After several weeks of anticipation, my request to read The Love Haters was finally accepted. I had devoured Katherine Center’s The Rom-Commers so quickly that I was sure I would do the same with this novel. Indeed, it felt fresh and the writing style sucked me in to the point at which I almost felt as though I were at the beach. However, something was missing that was not from Center’s previous works. Perhaps Katie’s self discovery seemed a bit too convenient and the manner in which she came to her conclusions lacked true conflict and growth. Perhaps the character herself was just not as endearing as Center’s other protagonists. Therefore, while I was engrossed, I didn’t feel as emotionally connected, nor invested, as I wanted to be. Hutch too was the ideal love interest, but he didn’t elicit the same reaction as I normally would have had. Hopefully, Center’s next project will remedy the problem. Or, perhaps The Rom-Commers is just that good.

I don’t know where to begin! Hutch, our MMC, might be one of the swooniest book boyfriends to be written! Throughout the story I couldn’t find a single red flag, the man is truly perfect! What I didn’t expect was for this to also be a story of self love and self appreciation! The FMC deals with long-held body issues throughout the story, but tackles them in a way that challenges the readers own views of themselves! All in all it is a fun, tropical read that will be perfect for the summer!

One complaint was that I would have liked a bit more of a wrap-up for the main couple in the epilogue. The ending felt rushed and I would have appreciated a bit more time to see how things unfolded for the couple! I also struggled with the whole fake dating situation with Hutch’s brother. It just felt very sudden. There needed to be a full conversation between Katie and Hutch after everything was said and done!

Other than that, the story was very well written and will be the perfect beach read! There are plenty of feet kicking moments that will keep readers entertained! The vibrant, tropical setting also helps to set the vibes for the whole experience!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!!! I really appreciate it!

Katie is a video producer who is assigned to do a profile on Hutch, a rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard. Katie is on the chopping block at work, so she'll do anything to prove she's good at her job, including lie about her ability to swim. When she meets Hutch, he doesn't seem very excited about her being there. He was expecting her coworker, who also happens to be his brother who h's trying to repair a relationship with. Katie agrees to help the brothers reconcile if Hutch will let her stay and teach her how to swim. In the midst of working together, Katie and Hutch get to know each other more and start falling for each other. However, with a few plot twists will these previous love haters be able to finally get their happily ever after?

I loved this book! It was so fun and had some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. It was nice to escape to the warmth of the Florida Keys while there was snow outside my window. Would highly recommend this one to any rom-com lovers when it comes out! Also, can Glen Powell be cast as Hutch if this is made into a movie?? Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I swear Katherine Center does not miss! There was so much to love about this book. My favorite character was Rue and her influence over everyone in the book. The huge dog that continues to knock Katie over. The brother trauma and all the lies. The pennies were so special, and what a neat idea! I loved this book! I wanted more of the romance between Katie and Hutch.

Not my favorite by this author but just might be me. I did not like the Katie’s ongoing body focus and I had a hard time seeing the connection between her and Hutch. I loved Aunt Rue and her group of friends though!

Big thank you to Netgalley and Mt. Martin's Press for this ARC review. I was jumping up and down with excitement when I was approved to read.

The Love Haters was amazing! It's a solid 5-star read with great writing, pacing, character development, plot, romance, humor, and engaging dialogue. If you're a fan of Katherine Center, you've got to check this out. And if you're into non-spicy fiction, this is must-read. The story is narrated by Katie Vaughn, who works for a video production company undergoing restructuring. To save the day, she's sent to Key West to film a Coast Guard recruitment video. Her superior, Cole, wants Katie to create an additional video promo about Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch, who is also Cole's brother. Katie can't swim, but she keeps it a secret to get the job. Hutch thinks Cole is filming the project, and there's tension between the two brothers. Hutch is known as a 'love hater' because he's strict and lacks emotion. As the story unfolds, Katie forms a bond with Hutch's aunt Rue and even gets swimming lessons from Hutch.

The story is full of humor, and I adore books featuring animals. A tough male leave with a soft spot for his pet--swoon! There's a fantastic dog in this book stealing the show. I'm really into stories about people reconnecting with their pets lately. I also enjoy books that teach me something. I once read a book about a coast guard swimmer and learned nothing. But this book taught me about water rescue and even swimming. Love it! The story had surprising twists I didn't see coming. It took unexpected turns that fit the story well. The conflicts were resolved nicely too. Initially, I felt frustrated by the FMC's lack of confidence, but as the story unfolded, I realized it was a crucial part of her character development. The emotional conversations and self-realization moments were great. Overall, it's a 5-star read! I'd love a bit more about the couple in the epilogue because I'm nosy and want to know everything that happens after. Nonetheless, the presence of an epilogue is a must for me (and I am thankful there is one). Many thanks for this ARC-I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone I know!

