I have had this book on my shelf FOREVER and I patiently waited until closer to the publication date to read it but I couldn't wait any longer. I love Katherine Center books. She has a way of portraying her characters that just makes me fall in love with them.
I loved the idea of a book that takes place on Key West because tropical backgrounds always make me happy. I loved the little cottages of Starlight and I loved Rue and The Gals that take Katie in. I even really liked Hutch and I loved their meet cute where the dogs clobbers her and he has to pick splinters out of her butt!
I do not like miscommunication or lying and this book seemed to have a lot that - yes it was mostly by Cole but Katie went along with it. Rue didn't tell Hutch she was sick. They were all lying to each other. I am never a fan of that as a vehicle for the main problem of the book.
I just wanted Katie to stand up and tell Hutch what was going on.
My biggest pet peeve about this book is Katie spent all this time over coming her body image issues, and her fear of color and learning to love herself but the stupid ex boyfriend that was still in love with her that caused so many issues for her just kinda was left hanging. Like did he ever get in touch with her? I mean he wrote an epic love ballad about her - what happened there. I kept waiting for him to come to Key West.
The ending with the hurricane seemed a little weird, little contrived but kinda romantic with him rescuing her.
Overall while this wasn't my favorite Katherine Center I still love her quirky side character, her fun and imaginative writing style and an overall cute story.

One word: Hutch…

He’s officially my new book boyfriend. Rescue swimmer (gorgeous, killer body but not conceited) who loves his rescue dog, elderly aunt and nature documentaries *swoon* I think I need to read more Coast Guard romance novels…

I loved the characters (I wish Hutch was my BF and Rue was my aunt) and the setting (I want to visit the Keys now). Body image was a HUGE topic in the book (almost too much at times) and a couple parts were a little over-the-top, but I don’t care. It was 100% entertaining and I couldn’t put this book down. I can’t stop thinking about the part where she’s upset about the article/comments and Hutch follows her. Ugh, loved it!

Somehow this was my first Katherine Center book, but it won’t be my last! Time to start reading her backlist!

Reading Katherine Center’s books is like having a conversation with your best friend. Warm, inviting, always hysterical, and much needed. The Love Haters definitely falls into all these categories as well. Her dialogue is just so witty and real. Nothing is ever over done or fake. The story is beautiful and the characters are unique. The twist at the end was so good and the epilogue has my heart. She got every single detail right as always. This is a phenomenal deep rom com. I loved every page!

I love Katherine Center but this was not my favorite. I can usually finish one of her books in a day and this took me almost two months. I just didn’t want to pick it back up.

I appreciated the storyline and the overall all message (especially after reading her author’s note which I loved more than the book) but it felt like there was way too much going on, between the love hating and color and body image and swimming and natural disasters and lies and familial loss and disease, I couldn’t keep up. It needed one less storyline and/or message and it would’ve come together a little better for me.

you can truly never go wrong with a Katherine Center book (at least only once I've been deterred by her book). This one was no different love story that she excels at writing. Hutch, Katie, Cole, and Rue you'll find yourself gravitating towards. *mainly Rue, Katie, and Hutch; Cole didn't quite warm my heart*

I laughed out loud, teared up a bit, and found myself cringing at the events that played out throughout the story. There are a bit unrealistic parts that left me *ehhh* but not enough to where it takes away from the story.

also I love the books that end with a nice wrapped bow helping to put everything together with no loose ends

HIGHLY recommend this one for a cute beach read or even weekend book to getaway into

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced reader copy of The Love Haters by @katherinecenter ❤️. The Love Haters publishes on May 20, 2025.

I’m relatively new to Katherine Center’s books, but I now have the urge to read her entire backlist. This book was perfection. Katie and Hutch (and George Bailey) were nuanced characters, and Katie’s journey towards self love was so incredibly relatable. The story was heartfelt and funny, and I tore through this book in about a day 😂. If you love romance with emotional depth, please please pick up The Love Haters!

#netgalley #thelovehaters #romancereads #bookworm

This was my first and last Katherine Center book. I really did not enjoy the continuity, cliche/trope characters and lack of engaging story.

