Just like all of Katherine’s books, I loved this one.
It took me a bit to get into and was a slow burn, but I was hooked by the end. There’s something so wholesome and cozy about found family and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters. The star of the show? George Bailey. He has my heart forever.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of my honest review!

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now

Honestly, I STRUGGLED to get through this. I did not connect with either of the main characters nor the plot and just found it to be overall too slow moving.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center and St Martins Press for an early copy in exchange for a review.

Okay I know people are haters of this book but I loved it. Katherine Center can do no wrong in my eyes.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I felt so seen in this book- as someone who is in the process of loving their body fully and grew up struggling with their weight--I related so hard to the FMC. I felt represented and as always this book had me literally laughing out loud as only Katherine's books can make me do.

I believe this is the first book that I have read from Katherine Center. I have others but have not had the chance to read them. I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Katie and her journey of getting to self love. Hutch was a great guy and could he do anything wrong. Haha!

I did not care for Cole and his silly lie that Katie went along with, but I guess we wouldn't have the story without it. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e copy.

Ate this book up.. where do I find hutch????? asking for a friend

Plot - fantastic. Katherine told the story in a beautiful way that wasn't too unrealistic. I fell in love with all the descriptions of the settings, characters, activities, it was just great. The plot flowed very well and wasn't ever boring or dragging. Plenty of twists, leaving me wanting more of Katie's story. I was obsessed with the story line of Hutch and Cole's family / Rue. *Cue uncontrollable sobbing

Characters - loved them all. THE GALS, are you kidding me! Where do I find these ladies, it's like the golden girls were written perfectly into this plot, I love them. Not too many characters and all well written, developed, and easy to love. (except cole maybe??? ew what a freak lmao)

Themes - family drama, self-love, insecurity, it was all really good! I've seen some reviews saying she went too far talking about Katie's insecurities, but I thought it was well written without being annoying or over the top. This book showed a side of self-love that we don't typically see. All the family matters between both Katie's and Hutch's families were great. Everyone has demons, trauma, and love to handle in the way they want to cope.

Tropes - Fake Dating, Coworkers, Forbidden love, Semi forced proximity

One of my favorite katherine center books and I'll be recommending this to everyone I know! Thanks to KC, the publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my review, I LOVED IT <3

I would give this book a 3.8. I LOVE Katherine Center but unfortunately this was not my favorite of hers. Don’t get me wrong, it was still very enjoyable and the last 30% was excellent but it seemed to drag on a couple times in the middle.
I absolutely adored the Key West setting and I definitely want to move into one of Rue’s colorful cottages so I can be BFF with The Gals. While I can see how our hero Hutch is supposed to be the man of everyone woman’s dreams, I felt more of a connection with the dog, George Bailey. I was tempted to rate this book 5 stars because of Katherine’s explanation of how horrendous puppy mills are is spot on. Rescue dogs are my world.
If you read a lot I would definitely recommend picking this one up but if you only read a few books a year, I would recommend The Rom-Commers or Things You Save In A Fire over this one.

⭐️REVIEW⭐️

The Love Haters - Katherine Center

I’ve come to love Katherine Center’s books. The banter, the unapologetic love stories, the added layer she adds to each one and the author’s notes she includes are just fun. I’m not saying I’d read notes on a napkin if she wrote it but also…maybe.

When Love Haters bounced into my @netgalley shelf, I dropped everything else and devoured it.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer. In a last stitch effort to save her career, she accepts a job from her boss to make a documentary profiling all American hero, Hutch Hutcheson (Hitch is a nickname, don’t worry), a coast guard rescue swimmer in Key West Florida. Of course there’s problems right off the hop. Like she can’t swim. And Hutch is her boss’ brother and they do not get along. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out…lots.

This one has secrets and lies, some fake dating, Floridian paradise, a tropical storm (literally), a drunk brawl, a big Great Dane, and a crew of fantastic retirees.

Admittedly, Aunt Rue, reigning queen of the retirees and Hutch’s aunt by choice, is my favorite character in the book.

Like her other books, there is so much I enjoyed about this one. Truly. Katie is ridiculous and I for sure laughed out loud at her. Hutch is the classic “grumpy” for her sunshine and their banter is everything you’d expect from that meet up. There are some sweet heart tugging moments.

