#19 [2025/CBR17] The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

CBR17Bingo: Red (for the red in the cover)

I can't remember now how I found The Rom-Commers (2024) by Katherine Center, but I was probably just browsing my library's catalog looking for an available Audiobook to listen to on my commute. This was an occasionally fun "rom-com" that played on some of the tropes of the genre for its own purposes. However, this wasn't one of my favorites because the relationship wasn't very memorable.

Emma Wheeler is a talented writer who lives in the Northwest and is the sole caretaker of her father after a climbing accident while her younger sister finishes school. She's pretty much given up on her dreams of becoming a famous screenwriter because of her circumstances.

But when an ex-boyfriend from high school (who is now gay) asks Emma to come to Los Angeles for six weeks to rewrite a romantic comedy screenplay, she might just have a second chance. Charlie Yates is a famous, celebrated screenwriter who has just written the aforementioned, terrible screenplay. Emma is one of his biggest fans, but once she reads the screenplay, she knows it needs a ton of work. In fact, she is horrified by all of it.

Unfortunately for both Emma and Charlie, Emma's ex-boyfriend didn't tell Charlie anything about bringing another writer in to help him with his screenplay--let alone warn Charlie that Emma would be staying at his house. Their meet cute involves Charlie being remarkably rude, and Emma storming off. Eventually, the two are convinced to work with each other. 

Emma is still not happy, though. Charlie doesn't even believe in love. He only wrote the screenplay as a vehicle for the studio head's mistress, so the studio head will greenlight a project he actually cares about. Emma takes it upon herself to teach Charlie about love. It's not surprising that after spending a lot of time together, the two start liking each other. It is definitely a slow burn.

In the end, Emma sucks it up and tells Charlie how she feels. I admire Emma here because she didn't pussyfoot around and allow misunderstandings and unspoken feelings to rule the day. Unfortunately, Charlie rudely rejects her. We find out later that it's because he thinks his cancer is back and doesn't want to force Emma into another caretaker role. I see where he's coming from, but honesty is more important here. I was also very annoyed at the author when I thought I read this whole, stupid book just to find out he has cancer at the end. (I should have known better. It was a false alarm.)

There were some fun parts in this novel. I enjoyed when Emma met Meryl Streep, and some of Hollywood glamour was interesting. On the whole, though, this one didn't really stick with me. But it was pleasant enough.