Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
This book was entertaining throughout but fell incredibly short when it came to the heavier topics such as body image and grief. I also wasn’t invested in the romance. I felt like the two characters lacked chemistry. We didn’t see them grow and have a meaningful and lasting relationship. Overall, I’m rating this 2.5 stars.

This one felt disjointed; like the events were just thrown together and picked out from a bowl and hoping for the best. I love this author and the book was humorous, but there were a lot of weird plot moments.

More than a love story—as I feel that mostly played a backseat—this book was about friendship and self-love. Not the fun self-love… the self love that takes work. This book was a journey. The love story was just a sweet bonus.

Expect —> Closed Door, Friendship, Grumpy/Sunshine, Learning to Love Oneself, Lies, A Great Dane, Coast Guard

Katie is assigned a job-saving project where she will shadow real life hero, Hutch, as they make a promo video for the coast guard. They’re both love-haters from romantic tragedies from the past but find one another the perfect balm to old wounds.

I will be honest here and say that the level of self-hate Katie has is shocking. It reminds me of my teenaged self when I went through a rough couple of years full or hormones and bullies. So be warned that the way she speaks to herself is vile. However, after discussing with friends, I think there are people who will relate. Helped by her supportive friendship with her cousin and even learning to see herself the way Hutch does. Katie’s growth in this book is staggering.

And Hutch is a sweetie. Every scene with him had me smiling. His brother, on the other hand, made me a little ragey 😆

Thank you SMP for the gifted arc!

Hmmm. I read The Love Haters right on the heels of my first Katherine Center book, the Bodyguard, and I’m afraid that it suffered by comparison. The Bodyguard was a sweet, funny romcom with some more serious threads woven through and overall hit for me. But when reading the Love Haters, it felt like another color way of the same outfit. A career driven, emotionally repressed woman who is unaware of her own beauty and charm, chasing a bristly but quick to warm up famous, hot dude… with a challenging relationship with his brother… because of a car accident. It just got to be too many overlapping arcs, like Center took two stabs at the same basic outline.

The setting and side characters were fun and I think maybe I would have enjoyed it on its own, but as part of her collection, I was let down.

Katherine Center always makes me cry in the best way. This book made me feel, and made me do some self reflection in the way that good books do.

Katie is relatable, which makes this story feel personal and helped immerse me in the story.

I enjoyed this read, and i recommend it to anyone looking for a good, if thought provoking read.

I received a free advance review copy through from St Martins Press through NetGalley and my review is voluntary.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Which comes as no surprise to me because I love everything that Katherine Center writes. In her usual style, the characters and storylines have so much humor and quirkiness and heart. There are lessons to be learned and healing to be had all while you’re laughing and enjoying yourself.

The setting of Key West is everything. The description of the colors and scents and sunshine and food and the daily life of the gals…such a dream.

As for Katie and Hutch, such a sweet and realistic love story only made better by the adorable George Bailey!

This is my favorite book I’ve read in a lonnnnnng time. Wow, I couldn’t hardly put it down! Especially at the end I was hanging on every word. These characters were developed perfectly and really grew on me. So much so that I think there should be a book that expounds on the ending of the book :) There were just many layers to this story, too, in the absolute best way. Katherine Center’s stories always have me absolutely hooked from the get go. She has a way with words and creating these characters and stories that blows me away and brings me into the fold each time!

Also, don’t miss out on the authors note at the end, Center is a romcom queen and manages to write these stories so beautifully and full of depth.

Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for this ARC. You absolutely have to add this to your list of next reads when it’s released in May!!!

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters has all the ingredients for a charming enemies-to-lovers romance—witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and a fun premise.

While the premise is promising, the execution fell a bit short for me. The conflict driving their antagonism felt somewhat exaggerated, making it hard to fully invest in their journey toward love. As someone close in age to the main characters, I struggled to relate to their dilemmas, which often felt overblown rather than authentic. Despite this, the novel does have its sweet and entertaining moments, and fans of lighthearted rom-coms may still find it enjoyable.

Overall, The Love Haters is a cute read, but not my favorite. ★★★☆☆.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

📕 The Love Haters
by Katherine Center
⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I could give The Love Haters by Katherine Center more than 5 stars, I absolutely would.

Did I just find my favorite book of the year already? Maybe. Probably.

Katie is a videographer whose job is on the line. She gets a shot at saving it by taking on a project she’s not entirely qualified for—and after a couple of harmless little lies, she finds herself working with Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. I mean, yes please!

This book had me hooked. I was so invested, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. It’s not just a rom-com (though it’s funny and romantic in all the best ways). It’s also a story about friendship, self-love, and navigating through life’s struggles that most people can relate too. I know I definitely did.

Katherine Center has this amazing way of taking you on an emotional rollercoaster—there were twists I didn’t see coming, moments that made me laugh, others that made me cry and times when I felt like all hope was lost. And just when I thought the story was wrapping up, BAM—another twist that pulled me right back in. And Oh My Goodness it was good!

