I loved this book! I listened to it in one sitting and it had me feeling all the emotions. The characters were dynamic and charming, and I completely understood where they were coming from. They had to learn to love and trust each other as the book went on. It made me laugh out loud more than once and had a MMC who was entirely obsessed with the oblivious FMC the whole time. Even better, the MMC was not pushy at all with being in a relationship with the FMC, if anything, it was the other way around! The book had me on the edge of my seat and more than once I had to sit down with a box of tissues in anticipation of what was coming next. The narrator did a great job with this book as well. She had a voice that fit the character wonderfully, and her voice acting made me feel what the FMC was feeling. This was a book that made me run around screaming into pillows, and I will likely read it again within the year.

This book is so fun and the audiobook is excellent! The banter was phenomenal and the two MCs were really well suited (once they found their rhythm). I loved all of the side characters as well (except Teej, screw him) and they all served really well as a background for this love story. Emma gave up so much for her family and it is nice to see her finally getting out of her shell, even though she's terrified at first. She is likeable from the first moment and Charlie Yates doesn't know what to do with her, which is very fun. Listening to them both pull the other out of their shells is really nice and even the breakup is done really well and is justified. They're both a bit broken and finding how to peice themselves together while falling in love with one another is really well done.

Also, shout out to Meryl Streep for existing in all universes real and otherwise. :)

Read Completed 3/26/24 | 3 stars
Wow, I'm incredibly disappointed that I didn't enjoy this one more. The ratings so far (this is a June release date and I read it in March) are very high with mostly 4 and 5 stars, but this one just didn't do it for me. If this was my first Katherine Center book, I probably wouldn't have picked up another one.

My main disappointment was that I felt zero chemistry between Emma and Charlie. ZERO. I didn't feel any butterflies, I got not emotion from Charlie, and it felt very one-sided and disproportionate to have Emma infatuated with him a little bit in the beginning. I've read plenty of rom-coms where the affection is unrequited at first and then they fall in love, but I don't know. For some reason, it didn't work here for me at all, and Charlie is so closed off that I didn't EVER feel like they were falling in love. There was a point about that in the book, kind of, but as a reader, I just never really felt it at all.

There was just something about the characters too... I didn't like any of them. I actually really didn't like Emma right from the beginning. Charlie was a jerk when they first met. I didn't like the randomly British best friend. I didn't like her sister. Okay, her dad was sweet. We'll give them that one, but everyone else I just actively didn't like. This is SO WEIRD because I adored THE BODYGUARD and really enjoyed HELLO, STRANGER.

One of the things I really appreciated has to do with something Charlie reveals to Emma that becomes something important to the plot. MINOR spoiler but I'll put it in tags in case you don't want to know... [Charlie reveals his ex-wife left him when she found out he had cancer. He was going to celebrate his 5-year anniversary of being cancer free with Emma and that it was basically cured at 5 years, which I appreciated like crazy being that my husband had cancer and hitting that 5 year remission mark is huge, amazing, and also the same for his type of cancer where you're basically considered cured at 5 years. (hide spoiler)] So that was a big thing for me and I appreciated the heck out of how that was written. But THEN... more major spoiler since it's a thing that happens in the end.... [ I HATED that she gave him a cancer scare. Charlie had bronchitis and is coughing a lot throughout the middle of the book. They think he may have lung cancer because they can see something on his scan, but it's just bronchitis. I absolutely hate that it was used as a cancer scare and that it was used as a turning point for the characters to profess their love. That ruined the magic of him being cancer-free and as someone who has also had that feeling (a plain old boring cyst that didn't show up well on a scan and then we had to wait to find out what it was), I hated that moment and it ruined things even more for me. (hide spoiler)]

I also didn't really like the asides to the reader, breaking the 4th wall, essentially. I would rather Emma just tell the story and not like she was telling the story to you, dear reader. It got like, cheesy movie rom-com instead of cute book rom-com. I don't know. Something about it just really took me out of the reading experience.

