Really entertaining and full of love, tender moments and laughter! Really enjoyed this new enemies to lovers dynamic!

I couldn’t get into this book as I’d hoped. The premise right off the top didn’t resonate with me, and hearing more about the main characters body image struggles isn’t how I’d hope to spend time reading.

Loved it. The characters yep love. The story and setting yep love. The whole journey that we go on and all that happens LOVE LOVE LOVE. I just cannot wait to read what this author writes next.

I love everything Katherine Center writes, and The Love Haters was another winner. I read this while being in Florida, so I appreciated the setting of Key West, Florida. I felt it had a good mix of women's fiction and some believable romance. This is a fun summer read.

This was such a cute and fun read! I loved the main characters and thought their relationship blossomed in the best way. I found myself swooning and laughing out loud constantly!

This was just okay. As someone who has read a lot of romantic comedies, I expected more and some to wow me. I just felt like it was okay. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it.

I unfortunately could not finish this book, I tried so hard but the way the fmc mind was I got triggered by it

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I loved this book! Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors for a reason. In The Love Haters, Katie is a filmmaker who is at a crossroads when she is given a golden opportunity- film a promo about Coast Guard rescue swimmers. The problem? She can't swim. I love how Center's stories are always more than just a romance. In this novel, Katie is dealing with self-hate, largely due to her ex's pop stardom and comments about her appearance online. The story flows so well and so thoughtfully that I didn't want it to end.

Katherine Center hits it out of the park again with The Love Haters! Narrated by Katie Vaughn, a video producer who is about to get laid off before her boss extends an olive branch and sends her to Key West to film an ad for the Coast Guard and also profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who went viral recently and who happens to be her bosses brother. A few problems - she can’t swim and he hates attention and love. What ensues is a classic forced proximity trope that is enjoyable to read and hooks you in from start to finish. Perfect for summer!

I wanted to love this one but I didn’t. I hate to call a book too much but this FMC drove me a bit nuts and it was a little too coast guard. I will also say I like what Center was trying to do with the body positivity but it was just a lot. I still enjoyed it but for this author it’s most likely my least favorite so far. I would say this is give it a try as I know people have and will like it.

I really liked this sweet, happily ever after romance! It was funny, clever, and hit me in all my feels! It was fairly predictable in the best way.

This book chronicles the wholesome romance between Katie and Hutch the "Love Hater's." Katie, a video producer about to lose her job, is sent to South Florida to produce a documentary on the hunky Coast Guard search and rescue officer named Tom "Hutch" Hutchenson. Ironically Katie is sent to South Florida by Hutch's estranged brother Cole! Katie's unique circumstances make her desperate to please her boss, and willing to do just about anything to complete her mission. Of course, both Katie and Hutch have been hurt in the past and are emotionally traumatized. As they work together on a daily basis; they both find themselves more than slightly attracted to each other.

Maybe you'll be using the word Kaftan' for a solid week while reading this Floridian tropical love story, like I did. Ms. Center pained a beautiful picture of Hutch's community, including his Aunt Rue, her colorful friends, his beloved dog George Bailey, and his dramatic career with Coast Guard Search and Rescue. Katherine Center's witty, charming and sweet writing style always resonate with me. This perfect summer vacation read, is great for a cruise, a beach or by the pool. Several times I found myself laughing out loud at Katie's desperate antics trying to reach her goal and finish her project. This is lighthearted, funny and at times a little sappy, (as romances tend to be), but I completely enjoyed this love story. Don't be a Love Hater and give this book a read now!

Thank you, Net Galley, Katherine Center and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to be given this eARC in return for an honest review.

Another great romcom by Center!

And again - the author’s note at the end about how great it is to read love stories was the best part.

Center says about this book, “The Love Haters, has, I hope, a very delicious romantic love story going on between Katie and Hutch—in addition to all kinds of extra love stories between friends, and siblings, and parent figures. But it also has another type of love story. One between Katie and herself.”

Katie agrees to take on a tough assignment in hopes to save her job, doing a profile about a hero and the Coast Guard in Key West. Nevermind the fact that she fibbed and actually can’t swim. This scary adventure turns fabulous as her host, Rue (and The Gals) take great care of her, and as hot hero Hutch also helps her out even though he’s reluctant to be in the spotlight. There’s also the Great Dane, George Bailey, who has an unusual fondness for her. The setting is fabulous and the adventures are fun. There are also interesting family dynamics, forgiveness, and some exploration of deeper issues. Katie’s body image is a big part of the story. Aspects of including this are great; but it did turn out to be my least favorite part of the book as it seemed to be too much of the focus. Hutch is dreamy, and the development of a romance was slow and sweet. I was definitely rooting for this couple.

I actually got this early as an ARC, and am sorry to say that even though I began it early I then waited and restarted when I could have the audio, too. And I’m glad I did. I enjoy a good audio to accompany my ebooks so I can hear some of the dialogue.

With the Key West setting, this is a great summer read. It’s fun and sweet with some meaningful messages. Definitely recommend this one for your summer pool and beach reading.


* Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This review and my opinions are written on my own accord.

