I really enjoyed this book! There were a few predictable moments but overall it left me wanting to keep turning the page and not put it down. I think this is the perfect summer read and will leave you wanting more hutch and Katie!

I love Katherine Center! If you’re looking for the perfect blend of humor, heart, and sizzling chemistry, The Love Haters delivers in spades. Katie Vaughn is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for—smart, determined, and just a little bit in over her head. When she takes on a high-stakes assignment to profile Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, despite one tiny problem (she can’t swim), the result is an absolute page-turner. Cute, sweet, a perfect spring break read!

Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy of this novel!

This was almost a 5 star for me, but a couple of the pieces of the story line were just a litttttttttle too out there. Did that make it unique? sure… but also made it a little less believable in what was otherwise a believable love story. That being said, I loved the side story about self esteem as it felt very real and very relatable without overdoing it, I also felt like the romantic scenes were either perfectly tense or evoked all the right emotions. Very happy about this read.

It’s always a wonderful day when I get a chance to review a new Katherine Center novel.

In “Love Haters,” Katie, a videographer, worries about if and when she will get the pink slip. When she has a chance to work on a project, she jumps at it—even if it means literally being in the water (when she does not know how to swim). Her subject—Hutch—rescued Jennifer Aniston’s dog but doesn’t want to talk about it. Of course, both Hutch and Katie have sworn off love. Oh, and there is a Great Dane named George Bailey too.

I honestly do not know how Katherine Center manages to create these engaging and memorable characters and put them in intriguing situations. While you know the story will wrap up with a happy ending of some sort, you’re going to enjoy the journey there every single book.

Thank you to Katherine Center, NetGalley and St Martin's Press for giving me this ARC to read/review.

The chemistry between Katie and Hutch felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting a deeper, more compelling connection between them. Unfortunately, I never experienced that “butterflies in my stomach” feeling that makes a romance truly memorable. On the other hand, Rue was a delightful supporting character, adding charm and humor to the story. There were several genuinely laugh-out-loud moments that I appreciated.

While I respect Katherine Center’s attempt to address important topics like body image, the execution felt somewhat superficial, lacking the depth and nuance the subject deserves. Overall, this wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, but it also wasn’t my favorite from Center’s collection.

Listen, Katherine Center always delivers, and The Love Haters is no exception. This book is basically what happens when a woman says “Screw it,” lies about her qualifications, and ends up fake-dating a grumpy Coast Guard rescue swimmer in paradise—while also pretending she knows how to swim. (Spoiler: she does not.)

Katie Vaughn is messy, charming, and hilariously relatable, and Hutch is the kind of broody, too-handsome-for-his-own-good hero that romance novels were made for. Throw in some helicopter rides, hurricanes, and a Great Dane named Rue, and you’ve got a rom-com that practically begs to be turned into a summer blockbuster.

If you love The Unhoneymooners but wish it had more conga lines and identity fraud, this one’s for you.

I really like this author and I really liked this book! The story centers around Katie who is basically given an assignment that will let her keep her job or get her fired. She needs to make a video about her bosses brother who is a rescue swimmer for the coast guard.

Her boss can’t stand his brother and he wants no part of it. Meanwhile the brother only agreed to the video because he wanted his brother to take the assignment. This leaves Katie in a sticky situation with the two brothers. She agrees to the assignment and goes to stay with her boss’ aunt who lives nearby the base where her subject is based. Of course her subject is not only a rescue, swimmer but is also hot and an overall great guy that Katie falls for.

There’s a whole backstory here about how the brothers came to be raised by their aunt and a backstory about why the one brother can’t stand the other.

The aunt that Katie stays with and all her colorful friends are really fun and made me want to move there with them.

I really liked learning about the rescue swimmers for the coast guard and thought it really was a great storyline for the book. Overall a really enjoyable book with a really good story.

Highly recommend! Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to get this ARC!

I literally could not put this down.. i read it in a day! I fear Katherine Center can do no wrong. Please please please read this!! I loved this entirely.

This was ridiculous and silly but in such a fun way. A lot happens in this book, and the plot moves quickly. It went in a direction I really wasn’t expecting, but the romance stayed pretty grounded throughout all the excitement. Center continues to write likeable and relatable characters and keeps her storylines fresh. I love her books and while this wasn’t my #1 favourite of hers, I still stayed up late finishing it.

Trigger warnings: eating disorders

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.

Love love love! Katherine Center is always a must-read author for me!! This book was everything - quirky heroine, grumpy, swoon worthy man, a Great Dane and a daring rescue!

