I discovered this author last year and now I am in love with her books.
The book was utterly adorable and the perfect easy read for summer. The relationship and chemistry between the main characters was perfectly written.
The beginning was a little slow, but that is my only complaint.

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, for the review copies of the e-book and audiobook via NetGalley. (Available 11 June)

Where do I begin? I love Katherine Center. She’s a Ghirardelli chocolate brownie with chocolate chips, cooked in a cast iron skillet and topped with ice cream and hot fudge. She makes me smile, laugh, love love, and love stories. She reminds me that happiness is its own reward.

Emma put her screenwriting career on the back burner to care for her father. Only now, her high school best friend (and agent to superstar Charlie Yates) talks her into helping Charlie re-write an apocalyptically bad rom-com screenplay. Along the way, she teaches him why rom-coms provide so much joy.

As with other stories I love best, this one has interesting side characters to root for. There’s Emma’s spunky and sweet younger sister, who rolls in to take care of Dad while Emma gets her chance-of-a-lifetime. Then there’s Dad! “If there were a dad store, he’d be a bestseller. They’d have rows and rows of him for sale, right up front.”

As a bonus, take Center’s words, her joy, her love for love, and banter, and give them to actress/singer Patti Murin for delivery. She sparkles. The combination is pure genius, as I discovered last year with HELLO STRANGER. Even though I had a copy of the e-book, I knew to wait for the audiobook of this year’s gem.

To quote Emma, “All genres have a promise,” and romantic comedies promise to leave the audience happy and satisfied. In the hands of Katherine Center, it’s a promise you can take to the bank.

Emma Wheeler has been writing on the side for years. She would love for it to be her full-time job, but her "bigbreak" just hasn't happened... yet. So when her high-school friend/big shoot manager in La tells her about an opportunity, she thinks its too good to be true. I mean, who wouldn't want to write with "THE Charlie Yates"? So after securing her sister in the role of full-time caretaker f their father, Emma is off to LA. But when she arrives, she realizes working with Charlie Yates may not be the easiest of most fun opportunity, and she is quickly re-thinking her options.

Despite being very predictable, I really enjoyed this book. It is perfect for a fun summer read, with well-developed characters, and laughable comedic scenes, mixed in with truly corny heartfelt emotions as well. The audio quality of the book was good, with the narrators being easy to listen to, and enjoyable.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a such a joy to read, mixed with laugh-out-loud moments and bits of heartache sprinkled throughout.

The novel follows the story of Emma, a screenwriter who never got her break since she spent most of her adult life as a caregiver for her father. When she gets a call from ex-boyfriend turned literary agent, she flies to LA to ghost write for a celebrated screenwriter who’s got the yips! Charlie, our screenwriter, has written a new romantic comedy…and it is just awful! After a rocky start, he and Emma decide to rewrite the movie, getting closer as they work together.

Without spoiling too much, I’ll say the depth of character was truly great, and Emma’s backstory made me root for her. Emma does everything for everyone else; it’s time for her to shine! Charlie is insecure, which makes him so personable. I loved Charlie’s complicated, slightly self-loathing confusion regarding love. As soon as I’d fall for Charlie, he would say something rude again. But together, their banter was electric!

The audiobook narrative by Patti Murin was exceptional as always. I’d like her to narrate my life, please!

I really loved this book. The writing is smart and funny, but also makes you reflect on life and the time we have together on this earth. I smiled like a goof but also cried for our MCs.

It was a joy and a pleasure to read, complete with a line dancing Italian cowboy! Once again, Katherine Center has delivered!! It’s perfect for summer!

4 stars!

Katherine Center's "The Rom-Commers" is another fabulous addition to her already stellar catalog of work. Is there anything she can't do?! Seriously! Every single book she writes is wonderful. Center is in the business of writing comfort books, and that's just what we've got here. I found myself fully immersed in Emma and Charlie's story from the very beginning. Chapter one hooks you and then never lets you go. I liked the differences between Emma and Charlie. Where she is an unknown writer obsessed with Charlie's entire career, he is a famous, decorated writer with tons of money and fame and has no idea who she is. Where she loves love and loves writing about love, he doesn't believe in all that mumbo jumbo despite it fueling his career for years. Their vast differences make their pairing all the more delicious. Though Charlie starts out being a huge d1ck to Emma, he eventually comes around. As we learn more about why they both act as they do, we find that they are both carrying a lot of baggage with them. Their problems feel realistic and mostly fully fleshed-out, integrating well with the work and love aspects of the story. I found this story to be heartfelt and well-paced. I laughed a lot while reading it, and even got a little misty when it came to Emma's father and family dynamic. That part was very compelling (but I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say much more!). The book has a great ending and excellent side characters. My chief complaint is that I didn't feel a humongous spark between Emma and Charlie until the last few percentage points of the book. I would have liked a bit more depth between them. A lot of their connection felt surface-level and convenient because of their proximity to one another. It's not until the very end of the book that that changed for me. Still, I think almost everyone will enjoy this book (honestly, everyone should enjoy *most* of Katherine Center's books!). She is one of the few authors I've read who knows no misses. Patti Murin's audiobook narration is perfection. She brings authenticity to these characters and these situations!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

