Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Rom-commers by Katherine Center Narrator: Patti Murin
Published by MacMillan Audio, St. Martin's Press on June 11, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Life Fiction
Pages: 336
Length: 11 hours, 21 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies—good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates—The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!—it’s a break too big to pass up.
Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone—much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script—it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.
But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter—even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it.
The Rom-commers has a premise which is Hollywood and over the top in aspects, but it was a lot of fun. Emma is such a pure, passionate character. She is stellar at everything from her writing, to her teaching, to her care for her father and sister. Emma has also been excellent at protecting herself from bad relationships by not having any.
Her whole life is upended by the opportunity to write a screenplay with her personal favorite Charlie Yates. Emma is surprisingly blunt about things, well it is a business relationship. Charlie is more closed off, actual a bit of a gaslighter. He’s not talented at rom-coms either.
Their routine of writing and trying out different aspects of his screenplay over six weeks are hilarious and heart-breaking as they get to know each other. It’s hard for each of them, but they grow to be more supportive and protective of each other.
Emma misses her dad and worries that her sister will properly take care of him. Charlie is worried about his guinea pig and his five year cancer remission. It feels light and funny but there are serious issues and feelings supporting their connection in the background.
I enjoyed this and had some real feelings. I cared about the characters and worried for them and laughed at their antics and cheered for their triumphs.
Narration:
Patti Murin is a familiar narrator to me. I appreciated her emotional performance for the characters. None of the voices pulled me out of the story, but they were distinct and felt comfortable. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Katherine Center
Katherine Center is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away, the upcoming Things You Save in a Fire (August 2019), and five other bittersweet comic novels. Six Foot Pictures is currently adapting her fourth novel, The Lost Husband, into a feature film starring Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, and Nora Dunn. Katherine has been compared to both Nora Ephron and Jane Austen, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach us empathy, and her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Real Simple, Southern Living, and InTouch, among others. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her fun husband, two sweet kids, and fluffy-but-fierce dog.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
 |
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben @harlancoben.bsky.social @justjanuary.bsky.social #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks @HarlanCoben @justjanuary - March 22, 2025
- Read-along & #Giveaway:Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @reneeraudman@acebookspub.bsky.social @tantoraudio.bsky.social @angelsbooknook17.bsky.social @natalienaudus.bsky.social @nyliterary.bsky.social #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks @ilonaandrews @AceBooksPub @AudibleStudios @natalienaudus @TantorAudio@nyliterary - March 21, 2025
- Thrifty Thursday: Carolyn Arnold edition @Carolyn_Arnold #ThriftyThursday #KindleUnlimited - March 20, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
I’m looking forward to reading this one. It sounds like a fun romance. 😀
It is. I really enjoyed it.
I loved this one and agree about it being a bit over the top. It reminded me of some of my favorite classic Nora Ephron rom-coms.
yes I loved it and especially Emma.
Love when we twin post. Excellent review, Anne💜
Thank you Jonetta.
For such a fun name, it sounds like it has some more serious moments. I enjoy a story that can have “real” feelings without overwhelming the overall plot.
Now that is true.
I’ve been loving Katherine Center’s books and I’m excited for this one too!
It won’t disappoint. Enjoy!
This sounds like a fun one that pulls at your emotions and the characters sound likeable.
yes I recommend it and every other Katherine Center book I have read.
Loved this one, too! Patti Murin was a wonderful narrator, too! I’ve enjoyed her a lot. She was in Chicago Med, a show I liked and need to get back to!
Thanks Rachel. I didn’t know that about Chicago Med. I never watched that; it’s about the time I stopped watching as much tv. Her narration is great though.
Awwwwww
There are some fantastic moments.
I bet I would love this one! I am glad you liked it, Anne.
Really I’m not sure how anyone could dislike it. Emma is amazing. There’s big feelings here.
I’ve seen such fantastic reviews for this one and I’m so excited to pick this one up! This is an author I’ve been wantiing to read and this one really appeals to me.
I’ve enjoyed all the books I have read from this author. I keep trying to get to more of her backlist.
I enjoyed the other one I read by this author, so need to read this too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I always enjoy this author.