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!

LOVE this book! It was so cute and fun! The MCM being in the Coast Guard was so special for me, since my husband is also in the Coast Guard. Hutch was a hunk of a man with a sweet, tender soul! I also very much enjoyed Katie’s character. She on the journey of self love and I really enjoyed watching her grow. Honestly they really felt like the perfect match. If these characters were real they would grow old and gray together!

The story was had me blushing and laughing as well! Overall such a fun time! My favorite Katherine Center book!

After loving Katherine Center’s other books I was very excited to read The Love Haters! Overall I thought it was fine, it’s the perfect book for summer or for when you’re in a reading slump. My favorite part about this story was learning about the coast guard and seeing how rescues are done, this is something I’ve never read about before. I really wanted to love Katie and Hutch but I felt like their characters fell a little flat for me. Aunt Rue ended up being my favorite character, I want to be friends with her! While this isn’t my favorite book of hers I still recommend it for fans of Katherine Center or to readers who are looking for a new beach read on a hot summer day.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for access to this ARC!

The Love Haters is more than just a romance; it’s a story about confronting your fears, embracing your worth, and learning to love yourself first.

Katie Vaughn is the kind of protagonist I love—flawed, funny, and fiercely determined. Watching her push past her fears (especially around water!) and dive into a project that challenges her personally and professionally was genuinely inspiring. And Hutch? He’s the steady, supportive kind of love interest that feels real—not too perfect, but still swoon-worthy.

One of the most powerful things about this book is how it subtly shifts from being a love story between two people to a love story between Katie and herself. I appreciated the honest portrayal of body image, anxiety, and the internal battles many of us face but rarely talk about out loud.

While I found the romance sweet and the Key West setting dreamy, what stuck with me most was Katie’s growth. This book reminded me that self-acceptance isn’t just important—it’s the foundation of everything else.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt read that blends humor, romance, and meaningful self-reflection, I’d definitely recommend The Love Haters.

3.75 stars. I’m a Katherine Center rom com mega fan, so I was extremely excited to get an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. Was this my favorite of her books? Definitely not. But does it deliver on being a mostly frivolous, fast-paced summer beach/pool read with a totally ridiculous plot twist and rom com happy ending? For sure. Give me the videographer documenting the hunky coast guard swim rescuer story line all day long. I could have done with way less of the extreme body image issues and self loathing. (She needed a therapist, not a phone call to her cousin). Pros: Katie, Hutch, Rue and George Bailey. Cons: Cole, Beanie and Sullivan. Add this to your summer TBR pile. Out May 2025.

Overall, this was a cute read, and fans of Katherine Center’s other books will enjoy it. And we all love the inclusion of a Great Dane named George Bailey!

The reason for my rating however, is because a large part of this book’s plot, which was not even hinted to in the synopsis, is the FMC’s deep discomfort around her body and past ED. Now, I don’t object to this being in the book as a principle, romance can be a healthy way to work through your own struggles and seeing it represented on the page can be healing. The issue is that I personally do not want to read this content without knowing it is coming, particularly when it comes from the point of view of a non-fat character, and I would have avoided this book had I known. I know I’m not alone in this. Eventually as reviews come out it will be made clear, but I think the marketing is a misstep.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book.

Ever since watching the movie “the guardian” with Ashton Kutcher, I’ve been so intrigued by the coast guard. I absolutely loved that the main male character was a rescue swimmer and we got to experience a glimpse into that world.
I loved this book! I loved the characters, I love KCs writing style, and enjoyed reading it on my kindle / listening to the audio. The narrator is excellent.
Such a wholesome, heartfelt story that made me laugh out loud and kept me engaged the entire time. Can’t wait for Katherine centers next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

4.25⭐️
Wow. Every time I sat down with this book I just wanted to keep reading. I was so enthralled, never once bored. The writing style was AMAZING and I ate up every small plot twist. I felt like there was very little room for me to even attempt to predict twists or any new thing happening. This was a fantastic introduction to Katherine center and I can’t wait to read more of her books. As far as the ending goes, I really liked the ending where Katie and hutch are still together and Katie takes over the starlite but still does camera work on the side. I found that to be the most satisfying. I would love to see some of the other pieces of the epilogue incorporated though, with Katie feeling at home with her body and color and wrapping up the loose ends in that way.

This had a very strong start and overall was a very sold emotional rom com. Having said that it might be 3.5 stars for me as I wanted a bit more connection between the two main love interests. This was just my second book by this author, and I will definitely be reading more, but I think the first book I read by her, The Rom Commers, was a much stronger read.

I really enjoy Katherine Center’s characters. I like the flaws they overcome and their banter, and I almost always love the MMC. This book was no exception. However, the third act was a bit messy and I didn’t buy one of the storylines at all. Still, an enjoyable read. CW: eating disorders, body shaming, car accident deaths.

She makes documentaries. He saves lives in the US Coast Guard. She is sent to Key West to film a promo video of him because his own brother is too chicken s#%^ to face his big brother but she can’t swim so SOMEONE needs to teach her and omigod just read it. You’ll love it.