"The Love Haters" by Katherine Center offers a light, predictable romantic comedy with charming characters. While the writing is engaging, the plot feels formulaic and the character development could be deeper. Fans of the genre will enjoy the familiar tropes, but those seeking a more nuanced exploration of relationships may find it lacking. Overall, an enjoyable read for romantic comedy enthusiasts.

Katherine Center has done it again! This book has everything one could hope for: swoony MMC, FMC full of wit and self awareness, and a big goofy dog to bring them together! I found myself laughing out loud while anxiously awaiting the HEA.

Thank you SMP for my copy! Another joyful, heartfelt, emotional read from Katherine Center. I absolutely adore the way her books just shimmer with hope, heart and healing. They make me feel so seen and connected to humanity when I read them. It's always a struggle to read as quickly as I can because I can't get enough of the story vs. slowly savoring it because I don't want it to end.

Katherine Center is an AUTOMATIC BUY for me, every. single. time. I'm obsessed with the way her rom-com books aren't really about the romance, but really about a Bigger Thing that doesn't usually have to do with the male love interest. The male love interest is just a bonus story line.

HOWEVER! I could have really appreciated a big fat (pun intended) content warning for the ED coded talk that went on in here. The main character, our hero, Katie, has long since suffered from body image issues due to the comments from trolls on the internet when her boyfriend/fiance gets tiktok famous and lands a record deal and because the music scenes next heart throb. Assholes on the internet make horrific comments about Katie's image/weight and lead to a long battle with, what it sounds like, starving herself to drop down in weight.

While I still enjoyed this story for what it was, I'm sure hundreds of readers might immediately want to put this book down with an intro like that.


OTHER THAN THAT, it was fun, silly, chaotic, and that ending was very very very unpredictable. A little outworldly? Probably, but I had a hell of a great time reading it.

I love it when Katherine Center makes me cry.

Another perfect romance from Katherine Center that once again pulls you in and makes you care for the characters. Although this story has parts that feel a little far fetched, it was still endearing and full of resilience, heart, and depth. The novel follows Katie who is trying to keep her job as a video production editor who enjoys making "real life" documentaries on everyday heroes. She is assigned to follow Hutch, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer for a promotional video and lies about knowing how to swim. The story is set in Key West which Center really brings to life. I loved the setting and all the characters from Rue, Beanie, Hutch, and don't forget about George Bailey the Great Dane. The main character, Katie, not only has to overcome her fear of water but she must face her love hate relationship with her own body and her relationship with herself. The story is really more than a romance as there is no spice. I love the afterwards by the author were she takes about how loves stories are therapy and not shallow but deep. A quick and easy read that I quickly devoured to see how it would all end and I was not disappointed.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC for my honest opinion.

This book! I laughed, I cringed, I cheered on Katie as she did hard things. It wasn’t just a romance but an inspirational story of overcoming other people’s opinions and your own self sabotage. One of the best romance books that I’ve read in a long time

Thank you to netgalley for the arc! Things a very light romcom, and fans of Katherine Center will devour this book. It carries the same conversational style with the reader, funny moments, and a bit of suspense at the end. If you’re looking for more complex, authentic character development, this is on the lighter end, and you may feel left wanting more. Hallmark lovers will love this!

Charming, well-written, and entertaining. The Love Haters takes you away to Key West and introduces you to an engaging cast of characters. This could have easily been a 4+ star book if not for the self-hate the FMC felt about herself.

I truly loved this book with my entire being. I read it in one night because I kept waking up and wanting more of Katie, Hutch and the Gals!

The Gals were everything I want to be when I get older and more. They were fun and fabulous, and such amazing side characters.

Katie was truly a wonderful FMC, even though she struggling with self-love and her image, it was beautiful to see her grow to accept herself and understand how Hutch saw her.

Hutch was probably one of my favorite MMC in a very long time. I LOVED the rescue swimmer aspect and found it so cool how that was tackled and explained. It gave me a new found appreciation for the Coast Guard, on top of my appreciation for the military as is!

I will without a doubt recommend this to every single friend of mine because it was wonderful.

Compared to other book by Katherine Center that I have read, this one fell a little flat for me. I will always take the chance to read a book by her though, because all of the others I have read are top notch!

I will say that the theme of the book was interesting and not like anything I've read before. Katie lands herself the perfect gig profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch. Hutch ends up being her coworkers brother and they make a few deals throughout the book.

Cole was so insufferable and ruined a lot of the book for me. He is a pathological liar and lies about things that have terrible excuses for why he lied about them in the first place. He hates his brother Hutch, whom he thinks is always the star of the show and is better than him in every way possible. While the reasoning for this is a little more deep rooted trauma related, I still don't know if I could see that as being a reason for him being so hateful towards his brother.

I think the chemistry between Hutch and Katie is pretty spot on for the most part. Hutch is a bit stubborn and not open to love, so it takes a bit for him to finally open up. The banter between the two of them was good, but definitely a bit less humorous than other books I have read by this author.

I did like how the book focused on some sensitive topics such as eating disorders and body image. It's a topic that a lot of women can probably relate to at some point in their lives, so it was nice to see that discussed about. I actually liked that it didn't go too in depth about certain things since that could easily be a trigger for some people with previous disorders. I also loved how Katie's monochrome view on life became so colorful with the help of Rue. Once Katie learned to take that leap of faith I just know she rocked all of the fun outfits she wore.

My favorite part of the book was Hutch's Great Dane rescue, George Bailey. George Bailey is a super nervous dog who hates storms and gets startled easily in general. Katie finds herself in a position that brings her super close to George Bailey and forces her to use some skills that she learned on set.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinon.

