
Member Reviews

I want to start off by thanking NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an E-ARC copy of The Love Haters.
I would consider myself a huge Katherine Center fan. I have truly enjoyed every book of hers (even the extremely sad ones), and this book is NO DIFFERENT. This book had me laughing, crying at times, and feeling all the emotions.
Katherine Center’s main characters always have a story and baggage they carry with them, and in this book, our main character Katie struggles with body image struggles and I feel like this can be related to in the mass of her genre.
I love pretty much everything about this book and am so excited to re-read it when it’s officially published. ALSO, huge shout out to Mr. George Bailey, Hutch’s rescued pet Great Dane. (I have Great Danes of my own so I can’t even properly write down how excited I was to see a Great Dane written into this story).
Once again, thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this gem of a book before its release date May 20, 2025.

I just finished this book and let me say, I really enjoyed it!
I love Katherine Center and her closed-door romances. They are wholesome, charming and hilarious.
I will be honest, this book was not my fave compared to The Bodyguard. However, before going into this book I would recommend reading the author's note because it gives better context into what the story is about.
I originally was going to give this book a 3 star because I felt that we didn't get enough of the romance and Hutch felt very one-dimensional. Katherine Center made me realize that this story is about Katie and her battle with body image and how sometimes if we aren't completely whole before we find our person that is okay!
#TheLoveHaters #NetGalley

I have been a fan of Katherine Center's books for a while now and while The Love Haters did not disappoint, there was something about it that was missing for me. I did enjoy this read and would recommend it those that enjoy a fun rom-com.

This was my first book from Katherine Center and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style and the way she developed her characters.
Katie Vaughn doesn’t like much about herself. Her boyfriend broke up with her for someone famous and she may be losing her job. She takes up her coworker Cole’s offer to go to Key West to shoot a video for the coast guard and a day in the life of a would be hero, Hutch. Hutch and Cole are brothers but Cole isn’t completely honest with Katie about their relationship.
She can’t swim which is required and has to take lessons. Her best friend wants to help her learn to love herself and makes her list things she likes which isn’t much. With nothing to lose she sets out on this adventure in her black neutral clothes.
Enter Rue, a colorful Aunt to Hutch and Cole, who breathes life in to Katie. She gives her a place to live, new clothes, friends and an in with Hutch.
Katie and Hutch hit it off but as friends for the most part until they can’t hide it anymore. Cole comes to town and causes chaos as him and Hutch are a bit estranged even though they are brothers.
Katie changes so much throughout the story. She becomes stronger, braver and learns to love herself.
There were so many fun and heartfelt moments in the story.
The plot of the story kept me so into the story and it really comes full circle at the end! I truly enjoyed all this book had to offer from the story to the characters to the way it developed.

ARC review:
Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and of course Katherine Center.
The company is downsizing and her coworker, Cole has a job for her. Katie found it weird he didn’t want it - job of a lifetime. Filming the most well known coast guard in Key West, kind of a hot super star. Then she finds out “Hutch” Hutchinson is Cole’s brother snd their relationship is complicated.
Only a few minor details, Katie didn’t know how to swim nor did she wear a bathing suit. Ever, ever. This trip was going to be a success. Things got better each chance she got- losing her luggage with her pre planned clothes she felt comfortable in. Then her ride at the airport with a very broody and quiet Hutch. And she’d be working with him the entire trip. Hutch was no welcoming committee.
But Katie had to make this film a success. She needed this Job. And something about Hutch intrigued her. He had a passion for what he did.
Katherine Center is always on my TBR with any new book! I loved how she went deep into body positivity and being comfortable with who we are. We may feel obligated to be a certain size or weight for a job, significant other, or family expectations; there are so many. This was a large topic discussed in the book. Along with grief, comparison of siblings, giving back to the community.
Overall, it maybe my favorite book thus far. The deep connections made between people were beautiful.

DNF @ 6% - getting the ick from all the diet culture talk in the second chapter, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to get better thanks to other reviews/feedback. This is a dealbreaker for me, unfortunately.
Thanks St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for the review copies.

