this was fun - it was giving silly romcom! also was reading the last quarter of the book while it was storming out and it matched the vibes perfectly

** spoiler alert ** The only character I felt anything towards was Rue.

Like of course Hutch is not going to be concerned about you when THERE IS A LITERAL HURRICANE.

And you are telling me the Lieutenant couldn't get that dog in the car? For real? So he just left him? BEHIND?

Like yeah I would've gone back to for the pet. But also really? Hanging off the side of a boat?

I cannot.

I have loved all of Katherine Center’s books, but realize I enjoy her earlier stories the most. The Love Haters has catchy title, and a cute, colorful cover with vibrant green painted edges. I just didn’t love the content within quite as much as I hoped to.

I always enjoy Katherine’s light-hearted, playful tone, witty banter, and the way she weaves heavier topics into a humorous romantic comedy. I just really did not care for the hyper-focus on body image in this story. It was constant and recurrent, and while I understand it’s an important issue, it’s just not one I want my whole plot to revolve around. The tone also felt a bit more flippant and sillier than I prefer.

This story is endearing in its own way and will be a meaningful read for many. It has the opportunity to be an impactful journey of self-discovery and empowerment for many readers, it just wasn’t a good fit for me.

I had the opportunity to hear Katherine Center speak on her book tour for The Love Haters. (Shout out to Blue Willow Bookshop for hosting the event!) I had already read the novel and loved it. But I left her talk loving it even more. The joy with which Katherine talks about her characters is infectious. She smiled, joked, giggled, and blushed (the actual Coast Guard was there to support her!) I loved that she describes the story as having seven different types of love: romantic, best friend, sibling, parental, golden girls/posse, pet, and self. I hope I got them all right! If not, it’s my mistake! She is truly a gem and so is this book. If you ever have the chance to see her speak live, don’t pass it up!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

I loved this book!!! Center writes great romances, and I loved the personal journey that the FMC went on in regard to her body image. This was a very interesting setting and I loved the secondary characters - and the dog!! Overall a great follow up to the rom-commers. I'll read anything she writes now!

🌈Queer rep: none

I absolutely adored The Lover Haters. It hit me in the heart in so many ways. The body image struggles the main character faces? Completely relatable. Getting into a bathing suit feels like a full-on emotional battle sometimes, and I saw myself in those vulnerable, raw moments. I know some people have criticized that part of the book, but honestly, it’s what made her feel real to me. When your confidence is so low that the only thing you can compliment about yourself is your pinky nail—IYKYK. A little empathy goes a long way.

Rue is a total gem. I want to be her when I grow up—a free-spirited, wise, and unfiltered grandmother with so much heart. She brought warmth and courage to every scene she was in.

And Hutch? Absolute perfection. His calm strength, kindness, and quiet goodness just made me melt. He’s the kind of character that restores your faith in good people.

I kept highlighting quotes, but one that really stuck with me was: “Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time.” That line alone earned a permanent spot in my heart.

This book was everything I needed—relatable, heartfelt, and inspiring. A definite 5-star read for me

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and adore this book!

This was my least fav or her books so far, but still a cute, quick beach read! It was funny and sweet with an original storyline.

An author that NEVER disappoints? Katherine Center. HANDS DOWN.

I do not know why it took me so long to read The Love Haters, but man. I LOVED IT.

📖Katie Vaughn may have been at her job for a year, but when it comes down to who gets cut when downsizing, she is still considered new. When she gets an opportunity to go down to Key West to shoot a piece on Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, the Coast Guard hottie who has saved the life of a sweet pup, she takes it. Even when she finds out she will have to do some of the rescue swimmer activities, she doesn’t give up the opportunity… even knowing she can’t swim.

No problem.. She will just get down to Key West a little early and take some swim lessons. But what a surprise to find that the swim instructor is none other than “Hutch”. Hutch the love hater who only agreed to this piece because he thought his brother would be the one coming down to do it. Instead he gets Katie, who can’t swim.

