Katherine Center is a new auto-buy author for me. Even though she does not do any spice in her books I always find her work to be a cozy read that still has some emotion and humor. The Love Haters was no exception. I read this quickly because it was really cute. Katie was a relatable FMC and had a lot of character growth throughout the book and Hutch was boyfriend goals. I probably would have rated it 5 stars but it got a little crazy with the drama at the end. To me, it felt a little over the top. Also, I felt like the eating disorder that the FMC had was not taken very seriously so I would definitely steer clear of this if that is a sensitive topic.

That being said it was still a really fun read and I would definitely recommend if you're looking for something low angst and fun.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Katherine Center can do no wrong. I’ve read so many of her books and they always put a smile on my face.

This book was challenging for me. I love KC so much, and her talent as a writer is really obvious in this book as has been in her others, but there were problems here that I couldn't ignore. First and foremost, there should have been a trigger warning at the front instead of an author's note at the end. For people with eating disorders or body image issues, there should have been something warning them front and center. If I had known this would have been focused on that instead of the misleading title of "love haters" coupled with the cover, I would have gone into it with a completely different mindset. I don't feel like the title is appropriate for what this story actually is. I felt like the main character was hard to get behind for a long time until maybe the end. The character of Cole forcing her to go to Florida to meet with her brother in his stead was super annoying and the lack of explanation until later was suspect, and there really was never a redeeming arc for Cole. It was a lot of back and forth between characters with no real dialogue, just an explanation of events - it happened with Hutch and Katie, and it also happened with Sullivan - a description was given of the events without any details, which was strange and also unlike KC. It almost felt like it was added after the fact.

The one thing that I did like was the hurricane scene. I felt like it showed the growth of the character.... UNTIL.... she decided to give the 911 dispatcher the wrong weight!!! That wasn't growth, that was backwards! I also felt like the first 911 dispatcher that was very dismissive was highly unlike what those people are trained to do and I didn't like that either. I do enjoy a good climax and she gave it to us with this one, but the rest of it wasn't as redeeming as I'd like it to be. I REALLY love this author and I'm really upset that I didn't love this one as much as I love her other books, but the combination of unlikable characters, lack of storytelling through dialogue/interaction, a plotline that falls flat, and the author's note at the end instead of the beginning was just tough to get behind. I am giving 3 stars just for the sake of readability because she is quick and witty and very easy to get engaged in.

This was a cute romance read. I liked that the story grabs you and gives warm fuzzy feelings.

Katie is the ex- of a famous singer who is now trying to live her life as a normal person, out of the public. As part of her job, she ends up in an assignment making a promotional video for the Coast Guard but she doesn't know how to swim... the drama starts there.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Ok listen I LOVE Katherine Center. I'm giving this book 4 stars and that actually hurts a little.

I adored Katie and Beanie. Rue and The Gals were perfection.... Hutch was delightful, but I wanted more depth from him. He has so much to unpack that we never get to see. In fact a lot of the actual "falling in love" happened off page. Katie recounts how much fun they are having and how natural their relationship felt, but we don't see much that happening as much as we were TOLD it was happening.

I just feel like this book lacked the normal depth and character growth I've come to expect with KC's books. What happens in the book is great, but it wasn't nearly enough. I just wanted more hearth and soul.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors for good reason. The main character's voice in each of her novels is always so distinct and witty (even without trying to be), and The Love Haters was no exception. While low on steam, Center always delivers stories high on drama, making me laugh out loud and try to figure out what can even happen next. Aside from the main characters, Katie and Hutch, the secondary characters were absolute gold, with my favorite being George Bailey, the Great Dane (yes, he's a dog). I can always count on Center's books to brighten my day so I knew picking this one up would lift my spirits. This one publishes 5/20!!

absolutely devoured Katherine Center’s The Love Haters, and let me tell you, it’s a rom-com that completely stole my heart! The story follows Katie, a video producer who takes on a challenging assignment with the Coast Guard, working alongside the incredibly charming Hutch.

