I'm a fan of Katherine Center's so I always look forward to what she comes out with next. I know I can expect laughs, swoons, all the feels, and this was no different.

As much as this is a love story between the two MCs, it's also a love letter to your body and how accepting you should be of your body. Katie is relatable, especially to me or anyone else who has body issues and low self-esteem because of it. It's definitely a love letter to self-love.

Hutch is the hunky, grumpy, and broody "love hater", but he has his reasons. He's complements (and also compliments) Katie perfectly.

It's also full of lovable side characters: Beanie, the supportive bestie, Rue and The Gals who love to meddle, and, of course, Hutch's Great Dane.

This is probably the most emotional I've felt while reading one of Katherine's book. Not only do I identify with what the FMC goes through with body issues, at the crux of the book, I was on the edge of my seat (figuratively), wondering how everything was going to pan out.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

This is a different book than Katerine Center's previous novels. It is a story about learning to love yourself. Deals with body image issues, past life trauma and just learning to let-go and move on to the life you deserve. I enjoyed the banter between Katie and Cole and watching them slowly open up to each other. No steam in this one, but lots of sweet moments and keep you reading and wanting more. 3.5 stars.

The Love Haters is a warm, heartfelt novel that follows the story of a woman who’s sworn off love—until life (and a few meddling small-town matchmakers) have other plans. When she returns to her charming hometown after a personal setback, she’s drawn into a reluctant second-chance romance and an unexpected community of women who are equal parts hilarious, wise, and fiercely loyal. As old wounds resurface and new connections bloom, she must confront her past and decide if opening her heart again is worth the risk.
I really enjoyed this book—it delivered exactly what I’ve come to expect and love from Katherine Center. Her character-driven storytelling never fails to pull me in, and The Love Haters had just the right balance of emotional depth and feel-good charm. I adored all of the characters, especially the quirky, big-hearted small-town ladies who added so much warmth and humor to the story. The novel touched on meaningful themes like vulnerability, forgiveness, and the courage to start over, all while keeping the tone light and hopeful. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and just a little bit better for having read it.

I love Katherine Center books and I did enjoy The Love Haters but it wasn’t my favorite book either.

Katie is the FMC and we get the book from her POV. She is really funny but her constant need to be funny did get grating. I wish there was a deeper level to her.

Hutch was a good character but again there wasn’t a ton of emotional depth to him.

I just wish there was more to the characters.

Katherine Center delivers another heartfelt, witty romance with The Love Haters. Center’s signature blend of emotional depth, lovable characters, and smart dialogue shines through in this story about second chances, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of love. It’s a charming, feel-good read that manages to be both funny and sincere—perfect for fans of character-driven romantic comedies

I have liked many of this authors novels in the past, however, this one fell short for me. Honestly, the writing and story telling wasn’t really up to par with some of her earlier novels. The cover is cute though!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is the summer of houseboats. Beth O’Leary brought us danger banging in a houseboat in her newest book “Swept Away” earlier this spring and now Katherine Center has some house boat hijinks in The Love Haters.

Katie is a cinematographer who has been assigned to do a promo film for the Coast Guard starring sexy AF rescue swimmer, Cole. Katie works with Cole’s brother who was originally tasked with the job, but backed out last minute bc he is an asshat who stressed me out this entire book. Katie gets welcomed into the fold of Cole’s life as she’s staying in one of the rental cabins owned by his aunt. While Cole is described by his idiot brother as coldhearted and gruff, in real life he is the perfect mix of taut abs, alpha hero, and sexily broody. Katie and Cole grow closer as they work together, but get thrown many curveballs along the way….like a HUGE ass hurricane during which (SPOILER ALERT), Katie gets washed out to sea in Cole’s houseboat while trying to rescue his dog and while Cole is out being a Coast Guard hero. Needless to say, since Katie is stuck on the houseboat with a dog and not with Cole, there is no hurricane danger banging…@smuttybookreviews does not support beastiality. Obvi Cole is a hero who saves the day, but he loses major points with me when he saves his fucking dog before Katie. This is a red flag Katie, he will never love you more than that dog!

There were several things I didn’t love about this book- lack of danger banging, dog priorities, annoying brother…but I still really enjoyed this book as a whole. Katherine Center does such a wonderful job of telling a great story with interesting characters. In a world where there are many many distractions, this book held my attention and I plowed through it. It’s def more rom-com and less smutty romance- overall a recommended light, fun summer read. Katherine Center remains a must read for me and she should for you too.

Smut- 1.6 stars
Romance- 3.9 stars
Story- 4.1 stars
Dogs in romance books- neg 2.9 stars

4.5 stars

Katie, a video producer, takes a job profiling Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Despite not being qualified and faking her swimming abilities, she becomes entangled with Hutch and his family — who are good at keeping their own secrets.

Katherine Center's books are a breath of fresh air for me. I look forward to them every year now, and I know I can count on them to bring me back to center (no pun intended). The voice Center fills the book with for her main characters is so close to my own inner dialogue, in its busyness and rationalization attempts, that I feel as if I inhabit these women and their stories for 300 or so pages each year.

The underlying theme in The Love Haters is about really learning to love yourself and your own body — and Katie definitely needs that lesson, but on the same level that most of us do these days. There were some utterly heartwarming moments, full of sincerity, that made me laugh and made me cry.

I really need to check out her backlist, and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Katie Vaughn is a mid-level video producer on the verge of being fired. Desperate to save her job, she accepts a project to film a documentary about U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers in Key West, Florida. Does she know anything about rescue swimmers? No. Can she swim? Definitely not. But that’s exactly where her adventure begins.

