Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book! I love Katherine Center’s ability to make the most lovable and quirky female leads. Her take on female friendships is also one of my favourite things about her books. I enjoyed the female characters, but not so much the men in this book! Regardless, this book is such an easy, breezy story set in sunny Florida with a lovable main female character who is on a journey to conquer some of her own demons.

Read this book if you like:
⭐️ rom coms
⭐️ female friendships
⭐️ sunny, vacation like setting
⭐️ characters growing and coming into their own

3.5 ⭐️

This was my first Catherine center book and I highly enjoyed it!


Katie Vaughn aka the girl who recently got broken up with by a singer and was slandered publicly online for her looks takes a job as a video producer in order to keep her job doing a promo for the Coast Guard and a specific member of the Coast Guard who is blowing up online for saving Jennifer Aniston‘s dog. The only downside to this job is that Katie doesn’t know how to swim, she doesn’t tell anyone that until she arrives in Key West (of course) and decides to take swimming lessons before she starts filming and surprise surprise. The man teaching these lessons is the man who she is going to be profiling for her job.

Tom Hutchenson, a.k.a. Hutch a.k.a. Pup Daddy is a member of the Coast Guard and takes his job pretty serious, is devoted to those he loves, and his dog George Bailey. He has a reputation of being perfect and kind of boring not to mention a “love hater”
When Hutch agrees to do the promo, he thinks it’s going to be his brother shooting it but little does he know that Miss Katie Vaughan is actually going to be the one in charge.

This book was such a cute and easy read! I loved each and every single one of the characters, but I think the thing I loved the most was the journey you get to see the female main character Katie Vaughn go on with herself .
Katie struggles a lot with self-love so throughout the book you get to watch her grow and blossom into her true identity with the help of her friends, Hutch and herself.

A huge thanks to St. Martins press and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced digital copy- all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is so fun! I love everything Katherine Cemter writes. I couldn’t put it down and stayed up way too late to finish it. I loved the chemistry between Katie and Hutch and can Rue be my aunt too?!

Have you ever gotten volunteered for a job for which you were absolutely NOT qualified? Well, that is what happened to Katie in The Love Haters. Cole, her boss, let her know she would be going to Florida to film a segment on the Coast Guard. Wait? What? She needs a quick crash course in swimming, then helicopter rescue, and, and, and.
The great thing is that her swim instructor is Hutch, Cole’s estranged brother. He is also the focus of her video. As an audience to the lessons, are a fun cast of characters including Aunt Rue, the gals, and George Bailey.
This fun romance will have you loving love.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

* He falls first
* Great beachy vibes
* Grumpy/Sunshine
* Suspense
* Forced Proximity
* Fun characters

This book is tricky for me. While I'm glad I read it and I'm very much a Katherine Center fan, this one will not be my favorite of hers. I enjoyed the setting and learning about the coast guard. The plot definitely had some nice twists and turns. There. were some great scenes that had me laughing and shaking my head and I seriously fell in love with The Gals.

Overall, this is a sweet book about loss, making new friends, loving yourself and finding your self-worth.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

This book was a lovely romance to read. The book was super easy to want to keep reading. Taking place in Key West provided a lot of fun color to this story. Katherine Center does a great job writing fun romances that keep you engaged and bringing humor to the story

I am a big Katherine Center fan. I have really liked all the books. I have read by her. I wish I could say I loved this book. I was lucky enough to get an arc of her latest novel that will be released later this spring.

Things I did like:
Katie, the main character, and how she is driven in her career.

The representation of the Coast Guard. I didn't know that much about that branch of the military and it was cool to learn about it.

Rue, the aunt to Hutch and Cole. I love that she's a free spirit and took care of the boys when she certainly didn't have to.

The setting of the book. It takes place in Key West, Florida at a kitschy little hotel owned by Rue.

The representation of body image and how some women struggle with it.

The relationship between Katie and her cousin Beanie. Beanie is a girl's girl and we all need someone like her in our life!

Things I didn't like:

The characters of Sullivan and Cole, especially when they show up at the hotel towards the end of the novel. I do not think this complication was necessary and didn't add anything to the plot.

When the hand built houseboat gets loose in a category two hurricane. I absolutely do not believe that the boat, Katie, nor the dog would have survived this.

