Was this my favorite Katherine Center book? Probably not. Was it still great? Definitely. I found it hard at first to connect with the main character. However, she ended up growing on me and I found her to be a hoot! Some of the plot felt off, but it all came together somehow. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

You know that feeling when you slip into your bed after a long, exhausting day? That’s what reading a Katherine Center book feels like. The Love Haters wasn't my favorite of hers (there were a few things I would have loved to have seen changed), but it still had plenty of KC's usual heartwarming vibes.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer on the brink of unemployment who’s thrown a last-chance lifeline. Her boss assigns her to profile one of America's newest viral heros, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, which will require her to shadow him in his job. Except she can't swim. No, problem, she will just get lessons when she arrives in Key West. However, the swim instructor who shows up in the famous Coastie himself, which puts her job in jeopardy, as he then knows she lied to get this assignment. Then throw in some hurricane prep, a Great Dane the size of a horse, and a crazy but loveable Aunt Rue.

This was a great summer read for your own pool or beach-side bag.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced reviewer copy of the manuscript.

Reading my yearly Katherine Center book is so comforting. Like the warm hug I’ve been waiting 365 days for. I love her. I love her message about romance books. I love her gentle and relatable way of telling us love stories.

The Love Haters was a fun read with an absolute dream MMC, Hutch, who is a coast guard rescue swimmer - I could have literally drowned in my love for him. He’s the guy you want your daughter and sister and bestie to bring home!! AND Rue, the sweetest and most fun grandma type character, and her group of Gals. The best!! There were many LOL funny moments throughout, but I especially loved any scene involving the sweetest great dane, George Bailey 😍

I’m not exactly sure why, but something was just missing a bit for me in the love story. I also really disliked the conflict towards the end. BUT, still such a comforting read!!

I LOVED this book!

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me, and this story is the perfect example of why.

While some parts were personally triggering, the message at its core was exactly what I needed. If you struggle with body image or disordered eating, please be gentle with yourself as you read—it handles these themes with care, but they can still hit hard. That said, the journey of self-love and learning to fall in love with yourself first was everything.

And Hutch? Swoon. I'm absolutely drooling over him! My husband was a D1 swimmer, so the swimmer aspect really tugged at my heart. I adored this sweet, grounded "Pup Daddy."

10/10 recommend picking this one up—it’s a perfect summer read with heart, heat, and healing.

This wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book. I don't really have any book triggers, but this one hit a little close to home. Katie, our main character seems to have an eating disorder based on her strive for perfection with food and body image challenges (at a high level). I didn't take issue with this, but rather was waiting for Center to address it further to shed light on an important topic. In the end, Katie didn't get help and it was wrapped up in a short statement implying she overcame her challenges on her own. While this could be plausible, I think it's safe to say an eating disorder typically requires professional care. This sweep-it-under-the-rug and it magically-goes-away approach was off-putting for me and could be dangerous if someone reading this book can relate to Katie. I did appreciate that the supporting characters built up Katie's self esteem and told her the traits they loved about her. The ways she viewed herself were not how others viewed her.

That aside, I did appreciate the humor in this book...there was so much! A Great Dane who carries toads in his mouth, a revealing swimsuit snafu...you get the idea! I don't know whose character I loved more: Hutch or George Bailey (Hutch's loveable Great Dane). Center nailed the Gentle Giant nature with George Bailey! Of course, there are parts of this story that are far-fetched especially given the short timeframe, but we wouldn't have a rom-com book if it was totally believable.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It dragged for almost the first half and I kept trying over many sittings. Fortunately it did pick up and I was able to read the last 50-60% in a single sitting. I'm certain this is what saved the book for me.

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

3.25/3.50 Stars. I normally love Katherine Center books, but this book just wasn't it for me. There were parts and characters that I sincerely loved, but I think the main plot really made me feel some kind of way about this book. The fact that Katie went along with the entire random story Cole invented is beyond me, I cannot understand why she would do something like that?! Also the brothers were grown men yet came off as teenagers at best. I was bummed because the plot was really interesting and I was totally here for it until. the Cole situation (sorry don't want to give spoilers!).

