love haters is a quick summer romance that sweeps you off your feet—or drags you out to sea

i was genuinely excited to dive into this story, but after the first 30%, i wasn't sure if i could swim my way to the end

the characters were okay... i adored our mmc, hutch, and miss rue, but everyone else—including our fmc, katie—were questionable at best

the romance itself felt rushed, and i really wish we were given more time to explore the connection between katie and hutch. the secrecy, the lies, and the hurricane ending [literally] came off as messy and dramatic, and not in a satisfying way

also, some of the conversations around body image may be mildly triggering, and i felt they could've been handled with more care

i loved the idea of the book, but sadly, it just didn't hit for me. that said, it's a breezy read if you're in the mood for something summery and chaotic

thank you for the arc, st. martin's press and netgalley

3.75 rounded up. Thought the body image stuff was overdone but in the end loved the story between Katie and Hutch. And loved Rue and her friends. Pictured this as a movie the entire time I was reading it. Read in less than 2 days. Would definitely recommend.

The Love Haters is your typical romance. You have misunderstanding, a dash of fake-dating, and a to top it all of a hunch of natural disaster to round it all out. Katie is trying to love herself again, after her boyfriend cheated on her and she had fallen down a rabbit hole of reading internet stranger’ opinions of her. Hutch is a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer and has a bunch of issues from his past he has to come to terms with.

The Love Haters reminded me a bit of Sophie Kinsella’s style of humorous writing and did make me chuckle quite a bit. All in all not a bad book, though I think the self hating and tendencies of an ED in the fmc could trigger some people.

How glorious!

Writer crushed it on this one! You are totally immersed in the story and feel like you are apart of it or at least you want to be!!
Feel like I know Katie, Hutch and Rue and could fit in their story quite nicely! You are left hoping for what they hope for, wanting what they want, it’s magic! Sweet heart warming story with some mild romance and none of the unnecessary smut. Such a powerful way to view yourself as a woman, your body and such healing in her journey of loving herself.

Thanks to netgalley and St Martins press for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Read If You Like
• Workplace romance
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Grumpy/sunshine dynamic
• Healing through storytelling

Emma Wheeler is a quiet, self-effacing screenwriter stuck ghostwriting romantic comedies while caring for her ailing father. When she’s offered the chance to rewrite a major rom-com script for former comedy star Charlie Yates—a cynical, washed-up actor who hates rom-coms—Emma jumps at the chance.

The job requires her to leave Texas and work closely with Charlie in L.A., forcing both characters into unfamiliar emotional territory. As the two collaborate on bringing the story to life, Emma must navigate her own romantic ideals while Charlie slowly reckons with his jaded view of love.

The Rom-Commers is sweet and self-aware, leaning more into emotional vulnerability than laugh-out-loud moments. While the pacing is uneven and the central romance may feel tepid for readers expecting high heat or sparkling banter, the novel succeeds as a gentle meditation on love, storytelling, and second chances. A solid, if not standout, entry in the genre.

Thanks to SMP and Macmillan for my ALC and EARC!

I really enjoyed Katherine Center's book The Love Haters. It has a great setting, Key West. Great main characters in Katie and Hutch, along with great supporting characters, Rue, and the Gals. I especially loved George Bailey, the great Dane!

The story opens with Katie trying to save her mid level job by agreeing to go to Key West to film a documentary on Hutch, a coast guard rescue swimmer.. This might seem simple, but the catch is, Katie can't swim!. As Katie navigates this new job, she is also dealing with body insecurity issues. This part of the book does at times get a little repetitive and "preachy" but overall it does send a message we need to all remember.

This was a perfect summer Romcom. It was a fast paced read, it is funny, and the setting of Key West will get you in the mood for a vacation!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and the author, Katherine Center for the ARC.

I’ve been a fan of Katherine Center’s books for years. I look forward to reading a new book from her each year, especially after devouring The Unromantics last year. However, The Love Haters didn’t live up to my expectations. 

In all honesty, this was a middle-of-the-road read for me. I didn’t love it but I didn’t dislike it. My biggest issue was the romance between the two characters, the lack of it to be specific. There was no development. I felt the friendship between the characters but I didn’t see them fall in love nor did I feel their love. I want to feel the pining, those moments when the characters peel back a layer and allow their vulnerability to peek through, those moments where you can feel a connection form. I didn’t feel that with this book. I felt like the author was telling me the characters felt this way but it wasn’t believable from what I had read. 

