This book was a total blast! I couldn’t stop smiling because the humor was so charming, it made it impossible to keep a straight face. While I really enjoyed it, there were a few things that kept it from earning a 5-star rating:

1. The first meeting between Katie and Hutch was hilariously awkward, especially when Hutch was picking splinters out of her butt—definitely an unforgettable introduction!

2. The SWAT test scene took me by surprise when Katie’s underwear ripped, and Hutch suggested she wear his T-shirt like a diaper. That moment totally caught me off guard.

3. The romance felt a bit rushed. Katie and Hutch’s slow-burn relationship didn’t really develop until the final chapter, and it didn’t feel like there was enough depth for such a quick transition to a long-term commitment. Their story felt a little incomplete.

4. The side characters didn’t have much depth, though Rue was a standout for me.

That said, I’d still recommend it for a good laugh! Katie is recovering from a public breakup and is sent to profile Hutch, a viral coast guard rescue swimmer. As she spends time with him in the Florida Keys, she confronts her own insecurities while trying to keep her job.

The real highlight was George Bailey, Hutch’s Great Dane—he stole the show. I also loved *The Gals*, a group of retirees who swim, drink cocktails, and meddle in the best way possible. They added so much warmth to the story.

While this book didn’t hit the emotional highs of some of Katherine Center’s other works, it’s still a fun, feel-good story about self-love, friendship, and healing. Katie is super relatable, and Hutch is a total sweetheart. The humor and heart make it a great pick-me-up, and I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a light, enjoyable read!

A charming book, set in Key West, what more could you want?

Katie Vaughn has had a rough go of it lately. Her ex-boyfriend is a rock star whose fans have commented on her looks and body online which resulted in Katie having body image issues. With her job on the line due to the possibility of layoffs she takes her boss, Cole's request to go produce a piece on his brother, Hutch who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. There is just one teeny tiny little hitch - Katie can't swim! But to keep her job, she will dive into learning how to swim once she lands in Key West.

I loved the exploration of relationships in this book: friendships, romantic relationships, professional relationships and the relationship that Katie had with herself and her body. Hutch and his dog were so charming and they made me want to live on a houseboat. Rue was a shining start for me, a real inspiration for a life well lived.

My only complaint is that I felt readers were expected to suspend some disbelief during the portion where she was forced to lie to Hutch. I truly hated this part of the book.

I love Katherine Center's books, and this was not exception. Well written and well thought out, this engaged me the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Another great hit by Katherine Center! You can’t help but to fall in love with the characters! A sweet romance between Katie and Hutch. Katherine adds the perfect touch of self love and acceptance between Katie and herself. Beanie is the friend and cheerleader every woman needs. You cannot go wrong reading this book!

I have been a huge Katherine Center fan for years and I think this book just took the top spot for all time favorite of hers. This book was a romance, but it was also so much more. It was about finding your people, and learning to love yourself again. It was about learning to communicate, and repairing relationships. It was silly, and fun, and laugh out loud funny. I just loved it so much. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

I liked this a lot more than her last book. Katherine Center has been hit or miss for me since The Bodyguard. I think that was really her peak, but we are making our way back with this one. I loved all the little details that she wove in throughout- like a frog?! Seriously? Who thinks of things like that?

I loved this book!!!
Even though the events were unrealistic, I loved every second of it. I loved the main character and her humor, growth, and personality. I loved the setting and the side characters. I loved that this was a love story between a man and a woman but also between and a woman and her own body.
I enjoyed every interaction, every conversation, and every moment of growth, and am grateful for a copy!

Katherine Center delivers another heartwarming yet substantive romance with "The Love Haters," perfectly balancing beach-read charm with meaningful exploration of self-doubt and body image. When video producer Katie Vaughn takes on a career-saving assignment profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies about her swimming abilities – and her growing feelings for the incredibly attractive but guarded Hutch.
What could be a lightweight romantic setup becomes something more meaningful in Center's capable hands. While the Key West setting provides plenty of opportunities for romantic encounters and humorous situations (including conga lines and drinking contests), the story's real strength lies in its authentic portrayal of Katie's struggles with confidence and self-image. Through swimming lessons, helicopter flights, and an approaching hurricane, Katie must confront not just her physical fears but her emotional ones as well.

