If you can take anything from my review, I hope it’s this: I liked it enough to laugh, enjoy some moments, and obviously finish it… but this one wasn't 100% for me

First things first! I really hope the publisher added a trigger warning page (I only read the ARC), because the FMC struggles with body image shown through memories of a past breakup where she starved herself for a year and counted calories so her thighs “wouldn’t touch.” I know some readers don’t want to encounter that, even in passing, so I really hope TWs are in the final copy. 🙏

Now, the story itself was cute! Katie is your classic FMC who uses humor in every sentence 😂 and since the POV is hers, we get her inner thoughts which are hilarious. But by page 250, I was like, “I get it, you’re funny.” I just wasn’t getting that deeper, more emotional layer I usually look for in FMCs. I liked her and how she was working on loving herself again after everything with her body, but… it didn’t fully click for me the way I wanted it to 💔

The plot, omg it was a straight line most of the way and then out of nowhere it got messy and went in a million directions 😵‍💫 The last 20% had me thinking, “how did we end up HERE?” Maybe it was intentional for that dramatic rom-com flair, but I wasn’t really feeling it either aghhhh

As for the MMC, Hutch… I liked him, but he was meh. Like yes, we see him start to fall for Katie and get glimpses of his struggles with attachment. But aside from their first kiss and giving her swimming lessons, I felt no real chemistry 😬 She’d talk about him like, “he’s such nice company” and I was just like… andddd? Where are the swoony gestures?! He had a few good one-liners, but that’s about it.

Again, I did enjoy it overall I laughed, I smiled, I finished it, but I definitely had some eye rolls and “huh?” moments. I love Katherine Center’s writing, but this one just wasn’t for me in comparison to The Rom-Commers. 💁‍♀️

tropes
🌺 strangers to lovers
🌺 forced proximity
🌺 small town vibes
🌺 self body image representation
🌺 1st POV

➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I heard mix reviews, but I love Katherine Center so let's see how this one goes.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my eARC
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I found The Love Haters to be an easy read, though it had its fair share of unrealistic moments. Katie's body image struggles weren't really addressed or resolved in a very healthy way and Cole, her 'work superior', seemed to stir up unneeded drama. The plot's direction towards the end was a bit much, but there were plenty of enjoyable and humorous moments throughout. Overall, it was a decent read.

Not my favorite by Center but still hit the mark! This is a good and fun romance perfect for the summertime. It did feel a bit slow at times and I did Not like the Mc focusing so much on her weight and looks. Overall center is still an auto but author for me. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center's books seem to always have objectively ridiculous premises (she and Beth O'Leary are queens of this), and this is probably my favorite iteration yet. This book got me through an absolutely horrendous commute, which is really saying something.

Katie is a mid-level video producer with borderline crippling body insecurity after a horrible breakup. Her company just got a new CEO and her job is on the chopping block. Thankfully, her boss offers her an opportunity to keep her job: go to Key West and make a recruitment video for the Coast Guard. The catch? Katie can't swim, but she's supposed to profile Hutch, a rescue swimmer who is, of course, her boss's estranged brother. So Katie accidentally gets in the middle of some family drama, and naturally, sparks fly between her and Hutch.

This book is fast-paced and just so much fun. The writing pulled me in from the beginning, and I adored the colorful - emphasis on colorful (in a good way) - cast of characters. Katie's quest to be okay with her body really resonated, and I appreciated how she tried to focus on what her body did for her and how she felt. I loved her friendships with her cousin and Hutch's aunt, and the chemistry and ease between her and Hutch felt easy and natural. There were definitely times the family drama felt a bit exaggerated, but Center anchored the more heightened moments with deep emotion and pathos between the brothers, which helped. The plot goes a bit off the rails towards the bed, but it's not completely unrealistic and it works. This was just a really fun summer read!

I will say this book contains a lot of talk about body image and disordering eating, so just be aware of that.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was another delight from Katherine Center. It had it all - heart, humour, romance, wise but quirky backup characters, tension, catastrophe, and a dog. I really enjoyed it as I had all the feels - laughing at one point, wiping a tear at another. Perhaps a little ridiculous at moments, but a ridiculous that works. A perfect summer (or anytime) feel-good read!

Katherine Center has carved a niche in the rom-com world with her heartfelt, hopeful stories, and The Love Haters continues that tradition. It's an enjoyable, easy read that combines humor, a sun-drenched setting, and a classic opposites-attract romance — though it may not pack quite the emotional punch of some of her earlier novels.

