I absolutely loved this one- Katie and Huck are a great combo, but I fell in love with Rue and The Gals! Center is one of my favorite authors because her romance books are so deep- the character development and side stories feel like a warm hug and always make me feel introspective. Her characters are relatable and when you see them healing, a part of you heals too! This story is so deep and the characters work through so many complex emotions and relationship dynamics. This book is my top read of the year and I’m so excited for everyone to get to read this next month!

So, this is a hard review for me to write. I absolutely love Katherine Center books. I have met her, and she is such a lovely person. I was absolutely so excited about this one, one of my anticipated books of 2025… but this was kind of a disappointment for me. I give it 3 stars, and her books usually are 5 stars. Parts of it were funny, lol moments, and others were like, “Come on” or too over the top. The comedy was fun at points and then too much “slapstick” comedy that seemed kind of silly. I enjoyed the characters… Hutch sounded so dreamy, but I felt like there wasn’t too much spark between him and Katie. Cole was a dud and annoying. Beanie seemed like an amazing best friend. Rue was such a gem, and her gang, “the gals,” and you cannot forget the dog, George Bailey.
I don’t know… it was just kind of meh 🫤 and I never think that with Katherine Center books.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
- Read on Kindle.

I adored this book! A film maker who can’t swim gets put on an assignment in Key West to make a commercial for the U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers. The descriptions of the scenes were so good that I felt like I was there & now want a pink & orange caftan & hibiscus hair clip! Katherine Center does such a good job adding deeper issues to her characters, and I loved going on the journey with Katie as she learned to swim & love her body (an issues that affects so many). I also love how perfectly rom-commy Katherine Center’s books are & how I want them all to be made into movies! Was slightly disappointed in the ending, as I wanted more closure with Katie & Hutch’s story. The perfect summer read!

The Love Haters… cute premise, but it fell flat for me. I loved the idea of promoting body positivity, but it just didn’t come across well for me. The romance portion felt forced, I felt like Katie had more chemistry with the dog than Hutch.

I was looking forward to this after having loved the Bodyguard by the same author, but ultimately this book was not for me.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars

5⭐, 0.75🌶️, 4.5🎧

No notes. I adored this book! So much fun! I loved it! Katherine wrote a heartwarming and adorable romance, as well as a moving journey of growth for Katie. It was just perfect. I loved falling in love with Hutch just from Katie's POV and I just couldn't get over how hilarious and quirky Katie was! She was so relatable with her body struggles and conflicts with her ex. This may just be battling Things You Save in a Fire for my favorite Katherine book! 💚

💚Workplace Romance
🩷MMC: Coast Guard member
💛FMC: Quirky, Lovable Filmmaker
🩷Forced Proximity

Patti Murin did a great job with this audiobook. Her narration included bits of humor and sarcasm while just added to the audiobook perfectly!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillian Audio, and St. Martins Press for an eARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!

It took me a minute to get into this because i didn’t love the whole hating your body storyline, but the MC grew on me. the plot was truly outlandish (the last 25% at least) but i suspended disbelief and it somehow worked for me. 3 enjoyable stars!

Thank you so much for this arc copy. Unfortunately this one was not my fav book by Katherine center.. it was very enjoyable and I liked the rom-com factor. Hutch and Katie’s characters were not my favorite I guess I couldn’t relate to them although I did like the book it was a easy read it just was not for me

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors. I love that she writes romance books that also focus on deeper issues. The Love Haters focused on body image, terminal illness, and various family issues. I loved the lessons in this book about conquering your fears and loving yourself. I thought the synopsis for this book was very interesting and unique. There was a lot of character growth throughout the book. Some of the twists in the plot line were confusing, but the ending and epilogue wrapped everything up very nicely. Overall, I would give this book 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I like Katherine Center books. But I have never really loved one. I thought this was the one. For the first 2/3 of the book, I was in DEEP. Totally hooked on the story and wondering about the secrets and conflicts the characters held. And then it felt a little off the rails. Some characters hopping in without cause and creating chaos. Some story lines that are seemingly a big deal but just….left. Some very extended set pieces that got repetitive and boring. Ultimately the love story kept me going (although I don’t really think they are love HATERS) but I have so many questions still.

I was so excited to receive this eARC- Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors- and I've really loved everything I've read by her. The Love Haters, however, felt like it was missing something. It was a cute romance, sure, but I felt like it lacked the depth that made her other characters and plotlines so unique and captivating. I will say this story picked up in the second half, once we learned more about the male main character besides the fact he was hot and worked with the Coast Guard.
The good: I appreciated the female lead's growth and journey towards self-love and positive body image. Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

Another one of my favorite authors, but this one just wasn’t one of my favorite books of hers.

I didn’t connect with the main character and her body issues were a little bit triggering for me so some people might like this more than I do. I also didn’t really like the way the grief was handled but again that’s probably more of a me issue.

