Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'
The Rom-Commers: The instant New York Times bestseller! by Katherine Center, Katherine Center
9 reviews
jelkebooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh boy, I am truly going to have to hold myself back on this one to keep me from fully ripping this one to shreds. When I tell you that this book made me rethink every 1 star I have given recently because none of them messure up to the absolute ANGER I felt while reading this I mean it. In fact I would argue I'm underselling you. The only reason I didn't DNF this was because I had heard so many good things about this book and part of me just kept thinking it had to get better. No, it only got worse. I truly don't even know how I need to properly convey to you just how terrible this book is.
Let's start with our main character. Emma was unbearable. I genuinely think she was the devil, no exageration. At the start I didn't think she was that bad. I still didn't like her though. She flip-flopped between being the most egotistical person you have ever met and being the most insecure, whiny person you've ever met. I don't know how that possible. However, when it comes to the third act conflict, and what goes down in the storyline with her dad I truly do not know how to descibe her actions as anything else but just pure and uther evil. I also just felt so incredibly gaslit by this book as our main character faced 0 consequences, never apologised, nothing. In fact she was apologised to. It gave me such a massive ick. I'm also convinced she's a narcissist. That's not a term I throw around lightly. But the way she manages to make every single situation about herself and just throw a fucking temper tantrum when it isn't just makes it impossible to say anything else. I hated her so much. My eyes literally started producing tears out of pure anger. I don't think I've ever experienced that at a book.
Charlie wasn't much better, it's just that we are never in his head so it can never get just as bad. However, I still found him such an incompetent manchild who on top of that also just is misogynistic and elitist. There quite literally is a character in this book that is even more sexist and elitist and I'm 100% convined that is to not make Charlie seem as bad as he is. He also just was incredibly rude, and I couldn't. I don't know if it is because I absolutely DESPISE both of our leads but I just saw 0 chemistry. 99% of their conversations are them just arguing for arguments sake. I truly did not get it. I didn't see it. The fact that their first kiss happens after a major guilt trip also just doesn't really help. It's ironic that this book is about Emma fixing Charlie's rom-com script to make it actually into something romantic, because there just wasn't anything romantic in this book. I do not get it. I don't know how many times I can say that but I truly do not get it.
Also it is an incredibly minor thing about this book but it really pissed me but Charlie has a guinea pig whose brother recently died. Whenever this guinea pig gets mentioned it is mentioned how he has been utterly depressed since then, and never really eats. It is even mentioned that guinea pigs are such big herd animals. However, the extremely simple solution of GETTING ANOTHER GUINEA PIG is just never brought up. There are certain countries in which it is literally ILLEGAL to only get one guinea pig because they literally get so lonely they die, but no one ever comes up with the idea to get this poor animal a new friend. As mentioned before I know this is just such a small part of this book but it just perfectly examplifies to me just how frustrating the reading experience of this book was in general.
Oh boy, I am truly going to have to hold myself back on this one to keep me from fully ripping this one to shreds. When I tell you that this book made me rethink every 1 star I have given recently because none of them messure up to the absolute ANGER I felt while reading this I mean it. In fact I would argue I'm underselling you. The only reason I didn't DNF this was because I had heard so many good things about this book and part of me just kept thinking it had to get better. No, it only got worse. I truly don't even know how I need to properly convey to you just how terrible this book is.
Let's start with our main character. Emma was unbearable. I genuinely think she was the devil, no exageration. At the start I didn't think she was that bad. I still didn't like her though. She flip-flopped between being the most egotistical person you have ever met and being the most insecure, whiny person you've ever met. I don't know how that possible. However, when it comes to the third act conflict, and what goes down in the storyline with her dad I truly do not know how to descibe her actions as anything else but just pure and uther evil. I also just felt so incredibly gaslit by this book as our main character faced 0 consequences, never apologised, nothing. In fact she was apologised to. It gave me such a massive ick. I'm also convinced she's a narcissist. That's not a term I throw around lightly. But the way she manages to make every single situation about herself and just throw a fucking temper tantrum when it isn't just makes it impossible to say anything else. I hated her so much. My eyes literally started producing tears out of pure anger. I don't think I've ever experienced that at a book.
Charlie wasn't much better, it's just that we are never in his head so it can never get just as bad. However, I still found him such an incompetent manchild who on top of that also just is misogynistic and elitist. There quite literally is a character in this book that is even more sexist and elitist and I'm 100% convined that is to not make Charlie seem as bad as he is. He also just was incredibly rude, and I couldn't. I don't know if it is because I absolutely DESPISE both of our leads but I just saw 0 chemistry. 99% of their conversations are them just arguing for arguments sake. I truly did not get it. I didn't see it. The fact that their first kiss happens after a major guilt trip also just doesn't really help. It's ironic that this book is about Emma fixing Charlie's rom-com script to make it actually into something romantic, because there just wasn't anything romantic in this book. I do not get it. I don't know how many times I can say that but I truly do not get it.