The subject of her project is Tom Hutcheson (Hutch), a famous hero known for saving Jennifer Aniston’s dog. Cole, the colleague who assigns her the project, warns her that Hutch is a “love hater.” Katie typically films “day in the life” videos, and she hopes Hutch will be her next subject. However, when she first meets him, everything slows down. He’s unbelievably handsome, and she can’t help but feel out of her league.

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters isn’t your typical rom-com. While there’s romance, the heart of the story centers on self-love, healing, and the courage to embrace the unknown. Katie’s journey isn’t just about falling for Hutch; it’s about healing from the deep wounds left by her ex-boyfriend, a famous singer, and the relentless online ridicule she endured because of her appearance. These experiences left her feeling isolated, insecure, and depressed, eventually leading her to gain weight. Throughout the story, we see Katie struggle with her body image and slowly begin to appreciate herself again, with the help of her best friend Beanie.

Hutch plays a pivotal role in Katie’s healing. He’s the only man who looks beyond her insecurities and notices the little things that make her unique. As they spend more time together during the filming, a deep connection develops, and romantic feelings begin to bloom. But there’s a twist: Katie discovers that Cole and Tom are actually siblings. To protect Katie’s job, Cole pretends they are dating, which leads to a series of lies and misunderstandings that complicate Katie’s growing feelings for Hutch.

Ultimately, The Love Haters wraps up in a satisfying and heartfelt way. While there are some predictable rom-com tropes, the emotional depth of the story makes it stand out. It’s a journey of self discovery, healing, and learning to love yourself, something we can all relate to.

I’m giving this book a solid 4/5. It’s heartwarming, funny, and filled with emotional growth. If you’re looking for a rom-com that dives deeper than just the surface, this one is definitely worth the read. Thank you, NetGalley!

First things first - I LOVE Katherine Center. I suggest her to readers all the time! But this one wasn't my favorite.

Katie's job sends her to Florida to interview, Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. To do this job successfully she must go out into the field with Hutch, but she is not at all qualified for this. Mostly because she cannot swim. Katie tries to fake it until she makes it with no idea how much her life is about to change. This rom com is a fun read that I would definitely suggest especially to beat the summer heat. Just don't let this book be the only one you judge Center on. I liked some of her others much more.

How can you not enjoy Katherine Center’s super fun and engaging rom-coms?! “The Love Haters may not be my favorite but it is a fun and enthusiastic story with just the right amount of hilarity - Really, the US Coast Guard is about “guarding the coast’? And let’s not forget Center’s signature crazy protagonist who you just have to like and there is almost always just the right amount of sizzle. So easy to dislike the idiot manipulator and see the situation as intended. I am not going to parse this story farther than it was a quick and mostly enjoyable read. I will always be on the lookout for the next offering from Katherine Center.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy.

I've read and enjoyed most of Katherine Center's books, but this is probably one of my least favorite. I'm not a huge fan of stories where the conflict is about lying. This was still a fun read and I'd recommend it to most people who like romance.

Let me start off by saying, I love Katherine Center!!!! A lot of her books really hit for me, but this one didn't. It had KC's hallmark witty characters/moments, as well as some "real life" story lines woven throughout the romance; however, the serious plot line about FMC Katie's ED/recovery was not handled delicately. There were no TW or CW about the ED/body dysmorphia as far as I could tell, and it wasn't just mentioned once. It was allllll throughout the story. I also found a lot of the story to be unrealistic (I get it, it's fiction) but floating on a house in the middle of a hurricane? Kind of silly.

I am a big Katherine Center fan as she write fun, humor, heartwarming, and easy to read books. This was a disappointment. It had all the staples I expect in one her novels including lovable main and side characters, and some kind of lesson but in the end I was disappointed in the plot. It just felt silly and unbelievable including the random fake dating plot and lies that went along with that plot line. I loved Rue, George Bailey, and the setting which made up for some of the other parts. I am still a big fan of this author and plan to continue to pick up her books even if this was a let down.

Enjoyed this book. A go to author for an enjoyable book with good characters. Looking forward to her next book.

I loved so much about this book. The body positivity being one of the biggest reasons I loved it. I adored Katie and Hutch’s growing relationship. I liked that Hutch was deep down a stand up guy who would do whatever he could to help people. Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback

I love Katherine Center! When I was given this arc I was so excited because I love all of her books and this was no exception. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is so great, it was an awesome romcom, will be recommending.

There’s just something about how Katherine Center writes characters. I read this whenever I could, including two late nights which I almost regretted the next day but not quite. Ha!

This is truly a story of identity and love between friends, family, pets, self, and Katie and Hutch. A great escape read if you are needing to be carried off to Key West for a bit.

Not my favorite KC book, but it was still a five star read. I laughed so much at all the shenanigans that happened in Florida with the two characters. I also loved Hutch so much. Katie and his chemistry were FANTASTIC and the premise made for an interesting read, so that was fun. I loved the grandma and how she wanted to give Katie color back into her life. We all need someone like that.

Ok. I usually like this author’s books. Pretty much the only contemporary romance I read. But this latest was a miss for me. I didn’t care for any of these characters (except for maybe Rue and George Bailey), the FMC was so annoying and I understand she had body image issues but I don’t feel like this brought anything to the plot. Hutch was also kind of weird, didn’t really communicate at all, not even at the end?

I also didnt really like the weird fake dating plot? Like who would be ok with going along with that? I dunno. It just all felt a bit off to me.