Nothing gets me in my feels quite like a Katherine Center book. She’s able to dig deep into her characters’ souls in a way that vividly brings their emotions—complex, elemental, and so very human—to life. In The Love Haters, a low-level documentarian has one chance to save her job: get the handsome, camera-shy “pup dad”, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who saved a celebrity’s pet, to not only film a military promo video but also do her own “day in the life” series. Center tackles not only the love story, but also loving one’s own body with sensitivity & her trademark focus on kindness. An A+ read!

this was my first katherine center book, and the overall concept of the book was what initially pulled me in. video producer x coast guard rescue swimmer, a forced proximity workplace romance, fake dating and witty banter were key words that shined like treasure, and i was intrigued to see how it would all play out.

the hopes were high, some fav tropes / elements were mentioned and i’ve heard such incredible things about her other books (like the romcommers). though after spending some time with it, i’m sad to say that this fell flat for me.

my struggles with this book fell with the plot and the romance. i just wasn’t sold on it and felt as though the romance was a bit forced and too insta-lovey for my taste. there were bits that were too cheesy and just overall not feet kicks and giggles inducing (which is my fav part about romance!!! and led to me just not really feeling this one!!). the dialogue (inner and between characters) made it hard for me to feel a connection or even appreciation for them. i was annoyed and a bit aversed to some of them (especially cole).

however, in a positive note: i do think that the fmc was written with incredible vulnerability and emotion, and i appreciated that we got an intimate look in to her relationship with her body and her struggles. a lot of this can be quite relatable, though i did have a bit of a hard time with how much this took centre stage within the book. while realistic, at times it could go on for multiple pages and i’d get a bit lost within the inner monologue. i think that if it was handled and presented in a different manner (ex. in pacing and in writing), the element of a journey to self-love could have really shined.

at the end of the day this was a dnf for me. i still have hopes for the romcommers once i get to it, though love haters was unfortunately not one i could go through with.

thank you to NetGalley and and St-Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a quick read that was hard to put down. I enjoyed the characters, description of settings, pace of the story, and the overall whole thing. It was not steamy/spicy at all so don’t go in thinking there’s anything there, it’s pretty clean. It had a lot of good self reflection without becoming too repetitive or self indulgent. The characters flaws weren’t at a level that was annoying to the reader either. Overall recommending this book to everyone!

Katherine Center has been an automatic read for me for several years now, and The Love Haters is another fabulous book!! I absolutely adored Katie and Hutch, and the setting makes it a perfect summer read. It's funny and heartfelt, everything i expect from a KC book!

3.5🌟

I think this book is super cute and a nice short read. Going into it I was expecting more romance than I got, where this seemed more women’s/literary fiction rather than rom-com, which is what I was expecting based on title and cover. I felt that in the beginning there was a lot of time where it seemed the plot was being lost because we would be in the present then have a 3 to 4 page thought tangent to then jump back to the present for the last paragraph of the chapter. I think the plot was really interesting though and while I am not usually the biggest fan of insecurity story lines because I think it sometimes takes over the plot, I think Katherine Center did a good job of having it just be trait of the character and not a plot point/conflict that affected the story. Overall I think this book is well done and is a great read with a compelling story.

I mean I finished this book in one night…that has to tell you something.

Katherine Center’s writing to me is addictive, quick witted and full of detail. While I didn’t love this one as much as The Rom Commers, it was still a great story about the perceptions we have of ourselves and a PG romance to go along with it. The messaging is clear: we can give ourselves the love we think we should receive from others.

Katie is a production assistant for a company who does mid level promo videos. She loves to live under the radar, but she also got wind of the CEO making enormous job cuts due to her messy divorce. Her superior, Cole, tells her it’s in Key West and it’s for none other than his brother, the Coast Guard. Here’s the kicker- he doesn’t know it will be Katie coming, not Cole. Katie sets off going to make a video for someone who does not want her to be there, but damnit is he good looking. Cole has deemed his brother Hutch a love hater, but the way he’s looking at Katie may say otherwise.

This book is not your typical romance, it’s teaching you to love yourself and walks us through Katie’s phobias and her ability to do things like put on a bathing suit. It’s a beautiful ode to how cruel we can be to ourselves and the realization that there’s always time to fix that. Not much spice, only kissing, which is always a let down (lol) but I definitely liked this book without it because it was deserving of all the detail dedicated to Katie’s viewpoints.

The 4⭐️ rating comes from it feeling a little rushed in spots, I would have read about Katie and Hutch all day if you let me!

Perfect Katherine Center - if you like her other books, you’ll like this one. She has such a refreshing, matter-of-fact way of writing, interesting heroines, and great settings. The retirement community and all the delightful side characters there were wonderful, and even though the pivotal scene was a little too bonkers, it was super entertaining to read.