Clearly others loved it so I will be the outlier opinion here (hey, did you also not like HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry? Let's join this lonely club) while others gave it 5 glowing stars. You'll just have to read it for yourself! But if you find you're feeling no chemistry, maybe we feel this together.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Patti Murin was the narrator for this audiobook and normally I usually love her. I've listened to many of her narrations and she voiced both THE BODYGUARD and HELLO, STRANGER and I had no issues with her narration. I guess combined with this book, it just didn't work for me. She was fine, but I didn't like the characters and that just all compounded. I really hated her voice for Charlie? It didn't feel attractive or like much of anything at all. Again, probably the character's fault, but I just didn't connect with that.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite Romance authors, her stories have depth and vulnerability while still being full fun and joy. Her characters face all that this messy adventure we call life throws at them and find people that value them to love along the way. The Rom-Commers is another wonderful story that teaches us to chase after our dreams and passions, to be true to ourself and find fulfillment in the things that bring us joy. I loved watching Emma teach Charlie to appreciate and understand Rom Coms and the joy and wonder they bring to the world. I loved watching them both learn to love and be loved in open and healthy ways, to see that sharing your struggles and sorrows doesn't make you weak, but does allow you to find the strength to face hard things and to go on with the help and support of those who love you. As always, I loved the supporting characters. This is a gem of a love story! The beauty of romance is that readers are guaranteed to come away from the story glowing and joyful and lifted by the HEA and by characters figuring out how to love and connect deeply. A romance about teaching others to value romance, even better!! I'm on board 100%

I especially LOVED the author's note at the end of the audiobook that shouts from the rooftops that Romance is not a genre to be scoffed or belittled or ridiculed, but should be valued and appreciated as the most pro-social genre out there. Love stories are actually the most hopeful and healing stories. The world will always be better with more love and kindness and people learning to connect and appreciate others and treat others well. I LOVE romance and I'm always thrilled to support the authors and stories that put more hope and joy and love into the world. Katherine said this in her author's note, "If you've been shamed away from reading love stories, hello friend, come over to the fun side, the ridicule is wrong...come hang out with me on my hill of love stories." Thank you so much Katherine for adding this wonderful story to the hill of love stories that fill me up and let me soar! The Rom-Commers will speak to the soul of every hopeless romantic and closet romantic out there; come join us romance readers, writers and lovers on the fun side!

The word that keeps coming up for this book is delightful. I truly felt delighted while listening to the book for so many reasons.

Overall, the book meets your expectations of the name. Quirky heroine, Emma, embarks on a journey to write a romcom screenplay with a serious Hollywood screenwriter. Emma’s love of RomComs feels so familiar as my own and it made it feel like I was relating to a friend.

Reflecting back, I didn’t particularly fall in love with the MMC, Charlie. He definitely is the grumpy to Emma’s sunshine. Even though he may not have jumped off the page for me, they do have some good dialogue that did make me laugh out loud at least once. There is zero spice but you do get some good tension in places.

There are deeper themes of sadness and difficulties because of Emma’s role as her father’s caretaker. They help even out the more ridiculous parts of the story (as any true romcom would have).

The narration really adds to the overall feeling of delight. Patti Murin is so charming and makes it feel like your friend Emma is telling you her story.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Whatever story you tell yourself, that’s the one that will be true”🥺

OKAYY. So this book didn’t follow the usual Katherine Center comfort chick-lit formula we all know & love. But I was ok with that. And I think you will be, too!

Emma & Charlie have a slow-burn relationship with open communication but…just enough mystery to keep you wondering😉 It’s also definitely further on the romance side for a KC book, but has just enough chick-lit to keep it multi-dimensional👌🏽 KC doesn’t included any comically evil characters or frustrating misunderstandings in this one—just enough drama to keep the story realistic & moving.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Which is this: if you’re a fan of Chick-Lit or Romance, this is a must-read👏🏽

An adorable rom com indeed! I listened to the audiobook ahead of release date and had a lovely time listening to the amazing Patti Murin tell such a charming story.

