With Katherine’s typical sense of humor and heart, The Love Haters will definitely be a book her fans gobble up and enjoy thoroughly. I laughed out loud and momentarily teared up, as expected. I do think that while the romance is prominently on page, the focus is on Katie’s character and growth. I adored her and how she threw caution to the wind in order to keep her job.
Katie lies and agrees to anything in order to avoid getting laid off. What results is a trip to the Florida Keys and a mission to get one standoffish Coast Guard hero to open up about his amazing career. So what if she can’t swim and has to interview a pro swimmer? From her black clothes to her insecurities about her body, Katie became a friend I wanted to get to know and watch her bloom. Love the body positivity message!
Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

I love anything and everything that Katherine Center writes so I was so excited to get to read the ARC of the Love Haters. Katherine always handles important and sometimes uncomfortable themes, but as always, there is always a beautiful outcome.
The story follows Katie who is a video producer who is afraid of losing her job so she lies that she can swim to take a job down in Key West. There is a deep underlying issue to why Katie truly never learned how to swim, but her personal growth journey deeply unfolds in the story with the help of her landlord and her video subject, Hutch.
Hutch and Katie’s relationship builds so beautifully in the story as does the humor. The story was very entertaining and truly inspiring in learning how to confront your fears and to value yourself & the life you were given.
Overall, it was another hit from Katherine, and you will be delighted. I truly hope this story gets made into a movie just like so many other of Katherine’s books!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved this book! The banter was so fun and plot was well written and easy to read! I would highly recommend reading this book!

This will be one of the best beach reads of the summer! I laughed out loud so many times! The characters are so full of love and life. It goes beyond being just a fluffy romance and dives into the realm of self love that so few books dare. It’s not often I take lessons from rom coms but this one certainly had some gems! A must read for this summer!

Katherine Center has written another delightful romance novel, and while it has a bit less "extra" than some of her earlier books, the characters are still well-developed.

The Love Haters takes place in Key West. The main character, Katie, takes a trip to the island to create an advertisement for the US Coast Guard in order to keep her job. She ends up working with Hutch, a handsome rescue swimmer and the older brother of her boss. Hutch has all the qualities you'd expect from a dreamy romance hero—he's incredibly good-looking, down-to-earth, and carries a bit of a mysterious vibe. As the story unfolds, we discover that both Katie and Hutch have their own individual struggles. After being left by her famous fiancé, Katie faces negative comments from online trolls about her appearance, which makes her feel insecure and begins a difficult relationship with her body . She sticks to wearing black shirts and jeans and avoids swimsuits like the plague, even while visiting beautiful Key West! Meanwhile, Hutch, who lost his parents as a child, deals with his own past traumas and a desire to save everyone around him. Their burgeoning relationship gets complicated when Katie’s boss and Hutch's younger brother, Cole, shows up unexpectedly, bringing a surprising twist to the story.

I breezed through this book in a day! Overall, The Love Haters is a fun read. I wish the connection between Hutch and Katie had been explored more; it felt a little rushed. If you're looking for a summer romance with some depth, enjoy a gentle, closed-door romance, and embrace flawed but lovable characters, grab The Love Haters for a day at the beach.

And just like in her last book, don't skip the author's note. Though I've never considered myself a "romance reader," Katherine Center always makes me reconsider my thoughts on this genre when I read her books.

Happy reading! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this lovely advance copy.

“Love is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

“Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time. That’s what life is for.”

I can’t pass up the opportunity to read a book by Katherine Center. She took me on an adventure to Key West. I was able to experience everything with Katie, her dreams, fears, love.
Are you giving yourself love? Are you deserving of love from others?
Well, it seems Katie who is insecure about her body image and Hutch who hates love meet.
Entertaining, wonderfully written, facing one’s fears, dancing, friendships, family, secrets, taking chances, self-love.
I loved George Bailey, a giant dog with fears of his own.
I laughed and had tears in my eyes. A love letter to the soul.

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

Whenever a book is touted as "laugh-out-loud" funny I'm immediately skeptical. But The Love Haters did make me laugh quite a bit!

For a book based in Key West (a place I've never cared about) and followed a documentary filmmaker, Katie, as she made a promo video about the US Coast Guard (an organization I've never thought about), I was entertained the whole time.

This is also a great book if you're more into sweet romance! You do have to suspend your disbelief for quite a big portion of the book, but that's ok. It does sometimes feel like a romance book that wanted to also be self-help, and I don't love self-help books so that would be my biggest complaint.

