Loved this book!! Super cute fun read. Rue and George (the Great Dane) make the book even better. Highly recommend.

I've never met a Katherine Center book I didn't love. I'm so glad I got to read an ARC of this one through Netgalley. What a fun story. The FMC was SO loveable and also incredibly relatable with her insecurities and body issues. What woman hasn't felt that at some point? Her realization that she can be her own champion and she doesn't need the world's validation was so moving. Her transformation from someone who isn't brave enough to put on a swimsuit to someone who will face an actual hurricane was inspiring. And the MMC was an absolute hero in every way. Totally crush-worthy book boyfriend material! The only thing that could have improved this for me was more detail in the epilogue- I wanted a few more moments of banter between Hutch and Katie, I just wanted ready to say goodbye to them yet. This was a great book that I will definitely reread and recommend to others! Thanks for another delightful story, Katherine!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down

(This review is based on my reading of an arc copy)

This story had some plot points that felt a little outlandish, and I wouldn’t typically care how outrageous a story gets, but it sort of seemed like it was being held back at certain points, which sometimes left me feeling a little deflated. However, I loved how much the author allows the reader to experience what Katie sees and feels as each event plays out—big and small. The epilogue put a nice little bow on the story that read to me like the end credits rolling on a 00s feel-good movie in the sweetest way.

Solid 4 stars…I really enjoy KC. So easy to slip into her world…laugh and enjoy the story. I really liked this story but felt a little bit shortchanged on the ending with the romance. Would’ve like more of a wrap up for the main characters. Absolutely LOVED Katie’s story with her relationship to her body and her growth by the end. Thanks NetGalley and author for this early read!

Katherine Center is an automatic yes, every time. If she wrote it I’m reading it. I have just a few left before I have read everything she has published. All of them are good. I can’t say I love them all. But this one…I did!!

George Bailey -had me laughing to the point I had to put the book down a couple of times!!

Rue- I want one!!! (The Gals and all)

Cole and Hutch- the relationship between them was very real. Being a sibling is tough and not always a beautiful, loving, picture-perfect relationship. Things happen and brothers and sisters don’t always see eye to eye.

Sullivan- well there is always one you don’t like.

Katie- she was very likable and relatable. I’m glad the body image issues were brief and superficial. It’s a real thing and should be taken seriously but not diving too deep into that worked well for this story.

Beanie- we all should have a person like this - or close!!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for a digital copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

In my eyes, Katherine Center can do no wrong. Another beautiful love story that included body positivity and self love. I loved the connection Katie had with Hutch and their ability to ‘heal’ each other. I can’t wait for this to get published so others can enjoy this read. *chefs kiss*

I'm so sad--I just couldn't get into this one! I just love Center's work, so I plan to try again. I had a similar experience with another one of her books--that I had to really push to get invested and then I LOVED it. But this one has been even more of a struggle. I think I'm about at the 50% mark where I'm DNFing/pausing.

I will probably try again, as I just lover Center's stories--but this one did not grasp me. I think, also, the focus on image and diet culture just isn't one I've dealt with. I think it's needed and a valuable exploration--one of my favorite things about Center as that she'll tackle hard issues in a romcom. But I didn't relate to the character, at all. I do think she will resonate with many readers, though.

So, I still would recommend this book! Her books are such a lovely force in the romcom genre--so read!

I absolutely loved this book! Katherine Center is a master at weaving together an intriguing and unique love story. The story centers on Katie (a documentary filmmaker) and Hutch (a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, aka Pup Daddy, an internet sensation who rescued a certain celebrity's dog) and their journey to creating a promotional video for the Coast Guard. The only problem is Katie can't swim... I had such a good time reading this book, and I think it would make an excellent beach read. I would throw in a trigger warning to those who struggle with Body Dismorphia or ED to be cautious when reading this story as that is a prevalent theme.

Thanks to Katherine Center, Net Galley, and to St Martin's press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Can we all just agree that Katherine Center is one of the best romantic fiction writers of our time? Yes? Great - moving on...as a surprise to no one, Center hit it out of the park again with The Love Haters!!! Katie was such a fun and honest heroine, especially when it comes to body image and the constant pressures and insecurities that women are facing far too often these days. Many of the battles she's fighting are against herself throughout the book, and Center wrote about these with such grace and understanding. I loved Hutch and the way their story came together, but I loved seeing Katie's relationship with herself grow even more! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I'd give it six if I could!)

