I've enjoyed every book written by Katherine Center that I've read, and this one was no different. What I really like about her books is the research, which may sound weird to say about a romantice comedy. This time I got to visit Key West and learn about the Coast Guard while being thoroughly entertained by a loveable heroine with self image issues and a hot rescue swimmer with an adorable Great Dane. The banter and comedic timing was spot on, as were the more profound and touching moments of this story.

Another winner for Katherine Center!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! What can I say The Love Haters by Katherine Centre is another witty, feel good romantic comedy. When Katie is worried about being sacked she signs up for a job that she’s not quite qualified for…swimming being the basic necessity to film the documentary. However, once she meets Hutch, all fears of swimming seem to disappear over the first week that she is in Key West. Several funny coincidences put her and Hutch in the same place at the same time even before starting work together. The most embarrassing situations turn out to be the most fun that is until her coworker, Cole, shows up with a scheme to help her keep her job and his own. Cole, Hutch’s brother, has had it in for his sibling since they were kids. He has always felt like second best since a tragic event took place in their youth. What Katie didn’t realize was that she would, unbeknownst to herself become a pawn in his game. She also couldn’t have imagined how much she would come to regret helping him with his scheme. She also came to regret it even more throughout a near death experience. Overall, a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed although the ending was somewhat predictable right from the beginning. Can you really hate loving others?

This is another fun unlikely love story told by Katherine Center! I finished it in one sitting and it is the perfect PG summer romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ability to read an early copy of this. There will be SPOILERS in this review. Probably.

I’m very conflicted and kinda confused about how I feel about The Love Haters. I feel like the bones of the story was good, but it just lost its way a lot in the story telling. The relationship between hutch and Katie was a lot of telling us they were falling in love off page but I feel like I didn’t get to experience it as part of the story.

The miscommunication trope in this book was horribly misused as well. The morning after cole told hutch he was dating Katie I feel like he would have absolutely said something. And im sorry or I didn’t know or anything but the silence we were given. It felt very out of character.

The tense in the book jumped around a lot too. I know that May part of the editing that still needed to be fixed as this was an early copy, but it was so egregious I do feel like it needs to be mentioned. The random jumps to her talking from the future looking back really threw me. Also just the passing of time is poorly explained? This takes place over 3 weeks? Why did the filming take that long. And when she does the day in the life video they wrap up at 10 am and then he’s supposed to go to work after that? In what world do you go into work that late? I assumed it was a weekend or his day off or something. Plus having her running around while they are preparing for the hurricane but she’s not filming just feels like it wouldn’t happen. I don’t have experience with the coast guard, but I do with the army and having a civilian around during a crisis just doesn’t work.

The title? I just felt like it didn’t fit. It just felt like a forced conversation at the end to make the title make sense but for me it didn’t work. I did not feel like either of them hated love at any point in the story.

The characters of Rue and Beanie were the best parts for me. I will still listen to the audiobook one it releases but this was just an ok read when i usually love her books.

I will quite literally read anything that Katherine Center writes. She creates amazing characters with realistic dialogue and her books always have me highlighting quote after quote. This book was no exception! I loved our couple, Katie and Hutch, and my only negative was that I wanted more of them. The plot fell a little short or maybe was a little rushed to me. I wanted more of our main characters together, or placed in more situations where they interacted. I was not a huge fan of the drama at the end, but I will say it was definitely a unique storyline!

I will continue to read every book this amazing author writes!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc!

Ok, we all know I'm a Katherine Center fan, so I'm biased from the start. I loved Hello Stranger and the Rom-Commers a ton. I tried to put aside my bias for this ARC, and I think I was able to do that (maybe....we'll see).

I would probably give this one 3.5 stars, but let's round up due to my aforementioned adoration of the author. Yeah, I guess that's where the bias comes in. But still! There wasn't anything WRONG with this book. It was enjoyable. It was nice. The characters were good. However, I just didn't feel like it was super memorable. It didn't stick with me like the others. I suppose that's fine, because I did enjoy it while I was reading it (and I mean, the main character and I share names! Katies for the win!) Her primary struggle is with body image and internalized body shame. Relatable. The main squeeze was a liiiiiiittle too perfect, IMO, not as many struggles as our leading lady. BUT I will say, I had fun with it. I couldn't put it down for the last 20% or so. So, would I recommend it? YES. But is it as good as some of the others? Maybe not.