What made this book special was how relatable and genuine the characters felt. Katie’s journey of self-discovery is both hilarious and touching. She’s awkward, struggling with her own insecurities, but ultimately grows in the most heartwarming way. Hutch is basically a golden retriever in human form - kind, heroic, and absolutely adorable (especially with his Great Dane, George Bailey).

The book isn’t just a typical romance - it’s a deep dive into self-love and personal growth. Center masterfully blends laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional depth. I found myself giggling one moment and feeling deeply moved the next. The witty banter, the unexpected plot twists, and the incredible character development kept me completely hooked.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ok I'm not normally a romance girlie. So this review does not come lightly. I absolutely loved this story. It has everything I love in a novel.

Main characters making questionable decisions ✅
Dogs ✅
Light romance ✅
Cozy ✅
Beachy ✅

I look forward to more from her! If you don't love smut, but like a good story with a romantic storyline, this is for you!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC and chance to read this absolutely delightful book.

The Love Haters was another hard to put down, page turner from one of my all time favorite romance authors! It was filled with all the typical warm fuzzy feelings and magic that you come to expect from Katherine Center books. Ms. Center’s writing style was amazing and on point as always and I just loved the characters and their development and the banter between them. Another incredible love story from the queen of closed door romance!

There is something so wholesome and sweet about Katherine Center books. This book blends a somewhat absurd situation (full of fake dating, grumpy/sunshine characters, fish out water job) with real, human problems--- broken hearts, body image issues, troubled sibling relationships, and loss of parents. Somehow, it all works together to provide a sweet escape for readers. Overall, a quick and easy read full of Center's trademark charm and humor.

Thanks to St. Marten's Press for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this novel. I absolutely love everything Katherine Center writes.
Loved the relationship between Katie and Hutch. The novel is full of hope, love and friendships.

Overall this was a good story. I enjoy Katherine’s writing a lot, so for fans of Katherine looking for a lighter romance read, this will likely fit the bill! I had a few moments where I was a little disappointed. The pacing of the story felt a little bit uneven sometimes, and I was hoping for a little bit more depth in the relationships with some of the side characters. I was also hoping for a little more depth in the heavier topics that were covered. I feel like the story touched on confidence and body image issues, but didn’t really dive as deep as I was hoping for. I did enjoy the setting of the book, and felt like that was described vividly, and that was a lot of fun!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ebook!

Katherine Center is always a must-read if you're looking for a fun, easy, rom-com style read. I always find her books to be fast paced and fun - The Love Haters was no exception. I found the plot to be unique and engaging and the characters were very likeable. It quickly drew me in and was difficult to put down! This book was an amazing escape. I also really appreciated the message about body positivity. Another hit from Katherine Center! 4.5/5 stars from me!

Katherine Center books always warm my heart and this one was no different. Not only did she mention Noah Kahan, but the dog plays a crucial role in this novel. A heartwarming story about family, loss, love, and moving on.

Katie's job is on the line when her recently divorced boss goes on a tirade. In order to save her, a coworker offers her a once in a lifetime chance to prove herself. However, his motives are deeper than just wanting to save her job. Katie learns to move on from her heartbreak and start anew. Who better to learn from that one of the US Coast Guards finest rescuer divers? Our main character also learns to love herself in the process and appreciate the curves and imperfections of her own self.

I love Katherine Center books and this one did not disappoint. I love her books because the characters are so relatable, and there is so much humor in her books. This was a lovely rom com that was surprisingly deep. I think that a lot of people will see themselves in Katie. I especially loved the supporting characters in this book- Rue was charming and the dog was perfection. While this was not my favorite Katherine Center book, it was still a joy to read!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a fun contemporary romance between Katie, a corporate videographer, and Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and the subject of Katie’s next project. The book follows Katie as she grapples with fear over everything from her inability to swim, to her inability to love herself.

What I loved about this book? it gripped me instantly. The writing was snappy and fun, the storyline was intriguing and easy to follow, the setting was vibrant and summery, and the romance was palpable and believable. I finished this in under 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down.

