Katherine Center's latest was a meet cute about Katie a video producer who has been sent to film her coworkers brother Hutch a coast guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Paradise becomes messy as Katie didn't mention she can't swim and needs to take a crash course before the assignment begins and becomes intangled in the family mess between the brothers. Their Aunt Rue was a high light of the book but the rest fell flat. The body image theme was over the top and became annoying. I didn't feel a real connection between Katie and Hutch and the book as a whole felt a bit young adult to me. I normally love KC but this was my least favorite of hers. The story kept me entertained enough and this would be fine for a beach reach but I would recommend one of her other books over this one if she is a new to you author.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Our FMC, Katie Vaughn, is a videographer that loves to get the intimate perspective of heroes. She captures their everyday life while hearing their side of the heroic story. Her coworker Cole convinces her to go to Key West to capture this story of Hutch Hutcheson, who just so happens to be Cole's brother. When she gets to The Keys, things are not going her way but luckily she meets Rue, her landlord and a bit of a fairy godmother.

Before this assignment, Katie has been struggling with body imagery and eating disorders. This book heavily focuses on this and her journey through it. She is also struggling to keep her job and deal with her ex-fiancé pushing her into the public eye once again. I think any of us would be stressed at this point. I probably would not call this a light beach read.

As for the romance, this story is definitely a slow-burn, enemies(ish) to lovers. I really loved how their relationship blooms. Their love has to endure a surprise twist, one that I did not see coming. Hutch is seriously adorable and if anyone deserves a happy ending, it would be him.

Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a feel-good story, a reminder to not listen to keyboard critics, and fans of The Rom-Commers.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This review has been posted to my socials.

I had the absolute joy of getting my hands on an advanced copy of *The Love Haters* by Katherine Center—and I *devoured* it over my honeymoon. And let me just say: it was the perfect romantic, heartwarming, laugh-out-loud companion for such a special trip.

Katherine Center is quickly becoming one of my must-read authors. Her writing is sharp, emotionally rich, and packed with so much heart it practically bursts off the page. With *The Love Haters*, she’s done it again—this story is everything I wanted and more.

The chemistry between the characters? Off the charts. The banter? Witty and addictive. The emotional arcs? So deeply satisfying. I laughed, I swooned, I may have even shed a tear or two (okay, definitely did). But what I loved most is how Center continues to write women who are strong, complex, and unapologetically themselves.

*The Love Haters* is the kind of book you want to hug after you finish. It’s smart, sweet, empowering, and impossible to put down—I was sneaking in pages between beach walks and candlelit dinners. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, this one is an absolute must-read.

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and The Love Haters is yet another reminder of why I adore her work. With her signature blend of humour, heart, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting, this book was a joy to listen to from beginning to end.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer whose career is teetering on the edge—her company is laying off staff, and she knows her number is likely up soon. When her coworker Cole offers her a career-making assignment profiling his estranged brother, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, Katie jumps at the chance. There’s just one problem: the job requires strong swimming skills… and Katie can’t swim. Not that that stops her—she simply fakes it.

What follows is a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt adventure. Katie’s time in Key West is far from relaxing. Between swim lessons, helicopter safety training, and a budding romance with Hutch, Katie’s in over her head—literally and figuratively. Add in a massive Great Dane, the delightfully eccentric Aunt Rue, a hurricane, and the surprise arrival of her boss, and things spiral in the best possible way.

Katie reminded me of a modern-day Lucille Ball—her antics had me laughing out loud, but beneath the comedy is a story of growth, courage, and healing. Hutch isn’t just a love interest; he’s a fully developed character with his own emotional weight to carry, and the relationship between him, Cole, and Aunt Rue adds real depth to the story. Rue, in particular, is the kind of character who restores your faith in humanity—wise, funny, and full of heart.

Final Thoughts:

The Love Haters is a feel-good romantic comedy with depth, heart, and a whole lot of charm. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cheer, and maybe even tear up a little, this one delivers.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

4 stars

This was such a fun, feel-good read! Katherine Center delivered another heartfelt story full of charm and personal growth. I loved the slower burn dynamic, and enjoyed the mix of light humor and emotional weight that are mixed into this story. The main characters were layered and easy to root for. I also loved the side characters, especially the dog. I almost wish we got more of some of the side characters, I thought they could have been more fleshed out and I would have enjoyed reading more from them.

