This was fine... A woman who is insecure about her body isn't the most unique protagonist, so the underlying "heart" behind the book fell a little flat for me. The dynamic between Hutch and Cole was way more compelling but not as center-stage. Also, I like Katherine Center's characters better when they aren't famous or famous-adjacent. And finally, I totally reject the fact that loving yourself more is the answer... if something is broken it can't fix itself.

What I liked? The meet cute was incredible. George Bailey is the perfect name for a dog. Rue and The Gals made my heart happy. And the romance was believable and easy to root for if not incredibly messy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-ARC of the book.

Another success by Katherine Center! I have read several of her books and each is just satisfying. Fun characters, an interesting location, realistic romance, some tears and a take home lesson on positively improving your view of the world. What more do you need in a story? For this book, we are taken from Dallas to Key West with a videographer who is about to lose her job if she doesn’t pull off this new assignment. The assignment is a promo video for the coast guard. From Katie’s arrival in Key West to the end, you enjoy the relationships, the banter and the storyline. A wonderful escape that leaves you with a smile. Please give this one a read. It will not disappoint..

a perfect summer romcom! We follow Katie on her quest to save her career in a paradisiac, sun-soaked setting. Her mission? convincing the stubborn and selfless Hutch-our swoon-worthy male lead with a savior complex-to share one of his heroic rescue stories. I was thoroughly enjoying the ride until a major miscommunication entered the picture, dimming the novel's spark a bit. but that's just personal preference, as I'm not a fan of this arc in romance. If you're craving something fresh, vibrant, and fast-paced, this book is for you!
many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc

Katherine Center has done it again! I absolutely loved this story of not only falling in love, but falling in love with oneself. Katie and her feelings were relatable, and I adored her and Beanie’s relationship. How special it is to have a friend like that!

And Hutch! Oh I love him and his big heart. Absolutely adored this story and the characters. 🤍

So so good!

This was a funny, silly, lighthearted romance story. Forced proximity, found family trope. Katie is a video producer who goes to Key West to film Hutch, a coast guard rescue swimmer, for a recruiter video. Hutch is her coworker’s brother and this leads to many issues.

The real hero in this story is George Bailey, the great Dane. His introduction had me literally laughing out loud. So many funny parts and Katherine adds in lots of reflection and beautiful words such as the time horizon. She even mentioned Brene Brown, love her writing! The issue of body image is sprinkled throughout the book in a lighthearted way with lots of self reflection dialogue. This is meant to be a light, funny read that concentrates more in the lessons and the appreciation for ourselves than about the romance.

I would def recommend it. The Rom Commers and Happiness for Beginners are still my top two for her but this is def going on my shelves.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was on vacation this week and was looking for a nice, easy, fun read. I definitely found it with Love Haters. It was easy to get into and I found myself not wanting to put it down. While it had a few underlying serious issues (body image and loving yourself as well as honesty always wins) the overall story was light and heartwarming. The good guys came out on top!

This truly hurts because I love Katherine Center as a human and author. But this story was NOT IT for me.

I learned a lot about the Coast Guard and that was really interesting. Hutch as a character was a really sweet guy. The story overall was just such a hot mess. It read almost like a YA novel (nothing wrong with that if that's how the book is advertised) where the main character just needed a lot of help working on herself and the last thing she needed to worry about what falling in love. Too much self doubt and body negativity that really took away from the fact that this is supposed to be a romance book. I'm crossing my fingers hoping next year's book from her is a winner. Thank you again for the advanced copy.

This book was like summer sunshine! It was the perfect mix of funny and emotional. I specifically loved how well developed the characters were. All of the side characters existed despite the main characters stories which made this book very believable.

The Love Haters is a heartwarming tale of a quirky, lovable woman and a handsome hero, full of moments that will make you laugh and twists you didn't see coming and a chance to love yourself a little more along the way, too. I felt as though I were stepping into Katie's shoes, questioning, "how can this happen to me?" alongside her while looking into a mirror over her shoulder each time she took a step toward loving herself more fully. In a world where it can be so easy to believe the lies we hear about ourselves, to the point we begin to echo them, this novel is a refreshing breath of sea air, reminding us that we have the power to "see ourselves for ourselves," and surround ourselves with those who will remind us of truth lovingly and be there when we need them the most.