I can always count on Katherine Center to come out with a contemporary romance that’s perfect for summer, and The Love Haters definitely delivered. This story takes place in Key West and felt like sunshine in book form!

I really connected with the FMC, Katie, and especially related to the body image issues she dealt with that were a big part of her development and growth. When she takes a job opportunity to create a documentary on Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, she decides it’s a good idea to embellish her ability to swim. I am not a huge fan of books that weave a web of lies as a plot device, but overall, I still enjoyed this one!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this adorable romance, in this book we follow Katie who works in some sort of marketing role. When facing losing her job she takes on a job making a coast guard promo video with a hot hero Hutch her colleagues brother. What Katie doesn’t know is she’s walking into family DRAMA. I really enjoyed this book the story and the characters were top notch and the little vignettes were so funny. Also I am a sucker for dog characters so this book had my heart from the start. I will stay this is light on the steamy scenes very closed door but I enjoyed the story so much I didn’t mind. This is my first book from this author so I plan on picking up some of her backlist! I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I am so incredibly grateful to have received an advanced copy of The Love Haters from the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press! 🫶

The Love Haters made me feel like I was being given a huge hug! 🥹💕 It truly was such a beautiful and heartwarming story with such wonderful characters while making me laugh at the same time! 🫶

Katie is easily an FMC that I could be friends with if she were a real person! 🥰 I connected with her from the start and thought she truly was so relatable with all of her internal thoughts. It was beautiful to see her go on a journey to try to learn to love herself and her body. My favorite character though happens to be the rescue dog George Bailey! 🐶🐾 He’s a Great Dane and I love him immensely. He made the whole story for me with all the crazy antics! ❤️ George Bailey and the meet-cute situation had me laughing so hard that I cried! 🤣🤣🤣 Hutch on the other hand is such a wonderful MMC with how caring and supportive he is! 🥹

If you love rom-com books, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, summer romance, dogs, a super fun meet-cute, and a book that will put a huge smile on your face then this is the book for you! 🫶

I wanted to love this book so much because this is an auto buy author for me but the characters just didn't reach me. I have many friends who have struggled with body image and disordered eating and there was something about the main characters portrayal of these issues that I couldn't quite connect to- probably more of a personal experience issue than the book.

I really liked the two brothers and the unfolding of their story as well as the side character (s) in the not a retirement home.

I think I'll try and reread this in the future when I'm in a different state of mind and it may hit differently?

I have loved several books by Katherine Center, but the last few have just left me wanting more. This one had too many facets that did not appeal to me … body positivity, self-hate, eating disorders, etc. I just felt like this was a silly and lightweight book that tried to deal with serious health issues in the wrong way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Adult
Chick Lit
Contemporary
Contemporary Romance
Fiction
Romance

We meet Katie, a video producer on the brink of unemployment. Her colleague, Cole, presents a lifeline: an opportunity to profile his brother, Hutch, a devastatingly handsome and incredibly serious US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, in Key West. Fresh off a broken engagement to a famous singer, Katie is hesitant but ultimately sees the change of scenery as a much-needed escape.

What begins as a professional assignment quickly blurs into something more. As Katie and Hutch spend time together, an undeniable connection sparks between them. However, both carry the scars of past relationships, leaving them jaded and convinced that they're immune to falling in love.

What I Loved
There was so much to enjoy in The Love Haters. Katie shines as a highly likable protagonist. Her inner commentary is genuinely funny, making her incredibly relatable. She feels like a real person – flawed, complex, and navigating life's messy challenges, which makes her journey all the more compelling.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Aunt Rue. She's endearing, warm, and brings a wonderful dynamic to the relationship between brothers Cole and Hutch, adding a delightful layer to the family interactions. Center does a great job of building a world you want to spend time in, filled with characters you genuinely care about.

A Minor Complaint (and why it cost a star)
While the majority of the book was a delightful read, I had to deduct a star for the ending. Without giving away any spoilers, the final scene is incredibly stressful and pivotal. Unfortunately, Hutch's behavior in that moment was a significant turn-off. It felt out of character and, frankly, quite disappointing. It made me feel that Katie, having gone through so much, deserved a better and more supportive reaction from the male lead in such a critical situation. It was a choice that, for me, undercut some of the character development and left a sour note.

Overall Impression
Despite my disappointment with the very end, The Love Haters is largely a charming and engaging read. Katherine Center excels at crafting relatable characters and a heartwarming journey. If you're looking for a contemporary romance with a witty heroine and plenty of emotional depth, this book is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: close proximity, grumpy/grumpy trope??
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Katie goes to Key West to shoot a promotional video in order to save her job, but the problem is that the star of the video, Hutch, doesn't love the idea of being the star of the video. He just wants to do his job, not be famous, and he isn't happy that his brother sent Katie instead of coming himself.
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This started out cute but I wanted more from the romance. I felt like it wasn't really flushed out and they just poorly communicated with each other. There was also a couple other things later on in the book that I was uncomfortable with that I am happy to discuss, but don't want to spoil anything. Overall, this isn't my fav Center book, but I will continue to read her books!