This is exactly the love story I was expecting about a book called The Rom-Commers lol

I won’t lie, Charlie was really grating on me with his refusal to show any affection toward Emma but the ending made up for everything. He did what he did for such noble reasons and I love him for it 🥹

I loved Emma’s character and the journey to happiness that she went on. From caretaker to figuring out that she deserves happiness too was perfect. and her family. The family aspect of the book felt so real and really tugged at my heart strings.

The narrator was amazing and as always, Katherine Center nailed it!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC audio of this book!

Smart, funny, and a little bit heartbreaking, this truly is a love letter to all of the rom com fans out there. I know there are readers who don't enjoy mixing angst or family drama with humor, but that is exactly what makes this such a nuanced, memorable read. It's a rom com first and foremost - our heroine quite literally schools the hero on the rules of the genre - but there's also pain and heartache underscoring so many of the interactions. I loved the combination of the jaded, grumpy, wildly successful hero with the perpetually sunshine heroine who has dealt with so much. Our hero has let a roadblock hold him back, and the heroine comes into his life like a wrecking ball. I loved the way she just absolutely knocked his world off its axis, all while bringing love and joy into his life. We only get her perspective, but it was easy to see the way he was smitten; a delightfully curmudgeon of a hero who slowly softens at the edges. It's rich and complex, entertaining and funny, and genuinely romantic. I loved it!

The story follows Emma, a woman who has been the sole caretaker for her father since an accident ten years ago. Her screenwriting career has been stalled ever since - at least until now. When the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself, her family encourages her to pursue it. Which is how Emma finds herself heading to LA to help her favorite screenwriter rewrite a truly terrible rom com. It's outside of Charlie's typical wheelhouse and he has no idea just how awful the script really is. The good news? Emma was made for this job, and she's determined to help turn things around and possibly jumpstart her career in the process. But meeting Charlie does not go as planned, and Emma soon finds herself temporarily living with her idol while trying to show him all of the ways he's gone wrong.

Center's romances tend to straddle the line of women's fiction, and that was true here as well. It's a multifaceted read that tackles a variety of difficult subjects, with both leads grappling with their own issues. I loved the forced proximity and the way that Charlie and Emma were in nearly every scene together once it got going, which allowed the romantic connection to grow and flourish. I adored watching Charlie slowly change his ways, and there was something so uplifting about a "broken" hero letting love into his life. It's a slow burn with very minimal heat, but it was incredibly romantic. There were SO many great callbacks to beloved rom coms of the past, and it was awesome to see how much Emma cares about the genre. I smiled, I laughed, I swooned, I shed a few tears, and I worried how they'd find their way together. Through it all, I was very, very emotionally connected, and I had such a fun time. This one's going to stay with me for quite awhile.

Audio note: The audio was solid! We only get Emma's perspective, so it's a single narrator, but Patti Murin gives an excellent performance. I loved her voice, which worked for both the comedic and the heartfelt moments, and the audio absolutely enhances the story. My only complaint would be that there were a few times when I couldn't tell who was speaking - her voice for Charlie wasn't all that different from her voice for Emma. There are no spicy scenes in this one, but there are a few heated interactions. I don't see why it wouldn't make a fantastic workday listen. The runtime (around 11 hours) was easy enough to binge over the course of a full day, and I stayed engaged the whole time. Definitely recommended in the format.

As light hearted and fluffy as you’d expect. If you don’t like Rom-Coms, and want something exceptionally deep, this probably isn’t for you - but based on the title, you know what you’re getting here. It’s meant to be light, warm and fuzzy feeling, and short. It’s a beach read, a weekend read, an escape-from-life read. Emma is a witty, intelligent aspiring writer with some familial angst, who gets unexpectedly paired with a slightly neurotic curmudgeon of a star screenwriter and hilarity ensues. I do wish there had been a smidge more substance to the plot, because there’s a LOT of build up, including an extremely lengthy description of a dress, but then it sort of feels like the author got the “wrap it up” signal from a teleprompter, but as a one-and-done this is a good book!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC.

This is the third Katherine Center book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was funny, sweet, and loving. The banter back and forth between the characters was very witty. Everything you would want from a RomCom. So for those who have read Katherine Center, this is one worth picking up. For those of you who haven't read any books by this author, give her a shot. Definitely worth your time.