The first half was a bit slow, but then it really sped up and captivated me in the last half. I was giggling and kicking my feet and audibly reacting at every turn! The characters were so endearing. Emma and Charlie feel very real and well rounded. The other characters feel less so, but it didn’t bother me.

This was my first book by this author and now I’m about to binge them all! Bye! :)

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily R. Austin was a quirky, fun book with a bit of a mystery and it tackled such topics as mental health, dysfunctional family, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, and neurodivergence. I love it all the way to space and back!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I LOVED this book. It was exactly what I needed and an absolutely perfect story that I hope to someday see turned into a movie. If you want a fun, adorable, quick romantic story - choose this one!

Such a fun book! I loved this book about 2 screen writers writing a rom com movie. The narrator did a great job at bringing Emma to life. Everything was done really well… the writing, characters, banter, relationships, tough subjects, the ending…I really enjoyed it all.

Title: The Rom-Commers
Author: Katherine Center

Emma Wheeler's existence is consumed by being a caregiver to her father, who needs round-the-clock care when she is presented with an opportunity to live out her lifelong dream of being a screenwriter. Adding to her dream situation, she would work with her favorite A-lister screenwriter, Charlie Yates. Her years of obsessing over crafting the perfect romantic comedy have finally paid off. However, when she arrived in L.A., things were different from what she expected. She decides to make her dream happen despite her roadblocks at every turn.

The title says it all. This book is fun, silly, and the essence of a Rom-Com. I absolutely loved Emma Wheeler. She is caring, giving, intelligent, and funny. She has sacrificed so much for her family, but it is all out of love. That is it. She is a character who loves love. She is someone who only knows how to love BIG, ALL IN. That is what makes her so endearing. In most romance books, people don't express their feelings, but that is not Emma.

Aside from the characters, the story was satisfying. The premise was unique and created a fun and joyful experience. You find yourself cheering on the characters and smiling through the read. I never felt bored or that the story's pacing was too slow. Remember, this is a romantic comedy, so there are the usual tropes. Don't let that stop you from having a good time and falling in love with the characters.

This is my honest review based on an ARC copy of the audiobook from McMillan Audio and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.

3.5 stars rounded up. While this wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book, I did enjoy it. I just didn't feel like I connected to the characters in the same way I usually do with her books. This book is emotional and full of tension but the development of any sort of relationship wasn't really there until the very end. Besides the romance, I really enjoyed Emma finally getting to free herself and do things she's never even been hopeful about doing, since she has been cooped up so long being the primary caretaker for her dad. The guilt she carries was so hard for her and I love that she was able to overcome some of that. Charlie has a lot of issues and guilt himself and really sucked at communication. I think if the book was another couple of chapters with more of their actual relationship together, this would've really been great for me. It was just a lot of build up and not talking to each other but secretly pining to them then admitting feelings and having hard conversations and then the book was over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center can do no wrong. I loved this. I love her writing. Just a fantastic story. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Summary: Emma has spent the last ten years taking care of her disabled father. Then one day her best friend calls her with the opportunity of a lifetime. She is being asked to work on a screenplay with her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates. As she reads the screenplay she realizes that this will take a lot of work but it is a challenge she is willing to pursue but she worries about her father. Leaving him with her sister who has little idea of what Emma has done to take care of him she takes a leap of faith and embarks on her chance at advancing her career.

But upon arrival she discovers that Charlie did not know she was coming. After some convincing and perusal of her work he reluctantly agrees but this job will not be as easy as she imagined. Charlie does not appear to care about the script or even believe in love. Emma is determined to show him that rom-coms are worthwhile and she will prove it to him no matter what.

My Thoughts: This is my second Katherine Center book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first, Hello Stranger. The title, The Rom-Commers, is exactly why I have enjoyed these two books. They are easy to read, have cute scenes between the two main characters and follow the usual pattern of a rom-com. Sometimes I just want something easy and silly. This fits that bill exactly.

