The Rom-Commers

Emma Wheeler is a wannabe screenwriter hoping for breakthrough success while spending her days caring for her dad, whose medical issues need constant surveillance. When her ex-boyfriend/manager, Logan, presents her with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help her screenwriting hero and Hollywood rebel, Charlie Yates rewrite a script of his - her sister makes sure she goes! Too bad no one checked with Charlie first. He’s not having it. Well … not at first, at least. Will their story be stranger than fiction or a match made in heaven?

Katherine Center is a treasure. There’s not one book she’s written where I haven’t been charmed by the witty banter or impressed by her writing talent. She’s so good at hitting that sweet spot in the emotional tone of her stories, never letting the romance become too cloying or the more serious aspects of the story too depressing.  She writes characters that are believable and not always at their best, but you’d still want to know them. She also has the extremely good fortune of Patti Murin narrating many of her books. Murin brings the characters to life perfectly!

Having said and meant EVERY word of that, I will say that just a tiny bit of the shine was missing for me with this latest book, and I can’t tell if it’s the book, a touch of genre burnout with rom-coms/romance lately or both. The writing was still as stellar, ALL the characters still as complicated and charming, the plot was unique and the humor was pitch-perfect. Honestly, it’s a rom-com lover’s dream! I did enjoy it - especially the humor and Murin’s narration. Even if I didn't LOVE it as much as her other books I've read, it's still a very good story!

If I had to pick the one thing that kept me from falling completely head over heels for this book, it would boil down to chemistry. Emma and Charlie were both great characters with a healthy mix of good and less desirable traits, and I laughed frequently at their sarcastic and funny banter, but for reasons that utterly elude me, I just didn’t feel that magical spark between them quite as much as with Center’s other literary couples. They made me smile and feel good in that “Aww, that was nice way”, rather than the “I’ll love this couple until the end of time!!” way. Emma’s story with her family was so touching and sweet, and I loved her dad and sister, Sylvie. If that was the story, this would be an easy 5 stars.

I recommend this to those who love a clean romance, fun, snappy banter, complicated characters, a great family story and, for audio lovers, some fabulous narration! 

★★★★

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Katherine Center for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s due to be published June 11, 2024.