Many thanks for the earc
I really enjoy Katherine Center’s novels and was super excited to read this one! I loved the concept and the MCs, Katie and Hutch, but definitely felt that the book could have used some TWs (it may in the finished copy) and the ending felt unnecessary with the frustrating lies from the MMC and his brother. Definitely a fun and banter filled novel nonetheless, with an endearing rescue pup, that definitely stole the show!

The Love Haters is a fun book that reads like the female protagonist is talking directly to you. I really enjoyed that. The book is funny and insanely relatable as far as Katie’s personality goes.

Katie is trying to save her job by filling in for her boss, Cole, in putting together a promotional video for the Coast Guard—while working with Cole’s brother. We have side characters like Rue and Beanie who add to the entertainment.

I also struggle with how I feel in certain clothing, and I like to blend. Katie being so self conscious about herself spoke to my insecurities. I love when a book makes me think about how I can better myself.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

How does she keep delivering such adorable rom-coms featuring characters with such a wide range of professions? Are the moments between Katie and Hutch over-the-top and cheesy more often than not? Absolutely—but that’s exactly what makes it so fun. I enjoy a good cheesy rom-com, and this one delivered all the feel-good vibes I was hoping for.

I don’t always need heavy, real-life drama in my reads, and for a light, breezy beach read, this was spot on. That said, as with the author’s previous books, I’m still not the biggest fan of the female characters. But overall, the story is sweet, light-hearted, and charming—perfect when you're in the mood for something fun and easy.

Katherine Center weaves a great story and, as always, this one does not disappoint. A fun look into Coast Guard and fame, this book was a quick and happy read. I loved the characters, especially the secondary ones like Aunt Rue. This will have you laughing and wanting to run out to adopt an overlarge puppy!

Katherine Center is my comfort author. The Love Haters did not disappoint. Katie and hutch will live in my head for a while. I absolutely ate this up. Something about a coastguard rescue really gets me going. As a native Floridian, I really liked the hurricane scene. I can’t imagine being out there in the open ocean. Wild.

Anyway. I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for a digital advanced readers copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted.

Katherine Center is one of my must-read authors, and her latest novel is another feel-good 5-star winner! It was laugh-out-loud funny as well as poignant, romantic, with an edge-of-your-seat climax and three-dimensional characters who change for the better by the end of the novel.

This is the perfect beach read – but I urge you to read it no matter what time of year. As the book’s blurb says: “Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue – along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.”

I agree with author Katherine Center: “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.”

You’ll love the Love Haters - I highly recommend!

I am such a fan of katherine center! I loved this book it really got me in the mood for the summer. The plot was enjoyable, I loved the characters, and I would definitely recommend this! The perfect beach read.

I have loved all the KC books I’ve read up until this point but something in this one just didn’t work for me personally.

I felt that the body image issues were really forced & overdone. I appreciate the ability to weave sensitive topics into the story but it felt a little too much involved in driving the plot.

I thought the pacing & romance was very well done! I loved Hutch & the ending scenes were some of my favorites of the book!

Katie Vaughn is a relatable, lovable heroine whose journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance is as inspiring as it is entertaining. From the moment she steps out of her comfort zone and into the sun-drenched world of Key West (despite not being able to swim), I was hooked. Her chemistry with Hutch, the swoon-worthy Coast Guard rescue swimmer, is undeniable—but what makes this story shine is the emotional depth behind their romance.

🌴💘 Just finished The Love Haters by Katherine Center and I am officially declaring myself a lifelong member of the Katherine Center Fan Club. If she writes it, I’m reading it. No questions asked. This Author has this rare ability to craft stories that are funny, romantic, and full of heart, while also digging into deeper emotional truths. She calls her books “deep rom-coms,” and that description couldn’t be more spot-on.

Our main character Katie Vaughn, a video producer trying to save her career after getting publicly body-shamed online. She ends up in Key West on a job she’s definitely not qualified for interviewing a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch, who also happens to be her coworker’s estranged brother. One small problem: she can’t swim. But she lies and says she can. And from there, everything unravels in the most delightful way. Between swim lessons, drinking contests, tropical storms, and stolen kisses, Katie finds herself not just trying to survive a work assignment, but also confronting old fears and learning to be braver than she ever thought she could be.

