This was a lighthearted but cheesy summer romcom. It really is a great beach read. I loved the witty banter and the romance, but i did not care for the obsessive ramblings about Katie's body dysmorphia was so irritating. I did like this book but i did not care for repetitiveness throughout it. I usually LOVE Katherine's books but this one really missed the mark for me.

This was a cute quick read. I enjoyed the fun summer aspects of it and the dynamic between the two main characters. Overall a good read for the summer.

What I liked: A story set in Key West, with lots of great side characters

What I disliked: Incorrectly advertised as a rom-com. The romance barely exists in the plot. It is contemporary fiction focusing on the main character’s struggle over her body image

Warning: will make you want to move to Key West and be quasi-adopted by a bunch of colorful (literally and figuratively) old ladies. Katherine Center’s books are the literary equivalent of a warm hug, and this is no exception.

Yet another good rom com book written by Katherine Center! The Love Haters is full of the feels ( sadness, happiness, hope and love) as well as strong character development. You definitely get invested in each character and their weaknesses and strengths throughout the story. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend this to readers who like Emily Henry, Mary Kay Andrews, Taylor Jenkins Reid and/or Colleen Hoover.
Thank you Katherine Center and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

Katie is a video producer who is on the verge of losing her job. She has one last chance to make her mark with a job in Key West - all she has to do is interview Hutch, who just happens to be a gorgeous Coast Guard rescue swimmer who also happened to save Jennifer Aniston's dog. Of course Katie doesn't know how to swim and she has to go through some Coast Guard tests to ensure she's up to the job.

Katie is a very relatable character - like most women, she worries about how her body looks in a bathing suit. The book also had some genuine laugh-out-loud moments involving a Great Dane, splinters and Katie's "haunches.". It's a slow burn in the romance department that's easy to read - a perfect beach read this summer! I've enjoyed all of Katherine Center's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

this book was super cute!! i loved both of the main characters, especially katie because i related a lot to her struggles

I really enjoyed it. People who go along with lies in stories usually turn me off….buy this was good. I’ve enjoyed the last two Katherine Center novels. She’s on a roll!

This book was so adorable! Katherine Center writes the best wholesome rom-coms while also bringing realism (or as much as you can when your characters are jumping out of helicopters) to the world she created.

This was a fun fish-out-of-water romance - almost literally. I loved that Katie went for it and really stepped out of her comfort zone for her career. This story sounded like a fun, but terrifying job! Once we got to the third act with the hurricane, I was done! The terrifying situation! I loved this romance, but it was more than just that. It was about community, pets, and facing your fears. There are trigger warnings that you need to be mindful of before starting.

Great summertime beach read. Thought the book was a ton of fun as it followed along in the interactions between Katie, a video producer trying to stay employed, and Hutch, a hero Coast Guard rescuer set in Key West. Hutch’s Aunt Rue was a wonderful, colorful character to add to the mix. Book was a quick read. Fun. Although through some of the ending scenes, Katherine Center did ask us to suspend belief more than normal, but it still made for a fun book!

This is a fun book. I’ve enjoyed all the Katherine Center books I’ve read. This one starts off a little slow but definitely builds as it goes on. I love that the book isn’t about just romance but also loving yourself.

Katherine Center does it again! I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I went through so many emotions reading this book and enjoyed every page. This is the perfect summer rom com!

A cute, unique plot for an easy read romance! Super unrealistic and yet it was a nice reprieve from the hard hitting thrillers and contemporary fiction novels. The body image insecurities was a little much and the addition of her ex being a pop star (unrealistic af) only served to add to that when in reality she was apparently irresistable. Sorry but that is just so hard to relate to. She was definitely far from my favorite character but there were so many others to love! A steady paced read overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

The Love Haters had potential for me, but there were too many instances of miscommunication. Even the dog caught on quicker than the FMC and MMC. The group of elderly ladies was my favorite. I would have read a book about Aunt Rue! The journey of self love and self acceptance was this novel's saving grace. Thank you for the chance to read this novel.

The enjoyable characters in this one kept me reading. The plot was more ridiculous than most of Center's other books and less believable. I felt the connection between Katie and Hutch was forced, but I did laugh out loud at some of the unexpected moments. Overall, not my favorite by Center, but a worthwhile read.

Note about the narration: Patti Murin did an amazing job at conveying the silliness and emotion in the book.

It's been a while since I devoured a book like I did this one. Katherine Center is the master of tackling heavy topics while keeping the tone light - if that makes sense. She never downplays serious issues; instead, she takes the readers on a lighthearted journey that highlights her characters' growth.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer who agrees to take on a job profiling the Coast Guard to protect her job. On location in the Florida Keys, Katie-"I-Only-Wear-Black"-Vaughan meets the vibrant and welcoming Rue. Rue takes Katie under her wing and introduces her to her groups of friends, known as "The Gals".

Then we meet Hutch - our MMC. He's a golden retriever type, and I loved him. Katie describes him as the most handsome person she has ever met. He's humble, kind, and has a big heart.

Katie deals with body image and self-confidence. With the help of family and friends (looking at you, Beanie, Rue, and Hutch) we witness her journey as she learns to appreciate herself and tune out the negativity that can come with being in the spotlight.

This book had me laughing and swooning - such a fun, feel-good read. Overall, it's a perfect pick for summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book unfortunately was not for me. I usually love Katherine centers books but the way this book began really through me off. It through us right into a very serious topic with no warning and no foundation before the book started. I feel I usually need to get to know the MC's a bit before the story can begin to unfold, unfortunately it was a bit too rash for me. I will definitely be reading future Katherine Center books though as I think this book just didnt fit for me.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a stranger to lover/forced proximity romance.

Katie is a video producer whose job is on the line.

Hutch is a Coast Guard rescue 🛟 swimmer with a great Dane, George Bailey, who is scared of thunder.

Told in first POV, this novel is full of small town vibes, humor and friendship.

Another must read author for me. I loved the setting of this one, as Katie fumbles her way around paradise, pretending to know how to swim so she can follow around Hutch the rescue swimmer. I can appreciate that the author gave us a character with body image issues, but I am not sure I love how it was handled in the book? It wasn’t in a bad way, just maybe sort of weird and surface level? I absolutely loved Rue and the gals, but I hated Cole and the boss. I hated the whole Cole situation so much once he arrived on the island. The big lie/conflict of the book was not my jam. What did work for me was the dog.

Bottom Line: Overall, it wasn’t my favorite from the author, but still an interesting read and I had a hard time putting it down…wanting to see what would happen next.

**I received a copy of The Love Haters from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**