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jg34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
The male main character Charlie was charming and lovable. Get you a man that LISTENS and LEARNS from criticisms and get this… actually CHANGES HIS BEHAVIOR in response. IMPOSSIBLE. someone who so willingly agrees to do things he does not want to do to please someone else. A man who can be clueless but would google how to help you with any of your problems. Someone deep down so unselfish and accommodating. SWOON.
However, one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how he acts in the beginning. It is a total 360 to how he acts for the rest of the book. He buys into partnering with Emma very quickly after earlier in the day he is listing about 1000 reasons why he would never ever work with her. I sort of get that he has this performance he puts on to act like he doesn’t give a shit but damn did he have to be so mean in the beginning?? I literally teared up for poor Emma!!
One more small complaint. (SPOILER) there is a public declaration of love, which personally is a bit of an ick for me. I’M SORRY I’m so shy I would die.
The ending though. Katherine center’s books (SPOILER) always have a happy ending. I can always count on her for this, she is so good at happy endings and always leaves me feeling hopeful and wholesome. I love seeing the characters growth on display in the epilogue, living their best (but still realistic) lives.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this, loved the characters, loved the plot, loved the growth. Great time would recommend.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, and Alcohol
jamie_rich's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
pandaorb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I truly did enjoy every single character that this story brought to life. Katherine Center was right - everyone needs to love this book!
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexism, and Alcohol
sunshinekmp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Alcohol
gondorgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
nailartklaudia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Brisk • Entertaining • Cliché
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After not absolutely adoring The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger over the past two summers, I was determined to give Katherine Center one more shot. I was hoping for a return to her earlier writing style, unfortunately that didn't happen.
There is no denying Katherine Center knows how to write banter. However, the banter overtakes the narrative entirely. Neither main character is overly likeable, in fact, Charlie is down right mean at times. I didn't feel any chemistry between them, hence wasn't rooting for them to end up together.
I would have preferred more of a focus on Emma with her family - the caretaking, the grief, their relationship dynamics, the history. It was the scenes that included her father that really hooked my attention. Otherwise, I was overly invested in the story.
My main issue is how the whole cancer aspect was handled. It definitely knocked it down another rung. The book would have been fine without this plotline and I am not even sure what compelled the author to include it here. This whole part left an ick feeling, and was just a solid no from me.
The audiobook narrated by Patti Murin was fine. Nothing really stood out and I would have expected a different tone for Charlie's voice, but it read mostly in the same voice. I didn't necessairly notice as I was also reading with my eyeballs, but I can see how it would be an issue for someone solely listening. The bonus content and the author's note are a nice addition at the end.
There is no doubt in my mind The Rom-Commers will be one of the most popular titles this summer. However, it will not be a favourite of mine. It's evident to me Center has taken a more comedic approach to her writing than focusing on depth and development, which is what originally drew me to her books. This is the third straight release that wasn't for me, and so it's officially time for me to break up Katherine Center as a favourite author. Maybe I will still read more in the future, but they won't be on my most anticipated lists nor will they be a priority.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• The Bodyguard and/or Hello Stranger
• banter
• closed door romance
⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, grief, cancer, injury/injury detail, traumatic brain injury, medical content, medical trauma, chronic illness, car accident, cursing, alcohol, panic attacks/disorders
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You had to maximize joy when it fluttered into your life. You had to honor it. And savor it. And not stomp it to death by reminding everyone of everything you'd lost."
"I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we are looking for- adventure, excitement, emotion, connection-we turn to stories that help us find it."
"Tragedy really is a given. There are endless human stories, but they all end the same way. So it can't be where you're going that matters. It have to be how you get there."
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Alcohol
divorce, traumatic brain injurybookrecsbyjess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mrs_meg_walsworth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Closed door no sexual content really. A few kisses but nothing descriptive.