Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. Rounded up from 3.5 stars. I am not personally a fan of the main character talking directly to the reader. It feels awkward and weird to me but I’m sure some people enjoy that. Overall though, I found it easy enough to push through those parts and focus on the story. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. I loved seeing Katie’s growth throughout the book. I loved the side characters. As a Floridian, I have to say that I hated the Hurricane scenes and it frustrated me to no end. Like yes I know she was stuck with the dog but just letting yourself drift out to sea instead of attempting to jump out and swim to shore and not knowing that emergency personnel don’t rescue during the storm? I do wish we got just a little more for the ending but that’s okay. It was still a really great summer romance!

Love Haters is a cute love story centered around Katy and Hutch. She is a videographer sent to the Florida Keys to film a promotional video for the Coast Guard, with Hutch being main subject in the movie.
Hutch also has a gaggle of silly older ladies in his life who are playing matchmaker between the two. Basically, there are lots of funny rom com style mishaps, and a healthy dose of classic miscommunication that makes this book really work.
The book reads like a movie and engages the reader all the way through. She touches on a few social topics like cyber bullying and body shaming. All done very well and relevant in society,

Would recommend this book to any ROM COM lovers .

Another win by Katherine Center. I love her writing style. This story was funny, sweet, romantic, emotional, and full of loveable characters. It has great vacation vibes. I definitely recommend adding this to your beach read/summer reading list! Make sure to read the authors note at the end! It's beautiful!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the ARC!

I have been on a Katherine Center kick lately, so I was very excited to read The Love Haters! This book follows Katie a video producer who gets talked into shooting a promo video for the U.S. Coast Guard by her boss so that he can avoid his heroic brother Hutch. The only problem is... Katie can't swim. Hilarity ensues as Katie moves to sunny Florida to film the promo and take swimming lessons before Hutch realizes she is the video producer for his promo. Katie braces for a surly love hater, but once she meets Hutch she starts to learn more about him and his complex family dynamic with his brother and Aunt Rue. Aunt Rue is THE BEST!! I really enjoyed the banter between Katie and Hutch as they both begin to open up about their past. Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more books by the author!!

I adore Katherine Center's novels—each one wraps you in a warm hug of love, joy, personal growth, and emotional discovery. The Love Haters is no exception. Yes, there's a charming romance (Katie + Hutch = swoon), but the heart of this story is really about Katie falling in love with herself. #selflove

Read this if you like:
✨Body image struggles
✨A touching grief journey
✨Found family dynamics
✨A lovable Great Dane named George Bailey
✨Romance tropes: grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and a sweet, closed-door vibe

🎧Narration Note: Patti Murin absolutely shines as Katie. She brings every ounce of self-doubt, humor, and heart to life in a way that makes you feel like you're right there with her on this journey. The audiobook is a total winner!!!

👍 Final Verdict: Funny, deeply emotional, and full of heart. Whether you read or listen, you’ll walk away smiling, with a little more love for yourself, too.

Caught between unemployment and deep water, Katie makes a split-second decision to fake a skill she definitely doesn’t have—swimming—only to fall for the very Coast Guard rescue swimmer she’s supposed to be filming.

Katie tells her co-worker at a small video production company that she can swim in order to get the gig of filming his brother Hutch on the job. Not only does Katie have to conquer swimming, but she’ll also need to successfully escape from a simulated helicopter crash—and keep her crush on Hutch a secret, especially since she’s been told he’s a “Love Hater.”

The Love Haters is a cute beach read featuring an awkward woman dumped by her fiancé once he got famous, a taciturn rescue swimmer who earned internet fame after saving Jennifer Aniston’s dog, and a bunch of senior citizens living their best lives in Key West. It has some laughs and poignant moments without being too corny or overly dramatic. I enjoyed the dialogue between Katie and Hutch, although the various lies Katie gets wrapped up in can be frustrating as a reader. I also thought the title was cute, though not a particularly apt description of either character.