Thank you for the ARC!

I was so excited to read this. It's my first Katherine Center book and I've heard great things about her previous books.
Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. The characters fell short for me and the self hatred of the FMC was just too much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, and I enjoyed most of the characters and themes. I appreciated the way that Katherine incorporated issues of grief and insecurities in both of the main characters and while I do agree with some of the commenters that the way Katie struggled with being in her head was at times frustrating, it was also very relatable to me. I think we can all be our own worst enemies l, especially as it relates to body image. I also appreciated her inclusion of Gottman and applying those principles to her own relationship with herself and that growth over the course of the book.

I do wish there was a bit more in terms of character depth/development when it came to Katie and Hutch's relationship. I liked their dynamic, but I wish there was a bit more. I was also pretty irritated by Cole, but I think that was kind of the point. He created a lot of ridiculous situations, and I wish Katie had done more to stick up to him, but I know that was intended to be the main conflict.

I loved Rue's character and the Gals. They added a light-hearted humor to the otherwise heavy or awkward situations, which I found enjoyable. And I think they also added a layer to the theme that love can come in many forms, friendship, self-love, family, etc. Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was an entertaining quick read, and I'd recommend it.

This was my first ARC, so thank you to the publishers and net galley for the opportunity to read and provide my honest feedback.

Would you risk it all to save your job, even if it means filming an action-packed Coast Guard promo from a helicopter—despite not being able to swim?

That's Katie’s dilemma. After a painful breakup with a rock star boyfriend and the toll of public scrutiny on her body image, Katie vows to swear off love. Her career takes her to the Florida Keys, where she crosses paths with Hutch, a handsome rescue swimmer who helps her rediscover her confidence. Along for the ride are Hutch’s quirky Aunt Rue, his charming brother Cole, Katie's unpredictable boss Beanie, and Hutch’s lovable Great Dane, George Bailey.

This rom-com is an adventurous, lighthearted escape with just a touch of spice. While the story dives deep into character development and emotional growth, some plot twists feel a bit far-fetched, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested in the story and its characters.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
Let's get straight to it: I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Love Haters. While it presents itself as a love story, it's not simply the romance between Katie and Hutch. Instead, it's a powerful narrative about Katie's journey to self-love and acceptance of her body. Yes, you read that right.
While the book carries elements of a rom-com, its core focus lies on Katie and her struggles with body image. This might seem unconventional to some readers, but I found it deeply resonant. I connected with Katie on a profound level and felt like offering her a comforting hug. Katherine Center masterfully captures the emotional rollercoaster women experience when grappling with body insecurities. She tackles this sensitive topic with brilliant writing skill, weaving in humour and a touch of romance. The comedic moments were genuinely funny, requiring me to pause and collect myself.
About the romance, I must admit it felt somewhat secondary. This is why I've rated the book four stars. Hutch seemed more like a supporting character than a leading male character. The romantic connection between Katie and Hutch felt rather ‘on surface’ and the development of their feelings was a bit confusing. However, there were undeniably sweet moments that I really loved.
The supporting characters on the other hand were excellent, adding a consistent dose of fun and energy into the story. (And yes, I absolutely hated Cole, regardless of popular opinion!). George Bailey was a standout character, stealing every scene and winning my heart.
Overall, I found The Love Haters to be an amazing read. While its depth might not resonate with everyone, I encourage readers to give it a chance. It’s a story that goes beyond a simple romance and dives into the complexities of self-acceptance!

The Love Haters is a cute rom-com about Katie and Hutch. Katie's last relationship was a dud and now it looks like her job is failing, too. Hutch is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who also has his own emotional baggage. The two get thrown together for a documentary project in the Florida Keys and have chemistry from the moment that they meet.

Overall, I give The Love Haters 4 stars. It's sweet with some heavier themes mixed in. Parts of it had me rolling my eyes (Hutch's brother, Cole, is particularly obnoxious) but the description of Hutch's job and the actual danger that Katie finds herself in had me turning the pages. One thing that I have come to expect from Katherine Center's books is that her main characters are never perfect and have some things they are working through. I wish the side characters in this one had more depth, but George Bailey (the dog) and his toads make up for it. PS: The dog makes it through the book just fine, in case you're the type of person who worries about that sort of thing.

This one will be a great book to stick in the pool bag this summer. It's light and frothy and ends well.

Big thanks to the publisher for this ARC!

Overall this was a fun summer read! I really enjoyed the story and characters (even the side characters- specifically George Bailey!)

I loved Katie finding herself and body positivity along the way. I also adored Hutch and the whole Coast Guard rescue swimmer side.

I really enjoyed this book start to finish!

See my full review on Goodreads.

