Great narration. As a fan of lighthearted love stories I enjoyed this title. While you assume the main characters will end up together, I found the male lead to be very unlikable in the beginning, and I'm not sure he ever fully redeemed himself. All in all I enjoyed this title and looked forward to listening to it every day. The story includes cameos of Jack Stapleton.
I enjoyed the author's essay about love stories at the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine romance between two screenwriters who have had wildly different careers. Even though both characters have quite heavy backstories, this felt like a light and funny read. I loved the Hollywood setting, the banter between the main characters, and the wholehearted defense of the power of happy endings (mostly of the fictional variety).

Unfortunately, I'm not sure this worked as well on audio for me. This wasn't my favorite narration in terms of the tone that it set for the character of Emma, and I was so confused as to why she was voicing one of the characters with an accent in the beginning (the backstory was not explained until chapters later). That being said, much of this is up to personal taste, and it was still a well-produced audiobook of a great book that I really enjoyed.

This was my first book by Katerine Center and I look forward to diving into her back catalog. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

So. Very. Beautiful. I listened to The Rom-Commers in audio, so I do not yet have a physical copy of the book to hold, lovingly reread, and pull quotations from, but there is a section when Emma (realistic romantic) tells Charlie (cynic) just what a romance is and means, and the words to-a-t describe what we readers want and receive from a romance. And in that perfectly meta-way, Katherine Center delivers on her promise. Rom-Commers is a romance to make your toes curl, your heart weep with shared pain, and your soul sigh in deep satisfaction. Life has held plenty of suck for both Emma and Charlie, and when circumstances throw them unexpectedly together and force them to write a romantic screenplay together, success seems unlikely either on the page or in real life. I have read many of Katherine Center's books, and I can attest that while always a terrific writer, she is getting stronger with every book she writes. The Rom-Commers is a keeper that I know I will eagerly return to in years to come.

The audio version of this book maybe, better than the real book. Is that even a thing? Katherine Center is a laugh out loud kind of author. If you are reading this in public, people are definitely going to hear you laugh. The banter between the characters is outstanding. I read the book first, but also requested the audio because I knew it was going to be greatness. I am not giving away any spoilers, but Emma and Charlie OMG! 5 stars!!!!

Alright , this was cute, really cute, loved the book. Enjoy Emma and Charlie immensely. The whole i dont want to write with you to be actually grow into the story is so nice. I like how it developed, and how she had to find her way, the almost ending got me worried and cry a bit , but thanfully everything got resolved 🥳.
Overall very cute rom com

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC audio book, and provide my un biased opinion.

The book is set to publish June 11th.

Another amazing book from Katherine Center. She always delivers truly captivating stories, and had me in tears a few times. Katherine has had me in a chokehold since I first came across "Things you save in a fire" on the Libby App. 😍

This book is set in the same universe as "The Bodyguard", as you'll see some familiar characters!

Emma is just so fantastically imperfect and selfless. I love all her "flaws". I really enjoyed hearing her families heartbreaking story unfold. Her dedication to her father and sister were admirable, while also naive.

Charlie is (also fantastically imperfect)the best love hating grump, turned romantic. He's riddled with "faults", and as you learn more about his past, its impossible to not love him. Even though Katherine gives us plenty of opportunity to despise him. His dedication to his guinea pig was so entertaining.

Ultimately Katherine builds a wonderful story, rips your heart out, then puts it back together. When I finished this, the first thing that came to mind was "two weddings, and a funeral(off page)".

Macmillan thank you for giving me early access to this audiobook.

The beginning grabbed me. I really liked the idea. I enjoyed the ending as well. The narrator was perfect.

For me, the majority of this book gave me that growing uncomfortable/cringe feeling of watching two people that were not right for one another having trouble recognizing it. The MMC felt unlikable for too long for me to get wrapped up in any romance.

The older sister was even toxic to the younger sister at one point. I think these characters and this story wasn’t for me.

Aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler gladly gave up some of her dreams to take care of her father after he is never quite the same after a traumatic brain injury. He survived the rock-climbing fall during a family vacation; her mother didn’t. Emma’s guilt (the camping vacation was her idea) has put her life on hold for the past 10 years, raising her younger sister, teaching English at a community college, living at home, not dating, not living. Logan, her high school ex who happens to be a screenwriter’s manager, has been feeding her writing gigs out of his own guilt for breaking up with her in college, but it’s a bit of a shock when he asks her to help ghost-rewrite a terrible draft that Hollywood legend Charlie Yates—THE CHARLIE YATES!—needs to produce so the award-winner can move on to his next pet project. Emma’s newly graduated sister Sylvie agrees to cancel her internship so Emma can have this six-week opportunity of a lifetime, but Charlie is less than enthused when Logan drops off Emma at Charlie’s mansion, with “I’ve brought you a writer.” In spite of his reservations, they click, and manage to work well together. Emma is willing to overlook his threat to Logan that he’s playing along but has no intention to actually take this project seriously. She cooks for him, helps him overcome his fear of water, and gives him crash-course in romance.

