This book was so fun, and a great summer time read! I would have loved to get more into her project and how that impacted their relationship. I loved the addition of Aunt Rue and her gal pals, they were so fun. The drama was there at the end! WOW, I was on the edge of my seat with some of those scenes! I felt like it was a little rushed afterward, though.

I find the title a little confusing becaue she's not a love hater? That was only said about him.

My review will be on Instagram May 1st.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this ARC via net galley!!

The beginning of this book was a little slow for me but after about 30% I was OBSESSED. The miscommunication in this book did make me want to rip my hair out but I feel like it really portrays what it’s like to unlearn unhealthy behaviors regarding your body and to decide that self love is really, really worth all the work!

Hutch the man you are🥵 I am in love and he just might be my new favorite book boyfriend!

Overall this was a really fun, inspiring read!!

I have nothing but love for The Love Haters!

The Gist: Attempting to save her flailing career as a video producer, Katie jumps at the chance to go to the Florida Keys and film US Coast Guard rescuer Hutch, who doesn't like being in the spotlight. He begrudgingly agrees to be filmed in the hopes of promoting the US Coast Guard but finds having Katie following him around is more than he bargained for.

My Take: This story has humour, heart, a delightful slow burn (non-spicy) romance and a fantastic cast that includes a toad loving Great Dane, a couple you'll root for, a gaggle of sassy 'ol broads and their wonderful community in the beautiful Florida Keys.

The strength of this book is in its characters and its messaging. Hutch is a damn fiiiiine leading male character and I enjoyed seeing Katie's growth as Center explores issues of self-love, body positivity, and going after what makes you happy.

The secondary characters are also well-developed, and I especially loved Rue (and her elderly crew). Rue is the person who is pulling all the strings behind the scenes (with a colourful flair!) as she patiently helps others find their way. Beanie, Katie's BFF, on the other hand takes a more direct (albeit long-distance) approach as she tries to counteract Katie's negative self-talk with a regime of nagging (with love). May we all have a Rue and a Beanie to watch our backs and lift us up!

"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."

This is my favourite Katherine Center book to date (with The Bodyguard a close second). It's an easy read that's a wonderful blend of wholesome, happy and hilarious that addresses important social issues, long-buried emotional conflicts, Mother Nature's wrath, a rescue and splinters in the most embarrassing of places. It's a story that will leave readers with smiles on their faces.

Disclaimer: Thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

** This review was posted on my blog, socials, GoodReads, Indigo.ca and StoryGraph on April 17, 2025.

This story was fun. Katie & Hutch & Rue are such great characters. I wish Beanie had been in the story more since she was great. I liked the addition of George Bailey & the exposure to the topic of puppy mills. The build up of the friendship between Katie & Hutch was fun to read and then when it deepened into something else Cole wrecked it. Hutch’s jealous brother was pretty annoying but he brought Sullivan and I liked her. There were a few things that I didn’t enjoy. When Katie was talking to the 911 operator when the boat came unmoored she was annoyed that the operator wasn’t nicer. That person was sooooo busy in that moment & Katie was just chattering inanely. But…..did I love this book & was I grinning like a fool from the rescue until the end of the book? Yes, 100% yes. Katherine Center knows how to write a great romance book with some serious issues thrown in.

Thanks to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Videographer Katie Vaughn has been burned by love and decides she is done with love. When she is put on assignment down in the Florida Keys to create a documentary on the Coast Guard, she is thrilled to find out that one of the main Coast Guard men she is profiling, Hutch, has sworn off love also. They dub themselves the Love Haters.

As Katie trains for the helicopter missions, she is constantly concerned about her weight in the heliopter, announcing it publically, dressing in swim gear and taking swim lessons. Having been ridiculed for her body her entire life, she is incredibly self conscious. Her best friend Beanie calls her daily to ask Katie what she loves about herself. Not really believing what Beanie says, it's not until a post from her ex goes viral and sends Katie spiraling, that she is forced to confront her insecurities. Hutch tells Katie all the wonderful things about her and all the things he appreciates about her body.

When a hurricane threatens the Keys, Katie sees first hand what her body is capable of!

I really appreciated the body positivity in this book. It was well represented!

This had all the makings of a classic Katherine Center novel, but it just did not live up to the high expectations I have from loving many of her prior novels. I would place this at a 3.5/5 stars and an enjoyable read if you need something lighthearted and easy to read.

Katie’s sent to the Key West area to produce a video on the Coast Guard and rescue swimmers. Only problem - she can’t swim. But that doesn’t stop her from volunteering for the assignment since her job is on the line. There she meets Hutch, one of the rescue swimmers, who also happens to be related to her boss. She’s living with their Aunt Rue, who serves as a quirky side character. Soon Hutch becomes her swim instructor to help her prepare for the video shoot, and her crush. But he doesn’t match the person that her boss warned her about, so that leaves Katie very confused.

While this book is classified as a romance, I think the romance elements were lighter than many of her previous books. The story was more about Katie and her challenges in accepting herself and her poor body image. There wasn’t enough build up to their relationship before the author quickly switched the story to include the miscommunication trope. It was at this point that I continued to read more for the escape the story gave me rather than for the story itself. If you are looking for a summer beach read that will allow you to escape reality, then you should be satisfied with this read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer about to lose her job. So she decides to take a job profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch. The only problem is that Katie cannot swim- nothing she can’t fake, right? Next thing she knows, she is dealing with helicopter flights, conga lines, a rescue Great Dane, and Hutch’s Aunt Rue. She’s also facing her body issues head-on and helping Hutch reconnect with her boss, and his brother, Cole.

