The Love Haters by Katherine Center

If I can say one thing about Katherine Center books, it is that she makes you feel things. I get so pulled into her stories, falling in love along with the characters and this story was no different. She had me at Coast Guard rescue swimmer who is also supposedly a grump and I knew I would enjoy this book. While that actually played less of a part of the story than I expected, it was a great set-up.

I loved Katie and Hutch but Rue and the Gals were a great addition to the build of their relationship. Both Katie and Hutch (as well as Cole for that matter) have STUFF and this story was less of a romance and more about the personal growth that Katie has with herself. The found family trope is strong and the healing that others found in the book was also a lovely read.

George Bailey and his parts of the book added so much humor. I highlighted several situations with him and I loved how he was woven into the story. Great Danes are gentle giants and the sweetest dogs.

While there is plenty of swoony moments where Hutch just says or does the most romantic thing, this was definitely one of Katherine’s books with a more Women’s Fiction focus over romance. I tend to prefer a stronger romance plot so that was slightly disappointing to me personally. It is still a great read that I would recommend to new readers of her books and if you are already a fan, you will find all of the things that we love most about her books here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. The thoughts and opinions of this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses

Listen, a Katherine Center book is an auto-read for me. I squealed when I was notified of the ARC. But…The Love Haters did not work for me. It was meandering in a way that felt like this was a first draft of all possible story line ideas and none were edited out. It also felt strongly like the author was trying to teach us a lesson. And she did. By hitting us over the head with it. At the sake of the story. Maybe even multiple lessons were thrown in for good measure. In the Author’s Note, she admits to exactly this. I understand her reasoning but this was not a book I enjoyed reading.
Honestly, the ending made me angry. I live in Florida and my community suffered through two back to back hurricanes last year. You’re telling me the Coast Guard is going to prioritize rescuing a dog over a person!!? Let alone the person who the rescuer IS IN LOVE WITH?
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I really enjoyed The Love Haters. It was funny, lighthearted, and an easy read. Hutch is an interesting romantic interest, but I wish we got to know a bit more about him: his back story, his training, some more of his rescues. The ending was sweet and predictable. The body image spiel felt a bit forced throughout the novel but was still welcome - body positivity is always good! Rue is loveable and ends up being much more central to the plot than anticipated. Overall a great, cozy, and easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was my first Katherine Center read but won’t be my last!

The book I needed to get out of a romance reading swamp - I like to have themed books for how I curate my monthly TBR and reading "The Love Haters" was the perfect read to finish out February.

I'm newer to romance, but heard fantastic things about Katherine Center and I love how she wrote about these characters that aren't cookie-cutter. Katie for example is different, quirky and meets Hutch under different conditions than what you would expect for a meet cute.

Binged this within days, and will be back to read more of Katherine Center's novels.

Thank you Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC!

The company where Katie Vaughn works as a video producer is facing major layoffs and it looks like Katie’s head is firmly on the chopping block since she was newly hired. But a colleague, Cole, offers her the opportunity to film a promotional video of a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, Hutch, which will probably save her job. There’s just one teensy problem. One of the major requirements is that she swims. And she can’t. But one small lie won’t hurt anything, right? Not when the assignment is in warm, sunny Key West. Let’s just say that Katie’s lack of swimming ability is not the only lie that flies around in Katherine Center’s big-hearted, funny The Love Haters.

Let me count the ways that Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson was the perfect romance hero (I can say that, can’t I since he’s a literal hero?! 😄). Despite how his brother, Cole, felt about him (always frowning, never talking), he was nothing like his brother indicated to Katie. They clicked.

Besides being a romantic love story, The Love Haters is also a love story about learning to love yourself, which Katie does throughout the novel, finally finding true acceptance when her life is on the line (unrelated to find her acceptance, mind you.) And the love between best friends who have been there forever and found family who appear in your life unexpectedly.

As usual, Katherine Center imparts wisdom and an unwavering belief in people throughout her writing making this novel something to be treasured during difficult times. If I had to make one gripe, it would be that these 320 pages flew by before I knew it and before I was ready to say good-bye. But it wasn’t just the story I needed more of. It was the life affirming qualities on every page. The need to surround yourself with people who care about you and build you up, not tear you down. And just being there in the moment an act so taken for granted in current life. So. Yeah, a few hundred more pages of Katherine Center’s optimism and kindness would have been appreciated by this soul.

