I really loved this story, I’m not sure if it was the body positivity message or the handsome grumpy hero, but I was sold. Katie is a talented videographer who needs a win to save her job. So she agrees to make a recruiting film for the Coast Guard in Key West. Saying yes was the easy part, then there was the swimming and the bathing suits and a lot of her personal demons to confront. Aided by a cadre of retired seniors, her best friend via telephone and just maybe a giant dog, Katie starts maybe loving herself. This book is not perfect, there may have been some lost opportunities to explore( like her famous cheating ex ) and maybe it wraps up a little too neatly…But I’ve read many of Katherine Centers books and this is certainly one of my favorites. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advanced reader copy.

Quirky characters and plenty of misunderstandings make this a light and cheeky beach read. My only critique was a heavy emphasis on body-dysmorphia. While I know it’s not an uncommon thing for women especially, and brought another element to the story, it was hit very hard for such a “light” romance novel. The author literally gave this woman an eating disorder, never acknowledged it for what it truly was (just called it self loathing), and made it seem like her and her bestie could work it out. It was a bit irresponsible.

A love story, not simply romance, but one of friendship and self-accepting. Come for the budding love-hate relationship, stay for the amazing dog and vibrant aunt.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Katherine Center will always be one of my go-to authors for romance and this book just proved why. I loved the premise, the setting, and the cast of characters (particularly Rue). But, this was more than a love story. It dealt with grief, body image, found family, and more. I will say that I felt this had less romance than normal, but I didn't mind that because I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and wanted to see how things would play out for them.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing the e-ARC and ALC for me to review.

2.5⭐️

This book had so much potential!! But sadly, it fell short. The plot itself was interesting- woman goes to Florida to make a video profile on a somewhat-famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The writing style was also addicting but that’s just about where the love for this book ends.

There were many things I disliked about this book. First of all, I didn’t really love or connect with any of the characters. Can I say my favorite character was the dog? Cause he was pretty much the only likeable/not annoying character. I did like Rue too but even she couldn’t save the story for me.

The FMC has major struggles with body image/body dysmorphia/ED, which is fine but it was mentioned literally every 5 minutes, especially for the first half of the book. It was very “a man told me I was beautiful so I’m gonna believe him & like myself now” instead of her overcoming her issues on her own. But yeah, major TW if that’s something that triggers you.

Cole was also insufferable! First of all he has this 20 year beef with his brother for literally no reason & he thinks that he stole his girl even though he showed no interest in her whatsoever & she was the one that liked him. But what really got me was when he pressured Hutch into having a drinking competition with him when he knows he doesn’t drink! Like what?? If he doesn’t drink, HE DOESN’T DRINK. Why are we pressuring/basically forcing people into doing things they don’t want to do??

There was also hardly any romance. They didn’t get together until basically the last chapter & I felt like there was hardly any chemistry between them. The only things that saved this book for me were the dog & the writing style. That’s really the only reason I didn’t DNF it & also why I gave it a higher rating. I was very disappointed because I really liked the last Katherine Center book I read but this one was just not it.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book. This is a fun, quirky romantic comedy which keeps you turning the pages. If I didn’t have to work, I would have finished it in one day. The main character, Katie, was adorable, relatable and engaging. She is given an assignment by her boss, Cole, to do a story on Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch, who also happens to be Cole’s brother. Something has gone wrong between the brothers, but Katie needs to get on with the assignment to save her job and her journey in Key West brings her deeper into the family’s history and drama. She can’t help but become more enamored with the people she meets along the way as she tries to complete her assignment and not get herself in more trouble than she can handle. Katie has her own drama as a year ago, her fiancé, a rock star, cheated on her in a very public way and she’s been trying to run from the humiliation and self-doubt. This is a book of fun, of reflection and self love. It is AMAZING!!!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a funny romance with a lovable cast of characters.

After a messy breakup, Katie Vaughn is struggling with self-esteem issues. Her cousin Beanie is her closest friend and biggest cheerleader. Katie likes her job as video producer but the owner of business is downsizing. In order to save her job, Katie agrees to fill in for her supervisor when he asks her to go to Key West to film a project for the US Coast Guard.

The star of Katie’s film is none other than her supervisor Cole’s big brother, Tom aka “Hutch”. He is a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard and he is nothing like Cole described him. Although Hutch would rather not be the focus of attention, he has no choice to cooperate with Katie.

The Love Haters is a laugh out loud romance that also touches on serious issues. Katie is dealing with body issues because of internet trolls. Hutch is a wonderful man who has a sad past and troubles with Cole. The side characters are absolutely darling! The storyline is engaging but Cole’s shenanigans are a little silly. Key West is a beautiful setting and serves as a lovely backdrop for the unfolding story. Katherine Center brings this marvelous romance to a heartwarming conclusion.

