Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! I can’t tell if I absolutely loved or absolutely hated this book. What I loved: the characters and their dynamics were chef’s kiss. I also really loved the dog cause who doesn’t love a dog in a book, especially a dog with anxiety much like my own. I also LOVED Rue and the backstory of their found family. I thought it was good. Now to what I hated. First of all, I didn’t like the focus so much on the MC’s body. I get that it was part of the story but it was a little much and needed a trigger warning, honestly. Second, the climax was absolutely preposterous. Thirdly, I wish we had seen more time of the two together as a couple.

I do think the good outweighed the bad and fans of Katherine Center’s and Rom-Coms will really enjoy this book.

I feel like I won the lottery when I saw I could read this book on Netgalley (my first ever ARC!). Needless to say I have binged this book over the last two days and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the book being told exclusively from the FMC perspective as I've read a lot of dual POV books lately. If you read to the Authors note, Katherine speaks about what I was thinking as I was reading the book. This is not just a basic love story of girl meets boy. This is more importantly a love story about the FMC learning to love herself. It's really inspiring to read a book where you get to tag along while the FMC does the hard work to fall in love with herself. I really appreciate being able to read a book where the characters aren't perfect and you get to go on a journey with them. Don't worry, there is still a beautiful sweep you off your feet love story in this book with a crush worthy MMC and a rescue puppy you will swoon over. Love stories really are the best therapy ❤️

Overall, 4.5 stars. While this is a romance story (very clean - no spice), it's also so much more. It's about self-acceptance, self-love, conquering fear, friendship, and family. In my opinion, Katie's relationship with herself takes center stage. I think a lot of people, women in particular have not so healthy opinions of themselves. At times I felt like Katie took self-loathing a little bit too far, but I also understand because I think we've all been there. Not going to lie, I was a bit bummed that there wasn't a scene where her ex showed up to grovel. I mean, she got a song, I expected some in-person groveling action. Hutch was a great MMC and is absolutely swoon worthy, no person is THAT good... right? I wish the book was a little bit longer because I wanted more of their relationship. I loved the "family" dynamic between Hutch, Cole, and Rue, it was very unique and different.

Format: ebook

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

Amazing. This was probably one of the best books I’ve read! It was far more than a romcom it was also very deep and all about loving yourself. I loved the characters! And the Great Dane!! :) I enjoyed the author’s note as well explaining the way she tries to put herself into her stories. This is by far my favorite Katherine Center book so far!! It was just beautiful one of those stories you will forever think about. I’ll probably be looking at penny dates moving forward. :)

This releases in May and I will for sure be getting a copy. Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was adorable! Looking together self love, romance, adventure, and found family. I wish I had a little more resolve to the romance, but everything else was wrapped up so beautifully!

This was my first Katherine Carter book and I honestly didn't really have any big impressions about it. I think I had too high expectations for it but it was still good to me. Finished it in a single setting.

After a rough time within her personal life, Katie really needs to keep her job so naturally she accepts an assignment from her boss Cole. What she doesn't admit to is not knowing how to swim, which is kind of a big key point for this assignment. The assignment is to produce a piece on Cole's brother, Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who lives in Key West. Cole would do it, but the brothers don't get along. Once Katie touches down in Key West, she finds herself determined to learn how to swim. She's battling a lot of different obstacles while trying to learn how to swim but through it all, she slowly finds herself falling in love with Hutch.

I found the book to be really well written and easy to get through. The romance level was super cute between Katie and Hutch.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love all of Katherine Centers books, but there was something about this one that just really resonated with me. There is discussion around body dysmorphia and eating disorders which can be triggering to some, and was a little difficult at times for me, but it makes Katie feel all the more relatable and real. I also loved how Hutch handled himself and was mature and kind when he had reasons not to be.

Also the USCG rescue swimmers 🥵I throughly enjoyed every aspect of that part of the story and ate up the scenes of Hutch in his element. ✨excuse me while I go watch videos of said rescue swimmers for better “understanding”✨ but in reality it felt well researched and I learned a fair bit about the the USCG and their terminology.
And then Rue and her girls just add such a lovely touch of found family, it gives you all the feels.

Overall this was a fun time with lovable characters and was a lovely cozy romance that was filled with some sound advice on self love.

What's better than a book with dialogue that makes you laugh out loud in the first chapter? How about one the reads like a classic rom-com from the 90's or early 2000's? I LOVED this book - and I could totally see Sandra Bullock in the role of Katie, à la Miss Congeniality or The Proposal!

Katie's living a colorless life after a painful breakup, so of course she's sent on a work assignment in the Florida Keys - probably the most colorful place on the planet! As the story unfolds, Katie tells it in her own voice, as though she's confiding in a friend. Along the way, she's forced to look at herself in a new light while navigating lies, facing her fears, and learning new skills. The story is fast-paced and entertaining, with plenty of action. The characters are multi-dimensional, with complicated pasts that bring depth and some surprisingly serious moments.

