LOVE! This romance had forced proximity, coworker’s brother, traveling, and a one bed moment. Katie the filmmaker and Hutch the rescue swimmer could have fallen easily in love, but his brother comes and messes it up for them. The brothers’ backstory and their relation to Rue was heart wrenching. This is an all around great romance with some new tropes that I haven’t seen before. I loved this one and didn’t want to put it down

A nice quick read! It was emotional, hopeful, inspiring and lighthearted! Add a hunky guy, perfect! I was on the edge of my seat at one point!

Immerse yourself in a heartwarming romantic comedy that proves that finding true love begins with self-acceptance.

“Some of [my insecurities] came from just being a girl in a world that is appallingly hard on girls. Do any of us escape unscathed?”

Synopsis

Katie Vaughn is ready to dive into uncharted waters. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, she throws caution to the wind and exaggerates her swimming prowess. Now she is headed to the sun-soaked paradise of Key West, where she’s set to interview the enigmatic Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, the brave Coast Guard rescue swimmer famous for saving adorable pups in peril.

As Katie navigates this vibrant city filled with quirky characters and chaotic family dynamics, she finds herself swept away in a tidal wave of love, laughter, and unexpected shenanigans. Will her hidden truths jeopardize her dreams, or could this adventure lead her to a life-changing revelation?

Join Katie on her journey of self-discovery and romance, where every splash could bring her closer to the love she never knew she was searching for!

My Thoughts

This book! It was not only my first read of the year but also my very first five-star read. It was everything I needed! The way it made me feel seen and understood was nothing short of magical. How does Katherine Center consistently weave this magic?

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5, romance)

This was my first Katherine Center book!! I had a great time while reading it! I’ve heard it’s true Katherine style to have romance with a side of deeper meaning. Both of the main characters are dealing with their own issues that keep them up at night.
The chemistry between Katie & Hutch will give you butterflies! Katie has always struggled with her body image and we get inside her brain of how she deals with it with her bff helps her learn to love herself more. Hutch was a hot golden retriever-cinnamon roll lover boy. He had a heart of gold & does anything for those he loves. 💛

Katie is a video producer who just got asked to take this job in Key West Florida. Her coworker Cole asked her to take his spot filming the rescue Coast Guard promotional video with his brother Hutch. Katie and Cole don’t exactly see eye to eye plus there’s the bigger issue of her not being able to swim so that’s KIND OF A problem. When she arrives in Key West, she meets Cole & Hutch’s eccentric aunt and hunky brother, Hutch who ends up being her swim lesson coach!!

I kept thinking about the movie “The Guardian” which is about rescue swimmers so my husband I watched that when I finished this book. If you’ve seen it you know it’s action packed and nail biting!! 🏊🏽🤿🌊☀️🐚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5)

TW: Eating disorder, online. Bullying

“The shop owner doesn’t believe in mirrors….. She thinks fashion should be more about how you 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 than how you look.”

“Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time.”

“The funny thing about the Internet is that it’s basically a collective hallucination. If you don’t join in, it doesn’t exist. I mean, it 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨… But in another very real way, it doesn’t.”

“We don’t last forever, sweetheart. We are not supposed to. It’s okay. It’s part of it all. I’m good for now, and that’s enough.”

I adore Katherine Center, I’m eventually gonna read everything she’s written.

My fav book by KC is The Bodyguard, it’s not often that I literally laugh out loud when I’m reading but I totally did.

Now back to 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 (which is a close 2nd to my fav KC book)! No surprise here I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. The relationships made felt so authentic to me and the characters were so likable except for that one. IYKYK.

This one has…

👙Fake dating
🛟Loss of a parent
👙Complex family relationships
🛟Chronic illness
👙Out of touch boss
🛟Personal growth
👙Steamy swoonworthy moments
🛟Annoying brother

The MCs 1st kiss felt so authentic, like a genuinely IRL moment. Beanie was such a good bestie. I loved that Katie and Beanie were always checking in and that Beanie encouraged Katie to get out of her comfort zone so she could grow.

I loved that Rue’s fav flowers were daisies as they were my mom mom’s fav. It always makes me smile hearing people mention daisies.

While I was reading this I felt like I was so in the moment throughout the whole journey with KC’s characters. I loved it.

This is a fun romance that gives you everything romance lovers want without the cheesiness…and with a pinch of spice.

Overall, this was an enjoyable summer rom-com. There were definitely some silly moments that had me chuckling throughout, but it also tackled deeper topics like body positivity. I enjoyed the setting of filming a video for the Coast Guard and really liked Rue as a side character, as well as the Great Dane, George Bailey.

However, there were a few things I didn’t love, such as the messy drama between the brothers and the job conflict. I also felt that the romance leaned a bit too heavily into “insta-love.” Despite that, it was still a solid read.

