Katherine Center wrote a solid story with The Rom-Commers. The style was different with the main character talking to the reader. It felt like being told an incredible story, and I appreciated that. Seeing as the main character is a screenwriter, it seems like a great choice. Emma and Charlie are both very broken people who are dealing with connection in two very different ways. Emma chases after the connection while Charlie is so afraid to lose it that he pushes it away. I feel like the only thing missing for me was the small moments where people fall in love. I think that I just wanted more. The ending was beautiful. I wrote down quotes from this story that I will cherish.

Gah what a beautiful story! Katherine Center has this ability to make you cackle one minute and then cry the next. The banter between Emma and Charlie is on point. The story was great. The backgrounds and the family side stories were relatable. What I LOVED about this story is how optimistic it is! It makes you want to see the good in everything knowing we only have so much time on this earth. Emma was such an awesome character and I loved when she was vulnerable and true to herself. I loved how Charlie took such good care of Emma however he could. I also loved that this was a deep rom-com about rom-coms. The narration by Patti Murin was amazing as always and I'm so glad I chose to listen to it. Seriously if you love rom-coms, deep family stories and stories about love, you will not want to miss this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of this story which publishes on 6/11/24

2.75⭐
Genre ~ romantic comedy
Setting ~ California
Publication date ~ June 11, 2024
Page Count ~ 336 (31 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 21 minutes
Narrator ~ Patti Murin
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ mentions of cancer, forced proximity, slow burn, no steamage

Emma is obsessed with Charlie’s work and is thrilled when her friend gets her a job working with him on a screenplay.

🏝️can you see me over there on outlier island all by myself? I think what didn’t work for me the most was how mean Charlie was to Emma. He was truly awful, repeatedly. And when we find out why it was too late for it to be redeemable in my eyes. I wasn’t feeling their chemistry, perhaps due to the meanness. She’s been an obsessive caretaker for her father since the accident that (I can't remember if this is early knowledge, so I'll hide it just in case) (view spoiler), so that made you feel for Emma, but I can’t say I really enjoyed her character. She was even mean to her sister at one point. I absolutely did not like her drunken night by the pool, so dumb. There were some funny bits, but nothing that had me rolling like I like my rom-coms to be.

Overall, it was okay, but not great for me.

Narration notes:
She did fine for Emma, but she didn’t really work her tone too well for Charlie.

Emma is the queen of writing romcoms. When her idol Charlie needs assistance with his new project, Emma is thrilled to be given the opportunity to lend a hand. But Charlie doesn't seem all that keen about the project. Can Emma change the way he thinks about romcoms?

I will read anything Katherine Center writes. Her books are so easy to read with her captivating writing style. The audiobook was great to listen to and I was all in, rooting for our couple to find their way to be together. I appreciated the backstory about Emma's father and loved his own little ending too. This is definitely one you want to have on your list. It releases early June.

This was my first Katherine Center book and if the rest of her books are half as good as this one, I will be reading them all! This is such a fun premise, what fan of romance wouldn't want to read a romcom about writing a romcom? I found the two main characters, Emma and Charlie, to be immediately likeable and it was so fun to follow their story and see both of them grow in different ways. The supporting characters were so enduring, I especially loved Emma's dad and I felt like he had so much wisdom to share that I personally needed to hear. I was really touched by how he (and the rest of his family) faced their hardships with such hope and optimism. This book perfectly balanced humor and fun with some heavier themes. This stands out as one of my favorite reads of the year so far and I will be recommending this book like crazy!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I love Katherine Center
I love her positivity
I love that she loves love stories
I love that she loves happily ever afters
I love that she writes about a girl and boy that WILL indeed fall in love. 
I love how you know when you crack open one of her books, you are going to find broken characters that find each other, get tangled up together, create a mess but when you turn that last page you are going to be wrapped in a warm blanket of cozy love.

