Oh I loved this one! I inhaled it. I feel like this was a love letter to people who spend so much time trying to convince others how valid the romance genre is. This will definitely be one I read again.

Katherine Center books are an auto-buy for me. Receiving an advanced copy was like Christmas coming early.

The Rom-Commers did not disappoint. The witty banter, the love story and Nora Ephron references knocked it out of the park for me.

Emma and Charlie’s story was so engaging that I found myself NOT wanting to listen because I didn’t want it to end.

I loved the author’s note and bonus chapter included on the audio version and thought the narrator did a great job.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC audio of The Rom-Commers. It was so good. It did have a slower start in my opinion; however, I was invested pretty early on and finished this book in one day.

This is my first read written by Katherine Center and it will not be my last. I loved all of the characters and the character growth throughout. I was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much because there was no spice and I really enjoy the spice, but honestly, this is the kind of story that just makes you smile and laugh and cry too.

The Rom-Commers had all the ingredients of a good book: lovable characters, light romance, and humor. What I really liked is it also had a serious aspect about it. It had depth, to say the least. I was sobbing for the last couple chapters and I was terrified of the ending (but I didn't cheat, I was patient).

Quick summary: Emma and Charlie are screenwriters. Charlie is very well known and Emma hasn't really made a mark yet; however, she knows all of Charlie's work and is a huge fan. Charlie is known for writing more serious, sci-fi type screenplays; whereas, Emma is the Rom-Com expert. Charlie decides to give Rom-Com a chance and writes a terrible screenplay. With their mutual friend, Logan, they meet up and decide to work together to get Charlie back in the groove and to get Emma's name out there.

Enemies to Friends
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity

One more thing to add: Katherine made this story real, Relatable. It wasn't a quick hello, I love you, happily ever after. It wasn't your average romance and I think that's the reason I liked it so much.

I would say that this isn't 100% an adult book and it would be suitable for young adults as well.

This is my second book by Katherine Center and I love her writing so much. Her characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the romance itself is great. This definitely won't be my last read by this author. The narrator also did an incredible job bringing the story to life. Highly recommend!

This is not a book where I imagined I’d be crying at some point. Even though the FMC is a parental caretaker, I simply assumed that she’d be joyful enough and the romance sweet enough that I’d be okay. But then I remembered that this is a Katherine Center book, and I was therefore sobbing between percents 80-90. I should have known better. Katherine Center has this supernatural knack to blend whimsy and sadness, quirkiness and vulnerability. And narrator Patti Murin is the ideal voice to bring all of those emotions to life.

I enjoyed this book, but I did knock off one star because it wasn't until 1/3 of the way through that the screenwriters started working together. The beginning was just a bit slow for me. The MMC forgot what romance felt like, so enter the FMC who is going to show him. Of course it's predictable, but that's what makes it a comfort read. I was surprised by a couple things at the end though. This audiobook was well done. I enjoyed the bonus chapter at the end. Thank you for allowing me to listen and provide an honest review!

I adore Katherine Center's writing. It's deep and moving always expands my world and makes me feel things and think about things and I love that. Her books are not spicy (at all) but somehow I'm not left feeling disappointed at the end about that, because the world she weaves is so rich and beautiful and tangible that I'm just along for the ride.

This review is for the ALC I received from Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.

I loved this book and I thought the narrator did a great job.

Emma Wheeler wants to be a screenwriter but after a horrific accident she's home being the sole caretaker for her father. When she gets the chance to help her idol of a writer, Charlie Yates fix his disaster of a rom-com screenplay, she jumps at it.

Charlie doesn't want her help at first and she doesn't want to help him, but they both give each other a chance and he see's how talented she is, and Emma see's how sweet and soft hearted Charlie can be.

And sure this is a romance but like the other Katherine Center book I read it's MORE than just a romance. There is grief, and loss, and fear, and phobias, and whole lives to delve into. So sure, Charlie and Emma were destined to fall in love, but I was not prepared for the soul wrenching journey's they'd go on as well. And that is the thing about this author's books. You get so much more than a love story, and it's told in a way that is so REAL.

I took off a star because I really wish it was dual POV and I didn't like it quite as much as Hello Stranger.

I'm also exceedingly happy they got a HEA because girl I hit 90% and I was SCARED.

The epilogue was also quite lovely.

THE ROM-COMMERS was another winner by Katherine Center. I really enjoyed the banter between Charlie and Emma. Emma was such a unique character and I liked how she pushed Charlie to do things he wasn't sure he could do. Together, they made a perfect pair. This story made me laugh and smile which is what I love about this author's books. Overall, this was a fun book to listen to. The audiobook was exceptional!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.

When I finish a story, touch my chest chest and sigh, “This is such a good book,” I know I’ve found a new favorite! I’m an avid reader and will read most genres. However, RomComs with substance are my favorite books to read and my favorite movies to watch! The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is the quintessential Rom Com, and I absolutely loved it!

