I really like Katherine Center! She writes cute, witty stories that are easy & quick reads. This newest book of hers was not my favorite, but it was a really cute story. This book was definitely a slow burn. The first half took me a little bit to get through, but then the second half I read in less than 24 hours. I wish there would have been a little more romance, but the romance we did get was cute & sweet. I really enjoyed the personal growth that we saw in the FMC.

I love Katherine Center but I just wasn’t feeling this book. I had a hard time getting into the story. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I’m sad cause I really enjoy Katherine centers books but this just wasn’t it for me

Thank you NetGalley and st Martin press for the opportunity to read this.

Definitely a slow burn book. It talked a lot about body image. I usually like books that have more romance if it is being advertised as a rom com

3.5⭐️ Katherine Center is one of my autobuy authors so this book was on my TBR list as soon as it was announced! It was a fun read but not my fav KC book!

I feel like this book had so much potential but when it came to the romance aspect it fell a little flat. I didn’t feel the connection or butterflies that I wanted! But overall it was a fun read with lots of fun side characters!

This was an advanced read copy I received through Netgalley so it’s not going to be officially published until May 20, 2025! But this is my honest review!

Add this book to your to read list, I promise you won’t regret it! & then let me know what you thought! & of course a big thank you to @netgalley & @stmartinpress for the ARC!

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⭐️: 4
🌶️: 0

🎬 grumpy x sunshine
🌊 cinnamon roll MMC
🎬 documentarian
🌊 coast guard rescue diver
🎬 forced proximity

The Love Haters is a perfect, fast-paced Summer Romance. Set in tropical Key West, we follow Katie on a journey to loving herself again, and Hutch, well Hutch is just an irresistible cinnamon roll of a man who happens to be a literal hero for a living (a coast guard rescue swimmer). This book had a delicious slow burn, a meddling cast of elderly characters, laughable predicaments, and a bit of drama.

Clean, zero spice romance

♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press and Katherine Center for the ARC of The Love Haters!

another amazing read by katherine center💕 at first i wished there was a little bit more cutesy romance moments between katie and hutch but the journey of her learning to love herself and her body was so lovely to watch and very relatable for any girl who has struggled with this so it wasn’t even needed i loved katie’s self discover but LET ME TELL YOU cole was the most annoying character i have ever fucking met i wanted him out of the book asap

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.... unfortunately i found it slow so it took me a long time to read it .... i had high hope for this book but it end up not being my cup of tea..... i still found it a cute story and the cover if pretty

I adored this book! I found the focus on body image and growth throughout the story incredible, as someone who has personally struggled with those same concerns for the majority of her adult life. The love blossomed at a beautiful pace. I loved the drama and unexpected twists. My only wish? I need to know what happens with the love story after the book ends!

The Love Haters is Katherine Center’s latest romcom about Katie, a videographer assigned to film Hutch, a rescue swimmer in the Florida Keys. I enjoyed the dreamy setting and learning about Coast Guard rescue swimmers. This book contained several of the rom-com tropes you know and love, like found family, only 1 bed that a giant Great Dane forces them into, and fake dating (but not in a way you’d expect!). I would say there’s a trigger warning for body image/eating disorders.

I enjoyed this book via both print and audio. The audio narrator was great and upbeat. As always, Katherine Center did not disappoint! Thank you for the publisher for the electronic arc of this book. This review is entirely my own thoughts.

Love love love Katherine Center and all her books! I was super excited about this book and the opportunity to read it early and it did not disappoint. All throughout the book I felt a sense of cozy and wanted to keep on reading. I found myself giggling at some parts and even tearing up at other.

Katherine Center is known for writing warm, heartfelt romances with relatable female leads, and The Love Haters follows suit. Katie is a video editor whose career is on the line when she’s sent to Key West to produce a profile on a decorated Coast Guard member. That hero turns out to be a handsome, kind bachelor who, of course, turns her world upside down.

There are undeniably sweet moments, and Center clearly spent time researching Coast Guard culture—something I appreciated, having had my own experiences around Coasties. The supporting characters added a nice touch of charm, and the romance had a familiar rhythm that readers of the genre may enjoy.

However, for me, the story felt a bit too formulaic. It was light and pleasant but ultimately lacked the emotional depth or spark to make it stand out. And as someone who gravitates toward books with a strong sense of place, I was disappointed that Key West barely played a role. I nearly forgot the book was set there.

Book: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Places Featured: Key West, Florida
Review Score: ★★★½ (rounded up)

4.5 stars.

The Love Haters is yet another win from one of my favorite authors. She never misses! This story had heart, humor, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Like all her books, it left me smiling and feeling all the feels. Every release from her is an instant favorite—she’s truly the queen of feel-good fiction with meaning.

I loved this book! I'm tempted to buy a copy for my therapist's office to loan out. This book deals with relationships and fears, in a romcom. It's everything you want in a fun romantic story (except for spice). I loved the characters and the book is well researched.

OUR GIRL KATHERINE CENTER DOES IT AGAIN!! Honestly one of the only authors that does closed door romances well.

True to the style we know and love from Katherine Center, The Love Haters hits you with a great love story filled with laughs. You’ll be rooting for the main characters and that goofy dog. I couldn’t put this one down.

There was a lot of emotional trauma happening on all accounts, and all of these people could have used some therapy IMO. As with some of Katherine’s other books, I would not consider this a Rom Com, but more Contemporary Fiction with Romance. The main story was Katie’s relationship with herself, while her romance with Hutch was secondary. Overall, I enjoyed the book more than I thought and the ending was cute!

What I didn’t like:
This one should have had a trigger warning about eating disorders and body issues. It touched on a lot of heavy subjects, and I don’t think they were taken too seriously. A little over halfway through I was super annoyed and hated what was going on, which brings me to Cole being the absolute worst. I felt like some of the drama his character brought was unnecessary - the story had enough going on already!

What I liked:
I loved Hutch, and I was happy that eventually Katie’s character had some growth. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Hutch and Katie. I loved the side characters, specifically Rue, and the giant Great Dane, George Bailey – they added a lot of heart and humor.

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

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a fun and easy read that puts a fresh spin on the enemies-to-lovers story. The characters have great chemistry, and their banter keeps things light and entertaining throughout. While the plot is a bit predictable, it’s still an enjoyable ride with just enough emotion to keep you hooked.

Katherine Center has a way of writing characters that feel real, even in the middle of a romantic comedy. The book moves quickly, and it’s perfect for when you want something light but still meaningful.

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

This was the perfect summer romance read! Katie was a very relatable FMC and I saw myself in her struggle with her weight and self image throughout the book. I loved how her and Hutch had chemistry from the onset, but yet they fought it at every turn. I really loved the backdrop of this book and all of the side characters were so fun and added to the story. This was just a perfect and fun read!

This book was only ok for me. It was a good summer/beach read but I don’t feel it’s one I need to read again. I would give it a solid 3.5 stars. I liked the over all story but the parts I didn’t like were the mental health aspects. There were three or four times where she was upset and stuff was happening and then she was like totally ok 100% better which wasn’t realistic. I appreciate a good pep talk and I understood the point but things aren’t suddenly better like they are here. I would definitely read another book by this author though to try again. Thank you!

DNF@16%. I’m so tired of the self hate and body image issues already. In my fictional worlds females aren’t defined by their weight and their whole personalities aren’t about being thin.