Katherine Center is a go to author for me. Her books always make me feel, and are compulsively readable. This one is no different. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and that at the center of the story was really the idea of loving yourself first. The book was funny and the banter was enjoyable. The only reason it didn't get 5 from me was I felt some things were a little rushed. But as I said I still loved the book and will always pick up anything by Katherine.

Solid 4⭐️’s. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Felt like a rollercoaster of emotions on this one. The first 25% I was really not resonating with the characters, kinda disliked them, and didn’t get the storyline really. Something happened once the storyline in Key West grew some more that pulled me in and the last 75% made up for the tough start. I also did not see the last 10% being something that happened in the book, so that took me by surprise in a good way and added to my respect for Katie. Things I could have done without: the brother Cole.

This book focuses on two plots, an obvious love story as well as a journey for self love. While I can appreciate a self love journey, for me it was over done and to heavily focused on. This book is a fun addition to Centers growing list of titles but it was a little bit of a miss for me.

TW: eating disorders

So kick-your-feet cute at times, and at other moments cringey and on-the-nose. The banter is top tier, but the dynamic of *perfect* man (I mean, really, Hutch was described as "scientifically" hot an exhausting number of times) and woman with body dysmorphia was just frustrating. Every moment with Cole the brother just felt like an AI insert of a character. Why is he doing what he's doing? Why is everyone around him responding this way? How is there not an ounce of truth or affection in his assessment of his brother? At one point he's like, no, please don't reveal my big secret/lie, and especially not on this day, and then on the day he's just decided its fine and reveals it? I am more okay with the very movie-magic-like moments of her and George Bailey (the best dog) adrift at sea, than I could tolerate the family dynamic that Cole brought with his weird lies and drinking contests. All in all, a fun weird time if you can really hold off questioning anything.

This was a fun read and I appreciated the portrayal of the main characters struggles with body image. The romance was predictable and anti climatic, but I am unfamiliar with this author and not aware of her romance style.. Rue and the ladies were the best part of the book. I also liked the details about the Coast Guard. I would recommend this to patrons.

I’ve always wanted to give Katherine’s books a chance. I’m not sure why it took me so long to read one but i love the one I picked. Katie is a girl who wants to save her job and Hutch is a guy who just wants to help others with little to no attention. He refuses to let anyone interview him. Will Katie be able to change his mind? Katie works with Cole who is Hutches brother. It’s seems like Cole really had no idea who is brother really is. Katie was seeing another side of hutch, she sees how chatty and kind he is, maybe a said Cole never sees. You can tell Katie felt comfortable around Hutch.

Why is her cousin/friend Rue just greatest?! When she tells Kate, “My wish for you, is a vibrant, bright and glorious life.” Tears 😭 absolutely the sweetest cousin/friend!

The idea of jumping out of helicopters terrifies me. I was getting a lot of anxiety when they were in one/talking about how hutch jumps out of them.

When Noah Kahn was mentioned, I think I screamed.

I definitely like how relatable Katie is. I suffer from an anxiety disorder so I can definitely relate to worrying about bad things happening. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! I was routing for Katie and Hutch the entire time!

This is the first book I’ve read by Katherines and I’m disappointed that I didn’t start reading her books sooner. I really enjoyed this story and how it ended. If you are looking for a feel good rom com, I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Katherine for the ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication: May 20th 2025

#NetGalley

I am a through and through Katherine Center girlie, and I have loved parts of all of her works through the years. My one complaint has always been the use of language. This book has the least language of any of her titles to me! It is also the most closed door of all of them. I loved this shift in the narrative.

Okay, Hutch and the mystery around him are just so good. He is a frowny friend. You know the type. Approach with caution, because they’re probably so lovable? Poor misunderstood super human.

Katie is in her head and hating her body. She is every millennial woman that watched a slim fast commercial growing up and went so far as to only take those shakes to school for “lunch.” Sometimes it felt like a reach, the loathing that she felt for herself, but then I’d remember how many summers I didn’t wear an actual swimsuit to the pool. Her struggles were very much my own and I could vibe with her.

Someone made the comment that her humor is too “slapstick.” 🏆 THATS THE BEST PART. Maybe people just aren’t accident-prone enough? Because this humor does not strike me as absurd so much as honest. Like hey man that’s just Monday. 🫡 The wardrobe malfunction had me in actual tears laughing. A sense of humor is how we cope, alright?

A dog with a Christmas name? SOLD!

The ladies in waiting at the cottages? CHECK!

I loved this. I flew through it.

This was a much needed burst of light-hearted reading. The characters and their friendships are likable and fun to read. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a good rom-com story.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it!

When I saw that Katherine Center's new book was available for read now on NetGalley, I got here as quick as I could to download it. Katherine has been one of my favorite authors since I first read one of her books a few years ago. Her romance novels are perfect stories about how love should be and feel and her new book, The Love Haters, was just that.