The Love Haters by Katherine Centers is a jam packed summer read featuring Coast Guard rescue swimmers, scorned ex-fiancé pop stars, and a loveable Great Dane with two first names.

There is so much going on in this book that it might make your head spin, but the unique and loveable MMC, "Hutch" will keep you hooked to the end. He is the stereotypical hero, but there is more to him that meets the eye. He is not surface-level heroic, but he is heroic down to the core, which becomes apparent the more you read about him.

That starkly contrasts to almost every other character in the book (with the exception of the lovely Rue). At some points, it becomes almost unbearable how single dimensionally immature the other characters are. The FMC does have layers, and what she has gone through with her ex is justifiably traumatic, but even she gets a little annoying in certain situations while her love interest is very much busy saving lives.

And, I've said this before about another of Katherine Centers' books, but I am just not a fan of the breaking of the fourth wall. Personally, I want to get lost in a story and feel like I'm just a fly on the wall, but when the narrator constantly asks the reader rhetorical questions or assumes what the reader is thinking, it just takes me out of it.

But what truly saves the day (literally and figuratively) is Hutch. He is what kept me reading and wanting to see how everything turns out for him in the end.

This is a nice bingeable summer read, especially if you're looking for something to bring to the beach.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Haters is available everywhere now.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

If there is one thing I will always be absolutely seated for it’s a Katherine Center book. My girl GETS romance and knows how to do it right! The Love Haters is no different. It might actually be my favorite book of hers yet. I loveddddd it so much!

I should start by saying there are a few inconsistencies with the marketing here, though. Neither of the main characters actually “hates” love, despite the title. They don’t even seem to have any controversial opinions about it. They just haven’t been in relationships in awhile. This is also not an “enemies to lovers” or “rivals to lovers” or anything of the sort. They both just have reasonable boundaries, and each party does a good job respecting them. I do feel like this book was slightly mis-marketed a bit in that sense, but I did still love it. I might have enjoyed it more for it, honestly. It was refreshing.

This is THE perfect summer romance! I loved the setting in Key West. It was the perfect backdrop for this story. I’ve also discovered that I might have a thing for Coast Guard swimmer romances … 😏 Between this and Variation by Rebecca Yarros, I might have a new favorite romance pairing: Coast Guard swimmer x literally anyone. Something about a man in a wet suit and fins really does it for me 🤭.

There is a great cast of characters in this book. I loved them all so much. There was a found family element to it in so many different ways. The found family goes deeeeep, too. It was intricately layered and one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved the dynamic between Hutch and Cole, and Hutch, Cole, and Rue. It was messy and imperfect and really summed up what it is to be a family, although I could still happily smack Cole 🙃. I love that they just folded Katie right into it with them, mess and all. That’s my favorite kind of family.

The romance in this was perfectly paced, in my opinion. It’s also a clean romance, if that’s something you look for in a read. That’s not one of my criteria, but I didn’t mind it here. We still got a perfectly juicy amount of romance. Hutch is a dream mmc. He has so many green flags. I can see why Cole beefs with him, but he can’t help that he’s perfect, can he? I loved the drinking competition scene. I was laughing out loud. This book is so funny, too. It really is the perfect summer rom-com.

Another thing I liked was Katie’s personal journey with her eating disorder and journey to self-love (‼️ please, read content warnings for potential triggers‼️). Rue was such a champion of her. I love that she took Katie and her fear of color under her wing. Life truly is too lovely to spend in all black. Can I get a sweet aunt to spoil me with new clothes and bikinis all summer? Where do I find that? Katie’s relationship with Beanie was so sweet, too. Friends like that make such a difference. Beanie’s beauty list idea was fantastic and is such a good thing to do for yourself, even if you don’t struggle with self-image (who doesn’t?).

Katherine Center novels never disappoint, and The Love Haters was no exception.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions stated are my own.

I thought I was going to love The Love Haters. It had all the ingredients I usually enjoy: set in the Florida Keys at a naval air station I’m familiar with, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer love interest, and an enemies-to-lovers arc. But it never quite delivered. The Florida setting, which should have added richness and atmosphere, felt flat and underutilized.

More than anything, the story fixated on the main character’s body image issues. While that’s a valid and important topic, it became the lens through which she viewed every moment, overshadowing the romance and plot. The internal conflict didn’t evolve in a way that felt realistic- it started to feel repetitive and forced. I wanted more charm, more connection, and more life from the setting and characters. It just didn’t come together the way I hoped.

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

I wanted to love this more than I did. I found the dialogue and attempts at humor to be cheesy. I also found aspects of the story to be unbelievable and contrived.

