did. Even when I didn't agree with them, I understood it. That's a talent that not all writers have.

The slow burn love writing style works in her novels too. I might wish that the characters would move things along a little quicker (often lol), but I also appreciate that she always makes their love convincing, because the foundation has been laid.

I will always recommend her books!

Thank you to #NetGalley for a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.
My Interest

My interest? Simple! I loved Katherine Center’s last two rom-coms: The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger (my reviews are linked). I learned of this book via a post by blogger A Book Wanderer–why not go visit her blog, too, and leave her some nice comments? We bloggers live for nice comments.
The Story

“I fell in love all the time. Just… nobody fell in love with me back. Fiction really kind of was all I had in the romance department. But that wasn’t a weakness. That was a strength. I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we’re longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with—sometimes ones so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them—we look for answers in stories.”

Emma Wheeler has spent a lot of years now caring for her disabled Dad and raising her kid sister. All the while her writing talent has been begging to come out. When a high school friend gets her the ghostwriting gig of a lifetime helping revamp the first ever rom-com written by screen writing legend, Charlie Yates, will Emma be able to leave her Dad in her sister’s care and go to L.A. for the 6 week gig?

Charlie Yates is the real deal–a drawer full of Oscars, an intimidatingly successful ex-wife, and a network of Hollywood mega-everythings at his beck and call. But he has some…”phobias?” Take for instance Hollywood legend Esther Williams’ old swimming pool complete with high-dive in his backyard–a body of water he’s never entered. Then there’s the shared custody of his guinea pig, Cuthbert. And that vintage Chevy Blazer he drives. And well, the man is just simply cool personified in public, but in private….? And what’s the secret to his friendship with blockbuster Jack Stapleton?

Can two such people navigate the egos, emotions, and problems of living and working in the same house for six weeks?
My Thoughts

Like she did in Hello Stranger, Center weaves a traumatic brain injury into the story. This time she has Emma occasionally speak to readers which is fun because it wasn’t overused. From the get-go I loved the chemistry between Charlie and Emma. The disaster of the initial set up, the growing relationship, the banter, the talk, the growing emotional attachment–it all just worked beautifully for me. This was a sweet, but never cloying, never precious, rom-com. This could be a really fun movie, too. But, I’m worried just which guinea pig(s) would get to play Cuthbert!
My Verdict
4.0

How fitting that a writer of rom-coms would aptly title her book The Rom-Commers! This was such a sweet (no spicy scenes....not my thing) story about a very headstrong woman willing to take on the task of helping a famous screenwriter fix (or completely overhaul) his latest rom-com. The issues lie in the fact that said writer has no interest in working on a rewrite since he doesn't believe in love, and our woman protagonist has had an infatuation with this man and his work for a vey long time. The way they interact and work through their problems in at the heart of the book. However, there are some side issues that really worked for me as well. Emma's dad has a chronic condition causing him to need round the clock care, and her guilt over having to leave him in the care of her sister while she jets off to LA take their tole in more ways than one. Charlie also has some health issues that are at the crux of the quintessential romance third act conflict. I really loved how strong Emma remained throughout the process. She clearly believes in her ability, and wanted to see it to completion. My only quibble would be that I questioned why she would be such a huge fan of Charlie's work when she is really only interested in rom-coms? Just a bit of a stumbling block that was easy to overlook once the story got rolling.

Great characters with witty banter, and some deeper issues also explored, made this a really enjoyable read. This will be a perfect book for your summer vacation if you like a bit more depth than just a fluffy love story.

I was given permission for the audio version, and thought it was great! No problems with diction, voice inflection, or tone. A great presentation.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 325 / Genre: Romcom
Audiobook Narrator: Patti Murrin
Duration: 11 hours 21 minutes
Release Date: June 11, 2024

Emma Wheeler is a struggling romcom screenwriter who’s finally gotten her big break. Her ex-boyfriend/agent has hooked her up with the opportunity to co-write a romcom with her idol Charlie Yates, a highly successful screenwriter of blockbuster action films. The end result? A highly entertaining, funny, heartwarming romcom that features some of my favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract, and workplace romance.

I really enjoyed this one. Thank you, @NetGalley, @Macmillan.Audio, and @KatherineCenter for my gifted copy of the audiobook. I loved it!