Katherine Center delivers another gem with The Love Haters—a smart, funny, and heartfelt romance that’s impossible to put down. With her signature warmth and wit, Center creates characters you’ll fall in love with and a story that hits all the right emotional notes. Perfect for fans of feel-good reads, this book is a joyful reminder that love is worth the risk. A total delight from start to finish!

Video producer Katie Vaughn risks her job- and her heart- when she's assigned to profile charming Coast Guard swimmer Hutch in Key West. As old wounds resurface, so does the chance for love in this witty, feel-good romance about healing and second chances.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and while it won’t be my last, this one didn’t win me over. The pacing felt off, and the chemistry between Katie and Hutch just didn’t land for me. It felt a bit forced and underdeveloped.

That said, there were definitely bright spots. I loved the Key West setting, the swimming lesson scenes were cute, and George Paul the Great Dane was the star of the book.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced read with a fun, summery setting- but not one I see myself re-reading.

Katherine Center books always seem to have the perfect blend of humor and heart-wrenching moments - and The Love Haters did not disappoint. Katie is a filmmaker assigned to produce a promotional video for the US Coast Guard in Key West and desperate to keep her job as her company is starting layoffs. And the main subject of her video is her boss's brother Hutch - who happens to be a swoon-worthy, kind, considerate, and gorgeous Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie is always finding faults in herself, specifically related to her appearance - and this assignment helps to push her way outside of her comfort zone. This book is highly entertaining, genuine, funny, and heart-warming - especially when you add in a rambunctious Great Dane named George Bailey who is terrified of thunder and who has a habit of getting over excited in Katie's presence and of course Cole and Hutch's beloved aunt Rue who helps Katie to push her boundaries and her love of color. Hutch's brother Cole was horrible and someone that needed to be punched - his actions were terrible at times and contributed to plenty of additional drama. Neither Hutch nor Katie are looking for love - and their journey to finding it is not always easy. But Katherine Center truly has a way of crafting beautiful romances while also delving into a lot of painful topics with consideration and grace. Definitely recommend! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if: You want to meet a hunky Coast Guard man!

Trigger Warnings: Body Dysmorphia

Overall, I want to start by saying this is my first Katherine Center book but I have 2 sitting on my shelf TBR. I really liked her writing style and am excited to read more from her.

I liked the relationship between our 2 main characters in that it didn’t feel manufactured. Yes Katie appreciated Hutch’s physical appearance but she also got to know his personality as well. I enjoyed our side characters who gave the book some comedic touches.

What I didn’t enjoy was the plot of Katie’s body dysmorphia. As someone who struggles with their own body image, I did not feel that the resolution of her negative body image was very realistic or authentic. The way it was written was very confusing and repetitive. It made me feel as though the author just wanted another layer to the character but didn’t do enough research into the topic to make it seem real. For me personally it missed the mark.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin’s Press for gifting me an advanced reading copy of this book!

3.75 Stars for this one. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Katie is a film maker trying to save her job, and travels to the Florida Keys to make a promo video for the US Coast Guard. There she meets Hutch, a no-nonsense guy who is the subject of her promo. She is befriended by Rue, who owns the cottages Katie stays at for her trip, and the Gals who are Rue’s friends.

This story is both romantic love and self love, and I appreciated Center’s take on this. I would highly recommend taking a look at the triggers to see if this book is for you; these include poor body image, eating disorder behaviors and general negative self talk. Katie’s story includes a lot of personal growth and I loved the epilogue.

I really enjoyed this one. While a main theme of the book could be a massive trigger for some and hard to read, I think it's an important topic worth exploring, and the author's note at the end explaining the reasoning behind it makes so much sense. I loved that the book featured Coast Guard aviation and SAR, as my husband is a helicopter pilot in the CG, and I related so much to Katie's experience of learning about what this side of the CG does and being in awe of their work. I appreciate that Katherine Center did her research at a real CG station; you could tell she took care in getting the details correct. Overall, this had some typical romance novel arcs/tropes, but I flew through and always love the banter Center's MC have.

Very thankful to have received an ARC for this book!
Katherine is an amazing author and truly never misses. This story was so beautiful. I am truly so sad to have finished this book because I was not ready to leave these characters. This book had me audibly laughing. I also really appreciated the vulnerability that was portrayed in these characters. Pick this book up, you won't regret it.

I will read anything Katherine Center writes so it was a no brainer that I would be requesting The Love Haters. I did not enjoy her previous novel as The Rom-Commers as much as the other novels I have read so I was counting on The Love Haters to get me out of that mindset. Luckily, it did not disappoint.

I love Katherine Center because while there is a ton of steamy romance scenes in her novels, there is always a bigger topic/issue/hurtle present. You can tell that Katherine Center does so much research for her novels and I always learn something new while reading her books.

The banter between the two characters was great and I felt their connection, even though it might have been a little rushed. This one made me laugh out loud and there is a dog character that steals the show. I loved the premise and loved learning about the training the coast guard goes through. A female main character that you want to befriend and a male character that book boyfriends are made from.

A fun, light read with deeper underlying topics that is sure to please.

