2 stars

First off I want to say there is no warning for how prevalent body image issues are in this story. It is THE MAIN PLOT. Throughout the book, it felt like the FMC mentioned her body hatred or her food issues or her past ED on every dang page. This can be incredibly triggering to so many people. Even though it is not a particular trigger for me personally, it was talked about so much that I was getting exhausted by it. I wanted to DNF so many times and I regret that I didn't. The way weight was talked about constantly, it was clear the author is over 50.

There is NO WAY not a single person in the FMCs life never noticed her sectoral heterochromia. I have tiny dots in one of my irises and people who I don't know well have mentioned it so its impossible hers wasn't noticed. And why did nobody ever correct her that her eyes are not hazel but blue?? This is truly the most unbelievable part of the book.

The first 75% of this book is so focused on the FMCs body that the romance felt a bit random. Then the 3rd act conflict is the STUPIDEST situation I have ever read. Let me spoil it for you. The FMC Katie was sent by her boss(?) Cole to do a documentary piece of his Coast Guard brother Hutch. Cole decides to lie and tell Hutch that he and Katie are dating to save her job (?) with their boss who wants to lay people off, yet somehow two people dating means...they won't get fired?? He never tells Katie this plan but convinces her to stick to the lie (hello sexual harassment case) so now Hutch thinks Katie cheated on her boyfriend with his brother? Great plan guys. Then they go to a bar and Cole wants to do a drinking contest and says whoever wins IN THE WHOLE BAR gets to kiss Katie...WHAT THE HELL??? Girl report this man to HR. Some other stuff happens which ends up with Cole hooking up with the boss?? I still don't really understand why she came to FL too. Anyhow when they come clean to Hutch that they aren't together, the guys wrestle in public and this is the second book by this author that two grown ass men wrestle in public and I hate it. Then Katie thought Hutch would just run into her arms? YOU LIED TOO and made him feel like he was stealing his brothers girl. That's insane behavior.

Anyhow she ends up alone on a houseboat in the middle of a hurricane and it sinks. Of course Hutch ends up saving her but at one point he makes her think he is just going to LEAVE HER ALONE IN THE OCEAN WITH A RAFT. Why would you do that to someone in this situation?? Psychopath.

Unfortunately I think this author isn't for me. I've hated 3/5 of the books I've read.

Regarding the audiobook, I do feel the narrator was really good and the production was well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I’ll start by saying, if Katherine Center wrote a dictionary, I would read it. The Love Haters did not disappoint. It delivered the laughing out loud moments as well as the moments that made me sob.

I loved Hutch and Katie and both of their careers. It felt like something new and fresh. I appreciated the research that was put into Hutch and his career with the U.S. Coast Guard. It was fun learning about the divers. I really loved Aunt Rue and the gals and the community that they had. I adored Beanie and how she pushed Katie to find the good in herself. And I cannot forget George Bailey. I loved him too.

What I loved most of all was beyond the romance. I loved that this book was about going beyond perceptions in relationships of all kinds with others and yourself. It was about second chances. It was about body image and loving yourself. I really respect Katherine Center for diving into these deeper topics. It’s not easy to talk about some of these things, especially knowing that not everyone will agree or connect with it—but I think it was a brave and powerful choice.

This is probably my new favorite by Katherine Center. I’m so sad it’s over. I want more of all these characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I always love a Katherine Center read. She doesn't just write a love story, she makes it meaningful and connected to the larger world. It was fun that she took two people who were trying NOT to have a relationship with anyone and put them together. Seeing their evolution from solitary, lonely creatures to falling in love with each other despite themselves was a lovely ride.

Some of the characters in this book were a little weird and didn't quite seem real--yep, I'm talking about Cole and Jessica. But Hutch and Katie were real enough to forgive the cartoonishness of some of the side characters.

As romances go, it followed the basic skeleton of attraction, being together, problems, separating, then . . . well, I don't want to give away the ending, but it's pretty typical. But a good writer can put very pretty flesh on this basic skeleton. Center always manages to do this, making the reader feel like part of the story and making it seem new each time.

It wasn't the best romance story I ever read, which is why it gets 4 stars. Probably more like 4.5, if that were available. It was definitely an entertaining way to spend a few hours, though. You could do a lot worse, believe me. I have.

I would like to start off by thanking netgalley for the arc of this book.

I have found that anything Katherine Center writes I will love and this is no different.

A little white lie never hurt anybody.... that is what Katie thinks as she tries to see her job as a video producer. To keep from being laid off Katie joins her coworker Cole on an adventure following his brother Tom "Hutch" Hutchinson who is a coastguard rescue swimmer in Key West. Although Katie and Hutch do have one thing in common, they are both "love haters." In perfect Katherine Center fashion these two "love haters" end up finding out they might actually have more than one thing in common. If you love HEA, rescue dogs, and cute swimming lessons you will love this book.

I absolutely cannot go wrong with a Katherine Center book. It's great every time. I loved this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. A quick and easy romcom to read. It wasn’t one of my favorites by Katherine Center. It was a bit cheesy for me. There really could have been more character development between the two main characters. Overall an ok read for me.

