Katie is a video producer assigned to do a promotional US Coast Guard profile video on Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson. The video was originally assigned to Katie's colleague, Cole, who happens to be Hutch's brother. But the two brothers do not get along, so down to the Florida Keys Katie goes for a career saving job where she will literally be surrounded by water... despite not being able to swim and having a phobia of bathing suits (and anything colorful).

I enjoyed the story, but I didn't totally connect with it like I have with some of Katherine Center's other books. Hutch is a stand up guy and a great MMC, but I struggled to understand the draw to Katie. She grew on me, but she was kind of a mess at the start!

There are some choices made that I really wasn't into, but other moments that had me literally laughing out loud or tearing up. It's a bit of a mixed bag for me, though overall I had fun reading the story and experiencing the vibrancy and color of the tropical setting.

💕: kissing, innuendo
⚠️: language, body image issues, online bullying, past loss of loved ones

4.5

Okay...so I loved this. I consumed it (in Florida on vacation and it was perfect!) and I loved the setting in the Keys. I also love how well Katherine explained and brought attention to the coast guard and I have a whole new level of respect for them. Then, the main character Katie suffers from body image issues and I loved that the book follows her overcoming it and learning to love herself and that everyone is beautiful. I adored Katie's character and that she put Hutch's wishes above her own when it could literally save her job. And Hutch....oh man I LOVE HIM. He was charming and he literally jumps out of helicopters to save people. GREEN FLAG. Also George Bailey? Perfection. Rue? I loved her.
All I know is I want more. I need more Katie and Hutch.

Thank you Netgalley, Katherine Center and St. Martins Press for the ARC copy.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Catherine Center for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's always such an honor to read an ARC of Center's works. I admit, that I am a total fangirl. This was no different. I couldn't put this book down. It has all the elements one would expect from Center -- funny characters with so much depth, serious subjects (grieving, body image, illness, guilt, expectations), love with a guaranteed HEA, and of course joy! The heavy topics in this novel were treated with care and respect and well balanced with the silliness of so many of the situations and the humor of the characters. Katie and Hutch are absolutely lovable and all of the secondary characters are wonderful. I sometimes cringe when we have too many side characters but this was perfectly well done. Loved the whole story!

This is not the first Katherine Center book I’ve read. I’ve loved all the books I’ve read from her so far!
This book is about a video producer who can’t swim Katie and “Hutch” a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, original “love hater”, according to his brother Cole, (who is Katie’s supervisor), and their real and perceived issues that they need to overcome in an easy to imagine, beautiful Key West setting. Katherine Center’s books usually follow the same trope of a rom-com, but what makes hers so different are the issues the characters tackle and the sheer amount of research she puts in to be true to life and give the characters such a great depth that you don’t always find in these types of novels. The characters are all real and relatable, and the story moves smoothly. This novel was a quick, easy, light-hearted read.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so cute and funny! It makes for a perfect beach read! I just love her books! They are all so engaging and entertaining!

The characters are all pretty likable with some interesting back stories. Also, the setting and plot were so different compared to other Rom-Coms.

I will say, I started getting annoyed by the repetitive body image discussions. It really dragged down the book even though it all ended well with understanding to love yourself, but it really put a drain on the cutesy story.

I can’t wait for her next book!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Katie is someone who has not had an easy love life. When she meets Hutch through a new job opportunity she is immediately attracted. What ensues are many situations that even though began as little white lies help Katie discover herself and love. I am a Katherine Center fan and thought this book was different than some of her other books. While different I did enjoy the banter and humor the book brought. I was pulling for Katie to get her happy ending and the ending did not disappoint.

Katherine Center does it again! I’ve been a long-time fan girl of Katherine Center and she’s my go-to recommendation for someone who just wants to read “a good book”. I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover but how can you not judge her books by the cover. They are always gorgeous and bright and happy. This book was no exception. I really loved the characters in The Love Haters because of their growth throughout the story. I think most women can relate to Katie’s relationship with her body and how difficult it can be. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the world of the Coast Guard. I felt like I was on that houseboat with Katie and the dog waiting to be rescued.

