Katherine Center writes such good, captivating stories that I can always find a piece of myself in. I love not only seeing her love stories play out and the connections between characters and their relationship and banter, but also the life lessons that are always present in her books and remind me of the beauty of life and how to live fully with joy. Not my favorite of hers but I enjoyed and would definitely recommend for fans of her other work or for anyone looking for a delightful rom com with a side of found family and the US Coast Guard

If she writes it. I’m reading it. If you need a fast paced easy summer read that captivates you from the very first sentence. This is your book. I can’t put into words my love for this book, I loved it so much I immediately went to purchase it when it hit the shelves at Barnes & Nobles. I honestly don’t think I could do a review without gabbing about the entire book and giving everything away.

MUST READ.

Katherine Center always delivers, and this is no exception! Katie and Hutch are loveable and relatable, with flaws and insecurities, which makes it easy to root for them. Rue and the Gals add humor and light, and George Bailey was more than just a dog sidekick like I've seen in so many books. Overall, I utterly loved this book from start to finish - with one small little "hmmm" moment that I'll mention below since it includes a spoiler.

*******Spoiler below*******

Katie and her BFF/cousin Beanie were incredibly close through the first half of the book, talking constantly about every little thing that happened. Beanie was Katie's touchpoint on all things, and therefore I found it very unbelievable that when the dreaded miscommunication trope caused problems between Katie and Hutch in the third act, she hadn't run any of it by Beanie. They spent hours on facetime throughout the book, and then when Cole shows up and claims to be engaged to her, she doesn't even send Beanie a text? I really dislike miscommunication as a breakup act in general, but when it's so out of character for the person, it really makes it even harder to get through. Even when she's in a dire situation at the end of the book, she has the time to talk to Beanie. But not when her life is being blown up? That's what took this to 4 stars, because otherwise, it was perfection.

This was a hit and a miss from me. I absolutely loved the writing, and plan on picking up something else by Center, however this story didnt do it for me. Katie was atrocious as a main character. I couldn’t stand her perspective and her thoughts and I cringed reading as her.

I wish I enjoyed the characters and plot as much as I enjoyed the writing.

It pains me deeply to say this is my least favorite Katherine Center book I’ve read so far, and I’ve read a good many of hers. It started off great. It has the classic Katherine Center banter, whit, and funny moments. And up until about 50% in I was 100% on board and loving it.

But then things just started to get weird. Situations would happen and make you question why certain characters would do certain things. Literally, she would do something unhinged and admit that it was unhinged and then keep doing it, but it was like her admitting that it was a crazy thing to do somehow made it acceptable. I don’t know. But honestly, the last 50% of the book made me question if she got a new editor halfway through or something because it was literally different than what she normally writes.

Basically, I didn’t feel the connection between the two main characters AT ALL. The conflict/resolution was absurd. And there was unnecessary drama coupled with no chemistry between the couple which all felt forced. They definitely weren’t “love haters” by any means. And there was this weird sub plot with the main character hating her body which felt forced but also didn’t completely bother me but might definitely bother others.

But the shining light was the Great Dane named George Bailey (named after Jimmy Stewart from Its a Wonderful Life). He’s a gem. I’d read a whole book about him!

I don’t know what to tell yall as far as if you should read this book or not. If you’ve read a lot of Katherine Center then you might also feel disappointed in this one. But the banter and funny parts, descriptions of Key West, overall descriptions of the Coast Guard, and George Bailey of course was enough to boost this an extra 1/2⭐️ and not completely write it off.

DNF’d at 64%. Just couldn’t push through anymore and I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I just couldn't push through anymore.

I love Katherine Center's writing. I always find myself in her female characters, & with the FMC Katie, I found myself again. This is a fun, quirky & entertaining ride about Katie Vaughn, a video producer who takes on an assignment from her coworker Cole that revolves around his brother, Hutch. She's not exactly qualified to follow a Coast Guard rescue swimmer (she can't swim), but that doesn't stop her. Through her time with Hutch, she unravels the sibling rivalry that exists & it all comes to a head with her stuck in the middle.

Katie's insecurities & journey towards body positivity are ones that I fully relate to. I really loved her inner dialogue & her vulnerability when sharing her struggles. Her relationship with Hutch is a slow burn that progresses naturally & has some hiccups along the way (especially when Cole comes to visit). This story is a fun ride that captivated me from beginning to end. The adventures Katie goes on with Hutch, alongside some wonderful supporting characters (Aunt Rue is a favorite), just brighten some more emotionally deep moments.

Overall, this story is another example of Katherine Center's incredible gift of weaving together complex characters in a gripping story that is both emotional, lighthearted, and thought-provoking. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end.