Katie is caught between a rock and a hard place. She is finally healing from her breakup, but now she’s about to lose her job in another round of layoffs. Her coworker presents a proposition for her to cover his gig in Key West profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who is, of course, one of the most attractive humans to exist. Despite being unable to even swim, Katie accepts. When she lands in Florida, she meets the swimmer’s eccentric Aunt Rue and lovable Great Dane, George Bailey. With lots of laughs and tribulations, Katie learns to finally face her fears.

It is no secret that I adore a Katherine Center novel, and this was no exception. I was hooked so fast, and I lowkey want to move to the Starlite and live with Aunt Rue and The Gals now. All of the characters were such a delight, but George Bailey takes the cake as my favorite. I was so invested in their adventures, and this was such an endearing read.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re looking for a summer romance, this is a fun one. There is a cute “perfect storm of job requirements, physical proximity, removal of clothing, and . . . Hutch.” Ch 8

And also, there is an even deeper romance, “Specifically: Katie and her body—in a kind of enemies-to-lovers trope,” as she mentions in the author’s note.

It was this romance, I loved the most.

I loved all these parts of chapter 12:
“I remembered an article about bullying that said onlookers often didn’t stand up for bullied kids for fear that they would become targets themselves.
…
I could choose to be that one other kid. For myself. I could stay with her, and help her up, and we could turn to watch the sunset, side by side. I could keep one arm around her, and we could watch the sky darken until the moonlight sparkled on the waves, and listen to the water lapping the dock, and be okay together. What if I showed up like that every time?
…
If you don’t reject the harsh things people say to you, then I guess, at some point, that means you accept them.”

It was this part of the book I loved most. And also her friendship with Hutch’s grandmother Rue (who was fun-loving and quirky in all the best ways). And her relationship with Hutch’s dog.

Katherine Center’s writing always makes me think she would be the best kind of friend in real life. I have heard her talk about her husband being a middle school teacher and some of his students read her books, so she keeps them clean. I could imagine parts of this book she is saying to all women, but maybe especially young ones, these truths about loving your body.

Hutch was a great book boyfriend for sure. I also love how Center finds unique careers to write about. He is a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and all the facts and information about these heroes was interesting.

“Isn’t that how it always is? The thing you’re afraid of is never the thing you should be.” Ch 14

“He’s a love hater.” “What does that mean?” “He’s all rules and no heart! He’s all action and no reaction! He’s all body and no soul.” Ch 3

“that feeling of suppressed hope you get when somebody else might think the thing you also keep wanting to think.” Ch 11

“It was about the deep, enduring comfort that comes from looking at your life for exactly what it is, and exactly how it’s unfolded—and really seeing it. The past can’t hurt you now like it did then. The story of your life is always full of mystery. You can unfold it on a table like a map, and study it, and understand it in new ways. It’s not different, but you are.” Epilogue

Thank you libro.fm for providing audiobooks to librarians. This one was fun to listen to! And also thank you to NetGalley and

Katherine Center has done it again with another heartwarming and hilarious rom-com that gave me all the feels. The Love-Haters is the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud moments and emotional depth set against the enviable backdrop of Key West.

Main character Katie is a classic Center character—quirky and flawed yet so lovable. Watching her stumble through lies, and her own fears was equal parts entertaining and inspiring. And Hutch! With his deep sense of goodness and loyalty, he completely stole my heart. He’s one of those quietly heroic love interests you can’t help but root for. Add in a rescue Great Dane and a whirlwind of adventures (helicopter flights and hurricanes!) I was hooked.

If you’re looking for a funny, feel-good romance with heart and a little tropical chaos, this book is it.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Whether you are new to Katherine Center's books or a long time reader, you will find many mixed reviews about this new book. Please read it for yourself and form your own opinion just as I have.

A sweet laugh out loud romance that's sure to warm your heart.

Katie's job as a videographer is on the line. Her boss gives her a great opportunity to prove herself. She is sent to Florida to work with the Coast Guard, but she struggles with self doubt and... she can't Swim.
Along comes Hutch, who is handsome and heroic....
Can Katie learn to love herself and let people in? Can she fulfill her duty to save her job? Can she fall in love? But most importantly can she learn to SWIM?

Pre-order your copy today for a May 20th release date to get the answers.

A woman who lies about being able to swim to save her job, has to travel to Key West to do a film on Coast Guard rescue training because her boss is the younger brother of the film subject and the brothers don't speak? This should make for a fun book.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how utterly relatable the self-deprecating FMC Katie is and her growth throughout to loving herself. I loved her cousin Beanie pushing her to find the things she loves about herself.

Hutch was such a good guy. I mean he's a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard which takes a lot of courage and heart to do well it seems. He has a rescue Great Dane, George Bailey, who he does so well with helping when things get tough for the dog. George is such a great animal character who has a sad backstory.

The side character of Rue, Hutch's Aunt, was a beautifully tragic story once it's told. She was just an amazing soul taking on what she did out of her tragedy and just making the best possible world after it.

The ocean scene at the end had my heart in my throat. I would have been so terrified and not much scares me but .... whoa. I would not want to go through THAT.

