So I had seen a lot of mixed reviews on this before I even started. I went into it cautiously optimistic. And the first 2/3 was awesome! I didn't see what all the fuss was about. But then! The crap hit the fan.

Katie wants to keep her job and goes out on an assignment for which she's maybe a little less than qualified. Hutch (with some machinations from the elderly ladies on the island) steps in to help out. That part was all great. They have some awesome moments and the elderly ladies are funny. Hutch's dog - hilarious. (Although, in real life, if it was me, I'd be less than pleased at some of the events. lol.)

There's a lot of focus on accepting our bodies and dealing with negative thoughts. That was great too. It wasn't subtle, but that's ok. I liked the Gottman references as well. It really had me thinking.

Cole, our villain, made me rage. The whole situation he instigated was so ridiculous. I literally was yelling - WHAT?! several times. And why everyone let him get away with it? I didn't buy into it. Fortunately, it only lasted 15-20% so it wasn't overly long.

The end - I'm not sure I believed it. It seemed very far fetched to me. And it was cheesy. So, it was kind of a let down.

Stars: 3.75
Content: 1 instance of strong language, other milder swears, kissing

I ended up listening to this one and I liked it a lot. The characters are interesting, there's suspense, and I believed the relationship.

This is my third book by Katherine Center and I love her more and more with each read. She continues to deliver delicious banter and MMCs that never disappoint. My one let down with this book was the lack of spice as that’s something she usually something we get at least a bit of in her books.

That being said, I still absolutely devoured this. I loved the way the topics of diet-culture and body positivity being discussed.

Another must read from Center!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While this story was entertaining with Katie and Hutch, I struggled in some parts. It was really slow to start, but did pick up a little bit after the first 30%

What really fell short is that Katherine struggled to handle the heavier themes in this story; body image and grief. While these issues are important in a rom-com, they often felt overshadowed by some over-the-top moments. I would have loved to see this be conveyed a little more even though it was a rom- com.

Overall, I will continue to read Katherines books, because I have read a few others and really enjoyed them!

Not my favorite by this author, but still one I’m glad I read. I enjoyed the setting and most of the characters, I just found it a bit lacking overall compared to her previous books.

The Love Haters is exactly what you’d expect from Katherine Center—warm, witty, and full of heart, but with just enough emotional depth to hit you when you’re not expecting it. It’s a rom-com at its core, but what makes it stand out is how self-aware and sharp it is about love, vulnerability, and all the walls we build to protect ourselves. The banter is on point, the chemistry feels effortless, and the character growth is genuinely satisfying.

It’s fun without being fluffy, emotional without being heavy. If you love smart, feel-good romance with a side of sass and just a touch of ache, The Love Haters totally delivers.

Katie Vaughn has two choices: wait to be laid off from her job, or fake that she knows how to swing and record a profile on Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom 'Hutch' Hutcheson. She immediately jumps on the profiling gig without a second thought. Both Katie and Hutch have negative feelings about love, but the more time that they spend together, the more their thoughts start to change. And it doesn't hurt that they are being encouraged by Hutch's Aunt Rue and his Great Dane, George Bailey. But will they be able to overcome some unexpected twists and turns during Katie's time with Hutch.

This was a quick and easy read that was a welcome break after the emotional read that I finished prior. My favorite character would have to be Aunt Rue - her eccentric personality showed through a bit more than the main characters. And I loved the nod to It's a Wonderful Life with the dogs name. It did seem like some of the plot twists and events felt a bit over the top and could have been crafted a bit more. Overall, there were many humorous parts, but also a few skim through scenes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Katherine Center for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center never disappoints me. Her books are always filled with themes of love and hope, and this one is no exception.
*The Love Haters* tells the story of Katie Vaughn, a video producer assigned to create a video with Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a hero in the Coast Guard. Katie takes on the assignment even though she does not know how to swim. Desperate to keep her job, she hopes to figure it out. Additionally, she struggles with body image issues, which is why she never learned to swim in the first place—she never wanted to wear a bathing suit.
Hutch embodies the ultimate cool guy: very handsome, but he has family issues that have prevented him from forming meaningful relationships.
Katherine Center delivers engaging banter and action, adding relatable elements that readers can connect with. Overall, it’s a cute and entertaining romantic comedy.

Thank you for the advanced copy! This book wasn’t for me but I appreciate the copy. It could be triggering to those that suffer from body image issues.

DNF @ 20%
i didn’t realize this was going to include SO MUCH about eating disorders and weight. it took up the entirety of the beginning of the story and i don’t care if it’s in the story, but it should be included in the beginning as i know it can be triggering to some and was slightly triggering to me. i don’t want to be reminded about it so DNF unfortunately.

Katherine Center has become one of my “must read” authors, and for a good reason - each novel she writes is so delicately thoughtful and share a special message to readers.

Katie is a producer struggling with self-love and romantic love. After traveling to a new work site, she meets Hutc- a “love hater” himself. Throughout the story both Katie and Hutch undergo tremendous character development through themes of bravery, grace, and self-compassion.

Another Katherine Center favourite. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin Press and Katherine Center for this early copy!

I was so excited to dive into The Love Hates. I’ve adored Katherine Center’s books in the past, and this sweet summer romance did not disappoint!

In this story, we meet Katie Vaughn, a video producer with a bruised heart and some deep rooted insecurities. Then there’s Tom Hutcheson, a kind and very hot Coast Guard swimmer stationed in Key West, who shot to internet fame after rescuing Jennifer Aniston’s dog!

