I love Katherine Center and everything she writes, so picking up The Love Haters was a no-brainer for me. I loved the setting she used here and the interesting jobs the main characters had. I feel like that is something Center does well, it's not just another small town baker and big city business person! The only issue I had with the book is that I wish it had come with a bit of a trigger warning to start about the main character's eating disorder. I felt like the graphic descriptions of calorie counting and negative self-talk was a bit overwhelming, and while it was not a reason for me to immediately put the book down, I could see where it could affect some readers significantly. Aside from this, I truly loved the book and look forward to her next release!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

I needed a cutie romcom like this. I loveddddd the banter between Hutch and Katie🥹 Definitely a fun summer read!

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. I loved it so much! It made me giddy but was also an emotional read. Hutch was the perfect Book Boyfriend. Hutch and Katies relationship was just too good. This felt like a true Rom-Com like it was the late 90's or early 00's movie.
Katherine Center is one of my top 5 Authors and I will continue to pick up her books.
I highly recommend this book.

Katherine Center is an author I always look forward to reading, and I had high hopes for this book. Especially with its Coast Guard storyline and vibrant Key West setting. The high-stakes action on the water brought something fresh and exciting to the romance genre. I loved those moments and thought the backdrop had so much potential.

One of the highlights for me was Hutch’s character. He was steady, charming, and had a quiet strength that made him incredibly easy to root for. I appreciated the way his loyalty and calm presence grounded the story.

That said, the book overall fell a little short for me. The emotional depth and connection between the characters didn’t quite land, and I found myself wishing for more. The plot moved quickly, but I didn’t feel as invested in the characters as I usually do in her books.

Still, her signature warmth, humor, and themes of resilience and growth are all here. Even when a book doesn’t become a new favorite, I appreciate how Katherine Center always provides joy and strong female leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy!

Maybe I’m a love hater…
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and… I’m so disappointed. I knew 20 pages in that I wasn’t going to vibe with this book because the FMC was so annoying. I was literally gaslighting myself into thinking it would get better. BOY WAS I WRONG.

She would state the most obvious things like “the water is wet” level obvious, and it felt like I was being spoon-fed every emotion or thought. Like okay, thank you Captain Obvious?? And don’t even get me started on how dumb she came across. She reminded me of a middle schooler trying way too hard to impress her crush.

Most of the book focused on body dysmorphia and image issues, which could have been powerful… but the way it was done just irritated me. It wasn’t like a “she found herself and grew into her confidence” moment, it was “a hot man told me I’m pretty so now I love myself.” Women don’t need a man to feel worthy. It felt outdated and lowkey frustrating.

Also? There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Like she talks about his body every single chapter but somehow they still have the flattest connection I’ve ever read. I was just confused the whole time.

I do appreciate the attempt at body image representation, but it came off forced and surface-level. Combine that with the plot holes, the lies, the chaotic pacing, and the fact that the most interesting character was the rescue Great Dane… yeah, this was a miss for me.

I waited too long to read this book! I have enjoyed all of Katherine Center’s book and this one was no exception. It was funny, romantic and hopeful. Loved the doggie. The climax scene had me on the edge of my seat, very suspenseful! I didn’t like a plot situation that occurred about 2/3 through the book but happy it resolved quickly. I have done a Bookstagram post on this that I have linked down below.

I appreciate a good Katherine Center book. They are like warm hugs that you can slip into, but this one was not for me! I’m so bummed. Her last one was my favorite of all time! Nevertheless, she’s an auto buy author for me so I’lll be ready for the next one!

3.5/5 stars. I know that I'm in the minority here, but I found this book to be mostly just ok (and pretty unmemorable, trying to write this review almost 6 months later). Hutch was so boring to me...if you're going to write a character who's a self-proclaimed "love hater" then he needs to be a whole lot grumpier. I never felt like he and Katie had real chemistry, we were just kind of told that they were into each other and asked to go along with it. Ultimately, this was less of a love story and more of a story about Katie's relationship with herself, which is absolutely a story worth telling. If the author had leaned all the way in with that it would have worked a lot better for me.

I did love the Author's Note, it made me cry! Most memorable part of my reading experience for this one.