I really enjoyed this one! It took me a little bit to get into but the second half of the book really sold me. I loved that this book had so much more depth than a stereotypical romance. It focused on self discovery and other relationships outside of romantic ones. I love the aspect of found family in this story as well as the MMC being a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer!

thank you netgalley for the arc !!

the love haters was a nice quick summery read !! taking place in key west w a small island coastal setting so fun !!

i honestly read this book so fast bc i felt like it was fun and interesting and kept me on my toes

but i didn’t love it as much as i wanted to especially this being my first katherine center book

i think hutch and katie both have very interesting stories indivually where hutch works w the coast guard and has this rocky relationship w his brother cole

and katie is struggling w self image issues and an old breakup w someone who is now very famous

overall i think up until the 70-80% ish mark it was a 4 star but then the whole last few chapters the plot there stressed me out like i know we were pivoting for that happy ending but this felt a little extreme

anyway would recommend but i just feel like 3 bc it didn’t stand out to me.

Katherine Center’s books have become like comfort food for me. I’ve read almost her entire backlist and have always enjoyed them, so I was excited for this new one. Her books tend to be heartwarming while also being laugh out loud funny, with a good balance of rom and com. But I have to admit I didn’t love this one at first. In the beginning I had a hard time liking the main character Katie, and her body image storyline felt a little forced and awkward to me. The story and the characters grew on me though, and about halfway through I felt fully invested. It was a dramatic, messy, and overall satisfying love story. I appreciated that it was not just about romantic love but also self love and the love between family and friends. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

If Katherine Center writes it- I'm going to read it! Just like all of her other rom-coms, this story was heartfeltand swoon-worthy. It is a cozy, beach read with relatable characters and a gorgeous setting. The Love Haters is a perfect mix of humor, romance and even adventure!
Read if you like:
Found Family
Forced Proximity
Beach Vibes
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy + Sunshine

Thank you for the arc! I love Katherine Center and this book is no exception - 4.5⭐️ I felt I could relate to Katie and her body image issues, I connected a lot to her realization of how her body is enough because it’s hers. I also liked learning about the unique careers both mcs had!

4.5 ⭐️ Were parts of this absolutely far fetched? Yes! Was it giving classic rom com vibes? Yes! Did I love every second of it? Yes!

I’ve loved Katherine Center’s books for some time now so I was so excited to get this ARC and I was not disappointed. I loved all the characters (human and animal), there was funny banter and it was a very unique storyline for a romcom type book. If you are looking for a great summer read then look no further!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!!!

3.5 stars

I was a big fan of Katherine Center's most recent releases, but I could tell as soon as I started this one that I wasn't going to connect with it. A main part of the story is Katie's body image issues, and believe me, I get that, but it's harder to sympathize with when it becomes a constant. I also didn't have a big interest in the Coast Guard rescue swimmer theme, so it was a very slow start to me that picked up only slightly towards the middle, but not enough to be a love it book.

Katie is a promotional videographer who is sent to Key West to record a video for the Coast Guard in place of her boss, Cole, whose brother Hutch is a rescue swimmer in the division. Cole makes Hutch out to be a love hater machine devoid of human emotion, perfect on the outside but with no soul inside, so Katie is shocked upon her arrival to find Hutch to be just the opposite. After spending day in and day out with each other, the two start to develop feelings for each other, but soon Cole's workplace lies threaten their fledgling relationship and Katie finds herself embroiled in their deep seeded sibling trauma. Hutch and Cole's honorary Aunt Rue and The Gals of the Starlite cottages provided colorful Key West comic relief, and George Bailey the Great Dane has probably the best name for a dog to ever exist. But these bright spots weren't enough to save the book for me, and I didn't find myself overly invested in Katie and Hutch's relationship, feeling we were never shown any depth and development over the short period of time they knew each other and were just expected to believe they fell in love. Maybe I'm the real Lover Hater here 😅

This one took some time for me to get into, but I flew through the second half.

The author’s note in this one is chef’s kiss.

Good love stories are so much more than just romance between partners. This one explores every type of relationship, and how healing those can be.

Love yourself. Love others. Just love.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this one.

This book has received quite a few mixed reviews, which honestly surprised me because I absolutely loved it! That said, if you have ever struggled with an eating disorder, I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings ahead of time.

This story follows Katie, our FMC, who's sent to Key West by her coworker Cole, to film a promo video for the U.S. Coast Guard. The catch? Katie can't swim, and the start of this promo is Cole's estranged brother. You're probably thinking of course it couldn't have been that easy. Yep - family drama and personal fears all wrapped up into one fun assignment.

While this isn't your typical spicy or romance heavy read, it shines in a different way. This book is deeply rooted in self-growth and facing the fear that holds us back. Katie's journey is almost like an enemies to lovers trope but with herself. I really enjoyed watching her learn to love herself in her own body and truly embrace who she is.

I don't want to spoil anything so you will have to read it yourself, but I stayed up all night to finish this book. Honestly, I might need a Coast Guard man of my own now :)

And a special shoutout to George Bailey and his toads - IYKYK ;)