I did like how well some side characters were developed. I'll miss you Beanie, Rue, and George Bailey! All in all, this is a very cute book, and now I want to go pass out flowers to strangers.

“The Love Haters” is a fun, quirky rom-com about a video producer and a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie is shooting a commercial with Hutch as the star to promote the Coast Guard in Key West. He’s quintessentially good looking, but also a love hater, and ever since her ex-fiancé cheated on her, she’s a love hater, too. There’s also a plethora of lovable (and not-so lovable) side characters.

While I did enjoy the love story, which was slow burn and sweet, in my opinion it was secondary to Katie’s own “enemies to lovers” relationship with her own body. Ever since the public tore her image apart, she’s been slowly trying to learn to love herself again for who she is (with the help of her cousin/best friend, Beanie).

I absolutely loved this character growth; I especially appreciated how vague Katherine Center was regarding Katie’s appearance; she could be anyone going through that journey. It made her experience more personal for the reader, since we’ve all been there to some degree.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want someone to call me a human hot fudge sundae 😩

You had me when you called Hutch “Pup Daddy” but you kept me when you told me he hangs out with a group of old ladies giving them swim classes. I cannot with this man. And he’s a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard!? He is perfect. And he’s perfect for Katie, too.

She needs someone (okay more than one someone because Beanie has been in her corner for years) to remind her that it’s okay to love herself. And that she is so much more than whatever image she has created in her head. Rue and the Gals and Hutch are exactly that.

The insight into self-love and the enemies to lovers relationship Katie has with herself hit SO uncomfortably close to home, but it is something that I think will resonate with so many people. We all need a Rue in our lives to remind us to live in the moment and not be afraid to put on the colorful outfit, to be grateful for the small every day occurrences and to live life on your own terms.

Another smash for Katherine Center! I absolutely loved it. Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for this early copy!

AHHH i loved this one!!

this book was charming, cozy and felt like a warm hug. i really enjoyed katie and hutch’s relationship & chemistry (his dog was my main character though 🤪). the side characters were all very fun and brought a nice element to their story!!

this was my first time reading one of katherine’s books and i cannot wait to jump into some more 🤭

This book was a delight. I loved the body positivity message Katherine Center brought to her main character Katie. I loved her best friend Beanie and the fact that she made Katie love herself even after her horrible fiance cheated and then wrote a song about her. I loved Hutch and his relationship with Rue. I really enjoyed his character's arc with his brother Cole and the redemption story that came from it. Rue is my favorite character; she has a big heart and loves her boys (and Katie). Of course, the dog George Bailey will be a fan favorite. I even liked Sullivan. She was messy.

Katherine Center writes rom-coms with heart and soul. Her characters are three-dimensional and have real-life issues. Hutch and Cole lost their parents, tragically, which shaped the rest of their lives. Katie is a plus-sized girl, whose job is on the line, and she will do what it takes to keep it. Well, she won't sell out the man she loves that's her limitation.

The only thing that knocked it down a star was the massive amounts of miscommunications and the unnecessary lies that came with them. I also didn't quite believe the hurricane situation towards the end of the book, it felt far-fetched. It was a great way to connect Hutch and Katie, just felt unrealistic.

Overall though this is one of Katherine Center's better books. I cannot wait for it to be published.

Katherine Center is my go to author for feel good, realistic stories. I love the small details and ways she really connects you to a story. This book might be one of my favorites of hers!

Easy 5 stars!

I don’t know how Katherine Center makes you instantly connect with characters and love the story from the very beginning but somehow she does. Her characters inner dialogue is just so unique and relatable and just perfect.

This book has a little bit of everything and a little bit more. It made me brush my teeth until I almost choked on the toothpaste cause I didn’t want to stop reading to spit. Time flew and I just couldn’t put it down.

She has very quickly and easily become one of my favorite authors and a must read and must recommend. The Love Haters is no exception.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

ARC Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC copy of this book— Wow! I truly loved this book. The FMC, Katie, was relatable, real, and witty. The MMC, “Hutch”, was reserved, serious, and a heartthrob. Katherine Center knocked this one out of the park. I felt all of the emotions while reading this one, but I loved how much the author made me laugh! Katie is a videographer who is sent to Florida to make a video about Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. The job is a whirlwind, from start to finish. This book is out May 20th, 2025, and you’re definitely going to want to grab a copy! 4.5 stars!

If Katherine Center writes it, I’m gonna read it(and love it)
The way that I couldn’t put this book down, and finished it in one sitting is crazy but it is SO good. I aspire to be Rue one day.