Katie is desperate to hold on to her job, so when an unexpected assignment comes her way, she grabs it without hesitation. The only catch? The gig puts her in close proximity to Tom… who happens to be the estranged older brother of her boss, Cole. And just to make things more complicated, Katie can’t swim and isn’t exactly confident about showing up in a swimsuit. But off to Key West she goes, determined to film a promo for the Coast Guard and prove herself.

Once there, she’s welcomed by Rue, the warm and eccentric aunt of both Tom and Cole, and Katie starts to settle into island life. Tom isn’t exactly thrilled she’s there in place of his brother, but Katie slowly wins him over, especially after she admits she doesn’t know how to swim. Tom offers to teach her, and in return, she makes a bold promise: she’ll convince Cole to come visit Rue in the Keys.

From the moment Katie and Tom meet, complete with an embarrassing (and hilarious) incident involving splinters and, well… her butt, they have a spark. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their connection feels so natural. Katie’s vulnerability is palpable, but what I love most is that her journey toward confidence isn’t magical or instant. Katherine Center shows the real work it takes to heal and grow, and that felt incredibly refreshing.

Tom is a total green flag, supportive, thoughtful, and never projecting his own frustrations onto Katie. Instead, he helps her rediscover her sparkle and cheers her on through her challenges. He’s dealing with his own stuff, but he still shows up for her in all the right ways.

While this isn’t my all-time favorite Katherine Center novel, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a sweet, uplifting summer read, perfect for anyone in need of a little sunshine, some heart, and a whole lot of charm.

I adore Katherine Center, and this book was no different. While not my favorite of Center's work, it was still a worthwhile read and a lot of fun.

We meet Katie at work where her company is in the process of letting people go. Everyone is trying to CYA and find ways to make themselves safe from the chopping block. When Katie is not busy with her work, she has a creative pet project where she does profiles on worthwhile people capturing their everyday humanity. Her boss, Cole, taps her to marrying her professional world with her personal to do a profile on a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, Hutch, who happens to be his brother.

Katie lies a bit to get the gig, but we soon learn that Cole has thrown her into a web of even more lies with his family, as he puts her up with his Aunt Rue, ever colorful and full of wisdom. Rue works a bit of magic that only fabulous women in their 50s and 60s can with young people to have Hutch help her with her issues with water. The two get to know each other, as the work and lies unfold.

I adored Katie and Hutch unpacking their own histories while trying to forge ahead despite Cole's web of deception. This was a fun read!

The Love Haters was a good rom com. Perfect for a long beach day. This one has the potential of becoming my favorite Katherine Center book so far. It is hard to choose a favorite when they are all so good though. I really enjoyed reading about Katie and Hutch's love story. I can't wait to read more Center books in the future. I would recommend this one to anyone wanting a fun rom com!

Review will be posted on 6/18/25
Katie Vaughn, a videographer, is still reeling from a breakup, so when her boss offers her a job that could garner her a lot of positive attention, she takes it. There are a few catches though. Her boss, Cole Hutcheson, has assigned her to work on a piece about a Coast Guard rescuer in Key West, Florida. There are a few catches though. One, Katie doesn't know how to swim and two, Cole's brother, Hutch, is the person she would be featuring. Cole and Hutch have a complicated relationship, so this is going to be awkward. To make matters worse, once she meets Hutch and spends time with him, she finds she is starting to have feelings for him. Meanwhile, not being able to swim while at the Keys and featuring a rescue swimmer is starting to add to the complications. Throw in some fake dating, and a hurricane, and you've got yourself not only a comedy but also a entertaining romance in Katherine Center's The Love Haters.

Katie is feeling pretty jaded about love after her latest breakup, and her work assignment partner, Hutch, is in a similar situation. However, the more time Katie spends with Hutch, the more she realizes she is developing feelings for him. This becomes super awkward when her boss unexpectedly shows up! Also, Katie is a complicated character. At first, I enjoyed her, despite her shortcomings; however, as the story progressed, I found myself getting annoyed with her body image issues and disordered eating. I had just finished another novel with similar themes, so my patience in this area was quite limited.

Nonetheless, my issues with The Love Haters didn't prevent me from enjoying the story overall. I adored the Great Dane, George Bailey, as well as the tropical setting of Key West. There were some laugh-out-loud moments reminiscent of a romantic comedy. Overall, while The Love Haters isn't my favorite from Center, it's still a solid romance.

'The Love Haters' by Katherine Center follows a video producer whose career is suddenly dependent on making a reportedly grumpy US Coast Guard hero look good. She finds herself wrapped up in his family drama and falling for him.

I thought this was a cute, fun, Katherine Center-core book. I will say some of the family drama pieces did feel a little far fetched (in a- who would agree to that?- kind of way). But overall, I thought the book was a great, light-hearted summer read.

Thank you to Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of 'The Love Haters' in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good book. The way it pulled you in and made you feel apart of the story was great! I love anything Katherine Center

This was a lighthearted but cheesy summer romcom. It really is a great beach read. I loved the witty banter and the romance, but i did not care for the obsessive ramblings about Katie's body dysmorphia was so irritating. I did like this book but i did not care for repetitiveness throughout it. I usually LOVE Katherine's books but this one really missed the mark for me.

This was a cute quick read. I enjoyed the fun summer aspects of it and the dynamic between the two main characters. Overall a good read for the summer.

What I liked: A story set in Key West, with lots of great side characters

What I disliked: Incorrectly advertised as a rom-com. The romance barely exists in the plot. It is contemporary fiction focusing on the main character’s struggle over her body image