Hands down Center’s best book yet and likely will be my favorite book of the year.

The banter in this and the story line alone are excellent. This book will give you all the feels, lots of laughing maybe some crying. Like a hug from your best friend.

Narration was on point.

Thank you so very much for the opportunity to review this audiobook production.

Oh my stars! I absolutely adored this book so much! There are some books that you read at just the right time and they speak to your heart in an unexplainable way, and this was one of them for me! I have not lost a parent, but I could find myself relating so much to Emma in her overthinking, hypochondria, and constant drive to prevent bad things from happening. Watching her find happiness was a balm to my heart!
I loved Emma and Charlie together, they are the BEST!
I seriously loved, loved, LOVED everything about this book! I listened to the audiobook in a day because I just couldn’t stop!
Words simply cannot express just how happy this book made me. It is an absolute delight!
This is only my second read from Katherine Center. I read The Bodyguard earlier this year and adored it as well, and she is now a forever favorite author of mine, and I can’t wait to read all of her other books! I love the way Katherine Center goes deep with her stories while also simultaneously keeping things light and fun, this is my favorite kind of story to read and she absolutely nails it! And I so appreciate that her books have all the sizzle while still being closed door!
I had the absolute best time with this book and most highly recommend it!

TW: mentions of cancer. Loss of a parent (past)

CW: 1 heavy makeout, but it doesn’t go beyond kissing. Mentions of sex and physical attraction. Strong language, including multiple uses of the f-word.


I received a complimentary audiobook copy of this book from the publisher.
My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. The narrator did a great job with different voices, but I wasn’t a fan of how she did the main character’s voice. It just didn’t click with me.

At the beginning, I really liked the main character. She seemed practical and realistic, which was refreshing. But her stock dipped in Ch. 26, because she was so desperate and cringey. Ugh.

The fight between her and her sister in Chapter 27 was spot-on, though. It was such an accurate portrayal of sisters fighting—she was harsh and bitter, and it felt very real. When Sylvie blamed her for their mom’s death, I was like, “Oh, shit!”

Thankfully, by Chapter 28, the main character comes back to her senses, which helped redeem her a bit in my eyes. The build up of the tension and angst was really well done. I could feel the emotions running high throughout the story. However, the conversation at the awards was way too long.

All in all, it’s a decent read, but I don’t know if I would recommend it.

I have never been much of a romance fan, but this meta-ish love story about love stories gave me a new perspective on the genre. I won't say that I'm going to immediately sign up for direct-shipped Harlequins (is that even a thing anymore?), but I will go in with a more open mind in the future. The world needs more happy endings these days, especially when they don't ask you to check your brain at the first page. Having a main character who wasn't too dumb to live made all the difference - while there were the usual Problems That Could Easily Be Solved By Communicating plot points, the fact that Emma considered that as a possibility at multiple junctures made them much less tiresome. There were still a few sections that could have been condensed (we get it, you want to put yourself out there and let him know you like him. We don't need three scenes to illustrate the concept), but the overall respect for readers' intelligence made all the difference. Keeping the side characters at the sides also was a good choice - it gets crowded in a romance with two participants and dozens of bystanders that need to be checked on every few chapters.

This would be a great pick for a book club that wants to try romance but doesn't know where to start - it will make the group think about their feelings toward the genre, at least.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review purposes courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I listened to this audiobook over and over again. The narrator was exactly who I imagined when I read the ebook, and — as always — Katherine Center’s writing is funny and swoony. THIS is the quintessential rom-com.

Katherine Center is such a consistent writer. Her books are memorable and sweet, and never fail to make me happy. The closed-door romance is well-done. Readers looking for a lot of spice won't find it here, but there is a lot of heart. I would definitely recommend this book!

3.5 out of 5 stars. This book took me some time to get into and that made me a little skeptical of the characters and overall plot line, but towards the end I was hooked. I don't (generally) particularly enjoy a third act breakup and but I love that the epilogue gives us the whole scoop on the after story. I also really loved how the FMC was a red head and that the MMC was all about it — it’s about time us red head girlies get shown some love.

I am not generally a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but I AM a fan of Katherine Center. Still, I went into The Rom-Commers with a slight bit of apprehension. So I am pleased (but also not surprised) to announce I really enjoyed Ms. Center’s newest release!

This book had everything I enjoy in a story:
➤ A down-on-her-luck heroine who keeps persisting in the face of all her challenges
➤ A cantankerous (but secretly cinnamon roll) hero
➤ Heartbreaking situations that are balanced perfectly with plenty of humor

This was a totally feel-good story with a surprising amount of depth and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

There are two things about Katherine Center’s writing that are turning me into a big fan. First, she manages to take well-worn tropes but not have them travel completely into the oft-used cliched routes. And second, it takes a special author to bring the heart and heat to a story you wouldn’t mind recommending to your grandma. In a day when gratuitous steamy times in books is celebrated and closed-door is often viewed as second-class romance, I’m so thrilled to see Katherine Center getting the accolades and wide-spread attention she very rightly deserves.

