Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The only thing missing in my opinion was Hutch's POV then that would have made the book phenomenal. I thought the main character Katie was very relatable and very human with her struggles with self images. I was absolutely not expecting such an action packed last chapter! I will say that it was very PG when it came to their romance but that is not necessarily a bad thing just something to note for other readers.

Anyways long story short, you cannot go wrong with a Katherine Center book! I can't wait to see what her next book is :)

I really enjoyed The Love Haters! Katherine Center once again delivers a charming, feel-good story with just the right balance of humor and heart. I found myself laughing out loud more than once, and I was completely drawn in by the chemistry between Katie and Hutch. Their relationship had just the right amount of tension, banter, and warmth watching it develop was one of my favorite parts of the book. I highly recommend.

I have read almost all of Katherine Center’s books and loved them all, but sadly this one did not hit the mark for me. I did not enjoy the body image theme that seemed to last most of this book.

I also felt the love interest was not that interesting and not that much of a focus for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an honest review for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of this book. This did not affect my review.

Katherine Center books are hit or miss for me. Sometimes the characters are a miss for me. This time I connected with the characters. I liked Katie, Hutch,, Rue, and the girls. Also, I cannot help but love a Great Dane. The only characters I didn't care for were Cole and Sully.

The FMC jumps in to cover a story in the hopes of saving her job and also because her supervisor, Cole, doesn't want to do the story with his brother.

Yes, people can be somewhat comfortable with themselves and have that pulled out from under them, just like Katie did. Reading her be nurtured by Rue and the girls as well as her cousin was so heartwarming.

This was what I needed to read when I read it. If I read it another time, I may not have liked it as much. I will absolutely recommend this to others.

"It’s a thin line between love and love-hating."
The Love Haters was the perfect summer read that had me turning pages until the very end. This was such a wonderful story that takes place in Key West and is about Katie who is a video producer that does not want to get fired from her job so she agrees to do a gig that profiles Tom who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. There is always a catch and to find out what it is make sure to read this one. The book was written well and every character in this was great especially the Great Dane dog. I loved this romance book so much and would recommend to any reader especially to those who love romance books. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this one in exchange of my honest review of The Love Haters by Katherine Center.

4.5 stars

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and StMartinsPress for the digital copy. A special thank you to Michele @just_talking_to_my_shelf and Ashlee @bookswithnopictures for coordinating the Talking to my Books Traveling ARC and to Katherine Center for sending an advanced copy so we could do so.

It's no secret that I'm a KC fan for life — I've read everything but ONE backlist book that I need to get my hands on STAT — so, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Katie and Hutch's story! I saw so much of myself in Katie with her body dysmorphia and love for rescue dogs. I mean not everyone would turn around mid-hurricane evacuation for a dog, but if you're not that kind of person, then you're not my kind of person. Sorry, not sorry! But, I digress ...

There are so many reasons to read this story, but here are a few stand outs:
- The sweetest rescue Great Dane (What a baby!)
- The Florida Keys (The 7-Mile Bridge! **Peep the personalized drawing on the cover page by the one and only @Daniallreads. Seriously, the book should have come PRINTED with this drawing! It's so good!**)
- U.S. Coast Guards who wear aviator sunglasses (HOT!)
- Restored vintage cottages (Yes, please!)
- A houseboat (Exciting AND scary!)
- Daring rescues (Your adrenaline will definitely start pumping!)

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a heartwarming, witty, and uplifting romantic comedy that delivers her signature mix of emotional depth and feel-good charm. The story follows a fiercely independent heroine and a swoon-worthy love interest who, despite their initial resistance and complicated pasts, find themselves reluctantly drawn together—thanks to some meddling matchmakers and unexpected circumstances.

With sparkling dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and an undercurrent of emotional healing, the novel explores themes of vulnerability, second chances, and the power of letting people in. Fans of Center’s previous work will recognize her trademark optimism and strong, relatable female leads. While it leans into familiar romance tropes, it does so with enough heart and freshness to feel both comforting and satisfying.

Verdict: Light, lovable, and empowering—a perfect weekend read for fans of heartfelt rom-coms.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the gifted galley!!