When aspiring screenwriter Emma gets a chance to work with long-admired, award-winning screenwriter Charlie Yates, she quickly finds out he isn’t all she dreamed he would be. They can’t agree on anything, and Charlie just wants a finished script, not caring if the storyline is terrible. Despite it all, Emma falls for Charlie, who keeps sending mixed messages while repeatedly rejecting Emma. Katherine Center fans will read, while others may want to pass.

I truly love Katherine Center. I’ve loved every book I’ve read by her. Her points of view on life, her descriptions, her plots, are all wonderfully written and well-researched. She’s truly one of the best!

Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms. There, I said it. It's true. Her stories are full of well-developed characters, interesting plot lines, miscommunications that drive a reader crazy, and satisfying endings. If you're looking for spice or smut, you won't find it here. You will find a story that tugs at your heart and some poignant statements about love and life. I'm definitely re-reading this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book in audio and digital versions. I thoroughly enjoyed both!

This beautifully crafted story is incredibly compelling. The plot is so thoughtfully constructed and skillfully written that I can't recommend it enough. The title grabs your attention and hints at a fresh take on romance, and that's exactly what you get. The characters are so richly developed that they feel like people you might know.

Let me just say -
Katherine Center DOES NOT FAIL and totally maintains her crown as queen of the Rom-Com (yes, I think I'm funny!) Emma is the perfect heroine - She's sacrificed her own personal life for 10 years to take care of her father after losing her mother in a tragic accident that she feels was her fault :( She's had no personal life - not much of a professional life - and she's still in it until something so magically perfect literally falls into her lap. Enter Charlie - who is Emma's very favorite writer ever - and is also a whole hot mess. I generally hate it when people are manipulated "for their own good" - but I have to admit - it works here!!! I loved the love story - because, who doesnt!?? There was an amazing amount of minor characters in this story that I came to love as well - especially sweet little broken hearted Cuthbert!! Patti Murin knocked it out of the park with the narration - one of my favorites!!! Many Many thanks to Netgalley, Katherine Center and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listeners copy of The Rom-Commers in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6461378669

TW: death of a parent, cancer, chronic health issues, grief,
I want to start this off by saying that I have loved every book I've ready by Katherine Center and anytime I see a new release, I HAVE to read it ASAP and this book did not disappoint. Patti Murin reads the MCs dialoge in a believable manner with the perfect character and qualities.
Emma has always taken care of everyone and helped everyone follow their dreams, but along the way she forgot to allow herself the same joys. After an accident that kills her mom and seriously injures her dad, Emma takes over as primary caregiver to her fathers complex medical needs in order to keep him safe and allow for her sister to lead a full life without worry. Being passionate about happily ever afters, movies, and writing for for ever... the isolation she has kept herself in has allowed her to continue honing in on her craft and becoming quite good.
When the opportunity to work with her screen writing idol, Charlie Yates, becomes avaliable, Emma is pushed by her family to unleash her control on her dads care and travel across the country to work with Charlie. Their dynamic is complicated with Charlie not believing in happily ever afters and hating Rom-Coms and those being Emmas forte. Eventually they create a peaceful dynamic full of the best banter, homecooked meals, and productive days spent working out a rom-com screen play that is more than just good enough.
I absolutly loved Charlie and Emma's dynamic. Both pushed eachother to go outside of their comfort zones and make room for love in their lives. Their banter was funny and there were some seriously sad moments. From laughing to crying, this book had it all.

From the moment I cracked open the pages of The Rom-Commers, I was transported to a world where every sentence felt like a revelation. I found myself enveloped in a world where laughter and heartache intertwine seamlessly, leaving an indelible mark on the soul.

Center, known for her knack for weaving tales of love and resilience, takes readers on a delightful journey through the trials and triumphs of her characters. Set against the backdrop of California and New York City "The Rom-Commers" introduces us to a cast of characters. Emma, the wanna be writer who takes care of her father and younger sister leaving little time for herself. Sylivie, Emma little sister who is not so little anymore and wants to help take care of their dad. Dad, 55, is plagued with health issues since falling while rock climbing with Emma's mom, needs constant care. Enter Logan, Emma's best friend since childhood. Logan encourages Emma to fly out to California to meet with the famous screen play writer Charlie Yates. Emma adores Charlie's work so she lines up her sister to care for their dad and heads out. When she arrives she has a few unexpected surprises in store. She must live with Charlie for six weeks while the rewrite a horrible screen play. That's the beginning of many antics throughout the story. Center deftly explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationships and what it means to truly find happiness.