2.5⭐ rounded up

I am both very happy and very upset at myself for not DNFing at 30% like I originally wanted to. Nothing that made me want to DNF ended up changing - it was all there cover to cover - but I had this nagging thought in the back of my head telling me that maybe it will get better. It didn't really, but I also don't feel like I wasted my time finishing this book.

I really loved Rue and the dog, and I liked the concept of The Love Haters, but that's honestly where it ends. The relationship between Katie and Hutch felt so forced to me; you don't even really see their attraction for each other except for two scenes. There was a whole lot of telling and not enough showing when it came to them. The fourth wall breaks felt really awkward as well. I don't know about other readers, but I read to escape into the story and fourth wall breaks ruin the illusion.

Did I still enjoy this book? I did. Were there things I didn't like about it? So many. But for the right person, this might end up being their favorite book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a cute fast read by one of my favorite rom-com authors. I loved the unique friendships and grumpy coast guard and his silly dog. This book had me laughing out loud and took me away from the cold winter into a very sunny Key West 👙☀️🌴

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s for the ARC!

I want to start by saying that I love Katherine Center; The Rom-Commers was my favourite 2024 romance read.

This book wasn’t my favourite of hers. I personally found the main character a bit unrelatable, and I don’t think that I loved the way the more serious themes were covered in the book.

That being said, Katherine’s writing and banter is as charming as usual, and I enjoyed the connection between the main characters. I think my biggest issue was with some of the plot points. Some things that happened just felt a little farfetched, even for a silly little romcom story. I was also waiting the whole time for the musician ex boyfriend to make an appearance, and the fact that he didn’t seemed like a waste.

Overall an enjoyable book but not anything that’s going to stick with me!

Katherine Center is back with another heartwarming romantic comedy that will light you up inside and out! Katie is the most relatable protagonist and you definitely root for her. Hutch is very interesting and complex, but their chemistry is undeniable. I love the banter and literally laughed out loud.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I searched daily for The Love Haters on NetGalley, knowing that it had the potential of showing up. Of course I requested it on Day 1. Weeks (and weeks) later, the acceptance email arrived early on an afternoon and, after a serious jolt of excitement, I shortened my to do list to “sit and read.”

I tell you this because I’d like to set the stage for how high my expectations were going in. Center did not disappoint!

The cast of characters is so likable. The witty thoughts and banter are trademark Center. And the setting transports you to Key West completely. In true Center fashion, the reader is left in the dark about the MMC’s feelings, and I would have liked to have more on that front. Additionally, some background on past relationships for the MMC would enrich the story. But at this point, I’m just being picky. The Love Haters is excellent!

This had so much potential. I stayed up until 1 AM, only for the story to take a frustrating turn. The FMC got dragged into a ridiculous lying scenario she had nothing to do with, which felt like a cheap way to force conflict and completely derailed the romance. It was so frustrating that I struggled to pick the book back up after that. After enjoying her last few books, this one was a real disappointment.

🌶️🌶️- Behind Closed Doors: At least one intimate scene occurs, but without the reader present.

Katherine Center delivers another gripping, funny, and emotional love story. This story is driven less by romantic love, though romantic love is present, but more by the journey of self love and the power of friend and family love. This story is a warm hug for readers who’ve known grief, self-doubt, and the power of found family.

As a fan of Katherine Center, The Love Haters did not disappoint. It flowed nicely, character development of the MFC was great! I really enjoyed this book!

4.5 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this story! The way the narrative was structured to mirror a docuseries was incredibly innovative and engaging, especially considering that Katie, our FMC, is a video producer. She was a compelling character, and the interview-style elements made the story feel personal and immersive. It was like having a conversation with her rather than simply reading about her experiences.

Hutch and George Bailey were absolute highlights! They brought so much humor, hope, and warmth to the story, making their presence unforgettable. While I understand the focus on Katie's journey, I admit I would have loved to see Hutch's perspective as well. He was such a wonderful character.

Overall, this story was a refreshing and captivating read, exploring the transformative journey of self-love and understanding. The unique narrative structure and relatable characters kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories that are both engaging and thought-provoking. However, it’s important to be mindful of CWs before diving in.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I really did not like this book. The title and cover honestly have almost nothing to do with the story, and it was kind of all over the place. There was no chemistry, there were so many different directions to this plot, and there was nothing really of substance. The ending wasn't even that satisfying and the epilogue was sort of a summary of events rather than a continuation of anything. This is my first Katherine Center book so I'm not going to discount the rest of her backlist entirely but this was a disappointment.