When freelancing screenwriter, Emma Wheeler, is introduced to the highly famous screenwriter Charlie Yates, as the person who would be helping him rewrite his “incomprehensibly terrible”RomCom screenplay, Charlie tells her in no uncertain terms that he was never going to let anyone rewrite his script, “least of all some unproduced, underachieving, failed, nobody writer off the internet.” Yet…in the end, Charlie asks Emma to write with him and she agrees. You will love the way they work together, laugh out loud at some of their banter, be drawn in by the slow-burn vibes, and even tear up a bit!

I listened to this audiobook, and truly wished I also had a paper version available to highlight the beautifully poignant dialogue throughout, but especially in the epilogue! ( I ended up with 4 pages of notes/quotes in my reading g journal! ) The audiobook, narrated by Patti Murin, was excellent. I usually listen at 1.25x and that was perfect. Plus, the audio version had a bonus scene from Charlie’s point of view and an author’s note read by Katherine Center. I loved listening to Emma and Charlie’s story so much that I didn’t want it to end, and saved the Epilogue and the bonuses to listen to separately, just to extend the story one more day. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this highly enjoyable Audiobook ARC, in exchange for an honest review!

**Emma speaking about Happy Ever Afters: “Poor Happy Endings. They’re so aggressively misunderstood. We act like … and they lived happily ever after, is trying to con us into thinking that nothing bad ever happened to anyone,ever again. But that’s never the way I read those words. I read them as …and they built a life together, and looked after each other, and made the absolute best of their lives.”

“It’s all about the details you notice and the joys you savor, and the hope you refuse to give up on. It’s all about writing the very best story of your life, not just how you live it, but how you choose to tell it.”

Anyone who is a fan of Katherine Center and follows her social media will have their ah ha moment when she mentions “color-coded to do charts” and all readers will become fully immersed in her new novel during the opening chapters. Her bright, shiny prose is on full display in The Rom-Commers and solidifies her position on the podium of the genre.

We meet Emma Wheeler, a struggling screenwriter whose dreams have been derailed by a family tragedy. Her high school boyfriend, a now successful Hollywood manager, offers her a job which may be too good to be true. Enter, Charlie Wheeler, award winning screenwriter and a man who could use some help with a “The Producers” like project. The screenplay within the novel is an ideal vehicle for art imitating life, and sets up a structure which makes this a fun and easy read. Both Emma and Charlie have a lot to unpack: where they came from, how they got there, and what life and love moving forward really means. Hilarious slapstick scenes and razor-sharp dialogue is evenly matched with sweet and thoughtful themes and are artfully balanced in Ms. Center’s capable hands.

Patti Murin narrates the single point of view of Emma with an expert style, and it is evident why she returns as the voice of Katherine Center characters… it’s perfection!

Many thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audio of this story! I really enjoyed Emma and Charlies story! Although I am not much of a slowburn girly, and this is definitely SLOW burn. I still really enjoyed this audio and wanted to know how their story ended. Because of the slowness and what felt like a prolonged ending i gave this a 3.5 stars rounded up. Definitely recommend, especially if you loved the bodyguard by this author.

If you’re looking for a feel good book to make your soul happy, then this is the one for you! I’m personally such a sucker for a good old
love story. To me it never gets old!

👉🏼 “Because love is something you can learn. Love is something you can practice. It’s something you can choose to be good at.”

•Because he doesn’t believe in love•

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this advanced audiobook.

I could NOT put this down. I instantly finished the audiobook and preordered a hard copy for my collection! Usually I enjoy watching a tv show or a movie after dinner but that wasn’t the case for this audiobook. I listened going to work, coming home from work, as I made my lunch the next day, the whole time I cooked dinner and still couldn’t stop after that! It was so addicting and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. So your warned now that this is hard to put down. I could see this being such a great vacation book.

It looks like I am in the minority here but this book was just OK for me. I normally do not read many books in this genre but I enjoyed The Bodyguard so I thought I'd give this one a try. However, it fell a little flat for me. I did not love the characters (I found Charlie just rude) and there were some heavy topics that bogged down the story for me. I expected a fun escape but this was more serious. I think I would enjoy this more as a movie.

My thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Go ahead and do yourself a favor and grab this for your summer beach bag -- and then accidentally stay up wayyy too late to finish it that same night! Emma and Charlie's story gripped me from the start. This was what I have come to think of as classic Katherine Center --- a wonderful romantic love story filled with depth and comedy and a *few* moments where you need to suspend disbelief but it is worth it to be along for the ride. It was a joy to listen to and I will continue to pick up everything Katherine Center writes!

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this arc!