This is only my second Katherine Center novel, but at this point it’s a sealed deal. Anything she writes, I will read.

I see a lot of myself in Katie, and know other readers will too. I love the relationship with her bestie/sister Beanie. Shes the kind of friend we all deserve.

The story between Katie and Hutch was great. It was a great balance of tension and payoff.

The book being set in the magical Key West makes me want to go, and I hope a hotel like the Starlite exists in real life.

Overall a fun read that I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait to see what Katherine comes up with next!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This hilarious book by Katherine Center is a perfect pick-me-up! The adorable romance and empowering body positivity message make it a must-read. Katie’s self-love journey is sweet and inspiring. A funny and self-aware summer read, perfect for your beach bag!

I loved this read!! The setting in Key West added such charm to the story—it truly is the perfect beach read and exactly the kind of escape that I needed to distract me from these cold winter months. I loved Katie and how she grew with the help of her best friend, Beanie. Every phone call between the two was hilarious and heartfelt all in one. The interaction between characters and the speed that the plot moved along was perfect. The actual romance between Katie and Hutch didn't quite hit the mark for me, but I loved everything else so much that this is a solid 4.5 stars for me. If there was any book that I've read in the last year to get made into a movie, I would LOVE to see this one on screen.

I love Katherine Center's work and this one is another great addition! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for my honest review!

I wanted to like this one so much because I love Katherine Center, but I couldn’t get into this one.
It was good, but fell just short of a must read for me.
I found it slightly boring, and none of the characters really resonated with me.

oh my goodness, do i have feelings about this book.

first of all, i’m grateful to have read an ARC of this book through netgalley.

the beginning - insufferable, terrible even. i hated how much she talked about her body image issues at the beginning. not because i have a problem with that being in a book, it’s the way it was written that was not good. it was so off putting. the side note about her ex being a celebrity and being all public about regretting splitting with her and then them never speaking? made no sense. i didn’t understand that part of the book.

ALSO- i kept forgetting the FMC’s name bc they BARELY said it. but oh i remember “HUTCH THIS,” “HUTCH THAT” also???? her name is katy??? like katherine???? like the author??? idk.

the middle general plot line was okay. it felt similar to the bodyguard with the whole fear or water, military swimmer, etc. it kind of got lost. like the whole reason she was there got washed away. i forgot at points how the hell any of this came to be.

the part with the house boat/hurricane??? and then NO GRAND PROFESSING OF LOVE????? LIKE???? it set it up perfectly and we BARELY got to see the aftermath of them being happy? he saved her from being out at sea and they were just acting like *NOTHING HAPPENED*. they kinda ignored each other and whatever.

the epilogue bounced all over the place. it did NOT wrap everything up. i still have so many questions. it was not a satisfying ending at all :(

there is so much more i could say, but i’m just so disappointed.

****I DID like katie learning to love herself. that was a positive.

me just start with two words - George Bailey. To know him is to love him. Read this book for him, if for no other reason.

Katie is finally leveling out from the rollercoaster of a bad breakup with her ex boyfriend turned overnight pop star which left her with some extreme body image issues and now she is on the brink of being downsized at her job as a video producer. In an effort to avoid a layoff, Katie takes on an assignment producing a video promoting the US Coast Guard where she will profile one of the country’s most scientifically good looking heroes. There’s just one little catch - she can’t swim! Oh and one other thing, this handsome hero, Hutch, happens to be her coworker’s nemesis brother. Add in the tropical beach setting, a group of vibrant senior besties, a web of lies, and a violent hurricane - you’ll be up past your bedtime reading.

Some may argue that the portrayal of Katie’s body image issues is overboard; however, I’d counter that this is one of the main love stories in the book and one many of us women, myself included, struggle with.

Some may also argue that the build up of Katie and Hutch’s romance was rushed, sudden, or lacking, especially on Hutch’s side, to which I’d counter that they missed all the subtle ways Hutch was loving Katie all along.

Some may further argue that Cole gives the ick, to which I would agree. But I think that’s the whole point!

