3.5/5⭐️

This was a cute rom-com! If you are looking for a summer romance that is quick and closed door, this is the book for you!

Katie is a videographer/journalist who has been tasked with getting the story of rescue swimmer Tom Hutchison. Otherwise known as “Hutch”. One problem, she can’t swim.

The banter between Katie and Hutch was fun. It was lighthearted and had a “found family” aspect. There were some ideas centered around body positivity and darker parts of parents passing away.

Overall, it was cute and good for summer! One note from me is I would have liked referred more romance/a bit more spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This book, while still enjoyable, defiantly did fall flat for me compared to some other recent releases by this author.
I found myself not as invested in the couple as a whole, and some of the FMC’s inner monologue could be extremely triggering. While disordered eating is a very important topic and can be obsessive for the individual, I did find that the focus on it almost bordered the line of being too much and triggering instead of enlightening.

This hit all the beat for what I expected from a Katherine Center release. Fun characters, interesting setting/premise, and robust side characters. A perfectly fine summer read.

CW: The main character is recovering from an eating disorder. The beginning of the book contains content that might be triggering, including the main character listing out foods and how many calories are in each.

Katherine Center’s Love Haters is a heartwarming, witty exploration of love, self-discovery, and the power of friendship. The story follows Katie, a woman who’s been dumped by her now-famous ex-boyfriend, leaving her with a bruised self-esteem and a complicated view of her own worth. As she navigates the difficult terrain of rebuilding her life and her sense of beauty, she finds herself thrown into the orbit of Hutch, a well-known "love hater" with a mysterious past. What follows is an emotional and uplifting journey of healing, self-acceptance, and, ultimately, love.

Love Haters is a delightful and uplifting read, perfect for fans of romance and women’s fiction. Center’s exploration of self-worth, the healing process, and the power of love makes this novel both heartwarming and inspiring. Whether you're looking for a lighthearted romance or a thoughtful exploration of self-acceptance, this book is sure to leave you with a smile and a sense of hope.

I really liked this! I love a fun little lie in a romance. Really enjoyed both MMC and FMC - some heavier topics than I expected from the blurb/cover but I also enjoy that in my romances.

I DNF’d this book 10% of the way in. The fatphobia, toxic diet culture, and flippant way an eating disorder were treated were not for me and I don’t think should be for anyone. Extremely disappointed in this author that I typically enjoy.

Katie and Hutch are adorable in this slow burn rom-com. Katie is making a promo video for the US Coast Guard and follows rescue swimmer, Hutch, to get the shots.
This book is filled with angst, laughs, and lots of self discovery in the FMC, Katie.

A lovable Great Dane steals the show in this book setting up or characters for some interesting and hilarious scenes. I’ll never think about splinters the same, iykyk. 🤣

Center’s books are always an enjoyable escape for me. They are quick reads that lift me up and bring me joy and this book was exactly what I needed when I read it! 👏🏼

Check CW and TW before diving in, as this book does have some heavy topics. Protect your peace, friends. 🫶🏼

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katie works as a content producer for a small production company based in Dallas - or at least, she does at the moment, but she’s pretty sure she’s getting laid off soon. Actually, everyone is being laid off, and one of her managers offers her a job to help her keep hers. She has to film a promo for the US Coast Guard featuring her manager’s famous rescue swimmer brother. The only problem is she doesn’t know how to swim, she’s never been on a helicopter and is not comfortable with the training needed, and there’s some intense family drama that she doesn’t want to get involved in. Add in the fact that the rescue swimming brother is devastatingly handsome and heartbreakingly emotionally unavailable, and you’ve got an instant classic.

I gave this book 4 stars. This was my first time reading a book by Katherine Center, and I completely understand the hype! I really enjoyed her writing style; it felt so familiar and natural, as if Katie herself was telling the story to me over dinner. Katie as a character was so likable, and while I don’t personally have body positivity issues, I felt connected to her as she went through her own self-love discovery in a relatable way. Her banter with Hutch was also top-tier, and Hutch has 100% been added to my list of ‘book boyfriend blueprints’ - he was practically perfect in every way.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun and sometimes thrilling romantic read with a bit of learning self-love sprinkled in. This book is available now!