The Love Haters was a solid beach/vacation read! It would also be perfect to read in the summer. Katie, the fmc, is fighting to keep her job and accepts a project in Key West where she'll end up working with the male main character, Hutch, who is a rescue swimmer. Big problem is, Katie can't swim... chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed both characters in this and how the romance played out. I loved the setting and I thought the story had a great amount of depth behind it.

This is actually my first Katherine Center book, and I'll certainly be picking up another. I would absolutely recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Katherine Center is my favorite romance author for exactly books like this. I was literally giggling out loud to myself at how cute this book was. Hutch and Katie are two of the most awkward, adorable people ever. The tension added later in the book felt unnecessary at first, but ended up playing up the plot really well. Overall it was a great read and I can’t wait to read more from her!

4.5⭐️

The way I simply could not put this book down. It was the perfect rom-com with completely relatable characters. Definitely heavy on the body image issues and family dynamics, but truly just an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this eARC!!

I love loved this book!

It was a classic look on life through the lens of the lovely Katherine Center. This book did a great job of focusing on all kinds of different loving relationships Katie, the FMC, had in her life without sidelining them for the romantic love she was feeling. This left slightly less time for the reader to watch the characters have their happily ever after, and there was certainly no spice, which left the whole book feeling like it catered a bit to a younger audience, but that didn’t detract from the story at all! The MMC, Hutch, was tall, stoic, kind and had me kicking my feet 😍.

I found myself laughing out loud at several points, and at other times catching all the feels from Katie’s revelations on her healing journey. There were also a couple of huge plot twists that I really didn’t see coming (just so good all around!)

I noticed that Katherine Center leaned into the style of having the protagonist address the reader in her inner monologues, and I think it added such a sense of familiarity and kinship between the FMC and the reader 🫶

EDs are discussed in this book, and this is done really tastefully. Without giving too much away, Katie’s revelation at the end was really moving but the reader is left imagining all the intentional work the she would have to put in for a lasting healing journey—I might have liked to hear her say she’s going to counselling.

The only thing missing from the experience was hearing Patti Murin read it to me (luckily I plan to reread so it’s ok)

The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🤍romcom
🤍hero MMC
🤍family trauma
🤍happily ever after

💋Dramatic Thoughts💋

Thank you Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Fact: Katherine Center makes me laugh out loud every time. The Lover Haters was no exception on the laughter front! And THEN Katherine went + tugged on my heart strings - so much so that I even teared up at one point.

I won’t spoil anything by discussing them but there were so many little sentimental details in this book that were so well thought out!! Overall, definitely a fun and heartwarming read that you should add to your TBR list! This book will be such a great read while you’re sitting by the pool or on the beach. The Love Haters comes out on May 20th, 2025, just in time for summer!

💥Character Spotlight💥

Katie - I honestly could relate to the body shaming piece of Katie’s story because been there, done that sister! Going on this assignment to the Keys and meeting the people there, pushed Katie out of her comfort zone in all the best ways!

It feels like it’s time to mention my favorite supporting character - George Bailey..I beg you to try and disagree! 😉

Katie is a filmmaker sent to do a recruitment video for the Coast Guard but she's lied about being able to swim and she can't even put on a swimsuit due to crippling body issues caused by a hyper critical stepmother and exacerbated after all of social media skewered her looks when she dared look like a normal person at a red carpet event. Like most Center novels this is a romance that also centers on the woman's healing and personal journey. Katie's is a little...simpler...than many Center heroines: she must learn to love her body and her self and find joy in her life again. The brightly colored world of Key West is the perfect local for this journey and Hutch is the largest hero (too perfect, really, which at least Center acknowledges). A pleasant romance.

I typically love Katherine Center, but I just didn’t love this one. In my opinion, the characters lacked depth and chemistry, which made it hard to buy as a rom-com. The best character in the entire story was the eccentric aunt Rue and her group of friends. I had a hard time caring much about Katie and Hutch. The two supporting characters, Cole and Beanie, did not vibe with the main characters at all.

Most Katherine Center books get 5 stars from me, so I look forward to what she does next! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts on the book.

Mrs. Katherine Center has DONE. IT. AGAIN. I would read a car manual if this woman wrote one. I've read seven of her books now and I think I can say that this one has taken the lead for my favorite.

Katie was so sweet. She was relatable to me because I feel like we all have things we dislike about ourselves because we never see each other the way those around us do. We don't see the way we look when we laugh or are full of joy. We don't hear the things that those who love us think about us. Katie, like we all do at times, had to slowly teach herself to love the way she was made.

Don't even get me started on HUTCH. Between the way he spoke to Katie and encouraged her, the flipping of the chair to sit on it backwards at the bar, and the helicopter scene in the last chapter? I can't express how much I loved him.

I cannot wait for this book to be released so I can go out and buy the physical copy to read again and again. Thank you to the publisher and to Katherine Center for giving me the pleasure of reading this ARC!