In the books I love most, the characters are flawed and relatable and Katie and Hutch were just that.

By the way did anyone else pause for a little ugly cry intermission after a certain chapter? You’ll know it when you get there and oof it cuts deep.

Katherine Center nails it every time. Romance, humor, emotion, adventure, inspiration - she does it all. The Love Haters reminds us that life is too short even when we get a long one and to love ourselves simply because we are ours. Oh, and don’t sidestep an evacuation mandate! I look forward to her stories as much as I do to her beautiful author’s notes. I am a romance girlie through and through!

Receiving an ARC of my favorite author’s new book has been a high point in my lifelong reading journey so thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review The Love Haters.

Get your copy immediately on May 20th!

Another beautifully written book by Katherine Center! I loved hutch & george bailey and wanted to keep them in my pocket. Only request is I would add a trigger warning for the ED but otherwise loved it. Thanks for letting me ARC!

I absolutely LOVED this book!! Katie and Hutch are 🧑‍🍳💋 Beanie & Rue are special characters that I want in my life!! I received this in an ebook format as an ARC in exchange for my honest review, and I'm so so grateful! Katherine Center is such a storytelling treasure!!! Wholesome and Heartwarming!

If recommending this book to a friend (which I would) I would include a trigger warning for the eating disorder content. I love the character development towards body acceptance but some of the earlier details could be tough for someone with personal history. I really liked the story. The resolution was a little far-fetched but still adorable.

My favorite thing about a Katherine Center novel is I know my heart will always be joy filled by the time I finish reading. This story was no different. Hutch may be a new favorite MMC. I want to put him and George Bailey in my pocket to keep forever. There are some cheesy parts, definitely silly and over the tops parts, but overall this was a good story with good characters. 🧡

Honestly, I could not get into this book at all. Slow starting and we really didn’t get into the main storyline untill 25% through. The romance was not interesting, it just wasent for me

I found an ARC copy of the book on Net Galley - thanks to my daughter! Katherine Center is a favorite author of mine so I was happy to be able to read it - and it was free (a very nice extra). Center writes romances with heart and a message. In this one the theme of body shaming is tackled. Katie Vaughn’s job is on the line. Her life goal is to create documentaries but the company she works for is downsizing (or so it would seem). Her boss, Cole, apparently wants to save her job so he coerces her to go to Key West to make a promotion video for the Coast Guard featuring a real-life hero, Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson. Katie learns Hitch hasn’t dated in a year which doesn’t faze her because she’s sworn off dating after her ex-fiancé cheated on her. The story moves on from there where Katie has to face wearing a swimsuit - part of the body shaming theme - that is hilariously tackled via Hutch’s “Aunt” Rue and her gal pals. She’s also fudged a few things on taking the job - like she can’t swim! From there emerges a sweet, funny story that involves secrets about Cole and Tom as well as the budding romance between Katie and “Hutch.” No spoilers: you have to read the book to learn how everything comes full circle. You won’t be disappointed! This is a fun, cozy read (especially when it’s snowing out) - and not necessarily all romance focused. Don’t forget to read the acknowledgment at the end as Center gives insight into her writing a

The Love Haters was an easy to read romance about a film maker, Katie, who was forced to take an assignment she wasn’t fully qualified for in an attempt to avoid being laid off. Despite not knowing how to swim, Katie will be interviewing and showcasing the heroism of Coast Guard rescuer, Hutch. Once she arrived in Key West for her assignment, she meets Rue, a quirky cottage owner and relative of the subject she will be filming. Katie was recently dumped by her boyfriend and working through body issues with the help of her friend, Beanie. While I did enjoy reading this book, I feel like there wasn’t a lot of character development and things just kind of skimmed the surface. It was a nice, light read and I’m a fan of other books by this author, but this one fell a little flat for me.

Katherine Center did it again. She wrote another fun, sweet, adorable and heart-warming story. This book is not your ordinary love story between the FMC and MMC. This book is about reconnecting, forgiveness, and self-discovery. It's funny, inspiring, and I really enjoyed the glimpse of Coast Guard life. This book is also a good reminder that not all love stories are just romantic love and that falling in love is not only with another person. Learning to love yourself, accepting yourself, and seeing yourself is one of the best love stories that could ever happen.