She is the Christmas Hallmark movie, you know exactly how it is going to end up, right down to the 1 hour and 37 minute mark when the climax occurs (the couple breaks up) and the last 23 minutes are devoted to cleaning up the miscommunication and reuniting for that kiss you have been yearning for and then....cue the snow fall (even if the movie takes place in the Dessert) 
So that is why it pains me to write this review. 
I did not connect with this book. The premise was everything you could want especially when I am Pro #BringBack90sRomComs. A nobody girl gets the opportunity of a lifetime to Co-Write a Rom Com movie with a hunky guy...I mean let's just go ahead and call Celine Dion and get a soundtrack going
I think what didn't work for me was a few things: But I think I can boil it down to one word.....Obnoxious.
 1. Repetition: The main character continued to refer to the famous people by their FULL names over and over. She would say, "Charlie Yates, the Charlie Yates. Charlie. Yates. The Charlie Yates that wrote....Yes. Charlie Yates" At first it was cute, but after about the 5th time she continues to repeat his name that many times in one paragraph, it becomes obnoxious 

2. Silliness/SappinessI am sorry but it was over the top cheese and crackers at times. I cannot picture my dad and I dancing and singing in the kitchen...no just no. There were so many over the top silly scenes, don't get me wrong I love a good happy book. But I could not handle all the dancing and singing....even if life is unicorns and rainbows...tone it down please. 

3. CharactersEmma grated on every last nerve I had, I couldn't stand the way she was so obsessed with her Dad's health and her "holier than thou" complex she had toward her sister in taking care of him. I won't get into details, but some of the things she said to her little sister were so mean and rude. It bothered me SO much how much of hypochondriacs the characters were in this book, Like Charlie was afraid of Emma jumping off a diving board because he thought should would break her ribs( Really dude?), then after she went swimming she was incapable of taking off her own clothes?? That whole scene was so dumb. Oh and THEN how Emma freaks out and wants to rush Charlie (YATES--Oh gosh am I doing that now?) to the ER after he gets in a fight? These characters all had personalities that were worse than someone hyped up on Red Bull. Everything would go from 0 to def com 10 in a matter of seconds....no in between.

4.The LoveThere was none! Charlie treats Emma HORRIBLY he says some seriously mean things (almost as mean as Emma to her sister) I felt absolutely NO chemistry. Some of the things Charlie said and did were unforgivable in my opinion. It makes Emma look pretty desperate.


IN typical Center fashion the story wraps up with unicorns and rainbows, which will of course make you warm and fuzzy. Even after having very negative thoughts about this book I finished it with the sense of happiness and hope. Katherine Center does that, she must infuse the pages with happiness, and I cannot stay angry/upset or frustrated with her book. Then to add even more icing on the already sappy epilogue her authors notes knocked it out of the park, I loved her explanation and inspiration for the book. I actually liked it way better than the book! I am sorry to say I did not enjoy this one. But please read it for yourself, especially if you are a Katherine Center fan. This one has a lot of her usual quirks , it just didn't work for me this time around. She will always and forever be an automatic read for me.... 
To quote the great Celine, "My Heart Will Go On.......to her next book" 
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this advanced copy read of "The Rom Commers" by Katherine Center. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for my honest review.

This was a choice....that's the best way to sum up my thoughts on this novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy and audiobook. I hate to say this...but I was rooting for the book until the 75% mark...and then I was rooting for it's downfall...

Charlie sucks...and he has no redeemable qualities. Emma also needs to grow a backbone.

But quite frankly...if I only dedicated myself to the audiobook and did not finish the book through the epub...maybe I give it 4 stars.

It is an entertaining read, and it is better if you listen to the audiobook.

But I do not wish for Charlie and Emma to be together...not one bit.

This book made me laugh and made me cry. It was such a fun rom com with some heartbreaking moments. I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to listen to this fun and captivating love story.
It was an easy listen with a super cute plot. I already preordered this beautiful edition so I can display it on my shelf. Loved it and highly recommend. 🥰

A RomCom about Romance writers writing a RomCom - SIGN ME UP!!!

Our leading lady Emma has always put others first (and has put her passions and career on the back burner) finds herself with the chance of a lifetime to help THE BEST screenwriter in Hollywood, Charlie, rewrite a romantic comedy. What could go wrong?! Except he doesn’t really even want to write this screenplay and he definitely doesn’t want anyone else’s help…. especially a "no name writer like her"... But he begrudgingly accepts because he needs her help to get this script approved so his true passion project can be greenlit.

