A really funny book! I had a great time and would definitely recommend it! My detailed goodreads review is already up and I'll be posting one on my bookstagram account soon too!

The beginning grabbed my attention and I was excited to get into the story.

Like most of the Kathrine Center books that I've read, it's way more than a love story. This in particular dealt with a lot of self love and personal growth. The over the top silly situations sort of bugged me a little bit. I'm aware that this is something that KC does, I'm just not a huge fan of them unfortunately. However, I was still very much enjoying everything until the 66% mark.

The whole Cole situation was annoying. Katie is supposed to be growing, loving herself, and doing things for herself and yet she gives into Cole!

The ending did make up for it though. I like how we got to see how everyone ended up but I wished there was more with Hutch.
Overall a well written story with silly moments, heartfelt moments and a little of everything in between.

Katherine Center has knack for writing romance novels, but this one takes you through all the feels. It is laugh out loud funny, heartwarming, and uplifting with moments of grief, uncertainty and worry. If you are looking for a thought provoking summer romance, this captures it all! If you want a cute, easy/light beach read then this isn’t it, as the themes are heavier than expected.

While repetitive at times, her writing touches upon relatable issues pertaining to body image, self-esteem, and the power of words from others on female appearances. With that being said, it is important to note a significant trigger warning regarding body image dysmorphia and eating disorders throughout the whole story. For final print, I would hope a warning will be included in front to give readers notice as the dialogue from the main character, Katie, may be very triggering. On the other end, I encourage all readers to read the Author’s note, even if you usually skip over them, as her words are truly captivating.

Triggers aside, I liked how this story balanced the heavy themes with light romance. While I would have loved to dive deeper in the relationship aspects of Katie and Hutch, I was impressed that the importance of family/friendship surrounding the heavier themes was included. Also, most characters were likable (with the exception of Cole at the later half of the book). But, this was overlooked with the lovable rescue dog (George Bailey) and his personality alone!

Overall, I would rate this 4.5 stars. I can see this either being loved or being hated depending on your expectations. Also, I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I feel they missed the mark on this one! It does not capture the true essence of the book. Would have loved to see support for the Coast Guard as this book is not a poolside float, laidback romance as depicted on the front.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
*Book publication date: May 20, 2025*
*Reviewed: January 13, 2025*

i’m a katherine center STAN. i’ve loved everything i’ve read by her. this one was a disappointment:( and i have to even say that because she’s my GIRL!! but i’ll keep this fairly short..
i just don’t think this book was for me. but here’s a couple things i did like:
-george bailey, the dog, is so precious and him and the toad lucky are the best hehe
-the swimsuit malfunction in the water was funny
-i like the setting, although i wish it would’ve went into more detail so it felt more tropical.
-hutch it hot. i just dont really like his personality :/
okay and the things i didn’t love.. i didn’t relate to the characters or the story AT ALL. the main character hates swimming and color?? hello!! i’m an art teacher that lived in hawaii??! the love was not believable to me at all :/ i didn’t really care for the coast guard aspect either, but that’s just because i know nothing about it and don’t relate to that part of the plot.
anyways, i could keep going but i’ll leave it at that. if you’ve read this book, i would love to know your thoughts. i think people will still like it/love it, i just don’t think it was my thing ッ

4.5⭐️ Katherine Center does it again! I always know I am going to get a beautiful love story and also a profound view on something personal and relatable. Katie was almost hard to read about because her inner thoughts were so to the bone and true it felt like she was reading my mind at times. Hutch was the perfect counterpoint to Katie and although there were some twists I loved watching their story unfold.

“We’re here to be alive. To feel the sun on our skin. To breathe deep in the wind. We’re here to feel it all. To love and cry and love some more. We’re here to rescue ourselves—and everybody else—in every way that we can. What was it Rue said about courage? That no one’s born fearless? It’s true.”

Katherine Center has such a way with creating such, lovable characters. I see a lot of myself in Katie and her body issues. This book came at such a great time, as I too, am struggling with how I view myself and how the world views me. Beanie’s beautiful list made me cry. I loved what Katherine Center says in the author’s note about this story also being an “enemies-to-lovers” between Katie and herself. Katie relationship with Hutch was just a cherry on top of a wonderful story. Will definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! It was a great beach read with an important message about accepting yourself.

