I enjoyed this book...enough. I'm definitely here for the Hutch vibes, despite the saviour/hero complex, because it made sense to me - he works in the Coast Guard, of course, he's got a saviour complex. And I think I'm so tired of the enemies-to-lovers trope that I was here for the hero vibes (not so much the grumpy brooding and miscommunication/lies).

Considering at one time in my life I thought (very briefly) about what it would be like to be in the Coast Guard, it was interesting to get a bit of a look inside that world. Katie was making a promotional video for the Coast Guard, and while I can't confirm or deny how much real research went into this (though I'd like to think K.C. did her due diligence), it was a bit of a promo book for the Coast Guard for me. A romanticized promo book, but still. It was cool to get a small glimpse into the world that could have been (Ok not really, but let's let me believe that).

Rue was quite wonderful and -as unrealistic as I see it being- I really liked how quickly she showered Katie with love and affection and included her so easily into her life. And George Bailey is obviously just a good doggo (despite what I'll say later).

That said, the reason it's not a top K.C. book for me? There are a few. I felt like 90% of the book was introspection and inner monologuing from Katie figuring out her body/thoughts. It was repetitive and got boring over and over again, despite the growth in the end. It also flipped between these massively long inner thoughts to massively long dialogue scenes, with very little of anything else. I'm usually one to enjoy a solid dialogue scene, but the flip-flop back and forth was a no.

The storytelling technique in this one - where Katie was basically telling us, as the reader,s the story - did not work for me. I don't like it when characters in the book call me out and say, "You wouldn't believe what I said" (or something of the like). It brings me out of the story, makes me want to argue with the character, and prove that I wasn't thinking, nor did I care about that little insight you wanted to give me. Just tell me the story as it happened, not as you're reminiscing over what happened. Not in this kind of a novel.

Last few notes:
- As a swimmer, swimming/teaching scenes always get me in stories. These ones were okay, and I'm probably glad K.C. didn't go into too much detail.
- As a swimmer (did you know I was a swimmer... :P) I am so glad she used the word "freestyle" and not "front crawl." Honestly, she might get a part of a bonus star for that. She would definitely have lost one had she not.
- George Bailey was obviously awesome (see starting points above), but he was clearly there as a plot device. I know things had to happen to move the story forward, but George Bailey was too much of a plot device, and things about him weren't explained. He was just there to cause certain things to happen. Which, fine. Whatever. He was still a good doggo.

And that's it! That's all I've got. Not a great read, not a bad one. Somewhat solidly in the middle.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy in lieu of an honest review.

Oh how I love to read Katherine Center books. Her rom-coms do make me giggle out loud. This one did not disappoint for me.

Main character, Katie, has had her life turned upside down when the love of her life becomes a chart topping singer. Thrown into the celebrity life and all of the ugliness that social media brings to that life, she develops quite a few insecurities. Which just got worse when her celebrity fiancee cheats on her. That’s the pre-story to the actual story.

Katie gets sent to the Keys to work on a story about Coast Guard Rescue swimmer Hutch. Someone who has been described as a love hater by his brother. But meeting Hutch and his Aunt Rue changes Katie in ways she would have never imagined.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Love stories make us better at love. In all directions. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life." -- Katherine Center

It boils down to this: Katherine Center is a phenomenal author. I have yet to read something that I haven't enjoyed! I feel like her characters are very easy to connect with; there always seems to be something that is relatable and "real life".

Katie Vaughn doesn't know where Key West is on the map, she doesn't know how to swim, and she knows next to nothing about the US Coast Guard. When her work colleague, Cole, presents her with a career opportunity that involves all of these things and might save her from getting laid off from her current job, those will just have to be minor details for the time being. The other small problem is that the job is to film rescue swimmer, "Hutch", who just happens to be Cole's brother, who is expecting Cole to come do this project and has no idea that someone else, who can't swim and doesn't know what his job entails, will be taking his place.

