I really enjoyed this book. I have liked other books by the author and immediately downloaded it when I saw it was a read now. Katie was a very likable character as was Rur!

4.75 stars

I love Katherine Center's books! I love the banter, the quirky characters, the reminders to do good in the world. KC has such a unique perspective on the world - just full of joy and color, like her book covers.

The only reason I didn't give this 5 full stars is because I'm a Floridian. I've been to the Keys (capitalized) a lot of times. So, some of the situations didn't ring true for me and pulled me out of the story. For example, I can't think of much shopping available on Big Pine Key - but they do have cute little Key deer! I can think of more examples, but don't want to give any spoilers.

Also, the whole complication/lie seemed a little contrived.

And, please NEVER give a dog rawhide!

I did love Hutch. And, George Bailey. I appreciated the message about body positivity. But, most of all, I loved Rue! I want to be her when (if) I grow up.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for a honest review.

*The Love Haters* was a fun romp that had me laughing, cringing, and rooting for love in all. I especially adored Rue and the gals—she stole the show for me. The hints of Coast Guard lingo sprinkled throughout added a unique touch that kept the setting engaging.

The story delivered all the cheesy, over-the-top fun of a 2000s romantic comedy movie. However, I wish I knew more about the more difficult content before choosing this selection.

The ending felt a little too unbelievable to me and left me wishing for a more succinct resolution. Even so, Katherine Center’s writing was charming, and I’d check out more of her work in the future. While this one might not stick with me long-term, it was entertaining that delivered plenty of heart along the way.

Content warnings: body shaming, car accident, death of parent, eating disorder

Thanks for the ARC!

I see myself a lot in Katie, and I love that Katherine wrote a character like her. It’s not very often I read a book where dysphoria/negative self thought is a big part of who a character is. I still LOATHE Cole, but his makeup with Hutch at the end was really cute. The bar scene where Cole offered Katie as a ‘prize’ was heartbreaking, but I’m glad they’re more brotherly by the end. Also, i’m a huge fan of the found family thing. Katherine Center never fails to write an AMAZING book!

Gosh, do I love a grumpy MMC, especially those who are secretly softies. Tom, "Pup Daddy" Hutcheson most definitely fits that bill. He's a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who once saved Jennifer Aniston's dog, and let me tell you, the video of this gorgeous man saving a puppy had all the ladies clamoring for more. He likes to stay out of the limelight and has famously refused all interviews / tv offers in the year since the rescue. It comes as a surprise, then, when he agrees to star in a recruiting video for the Coast Guard.

Katie isn't sure why Hutch finally agreed to be on camera, but with her job on the line, she knows she must make the best recruiting video ever. She hopes that if she does her job well, she might be able to convince him to be a part of her Day in the Life YouTube series, which is her true passion. As soon as she arrives in Key West, she finds that this task is going to be a lot harder than she anticipated because her heart seems to have a mind of its own whenever she is near Hutch.

I found this book extremely hard to rate because the first and second halves of this book were polar opposite experiences for me. I was gobbling up every page in the first half - Katie and Hutch's attraction was palpable, and I laughed out loud as Aunt Rue and the gals were conspiring to get them together. If I had to rate this book based on the first 50%, it would be an easy 5 star read for me.

The second half, though, was so difficult to get through. I do not want to spoil anything for you, but I struggled greatly with the third act breakup. (Though can you have a breakup if you're not ever really together?) The cause of the breakup was contrary to everything we know about Katie, and I just wanted to scream, "Why are you doing this?!?!? This is not you!" On top of that, the hurricane. What?!? I am sorry but that situation was wildly unbelievable. If I had to rate this book based on the second 50%, it would be a 2 star read for me.

Ultimately, I ended up at a 3 star review because I loved the side characters, the laugh out loud scenes in the first half of the book and the author's note at the end of the book.

Read this book if you love:
🌴 Tropical settings
🌊 Sworn off of relationships
🌴 Geriatric side characters
🌊 Grumpy MMCs
🌴 Forced proximity
🌊 Closed door romances
🌴 Witty banter

TW: It would be remiss as a reviewer to not mention that this book explicitly mentions body image struggles. There are flashbacks to dieting / calorie counting. There is body shaming as well as negative body talk. While this character arc ends on a positive note, this could be very triggering for some.

