The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a delightful read! A Laugh Out loud read that captures the complexities of love, self-acceptance, and personal growth. DO NOT SKIP This one!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing an honest review in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center has done it again! She makes her characters so relatable and as a woman I can definitely relate with Katie Vaughn. Katie’s character shines bright with a little cloud hanging over her. That cloud being how she can’t see her true beauty.
Hutch is the sexy, Coast Guard rescue swimmer who happens to be the owner of one GIANT Great Dane named George Bailey. The way Katherine peels back all of Hutch’s qualities makes you fall in love with him sentence by sentence. He’s got a good heart and he’s an even better person.
Honestly, it’s a toss up who would be my favorite male character in this story because as amazing as Hutch is I just love George Bailey. I secretly want a real life George Bailey and my real life dog to marry, who’s part Great Dane and part Poodle.

Thank you Katherine Center, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-Arc in return for an honest review.

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC, Katherine Center is one of my go to authors. She writes it and I will read it. The Love Haters was so good. I loved all the characters in this book, especially the great dane George Bailey. The story is heartwarming and so funny. A must read, especially for this hot summer.

THE LOVE HATERS is an enjoyable story about lost loves, friendship, courage, and a slow burn romance. Katie Vaughn, a pretty video producer, is desperate to save her job. Lying is so not Katie's version of trying to save her job, but her boss offers her a stint filming a hunkalicious Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom Hutcheson, in Key West. She isn't forthcoming about her lack of experience on swimming. She takes the job, but is wary about what it entails. Katie confronts her greatest fears and insecurities, while trying her best to fake it, so she doesn't get fired. Katie is also dealing with a traumatic breakup from her now-famous musician boyfriend. Can life get anymore difficult?

Katie meets handsome Hutch and his brilliant Aunt Rue along with his lovable great Dane. Between swimming lessons, scary helicopter stunts, messy love interests, and a simmering romance, will Katie and Hutch face their fears and move past it all? Will they be brave enough to take a step towards romance?

Ms. Center's story put a smile on my face with its lovable cast of characters and one adorable dog. Ms. Center's books are always fun and totally unique. That is what I love about her stories. First book I have ever read about a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. It was very enjoyable reading what the job all entails and I have great respect for the Coast Guard! There is a wonderful group of women that Hutch's Aunt Rue hangs out with, that added richness to the story line. The romance between Hutch and Katie was slow going, but loved the angst between them. Both had past fears from failed relationships to get over. Loved the hilarious situations Katie found herself in and laughed many times! I was charmed completely by the eccentric characters and the unique plot. THE LOVE HATERS is very funny and inventive!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE LOVE HATERS - Katherine Center

Amazing! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Katie Vaughn has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified since she can’t swim. Plus, Cole is Hutch's brother, and they don't get along. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

Writing - 5 stars - As always, Center has the ability to write in such a way that what seems like a difficult situation at first, can then turn into something hopeful and fulfilling. She builds characters that are appealing, despite their flaws. Or perhaps they are especially relatable because of their flaws. She focuses on subjects that are somewhat unusual but always fascinating.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the book particularly shone for me. Hutch (despite his handsome looks) is down to earth and kind and an all-around excellent, almost textbook, hero. It's interesting that I didn't really get a clear picture of what Katie looks like, mostly because she's always downplaying her looks, thinking she looks frumpy or "forgettable." Plus, it's her personality that's intriguing about her. She's thoughtful and self-deprecating, but she has a core of strength and tenacity that is something to be admired. I loved the both of them together--a team that ticks all the boxes for the reader.

Title - 4.5 stars - The title doesn't seem quite right, but it certainly captures the attention and makes you think about the possibilities.

Cover - 4.5 stars - I'm not a big fan of the trendy, cartoon-y covers, but this one has wonderfully bright colors and a simple style that really catches the eye.

Overall - 5 stars - Katherine Center always knows what I want to read, even before I do! This time she focused on a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and the built-in heroism that job entails. Oddly enough, the woman creating a promotional video about him has the opposite problem--she doesn't recognize her own good qualities, thinking of herself as forgettable. But the camaraderie and caring between them just kicks in immediately, and I was totally rooting for their success as a couple. Plus, I couldn't help but want to be with them both during their journeys of self-awareness and growth. The story kept moving forward, with no quiet moments. Was it all adventure and excitement? No. But the quiet, reflective moments were also compelling, and I couldn't put it down. I found the subject to be fascinating--something that I hadn't really thought about before.

