Ok, this is officially my favorite Katherine Center book!

The way she writes dialogue is fun, relatable, and not at all cringey- I know I know but the bar is on the floor with some other popular romance authors (and I'm an AVID romance reader).

Katie and Hutch's romance was exciting to watch play out. I especially liked the way he helped her realize that she is not the ugly monster that she internalized being. Between Hutch and cousin Beanie, they really were lifesavers to a woman with severe body dysmorphia. Katherine tackled tough topics like body image, ED, and family drama without making the characters sound preachy or triggering the reader. While I normally abhor self help books and self help language, I did find it to be useful and helpful to use in my own life and with my own body image. Watch out world, as soon as it stops snowing I'm going to buy a swim suit and take swim lessons- cellulite be d***ned.

A beachy, perfect for summer, read.

Katie's a video producer on the verge of getting laid off until her co-worker, Cole, sends her to Key West to profile a rescuer swimmer named Hutch Hutcheson. The catch? She can't swim. The bigger catch? The man she's chronicling is Cole's brother. Worse, they don't get along. A fact that he conveniently leaves out until after she arrives. The biggest catch? The longer Katie is around Hutch, the more she likes him and starts to fall for him...only to get entangled in a web of deceit that has her job on the fence, her heart on the line, and her fears in the grip of a Category 3 hurricane.

Although this was not my favorite of Katherine Center's latest romcoms, it still had a lot going for it that made it airy and enjoyable. Not only did it have a paradise setting in Key West, but I liked the video producer meets U.S. Coast Guard angle, the colorful and eccentric Aunt Rue, the messy sibling rivalry and history, and the thunderstorm-fearing, matchmaking dog, George Bailey. Where the narrative lost its strength a bit was in the lack of depth shown to the romantic buildup as well as to some of the side characters. Namely with Beanie and Cole. There wasn't enough substance to make them likable or relatable. I also thought the body dysmorphia of it all could have been handled with more delicacy.

On the whole, though, this had a lot of cute moments from swim lessons to hurricane rescues to hanging-from-helicopter kisses. Definitely a good pick for a relaxing summer plunge!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Katie Vaughn’s video producing job is on the line when Cole, her coworker, asks her to take on a gig he was supposed to do making a Coast Guard recruitment video. Unfortunately, Katie can’t swim, but she hides that fact so that she doesn’t miss this opportunity--she can learn to swim before she starts, she thinks. The other challenge is her subject, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, is Cole’s estranged brother, and she can’t let anyone know she’s replacing Cole until the shoot begins–including Hutch and the brothers’ Aunt Rue, who is providing Katie with housing. After a rough start, Katie begins to click with Hutch as she learns about his life and career, and she faces head-on past rejection from her now famous former fiancé as well as body image issues she has had since her youth. Add to that some brotherly animosity, an approaching hurricane, and some lies–and Katie has a lot on her hands.

I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down, so I ended up finishing it in less than a day. Katie and Hutch have a great dynamic, Katie felt relatable in her insecurities, Hutch is a hero in every sense of the word, and Cole makes a fantastic antagonist to both. The story had an enjoyable balance of romance, comedy, and drama, and I (pleasantly) learned a lot more about the Coast Guard than I could have expected. Finally, the hurricane sequence was so gripping that I stayed up until 2am to finish the novel. It’s the best romantic comedy I have read since The Rom-Commers last year.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I am a pretty big fan of Katherine Center and i have to say this book was absolutely wonderful to read. It was such a charming and fun book to get lost in. Katie was definitely an interesting character and although she wasn't my favorite i still liked the part she played in this book. The authors note at the end is a must read by the way!!

But overall this was a wonderful book and i can't wait for everyone to get their hands on it when it is published.

I usually love Katherine Center’s books, and she’s probably my #1 auto-buy author, but this was not for me. I don’t really like pop-culture references in literature, so reading “TikTok” and “Jennifer Aniston,” especially when the author already has fictional celebrities she could choose from, really took me out of the experience. I also didn’t really connect with the characters or the conflicts. Obviously the writing was great, but this story just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Guys you are in for a treat with this book! It’s a romance book at heart but this entire book centers around learning to love yourself and doing the things that may scare you in order to be the best version of yourself. There’s a little quirkiness and some elements of found family but the theme is focused on learning to accept and appreciate all we have to offer as individuals and I LOVED it!

I think at this point I need to accept that Katherine Center is not for me. I’m still chasing the high of her older books, and maybe I’m being influenced by nostalgia, but I just cannot get into her anymore. I think unfortunately this has to be my last attempt.

I was extremely excited to see Katherine Center’s new book show up on NeGalley! I’ve read several other of her books and have always been a huge fan!

While I did thoroughly enjoy this book, it wasn’t one of my favorites. It’s still a solid romance read!

Katie Vaughn, a video producer is assigned to her coworker Cole’s brother, Hutch to produce a video of the US Coast Guard in Key West. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch - “The Love Hater” felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped at times.

This book also covered heavier themes such as body image (anorexia) and grief. They often felt over-shadows by the tone of the book and humor.

The book still kept me entertained and I finished it within a day. The descriptions throughout the book were great and made you feel as if you were there.

While it wasn’t my favorite book by Katherine Center, I still would recommend it to others. It’s a quick and easy read!

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book! I don’t think I have come across a Katherine Center book that I haven’t enjoyed reading, and this one was no exception!