Also, in the arc there was not a trigger warning page so I would like to state this book discusses body image issues and eating disorders. They are discussed quite often so if those topics are ones you would like to avoid, I recommend steering clear of this book.

All that being said, while this wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center book, I will still be on the lookout next year for her next book.

Content warning: lots of body image/eating disorder discussion

This book is ultimately more about healing and learning to love yourself than falling in love, which is nice, but it can be very difficult to read, particularly in the beginning, and is certainly not for everyone. I wish Hutch had gotten more character depth and we had gotten more time with them together since this is, at least in theory, a romance rather than just contemporary fiction.

There is a wholesome found family aspect that I adored and a behemoth of a dog that stole my heart. Overall a cute story, but to call it a light read would be objectively untrue.

The Love Haters is classic Katherine Center - great banter, lovable and hilarious characters who really care for each other. Katie travels to Key West to film a documentary about Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

I was underwhelmed by the beginning of this book, which details Katie's life and her struggles with self-esteem. Her character is relatable, but her story felt very negative initially. Then she travels to Key West, meets Hutch, Rue and all of the Gals, and the book got very fun and much more interesting. Katie is a filmmaker who takes on a Coast Guard video project in order to save her job in the midst of company layoffs. Her focus in the promotional video is Hutch, a Coast Guard swimmer who rescues people at sea.

When she arrives, Katie meets Rue, her sort of fairy god mother, who provides her with fabulous clothing, a cute place to live and lots of encouragement. As she films him, Katie falls in love with Hutch and soon finds out her feelings for Hutch are mutual. Enter Cole, Katie's boss and Hutch's scheming brother. His character was truly despicable and really did not contribute to the story. Despite his efforts to mess with Katie and Hutch, and Katie finding herself stranded on a boat during a hurricane, Katie and Hutch find their happily ever after.

The banter between the characters was laugh out loud funny, and I loved the description of the details of Katie's work. I also loved Katie's relationships with her cousin Beanie, Hutch, Rue and the Gals. Katie went through many challenges in her ability to love herself, and that is one of the main love stories of this book. She finds peace and love for herself at the end of the book. A great read for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or felt insecure about the way they look. The dramatic happy ending really ties up the loose ends of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel-good story.

Thanks to Katherine Center, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Oh, Katherine Center how I love your books! This definitely wasn’t my favorite of her stories, but I still had a great time reading this.

With her job on the line, Katie heads to Key West to produce a documentary that she MAY have over exaggerated her experience to get. We’re introduced to a whole host of lovable characters and get to see how Katie journeys to find self-acceptance and community.

As one of my most anticipate reads, this didn’t live quite up to my expectations, but it is still a great summer read nonetheless.

Just finished The Love Haters by Katherine Center, and I’m officially obsessed! This book is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and swoon-worthy romance.

Katie Vaughn is a talented videographer who’s been burned by love and is now facing potential layoffs at work. To save her job, she takes on a documentary assignment in Key West, profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch. The catch? Katie can’t swim, and Hutch isn’t exactly thrilled about being filmed. But as they spend time together, sparks fly, and their connection deepens.

The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is undeniable, and their slow-burn romance had me hooked from start to finish. The supporting characters, especially Aunt Rue and the lovable Great Dane, George Bailey, added so much charm to the story.

What I loved most was how the book balanced lighthearted moments with deeper themes of self-acceptance and vulnerability. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the hardest person to love is yourself.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read with a dash of adventure and a whole lot of heart, The Love Haters is a must-read. Katherine Center has done it again!

I usually love Katherine Center’s books, so it’s a bit of a letdown to say this one just didn’t work for me. The main character was difficult to connect with, and her inner voice didn’t resonate—I found her perspective hard to sit with for most of the book.

One major heads-up: there’s a very prominent theme of body image and disordered eating throughout, which felt overwhelming at times. If that’s something you’re sensitive to, it’s definitely worth being aware of going in.

On top of that, the way she described the male lead—constantly emphasizing how massive, burly, and hyper-masculine he was—got repetitive fast and pulled me out of the story.

