Wow!!! With Katherine Center, I know exactly what I’m gonna get but the nuance and how everything plays out still surprises and delights me.

Spice: 🌶️ 1 out of 5 (no spice, just kisses)
⚠️ content/trigger warnings at the bottom (slight spoiler but important)

The love haters is a story of both loving another person and learning to love yourself. It’s a fast paced rom-com filled with wisdom, humor, heart, and action. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Above all, it made me think about my relationship to myself and pay attention to how I can better love my body, and that made it all the more powerful of a story.

Katie is a documentary filmmaker tasked with going to Florida and making a recruitment video for Coast Guard rescue swimmers. Her main subject is Hutch who gained internet fame for heroically saving a dog (and his general handsomeness). Only problem? Katie can’t swim. And because of body image issues, she’s afraid of putting on a one-piece swimsuit. But she’s gotta face her fears because her job is on the line.

When Katie gets to Florida, she meets Hutch’s eccentric yet loving aunt and “the gals”, a gang of retired widows, who suck Katie into their orbit and shower love on her. They were such fun characters! Another notable character is Hutch’s Great Dane, George Bailey! 🐶 If you’re like me and you love Found Family, you’ll adore this book.

There’s a scene where Katie falls into the water, panics, then calms herself down, kicks up to the surface and starts treading water, then Hutch grabs her and swims her to shore. I feel like that’s a good metaphor for the book itself. She rescues herself and he comes along and makes things a bit easier. I loved seeing Katie and Hutch’s relationship blossom and grow, but what I enjoyed most was seeing Katie find her confidence on her own.

I can’t gush about this book enough. Just go pick it up!!
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⚠️ Content/trigger warnings: disordered eating, body image issues, cyber bullying, physical altercation, being stranded on a boat during a hurricane, brief description of a fatal car crash, death of parents, mild language

Thanks so much to @netgalley for the ARC! I’ve read a few books by Katherine Center now and I am quickly falling in love with her writing.

The Love Haters was such a great story and I was hooked right away. Katie is in danger of getting laid off so she agrees to go to Florida and record a video to recruit people to join the Coast Guard. One catch…Katie can’t swim! Is that a problem?

The center of the video, Hutch, is a great looking guy that happened to rescue Jennifer Aniston’s dog but also happens to hate love. Katie is also staying at his aunt’s vacation resort and constantly attacked by his Great Dane.

This story is charming, funny, and dramatic. It’s a must read!

I really enjoyed reading this book! Most of the characters were engaging and likable, but at times it felt like there were too many without enough depth or development. The first half was absolutely fantastic—captivating and well-paced—but the second half felt a bit rushed, leaving me wishing for more detail and resolution.

I appreciated the positive themes of self-love and the thoughtful exploration of body image issues. However, I think it would be helpful to include a disclaimer at the beginning, as these topics might be sensitive for some readers.

Overall, it was a great read with an important message. Despite some pacing issues, it’s a story I would recommend!

If Katherine Center writes it I'm reading it! I have read almost everything by this author and this one didn’t disappoint! I loved the characters so much!

My first Katherine Center book and I wasn't disappointed. I've heard a lot about her books and wondered if they could be as good as everyone says. They are! Katherine Center knows how to set up a story and create characters with depth that play out in your mind as if they were on a movie screen. I will be reading more of her books.

Swept up in Katie and Hutch’s stories set in Key West. Reading it in the middle of winter did not dull the hibiscus, Lilly Pulitzer, key lime world Katherine Center created. I might have pictured Hutch as Glen Powell in Top Gun crossing over as a Coast Guard… Don’t forget to peep the Author’s Note after you’ve finished the book.

Katherine Center is always a must read for me so thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

What a fun, relatable, and emotional read. We had a snow day here so this was the perfect book to pretend you were in the warm, tropical Keys. Katie is learning to love herself (and body) while also not losing her job. She takes on a crazy assignment that quickly turns into more.