Let me start off by saying I adore Katherine Center and her books are like a warm hug - always comforting and sweet.

Emma and Charlie had great chemistry and excellent banter! I enjoyed Charlie’s snarky remarks and how he insisted “true love doesn’t exist” while asking Emma to help him write a rom com… OF COURSE they would fall in love with each other (not a spoiler - this is a RomCom - of course they end up together)! And I LOVED the premise of this story!

Emma’s struggles with her dad and her sister and losing her mom at a young age really made me emotional. Charlie’s struggle with his own personal problems also really got to me and I found myself tearing up a time or two😭

But that’s the mark of a great love story right!? To make you feel and of course a happily ever after ending doesn’t hurt!?

I really really adored both main characters but I felt like I needed a little more to happen between them?
Just a couple more *swoon* worthy moments (that’s my only critique but that’s probably just a me thing)! 🤣

I’ll never stop reading or recommending any book by Katherine Center! 👏🏼

Thank you Netgallery, St. Martin's Press and MacMillion Audio for an advance listen of this sweet romcom.

Center is on a self-proclaimed journey of defending the genre of Romance and I'm here for it. She wrote this truly amazing line in the book that I wish I could share but she argues that every genre makes a promise to the reader. The mystery will be solved, the battle will be won, the universe will be saved, etc. In Romance, it's that the two leads will end up together. If the audience doesn't get that then the writer wasn't doing their job. And I just love the predictable package deal and the journey of how we will get to the happy ending.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5 stars. This is my fourth book of Katherine Center's and they just keep getting better. The heroine is an aspiring screenwriter and believer in love stories who is partnered with a non-believing famous screenwriter who has written a truly terrible rom-com. You can't help but love the main characters, flaws and all. Emma is giving to a fault and learns to recognize that and how playing that role has sheltered her from her fears. Charlie has been hurt and is cynical but is very cute and is eventually open to realizing his wrongs. You're rooting for them the whole time.

Read if you like:
•Forced Proximity
•Celebrity Romance
•Sunny vs grumpy
•Coworker romance

🌶️- Acknowledges the existence of sex but in my opinion very clean.

LOVVVEEEE!!! I will read anything Center puts out!!! Its believable! It’s touching! I tear up! The ROM Commers was no exception. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.

I was able to listen to the audiobook of Katherine Center’s The Rom-commers, which will come out June 11th, thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio !

When screenwriter Charlie is stuck on his rom com screenplay, he’s set up with a ghost writer, Emma, who’s been yearning to be as successful a writer as him and admiring his genius writing forever. While writing is her passion, she’s been helping take care of her father for years, unable to take big steps towards a successful career. This is her opportunity, but can she teach Charlie why romcoms are valid screenplays and make the skeptic understand romance once and for all, or will the movie fall to pieces along with her career?

This rom com story has all of the ingredients of a good book: the characters are well developed and grow in different ways; the plot is both predictable in some ways and surprising in others, but all in a satisfying way; the language is descriptive and fun, creating excellent banter and memorable scenes.

For fans of rom coms, this is a great new read! I particularly enjoyed the audio as well!

A true winner by one of my favorite authors - definitely a must-read! I loved how Katherine Center was able to tackle very tough topics while balancing humor and a dynamic love story. I found the underlying dynamics of caregiver burnout, chronic illness, grief, sacrifice, rejection, and complexities of a older/younger sister relationship in the book to be captivating and really add to the depth of the main character and I strongly resonate with the main character being an eldest daughter and older sister who can't let go of her need for control and to protect at all costs - even when it is out of our hands. A happily ever after absolutely worth waiting for and some happy tears/laughs along the way. The story perfectly portrays the importance of resilience amidst life's inevitable struggles and the transformative power of finding joy in the midst of adversity - definitely add it to your TBR list!

“If you wait for people to light you up, then I guess you’re at the mercy of darkness.”