The symbolism of Katie gradually adding color to her wardrobe perfectly mirrored her internal journey from someone who tried to stay safe and invisible to someone who could embrace life fully.
The way Center wove together Katie's fears – both the physical fear of water and the emotional fear of being seen and being vulnerable – was really masterful. Each swimming lesson with Hutch wasn't just about learning to swim; it was about learning to trust herself and others again.
And that hurricane climax was brilliant! Having Katie face her ultimate fear of water during a literal storm, while also finally being completely honest about who she is, brought all the threads together so satisfyingly. The moment when she has to put aside her fears to help someone else really showed how far she'd come from the person who was afraid to even admit she couldn't swim.
Center has such a gift for writing these transformative moments in a way that feels both dramatic and completely earned. The fact that Katie's growth came not just from her relationship with Hutch, but from her own journey of self-discovery, made it especially powerful.

The chemistry between Katie and Hutch sizzles, but it's the character growth – particularly Katie's journey toward self-acceptance and honesty – that makes this story truly satisfying. Center's trademark wit and warmth shine through, making this the perfect beach read that doesn't shy away from deeper themes.
For fans of Center's work, "The Love Haters" delivers her signature blend of humor, heart, and healing, while offering a fresh take on finding love when you least expect it – and finding yourself in the process.

2.5 - 3 stars

I’m sad that I didn’t love this one, but it just didn’t flow well for me. I contemplated DNF’ing about a third of the way in, but I pushed through because I’ve loved Katherine Center’s books so much in the past.

I appreciated the message she was trying to share in The Love Haters regarding body image and self love, but the odd mix of over the top physical comedy and slapstick moments left me very confused. Certain aspects of the story (namely Cole) felt unnecessarily complicated. The information about the coast guard was interesting, but so much page time was devoted to the procedures and ins-and-outs that it overshadowed other parts of the story.

The (kissing only) romance was sweet and had a lot of potential, but sadly it didn’t feel completely developed. The hair clip was a great detail, but I wanted more of Hutch and Katie connecting outside the confines of the job/assignment. The miscommunication drama and lying by omission also really bothered me.

I loved the found family and the colorful cast of secondary characters though, especially Rue. George Bailey stole the show every time he was on the page and you really can’t go wrong adding a dog to a book.

The author’s note at the end helped reframe some of the events in the book for me, but as I discussed with a friend (hi Cammie!), it probably would have been better at the start of the book to set the tone of the the story. I’m disappointed this one didn’t work for me, but I’m still looking forward to reading more Katherine Center books in the future.

CW: cheating ex, body image and weight issues, online harassment and negativity, anxiety, dieting and disordered eating (past), hurricane destruction and threats to safety, sea rescue (on page), parental abandonment (past), death of parents (past), grief, loved one with stage one heart failure

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Katie was hysterical and I loved her imperfections. Hutch was such a broody man and I loved him so much. I pictured him as Rooster from Top Gun every time they talked about him. That would be my dream cast man for that role if it were to turn into a movie.

I really wanted to have the final chapter or just one chapter dropped somewhere in there from Hutch’s POV. The end seemed so very rushed. But overall I enjoyed it so much! The Rom-Commers is still number one for me though. 🥰

I absolutely ADORED this book! Katherine Center can do no wrong. It was sweet, it was emotional, and completely captivating from the very beginning!

The only problem with getting a Katherine Center ARC is that I have to wait that much longer for a new book from my favorite author! What can I say? Her rom-coms are always wonderful - they have a delicious story that sucks you right in and makes you feel a part of what’s going on - and The Love-Haters is no different!

At the end of the Author’s Note, she writes, “Love stories make us better at love. In all directions. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life.” Now that’s a lesson we could all benefit from listening to.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!

Terrible. Absolutely terrible.