And now for the long wait until the next Katherine Center book!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It pains me to write this, but I DNF’ed at 67%.

I was so excited for The Love Haters and I typically love Katherine Center’s books, but I found myself so bored with this one. The FMC and MMC fell flat for me, I didn’t care about them at all. Aunt Rue and her gal pals were my favorite part, I would’ve enjoyed a book solely about them.

I love everything that Katherine writes. She just keeps doing amazing work. This was such a cute story. Loved the grumpy main guy.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copies!

4.5 Stars!!

I liked this story so much more than I was anticipated liking it!

Katie has been burned by love and had challenging family relationships. When her job is threatened she accepts an assignment to interview and film a coast guard rescuer. The premise is to use the video as a Coast Guard recruiting video. Still, the rescue swimmer being interviewed was also in a viral video rescuing Jennifer Anniston's dog a while back.

Military, seal team, and Coast Guard books are my top love, so the behind-the-scenes of Coast Guard rescues spoke to my heart! It also doesn't hurt that Hutch is top-tier book boy!

The small community in the Florida Keys where Katie goes for her assignment opens their hearts up to Katie, building the best found family!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job! Her performance enhanced the story!

Romance content: Just kissing!
TW: She had some body image trauma she had to work through.

2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Love Haters on May 20, 2025.

As a Katherine Center fan, I expected to fall in love with this book and these characters like I have her other books. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. While I loved the premise (work trip to Key West and shenanigans as she attempts to film sexy Coast Guard and "Love Hater" Hutch), the execution fell really flat for me.

From the get-go, we get a feeling for Katie's predicament at work and her reasoning for needing to go to Key West. But we're also hit unexpectedly with avid descriptions of Katie's struggles with an eating disorder and continued body dysmorphia. These issues are in NO WAY clued in or indicated in any of the marketing for this book. There's no content warning at the beginning for readers who may be sensitive to Katie's situation. And not only does it play a role in Katie's backstory, but it continues to DRIVE the plot and her character development for the majority of the book.

I'm not saying the inclusion of important issues like ED and BD is bad or wrong. I can't speak to whether this was a good or bad representation of the situation. But the rest of the book was VERY over-the-top, campy, and quirky, and the tone just didn't fit with the serious matters being discussed at times (including brief mentions of suicidal thoughts).

Like interspersing body dysmorphic thoughts while he's pulling splinters out of her butt was a no for me.

Aside from that, I was initially drawn into the story and romance between Hutch and Katie. I appreciated the direction Center was trying to go with Katie learning to love herself and be more open to adventure. But the third act break-up?? Conflict?? With Hutch's brother came out of NOWHERE and completely took me out of the story.

And don't even get me started on the rescue at the end.

In all honesty, I found Center's author's note at the end to be the best-written part of the whole book. She talked about her continued love for writing romance novels and how reading these novels is akin to falling in love with pieces of yourself, and I found glimpses of the author I loved who wrote The Rom-Commers. But The Love Haters was all over the place, disjointed, not humorous or fun in tone, and definitely not marketed correctly.

The Love Haters was unfortunately a miss for me. I disliked the main characters and felt completely disconnected from the romance. I did enjoy Patti Murin's narration and found the book easy to read/listen to.

I received and ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Katie, video producer, is pushed by her coworker Cole to interview Hutch, an USCG, to tell about his life as a "hero. In Key West.

Plot twist: part of the assignment is to wear a bathing suit & be in a helicopter upside down in the water. One problem with that : Katie can't swim & she has self love issues with her body.

Along comes Rue, Cole's & Hutch's aunt to save the day w
By befriending Katie & giving her a little fashion advice.

Rue invite Katie to her swimming lessons and the instructor is none other than Hutch.