I have yet to dislike anything that has come from Katherine Center, I just love her writing style and stories! It is obvious she does her research about the topics in her books, as well as the places and careers. This was such a cute story, I absolutely loved every single character... Except for Cole sometimes haha! Katie and Huch are both top tier main characters, and Rue, Beanie and "the gals" make for amazing supporting women. Watching Hutch come out of his shell and blossom into the love he deserves was beautiful, as well as the relationship Katie has with herself and her journey from self hate to truly loving herself. The goofy Great Dane is always a good addition and added an important part of the plot in this story. This book was definitely 5 stars for me, I will happily reread or listen to it sooner than later. Lighthearted yet just the right amount of emotional pull, fun and witty banter and interactions between the main characters, and Katie finding love... both romantically and for herself. I both read and listened to the story and huge praise for Patti Murin, she is an amazing narrator and I will gladly listen to any of her work, even if it's a new to me author!

I can’t get enough of Katherine Center’s books, and The Love Haters was no exception! I absolutely loved this story and found myself quickly drawn into the world of Katie, Hutch, and my favorite character of all—Aunt Rue. The characters felt real and lovable, and their relationships were both heartwarming and fun to follow.

As other reviews have mentioned, there’s quite a bit of focus on weight, body image, and appearance in this book. As someone who is plus-sized and often dresses in black, I really related to Katie and her insecurities. In fact, the book actually inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and buy a dress and skirt in actual colors!

That said, while I liked this story a lot, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as The Rom-Commers, Centers previous book. The plot in The Love Haters moved along well, but The Rom-Commers resonated with me more overall. Still, this was a lovely, uplifting read and a solid addition to Katherine Center’s collection.

Hello Stranger - i am still obsessed with this book
The Bodyguard
How to Walk Away
Happiness for Beginners -read this last year by the pool and LOVED the book and movie
The Rom-Commers
The Love Haters
Things You Save in a Fire

Katherine Center is a must read author for me but this one might be my favorite so far. She writes rom coms with heart and depth. Her writing was especially beautiful in this book. I found myself noticing the beauty of the words even while I was becoming more engrossed in the story.

Katie is a videographer from Dallas who is sent on an assignment to video a commercial for the coast guard featuring a national hero rescue diver. As they work together for months, they both grow stronger as their attraction also grows.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for and EArc of this, I love Katherine Center and was very excited to have received this. I tried to love this but it just fell short for me. The Love Haters had a fun setup—romance, humor, and a dreamy Key West setting—but it didn’t quite land for me. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch felt underdeveloped, and while Katie started as a relatable lead, the story didn’t fully deliver on its emotional or romantic potential.

Supporting characters were hit or miss—Rue was a bright spot, but others like Beanie and Cole lacked depth. Heavier themes like body image and grief were present but often overshadowed by forced humor and a light tone.

Still, the setting was vivid, and Katie’s journey toward self-confidence had some strong moments. It’s an easy, entertaining read, but not one of Center’s best in my opinion. Looking forward to her next book!

Katherine Center made me stay up too late to finish this one!

The two main characters Katie and Hutch are brought together in an awkward yet adventurous situation, and it’s definitely not an initial love connection, since he “hates love” and she’s been burned by a past relationship. Plus she has to tell a few little lies in order to convince Hutch (a Coast Guard rescue swimmer) to agree to be filmed for a profile video… oh and she doesn’t know how to swim!

Fun side characters — Katie has a fun bestie to encourage her, and Hutch has Aunt Rue and a lovable Great Dane doggo named George Bailey.

KC’s clever storytelling style and witty banter keep this story interesting, even if there are a few parts where the reader may want to shake both of the main characters and yell at them to figure it out already.

The company Katie works for is having a massive layoff so she can't say no when her boss asks her to do a video interview of an internet hero who turns out to be his brother Hutch. He's in the coast guard and a video of him rescuing a famous actress's dog went viral.

The characters in this book are well developed, realistic, kind, and dealing with their own trials and difficult past experiences. I don't know if aunt Rue was based on a real person but I hope so because she is the most amazing woman.

Katherine Center books are always fun to read and this is my new favorite. It’s fun and romantic but also meaningful and deep. And it’s clean. The only thing I would change is some language. The audiobook is enjoyable too. 4.5 stars! Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book. I know it was pretty predictable, but I like a story that follows the tropes. I loved the resolution. It was a good romance read.