Overall, this is a fun romance novel with chemistry, humor, and a lovely sense of found family.

(3.5 stars) Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! #MacAudio2025 Thanks, St. Martin’s Press, for the arc!

I’m a Katherine Center super fan! While THE LOVE HATERS didn’t jump to my new number one favorite by her, as her new releases usually do—I’m not sure anything will ever beat THE ROM-COMMERS for me. I had fun experiencing the story.

My full review is on Goodreads and StoryGraph. If you want to know why this book didn’t become my new favorite, it's hidden under spoilers in the posted review.

I like Center’s books because she always has outlandish plots that *could* happen, lol, but they feature characters who deal with real struggles and issues that you can connect with. Katie, a fantastic name and the FMC, struggles with body dysmorphia and image issues. Many of her thoughts were relatable, as someone who has also struggled with this for her entire life. If only I could find a helicopter rescue swimmer to help boost my self-esteem…

(spoiler) The one aspect that I didn’t care for was that we found out Katie’s ex had cheated on her, which is why the relationship ended. I don’t like infidelity in books, but when it’s a previous relationship, I’m fine with it. Hutch, the MMC, and she discuss honesty and trust in relationships. Then she pulls a stunt with his brother and a fake relationship and lies to everyone, including Hutch, about her feelings for him. Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes, but not if they’re hurting people or implying cheating, which this one did both. After enjoying the book, it was a real bummer for this to happen in the last 25%. (spoiler)

I did read a little of the arc, but as soon as I received the ALC, all I did was listen to the fantastic narration by Patti Murin. She is one of my auto-listen narrators—I don’t have to know anything about the book; I just need to know that if she is narrating, I’m listening. Murin was an excellent choice for Katie’s voice and inner monologue. The emotions and insecurities came across wonderfully, and you can hear Katie’s growth throughout the book as she gains confidence.

The book's star is George Bailey, the Great Dane, lovable pet of Hutch, the MMC. I would love more books about him, his life, and his toads.

Even though this wasn’t my new favorite by Katherine Center, I’ll still be first in line for the next one! Her books make me happy, especially when read by Patti Murin on audiobook!

Oh Katherine, you did it again!
You grabbed my heart from the very first chapter and gave me all the feels.
Katie’s struggles with body image hit so close to home, and her brave journey toward self-acceptance was beautifully done. I adored Hutch, Aunt Rue, and yes, there’s an adorable rescue dog!
This story was pure perfection from start to finish. All the stars!

I absolutely loved the banter and loved that the plot was more complicated than just the romance aspect. Although the MMC was swoonworthy in what he did and his physical appearance, he also lacked in the communication aspect and not exactly someone to desire. Even the ending left a little to be desired in that realm. However, I couldn't put it down and had a fabulous time!

This was another heartwarming, adorable read from Katherine. I can always count on her books to leave me with warm and fuzzy feelings while reading.

Katie is sent to the Florida Keys by her coworker, Cole, to record a recruitment video. As it turns out, Cole is sending her in his place because he's trying to avoid his family drama. Katie is still working on loving herself and what comes with that after a bad break-up and a lot of body image issues. (Take care of yourself if this kind of stuff is hard to read, it is a pretty prominent topic throughout the book!)

Hutch is a rescue swimmer with the Coast Guard and the subject of Katie's video. He's stoic, protective, and has a giant rescue dog that loves to tackle Katie. I loved all the little moments between Hutch and Katie where you could see they were falling for each other, even if they didn't know it themselves. With an interesting cast of side characters, a lot of chaos, and a hurricane that puts Katie through the wringer, this book has a little of everything to keep you on your toes.

Thank you to SMP and Katherine for the ARC!

Thank you to @NetGalley for the ARC of Katherine Center’s The Love Haters. All opinions are my own.

I wouldn’t be surprised if at the bottom of every rainbow there is a Katherine Center book. Her books are a pot of gold, so valuable and rich with their humor, banter, creativity, research, lessons that don’t feel like lessons, quotable quotes, and of course, love.