What really surprised me was how much this book made me feel and that’s due to the way she writes her Characters. Katie’s struggles with body image and self-worth hit so close to home. The way she navigates her fears not just with swimming, but of being truly seen—was beautifully written. And then there’s Hutch who is quiet, steady, emotionally complex Hutch, who might be one of my favorite love interests I’ve read in a while. He can save me any day from a Tropical Storm 😍

We also can’t forget the star of the show—George Bailey, the rescue dog with a fear of thunderstorms who absolutely stole my heart. 💖 What made him even more special is that he was based on Katherine Center’s real-life dog who has since passed away. It’s so sweet that he gets to live on through one of her books. 🐕

The Love Haters is the kind of book that leaves you smiling, but also thinking. It’s about love, yes but also courage, vulnerability, forgiveness, and what it means to truly show up for yourself. If you love your rom-coms with a bit of depth, a tropical backdrop, and a rescue dog with a tragic backstory, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Let me just say I really wanted to enjoy this book but the story line didn’t let me. This isn’t my first Katherine Center book either thankfully because if I read this first I would never read her other work.

This is labeled as a rom-com but nothing was romantic nor funny. The romance plot picks up a bit but then is ruined by the “problem” of the story.

Let me just say the problem wasn’t needed to keep me interested. I hated that as soon as Katie and Hutch started getting somewhere romantically she is suddenly fake dating his brother Cole who hates Hutch over the stupidest thing. Cole hates Hutch for saving his life when they were kids. No offense bud but I’d be pretty happy and grateful if someone did that for me. Not only does Cole lie about dating Katie; KATIE AGREES TO LIE FOR THE SAKE OF HER JOB. She is told she will be fired for lying even though she strongly dislikes the whole situation.

When the truth is told to Hutch that Katie isn’t dating Cole and the reason Cole has been competing (can’t call it that when the other person isn’t competing) with Hutch his whole life, Katie’s first thought is why didn’t he come to bang me now that he knows I’m single. Like Katie let’s consider all the events that just happened. Hutch’s first concern isn’t to bang you after all the trauma dumping Cole just did.

Then we add another problem of a hurricane. Within the last 25% of the book might I add. A category 2 hurricane hitting the keys and of course Katie goes back to save Hutch’s dog George Bailey (I mean at least this is good of her). Hutch lives in a house boat and she returns to an area that is supposed to be evacuating. She gets lost at sea and then Hutch saves her. I would like to say this problem was fine to have in the book and it should have only been this one!!! The Cole problem didn’t need to happen.

Also this book could be a huge trigger for someone recovering from an ED because the main character struggles with an ED and body dysmorphia.

This book I gave 1.5 ⭐️ mainly for Hutch, George Bailey, and some parts of the actual story. This just didn’t hit after reading her book The Rom-Commers.

Katherine Center always delivers a hilarious, sweet, and very cooky read. Her characters are definitely quirky, which sometimes takes some getting used to, as well as the way she breaks the 4th wall. But the humor is always a perfect palate cleanser and the careers of her characters are always fun and unique. Definitely perfect Spring/Summer reading.

Thank you to Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Stayed up past my bedtime to finish this one and Hutch is definitely Glen Powell right? Like I pictured him the ENTIRE time on the helicopter cause of that scene in Anyone But You. Yeah no, I think it’s 5 stars because of Glen Powell. I love Katherine Center and I’ll read all of her books. I wanna fall in love with a coast guard swimmer and move to key west and manage a little bnb on the beach with my rescue dog, ARE YOU KIDDING ME

The Love Haters was a rom-com lovers dream with sunshine and an island. It had two people that were both carrying a lot of baggage and was written with this authors signature humor.

I loved the deeper themes, grief, self image, and the struggle of showing up fully in your own life. I love that Katherine Center’s books aren’t just rom-coms and always have deeper themes. There was a bit too much focus on Katie’s body image and I think it’s important to say that a woman doesn’t need a man to feel beautiful.

If you’re in the mood for a rom-com, this one’s for you!