I’m always excited whenever another Katherine Center book comes out! This one is the perfect summer read. Not only does it take place in Key West, but there’s a houseboat, daring rescues, the character of Hutch, a hot Coast Guard rescue swimmer, swim lessons with the humorous secondary characters of Hutch's Aunt Rue and her senior Gals group, and a lovable Great Dane named George Bailey (my favourite character!), who is afraid of thunderstorms. As always, Centre's latest book is not just a predictable rom-com; it also explores important issues. This story focuses on body image, grief, and the importance of learning to love yourself before you can love someone else. (SPOILER ALERT) The lie scenario at the end is a bit overkill, but the book’s resolution made me wonder if the ending is true to the 'loving oneself' message …does a woman need to be rescued by a man, or can she use her own resources to rescue herself? Perhaps not as fun or realistic as the scenario that plays out, but something to ponder, which may be what Centre intended. Highly recommend any book by this author. Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. A great read!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a fun, action-packed story set in sunny Key West. The writing is humorous and full of great visual moments. I’ve long been a fan of Katherine Center, and while this one had charm and plenty of entertaining moments, it didn’t grab me quite as much as some of her previous books. Still a solid read for fans of her style or beachy rom-coms! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I did not end up finishing this one because of the blatant body image issues rampant throughout. I have very much enjoyed Center’s other works and was disappointed to see that this one made it through without a sensitivity reader pointing out the diet and food issues the FMC has and how it is discussed. Body dysmorphia is not cured when someone gives you compliments. Plus the romance was insta-lovey and overall the editing inconsistent. The only thing cute about this book was the dog.

This book had a fun premise and a great setting, but it didn’t live up to the charm I usually expect from Katherine Center. Katie, the main character, started off relatable but quickly became frustrating with her overly obvious narration and immature tone. The romance with Hutch lacked spark and felt more focused on physical attraction than genuine connection.

While there were some entertaining moments and a sweet dog, the story struggled with pacing and depth. The themes of body image and self-worth felt shallow, and the resolution seemed to hinge too much on external validation. I appreciated the attempt, but overall, it fell flat for me.
2.5/5

I'm a huge Katherine Center fan so I was really excited to read this one. It has that trademark banter that always brings a smile to myself and the climax was awesome!

This was….not for me. I normally thoroughly enjoy Katherine Center’s books but this one missed the mark. The main character was SO focused on her body image that it almost took over every other aspect of the story. And while I generally love when lighter hearted books throw in a thread of deeper themes, it has to be balanced well against everything else and this was not. I really enjoyed learning about the coast guard stuff and the dog and that was about it. The romance didn’t really capture me. And overall I was just glad when it was over if I’m being honest.

Katie has sworn off romance—and now her career might be going down in flames too. Faced with a looming layoff from her video producer job, she jumps at a wild-card opportunity: a last-ditch, possibly career-saving assignment profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a heroic Coast Guard rescue swimmer stationed in sunny Key West. One problem: Katie can’t swim. And another? Hutch is the estranged brother of her coworker Cole—the one who pushed her into this assignment in the first place. Soon Katie finds herself in the middle of tropical chaos: battling her fear of water, navigating tension between two feuding brothers, and falling headfirst for Hutch—a man who’s equal parts devastatingly handsome and emotionally unavailable.

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Trope(s): Forced proximity, workplace, friends to lovers

My personal rating system:
⭐ Not for me.
⭐⭐ I somewhat liked (some of) it.
⭐⭐⭐ I mostly liked and connected with it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.

My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.

Review:
I've said it time and time again, but Katherine Center DOES NOT MISS. This is by far my favorite of her novels, and I don't say that lightly. She keeps knocking it out of the park. I devoured this book in one afternoon. Hutch is just... a good guy. Plain and simple. And I loved how he was such a softy with Katie. But the romance wasn't even my favorite part of this story. It was Katie's journey. She changed so much from point A to B, and her anxieties and fears were so powerful and relatable. I felt this one so deeply in my soul.

The Cover: I wasn't a huge fan of it UNTIL I read the book. And now I'm like, yeah, that makes perfect sense. Well done.

My Favorite Things:
• Hutch collecting the "Mom" pennies.
• Katie saving the pennies.
• All of the Key West women and their adorable and (harmless) meddlesome ways.
• When Hutch came to find her after the internet post, and the women called to see if he had found her. His quote, "I found her" hit so deep. Because it felt like THE moment he realized he found HER. His person. GAAAAAAAAH. I melted.