The amount of highlights I made in my Kindle is RIDICULOUS. Reading through them is like reading the entire book again, and I’m not complaining. I highlighted entire conversations, not just one-liners. This book has it all- even action, adventure and weather drama! Katie gets an assignment to profile a helicopter ocean rescue swimmer for a recruitment video, and along the way she meets The Gals (who I want to buy a place next to and become a Gal) and Hutch, the rescue swimmer himself. I was laughing, I was bawling, I was gasping. I am recommending!

4/5 stars
10 hours 32 minutes at 1x on audio
Location: Texas and Key West in Florida

This was my first book of Katherine Center’s even though I’ve had some of her books on my TBR for years. I enjoyed several aspects of “The Love Haters” and overall found the book entertaining so I would recommend it and will definitely be giving her other books a read soon!

This was a cute story of learning to love yourself and facing your fears and had both funny and heartwarming moments. It also went deep into body image issues but with the comedic moments the entire book still felt mostly lighthearted and entertaining even while still giving some deeper moments.

A few items that lowered the rating slightly for me; 1) Hutch’s brother and his terrible choices. 2) There was a bit too much slapstick humor, which is not my favorite. 3) Katie’s extreme struggles with her body image have been happening for years but she is suddenly cured within a week? It was very unrealistic that she suddenly accepts herself fully, it would have been better if she started to slowly accept herself but still had some struggles at times. 4) Also, the epilogue was a list of updates of different characters but nothing about the main two characters and their relationship, just a quick note that they were still together.

This was fine but not great. The beginning seemed like it had promise but the conflict was pretty convoluted, and the last incident was genuinely just too insane to be even remotely realistic.

4 ⭐️

This was my first Katherine Center read, so I've got nothing to compare this to as far as her previous works. I've only heard great things about this author & now I definitely get the hype.

Follow along with Katie, a commercial video producer from Texas, as she travels to The Keys in Florida in hopes to avoid getting laid off through creating a killer documentary about the US Coast Guard. BUT... Katie can't swim, yet she takes this job anyway for the promise of job security. A lot happens during her time there— she works on self-love & healing, discovers friendship, finds love (in who just so happens to be the star of her doc!), learns a bit about swimming & helicopters, overcomes her fear of wearing bright colors, & befriends a rescue Great Dane named George Bailey.

Overall, this was a heartwarming story that felt like a great big hug. I really loved almost every character introduced (Rue!!!), but this book definitely could've used a little more romance, as many times I found myself just wanting to hear more about Katie & Hutch??? But still, a very fun, refreshing read that I will 100% recommend to anyone; perfect for February or the summertime.

I want to read more KC books now!

💞 Self-love
💘 Romance
🔥 Slow burn
🌴 The Florida Keys
🚤 Forced proximity
👙 Lots of swim time
🩹 Reframing negative body-image & healing
👪 Sibling rivalry / healing from past trauma
🎥 Creative video work & passion projects
🚁 USCG

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Katherine Center for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had very high hopes for The Love Haters by Katherine Center and I wish I didn't feel so strongly but this one was definitely not for me. I am so shocked and if I'm completely honest disappointed/sadden that the publisher and author didn't think it wise to include TWs for body image as the FMC deals with it along with an eating disorder. Diet culture/body image are such sensitive topics to certain readers and to not warn them surprised me. That honestly threw me off the book immediately. The story enjoyable for the most part but it's definitely not a fave of mine by Katherine. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded down💫 maybe a true 3 - I’m conflicted!!

There were things that I enjoyed - the dog, the interesting career (he’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer), Rue, the authors note, the intent behind the body image issues.

But there were also things I surely did not enjoy - Cole, the random lying??, and the execution of the body image issues.

I read a lot of reviews that commented on how often Katie remarks on her body, her size, her clothing, etc. etc. and how “annoying” or “repetitive” it was and while I can see where that’s coming from! as someone who has struggled with her own body image for most of her life I didn’t take issue with this BECAUSE it really can be allll consuming.