I will post a review on my bookstagram @thecozybookgal closer to release date.

Katherine Center is usually a guaranteed for me and this one did not disappoint!
This book admittedly took me a while to get into, but once I did i devoured it. I loved Katie and Hutch and the supporting characters (Aunt Rue!) You feel the characters frustration, fear and love relating to them then drawing you deeper into the book. Even a little yet predictable adventure is thrown in. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a well-written feel good love story. This book reads more like a young adult book which is not my favorite genre but I believe that teenage females will love this book.

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

What a light hearted fun rom-com book - just what I needed to heat up my winter. Katie heads to key West to make a video of her colleague’s brother Hutch who is just about perfect in every way except he hates love - at least that’s what his brother says. Some highjinks ensue with a color loving aunt Rue, the gals and a dog named George Bailey. Katie learns about love especially learning to love herself. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I loved this book! I think it might be my favorite I’ve read by this author.

The MFC has a lot of unresolved body issues, recovering anorexic even though it’s not explicitly stated and she is on a journey to love herself and find real love again (however unintentionally).

I loved the hero, and the side characters are all a mishmash of delightful and terrible but in a real way.

Maybe I’m just in a place to really hear this book and connect with it but I cried, felt so much hope, laughed, and grinned at the happily ever after. If that’s not 5 star vibes I don’t know what is!!

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for my advanced copy!

This was a fun and quick read. We love the Florida Keys and go every year, so this was a familiar backdrop. I really loved the relationship that developed between Hutch and Katie. Rue and The Gals definitely steal the show, with a close second to George Bailey. There were a few times that the story felt forced but it definitely didn’t curb my appetite to finish this book. I also really appreciated the growth of the FMC as it relates to her self-worth.

Katherine Center is literally the very best. She is an auto read for me and I love how she builds the warmest characters and reading her books feels like a getting a hug.

That said, this one was my least favorite of hers. I didn't feel like the conflict was real at the end more misunderstanding and there was a lot of things like loss and body image that felt very surface level.

I loved Rue's character but wanted Cole & Beanie to be less one dimensional.

3.5 stars

I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.

This was SO good! I laughed out loud, I smiled, I got teary. Absolutely loved the characters- human and animal! It's one of her best books! This was an absolute JOY to read! I loved every minute of it! &

I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting! Katie and Hutch were the perfect pair of lovable haters. Their chemistry and banter were fantastic, and their interactions with Rue and the other characters were definitely some of my favorite moments. Katie felt so relatable—her struggles with body image, awkward moments, and journey to self-discovery really resonated with me. As for Hutch, he's the ultimate cinnamon roll—sweet, sentimental, and surprisingly caring once you get to know him. Katherine Center has such a talent for pulling you into a story and making you instantly fall for the characters. If you're a fan of romance or romcoms, I absolutely recommend this one!

Katherine Center continues to deliver time and again with a lovely romantic quick read! Coming off Rebecca Yarros' new book Variation which also includes a Coast Guard rescue diver too, this was the perfect book! I absolutely loved the entire storyline and how Center develops her characters so well, especially Hutch and his dog who my favorites! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Can Katherine Center do any wrong?! I think not! This book was amazinggg and now I just want to go back and reread all of her other books because I need more of her writing.

Katherine Center’s books are always a pleasure. She is on my very short list of must read authors. The Love Haters did not disappoint! It’s an ode to love in all forms - self, friends, family, and romantic love all play a part. Plus we have quite an action adventure as well. Don’t miss this one!.

First of all, I am a huge fan of Katherine Center and will read everything she writes. I was so excited to get to read an advance copy of The Love Haters. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity.

Katie is still trying to recover from a breakup with her now-famous boyfriend and is on the brink of being fired. Her coworker, Cole, sends her to shoot a promotional video for the US Coast Guard in hopes of saving her job. Once there, she meets a rescue swimmer named Hutch, who just so happens to be Cole's brother. There is an immediate attraction and Katie finds herself falling in love. However, there are many obstacles that are determined to get in her way...self-doubt, lies, and a giant dog named George Bailey to name a few.