The book begins with the most insufferable protagonist getting shipped off to Florida to do a story on her bosses brother. The whole story of why her boss and his brother don't get along is lost on me and didn't find the reasoning strong enough to remember. The protagonist on the other hand deals with her fair share of body image issues but as someone who has dealt with that, it seemed extremely abhorrent and unrealistic - it honestly seemed like the author was poking fun at people who are not happy with their bodies and I found it incredibly distasteful. We get it, she hates herself. How is this contributing to the story?

I did not enjoy the dynamic between her and Hutch. The romantic onset seemed extremely random, especially since Hutch displays no romantic interest until her bathing suit flies off during the test... it really doesn't paint Hutch in the best light and I did not root for them. I did not care about their relationship and found the basis of their relationship insufferable.

In regard to the story, I found the situations and characters extremely cliche, following the trope of colorful, carefree Floridians. Oh where have I seen this before? Everywhere, except everyone has done it better. These cliche characters, The Gals, Rue, etc. were more annoying and unhelpful, ultimately becoming filler characters due to the lack of story. I said it. Lack of story. This story was so boring and bleak. It read like a high school girl embarrassing herself in front of her crush for 300 pages. I felt like I wasted my time on this and would certainly not recommend this to anyone.

Also, Beanie as a name? Please.

This wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book but I still enjoyed it very much. The relationship between the two brothers was a little condescending and annoying to me. The premise of what happened in the past coming back and causing issues was a weird twist. I did love the romance and the witty humor between them. Definitely worth the read and I'm looking forward to another. #netgalley

I am truly so sad for this rating. I’ve read a couple of KC’s books and enjoyed them, but this missed the mark big for me. The concept of the book had potential, but the execution didn’t deliver. Overall felt juvenile, underdeveloped and there was some problematic handling of certain themes I couldn’t get past (sexual harassment). Longer reviews available on Instagram and GoodReads.

Katherine Center always brings a certain charm to her stories, and this one is no exception. Her signature blend of humor, heart, and romance is all over these pages, making it a quick and enjoyable read. There’s a sincerity in the way she writes about love—as something messy, powerful, and worth believing in—that really comes through here.

Katie is a standout protagonist. Her voice is sharp, funny, and full of warmth. There’s a lovely balance between her quirky, lighthearted narration and the more vulnerable moments that give her character depth. Hutch, too, was a pleasant surprise—steady, kind, and quietly compelling. Together, they had great chemistry, even if their “love-hater” labels felt more like mild skepticism than anything truly cynical.

The supporting cast added so much flavor, especially "The Gals," who brought humor and heart to the story. Even the animals had personality—Center has a knack for weaving them in so naturally that they almost feel like part of the emotional landscape.

This book did have a slightly different tone compared to Center’s recent releases like The Bodyguard or The Rom-Commers. The tension ramps up in the final act, with stakes that feel more urgent and emotionally intense than typical rom-com fare. It was a shift that worked—it pulled me in and made the ending feel earned.

One of the more impactful aspects of the story was Katie’s experience with body image. It was handled with thoughtfulness and honesty, offering meaningful commentary without becoming overly didactic. Still, there were moments where that theme overshadowed the central romance a bit, and I occasionally found myself wishing for a deeper connection to the love story itself.

Even so, this book had a lot to offer—charming characters, emotional resonance, and that ever-present sense of hope that Center writes so well. The tropical setting was the perfect backdrop, and it left me feeling refreshed and optimistic. While it may not be my absolute favorite of hers, it’s still a strong and heartfelt addition to her collection. Fans of Katherine Center will absolutely find plenty to love here.

Katie, a video producer with no experience swimming, has been sent to profile Hutch, certified hero. Once Katie arrives in Florida, she falls in love with not just Hutch, but his eccentric aunt and her crew of older women. As Katie stays with them, she gains confidence in who she is and how she looks.

I am a big Katherine Center fan, but I didn't love this book. I enjoyed Katie and Hutch (especially Hutch), but I struggled to connect with Katie. The book was as much about self-discovery as it was about romance, which limited Katie and Hutch's interactions. This book did have the typical "miscommunication that could have been solved in one conversation" gimmick that is always frustrating to me. It was a fun rom-com, but I didn't feel very invested.

The Love Haters was not my favorite book by this author, by far. I loved the relationship between Katie and Hutch (and George Bailey), but the whole storyline with Cole and Sullivan seemed so....silly? I understand Cole needed to be part of the story to shine light on the reasons for Hutch's personality and the whole relationship with Rue, but his ever-growing tower of lies seemed like too much.

