Katherine Center's storytelling is both touching and humorous, taking readers on a journey that is equally entertaining and transformative. The narrative explores themes of self-acceptance, bravery, and the intricacies of love, all within the lively setting of Key West. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is undeniable, and their exchanges are rich with clever banter and authentic connection.
Supporting characters, such as Hutch's vibrant Aunt Rue and his sweet rescue Great Dane, enhance the narrative by creating a rich tapestry of relationships and personal growth. The plot captivates, featuring moments that will elicit laughter, evoke tears, and ultimately leave you feeling warm and fulfilled.
"The "Love Haters" isn’t just another rom-com; it's a delightful adventure of self-love, bravery, and fresh starts, all wrapped in a wonderfully crafted romance filled with laughter. This book truly showcases why Center is a cherished choice for those who seek a romance story brimming with depth, humor, and a sprinkle of magic.
In summary, "The Love Haters" is a must-read that will captivate your heart and remind you of the beauty of embracing life's unexpected adventures. I truly cherished the beautiful moments that celebrate self-acceptance and the importance of embracing our bodies with love.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early copy to read! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and her as an author.

Katie is about to get laid off from her job as a video producer, so she agrees to take a job to create a video promoting rescue swimmers from the coast guard. If only she knew how to swim... She's not worn a swimsuit since her step mom told her to suck her stomach in and has dealt with body image problems ever since. Her co worker, Cole, insists she's the perfect person to do it, as he doesn't want to

She ends up in Key West to make the promo video and meets Hutch, Cole's brother and Rue, their aunt. It all goes swimmingly! This is another great book by Katherine Center! Read it.

Title: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Length: 320 pages
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
Genre: Romance
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice Level: closed door
Summary:
Burned by love and facing a layoff, video producer Katie Vaughn takes a career gamble: profiling rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson in Key West. There's just one problem: she can't swim. And Hutch is her coworker's estranged brother. As Katie navigates her lies, her attraction to Hutch, and the chaos of Key West (think hurricanes, conga lines, and stolen kisses), she'll have to face her fears to find love and maybe even herself.

Thoughts:
Initial thoughts- I could not put it down!!! Katherine Center always delivers the best mixture of romance, comedy, drama, and (dare I say) a little bit of danger?! She is the queen of making you fall in love while reading her stories, and this one is no exception. I feel like I can always relate to her FMCs, but this one in particular really struck a chord since she struggled a lot with body image. With the setting being in Key West, this book was like a little vacay in and of itself! If you love: FMC videographer, MMC Coast Guard rescue swimmer, found family, facing your fears, self acceptance, body positivity, a goofy Great Dane, and some lovable gal pals then you are IN FOR A TREAT. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Special thanks to the @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 stars
This is the fourth (or fifth) KC book I’ve read over the last year or so. To me, it started a bit slow, but once the story got going, I thoroughly enjoyed it, crying twice ... okay, three times, because I re-read a passage aloud to my husband so he would understand my tears - his response was that it was well written and that KC has a way with words that even he felt the emotion behind them. I’m also now endeared to a fictional large dog by the name of george bailey that reminds me of one of my sweet rescue pups.

“Joy is a kind of magic.” Katherine Center has (once again) created magic with this lovely, joyful story.

I am a huge believer that Katherine Center can do no wrong. Her books have a Texas tie-in that always makes her writing feel like home. In this book, Katie is a videographer based in Dallas, TX with a serious case of Chromophobia or fear of colors (I cannot relate). In the midst of layoffs at her firm, her boss, Cole, sends her to the Florida Keys to film an ad for the US Coast Guard— specifically following the member the media dubbed Pup Daddy when he rescued Jennifer Aniston's dog. The catch? Pup Daddy (AKA Hutch) is Cole's brother, and is expecting him. Not her. Oh, and one more little issue... Katie can't swim. Can Katie save her job, mend a family rift, avoid drowning, and get serious Hutch to lighten up? You'll have to read it to find out!

Katherine Center’s novels are the epitome of everything I love about the romance genre, and I honestly don’t know how she manages to make us readers feel so seen with every book she writes! There’s a scene in this book where the FMC talks about having to announce her weight to a group full of people that had me in a full-blown second-hand panic attack (if that’s a thing), because that’s what’s different about romance novels - readers are not just casual observers. We’re going through this experience with the characters. And sure, KC’s books deal with a lot of hard subjects, but she manages to take you through them in the gentlest way possible. They’re basically like free therapy 🩷.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a sun-soaked, laugh-out-loud rom-com that proves love—and life—are all about taking the plunge.

Katie Vaughn’s career is on the brink, and her only shot at saving it is an assignment she’s wildly unqualified for: filming a documentary on Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a ridiculously good-looking (and possibly love-hating) Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The problem? She can’t swim—and Hutch happens to be her coworker’s estranged brother.

What starts as a career move quickly spirals into a whirlwind of white lies, stolen kisses, and unexpected feelings. With an eccentric aunt, a scene-stealing Great Dane, and a hurricane threatening to upend everything, Katie finds herself facing not just the ocean, but her deepest fears.

