I really didn't expect much from this book after reading the first few pages, but I loved it so much that I finished it in one day. I especially loved the themes of self-acceptance and conquering your fears that were woven throughout the story. The characters were relatable, and the love story was not too over the top. Highly recommend for those who want to get lost in the pages of a good story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy.

This book is everything. Katie’s story made me feel seen. I laughed, I smiled, I cried big tears, and I will 100% be reading it again. Make sure to buy this when it comes out!

4.5 for me.

I read a lot of contemporary romances, often of the romantic comedy or smutty variety, but Katherine Center’s main characters always get me. She has a way of writing characters with relatable issues who find themselves in situations we never hope to be in ourselves. Then we get to watch how they support one another through it.

Her author’s note really sums up what she does so perfectly. “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.
Love stories make us better at love. In all directions. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life.”

This book gave me such hope: hope to overcome personal issues, strategies to solve communication issues in my own relationships and the motivation to keep making little efforts in hopes that they snowball into bigger ones.

I kept trying to cast these characters in my head and can’t wait to discuss with my friends who they would cast once the book is released!

As usual, Katherine Center made me laugh, and cry. I loved this book. The characters are funny and relatable. Except Hut h, because he’s perfect. I also really enjoyed the key west setting, it’s one of my favorite places and a little return trip via this book was a perfect cure for my winter time blues. One of my most favorite things was that I didn’t have to worry too much about George Bailey. I trusted KC to keep him safe and she did. I highly recommend this to fans of Katherine Center, and those who are live haters. Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Another great Katherine Center story! The Love Haters was a fun, wildly funny escape! I love this author’s voice. It is the combination snarky, self-effacing and brutally honest. I feel like her voice matches the one in my head! She puts down on paper what we are all thinking and in this story, the issues surrounding body image and how I see myself rang true I am sure other women will be able to relate as well!

I loved this book so much! It was such a fun quick read. There were so many great characters that I feel in love with, George Bailey was one of my personal favorites. A rescue dog with a big personality. I found Cole to be an Incredible frustrating character, but happy that in the end he made up with his brother. Rue was such a fun loving character who would bend over backwards to help everyone. My only negative thing about the book is that I would have liked to see a little more romance between the main characters, I felt like it was so minimal and I wanted just a little more. Not smut but just more tension and passion between the characters. Thanks for this opportunity. I love all of Katherine’s books!!

I’ve read a number of Katherine Center books and have enjoyed them all, so I was really excited to get this ARC. The previous KC books I’ve read fall into one of two styles: lighthearted and somewhat silly/over-the-top fun rom-coms OR deeper stories. I think The Love Haters is a combination of both styles!

The FMC (Katie) is assigned a work trip to Key West to shadow and film Hutch (a coast guard rescue swimmer) who happens to be her colleague/sorta-boss’ brother/rival. There are a few major issues, though. For one, Katie does not know how to swim, which is kind of critical in that environment. There is a lot riding on this project for everyone involved - Katie’s job is on the line, she has to face her fears and body-image issues, as well as Hutch and his brothers’ strained relationship and complicated history.

I loved all the side characters in this story: Rue & The Gals for taking Katie in and supporting her immediately, Hutch’s giant “puppy,” and Katie’s BFF who is her voice of reason. This book had me giddy, giggling and smiling at the goofy humor and charm that is characteristic of KC’s writing. As someone who is in the mental health field, I loved the psychological themes: exposure therapy principles for conquering fears and the application of Gottman principles to loving oneself (as opposed to applying solely in relationships with others). I loved the author’s note at the end that explained how this book has a theme for enemies-to-lovers applied to oneself (Katie’s healing journey) as well as the themes of love across characters (friends, family, including pets and found family, AND to oneself), and how KC aims to write relatable stories that really pull you in. She certainly had this effect on me, because I couldn’t put this one down.

If you’re a fan of KC’s other books, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Thanks to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press), viaNetGalley, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center has done it again with “The Love Haters,” a heartfelt and witty story about love, healing, and second chances. This book had me laughing, crying, and rooting for the characters from start to finish.

Jo, the fiercely independent protagonist, is determined to live life on her own terms, especially after a string of romantic disasters. Enter Will, her annoyingly charming coworker who seems to delight in challenging her “no-love” stance. Their banter is electric, and watching their relationship evolve from reluctant allies to something much deeper was pure joy.