Also it is an incredibly minor thing about this book but it really pissed me but Charlie has a guinea pig whose brother recently died. Whenever this guinea pig gets mentioned it is mentioned how he has been utterly depressed since then, and never really eats. It is even mentioned that guinea pigs are such big herd animals. However, the extremely simple solution of GETTING ANOTHER GUINEA PIG is just never brought up. There are certain countries in which it is literally ILLEGAL to only get one guinea pig because they literally get so lonely they die, but no one ever comes up with the idea to get this poor animal a new friend. As mentioned before I know this is just such a small part of this book but it just perfectly examplifies to me just how frustrating the reading experience of this book was in general.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer
hunteress14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I dont lnow how to feel about this. one. I did not get much chemstriy between the two main characters. But the ending was sweet. Even the moments that were supposed to be romantic fell a bit flat for me. Also this book had a suprising amount of language and adult jokes. more then i was expecting from Mrs. Center.
Language 3/5 spice 2/5
Language 3/5 spice 2/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
allisonrosebooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Oh, Katherine Center, how you never miss.
⭐️Stars: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 1/5
🤩Do I recommend? Absolutelyyy
🧐 Read if you like: romance is no less than other genres, don't meet your heroes (or maybe you should..), proving people wrong, it's okay to do things for yourself
⭐️Stars: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 1/5
🤩Do I recommend? Absolutelyyy
🧐 Read if you like: romance is no less than other genres, don't meet your heroes (or maybe you should..), proving people wrong, it's okay to do things for yourself
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny
carolynkwolff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, and Sexism
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hollywood-centric romances aren't really my favorite, or celebrity romances. I've read two by Katherine Center so far and she actually does them in a way that manages to keep my attention. The characters and settings feel grounded and interesting enough that I find myself drawn in despite not being drawn to the tropes of the sub-genre. This one lost me a bit towards the end, but if you want a no-spice contemporary romance I do recommend this and any of Katherine Center's other books. Even when I'm not in the mood for them when I pick them up, they always end up charming me through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Car accident, and Alcohol
abidavisf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
Wow wow wow wow wow. I did not expect this. I thought I was in for fun-loving read, not an emotional rollercoaster! The Rom-Commers is everything. It has everything.
It is a love letter to writing. It is a lesson in gratitude and living each day fully. It is hopeful and inspiring and so full of love and warmth that it could light up a room.
It is a rom-com, of course. It’s predictable and it’s tense and it’s a slow burn. You know everything will be okay, but your heart still gets stuck in your throat for a while there. Did I want it to be all happiness and rainbows throughout? Of course, but we got there in the end.
This book is simple in its plot and insightful in its lessons. It is beautiful. I loved it.
It is a love letter to writing. It is a lesson in gratitude and living each day fully. It is hopeful and inspiring and so full of love and warmth that it could light up a room.
It is a rom-com, of course. It’s predictable and it’s tense and it’s a slow burn. You know everything will be okay, but your heart still gets stuck in your throat for a while there. Did I want it to be all happiness and rainbows throughout? Of course, but we got there in the end.
This book is simple in its plot and insightful in its lessons. It is beautiful. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Car accident, and Gaslighting
erinmassey23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Car accident
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, and Misogyny
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Katherine Center has managed to take every beloved romance trope and combine it with the hopefulness of every 90’s-00’s romcom into the most wonderful book that’s perfect for the summer.
Emma Wheeler has had a life that wasn’t hers. She’s devoted the last ten years to caring for her father and her little sister while putting off her dreams of becoming a screenwriter. Her agent, who happens to be her old high school friend, sets her up with the opportunity of a lifetime with THE Charlie Yates but Emma doesn’t know if her responsibility will be to herself or to others. And why is Charlie Yates so damn attractive and infuriating?
I thought this was a well written story with the most amazing use of all tropes for romance books and movies. I loved the callbacks to other characters from Katherine’s other novels. The story did feel like it dragged a bit and could have done a bit of editing to get rid of some extra fluff that wasn’t needed.
Overall I am extremely glad to have read this book because as a lover of romcoms and romance novels, though maybe not as big as Emma, this filled a void in my heart I didn’t know I was missing.
Thank you so so so much to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the opportunity for this advanced copy!
Emma Wheeler has had a life that wasn’t hers. She’s devoted the last ten years to caring for her father and her little sister while putting off her dreams of becoming a screenwriter. Her agent, who happens to be her old high school friend, sets her up with the opportunity of a lifetime with THE Charlie Yates but Emma doesn’t know if her responsibility will be to herself or to others. And why is Charlie Yates so damn attractive and infuriating?