This book was so much more than I hoped for, and honestly, I needed it in my life (and will need it on my bookshelf). If you’re looking for something to make you laugh, cry, and cheer for love (and for yourself), don’t miss The Love Haters when it comes out on May 20, 2025. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St Martins Press and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Many thanks to the publisher and the author for this digital ARC of The Love Haters! Katherine Center continues to be an instant read author for me- her Rom-Coms always leave me with all the feels. Laughing one minute, misty eyes the next- I love her writing and I just always find a way to connect to the characters.
In her latest, Katie is tasked with traveling to film a story on a Coast Guard hero in Key West with live footage.. however.. minor problem-she can't disclose that she can't swim for fear of jeopardizing her job. She travels to Key West and meets Rue- of who everyone needs a Rue in their life, Hutch and his gentle giant, George Bailey, and quickly finds out there is more at stake than her job.
I found many parts hilarious and I loved Katie and Hutch's chemistry. I appreciated Katie's struggles with body image issues and loved her relationship with her best friend Beanie who helped her tackle this daily struggle. We all should follow some of her wisdom, daily!
I enjoyed this trip to Key West and I highly recommed this one- also, don't skip the Author's Note!!!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the ebook to read!!
This book was pretty good! I love how realistic the main character is, and how she actually learned from her love interest. It did get surprisingly dark by the end of the book, so beware the fact that it's not like a regular romcom. 4 stars from me!!

Katie is about to get laid off as a video producer when her co-worker, Cole, suggests she go to Key West to film a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch, to help the Coast Guard increase their recruitment numbers. Hutch also happens to be Cole’s very good looking, older brother, who is already famous on social media for rescuing a puppy. Katie knows this a chance to save her job. However, there is one problem…Katie doesn’t know how to swim. She decides to fake it till she makes it and off to Key West she goes. As she spends time with Hutch she is more drawn to him but her past heartbreak has her doubting if she could be liked in return. This book had be laughing out loud at times and tearing up in others. It was so much more than a romantic comedy. This book was also about grief/loss, the importance of family bonds and forgiveness. But above all, this book was about the importance of self love. The book started a bit slow but once Katie arrives in Key West, the story takes off so be patient because this is one book you won’t want to miss.

Katherine Center is an auto-read for me. Her newest book, the Love Haters, has video producer Katie traveling to Key West to film a promotional video about U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch. The book has the typical rom-com elements found in Center's books, but also features Katie's body insecurity, and attempts to overcome it, pretty heavily. While an important topic, it sometimes felt a bit much. However, the characters and locale helped keep the story entertaining. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Love Haters was a fun, easy read, but it didn’t have the same magic as Katherine Center’s other books. The premise was cute, and there were some great moments, but the romance felt a little flat, and I never fully connected with the characters. I’m giving it four stars, but honestly, it’s more of a generous 3.5.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was cute! I enjoyed it.
I wish some of the main couple’s interactions had been flushed out a little more… mainly with some of the ways Hutch responded to her. I don’t want to give away spoilers. But overall was a quick, easy and enjoyable rom com book!

I love Katherine Center and I especially LOVED this book!! The character development was great. Katie and Hutch had lots of chemistry. I wouldn’t say this is a grumpy/sunshine but definitely a grumpy MMC. The body image issues with the FMC was a bit much but that’s ok - it’s relatable to me. I smiled so much when reading this and about 85% through my heart was pounding while waiting to see what happened next. Easy five star read for me and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes rom-com type of romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Center for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My first ARC! I have enjoyed Katherine Center’s books and this one ended up being no different. It was a little slow to start for me and I found some aspects of the meet cute cringy but after that it was smooth sailing (at least until chapter 24 iykyk)

Hutch is a great MMC and I loved the side characters-the Gals and George Bailey. Overall I found The Love Haters to be a cute read. I give it 4.5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this earc

This book was not bad.
Okay. Let me try again. This was a very good story it just wasn’t really a rom com. Yes, there is romance and yes, the book was funny at the time but it just had too many serious topics to be lol funny.
I think the cover and the way this book is being promoted definitely threw me off.
Katie goes through such a journey in this book. You can’t take away from that.
Hutch and his whole story? So heartbreaking but at the same time heartwarming. So much more than a guy meets girl.
I am giving it lower rating not because I didn’t like. It’s because it was not what I was here for.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this nov in exchange for an honest review.

I’m no stranger to Katherine Center’s novels, so when I was given the opportunity to read this book early, I was excited. It has the typical Katherine Center witty rom-com banter, which I adore. Based on the title, I was expecting a grumpy x grumpy trope, but you never really felt that at all. I really would’ve liked to have seen that more. We can understand why the FMC might be but not the MMC.

I really enjoyed the underlying theme of learning to love yourself and your body as is. However, the FMC’s journey through major body dysmorphia and a likely eating disorder feels like it was glazed over and resolved a bit too easily. I would’ve liked to see that explored in a more meaningful way.

Overall, I really loved the unique perspective of a documentary filmmaker vs coast guard rescue swimmer. It feels like something I haven’t seen in a story before, so that was nice. The Gals were a nice touch and some comedic relief. And the big lovable gentle giant, George Bailey was *chef’s kiss*. It doesn’t seem I’ll stop recommending Katherine Center’s books anytime soon!

Katie is a video producer and to keep her job she must profile the famous rescue Coast Guard Hutch Hutcheson. The problem is Katie can’t swim. Her time in the Keys consists of swim lessons, helicopter flights, dinners with the Gals, conga lines, and a rescue Great Dane.

I loved the book! The plot, storyline, and pacing kept me hooked. I feel like the characters were well developed. Katie’s relationship with her body is a big theme in the book. As someone who understands that this can be a fickle relationship, I appreciated it. Rue and Hutch’s history develops over the story, and they are such loveable characters. I too want to protect Rue at all costs.

In the epilogue Katherine Center states “the best love stories are never just about romantic love. They’re always bout so much more than that...” This sums up why I will always pick up her books time and time again. She is great at marrying a story with reality and writing things that will stick with you even if it appears to be just another fictious love story to escape in.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review.