I did have some gripes with this book however, namely that there was nothing in the description of the book to signify that there would be such a heavy focus on body dysmorphia. This is not something I struggle with personally, and I even found it a bit triggering to read in the beginning (simply by virtue of being a woman in a patriarchal society).
I think it would’ve been much more effective if Katie was simply dealing with insecurity vs talking about how she wouldn’t eat more than 1000 calories in a day and couldn’t handle it if her thighs touched - this crosses the threshold into disordered eating and should be handled with extra care.

If an author is going to venture into a heavy topic like they need to be prepared to have a serious conversation about it and, in this case, it simply felt like a convenient plot device. For example, it didn’t feel realistic that within a matter of days Katie went from not even being able to put on a one-piece bathing suit in the privacy of her home to wearing an “ultra sexy” and revealing swimsuit in front of a room full of men.

All of this being said, most of this commentary was relegated to the very beginning of the book, and once I got past it, I really enjoyed myself. Reading this made me want to read more of Katherine Center’s books. I like her writing and I think, barring a few of the elements I listed, this could have been a favourite of mine. Being mindful of trigger warnings, I would absolutely recommend this book, especially if you like authors such as Emily Henry or Christina Lauren.

I enjoyed the premise of this book! Katie is in danger of losing her job as a film maker in the documentary industry. A unique opportunity arises that will put her in the limelight and save her job. She is sent to film a short promotion video for the Coast Guard featuring "Pup Daddy"/Hutch, a rescue swimmer that saved Jennifer Aniston's dog and became famous. Unsurprising Hutch is devastatingly attractive and responds favorably to Katie's presence, honestly any reader could tell he was intrigued by Katie from the first meeting. And Katie liked what she saw as well.

While this is branded as a romance, the focus shifted nore towards self love and healing from heartbreak, which was a nice addition. I enjoyed Katie and Hutch together, but longed for something more. The first half of the book felt well paced and exciting, I could feel the longing between the characters and was looking forward to what the second half held. Katie's friend Beanie was a fantastic addition to the story. She is the best friend everyone deserves, someone that helps you see why you are loveable and deserving. Rue was another great addition to the story. Without Rue and Beanie the story would have been dry.

My one critique of the book overall: I think the web of lies and blackmailing got out of control in the second half and pulled from the enjoyment of the small amount of romance in the book. I get that there has to be some type of tension and problem to make the book more realistic and interesting, but it only annoyed me and felt a little over the top.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A quick and easy read that I wished delved a little deeper on some of the heavier themes like body image and grief. It felt like the book couldn't decide if it wanted to just be a breezy rom-com or something deeper which led to a bit of whiplash as a reader. It was still a fun read and perfect to break up some of the winter blues with the Key West setting! I always look forward to a new Katherine Center book.

I loved this book! Katherine Center’s book never fail to leave me disappointed & are a guaranteed feel-good, happy ending story. I loved Hutch & Katie (and George Bailey)! I was wondering where the conflict would come in and really enjoyed the storm aspect. It wasn’t something I was able to predict and kept me on my toes. Really enjoyed :)

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’ve loved many of Center’s books, but this one sadly missed the mark for me. I still enjoyed it, but I was a little bored throughout and couldn’t connect to the characters.

This one follows Katie Vaughn as she travels to Key West to create a profile on Tom Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. This is for her job and will hopefully keep her from being laid off. She meets Hutch, along with his Aunt Rue and rescue Great Dane, and things escalate.

My main problem with this one is that I couldn’t connect to the main characters and didn’t feel the chemistry between them. I agree with other reviewers that have said it’s because there are too many tropes involved and things become jumbled. My favorite character, though, was Aunt Rue - I thought she was so fun and I could really picture her and her store.

A big part of this story is Katie’s relationship with her body and learning self-love. I enjoyed seeing her journey with this, but I thought it was a little heavy-handed and mentioned it A LOT. This may just be a personal issue though!

Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book, and gave it 3 stars. It would be a fun beach read and I’m sure some people would enjoy it more than I did.