"The Rom-Commers" is not just a book – it's an experience that will leave you smiling long after you've turned the final page.

Special thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really like this sweet story of a would-be screenwriter coming to in to fix the awful screenplay of one of her idols. Emma Wheeler loves Charlie Yates’ work & is excited to read his newest screenplay- a romantic comedy. Only to realize it’s terrible. This has a lot of fun rom-com tropes, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine. I loved the slow burn of their relationship. They both have a lot of baggage that’s slowly revealed. And great chemistry!

Katherine center did it again!!! This book is so fun! I couldn’t put it down.. this latest book might be my most favorite yet.

I’m waiting for another one of her books to be turned into a movie. This one would be perfect! Bring back the rom com era!

Charlie, a successful screenwriter, needs to write a rom-com. His problem? He wrote one but it’s bad. Very, very bad. He thinks romance is a Ponzi scheme and doesn’t believe in love.

He needs help. And fast. Enter Emma, an aspiring screenwriter who has been hired to re-write Charlie’s script.

Her problem? She’s the full-time caretaker for her dad, who was injured in an accident that took her mother’s life. But her sister steps in to help so Emma can fulfill her dream to write for Charlie, her writing hero. Dreams can come true.

Now her problem is how to thaw Charlie’s cold heart and make him believe in love and rom-coms.

In true Katherine Center form, this book has the perfect blend of romance and comedy, but with substance and depth. The witty banter gets me every time.

I closed the book with a full heart and a smile on my face.

I also loved the theme in defense of love and rom-coms, a theme the author continued in her note at the end of the book. Don’t miss it. Finding joy in adversity is another overriding theme that I loved.

I read a variety of genres and rom-coms will always have a place in my heart and on my shelves. Especially one written by this author. A well-done rom-com requires serious writing chops, and Katherine Center is among the best. She is able to write a story that has the perfect magical blend that captivates this reader.

My only regret is I now have to wait another year for a new Katherine Center book.

Don’t miss this one. A pure delight from start to finish! 5+ stars! The audiobook narrators were just perfect in their roles - 5+ stars for them too!

Honestly, 2.5 Stars? Which is SUCH a bummer! I really enjoyed Hello Stranger and had heard such good things about this one. That said, I found nearly all of the characters (minus her dad and sister) unlikeable immediately and most never really recovered in my mind. Also, I expected to chemistry in a book called The Rom-Commers, but felt absolutely none. 😩

The audiobook was good, but I think because I disliked the FMC I also disliked the narrated a bit. Le sigh.

I personally struggled recommending this one, but also know SO many people gave it 4 or 5 Stars so who knows! If it sounds interesting to you, definitely check it out!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed so many of Katherine Center’s previous books, so I was excited at the opportunity to read/listen to the latest release. The premise got my attention. However, that’s pretty much where the positive aspects ended. It bothered me that Emma was a doormat. She had no self esteem and there was just no romantic chemistry between Emma and Charlie.

I won’t give up on Katherine Center books, though. Several others, especiall Hello Stranger, were delightful reads. But don’t choose not to read this book on my review alone. There are plenty of reviewers who loved the book. So it may be just up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook! ⁣
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The Rom-Commers was my first Katherine Center book and it certainly won’t be my last! Emma Wheeler is an inspiring screenwriter in need of a big break. Charlie Yates is a famous screenwriter in need of a ghost writer. She loves romantic comedies. He hates romance. What could go wrong? ⁣
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I absolutely loved these two vastly different characters and it was quite the ride as they tried to figure out how to work together. There were some deeper themes (mentions of trauma, loss, and illness) to the story that I wasn’t expecting but they really help you to appreciate and get to know our main characters. The plot was entertaining and I found the ending to be satisfying as well. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of romantic comedy movies!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Kathrine Center for giving me an eARC of The Rom-Commers in exchange for an honest opinion about the book!

This was my first Katherine Center book. I've head great things about her writing so had pretty high expectations going in. I'll say that this book was ok. The romantic attraction/tension/chemistry between Emma and Charlie wasn't electric which I feel is necessary to fall in love with a rom-com book. I felt like they were both good people and I liked them an characters individually. But I didn't get heart eyes for either of them.

There were a few funny moments which stuck out to me and overall I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well as the character development. I'm not sure what trope it would be considered (lying? miscommunication? withholding information?) but it is not my favorite in general so when it came into the book later on, I wasn't a huge fan.

This book didn't really stick out to me, but it was ok. 3/5 stars.

This was my first Katherine Center book (even though I own 3 others!) and I loved it! The audiobook was fantastic and I’m so glad I listened to it! I absolutely loved the characters, and the storyline. I didn’t expect to cry at the end - but i did. And then laughed when the whole reason I cried changed!

It had a little more language early on than I usually care for, but it mellowed way out as it went on and I couldn’t stop listening. Now I can’t wait to read the other books I have!