
Member Reviews

Katherine Center can do absolutely no wrong when it comes to writing a great romance, and this one is easily now one of my favorites of hers. The characters and their emotions feel so very real, the main character's connection is undeniable, and their storyline felt fresh and original. I loved these characters and this book! In fact, I finished it several months ago, and yet I continue to think about these two and hope all is well with them, as if they are actually real people. Ha. If you are looking for your first/next summer beach-read, you must read this one THIS summer! Highly recommend.

This is another great story from Katherine Center. I loved Katie and Hutch and especially George Bailey. Though honestly this could have used some trigger warnings. There is some kind of traumatic weather related stuff near the end (those there is a HEA) and ALOT of body image and diet culture talk.

Katherine Center's latest romcom takes two people burned by love and forces them into proximity for a tension-filled screwball comedy.
Katie is a year out of a bad breakup that led to some deep trauma when her co-worker pushes an assignment on her to save her job. So she heads to Key West to profile Hutch, a beautiful hero of the US Coast Guard.
The catch? Numerous lies and preconceptions surround the visit.
Katie is struggling in her job, in her life, and in her self-esteem. As we meet her, she's coming out of an apparent eating disorder and severe depression-- but she's still just going through the motions of living. Her best friend pushes her to use this assignment as an catalyst to change things and boost her confidence. Katie is reluctant.
Meeting Hutch and the cast of characters surrounding him in this world help Katie find herself, but is it the push she needs to really change herself?
Center's characters are as delightful as ever, each hiding deep emotional issues with sarcasm or avoidance until something forces them to confront the issues.
The 3rd act becomes more screwball comedy as lies come to light, hurricanes hit town and a huge dog plays a huge role.
Some of the storylines reach some conclusions that don't seem earned, but overall the big storyline is good enough that it overshadows some of those plotholes.

Katherine Center is my absolute favorite author, and I just LOVED The Love Haters! It was funny but also real and reflective. The main characters, Hutch and Katie are lovely and you just want good things for them. I loved The Gals and Rue, they were perfect at moving things along with Katie and Hutch (and Cole). I would've read another 500 pages of these characters, and Katie's growth and journey make me hopeful that people reading this book can relate too and grow from as well!

Adorable—excellent via audio. The last 1/4 of the book had me very anxious and the bigger message (the one that is bigger than a love story with a man)from Katie towards the end was perfection and nice to hear.
Don’t skip the author’s note at the end.

Katherine Center is an author I can always count on. Her books are always entertaining and funny. The Love Haters was no different. I loved the characters. I loved the storyline. Thank you, Netgalley for the chance to read.

DNFed at 20%. I'm sorry, I do love Katherine Center and her books are sweet, but this much body image/eating disorder talk so early is a big trigger for me, and other reviews have led me to believe that it remains a major focus of the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! Katie was an easy character to fall in love with because every woman can see a piece of herself in her. She’s funny, brilliant, kind, and has let the world convince her that she is not enough just as she is. Enter Hutch who loves his job, George Bailey, and his Aunt Rue. Their chemistry and banter were *chef’s kiss! Katherine Center is a National treasure and The Love-Haters proves again that she absolutely cannot miss.

I love Katherine Center and I was so excited to read this book! This book is the perfect book to read over the summer. I enjoyed the characters, the humor and of course the romance. The writing was great and all that was missing was the beach I wish I had been on when I read this.

Oh, what I would pay to live in Katie’s mind 24/7 hahaha but I mean, I kinda do? And that’s probably why I enjoyed this book so much. This was such a fun read — perfect for a pool or beach day!
When I started reading about her body dysmorphia, I worried it would be triggering… but I appreciated that she voiced a lot of the behaviors and thoughts that haunt me. And you might think that would be triggering because in so many other instances it has been. Katie views herself as all the flaws and faults and shortcomings her stepmother pointed out growing up, for all the heinous things people attached to her when she was with her ex. That trauma defines her. Until it doesn’t. And we (the readers) will root for her in this journey!
But I could not stop laughing at the absurdity of the situations Katie found herself in and her ridiculous thoughts running through her head. There is absolutely no way this poor girl could have such miserable luck. Her perspective was simultaneously morbid / melancholy and hilarious, and it’s this outlook that makes her so human. She’s a kaleidoscope of emotions and thoughts itching to break through darkness.
AND ALL THE PHOBIAS!! The phobias, the freezing/inaction— I can completely relate to having irrational fears. I’m deathly afraid of squirrels, just typing the word makes my body tremor and my gag reflexes activate. I’d rather cross the street than pass one on the sidewalk. Picnics in the park? And risk death?! No thanks. My body will literally freeze up if I’m too near. Can’t even run one over with my car… it would be too close. So reading about Katie and the many steps she takes to tackle her fears, finding strength and learning to trust herself is admirable and encouraging.
I think my favorite part about this book is that it’s all about perspective. We’re introduced to Hutch from his brother’s perspective: he’s perfect, he’s fit, he’s the nicest human ever, a literal hero, but he’s quiet and “his favorite hobby is frowning” (now he honestly kinda sounds like a perfect man but whatever…) and then we meet him and while he is those things, he’s also not.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center--this upcoming romance releases on May 20. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Katie is a video producer who is sent to Key West to film Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and estranged brother of her co-worker Cole. The problem? She can't swim and has body image issues that make swimsuits complicated. But off she goes anyway and finds herself drawn to Hutch and his aunt Rue and The Gals. I appreciated how Katie was able to work on her body image issues with the encouragement of her new friends. The romance was cute and had enough drama to make for a good story.

