Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of The Love Haters!

The company Katie works for is going through massive layoffs and one of her colleagues, Cole, reaches out to her with a career saving opportunity that seems too good to be true from a mere acquaintance - create a video ad campaign for the Coast Guard starring a recent internet celebrity who saved Jennifer Aniston's dog. Cole doesn't want to do the job himself since the internet celebrity is his brother Hutch. So Katie moves into a rental bungalow owned by Cole and Hutch's aunt Rue and prepares herself to film someone Cole swears is the absolute worst but Hutch turns out to be the Perfect Guy. As Katie learns more about the Coast Guard and Hutch, she tries to work up her courage to ask Hutch to help her save her job and just to simply love herself for the person she is.

I love all of Katherine Center's books and this one is no exception. I absolutely am in awe of the detail that Center puts into researching the careers the main characters of her books have. The author's notes of this one explain about learning about the Coast Guard but there are so many interesting details about Katie's job as a videographer throughout the book as well. The side characters (RUE IS PERFECTION) add so much to the story. At times, some can be one dimensional (Sully the crazy boss) but overall they add so much to the story. I knocked a star off for the amount of "self=love" preaching throughout the book. I think that it is an important topic but may have been overdone here and it often took me out of the story. But otherwise this is a great novel and the perfect summer read!

Hmm.

Katherine Center has always been in my top-tier of romance novelists for many reasons. One is the way she creates premises I have never heard of before and just rolls with it with pure confidence. The second is shining a light on important issues dealing with personal mental health. "The Love Haters" had both of these and yet, it was not one of my favorites.

Let's start with the characters. I loved the majority of them individually. Hutch was such a teddy bear with a slight alpha complex (due to circumstances beyond his control). Katie (who I forgot what her names was far too often because it wasn't mentioned enough) was just trying to get through deep-seeded issues with the help of her friend and not a therapist. Rue was such a beautiful light and character that added to the emotional impact of the novel. George Bailey was there but not utilized quite enough, in my opinion. But the others? Either forgettable or absolutely atrocious.

The story itself went way too fast and had so many elements that were just thrown in there but not fully developed. I mean, I get that the song and the ex-boyfriend were catalysts for the initial plot but they just randomly popped up and was never fully an issue? And her not being able to swim? That was relevant for maybe the first 30% of the book but otherwise, didn't pop up again event when it LIKELY should have come up towards the end of the book...

Overall, I have issues with this one. I love Katherine Center's writing and I feel like this book was just a fluke. The story felt rushed and even the romance itself, which is always the best part of the book. Personally, I didn't feel the chemistry there but, what do I know?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I want to start this review by saying that I have loved every Katherine Center book I’ve read. Her stories always feel like a warm hug, adorable, heartfelt, and full of the kind of emotions that stay with you long after you turn the last page.

That’s why it truly pains me to say that I had to DNF The Love Haters at about 35%. I’m not someone who gives up on books easily, it’s only happened a handful of times. I went into this one so excited, counting down the days to dive in. But despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t connect with it.

What really made it difficult for me was the overwhelming focus on the main character’s body image. While I deeply understand and appreciate the importance of the representation of body image struggles and insecurities in books, especially as someone who has had my own struggles in that area, this aspect of the story felt like it overshadowed everything else. The constant negativity surrounding her appearance became emotionally draining and made it hard for me to engage with the plot or connect with the character in a meaningful way.

I truly believe that these kinds of stories can be powerful and cathartic when handled with nuance, but unfortunately, it just didn’t land that way for me here.

That said, I’m still a huge Katherine Center fan and will absolutely be picking up her future books. This one just wasn’t the right fit for me, but I know every reader’s experience is different, and I hope others pick it up and connect with it in the way I’d hoped to.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC and the opportunity to read early!

3.5 STARS ⭐

The Love Haters centers around Katie. She's a video producer who's about to get fired and she lies to save her job. Katie is sent to Key West, Florida where she is tasked to film Hutch, a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

I fell in love with the beginning of the book. Everything was going perfect until it wasn't. I would have loved Hutch's POV. He was such a silent, kinda brooding man it was hard to get read on him. I didn't feel the chemistry between him and Katie at all *sigh*.

I love Katherine's writing. It's phenomenal and I truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook! Patti Murin did a wonderful job. This was an overall heartfelt and quick read. Check your triggers as the story deals with some heavy themes, like struggling with body image and grief.