My biggest criticism of this book is the protagonist’s heavy focus on her weight; though I appreciated her growth in this area, I felt that it took over a bit too much of the plot. This could be a trigger for some readers, and I wanted to mention that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book & I will continue to read everything that Katherine Center publishes.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a silly goofy time and great for the vibes. I felt a little lost at parts on how it all connected. I wish the FMC’s ex was more of a plot point because that was interesting, but it didn’t feel believable. I loved George Bailey though!!!

Thank you, @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the gifted ARC!

Katie takes a job as a video producer profiling Hutch, a coast guard swimmer who lives in Key West. Despite not being able to swim, she doesn't have much of a choice since this is a last-ditch effort to save her job. Hutch isn't what he seems, and she can't help but admire him.

Thoughts 💭
This had a little bit of everything. A cute coast guard swimmer, a rescue dog, a quirky "aunt" who enjoys and promotes a vibrant life. I haven't been to Key West, but it is on my short list, and this made me want to go even more. I appreciate Hutch's no-nonsense approach to doing his job and wanting to be left alone. Their romance was a slow burn but adorable. This is a great summer beach read.

Katie did have strong body/confidence issues in the book that could be triggering for some. She was blasted publicly for her appearance, and it was a big reoccurring plot point. My only complaint is that it cleared up pretty quickly and without professional help (for something that was such a big deal) at the end. This is a darker topic that took on a lighter tone to match the rest of the story.

2.5 rounded up

Katie Vaughn is about to lose her job as a video producer, but gets a chance to save it by filming a profile on Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The story follows her experience filming the profile, managing unexpected challenges, and everything that comes with her time in Key West.

Favourite quote "The truth is, it’s hard to make yourself ask for something that you know the person you’re asking doesn’t want to give."

This was a quick, easy read with writing that I enjoyed, but overall it left me feeling a bit frustrated. The first half of the book was tough to get through — the FMC being inconsistent, often flip-flopped in her feelings without much real development, which made the story feel rushed and choppy at times.

I wasn’t a fan of how the story handled body insecurities. While the intention was there, it often felt surface level and didn’t offer much real support. The FMC’s reactions to certain situations didn’t always make sense and pulled me out of the story at times.

I often felt like we were being told about connections and conversations rather than getting to experience them which was also frustrating. The banter and chemistry that was supposed to be building mostly happened off page, making it hard to buy into the relationship. It was difficult to feel any real connection between the two for most of the book.

The only redeeming characters were Rue and the dog. There were also some funny and emotional moments that I enjoyed but overall it wasnt enough.

The last 30-40% was definitely more entertaining, but it wasn’t enough to redeem the book overall. I think it could have benefited from dual POVs, more natural dialogue, and deeper character development.

This was my first by Katherine Center. I have seen other mixed reviews on this book so I will try another by her in the future. I think this one just missed the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely couldn’t believe when I received this book in the mail! Thank you so much @stmartinspress and @katherinecenter for my #gifted arc!

Why is Katherine Centers writing so fantastic? She writes like she’s talking to you and I just love that! Katie was such a relatable character. She struggles with self worth and body issues that I know pretty much everyone deals with at some point in their lives. This book shows the power of found family, the bonds of great female friendship, and amazing personal growth. All of that mixed with one of the most perfect MMCs has made this my favorite book so far this year.

Katherine Center you did it again. Thank you for making this book so entertaining. It was so hard to put down, but now that I’m finished I’m sad to move on to another book.

3.5⭐️
This was a solid romance read! It is a rom-com set in the backdrop of Key West but still touches on some tougher topics like self-love, body image, and family dynamics. Katie, our FMC, is a video producer who is given the assignment, from her boss Cole, of traveling to Key West to record a promotion video for the Coast Guard and a “Day in my Life” video on Hutch. The same Hutch who happens to be Cole’s brother.

Rue, Hutch & Cole’s aunt was one of my favorite characters in this! She brought her bright colors, quirkiness, sass, and more to the story. Cole, however, was not a likable character at all. He was abrasive, rude, frustrating, and made many questionable decisions throughout the whole story. The scenes with him were a bit exhausting at times.

While I loved the Key West setting and funny moments, I found the romance between Hutch and Katie to be a bit underdeveloped. I wish there were more moments between the two of them, outside the context of the film project, so we could really see them connect. Despite this, they still had cute scenes together, especially with George, Hutch’s dog, that made me smile. I also wish the heavier topics, mainly body image/self-love themes were handled a bit better in this. At times, it felt like they were just randomly added in and it threw me off because this book reads like a light rom-com throughout. Overall, this was an easy romance read!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my review!🌴

Honestly if Katherine Center writes it – I’m going to read it. And I was lucky enough to get some advanced copies of her newest release (thank you so much @stmartinspress | @netgalley | @macmillan.audio | @raincoastbooks for the advanced physical, digital and audio copies 🤍🥹).