I loved the characters in this book and their character development. I found myself not wanting to put this book down and there was one large twist that I wasn't expecting. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to buying a copy when it comes out.

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is the perfect escape for anyone looking for warmth, wit, and a heartfelt exploration of self-love and personal growth. The novel is filled with lovable, quirky characters and a plot with a pace that makes it entertaining until the last page.

The supporting characters—like Rue, the Gals, and even the toad—add charm and humor, creating a community of support and encouragement around Katie. By the end, you’ll find yourself completely invested in her journey with Hutch, rooting for their happy ending.

Katherine Center once again delivers a story that will resonate with readers long after they’ve finished it, celebrating the complexities of relationships, both with others and with ourselves. I really enjoyed this book, and LOVED the author notes at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.75/5

Imagine you are working towards your dream job, when you are told that the company you work for is about to layoff half of their employees. What would you be willing to do to try to keep your job and your dream alive? That is the question posed to our protagonist, Katie. In Katie’s case, she’d be willing to lie about her ability to swim, so that she can film a profile of a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, Hutch, and hopefully keep her job. One lie is the beginning of a slippery slope and our protagonist eventually finds herself navigating a web of lies of her own making and of others.

I will read everything that Katherine Center writes. I absolutely love her characters and the emotional journeys she crafts for them. I have read several of her published novels and I am constantly recommending her. “The Romcommers” was my go to gift for friends and family that read last year. My excitement and expectations for “The Love Haters” was so high, which is why I was disappointed that I did not enjoy it as much as previous books. I wish we got to see more of their relationship development and I also wish we got to see more of Katie’s own emotional/mental journey.

Overall, if you want an adorable enemies to lovers with a wide variety of dynamic characters and a lovable rescue Great Dane set in the gorgeous Key West. Then you should definitely give this book a chance, Center is incapable of writing a bad romance and I cannot wait to grab a physical copy of this and reread it on release day!


Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC and the chance to read and review this book early!

Goodreads review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7104496169

StoryGraph Review Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/435af5ff-7daf-4192-8724-4630213c98c9

I always know when I read a Katherine Center book I’m going to not only enjoy it, but carve out little pockets of time in my day to read. This is another hit. It’s got lovable and quirky characters, a plot that moves along nicely, and some drama, but not so much that you question the HEA. After all, it is a KC romance! She writes so the reader has something to enjoy; an escape. This accomplishes that in spades!

I need to preface my review with a bunch of words dedicated to the amazingness that is Katherine Center. I adore Katherine Center as much as much as you can adore a person you do not personally know or hang out with. Her books have been such a warm, beautiful place for me to get lost in. One of the great things about Katherine Center as a writer and as a human is how her love stories are not just love stories: they are stories embedded with profound lessons, lessons that not only transform her characters and give them a chance to experience insights that directly parallel with their own personal growth, but that also give us, her readers, a chance for the same thing. The depth of her narratives inspires personal reflection and growth, making her work resonate on a deeply meaningful level. I have read every single book she has ever published, and I have learned something about myself through all of them. Katherine Center will always be an auto-buy author for me. I will always pre-order her ebooks, hardcovers, audiobooks, etc. If this lady retires in my lifetime, I will be HEARTBROKEN. I am a lifelong fan and a forever supporter.

This is a great book. It really is. It is not, however, my favorite Katherine Center book. AGAIN, this does not mean it is not a great book. Emily Henry is a huge name out there. Funny Story was a GREAT book that she released last year, but it was not my favorite Emily Henry book. This is the same thing. These authors write huge, beautiful, life affirming, amazing love stories that I LOVE, but their newest are not always my favorite from everything they’ve written. My favorite for Katherine Center is still The Bodyguard, and my second favorite is still The Rom-Commers. (Putting The Rom-Commers in second place is probably incredibly unfair - it is SOCLOSE to being tied with The Bodyguard.)