As much as I enjoyed lots of it, I struggled with the way Katie’s body image issues took over the story. Negative body image and how it impacts life is an important topic but there was SO MUCH OF IT, it took away from the story for me. Where usually the deeper issues enhance the story in center’s writing for me, this one took me out of the plot and the romance.

That said, Katie’s self acceptance journey was hopeful and bright and what allowed her to open herself to the romance of the story.

Lots to enjoy and I’m glad I read it. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my e arc to enjoy and review.

✨video producer FMC X Coast guard MMC
✨forced proximity
✨workplace romance
✨slow burn
✨closed door
✨found family
✨tropical setting

Trigger warnings: body dysmorphia (this is discussed throughout at length)

Katie, a video producer, has been given the opportunity to do complete a career making profile on a coast guard rescue swimmer in the Florida Keys

the catch?!
- she can’t swim
- Her job is on the line
- The swimmer is her co workers brother

I absolutely adore Katherine’s Center’s writing and her way with words. She creates the perfect combination of smart, witty, funny and emotional throughout.

The storyline was unique and intriguing. You could tell a lot of research went into developing the setting and details around the coast guard and occupation. The book kept me engaged with multiple twists and turns along the way. The main characters had instant chemistry. I loved their banter but also their sweetness and understanding with one another.

I will say there are some heavier themes discusses throughout including body dysmorphia which I wasn’t prepared for & I kind of wished this was more professionally addressed. With that being said I absolutely loved the ending and how she started to speak to herself- it was truly such a special moment

I really enjoyed the theme of found family throughout and thought this helped the FMC to become more comfortable in her own skin

Overall it was an enjoyable read - I did find the pacing a bit broken up throughout

Thank you so much to St Martin’s press for this gifted early copy

I typically love Katherine Center's books but this missed the mark for me. I was immediately put off by the FMC's negative self-talk at the start of the book, and was disappointed to find that it continued throughout. While she does come to 'love herself' at the end, I thought it felt weird for her to come to this conclusion after naming reasons she loves her thumb. I loved the cinematography aspect of things, Hutch as an MMC, and the whole USCG representation. I didn't love that she ended up randomly stranded on a houseboat in a hurricane though. It felt way too far-fetched and while I get that rom-coms aren't supposed to be realistic, this completely took me out of it.

A unique and fun love story with lots of great dialogue, interesting characters, and plenty of self-love. This is a great summertime read!

Thank you to St. Martins Press & NetGalley for this ARC!

The Love Haters may be my favorite Katherine Center novel yet! The storyline was different but included the not quite enemies to lovers trope & had its own handful of interesting tidbits. Katie agrees to a job in Key West, FL that she may not be wholly qualified to do, but agrees nonetheless to keep her job after her boss goes on a rampage firing people after a devastating life blow. Cole, Katie’s coworker, gives her the bare minimum details and leaves out his own personal reasons for not going to do the Coast Guard promo video- his years long competitive beef with his brother, Hutch, who Cole says is a love hater.

Katie goes to Key West just expecting to do her job and go back home. She doesn’t expect to end up on a journey to loving herself, making connections with an unlikely friend, and ultimately falling for Hutch.

📚 Pub Day Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Am I a love hater? Maybe...
Romance can be hit or miss for me, and The Love Haters just didn’t win me over.

This rom-com follows a video producer who has to fake being a swimmer (what a twist!) to save her job and ends up profiling a Coast Guard swimmer named Hutch. Chaos and sibling drama follow, of course. 🌊💔

I love Katherine Center’s emotional storytelling, but her direct-address style doesn’t always work for me. Still, she manages to make me laugh and cry... so I guess that’s a win? 😅

Full review is up on my blog: www.cynsfictionaddiction.com

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romcom authors so I was very excited to receive an ARC of The Love Haters.
The story line is predictable but relatable, the characters are annoying, lovable and at times laugh out funny.
This is a good story but not one of Center’s best. I still will recommend it as a great read.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my ARC.

Not my fav Katherine Center book but I really enjoyed this!!! I had a lot in common with the FMC and felt that the topics of body image were handled respectfully and honestly. Very funny, cute, emotional, a great read for the summer time! 4⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC!!!