I have read almost all of Katherine Center's books and this one wasn't my favorite but it didn't completely disappoint. I can tell she does a good amount of research into the jobs of the characters which is always appreciated. It was difficult to connect to the main female character, she was so negative and self deprecating it was hard to read at times. The character would also flip flop in personality where she was super strong and independent and stick up for herself and then do a 180 the next. I wish there was a little more banter between her and the love interest as well. Another point that was confusing was the ex boyfriend plot point, it seemed unnecessary by the end. Some of the plot seemed weirdly forced but in the end it worked out and I still overall enjoyed it as all of her books end happy and that's what I wanted from this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

3.5 ⭐️

I really wanted to love this one, especially because I’ve truly enjoyed some of her other books,but unfortunately… it just didn’t land for me.

The premise? Super promising. The execution? Not so much.

That said, I was definitely entertained. I laughed a little, I cried a little, and the series of antics and mishaps that followed Katie throughout the entire novel kept things engaging.

The heavier topics,especially around body image which takes up a majority of the book,deserved more care and depth. I felt as though they could have been handled a bit more carefully, even more genuinely, especially since they were so integral to the plot.

The romance leaned heavily on insta-love, and while Hutch had all the makings of a swoony book boyfriend, he felt a little too perfect. Their chemistry was lackluster, and some of the humor missed the mark.

As for the side characters—besides the Gals, obviously—they lacked depth and, honestly, weren’t very likable.

And then there’s the ending. It felt incredibly rushed, wrapping everything up a little too neatly without fully addressing the emotional weight of what had come before. And how did no one tell Katie what was happening!! I would’ve loved a bit more resolution and realism to match the more serious themes throughout.

Still, it’s a fast-paced read that many rom-com fans might enjoy. It just didn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for, especially given the exciting premise.

Before reading, though, I would check the trigger warnings because there are several potential triggers mentioned.

And finally - thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I had so much fun with this book. Katherine Center's ability to write a lighthearted book dealing with serious and complex background issues is far too underrated. There is a bit of a trigger warning for those who have dealt with self-image and body dismorphia-related issues; however, Center treats these as real personal issues and does not minimize the effect that they can have on our everyday perspectives while still managing to give us an almost bubbly feeling rom-com that is PERFECT for a beach read.

Do we have a trademark super-relatable FMC? Yes. Do we have a swoony lead? Yes. Quirky background characters? Yes. BONUS super cute dog you just want to say “whose a good boi???” to? Yes, yes, yes!

I, for one, will absolutely be grabbing myself a copy of The Love Haters so I can reread it.

Audio-wise, I really enjoyed the narrator. I would absolutely recommend the audio version of this book so that you can listen SAFELY while going for a dip or any of your other summer activities, which Hutch, our resident Coast Guard rescue swimmer, would approve of.

4ish stars. The thing about Katherine Center's books that I absolutely love is that they are so damn easy to read. And that is probably the biggest compliment to a book I could ever give. As soon as I start reading one of her books, I'm hooked. And regardless of whether I'm 100% jiving with what's on the page, I know that 1) I am 100% going to finish the book and 2) at no point in time will any of the book slag for me. And this is why Katherine is an autobuy author for me. Because her writing and style 100% work for me. While Katherine's book always have a romance, I feel like before, they maybe fell in the territory of womens fiction, but her newer books feel more like contemporary romance. So I've you are going into The Love Haters hoping for something that will be moving and heart breaking and transformative, that not really this. That said, I still really enjoyed The Love Haters. I wouldn't say this is full blown rom-com, because there are a lot of discussions about body image, which is in no way a funny topic, but Center peppers those discussions with almost slapstick type of comedy moments. I felt that Katie, the FMC, was very relatable. And I truly did love Hutch and absolutely rooted for them to get together. That said, I felt the chemistry was lacking just a bit, which to be fair, was hard to notice because both characters were great and you just wanted good things for them. I was not a fan of Cole or anything to do with the Cole plot line, so we'll just skip right over him. But other than Cole, I really loved all of the secondary characters and the found family vibes. And of course, OF COURSE, I absolutely love when there's a cute and memorable pup. All in all, I definitely enjoyed The Love Haters. As I stated above, Katherine's books are easy to read, even if the subject matter isn't necessarily easy. But they just work for me. And I can see this being a great summer/ beach read. Thank you so much to Katherine, SMP, and netgalley for the complimentary copy.

There is something so so special about Katherine Centers books! I truly love her work so much and will always continue to read her.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Wow! This book has several unexpected twists and the focus on body/self love is a thoughtful and unique theme for romance. I enjoyed the characters especially Katie. The dynamic between brothers Hutch and Cole is developed really well. Not a spicy book but engaging and I’m glad I got to read it. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

I was so excited to get an ARC for this. Thank you, NetGalley! The Love Haters was another classic rom com that was such a good read. Center has a great way of creating characters and I pleasantly found one that I didn’t like. It was refreshing! I did feel some sections were a bit of an info dump, however it also lined up with her character.
Snag it when it releases!

