This is a weird review for me. I was so excited to receive The Rom-Commers audio book because I'm a huge Katherine Center fan. I was disappointed as I listened, as I didn't like it. Yikes. I couldn't believe. I thought some of the parts sounded cheesy and not believable. I didn't want to give up on the book because I have a history of loving Center's books. I decided to get on my long waitlist at my local library and read the book - and guess what??? I loved it. I made connections with the characters that I was unable to do with the audio version. My point being - don't give up on a book, just because you don't enjoy the audio version. I was glad I didn't with The Rom-Commers. 4 stars for the content/writing, 2 stars for the audio.

"The Rom-Commers" is in my Top 10 favorites for 2024.

Emma Wheeler is obsessed with romance stories. And while she longs to be a screenwriter, she knows there's no way she can be. She's the primary caregiver for her ill father, and there's no way she could leave to pursue her dreams.

At least, it seems that way until an incredible opportunity falls into her lap and her father and sister convince her that it's her turn to pursue her dreams. So, off she heads to LA to help her idol, the famous screenwriter Charlie Yates, fix an incredibly poor rom-com screenplay he's written.

But before she can begin to fix what he's written, she needs to understand why he even attempted it since he doesn't even believe in romance, and it's not his usual fare.

While Charlie wants nothing to do with her, Emma challenges him in a way that's new and refreshing to him. And soon they're working on the rewrite together. But the more time they spend together, the more they start to wonder if happily ever after might actually be possible.

I loved the characters and storyline for this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an enemies to lovers rom-com.

Thanks to Katherine Center, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A rom-com about rom-coms it was so dang cute. Characters literally learning how to fall in love. There's emotions and laughs and it all wraps up in the best way. The audio is absolutely a must. Ate it up. The narration flowed so well with the story. It had me chuckling and hanging on to ever word.

I really enjoyed listening to this after a day at woke. The narrator was wonderful with a very pleasant voice that kept me engaged. It was a quick and easy listen and I loved the characters and the plot. Will definitely be adding Katherine Center to my lineup of authors.

Katherine Center is an automatic read for me and this story was no different. I couldn’t wait get my hands on it and flew through it. As always it was well written and the narration was perfect.

Huge thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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If it’s a Katherine Center book I know I’m going to love it. I just really love her writing. There’s romance, friendship and vulnerability always. She effortlessly works in every emotion and creates a beautiful story! This was such an enjoyable one!

What happens when a struggling screenwriter wins the competition of a lifetime and gets to work with her favorite screenwriter of all time? Frustration and sparks follow. But things are never quite as you expect and that holds true here.

This book was both laugh-out-loud funny and spicy at the same time. I definitely give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a must-read for everyone, whether you love romance or not. The characters are incredibly relatable, and I can easily envision this story on the big screen.

A great twist on the enemies to lovers troupe. Emma Wheeler is a writer. A good writer. But due to circumstances she has had to put her career on hold. And then a great opportunity comes along for her to work with her screen writing idle, although he doesn't want anything to do with her. Katherine Center writes characters you can't help but love and root for.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

Oh Katherine! You know the way to my heart.

I finished this book mere hours ago, and I AM SO IN LOVE with everything about it.

From the beginning, I found myself totally invested. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. And then, I found myself swooning in equal measure.

This storyline was easy to fall for, and I found myself completely infatuated and basking in its goodness. The characters. The storyline. The sweetness of the romance. The juxtaposition of the hard things and the joy. It was total perfection.

But the true magic in this book: the way Center brazenly defended the rom-com genre. Center’s fierce dedication and love for romance came through loud and clear in Emma’s voice as she went toe to toe with Charlie on the screenplay they teamed up to write. If I had not already been a wholehearted devotee of the genre- or Center’s books- Emma would’ve convinced me.

And the cameo from The Bodyguard... BE STILL MY HEART!

Center’s books are always a ray of sunshine for me, and The Rom-Commers had me smiling from ear to ear with utter satisfaction. Another winner!

🎧 Patti Murin’s narration for Center’s books is always “chef’s kiss,” and this one is no exception. Also, hearing Center read the author’s note added a specialness to the read. But the real reason you’re going to want to grab the audio: that extra chapter told from Charlie’s POV. 👌🏻

There are so many things I loved about The RomCommers:
Emma’s wild red curls, the caregiving perspective and how tenderly everything medical was treated. Charlie singing to his Guinea pig, how terrible his initial script was, and how he couldn’t help but let her stay.

I loved the relationship of caring for her father and all his one handed musical instruments. I loved that she was given the opportunity of a lifetime by her now happily married gay ex boyfriend, and couldn’t wait to tear the terrible(nah, a new WORSE word for terrible) first draft to shreds. I loved that there were so many emotional moments that made me cry.

More than anything, I’m so happy that Katherine Center chose romance as her hill to live happily ever after on. She writes with such grace, passion and hope - what reader wouldn’t fall in love over and over again?

Patti Murin is a match made in heaven for Emma, and I am thrilled that her catalogue includes some of my very favourite books. The bonus audio-exclusive scene was SO GOOD and the author’s note made my heart fill with passion and adoration. I’m thrilled to share love stories on my page, and anyone who says romance novels are the absolute bottom of the literary barrel obviously has some other inner emotional work to do.

If you are ready to fall in love with Emma and Charlie, and all their flawed thinking, irrational choices and flat out longing for each other (and believe me, you’re ready) then dive in heart first off that vintage high dive and be prepared for your heart to feel a little fuller.

I have mixed feelings about this book. At times I enjoyed it, and other times it felt unrealistic. I don't think I quite believed in the romance between the two, and that's why I struggled with it. The MCs familial relationships were done SO well, and I adored those parts. Overall, not my favorite Katherine Center book but an enjoyable read.

Katherine Center’s The Rom-Commers is a delightful and heartwarming read that effortlessly combines humor, romance, and a touch of real-life challenges. Center’s storytelling shines through in this engaging novel, which follows the intertwining lives of a group of friends navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship.

The story centers on the charismatic and lovable protagonist, who finds herself in the midst of a romantic comedy of her own making. Center’s writing is both witty and heartfelt, capturing the essence of modern relationships with a refreshing blend of humor and emotional depth. The dialogue sparkles with clever banter, and the characters are portrayed with genuine warmth and authenticity.

What sets The Rom-Commers apart is its ability to balance lighthearted romance with moments of introspection and growth. The novel explores themes of personal ambition, self-discovery, and the importance of supportive relationships, all while maintaining a fun and engaging narrative.

Overall, The Rom-Commers is a charming and entertaining read that will leave you smiling and eagerly anticipating more from Katherine Center. Her ability to blend romance with relatable life experiences makes this book a standout in the genre. I would definitely read another book by this author, as her skillful storytelling and engaging characters promise even more delightful reads to come.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC

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.