Another thing to mention is that I always appreciate Katherine Center’s author notes defending romance stories, and this one was no different! Here’s a quote from the Author’s Note that stood out to me: “The best love stories are never just about romantic love. They’re always about so much more than that: kindness, and joy, and belonging, and safety—not to mention growing, and changing, and healing from the past. They are always master classes on how we find the best in each other—and, by extension, ourselves.”

Rating: 3.5⭐️

The Love Haters is fun, heartfelt, and full of the witty banter and charming romance that make Katherine Center books so enjoyable. I loved watching Katie’s journey unfold—not just her love story but also the way she learns to love herself.

That being said, I felt like her insecurities were brought up a little too much. So many of us can relate to struggling with self-doubt, and I appreciated that part of her story, but after a while, it started to feel repetitive. I found myself wanting to see more of her growth rather than being reminded of her self-criticism over and over.

Still, this was an enjoyable read, and I finished it with that classic Katherine Center feeling—happy, hopeful, and satisfied. If you’re a fan of her books, or just love a lighthearted romance with some depth, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Overall, this book was lighthearted, fun, and perfect for the summer! While this wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book, I still enjoyed aspects of it. My rating falls on the lower side because I didn’t fully connect to the story or characters. I also found that the relationship development was lacking, both romantically and platonically. There was really nothing to make me believe that they truly loved each other, which made their overall relationship fall flat for me. Despite the lack of romance, it was still a fun and fast-paced read. It was a classic KC-style book — a lighthearted, witty romcom that touches on deeper topics, which in this case, was body positivity. I loved the message, and the overall story was refreshing and, like always, entertaining. I would definitely recommend it if you want something quick and cute for the summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Katie is sent down to The Keys by her coworker, Carter, to shoot a promo commercial for the Coast Guard all the while it was actually Carter who was requested. Carter asked Katie to replace him as it was a personal project to them leaving Katie to discover herself involved in some crazy family dynamics. Carter explained to Katie that Hutch would be the main point of contact/interviewee and that he was your typical keep to yourself, quiet, always frowning fun hater. When Katie arrived at The Keys it was clear Carter seemed to be wrong about Hutch and Katie enjoyed the time she spent while unraveling who Hutch really is. I enjoyed that it wasn't your typical job assignments in romance novels and enjoyed learning more how the Coast Guard operates. I also loved that Hutch wasn't described as a complex rollercoaster and stayed consistent throughout the book, and of course the dynamic that Rue and The Gals add to the story.

I have not always been the most invested in Katherine Center's books, I'm not sure why and I still always pick them up because of the hype. I think maybe just because the plots have been fairly mellow in the past and not always the most thrill seeking? I will say this book made me more of a fan and I really enjoyed Katherine Center's ability to write a romance without the cringe smut and loved the development she made of all the characters in this book. I will definitely be picking up her next one!

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This is my first time reading this author, but I will look into her other work now. This was a fun, quick paced story. In the beginning the self-consciousness and self body shaming was almost too much for me, but I pushed on and glad I did. I enjoyed the story, Rue and The Gals, along with George Bailey the toad hoarding dog. I did feel that Katie not knowing about the incoming hurricane is a bit unrealistic. Now I'm in MN and have never been to Florida but I do feel that there would have been alerts and warnings going out that it wouldn't have mattered she deleted social media.. plus Rue absolutely would have said something to her..? I kept waiting for the famous ex fiance to show up as the wrench in the story, I think I'd have preferred that to the long brother.

Overall tho, I did enjoy the story and give it a solid 3.75 stars

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors. I loved this book so much and it left me with “all the feels”.

thank you thank you thank you katherine center and st martins press & net galley for this arc it was EXACTLY what i needed right now! i adore a good beach read romance as much as the next person, but the added depth in this with katie's internal struggles and all the characters having real problems to conquer alongside the fun? chefs kiss! 4.5/5 stars

This book was so so so good. I feel like I always have this reaction after reading a Katherine Center book. I feel like I am a friend within the book, witnessing everything first hand. The banter was perfection as ALWAYS, engaging and funny. And Katherine absolutely knows how to weave well known struggles such as body image issues, grief, and guilt seamlessly into her stories. Honestly, how can you not love writing like this: "You have something they don't-many things they don't....I can't figure out what it is, but it's something about the way you laugh, or maybe the curve of your neck...it's just a fact. It's a reality....you're like a human hot-fudge sundae or something".

Katie is on the verge of losing her job, not due to anything she has done. The owner of her video production company is kind of having a breakdown post breakup and is on a firing spree. Her direct boss, Cole, decides he will help her keep her job. All she has to do is go film a Coast Guard swimmer, Hutch, who recently went viral for saving a celeb's dog. Katie also went viral due to a rockstar ex, and there is so much unpacking to do with that one as well! There is an air of mystery to the assignment as Cole is being vague, but she quickly accepts the job, She will have to film while in the water, and she can't swim nor will she even be caught dead in a bathing suit. Oh, and Hutch is a certified love hating grump.....what could go wrong?!