Oh my goodness, I loveeeed this book. The writing was captivating as always, while showcasing a new aspect that I haven't ever seen in Katherine Center's books before: one of self love. I didn't at all expect this book to be as deep as it was, but it was a wonderful surprise. I have always and will always love Katherine Center’s writing, and this was no exception!!

This, my friends, is a beautiful love story. But, it is so much more than a love story between Hutch and Katie. Come on you knew they would fall in love – it’s Katherine Center!

First and foremost, this is a love story between Katie and HERSELF. Katie has a past she was afraid to deal with even admit to. It was crippling her from moving forward. This story shows how Katie, with the help of others, learns to love herself. She shows us how it is a process and you can take steps forward and backward along the way. She also realizes she needs to be kind to herself and to see herself for who she is and love every little part of herself. Katie reminds us that we can’t control how others see us or how they treat us, but we can control how we see ourselves and how we treat ourself!

Because there are many that help Katie learn throughout the book, there is a fabulous cast of characters. I loved them all – well most of them! Therefore, it also is a love story between family, friends, and friends that become family. These family and friends help Katie and each other be brave. They encourage Katie to try new things and put herself out there. We can all benefit from these types of friends in life.

As she says in her author notes, “it’s healing to read stories about healing.” I am still healing from several things in my past, and reading stories about healing, moving forward after loss, and loving yourself really does help. So, thank you, Katherine, for recognizing this and helping to heal your readers along the way.

Friendship is really the theme of this book!

Katie starts of book with a lot of anxiety and a case of seriously over thinking. Hutch is one of the sweetest characters and appears to be extremely laid back. However I love how their personality comes out through the book and how they first develop a friendship before building more.

The friendships Katie has and develops with other characters are also amazing. Her friendship with her cousin Beanie that is obviously deeply caring and I love the way that they can be there even when they don’t live close to each other.

Katie also is developing a relationship with herself since she’s lost touch a bit with herself. I love how Beanie helps her with that. Hutch’s Aunt Rue is a delight to read about. I love how she immediately accepts Katie and helps her adjust to Key West.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

“So you really do hate love," I said, smiling bigger.
Hutch nodded. "A lot. So much."
I looked into his dark eyes. "I hate it, too."
"Good choice," Hutch said. "Let's hate it together."

First things first, the dialogue in this was *chef’s kiss*.

Katherine Center has a way of writing swoon-worthy romance with an engaging and fascinating plot. The Love Haters might be my favorite from Center yet!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What do you do when you have to take a job filming a Coast Guard base but you can't swim?
The character development was top tier. Katie's internal struggles, healing, and love were so real, I was completely immersed in this story. Hutch was a breath of fresh air, and I felt for him so much.

The plot was so captivating. I loved the characters - Rue completely had my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks for the review copy. I’m glad I was able to review this book. It’s definitely a love story but also with Katie learning to love herself. I want to visit the Keys now.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was very excited to receive this book early. I loved Katherine Center’s previous work, The Rom-Commers. Unfortunately, The Love Haters completely missed the mark for me.

Katie, the main character, did not resonate with me at all. Her backstory was not adequately addressed. Katie’s actions were infuriating and didn’t make sense. (Ex: calling your friend for random chit-chat while on a sinking boat).

The workplace drama storyline with downsizing and the fear that everyone would lose their jobs was a little much. The decisions characters made to prevent losing their job was completely unrealistic (ex: telling your boss you’re dating your coworker in order to save their job).

Lastly, the beef with brothers had was so silly. Cole’s character was out of hand. I wish there wasn’t so much miscommunication.

Katherine Center does it again! I will never not read her books. She has nailed wholesome, feel-good romance that has depth and meaning. This is a sweet story about finding love, but, more importantly, learning to love yourself! I read so many books that often after I've read them, I slowly forget what happened or what they're about, but I never forget what Katherine Center's books are about even years later. I devoured this book, and I can't wait for more from Katherine Center.