Trigger Warnings
Body Disorder

Why Kirsten loves it
I love the crazy antics of this book, the setting of the Florida Keys, and the quest for Katie to come into her own. Hutch is pretty dreamy, too. But my favorite part was Katie learning to accept and LOVE her body after the shameful way she had been body shamed in the past. #Gifted by Macmillan

Vibes: grumpy / sunshine | found family | witty banter | self-love | grief

Katherine Center weaves fantastical story lines and magic details into her books. I always love stories with deep feelings and that contain layers of relationships and this one delivers on all fronts. Loved the side characters of Hutch’s aunt and Katie’s best friend. Loved the humor sprinkled throughout. I really connected with the complex relationship Katie had with her body and how she started working though it. The others note really got me in the feels and validated why I love reading these stories so very much ♥️

Thanks NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this eARC!

Katherine Center has been a favorite, an instant-purchase, must-read author for me for several years now. While The Love Haters is not at the top of my list for her books, it's still fantastic and far above the competition. As always, I love the cuteness and sweetness of her romance stories that somehow don't become saccharine.
Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.

Well if a book can make me cry , I’m giving it all the stars. If she writes it, I am reading it. Katherine center did it again. One month, one month, 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I LOVE THIS BOOK

Here is my emoji review

😂😂🔥💕🥹🫣😑😏😏🤣🤣🥹🥹🥺🥺🤣😏😏😳😳🥹🥹🫣🫣❤️🤣🤣🤣🥹🥹🥹

I repeat don’t drink water why listening or reading this book,

Hated this with a passion, i really hated the talk on body image and how both characters acted towards this subject.

I usually love Katherine Center’s books. The Bodyguard is one of my favorite romances, but this one did not do it for me. The chemistry was just not there and Katie’s inner dialogue was just annoying. So overall just a miss and not one I would recommend.

I had a good time with The Love Haters. While I did get annoyed with Katie, the other characters like Hutch and Rue were very entertaining. Katherine Center is an author I usually enjoy and will continue to follow.

I'm a huge KC fan, but this book was a bit of a miss for me. I found it just OKAY. very forgettable, and the characters are a little too soft for me.

Katherine Center is now an auto buy author for me. This was such a heartfelt, fast paced story that shines a light on healing, self discovery and the importance of loving yourself.

These characters- chefs kiss.

Hutch is an absolute gem - so real and raw. A good person - and the way he helps Katie find her confidence and her own internal and external beauty was felt so strongly as a reader.

HIGHLY recommend!

Katherine Center is one of those authors I can always count on for a mood-lifting rom-com. Her stories are warm, engaging, and filled with heart—even when her characters are facing real-life struggles. In The Love Haters, Katie Vaughn grapples with body image issues, and that personal journey adds real depth to the story.

Despite the challenges her characters face, Center’s books always leave you feeling hopeful, and you can count on that signature happily ever after.

A few highlights:
• Hutch is the ultimate cinnamon roll MMC
• Brothers with completely opposite personalities
• A theme of grief, balanced by a tone of hope
• Overcoming fears, both big and small

And can we talk about Aunt Rue? She’s my new favorite side character—I seriously want her to be my aunt or my best friend.

As always with Katherine Center, don’t skip the author’s note. It’s the cherry on top.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️
There’s not a single Katherine Center book I don’t like. They are just so heartwarming and fun and sweet and everything I love about a rom-com AND no spice! Hutch was definitely one of my favorite characters and I loved Katie as a narrator. I can’t forget about Rue - what a joy!

I breezed right through this book in 2 days! I love Katherine Center’s feel good writing and this delivered just that. I was smiling, laughing, and near tears all in one book. I thought the way she handles the body image issues of the main character were tasteful and honestly very real. I love the self development and self love that the main character has to work through, and the underlying theme of loving yourself first. I think those that were disappointed in the “lack of a love story” didn’t see the whole point- there were so many love stories going on, between the friends, between “the Gals”, family, Katie and Hutch, and most of all with Katie and herself! Center uses the quote during the book that “love is what happens when you’re living your life” and I think that is an essential quote to this story. When Katie started really living her life for her, she found not just her romantic love, but so much love in so many ways. Other reviewers felt a lack of romance/lack of chemistry but I didn’t. I felt the butterflies for sure! I love that it’s a closed door story with depth and heart and drama, while somehow feeling so light hearted and feel good.
Is it the greatest love story of all time? No, but that’s why it’s not quite 5⭐️ for me. Is it a mood lifting, feet kicking, fun and enjoyable book that I couldn’t put down? Absolutely. Katherine Center is an auto read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Absolutely LOVED this book. I liked how this book addressed the character's body image and how she came to love herself and realize not to listen to the negative voices. Katherine Center just has great characters and storylines.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The perfect blend of heart, humor, and healing. I didn’t want it to end!

The Love Haters was my first Katherine Center novel (I know, I’m late to the party!), but it absolutely won’t be my last. From the very first page, her writing felt like catching up with my best friend over FaceTime - it was honest, emotional, and completely immersive! I really felt like I was with Katie every step of the way. ❤️

The story is full of charm, but it’s the side characters who truly made me fall in love. I would die for George Bailey (yes, the dog), go shopping with Rue at beach markets and boutiques, and be the loudest at sangria night with The Gals. And Beanie - where do I sign up for a best friend like her!?

Underneath all the laughs and swoon-worthy kisses is a beautiful exploration of self-worth and body image. The way this book handled those themes, especially the author’s note at the end, was moving and empowering. I’ve even started a daily practice of listing one thing I love about myself, thanks to this book!

It’s a story about love, yes - but also about bravery, honesty, and becoming the version of yourself who shows up, wears the bright colours, swims anyway, and tells the truth even when it’s hard.

Absolutely adored it. Five stars, no hesitation. ❤️