Sound like fun? IT IS! Full of found family, love of animals, grump + sunshine, witty comments that will have you snickering out loud, great side characters (Beanie, Rue) and of course, your much-loved HEA.

When you meet George Bailey, you'll realize why he's my favorite character!

"Yeah. It's like, I know what a supermodel is...and I know that I don't look like that. But I just love all of my... everything... because it's mine."

Katie does have some body image issues that she will be working through, and this may be triggering for some. I think this is the portion of the book that is very relatable. Romance is wonderful and beautiful but it's not perfect. Yes, Katherine gives us some of those "perfect" scenes, but she also gives some reality. Many women struggle with body image, and I think it was worked into this story very appropriately.

Thank you, Katherine Center, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC (kindle and audio) in return for my honest opinion!

3.5★

i love how katherine center’s rom coms have hilarious banter that border the line of quirky and cringe. the fmc in the love haters, katie, had hilarious inner monologue. i was hooked from the beginning! there were a few things about the story and writing that i wish were different though.

the pacing of this book was soooo fast. i’d blink and i read 20%! the plot itself did not feel super strong to me. it almost feels like the main plot was katie and hutch developing feeling for each other, and they used the video katie is shooting as a means for them to spend time together. which like duh, it’s a romance novel, but more of katie shooting rescue footage would have been cool. i guess i was just expecting more of that from the synopsis and just preconceived notions.

with that being said, i ended up not feeling super connected to the characters because the conversations they had to get to know each other were not shown. there was literally a part where they’re in the car or something and it says they talked back and forth to learn about each other, but those conversations weren’t shown. there weren’t many one on one scenes with just katie and hutch and i feel like that would have benefitted the story.

at the end there is a suspenseful turn in the plot, and that definitely kept me on my toes. also unlocked a new irrational fear in me but it’s fine! won’t catch me on a boat in the ocean in the near future you can count on that.

there is a recurring theme of loving your body and to not be so hard on yourself that a lot of women especially could find some inspiration in, which is always a plus!

the ending of the book felt kind of lackluster to me. there was just more i was hoping to see in both the plot and character development.

overall i would still recommend giving this a read as it is funny, entertaining all the way through, and very fast paced!

thank you st. martin’s press and netgalley for the free eARC ◡̈

Synopsis: Katie Vaughn travels to Key West to film a profile of Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson for the U.S. Coast Guard. There just happen to be a couple of issues - Hutch turns out to be her boss’s brother. And Katie can’t exactly swim. Though their attraction to each other is undeniable, there may be too many roadblocks to overcome for their happily ever after.

Thoughts: Okay you guys, I really really love Katherine Center, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. I ended up giving it four stars because her writing is phenomenal, and there are definitely aspects that I enjoyed. Hutch is a really great MMC, and his Aunt Rue is fabulous - their whole backstory is really intriguing. And of course George Bailey the dog is a real standout character. The tropical setting is also well done. What didn’t work for me was the intense focus on Katie’s body image and eating disorder. While I love to see this representation, it was dealt with a little heavy handedly. That being said, this is not a bad romance at all and I still recommend checking it out! A note on the audio: I read the physical book for this one mostly, but I did want to check out the audio so I could let you guys know how it was - and it’s great! Patti Murin never misses!

Read this if you like:
🛟 workplace romance
🛟 forced proximity
🛟 found family
🛟 self-image
🛟 adventure
🛟 dogs

The Love Haters doesn't really live up to its title. We follow Katie, desperately trying to hold onto her job, agreeing to film a promotional video for the Key West Coast Guard. Her subject is her boss' golden-boy brother, a "love hater", but he quickly proves to be anything but.

Other than the family conflict that is brought up 2/3 of the way through the book, there is no realy indication why Hutch would be described this way.

I am a fan of Center's previous books, and while I did enjoy this one, I feel like it didn't fully match the description or story expectations. There was a lot of surface-level focus on body dysmorphia and it kind of just faded away without much thought.