Katherine Center is another auto-buy author for me. Every story and character is so easy to connect to.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

In Katie's desperate attempt to keep her job, she agrees to follow Hutch, a member (and hunky hero) of the US Coast Guard. Only problem? She can't swim. And she hates swimsuits. And the way she looks.

This book ended up finishing ME instead of me finishing it. I loved the idea of Katie falling in love with herself first before falling in love with anyone else. It started out rough for me, I didn't know if I was going to finish. As with Katherine's other books, it is the slowest of slow burns, but it is so worth it in the end. I thought it was action packed, cute, and thought provoking. I'll be implementing the body part I love and why part of the book into my weekly affirmations!

3.5/5, rounded up to 4.

I loved The Love Haters by Katherine Center. Katherine is one of my auto-buy, go-to authors when I want a feel good, low steam happy ending. But the thing I like about her books is that while they are all of those things, they also deal with real issues and emotions that aren't all sunshine and rainbows. If I don't cry at least twice, was it really a Katherine Center book?

Katie is persuaded by her co-worker Cole to travel to Key West and film a video profile of Tom "Hutch" Hutchinson, a coast guard rescue swimmer. Katie is the opposite of qualified--she can't even swim--but she's desperate to keep her job and figures a little white lie won't hurt. Also, turns out Cole and Hutch are brothers, and things get a little messy in paradise. And that's before the hurricane rolls in. I loved watching how everything shook out for Katie down in Florida with the colorful cast of side characters including a rescue great dane with thunderstorm anxiety. I kept thinking of the Taylor Swift line about "just getting color back into my face," and how it fit so well with Katie as she learned to love again and embrace all the colorful moments of life.

All the stars. Fabulous. No notes. Thank you so much to SMP for my advance review copy.

Hmmm, I didn't love but didn't hate. I have loved each of her other books, so was a bit bummed with this one. There was some dumb moments, especially the part where the brother shows up.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc for an honest review!
4 stars

I had a very weird experience where I was reading this book at the same time as a very similar one. A romance with a 'celebrity' being interviewed by someone, and the plot including body positivity and close proximity. In this one, though, the person with the mental health struggles is the interviewer rather than the interviewee. Not to say that the interviewee was without his own issues. But overall, it made for a VERY strong need for my brain to be good at separating two different books 🤣

This book took me a long time because I read on my kindle at work, and man, was work frustrating lately. But that also meant I had a bit of a hard time getting into it. Once I did, though, and could read in bigger chunks, I found myself loving it as much as other Katherine Center books.

There's something about Center's voice that is just fun for me, even if I am also aware I sometimes find it try hard. It manages to keep being quirky/dorky fun even while I roll my eyes, ya know?

Hutch is your typical hot man trying to figure out how to emotion, though I did really enjoy his familial struggles. Also, Rue is an inspiration, and I get why all the characters in this book would bend over backwards for her.

Katie was the biggest win for me. Her journey of loving her body was heartfelt and just so genuine. And the mental imagery she created at one point of going up to hug her little girl self rather than bullying her just had me 😭 And she has an actual conversation with her body at one point that, again, just so good. It always keeps Center's voice while also hitting, you know?

There was sometimes moments I'd facepalm or roll my eyes TOO hard at things, primarily Cole, hence a 4 star instead of 5, but I did really enjoy this, and am so glad I got the arc for it :D

4.5 Stars rounded up!

I love that Katherine Center's books always come out near my birthday. It's a little treat from the universe to this book living gal. Her latest, The Love Haters, takes us to Florida's Key West where Katie is assigned to produce a recruitment marketing video of the U.S. Coast Guard and specifically the very handsome Tom "Hutch" Hutchenson who is a rescue swimmer. For reasons we don't know yet, Katie's colleague Cole, assigned this to her instead of himself as he wants nothing to do with his brother and his perfect persona. Katie accepts and forgets to mention she doesn't even know how to swim. Yikes! Once in Key West, Hutch and Cole's adorable Aunt Rue takes Katie under her wing and before she knows it she's signed up for swim lessons with Hutch, being tackled by his Great Dane George Bailey, and trying to figure out how she will pull off this video. This story is deeper than it sounds as you'll discover and the pages are filled with messages of how love and second chances can turn things around. Another huge aspect of this book centers around body positivity. I loved Katie's journey of learning to block out the lies we tell ourselves (or read online) and start appreciating everything our bodies do for us. Also overcoming old fears and saying yes to life and color!! I also really enjoyed learning about the U.S. Coast Guard which I didn't know too much about previously. Thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies in exchange for an honest review. Pub day is May 20th, perfect for summer beach reading or if you're like me reading at the park with the kiddos.

Katherine Center is slowly working her way up on my favorites list! I still really feel like Hello Stranger has been her best one so far, but this one was also great. The main character having a whole story arch of a love story with herself and her body was really beautiful. I love how the author describes it in the note about being “enemies to lovers”.