This is one of my favorite books! I loved so much of this story. I felt like I was somewhere warm and hanging with The Gals and Hutch. I also enjoyed the relationship Katie had with herself and her bestie. Thanks so much for the advance copy!

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley, and St. Martin Press for the ARC of this book.

I sadly have to DNF at 11%. I had always heard of how good Katherine Center’s books are but this one did not hook me in the beginning. This book has lots of mention of -trigger warning!- body positivity, ED/disordered eating really early on. This wasn’t a triggering topic for me but for someone who doesn’t have the greatest relationship with their body it was kind of too much for me. As someone who likes to read for escapism and for fun, this book was not fun for me to read even in the first 11%. It’s great to have mention to these types of topics in books but to have page after page of it for me is kind of excessive to me. I just couldn’t get past tit as it was the entirely of the fmc’s inner dialogue.

For people who have issues with these types of topics I wouldn’t recommend reading this in case you get triggered.

Against thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the arc of this book.

📖 The Love Haters 📖

Book 16 of 2025
My rating: 4 ⭐️

In classic Katherine Center fashion this is full of laughs, lovable characters, and a romance. I really enjoyed the setting and learning about the USCG. Rue absolutely stole my heart.

Why wasn’t it five stars? The story was a little heavy on the miscommunication and body shame/self-talk which wasn’t my favorite.

Do you want to know my FAVORITE part of the book? It’s not a spoiler, I promise.

It’s the authors note at the end. Katherine Center gushes about why stories - specifically love stories - are so important. I found myself nodding my head and saying “you’re so right, Katherine”. I feel like it gives us a glimpse into who she is as a person and I truly adore her.

So, 4 stars for the books & ♾️ stars for Katherine Center as an author, love story lover, & the kind of human we need more of.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for my e-arc to read, enjoy, & review.

Thank you to the publisher for an early release copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center. I have read all Katherine Center's books as they serve as an entryway into Spring for me. I enjoyed this one and appreciated the delve into the world of the Coast Guard and the helicopter rescue. I could definitely tell that Center did her homework on this as the descriptions were vivid and quite strong. The romance part wasn't my favorite of hers but still enjoyable. This is a fun read to get you going from Spring to Summer.

I've read and loved several Katherine Center books, but this is by far my favorite. I haven't been this engrossed in a book in a long time. I could not put it down. Katie is going through it but is such a loveable FMC. Hutch is actually perfect. But Rue, Beanie, and George Bailey? I would die for them. Seriously do not pass this one up.

Thank you Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Katherine Center does it again with another heart warming, sweet rom-com. I LOVED the setting in Key West and the bright colorful backdrop alongside the super cool coast guard job descriptions. It made for a fun setting for the book and made it even more enjoyable to read. Rue was such a fun character addition and I appreciated having her and the girls as side characters to the romance between Hutch and Katie. I do wish there had been a bit more closure in the end/development of Hutch and Katie as a couple, but the book was sweet and enjoyable so it still gets 4 stars for me!

Katie's job is on the line and when she has the opportunity to work with the US Coast Guard, she takes it. The fact that she can't swim is irrelevant.

In true Katherine Center fashion, this book is full of charming banter, wit, humorous situations, heartfelt moments, all topped off with a sweet romance. I loved the character arc for Katie. As someone who was a teenager in the 90s, I found her to be very relatable in regards to her insecurities. Hutch was a great MMC as well. I love the way that he was his own person while also supporting Katie as the main character. I always love a good octogenarian, and Aunt Rue was fabulous!

While the parts I loved, I REALLY loved, there were a few scenes that didn't sit right or make sense, and they really threw me. While I appreciated the strife between brothers, I really struggled with the bar scene and how everyone just seemed to be ok with Cole's antics. I also felt like maybe I was missing something about the helicopter scene.

Overall though, this is still a solid 4 star, read. I had a lot of fun listening to it and really felt for our main characters. While I did get a digital galley through NetGalley, I also ended up with an ALC and that was how I read this book. As always, Patti Murin is amazing and brought our characters to life.

I usually love Katherine Center's books but this one just didn't hit the same. There wasn't as much banter and comedy as her other books. It was a quick read but I didn't find myself laughing as much as I normally do. Even though this book wasn't my favorite, I will continue to pick up more of her books.