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Katherine Center

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Books Written by Katherine Center

Center writes what she calls ‘laugh-and-cry’ novels — romantic comedies that take genuinely difficult subjects like grief, disability, and trauma seriously without losing their warmth or humor. Several of her books have been adapted into Netflix films, and BookPage has called her ‘the reigning queen of comfort reads.’

Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away are generally considered her breakout books and the clearest introduction to her tonal balance of humor and real emotional weight.

By Lisanne Swart · 5 books · Romantic Comedy · Updated August 2026

Quick answer

Katherine Center is best known for How to Walk Away (2018), Things You Save in a Fire (2019), The Bodyguard (2022), Hello Stranger (2022), and The Rom-Commers (2024). How to Walk Away or Things You Save in a Fire are the best starting points.


01
Romantic ComedyStart here

How to Walk Away

Katherine Center · 2018

After a plane crash leaves her paralyzed and her fiancé abandons her, a young woman has to relearn how to walk, and how to hope, with the help of an unlikely physical therapist.

Often cited as the book that established Center’s signature balance — genuinely difficult material handled with real warmth and humor rather than either grimness or shallow uplift.

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02
Romantic Comedy

Things You Save in a Fire

Katherine Center · 2019

A skilled, guarded female firefighter transfers to a Boston firehouse full of skeptical male colleagues, while confronting a painful history with her estranged mother that she’s spent years avoiding.

A New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick, notable for putting a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession at the center of the romance.

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03
Romantic Comedy

The Bodyguard

Katherine Center · 2022

An executive protection agent is assigned to guard a famous actor and has to pose as his girlfriend during a visit to his family’s Texas ranch, with the expected complications following.

Praised by fellow romance author Emily Henry as ‘a shot of pure joy’ — a lighter, more purely comic entry in Center’s catalogue than some of her earlier, heavier books.

Buy on Bol.com →
Buy on Waterstones →
Buy on Amazon →
Listen on Audible →
Buy on Bookshop.org →

Watch: Author Interview: Katherine Center on The Rom-Commers

Katherine Center discusses The Rom-Commers, a must-read for any romantic comedy lover, and what draws her back to laugh-and-cry stories.


Where to start with Katherine Center

If you want her breakout book

How to Walk Away established the tonal balance she’s known for.

If you want her biggest bestseller

Things You Save in a Fire was a Reese’s Book Club pick and NYT bestseller.

If you want something lighter

The Bodyguard is one of her more purely comic, lower-stakes books.

Frequently asked questions about Katherine Center’s books

How many books has Katherine Center written?

Katherine Center has written twelve novels, including How to Walk Away (2018), Things You Save in a Fire (2019), The Bodyguard (2022), Hello Stranger (2022), and The Rom-Commers (2024).

What is the best Katherine Center book to start with?

How to Walk Away or Things You Save in a Fire — both are considered her breakout books and best represent her blend of humor and genuine emotional weight.

Have any Katherine Center books been adapted into movies?

Yes. Happiness for Beginners and Hello Stranger have both been adapted into Netflix films, and The Lost Husband was adapted as a Netflix movie starring Josh Duhamel.

Written by Lisanne Swart

Lisanne curates books for curious readers at lisanneswart.com, publishing original reading lists, author deep-dives, and honest recommendations since 2021. Read more about Lisanne.


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