I love Katherine Center’s novels but this one was not my favorite . As usual there were fun and quirky characters and funny moments but there was something lacking. Still enjoyable though.

Five glorious starts. Sweet, funny, thought-provoking, and a story you fall in love with. Imperfect characters learning along the way. My favorite Katherine Center book!

This was my first Katherine Center book and I was so excited to dive right in. However, I quickly realized that these characters were not speaking to me and neither was the setup. The introduction chapters felt disjointed and unbelievable. When I finally did figure out the layout, characters and general plot idea, I was still not interested in how the story was written. I got about 25% through before realizing that I wasn’t able to keep pushing on. It doesn’t feel right giving this book 1 star because I didn’t feel connected to the characters. I think this will have its audience, it just wasn’t me.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center was so fun and I am glad I got the opportunity to read an early copy of the book. I flew through the book and found both main characters enjoyable with very believable emotional journeys.

This story centers around Katie, a video producer,, and Hutch, a Coast Guard Rescue swimmer, as she films a promotional video in the Florida Keys. While on location Katie stays in a senior community run by Hutch’s Aunt Rue, who becomes a fairy godmother of sorts to Katie.

While this story was not a deep as come of Center’s past books, but does still touch on serious issues (such as Katie’s body image issues). These aspects were handled with care and read as very genuine. Amidst all of this there are very lighthearted and comedic moments - especially from Rue and her crew. (If there is criticism it is that I wanted more of Rue!). The only things that prevented this book from being a true 5 star read were the unnecessary drama near the end and the misnomer of a title. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable read and I would recommend this book

Katherine Center is someone I love to read when the world is ending (perfect timing, Katherine).

The Love Haters is fun, cozy, a little unbelievable (in a good way), and makes me laugh out loud. It delivered just what I needed in this feel-good, light rom com.

I loved Katie and her layered backstory. I kept rooting for Cole because I'm a softie. I had the nerdy hots for Hutch (damn Katherine and her closed-door romances!) And Rue and George Bailey were two of my all-time favorite side characters.

I don't mind when books are predictable, but this one rolled me at least twice. The Love Haters kept me on my toes, and I even gasped a couple of times. Just when I think I have something (or someone) figured out, I discover Katherine has a few more aha moments to deliver.

This one was a finish-at-2 a.m. book because I didn't want to put it down (just in case the world did end).

To recap, The Love Haters delivers:
-laughter that could be snorts
-tears (fair warning)
-slow-burn romance
-a sudden desire to drop everything and move to Key West
-a self-diagnosis of chromophobia (hello, that's me)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || THE LOVE HATERS [thank you to St. Martin’s Press and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Katie Vaughn’s love life is a disaster, and her career isn’t far behind. With a layoff looming, she takes a last-ditch assignment: profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson in Key West. The problem? She can’t swim—a fact she may have conveniently left out.

Complicating things further, Hutch is her coworker Cole’s estranged brother, and their family drama is just as choppy as the waters Katie’s pretending to navigate. Between swim lessons, hurricanes, and a few stolen kisses, Katie’s biggest challenge isn’t just keeping up the lie—it’s figuring out if she’s brave enough to risk her heart again.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Okay, now, I’m giving it three stars but with these caveats: I still read it in about a day & I was still cackling and highlighting passages I loved. It may not have been my favorite book, but it was still an enjoyable read!

Center rarely misses, after all.

In my opinion, this romance happens very quickly and mostly off the page. You get summaries and recaps of time they’ve spent together and things they’ve discussed, but you don’t actually get to see most of their bonding (just some swooning and flirting). And I’m very much a show me when it comes to romance novels.

If anything, this is a love story between Katie and herself. Throughout the novel she is forced to think about parts of herself that she loves and to accept her body and her personality as is - rather than wishing it was something she could change. And I think we could all use reminders in that area from time to time.

READ THE AUTHOR’S NOTE. It’s another winner from Center on the importance of romance novels - and it might be my favorite part of the book.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Found Family
Meddlesome Senior Citizens
Fake Dating?
A lot of heart & humor
Giant Dogs

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.06 ⭐️
# of Pages: 320
Pub Date: May 20, 2025

Such a great story, between the grumpy, misunderstood MMC, the Loving adopted aunt who loves colorful clothing, the found family, to the girl who just learns to love herself and see herself through different (pie colored) eyes. I love a grumpy mmc, but the love story between the fmc and herself was a beautiful addition to this story. So much truth between these pages. Love stories truly can heal the world.

Cute, funny, easy read! Katie kind of annoyed me for part of the book (shut up and just wear the bathing suit!) but then I got over it. I loved the characters (dog included) and setting. I feel like I need a trip to the keys now!

Another win from Katherine Center. I loved this book and breezed through it! The characters, the setting, the story… you felt like you were there, but it also felt like a movie with a Hollywood ending. This is a fast paced chicklit book with no unnecessary fluff (something I especially like about the author’s books). Relatable main character, laugh out loud. Everyone needs a Rue in their life.

I really enjoyed this book!!!! I thought the romance was sweet, and loved the characters (especially Rue!) Some of the body image talk got a little frustrating to me, but I understand that is how some people feel all the time. Overall I thought it was well thought out, and didn’t follow the flow of a typical romance story!!