Unfortunately for you, I have chosen to read and review several months out from publication (May 20) so you’ll have to wait for this particular joy. You can, however, check out her back titles (the optimism in The Love Haters didn’t just pop up out of no where. 😉 How to Walk Away was the book that introduced me to Center.)

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sending me such a wonderful book!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is more than just a romance—it’s a heartwarming journey of self-love, resilience, and seeing yourself through kinder eyes. Katie, the FMC, battles not just external critics but the inner voice that’s been shaped by them. Enter Hutch, the swoon-worthy MMC who falls first, falls harder, and shows Katie she’s so much more than the negativity she’s internalized.

From the moment Hutch casually compliments the unique “pie slice” in Katie’s eye to when he reassures her during swim lessons (“I like to blow bubbles”), their connection feels authentic, tender, and earned. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story with a twist—not just about falling for someone else, but about learning to love yourself again.

This book is both a love letter to the soul and an action-packed, emotional rollercoaster I didn’t see coming. It’s packed with tension, slow-burn romance, and moments so cute I was literally kicking my feet. An easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read, and I’ll definitely be snagging a physical copy. Katie and Hutch have officially claimed space in my heart.

The romance checked all the feel good, heartwarming boxes, and the story itself did a wonderful job with a sensitive subject such as body image. I also thought it was super cool how Katherine Center did so much research on the coast guard rescue missions. I just really, really loved this book.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC early before the release!

The Love Haters follows Katie, a professional video producer who is about to get laid off from her job from work. When a coworker, Cole, offers her a job to make a career-making gig profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch, she can't say no. The only problem is, she doesn't know how to swim and Hutch is Cole's brother- and they don't get along.

Overall, I enjoyed this! This book heavily covers topics of self image, self love, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, etc. While I believe it was discussed very well, it was a little hard to read at times and could definitely be triggering to those who also struggle with their own bodies- so be warned. With that being said, watching Katie learn to love herself was so rewarding and heartwarming. She is such a strong main character who is able to overcome so much in a short amount of time.

Hutch also grew on me throughout this story. He noticed all the small things about Katie, and was so thoughtful in everything he said. As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, he started off a little uptight, but he quickly began to melt his hard exterior to let Katie in. I loved his great dane, and the relationship he had with him. I also really appreciated how emotional his family backstory was because it allowed me to feel closer to him and closer to the story.

One thing that I wasn't a huge fan of was the small moments where the author broke the fourth wall. There were times in the story when Katie would almost address the reader in a way. For example at one point she says, "Had you forgotten I'd have to do that..". While this is very small, it pulled me out of the story for a second and it made me feel like Katie knew I was just an onlooker reading the story? I'm not really sure how to describe it, but it wasn't my favorite aspect.

The ending made me so proud of Katie as she overcame so much to accomplish what she did. I also enjoyed learning more about the video production field and everything that goes into that! This was an overall fun read, but also one that covered many heavy topics. Thank you again NetGalley!

Katherine Center does it again! This time, with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, a video production manager at a mid-level company, and a group of the most charming older ladies you will ever meet. The bulk of the book takes place in Key West, and if this doesn't make you immediately google "vacation in Key West," you must already live there or hate sun or something.

Unique to Center's books is the exploration of a deeper issue, which is why her books differ from the basic rom-com formula. In this case, it's body image. Our MC, Katie, has always had a fight with her brain and her body about what she should look like and what she does look like, and Center provides the perfect backdrop to explore that in her book. I felt seen by this, and I am confident that so many other readers will too.

This may be my only book I have rather lower than 5 stars from this author. Maybe I had high hopes. But I felt this love story was under developed. The chemistry didn’t feel built up enough between the couple.
Don’t get me wrong there were lots of cute funny moments that I laughed out loud and a lot of parts I absolutely adored about their relationship.
I just needed to see more of a built up between their relationship.

