This book was a wonderul summer romance. I was not expecting the heavier tones that were included, but still thoroughly enjoyed it

The Love Haters drew me in more and more as I kept reading, though I’ll admit the beginning felt a little slow for me. At first, I struggled to connect with the female main character, Katie — something about her personality made her come across as somewhat unlikable. However, as the story progressed and her dynamic with Hutch began to develop, I found myself becoming increasingly invested.

The introduction of the fake-dating trope was unexpected, but it worked well to add momentum and depth to the plot. By the time I reached the ending, I was charmed by how everything came together. The resolution was sweet, satisfying, and George Bailey was the cutest addition that made the conclusion even more heartwarming with his little toad friend.

Overall, while it took me a little while to settle into the story, this one grew into a fun and endearing romance.

they rly had no chemistry and the mc was kinda annoying but it was an easy read. just wished there was more showing and less telling

I read this book immediately after finishing another Katherine Center book (The Rom Commers) and I think that did this book a bit of a disservice since I found myself comparing the two a lot of the time and I ended up enjoying The Rom Commers a bit better, BUT

I did really enjoy this! There were a lot of pretty heavy topics and it did a little bit seem like 'how can SO MANY bad things happen to the same people?' but I think that may just be how a lot of this author's books are. I LOVED the dog (even though he caused a lot of chaos and danger in the end lol) but I felt like there was real connection between our two main characters.

The setting was also cool and made me want to vacation to Florida and I LOVED the side character older women. They were the cutest ladies I want them to be my besties.

3.5 stars rounded up I think??

I adore Katherine Center and her books but this one just didn't quite hit the mark as her others have for me in the past. I can't quite put my finger on what was off with this one. It is still a solid summer read though and entertaining to say the least. I adored Rue, the quirky aunt and I actually think she saved the story here. The main characters seemed to lack chemistry with eachother but seperately, I enjoyed these characters. Hoping next summer's read is back to top notch like previous years stories.

I really enjoyed this book, but found the banter and introspective moments less on than some of Center’s other works. Still enjoyed it, but probably won’t be a re-read for me.

I always love her books but this one was very easy to guess what was going to happen. It was a cute beach read though.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I am a big fan of Katherine Center's book. She always writes about an interesting cast of characters and this book did not disappoint in that department. The main characters were great but I especially loved Rue and her group of friends! The back story of Hutch, Cole and Rue was heartwarming. And how Rue took Katie under her wing and helped her get past her body image issues was touching. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there was something missing from all the other Katherine Center books. I don't know if the main characters feel in love too quickly or the scene where she gets stranded on the boat with the dog dragged on too long, but something was off for me. Despite that, I would still recommend it to others.

💕 The Love Haters - funny and sweet, as all Katherine Center books usually are. There were a few plot elements that rubbed me the wrong way, but the romance and deeper themes were well done.

The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. I will look for other books by this author.

This story is a weird mashup of characters doing things that would not happen in real life. First off there has to be a trigger warning for disordered body image and eating. The main character Katie has a public breakup that really sends her spiralling. Katie spends a lot of time picking apart her body. The story for her is about self love. Hutch and Cold are two brothers with a tragic backstory. Cole works with Katie and gets an assignment for her to do a story about his brother Hutch. A lot of the decisions Cole makes and the words out of his mouth are just plain weird, none of it made sense. Even weirder that Katie went along with it, as if a job would be saved by relationship status. Hutch is a piece of cardboard painted with colors. He came across as gruff with no depth. Hanging from the safety rope from a helicopter over the ocean would never be the time to have a conversation. You would not be able to hear a damn thing.

Katherine Center has been one of my go to comfort read authors for years. Sadly, The Love Haters was one of my least favorite books she has written.

There were things I liked about the book:
-the setting
-THE DOG
-the moments that made me LOL
-the side characters

Those things just didn't make me love the book despite wanting to.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

I have enjoyed past books from Center such as the The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger, However, I really can't believe this is the same author. The romance fell flat, I didn't care for Katie or Cole or their romance. I didn't like how ED was addressed in the book and that there were no TWs at the beginning of the book for it. Wanted to like it but ultimately I was not invested in the relationship and therefore the book.

This book is a total rom-com vacation—with chaos, chemistry, and just enough heart to keep you hooked from chapter one. Whether you're reading or listening, the story delivers a fun, flirty escape that feels like a beachy cocktail with a twist of emotional depth.

