The Love-Haters was such a lovely read. I fell in love with the characters Katie and Hutch and rooted for them the entire time. I do wish there was a bit more romance and spice, as that is just my personal preference. The love story, though, was still sweet. Most of all, I loved the not so subtle reminders that loving yourself can take you places like you have never dreamed possible.

Cute and quaint but not for me. I didn’t see the chemistry between the two Mc’s. When it comes to their love story I’m a love hater… Ladies , listen up you don’t need a man to make you feel secure in your body! Rue was my favorite character.

Thanks NetGalley and St martins press for this arc in exchange for my Honest review

Perfect for summer - such a charming and heartfelt story that balances humor and emotion. I personally enjoyed the wit, vulnerability, and optimism—perfect for anyone that wants a love story with a bit of depth. I loved the snappy dialogue and relatable characters! George Bailey!!!!!

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center. Her writing is rich in story and emotion. She has a special ability to draw you in make you fall in love.

The Love Haters was no exception. There was so much I loved about it. The characters were wonderful and unexpected at times. The bond seemed true and well earned. The side characters were mostly loveable, minus the boss and the MCs brother. The concept was so fun and unique. I had a good time. George Bailey was a wonderful addition as the giant dog who was afraid of thunder.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I wish there was a little more connection of Katie and Hutch at the end. The book focused on self growth and did end heavily with it.

Thank you NetGalley and Katherine Center for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How did I forget how utterly heartwarming and funny Katherine Centers’ books are??

I so related to Katie. The wearing all black to be invisible and the utter contempt for her own body, but not in a outwardly “I loathe it” kind of way, but more in a resigned feeling of disappointment or failure way. Millions of women feel this, go through this, work actively against this. I absolutely loved the Beauty List, and how hard Beanie fought to have her do it!! True friendship is about supporting you in the hard times and pushing when it’s needed, but doing so with love.

Hutch. Dear sweet “not talkative” Hutch! Love him! Loved how he was just a good guy. With a good heart. I loved how simple their story was. The rides back and forth to work where they just talked. The dinners and the easy conversations they had. It was so sweet and gave me the feels!! The hair clip 🥰🥰

I love when a story is funny. So funny in fact that I actually LOL’ed!! Between George Bailey (in love with this name for a dog btw) and the splinters, and the bathing suit escapades, and Hutch’s subtle jealous/possessive poolside antics.

The backstory of this one is heartbreaking. For all the characters really. The moment with Hutch and Cole at the end, on the grass literally brought tears to my eyes.

This is the kind you can’t stop wanting to read, and one that sticks with you once you’re done!

The Love Haters was a fun and insightful book, as I feel all Katherine Center books are. A day later and I have not stopped thinking about these characters. While I was in the mood for a little more romance, this book still delivered.

At its core, this book is really about loving yourself. Loving your body because it’s yours and lets you live your life. There is a central romance, and relationship insights between siblings, parents, and extended/found family. But it all comes back to loving who you are and using that love to uplift those around you. To not take life for granted and live it to its fullest.

I was very invested at the end and was stressing about the outcomes to a couple conflicts, but it all worked out perfectly. Every time I finish a KC book I want to read more of her backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for access to the advanced reader copy and advanced listening copy for this book!

I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, this romance missed the mark for me.
I was intrigued and invested for the first 25-30 percent of this story. I appreciated Katherine Center taking the time to provide our female main character with a specific history, one that instantly endears her to the reader. I also appreciated the discussion surrounding outside influence on personal self-esteem and how that can lead to negative and unhealthy habits. This discussion dips lightly into body dysmorphia and eventual body acceptance, which was given time to be explored, but I do wish our female main character would have explored seeking professional help to sort through her challenges.
I was excited about the initial interactions between our female and male main characters. Center creates instant chemistry between the two, which puts a smile on the reader's face and keeps them wanting more. Unfortunately, the romantic progress is chopped off at the knees due to an incredibly frustrating, immature, and down right annoying side character. This character is unlikeable all on his own, but add in the complications he creates between our main characters and he's the absolute worst thing about this book. He ruins the energy of the story and sets off some major pacing issues, which are further worsened by a very drawn out third act conflict.
I think my favorite thing about this story is the audiobook narrator. She has an engaging voice and her ability to fluctuate between female and male voices is great. Without the audiobook, I don't know that I would have been able to make it through this book. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to experience Patti Murin's narration.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

An ideal summer rom-com, this novel delivers sunshine, charm, and heart in equal measure. We follow Katie on a high-stakes mission to salvage her career, set against the backdrop of a lush, sun-drenched paradise. Her task? To convince Hutch—the irresistible, altruistic hero with a savior complex—to recount one of his daring rescue stories for publication.

From the outset, the story brims with energy and wit, and I found myself thoroughly entertained by the chemistry between the leads and the vibrant setting. However, the introduction of a major miscommunication—a trope I personally find less appealing—slightly dimmed the momentum for me. That said, this is purely a matter of taste, and fans of this particular narrative device may find it adds welcome drama to the plot.

Overall, if you're in the mood for something fresh, spirited, and fast-paced with a touch of emotional depth, this novel is a delightful choice for your summer reading list.

Thank you to St Martin’s press and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I am new to Katherine Center’s books as many have been on my TBR list. What drew me into this one was the Key West setting! There are a couple times in this book that I was definitely laughing out loud, but I think that I struggled with the portrayal of body image issues to the point the book fell short for me. I’m still interested in tackling my Katherine Center TBR as I really enjoyed the writing style.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I love Katherine Center and what she stands for. However, this book is one that I wanted to love more.