I love Katherine Center. Her books are cozy blankets and an excuse to cry about something super sweet. The Love Haters is no exception. Her characters have chemistry and the stories are always about people I wish I knew in real life. Katie and Hutch are so cute. Just read this. You’ll feel better.

In this sweet rom com by Katherine Center, videographer Katie is on the verge of losing her job when she agrees to travel to the Florida Keys for an assignment. She will be profiling a grumpy rescue swimmer named Hutch who is a bit of a reluctant national hero. Unfortunately for her, he doesn’t know she will be the one doing the video and he certainly doesn’t want any more national attention.

I am a big fan of Katherine Center’s work, and this book also doesn’t disappoint! It’s full of her signature heart, wit, and charm, along with a lovable cast of characters. I think many women will find Katie’s struggles with body acceptance to be very relatable. Despite several heavy topics being addressed through character backstories, the story maintains levity and humor. I really enjoyed the addition of the Great Dane, George Bailey, to the story as an important character and not just a side role as animals usually play in a rom com. I highly recommend this book to fans of friends to lovers, reluctant heroes, and dog lovers.

Thank you to Katherine Center and St. Martin’s Press for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
While I’m sure this book will resonate with some people, it’s just not for me. The constant self criticism was driving me crazy.

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is my first Katherine Center book, so I wanted to be generous with my rating. This book is enjoyable to read and oddly comforting, despite some high-stakes plots. Katie's realization about her body is beautifully written. This romance novel is not just sweet, with quirky side characters and funny lines, it is also a love letter to self-acceptance and body positivity, in well-written prose.

I like that even though the book has a light tone, KC is not scared to tackle heavier topics like grief, body image issues, cyberbullying, and accidents. I love Rue, although I did not understand how she got custody of the boys; is there no other living relative? It was never explained, and it bugged me a little. I guess there are some things I didn't understand, like how unrealistic Beanie is. Her character is one-dimensional. Does she simply accept all her flaws and love herself unconditionally? Who calls early in the morning to wake up a friend just to have a pretend therapy session and ask you to name parts of your body that you love? She is also always telling Katie to move on from Lucas and yet keeps asking, "Have you seen Lucas's interview?", "Have you heard his new song about you?", or "Don't click that article link about Lucas!" Like Really? I probably just don't appreciate characters who are just there for convenience and use phone calls or text messages to exist. And although I am okay that the book never includes Lucas's point of view because the story is not about him, it would have been nice to know why he wrote the song "Katie" or perhaps tried to reach out to Katie, and she chose to ignore him.

Overall: It's not perfect, but it's all about the feels. And it gave me the right amount of feels. No spice, but it gave me butterflies in my stomach and made me feel giddy and happy. This is a great introduction to Katherine Center for me, and I am curious to read more of her books. Is this a rom-com? It's not very funny, but it is quirky and made me smile at times.

This book's release date is May 20, 2025. 🫶

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7336302993?book_show_action=false

I’ve been a big Katherine Center fan for a couple years now, and this was no exception. I loved Katie and Hutch. hutches brother, not so much. Hated him and his role in the story!

Katherine Center does it again! Her books always hit you right in the feels. The love story between Katie and Hutch was amazing, but you’ll also be amazed by Rue and Beanie. Katie and Beanie have a wonderful friendship that we all aspire to have in life. Rue is the grandma-ish figure we all would love! The character development in the book is quick and hooks you fast. There were layers and layers to unpack, all while feeling the love unfold. You’ll love this book instantly! I sure did. I’ll do a re-read with audio when the book comes out too. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for early access. It made my February bright.

Katherine Center's books, at their best, transcend the typical romance genre, offering well-developed characters and engaging plots that keep you hooked. Her 2024 book "The Rom-Commers" even earned a Goodreads Choice Award nomination.