From the moment Hutch and Katie meet, there is a spark, but they both have secrets to hide; hers about her job, and his about his past. They are also both dealing with a lot of trauma from their childhood (no spoilers here!). If they can just let their guard down with each other, they might actually be a perfect match. And let's not forget about the adorable and GIANT dog of Hutch's that quickly claims Katie as his. There are so many giggles when it comes to that sweet dog. There is also a daring rescue, which somehow also has giggles involved, and a disastrous dinner with unexpected guests.

I love how Katie has friends who have her back, who force her to see the good in herself, to include adding an item to an ongoing "what I love about me" list. Then there is a gaggle of sweet old ladies who meddle in everything in the best possible way. This book made me feel like I was wrapped up in a warm blanket, the coziest I have ever been. I loved everything about this book and absolutely love Katherine Center and her phenomenal writing. Exquisite!

The Love Haters is definitely a fun, quick read, but one that requires the suspension of plausibility. The situations that Katie finds herself in are absolutely ridiculous and the immaturity of a few of the characters can be frustrating. Don't get me wrong - I flew through the story and think its the perfect beach read. I thoroughly enjoyed the meet cute between Katie and Hutch, their instant chemistry, and the dynamics between them. I loved Rue (Hutch's adopted aunt) and George Bailey (the sweetest, goofiest dog) and they added so much charm. Pick this one up if you are ready for drama, twists, misunderstandings, and some crazy weather.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center follows Katie, a young woman with a career in video producing. Her life is at an all time low right now, her ex-fiance cheated on her after becoming a famous musician, the internet bullied her into developing serious body images, and now her new job is down sizing and she's on the chopping block. Her superior, Cole, comes to her with a major opportunity to save her job, to go film Tom 'Hutch' Hutcheson, a US Coast Guard famous for rescuing Jennifer Aniston's dog . She immediately agrees, knowing this is her last chance to save her job and secretly hopes she can get him to agree to take part in her own mini series "A Day in the Life" where she films heroes for 24 hours. Only two main problems with this assignment. She doesn't know how to swim (a requirement for this job) and Hutch is notoriously known for been broody and closed off. Oh, and he's Cole's brother.

Katherine Center does is again. Providing an enjoyable rom-com with such unique main characters. The fact that Hutch has a career in the USCG was very refreshing, as something like that is not commonly seen in this genre. Center does a fantastic job introducing all of her characters to us, giving them each an important role in the main character's lives. From the best friend, to the aunt, even to the dog! I was impressed, normally character's are introduced as filler and never brought up again, which I don't enjoy. Normally with these kinds of stories, I can guess the plot from the beginning. With this, I couldn't. I was expecting the ex to come back into the story after he released the song about Katie. Alas, it was not him, but Cole who came in for that twist. Cole did everything he cold to spite his own brother and threw Katie in the deep in with a bit of blackmail to not lose her job and share secrets that weren't hers. Hutch was definitely everything Cole said he was, attractive and kind hearted. He is a dream as the love interest and someone Katie deserves.

The pacing was quick, but it was easy to following along. The only scene I did not enjoy was the hurricane. Knowing Katie can't swim and then trapping her on a boat that undocks and ends up in the middle of the sea felt too cliche. So much time was spent describing her time on the boat and not knowing where she was, which is important but felt unnecessary. There were some grammatical errors throughout the ARC, which is to be expected as it's being reviewed but nothing big enough to take away from the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who want a rom-com or quick read.

All in all a solid Katherine center performance !! Loved the emphasis on self love, I did however not feel as infatuated with hutch as I wanted to be.

I couldn't put this book down. It may be my favorite Katherine Center book so far.

I really enjoyed the journey the FMC took in self-love. I couldn't help but look for some of that in myself.

The found family was fabulous. The dog was a wonderful dynamic to the story. The suspense was unexpected for a rom-com. The MMC was dreamy.

I completely recommend The Love Haters for a fast paced, fun and easy read.

In a word - devoured. Was obsessed with Katie. Loved the concept. Hutch was perfect. My one critique is I do think we montage-d through the actually falling in love, infatuation process and skipped straight into love, but other than that, perfect.

I've read a few of Catherine Centers books, so far this is my least favorite.

I think the story pretty much lacked the romance aspect, there was not much development in the relationship. The tension was missing, the humor that is usually present in her books was also almost non existent.

I'm very upset, I wanted to love this as much as her other books.

3.5 ⭐️ A perfect beach read! I absolutely flew through this and loved the Key West FL setting. The unique romantic scenario kept me interested, and I had a great time with the humor and character growth, especially with the self-love part.

That said, the miscommunication and lies involving the brother didn’t sit well with me, and the ending felt underwhelming. I was hoping for more passion or emotional depth in the romance, but it just didn’t quite land. The book started off strong, but I wish it had wrapped up in a more satisfying way.

Still, an enjoyable read overall, I always love a Katherine Center book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.