In which we learn that writing romance is harder than people think
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
Stars: 4.5
Spicy: PG
52 Book Club Summer Reading Challenge - Prompt #22: At Least Four Olympic Colors on the
Perfect if you like:
Romance novels and novelists
Nora Ephron films
Spunky heroines
Strong character development
There is nothing I love more than sitting down with a romance novel, safe in the knowledge that a beloved author is going to take me on a journey that will break my heart, punch me in the gut, make me laugh, and ultimately leave me with warm fuzzies and a smile on my face. And a Katherine Center book always fits the bill. Her novels are like Christmas, they come once a year and I celebrate the joy they bring.
Emma Wheeler is romance screenwriter, the next Nora Ephron. The only problem is due to her father’s illness, she has not been able to leave Texas for the last ten years to go and pursue her dream. Charlie Yates is one of the most successful screenwriters of his generation and he needs to write a romantic comedy script so he can get his dream project greenlit. Only problem is Charlie doesn’t believe in love so the script is about as sexy as granny panties. But Emma and Charlie have the same agent and he decides they can help each other out: Emma will fix Charlie’s script, he’ll get his project in production and Emma will gain some Hollywood cred. So Emma finds herself living in Charlie’s guest room, fighting an attraction to a grumpy man who seems to question everything she believes in but who might also be the best writing partner ever.
Center’s characters are always multilayered, they are flawed individuals who both lift up the other person but cut them to the quick. Still, they find their way back to each other because they are adults who realize nothing in life is perfect. Instead they know they need to embrace the joy they can find in each other.
At its heart, this book was a love letter to romance novels and any fan of the genre will appreciate Emma’s defense of the stories we love so much. If you liked Christina Lauren’s True Love Experiment or Curtis Sittenfield’s Romantic Comedy, this one's for you.
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