Another fun romcom from Katherine! This book covers everything from comedy, soul-searching, mental health struggles to quirky dogs. This book was enjoyable from beginning to end. If you’re looking for spicy, this isn’t it but if you’re looking for feel good time, that is relatable than this is it. The book takes us on Katie‘s journey to self love, while navigating just how hard life can be and the extremes you go to in order to navigate that dream career. Katie takes on an assignment that leads her to the keys and her subject is a “broody” Coast Guard, who’s known for saving Jennifer, Aniston‘s dog. Little does she know that he’s the exact opposite of everything she’s been told. Their first meetcute had me laughing and cringing and embarrassment at the same time. The side characters are just as fun and Katherine did a good job of making the characters in situations flow seamlessly. The ending was sweet and perfect. Thank you netgalley & St. Martins Press for an ARC copy of this book!

This was a new to me author and I did not know what to expect going into this one. The writing would grab my interest and then immediately lose it just to grip me in and repeat the same pattern thought out the book. The mood felt inconsistent to me and I did not have a great time with this one.

4.5 rounded up! Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin’s Press for the ARC! This was my first Katherine Center book, though I’ve wanted to read her work for a while.

At the start, I did not think this would end up being a 4.5-star read for me. The concept seemed really strange. But, as soon as Katie went to Key West and met Hutch, everything changed!

In reading other reviews, some people didn’t like the story line of Katie struggling with her body image and learning to love herself throughout the story. As someone with anxiety who has struggled with body image issues in the past, I could fully appreciate this storyline and the way that negative intrusive thoughts can over take you even if you know better consciously. You think it was annoying to hear Katie talk about her body? Imagine having that voice in your head all the time!!😅

I think Katherine Center did a great job in making the story about Katie learning to love herself while also learning to love someone else. Figuring out that you can actually find someone who sees you for who you are, and that you don’t have to change to find love.I think what I enjoyed the most about this book is that aside from just being a romance, it was about Katie finding herself. I tend to enjoy romances that have another meaningful component, and this was exactly that. The “about the author”/epilogue by Katherine Center made me cry.

If you’re in need of a slow burn romance where the FMC learns something big about herself & her values while also falling in love, this is it!! I’m fully convinced to read more Katherine Center books.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Unfortunately, The Love Haters is not my favorite book by Katherine Center. I appreciate the author's attempt to shed light on body image and self-esteem issues that many people struggle with, but it just ends up being too repetitive and distracting. The main character is not very likeable and her character growth is not realistic. However, the side characters are a lot of fun and they're probably the best thing about this book!

This was a solid 3.5 stars for me. I read it pretty quickly. I liked the characters but wanted a little more than what we got. I liked the fish out of water aspect with our girl Katie. I liked how much this book emphasized that you have to learn to be comfortable with yourself and all of the positive people that were around her. I LOVED Hutch. He was the exact opposite of Katie. I liked how Katie thought- she was hilarious. I also liked all of the situations she found herself in. There was great chemistry between these two and though I am one that is always for some spice, it worked that there was ZERO in this one. The chemistry build up was wonderful. The tension was great. Katie was so clueless about how to act around him that it didn't necessarily plague her on how she was supposed to act if that makes sense. I had a problem with the *lying* not by Katie but how she became a byproduct of it and then how that affected her and Hutch. I loved all the oddities in this book- you had the hilarious aunt, the toad, the dog terrified of thunder and then of course our main man the rescue swimmer. Something I did really enjoy about this book was the setting- Key West with the Coast Guard. I feel like I actually learned something about what the Coast Guard does and liked the originality to it.

Katie has somehow found herself in an impossible situation. People are being laid off at her job so of course she accepted a job assignment that involved swimming which she can't do. She accepted an assignment following around a rescue swimmer who also happens to be her coworker's brother. Which is how she finds herself in Key West learning how to swim with the most stunningly beautiful man she has ever met. How is he real? Of course he finds out who she is and what she is doing here but instead of turning her over for lying, he helps her. And now they are spending a lot of time together. And Katie finds herself LIKING the time they are spending together. Like a lot. He has such a great smile. He makes HER feel good and happy. She finds herself excited for the adventure of the day. She finds herself thinking about the future and what that could look like. Would Hutch be there? Does he think about her like that? All the while her ex who is now a famous rockstar has brought her back into the spotlight. And the last person she thinks will help her is Hutch who is kissing her like he likes her! But then her coworker and his lies come to bite them in the butt. There is more going on behind the scenes than she realized. Bad history between the brothers which she has now found herself between. But she only wants one of them and she hopes that after the dust settles he will be able to see that everything she did was for the right reasons and that she really likes him too.