"You couldn't hate love, could you? Was that even allowed?"
"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."
"Proving once again that sometimes it's worth it to take a risk on love"
I am a huge fan of Katherine Center's novels. I call them "feel-good" books. The Love Haters is her newest work and does not diasappoint. Katie Vaughn has been hurt in love. She's insecure about her body image and her job as a videographer may be on the line. Her boss, Cole, sends her to Key West to do a documentary on his hero brother, Hutch. The scenery was vivid and I felt like I was there with Katie, as she began her adventure and found the courage to love herself and maybe, find love again. George Bailey, the dog, stole the story. I laughed and I cried along with The Hutcheson family and Katie! How happy I am to have received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press! These opinions are solely my own!

3.5 stars rounded up. I LOVED the first half and it felt so real and relatable. The second half felt like a weird journey where they tried to put a few plots in real time to choose an ending. I still thought overall it was a cute and addicting read, but I would’ve liked a more fluid ending.

Katherine Center is one of my top romance authors because she writes characters that are real and relatable. Her newest, “The Love Haters” was kind of a disappointment. I struggled getting past some of the flaws of the MC due to the fact that she didn’t seem to grow or develop…until the very end. There are other parts that drove me mad as well but would be spoilers. A swing and a miss but I will continue to pick up Center’s books.

Entertaining little rom com. A sweet story about love, loss, self-esteem and overcoming your fears. I found myself laughing out loud frequently. Some really loveable characters including a Great Dane, a spunky aunt & her group of retired fun friends, the Gals. This is a perfect read for a vacation or weekend getaway.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

After a breakup in the public eye, Katie has to make the decision of a lifetime to save her career when her friend Cole suggests that she profiles his brother. Hutch is in the Coast Guard which Katie is reluctant to do because she can’t swim.
After making the decision to not sit and possibly get laid off, Katie head to Key West to profile Hutch and is immediately drawn to his good looks. Will she be able to separate work and attraction to get the job done? Or will the attractiveness and the ability of not being able to swim play a key factor in the project not getting done?
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

Look, if this was a movie I would watch it EVERY time it was on TV.
It's just one of those amazing stories with heart, humour and a fantastic dog. What more could you ask for?
The Love Haters is a true romcom, set in the Florida Keys with an unlikely duo (a coast guard and a girl who can't swim). Katie's insecurities were also handled incredibly well and honestly, I think we all need a Beanie in our corner.
Just go read this book and let a little colour into your life ❤️

This is the perfect book for a day at the pool or the beach. Set in Key West, this is the story of Katie Vaughn, a video producer who wants to feature a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who shies from the spotlight. I wouldn't really classify this as their romance. Yes, they become a couple, but without his perspective or open-door love scenes, their romance falls flat. We're told a lot about their falling in love instead of witnessing it. The story does deliver on Katie's journey to self-love. Some reviewers are critical of Katie's low self-esteem, and I can see how incomprehensible her preoccupation with her looks would be unless they've experienced for themselves constant criticism from a parent. Those of us who have been there, get it.
This story is perfect for people who enjoy
-a light read
-a unique storyline
-a cast of Golden Girls
-found family
-a loveable four-legged character

This was my third Katherine Center book and she did not disappoint.
The first thing that I noticed when I started this book was that it was extremely funny and it kept being funny through the whole storyline. The banter between all the characters was so fun because this was more than a romance. The romance is honestly a subplot but something that you still get to enjoy, but it spoke more about the love between yourself and your body and also about the complicated relationships of family.
Our main character Katie struggled with body image and also the complicated relationship of showing yourself on the media. I loved how she ended up appreciating her body for what it was and not for how society deemed it to be or how she thought she should look like compared to other people. On another note, our male main character Hutch, also learned a lot about his family and that while it might not be traditional or perfect, all that matters is the love you have.
Finally, loved the dog in this book. I think when you make an animal part of the plot it just makes it a thousand times better. I would totally recommend this book for spring and summer, just you, the book and a pool. ✨

Have I become a Love Hater?. Not a chance! I absolutely love…LOVE!❤️
The premise:
Katie Vaughn is about to lose her job as a video producer. Her only hope is accepting an assignment that will take her to the Florida Keys. Gee, that doesn't sound so bad!
Katie is tasked with putting together a piece on a headline making Coast Guard rescue swimmer named, “Hutch”. He’s super cute, loves animals, (having saved Jennifer Aniston’s dog) and the internet instantly falling in love with him. Sounds perfect, right!? Well…not so fast!
The job does require some filming on and over the water in the rescue helicopter, and guess what...Katie can’t swim! Details, details! That’s not going to stop our Katie!
My thoughts are a bit mixed.
Let me explain:
There is a strong theme of body positivity throughout this read. And while I was happy to see its inclusion, it overshadowed most of the read.
The romance itself also fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t care for Hutch’s character, and felt he was cruel in how he spoke and treated Katie. Why she would want a man who treated her this way was beyond me! There was nothing endearing about this man.
The saving grace for me was Rue, the feisty “aunt” who raised both Hutch and his brother! I wanted to move to Florida and move into her condo complex. Drinks by the pool, ladies!😎🍹
And of course, I can’t forget George Bailey, the Great Dane! I’m in puppy love!❤️ (He actually displayed more love than our leading man Hutch!)🙊
🎧: With having both the digital and audio versions, the audio won out! I would definitely recommend that format! Patti Murin was exceptional as always!
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio

Katherine Center is a hit or miss, for me. I've liked a few of her books, didn't love any of them, and then there were others I disliked.
This one is somewhere in between like and dislike. It's OKAY. This is a proclaimed ROM-COM. There was plenty of romance, but I didn't laugh a single time. Where was the COM, Katherine? I actually kind of found the characters annoying. Katie was insufferable. Too much ogling, and not enough action. She was too in her head, which i found really annoying. I do that enough for both of us, Katie, I don't need to read about you doing it, too.
Hutch was an alright love interest, but he wasn't memorable. I feel like I'll forget all about these characters in just a few days.
The only exception, was Rue. Hutch's aunt was the eccentric, loving aunt we all wish we had. But even she didn't save this book.

Okay, so can I just quit my job and move to a cottage on key west to live with Rue and her gals!?
I loved everything about this book! Rue’s personal struggles were super relatable, Hutch’s backstory and character 💔🥰 And I think Rue & her gals were my favorite part!
Katherine Center’s signature charm, laughter, tears, and a side of real life struggles.

In the midst of a massive layoff in the company she works at, filmmaker Katie Vaughn is offered an opportunity to make a promotional video for the US Coast Guard in Key West by a colleague/superior that has the potential of saving her job. Of course, she jumps at the chance even if she has to stretch the truth quite a bit.
Unfortunately, our heroine is a little self-conscious, not a good liar and seems to attract bad luck on her trip down arriving at her destination without her luggage, wet and stained which will cause an impromptu shopping trip with her larger than life hostess/landlady during her visit, that will end on an unexpected meeting with her subject, rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson.
Once again, Ms. Center has hit me over with a great story. These characters are both lost in their life struggles and it takes a lot of the exposure therapy mentioned along the book to get them to find their way and an act of God for them to truly find each other.
I really enjoyed the story and think the author’s writing is flawless especially the level of detail placed on the USCG day to day efforts and training. The secondary characters, especially Rue and George Bailey (though he might be a MC) are true gold and I think one has to love a beautiful story about a true-life hero and a woman who can find herself in the midst of chaos.

I have to say I did like this book more than romcommers but I had higher hopes for this book. I’ve seen mixed reviews but I’m happy to see people are enjoying it.
The first book was too slow in my opinion but it did pick up and become enjoyable during the second half.
Katie is going through a rough patch. She has to wait to be laid off from her job or lie about knowing how to do another job to be able to get a job. P.s. Katie applies to work with the coast guard and she can’t swim. Hutch is the brother of Katie’s annoying coworker Cole. Hutch basically has to help Katie learn how to swim and do everything to be able to survive.
I love a grumpy sunshine/friends to lovers trope but the FMC had a lot of issues that consumed the first part of this book and it was low-key obnoxious.
Thanks Netgalley and Publisher for a chance to read this book for free in return for free before it’s released. Pub date: 5/20/25
Please check TW’s as well, this book is full of them.

After the implosion of her engagement, Katie is struggling a bit with her self worth. Now her job is on the line, and she has two choices. Lose her job, or take a gig making a profile of “Hutch.” Hutch is a coast guard rescue swimmer and has had some time in the spotlight, and hates the spotlight. Katie doesn’t know how to swim, but doing a profile for someone that hates the spotlight, and doing it in bodies of water won’t be a problem right?
A main character with my name is so fun! I do have to start by saying that I hated how hard Katie was on her body. It didn’t feel like that was handled in the best way, though I know that 90% of women have felt that way about themselves at one time or another. I really loved Hutch, and the tension between him and Katie was fabulous! Cole…well I don’t want to get into my feelings on him! While I enjoyed this one overall, I had higher hopes for it.
Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy of this book!