Content Warnings: eating disorder/body dysmorphia

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy! 3.5 stars, not sure if I want to round down or up. I’ll say a very strong 3!!!

I was immediately excited about this book when I saw that the story takes place in my beloved hometown of the Florida Keys! It’s a fresh and often overlooked setting, and the author did a fantastic job capturing the essence of it and making it a strong part of the story.

The main character, Katie, and some of the supporting characters were very relatable and lovable. I really appreciated Katie’s inner monologue about her body image issues and her journey to love and accept herself. Rue was another standout character—she brought so much warmth and pizazz to the story. On the flip side, some characters, like Hutch, felt one-dimensional and unrealistic. I LOVED George Bailey the dog.

The plot had its highs and lows. There were parts that were intriguing, relatable, and unique, but other parts felt totally off the wall and far-fetched.

Lastly, I was exhausted by the author’s use of italics, ellipses, and ending sentences in question marks!!! Omg. Editor, please step in. Way too many sentences felt… just like… this? Which is nice here and there? But it was just… way too much??? (See what I did there?!)

Overall, I still enjoyed the story and was invested in seeing what would happen next. Despite a few unbelievable elements, the setting really shone, and the standout characters made it a solid read. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a summery love story filled with self-love, stepping out of comfort zones, a dreamy vacation setting, an A+ canine companion, and a little adventure. The epilogue and author’s note added some perfect sweetness at the end.

I loved this! Katie and Hutch were so much fun, and so were The Gals. I loved the Key West setting (it’s currently in the 20s with snow on the ground where I live) and it made me feel like I was reading while on vacation. I normally do not like a miscommunication trope, but I liked how Katherine Center used it in this instance because I think it showed what a kindhearted person Katie is when it comes to those she cares about. I also appreciated the journey to self-acceptance that we saw with Katie. Was she magically, perfectly healed by the end of the book? No, but that made me love her even more. Katherine Center does a great job creating characters who feel like real people. This was so enjoyable and I read it in two days, even staying up late to finish it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

(Closer to 4.5 stars, but I couldn’t give it 5 stars because Cole really sucks.)

4.25 stars!
This was my first Katherine Center book and it did not disappoint. I related so hard to Katie and all her feelings/insecurities. It’s a reminder to love yourself and everything about you. I teared up a few times!
There were some moments where I was like ok maybe she’s a bit drama but other than that I truly enjoyed this book!
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

2.5 stars

I seriously cannot believe I am rating a Katherine Center book 2.5 stars it makes me SO SAD😭

I just feel like we skipped over a lot of the important bits on showing Katie and Hutch’s chemistry. I think by the end of the book I still feel like I didn’t really know Hutch other than the fact that he had a great body, and was vulnerable sharing the story of how his parents died.

I genuinely felt like the characters had no chemistry, and the lack of communication truly was astonishing. When you do closed door romance, you really have to focus on the emotional connection since you are not showing the physical side (aside from kissing, handholding, etc. - but there was hardly even that!!)

For how in love Hutch allegedly was with Katie, he showed absolutely zero emotion in saving her other than saying he was really worried about her after the rescue was over. Even for him to be joking, saying that he’d come back for her later since they were out of gas felt so calloused. Work mode or not he’s IN LOVE with this woman. Feral, can’t get enough, is longing so hard over her, and that’s the reaction? Nor. Plus your first in love kiss is hanging from a helicopter mid air…ok.

Again, I love Katherine Center! I absolutely devoured The Rom Commers and I was over the moon to see that I was approved for this ARC, but unfortunately, it fell super flat for me🥲

A romance book that teaches you to love yourself first. The book touches on learning to love your body and tips for body positivity and also anxiety calming techniques.

Five Stars. I didn’t want to put this book down. It had me laughing and gasping, swooning and stressing out.

The tension between Katie and Hutch was perfect, agonizing and swoon worthy. I was rooting for them from their first meeting.

The supporting characters were all great and meddlesome.. and I didn’t expect Cole to throw everything into disarray.

Overall I think this book balanced the combination for romance, comedy, life lessons and complicated relationships perfectly. It’s more than just a romance book, you can walk away from this book with a full heart and a more positive view of yourself and the world around you.