Many thanks to st martins press and netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Love Haters was so much fun. I loved the characters and the book kept surprising me with the direction it took. I read it all in one sitting until I finished it after 2 am. Like most of her books, this one features psychology research woven into the plot which served as an opportunity for me to make sure I knew content for my upcoming psych test (created a culture of appreciation, etc.). Definitely a good romance book to pick up if you want to take a break from the world imploding.

📚 The Love Haters
✍ Katherine Center
📖 Women's Fiction/Romance
⭐3.5/5
🌶️
➡ A life-changing assignment is exactly what Katie needs to save her documentary filmmaker career and she gets just that in the form of a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard and Katie is ready to heed the call of duty...even if it means she'll have to get brave and admit she can't swim, put on a bathing suit and train to survive a water crash. She's warned that the feature of her film, Tom Hutchenson may be brisk, grumpy and cold but she finds that he is anything but and they quickly build a connection. But when something severs their quickly building friendship (and maybe something more?), Katie will have to figure out who she really is in order to assert herself and claim the one she loves.

🙏 A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of The Love Haters. All opinions are my own.
◾
🎯 What I loved: There are always so many things to love about Katherine Center books and this one was no different. I ADORED the side characters in The Love Haters- especially Rue who is a funky, build-you-up, no-nonsense grandma type and George Bailey, Hutch's dog, who absolutely shined as the star of many scenes. While it took a bit longer than it usually does for me to get into this one, I really enjoyed the last 40% where there was a ton of exciting action.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: For me, Katie's body issues overshadowed her chemistry with Hutch. I appreciated her growth as a character and love that this was a balanced novel (half romance) but felt like something was missing as far as the romance in this one- the relationship continuation was even missing as its own feature in the epilogue. I think I also craved some sort of closure with Katie's ex- or at least a scene where she communicated with him because their relationship was talked about so much.
◾
Read if you love:
*half women's fiction, half romance books
*rescue missions
*self-discovery & reclaiming confidence
*miscommunication tropes
◾
See also: Next to You, Built to Last, The Bodyguard

A WHOLE 10 STARS!

Katherine Center has established herself as one of my favorite authors and an auto-read for me! This one was the most hilarious, but also heartfelt one yet! Chapter 11 had me LOLing

How’s this for a meet cute: girl who’s afraid of water, herself, bathing suits, herself in bathing suit and easily embarrassed, gets plowed over by a huge dog and pulled along the concrete pool deck…….then, said dog’s owner, the guy she’s supposed to be documenting, has to pull all the splinters out of her backside! oh man, talk about exposure therapy. We could stop here and call this rom-com “Haunches with Hutch” ;)

I have never been to the Florida Keys but after hearing about Aunt Rue’s
half resort / half retirement home set of cottages, I want to go! Sounds simply charming! Center’s writing made me want to up and go visit!

I instantly took a liking to Aunt Rue’s character. Her group of elderly gal friends was adorable, and Rue herself was so likable and charming. However with Katie, the body-image issues seem to kinda drag on at the beginning and through the book. Her fears, her insecurities, all of it. Seemed a bit much to me. She just went on and on about her body negatively, I would’ve preferred a character who was thankful for the wonderful body God made and the many things it can do—even in a bathing suit. Even so, Katie grew and was able to work through these things.

It was interesting to learn so much about the coast guard through reading this novel. What a unique plot idea! Something that tied into making this one so funny was George Bailey! Hilarious! And that’s a lot coming from me, because I am NOT a dog person.

The character growth in Cole was just amazing. And the way Katherine used his brother to mold and shape the character—was just everything! I was full on sobbing by the end of Chapter 22. Leave it to KC to bring such joy, unity and redeeming light out of a dark and broken relationship.

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

I adore Katherine Center so much it breaks my heart to have to do this—not that 4 stars is a bad rating, but she’s usually an automatic 5 that feels like a 7 for me. I was ridiculously happy that she chose the theme of self-love for her next book, but at times the message was so “insistent” —or maybe it was the way it was delivered, I don’t know—that the story felt more like a self-help book than a romcom, making me wonder if it had truly been penned by Center. That said, everything she always excels at was still there—well-drawn, hugely likable characters (including the dog!), witty banter, and a love story that sparkles. And yes, I still devoured it in half a day—thanks you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advance copy!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was a WOW book for me. I love the characters, and I am going to be sad in May when it's new to others...I may have to read it again.