Things to consider:
There is no spice in this story
Mentions death of parents
Mentions cancer
FMC struggles with body image

I enjoyed this book *immensely*. At first, I wasn’t sure where the story was going to take me—and then suddenly, I was right there with our FMC: trying to learn how to swim, wearing colorful clothes, and figuring out how to love my body again.

This story packs *so much* into one beautifully layered journey—and somehow, it all works perfectly.

Katie struggles with body image issues that started back in her preteens, sparked by one hurtful comment from her stepmother. I related to that on such a deep level—how something so small can shape the way you see yourself for years. Now, add to that the horror of becoming social media’s punching bag because your boyfriend went viral and became a rockstar. Yeah, I’d spiral too. Cue body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and a massive pile of emotional baggage.

And that’s *just* Katie’s backstory.

She walks into a situation she’s not fully prepared for, and still? She shows up. Through her, our MMC becomes a hero in every sense of the word—not just because it’s his job, but because of how he shows up emotionally. He has his own wounds, his own reasons for pushing love away, and watching them navigate all of it together was such a moving experience.

But the rest? You’ll have to read it for yourself.

This book is for you if you like:
- Slow burn, emotionally rich romance
- Characters healing from body image issues and self-doubt
- A heroine who finds her strength and voice
- A swoony, emotionally intelligent hero
- “He falls first” energy
- Learning to swim (literally and metaphorically)
- Romances that balance humor with heartache
- Stories that explore the impact of social media and public scrutiny


Thankyou to St Martin's Press for the ARC

The Love Haters is the twelfth novel by Katherine Center. Her stories are warm and humorous but they also touch on serious events and situations and are told with great care.

Videographer Katie Vaughn loves what she does. So much so, in fact, that she has her own YouTube site called a Day in the Life where she spends 24 hours filming the everyday life of her subjects while also interviewing them about their lives and livelihoods. The Dallas company Katie works for is in a state of flux and many are being laid off. She will do whatever it takes to remain on the job so when her immediate report Cole Hutcheson gives her an assignment to spend three weeks in Key West creating a recruitment video for the Coast Guard she, of course, says yes. . Her contact is Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, Cole’s older brother.

Hutch has already had some notoriety when he rescued Jennifer Anniston’s dog when it fell off a California cliff. Although he had no choice of being an object of interest at the time, Hutch has made it his business to stay out of the limelight since that experience. However, he has brought this project to Cole in hopes of spending time with his brother and mending the year long rift between them.

But Cole isn’t ready for such a reunion just yet but has a talented, eager underling that is anxious to save her job in the layoffs and this piece may just be the golden ticket. So Katie packs her wardrobe of black jeans and T-shirts and flies to Miami. After landing, Katie hurries to baggage claim just to be doused with another hurried passenger’s coffee and then to learn her baggage has been lost. Her only option seems to be to collect her rental car, head to the Stardust Inn in Key West, and hope her luggage follows suit. Luckily, Katie always carries her video equipment with her so she can still do her job.

Upon arriving in Key West, Katie meets Cole’s Auntie Rue, owner of the Inn, and the story takes off. From underwater survival training for a lady who doesn’t know how to swim, to hanging out the door of a helicopter to grab rescue footage, many encounters with a 160 pound Great Dane named George Bailey, witnessing hostilities between brothers, riding out a hurricane with said George Bailey this story is a wild ride. Along the way, Katie has many adventures but the greatest part of the journey is the people she meets along the way.

This is such a good story. While quite humorous, it also has many serious topics woven into the tale. The characters are dynamic, the setting tropical, and the storyline is a wild ride for the reader with a lovely conclusion. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I always enjoy a Katherine Center book and Love Haters was a lot of fun. Interesting premise, great setting and I applaud the body image components-they really resonated with me. Center always manages to inject a hilarious, rom com with some more serious themes that make the story richer and more meaningful. I highly recommend you taking some time to enjoy this one, especially on a beach or in a hammock, you'll be happier for it! This one releases on May 39, highly recommend!

I enjoyed this, although it was not my favorite Katherine Center book of all time (will anything match The Bodyguard?) the earnest characters and quirks of the whole cast was compelling. Katie's body image issues were a pervasive theme from start to finish, but they served an important purpose for her personal growth. Hutch was really well fleshed out and multi-dimensional. I loved Rue and George Bailey, they added so much to the overall story. I would recommend this to women's fiction and romance readers (closed door readers included) looking for an enjoyable, sometimes tense, sometimes funny, read.

Katherine Center has done it again! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I’ve never really thought of the Coast Guard as being filled with swoony, heroic types—but let’s just say that’s changed now!

This story follows Katie, who’s still reeling from a messy public breakup with a famous musician and struggling with body image issues. Her journey toward self-acceptance is raw, emotional, and so incredibly relatable. I especially loved the bond she shares with Rue—such a beautiful friendship rooted in support, wisdom, and some seriously great advice (hello, time horizon!). Their connection added so much heart to the story and reminded me how important it is to have someone in your corner when life gets heavy.

And can we talk about Katie and Hutch?! The chemistry between them was off the charts! Their banter, their emotional support, and the way they just got each other—it was everything I wanted in a romance.