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc <3

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press, SMP Romance and the author for the arc!

Katherine Center always delivers a delightful & entertaining story … and this one was no exception!

Katie is a completely relatable FMC ( I mean, who hasn’t been that person with swimsuit phobia before?) and Hutch is a super-swoony MMC with an adorable aunt and even more adorable big ol’ sloppy dog! Cole & the boss lady Sullivan kinda got on my nerves, but I could see where that part of the story was going to go and I was ok with it in the end!

Overall, this was a fun read with a nice touch of humor, family drama, forgiveness, moving on after betrayal, loss & heartache and a reminder that it’s ok to be perfectly imperfect.

This was such an amazing book! From the romance to be body positivity aspect of it, this is yet another great book by Katherine Center!

Hutch was such a sweetheart!! He was so caring and would do anything for the people he loved (sometimes to his detriment) and how can you not love that? Also, an honorable mention do his dog, George Bailey, who stole the show every time he was in a scene!

Katie was a great character with a great sense of humor, which made this book such a fun read. Her journey with self love was incredible and I loved the way it was solely hers and no one else intervened; I think often the MMC plays a big role in the FMC’s journey to self love and to appreciating her body but that wasn’t the case here. Though she did have her cousin supporting her and trying to make her reflect and see herself in a different way, ultimately I think Katie really got there herself and I love that for her!

I loved them together. It was a bit of a love at first side, I feel like, which I don’t dislike. The way he noticed even the smallest things about a Katie and couldn’t resist her was heartwarming and I loved the way Katie so quickly understood him and refused to use his best traits in her favourite or against him.

There was a bit of drama toward the end but honestly as much as it was a bit frustrating, it was quite fun and despite it all, I thought the conflict was quite low.

Overall, this is a great read, with good character, a lovely romance, a great journey toward self love and self worth it!

THE LOVE HATERS by Katherine Center
eARC 📱
I loved it!

Katherine Center does it again with the perfect summer read. The setting (Key West) for this book makes it such a fun summer read!

While I enjoyed our two main characters, I really wanted more scenes with the two of them. The book focuses a lot on Katie and her struggles with her self image. While I appreciate the message KC was sending, I do wish we focused a little less on that and more on the romance between her and Hutch.

I absolutely adored our side set of characters. Rue, Hutch’s aunt, and her group of friends lovingly called the gals, were so much fun and were hilarious! Rue was an absolute gem and I loved her bright personality. She made me laugh and she made me cry.

Overall, it was another KC book that I loved. I laughed, I cried, and experienced all the emotions in between. It just wasn’t my favorite by her and left me wanting more which I feel like has been the case with all my beloved romcom authors this summer.

4.5 stars!

I was really worried that this was going to focus way too much on Katie’s body insecurities- there are times it’s a little much but the end message is solid. George Bailey is the real MVP though! That big ol savior of toads. Katherine Center is becoming one of my will read authors with this clean romance.

A heartfelt romantic comedy that intertwines humor with themes of self-discovery and personal growth. The story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer facing career uncertainty, who takes on a high-stakes assignment profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Complications arise as Katie conceals her inability to swim and navigates the complexities of her relationship with Hutch, leading to a journey filled with unexpected challenges and revelations. The Love Haters offers a compelling narrative that resonates with readers seeking a story about embracing one's true self amidst life's unpredictable turns.

I am choosing not to finish this book after reaching the 39% mark. The bottom line is I am not enjoying myself as much as I typically do when reading romance books - one of my favorite and most-read genres. One thing that put me off was the (so far) casual use of body image issues without additional depth or examination of the issues FMC Katie is going through. As someone in a larger body in the midst of constant work to leave diet culture and fatphobia behind, the way this aspect is written in the first part of the book just didn't work for me.