I just didn’t love how ~quickly~ the issues were resolved and how. I don’t think a couple weeks of saying barely nice things about yourself could really solve a decade+ long ED🤷🏻‍♀️ BUT again I appreciated the thought!!

As for the romance? It was just fine! I didn’t feel the sparks flying but it had its moments! So a middle of the road read for me!🙂🙃

This one has all the makings of a perfect summer read:
☀️ Location? Key West — check.
🐶 Golden retriever energy male main character? Check.
👯‍♀️ A great cast of supporting characters (the gals!)? Double check.

But if you're expecting a full-on rom-com, you might want to shift your lens a little. For me, this story wasn’t so much about falling back in love with a guy — it was about Katie falling back in love with herself. And honestly? That’s beautiful and so important.

Katherine Center has this incredible way of writing women through growth, resilience, and joy, even when the love story takes a backseat. This isn't the swoony whirlwind you get in Happiness for Beginners or How to Walk Away — and that’s okay. It still deserves a spot on your summer TBR.

If Katherine Center writes it I am going to read it and this was another adorable rom com that gave me all the warm and fuzzies. Katie was super relatable with her self-judgement (hey, we’ve all been there!) and I loved how supportive her friends were to get her to a better mental place. The side characters were excellent - I know Rue and I would have some margs and share town gossip. Hutch was a loveable MC and his family drama added an extra layer that I enjoyed. I went between reading and listening and would recommend either format!

Book Review: Love Haters by Katherine Center

Katherine Center’s Love Haters is a heartwarming, witty exploration of love, self-discovery, and the power of friendship. The story follows Katie, a woman who’s been dumped by her now-famous ex-boyfriend, leaving her with a bruised self-esteem and a complicated view of her own worth. As she navigates the difficult terrain of rebuilding her life and her sense of beauty, she finds herself thrown into the orbit of Hutch, a well-known "love hater" with a mysterious past. What follows is an emotional and uplifting journey of healing, self-acceptance, and, ultimately, love.

Characters:
Katie, the female protagonist, is easy to empathize with. Her low self-esteem and belief that she’s unattractive feel real and relatable, especially for readers who have struggled with similar issues. Her growth throughout the novel is truly moving. From the outset, Katie feels like an outsider in her own life, but the relationships she builds—especially with the eccentric Rue and her ever-supportive friend Beanie—help her rediscover her worth. Rue, the cottage-owning, wise soul, serves as a guiding light for Katie, offering advice and a much-needed perspective on self-love. Beanie, Katie’s loyal friend from back home, adds a fun and heartwarming layer to the story, always ready with support and humor.

Hutch, the brooding “love hater,” is an interesting and complex character. His initial disdain for love is intriguing, and as his backstory unfolds, the reasons for his resistance become clearer, making his eventual relationship with Katie all the more rewarding.

Themes:
At its core, Love Haters is about self-empowerment. It shows how difficult but necessary it is to recognize one’s own worth and embrace imperfections. The novel also delves into the healing power of relationships—whether it's the connection between Katie and Rue, or the evolving dynamic between Katie and Hutch. Love, both romantic and platonic, proves to be a transformative force, helping Katie find her own confidence and value.

Writing Style:
Katherine Center’s writing is warm and engaging, with a perfect balance of humor and depth. She has a knack for creating vibrant, believable characters who leap off the page. The pacing is spot on, and while the story has its emotional moments, there’s a lightness to it that makes it an enjoyable read from start to finish.

Final Thoughts:
Love Haters is a delightful and uplifting read, perfect for fans of romance and women’s fiction. Center’s exploration of self-worth, the healing process, and the power of love makes this novel both heartwarming and inspiring. Whether you're looking for a lighthearted romance or a thoughtful exploration of self-acceptance, this book is sure to leave you with a smile and a sense of hope.

I love Katherine Center's romances. Fun and flirty with a dash of whimsy. The body talk in this book tended to overwhelm the story at times but overall cute and perfect for summer!