They’re not even love haters! They’re just normal!

This book had zero plot, zero romance, zero humour. Rom-com?? Nah: book. The main girl’s only personality trait is body-image issues. The guy’s only personality trait is being an upstanding guy.

They are together for weeks and weeks but we only see them converse maybe 3 times in depth.

Also the dog was annoying and almost got her killed.


Katherine Center, do better. This is appalling. And sure sure people will call me a girl-hater but guys!! I’M NOT SKINNY. But I have a personality. Unlike the deeply bland Katie.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

5 stars! i absolutely adored this book! hutch was the best grumpy love interest, katie being the most fun, upbeat FMC. no notes, loved it!

It’s so easy for romcoms to become predictable. Sometimes that’s what draws me to these. I can screech through them without stopping to think too hard. This one slowed me down. Not only did it defy some of the predictability of the usual romcom tropes, it forced the reader to dig into Katie’s motivations and frame of mind. Sometimes it felt a little heavy handed in the self-help realm, but I think that’s the point. Sometimes tying a have to be done overtly for people to notice they’re happening. As always, Katherine wrote a book worth reading.

I have read every Katherine Center book, and Love Haters is by far my favorite. A love story to our bodies. To female friendships. To doing things you’re afraid to do!
A relatable heroine? Check!
A swoon-worthy hero? Check!
An oversized troublemaking dog? Check and check.
4.75 stars!

I was excited about this one, but I feel like it ended up falling flat on several accounts. No plot (the romance, the job, the personal struggle with image, etc) had enough depth to sink your teeth into, and honestly, I thought the plot turn the last third of the book went off the rails.

This ended up just not being for me.

Katherine Center loves love stories, and it shows. She has a way of mixing humor, heart, and just the right touch of wisdom. The Love Haters isn’t just a rom-com—it’s a love story about loving yourself, too. And honestly? It’s my new favorite of hers!

Katie’s journey had me hooked from the start. Faking her way through a dream gig, facing her fears, and falling for the grumpiest, most irresistible Coast Guard rescue swimmer? I was all in. Hutch and Katie’s banter was perfection, and the side characters made it even better. Even Cole had his moments, but Katie’s friendship with Beanie really stood out—it was such a core part of her growth and made the story even more special.

Sometimes you just need a book that feels like a warm hug, and this was it for me. I can’t wait to pick up my signed preorder copy on May 20, 2024! Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early read—I already know this one will be a favorite for years to come.

Like most Katherine Center novels, I read this in a couple of days. Her stories always suck me right in. I have been to the Florida Keys many times, so the setting interested me (though it honestly was not relevant to the plot, except for some weather). I loved learning about the Coast Guard! This book really opened my eyes to their incredibly heroic and dangerous job. I loved the integrity and steadiness of Hutch and his charming aunt Rue. I will confess, I struggled with the lead character of Katie. An incredible amount of pages and dialogue were dedicated to her struggle with body issues and self-acceptance, to the point that it distracted from the story. A very enjoyable read, but that aspect kept me from loving it.

Another cute rom- com by Katherine Center! I was able to get an advanced copy from Net Galley and it was an enjoyable read overall! I liked all the characters, but I wish more character development was established for some of them. I loved the setting and the banter between the MMC and FMC was hilarious! I would have liked more!


(I posted my review on the Good Reads app and there wasn't a link for me to add to the review here).

This was an entertaining read with some strong elements, but it didn’t fully work for me. I really enjoyed the rescue swimmer aspect—it was unique and interesting. The found family dynamic was another highlight, and I absolutely loved Rue, the Gals and George Bailey. The plot had its highs, with moments that felt compelling, relatable, and fresh.

That said, the FMC’s constant inner monologue about Hutch’s looks started to annoy me, especially since it felt hypocritical given her own struggles with body image and self-confidence. The way her self-hate was handled didn’t sit right with me either—it felt underdeveloped or brushed aside too easily. While the book had its moments, it didn’t fully come together for me. The ending also felt a bit far-fetched.