Another Katherine Center hit! I read most of this in one day/sitting and I would have kept going but I got a little irritated at where the story went at around 67%. Picking it back up this morning, I felt better about where the story was going and had to fight through the work day to read the last 10% because I did not want put it down. I read on my train, read on my breaks and finally finished in shortly after arriving home. That's how much I loved this story. I think it had a great message, and any story with a dog get extra points in my book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

This was a cute, lighthearted summer read! Perfect for taking to the beach or to cozy up with on a rainy day.

Cute concept, but it fell flat for me. A bit cringe, and the FMC was too in her head for me personally. I haven't read any other KC books, but from what I've heard about her other books, I feel like she has better stories.

Thanks for the ARC! This was classic Katherine Center: witty, warm, and full of heart. Katie’s journey was equal parts hilarious and vulnerable, with just the right amount of chaos and charm. The Key West setting was a total vibe, and Hutch brought the slow-burn tension I love. A few plot points stretched believability (she really can’t swim?), but the emotional payoff and humor made it all work. A fun, feel-good read with depth beneath the sunshine.

Katherine Center is an auto-read for me (and still will be). While this one touched on some meaningful themes, I struggled to stay engaged. The female lead’s inner monologues dragged at times, with a heavy focus on her insecurities, and the male lead felt a bit too perfect. Not a favorite, but it still has Center’s signature heart.

Katherine Center does it AGAIN! Obsessed with the FMC and her inner monologue voice. She’s witty, clever and it reads like you’re talking to a good friend. My second favorite character was George Bailey, the Great Dane…just trust me.🥰

I love how they handled the topic of body image, loving yourself and disordered eating. I loved how her best friend was used to help coach her along in her journey of loving herself.

Katherine Center is so gifted in making these characters come alive, putting words on the pages and her notes at the end of the book may have been my favorite part. Definitely read them.

Thank you to @Netgalley, @stmartinspress for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Katherine Center is one of my go-to authors for heartfelt, character-driven romance—and The Love Haters absolutely delivers on her signature charm, wit, and warmth. But despite a strong start, this one didn’t quite land all the way for me.

The story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer on the brink of losing her job who’s offered a last-ditch opportunity to profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a swoony Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The problem? She can’t swim—but pretends she can. Add in Hutch’s estranged brother (and Katie’s coworker) Cole, a massive rescue dog, a quirky aunt, and the electric pull between Katie and Hutch, and you’ve got a recipe for a fun, tropical romcom.

For the most part, it works. The characters are endearing, especially Katie, who’s navigating vulnerability and ambition in equal measure. Hutch is the quintessential Katherine Center love interest—handsome, guarded, and layered—and their chemistry is undeniable. The setting is vivid, and the writing, as always, is crisp and emotionally resonant.

But the last 25% of the book veers into territory that felt a little too far-fetched—even for a genre that allows a lot of suspension of disbelief.

Still, if you love stories about emotional growth, reluctant romance, and finding bravery in the unlikeliest places, there’s plenty to enjoy here. It’s not my favorite from Center, but it’s still filled with her trademark heart.

Ah, Katherine Center. You've done it again--a cute cartoonish cover with a great blurb, for another novel that digs much deeper than we readers expected!

Videographer and mini-documentary-maker Katie is being sent to Florida to make a promo video for the US Coast Guard, featuring the very good-looking brother of her supervisor. Well, that sounds complicated, doesn't it? Add to it that Katie cannot swim and has some major issues from her past with her own self-image, and things get murky very quickly.

Katie is better than she thinks she is; Hutch is great; Rue and her crew are amazing and fun--and who doesn't love a great dog with a fun name like "George Bailey." I mean.

The heaviness comes from Katie's inability to see herself. But then again, who among us doesn't sometimes have this going on? And for those who say, "It's because Katie is so young," I call barnyard substance; we grow and change as humans, and sometimes we are in places in life where things are changing and our view of ourselves changes too. It is a part of being a human being on planet Earth.

This book was great. It may not be for everyone, but it was a great beginning-of-summer read for me.

❤️ MINI / BOOK / REVIEWS 🗺

📚: #the love haters
👩: @katherinecenter
📆: 5/20/2025 by @stmartinspress
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍️: Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can.
💭: I really loved this book! Katherine never misses - her easy, breezy prose, hilarious characters, and storylines make for such a fun and easy read. I got this on audio book thanks to @librofm and loved the narrator. You will laugh out loud, but there is no spice. Perfect for the beach!

