If Katherine Center writes it, I will definitely read it. Katie heads to Key West, presumably to save her job, by profiling Coast Guard hero, Hutch. Several problems arise with that, including the fact that Hutch and Cole, Katie's co-worker who sent her, have bad blood between them. And the fact that Hutch is a swimmer and Katie can't swim. Add Hutch and Cole's Aunt Rue, a hurricane and a great dane to the mix and you have a hilarious rom-com perfect for summer.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and unfortunately only ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our FMC Katie struggles with her body image, and I thought it was a bit too much. The chemistry between FMC and MMC was almost non existing.
I didn't connect to this one as much as other books from the Katherine Center. With that said the story was good and kept me engaged. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book from start to finish. It is perfection and exactly the book I needed in the moment I needed it.

I love the characters - especially how relatable Katie is as she’s thrown into all manner of situations. I love Rue and the ladies of the rental place. I love the entire story - the giggles, the anticipation and excitement and the slow burn- even the twists and turns that kept me reading, albeit sometimes frustratingly so. Also I love an animal companion, and George Bailey is the goofiest giant of a dog you could ever want, despite the mayhem.

I love the journey that Katie is on. Not just the crazy scenarios she finds herself in all in the name of saving her job. But her insecurities as well. Maybe I saw a little smidge of myself in her, and found myself reevaluating a few things about me as a result.

Also there are some hella exciting events I was not prepared for.

Anything Katherine Center writes, I will read! Her books always break me out of a reading slump and get me back excited for getting into a book. This book was super sweet, just like any Katherine Center books. The characters are funny and I found myself laughing out lout multiple times. While I don't usually mind if things in books are "unrealistic", this one took just one too many turns for me. Overall, I would recommend for anyone wanting an entertaining and fun read.

This is the first Katherine Center book that has been a miss for me…the pacing was slow and the characters (mostly the FMC) were very unlikable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this EArc in exchange for an honest review!

This was so cute! Exactly what you would want and expect from a cozy capital R romance. It was funny, and I found myself cackling out loud in some places. The banter was great, the setting was great, and the vibes were immaculate. This would be great for any rom-com fan.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins press for an ARC of Centers newest novel, " The Love Haters". She is a go to author for me and every book of hers feels like a warm, cozy hug. Out of all her books though, this was my least favorite. Katie has to save her job during a mass layoff, and her boss says he will help her with their boss to save her job if she films his Coast Guard brother's promotional video in the Florida Keys. His brother is a hot commodity since he was filmed saving Jennifer Anniston's dog! When Katie travels to Florida to meet " Hutch" sparks fly, and his dog, George Bailey, will steal your heart. However cute this book was, I couldn't get over the constant focus that main character puts on her body image disorder, and it felt way too repetitive for this novel. I did love the Florida Keys location and Aunt Rue and her loud outfits made this book in my opinion.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

“He must have loved you, to write a song like that.” “Yeah, probably,” I said, “He just didn’t love me...good enough.”

"But I hadn’t thought I hated love. I’d thought I was just recovering from it."

"I regretted how mean I’d been. I regretted how relentlessly I had refused to show myself any kindness."

There's so much self reflection to unpack in the often touching, laugh out loud, The Love Haters, by introspective romantic comedy author, Katherine Center.

Katie's recovering from a broken engagement. To make matters worse her job as a video producer is on the line unless she completes a recruitment film for the Coast Guard highlighting their star rescue swimmer, the heroic, handsome "Hutch." The problem is she's supposed to participate in their rescue simulations and she can't swim. Hilarity ensues during her "I Love Lucy" predicaments.

But what Katie wasn't expecting was Hutch to be kind, patient and flirty. He's been labeled a love hater. Supposedly he doesn't believe in love. Then again, he hasn't met Katie before now.

In this single first person POV, leading voice actress Patti Murin reigns supreme. Her understanding of Katie's pain, her low self esteem and self degradation about her weight is raw and real.

Hutch's relationship with his brother Cole, a seemingly immature annoying character, also has a journey that left me owing Cole an apology. It was a definite "don't judge until you have all the facts" moment for me.

Reading and listening to The Love Haters is an abundance of laughs and tears, with an adorable Great Dane, a feisty Aunt Rue and swoony romance. Hutch is everything he appears to be, a good looking, sexy hero and the only thing he hates is not loving Katie sooner.

I received free copies of this book/ audiobook from Macmillan Audio, St. Martins Press and SMP Romance via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! To be completely transparent, I DNF'd at 30% and my review encompasses my thoughts up until this point and why I chose not to finish this book.

Read this if you love:
- Body image representation
- Forced proximity
- Strangers to lovers
- Small town vibes

!!! Trigger warning: Body image issues, body dysmorphia, tracking eating. !!!

Let me first say, I LOVE Katherine Center books, so I was surprised when I didn't love this one. The overall vibes were summer and the concept sounded so fun. Overall, her writing is still so easy to read. I will continue to read Katherine Center books in the future, this one just wasn't the one for me.

I feel the body dysmorphia main theme should have been executed differently. I went to years of therapy for body dysmorphia. While this is an important topic, I feel it needs to be handled with care. This took up much more of the plot than I was expecting for a summer read. It didn't make me feel like it done well. It felt like there should have been more sensitivity readers prior to this ARC and publishing. The chemistry between the two MC's also didn't feel natural and didn't hook me in. Because of these two main issues, I decided not to continue.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors. I had the chance to see her on book tour for THE ROM-COMMERS and she was the loveliest human!

I really liked the concept for THE LOVE HATERS. I learned a lot about what it takes to be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. It was funny how Katie got thrown into that universe as someone who couldn't even swim. But as far as the romance goes, I wasn't on board. From the beginning until the end, I just didn't feel their connection. I also didn't enjoy the twist on "fake dating" that was thrown in with a side character.