Another wonderful fun read about finding love in the most unexpected places.

I appreciated Katy’s self effacing demeanor but it lingered longer than I felt necessary to convey the message. I did find that Katy was overly focused on her body image to really enjoy her life. She received support from many people who expressed how harshly she judged herself.

It takes more than half the book before she comes to acknowledge that she needed to embrace herself in the body in which she was born. This occurs when she is faced with what she felt was a life or death situation.

When you put all the body shaming aside the love story is filled with all the anticipated features of this genre. I really enjoy Katherine Center and all her previous novels. I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves a good comedic romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions in this voluntary review are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

One year after being cheated on by her famous fiancé Lucas Banks, Katie Vaughn finds herself taking a job in Key West as a last ditch effort to not get fired. As a video producer, Katie is tasked with following Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson around to make a promotional video for the guard. Hutch only agrees to the video because he thinks his brother Cole / Katie's coworker is making it, and wants to mend their strenuous relationship. When Katie shows up to start the project and the truth is revealed, things get awkward. Fortunately for readers, Katie gets Hutch to open up and even befriends their Aunt Rue. Soon, she is opening up herself in ways she never imagined possible.

I am obsessed with Katherine's writing style, her characters, and her stories. This book had me smiling, kicking my feet giggling, and tearing up. This book made me want to be kinder to myself. This book made me want to be kinder to others. Please, do yourself a favor and read this one.

Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart Katherine.

5 stars per usual.

Is this literary genius? no. Was this probably the quickest I've gobbled up a book all year? yes 1000%. I really liked some of Center's older work (with some misses in the mix as well) and I can say that this one has been the easiest to read. There is some pretty major emphasis on body image and it attempts to be healing in it but the first time it's brought up is pretty crash course into the eating disorders of my past so if you are easily triggered by this (thank you therapy!!) I would give this one a miss. I also think this does lack some depth for all characters involved but truthfully I needed a mind melt and this provided that. Also George Bailey as a dog name? woof woof.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet story about a videographer and Coast Guard rescue swimmer. It takes place in the Florida Keys and would be an excellent summer read. It makes you want to sit outside in the sun and relax!

Overall it's pretty light hearted, but if body image issues are a trigger for you it might be worth skipping. The fmc has a very complicated relationship with her body, food and self image.

My favorite character by far with George Bailey, the Great Dane! "The Gals," a group of fiesta 80 year olds were a close second!

Katherine Center’s writing always feels like a warm hug, so funny, heartfelt, and real. I saw so much of myself in Katie and loved every second of her journey. The banter and romance were perfection!

Also, I listened to part of this on audiobook and LOVED it. The narrator totally nailed Katie’s personality and brought the story to life. If you’re into audiobooks, this one is a must. Such a fun experience!

If you need something uplifting and relatable, definitely add this to your TBR!

Katherine Center has done it again! Her love stories never disappoint. In The Love Haters, commercial videographer Katie finds herself in Key West after her supervisor Cole asks her to take over a project he doesn’t want while also helping her save her job as the company is laying off almost half the staff. The assignment? To create a Coast Guard recruitment film that highlights the excitement of the job. The added benefit? Cole’s estranged older brother Hutch, a gorgeous rescue swimmer who is far from the taciturn, love-hating Mr. Perfect his jealous brother makes him out to be. As Katie spends her days taking swim lessons from Hutch, being entertained by his eccentric and loving honorary Aunt Rue and her hilarious crew of Golden Gals, and being enthusiastically assaulted by his Great Dane George Bailey, she and Hutch grow closer. However, this is more than a sweet romance with a few steamy kisses. It’s also a story of Katie’s journey towards self-love after a lifetime of hating everything about her body. With the help of her best friend Beanie, who is well-acquainted with self-help books, and the sincere compliments from both Hutch and Rue, Katie finally recognizes how damaging her negative self-talk has been.

Center does a wonderful job of showing all types of love while also keeping readers on the edge of their seats as a hurricane brews. There is humor, heartfelt moments, harrowing water rescue, and so much more. Fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Beth O’Leary will love this one. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.