I hate to leave a negative review, but this wasn’t Katherine Center’s best book. Overall the plot and characters just fell flat. She has many other amazing books, here’s hoping her next one is a hit!

If there is one thing about me, I love a Katherine Center rom-com. This story really is "There's a thin line between love and love-hating" to a T. I thoroughly enjoyed the coast guard rescue swimmer aspect and the relationship between the two characters.

My only complaint is the way Katie's body image issues were handled. She had an eating disorder. Plain and simple. And Center never addressed that. It left me feeling icky.

Another lovely read by Katherine Center!! While this didn’t top The Bodyguards or The Rom-Commers, it was still a great summer read!! If you enjoyed “The Reality of Everything” by Rebecca Yarros but thought it was too spicy - this is the perfect book for you!

dnf @30%

im sorry, i just couldn't get into it. nothing about this book was grabbing my attention and did not like the main characters.

I always look forward to a new Katherine Center book and this did not disappoint! It was charming and heartwarming with an endearing cast of characters. The setting was perfect and made me want to take another vacation there. I also enjoyed learning more about the Coast Guard. It is a perfect beach read or anytime read. I switched between the book and audiobook. Patti Murin did a great job with the narration.

Katherine Center never disappoints. Again, I loved this read. The characters were lovable and you rooted for them, even when you thought they might not end up together. The writing was crisp and clever. I love the research Center does to create such rich stories. The whole read just felt like I was sitting in a bright colored float at the pool and basking in the sunshine. The drama was rich, and I can’t wait for Center’s next novel.

Katherine Center scores a W with every book she writes. She manages to hit every emotion- I smile, I swoon, I gasp, I giggle, I roll my eyes, then I swoon some more. I'm having a big Glen Powell moment, so I pictured his abs on Hutch's body. What. A. Hunk. I absolutely loved Rue, Hutch’s quirky aunt. She is my bright, fun, color-loving spirit animal. I loved how she turned Katie from drab, black, shell of herself into a vibrant, open character. George Bailey and his toads truly stole the show though.

While this book wasn't my favorite of everything the author has written, I still breezed through the book with a smile on my face. The colorful Key West backdrop helped, too!

unfortunately I don't feel comfortable reading The Love Haters. I've seen mixed reviews since its publication and while I love the authors previous books. I've seen that this book has a main character with an eating disorder and it's not appropriately addressed. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Once again Katherine Center just punches you in the face with an amazing love story that is as much about loving yourself as it is about loving someone else. I couldn't imagine a better book to read at the time that I did. The body positivity messages and embracing yourself for where you are and who you are were just what I needed as my body changed with pregnancy. I loved everything about the main characters and the audio was to die for. There was a little bit of everything and I loved it so much. Katherine Center made me a romance reader and keeps showing me why it is the best.

Completely binge worthy. I picked this up intending to read a few chapters and ended up blowing through the whole book in one sitting. I laughed, I gasped, and yes, I maybe cried a little. It had all the highs and lows I crave in a story, and I’m still reeling from it.

Man, I loved this. I loved everything about it. I felt like I was Katie while I was reading this book and there was no way to turn it off until I finished. Katherine Center is very quickly becoming one of my all time favorite authors. She writes romance like no other and, its crazy but, with her books, I dont even care about the spicy scenes. It's always about the way she can just make you feel things.

The Love Haters has Katherine Center’s signature warmth and charm, but this one didn’t resonate with me as much as her others. While the writing is engaging and the premise had promise, the story and characters didn’t feel entirely real, which kept me from fully connecting. There were still sweet moments and glimpses of Center’s talent for capturing emotion, but overall this one fell a little flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Katherine Center's The Love Haters is a delightful romantic comedy that masterfully blends humor, heart, and self-discovery. The story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer who, to save her job, embarks on a profile of Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West—despite not knowing how to swim herself. As Katie navigates this challenge, she finds herself entangled in a web of lies, unexpected adventures, and a blossoming romance with Hutch. Center's writing is both witty and poignant, capturing the complexities of love, vulnerability, and personal growth. With its engaging storyline and relatable characters, The Love Haters is a must-read for fans of heartfelt rom-coms.

I love Katherine Center’s stories, so I was thrilled to receive her newest release as an ARC. I enjoyed the characters and the concept of the plot, but there were specific storylines that did not pay off or fully connect. These pieces of the story seemed unnecessary. Overall it was a fun and easy beach read.

I really enjoyed The Love Haters! The fake dating vibe was super fun, and I loved the Key West setting—it felt warm and lively. The characters, especially Aunt Rue and the dog George Bailey, added a lot of charm. The romance had some great moments, and even when the pacing slowed a bit, I was still invested in their story. Overall, a sweet, light read that left me smiling.

Katherine Center's books make great use of outrageous premises with surprising heart. The Love Haters is no exception. The premise: video producer Katie volunteers to profile Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch in hopes that she won't lose her job. The only problem is that she is wildly unprepared for the gig. What follows is a slow burn romance with as much effort put into dealing with personal trauma as into the relationship. This is a great book for readers who like their romance with more complicated characters and less spice.

I cried and laughed my way through this book! Katie is such a fantastic character! I could not help but love her and see a bit of myself in her! I seriously did not want this book to end! Every single character in this book brought so much to the story. This may be a love story, but there is so much more to story with every single character we meet!

Katherine Center always delivers! From the first page to the last, I was captivated. I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

The Love Haters is a surprisingly sharp and emotionally rich story that flips romantic clichés on their head. With witty dialogue, nuanced characters, and just enough edge to keep things interesting, it’s a love story for people who usually roll their eyes at love stories.

I always enjoy a Katherine Center rom-com and The Love Haters didn't disappoint!

Katie is a video producer at a company that is downsizing. Scared that she is going to lose her job, she immediately jumps at the opportunity her co-worker Cole presents her: take his place and travel to the Florida Keys to profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The catch? Cole doesn't want Katie telling his brother Hutch or his aunt Rue about this change in plans. Oh, and Katie doesn't know how to swim.

While there is a sweet romance between Katie and Hutch, this book definitely focuses on Katie's journey with herself. She's struggled with body image and feeling unworthy, and we see her reflect and grow positively in these areas. I really loved the female relationships in this story - particularly between Katie and her cousin Beanie (which is told entirely through phone/video calls!) and the Gals (Hutch's Aunt Rue and her friends). I also am obsessed with George Bailey, Hutch's Great Dane. He's definitely a schemer and brought Katie and Hutch together in entertaining ways.

The Love Haters did have great banter and comedy between Katie and Hutch, but I was definitely hoping for more romance! Katie and Hutch do have some physical moments, but we don't see more than a kiss. I expected a closed door romance, but I was still hoping for more!

Overall, definitely a sweet story with a memorable cast of characters. I am excited to see what Katherine Center does next!