Katie Vaughn’s job is on the line, which is why she agrees to an assignment covering the United States Coast Guard even though she doesn’t know how to swim. But at her coworker, Cole’s request she is off to Key West to cover the story so he doesn’t have to. Why? Because the subject being followed is Hutch, Cole’s brother. According to Cole, Hutch is a love hater. But will things change when Katie comes to town?

I enjoyed reading The Love Haters. It brought up topics that I feel so many people have experienced in some form or another- insecurities. Katie and Hutch each have their own insecurities that they are dealing with and I think it is the perfect way to draw them together. Katherine Center always has a way of pulling real life topics into her books and covers them well. This book put emphasis on body positivity and shows the struggles people have with themselves, but also shines a light on how other people don’t see the same things we see about ourselves. I loved the dynamic between Katie and Hutch! I definitely recommend this one!

I loved that Katie learned to love herself. A great lesson to us all. Interesting plot, perhaps a little too much crammed into one book, but still a entertaining. No spice but did not suffer for it.

I absolutely ADORE all of Katherine Centers novels and this one did not disappoint. I felt so many emotions reading this. I just love how there is always an enlightening “feel-good” message in her novels. I will anxiously await her next book! The characters are all well written. Her writing style is great! Most certainly recommend!!!

With her job on the line, Katie is putting her best foot forward for her new assignment, creating a promo video for the Coast Guard rescue swimmers featuring Hutch. But not only can Katie not swim, he also doesn’t want her there.

I finished this book in one day! It was such a page turner! From the start, I really loved Katie’s character. Katherine Center does an amazing job writing relatable characters with both internal and external struggles. I absolutely loved Katie’s awkward introduction to Key West and Hutch. Their chemistry and the tension carried throughout the whole novel. I also adored Hutch’s giant Great Dane, George Bailey and I loved the part he played in bringing them together. This was such a heartwarming read and the ending was just perfect!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy! 💕

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. I’ve purchased her books in multiple formats, including signed copies. I’ve gifted her books and recommended her to my followers, and every time someone is looking for a great read.

So this review pains me.

By the time I reached Chapter Two, I had already given a few eye rolls and sighs of disappointment. The Google search results for random things, inserted as filler continued and the references to love hate were excessive. At that point I was ready to start speed reading to get it over with and wait until next year for another Katherine Center book.

As a side note: The nickname Pup Daddy would seem to be a play on words of Puff Daddy. I don’t think this will age well and it felt icky.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun little beachy read for the summertime. As a self-proclaimed "Love Hater," I resonated with both of these main characters so deeply. I actually really enjoy the "fake it til you make it" trope and I thought that it worked incredibly well in this story. This was kind of like if "The Wedding Date" with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney had a baby with "The Paradise Problem" by Christina Lauren. It was funny, romantic, cute, and sweet and I think a lot of readers will find this to be an easy read. Katherine Center has definitely turned a corner for me since "Hello Stranger" and she seems to have found her lane between "The Rom-Commers" and this novel. Expect to see this cover in beach bags everywhere come May. Four stars.

I love a good love triangle trope and Katherine Center writes characters with so much heart -- obsessed!

What a wonderful, heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny story! I adored this book with the motley crew of side characters who were all so well fleshed-out: an aunt who makes us want to live loudly and in color, a cousin/bestie giving us all the truths we need to hear about self love, a hilarious dog sidekick, a gaggle of nosy and sweet retired women, a lucky toad. There’s lots to love here 🩷

Katherine Center does it again with another “can’t put down” story. Hutch may just be one of my favorite book boyfriends ever and Katie is one of the most relatable main characters I’ve come across. Plus, who wouldn’t love a giant lovable dog named George Bailey?!

Bro I finished this on 6 hrs!! This book made me cry!! Was so good! I really want to be stranded on a boat just to get rescued by hutch!!

For me Katherine Center's books are hit ( The Bodyguard, The Rom-Commers ) or miss ( Hello Stranger ) I'm sorry to say The Love Haters was a total miss.

It felt more like a self help book on body image positivity and weight loss struggling. Sorry, no, I couldn't do it. It's okay to include a subtle message but not shove it down the reader throat on every page. Where even was the actual romance?

Katherine Center is a solid writer. I usually enjoy her books and especially appreciate the fact that she focuses on the story and doesn't have explicit sex scenes in her book. That being said, this one was just okay for me.
I didn't really enjoy Katie because she confused me. I think she had body issues, but it wasn't clear at first if she hated bright-colored clothing and swimsuits because of her unfavorable view of drawing attention to herself or because of something that had happened with her stepmom as a child. Then I was convinced she was just afraid of the water because she couldn't swim, but that turned out to not be the case. Her ex being tossed into her insecurities just fueled the "what is going on?" for me. I thought eventually he would have a bigger role. Same goes for Cole; I thought they were going to be in a fake relationship from the jump from the blurb I read, but that wasn't the case. More confusion!
Hutch was a flat character. I didn't feel like we really got to know him on a deeper level- it was all mostly surface things such as what he did for a living or what he looked like and didn't go into much detail about his personality. Their relationship also felt like it came out of nowhere; like where did all these feelings on both sides come from? I know not all books talk about the couple's future, but it wasn't even a conversation they had even once. You would think with him being in the military and her living in Dallas they would've tried to see if it could possibly work? I don't know, maybe it was just me that it bothered.
The two best things in the book were Rue, the Gals and George Bailey for me- I wanted more of them!
I would definitely pick up another Katherine Center book in the future, however, because they are definitely reads I fly through and a nice palate cleanser from all the smut on the market right now.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early copy of this book to review.