This book was similar to her others due to the way they are not only romance books with a silly-goofy time, but also feature a deeper message about some area of life. And boy oh boy did this one hit home for me. The depictions of disordered eating and body dysmorphia were heartbreaking and will likely leave a mark on many women who read this book. The way we’re able to watch Katie grow in her self-love was wonderful, however it should be noted that for some people it takes significantly longer to work through these areas of life in real-time.

I genuinely think that the romance took a bit of a backseat in this book and I didn’t hate it! I thought that we could have even had more of a slow burn between Hutch and Katie due to the short time period they had to get to know one another, but hey it’s a romance book, it doesn’t have to be realistic because how else would I get to escape reality??? And a small sidenote; George Bailey was the true star of the show.

⭐4/5 Rating

📖Genres: Romance | Contemporary | Contemporary Romance

This book had some fun moments but way too much going on. I felt like I barely knew the characters by the end — especially the side characters. The plot choices were so…. weird and random to me??? It had its charm but wasn’t for me sadly :(

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5

I reread this book again, which is why I’m just now writing my review. I have to do it justice since reading The Rom-Commers in which I fell in love with Katherine Center and her writing. The love story of Katie and Hutch is special especially with how Katherine creates those special moments between her characters. I loved the journey that Katie took and so glad she took that leap to do something outside her comfort zone like so many of us struggle to do. I will definitely be going back to reread this book.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. Katherine Center does it again. This is a RomCom that also hits deep. The characters are lovable (even the hate-able ones). Katherine addresses some heavy topics like self image/worth, childhood trauma, and resentment. Don’t forget to read the authors note. ♥️ 4.5 ⭐️!

The characters made me love this book. They were the kind you felt like you wanted to be friends with. I found myself rooting for them. This was a sweet, bingeable read that fulfilled the romance void for me. I really enjoyed it! Definitely a read that will make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside which I certainly appreciate.

I struggled with this book in the beginning. The FMC had a lot of body shaming and low self esteem. As a plus size gal I saw a lot of myself in this character. but it seemed to keep on going. It ended up being a very cute story as the mmcs found each other... I absolutely adored the mmc and his dog. I enjoyed learning about the rescue procedures that they had to do. Absolutely adored Rue and her gals. We all need a Rue in our lives.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley! Anything from Katherine center is an automatic read for me and this one was no exception! I loved every min of this book.

I am a bit conflicted on this one, because I jumped right in and read about 60% of this in one sitting, on a flight home. Then, I just put it down. For like a week, I didn’t feel pulled to see what happened to Katie, her handsome rescue swimmer or her job. I was curious about them, but for me this wasn’t unputdownable.

There are certainly elements about this that I really enjoyed. The setting? Gorgeous. Take me away to Key West anytime. The side characters? Loveable. I want to join The Gals and have George Bailey knock me down. The main character's lifelong internal struggle to love herself? All too relatable.

Did it absolutely rip my heart out like some of my favorite Katherine Center books? No. But to be completely fair, she sets a very high standard; I’m a huge fan. I did cry at one point, but it wasn't even romance-related! Maybe in this one, the romance took a little bit of a back seat to some of the other storytelling throughout, but it was still really enjoyable overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm definitely already a Katherine Center fan, and The Love Haters did not disappoint. Fun, funny, silly, sweet beach read - not too predictable, though a happy ending!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my #gifted advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Katie Vaughn is faced by the unfortunate choice of getting laid off or taking a video-producing gig of her boss' brother, who's a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The catch? Hutch doesn't want to be interviewed, and even if he did, Katie can't swim. Plus, she hates her body and wouldn't be caught dead in a swimsuit. So she lies to get the job and figures it out on the way. Also on the way, not only does she find her attraction to Hutch mounting, but also the lies are multiplying and pretty soon she has to decide whether she is brave enough to face the truth--and herself.

This is another winner from Katherine Center! It's about the good story (with all the 1990's rom-com feels) but also about appreciating your body and not letting the bizarre, warped standards on women's' bodies apply in your own head. Your value is not in how well you match those standards. I got sucked in, and was sooooo frustrated with the lies and the lack of communication. But I really appreciated about how this isn't just about romantic love (which was pretty awesome, let me tell you!), but also about other loves--friends, family, found family, and loving yourself. This was a big hit in my book!