I will say it has some amazing tropes, that I was looking forward to! It was still very enjoyable and a quick and easy read and I would recommend it for sure! I’ll always be a fan and I know not all of my favorite authors. Books are gonna be five stars. Can’t wait for the next one.!

This was such a fun, quick read! I loved Katie, and I truly felt like I was talking to a friend while reading! The plot was fun and different then what I normally read, and it kept me on my toes as I never for sure knew what would happen next!
Hutch was great, but maybe could have had more depth? I wish I could have read from his POV for some of the book, but that wasn't a deal breaker.

There was a lot of self love/acceptance in this book, and it was actually refreshing going through the whole process of her character growth, without skipping through any of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

this was a slow start but really picked up halfway through! I knew to expect more from KC than just a fun romance, and I was right. This was an interesting point of view from someone who may not always be kind to themselves. I loved the addition of FMCs cousin who was supporting her, it was cute and fun. Overall, a great read but did not top my previous KC read that I love!

With similar vibes as Katherine’s previous book, “The Rom-Commers” people are going to love or hate this book. It starts with Katie, jilted by her ex (as love hater #1), taking on a video producer job in Key West for a promotional/recruiting video for the Coast Guard. She lies right off the bat because she can’t swim. One of the reasons she can’t swim is horrible body image issues that she slowly deals with throughout this book.

Enter Hutch (love hater #2), a dreamy Coast Guard rescue swimmer who is the subject of Katie’s video, and he is conveniently available to teach her to swim. I love the forced proximity. The hilarious situations Katie finds herself in are great. Other than Rue, the side characters were a bit lacking, especially Hutch’s brother, Cole. At the very beginning, I almost confused him as the love interest, but for Cole to hate such a lovable character (Hutch) makes him unlikable all the way through.

I loved the audiobook version of this novel. Patti Murin does a great job narrating this single POV romance. I enjoyed this book, and I’m sure others will too, even though it is far from perfect, there are some redeeming factors as well as an interesting side plot involving the Coast Guard.

In this book:
*forced proximity
*cute dog
*body issues
*grief/trauma
*humor
*one bed
*Key West
*coast guard

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley for an ARC/ALC of this book.

LOVED this book! I related so much to Katie, it brought tears to my eyes at certain points. The way she overcame how she felt about herself was truly inspiring. And the romance....it was all so cute.

I will always love Katherine Center books! Something about them feels so heartwarming. Katie and Hutch were no exception in this long line of fun, loving books by KC.

****Publishing May 20, 2025****

Katie Vaughn, a video producer, has been burned by love and is about to get laid off by her company. When her coworker, Cole, asks her to go to Key West to film his brother Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, for a recruitment video, she agrees. The only catch is she is supposed to know how to swim and she doesn’t. She has lied to get the job. Cole didn’t tell her Hutch is attractive and isn’t easy to work with. Will she be able to get the job done?

Katherine Center’s books are always fun, heartfelt, and entertaining to read! She draws you in with her writing, story and relatable characters. I especially love the humor! Once you start reading, it’s hard to put down! A perfect book for your pool or beach bag!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Center is usually a hit or miss author for me but I was super excited when I saw she had a new book releasing this year. This was a decent rom com that would be a perfect summer read. It took me a little while to get through this and it was nothing spectacular. I would recommend if you want something light and fluffy and enjoy romances.

Katherine Center has done it again! The Love Haters is more than just a swoon-worthy rom-com—it’s a heartfelt journey of self-acceptance, courage, and learning to love yourself first.

Katie Vaughn is the perfect mix of charming, flawed, and fiercely determined. She may be out of her depth (literally—she can’t swim!), but watching her navigate not just deep waters but also deep-seated insecurities is both inspiring and relatable. Her journey isn’t just about falling for the smoldering, emotionally guarded Hutch. It’s about learning to see her own worth, embrace her fears, and stand tall in who she is—flaws, strengths, and all.

This book celebrates body positivity and self-appreciation in the most natural, empowering way. Through Katie’s eyes, we see that beauty isn’t about perfection, confidence isn’t about appearances, and real love—whether romantic or self-love—comes from embracing your whole self. With hilarious moments, touching self-reflection, and a setting so vivid you’ll feel the ocean breeze, The Love Haters is a reminder that the healthiest, most fulfilling relationship starts with yourself.

An absolute joy from start to finish.

Thank you Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This is a perfect summer Rom-com filled with witty banter and conflict. I would've grabbed this by the cover alone, but I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to read and listen to this ARC. I will say the beginning started off a little slow but quickly moved into the storyline and I had a hard time putting this one down. I had the audiobook as well as the book so when I wasn't able to read I was listening to it. Narration was spot on and added to the humor in some of Katie's sensitive moments. Read this or listen to you, you won't regret it!