💖 Enemies to Lovers
🌊 Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer x Video Producer
🏡 Forced Proximity
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🫶 Found Family
🌴 Key West Setting
⚡️ Sibling Rivalry
💕 Self Love Journey
☝🏻 Single FMC POV

I had really high hopes for this book as a big fan of Katherine center and the bodyguard, but this book just wasn't it for me. I felt like it could’ve been so much more and it fell flat when it came to the promo and Rue’s illness. I wanted to know more and have Katie and Hutch go through more together. There was so much opportunity to give this more depth. Great idea, but wasn’t fully executed.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Love Haters was an absolutely wonderful read! A heartwarming read full of heart, depth, humor, and positivity that will leave you with a smile.

Katie, the FMC, is doing everything she can to keep her job and is looking to take any project she can get to better stand out. So, when she is offered a job to produce a documentary about Hutch, a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard, she takes it (despite not knowing how to swim). Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Katie does everything she can to make it all go smoothly. Nonetheless, a bit of chaos and hilarity happens along the way. Katie is determined though and what ensues is an amazing journey into self-discovery, confidence, and letting go of fear (with lots of amazing, humorous moments along the way).

When Katie arrives in Key West, she meets Rue, her friends, along with Hutch and his dog, George Bailey. Rue does everything to make Katie feel comfortable, welcoming her up in one of her cottages and arranging swim lessons. Her swim instructor is none other than Hutch, who she is filming a documentary about. As Katie and Hutch go about all of it, Katie soon discovers that she has feelings for him and, in order to be able to pursue something there, has to let go of fear and fully embrace who she is.

Everything about this book was incredible. From the gorgeous Key West setting, to the sense of community, to the emphasis on embracing a new approach, Katie’s story is one of determination, strength, and resiliency. It was great to see how she began to accept and love herself for who she is, while gaining the courage to step out and follow her heart. The added focus on friendship and community was an added benefit to the overall plot.

The Love Haters is an enjoyable, entertaining, and utterly lovely read. Highly, highly recommend this for all fans of contemporary romance! A beautifully written novel full of self-discovery, self-love, growth, friendship, community, and romance.

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I have truly enjoyed reading all of her books and this one is absolutely no exception!

I loved Katie’s character! And even if, as women, we want to admit it or not, we can absolutely all relate to Katie’s self perception of herself. But I love how Katherine Center portrayed learning to love yourself and realizing your own beauty with help of Katie’s lovely friend, Beanie! I loved their friendship and their banter. Their friendship was one of my favorite parts of this book!

I also adored Rue. Her presence and confidence radiated throughout this book. The kindness that radiates from her is beautiful!

And of course, we can’t leave out the slow burn romance with Katie and Hutch!! I loved their banter. Hutch is very respectable.

All of this to say, I highly recommend this book!! I can never say enough wonderful this about the way Katherine Center writes! I will always and forever pick up her books and read them!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love the Katherine Center's combination of lighthearted and heartfelt rom-coms. This one was not my favorite of hers, but it was still very enjoyable, colorful, and a great summery read with a cinematic climac. I could just see it on the screen.

The set up is that Katie is a midlevel video producer who's job is on the line as her company downsizes. Her sort-of boss Cole puts her up for a job that he's supposed to be doing — making a Coast Guard promo video in Key West of his too-perfect brother Hutch. Is Cole entirely trustworthy? Well, no. Can Katie swim? Also, no. She also has a step-mother-induced phobia of wearing a swimsuit.

Katie goes anyway. She needs this job as she's recently climbed her way out of an awful breakup with a now-famous musician. Katie is set up at Hutch's aunt's cottage. Hutch ends up being her swim coach. Heart eyes ensue as a group of elderly women in bright outfits watch. It's cute. There's also a giant dog.

What didn't work for me was that Center does a lot of telling when she could be showing. The getting-to-know-you conversations and banter that I feel really set up a good rom-com and establish a believable connection are almost all glossed over in favor of broad overviews. I also felt like a lot of people never show up physically in the story — Katie's ex-fiance is a big plot driver but never appears. Katie's father and body-shaming step-mother are mentioned quite a few times, but she never even talks to them on the phone. I'd also have loved to "see" Katie's delightful cousin Beanie come to Key West for a weekend, but she remains just a voice on the phone.

I did enjoy this, but it didn't quite earn a four stars from me.

⭐️⭐️ | A lighthearted read, but not my favorite from Katherine Center

I’m usually a big fan of Katherine Center’s books, but Love Haters didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While I appreciated the relatability of the female main character and her emotional arc, I struggled to stay engaged throughout most of the story.

The plot didn’t fully pull me in until the hurricane scene near the end—that’s when the stakes finally felt real and the pacing picked up. Up until then, I found myself waiting for something to happen. I did love the addition of the Great Dane (such a sweet touch!), but I didn’t feel the same connection to the characters—especially the male lead—that I’ve come to expect from this author’s work.

That said, it was still a light, easy read and made for a decent palate cleanser between heavier books. I’m looking forward to seeing what Center writes next and hoping for a return to the emotional pull of her earlier novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center. This review is based on that advance copy, provided solely for the purpose of an honest review.

