"Center, the prolific author of many romances, clearly understands what it takes to create a winning romantic comedy and puts Charlie and Emma through many of the most delightful rom-com tropes (enemies to lovers, forced proximity). But the book, like all of Center’s work, doesn’t completely eschew darkness—both Emma and Charlie are dealing with trauma and grief. A winning romance that deftly balances heft and humor." Kirkus
"Winsome and charming, Center's latest is that perfect blend of romance and overcoming life challenges that her readers treasure." Booklist (starred review)
“This rom-com about a rom-com offers a pretty predictable storyline, but the enjoyment comes from the tongue-in-cheek commentary on its own genre. As Center writes, ‘If you’re surprised by the ending, somebody wasn’t doing their job. We all know where it’s headed. The fun is how we get there.’” USA Today
“Grumpy Boy and Sunshine Girl is one of the best tropes and it’s back again in this meta romcom…will the kissing come off the page to the other page? We’ll find out, and I will likely be squealing like a pig throughout!” Betches
“Katherine Center offers another source for the pleasurable charms readers of Hilderbrand will soon be desperately jonesing for.” Parade
“The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a delightful, hilarious love story that fans of Emily Henry will be eager to dive into this summer.” BookTrib
“If you’re into Katherine Center’s rich character development and a juicy enemies-to-lovers romance, read this.” The Skimm
“For a good cry, many laughs and a big hit of dopamine, read The Rom-Commers, a story about an aspiring screenwriter looking for real-life love. I’m a massive Katherine Center stan, and this book is her best yet.”—Emily Giffin
2024-04-05
Sparks fly when a struggling screenwriter gets the chance of a lifetime to write a rom-com with her hero.
Once upon a time, Emma Wheeler dreamed of being a screenwriter. She put her dream on hold, however, to care for her father, who’s been living with both partial paralysis and Ménière’s disease since an accident 10 years ago. Emma lives for her family now—caring for her father around the clock and doing whatever she can to make sure her younger sister, Sylvie, has the chance to go to college and pursue her passions. But then her manager offers her the miraculous opportunity to help her hero, Charlie Yates, rewrite his first-ever romantic comedy. Charlie typically writes big, blockbuster action films—romantic comedies aren’t his forte, and his first attempt is terrible. But romance is very much in Emma’s wheelhouse, and she knows exactly what Charlie needs to make his screenplay sing. The only problem? He very much does not want her help. He also doesn’t like rom-coms and may not even believe in love. But Emma’s living in Charlie’s fancy L.A. house for six weeks, there to help him rebuild his very flawed movie, and she’s ready to work. Before the screenplay can get better, she has to teach Charlie a few things about romantic comedies (and life in general). This means going line dancing and maybe even kissing…for research purposes. Center, the prolific author of many romances (Hello Stranger, 2023, etc.), clearly understands what it takes to create a winning romantic comedy and puts Charlie and Emma through many of the most delightful rom-com tropes (enemies to lovers, forced proximity). But the book, like all of Center’s work, doesn’t completely eschew darkness—both Emma and Charlie are dealing with trauma and grief. Emma’s feelings of guilt and responsibility toward her family make her journey toward a happily-ever-after with Charlie feel all the more satisfying—as Emma’s dad wisely says, “Happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness.”
A winning romance that deftly balances heft and humor.