Katherin Center has done in again with The Love Haters, producing another romantic comedy novel that reads like a movie.

In an effort to save her job, Katie ends up being hired to film a promotion for the coast guard. Considering that Katie doesn't swim and the subject of the filming isn't on board with her doing the job, she has some problems to say the least. All of this is on top of the fact that she's still mentally recovering from being cheated on by her former fiancé who is now a viral music star and has left her with some body issues.

The book has a cast of characters that entertain, including one very large and lovable dog. The climax of the story left me with some questions, but overall the story did it's job and I felt happy I read it and content with the resolution. I would recommend this book for readers looking for a light hearted romantic comedy, body positivity, fans of Katherine Center, or those looking for a bounce back from a break up story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Katie Vaugh is getting over a breakup and trying not to get laid off from her job so when her coworker Cole suggests she take a job in Key West to produce a recruitment video with his brother Tom "Hutch" Hutchinson for the US Coast Guard she doesn't hesitate. As the two spend time together during filming they get to know each other and become closer. There is a lot of funny chaos in between and lots of twists and turns through out. As two people who are not looking for love Katie and Hutch defy the odds in this funny romantic comedy.

I really liked this story. I couldn't put this book down. It did start off a bit slow but I thought it was funny but it also had a positive message about insecurities and body image. I thought it was very well written. This is my first book by this author and won't be my last.

This was the first novel I have read by Katherine Center, and I am not usually a romance reader. However, I saw so many people recommending The Love Haters and Katherine Center's previous work and I decided to try it. This was a very cute and easy to read story about two unlikely people who are unlucky in love coming together and finding their person.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc.

The FMC, Katie, is recovering from an eating disorder. Some parts felt insensitive and got annoying quickly. But I loved how she started to view herself differently towards the end and her character growth was admirable. The dialogue between Katie and Hutch could be a little better. Every time Hutch say something about her she always answered with a question or she would just repeat what he said.

Hutch was described as a grumpy love hater but the relationship with Katie felt very much insta-love. He also lacked characteristics. I didn't feel any connection when I read this book. I think it was the lacked of dialogue between characters in the beginning. To me it was more of a telling instead of showing. Katherine Center's books usually make me see hearts on pages but found myself rolling my eyes instead. Cole was an asshole and Beanie was just plain TOXIC. The swimsuit scene got me tight. To use someone's insecurities against them to make them do something is just foul.

I loved Rue and would love to read a novella about her life.

This book didn't hit the same as her other books. The first half of the book was a bit slow but it did pick up at the end. Overall, this was just a miss for me. But KC will always be an auto-buy. She will not be going anywhere.

I absolutely adored this book. You will be seeing everyone reading this by the pool or beach this summer!! There’s some women’s fiction’s elements that I struggled with at first, but loved how everything came together. It was fast paced and had truly a little bit of everything. I really hope this is a movie some day!!

It's not that the main characters in The Love Haters actually 'hate" love- they've been burned before and aren't eager to get close to the fire again. For Cole, it was a misunderstanding at his brother's wedding that caused him to forego romance; for Katie being jilted by her fiance (who is now a bonafide rock star!) did the trick. The Love Haters is genuine fun (the tropical south Florida setting helps with the "vibe"), and secondary characters like Cole's charming aunt Rue keep the plot moving along while Katie and Cole decide if they are willing to risk getting their hearts broken again. But like all Katherine Center novels The Love Haters has lessons-to be true to yourself and what you need, that any reward usually comes with some risk, and family is the most important thing we have, especially when the chips are down. Cole and Katie may think they hate love, but you won't feel any ambivalence about reading (and loving!) The Love Haters.

This book was a fun, light-hearted rom-com. I wasn't expecting anything more than that, and it's exactly what I got. Predictable and enjoyable for what it is.

I loved this book! Such a cute story and loved the adventure elements that were sprinkled without. I did think the mid story twist was really out of left field but also added some to depth of the story itself.

I love a good romcom with witty banter and this one DID NOT DISSAPOINT! Katherine is the queen of writing a book that has humor, heart and creating characters that I want to be besties with.

This is a hard one for me to review. I'll start by saying, I tend to rate/review/enjoy books based on vibes and how I feel when I read. And if I go solely on that, I absolutely loved this one. I adore Katherine Center's writing style. There's something about the way she develops her characters that pulls me in and doesn't let me go. In this book, I felt like Katie was such a relatable character. She was a little quirky, had a lot of phobias and was struggling with a lot. And she wiggled into my heart right away. And Hutch? He was perfect. Watching their love story build over several weeks made me smile so much.

But then, about 60ish% in, something happened where Hutch's brother told a big lie...and Katie went along with it. And it made me so mad. And then something very un-realistic happened during a hurricane and I feel like that also should have made me mad. But it really didn't because I have no problem suspending reality when it comes to romance novels.

However, something else I didn't love was that, as I reflected back on the book, I started feeling like a lot of the relationships were very surface level. The conversations weren't very deep, the ending felt rushed, and I just wanted...more. And so for that, my rating dropped to 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to 4 for vibes, for the descriptions of life as a Coast Guard swimmer, and for Rue and the other older gals.