If I overthink this book, I think I enjoy it less. I'm going to just leave this review as is and enjoy this one as a quick, easy read that is prefect for the beach.

I am always a fan of Katherine Center’s books, so when I saw “ The Love Haters” I knew it would be my next romance read. Katie has a choice to make, either take a filming job with a coast guard or get laid off. The catch…she can't swim. But what happens when she takes the job in sunny Florida with one of the most viral, and hottest, heroes.

I liked this one! There were a lot of surprises throughout the story that I did not see coming. I liked the coast guard/swimming aspect and think it will be a great summer read. It fell a little flat for me in the romance part, I just think it progressed rather quickly. Not my favorite Katherine Center book but still a great and quick read!

So I loved the overall concept for this book. Rescue swimmers are incredible people, I love Key West, and it had all the right ingredients. But I struggled with the FMC’s body issues. Sometimes it was the sole focus, other times it was in the background. I didn’t see any trigger warnings about it either, though they may be in the final published copy. All in all, I enjoyed the story - but not one of my favorites from this author.

Another solid read from Katherine Center! I didn't love this one as much as her others. There wasn't enough build up to the first kiss, so it felt a little out of left field, but the chemistry eventually came together. Also, I wasn't a fan of the major conflict; Cole's behavior was believable, but I think Katie would have shut him down. The reasoning wasn't strong enough, especially knowing Rue and Hutch so well. All in all, though, it was a fun read and I can't wait for her next one!

Ok- in true Katherine Center fashion, this was a sweet, fun romance with a lot of heartwarming moments!

Katie Vaughn, a videographer & documentary film maker, gets a career-changing opportunity to profile a Coast Guard swimmer named Hutch. The catch? She can’t swim and isn’t qualified for the job, but she decides to fake it. It’s clear from the start that a romance is bound to happen between Katie and the swoonworthy, “perfect” hero Hutch.

From the upbeat, quirky old Aunt Rue and her friends who love swimming & sangrias, to the sloppy and loveable Great Dane George Bailey, to a caring best friend, you know we’ve got a cast of unforgettable characters!

While I really enjoyed the setting in Key West and the behind-the-scenes look at documentary filmmaking, the focus on Katie’s body image and eating disorder struggles felt a bit too heavy and wasn’t essential to the plot. I appreciated Katherine Centre’s explanation in the end, about why she writes her stories & characters the way she does, and I felt it did bring a “why” to why this topic was explored so heavily. It’s something to be aware of for readers who may be sensitive to these topics.

For fans of:
💙Fake Dating
💙Miscommunication
💙Forced Proximity
💙Tropical Setting
💙Quirky, loveable supporting characters

Be sure to add this one to your Katherine Center collection - it arrives May 20!

Thank you to the author & publisher for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version early!

Katherine Center has done it again—and this time, she's completely stolen my heart. The Love Haters is a radiant, slow-burn delight that had me grinning like a fool, crying at 2 a.m., and hugging the book to my chest with that breathless, butterflies-in-your-stomach kind of joy. This isn’t just a five-star read—this is the Katherine Center book for me. My favorite yet. No contest.

From page one, I was swept into a world that felt warm, witty, and wonderfully real. The heroine? Smart, stubborn, and someone I wanted to be best friends with immediately. The love interest? Let’s just say if loving him is wrong, I don’t want to be right. The banter is chef’s kiss, the tension is deliciously drawn out, and the payoff? Oh, honey. I was living for it.

But what really makes Center shine is the way she weaves joy and heartbreak, vulnerability and strength, all with that signature charm and wisdom we fans know and love. The Love Haters is about learning to let love in, even when life’s tried to teach you otherwise. It’s about choosing to believe in happy endings—even when you have every reason not to.

If you're a romantic at heart, if you believe in second chances, or if you simply want to fall head-over-heels into a story that makes you feel everything—The Love Haters is waiting for you. And trust me, you’ll be glad you gave in.