I'm not exaggerating in any way when I say that I dropped all of my responsibilities to read the second half of this book in one sitting. And that's a big deal, y'all. <i>I skipped brushing my teeth for this book.</i>

Katherine Center is known for her humor and fun characters, and that combined with the delightful tropical setting made this book exactly the break from reality that I, for one, needed right now. Was I a little biased in favor of this book because <i>I</i> wanted to be on assignment in the Florida Keys with Rue and her gals? NO COMMENT. We're allowed to love books for any reason, and the vacation vibes of this book were immaculate.

While often the self-effacing-but-funny "doesn't know she's hot but is actually secretly so stunning every guy she's ever seen is ready to fight for her" heroine + hottest guy ever who's super macho and (what??) actually has DEPTH oh and also KINDNESS IN HIS HEART combination can tend to feel overdone (I feel like I read 12 books with that formula last year), Katherine Center made it work this time around. Because Katie...is <i>actually</i> funny, and her awkwardness is <i>actually</i> believable without being over the top, and probably most importantly, she's not just a doormat—if she ends up heroically swept up in some strong Coast Guard arms every once in a while, that's not because she didn't try to save herself first. And, maybe <i>because</i> Katie works so well as a lead, her romantic interest works even better. He's respectful! Kind! Funny! Very into dogs! As a certified Book Grinch™ who is more likely to pronounce "she could do better" than to swoon over a romantic lead...I reluctantly pronounce Hutch swoonworthy.

THE GOOD
• A romance that's actually really cute
• Hijinks with an adorable giant dog
• Unconditional love from an aunt character obsessed with fluorescent colors (why is this my favorite trope?)
• You'll learn SO MUCH about the Coast Guard (fun at parties, probably?)
• No bad sex scenes (because there are no sex scenes)

THE NOT-SO-GOOD
• Really, really questionable depiction of an eating disorder—definite trigger warning there
• As always with romance, if ya like the tropes, you'll like the book. If ya don't like the tropes, it won't be for you. I'm not a trope expert, so I'll probably miss some, but this book contains: <spoiler>miscommunication, some mild fake dating and forced proximity</spoiler>

The last Katherine Center book I read was 2 stars, so know that this 5-star rating was well earned. I'll consider this a redemption.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are, of course, my own.

“I’m saying that when I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. And waiting to see you again. And we’ve spent all day, every day together for weeks now-and it already feels like it’ll never be enough.”

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Release date: May 20th, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:16+
Spice:none

Thank you Katherine Center and Netgalley for this arc! This book was PERFECTION! It was impossible to put down. The characters in the story were AMAZING! Katie is me. I found her so relatable. She’s an anxious over thinker and I just love her so much. I’m fully convinced we would be friends. Her character growth was amazing and felt so realistic. Now onto Hutch who has now been put on my official book boyfriend list. I’m in LOVE with him! He is just such a nice guy. He’s kind and funny and I love him. Loved learning about his background and everything about him. The relationship between Katie and Hutch had me giggling so much. The banter was incredible and the way they just felt so comfortable talking to each other about hard things that’ve happened to them made me so happy. They’re perfect for each other. Every time I think about them and this book I smile. The side characters were also great. I want to be like Rue when I grow up. She is such an awesome lady. Her and The Gals made me laugh so much. Overall I just loved this book so much! It’s such a beautiful story that I’ll be thinking about for a while. You should definitely pick this up once it releases!

My favorites books are the ones that have a great love story, but are also SO much more than that. Katherine Center has a knack for doing this really well. Plus she makes *every character* in the book interesting and funny and multi faceted. I laughed multiple times, and got teary eyed as well. Loved the theme of accepting yourself and body positivity. The plot went off the rails a bit after the halfway point, but then redeemed itself toward the end. Loved it!

4 stars rounded up to 4.5! The Love Haters was such a fun read - a true romantic comedy that follows Katie as she travels to Key West in hopes of keeping her job. There she meets Rue and Hutch who both help her learn how to love again (both herself and others). It’s a heartwarming story that covers some serious topics like grief and body image while also throwing in many laughs along the way. It was another wonderful Katherine Center book that I couldn’t put down. Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC!

TW: Eating Disorder/Body Dysmorphia (there is no trigger warning before the book starts and no list of resources for those that might need them) This is a large part of the plot and it is not mentioned in any description I have seen so far.

