Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC of The Love Haters. This is the first book I have read by Katherine Center and I loved it. The characters are people that I would want to hang out with for a day or more. The story is line will keep you guessing. Definitely, a must-read. Perfect for poolside or the beach.

Katherine Center did it again!!!!! I love this book, setting it in Key West away from the normal Texas locations was a nice surprise that really helped to understand the building change that both characters needed. Katies intense relationship with herself throughout the book was interesting, I enjoyed how Kathrine placed Rue in such a small but mighty roll. Rue stepped in as soon as Katie arrived to Key West to influence her in all the right ways. Hutch was a quite but powerful force in the book, he was the strong silent type that was just the right offset to Katie! I love Katherine Center and this one is another 5 star for me!

I loved the Love Haters! It was such a fun and reflective read. I don’t think of myself as someone who dislikes parts of my body (I have in the past been mean to my body too) but the way Katherine Center wrote about Katie’s story had me reflecting on the way I do treat my body and think of myself. The slow burn of Katie and Hutch story was so worth the wait! I was so mad but also laughing at the antics with Cole. I usually love a fake relationship but she was in one with the wrong brother! The romance had great kisses and while I love a good spicy scene, it didn’t feel lacking without one here. The kisses and the build up was perfect! I do wish we had a scene of Beanie meeting Hutch or her going down to visit the Keys! Maybe a good bonus scene for the future?

Thank you NetGalley & St.Martin's Press for this ARC!
This is the perfect summer RomCom read that sweeps you away to Key West where we meet our cherry cast of characters. Katie the female main character was very relatable for me with her struggle of loving her body image & being comfortable in her own skin. I loved the vulnerability this story touched on. Hutch our male main character is a part of the USCG and I learned so much about just a little of what our coast guard does while reading this. (Brownie Points for a first responder in the romance) This book had me smiling and laughing from cover to cover. I absolutely loved the tone is was written in. It gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings you hope for in a romance read.

Ugh another Katherine Center book that just hits it out of the park.

I loved this book. I really just love everything Katherine writes. The dynamic between Katie and Hutch, chefs kiss!! If you're a veteran KC reader, you'll love this book!

‘The Love Haters’ is a charming, fast-paced summer romance, expected on May 20th!

Katie Vaughn works as a video producer and is assigned to working on a documentary about the US Coast Guard. The catch? Katie can’t swim, and the Coast Guard rescue swimmer that’s being spotlighted is her coworker’s brother.

I really liked both main characters. Katie’s video production job was really interesting, as was the whole coast guard aspect. Tom (nicknamed Hutch) was very charming. I adored Hutch’s dog George Bailey, as well as Rue and the other gals.

I loved the sense of community between the characters and the found family aspect as they navigated grief.

I think it’s important to note that this book heavily focuses on the FMC’s disordered eating and body dysmorphia. I was very surprised that there was absolutely no warning or mention of this in the book’s summary. The content was a lot heavier than I expected at times. I hope this will be changed before the book is published as I think it’s a very important thing to prepare the reader for.

Overall, this was a solid summer romance. The characters, setting, and writing were great and I enjoyed Katie and Hutch’s love story!

I adore @katherinecenter, so when I was given a chance to read The Love Haters early, I RAN! As her books always tend to go, the characters are absolute darlings (especially the side chatacters), and the swoon factor is sky high (or ocean deep?), considering there is no spice. I LOVED IT.

Katie is a love-jaded documentary filmmaker working for a mid-grade production company on the verge of a major layoff. When given the chance to head to Florida to film a moving USCG promo video to save her job, she jumps at the opportunity. Nevermind that she can't swim, or that the man she'll be working with is a stern love hater (according to his brother), or that she'll be pushed completely out of her comfort zone. Full of heart and sweetness and bravery and adventure, The Love Haters is one of my fave books so far this year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌴 Opposites Attract
🌺 Forced Proximity
🌴 Found Family
🌺 Swim Lessons
🌴 Heroism
🌺 Conga Lines

I’m a big fan of Katherine Center, whose heroines are always funny & kind, ordinary people just trying their best in uncertain circumstances. No matter how light the premise, the story always turns out to have a painful emotional core that changes the tenor of the story, and I appreciate that. I liked the characters in The Love Haters quite a bit, especially the crew of scheming, eccentric elderly ladies in Key West. Of her recent novels, I prefer The Rom Commers, which felt much tighter to me in terms of plot and characterization, but I still enjoyed The Love Haters and found it utterly charming.