The Love Haters is a delightful, heartfelt romance from Katherine Center. Center has become an auto-read author for me at this point. I’ve come to really look forward to reading her new novel for the past few years now, and The Love Haters lived up to my expectations.

Katie receives a unique job assignment to film a rescue swimmer from the U.S. Coast Guard, which may determine whether she keeps her job or not. Katie travels to Key West, where she meets love-hater/rescue swimmer, Hutch. The Love Haters is filled with memorable characters and an overarching theme of self-acceptance and love that kept me reading past my bedtime.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

THE LOVE HATERS by Katherine Center (out May 20, 2025)

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this free e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Katherine Center does it again with a cozy sweet romcom full of fun characters, an exciting setting, and a swoony love story.

Videographer Katie might lose her job in a downsizing if she doesn’t impress her boss fast. Thankfully her coworker Cole has a job for her — fly to dreamy Key West and film a Coast Guard promo featuring his perfect older brother Hutch. There are just some small issues — mostly that Katie can’t swim, and she needs to film around, well, a lot of water.

I enjoyed following Katie on her journey to face her fears of swimming (and bathing suits) as she grows into her self confidence after a devastating break up and subsequent eating disorder. I will say I think the ED storyline was a bit rosy. Although Katie struggles with body image, her recovery was very neat and tidy, which may rub those with ED experiences the wrong way.

I enjoyed the climactic natural disaster scene towards the end of the book, and KC always delivers the perfect HEA. This wasn’t my favorite of hers (THE ROM-COMMERS forever!) but I still had a great time reading it, and honestly was very reminded of my own novel I’ve been working on, which was great since KC is one of my comp authors. 😏

Rom-com chaos meets coastal charm!

She can’t swim—but took a job profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.
Katie fakes it for a shot at saving her career... and gets tangled in sun, secrets, sibling drama, and seriously hot Hutch.

This was the perfect ARC for me to save for vacation. It was a fun one! I found myself wanting to live at The Starlight Cottages in the Keys and hang out with The Gals all day.

Read if you love:

Outstanding side characters
A loveable dog
Body positivity
LOL moments

Perfect to read when chilling by the pool!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Love Haters is published and available for purchase on May 20, 2025.

Katherine Center is back with another sweet story. Katie works as a videographer and when her boss starts making cuts, she panics. Hope isn’t lost though when her manager Cole sends her on a shoot in Key West to film a promo video for the US Coast Guard. Katie takes the chance with both hands, not realizing how adventurous and out of her comfort zone this gig really is. When she shows up in Key West, the subject of the promo video is none other than Cole’s perfect brother and rescue swimmer Hutch. Katie was given some prerequisite ideas of who Hutch is and yet she finds herself pleasantly surprised at how fun, kind and charming he is. I found this book to be adorable and I loved the tropical setting of Key West. Rue, Hutch’s aunt was lovely. George Bailey, Hutch’s dog, was cute at first and then became a bit of a nuisance. I think where this one lost me was with how shallow the characters and chemistry felt. I don’t think Katie and Hutch were fully developed which left me uninvested in them. Katie’s body image issues were certainly relatable and I loved how she overcame those at the end. The romance felt very lacklustre and their connection was told rather than shown. I didn’t get to see any connection building or chemistry and I think the characters spent all of a week together. I feel like not much happened in this book? It was still a sweet, easy read and would be great for summer. Overall, not my favourite from Katherine! 3.5 stars.

First off, a HUGE thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for this amazing book! It truly touched my heart in so many ways

I always love Katherine’s books, and I was so excited to read this one. I love the backdrop of the Florida Keys. The way Katherine describes it honestly made me feel like I was there. It was also very clear that she did her research about the Coast Guard! Every detail she put in there about Hutch and his training as a rescue swimmer was so specific and detailed. I love that she honored that branch of the military.