It wouldn't be a true rom-com without the romance, and Katherine Center doesn't disappoint! There's an epic meet cute (well, not exactly cute, but definitely memorable!) and a dash of fake dating... all with undeniable chemistry and zero spice (Just how I like it!). And the final scene? Chef's kiss!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

4 Stars for Katherine Centre's The Love Haters
🌟🌟🌟🌟 (review has minor plot spoilers)

First of all, I want to thank the authour Katherine Centre, the publisher St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for offering me this advanced reader copy in exchange for the following honest review.

I also want to say, I loved this book. Yes there were a few things that dropped me from a 5 to a 4, which I will discuss here, but I don’t want that to take away from my opinion that you should read this book. It made me smile, it was cozy and loving. And for a girl who recently lost her mother, the female bond shared by characters in this book was warm hearted and endearing.

Before I go further into my plot review, I do think both my review and the book might need a Trigger Warning. The main character in this book struggles a lot with body image, flirts around mentioning an ED and likely has a form of body dismirphia. While I love that these themes are being discussed, as someone recovering from an ED and who struggles with these issues, knowing what I was getting into would have been nice. This is also one of the reasons it couldn’t be a full 5 star for me, not for the mention or discussion of it, I think bringing these issues to the forefront and helping to normalize them is important, but because I would have liked it to be more deeply addressed. I think if body image and ED’s are brought into a plot as key character issues, more needs to be done to support the character in managing or recovering. I did however like how the author had her work towards loving herself throughout the book.

As for the plot and the characters, again, I really loved this book. Both Katie and Hutch were likeable, lovable, and felt good together. My favourite characters however were some of the supporting characters; Rue, The Gals and mostly George Bailey, Hutch’s giant Great Dane who clearly saw the best in Katie from their first meeting!

The support of the female characters in this book was lovely and made you feel like family. Although Katie struggled with herself, these characters really helped her break through the walls she had put up to protect herself. Hutch of course was the person who saw her for who she really was. One of my favourite moments was after Katie runs away from a difficult moment and Hutch finds her. Rue calls to check in and he says “I found her” with his forehead on hers. This moment was such a squeal moment for me. Because the “I found her” meant so much more.

The other reason I rated this book 4 instead of 5 was because of the third act distraction by Katie’s boss Cole. I just didn’t like the whole vibe. He was like a petulant little child and it was really unlikable. Of course the family bonding that came at the end made up for it a bit. I always try to forgive unlikable characters when they have a true trauma breakthrough.

Overall this was a sweet book and I very much enjoyed it. If you’re as much of a fan as Katherine Centre and her quick witty banter and sweet romances as I am, then you will likely enjoy this one too!

This Katherine Center book was a silly, fun romance, while also exploring some sensitive topics. Definitely check the trigger warnings, as it heavily focuses on the FMC's struggle with body image.

The main characters, Katie and Hutch, were cute and definitely had chemistry, but it felt weaker and less developed compared to her other books. This might be because the author attempted to juggle several plot points simultaneously: Katie's struggles with body image, Hutch's grief, and the mystery surrounding Cole's resentment toward Hutch. All the characters were still very endearing and lovable in their own ways. Hutch's dog, George Bailey, was definitely the highlight of this book and might be one of my favorite animal characters I've read. As usual, her romances are closed-door, so if that's a deal-breaker for you, you probably won't enjoy this as much. I think anyone who loved Katherine Center's previous books will like this one.

I've heard only rave reviews for absolutely anything written by Katherine Center, so I am really hoping this is a fluke.

I found this book to be okay.

The characters didn't have a lot of depth and I didn't feel like much of anything happened in story either.

I can see this as something fun and easy to read if you're on a beach vacation in the summer, also not really doing much. So I can see an audience for it, but that audience does not include me sitting in my bed reading it.

I definitely want to try other Katherine Center books because I've heard so many good things about the others. I just think that this one specifically is for those who have already read and loved the others by this author, I wouldn't have this be your first Katherine Center (like it was for me).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This book has so much to love! It offers the beautiful setting of Key West, a hunky hero who serves on the Coast Guard Rescue team, and a relatable “normal” girl who embarks on a journey of self-love. Plus, there are delightful bonus characters like Rue and the lovable Great Dane, George Bailey.

From the very beginning, this story hooked me with its fresh and unique plot, sparks of humor, and a poignant, thought-provoking storyline. Several quotes and passages resonated with me so deeply that I found myself highlighting them to revisit later.

This is hands down the best book I’ve read by this author—no small feat considering how much I loved The Bodyguard. If you pick this one up, prepare to be unable to put it down!
Thank you to Net Galley for the arc version of this book in return for my honest opinion

Ok y’all WOW I could not put this book down. It is without a doubt Katherine Center’s best book yet. It’s a love story through romance, beautiful friendships, found families, and most importantly between Katie and herself. I cannot wait for Glenn Powell to play Hutch in the movie. A huge thank you to the publisher for sharing an ARC with so many of Center’s loyal readers!

"You have to do the thing you're afraid of."