I love when novels really have fun with a trope; The Rom-Commers goes brilliantly meta, with Charlie claiming that people literally crashing into one another isn’t fun or sexy—until it happens naturally to them, more than once, and arguing while Emma explains that in a rom-com, the main characters eventually have to stop fighting and fall in love. The insider view of the process of writing is akin to another favorite of mine, The Roughest Draft. For this creative writing major, the writing scenes, obsession over words, passion for and defense of the romance genre, and the breaking of the fourth wall are icing on the proverbial cake, and I didn’t even mind the occasional predictability. Of course when Charlie’s stage directions are a simple “He storms in. They kiss,” Emma has to make him watch hours of best kisses and then offer to kiss him… for science. It turns out their wonderful chemistry isn’t limited to writing. When Emma gets called home for an emergency, is this the end of a beautiful partnership?

As with other Katherine Center novels, medical issues–not just Emma’s dad’s–play a significant role, but it’s the character development that is central to the story. Tiny details like Emma’s dad Etsy shop and Logan’s license plate add to who they are. Charlie’s behavior is mercurial with dash of Kevin Smith and a smattering of warm-cinnamon roll. He tends to tell people what they want to hear, and Emma is disappointed every time she accidently eavesdrops and hears Charlie’s truth, but he is also genuinely kind and kind of quirky himself, (co-parenting a sad guinea pig with his famous ex!) as well as skeptical, bitter, and when it matters, a romantic with the understanding of a grand gesture, after all.

The brisk narrative reminds me a bit of Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy; it’s almost documentarian, moves the narrative at a fast and fluid pace, lends an immediacy to the series of events. Murin resists the urge to be too clipped, and her narration is a pitch-perfect fit for caring, awkward, romantic, conflicted Emma, delivering inflection, heart, and emotion. She moves expertly and effortlessly from Logan’s posh British accent to Emma’s perky/angsty mid-western accent to Charlie’s husky rumble. Her voice squeaks when Sylvie’s childhood voice is described as like a chipmunk, and adopts a warmer, richer tone when another character’s voice is described like butterscotch. I listened to this after reading it, and discovered a few details I’d missed the first time around, brought to life by the excellent narration.

I received a free advance reader’s review copies of both the audio and print editions of #TheRom-Commers via #NetGalley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio.

I was excited to read the most recent book from Katherine Center, as I have enjoyed her last two books. I enjoyed this book. It was very heartfelt, and brought in elements of mental health struggles. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. There is no spice, so I do wish that it had some to emphasize the connection. I do wish there was more emphasis on the initial connection development vs. time skip to doing research.

I related to this book because I have been a caretaker of someone with terminal illness, and have gone through the transition of living life again. I also have survived illness myself. I appreciate the delving into this, and felt that this was portrayed accurately.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it if you have enjoyed the author's other books.

I absolutely loved reading this physically and then the audiobook just added a whole new level . I deeply loved everything about this book! There is just something about Katherine Center’s characters. They are never flat or one dimensional and they are so well rounded. This was a very kicking your feet while smiling and giggling kind of book sure to make a bad day good!


Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC review copy of this book

5.0⭐️

THE ROM-COMMERS
Katherine Center

Emma and Charlie set out to write a great romantic comedy and end up writing their own love story.

Emma dreams of being a Hollywood screenwriter. It would be her one wish come true. Logan, her manager, knows this and has the most exciting opportunity for her. She would co-write a rom-com with the famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates. She says yes to the offer before knowing all the details. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There’s just one problem…

Emma is coming in a little late. Charlie has already written a manuscript and Logan says it’s not his best work, it's terrible, he says. Although he is a famous screenwriter, he has never written a rom-com. Emma takes it upon herself to teach him all about the rules of writing an exceptional romantic comedy and ends up teaching him all about the rules of love.

I never let a year go by without spending time with one of my favorite authors. Katherine Center is known more for her sweet emotional connections and less for her sizzling love-making scenes. When I read her books my sarcasm and pessimism take a back seat to lightheartedness and optimism. We all deserve to have a little pocket of joy and Katherine Center is that for me.

She takes me back to a more innocent time of my life when love was all there was and the only thing you lose in a relationship is time. She reminds me that sometimes it is that simple; all there is is LOVE!

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies! It was my pleasure to read.

THE ROM-COMMERS…⭐⭐⭐⭐

I listened to the audiobook of this title and really enjoyed it! It had Center’s trademark combination of romance and heavier plot points, her heroines are never just a love interest and the romance is rarely the crux of their story.