Love Haters I wasn't sure what to expect, but I am a sucker for Katherine Center books and this was another good one. Solid, fun beachy read.

I sadly DNF’d this book at 32%. I’m a big Katherine Center fan and I kept trying to power through to see if it got better, but I had to stop. I could not relate to the main character, Kate. I was annoyed by her self esteem issues and the fact that she had to FaceTime her friend for hours to get through the day. There was no chemistry between Kate and Hutch and what sunk the book for me was when he was giving her a swimming lesson and he described his “extra biscuits” (abdomen) and asked her to feel it. Wow. Lost me right there.
A complementary copy was provided by publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Katherine Center has done it again. This was delightful. The characters were charming and the plot was well-paced. I highly recommend this fun rom-com! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

I'm not sure why someone like me who doesn't like or read romance novels or rom-coms likes Katherine Center's books so much but I do! Her humor, a realistic story line, some twists in the story - she can just tell a great story with such heart!
Katie is a video producer and it looks like she has two really bad choices - get laid off or take a job profiling a Coast Guard rescuer. Obviously the latter sounds better, except that Katie can't swim and this is her co-worker's brother. She very reluctantly takes the job and heads to Key West, Florida.
Pick up a copy to read by the beach, or listen to this great audiobook as you dream of being on a beach with the warm wind on you - you won't be disappointed!
My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

Another winner by Katherine Center. This book was fun! I enjoyed the Coast Guard element weaved in. A fab summer read!

While this book has all the markings of a sweet rom-com, it felt like the relationship at the center of this story was between Katie and herself. Katie is our POV character. She's had a dry spell in the dating world after her fiancé publicly cheated on her. She's at a job that is under threat as the company downsizes. She's recovering from what is clearly an eating disorder and still has a terrible relationship with her physical body.
Her life is turned upside down when she takes an assignment to create a promotional video for the coast guard featuring Hutch, her supervisor's brother. Their meet cute and subsequent relationship has all the hallmarks of a Katherine Center story. And yet, the emotional growth we watch in Katie is instigated by her cousin, Beanie. Katie is in a dark place with her body still. She hides behind her clothes and has nothing kind to say about any part of herself. Beanie challenges Katie to come up with 10 things she loves about her body. This process highlights the abysmal relationship Katie has with it.
Hutch and Katie have a fluffy, classic romance. She's awkward. He's her subject. They have to spend a lot of time together for this project. Katie was led to believe that Hutch is taciturn, scowling, and broody. We never meet that Hutch. He flirts with her the first time they meet. Their second meeting has the banter flowing. While we are told by others that "he's different with her," we never meet the previous version of Hutch.
There's nothing wrong with their love story. But I felt like it took a back seat to Katie's journey. I do wish that we saw Katie's history called out for what it was: an eating disorder. She never gets medical or mental help. For me, a greater impact would've been to watch her in treatments. Or with a therapist. This book makes it look like you can get better on your own. It rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, this book was fine. It was not my favorite Katherine Center. It does have a great side character, Hutch's Great Dane. Love a dog.

Katie is a video producer who is in danger of losing her job. When her co-worker, Cole, sends her to Key West to make a profile on his Coast Guard hero brother, Hutch, she jumps at the chance. There she is forced to confront some of her biggest fears, including swimming. While she is fighting to save her job, she and Hutch grow closer in this quick and enjoyable rom-com. The star of this one is absolutely a Great Dane rescue named George Bailey, he steals every scene he's in. This was not only a slow burn romance but a journey of self-love and facing your insecurities. The third act conflict was a bit over the top for me and I would have liked more scenes building the connection between the two main characters. But overall, I enjoyed this new book from Katherine Center.
A perfect summer read!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eArc of The Love Haters.

Katherine Center did it again! another great read. She does a great job writing FMC who are likable but are also flawed.
The story is about love, not just romantic but love for family and yourself. It's written in a way where one doesn't over shadow the other.

I really enjoyed The Love Haters. There were quite a few times I laughed out loud while reading. I felt like I was on the Keys with Katie when she arrived. The hotel sounds like a place I would like to vacation to.
Katie is sent by a coworker Cole to make a film about the Cost Guard. Little does she know she will be videoing Cole's brother Hutch. Their first meeting was a little prickly but the of them seemed to get off to a good start, that is until Cole and their boss shows up.
A good reminder to learn to love yourself before you can love another.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of The Love Haters by Katherine Center for an honest review.