The Rom-Commers is a swoon-worthy romantic comedy that checks all the boxes for genre enthusiasts. With a delightful mix of familiar romance tropes—forced proximity, the classic grumpy man paired with a quirky woman, the journey from enemies to lovers, and the contrast between Hollywood and a small town —it's like hitting a bases-loaded home run in the world of rom-coms. This book is incredibly engaging, offering all the emotional highs and lows one expects, making it nearly impossible to put down. It truly delivers. Take this one to the beach!

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 Dreams do come true! Emma gets the opportunity of a lifetime to relocate to Los Angeles to rewrite a screenplay with the screenwriter of all screenwriters, the epic Charlie Yates! Emma has always been a caretaker, looking after her younger sister and now her dad. Now it’s her time to stop sacrificing her goals and dream big! Nothing is going to stop her, not even cynical Charlie Yates. Emma’s perseverance moves this novel forward in such an amazing manner, leaving us to root for her all the way! Funny and heartwarming while tackling lots of big issues, Katherine Center produced a book as epic as a Charlie Yates screenplay! The Rom-Commers is a breezy, fun read…an absolute gem of an audiobook to listen to.

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram ahead of publication

Thank you too NetGalley and MacMillan audio for an advanced audiobook copy. I was excited to get approved for the latest Katherine Center book. I have read four books from her, and I am sad to say that this is my least favorite. However, the audiobook narrator was excellent.

Emma longs to be a screenwriter - one who writes good romantic comedies, but she is committed to staying home with her father caring for him after a tragic accident. But then... (dah tah tah dah...drum roll!) she gets a call from her agent to work with a famous Hollywood screenwriter on a romantic comedy! The catch is that she needs to be in Hollywood for six weeks. She reluctantly hands over the care of their father to her younger sister and heads to Hollywood.

Of course there are bumps in the road when she gets there, but this is a romance novel. And there is always some humor in a Katherine Center romance novel! And real life issues that touch the readers heart and make it less superficial. Author Katherine Center is one I will keep reading and appreciate her clean love of writing quality romance novels.

My thanks to Net Galley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I flew through and thoroughly enjoyed this slow burn rom-com. Charlie and Emma are definitely a couple you'll want to root for. The banter was fun and funny and exquisitely done. Overall, this is very much a love letter to our beloved rom-coms. And the audiobook narration was absolute perfection. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This started off real strong for me but as the story progressed it just didn’t live up to the hype I had for it.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Emma Wheeler. She is wanting to pursue her dream of becoming a big screenwriter and when an opportunity arises she is hesitant to take it, but she does and is on her way to make a dream come true!

I can’t say I liked the two main characters that much. I did in the beginning because Emma is so bubbly and cares for her family a lot. Family is a big thing for me and I love seeing those relationships in books. Charlie doesn’t want to be bothered and is weaseled into letting Emma “help” him with his script. I liked that their personalities were different. They also had a lot of growth they needed to go through and it means that their relationship is strained at times. It causes issues and it became too much at times. They were both selfish. I didn’t hate their romance, but it wasn’t as cute and fun as the other romances this author has written previously that I have read.

The ending climatic event wasn’t my favorite either. I think it was too much for everything else that had already happened.

Overall, this was good but it did leave me a bit disappointed.

This book was just what I needed. Emma and Charlie's tension could be cut through with a knife. It was clear to everyone but Charlie that they were in love, pretty early on. Charlie and Emma needed to work to write a RomCom in order for his other movie, his passion project, to be produced. Emma has always put her life on hold while taking care of her dad. Coming to LA to help out Charlie and his Terrible screenplay was a lot for her, and he didn't seem to want the help.
When he conceded and they started working together, Emma did teach him so much more about himself, love and what it looks like to be happy.
This book had a bit of a trigger for me with the Big C being mentioned, and it got a little scary there, but ultimately, this book turned out just like a good romcom should and gave me all the emotions getting there. 4.5 stars!
The audio was great, I loved it!
Thanks to Macmillian, Netgalley and Katherine Center for an early copy.

I ADORE Katherine Center, and I was absolutely ecstatic to receive an advanced copy of her latest novel, The Rom-Commers. I happened to receive it as an audiobook, which I personally believe made it more endearing being able to hear the British accent throughout. I did have an intrusive thought within the first few chapters that if we all took a shot every time she said the name “Charlie Yates,” we would literally die, but other than that, another Katherine win for me!! (Also Meryl Streep is such a IYKYK, and I loved that so much.) Massive thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Publication date June 11, 2024.

—

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This slow-burn rom-com made me laugh and cry; the banter was amazing.