Katie Vaughn, a video producer that’s about to be laid off, has agreed to make a promotional video for the Coast Guard and hopefully a “day in the life” profile of the one and only Tom “Hutch” Hutchison. Yes, the famous rescue swimmer that saved Jennifer Anniston’s dog. Once Katie gets to Key West, she is contemplating why exactly she accepted this job: she can’t swim and Hutch is her Cole’s brother, the one set her up with this opportunity. Katie and Hutch end up spending a lot of time together, at the Coast Guard and private swimming lessons, as well as with his Aunt Rue who has provided her a cottage for her trip. Things get messy and the lies start piling up when Cole shows up with the woman who could axe both of their professional futures. Can she brave and face her past?

I am contemplating 2 vs. 3 stars. The amount of research into the inner workings of the Coast Guard versus the lack on seriousness and care directed towards Katie’s eating disorder left me feeling…icky? The lightheartedness and humor around the topic (can bright color clothes fix her deep rooted problems?!) and between Katie and her best friend towards the ED/body dysmorphia with self help books when her friend should have been directing her towards medical professionals left me feeling disappointed.

A fabulous romantic comedy read, yet again from Katherine Center! This is a very clean, no spice story with deep themes of loss, self acceptance, friendships, conquering fears and learning to love yourself in order to love others.

The humor is top notch, laugh out loud funny. Especially the scene involving the dog, splinters and Katie’s hunches. Hutch, our mmc is the perfect sweet-hearted man. I do wish there would’ve been more of their relationship fleshed out.

I loved our MFC Katie; her self hatred felt a little overwhelming at times. Though I feel a lot of women can relate to the hardships of self esteem and can see themselves in her. It all gives way to her finding her true value of self. I have to say the character who stole my heart has to be George Bailey, the most adorable loving Great Dane!

Overall, a great read I would recommend especially if you’re needing a pick me up for the heart.

Another winner from my girl, Katherine Center! Her books just bring me joy. This was the perfect book to read after several more slow, serious historical fiction reads. This book is light, fun, sometimes a bit silly, and just so compulsively readable! I adored the Key West setting, the characters Aunt Rue and The Gals, and learning a little about the Coast Guard. I also loved George Bailey the Great Dane. A few of the plot points are a little far-fetched, but I read KC for fun, so who really cares? This book is a good time and I’m here for it. Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I usually don’t read romance novels without spice but I’m not even upset about this because Katherine Center has created absolute magic with The Love Haters. Katie’s story of self-acceptance alongside her high chemistry romance with Hutch is just impeccably written and the plot surrounding her documentary work and his rescue swimmer job is fascinating. Bravo, 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! So many things happened from start to finish but it all came together. So many moments I’m like please just get together already!! I think this would be a great summer read!

“I should have loved all of my everything. Because it was mine”

I’ll start with the things that I enjoyed about this story. Katherine Center has a way with witty banter that I love and she didn’t disappoint in that regard in The Love Haters. This novel wasn’t merely a love story between Katie and Hutch, but about discovering a love for one’s self. The beauty of friends who push you to appreciate every part of you and see yourself in the powerful ways that they see you.

That being said, the story took me longer than I expected to find a rhythm. There were moments where Katie’s inner monologue/thought process seemed a bit immature. Overall, it felt like a story I was reading but not immersed in. Still a good story that I feel can and will resonate with many readers.

Thank you Netgalley St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for my honest review.

Synopsis: Katie Vaughn is a video producer working in a precarious industry. Her job could be on the chopping block, along with her boss Cole, so Cole proposes a “Hail Mary” coast guard promotional video featuring his brother Hutch. Hutch is a sexy Coast Guard swimmer with a claim to fame – he once saved Jennifer Anniston’s dog. Katie, who normally lives in black t-shirts and jeans, jets down to Key West to meet the hunky and personable Hutch, along with his Aunt Rue, Great Dane George Bailey, and “The Girls”- a colourful group of octogenarians who like to party and play matchmaker. Much entertainment follows.

Commentary: Such an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read! More than your typical rom-com, The Love Haters is also about learning to accept and appreciate yourself. Katie arrives in Key West a bit jaded about romance, having been dumped and publicly humiliated by her ex-boyfriend. Like many women, she also has a fraught relationship with her own body. She wears black and tries not to draw attention to herself. Rue teaches Katie to adorn and celebrate her body with colour and to live fully in the moment. While she and Hutch take tentative steps toward each other, Katie also learns the joys of loving and being loved by a big goofy dog. This is a multi-layered love story with warmth and heart, and quite a few laughs. I will definitely be looking for more books from Katherine Center.