I loved how Center weaved in themes of vulnerability and self-discovery while keeping the plot lighthearted and engaging. The twist involving Jo’s past and her unexpected bond with Will’s sister added an emotional layer that hit all the right notes.

While some parts of the story were a bit predictable, the chemistry between Jo and Will, paired with Center’s signature humor and heart, made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a romance with depth and charm!

I will never not read a KC book, simply because her voice is SO good. I found this story really humorous, although there were a few epithets and decisions the characters made that caused me to scratch my head. I appreciated the FMCs struggle with body image, and how that was almost as much a focus as her relationship with the MMC.

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is an absolutely amazing book that had me hooked from start to finish! It’s a perfect blend of heartfelt love, just the right amount of drama, and thrilling, action-packed moments that kept me on the edge of my seat.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how accessible and engaging the writing is. Center’s storytelling style makes it such an easy, enjoyable read, perfect for diving into after a long day or curling up with on a weekend. The characters feel incredibly real, and their emotions are so raw and relatable that you can’t help but root for them.

Whether you’re a fan of romance, suspense, or stories with complex, layered characters, The Love Haters has something for everyone. It’s a book that not only entertains but also leaves you thinking about love, forgiveness, and the importance of following your heart. Highly recommend it for your next read!

Katie has been single for a year after her singer fiance cheats on her. She’s about to get laid off from her job and her coworker cole has offered Katie a deal to help her career so of course she takes it. The problem, is that she needs to know how to swim for the work gig she accepted. She has to interview and record Hutch who it turns out is Cole’s brother. They don’t get along so things get messy. Katie goes and stays with Cole and hutch’s aunt while she’s working with hutch. This story is way more than a romance which is common with Katherine center books. Self love is a big part of this book as well as grief and the importance of friendships. I love her books because they address important issues in life while telling a love story. 4.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy.

Katherine Center’s books have been hit-or-miss for me in the past, but this one was an absolute delight. I devoured it in 24 hours.

At its core, it’s a love story between two very different people, but it’s also so much more. It touches on deeper themes like family relationships, friendship, self-worth, body image, anxiety, and trust. There’s a lot of personal growth and self-reflection, but it all feels natural and positive—not heavy or preachy. Katie’s internal monologue was so relatable—earnest, funny, and real—without ever veering into self-indulgent territory.

And Hutch? Loved him. He’s just so insanely likable, and the way his job as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer was written felt so real and well-researched. The supporting cast, especially The Gals, added so much heart, humor, and warmth. These are characters that will stick with me for a while.

Center’s writing style is as snappy and engaging as ever and found myself savoring every sentence (a rarity for this speed-reader!). While at times it started to feel like there was just a bit *too* much happening to our main character, in the end I felt that all the story lines were woven together beautifully.

The chef’s kiss was the author’s note. It was such a lovely ode to storytelling and love stories and reminded me why I adore this genre, even when people can be quick to dismiss it. It was the perfect way to close the book.

I adore Katherine Center's writing and this book was no different.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Key West, this book follows Katie, a mid-level video producer, who’s forced to take a high-stakes job profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer to prove herself and save her job amidst company downsizing. After being cheated on by her ex, who became a famous musician, Katie is left grappling with confidence issues, avoiding anything colorful, revealing, or related to swimming. But to succeed in her new role with Hutch, an idealistic, hardworking, love hater, Katie will have to confront her fears and insecurities head-on.

I loved how Center addresses the pressure women face to conform to unrealistic size expectations and the challenges of dealing with online negativity from people who are intent on bringing you down.

I also loved Katie’s best friend, Beanie, Hutch’s dog, George Bailey, and his aunt, Rue—each of these characters added so much to the story. The one thing I didn’t enjoy was Cole’s character and the web of lies he wove, affecting everyone around him. It felt like a version of a frustrating miscommunication trope that the main characters couldn’t do anything to resolve themselves.

Overall, this story was super fun and I loved the Key West setting as well as the ending of this book. This would be a perfect book to read on a summer vacation.