Charlie has written award-winning movies. Emma has a chance at an internship and helping her favourite writer.

Charlie and Emma, I love with all my heart 🫶🏻.
The romance and the emotional depth are incredible!

If you’re looking for a book full of romance, joy, and heartwarming moments, this one is for you!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for sending me the audiobook of the Rom-Commers

I was so grateful I was approved for this eARC from the publisher and was half way in the book when I got the audiobook! I loved both! The narrator was Patti Murin and she was great. And Katherine Center also made a guest appearance on the audiobook if you’re wondering and you definitely want to hear it. She shares her thoughts about the romance genre and I was with her on every single point! I love what she said.
Now about the book. This novel was a fun and frustrating romance. It ended up capturing me body and soul and pulled me, giving me that warm, happy satisfying feeling I love when reading a well written romance novel. It was a clean romance and I highly recommend it.

Things I loved:
• Man’s hands in his pockets kisses.
• The [“YouTube “best kisses ever” ] part.
• The HEA
Thanks St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

I enjoyed The Bodyguard, so was excited about this one because rom-coms are my thing and the galley was appealing to me. Sadly, the Rom-Commers just didn’t come together for me. It felt like a Tessa Bailey book minus the sex: The characters were fairly unlikable, they didn’t grow to become likable, and the nitty gritty of the story just didn’t add up (a woman who spent the previous chapter relating the crushing loss of her mother in a tragic distance fall finds it funny when she is told that diving from a similar height might crush her own innards? Yuck. It creeped me out and shut me down from the character and the story.)
All that being said, a rom-com’s plot doesn’t have to be plausible to work. The true beauty of a romcom is falling in love with the characters as they fall in love with each other. That just didn’t happen here. I was disappointed, but based on her prior writings I will definitely try a future book by the author.
Narrator did a nice job!
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing access to an advanced copy.

This was my first time reading a Katherine Center book, but it certainly won't be my last. I usually get recommendations from booktok and this was no different. Usually those recommendations come with lots of spicy scenes...and that is nowhere to be found here, but I didn't miss it. Enjoying a slow burn romance with smart characters kept me reading nonstop over two days. I enjoyed the audiobook and the plucky narrator. I also really loved how well the characters were rounded. They were so different from other romcom people. Several times during the book I hated Charlie or Emma for doing something crappy. I like seeing that variety and realism. This is a light read with nothing terribly heavy to sort out, but it still has heart.

I completely adored this, it’s such a love letter to the genre. I found both of the leads so endearing in their own right, and their romance developed very naturally. The third act conflict was a bit of a stretch for me, but I was willing to buy in for the tension it caused and the eventual satisfaction of the happy ending. Good banter, swoon-worthy moments, strong side characters, and thoughtful explorations of difficult topics. This was my first Katherine Center and I can’t wait to read more! I’m also becoming a huge fan of Patti Murin as a narrator — I could really picture her as Emma.

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for the free ALC. My opinions are my own. This was a much more emotional book then I thought it would be I assumed from the title it would be cute and lo Ely and Katherine swit he'd it up and we got a tiny bit gritty. The miscommunication/ choosing for someone else is my least favorite but this was done so well. I loved the narrator and the author tag teaming on this one and loved the bonus epilog.

4.5/5

I got the pleasure of getting this as an e-arc and also as an audiobook arc. Must say I loved the narration of this book so highly recommend people go the audiobook route. Dare I say, I even enjoyed it slightly more as an audiobook?

I love Katherine Center’s work- The Body Guard and Hello Stranger were such sweet reads and this one is no exception. Bonus, her covers are always stunning and I love the way they look on my bookcase. BOLD COLORS

Emma and Charlie come together to write a romcom screenplay. Charlie doesn’t believe in love. Both of these characters were well developed and also relatable/ flawed in a way that is realistic. This is grumpy meets sunshine and is equal parts funny, sweet and has some killer one liners.

My asbolute favorite scene is the high-dive scene. Ahh that had me chuckling and I really love how up front Emma was with her feelings for Charlie.

It will be the perfect summer release and I loved the bonus chapter + author's note.


Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ahhh The Rom-Commers was so cute!! I liked it SO much more than Hello Stranger. It was so funny, flowed so easily, and was soooo addicting!! I finished in less than 24 hours (stopping to teach America’s future) and enjoyed every bit of it. While it was funny, it also had more serious elements that reminded me of older Katherine Center books that I loved so much. This wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center but it was a great Rom-Com that every romance reader should read ❤️