I do not know many people out there who will find it difficult to identify with Katie. She is very insecure about her body, an insecurity that is flared when her boyfriend/fiance becomes famous and the internet starts tearing her apart. There is a perfect line Katherine Center writes to highlight Katie’s acceptance of this huge insecurity: “I really was fine now. Most of the time. As long as I could keep my clothes on.” LOL Samesies, Katie. Samesies. Katie is as quirky and hilarious as I know all of Katherine Center’s female characters to be. There were some moments that felt like they were overly quirky, if that makes sense. I still liked her very much. I won’t delve into the synopsis. I assume most people who read reviews already know what the book is about - they’re just gauging whether the book is worth their time. (This one is.) I will instead delve into the things I loved and didn’t love. (The didn’t love list is very, very short.)

*****I do not feel like what I share below are spoilers, but if you do not want to know any revealing details at all about the book, then please stop here.*****

Things I loved:

Hutch: Katherine Center has this amazing way of making all of her leading men sound incredibly handsome and dreamy. They have these elements of kindness that lean even more into their dreaminess. And I have to say: Hutch may have the DREAMIEST occupation that any of her leading men has had. He rescues people for a living, and accomplishes this by JUMPING out of helicopters! I know these moments can mean life and death and you must be INCREDIBLY well-trained to do this kind of job, so forgive me if I sound a bit airheaded when I say this….even knowing all of that….that job sounds sexy as hell. Hutch was a very quiet kind of dreamy. He wasn’t hilarious, but it was inferred heavily throughout the book that he preferred to keep to himself and limit conversation, so when he was open and conversational with Katie, it immediately made him feel like he was filled with more light just because Katie was around.

Rue: Rue is Cole and Hutch’s aunt. She is also the person Cole has connected Katie with to set up her housing while she is completing her documentary assignment on Hutch. I honestly can’t remember the backstory with Katie’s mother. She either died when she was young or bounced. But Katie did have a stepmother - one who helped give birth to her body image issues. The presence of Rue is in stark contrast of the women Katie grew up with, which I loved. It doesn’t matter how old we get - a person who enters our lives who can fill a gap that we have been missing from either childhood or adulthood is never unwanted or unneeded. I love that Rue fills a place for Katie that she needs. She has Beanie, a best friend who wants Katie to love and appreciate herself in the best way, but it’s different from the kind of figure that Rue can play for Katie.

Faux love triangle: I LOVE when a third person enters the picture and spurs moments of jealousy. I do not want to say too much because I do not want to unintentionally give any spoilers, but Hutch’s jealousy made me smile SO HARD. I loved how protective he was of Katie.

George Bailey: George Bailey is Hutch’s Great Dane. This dog loves to lovingly tackle Katie every time he sees her. I LOOOOVED how he knew that Katie and Hutch were each other’s meant to be before either of them knew.

The Gals: What a fun bunch of people! This group of women provided the perfect backdrop to Katie and Hutch's developing love story. Their presence added a rich layer of warmth, wisdom, and humor, creating a charming and poignant contrast to the couple’s blossoming romance. These women not only enriched the narrative but also served as a beautiful reminder of enduring love, support, and the lessons that come with age and experience. Especially when Sullivan, a woman VERY interested in Hutch, shows up, and they played interference on Katie’s behalf.

The hijinks! - Cole, Katie’s superior and Hutch’s brother, shows up and creates some hurdles for Katie and Hutch. I thought the reasoning for why Katie unwillingly goes along with Cole’s hijinks made sense, and it was an incredibly well thought out loop to throw out to keep her and Hutch apart….just for a little bit, anyway. :)

The hurricane: I grew up along the Gulf of Mexico (not the Gulf of America, for Pete’s sake). Hurricanes were a norm that I HATED. We had to board up our home and evacuate multiple times. We were always lucky, though; the hurricanes always veered off in another direction away from Corpus Christi. So I actually felt real fear for Katie when she found herself stuck in the middle of one. And the reason why she ended up stuck in the middle of a hurricane made me LOVE her. This was the moment when I became intensely loyal to this character.