Packed with Katherine Center’s signature charm, The Love Haters is a story about second chances, daring leaps, and discovering that love is worth the risk—even if it means getting in over your head.

Was The Love Haters one of favorites from Katherine Center? No. But it was still a fun and enjoyable read with some laugh out loud moments. Everything you want from this author.

This book has many romantic story aspects besides the one between Katie and Hutch. There are love stories between a sassy group of friends, a family who is still trying to heal from a tragic loss , a ride or die friend that would do anything for you, George Bailey the best wingman around… but also with Katie learning to love herself. Which many women will be able to relate including myself.

I give this book 3.5 because I feel like we as readers needed more into Hutch and Katies romance. It was a meant to be a slow burn but i feel like we needed more scenes with our leads because she falls fast for him. I wanted more of Hutch doing these fall worthy things to see why she felt the way she did..

The Author's Note was a beautiful touch to end the book with with a wonderful message so be sure to read that.

3.5/5

Did I look up what Sectoral Heterochromia was for an hour after Hutch mentioned the name? You bet I did. The more you know.

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

I like this romance it’s not to cheesy that makes you feel like crawling out of your skin. I think it tells a good story of hardship and hits some topics that are good for girls. It shows you a girl discovering grief but also through grief how she should have loved herself all along.

Katherine Center's books are just such a joy! This was so entertaining and fun from start to finish. Katie was so funny and relatable, I loved her inner monologue. Rue was also so sweet! I genuinely loved all the characters (except Cole… but he’s not supposed to be likable!)

I always enjoy escaping into a Katherine Center book. You know you'll laugh but also get into your feelings too. This one is a little different than most of her books because it's more about learning to love yourself than a true "romance" book.

I admired Katie for working through her issues/insecurities as most of us have our own battles we face. At times it did drag on a bit but doesn't that happen to us all? We get so into our own heads.

Hutch and George Bailey were great. I couldn't get enough of them. Rue was also such a delight and a strong woman, I want to be like her! The family bond/relationship between Hutch, Cole and Rue was definitely unique and inspiring. Cole as a friend/colleague though, meh.

I always enjoy KC's books though!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the eARC

I want to start off by saying I love Katherine Center books! I have enjoyed all of her books in the past. This one missed the mark for me a little. I went into this thinking it would be more of a love story between Katie and Hutch, but it was definitely more about Katie’s own journey and healing. Don’t get me wrong there were plenty of cute moments between them (the splinters, the bike ride, the interviews) but once Cole showed up in Key West it all went downhill for me. The lying was too much for me and it felt so wrong for Katie to facilitate that lie to Hutch at that point in their relationship. The rescue also felt off to me.
Rue was amazing and such a fun character! I loved the dynamic between her and Katie. It was great to see at the end of it all the relationship between Cole and Hutch start to heal as well.
I think if I started reading this book thinking it was more about Katie’s own healing journey and self love I would have rated it a little higher.
Thanks for the advanced read and I can’t wait to see how other readers felt!

WHAT A DELIGHT

I have read every book by Katherine Center and have never been disappointed. She has a way of writing such related characters and this one was no exception. Katie and Hutch were lovely to read about and I didn't want to leave them behind when the book was over.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Did I just fall in love with George Bailey, a Great Dane who absolutely stole the show in this book?! You bet I did! The Love Haters is such a fun and heartwarming story with loveable characters.

He is a coast guard rescue swimmer who just happens to be over the top handsome and closed off to love. She is a video producer who has been tasked with creating a documentary about rescue swimmers. “Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes and stolen kisses ensue” along with the sweetest love story and most hilarious dog. If you’re a Katherine Center fan, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up!

#bookadoration #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booktok #canadianbookstagram #canadianbookstagrammer #candianbookstagrammers #MBbookies🦬 #books #booklover #bookworm #bookish #bookadict #reading #booklove #bookreview #bookrecommendations #katherinecenter #thelovehaters #romcom
Thank you to @stmartinspress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid Center novel, and one which will appeal to light romcom fans. A quick, easy, fun little read- wouldn’t say it is my favourite of hers, but still has that charm we’ve come to know with her writing. I went in with very high expect as I really enjoyed her last two novels. This was “fine” A good read to fit in between heavier novels.

Admittedly not my favorite Katherine Center book which is sad because I had high hopes but turns out I just didn't like Katie and found her kind of annoying.

I mean it’s Katherine Center! She can do no wrong when it comes to romcoms. And Love Haters is no different. There is always a woman who comes to know and love herself deeply, with the help of a beautifully written leading man. And Hutch really is so swoon worthy! I enjoyed this book and really don’t think I’ll ever be tired of KCs work.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Katherine Center is a can’t miss author for me.

I loved this book. I read while on vacation and it was the perfect beach read.

5/5, no criticism. A rescue swimmer meets can’t swimmer videographer? Sure. Massive Great Dane that thinks they are a purse dog? Check. Honorary aunt/guardian after tragedy who is a force to be reckoned with? Yep.

Also includes powerful messages of the negativity and general impact of social media and how our words have power behind the screen and in person. Has an underlying journey about appreciation of the body that you’re in.

Loved it!