Was this my favorite Katherine Center book? Probably not. Was it still great? Definitely. I found it hard at first to connect with the main character. However, she ended up growing on me and I found her to be a hoot! Some of the plot felt off, but it all came together somehow. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

You know that feeling when you slip into your bed after a long, exhausting day? That’s what reading a Katherine Center book feels like. The Love Haters wasn't my favorite of hers (there were a few things I would have loved to have seen changed), but it still had plenty of KC's usual heartwarming vibes.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer on the brink of unemployment who’s thrown a last-chance lifeline. Her boss assigns her to profile one of America's newest viral heros, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, which will require her to shadow him in his job. Except she can't swim. No, problem, she will just get lessons when she arrives in Key West. However, the swim instructor who shows up in the famous Coastie himself, which puts her job in jeopardy, as he then knows she lied to get this assignment. Then throw in some hurricane prep, a Great Dane the size of a horse, and a crazy but loveable Aunt Rue.

This was a great summer read for your own pool or beach-side bag.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced reviewer copy of the manuscript.

Reading my yearly Katherine Center book is so comforting. Like the warm hug I’ve been waiting 365 days for. I love her. I love her message about romance books. I love her gentle and relatable way of telling us love stories.

The Love Haters was a fun read with an absolute dream MMC, Hutch, who is a coast guard rescue swimmer - I could have literally drowned in my love for him. He’s the guy you want your daughter and sister and bestie to bring home!! AND Rue, the sweetest and most fun grandma type character, and her group of Gals. The best!! There were many LOL funny moments throughout, but I especially loved any scene involving the sweetest great dane, George Bailey 😍

I’m not exactly sure why, but something was just missing a bit for me in the love story. I also really disliked the conflict towards the end. BUT, still such a comforting read!!

I LOVED this book!

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me, and this story is the perfect example of why.

While some parts were personally triggering, the message at its core was exactly what I needed. If you struggle with body image or disordered eating, please be gentle with yourself as you read—it handles these themes with care, but they can still hit hard. That said, the journey of self-love and learning to fall in love with yourself first was everything.

And Hutch? Swoon. I'm absolutely drooling over him! My husband was a D1 swimmer, so the swimmer aspect really tugged at my heart. I adored this sweet, grounded "Pup Daddy."

10/10 recommend picking this one up—it’s a perfect summer read with heart, heat, and healing.

This wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book. I don't really have any book triggers, but this one hit a little close to home. Katie, our main character seems to have an eating disorder based on her strive for perfection with food and body image challenges (at a high level). I didn't take issue with this, but rather was waiting for Center to address it further to shed light on an important topic. In the end, Katie didn't get help and it was wrapped up in a short statement implying she overcame her challenges on her own. While this could be plausible, I think it's safe to say an eating disorder typically requires professional care. This sweep-it-under-the-rug and it magically-goes-away approach was off-putting for me and could be dangerous if someone reading this book can relate to Katie. I did appreciate that the supporting characters built up Katie's self esteem and told her the traits they loved about her. The ways she viewed herself were not how others viewed her.

That aside, I did appreciate the humor in this book...there was so much! A Great Dane who carries toads in his mouth, a revealing swimsuit snafu...you get the idea! I don't know whose character I loved more: Hutch or George Bailey (Hutch's loveable Great Dane). Center nailed the Gentle Giant nature with George Bailey! Of course, there are parts of this story that are far-fetched especially given the short timeframe, but we wouldn't have a rom-com book if it was totally believable.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It dragged for almost the first half and I kept trying over many sittings. Fortunately it did pick up and I was able to read the last 50-60% in a single sitting. I'm certain this is what saved the book for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.25/3.50 Stars. I normally love Katherine Center books, but this book just wasn't it for me. There were parts and characters that I sincerely loved, but I think the main plot really made me feel some kind of way about this book. The fact that Katie went along with the entire random story Cole invented is beyond me, I cannot understand why she would do something like that?! Also the brothers were grown men yet came off as teenagers at best. I was bummed because the plot was really interesting and I was totally here for it until. the Cole situation (sorry don't want to give spoilers!).

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc <3

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press, SMP Romance and the author for the arc!

Katherine Center always delivers a delightful & entertaining story … and this one was no exception!

Katie is a completely relatable FMC ( I mean, who hasn’t been that person with swimsuit phobia before?) and Hutch is a super-swoony MMC with an adorable aunt and even more adorable big ol’ sloppy dog! Cole & the boss lady Sullivan kinda got on my nerves, but I could see where that part of the story was going to go and I was ok with it in the end!

Overall, this was a fun read with a nice touch of humor, family drama, forgiveness, moving on after betrayal, loss & heartache and a reminder that it’s ok to be perfectly imperfect.