Synopsis:
Katie Vaughn’s career is on the line, so when her coworker offers her a shot at saving it by profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, she jumps at the chance. There’s just one problem—Katie can’t swim, and the guy she’s profiling happens to be her coworker’s brother. Cue the awkward lies, swim lessons, and undeniable sparks. What starts as a work trip turns into way more, as Katie finds herself facing old fears, big feelings, and a whole lot of chaos along the way.

My thoughts:
This book ended up being a delightful surprise, but it did take some time to get there. The first 15% felt a bit slow, and I wasn’t quite sure where the story was headed. However, once the pacing picked up, I was fully invested. The premise felt fresh and unique, and I appreciated the way the story balanced humor with deeper emotional moments.

I do wish the romance had been explored more thoroughly. The early relationship building between Katie and Hutch felt a little rushed, and I found myself wanting more scenes of them interacting and getting to know each other throughout their time in Key West. That said, there were several laugh-out-loud moments that made this such an enjoyable read, and the final stretch of the book really delivered. I loved how the story wrapped up, and the emotional payoff in the last quarter was exactly what I was hoping for.

Overall, The Love Haters is a fun, heartwarming story with a memorable setting and a great cast of characters. Despite a slow start and a few missed opportunities in the romance development, it’s a book I’d easily recommend to fans of Katherine Center or anyone looking for a feel-good romantic comedy with just the right touch of heart.

I am a fan of Katherine Center but I feel this book wasn't at par for me. I just could not feel any love and emotion. The pacing isnt something I had a problem with but I felt the romance was quite under-developed.

This was a sweet, uplifting read with some beautiful messages about body acceptance and learning to give yourself grace. While I enjoyed it, I have to admit it wasn’t my favorite of Katherine Center’s books — How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire still hold the top spots for me.

There’s a conflict in the story that felt a bit forced, as if it was added just to create tension, and for me, it disrupted the natural charm of the plot. I also found the pacing a bit slow at times, which made parts of the story drag.

That said, Center’s signature magic is still here — she has an unmatched ability to write characters who not only have great chemistry but also radiate kindness and authenticity. She remains, in my mind, the queen of the comfort romance.

I’m giving this one 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

As always, Ms Center’s book was a winner. I have loved every single one I’ve read and I am pretty sure I’ve read them all! This one was a little more serious than some others but in a good way. The main character grows up and oozes confidence and charm along the way. I hope the next one comes out quickly because I am definitely having withdrawal.

A quirky FMC, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer MMC and a group of older ladies called The Gals make up an amazing character cast for this book. There was a big focus on learning to love yourself and your body which was refreshing - love stories don't have to be only about living others. There were a few things that I just didn't love in this book like Cole's character and his lying. Some of it felt really far fetched. Overall a sweet read that's a bit of a ride.

Katherine Center always knows how to write an interesting and charming love story! She has unique and quirky characters and fun dialogue.

This story starts with Katie going to film reluctant Beto, rescue swimmer, and older brother to her manager for some promotion for the U.S. Coast Guard. She’s doing Cole, her manager, a favor by taking the assignment with his older brother Hutch, in hopes of avoiding being part of a round of lay offs at work.

Katie arrives and starts to discover that Hutch is very different than Cole made him seem. He’s handsome, capable, hard working, possibly flirting with her, and NOT the love hater he was made out to be. Hutch and Katie end up spending almost all their time together while she films him, gets swim lessons from him, and is living at his aunts cottage.

These two are so cute and sweet together. I love their banter and soft moments together. Hutch comes to Katie’s rescue on several occasions and they just have some sweet and tender moments.

Katie is working through quite a lot throughout the book in terms of her self image, confidence, negative self talk, body image issues, and disordered eating in her past. I thought the authors note at the end of the novel provided some important thoughts but beware that these topics are present and proceed with care. They were a bit much for me at times for my personal preferences.

My only other issue with the book was all the LYING from the brother, Cole. Boy did he make things messy! Once I hit the 70% mark I just had to keep reading because of the family drama.

This book is a closed door romance and was overall a fun read!

Face your fears and hot guys? Sign me up! I Love Katherine Center’s depth of characters and out-of-the-box romances. The side characters really stood out in this book with some deep family drama and yes, there is an adorable dog. However, things seemed to much and storylines became a bit far fetched even for a romcom, love Katherine's other books but this one was not a top one.
Thank you Net Galley and St Martins press for the ARC copy.

I don’t know how Kathrine Center manages to blend a cute love story with more heavy, serious topics and still keep it light and hopeful but she does it every time and The Love Haters is no exception. She is also great at just writing a truly funny and relatable FMC that I have come to think of it as her signature, a way that you can know write away she wrote it. In the love haters it was great to see how Katie uses this trip to prove to help prove to herself that after her breakup, she is whole again. I am always a sucker for a man who starts off grumpy but quickly melts for his love interest and Hayden does just that. Their relationship progression felt natural and I really enjoyed the pacing of the story after a bit of a slow start. I would recommend this book both to those who have read Center's previous works but it is also great as a starting point for those who have never read her work before.