This was light hearted read, and I found myself laughing several times while reading. It was endearing and relatable. Could spice have been nice sure, but the kiss and illusion of more to come adding to the charminess of the story. I would definitely pick this up as a fun summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Love Haters is charming, heartfelt, and full of that classic Katherine Center warmth. While it didn’t blow me away quite like some of her past books, it’s still a beautifully written story about friendship, loss, growth, and learning to truly love yourself.

Katie is such a relatable main character, her inner monologues had me nodding along (and occasionally laughing out loud), especially during that scene with the splinters and her haunches. If you know, you know. Hutch is the ultimate sweet guy, totally swoon-worthy, even if some of the romance felt a bit cheesy at times. A few lines made me cringe, but their connection still worked overall.

What really stood out to me was the emphasis on relationships in all forms: friendship, community, family, pets (hi George Bailey, scene-stealing Great Dane!), and the importance of self-love. Katie’s journey through body image and self-worth hit hard. It was honest, vulnerable, and eye-opening, especially in today’s world of filters and online perfection. I found myself reflecting on my own insecurities and what it really means to love the skin you’re in.

The setting in Key West was vibrant and immersive, and the sense of community brought such heart to the story. Katherine Center’s writing continues to be witty, vivid, and full of emotional truth.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via Netgalley!

As someone who devours every Katherine Center book the moment it hits shelves, I went into The Love Haters with high expectations—especially given her knack for weaving heartfelt stories with heroines who are as messy and endearing as they are resilient. And while this book mostly delivers that signature blend of humor, romance, and introspection, it also felt like Center took a few detours from her usual path.

The premise had huge potential, with enemies-to-lovers vibes and an exploration of what happens when you challenge your own beliefs about love. But compared to How to Walk Away or Things You Save in a Fire, this narrative felt a bit less layered. There’s still inspiration, still hope—but it didn’t hit me as hard emotionally.

Don’t get me wrong—The Love Haters is still worth the read. It has flashes of classic Katherine Center magic and her always-uplifting worldview.

I've read The Bodyguard by Katherine Center and I really enjoyed it. So I was really excited when I was able to get this one to review. Unfortunately something about it fell flat for me with the plot/story. There was something lacking that I can't quite put my finger on. I felt like it was sort of repetitive and a couple of the characters annoyed me. Unfortunately I won't be posting a review for this on my bookstagram, amazon or Goodreads as I don't want to effect the rating of the book in those locations.

I truly enjoyed the story, the romance was cutie, and was wonderfully entertained by these characters. .

I couldn't even finish this one. I read all of the trigger warnings before starting it, but I didn't think the eating talk would be so excessive. Continuing to read this book wouldn't be good for my mental health, honesty.

I loved parts of this book. But it lost me in a few places:
- Really Not Fun fake-dating with someone who isn't the love interest (really, who thought this was a good idea?)
- Cheap miscommunication
- Decisions that only a dog person would make (I'm a cat person)

It's the typical Katherine Center fare: serious fiction with a side of romance and a hint of cheesy jokes being mis-marketed as a romcom with the brightest cover you've ever seen.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I usually really love everything Katherine Center writes, but this one has sadly been my least favorite so far. I had a lot of concerns about how body image was approached in this book. It felt like a little cliche, and like she met a guy and suddenly her issues were solved/better? I really wanted to see more internal development on this where she didn't depend on others for validation.

I DO think the Coast Guard rescue swimmer trope was so cute. This was a unique setting and fun to read about! The ending felt a little rushed and I really could have used several more chapters to wrap up everything.

I'll still be a Katherine Center fan and will continue to read her books, but this one was not my favorite of hers!