I love Katherine Center so much. This is her best book yet and I love the way she writes romance. Definitely recommend this one.

In The Love Haters, Katherine Center delivers another heartwarming, emotionally layered romance that blends wit, vulnerability, and resilience. The novel follows a protagonist caught between the comfort of cynicism and the terrifying hope of love. With Center’s signature charm and empathy, the story unfolds with authenticity, exploring how grief, fear, and past heartbreaks shape the way we guard our hearts.

What makes this book shine is the complexity of the characters. The heroine is strong yet wounded, relatable yet full of surprises. Her journey—filled with sharp banter, unexpected connection, and emotional growth—is deeply satisfying. The male lead is equally nuanced, offering both romantic tension and emotional depth.

Center masterfully balances humor with heartfelt insight, creating moments that are both laugh-out-loud funny and achingly real. The Love Haters doesn’t just explore falling in love—it celebrates choosing love, even when it's hard. It’s an uplifting, engaging read that will resonate with anyone who’s ever been afraid to risk their heart again.

A poignant, feel-good novel with bite and soul—The Love Haters proves once more that Katherine Center is a master of meaningful romance.

3.5 this story hits all the check marks for the romance formula. Instant attraction, a big misunderstanding, heroic gesture and even a lovable dog. Katie, a videographer, is assigned to shoot a documentary about a coast guard rescuer. Hutch is the rescuer who has his demons from his own tragic past. Throw in a jealous lover and an eccentric auntie and you have a tried but true romance. her enjoyable, this author is solid.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

✨ The Vibes ✨
A romance that veers more quirky than realistic

📖 Read if…
✨ You’re looking for a book with summery vibes
✨ You don’t mind when romances feel a bit one-dimensional
✨ Hallmark movies are your jam

I think The Love Haters will unfortunately be my last Katherine Center book.

The Love Haters is the third book I’ve read by her after Hello Stranger and The Rom Commers, and while I didn’t ~loathe~ The Rom Commers, I really struggled with both Hello Stranger and The Love Haters. This is 100% a matter of personal preference as I know a lot of people LOVE Center’s books. I don’t fault anyone for this opinion, as I know she’s a great fit for anyone who wants a light and silly romance with some heavy emotional moments added for depth. Unfortunately, her style just doesn’t mesh with what I’m looking for in a romance (I need just a smidge more grounded realism to get invested).

I won’t list off all the reasons I didn’t mesh with this book, as I know it’s just a case of “right book, wrong reader,” but I did want to flag a quick content warning for anyone picking this one up. Disordered eating and body image are a large part of Katie’s journey in the story, and while this is likely something many readers can relate to, I felt like it was handled in a really flippant way that could be triggering for some. There’s already been a lot of discourse around this, so I won’t add to the noise, other than to encourage people to take care of themselves while reading.

The Love Haters is out now. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center’s "The Love Haters" is a charming and witty romantic comedy, ideal for readers seeking a blend of humor, self-discovery, and heartfelt connection. This novel artfully combines the lightness of a summer read with deeper themes of personal growth, friendship, and the transformative power of love.

The story follows Katie, a protagonist whose career hangs in the balance as she embarks on a high-stakes assignment in Key West. Charged with profiling Hutch, a reserved yet celebrated Coast Guard hero, Katie faces a unique set of challenges with her own insecurities about swimming and body image, alongside an unexpected attraction to her subject. Both Katie and Hutch carry emotional scars from past relationships and experiences, and their gradual openness to each other lays the groundwork for an engaging and authentic romance. The plot takes an amusing twist when Katie’s supervisor—who also happens to be Hutch’s brother—enters the scene with a fabricated dating scheme, adding layers of complexity and humor.

What stands out most in "The Love Haters" is the genuine personal development experienced by both protagonists. Katie’s journey toward self-acceptance, increased confidence, and overcoming fear is particularly resonant and inspiring. The novel’s exploration of self-worth, healing, and emotional vulnerability elevates it beyond a typical romance, making it relatable to a broad audience.

Katherine Center’s storytelling ensures that "The Love Haters" leaves readers with both a smile and a sense of hope. This is a delightful read that balances heartfelt moments with comedic charm.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An average romantic comedy. I didn't love it, didn't hate it. I had trouble connecting with the characters and found the ending unsatisfying. Still, not a bad experience overall. 3 Stars.