Book Review with Spoilers | ARC Review | The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers

Finished: April 2024
Book Source: NetGalley
Book Publication Date: June 2024

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. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules—and comes true?

Characters

• Emma Wheeler – wannabe famous screenwriter, taking care of her father
• Charlie Yates – epic screen writer, Emma’s hero

My Review

This offered a pleasant escape into the world of light-hearted romance, a deviation from my normal mystery choice. While enjoyable, it didn’t quite capture my heart like some of Center’s other works. One standout element, however, was the impeccable narration in the audiobook version, Patti Murin is fantastic for this genre.

The plot follows a predictable trajectory common in romantic comedies, you pretty much know where the story’s headed—it’s your typical rom-com ride. However, Center deftly weaves in some heavier themes, adding depth to the narrative. Despite its predictability, the novel still manages to entertain and engage readers looking for a light-hearted escape.

This may not be my favorite from Katherine Center, it’s still a worthwhile read for fans of the genre, especially for those who appreciate some strong family dynamics with a sprinkle of drama and well-executed audiobook experience.