Katie Vaughn is the kind of heroine you root for instantly: smart, flustered, a little reckless, and just trying to keep her career from crashing and burning. Her new assignment? Profile a hunky Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West—who happens to be her coworker’s estranged brother. Oh, and she can't swim, but she’s pretending she can. What could possibly go wrong?

Enter Hutch: grumpy, gorgeous, and not particularly thrilled to have Katie tagging along. But as they’re thrown together—from swim lessons and helicopter rides to hurricanes and (incredible) stolen kisses—their dynamic shifts from awkward to electric. Add in Hutch’s eccentric Aunt Rue, a rescue Great Dane, and plenty of Key West mayhem, and you've got a story that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.

The eBook is super bingeable, but the audiobook is a standout too. The narrator brings Katie’s inner monologue to life with just the right mix of sarcasm, vulnerability, and charm, making the banter and emotional moments hit even harder.

If you love grumpy/sunshine energy, accidental vulnerability, and heroines who keep digging themselves deeper (but in the most relatable way), this one’s a total win. Funny, sexy, and a little chaotic in all the best ways.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press and am voluntarily leaving my review.

“It was such a life-changing thought: that longing to be looked at lovingly, that longing to be lovable … that’s really also so much about wanting to be valued, and seen, and connected, and safe, and just deeply, fundamentally okay? Maybe we didn’t have to outsource that. Maybe we could fill that longing for ourselves.”

A favorite aspect of any Katherine Center book is the author’s note, where she discloses her inspiration or motivation for the title in question. I appreciate that deeper context, and it reveals the thoughts and planning that go into each title, which reinforces why they are successful and why they connect with readers: Center isn’t afraid to tackle real, messy topics.

In THE LOVE-HATERS, Center focuses on body positivity and self acceptance. Katie’s boyfriend is a musician finding success. While Katie was already struggling with being publicly analyzed and privy to strangers’ assessments of her value and worth based on outward appearances, when her boyfriend is caught cheating, she ends the relationship and is thrown into a tailspin. The intervening months were a dark time of her navigating the fallout.

When Katie has an opportunity to coordinate a promo video for the Coast Guard, she welcomes the chance to lose herself in a project where she can prove her worth. On this small island, she finds community and friendship and a new appreciation for herself. And, as can so often be the case, when we become most content with ourselves, we may find a partner well-suited to joining together alongside.

THE LOVE HATERS entertains readers, but behind that levity, we find ourselves dwelling on the lessons that Katie is learning, encouraged to internalize them for ourselves as well.

(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the DRC of The Love Haters! All opinions in this review are my own.

Unsurprisingly, Katherine Center does it again! I truly have no idea how she comes up with some of the hilarious situations that the characters find themselves in!

My only complaint was that there were times I didn't like the FMC. She had a lot going on and the famous ex seemed like a random addition that she didn't need. However, I did appreciate that this is just as much a love story between Katie and herself as it is between Katie and Hutch.

Overall, The Love Haters is another hilarious romance from Katherine Center and I can't wait for the next one!

Do you suffer from body image issues? In The Love Haters, Katie suffers from body image issues.. This comes from online comments from her ex’s fans. I felt for Katie throughout the book as a person who also suffers from body image issues. Katie heads down to Key West to do a piece on her boss’ brother, who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The only problem is that Katie can’t swim. Follow along as Katie takes us on a journey of family, swim lessons and friendship. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. This review is my own opinion. #thelovehaters, #katherinecenter, #netgalley, #bodyimageissues, #stmartinspress

Katherine's books suck me in so easily 🫠 they are so fun, real, but man the twist just after the middle are a torture, and good torture, but ahhhh like noooo they were just... bam they aren't, time to be patient otherwise the book would end to quickly and the ending wouldn't be as wonderful. Haha so many amazing messages of self in this one, I definitely want to reread for that alone, but also for more Katie & Hutch!!

You can never go wrong with a Katherine Center book. They give you the feels while also dealing with real life situations. The characters were total opposites but somehow they worked well together.

Katherine Center is a must read author for me. Just like the rest of her books I so enjoyed this (maybe later than I planned on reading it) but I feel in love with Katie & Hutch. Katherine knows how to write lovable FMC & MMCs. She also knows how to write side characters I absolutely despise. Love Haters was a poignant look at finding love after love has been absolutely stopped and put down in front of you. I loved the representation that Katie is for women who see themselves as unlovable, like their flaws are bigger and uglier than anything someone would love.