Katie is one of the most relatable characters I've read in a long time. After going through a breakup, she starts to question her "worth" and relates it to her appearance which she hates. The personal relationship she has with herself and developing her own self-love makes this story even better.

Watching Katie and Hutch's romance unfold is entertaining and fun. It's a slower burn romance with little spice but lots of fun banter. Throw in Rue and the Gals and it makes for a fun quick read.

One thing I like about Katherine Center's novels, is that she always introduces a new career or diagnosis or situation that we get to learn about - in this case, learning about the coast guard water rescue team was an interesting addition to the story.

I don't always read the Auther's note in books, but I saw another review that mentioned this particular one was one to read. Often times being a romance reader is looked down upon or made fun of, pointing out that we have a false idea of love and thus unrealistic expectations for love. Her note summed up why more people should read love stories when she said "Love stories make us better at love. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life."

After Katie Vaughn is given a career changing gig, she heads down to Key West to create promotional material for the Coast Guard and on Tom "Hutch" Hutcherson. Falling into a web of lies from the beginning, Katie soon discovers more about herself and love.

If you love miscommunication, messy family dynamics, and tropical settings, this is for you.

However, if you are a fan of KC, this book will give you so much whiplash. You will finish the book and question if it was a fever dream. As someone who has read almost all of her backlog (all but The Bright Side of Disaster), this did not feel like anything else she has written.

Typically, her stories include well fleshed out characters. This story had only one truly thought out character and that was Hutch. While I know that self-worth and body image was important to Katie's character, it really didn't sit well with me. We have one paragraph about the step-mother commenting on her body. Nothing else. Then, we have the internet who did as well. However, that should have been more ironed out if it was key to her. Katie felt more 18 than 26, too.

Beanie. Beanie. Beanie. If Beanie was as amazing as Katie thought she was, Beanie should not have been toxic towards Katie. My biggest gripe: If Beanie knew about Katie's insecurities, past, and current struggles with her image, WHY DID SHE SEND HER A LINK TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT KATIE'S BODY? Why did she send the song about Katie to her after Katie moved on? And having Katie list off things she loved about her body on the phone each time they talked... No. I wish Beanie had more of a positive relationship with her.

Cole. I've never wanted to punch a fictional character more. And let me tell you, I felt the same feeling with Wickham in Pride and Prejudice. I get that there is a lot of immaturity and miscommunication, but using a female to buy you time, or to save your job.. ick.The fact that you have a character written pretty much forcing his brother to get drunk after saying "no" multiple times really isn't it. Overall, he was doing too much.

Loved the Gals and Rue. I wish there was a novel about Rue and her life.

When to comes to the story itself, there were things that didn't line up. I thought Katie was going to help Hutch get closer to Cole while they were giving swimming lessons? Why is that even in the book if that didn't happen at all? With that being said, I think that there was too much going on.We didn't need an Adam Sandler movie moment halfway through the book when Cole showed up. It felt too slapstick for a Katherine Center novel. She could have leaned more into her women's fiction style of writing with characters and minimized the plot a bit and it would have been better.

Last thought; I don't know if this was specifically written to be a movie, but if it was, it was trying to hard.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader Copy and to Netgalley.

I needed this book to start 2025 right. Katherine Center never misses. Every book I read from her always pulls me in and I always end up enjoying whatever she writes.

I loved the characters in this book, their development, their relationships, the storylines and everything in between. The ending was super far fetched and unrealistic, BUT it’s still exactly what i would have wanted to happen and i ate it right up with a big smile on my face. Finishing the book, I gave it 4 stars. After reading the authors note, it auto bumped it up to a 5 for me. In the note, she writes “Stories have a unique kind of magic. They aren’t real life - but they’re kind of the next best thing.”
That quote is exactly why I read, and her books bring me so much joy.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I have never not loved a Katherine Center book and Love Haters is no exception. True to form, I was not ready for the story of Katie, Hutch, Rue and George Bailey to end. So many loveable and endearing characters with a story line that left me laughing out loud at times. Great read!!

As someone who deals with body struggles, this book was exactly what I needed before going on vacation and putting on a bathing suit. What's inside matters more but it's hard to overcome the negative self talk

4.5 Another heartwarming, all-the-feels, wisdom-laden, love story from Katherine Center that I couldn't lay aside.

While the writing is amply witty and clever and there is fun banter between some characters, it doesn't contain as much banter between the main characters as I've come to expect from a KC book, and I missed that. One thing I love about KC's stories is that she allows space for her non-lead characters to shine and that she develops those relationships with care. I especially loved Katie's interactions with Beanie (cousin/best friend) & with Rue (aunt to Hutch & Cole and savvy businesswoman who owns the cottages where Katie stays during her time in Key West).