The story follows Katie Vaughn, a camera-shy videographer unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when she’s assigned to film a feature on Hutch, a ruggedly kind Coast Guard rescue swimmer stationed in Key West. Katie is determined to stay behind the lens, but as she spends more time with Hutch — and his lovable Great Dane, George Bailey — her guard slowly begins to drop. Their relationship develops from friction to flirtation, and eventually into something deeper, all while Katie grapples with insecurities about her body and her career.

The best parts of the book shine in Center’s signature style: snappy dialogue, heartfelt reflections, and a strong undercurrent of personal growth. Hutch is a romantic lead who feels genuinely good — grounded, respectful, and patient. The setting, with its beachy charm and laid-back vibe, adds a vacation-like quality to the reading experience, which makes it a perfect summer or weekend read.

That said, The Love Haters doesn’t always fully land its deeper themes. Katie's journey with body image and self-worth is an important one, but at times it feels a bit surface-level or underdeveloped. There’s a clear attempt to inject emotional weight, but some readers may find the internal conflicts a little too neatly resolved. The pacing can also feel uneven — the buildup is slow, and some character shifts feel abrupt or overly tidy by the end.

Still, The Love Haters is a perfectly pleasant, uplifting romance. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s warm, funny, and affirming — especially for readers who enjoy stories about finding confidence, learning to love yourself, and discovering that sometimes, the best things in life come when you least expect them.

Final Verdict: If you’re a fan of Katherine Center or enjoy gentle, heartfelt romances with a side of sunshine, The Love Haters is a charming, if slightly imperfect, addition to your TBR.

Welp, this will be one book of hers I do not recommend. The biggest issue for me was how body positivity was handled. I’m all for self-love and celebrating different body types, but something about the way it was portrayed here felt off. It came across as performative or awkwardly forced. There were events and statements mentioned (I don't know how to word this without giving any spoilers) that were just a big no-no for me. It actually made me uncomfortable at times, and not in a good “this is challenging my perspective” kind of way. More like it just didn’t feel genuine. The romance didn’t help either. There was no real chemistry between the leads, and I never felt invested in their connection. Everything felt very surface-level and overly predictable. The characters were walking clichés rather than real, believable people. I kept waiting for that spark or emotional depth that she usually delivers, but it never came. I do recommend her other books if you haven't had a chance to read them!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors and I'm always so grateful I get to read early.

I thought this was just fine, I didn't love it. Maybe I've read too many books in a row where the FMC has body image issues and consistently talks about it and not in a good way. It was too repetitive for me to gloss over.

The romance was fine - I didn't love the love story as much as I normally do in her other books. I liked the setting - it gave me The Guardian vibes and I think the coast guard bit was fun and it was a setting I've never read before. I really loved Rue - the aunt was a refreshing side character and I loved those parts!

I'd still recommend this to Katherine Center stans - but it won't be the first one I recommend to new readers of hers.

This was on the list of book releases I was most looking forward to this year and typical of Katherine Center it did not disappoint! This was a fun, bingeable read perfect for summer. I loved the premise of a documentary filmmaker making a video about a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. Aunt Rue and The Gals brought color to the story, the perfect supporting characters, while I strongly disliked Cole. The MFC and MMCs had immediate chemistry and I was rooting for them right from the beginning. The MFC had some personal issues that felt redundant at times (the beauty list got a little out of hand in my opinion) and the big love gesture at the end was pretty predictable but I overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other! Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

I have absolutely loved Katherine Center's last few romances and was so excited to receive an early copy of this one! It did not disappoint -- I loved the characters and the setting and did not want to put it down.

Hutch was so dreamy and swoony and I really enjoyed his character. I loved the friendship between Katie and Beanie, and would happily read a book about Beanie!

I loved the setting of this one especially -- I loved the small community and especially Rue and the Starlite.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves swoony rom coms with a little stress. I'm such a fan of Katherine Center and can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

If Katherine Center writes it I’m reading it! She always delivers a funny but heartfelt romance and this was no exception. I loved Katie and Hutch, the Coast Guard angle, small town Key West, the side characters (not you, Cole), and of course the big lovebug Great Dane, George Bailey. Katie’s self-love issues are a large theme in the book. A bit much at times for me but overall I really enjoyed this read! Grab it for your summer TBR!!

ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖:
🌺 tropical setting
☀️ found family
🌊 forced proximity
🌺 workplace romance
☀️ overcoming fears
🌊 learning to love yourself
🌺 summer/beach reads
☀️ amazing author notes

Thank you St. Martins Press, NetGalley and Katherine Center for the digital advanced copy!

The Love Haters definitely had the charm that I’ve come to know and love from Katherine Center but I had a hard time really loving this book. Again, the charm was there, it was so well written but I couldn’t stand the lies and the fact that Katie just went along with them. I appreciated the commentary on body image and self esteem and found that very relatable. While it wasn’t my favorite book, I will continue to read Katherine Center for years to come!

Katherine Center is back to the writing I love. I wasn’t a huge fan of her last two but she captured my heart again with The Love Haters. The body image talk was a bit heavy handed in my opinion, although I appreciated that it was included. Other than that I was all in on the story and the characters!

3.5/5

I liked this one, just not as much as the other two books I’ve read from Katherine Center (The Bodyguard, The Rom-commers). In The Love Haters, FMC Katie heads to the Keys to produce a video on Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, to help save her job. Pretty soon, Katie starts chipping away at Hutch’s grumpy exterior.

I thought the build up of Katie and Hutch’s relationship was sweet and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments. I always enjoy KC’s writing. I also loved Rue’s character and of course George Bailey, Hutch’s dog. I think what kept this from being a new favorite of mine was a) in the beginning of the book you as the reader are really thrown full force into Katie’s body image issues which can be tough to read (still there throughout the book as she works through them, but a little more toned down) and b) didn’t love one of the side characters that actually had quite a bit to do with the story. I think I also would have loved to have Hutch’s pov!

While not a new all time favorite I did like it overall! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much potential for me. It had a lot of good aspects, with the mental health aspects and the past family trauma aspects. The side characters with the Gals, however something just didn't land with me. The writing just seemed a little immature for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

YES!!!!!!!!!! Great summer read! SOOOO GOOD! I love Katie and Beanie. Hutch might actually be perfect. When I grow up, I want to be Rue. Oh George Bailey. This book has it all ... romance (No spice!), friendship, family drama and love, finding yourself, twists. I really enjoyed this book. Get it added to your beach bag now.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy.

This one should have come with a trigger warning. I kept picking it up and putting it down because the beginning was so deep in eating disorder territory I just couldn’t get into it.

I did eventually finish it, but if this hadn’t been an advance copy for a review, I definitely would have DNF’d it quite early. The dog was the only saving grace.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy!

A true cinnamon roll of a book. If you’re old enough to remember the romcoms of the early 2000’s where you know that in less than 90 minutes you’re going to have a Happily Ever After no matter what sort of shenanigans the leads get into, then this is it in a book form. It reads like a romcom. I couldn’t stop picturing what actors I would want for the characters because of how vivid everything felt.

Now there is a lot of body talk. FMC Katie is going through it, okay. Not that I blame her after her fiance cheats on her after becoming a superstar musician and having the pressure of social media get to her. But this book feels like a love letter to love. Loving yourself. Loving others. Loving love.

Katherine has a way with writing stories that touch your soul. That make you realize you’re not the only one going through this or feeling this way. It’s a wonderful moment of escape while also realizing that life can be unfair but it also has its beautiful moments that make it all worthwhile.

This book was so good. I laughed out loud so many times. I love this book touched on body issues and the resolutions and character growth were amazing. Can we talk about the characters because chefs kiss, the author made it too hard to pick a favorite. I might just have to go with George Bailey. If you know, you know. Iwill be recommending this book to so my girlfriends. Can't wait to read the next book Emily Henry comes out with.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. The above review is completely my own and 100 percent honest.

First of all, let me remind you that a year or two ago I fully binged all of Katherine Center’s books, so when I received a physical ARC, I was super excited.

Katherine Center is an author that I always love. Some books I love more than others, some books make me laugh out loud more than others, but I still love them all.

Her writing feels cozy, safe, and entertaining. This book was no exception. It’s about a hot coast guard guy who recently became internet famous for saving a celebrity’s dog, and a female video journalist who wants to save her job. This means shadowing him at work….and she can’t swim.

This book is silly, fun, sweet, romantic, and enjoyable.

TW: the FMC struggles with body image and it makes mention of previous eating disorder