The Rom-Commers follows Emma, a young woman who has given up everything in her life, including her dreams of becoming a rom-com screenwriter, to take care of her disabled father 24/7. Emma puts everyone else’s needs before her own, which causes her career to fall to the wayside. Then one day Emma receives an opportunity she can’t refuse from her high school ex boyfriend who happens to also be an agent for one of the most famous screenwriters in hollywood. Emma is flown out to LA to work with and live with this screenwriter in order to help him revise his screenplay for his first ever venture into the rom-com genre. Charlie the screenwriter is at first completely opposed to working with Emma, and doesn’t take the rom-com genre seriously. Eventually he warms up to Emma and they discover that they don’t just work well together professionally but they also start to develop feelings for one another.

After reading The Bodyguard by Katherine Center I was excited to read another wholesome, sweet romcom from her, and this one did not disappoint! I really enjoy the way that Center is able to include deeper, more emotional themes into her books in a way that perfectly balances the lighter and darker moments. If you tend to be a person that values romances built on emotional rather than physical connections, then this book is for you! Center’s books (at least what I have read so far) also don’t have any spice scenes, which is pretty unique in adult romances and I think is nice because it makes her books more inclusive to people that don’t like consuming smutty books. Personally, I don’t really read romance for the smut so it doesn’t deter me from her books at all. I think the buildup and the tension between the two romantic interests is the best part of a romance book, and I feel like the tension was written well and had me excited to see the what would happen next. The audiobook was a lot of fun to listen to. Sometimes I find my attention drifting elsewhere whenever listening to audiobooks and I have to relisten to parts multiple times before it actually sticks, but that never happened in this one. I don’t think this book perfect by any means- there were times where Emma’s actions had me cringing a bit, but overall if you are not bothered by cheesy stories then I would definitely recommend!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Rom-Commers" by Katherine Center is the ultimate summer read! Center's delightful blend of romance and comedy makes for an irresistibly charming story that had me grinning from ear to ear. Set against a backdrop of sunny beaches and quirky small-town charm, this book is the perfect escape for anyone looking for a feel-good read. The characters are wonderfully endearing, and their hilarious antics had me laughing out loud. Center has a knack for infusing her stories with just the right amount of heart and humor, making "Rom-Commers" an absolute joy to read. Whether you're lounging by the pool or soaking up the sun at the beach, this book is sure to put a smile on your face. Don't miss out on this adorable and uplifting summer romance!

I LOVE Katherine Center. She always delivers and this one is no exception. It’s so close to The Bodyguard as my favorite of her books. Can’t recommend the audio version enough; I think the narrator makes the story even better.

Katherine Center is a one-click author for me. I don't care if she is writing an analysis of the yellow pages (remember those?), I will read it. And I will probably find something to love about it. Her newest book, The Rom-Commers, although not among my favorite from her, is no exception.

I enjoy the single female POV we get from Center and her contemporary Emily Henry. This, to me, amps up the anticipation and the angst because we don't know quite what the male MC is thinking all the time. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dual POV as well, but it's nice to have this choice in our reading lives.

In The Rom-Commers, we follow Emma, a freelance writer with dreams of writing screenplays in Hollywood. These dreams are put on hold when her father suffers a catastrophic injury and she becomes his full-time carer. Her childhood BFF Logan, a manager of Hollywood types, gets her a gig helping a struggling but formerly super successful screenwriter rewrite a terrible rom-com script. She upends her life to go help this grumpy guy struggling with writers block, leaving her father in the hands of her younger sister. Can she convince this I-Don't-Believe-in-Love curmudgeon that rom-coms do have a place in cinematic history and convince him that love does exist?

This is full of tropes that most romance readers, including this one, loves. Like I said before, though, of Center's books, this one rates low on the list for me. While I enjoyed their witty banter throughout, neither of the characters were very likable. At one point Emma basically guilt-trips Charlie because he isn't returning her sexual advances. If this were reversed, that would be a red flag for sure. We also have Charlie continuing to dismiss Emma through practically the entire story whenever possible. He treats her like crap so often I found it hard to believe their romantic chemistry and the "love" at the end. Lust, yes. Love, not so much. The themes in this story are also more heavy than we've seen from Center in the past - lots of grief, loss, loneliness, traumatic brain injury, being a full-time carer, cancer... it's like she wanted to throw everything in. So, despite the name of the book, this was the least comedic of Centers' books (for me).

But this was still a 4 star read for me. Center's writing never disappoints; I'm a sucker for witty, fun banter; and in the end, I was rooting for the couple to get together despite the miscommunication trope thrown in at the end. Luckily it isn't drawn out indefinitely and resolves fairly quickly.

Fans of Center's other books will no doubt enjoy this novel as well. I listened on audio and read it as well. Patti Murin does another amazing job bringing Center's characters to life. I recommend either consumption option.

I haven't had the best luck with Katherine Center, but I decided to give it another chance, and DAMN am I glad I did. I really, really loved this one! The forced proximity trope is a fave of mine, and Center pulled it off perfectly! I get frustrated with the misunderstanding trope at times, but this time it wasn't over-the-top, just more of some assumptions that didn't quite get rectified--which worked! Thanks to this, I'll keep reading Center's books!