I have to say that Center is becoming a go-to author for me. She is humorous and writes her stories with passion and depth. This story is a perfect example of that!

The Love Haters is an interesting change of pace story for this author. Yes, it’s a love story, but it’s more of a love story where you are learning to love yourself first. Her main characters have been through a lot but together they are magic. Beautifully matched between strength, resilience, and dedication, they work so well together.

I love the interesting plot that Center develops and her imaginative story grows on you the further you get into the story. The characters are developed with depth and so real to life. The secondary older generation characters are a delight and seem like people you want to hug!

The MMC, Hutch, is it for me! I love the job choice and insightful plot. He is sweet, kind, and caring, not to mention so hot. He makes it totally worth the read! And, of course, his dog is the star of the show!

For a delightful read you will fall for, check out The Love Haters!

Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely adorable! 😍 I giggled so much while reading 😂 and found myself constantly thinking about it when I wasn’t—always a sign of a fantastic read! 📖 The Love Haters had me hooked from the first page, and I did NOT want to put it down.

Katie, a video producer fighting to keep her job 🎥, is sent on a mission to film a recruitment video for the U.S. Coast Guard 🚤. The catch? Her subject is none other than her boss Cole’s older brother, Hutch. And let me tell you—the chemistry between Katie and Hutch was off-the-charts cute! 💕 Their banter, their tension, and the slow burn of their connection made my heart so happy. 😍

Let’s talk about George Bailey—Hutch’s Great Dane and the true scene-stealer of this book. 🐶 That giant, lovable goofball had total main character energy, and I adored every moment he was on the page! 🤩

And then there’s Rue—Hutch and Cole’s spunky, no-nonsense aunt who completely stole my heart. 💃 I would give anything to spend a day with Rue and The Gals. Their dynamic was so much fun, and I just loved the warmth and wisdom she brought to the story. ❤️

Beanie, Katie’s cousin, was another standout. 💖 She was Katie’s ultimate hype girl, always encouraging her to see her worth. I adored the self-love journey woven into the story—it was empowering and beautifully done. ✨

Oh, and I have to mention how much I loved when Katie broke the fourth wall and talked directly to the reader. 🗣️ It made the story feel even more engaging and personal.

And the cherry on top? That kiss. 😘🔥 Absolutely swoon-worthy and so worth the wait!

Katherine Center delivers another heartfelt, feel-good romance that left me grinning from ear to ear. 😁 If you love swoony chemistry, charming side characters, and stories that make you laugh and melt in equal measure, The Love Haters is a must-read. 💕

✨ Huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Read Now ARC! ✨ I adored every second of this book! 💖

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is the perfect rom-com with a healthy reminder to love yourself first and foremost. Life can surprise us in the most wonderful and unexpected ways.

Katie is sent on assignment to Key West where she will produce a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard. Meeting Hutch, an instructor with whom she will spend the vast majority of her time gives the assignment an entirely new focus. But as Katie begins to let down her guard and lets the people of the tightly knit community in, she begins to realize that she is worth much more than she has given herself credit for.

The real strength of this narrative lies in the endearing and memorable characters that Ms Center has created, not only in Katie herself, but in Rue and Beanie as strong supporting players. The antics of George Bailey stole every scene, and were pure joy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

This book came at a perfect time. I loved the story and the humor. Most of all loved the acknowledgement of how we can be our own toughest critics and what working through that can look like. The self love the main character developed throughout this story was inspiring and a reminder that there is so much joy and freedom in letting go. Finding love through finding ourselves.

FMC Katie is a videographer who makes promotional videos for companies. When her superior assigns her the task of interviewing Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson for a promo video for the US Coast Guard, she jets off to the Florida Keys to start the project. The main subject, it turns out, is her boss's brother. There's a lot of tension between the brothers that causes some big misunderstandings, but Katie and Hutch (and hIs Great Dane, George Bailey) spend a lot of time together and feelings develop. It's a workplace romance (technically). There's a lot of miscommunication and so many swings and misses between the two main characters. There are plenty of great moments - funny and lighthearted, serious and heartbreaking, swoony and romantic.

I will admit that I struggled with the first third of this book. Like many of Center's stories, this one tackles a serious topic, specially body dysmorphia and body image issues. While I appreciated how this added depth to the FMC, it dominated the first third of the book and I wanted it to be less of a focus. It also felt a little overshadowed by some of the more lighthearted moments.

While this didn't quite live up to last year's The Rom-Commers or some of Center's other work, The Love Haters was another solid story from author Katherine Center.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to