In this book, Katie is taught she is perfect just the way she is.

The ending was so explosive firework rom-com moment I just swooned.

George Bailey, Hutch's dog, was pretty cute too.

I loved this book and definitely will be buying for my shelf. Thank you to NG for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

As my first Katherine Center book I will say I’ve become a fan with this story. Katie and Hutch were so much fun to read and Hutch has the perfect book boyfriend material.

A romance layered with deep emotional impacts as well such as grief and healing and lots of body insecurity which as a young woman I can relate to. I think this topic of ED is not talked about enough and I love that Center was able to handle it in such a moving and delicate manner.

Such a cute contemporary romance where every person in this story had such a purpose to this story and to these characters. I love the writing and how well paced it was. It started a bit slow for me but by 20% I was hooked and fully captivated by them.

This book was fast-paced and I found myself flying through it and bummed when I finished that I didn’t have more to read. The supporting cast and setting made me feel even more immersed and invested in the book. I loved Katie and Hutch and seeing them interact and my only wish is that I wanted more of them together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center books are such a feel good vibe for me, and this one holds true to that. I couldn’t put it down. Utterly in love with the dog, George Bailey.

A fast-paced, endearing and fun rom-com! I loved everything about it and read it in 4 hours! Highly recommend to all!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy!

I've loved a lot of Katherine Center's books, and this one did not disappoint! I loved the relationships in the story, both the romance and friendships. Katie's inner struggle with her self-esteem was also well done and very relatable. It was overall a fun and lighthearted read but also touched on a lot of important and thoughtful topics. If you're looking for an fun and entertaining read with great relationships and some deep concepts, this is a great read.

How do I start? I relate to Katie so much. The anxiety she has, and all. This book made me feel seen. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy while reading a book. This put my heart back together. I can’t wait for this to actually release so I can have it on my shelf! The way Katie faces her fears is so aspiring. I love the way you tell this story!! She knew how to make me laugh.
A lot of topics in this book are very real. Hutch is a total sweetheart.
I was laughing pretty much this whole story. I will never think of splitters the same again.
I can’t wait to explore more of her books! Thank you NetGalley & publishers!!

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

This book is a 10 star read for me! I always love KC books but this one just sucked me in and fed my soul. I loved everything from the location, to the found family, all the dog shenanigans, the FMC working through her body image issues, the brother’s relationship dynamics and of course all the drama and adventure. I think the only thing I didn’t like about this book is that it ended. I didn’t want to give up these characters that became apart of me. It was such an amazing read.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Katie is facing a layoff and she has two choices lie and keep her job or tell the truth and loose it. That is how her coworker convinced her to take this videography assignment with the Coast Guard in Key West. So she’s now driving the 7mile highway over water when she can’t even swim!

Hutch was expecting his brother but instead Katie showed up replacing him on this assignment. He quickly gets dragged into the chaos when his Great Dane tackles her and he finds out she can’t swim. He also realizes she’s a beautiful woman that he wants to help.

Hutch and Katie will be forced together basically every moment of the day for the next month while they work together. They will get to know each other very well. But Katie gets trapped in Cole ( Hutch’s brother) lies and disaster strikes.

Check out Katie & Hutch’s story when it Releases
May 20th, 2025.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“I’m saying that when I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. And waiting to see you again. And we’ve spent all day, every day together for weeks now—and it already feels like it’ll never be enough.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Video Producer FMC
* Hero Coastguard Swimmer MMC
* This Job is to Save Her From Layoffs
* She’s Doing a Promo Video For the Coast Guard But She Cant Swim
* Her Co-Worker is the Brother of “Puppy Love” and They Are in a Beef
* She Struggles with Body Image - Working on Body Positivity
* Found Family & Overly Friendly Great Dane
* Key West, Florida

🚁🌊🌴🐾🐸 🚁🌊🌴🐾🐸