Another great book from Katherine Center! I really enjoy how fun this book was and how it hit my emotions in all the right spots. Katherine Center has written many amazing stories, but this one just might be my favorite so far!

Bee: Katherine is simply so good at what she does. Everything I’ve ever read from her has become ones that I easily recommend to others. This story is no different. maybe I’m bias due to my own experiences that line up with this book but a uscg flight suit will always be 👀 to me LOL! But really, this story was so much more than a romance. it was about a friendship developing that turned into a romance and that was even sweeter.

Nik: I LOVED this one with all my heart. From the beginning to the absolute end, Katherine had me crying, laughing and giggling. her stories always feels like talking with a friend. I wanted the best for Katie and hutch was it. The pacing was perfect and watching these two dance around each other was *chefs kiss* just a 10/10 and another one that I’ll be adding to my trophy shelf!

Katie + Hutch

I thought this was a great read! A swoony coast guard MMC? Say less? I read this book in one sitting. It was easy to get into and hard to put down. I thought Katherine Center does a great job on giving you depth for both the main characters while writing in just one POV. personally, I really appreciated the body positivity that was a theme throughout the book through the voice of Katie's best friend/cousin?

Also the humor was well laced throughout this story and omg the ending was INSANE! what a high stakes ending!!

Another hit from Katherine Center! The banter and the slow build had me kicking my feet, while the story hit me right in the feels.

I was SO excited to read the eARC for this book!! It was on my top 2025 books to look forward to and it didn't disappoint! I loved the characters, the family aspect, the romantic tension. I was actually laughing out loud in a few spots, which rarely happens to me. I absolutely loved the MMC. I already missed him before I finished the book. The only reason this isn't a 5 star for me is because I didn't like the fake dating scene in the 3rd act - I understand why that is in there but I wish there was another way it could have been written without her having to lie to the MMC.

Katherine Center is one of my auto-buy authors and I have read all of her books. Her books are always feel-good, funny and include relatable characters. The Love Haters was quirky and charming - I loved the mix of humor, friendship, self-acceptance and romance.

Katie works as a video producer, but to keep her job, she has to film a video about Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West and the brother of her superior. According to his brother, Hutch is grumpy and doesn’t believe in love - needless to say that does not prove to be the case. As Katie gets drawn into Hutch’s daily life in the Florida Keys (including his fabulous great dane, George Bailey, and a wonderfully colorful cast of elder ladies know as “The Gals”) she is forced to confront some of her own greatest fears and insecurities, ultimately learning to love all of herself along the way.

This is a wonderfully charming story about loss, friendship and learning to love yourself as much as you love others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I usually love Katherine Center books, but this one was just not for me. However, there were parts of this book that I really liked. I loved all the shenanigans caused by George Bailey to bring Hutch and Katie together. I liked the relationship and dialogue between Katie and Hutch--it felt very natural and was funny at the end of the day.

However, there were some things that were just a bit off to me and kept me from really enjoying the book. It somehow felt too slow and too fast at the same time, and although I loved Rue and Hutch (and George Bailey of course), and I grew to like Katie and appreciated the development she went through in appreciating her body, but I just did not like the other side characters (especially Cole). They all just rubbed me the wrong way. Some of the things that happened just got brushed aside with not much explanation or apology.

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

I am a Katherine Center fan through and through! Was this book a masterpiece, no, but it was relatable in a tangible way and not many books can do that. This examination of self hate and how we can grow that into self love really hit home for me. I honestly couldn’t put the book down. I could definitely use a book two and a whole lot more of George Bailey ;)

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy!

This is a book that hit me right in my elder millennial, eldest daughter soul. Crazy enough also share a name with the main character. I struggle with a lot of the same things as she does so It was really cool to read her inner workings and healing about her body image. The story wasn't really an enemies to lovers but it was along those lines maybe? The two main characters are amazing to read into. Katherine Center is an auto read for me every single time and she never disappoints. Cannot wait to buy this and wait for her next great story.