📝 THIS IS SUCH A GREAT BOOK! Both main characters were fantastic. The growth that Katie experienced was astronomical, but still felt plausible. It is so hard to be a woman and constantly compare ourselves with everyone else. Hutch was dreamy. His character was just a combination of kindness and sexiness that was so well described. Katherine did such a great job of really making Katie relatable and the way she became more confident…Ii loved it. The side characters- perfection. They really made this book and kept me invested in their parts. My favorite though, was obviously the great dane who clearly needed a thunder jacket.

This story was great… thank you so much @macmillianaudio for the audiobook! The narration was awesome and I feel like she did such a great job of conveying emotion throughout the whole book.

#macmillianaudioinfluencer #macmillianaudio #macmillianaudio2025 #audiobooks #thelovehaters #katherinecenter

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👙🩳🛟
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t totally sure how I felt about this one at first. The main character, Katie, is dealing with a lot – body image issues, chromophobia (yes, fear of colors!), low self-esteem, and professional anxiety. She’s also in the public eye and doesn’t know how to swim. It felt like a lot of baggage for one character, especially since most romances stick to one or two key issues. But in a way, it made her more real.

What really worked for me was Hutch. I liked him so much. He’s been through real trauma, so the label “Love Hater” didn’t quite fit him in my opinion. He was layered, grounded, and really likable.

Also, shoutout to the side characters – Rue (who is their aunt and absolutely hilarious!), Cole, and of course, George Bailey the Great Dane. Total scene-stealer.

The moments between Katie and Hutch really clicked for me. Watching them help each other grow – Katie learning to swim and love herself (with a big assist from her awesome BFF Beanie), and Katie helping Hutch and Cole finally talk through their past and begin to heal as a family – those were the parts that really stuck with me.

I didn’t know much about Coast Guard life going in, but it was cool to get a glimpse into that world. Katherine Center always has a way of mixing heartfelt romance with something deeper. Her books remind you that love stories aren’t just fluff – they’re meaningful, and they can still be fun and uplifting.

I really enjoyed this one, even though The Rom-Commers is still my favorite. That said, I’m thrilled to have a hardcover copy with a signed bookplate sitting on my shelf!

Katherine Center always writes the most heartfelt entertaining emotional journeys and this book is no different. I loved the setting so much!

Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me. In her newest release, The Love Haters, she shows us love (or not!) in different ways..romantic,self,family and friends, pets, career, place and even color! I loved the Key West setting and most of the characters, especially Katie, Hutch, Rue,and George Bailey,the gentle giant Great Dane. There was one part of story line, however,that seemed out of sync with the overall tone of the book, involving Hutch’s brother Cole. And, this “What’s happening here?” moment made me drop my rating. I did like the happy ending, though, and appreciated the Author’s Note at the end. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Kathleen Center writes a beautiful, heartwarming, story. Katherine is an auto buy for me, for this reason. Thank you so much for this ARC, it made me feel all the warm and fuzzies while reading it!

It pains me to say this, but this book was difficult to finish. I’ve read and loved The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, and The Rom-Commers, all by Katherine Center, but this one just wasn’t for me. First off, I view books as an escape, and as someone who has dealt with my own body image issues, it was disheartening to see how the author handled the MC’s body image struggles. Additionally, the way it was referenced repeatedly overshadowed what this book was meant to be—a light-hearted romance. While we’re on the topic of romance, that storyline fell flat for me as well. I didn’t feel like the characters really connected, and there was no spark. That said, I love Katherine Center’s writing for her quick wit and charm, and I will always read anything she writes; unfortunately, this book wasn’t a match for me.

I loooooooved it and finished within 48 hours. I would recommend to anyone and everyone. The characters were lovable and relatable

The Love Haters by Katherine Center delivers a unique and heartfelt story that stands out for its refreshing take on love, identity, and the path to self-acceptance. At its core, this novel is less about romantic entanglements and more about what it truly means to come home to yourself after heartbreak and hardship.