Katherine Center is by far one of my all time favorite authors. I was beyond thrilled to get an eARC of this book from NetGalley. And it was fine. But here’s the thing, I expect way more than fine from Katherine Center. The two main characters love story seemed very surface level. Overall the story seemed about Katie accepting herself, which took so much of the story. Katie’s internal monologues came across often as immature.The biggest plus of this book was the side characters. I loved Beanie, Rue, and the girls. George Bailey and his quirky personality has me smiling more than once. This was an enjoyable read, just not the hit I was expecting. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC!

The Love Haters was such an enjoyable reading for me! The story is a perfect slow burn, focused more on the plot and characters and not the spice. Side characters are really great, I'm in love with the banter and humor.
I think so far it's the best book of Katherine Center. The story is really touch my heart, I was fond of the topic of struggles with the body of the heroine.

Be sure, this book will make you smile! I highly recommend to everyone.

I have never met a Katherine Center book that I did not love and this was no exception!! The Love Haters is the kind of book where you keep checking the time left in book estimate on your kindle and are filled with dread as you want to live in the story forever :) This story has the classic sweetness & love of a romcom along with the deep & meaningful themes that help you reflect in your own life. Reading this book made me smile to myself like a fool and cry both tears of joy and sadness for the fictional characters but also the everyday realities of what we all face in learning to love & be kind to ourselves before we can do that for those around us! Thankful to netgalley for letting me experience this story pre-release & recommend it to all my reader besties!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy! 4.25 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book!

💜 Likable FMC, Katie, that goes through a huge period of growth.
🧡 Swoon-worthy Coast Guard rescue swimmer MMC, Hutch
💛 Rue… Hutch’s colorful, loving, badass ain’t that takes Katie under her wing.
💚 Big dope of a Great Dane with an affection for frogs

I would’ve loved a little more spice, but the slow burn love story definitely kept my interest regardless. I was laughing out loud at certain scenes (SWET training… haunch tragedy…).

The only things keeping this from being a 5 star for me:
-missed communication/lying to “help” always drives me nuts. I wish that Katie handled that differently.
-Cole sucks. 💩 I wish there was more of a chance to find something more likable about him.
-certain points had the FMC speaking directly to the reader. This felt awkward to me, but I got more comfortable with it as the story went on.

Another Katherine Center novel that’s sweet and quickly devoured, like a cupcake from your favorite bakery. Her books are always fun while tackling a deeper issue (in this case, mostly Katie’s ED and body-image issues). But the most important players to mention are: HUTCH! And GEORGE BAILEY!

When we first meet film producer, Katie, she's at a crossroads of sorts - she just heard rumors of layoffs at her company and in order to save her career, a coworker suggests that filming a newly famous coast guard rescue swimmer just might be her ticket to avoiding termination. Only problem is that the man in question wants nothing to do with adding to the newfound fame her video series might inspire.

Katherine Center has a great way of gathering all of the ingredients needed to build a phenomenal story, but this one was missing something for me. I would have loved a little more backstory buildup with her relationship (coworker friendship??) with Cole and her boss, Sullivan, to really make the conflict toward the end a little more flushed out and believable. I silently raged when Cole stormed in claiming Katie as his fake girlfriend just as she and Hutch were getting close. And for her to just take it in stride?! To gain all of that momentum about herself and her self-worth to just assume Hutch would want to go to Sullivan instead?! In short, I wish she has put herself in his shoes for a moment.

All in all, this story was really a tale of overcoming internal obstacles. Every single character (with the exception of maybe Rue and her girl gang) needed to work through their own challenges of self-confidence and self-acceptance in a way. And while I love when authors choose to tackle real-life topics like these, I think we were given a few too many slices of exercising self-love in the beginning. Which, after reading the author's note at the end of the book that outlined Katherine Center's ultimate goal, I think I would have rather read a short note in the beginning as well to really set the tone for me going into it.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Katherine Center for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center continues her streak of rom-com winners. The Love Haters features Katie, who’s willing to do anything to save her job. Even if it means going from Dallas to Key West to shoot a promo video for the Coast Guard without even knowing how to swim. Which is how she finds herself living in a cozy coastal cottage full of color (Katie prefers beiges, blacks, and grays) surrounded by a slew of colorful older women and one hunk of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch. Described to Katie as a love-hater, Hutch doesn’t quite fit what she was imagining. Center takes readers through a mesmerizing story filled with witty banter and laugh-out-loud situations and introduces them to likable, relatable and heroic characters. Center’s faithful readers will be thrilled with this new release!