No one writes books that just draw me in like Katherine Center. No one. The Love Haters is certainly no exception. I was quickly lost in it and everything else on my to-do list was cast aside until I finished it. 5 stars, every time. But I know that before I even begin. Each book Is just relatable. I can see myself in the mix, right beside the characters. And I'm a little more than sad when it's over.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a solid romance read. Despite my issues, I enjoyed this more than I thought I did. But it was very heavy on the FMC Katie’s body image issues. I thought the romance between Katie and the MMC Hutch was underdeveloped. I liked them, but when I got to the end of the book, I wanted more (even disappointing in the epilogue).

Cole was a terrible character. There was so much wrong with him, I don’t know where to start. It also set the romance back so much. I like slow burn, but not when it could all be fixed by being honest and when the reason behind the lies was dumb. The ending did entertain me, as stupid as some of the choices were. I did like it (much more than The Rom-Commers), but with better execution, I could’ve loved it.

Really enjoyed this! I laughed out loud and liked that the miscommunication trope wasn’t long winded or stupid. I also really enjoyed the body positivity and the tips/tricks she was using to over come that. Thank you for letting me read this!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for early access to The Love Haters by Katherine Center! I have read a few of this author’s books before so I had high expectations going in and this book did not disappoint.

Katherine Center is known for waiting “deep rom-coms” and this book was no different. Besides being a rom com it addressed some more serious topics like Katie’s journey with her body self image and the grief Hutch and Cole experienced when they lost their parents. I think these topics were addressed well and added depth to the main characters, Katie and Hutch. I do think more resolution could’ve come out of the Hutch and Cole storyline but there was enough to make the story plausible.

The book was fast paced and I found it hard to put down. Especially the second half of the book I was having a hard time taking breaks when all I wanted to do was see what happens next. I also liked that it did the job of the fictional promo video in teaching the reader about the coast guard and making it seem truly exciting. By the end I wanted to actually watch the video Katie made in the story.

I did like the chemistry between Katie and Hutch but it was at times frustrating how hot and cold Hutch was. Cole’s lying definitely factored into that but I wish we could’ve gotten more affection from Hutch. Three kisses were all we got from the couple, and one Katie had to beg for. Their ending felt a little rushed and not super believable for a happy ever after just based on the timeline and the fact that Hutch thought she was dating his brother for 50% of the time he knew her.

Rue and George Bailey were fantastic side characters and brought lots of comedic relief to the story. Cole on the other hand was a true menace. The book needed some conflict obviously but the fact that he was offering Katie up to strangers (even if he might have been joking) made me very uncomfortable. And the fact that he still blamed his brother for “stealing his fiancée” made him a little too delusional. It was a nice touch that he saved Katie from getting fired and ended up dating the boss but I wish his character had more of a redemption in the end.

My real complaint though is the title, The Love Haters. Just my opinion but to me it sounds silly. I also didn’t really get the point of calling Hutch a love hater, he’s just a serious guy. The end tried to tie that all up but to me it was really unnecessary.

Overall, this story made me happy and there were plenty of giggles. The getting washed to sea scene was the perfect amount of exciting and suspenseful. Of course a rescue by Hutch was absolutely necessary and I loved that Katie was able to save his penny collection and George Bailey saved the toad 😂 This might rank as my new favorite by Katherine Center and she remains and auto read author for me!

A wonderful story!! I enjoyed it so much I read the ending twice!

I admit I had no idea what the Coast Guard does going into it, and appreciated the insiders perspective. I wonder if this book will inadvertently add to their recruitment numbers? 😆

The dialogue had me laughing out loud at times, but I most loved the random conversations they had in getting to know each other. I enjoyed Rue and the Golden Girls vibe in which she resides. I think I need to plan a trip to the Keys now!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When a single book makes you laugh out loud, shed a few tears, and feel a real connection with a character or two, you know it’s a five star read.

Katie is a filmmaker who has been assigned to capture the extraordinary job of the US Coast Guard- specifically a rescue swimmer named Hutch. She agrees to the assignment to save her job that’s nearing the chopping block. BUT…she can’t swim and she struggles with her body image. (All thanks to a largely public humiliation and past break up) And swimming is basically required in this assignment.

Hutch, his massive Great Dane, and his flamboyant aunt Rue are exactly what Katie needs. As she immerses herself in their lives, she overcomes many fears and phobias.

Whilst making new friendships and finding self love, her bosses show up and spin a tangled web of lies that push Hutch away. Now Katie has to wait out the storm to find the perfect happily ever after.

Thanks to @NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#readthis #readthisnext #bookstagram #bookishlove #happilyeverafter #romcombook

I am a Katherine Center love hater. The Rom-Commers made me cry the ugliest tears after Hello Stranger made me roll my eyes and not want to continue reading.

Love Haters has brought me back to being a fan. Such a cute book that teased a possible brother love triangle that thankfully didn't surface.

Also, George Bailey? Anything with an adorable Great Dane and I'm immediately in.