While "The Love-Haters" may not be her finest work, it's still an enjoyable read. The story follows Katie Vaughn on a video production job in Key West, Florida, where she's tasked with saving her job. Center's vivid descriptions of Key West have piqued my interest in visiting.

The plot revolves around Katie's assignment to create a video about Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer – despite the fact that Katie can't swim. This leads to humorous situations, but also moments of surprisingly intense jeopardy for the main character.

I received a pre-release copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While this wasn't my favorite Center book, it was still quite enjoyable! I loved the setting, the premise, and the last 20% of the book had me on the edge of my seat! However, I didn't totally connect to either of the main characters. I found Katie's body issues almost a bit distracting. Hutch seemed almost too good to be real. And I really disliked the storyline of Katie's boss. Despite all that I still had a good time reading this book.

Katherine Center does it again with this quirky and unconventional love story. The main character, Katie, is so relatable it’s scary. She struggles with body image, will do just about anything to please her boss, and doesn’t know how to swim. All three of which contribute to the conflict of the story. She has to film a promo video of a U.S. Coast Guard hero who has no interest in doing so. If she succeeds, she keeps her job, but again, she can’t swim and also has a phobia of swimsuits in general because, you know, body issues. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be humming Heart and Soul for days afterwards. A solid romantic comedy read!

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a delightful rom-com that blends humor and heart with emotional depth. Katie Vaughn, a video producer at risk of losing her job, is sent to Key West to shoot a promotional video for Coast Guard swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. What follows is a mix of miscommunications, slow-burn romance, and personal growth.

Katie’s journey isn’t just about falling for Hutch—it’s a powerful exploration of learning to love and accept herself, which adds significant depth to the story. The slow-burn romance gives readers plenty of time to root for the characters, but it leaves you wanting a bit more depth in their connection, especially considering the time spent building it.

The first half of the book does an excellent job developing the romance and building tension between Katie and Hutch, but the latter half falters a bit. A plot twist feels somewhat forced, and the lack of resolution for certain character relationships and side stories is frustrating, especially since they were introduced.

The Love Haters blends humor, heart, and healing in a way that will resonate with readers looking for a story that goes beyond the usual rom-com fare. While it may not be my favorite work from Katherine Center, it’s still a solid, enjoyable read that explores the importance of self-love and the messy, wonderful nature of relationships. Look for this on shelves on May 20!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read some really dark romantasy, including mafia daddies, stalkers, monsters, aliens, and love stories about serial killers (who kill pedophiles and other killers for the funsies), but they didn’t make me as deeply uncomfortable as reading a grown woman, possibly a recovering anorexic, have a panic attack about a bathing suit. A bathing suit purchased at a regular store, not custom built three months in advance, or representing a large chunk of my discretionary spending for the month, or bought by my bra size with special reinforcements to keep my parts covered. A darling little swim suit. 🙄 A major theme is Katie learning love her body and to ignore internet trolls who want to tear down the ex-girlfriend of a famous singer/songwriter, but as someone who actually has been fat all my life, I have to resist the urge to throat punch a skinny bitch who wants validation that “no, she doesn’t look fat in her size two jeans” and agree that yes, her ear lobes are sooooooper cute. If Center had written about Kate Atonic instead of Katie, George Bailey would have had one or more frog-shaped chew toys within 24 hours of meeting him and the story would end with a “day in MY life” where I tell the internet that my ex was a cheating piece of shit and they can all go fuck themselves.

No spoilers, but the story line with Cole - his weird hyper-competitiveness, forcing Katie to lie, manipulating everyone, his own casual lies, and more - so cringe and unbelievable. The way he describes his female boss as looking man-hungry and a she-wolf on the prowl? “The winner gets to kiss my girl”? What the HELL, Center? A character like that needs a bigger karmic knockdown. We do not want to normalize men getting away with dehumanizing women, especially in women’s literature. This is meant to be our safe space, ma’am.

That said, Katherine Center is a lovely person, cute as a bug, a talented author with a solid body of work. This one just gave me the ick, just a little.