Sadly, this one just wasn’t a fit for me. I know others might connect with it more, but it didn’t have the heart and nuance I’ve come to expect from her books.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
This book was a quick, engaging read that I genuinely enjoyed. One of the standout aspects for me was Katie’s personal journey, her struggle with body image was portrayed with honesty and sensitivity, and her growth felt authentic.

The storyline was believable and well-paced, though I found myself wishing it had been a bit longer. The romantic arc between Katie and Hutch could’ve used more development; while their relationship had potential, it sometimes felt like a subplot rather than a central thread. The focus was clearly on Katie’s self-discovery, with Hutch playing more of a supporting role than a true romantic lead.

Overall, a heartfelt story with meaningful character development, though a bit more depth in the romance would’ve made it even stronger.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for providing this e-ARC through NetGalley.

I love Katherine Center books and really enjoyed The Love Haters. Hutch was an amazing MMC (big fan here), but Katie did frustrate me at times. I can definitely relate to some of her struggles, but she took some time for me to really connect with her. The storyline was fun and I loved the setting being in the Keys! As always with her books, she had me feeling all the feels and I was laughing and crying and just overall had a grand time with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center, for this ARC of “The Love Haters” which came out on May 20, 2025.

I’m a longtime fan of Katherine Center and usually adore her romcoms. While this novel had her signature charm and the cover art is absolutely stunning, The Love Haters didn’t quite resonate with me. The storyline felt a bit too far-fetched, and I struggled with the main character’s persistent negative self-image, which I found frustrating at times.

That said, I know many readers will still find joy in this book, it just wasn’t a personal favorite.

⭐️ Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As with every other KC book I've read, this one had me smiling, giggling and cheering for our main girl, Katie. Katie finds herself in Key West for her job as a video producer and she gets to work with handsome Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch every single day of the project.Of course, Hutch is not only "the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen," he is also protective, giving, kind... and a love hater. Will Katie be able to change that?
In this story, we get to follow Katie on her adventures in Key West while she meets some amazing people, finds herself in some sticky situations, learns to face her fears, and realizes she is braver than she thinks.

"No one's born fearless- you have to earn it. Every time you have to be brace, you get to be a little braver next time. That's what life is for."

I had so much fun reading this story! I loved our main characters and many of the side characters too. Katie goes on a journey of self discovery which I enjoyed as well. I recently got to go to a Katherine Center book signing where she spoke about the seven different types of love shown in this book, the most important one being Katie's love with herself. The conflict for the romance part of the story wasn't my favorite but other than that, I loved this book!

Thank you @netgalley
Thank you @stmartinspress

When I saw Katherine’s book available in NetGalley I immediately had to request it! And I was ecstatic when I was given an early copy !This was such a fun, cute, and informative read! I learned quite a few things about the coast guard, which I found very interesting. But I loved Katie, and Hutch just sounded so dreamy lol. The only reason this isn’t getting the full 5 stars is because I wanted to hear Hutch’s inter monologue as well! But overall, Katherine Center remains on my auto buy list!

I thought The Love Haters was a cute and easy read, but not your strongest work.

The main character, while relatable at times, got on my nerves a bit. I am all for stories about personal growth, but her story felt a bit whiny at times.

It was still a cute read and I would recommend it to others just because I love all your books!

3.5 rounded up
I always know what I’m getting into when I start a KC book. A fun unique plot with well thought out characters, a message of sorts and uplifting joyful storytelling. I appreciated the added info around search and rescue with this one and this has a great setting for a beachy read. It fell short on the romance for me but I did like both the M and F mcs!!

Earlier this week I was reminded why I love surrounding myself with books and bookish people. I got some not so great news on the day I was supposed to see Katherine Center speak at my local indie, Warwicks. I decided to still go with my bestie and hoped the distraction would be good for me. I’m so glad I did! I “met” Katherine Center a few years ago when she joined my book club #readspinrepeatbookclub over zoom. I remember asking her then about coming to San Diego so I knew I couldn’t miss her while she was in town.

You guys, she is a ray of sunshine. She is so smart and funny, I could have listened to her talk for hours.

If you see her out on tour, be sure to thank her for the thorough research she did and time she spent with the gorgeous members of the US Coast Guard. It was hard work but she persevered in order to get the correct info into The Love Haters.

She was so generous in sharing her wisdom. She was talking about writing when I jotted down this gem that I thought it was applicable to life in general: “notice what’s good, what’s working, then do more of that”. Love!