Katherine Center rarely does wrong in my opinion, and once again, she lived up to my expectations. Katie has to go to Key West to film the US Coast Guard, and while she is there, she's hoping to film the famous Hutch - who happened to save Jennifer Aniston's dog and also happens to be the brother of Katie's boss. Once Katie gets to Key West, she is befriended by Rue, the owner of the place Katie is staying at. Rue and her friends become Katie's support system as she learns to navigate the tricky waters of interacting with Hutch. Through all her interactions, Katie realizes she is more than what some internet trolls write about her on social media, and finds that loving herself is her key to happiness.

Are there some moments where you wish you could punch a character in the face for being annoying? Yes. Cole would get punched every time he spoke if it were up to me. Are there moments where you wish Katie was a little less oblivious? Yes. If Katie picked up on even one compliment from Hutch or hint from Rue, things might have been different. Did I want more antics from Rue and her friends? Yes. They are fun and smart - a deadly combination. But overall, this story worked for me just like every other Katherine Center book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The Lover Haters 🌊👙🏊
(thank you @stmartinspress and @katherinecenter for this ARC ♥️)

This was easily a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me! This is my very first read by Katherine Center and I am so in love with her writing. I am so happy I discovered this incredibly talented author and I’ve already added many of her other books to my TBR.

In this book you get a fun romance mixed with very deep but important topics. I was caught off guard in a very good way. Several lessons are captured in this book very beautifully. This is a love story not only between Hutch and Katie but also about a love with Katie and HERSELF. It portrays the importance of loving yourself, giving yourself grace, embracing the positives and facing your fears.

She touches on how we look at the past. I really loved this line in the book that really all of us could probably learn from: “It was about the deep, enduring comfort that comes from looking at your life for exactly what it is, and exactly how it’s unfolded—and really seeing it. The past can’t hurt you now like it did then. The story of your life is always full of mystery. You can unfold it on a table like a map, and study it, and understand it in new ways. It’s not different, but you are.”

This story beautifully portrays resilience, the power of acceptance, loss, grief, guilt and family/friend relationships. The wit and humor in this book is unmatched. I found myself laughing out loud so many times. I particularly loved the relationship between Katie and her BFF Beanie who really brought out the best in Katie and played a very positive role in her life. I was genuinely touched by Hutch’s aunt Rue who demonstrates the type of selfless love you get from family. I honestly just can’t say enough good things about this book. I absolutely LOVED the authors note at the end that was so touching, so true and genuine. I 1000% percent agree that love stories can change the world.✨

I absolutely loved this book. Such an easy read! I found myself wanting more with each page I turned. I’m used to mystery with lots of twists and turns, so this wasn’t a normal book for me, but I was pleasantly surprised!

I hate lying and SO much of this book revolves around dishonesty. It goes beyond trope-y fake dating. I really wanted to like this more. The themes of self empowerment, friendship, and found family were eclipsed by all of the lying.

The ending was surprising, and sweet. I love the way that Center writes as though the narrator is looking back fondly over events that occurred. Overall a quick read.

This was a pleasant, young adult read. It focuses more on Katie's self-acceptance and body positivity than romance. Has a fun setting with Key West and the US Coast Guard. Quick, easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

This was my first Katherine Center book. Solid romance read and was quite enjoyable, but nothing stuck out to me to make it a 4 or 5 star read. I did enjoy the writing and the humor. I'd definitely recommend for fans of the genre.

"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."

I'm always stunned and wow'd by Katherine Center. Every single time. She is able to take some serious topics and issues and is still able to create a fun and lighthearted romance.

One of the big issues with the FMC Katie is body positivity and self-love. We get to watch Katie as she battles with herself but ultimately learns and gets incredible support in order to change her perspective on herself and learns how to love her body for what it is and what it does for her.

She also definitely does her research for her books, this one focuses on the Coast Guard and I learned so much about this area that I didn't know. The MMC Hutch is a Coast Guard and we get to learn through his character what it's like to be a Coast Guard and what they go through in their lives to both become a coast guard and how their life is while they're working. I loved this aspect of the book.

Katherine Center's romances are so full of love and kindness and happiness and all those wonderful fuzzy things that you're looking for in a great romance. And, she definitely does that in The Love Haters. I love how her books make me laugh and also make me cry, taking me through a plethora of emotions while I'm reading her love stories. Katie and Hutch were such lovely characters and I loved watching their journey.

"Stories have a unique kind of magic. They aren't real life --- but they're kind of the next best thing."