The rescue: Just trust me on this. From the moment I realized she was going to need to be rescued, I knew the rescue was going to be such a HUGE moment in this book.

Things I loved less:

Luke - Katie’s famous cheating ex-fiance begins to publicly regret losing her. As in he writes a song literally titled, “Katie”. I really thought he was going to enter the story at some point. He not only never did, but there also wasn’t any attempt on his part to reach out to Katie. It seemed weird that he was so publicly depressed about losing her but didn’t even try to get her back, or at the very least, reach out to her to apologize for how their engagement ended.

The rescue: I KNOW. It was on my “loved” list. I desperately wanted this rescue to happen, so just the fact that it exists, makes me love it. But it was a bit underwhelming. I know that Hutch has to remain calm in his job, and he has immense experience with that, but I was hoping for something a bit bigger from him once the rescue part was complete, once he could let his professional guard down. He had to have been hectic with worry and alarm, but just stating this fact as simply as he did didn’t feel like enough for some reason.

That’s literally it. Those were the two and only things I didn’t love or that felt like a loose end that needed some tying.

The book is really great. The only reason it was not a 5 star read like the bulk of her other books is because I didn’t laugh or swoon as much as I did with those books so it didn’t yank at me in the same way.

If you read a Katherine Center novel, know that you will laugh, you will swoon, you will connect with yourself in the most positive of ways, and you will walk away a better version than you were before you started it. And I mean that wholeheartedly.

Such a fun and charming contemporary romance, with a strong beach read vibe! Katie, a videographer, travels to Key West to film a special project featuring Hutch, a hero in the Coast Guard. The only catch is his brother was supposed to be the one assigned to the job, and Hutch isn’t overly enthusiastic about the change. She spends time getting to know him better and building a relationship. Hutch’s “Aunt” Rue and her group of friends, The Gals add to the fun of the story! Katherine Center is a wonderful writer and introduces some beautiful themes of loving yourself as you are, overcoming fear, and learning to love again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this entertaining, (mostly) warm-hearted story about video producer Katie Vaughan who travels to Key West to film a promotional video for the US Coast Guard, and ends up falling in love, not just with Hutch, the rescue swimmer she’s filming, but also with his aunt Rue, the lifestyle of Key West and most importantly, herself and her body. .

Katie works in Dallas at a mid-sized video company and is a last-minute substitute to handle the US Coast Guard project after her colleague/superior Cole Hutcheson decides he doesn’t want the project because of his longstanding issues with his brother, Tom aka Hutch, who is the subject. Despite the fact that Katie can’t swim and the assignment requires her to go on rescue missions on a helicopter over the ocean, she decides to accept it in the hopes that will help her retain her job as layoffs are rumored to be coming soon at her company.

Katie has had a love/hate relationship with her body that worsened after her ex-fiancée dumped her once he became a successful singer/songwriter. In response, she works hard to blend into the background, wearing only black clothing. Hutch is reluctant to be in the spotlight but agrees to be filmed since the video is to help USCG recruitment, and because he believes it will provide a chance for him to work with his brother. When Katie shows up instead of Cole, Hutch is not happy.

There's plenty of humor in the story as Katie learns to swim and to get comfortable with reintroducing color into her life—literally and figuratively. The set-up also provides interesting insight into the US Coast Guard, its rescue swimmers and what happens in a hurricane.

There were two aspects of the story that bothered me and seemed unusual for a Katherine Center story:
-- The body positivity message felt a bit “preachy” at times. Although there’s always a deeper message in Center’s books, it’s usually woven more subtly into the story.
-- The characterization of Karen Sullivan, Katie’s recently divorced boss, felt a somewhat harsh and atypically played into outdated stereotypes of women bosses misusing their professional positions to take out their anger at their ex.