Maybe I read this at a bad time, but it just didn't hit home like all of Katherine's other books. However, she is still a favorite author of mine and I'll read all of her books to come!

While I didn't quite feel the same chemistry between Katie and Hutch that I have between other couples in Katherine Center novels, I still very much enjoyed their journey. I loved the older group of women in this story (I think they need their own novel!), and the story was entertaining. This is a good summer read, and I found myself smiling throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a romcom and the story of Katie and Hutch.
 
Katie is a videographer and when her job is on the line, she takes a job that is very out of her comfort zone involving the US Coast Guard rescue swimmer. But the catch is that she can’t swim herself and I loved how she just embraced it. Katie is a tough and independent woman and I really liked how she finds more to herself in this story, and she learns to love herself more.
 
Hutch is a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and he has a savior complex and just a heart of gold. His job is very important, and adrenaline filled, and it was so interesting to learn more about it. He seems like a grump and love hater at first, but you can only love him and he’s actually a big softie once you get to know him. I also adored his Great Dane George Bailey, and he is called Pup Daddy for a reason. I also liked seeing the family dynamics especially with his brother and how differently they dealt with trauma.
 
The book is set in Key West and that alone gave it the perfect summer vibes. Katie and Hutch must work together even though Hitch is reluctant at first. They’re such a great team and I loved how everyone wanted to play matchmaker for them, even George Bailey. The plot is filled with romance, action, and a bit of drama and that was just the perfect combination. I loved all the scenes on Hutch‘s house boat and how they slowly fall in love. They are just perfect together.
 
The Love Haters is a brilliant romance and I love Katie and Hutch so much. It’s not only my new favorite Katherine Center story but an all-time favorite as well. 5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

This was a cute little summer read to kick off the season… but not my favorite Katherine Center book. Dwelled on some things too long and some details felt misplaced.

The Love Haters had all the ingredients I usually fall for…sunshiney Florida setting, two people carrying more baggage than they’d like to admit, and that classic Katherine Center blend of humor, hope, and healing.
Katie’s a burned out video producer sent to film Hutch, a swoony rescue swimmer. Naturally, they clash. But it’s the kind of tension that simmers until sparks start flying. 🔥
I loved the deeper themes, grief, self image, and the struggle of showing up fully in your own life. I did feel like Katie hating her body image took over the story too much. Trust me, I can relate to it but it was just too much. Remember, you do not need a man to feel beautiful.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. If you’re in the mood for a romcom pick this one up.

Not my favorite Katherine Center. Felt too over the top. The fake dating was so incredibly fake it was icky.. Still will recommend the author overall.

DNF at 12%. This book has absolutely no trigger warning about eating disorder at all. I was happily reading along only to turn the page and see a calorie counting list as well as the FMC saying how her goal was 1,000 calories a day. As someone who experienced disordered eating in my youth, this was very problematic for me. This only continues as the FMC discusses her step mother telling her to suck it in, to be tiny, and putting her on a diet at age 12. While I can handle books centered around body image issues and eating disorders, I typically go into them knowing that’s what I’m reading about. This really rubbed me wrong way as I was blind sided. After careful consideration and asking a friend who read the book previously, I have decided to no longer continue with this book as the topic stays front and center throughout the book. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC but at this time I am not able to.

This rom com hooked me in at the beginning. I enjoyed that these characters each had a good back story, and I liked. that the author included information about the coast guard interweaved into the story. I do feel like i learned some new and interesting information.

However, in this particular story I felt like the romance portion was a bit underdeveloped for Katie and Hutch and i wanted a bit more closure for them at the end, besides them just living side by side and having the dog go back and forth between their houses. I also did love the huge focus on Katies body image issues throughout the story, for me it took a bit away from the overall story line and I felt like it was too much of a main focus and after the first few chapters I wanted her to get over it already and for it to stop being such a focus.

I love katherine centers work and would read anything that she writes but this one was just not my favorite by her.
3.5 stars from me.

THE LOVE HATERS - KATHERINE CENTRE
3.5⭐
Katie takes a job of profiling Tom "Hutch"eson a rescue swimmer with Coast Guard, but Katie can't swim and takes it up only to save her job on her co workers request who is Hitch's brother Cole. But on entangling with Hutch she gets trapped in mountain of lies and needs to be truly brave.
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As the name I too had a love hate relationship with the book...the part about body insecurity and loving it was good and nicely done but the love story and chemistry between the two leads was lacking and in the end the mix of lies didn't jibe well with me.
Not one of her fav books by her for me.

Another great love story by the amazing Katherine Center! This author is a must read for me. As a Florida native some parts felt off but it’s a work of fiction so some leeway is allowed. (Just know if the thing is happening you would know on the keys.)

I loved the relationships. The romantic relationship wasn’t even in my top 3! The sisterhood was so strong and 1000% my favorite.

What a fun book! This novel had Katherine Center's signature charm. I was glad that it was a hit for me after not loving her book last year.

Katie is a film documentarian who is charged with filming a commercial about the US Coast Guard rescuers. Her job is at risk of downsizing so she is determined to do her very best. She didn't realize she was walking into complicated family relationships with Hutch (her subject), Cole (his brother), and Rue (their adoptive mother).

This was a sweet, amusing book. Katie was earnest and hardworking. Hutch was the ideal rom-com hero. The premise got complicated and messy throughout the book, but the story remained charming. I thought the tone veered a little campy, but I was entertained and enjoyed the story. Katherine Center has become a must read for me. While all of her books aren't hits for me, they are pretty reliable and this one was particularly strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.