Short summary: Katie has to spend a few weeks in Key West filming Coast Guard swimmers, specifically Hutch. Katie stays at a pseudo-retirement village owned by Rue, Hutch's Aunt. Katie and Hutch develop feelings, but because Katie's job is on the line, and Hutch's brother is a liar, they can't get to a point where they're free to be happy together.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my review. I was EXCITED to get this one! I have adored @katherinecenter for years now and she never lets me down! This was a fun , quick read that left a smile on my face. This was very heavy on body confidence, mainly Katie not having any. I will say, this got to be a bit overkill, but I know there are probably many who can relate to this, and it also played an important part in the story. I absolutely loved The Gals and wish I had gotten a bit more of them, they just made me smile! While this was a rom com, this was very much a story of found family (which i LOVE) and of friendship. This also takes place in Key West so lends AMAZINGLY to a beach/poolside read! Fingers crossed tomorrow I obtain a ticket to see her when she comes to Providence!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. I was very excited to get to read this as I love the author. This one just didn’t hit for me. I liked the premise of the story and thought it had potential I just couldn’t connect with the characters or really seem to care what happened. It was a quick read just not my favorite.

Dnf at 71%

The mmc had some potential and I adored some of the side characters (aka the gals) but the plot got a little too chaotic for me and I wasn’t a huge fan of the fmc.

I need to try some of the authors earlier books, mainly The Bodyguard and Things You Save in a Fire, because I’ve heard such great things! Just haven’t been able to connect with her newer books.

Katie really doesn't want to be cut in her company's downsizing, so much so that even though she cannot swim, she's taking a job filming a coast guard promo video in Key West. Hutch, a Coat Guard rescue swimmer and real life hero gone viral, doesn't really want the attention, he just wants to reconnect with Cole, Katie's colleague and his brother. Katie has been burned by love and Hutch is described as a love hater; this should be fine, right?

I enjoyed this rom com set in the Florida keys. Katie is working not just on keeping her job, but learning to love herself after being scrutinized in a public light and struggling with body image. Grateful that miscommunication was not a trope used here! The Love Haters has heft to the story, even as a romance.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published on 5/20/25. I'll be posting to Instagram closer to publication

The Love Haters covered a lot of topics which included to body negativity, cheating ex, job in peril and facing your fears. We have Katie that goes to the Keys to do a special video on Hutch who is special coast guard. Hutch also happens to be her co-worker's estranged brother.

There a lot that I enjoyed this book:
- George Bailey, the Great Dane rescue dog
- Rue, Hutch and Cole's grandmother
- Katie facing her fears
- the complex relationship between Rue and Hutch and Cole

There were a few things I felt distracted me from loving the story:
- Cole, he seemed so self centered and his relationship with Katie seemed distant and odd
- there was a lot of stuff with coast guard that felt a bit too much
- I didn't buy the romance, I wanted Hutch's POV. At times, he was too closed off.

Patti Murin did a great job with the narration. I could feel the tense moments when Katie was weathering the storm with George Bailey.

Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio for a copy of this.

3.75 stars, rounded to 4.
Katherine Center is one of my favourite authors. The Love Haters is a fun romance!
Katie is a video producer who needs the opportunity to make a professional impact to avoid a layoff. Her boss suggests she travel to Key West to produce a segment profiling a famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Hutch is a very handsome, stoic “hero” who doesn’t really want to be in the limelight.
When Katie lies to get the segment by saying she can swim, she realizes her predicament and has to crash course swimming lessons when she arrives in Florida. The story kicks off when her instructor ends up being none other than Hutch.
The details about the Coast Guard and rescue swimming that Center incorporates into the story adds a level of interest and intrigue. The verbal sparring between Katie and Hutch is entertaining. Some of the.latter plot points become a little difficult to digest, but I chose to give the author a wide berth for her creativity.
Another fun book to add to your stack for summer vacation.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the electronic advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Katie Vaughn, a sunshiny non-swimmer who is potentially only temporarily in possession of her job, accepts an assignment to make a video profile of grumpy guy Hutch while he does Heroic Coast Guard Stuff. Does Katie have what it take to finesse Hutch into a heart-wrenching profile of his puppy-saving ways? Is Hutch willing to warm up his notorious heart of stone for the right camera-toting gal? Will Katie put on a swimsuit knowing she might be perceived by another human being?

Katherine Center is a very, very funny writer. This book has multiple laugh out loud moments while also writing a poignant love letter to women about our relationship with ourselves and our bodies. There's no spice, so lovers of closed door romances will enjoy this chaste little jaunt. Even if you tend towards the spicier romance, this one is worth a read for the laughs and the way Center tackles how many women are at war with their own bodies.

Oh my goodness! I love this book!! I loved Hutch and Katie’s connection and their connection with George Bailey. The side characters were great and you can’t help but love Rue. But oh that Cole…I could have smacked him a few times to quit being a bonehead. While I loved the romance, I really enjoyed Katie’s journey with learning to love herself again after going through a lot! I was hooked with anticipation towards the end, it was so gripping but such a great add to the story! Such great visuals and a great ending. Rue the day(if you know you know 😉.

Wow! I loved this book so much. I laughed out loud so many times, people thought I was crazy. I think Katherine Center is the best romance storyteller ever. There's always characters that are experiencing things in their lives that are very relatable. This story was amazing. I loved everything about it. I couldn't put it down. Perfection!!

4 stars!

I absolutely love anything Katherine Center writes. I really enjoyed this summer romcom! The FMC Katie is on a mission to save her career by convincing a really stubborn but selfless Coast Guard Hero, Hutch! I thoroughly enjoyed each of the characters, the banter between Katie and Hutch, and their love story. I appreciate how Center incorporated the importance of loving yourself and your body in this novel.

I think "The Love Haters" is a MUST read this summer, especially if you like:
- a Coast Guard Hero
- grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- Great Danes - George Bailey
- fun secondary characters
- Key West setting


Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!