Katherine Center's The Rom-Commers was a delightful and easy read. I didn't mind the predictability of the ending - as the author states near the beginning of the book, it's how we get to that ending that makes for an good story. I didn't particularly enjoy Charlie Yates as a character nor the sheer number of times his full name is used in the book; I did find that annoying. Overall, If you enjoy a book in which flawed characters fall in love with a bit of unrealistic fluff and without sex, this is a fun, good read/listen with a satisfying ending. Patti Murin did a phenomenal job narrating this book.. even having to say 'Charlie Yates' way too many times.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because while I didn't find it absolutely amazing, I did find it better than the average rom-com.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Katherine Center for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Classic Katherine Center. You can count on her for an original, funny, touching love story that also makes you rethink a few things. This one has some powerful messages about forgiveness, commitment, family, and, of course, what it means to love. I especially appreciated the author's note (read by Center) at the end in defense of romance novels. I whole-heartedly agree.

I also loved the narrator on this - she was the perfect voice for Emma who tells the story.

Wonderful listen - highly recommend!

I liked this book, but felt it lacked a little. Maybe it just felt a little too gloomy. I do like realistic books, but this was just a little dreary. Overall, I would rate 3.5-3.75 rounded up to 4.

I can see why The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is getting rave reviews! It's seriously the cutest, most feel-good romance novel out there. What really had me in stitches is her comedic mastery of deeply feels-y and so-relatable topics, all while expertly keeping the funny bits funny. I was totally captivated from page one - Katherine is such a master at tackling really deep, meaningful topics but also keeping things light and funny when needed. The story totally nails the importance of being a resilient boss babe amidst life's craziness and the transformative power of finding JOY in the middle of a hot mess. I was getting full-body chills from some of the quotes, like "happiness is always better with a little sadness mixed in" - so real! Don't even get me started on the last 25%! My emotions were all over the place - I laughed so hard, gasped in shock, and definitely teared up a few times. Katherine has the magic touch when it comes to spinning tales that just fill you with warmth. The Rom-Commers left me with the biggest smile on my face. If you love witty banter, steamy chemistry, and a dash of magic, pack this book for your next beach vacay - it's the perfect feel-good read, guaranteed to put you in a great mood!

Thank you @netgalley @katherinecenter and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to listen to The Rom-Commers audiobook! Friends, The Rom-Commers releases June 10th - set your alarm calendar so you can understand the hype!

I am of two minds on this one. Like most romance readers will be enjoy this trope and how enjoyable the writing is. So for many it will be 4-5 stars, as Center is a solid choice for the genre. The other side, I am tired of reading romance with men who can't share their feelings, keep a secret that is minimally important, or just push the woman away and she still keeps coming back. Charlie wasn't the type of man I would want to be groveling over since he seems to be the type to push away. He never really made a change, and the epilogue just surprised me. I will be the dissenting opinion that this is not her best writing, having loved Hello Stranger just recently. I do appreciate that she seems to include medical characteristics allowing readers to find their situations between the pages, making many feel seen in their realities. I will continue to read Center, will hand this one to my customers even when it was not a homerun for me.

Get ready to dive headfirst into the whirlwind world of "Rom-Commers" by Katherine Center—because this book is like a shot of espresso for your soul!

Meet Emma Wheeler, the queen of rom-com dreams and the ultimate multitasker extraordinaire. She's juggling more balls than a circus performer—caregiving for her dad, chasing her screenwriting dreams, and still finding time to school even the most stubborn of romantics in the art of love. And then there's Charlie Yates, the brooding screenwriter with a heart of stone and a script that's more cringe-worthy than a first date gone wrong. Seriously, his rom-com is so bad, it's practically a crime against humanity.

But never fear, because Emma's here to save the day! Armed with wit sharper than a rom-com one-liner and determination fiercer than a rom-com heroine on a mission, she's ready to show Charlie that love isn't just a four-letter word—it's the beating heart of every great story.

Sure, there are plenty of laughs along the way—think line dancing mishaps and kitchen disasters that would make Gordon Ramsay blush. But underneath all the humor lies a story with more depth than the Mariana Trench. Center tackles tough topics like loss, guilt, and the messy business of being human with a deft touch that'll leave you reaching for the tissues one minute and clutching your sides with laughter the next.

With a cast of characters so vibrant, you'll swear they've jumped straight off the page and into your living room, "Rom-Commers" is like hanging out with your coolest friends on the best night of your life. And trust me, you'll be reaching for this book like it's your favorite rom-com on a rainy Sunday afternoon—because once you start, you won't want to stop!

You just have to experience this book to appreciate its quirkiness! While it wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book, it was just so unique that I have to give her credit. The originality of this story and its unconventional characters were plenty, but the quotable one-liners were what made it worth it for me. I hardly ever stop and write down quotes when I am listening to an audiobook, but I did a few times in this book! (Patti Murin is a must-listen narrator for me.)

"Kindess is emotional courage."
"People say marriage is hard all the time. But I don't think marriage is hard. If you do it right, marriage is the thing that makes everything easier."
"Love is something you can learn. Love is something you can practice."

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Absolutely loved this book! This was my first Katherine Center book and I could not stop listening! I found the characters to be relatable and realistic without some of the mini tropes that are prominent in romcom. I really appreciated the writing style and appreciated a well done ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to preview this as an advanced reader copy!