A cute summer romance! It was an enjoyable read, but just didn't hit as hard as Katherine's previous books.

This is my second book by Katherine Center and she is fast becoming a new favorite of mine. I had been in a reading slump for months, but this book kicked me out of that and I absolutely devoured it!

Her books are light and fun, but full of characters with so much heart. I could tell from the first chapter I was going to love this one, and I was right. Could not recommend this one enough for anyone looking for the perfect romance to read on the beach this summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
1.5 stars. This one was rough... This story was ultimately very frustrating and a bit uncomfortable. This was not my first KC, and I had gone into this based on the description, her previous work, and the cover, expecting a fun, lovely romcom. Instead, this book was HEAVY more often than not. To start, there is a great deal of discussion about eating disorders and body image, and I'm not sure that everyone picking this up will grasp the sheer volume of it within this. The first half is highly focused on that, and it was very difficult to be within the FMC's (Katie) head. It is the majority of her personality and it is graphic. I see what KC was attempting, but it almost felt like Katie wasn't always against it which felt unpleasant and it was handled oddly. I was shocked that there were no trigger warnings at the start of the book (unsure if this was added with the final publication). This story had some odd pacing, and I felt like the conflicts were stacked on top of each other, and resolved super quick. I questioned where we were going a handful of times.
The pacing of the relationship between the FMC and MMC (Hutch) felt like it was moving towards a breakthrough, and then truly one of the most infuriating conflicts I've ever read happened. It absolutely angered me. The side character who appears ended up being rude, sleazy, and unhinged and treats Katie & Hutch terribly. I am fine with a villain, but this felt like they were immediately forgiven for some truly insane and lifelong actions. That completely threw away any chemistry between the MCs and we spent so much time with them minimally interacting. I really don't think it was an effective vehicle for any relationship growth. We get a reveal of another life event centered on grief, but it felt so sudden and then we resolved it unrealistically fast. Katie's thoughts and actions during this plot line also felt very selfish and lacked agency, and she came off juvenile. Hutch dealt with the craziness that occurred far better than I would have.
There is another conflict and climax to the story near the end, but by then I didn't feel invested in the MCs connection. I would have preferred if the side conflict from before hadn't happened and maybe we saw some more romance and interaction before this "big ending". A lot of the FMC's inner thoughts about the MMC were physical appearance focused and I wanted her to go further.
I loved Rue and the Gals. Rue felt like a person I could visualize and she added levity. I also loved George Bailey the Great Dane of course. I liked Hutch, but I'm not sure I could describe him with depth.
Lastly, I'll say that the setting of this was beautifully described, and I enjoyed that Katie got to a place of accepting her body, with the help of her friend and the MMC. I am glad that Hutch let go of the guilt he was carrying as well. All in all, this one had a mixed bag of characters, and was a miss for me.

I am a lover of Katherine Center books and this one did not disappoint! It was super cute and I really loved the main characters, as well as the side characters, dog included. The setting was so cute, quirky and enjoyable for me. The idea that you can be an enemy-to-lover with your own self was really well thought out and well written in this story in my opinion and I ended up appreciating that aspect of the story more than I’d thought.

💛Video journalist x Coast guard rescue swimmer
🩷Key West setting
💛Grumpy x Sunshine
🩷Found family
💛Body positivity

Love Haters by Katherine Center is a heartwarming, witty exploration of love, self-discovery and the power of friendship.

I enjoyed this beautiful story, it is an emotional and uplifting journey of healing, self-acceptance and ultimately love.

Thank you Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely voluntary and my own.

I really liked the concept of this book and thought the pacing was great. The standout characters were definitely Aunt Rue and the “Gals.” They brought so much fun and humor to the story & I honestly could’ve read an entire book just about them!

That said, I was genuinely disappointed by the lack of a trigger warning for the body image themes early on. There was a lot of focus on body size and appearance that felt excessive and, at times, uncomfortable. I was extremely close to DNFing because of it. While that commentary tapered off a bit as the story progressed—and I did want to see how things ended—I think readers deserve a heads-up going in.

The ending was borderline chaos with how rushed it was, but I’m glad I finished it.