And as I do with most of the books I thoroughly enjoy, I also listened to the audiobook. Patti Muran is quickly becoming a favorite narrator. Her comedic timing with dialog and her voice inflections totally level up every story she narrates!

* thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
*thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Katherine Center is such a consistent writer. Her books are memorable and sweet. The closed-door romance is well-done. Readers looking for a lot of spice won't find it here, but there is a lot of heart. This book is laugh out loud funny and times and is reminiscent of Annabel Monaghan's Nora Goes Off Script-I couldn't think of a higher compliment if I tried.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced reader's copy of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book was very good. I really liked how the story developed between the two characters. The chemistry was so good. Katherine Center can’t seem to write a bad book. The narrators were great at bringing the characters to life.

This workplace, grumpy sunshine romcom was such a fun read! While it dragged a bit at places (I thought the end was close and then realized I was just at 63%), I still enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book made me irrationally angry because I had such high hopes for it.

There is nothing romantic about this book at all, and both of the main characters were terrible and they didn’t have chemistry at all.

The only reason I didn’t DNF it is because it was the audiobook and I really enjoy the narrator, Patti Murin.

This is the 3rd KC book I have read but I feel like she must write all her books in the same format because they are all so incredibly over dramatic and predictable and have some ridiculous twist you can see coming from a mile away.

5 stars for the narration.
2 stars for the story.

I am a die-hard Katherine Center fan. I read The Bodyguard a couple of years ago and then proceeded to read most - if not all - of her backlist, while I was waiting on her next book to release. And while this newest story is not my absolute favorite of hers -- that honor belongs to last year's Hello Stranger -- I still found it delightful and heartwarming and hopeful. Just like I've come to expect from this author.

I was thoroughly enchanted with this story from the beginning. I mean, how could two writers falling in love not be adorable? Especially in such a short time? While writing a rom-com together!?! *insert heart eyes* Things started off messy for these two and only got messier, but not in a way that I felt connected to. Maybe it's because I've recently had to deal with an ailing parent and have had to numb myself to anything painful that reminds me of that time. And that's on me. Cause the writing and handling of the situation was done well. I just know that I felt very removed from the last 10% or so of this audiobook, and I never quite got my mojo back.

It was still a lovely story and I will 100% read anything else Katherine Center puts in front of me. And I'm still very glad that I pre-ordered the book because maybe a re-read will hit different in a few months time...

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Well written and fun to listen to, I really enjoyed this romance! The main characters made you root from them and felt very real. The narrators did a great job.

I just love books about books, or well, the writing of books. I also like when people who are destined to not be together fall for each other. This book was so well written just like all of Center's other books. Thank you for the review copy. I highly recommend this book to all! Narrators were perfect!

Katherine Center does not miss!! I have read other books by her but this one is now my favorite. There was so much work that the author put into developing these characters and creating a story that while at times was sad had enough happiness and love spread throughout it to make a truly magical love story.

I love Katherine Center, I really do. But something just felt like it was missing in this book.

Charlie and Emma are both screenwriters, but he is wildly famous and her career never got off the ground. Until one day she gets the chance to work with Charlie (who she is a big fan of) on a rom com screenplay that is laughably terrible.

I enjoyed the slow build of their relationship and the forced proximity of course, but it just didn't feel as warm and fuzzy as other books that I have read by Katherine. Maybe it was how hot and cold Charlie was, or it's something I can't quite put my finger on.

This book read just like a rom com, with the most hilarious moments laced with the best kind of tension. And the moments where she overhears him saying something that upsets her? It was just like I was watching one of my fave movies from the height of the romantic comedy era. Definitely one to check out if you loved those movies like I did!

The story in The Rom-Commers matches its bright and energetic cover. I liked the audiobook narrated by Patti Murin, who’s becoming the voice of Katherine Center novels in my brain.

Emma and Charlie are screenwriters. She’s an ‘expert’ on romantic comedies but is struggling to get her first big break. He’s an award-winning writer of action movie scripts who’s venturing into writing a rom-com. When Emma’s ex-boyfriend/agent arranges for her to collaborate with Charlie (without his knowledge), their working relationship has a rocky start. Can Emma chip through Charlie’s arrogant attitude and link to his fame to create a script that launches her career?

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance with the enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes. It’s fun without being ridiculous (which I disliked about Hello Stranger) and the characters have chemistry and also heart and depth. I admired Emma’s dedication as her father’s caregiver and also the ways everyone flourished when she allowed others to be involved. It took me awhile to warm to Charlie and his personality, but I loved him for Emma by the end.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the review copies of this fun novel.

If you are looking for a velveeta level of cheese in your romance, then this book may be right up your alley.
Don't get me wrong, I'm down for a solid cutesy, light, forced-proximity romance but this read as over the top and cringey. Between the insufferable FMC and the annoying MMC, it was a struggle for me to push through the book without any redeemable characters. I have read a handful of Katherine Center books in the past and I have came to the conclusion that her writing just isn't for me.

Katherine Center does it again with her amazing, heartfelt writing. There's tragedy and hardships but also exciting happy moments. It's a very realistic book about the messiness of life. This book is not a typical romance. It has so much depth. Worth the read as I fell in love with the characters.