Katherine's newest release is so uniquely her! If you're a longtime reader, you will be able to hop right into the story and appreciate each detail of Katie's narrative. If you're a first-time reader, you can appreciate the brilliant mix of romance and women's fiction displayed here. More than any other book I've read by Center, I do believe The Love Haters read more of the latter. I thought the plot of a professional rescue swimmer and a filmmaker falling in love was super unique and well done! If I have any complaints, it is that some of the love confessions felt rushed through. I wish Hatch and Katie had had more "on-screen" time together, more dialogue moments, and more intimate conversations before Hatch confessed that he wanted to be around her more. Brilliant! 4/5 stars!

Katherine Center has done it again! I adored this book. I went through all the emotions; love, passion, drama, laughing, and tears. I identified with the FMC's body image issues and color-phobia. I fell in love with both MC's and I wish I could have a sequel. I need more George Bailey (MMC's pet dog)!

Thank you SO MUCH to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoy Katherine Center as an author, and I typically enjoy her character development and stories, however this one was tough for me. The main character struggles with body image and it seemed to come up quite often, overdoing the point for me. I had a hard time really falling for the love story between Katie and Hutch and at times I was annoyed with the two of them for each thinking "they werent good enough for someone to love them".

I enjoyed the setting in Key West, the things I learned about the Coast Guard and there is a supporting character I really loved -- Rue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

To preface - I LOVE KATHERINE CENTER. Truly, her books are go-tos whenever I want to feel happy or need a read I know I'll enjoy. I've read almost everything she has written, so I jumped at the chance to read an arc of The Love Haters (thank you Netgalley!).
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There are many parts of this book that I really enjoyed. The playful banter, the dreamy Key West setting, the idea that loving yourself is the most important thing you can do, etc. 10/10 on those fronts!
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However, the plot seemed to be a little all over the place and also quite contrived. The motivations of the characters felt lackluster, and it wasn't super evident what the main rise of the plot was - it just felt really scattered when it probably didn't need to be.
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This wasn't my favorite Center, but if you're a fan, I still think you can find some enjoyment in this little story.

First thank you so much NetGalley for a copy of this book. I really enjoy this one a lot. You're able to build such connection to the main character so quickly and follow her journey through love and self-love. The quotes in this book are amazing and honestly so relatable. Definitely recommend as a fun summer read for sure!

“The kind of video calls where you chat driving to work with your phone in the cupholder, and then home again with your phone on the passenger seat. Then, at home, you set it in the basket while you do laundry, and balance it on a bunch of bananas in the fruit bowl while you make dinner, and prop it on the sink ledge while you take a shower. the kind of video calls you do with genuine loved ones, where no one’s even trying to look good—and you’re mostly seeing the ceiling fan, or the inside of a pocket, or part of a nostril"

Overall I would rate this a 3.75/5

I've read so many of Katherine Center's books, that any time I see she has a new one coming it is an automatic 'add' to my TBR. And The Love Haters was no exception! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The main character in this book has a personality that I think a lot of women will see themselves in - second guessing her decisions, having to work extra hard to make it at work while the men above her slide by, and not loving her body. She's also sarcastic and funny, not to mention resourceful. My favorite characters in this book though, were Rue (the effervescent auntie / airbnb host) and George Bailey (the giant but scaredy cat dog). They were both key secondary characters that really made the story come alive.

There were a few things in this book that weren't my taste - primarily the need to suspend reality for some of the events that occurred, and the lying and deceit, but I might be an outlier there. I also wanted there to be more romance. Overall, I think this will be an enjoyable summer read for many - especially those reading poolside in Florida!

3.5 stars - rounded down.

Thank you Net Galley and St Martins press for an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me, around 60%. I was not connecting with the characters or story lines at all. There were some cute and funny moments but it mostly just felt like a series of weird and awkward scenes.

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

This was a 4.25 star read for me!!

I devour anything that Katherine Centers writes. I am not sure what kind of magic she puts in her books, but I am here for it. The deeper meaning in all of her books is truly inspiring and I always feel like she is speaking right to me. We all need to love ourselves more and learn to show ourselves some compassion. In the author's note, Katherine Center says, " Trust me, and trust yourself: Love stories are the best kind of therapy. They aren't shallow, they're deep. Start looking, and you'll see it too". I could not agree with this more; the magic that is in her books really makes me stop and reflect inwardly. I always feel so uplifted after reading one of her stories. Her storytelling is exceptional and I will read anything and everything she publishes!

Katie and Hutch's story had me swooning and giggling and falling in love. I loved reading about the coast guard and the rescue swimmers and what a stand-up swoony hero Hutch is. Add in a sprinkle of some hilariously awkward moments, some white lies gone wrong, George Bailey, and a natural disaster, and you have a story that I devoured in less than 24 hours. I could not put this down!

The side characters in this book were the absolute best, I want to be adopted by The Gals!

I strongly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with body insecurity and self-love. Add in found family, slow burn romance, forced proximity, and one of the best book boyfriends I have ever read, you are definitely going to want to read this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #thelovehaters #NetGalley.

Every time I read a Katherine Center book I say this is my favorite book but then somehow she writes a new book and it tops the last book. The Love Haters is officially my new favorite book! It is such a cute, funny and engaging story. I didn’t want to put it down! I absolutely love Katherine Center’s writing style. The characters in this book were so easy to love! This is a must read!!

TikTok review coming March 31

I absolutely loved this book! I had every emotion for these characters and literally laughed out loud.