The rest of the characters are fully developed, the pacing is lively, and the primary story about Katie and Hutch is lovely, as usual, in a KC book. The Love Haters is a great way to get away to Key West!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!
***Note: I include a few content warnings for this book at the end of my review. Skip these if you do not want potential spoilers***

This is my first Katherine Center read, and I really enjoyed this story. This is a sweet, closed-door romance that touches on some very difficult themes in a sensitive way. This book publishes on May 20, 2025, and definitely gives summer vibes, but it turned out to be an excellent new year read for me.
The story focuses on FMC Katie and MMC Hutch, whose past struggles and trauma continue to affect their lives. Both characters are likeable and had decent chemistry. The story kept me super engaged from the beginning. The message about being kind to yourself is one that I don’t mind reading over and over. For me, it is always a useful reminder. Plus, the friendships highlighted in the book between Katie and her cousin and “The Gals” were lovely.

The story got a bit silly for me around the 2/3 mark but then got back on track by the end. I will definitely read more books by this Katherine Center!

***Content warnings for this book: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, death of parent (past), death of partner (past), threats of drowning.***

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me an eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Katherine Center’s books feel like your softest robe and comfiest house shoes. You slip into this zone of anticipation, warmth and desire for happiness while following relatable characters in fun, exciting settings.

To manage readers expectations, I would compare The Love Haters to Happiness for Beginners in that the heroine’s storyline is more centered around personal growth and self-love. Romance is more of a sub-plot in this book compared to Center’s previous novels. Don’t get me wrong, there is a very handsome, fit man in most scenes to maintain the butterfly flutter in the reader’s chest, but this is definitely Katie Vaughn’s journey to finding and loving herself.

From the outset, Katie learns from her work colleague, Cole Hutcheson, that her job in video production is on the chopping block if she doesn’t step up her filming game. So when he asks her if she would like to spend a few weeks in Key West filming a video about a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, her answer is of course, yes. Doesn’t matter that she can’t swim, or that she hasn’t worn a bathing suit in who knows how long, or that she knows nothing about the US Coast Guard. The answer is yes.

Besides working out, eating healthy and rescuing people from the ocean, Cole warns Katie that the rescue swimmer is serious all the time and never talks. He hasn’t dated in over a year and pretty much hates love. Oh and the rescue swimmer is his brother—Hutch.

Like Hutch, Katie also hasn’t dated in over a year. Not since she was jilted by Lucas, her fiancé and singer on the brink of stardom. Once Lucas got his breakthrough and Katie joined him for red carpet events, the internet began its critique of Katie. Needless to say, it wasn’t a glowing and uplifting review. Add photos of Lucas with his arms draped over another woman and it's no surprise Katie’s love meter is also running on low. But she wouldn’t classify herself as a love hater. Would she? Maybe someone who is in love recovery? Her struggles are very relatable, because who hasn’t been hurt by an ex? Who hasn’t experienced a negative/impactful encounter on social media? What female hasn’t had doubts and insecurities related to their body?

Once in Key West, Katie meets Aunt Rue, her friends dubbed The Gals, Hutch and his Great Dane rescue dog, George Bailey. The secondary characters really shine in this tale. Paradise proves messier than expected when Katie gets trapped in a lie. Or two. But between a beautiful setting, swim lessons, conga lines, drinking contests, helicopter flights and a hurricane, Key West does not disappoint in the excitement department.

The best part about reading a Katherine Center book is you know the focus is going to revolve around how to be happy and how to be grateful. We all experience personal struggles. That’s life. But overcoming adversity, even brought on by ourselves, is how we grow and continue to smile. The Love Haters is another charming Katherine Center adventure you don’t want to miss.

The Love Haters by @katherinecenter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Mark your calendars for May 20th because @stmartinspress is publishing this fun romcom, and you're going to want to get this book!

👙This is an immersive read. You will be poolside with The Gals, you will feel the humiliation and pain that Katie feels as she gets pummeled by George, you will be in the pool during the lessons and you'll feel hopelessness on the boat. Swipe for synopsis—>

🐕What I loved:

👫Characters:
The characters are very multi dimensional. I absolutely loved the amiable, sanguine Rue. She brought life and color to the other characters. And who would not love Hutch with all his muscles and benevolent nature? I really felt for chromogenic Katie and her self-loathing. The supporting characters, Beanie, George Bailey, and The Gals were excellent and equally important to the storyline. Everyone needs these supporting characters in their lives. 