There is a lot going on in this book, but that is what makes it great. The love, humor, self loathe and pity, hate, lying, shocking past, urgent present, and friendship all mix into one beautiful story that has me laughing and crying.

Synopsis: Katie has a lot to offer the world: she is witty, smart, kind, and beautiful. The problem? She doesn't realize any of this! Katie's self-confidence has been completely shattered when she was dumped by her newly TikTok famous tool bag--I mean fiancé. On top of her personal life woes, Katie is also facing an impending lay-off at her job. So, when she is offered a job to create a documentary video about a US Coast Guard hero Tom Hutcheson, she capitalizes on the chance to head to Florida to learn about his water rescues, even if she herself can't swim.

Review: This is a true love story with an important twist: Katie has to learn how to love herself first. In a world where social media seems to prey on women and corrupt their beliefs of beauty, Katie is forced to cannon-ball into waters of learning self-worth. The focus on a relationship with herself is paramount content for my fellow millennials who grew up with teen magazines telling us that a size 8 is plus-size and 1200 calories is sufficient. The same is true for young women who are currently growing up in a filter-heavy landscape. I truly appreciated this examination of self-love.

Finally, can a main character have witty banter with herself? Or, rather, with the reader? The hilarious rhetorical questions Katie asks herself indicate that, yes, they can. She was beyond funny, and it made me truly relate with her even more!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Katherine Center for the eARC!

The Love Haters, by Katherine Center is a heartfelt exploration of love in all its forms - romantic, familial, and self-love. At the heart of the novel are Hutch and Katie, two characters who, despite their claims of hating love, reveal through their actions and relationships how much they truly care for those around them.

Hutch, with his frowning exterior, and Katie, who’s learned to protect herself from emotional vulnerability, initially seem like unlikely candidates for love. However, as the story unfolds, they both show immense love and support for their families, friends, animals, and ultimately themselves. The beautiful contradiction in their characters highlights the complexity of love—it’s not just about romance, but also about the ways we show up for others and for ourselves.

Center’s writing is witty, poignant, and layered with emotional depth, capturing how love can be messy, unexpected, and transformative. The Love Haters, is a reminder that love isn't always easy, but it’s often in the quiet, selfless acts that it truly shines.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a lot of Katherine Center’s work and it can be a bit hit or miss for me sometimes. Overall I do like this book. It follows the rom com format and having the MMC be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer is interesting and I like that it kind of kept the TV/Film industry theme from The Romcommers. What I didn’t love was I felt like the way the FMC was handling her body dysmorphia in the beginning felt downplayed. It felt like we were tip toeing around calling it an eating disorder which is what it was. By not naming that it made it feel like what the FMC was doing to cope with her body dysmorphia less serious and not in fact very dangerous to her health. While she does recover from this and we do see resolution on this I think it’s important to name these things. In a world where calling something an eating disorder brings a lot of shame for the person going through it doesn’t sit right with me to not name it for what it is especially when statically your audience is more likely to have experienced these issues. I do hope there will be trigger warnings at the beginning for these topics as well.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s my first Katherine Center novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. The writing felt like I was FaceTiming my best friend or reading a diary. I loved all the characters and their dynamic, the romance was charming, and the emotions and problems the main character was dealing with felt relatable. I couldn’t put it down! Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc.

I am a HUGE Katherine Center fan and I was very excited to get this arc from netgalley and it didn't disappoint. This was a solid romantic read for me and I found myself really enjoying the story and characters. I want more of Rue and her gal pals! BUT what I didn't expect was that this was going to be a story about the love/hate relationships that we often times have with ourselves. In this story, Katie has had a rough time with love and has found herself in a space where she barely tolerates herself. I like how Center handled Katie's self hate and helped her find her footing in her relationship with herself, along with finding love again in the world. I also really enjoyed the coast guard information. I didn't really understand all the things that are involved and learned a bit! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion. I can't wait to read what Center writes next!