Each character is hard-headed. They constantly butt heads and argue but this perfect romantic tension. At times I did find the story a little drawn out but it was easy to overlook. I enjoyed it, laughed at some of the silliness and got frustrated with the characters at appropriate times. This is perfect for reading at the pool side on vacation or with a cup of tea on the patio.

Emma has the opportunity of a lifetime...she has been asked to help famed screenplay writer Charlie, on his upcoming rom com. Emma is the primary caregiver for her father so she must take a chance and leave him in her sister's capable hands. But will Charlie hire her? Will he truly let her help him write?

As much as I love Katherine Center, this one was a miss for me. I just couldn't get into the story and I felt like the romance between Emma and Charlie was unrealistic and kind of lame. I didn't really like Emma or Charlie. I feel like both were stuck in their own head and neither were really ready for relationships. It just felt forced and inauthentic. It just felt like the author was going to try to see how sad she could make this book, just for the sake of being sad.  I didn't dislike the book, I just wasn't wowed by it.

As far as the audiobook, the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life.

I realize I'm in the minority with this opinion but that's ok. That is the beauty of reading, we all see and feel things differently.

CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE!

Katherine Center has found such a perfect formula for romcoms. They work exactly how you want a story like this to work. Hopeful and silly and melodramatic and filled with characters you can’t help but roll your eyes at while wishing they’d just kiss and confess their love already!

I so thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this and I would highly recommend reading the author’s note. Reading romance is fun and it feels good and there’s nothing low brow or superfluous about it.

Patti Murin is one of my favorite narrators and she filled this story with so much extra love and hope.

This review is for the audio version of Katherine Center’s “The Rom Commers.”
It seems that it would be a challenge to make a Katherine Center romance even better, but narrator Patti Murin manages just that! The author’s incredible banter between the warring Emma Wheeler and Charlie Yates is elevated further — if you’re listening, you must either be smiling or crying. We have an enemies to lovers story, but this one is unique — it’s also a defense of Rom-coms and happy endings.

Emma thinks she’s been hired to fix the script of superstar screenwriter Charlie’s first attempt at romantic comedy, after his spectacular career making movies where quotes from his films are marketed on t-shirts. But his rewrite of “It Happened One Night” (with line-dancing) is an insult to the genre and his agent, Logan, tries to get Charlie to allow Emma to be the script doctor. Charlie is all darkness and grumpiness (he thinks pessimism is a smart option) while Emma is joy, humor, and sunshine. The story is totally between them and narrator Murin brings the characters to life. I knew I’d love Center’s latest and it was such a joy to listen to the terrific audio version. 5 stars for both Katherine Center and Patti Murin!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

"The Rom-Commers" is a delightful read set in the charming backdrop of a cozy mansion in Los Angeles. The author skillfully weaves together humor, romance, and drama, creating a captivating story that keeps you hooked till the end. The characters are endearing and relatable, adding depth to the narrative. The witty dialogue make this book a joy to read, with many laugh-out-loud moments. While some parts felt a bit predictable, overall, "The Rom-Commers" is a heartwarming and entertaining novel that is perfect for fans of romantic comedies.

🔘Screen Writers
🔘Romcom
🔘touching story

🎧Solo narration
By Patti Murin

✨Thoughts✨
After devouring the ARC of The Rom-Commers and falling head over heels for it, I simply couldn't resist diving into the audio version, and let me just say, Patti Murin's solo narration is an absolute masterpiece.

The Rom-Commers is a sweet romance that will envelop you in its love-infused tendrils, charming you with its lovable characters.

Patti Murin effortlessly breathes life into Emma and Charlie, skillfully portraying them with a range of inflections that makes every side character shine brilliantly.

If you're a romcom lover, this audiobook is an absolute must-listen. A special thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this exceptional ALC.

This book was delightful. It was funny, sweet and heart-felt. I loved every single character. I have just recently become a romance reader, and this book made me want to read more in that genre! I enjoyed all of the fun banter between the main characters. I highly recommend this book!