This story was well paced and moved and flowed so well. There were some truly hilarious moments! Especially Katie and Hutch’s meet cute! I mean who wouldn’t fall in love with someone after they pulled splinters out of your butt. All the side characters were fantastic, except for maybe Cole, he drove me bonkers! Rue and the Gals were AMAZING! I love how they adopted Katie and brought her out of her shell and helped her love herself. George Bailey was my favorite though!! I love when the animals are just as big of characters as the humans.

The heart of this story is a love story. Not just between Katie & Hutch (which I loved) but between Katie and herself. As someone who has struggled with body image issues for most of my adolescent and adult life, I felt for Katie. I have been where she is, I have felt what she has felt. Katie’s journey of learning to love herself, and falling in love with Hutch in the process, was truly beautiful. Hutch was the perfect partner for her. I LOVE when the MMC falls first, and Hutch falls HARD! He saw all these amazing things in Katie that she couldn’t, he really helped her love herself as much as he loved her. It was really beautiful.

Again, thank you to everyone for the opportunity to read this book. It was such a wonderful story and I loved it so much.

I was so looking forward to this book but I really didn't like it. I struggled to like any of the characters or even care about what they did. There was just something about this that I couldn't get into.

Katie is struggling with her body image after years of emotional negativity from her stepmother and from internet trolls. Katie takes on a new job to produce a documentary on a rescue swimmer except she doesn't know how to swim. When she arrives in Florida, she is set up in a quaint cottage and begins swimming lessons with Hutch, the rescue swimmer. I related to Katie is so many ways, which is what made this book a five star read for me. Also, the cast of characters was great and dynamic, but the best of all was George Bailey, Hutch's huge dog. The people Katie meets in Key West are all welcoming and friendly, which is exactly what she needed at that time. Overall, an amazing book everyone should read!

First line: It was quitting time on a Friday, but Cole Hutcheson didn’t care.

Summary: Katie Vaughn has had a turbulent love life recently and her career may be the next thing to implode. Her supervisor has recommended her for a promotional video about the Coast Guard starring none other than Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, who also happens to be her boss’s brother. Rather than expose the fact that she cannot swim she takes the job and decides she will tackle that speedbump when she arrives in Key West. However, upon her arrival in paradise things become messier than expected as Hutch happens to be the best looking man she’s ever seen and the chaos around the job brings them closer together.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center is definitely becoming one of my highly anticipated new release authors. This is my third book by her and I have enjoyed all of them. Her writing is witty but also it gives the characters flaws which makes them endearing. In her newest story, Katie struggles with image and self-worth issues that I believe many readers, especially women, will identify with. It can be a difficult topic to discuss but she did a great job with it. I really enjoyed seeing Katie grow through the story and accept herself for who she is.

In addition to Katie there are many other characters to love but I definitely was a huge fan of the Great Dane, George Bailey. He barrels into the book, literally, and steals the reader’s heart. I can easily picture this lovable dog who just doesn’t understand how big he truly is. I also loved Rue, Hutch’s aunt and Katie’s landlord in Key West. She is larger than life and has a personality that brings Katie out of her shell and adds some color to her life. In all I found the book to be an enjoyable read and perfect for summer and a cold drink by the pool or on the beach.

4.5 Stars!

This book was great in so many ways, and was just what I needed to read after a streak of psychological thrillers.

This book is a good clean romance novel with a meaningful and powerful message and relatable characters in a dreamy setting. I appreciate a romance that I can unabashedly recommend to anyone who comes into my library: from teens to grandparents and everyone in between.

This is a love story about falling in love with yourself as well as a classic girl-meets-boy. The book takes place in the Florida Keys amongst a group of colorful retirees who are always cheering on our MCs.

I loved the side story of body positivity and learning to be your own biggest fan. All-around feel-good happy ending love story with plenty of tension, excitement and uncertainty to keep you flipping those pages!

I flipped back and forth between the audio book and ebook, and enjoyed the book in both formats. Great narration. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.