Katherine Center's books are always so uplifting. This book is not just about romantic love, but self-acceptance and self-love. In her author's note, she says, "We can train our own eyes to look with kindness, and pay attention to what's beautiful, and focus on what's right instead of what's wrong." I felt like she was speaking to me on many of the pages throughout the book. Plus, the witty banter between characters kept me laughing. It's just a pleasure to read her books.

Thanks Netgalley, Katherine Center & Team for the opportunity to have early access to read this lovely story.

I have read a handful of Kather Center's books and, while they have all be lovely and quippy and quaint in there own way, this has by far been my favourite. There was an interesting and unique love story, while also a deep focus on found families and female friendship.

I really liked Katie as a FMC, I personally found her relatable, in her mix of outward confidence (primarily related to her career) and her internal self consciousness (particularly related to her body). For me it was a real reflection of what it's like to be a woman - this constant teetering between knowing you are good enough and exuding that in certain scenarios, while also internally constantly contemplating and ruminating (and sometimes obsessing) about how others might see you and, as a result, negatively impacting how you see and talk to yourself.

Katie's conversations with Beanie her Cousin-Sister-Bestfriend also reminded me of the type of conversations I have with my own Sister, Cousin & Best friends - many of whom are also long distance. That portrayal of friendship felt very real, and not surface level to me, as I find can happen in many romance novels where the friendships take the backseat to the romantic relationship. The two talk about nothing, minute retellings of how their day went, to gossiping about love interests, to building each other up and calling each other on their "bull shit".

I also really like when I learn things in a book. So often the occupations of characters in a novel or nebulous or nondescript office jobs. Not knocking those jobs in real life- I have one - but it rarely lends itself to a convincing or compelling story line. I picked up a lot of little nuggets not just about the US Coast Guards, but also about weather, helicopter's nomenclature (heli-copter vs. helico -pter) and self help tidbits (research shows it takes 5 positive experiences to outweigh 1 bad experience - per the Gottmans I believe).

My only "constructive comment" would be (and this may be because I was reading an advanced copy) the version I read had quite a few grammatical errors. Missing words in a sentence, or duplicate words in a sentence etc. Nothing that took away from the story, but does cause the reader sometimes to pause and reread and re-interpret the sentence as a result.

The Author's Note was also enjoyable to read - and I don't often get too far into those.
But I particularly liked these two tidbits that relate to the story and the genre in general:

"Reading love stories isn't frivolous. It's profound. It's not an escape, it's the opposite. They aren't shallow, they're deep. Start looking and you'll see it too. Love stories make us better at love. In all directions. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life."

"People say you have to love yourself first before you can love others. But I don't think it's that linear. Learning to love yourself is a process - and a circular one at that. Not to mention a big project. We all struggle with what it means to be seen in the world. While we don't really have much control over how the world chooses to see us - we can see ourselves for ourselves. We can train our own eyes to look with kindness and pay attention to what's beautiful and focus on what's right instead of what's wrong. That's how you fall in love- and stay in love - with anyone, including yourself: see the best in that person and enjoy the jell out of it as often as you can."

I love this author and have enjoyed all of her books. I will be honest, this book wasn't my favorite and it is because I don't love the brother troupe in RomComs. In this case Cole works with Katie and but in an attempt to help save her career he sends her on a trip to film with his brother (because they don't get along). It just isn't what I enjoy when family members put others between their differences, so this is a me issue with the book! Thankfully there is a fun dog (scared of thunder) that lightens the mood and I loved their Aunt Rue too! I am so thankful to have read an early copy of the book. I know it will be a hit when its out in May and I will still absolutely read books from this author in the future!

This book admittedly took me a while to get into, but once I did I was hooked. I loved Katie and Hutch and experienced every emotion along with them: frustration, fear, longing. I wish we had more romantic Katie/Hutch moments, but the epic saving at the end of the story didn't disappoint.