🌴Setting: FloridaKeys

🚁Plot:
Fast-paced. I read this in one day and did not want to put it down. I was invested in the characters. I wanted to see what would happen with Katie and Hutch, and I have a much larger appreciation for the Coast Guard and the rescue swimmers after reading this book. This book has romance, humor, action, and underlying important themes. 

😍Troupe:
Enemies to Lovers: this is a one character troupe with Katie (and really Cole as well) learning to love themselves.

Close Proximity: but not in a cheesy, “there is only one, extremely small room left in the hotel and there are no other options in the whole world… not even sleeping in the hallway” kind of story. The close proximity of this story actually seems natural and legit. 

🪞Theme: Life is short. Love yourself. I know there are a lot of people out there who are unhappy with the way they look. Why are we so unkind to ourselves? We should treat ourselves like we are our own best friend.

Maybe it was the sunny setting and poolside reading, but this book made me so happy. Katherine Center doing what she does best - feel-good romance that also dives deeper (pun intended for this book) into more serious issues. In The Love Haters, Katie, a videographer sent to Key West to create a feature on Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Hutch, struggles with her body image while trying to hang onto her career.

I picked up and put down a few books, not knowing what I was in the mood for, but once I started reading The Love Haters, I was hooked. Exactly what I needed - a heartwarming romance that had more "meat" than a fluffy read. With colorful side characters - who wouldn't want to spent time with Katie, Aunt Rue, Hutch, and "the gals".

Put on your most colorful outfit, slip a flower into your hair, and enjoy the joy of a Katherine Center book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of The Love Haters.

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martins press for a digital ARC of this book. Love Haters is an adventurous Rom-Com, that also touches on some interesting family dynamics, childhood trauma, as well as touching on the realness and vulnerability regarding body image and self confidence themes. Lots going on.
I am and will always be a fan of KC, but I feel more drawn to the authentic integrity of her earlier books.

Katherine Center, literally does it again! I have loved Katherine's previous books and this one I think is just as good, just a bit of different than her previous books! Set in Key West, Katie, the struggling MC takes on a new task for work to be able to keep her job as a videographer. Facing her fears, dealing with her own history, childhood trauma, and her self-discovery was wonderful. Intertwine Hutch and his chemistry, the importance of the Coast Guard, his own difficult past with grief all while intertwining chemistry between the two. The relationship between Katie and Hutch did feel authentic, intimate, and real. Intertwine drama and invested emotions and you're halfway there.

I also loved the support characters, George Bailey, I couldn't leave out sweet frog-loving George Bailey. Rue was wonderful as an auntie and spoiling Katie. Beanie is a frien that we all hope to have in our own lives and I am happy that Katie had her.

I really thought that this one is another great romance if you're looking for a quick paced read, unpacking hard heart issues, mindless entertainment, and investment with characters in a lighthearted manner, I believe that this will be for you.

All in all the message KC created was clear. The support to face your fears, do the hard things you're afraid of, love yourself and notice what matters. "Breathing, feeling the sun on our skin, breathe deep in the wind, we are here to feel it. To love and cry and love some more. We're here to rescue ourselves, and everyone else in every way that we can."

Thank you Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the advanced copy of "The Love Haters". I really enjoyed it and am excited to hear what others think of it come May 20, 2025!

Can there be a study done about how Katherine Center perfectly and seamlessly write a hilariously fun rom-com with such depth, in just over 300 pages? The Love Haters takes us on a journey of self-love, complicated familial relationships, and healing. Set to release in May 2025, it’ll be a perfect summer read.

Please note that this book does contain discussions about body image and disordered eating.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of The Love Haters in exchange for my honest review.