For several reasons, Katie struggles with body image and with accepting & loving herself--imperfections and all. Through her cousin's encouragement and regular follow up, Katie begins the arduous work of changing her mindset <i>of herself</i>; improving/healing the relationship she has with herself; and by doing the next brave thing. Some of the insights, epiphanies, and wisdom that unfold through these pages are true gems.

Don't skip the Author's Note, which reads more like a short essay on the value of stories--especially love stories--in our lives.

Can't wait to discuss with friends!

Thanks to #netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC e-book. Publication date is May 20, 2025.

The Love Haters is a must read for everyone! Katherine Center hit it out of the park with this book. You can tell she did extensive research which creates an immersive read. The plot will hook you from the beginning and keep you wanting more. The ending was beautiful. This book will teach you new things, encourage you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and create space to help you think about and appreciate your own life. This book is a winner!

oh my god. KATHERINE. THE WOMAN YOU ARE. this will win so many awards maybe even save some lives honestly. the plot was lovely, the characters are so likable and relatable and the writing!!! chefs kiss

Ok, this is officially my favorite Katherine Center book!

The way she writes dialogue is fun, relatable, and not at all cringey- I know I know but the bar is on the floor with some other popular romance authors (and I'm an AVID romance reader).

Katie and Hutch's romance was exciting to watch play out. I especially liked the way he helped her realize that she is not the ugly monster that she internalized being. Between Hutch and cousin Beanie, they really were lifesavers to a woman with severe body dysmorphia. Katherine tackled tough topics like body image, ED, and family drama without making the characters sound preachy or triggering the reader. While I normally abhor self help books and self help language, I did find it to be useful and helpful to use in my own life and with my own body image. Watch out world, as soon as it stops snowing I'm going to buy a swim suit and take swim lessons- cellulite be d***ned.

A beachy, perfect for summer, read.

Katie's a video producer on the verge of getting laid off until her co-worker, Cole, sends her to Key West to profile a rescuer swimmer named Hutch Hutcheson. The catch? She can't swim. The bigger catch? The man she's chronicling is Cole's brother. Worse, they don't get along. A fact that he conveniently leaves out until after she arrives. The biggest catch? The longer Katie is around Hutch, the more she likes him and starts to fall for him...only to get entangled in a web of deceit that has her job on the fence, her heart on the line, and her fears in the grip of a Category 3 hurricane.

Although this was not my favorite of Katherine Center's latest romcoms, it still had a lot going for it that made it airy and enjoyable. Not only did it have a paradise setting in Key West, but I liked the video producer meets U.S. Coast Guard angle, the colorful and eccentric Aunt Rue, the messy sibling rivalry and history, and the thunderstorm-fearing, matchmaking dog, George Bailey. Where the narrative lost its strength a bit was in the lack of depth shown to the romantic buildup as well as to some of the side characters. Namely with Beanie and Cole. There wasn't enough substance to make them likable or relatable. I also thought the body dysmorphia of it all could have been handled with more delicacy.

On the whole, though, this had a lot of cute moments from swim lessons to hurricane rescues to hanging-from-helicopter kisses. Definitely a good pick for a relaxing summer plunge!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Katie Vaughn’s video producing job is on the line when Cole, her coworker, asks her to take on a gig he was supposed to do making a Coast Guard recruitment video. Unfortunately, Katie can’t swim, but she hides that fact so that she doesn’t miss this opportunity--she can learn to swim before she starts, she thinks. The other challenge is her subject, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, is Cole’s estranged brother, and she can’t let anyone know she’s replacing Cole until the shoot begins–including Hutch and the brothers’ Aunt Rue, who is providing Katie with housing. After a rough start, Katie begins to click with Hutch as she learns about his life and career, and she faces head-on past rejection from her now famous former fiancé as well as body image issues she has had since her youth. Add to that some brotherly animosity, an approaching hurricane, and some lies–and Katie has a lot on her hands.

I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down, so I ended up finishing it in less than a day. Katie and Hutch have a great dynamic, Katie felt relatable in her insecurities, Hutch is a hero in every sense of the word, and Cole makes a fantastic antagonist to both. The story had an enjoyable balance of romance, comedy, and drama, and I (pleasantly) learned a lot more about the Coast Guard than I could have expected. Finally, the hurricane sequence was so gripping that I stayed up until 2am to finish the novel. It’s the best romantic comedy I have read since The Rom-Commers last year.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I am a pretty big fan of Katherine Center and i have to say this book was absolutely wonderful to read. It was such a charming and fun book to get lost in. Katie was definitely an interesting character and although she wasn't my favorite i still liked the part she played in this book. The authors note at the end is a must read by the way!!

But overall this was a wonderful book and i can't wait for everyone to get their hands on it when it is published.