3/5 Stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once again I am in awe of the writing skill of Katherine Center. For the third year in a row (for me) she has hit the nail on the head when it comes to a must read book! Prior to reading this I had been in a bit of a slump but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down!

This book follows Katie a video producer on the verge of losing her job. At the start of the book she is given an assignment that she hopes will help her keep her it. The only problem is to do the assignment she has to pass a test where she has to swim, and she doesn't know how to swim. Katie's mantra at the beginning of the book is "fake it til you make it." Once we arrive in the Keys with Katie we follow her as she meets Rue, her temporary landlady, and Hutch her subject for the promotional video.

Throughout the book we see Katie as she learns to love herself through the warmth, persistence and love thrown at her by Rue and the attention, admiration and interactions with Hutch.

I loved how in this book throughout the ups and downs of the characters Mrs. Center emphasized standing up for and protecting the people you love. Hutch demonstrates loyalty and compassion throughout the book to both Katie and his own family. She also emphasized the importance of self love. No matter what you look like, what experiences you've gone through and whatever your own mental demons are. 'We've only got one body so we should love it.'

I would definitely recommend this book (and any of her books) as a must-read for this summer!

Many many many thanks to Mrs. Center and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this early copy of the book! I was ecstatic when I got the email saying I had been pre-approved to read the book.

**A Charming and Heartfelt Rom-Com**

Katherine Center’s *Love Haters* is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and personal growth. Katie Vaughn’s journey is both relatable and entertaining as she faces her fears, navigates complex relationships, and takes on challenges she never expected.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Key West, the story is packed with laugh-out-loud moments, heartwarming interactions, and just the right amount of romantic tension. Center masterfully balances humor and emotion, creating a feel-good read that will leave readers smiling and inspired.

If you’re looking for a rom-com with humor, heart, and a touch of adventure, *Love Haters* is not to be missed!

100 stars!! I LOVED THIS BOOK! The story of Katie, a filmmaker, and Hutch, a member of the coast guard, along with Rue and the girls was just so much fun. I could not put this down! I hate to say it, but this might be better than The Rom Commers, and I LOVED that one! There is some suspense along with the love story, and something that KC does so well is writes actual plots, like, stories that are deep, rather than just leaning on the romance. LOVED!!

I've just finished The Love Haters by Katherine Center late this afternoon with a happy little sigh. It is COLD AS HECK outside and it was the perfect day to snuggle under a heated blanket and let Ms Center take me away to Key West.

I really quite enjoyed this read! I thought the dog (named George Bailey!) was hilarious. Beanie walking Katie through loving herself, a bit at a time, was slightly contrived but nonetheless a welcome message. Lord knows we women get plenty of negative messaging about our bodies! And Rue and her gal friends- oh if only we all had a group of women friends like that!

The blossoming romance between Katie and Hutch was pretty hot and I enjoyed reading about the Coast Guard and rescue procedures.

Overall just a fun read with heart and a lovely message about loving ourselves first and foremost.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of The Love Haters in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read!

My absolute favorite part of this book was the author's note at the end, about how "rom coms"./"romance" books are NOT frivolous where Katherine Center provides a whole bunch of evidence on how books like hers are actually super beneficial for readers, I do have to absolutely be in the mood for books like hers; I look for books like this when I need a little bit of reassurance in the world, that things actually are going to be okay (notable: I began reading this on January 20, 2025).

I loved the characters (especially Rue). I will say that there was part of this book that just seemed a little too "out there" to be 100% real (I don't want to spoil it) but again: see authors note.

If you've liked Katherine Center's other books, I feel pretty confident in saying that you'll like this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was very romantic and if you're a hopeless romantic, THIS is the book for you. I've been really enjoying the story in Katherine Center's books - this is my 3rd book I read so far in 2025 from her!

I love how there’s not really too many fluffed conversations between the two - more actions I guess. I think there are a lot of inner thoughts of Katie that we read about, but I don’t mind that at all.

The first, I wanna say, 13% of the book was kinda slow. But I guess it was setting up the origin story of how Katie ended up flying to Key West to produce a video for the US Coast Guard, and having to interview her coworker’s brother, Hutch.

The company that Katie works for is going through some restructuring, and Cole - the coworker who sent her over to Key West - wants to help her by giving her this job so he can tell the boss that Katie did a great job on it. Cole also wants to avoid doing this project because it involved his older brother that he kinda hates.