Katie is a bit of a romantic who has been burned by love in the past, in a very public way when her ex-fiance got famous as a songwriter and social media snark pushed her into being so hard on herself as to develop an eating disorder and really low self-esteem. She's worked her way back to self love and care, and she's got a new job as a video producer too, but company layoffs are looming, and her job depends on taking a gig doing a Coast Guard promotional video in Key West headlined by internet-famous, super hunky, "love hater" Hutch - who also happens to be the semi-estranged brother of her (kinda smarmy?) manager. Thus some convoluted semi-truths and lies are put in place to make this all happen, cue the (expected) problems when sparks fly between her and Hutch... This one leans toward the themes of self love/acceptance and being brave enough to face fears, as well as how community and love from others can contribute toward that journey, enough that sometimes the rom-com took a backseat to it. I liked those portions, and I liked the protagonist and cast of side characters (especially the vibrant old ladies Katie stays with and befriends in Key West), and I rooted for the romance to work out. But then the rather unrealistic feeling scenarios (getting embedded with a Coast Guard crew as a videographer, having to do an underwater flight crash simulator as part of it, and lying about not knowing how to swim to get the gig?) and over-the-top "com" portions (getting knocked into a pool by a giant dog, convoluted reasons for needing to do crazy things to keep this job, etc.) felt a bit much at times, maybe in contrast to the more serious themes. I enjoyed it as a quick escapist read from the depths of winter, but it is not quite as memorable for me personally as other Katherine Center reads. If you're a fan of her books, of not-too-spicy rom-coms, or of romances that center discussions of body positivity/acceptance (a la One to Watch perhaps), check this one out.

Solid and easy read from Katherine Center. Loved the flow of the book, and the descriptions of Key West make me want to book a trip. I also enjoyed reading a little about the Coast Guard and search and rescue operations. My first KC book to rate under 4 stars, but I just didn't love it as I did with her last several books. The characters were okay, but all annoyed me at times when they repeatedly kept making situations worse with dishonesty.

Katie is a videographer who travels to Key West to make a promo video of Hutch, a member of the Coast Guard. Not only can Katie not swim which is a crucial part of filming a CG promo video, but she also has to lie about the fact that her work superior (who is also Hutch's brother) who was chosen by the CG to shoot the video will not be coming. This book also delves into body positivity and grief as both Katie and Hutch work through lifelong trauma.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m pretty sure Katherine Center couldn’t write a book I didn’t like! This is probably going to be one of my favorites! There was amazing character development and swoony romance without being cringy or Hallmarky. This will be the perfect beach or summer read. My only complaint is that it ended and I’m already wanting another one!

This was really sweet, albeit unrealistic. This was a pure rom com and made me want to book a trip to Key West STAT! Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review

This book was such a fun, feel-good read! It’s got everything—laugh-out-loud moments, an adorable giant dog, a swoony love interest, and a great message about self-acceptance.

Katie Vaughn is trying to keep her job, which means heading to Key West to film a piece on Hutch, a grumpy but ridiculously hot Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The problem? She can’t swim. Cue swim lessons, awkward moments, and a whole lot of personal growth. Plus, Hutch’s dog, George Bailey, totally steals the show.

I loved the friendships, the humor, and the sweet, slow-burn romance. Some of the drama at the end felt a little over the top, but overall, this was such a fun, heartwarming read. Perfect for when you need something light and happy!

Thank you so much NetGalley & St. Martin's Press!

As a fan of Katherine Center’s work, I was really excited to receive an arc.

The first half sucked me and I really liked the main character. Katie has plenty of attributes that make her feel like a real human. I also found her career choice interesting and refreshing.

The Love Haters also has a side character that really shines. We love a side character with personality. 👏

However, the second half of the book kind of took a sharp left turn. There were a few plot twists that felt… ridiculous? And yes, it’s a book… ✨ imagination ✨ and ✨ hypotheticals ✨ are key. But it felt a little all over the place. Rushed, really.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick, easy rom com you’ll probably enjoy it equally as much as I did. 📚

So so so good!! I love Katherine Center’s ability to write a cute love story while also touching on sensitive topics and real issues people have.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center:
Synopsis: Katie Vaughn, desperate to keep her job as a video producer , accepts an assignment to profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer
in Key West, while hiding her inability to swim. Hosted by Hutch’s quirky Aunt Rue, Katie navigates body image struggles, slapstick swim lessons, and tension
between Hutch and his brother Cole, who orchestrated the assignment. Amid swim lessons, hurricanes, and stolen kisses, Katie navigates a messy paradise, facing her fears and finding the courage to embrace both truth and love.
Bookish things:
Slow burn ✅
Co-workers to friends to lovers ✅
Cozy ✅
Self-love ✅

My Thoughts: **I updated this to a 5 because I re-read and realized I was just grumpy when I read it the first time.** Katherine Center brings her signature joy and warmth, delivering a story full of humor and memorable secondary characters. The plot beautifully explores themes of healing and self-acceptance, especially through Katie's empowering journey to embrace her body. The vibrant, spirited old ladies add charm, and the lovable Great Dane, George Bailey, truly steals the show. As always, the witty inner monologue and engaging banter between characters bring an entertaining and uplifting energy to the story. Thank you, Katherine Center & Netgalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you, Katherine Center & Netgalley for providing me with an Advanced
Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love Katherine Center! I will confess it took me a bit to get into this newest book, but she handles her characters so well. You’re just right in the story with them. I will say the plot in this one did take me out of the story a bit, but still an enjoyable read.