Another fabulous read from Katherine Center! Like always the book is heartfelt and hilarious. The banter between Kate and Hutch made me love this book so much! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

It took me about 20% of the way into the book before I finally got into it, but then it was just a page turner. It does seem to jump around between different perspectives. I also wish there was a more final ending for Katie and Hutch.

I found this book hard to get into at first, but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was the perfect combination of romance and seriousness. I enjoy books by this author.

The Love Haters follows Katie as she is sent on a work trip to Key West. She is a documentary filmmaker and her assignment is to make a recruitment video for the coast guard by following the love hater, Hutch.

I liked Hutch enough but the story more revolved around Katie and her body image issues and past ED (although not specifically named). And it’s a relatable struggle but I did not really relate with how she “got over” them.

Simple words in a review from me (definitely not an author and not great with words) could never do this book justice. I knew going into this book it would probably be a 5 star read for me because I love Katherine Center’s writing, but then as I reached as early as page 79 I knew for a fact this would be a 5+ star read for me.

Katherine Center knows how to write a book. Her characters are so lovable and so REAL. What woman on the face of this earth doesn’t battle body image issues from time to time? What sibling isn’t a little jealous of the other? And who doesn’t love dogs? And what girl DOESNT want to be rescued by the hot hero in a uniform? I think this book has a little something for everyone.

I’m also such a huge fan of Katherine because she knows how to write a FANTASTIC rom-com with absolutely no spice. And you can still feel the love coming from each character. This was my fourth book by Katherine Center and I will forever and always recommend her books to anyone and everyone. Honestly, I would read Katherine’s to-do lists if it was published to us mere mortals. Absolutely fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley for the best eARC I’ve ever received.

I'm a solid fan of Katherine Center and this one filled my yearly desire to read something only she produces. I love to go in knowing sort of what I'm getting, liking the story I've read nothing about in advance, and finishing it in a few hours. She always delivers.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and engaging. I liked the characters a lot. This book was just easy to read. I'll definitely be reading more from Katherine Center.

The Lover Haters
By Katherine Center
5⭐️

I adore every book Katherine Center has written. Her stories make me laugh harder and reflect deeper than most books, and they are always a hit.

The Love Haters was again just the perfect mix of these two aspects. The book shows the main character, Katie, struggles with body image throughout her life. Started at a young age and perpetuated through self-hate her entire life. It’s easy to identify with Katie in this aspect. Comments made to us in childhood can carry on long into adulthood. Center does a fantastic job of showcasing the (as she called it in her author’s note) an enemies-to-lovers relationship style with Katie and herself. It was done excellently and aided by a beautiful friendship with her best friend Beanie, who forces Katie to find things she loves about herself. It’s wonderful, heartwarming, and a fabulous reminder that we are our worst critics, who all need a Beanie to lift us up.

A fun point about Center’s books is that while they’re considered romcoms, there are plenty of other aspects going on in the 300-something pages. There is no drag that makes you wonder when the book will end, but rather, you wish there were 300 more pages to read.

In this story, Hutch and Katie call themselves love-haters. Or rather, Cole, Hutch’s brother, declares he is, and Hutch agrees. Katie is coming off a terrible breakup and decides that love isn’t for her. This doesn’t follow the plan set forth, and their story is wild. (The best part about Center’s books is that there is always action and tense situations, and in this case, wow! I was stressed, lol.)

The story of Hutch and Cole as brothers and their progression from sworn enemies to somewhat feeling like brothers again was enjoyable to journey through. It was enjoyable in that it was immensely sad, but the story was real.

Then there’s the side plot of The Gals. Female friendships later in life and supporting one another will never get old. I loved the relationships between all the women and how they never wavered in love for each other, and then Katie, as she lived near them.

Overall, this book was such a hit for me. I loved the style of humor and the fact that the stories always have what feel like true, authentic characters with flaws that make them lovable. Not a single one of us is perfect, and Center writes these so well. The thought and research she puts into these stories doesn’t go unnoticed.

Once again, a Katherine Center book is five stars from me.

Side note: It’s hard not to fall in love with a book set in a beautiful setting such as Key West. Being landlocked in the summer made me live vicariously through this story.

I adore Katherine Center, and will ALWAYS read anything she writes - but there were a few things about this one that made it hard for it to usurp my faves of her backlist. I found the miscommunication frustrating, and as it’s at the heart of the novel, I never could quite get past my frustration over just wanting everyone to use their words. That said, KC writes characters with real heart, hope, and genuineness, and it is this that keeps me coming back to her time and time again. This one might not be my all time fave, but I still enjoyed it and am glad to have read it.