That quote came directly from the Author's Note at the end of the book, which I have to mention, because I thought her thoughts on reading and stories and love stories was just so special. Don't skip over the author's note at the end of the book, because it's just extra special in my opinion.

Release Date: May 20th 2025 📅

My reviews can also be found on GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/brandisbooks.

Thank you to both St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ebook.
The Love Haters is the upcoming romance by Katherine Center coming on May 20th.
Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with this book. There should have been clear trigger warnings in the synopsis or at the very beginning for topics like anorexia, eating disorders, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia. In 2025, in a contemporary romance, it’s unacceptable for readers to stumble upon a detailed depiction of the FMC’s old food diary and struggles with an eating disorder around page 10 without any prior warning.
This completely took me out of the story within seconds, and I found myself unable to care about it anymore. Sorry, but this is not okay—highly disappointing.

ARC COPY FROM NETGALLEY!

When life feels like a whirlwind of chaos, there’s nothing quite like diving into a new Katherine Center book to calm the storm. You just know her characters are going to go through it—facing struggles, heartbreak, and the occasional identity crisis—but you also know they’ll make you laugh, make you swoon, and, most importantly, make you feel like everything’s going to be okay. Plus, watching someone else’s life spiral into chaos from the safety of your couch? A deeply underrated form of therapy.

Katie, our leading lady, was painfully relatable—in the best way. As Katherine notes in her (as always, top-tier) Author’s Note, Katie is basically in an enemies-to-lovers relationship with her own body image. And honestly? Same. The real love story here wasn’t just between her and Hutch, but between her and herself—which might actually be the most important romance of the book. As someone who has spent far too much time wrestling with my own reflection, I felt seen in a way that was both comforting and, frankly, a little rude.

Speaking of love stories, let’s talk about Hutch. This man. He’s got golden retriever energy with just the right amount of grump, which is truly an elite combo. Every time the universe threw another ridiculous obstacle in his and Katie’s way, I wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and yell, just kiss already! Instead, I settled for mentally running into his arms and giving him a big hug.

And then there’s Rue. Oh, Rue. The moment she appeared, I was in. She’s the kind of character who makes you want to track down the author just to say, “Thank you for this gift.” Her connection to Hutch? Heartwarming. Her mentorship of Katie? Even better. We should all be so lucky to have a Rue in our lives.

In conclusion, this book was everything I wanted—funny, heartfelt, and full of characters I’d absolutely befriend in real life. Katherine Center does it again

3.5 ⭐️
I will always be excited to read anything that Katherine Center writes. This one, however, took a bit to get in to. I love the body positivity and self acceptance, but I felt like we had to slog through a ton of negativity to get there. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was a like, not a love. (Many of Katherine Center’s other books are 5⭐️for me!) I would love to hang out with Aunt Rue for drinks/dinner by the pool though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, which is available on NetGalley for all members!

This is my first time reading a book by Katherine Centers. I usually lean towards more romance so I really had to sit down with this one because it has such a good message.

Katie is such a relatable character and is pretty funny. She struggles with body image issues along with other things going on in her life and I think allot of women can relate.

Hutch works closely with Katie and he is there to help with her assignment and to keep her safe.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC I really appreciate it and left an honest review.

Another hilarious and beautiful romance nov by Katherine Center! The haunch dialogue had me nearly in tears. I love the setting and the major sense of adventure this one had .

THE LOVE HATERS

Katie Vaughn is desperate to save her job as a video producer. She reluctantly accepts an assignment to video “Hutch”Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Katie is staying at an adorable Key West Inn owned by Hutch’s beloved Aunt Rue. The story is filled with eccentric characters, including Katie’s coworkers, who are rooting for her to find romance. And by the way, Hutch is a wonderful person, and a true hero. And of course he owns an adorable dog, who is petrified of storms. All boxes are checked for the perfect rom-com. For some reason, I couldn’t empathize with the characters. I felt like they never truly inhabited the story. Ms Center has set a high standard with her previous books, and I look forward to her next novel.

3.5 ⭐️ A cute and fun beach read! ☀️🌊

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Love Haters! This was a sweet and quick romance about an unlikely pair, documentarian Katie and Coast Guard Hutch, who find themselves entangled in a messy situation in sunny Key West. It's the perfect kind of book for a relaxing afternoon. While the story was fairly predictable, it still delivered on the charm and fun. My only minor critique is that the entire book is written in past tense, as if Katie is recounting the story, which felt a little detached at times. Overall, if you're looking for a clean, non-steamy, and lighthearted romance, this is a great choice!

Is it possible to read a Katherine Center book and not be charmed? I'm doubtful.