Katherine Center continues to be a reliable author for me even though "The Love Haters" was not my favorite. While I love the way Center writes nonverbal communication - it's so exacting and perfectly captures the way her characters seem to be feeling (especially Hutch) and I did have a good time with Katie and Hutch, the supposed "Love Haters," there were some elements to this story that caught me off guard.

In terms of the positive, I love how Center can evoke feelings with her story telling. I experienced joy and laughter as well as worry and sorrow. It was a quick and easy read for me and I'm sure it will be a good addition to many beach bags this summer. I enjoyed the peak into the lives of a rescue swimmer and mini-documentary maker. I remember when Center did her research trip with the Coast Guard and I loved knowing she infused the story with that experience.

However, I will share a warning for readers that this one will be especially difficult for anyone with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, parent loss/abandonment triggers, or trauma related to open water emergencies. This book has some very difficult topics and the internal dialogue for Katie was especially jarring. I wasn't a fan of several pieces of this book & while I know Center is reliable for a happily ever after, this one was somewhat lacking in satisfaction even after things seemed to work out.

Magic✨in a story!!!!👙🌊☀️🛟🌺🐾

Ahhhhhh I’m SO GRATEFUL to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review- this made my January! This was one of my most anticipated releases in 2025 and I’m also SO GRATEFUL to my hubby for preordering me a copy by the incredibly talented @katherinecenter because THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE STORY that she’s written 😍

This story has everything that I hope and pray a closed-door romcom will have:
👙calamity that is so hilarious you can’t put the story down! (And you guys, it’s like every other scene- KC was on a ROLL with the funny scenes in this!!)
🛟 swooney heart-throb MMC (who is a literal hero)
☀️ a group of old retired ladies who help facilitate…so much. Literally they were one of my favorite little gems- I love them endlessly
🐾 a giant clumsy dog who orchestrates the most ridiculous and hilarious meet-cute scene
💋 swoon-worthy slow-burn chemistry with a GREAT first kiss
❤️ a best friend character with a great life hack to learn how to love yourself (I started doing it too)

But one of my favorite things was watching a woman who had been beat down by life, discover herself and love again. To realize that she is worth so much- even if someone else didn’t see her value- may we all take a page from her book. KC writes stories that bring such joy and laughter (I always can laugh out loud during her books!) while also invoking some of the most raw human emotions- BRAVO!!! Not many authors can do this and I’m so grateful for the gift of another story from this brilliant story teller 🌺

If you need a pick-me-up, an infusion of joy, a giggly romance, and a bingeable read- this. Is. It. ❤️

I absolutely love Katherine Centre’s books, and The Love Haters is no exception. I loved the characters, the banter and the setting - a great beach read! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Enjoyed the book overall though some parts were very similar to variation by Rebecca Yarros which was odd.

Katie films and documents the corporate mundane until she doesn't. Cue Hutch- the Ashton Kutcher inspired Coast Guard rescue swimmer who she is tasked with following and leveraging for a recruiting video. Force proximity anyone?

This book is one of Center's best. It is sweet, it is witty, and the love story is a backdrop to the time old question - am I lovable? I am definitely one who gets annoyed with FMC's who spend the book figuring out "how to love themselves", but I really think Katie's journey is relatable because it is deeply nonlinear and often poorly timed.

If you are looking for some steamy sex scenes, this book is not for you. It is about as sexy as a 13 year old boy, but it is very sweet and the humor was the perfect brand of dry sarcasm.

TW for folks who struggle with ED and body dysmorphia.

I could not put The Love Haters down! Katherine Center is a gem. I have enjoyed all of her books, and this one was no different! The chemistry between the main characters was so believable and it gave me all the feels. Hutch is the book boyfriend you need in your life. It's going to be hard to get into my next read I have a feeling...here comes the book hangover. Our library will need to buy multiple copies of this, as all of Katherine's books cause long hold lines in the best way!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center. When I downloaded this book I immediately moved it to the top of my TBR pile.

Katie Vaughn is down on her luck: her ex fiancé cheated on her and she found her comfort in food. The company she works for is doing massive layoffs. In attempt to save her job, she reluctantly takes a castoff assignment from her boss.

Her assignment: a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard in Key West. Can she swim? No. Does she tell her boss? Also no. With her job balancing on a thin tightrope she packs her suitcase and heads to Florida to profile her boss’s rescue swimmer brother Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. Hutch is reluctant to be profiled, but agreed to because he thought his brother would be doing the interview. When he finds out his brother has passed it off, he was less than thrilled.

My favorite character was George Bailey, Hutch’s lovable Great Dane rescue dog. He was the ultimate matchmaker.

The Love Haters was a quick read and will be great to take to the beach. It wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center, but I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and I absolutely loved it. The premise sounded contrived initially, but it actually totally worked! Although I was expecting a light rom-com type of story, this was so much more than that. The two main characters were both really likeable, realistic and three-dimensional. The journey to self-love that Katie goes through is extremely powerful. The relationships with and between the other characters were also really well fleshed-out. There were several amazing female friendships, a found-family relationship, and a very challenging sibling relationship - all of which were portrayed incredibly well. I also adored George Bailey, the dog. :)

There are several scenes that were written so well that I think the book would make a fantastic movie. I know that a couple of her other books have already been made in to movies, so maybe this one will too. Regardless, I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Thanks for the ARC!

I have loved everything I've read from Katherine Center and this one is no exception! She writes the best romcoms. I liked this one so much that I preordered a hardcover copy. Can't wait for her next book!

There is so much to this rom com from Katherine Center. Yes, there is a love story that was well done and a read it in one day. Has all the things we love… the slow burn, banter, amazing first kiss, and the best side character (a Great Dane named George Bailey). There is also the FMC relationship with herself and her issues with her body image. This story is also about her journey of learning to love herself. Our MMC journey also includes healing relations between him and his younger brother.
It was enjoyable and worth the read!