I thought this was a well written story with the most amazing use of all tropes for romance books and movies. I loved the callbacks to other characters from Katherine’s other novels. The story did feel like it dragged a bit and could have done a bit of editing to get rid of some extra fluff that wasn’t needed.
Overall I am extremely glad to have read this book because as a lover of romcoms and romance novels, though maybe not as big as Emma, this filled a void in my heart I didn’t know I was missing.
Thank you so so so much to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the opportunity for this advanced copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Misogyny, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First, huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book as an ARC! Any new Katherine Center book is a book I will always beg to read early.
The plot - meet Emma, the “sunshine” of our Grumpy/Sunshine duo who is an aspiring screenwriter stuck in Texas as a caretaker for her chronically ill father. Emma’s pal Logan is an agent for some Hollywood stars, including (unbeknownst to Emma), Emma’s favorite super famous screen writer, Charlie. Charlie is, of course, the grump of this duo who has written a truly abysmal romcom to curry favor from a network exec. Logan brings Emma into the picture to get Charlie’s writing on track, moving her across the country for a six week stint at Charlie’s mansion. Write a beautiful rom com, cash that mega check, and then Emma will be on her way back to her home town. Or will she?
My thoughts - this book was delightfully cliche, and I say that in the nicest way possible. Sometimes it’s okay that something is a cliche - it works for a reason. Grumpy/sunshine is not my favorite romcom trope, and variations on this plot have been done before (Jasmine Guillory’s “By the Book” comes to mind), but this one worked for me, because of course it did. Because no matter how suspicious I am of the plot or the tropes, Katherine Center makes you FEEL things about her characters in a unique way that I think is really difficult to find with modern romance writers. The plot is sickeningly sweet, but I will sign up for the cavities because I love her characters so much.
The one major downside for me was the absolute onslaught of traumatic medical content (more on that below in the content warnings section). It was inescapable and truly there at every turn throughout the book. One of the medical plot lines would have been enough to further the storyline, but the three major accident/trauma plot points was rough. It felt like we were being cracked over the head with a baseball bat to remind us that bad things happen to good people.
Other than that, I feel like there were moments that felt a bit obvious to me and I would have loved a bit more insight into Charlie and what made him tick, but I can’t wait for all of you to read this one. You’ll laugh, you’ll shed some tears, and you’ll walk away feeling just a bit lighter than you’d felt before you read it.
Important content warnings: there is a LOT of medical content in this book, and that’s something you should be conscious of if you’re sensitive to that. There are discussions of traumatic accidents/death, near death experiences, loss of a parent, cancer, and a lot of talk of caretaking for a loved one with a disability/chronic health condition. If any of these issues are weighing on you, I’d encourage you to take a take a beat on reading this right away.
The plot - meet Emma, the “sunshine” of our Grumpy/Sunshine duo who is an aspiring screenwriter stuck in Texas as a caretaker for her chronically ill father. Emma’s pal Logan is an agent for some Hollywood stars, including (unbeknownst to Emma), Emma’s favorite super famous screen writer, Charlie. Charlie is, of course, the grump of this duo who has written a truly abysmal romcom to curry favor from a network exec. Logan brings Emma into the picture to get Charlie’s writing on track, moving her across the country for a six week stint at Charlie’s mansion. Write a beautiful rom com, cash that mega check, and then Emma will be on her way back to her home town. Or will she?
My thoughts - this book was delightfully cliche, and I say that in the nicest way possible. Sometimes it’s okay that something is a cliche - it works for a reason. Grumpy/sunshine is not my favorite romcom trope, and variations on this plot have been done before (Jasmine Guillory’s “By the Book” comes to mind), but this one worked for me, because of course it did. Because no matter how suspicious I am of the plot or the tropes, Katherine Center makes you FEEL things about her characters in a unique way that I think is really difficult to find with modern romance writers. The plot is sickeningly sweet, but I will sign up for the cavities because I love her characters so much.
The one major downside for me was the absolute onslaught of traumatic medical content (more on that below in the content warnings section). It was inescapable and truly there at every turn throughout the book. One of the medical plot lines would have been enough to further the storyline, but the three major accident/trauma plot points was rough. It felt like we were being cracked over the head with a baseball bat to remind us that bad things happen to good people.
Other than that, I feel like there were moments that felt a bit obvious to me and I would have loved a bit more insight into Charlie and what made him tick, but I can’t wait for all of you to read this one. You’ll laugh, you’ll shed some tears, and you’ll walk away feeling just a bit lighter than you’d felt before you read it.
Important content warnings: there is a LOT of medical content in this book, and that’s something you should be conscious of if you’re sensitive to that. There are discussions of traumatic accidents/death, near death experiences, loss of a parent, cancer, and a lot of talk of caretaking for a loved one with a disability/chronic health condition. If any of these issues are weighing on you, I’d encourage you to take a take a beat on reading this right away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders