This was a really amazing book and I absolutely loved both of the characters. The chemistry they had with each other was amazing and I really loved that despite a little miscommunication they were able to work things out and be together properly. Also the part with the houseboat in the storm was equal parts scary and hilarious.

All I can say is "Wow!" I read a lot of rom coms, but I think this is the first time that the writing gave me butterflies as I was reading. I felt the pangs of love at times during the book too. I was so surprised at the emotional depths this book touched. Katherine Center has outdone herself here. I'm so grateful to have gotten an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I'm even more excited for my physical copy to arrive to adorn my shelf of books that really touched my heart. I'm so glad I discovered Katherine Center's books.

Also, I would note that there are some tough subjects in this book. I thought they were handled well.

Another Katherine Center win!! The love haters is an adorable rom-com with some heavy topics mixed in. Katie takes a job in Key West where she will be doing a promo for the Coast Guard, only problem is she lies about knowing how to swim. Hutch is known for being a love hater so she goes in thinking he will be just that! Katie also struggles with body image due to a past relationship and it is handled so well throughout the book. Aunt Rue is amazing. she is a bit over the top but has the absolute best intentions!! I loved the story and banter between Hutch and Katie so much and George Bailey was a true star here!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 Stars

Katherine Center has done it again! The Love Haters is a charming rom-com that delivers all the feels—love, loss, hope, and fresh starts. Center’s signature writing style shines with heart, humor, and just the right touch of emotional depth. The characters are vibrant and relatable, making it easy to root for them from page one. If you’re a fan of feel-good reads with a romantic twist, this one’s for you!

Many thanks to #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely expressed.

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Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Love Haters. I was so excited to read this. I’ll read pretty much anything by Katherine Center. This was so sweet. I giggled, gasped and squealed with glee while reading this book. Of course some parts were a little far-fetched and the protagonists body insecurity was a bit much at times but ultimately really enjoyed this one. Now I want to plan a trip to Key West ASAP.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is lovely rom com. Grumpy/Sunshine or maybe Grumpy/Grumpy trope. I enjoyed reading this. I love both the romance buildup and the character development. The side characters were interesting and downright hilarious, including the dog! A great feel-good read.
I got the ARC from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine

This had all the ingredients of a feel good comedy — witty banter, emotional and a strong lead. The concept of the two main characters determined to resist love, only to slowly fall for each is, is classic romcom material. Center’s trademark warmth and optimism definitely shine through in certain moments

However, the story doesn’t quite reach the emotional depth or spark that her best work often delivers. Some of the supporting characters feel more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out people. While the chemistry between the leads is sweet, it takes a while to build, and the payoff feels a little rushed by the end. I didn’t really get as much out of the romance as I needed.

That said, fans of Center’s style will still find plenty to enjoy—especially her insights on vulnerability and connection. It’s a pleasant, light read, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I recently read and LOVED The Bodyguard so I already knew this would be good! While it did take me a bit to get into it, I found it to be such a sweet love story! (Or should I say love stories-this also dealt with themes of family, friendship, and self-love in such a wholesome way.) The biggest struggle I had with it was the use of the miscommunication trope. Though I understand why it was included, it was a bit frustrating nonetheless. Either way though, this was a fun book and further cemented to me that I need to read more by Katherine Center!

where do i start?! this one had my hooked! i literally was laughing out loud so much in this book. it also had a few heartbreaking moments but it was so good!!! this was my first katherine centre book and let me tell you it will not be my last! if you’re looking for a good laugh and a cute love story - this is for you! you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of The Love Haters!

I really enjoyed this book. It had serious undertones with the romance that just swept me away from the start to finish. I was a little frustrated with a part of the storyline and the ending left me wanting a little bit more, but overall, I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio, and the narration was very good. This is a really good love story with a bigger message as well, and I think it's going to be a popular one!

Such a great summer read. Love Katherine center and she did not disappoint this time either. Would b a perfect beach read.

I think the first 25-30% of this book was a bit drawn out and slow, then all of a sudden it was classic Katherine Center and hit on every level, every emotion and everything I love about her books.

This story was so well done! From finding love, but finding out how to love yourself...I absolutely loved this entire thing. I loved the sweet doggo, Rue, and Hutch oh dreamy mcswoony Hutch!

This is KC at her finest!

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Katherine center for an ARC of The Love Haters! What can I say - I’m absolutely obsessed with everything Katherine writes. You normally catch me reading thrillers, but I have a special place in my heart that I must read everything Katherine writes. My heart each time I finish one of her books feels like it’s about to explode. I have to say this is probably my favorite yet (but also they are all completely fantastic). I feel a deep connection with Katie and especially her chromophobia, so I purchased a bright blue shirt the other day lol! There is a lot of great lessons and new perspectives in this book that you can really take with you. Katie takes a job in Key West - honestly that’s her only choice or get laid off. She’s there to film her coworker Cole’s brother, Hutch, for a Coast Guard video. Sounds like a great little gig, except Katie can’t swim. There is more than just learning how to swim that is in store for Katie.

Katherine Center does it again with a rom-com that’s equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound. The characters are messy, lovable, and refreshingly real, navigating love with humor and heart. It’s a story about resisting connection—and falling for it anyway. Perfect for anyone who claims they’re “over romance” but secretly loves a happy ending.

I just finished The Love Haters by Katherine Center and here are my thoughts.

Katie has gotten herself between a rock and a hard place.. they are laying people off at work but she’s been given a lifeline.. to do the video productive of hutch.. a coast guard.. trouble is she lied about being able to swim.
She didn’t go down there expecting to feel things but they are both closed off from love and she is starting to fall back in love with herself.
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Date of Release - May 20th 2025
Publisher - @stmartinpress
Format - audio and hardcover and the narration was amazing!

There is something you should know about Katherine’s books is that she always puts a moral in there and it will resonate with you. It’s always more than just a romance. It’s a book of self discovery too.

I loved the characters. Katie is so relatable. All the characters are perfect! I was sucked right into Hutch’s world and I didn’t want to leave. The book was beautifully written and the story just flowed. It gave me all the feels! It made me laugh, it made my eyes well with tears. It had some really tender moments and I was fully invested in the outcome.

The ending was brilliant too. You won’t be sorry for picking up this book!

5 stars

If you love heartwarming rom-coms, grab this one next month!

Thank you St Martin’s press and @netgalley for my gifted copies

This book was an immediate five star, six star even. In my personal opinion I’ve read a decent amount of books, and a decent amount of books I’ve rated highly at that, but no book before has felt like this book did. Not only did Katherine Center write one of the swooniest, adorable, healthiest romances, but she also was able to capture one of the most relatable struggles within the fmc. She was able to accurately describe what it’s like to be so scared to live in your own body, but also heal the disharmony between the mind and body. This book felt like such a warm hug debunking all self-image related lies people tell themselves. The pacing was engaging, the writing witty, emotional, and overall just clever. The characters all felt so real and I loved all of them for how human they were. Overall, I loved every minute of this technicolor novel and believe that this should be considered a must read.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy.

I adore Katherine Center and have a special place in my heart for her witty voice and unapologetic commitment to swoon-worthy romance. This book certainly channeled much of what makes her books so loveable, including the hopeful nature and focus on love as a powerful force. You can clearly see Center's passion for love stories all over this one, and it was a very quick and lovely read!

The cast of characters was a huge hit for me, and I loved getting to know "The Gals" and even the non-human characters (she has such a knack for including animals in brilliantly-entertaining ways!). Katie herself was also a delightful FMC. She had such a witty voice, and her inner monologue was a treat to read. It had such a fun element to it but also a vulnerability that grounded her. Hutch was also a wonderful character to get to know. He had this great good-naturedness that played well with his masculine side and role, and it also complemented Katie's character arc very well. Both had very intriguing back stories and motivations, and they played well together (though I will say, I am still not convinced either was a true "love hater," maybe more of a "love-skeptic," and nothing wrong with that!).

Compared to Center's other recent books (The Bodyguard and The Rom-Commers), this one had a greater element of intensity, especially at the end. The final scenes were quite anxiety-inducing and intense for a rom-com, and I really enjoyed that change of pace. I could not tear myself away and needed to know what could possibly happen next.

One other element that made this book stand out to me was Katie's struggle with her body image, which I do believe is a very important topic to cover. This book was definitely more heavy-handed on the life commentary, though it did not cross over into the realm of being too 'preachy.' There were some truly beautiful and powerful moments that I think will really speak to people facing those same struggles. That being said, though, there were elements of that journey that felt a little bit unrealized for me or that were more foregrounded than the love story/plot itself. It did not necessarily detract from my enjoyment in reading the book, but I didn't find myself as connected to the love story and plot itself compared to prior books.

But please don't misunderstand me... this book was still just as lovable and enjoyable as ever! The tropical setting felt like a vacation for my mind, and the hopeful nature of it all left me feeling light and optimistic myself. Katherine Center's books are always a treat, and this one was no exception.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

-Katie Vaughn’s job is on the line so she takes on a project to save her from being on the chopping block. At Key West, she meets Tom (Hutch) the Coast Guard 🌊⛅️
-George Bailey (Hutch’s dog) and The Gals being the ultimate matchmaker was a highlight
-touches on heavier topics such as body image, downside to social media
-thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC

3.5⭐️

Overall, the book was interesting and quick. It was easy to get into and easy to enjoy. I liked learning some things about the Coast Guard. I love me a gentle giant doggo, and the grumpy/sunshine trope was great! My favorite thing about this book was how real the FMC Katie felt. She was awkward and cringey at times, but in the end, that just helped me see her as an actual person. She was relatable because she struggled with things that I've struggled with myself. She had to learn how to love herself, flaws and all, which is a powerful thing for anyone to learn.

You know what you’re going to get with a Katherine Center book: a slightly silly premise, ridiculous plot twists and scenarios, and a warm fuzzy happy ending. You absolutely have to suspend your disbelief, and this one was no exception. The miscommunication trope was almost laughable in this one, too.

The story did feel a bit more rushed in places. I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters as well as I usually do. Instead of building the tension, a lot of the first few weeks of interactions were told summary-style. I still loved Katie and Hutch and was rooting for them! I also stayed up late binge reading this one, so it’s clearly still a winner.

If you’re a Katherine Center fan, definitely check this out! If you’re reading her for the first time, The Bodyguard is my favorite. 🥰

Thanks to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the eARC so I could provide my opinions. Get ready to check this one out May 20, 2025!