The Love Haters is yet another warm literary hug from Ms. Center. The Author's Note about stories of healing was enlightening; I enjoyed the concept of this being a love story between a woman and her body. Indeed, "it's nourishing to read stories about people finding nourishment."

As a surprise to no one, Hutch makes for a truly swoon-worthy MMC. Who wouldn't fall for a gorgeous 6'2, puppy-rescuing man?

This didn't quite surpass some other Katherine Center tales for me (Happiness for Beginners, The Bodyguard, The Rom-Commers) due to its predictability, and the unpredictable parts—looking at you, Cole Hutcheson—were a tad too zany to raise the bar. But, it was a delight, through and through.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved so many things about this book! Hutch was so dreamy. Rue stole my heart. Katie was relatable, especially with regard to body image issues. I enjoyed this a lot, but I would have liked there to be a little MORE between Katie and Hutch, particularly towards the end.

In Love-Haters, Katie, a struggling videographer on the verge of losing her job, takes on an assignment she’s completely unqualified for—creating an ad for the Coast Guard’s elite rescue swimmers. The catch? She can’t swim and has to fake her confidence to pull it off. But with the job taking her to Key West, she figures she’ll deal with the details later. The real challenge, however, is Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, the reluctant subject of her project, who has no interest in being part of the campaign.

Katie, who prefers her all-black wardrobe, is immediately thrust into a world of color by Rue, whose vibrant personality pushes her outside her comfort zone. As their friendship grows, Katie begins to learn a lot about herself. The tension between Katie and Hutch adds plenty of angst, making their dynamic compelling to watch unfold. I also loved discovering the backstory of how Hutch, Rue, and Cole (Hutch’s brother) became a family.

This book will keep you hooked, building to moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat. An absolutely enjoyable read—grab your copy today!

Thank you, #NetGalley and #St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

I first of all want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc prior to release in exchange for a honest review.

I’m not sure if it’s possible but this book had me laughing and cringing out of embarrassment for the FMC so many times and I loved it. I am usually a sucker for a strong independent FMC the complete opposite of Katie. I don’t think I have ever resonated with a character and their struggles more than I did with Katie. There are so many women out there that have struggled with the same body image issues, post breakup spiral, and struggle to prove themselves at their job. I’ve live through all of those struggles and it led me to feel this deep bond and empathy for Katie. Of course I also enjoyed the love story and the handsome sweet MMC Hutch, but to me the real romance was between Katie and herself. Teaching herself and everyone who reads this book to love themselves as they are because they are enough and they don’t need to hide in dark colors in the shadows. I truly empowering read that I did not expect to relate to this much.

Where has Katherine Center been all my life? The Love Haters is my first of hers and I immediately fell in love with her style. In this book, we follow Katie, a down on her luck video producer, and Hutch, a smoking hot Coast Guard rescue swimmer. When Katie is tasked with profiling Hutch in order to save her job (did I mention she can't swim?), will she be able to pull it off?

First things first, Katie is SO witty and funny! She takes everything in stride and cracks jokes through it all. She's not perfect, though, and that makes her real. She struggles with body image issues and I found this particular part of the book to have a great resolution. While falling in love with Hutch, she also learns to fall in love with her body and not be so hard on herself and what she sees in the mirror. Her personal journey throughout this book was a treat and handled so beautifully. Hutch is a fantastic MMC who has so much respect for Katie and his loved ones, but Katie was such a standout character.

A quick shout out to the best side characters, Aunt Rue and George Bailey! They stole the show if I'm being completely honest. I knew Aunt Rue would be a favorite the minute she uttered the word "chromophobe," and she had me laughing every time she was on the page. She also had me tearing up, but we don't need to talk about that...

There are some sillier parts of this book, like literally any scene with Cole, but I think ultimately The Love Haters will win everyone over with its heartfelt story (both the love story and Katie's own personal journey) and loveable cast of characters.

I can't believe I've been missing out on Katherine centers books my entire life. I've eyed a few of them and this has been the push I needed to jump into her backlog.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

Absolutely loved the latest from Katherine Center. There's nothing she writes that I won't read. This story follows Katie Vaughn is in the midst of a crisis, both personally and professionally. Her company is downsizing. Her ex-fiance is now a mega popstar. She has no idea how to save her job until her boss, Cole, gives her a project down in Key West. There is a lot to unpack afterwards, but suffice it to say, it was the best project of her life. There is great chemistry between Katie and the male lead of the story, Hutch, and plenty of family drama and backstory. I flew through this book and I know everyone else will too.