*4/5 stars*
First off love the concept of a rescue swimmer. I thought that was very unique and not something you read about all the time. Katie was fake it til you make it all the way and I loved her character for it. Overall this was a nice, quick read. I really enjoyed Rue and the girls of Key West. Then of course, the star, George Bailey who this story would’ve have been the same with him. My only drawback, that was made this 4 stars, was the whole “lie with me” scenario. I understand why, I just wasn’t a fan of how that stopped Katie and Hutch’s romantic interest for a couple of chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! This novel comes out on May 20, 2025 & I think it’s definitely worth giving a try.

My feelings about this book are so complicated. I’m bouncing between a 3.5 & a 4 star rating, probably landing at a 3.75. I want to preface everything I say by stating that I had a great time reading this book & I really did love it for the most part.

I went into this book knowing that it was marketed as a romance, so I expected to love it as much as I loved The Rom-Commers. That being said, the romance didn’t feel like the main plot of this book. It’s definitely a key element of the plot, but I don’t feel like I saw enough of the couple together to fully adore them.

Though I felt like the romance was lacking in parts of this, the romance that was provided was well done & enjoyable. The side characters were well executed (begging to be one of The Gals) & the role of family & friendship was something I admired. More than anything, I love how this book explored one’s relationship with themselves & their own body image. I found Katie to be highly relatable & the self-help aspects of this story were great.

Of course I expected something to do with water & rescue due to Katie being unable to swim at the start of this novel & Hutch being in the Coast Guard, but I felt as though the last quarter of this book was slightly too unrealistic & dramatic considering the tone of the rest of the novel. While I loved the growth it provided Katie, going from not being able to swim to surviving a hurricane on a boat seemed like a stretch.

While I may have sounded critical of this story, I really did love it & eat it up. It was entertaining, page turning at times, & reflective in the best ways. I would give the acknowledgements five stars if I could.

A charming slow burn enemies to lovers romance set in Key West, Florida. When Cole asks his underling, Katie, to take an assignment making a promotion video of the USCG, his reasons seem to be well intentioned. Unfortunately for Katie, it doesn't take long before she realizes they were anything but altruistic.

Described as a bruting hater of love, Hutch had the chance at fame but shied away from it. As a rescue swimmer for the United States Coast Guard he is willing to put that aside for a recruitment video, but when he finds out Katie also wanted to do a "Day in the Life" feature things get a little twisted. This slow burn, enemies to lovers will keep you chomping at the bit as Katie and Hutch are surrounded by the best supporting characters. From witty and funny banter with her best friend Beatrice to Katie finding herself within a retirement community of old gals, there are a lot of laugh about in The Love Haters.

I always enjoy Katherine Center's writing and consider her rom coms my ultimate summer go to.

Thank you St. Martins Press for the gifted ARC.

*50 States Challenge: Florida

First let me say, I love everything Katherine Center has written. While I enjoyed The Love Haters, it’s not in my top 5 favorites of Center’s novels.

I appreciate the likeable two main characters and cuteness of the plot, but this one missed the mark. Love Haters required readers to unreasonably stretch what is a believable in terms of the plot and conflict of this story.

What Center never fails to write is the laugh out loud banter and physical comedy, which is very present in Love Haters. I always enjoy the journey of her female characters, and Katie is no exception. Will I purchase my own copy of this when it releases in May? Yes! Because it’s Katherine Center.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an electronic ARC.

4.5⭐️

The brother Cole is immature and selfish, but other than him I loved all the other characters in this book. This is a story of Katie who finds herself and her self confidence with moments that are laugh out loud. This book reminds me a lot of The Bodyguard’s humor. This is a romance without any spice, and sometimes I just want a sweet story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Need a good beach read this summer? Then you’ll love Katherine Center’s next release, The Love Haters! 😎

I’ll warn you now—once you get 80% of the way through, you will not be able to stop. I stayed up way too late finishing it 😅

I’ve loved Katherine Center’s books for years, but I gotta say this is the first MMC of hers that might be able rival Owen from Things You Save in a Fire! 😍

Hutch is strong, dreamy, heroic, and a hottie 😉 He gives major Maverick vibes and he’s an all-around great guy. Honestly, Katie was a lucky gal!