I have enjoyed other characters and I'm overall fine with the romance aspect so far. At the same time, I just don't find myself as invested in the main characters or what will happen to them as I'd hope to be almost 40% into the book. I do really appreciate SMP giving me the chance to read this ARC. From what I have heard, Katherine Center is a beloved author and I look forward to trying some of her other books.

I've shared this DNF explanation on Goodreads and StoryGraph. On 5/22 I shared in my Instagram stories that I DNFed the book, but I do not plan to dedicate a feed post to it.

Super cute rom-com. Katherine Center writes really good, not too cheesy stories! I really liked the protagonist, and her body-positivity journey!

Love Katherine Center Books! Every one of them is fun, cute, with some serious topics! A good mix of everything! Enjoyed this book very much! Highly recommend!

✨The Love Haters by Katherine Center✨

Genre: Romance
Pages: 302

📚Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can.

Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

📝This is the perfect romance book to be your poolside summer read. It has my favorite tropes: grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity & fake dating.

I did like that the author tackled body image and insecurities, but I think it was a tad overdone. There could have been more room to flesh out Katie’s character in other ways.

💫Thank you @stmartinspress for my #gifted ARC💫

If you want a fluffy, delightfully tender and funny book for this summer, this is it! In typical Katherine Center fashion, this is a romance, but also very much a women's fiction. The main focus is Katie - and some of the story focuses on her love life and growing relationship with Hutch, and some of it focuses on friendship, belonging, body image, getting over an ex, and listening to criticism from strangers online.

I really enjoyed Katie as a character. She was kind, relatable, authentic, and even during the bit of miscommunication in the story, the reason behind it felt like it aligned with who Katie was as a character.

I will give the warning if you haven't read Katherine Center, that the romance very much is a subplot so don't go in thinking this whole book will be a romance. Personally, as someone who has read almost her entire backlist, I love seeing how she develops new characters and shows you more of their backgrounds and struggles.

Overall I am a big fan of this one and think it's a great summer read for anyone! Closed door/no spice.

I always love a Katherine Center book and while this isn't my favorite of hers, it still sparkles with her storytelling magic! The main character is relatable in her insecurities and the love story manages to be movie-perfect rom-com while feeling real. I got really emotional several times reading it and fell in love with several characters (and a dog!) myself. I felt like the "Love Hater" concept was a little forced and unnecessary so it doesn't quite match up to a grumpy-sunshine trope, but overall a fantastic summer read! And as always with a Katherine Center book, don't skip the author's note at the end!

Thank you to the publisher and Katherine Center for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!

I LOVED this book! It was full of adventure and love and a different type of emotional intimacy that I wasn’t expecting, in the best way possible.

I adore the characters, Hutch, Katie, Rue, the girls, George, and all the other characters! I really liked how Hutch was grumpy but not annoyingly overly so. It flowed really well with his character and I really really enjoyed all of the characters.

The plot was really good, and there was definitely some adventure and suspense!

Highly recommend! This book has very little spice, in fact close to none so it’s great for people who don’t like spice!

Such a fantastic book! Typically I prefer dual POV stories but this was just perfect. Katie’s inner monologue is quite entertaining. And the situations she finds herself in are just hilarious. You can’t help but fall in love with Hutch and George Bailey too. There is also a dose of self help included that reminds you to love yourself and your body. This was a unique writing style and highly recommend!

Katherine Center has fast become an automatic read for me, and The Love Haters didn't disappoint. Probably not going to rank as a top favorite by this author, but it was a fun read. Within The Love Haters, we follow Katie, a videographer, as her job is threatened, and she gets tasked with making a promotional video for the Coast Guard. I came to believe and wish the best for Katie, especially with her body image struggles and self-esteem, which felt really relatable. Some questionable moments, which I felt Katie was too passive in going along with, but a fun summer read.

*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.