This book started with Katie Vaughn, who has been burned in the past and is finding her feet as a video producer. However, things start to change as her company downsizes. In order to get a little more security at her job, she agrees to help produce a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard for their rescue swimmers by shadowing what they do. One problem, she doesn't know how to swim. She goes to the Keys and meets who she will be shadowing Hutch.

Katie spends much of the story getting over her self image issues, most of which is on page. It's a lot. There are moments where it overshadows other parts of the story, and becomes too much. While the message is there, and how she works through these self image issues is important, please take care of yourself if you have struggles with this.

I also struggled with the connection between Hutch and Katie. I didn't see how they moved past friends to something more. It doesn't quite make sense on page. I also found that all of the messy work and family drama that were intertwined was chaotic and struggled to make sense in the story.

Overall, it had the quintessential charm that is Katherine Center and a fun side cast of characters (my favorite was George Bailey the Great Dane!). The setting was set up well and the premise was all there, it just parts didn't click.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite rom-com writers. I always think her books would make great movies. This one is no exception. Katie makes promotional videos and is worried about losing her job to downsizing. She takes an assignment to make a promotional video for the Coast Guard about a rescue swimmer who rescued Jennifer Aniston's dog. She is hoping the rescue swimmer, Hutch, will also do a video for her series a Day in the Life. Hutch is love hater and is not happy making a video. Katie thinks maybe she a love hater, too. Her fiance cheated on her.
This is a warm hearted story about finding yourself in difficult circumstances. Katie and Hutch learn lessons about themselves in the story. I really enjoyed this flawed pair finding a peace within themselves during the story. I would recommend reading this book. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #KatherineCenter, and #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book.
#TheLoveHaters

I love a Katherine Center book!! This had everything that you would want in a beach read : tropical climate, forced proximity, brooding MMC, and found family. I wish we got more of a story after the helicopter rescue - but I adore Hutch and Katie!

DNF’d at 18%. There’s been near constant negative self talk, body dysmorphia, and detailed descriptions of disordered eating and not a single critical thought expressed about any of that. Not even any acknowledgment that what our FMC is experiencing *is* deeply disordered. I just made it through a scene where the FMC calls her friend because she cannot make herself put on a bathing suit. Her friend recognizes that she’s describing an experience that is deeply not ok, but jumps immediately to the issue being a “phobia”? Not a completely unexamined eating disorder? How?

Anyway. I can’t keep reading that. I’m done.

This is such a bummer 😩 I wanted to love it but I didn’t at all. I was not a fan of the eating disorder discussion, the way the character spoke about herself, and the writing style in general. I usually enjoy Katherine Center and will check out anything she writes, but this was a miss for me.

I really wanted to like this book but I could only appreciate it for the scenery. I didn’t care for how the coast guard was portrayed, as well as eating disorders. None of this is cute nor funny at all. I didn’t care for the un-alive-ing jokes either. Saying stuff like “I’ll k*ll myself if blah blah blah happens” isn’t funny. I also felt like there were misogynistic undertones in some of the male characters. I found this book highly disappointing and I was excited to read a book from this author.

When Katherine Center has a new book out, I snag it immediately! Firstly, I’ll say that I don’t think this is my new favorite, but I did end up loving it!

Katie is a video journalist, and needs to do “a day in the life” of Hutch, coast guard rescue swimmer who is famous for rescuing Jenn Anniston’s dog 🤣 To save her job, she heads to Key West to try to convince him to let her interview him, and he is resistant. They go back and forth and get to know each other, little by little, until her co-worker (Hutch’s brother!) arrives on the scene and claims Katie is his girlfriend.

This is a wild ride, beginning with Katie’s swimsuit-phobia, followed by Hutch’s Great Dane’s love of Katie, and finishing with his Aunt Rue’s team of old ladies trying to pair them up. The beginning made me wonder if I’d truly enjoy it, but the end had me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would play out. Katie isn’t my favorite of Center’s heroines, but Hutch is pure, noble, gold.

If you love Center’s books, you’ll love this too!

Sweet, charming, summery tale of unlikely love, family secrets and bonds, and reclaiming belief in oneself. A great summer read from an author whose books are always a delight.

I love Katherine Center and her books. They are so easy to read and they just make you feel happy. This one was no different. I do feel like the greater love story here those was Hutch and George Bailey.

Katie is a digital reporter, I’m probably saying that wrong but she makes marketing videos for her regular job but her passion project is documenting heroes.

Her boss asks her to go on assignment with the Coast Guard in Key West. This is where she is to meet and interview Hutch who is…A Love Hater.

I really loved all the side characters even though I wanted to punch one of them. I can’t tell you which one because it would ruin the story.

I listened to the audio and read along. In the audio they call Hutch Puppy Love but in the book they call him Pup Daddy and I love Pup daddy better.

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me a chance to review this! Katherine center has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this book continued to confirm it. This was such a fun read and it made my heart so happy. Seeing two completely opposite people fall in love is always so cool, and center did it in such a unique way. I love that the guy had a crazy job that sent the FMC into a spiral, but yet she still put herself through training to be able to complete her job. I also love how the FMC was so considerate of the MMC feelings that she was willing to risk her career just because he didn’t want to complete a video with her. Wish I could read this book again for the first time.

🏝️the love haters🏝️
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Review : Another great addition from Katherine Center! Her books are always so cozy and charming. I especially enjoyed the setting of key west, one of my favorite places, and the Great Dane, one of my favorite breeds.

My one complaint I have seen echoed in several other reviews so I won’t go into large detail, but the body image issues did seem to go on quite a bit as a plot point. As a girl who grew up in the 90s, I am no stranger to body image problems, but it did take away from some of the “fun” of the book for me.

Thanks to Katherine center, st. Martins press and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!