Speaking of Katie, I loved how she was down to earth and relatable. She struggles with body image throughout the book, and I liked the way the other characters kept pushing her to love herself.

As for other characters, Rue and the other elderly ladies collectively known as “The Gals” were absolutely a hoot! Oh how I loved them! Purely delightful in every way 😍

I have to say I did not love one of the plot twists where Katie got stuck in the lies of another character. Without giving anything away, that character is the worst.

My other problem is with a decision Katie makes 80% of the way through the book that was honestly a TERRIBLE decision. I was so mad at her!! It was so dumb!! (Not a 3rd act breakup, fyi)

Although, I will say, that section of the book did keep me fully riveted, so clearly as a plot twist it worked!

My favorite part of the book was when Hutch and Katie kiss for the first time. And probably their second kiss, too. Both of those scenes were fantastic!! 😍

As for spice, this book is closed door.

I would give this book 4.5⭐️, but I’d rather just round to a 5⭐️. Exactly the kind of lighthearted romance mixed with some depth that I love most. Katherine Center is just such a great writer!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the rescue divers storyline and all of the great details included about that industry. It was definitely a unique storyline and I loved the chemistry between the two main characters as well as all the old lady locals in Key West! I was a bit disappointed with how much of the book was taken up with her phone calls back to her friend. I think at one point i counted 6-7 pages (on my Kindle) where it was just her friend trying to talk her into wearing a swimsuit. I get it, body dismorphia/ED is hard but it sometimes felt like whiplash going from deep into that back into the romantic storyline. I honestly started skimming those sections entirely which is why for me it was only 3 of 5 stars.l despite loving the main characters and storyline!

There is nothing I love more in the middle of winter than a good RomCon!! It brings me so much joy and soothes my soul in the absolute best ways. I absolutely love Katherine Center’s books and all of her characters and the fun they bring to all of her books! Love Haters is a book I didn’t know I needed in my life but so happy that I got the chance to read it!

This book has my heart! Funny, sweet, and adventurous- another great romcom! The plot was a bit weak and the ending could be refined a bit more but the characters just mean so much to me! Love me some Katherine Center

3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this Galley.

I love Katherine Center. The Rom Commers was one of my favorites last year. I think she's got a real talent for banter, wit, and memorable scenes. The Love Haters had all these things. The dynamic between Hutch and Katie was funny and charming. Hutch was a great love interest—strong, intelligent, and heroic!! He had Katie and me swooning. Katie was a great FMC—she was quick-witted, motivated, and ambitious to a fault.

However, it pains me to say that this book fell flat for me despite these things. I think it's very important to be aware there are major ED triggers in this book. I appreciate when an author writes about a real problem like body dysmorphia, but this was too much; it took over the plot at points. The author did say in the end notes that she wanted a sort of ‘enemies to lovers’ outlook on Katie and her body, which I see and respect the hell out of, but I think this could've been achieved better. The side plots were too ridiculous and not believable. The situation with the boss was absurd. Cole, Hutch’s brother and Katie's other boss, had no redeeming qualities; his storyline was too cringy and unbelievable, making parts of this super hard to read.

That being said, I adored parts of this, too!! George Bailey, Hutch’s dog, was such a great comedic character. Rue, the quirky aunt, was Fab and fun and so fleshed out and interesting. The setting was perfectly done, and I think the ending was amazing.

If you like stories about finding peace with your body, sexy coastguards, and many flirty scenes, this book is for you! I can't wait to see what Katherine Center writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This was such a cute Rom-Com. I love the main character and how she develops . This book is just as much about her learning to love herself, as it is about her falling in love with the cute Coast Gaurd. If you enjoy sweet closed door romances, than this book is for you.