As a whole, I enjoyed this. Katie is a videographer in DTX (shoutout) who gets sent to Key West to shoot a promotional video for the US Coast Guard - specifically, Hutch, who is a mega-hot super perfect rescue diver. While there, Katie finds self-love, the love of a found family, and....you guessed it....romantic love. Overall a cute, witty, and heartwarming story with a lot of fun and wacky adventures that bring some unrealistic scenarios to an otherwise mildly relatable story.

For the details: One of the main topics in this story was Katie and her view of herself and relationship with her body while dealing with body dysmorphia. It's quite prevalent, and while it is an important conversation, parts of it had me feeling a little uncomfortable with the execution. It sometimes felt a little flippant for the weight of it, and at first had me thinking she was going to find her self worth through a man - which I wasn't a fan of. It ultimately WASN'T that, but I do think it's riding very close to that line. We see how healing is cyclical, but at the same time Katie's healing journey did seem to come in fast waves (no pun intended) at times that made it sound like it was just that easy to get over something so deep. Overall, probably not the worst portrayal of body dysmorphia/self-love, but definitely not the best.

Some things I really liked: Rue and The Gals. Obviously. Rue brings the light-hearted comedic relief energy in such a fun, beachy setting that it makes me wish I could just move to Florida and hang with the local women in their 60s. Hutch and Katie were a bit insta-love, but cute (and it's a relatively short book) so l'll let it slide. I loved the overall vibes and setting of this story, and if it were a song it's definitely "S|**!" by Taylor Swift: from the vibrant colors, to the beachy feel, to the "in a world of boys he's a gentleman". Also really appreciated that this wasn't smutty!! I'm definitely not a smut hater, but lately I've been finding myself wanting less of it and so this not having any explicit scenes was actually a breath of fresh air for me. Sometimes I just want and easy romance without all the dirty details and this delivered that aspect perfectly to me. I could still feel the tension and that was just enough for me.
I would say proceed with caution and without high expections, but it's a fun story to breeze through for the summer season especially if you're by a pool or with a drink in hand!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital
ARC! All thoughts are my own.

I might be the minority here, but I was not impressed by this book. I have heard wonderful things about this author, which is why I was interested in reading this book. It felt like everything was lacking for me, such as the characters and the storyline.

This book is about a love- hate relationship between a guy named Hutch and a woman named Katie. Katie obtains a new job to profile Hutch; who is a coach guard rescue swimmer. Katie’s not that great at swimming and heavily struggles with her body image. Hutch’s Aunt ends up taking them (along with Cole who told her about this job) to a cottage where she gets to learn to swim. The rest of the story gets boring and goes on and on about how she does not like her body image. I usually love these kinds love hate romance books, but this was just not a vibe for me at all. I really tried to get into it and I did finish the book, but it ended up being a disappointment for me. I noticed that there are a lot of positive reviews on this book, so you may want to read it and give it a try.

The release date for The Love Haters book, by Katherine Center is set to be released on May 20, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Haters was yet another 5 star read for me by Katherine Center. I absolutely LOVED the unique journey we go on as Katie and Hutch fall in love. There were so so many parts of this book where I was laughing out loud and could not stop.

*Spoilers!*

The SWET test scene?! "There are so many words you could have used besides diaper." Had me cracking up. The banter between Katie and Hutch had me hooked and I was locked in, I could not stop. I read this in one sitting.

She is his hot fudge sundae and I just thought that was the sweetest thing. I love the relationship that they develop on a deeper level. A friendship above a romantic love to start really. They have chemistry, that much is clear, but they truly get to know each other and they SEE each other more than anyone else. I just cannot get over the fact that he noticed her pie eye almost immediately. SWOON.

Also, why am I suddenly very interested in the coast guard? I am not saying that I want to be stranded in the ocean on a shipwreck to be rescued, but if Hutch was my rescue swimmer, then I wouldn't be too mad about it.

The side character development was done really well in The Love Haters too. There are the characters you LOVE, like Rue, Ginger, Beanie. And then the villains (Cole, cough cough).

This book does have body image, disordered eating and parent loss triggers. I highly recommend reading the Author's Note for some insight into the characters and the background for the story, it really helps you establish the why behind this book.

Definitely give this book a go if you are looking to have some swoon worthy moments and a lot of laughs.