I don't think I have anything good to say about this book.
It should have been a DNF, but I felt obligated to get through it for NetGalley purposes.
First and foremost, I find it incredibly irresponsible and tasteless that there were no trigger warnings given at the start. The way Katie's eating disorder is handled tries to make light of it and poke fun, but it is a heavy topic that deserves way more care.
Katie was a selfish, irritating, self-centered FMC. While a literal hurricane is happening, she is worried about if a man she just duped repeatedly was mad at her. I could not roll my eyes hard enough.
Cole and Hutch had a familiar sibling rivalry thing going, but they were both so one-dimensional, I found it hard to care. Cole's "drinking contest" idea with a man who was wholeheartedly sober - disgusting. Sobriety is not something that you turn off and on.
And what in God's name was the fake-dating plot with Cole????? That was so off the rails and insane. It made absolutely no sense within the story, served no purpose other than to stir up trouble, and was then just resolved with no one really caring?

Honestly, two stars feels generous for this. It deserves one star, but the other one is for me for even finishing this travesty of a book.
I'm disappointed because this is my first Katherine Center book. I wanted to love her, but I will definitely not be rushing to pick up anything else by her.

The Hate Lovers

I really enjoyed the first two books I read by Katherine Center; Hello Stranger & The Bodyguard. I was hoping to enjoy this one just as much, but unfortunately, it did not click with me. I like that it brings awareness to eating disorders & body dysmorphia but Katie made it her entire personality. I strongly dislike that she needed the validation of a man in order to feel comfortable in her own skin. I didn't get the connection with her & Hutch. She also makes a comment about how sexy of a name Hutch is to a 911 dispatcher.... no it is not sexy. I am looking forward to reading the author's other books, this one just did not do it for me.

Every book I’ve read of Katherine Centers has never failed to make me feel so many emotions and the same goes for The Love Haters! I love how she writes her romances, they’re always so cute but these characters always bring new outlooks into life for me.I truly loved the overall setting of this book it felt so cozy and welcoming. I truly love when a book can transport you to a place real or not. Seeing Hutch and Katie’s chemistry get stronger through the book brought me so much joy. I also really enjoyed hearing about how both of their jobs worked it was very interesting and new to me. The side charters also brought so much to the story. Aunt Rue is who I want to be when I grow up that lovely lady is so full of wisdom and obviously great style. We can’t forget the most important side character George Bailey. This giant goofball Great Dane really made my heart swell. The ending of this book threw me for a loop and I was not expecting it all and had my heart racing. Another 5 star read for me and I can’t wait to read her next one! Thank you Netgally for the ARC I thoroughly appreciate it and highly enjoyed!

The Love Haters is a heartfelt, uplifting romance with Katherine Center’s signature blend of humor, emotional insight, and vivid characters. With its focus on self-love and supportive relationships, it’s a perfect summer escape—and a sweet reminder that the most important love story is the one we tell ourselves. If you’re in the mood for a charming, emotionally resonant read that’ll make you smile—and maybe teary—that feels like a hug in book form, this one is hard to beat. May be triggering for people who have body image CWs.

I loved Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard so I was so excited to receive the ARC for the Love Haters. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the early advanced reader’s copy. Katie’s job is on the line so to save her job, she takes up a special gig in Key West. Her gig consists of producing a video for her co-worker’s brother Hutch who is a coast guard rescue swimmer. Overall this book was fast paced and cute! I could picture this as a romcom movie.

I don't know how but somehow Katherine Center keeps upping her game and offering up great romantic yet hopeful novels. Another 5 star gem.

I’m a huge Katherine Center fan and her newest book did not disappoint. It was laugh out loud funny and often reminded me of Finlay Donovan books (in the best way) with the ridiculous situations Katie found herself in. As others have mentioned, the talk of her body dysmorphia was a little repetitive, but it’s also a real issue that many women deal with. She not only learned to love others, but herself too! Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy!

Katherine Center has become an automatic read for me. This was a beautiful love story not only between two adults but also between a woman and her body.

I loved this one.! Katherine Center never misses. I laughed out loud multiple times, and I truly loved the drama of it all! I also loved the integration of heavier themes done so with humor and grace.

Contemplating a DNF on this one - too hokey for me so far and I’m not loving the characters. I have had this issue with Center books in the past and skipped quite of a few of her more recent ones - but in my struggle to read, I thought I might try again. Not doing it for me. Love a romance but realizing I need a bit of depth in there as well and this is missing the mark in that department.

Katherine Center never disappoints! I always look forward to her books. I love her characters and the dialogue she creates

You can always count on Katherine Center for some good romance, colorful characters and scenes you won’t forget long after you finish the book. The Love Haters doesn’t disappoint! Katie’s career is riding on making a documentary about a heroic Coast Guard rescue swimmer who is easy on the eyes, but doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. She plunges into this assignment determined learn all about rescue swimmers while not being able to swim herself! It’s complicated! Katie is taken under the wing of colorful Aunt Rue and her friends, who build her confidence to wear the swimsuit. So relatable!