Okay I loved this book so much. A tad too much reliance on the miscommunication trope for my liking, plus all the lying. I'm glad it wasn't on the MCs part, also in my opinion, the resolution made sense. I like how Center incorporated a bunch of things within Katie's character and none of them felt too glossed over. TW- EDs, disordered eating, parental loss, body shaming, among others. Some of this may be from Center's personal experience but also derived from research. Speaking of research, I think she did a lot of good research with the coastguard (MMC Hutch's profession) and Katie's career lane of working in the media as a videographer too. I learnt a lot of amazing information I didn't have any background on. Patti Murin did a fantastic job of narrating the story as usual. This is a super entertaining fun read/listen, I'm sure I'll come back for a reread soon.

Let me start by saying I am not a Katherine Center fan, as last. 2 books disappointed me.

I totally loved the setting in Key West and a boathouse as a primary résidence.

Learning about US coast guard rescue swimmers was also pretty refreshing!

I was not bothered at all with the main character’s’ body image issues as some other readers were.

I started losing interest though when all the lies happened. Then, the story turned a bit ridiculous. Totally loved however the drama surrounding the hurricane.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great story, it was funny, romantic and it even had some scary parts!! Katie goes to Key West to make a film about a survivor swimmer. It turns out that he is the brother of her boss and the last thing he wants is a woman around.. The people that Katie meets along the way help her see her life differently. And some of scenes mad me laugh so hard I almost ……. (Feel free to to fill in the blank (lol) my favorite character in the book was George Bailey! You will have to read the book to find out who he is!! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming, easy read—but not especially memorable

Katherine Center always delivers when it comes to sharp banter, lovable characters, and heartwarming romance, and The Love Haters is no exception. I enjoyed the book overall and the writing is clean and engaging, the storyline is easy to follow, and the chemistry between the characters kept me turning the pages.

That said, it didn’t quite stand out. While I appreciated the humor and the emotional beats, it felt like a story I’ve read before. There weren’t many surprises, and the plot followed a familiar arc without taking any risks. It was pleasant, but not particularly impactful.

Still, fans of Center’s work will enjoy the warmth and wit she’s known for, even if this one doesn't leave a lasting impression. A good read for when you're in the mood for something comforting and fun.

Whew. This book was a lot. Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors and this story had her signature warmth, wit, and slow-burn romance. 💖 I adored the setting (hello, Key West 🏖️), and the characters were beautifully developed—yes, even the dog stole my heart. 🐾
That said, there’s a strong focus on body image and self-love that caught me off guard. As someone who's struggled with body acceptance, some parts hit a little too close—and I do think a content warning would’ve helped. 💭
Still, this is a heartfelt, brave romance about learning to tell the truth, face your fears, and open your heart again. Don’t let critical reviews scare you off—just go in prepared. 💌
💕 Katherine Center remains a queen of romance for me.

Katherine Center hits another one out of the park with this story! Katie and Hutch are one of the best romance duos I have ever come across. I can’t get over how well written their story is, and how deeply I got immersed in their characters. I felt every emotion right along with Katie, I smiled with her highs and gasped and worried with her through her lows. These were definitely two characters I rooted for every step of the way, they were such good people you had to believe it would work out! I really enjoyed all of the interesting characters sprinkled in, especially Rue who tied all of their story lines together. 10 out of 10 loved this one!

Katherine Center is a gem of an author. So it’s no surprise that I liked this one. It felt very summer fun with enough going on to keep it not too carefree of a read too. Can’t wait for her next one!!

Thank you @macmillanaudio for the gifted audiobook! Thank you SMP for the eARC! The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a perfect summer read! Katherine Center's writing is always so engaging. Her characters are emotional and realized. I feel that I've been more connected with the character of Katie and her journey than any other of Katherine Center's protagonists.
Body image is something l've always struggled with and to see it represented and handled realistically (and with great care) was particularly important and resonated with me.
The cast of characters in this book is excellent. I loved Katie, her best friend Beanie, Hutch 9, & of course Rue was a gem.
Although as a big dog lover, George Bailey may be my favorite. This book is full of heart and laughs, but also handled dealt with grief and pain. I thoroughly enjoyed the love story between Katie and Hutch, it's so clear that they're a good fit and I enjoyed their relationship so much. I had a hard time putting this one down as I enjoyed it so thoroughly! A perfect beach read, a very cute summer romance and my favorite of Katherine Center's works so far. Highly recommend!