Many thanks to NetGalley and and Macmillan Audio for the early audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars. It had me giggling, laughing and crying. That's how you know it was a good book. This was my first Katherine Center book and I'm already running to get "The Bodyguard"!
- Her POV
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
- Workplace romance

Emma is such a strong character, I loved her inter monologue to stay strong and keep it together because she feels so relatable. Charlie is a grumpy guy in the beginning but don’t let that fool you, he’s a sweetheart. Every time I had to pause it (life always getting in the way) i was just thinking about keep listening !
And, Omg i loooved the Meryl Streep Scene! the way Katherine Center makes me feel like I was on the phone with friends telling me their story is crazy! I was fully engaged with the story from start to finish! Some scenes like the accidental “I love you “ moments had me laughing so hard! It’s a SLOW burn but amazingly done because it never feels dragged out, it lets both characters really get to know each other and bond genuinely.
The happy ending delivered what it had to! A super happy ending 🫶🏻 isn’t that the reason why we are all reading romcoms? And the epilogue wow, that last monologue was my favorite.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Katherine Center for the gifted audiobook ARC provided through NetGalley! It was an amazing experience and I’m so happy to share my review.

Center does a great job at romanticizing rom-coms and emphasizing that the ridiculed formula for love stories is just as valid (in my opinion more so) than the formulas for all other genres (e.g., action, horror, etc). Oh hey, patriarchy! I found both of the main characters loveable, while at times, a bit annoying. The love story felt mostly believable and the miscommunications were super realistic to real life. This was my first Katherine Center novel and I'll definitely be diving into her archives for more!

4.25
A not-so “surprise blockbuster” that will be “resuscitating the Rom-com”!

I’ll admit that I found last year’s “Hello Stranger” a bit too far fetched to be as enjoyable as it should have been. This book is right kind of far fetched. You know, Texas girl with tragic backstory has former high school boyfriend who is British and now a major Hollywood agent and gets her a job in LA writing with an Oscar-winning screenwriter, her celebrity crush and hero. Chaos ensues as they slowly realize they love each other amidst a major communication failure, followed by a grand gesture.

This is just a good old fashioned rom-com where the romance trope and interactions are classics, even if the circumstances and setting are over the top. You know whether that is your kind of thing. If you don’t—because this is your first potential rom-com and you’ve also obviously be living under a rock—give it a try. Yes, there annoying character traits and character interactions, but it’s still enjoyable. The only part I didn’t enjoy was the author’s note and the end where she goes on some sort of rampage to argue the importance of the romance genre or something, forgetting that we, unless we are reading someone else’s choice for book club but are equally committed to finishing it, are obviously already fans of the genre

I listened to the audiobook because it looked like I wouldn’t be getting access to the ebook. I found myself with the ebook too before I finished the story, so read some, as well as read back through for some clarifications, not easy to do with an audiobook.

Patti Murin is a familiar voice of the genre, especially if you listened to another Katherine Center or the last several Christina Lauren novels. I find a lot of the American rom-coms and “women’s fiction” have annoying narrators and I’ve been known to abandon several right off the bat. Though I usually prefer British narrations, Patti is one who allows me to get into the story and not cringing at the sound. That’s praise in my book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and MacMillan Audio for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book and audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review.

The writing in this was cute and witty. Katherine Center is the queen of banter and she really delivers with these characters. I loved the FMC. She was highly relatable. And liked the MMC. Probably would have enjoyed him more if he had his own POV. Overall, it was a sweet and charming read. Would definitely recommend.

I have been a fan of Katherine Center’s writing since she released The Bodyguard a few years ago, and have been waiting (rather impatiently) for her newest release, The Rom-Commers. As a lover of romcoms, I was particularly excited for this title. While this didn’t leave me with the same wow as The Bodyguard, I still really enjoyed these characters and their story! I had a particular sweet spot for Emma’s dad and his storyline. I listened to this and really enjoyed the narrator. Overall a solid read!

Katherine Center is truly one of the greatest authors of our time! Ever? Always! She is incredible!

I found The Rom-Commers to be a lighter side to KC - this still had the heart, the guts, the raw, the real, the banter and fun, but this felt lighter and I loved it! The way I tabbed ang highlighted so many quotes was insane. She just truly encapsulates my entire life philosophy: seek joy, hold onto it, celebrate it. We control what we do with what happens to us. It isn't easy, but it is OUR choice and I LOVE THAT!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's for this advanced copy - this was a highly anticipated read for 2024 and it did NOT disappoint! I loved it!