I do feel like the banter could’ve been better, but it was still good. I laughed out loud several times while reading this and teared up as well. If you’re looking for a sweet, clean, vacation-type read then give this a try!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Katherine Center always brings the most joy-filled, zippy rom-coms that make me grin and swoon a little. This was no exception. Katie is asked to film a promo video for the US Coast Guard with her work superior's brother, rescue swimmer "Hutch" Hutcheson. When she arrives in Key West, she's expecting the grumpiness and love-hating character her co-worker warned her of. Instead, she quickly realizes that Cole's perception of his older brother is all wrong. Sparks fly, as they do in romances and Katie and Hutch get their HEA, of course.

Katherine Center isn't for everyone. There's a significant amount of shenanigans, suspending disbelief, and eye-rolling (this time our FMC rolls hers along with us). I say this all with love because for me, her books are the exact type that can pull me out of a slump and give me that giddy feeling I desperately need sometimes.

Here's what I loved about this one (the first is also a warning for some audiences):

Katie has body dysmorphia and has struggled with disordered eating; Hutch/the right romantic partner isn't the one to save the day, in my opinion. Katie's best friend Beanie is the one who pushes her to accept herself.

A dog named George Bailey. Come on. Who doesn't love It's A Wonderful Life?

Difficult backstories and heartwarming moments of sharing and wrestling through the past

A robust and fun cast of side-characters with intergenerational friendship

Overall, just a good romp. And I've learned never to skip this author's "author's note" at the end. Katherine Center is a champion of the genre and why it matters because love and joy matter.

I loved the ideas behind this book. Learn to love yourself, stand up for yourself and just BE yourself. The coast guard part was very interesting. I enjoyed learning about water rescue, but it wasn't over the top. I did not care for the Cole character, but in the real world, such a person exists. I did love the whole scenario behind the aunt and her friends and how they loved on Katie from the start!

There’s a hurricane, a Great Dane, some swim lessons, and a man who says he hates love. Challenge accepted, babe. 😏

📚 Reasons to Read The Love Haters
Grumpy/sunshine romance – Katie’s chaotic, big-hearted vibes clash deliciously with Hutch’s no-nonsense, love-hating moodiness.


Tropical setting – From Key West conga lines to life-or-death rescues, this story mixes beachy fun with emotional depth.


A heroine you’ll root for – Katie is messy, relatable, and trying her best—which makes her growth feel so satisfying.


LOL moments with real feels – Between dog drama, sibling tension, and steamy kisses, this rom-com delivers both giggles and gut punches.
The last few books from this author that I read did not connect with me. However, this one did a lot more! Katie is a fantastic character with a few traumas she has to deal with. The ending was very exciting and it took me no time to finish it. You will fall in love with George Bailey, the dog in a minute. This is the perfect summer by the pool read this year!

Okay, yes really liked this book! Center’s writing style continues to be both relatable and hilarious. I loved Katie in so many ways and saw so much of myself in her (sad beige girl with body image issues, HELLO.) and appreciated Center’s “here, let me hold the mirror” approach. I really loved the cast of side characters, but will say that the miscommunication trope just will never be it for me. I did not like the back and forth emotions from Hutch that came with it. All in all though, a great summer beach read! Thanks SMP & NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this so much! Like Katie, it's so easy for me to assume the people who think the worst of me are seeing me more clearly than I see myself. They have the opportunity to take a step back and view me holistically, from afar, after all. It feels so good to read a story where those toxic, longheld beliefs are unequivocally shot down. Hutch never wavered in his feelings toward Katie.

3.5 stars

This book had cute moments, swoony moments, and inspiring moments but as a whole it was lacking something and for me, I think I know what was holding me back from enjoying this as much as I had hoped.

The first chapter was kind of weird, in that I really couldn't tell if Cole was talking to a man or a woman about this project, like the voice was that generic. When I figured out Katie was a woman, I thought her to be a kind of naive woman and at times, she was. Katie talks a lot to herself, she has body image issues, and she has spent most of her life trying to be invisible because of this. I appreciate the body image discussion, the self love discovery, and Katie's journey in all this, but I didn't love the way it was executed, mostly because it started to become repetitive and a bit boring after hearing about it for the 10th time.

I loved Katie getting to know Hutch, the swim lessons, George Bailey, time with the Coast Guard, and the time in the Keys with Rue and the Gals. That all worked for me. The author nailed the vibe of The Keys!

The conflict was slimy. I didn't like it. Cole is slimy. He's very unlikable. The boss, Sullivan? Not very likable. On top of being unlikable, all these things I just mentioned seemed underdeveloped. Cole and Sullivan as characters just seemed to be thrown in for conflict and the conflict, like I said, was kind of gross, considering how Cole and Hutch had come to have beef in the first place.

Ultimately I think the flow of the story was what made me not "love" this book. I feel like the author had these ideas but they didn't bridge together real well, making the story feel kind of like someone who is a beginning stick shift driver. It was smooth until we had to shift gears. Not a bad book but not my favorite by this author.

Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC! Anything Katherine Center writes, I am going to read! I loved the relationship between Katie and Hutch. They were super cute... and I loved the dog, too! Cute book... I would recommend!