I think after we passed the 20% mark of the book, I couldn’t put it down! For some reason, the story just flows really well.

We do learn a little bit about Hutch and Cole’s family drama too, and why the brothers don’t get along. And the reason why Hutch was mad that Cole sent someone else to do the Coast Guard video.

Overall, it's a great read! It tugs on my heart and gives me the feel. It's a 5-star read for me!

Katherine Center just never misses. Her books are always like a shot of vitamin C or a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day.
This book is all palm fronds, blue skies and hibiscus scented breezes. I love the journey of self discovery Katie embarks on, and I love how she faces her fears. Hutch is perfect. Aunt Rue is a wonderful character. I had such fun being transported to the Florida Keys.
Thank you for the warn, sunshiney hug, Katherine!

After recently reading Things You Save in a Fire, I was really looking forward to another book by Katherine Center. This one missed the mark for me. Much of the repetitive and run-on inner dialogue by the main character felt shallow and not well thought out. The romance was cute, when it was present, but that too felt not well thought out. I'm sad to say that my favorite part of the book was the dog's relationship with frogs.

Another excellent romance from Katherine Center! She is an autoread author for me, and The Love Haters is no exception. While Center is a romance queen, the added adventure element here was *chef's kiss*, and made this such a standout read for me. Katie & Hutch were also such an easy couple to root for, and I wouldn't mind seeing more from them since their relationship was so lovely to witness. Overall, when I want an escape to Key West with a fun adventure romance, i'm reaching back from this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**This review contains spoilers**

This novel follows Katie, a love hating video producer who is on the chopping block at her company, as she makes a last ditch effort to save her career (and her coworker who pawns off an assignment onto her). Katie is sent to Key West to make a promotional video for the US Coast Guard, including the former internet sensation Tom "Pup Daddy" Hutcheson. The only problem? Katie can't swim and hasn't been in a bathing suit since she was a child.

But what happens when two "love haters" realize that there is more to their connection than just as coworkers? What follows is a mix of connection in unexpected places, a delightful group of widowers who love to party, and a plethora of miscommunication.

Usually, Katherine Center's books blow me out of the water. I love how she.does so much research into the different occupations that she puts her characters into to make it feel authentic. However, something about this book just missed the mark for her. I felt that there were too many plot lines flying around and it was hard to focus on what was supposed to be the main plot of the book. I also don't understand the point of making her ex seemingly out of nowhere start missing her and want to reconnect, but never actually reaching out to her. The entire novel, I was waiting for his grand (and unwelcome) entrance, and it never came.

With that being said, the story was still cozy and heartwarming. It dealt with a lot of sensitive topics in a very appropriate and caring way. Katie's body image issues and former eating disorder played a factor in a lot of the novel, but I enjoy that it focused on her recovery and how she found ways to cope.

3.25/5 stars.

Trigger warnings: parental death, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, natural disaster (hurricane), cheating (not by the MMC)

I am a big fan of Katherine Center and this book delivers on all her charms- humor, romance, positive messaging ( in this case self-love/ body positivity). George Bailey was a favorite character! I only deducted one star because the plot became a bit outlandish.

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a funny, heartwarming read that’s easy to love—but not without a few hiccups. It’s about resilience, figuring yourself out, and learning to let life (and love) get messy. I’d give it a solid 4 stars.

The book has that classic Katherine Center vibe—warm, witty, and packed with moments that make you laugh and then hit you right in the feels. It’s got a great mix of humor and heart, and the writing flows in that effortless way that keeps you turning pages.

That said, it’s not perfect. The plot? Pretty predictable. You’ll probably see where it’s going early on, which takes away some of the excitement. The middle part also drags a little, with the same conflicts being revisited a few too many times. And while the emotional moments mostly work, a couple felt a bit over-the-top, like they were trying too hard to hit you in the heart.

Still, it’s such a feel-good story that you can’t help but enjoy it. If you like rom-coms with a little extra depth, The Love Haters is worth picking up. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and reminds you why love—no matter how messy—is always worth the risk.

I usually love Katherine Center’s books but this was unfortunately not for me. I felt like the discussion and dialogue surrounding the body image and eating disorder content was a bit shallow. I still enjoyed the plot and characters!