Center’s signature warmth and wit are present throughout, but what makes this book shine is the theme of healing. The protagonist’s journey to rediscover who she is—and to love that person fully—is both moving and empowering. It’s a narrative that gently reminds us that real love starts with self-compassion.

The story’s premise felt original and full of potential, with a concept that encourages readers to rethink what it means to be open to connection in a world that often encourages us to shut down. While some elements didn’t resonate as strongly as others, and pacing occasionally lagged, the novel’s message remains uplifting and worthwhile.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader copy. The Love Haters is a thoughtful, feel-good read that will speak to anyone learning how to heal, grow, and choose themselves.

It was a very cute book. There were a few times that you had to suspend your belief for. Like that the coast guard could just choose any random video service. Maybe I’m wrong about that but government agencies normally don’t have that ability or budget. I believe the brother conflict was a tad overblown and unrealistic. Again, a suspension of belief made it fun but it didn’t fully feel real. The ending of her going back for the dog was also a bit unreal. But it’s not supposed to be real I realize it’s a love story. But the supposed love haters didn’t feel like they hated it that much. It was funny she couldn’t swim but lied and said she could and he was the coach.

As much as it pains me to say, this one really wasn't for me. I usually love Katherine Center, but this one missed the mark for me. I really struggled with the body image issues that Katie, the FMC, struggled with. Many of the things she said to herself or did to herself (like tracking every single calorie she put in her mouth) felt triggering. I also absolutely hated the twist when her boss, Cole, showed up in the Florida Keys. The entire situation from that point forward made me upset, and I truly feel that Hutch deserved so much better from everyone in his life. Hutch was the best thing about this book by far, and I wish such a swoon-worthy MMC had gotten a story worthy of him. I also did love Rue, who was a bright and colorful addition to the cast. Sadly, I won't be recommending this one to my friends.

Listen I can pretty much always count on Katherine Center to write a book that I fly through and have a great time reading. I read this in just a little over a day. I flew through it. Katherine’s writing is so fun and easy to read and it just had me sucked into this story.

I thought Katie was so fun and I loved her constant rambling and she was just so enduring. Katie struggles with body dysmorphia and that’s a big theme of the book; Katie has to work to conquer some fears and change her mindset regarding her body and her looks. If this is a trigger for you then I would avoid this book. I really enjoyed her story and her journey. I loved Rue and all the Gals and honestly can I just move to the Starlite and hang out with all these ladies? They made the most little fun community for Katie.

And I loved Hutch. You think he’s gonna be a grump but he’s the farthest thing and I loved watching him and Katie get to know each other. Also he’s a rescue swimmer in the coast guard and I for some reason could only picture Glen Powell/Miles Teller a la Top Gun: Maverick while reading. I loved watching Hutch and Katie get to know each other and fall for each other.

This read like a 2008 romcom and I mean that as such an absolute compliment! I truly had the best time reading this one.

Thank you St. Martin’s and Katherine Center for the ARC!

👍🏻Read If You Like:
•forced proximity
•The Coast Guard
•dogs
•rescue scenes

🛑Content Warnings:
•body dysmorphia
•loss of parents (in past)

🚪Closed Door Romance

Really enjoyed this one! This was my second Katherine Center book and she’s becoming a must-read for me! Gave this 4/5 stars. Loved the premise and Katie, Hutch, and Rue! Great characters. At times there was a little too much focus on Katie’s self-acceptance/body hate/positivity but I know that was necessary for her to learn to love herself. All in all great book, highly recommend!

I enjoy this book! I do wish there was less of the body shaming from Katie and female main character. I loved Hutch, his dog, George Bailey, Rue, and her group of girlfriends. I know the main point of the book was for Katie to realize her self worth and that did come across. I wish there was more of the Coast Guard life because I did learn enjoying about that. The third act conflict was predictable but I still liked the book and would recommend for a summer read!