Katherine Center once again writes a juicy rom com that I couldn't put down. My first Katherine book was "The Bodyguard". I found myself on vacation with family and could do nothing but finish that book. "The Love Haters" is certainly no different. I was once again enthralled with the beautiful characters and story created in this book.

The love story of Katie and Hutch was fun to read as it developed and the concept of their meeting was so good. I loved learning about Hutch and the Coast Guard. It's easy to see how they fall for each other along the way.

One of the most poignant parts of this book was the FMC-Katie and her relationship with herself. As someone who grew up with mother that passed her dislike to her body down to her body, "The Love Haters" really struck a chord with me. I was driven to read and watch Katie learn to love herself. It would probably do me good to start a list of things I love about my body. Katherine Center wrote this beautifully.

I really enjoyed reading and I am so grateful to have received an ARC of "The Love Haters"! I highly recommend this next installment of Katherine Center's books.

This one was okay. Definitely not my favorite Katherine Center book. Still recommend for a good, easy to read, clean romcom.

The Love Haters is a quirky, fun story of Katie and Hutch - both jaded by love, and both perpetually single, thrown together by a plan of brotherly avoidance that ends in a happy ending.

This book was a fun read - there is a great cast of characters that are dynamic and fun, and a few will pull at your heartstrings. Katie is a young woman trying to rediscover herself after heartbreak, and Hutch is carrying the weight of his heroic job on his shoulders. The last chunk of the novel is, quite frankly a little crazy, and I was so relieved to read their happily ever after.

The reason this book was only a four star for me was because of how heavy handed one of the themes throughout the story was. Katie has a body-positive storyline that, for face value is a great critique on our society. However, it was really over done. There were certain scenes (especially toward the end, right before the big finale) where I felt like this particular plot point had no business being in the story. It was quite off putting - I wanted to be able to get behind it fully, but the way it was over done made it seem more annoying than a necessary part of the story.

Katherine Center is one of my favourite authors and I love the way she writes her books with a lighthearted, rom-commy style while also incorporating a deeper element into them! Her writing is captivating and so fun to read.

I loved both of our main characters, Hutch and Katie. One theme i really appreciated that was discussed was how Katie struggled with self and body image. I think this is a struggle that many people go through today, and I’m glad that the author is bringing attention to it. The way that Katie learned to embrace her body by the end and became more comfortable in it was so heartwarming. And Hutch was really sweet and encouraging. I enjoyed the way he really saw Katie; he noticed the details, and was attentive. It was also fun that he was a US Coast Guard.

The story was intriguing and I had a fun time overall. It was a story of love and self-discovery! All of the Katherine Center books I have read so far have been great, so I would highly encourage to pick one of them up, this one included!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author so much for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! 🫶

DNF

I didn't realize that this was going to have a major theme of disordered eating. I love that Katherine Center doesn't shy away from difficult topics, but the way Katie's body image and disordered eating was introducted was too much for me.

I think it would be really helpful for publishers to include trigger warnings, especially for topics that can trigger unhealthy behaviors, like disordered eating and suicidal ideation.

I wish I could write this review without leaving a star rating, because I don't think that authors should *not* write about disordered eating, but for my personal taste, it's not something I enjoy reading about.

This was a good story. I enjoyed the romance, but my favorite part was the side characters. I loved Rue and The Gals. I do feel there was maybe a little too much talk about our FMC's body image concerns, but that is probably just me. I definitely recommend this book if you want a light, quick, Summer read. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early e-arc of this book.

BOOK: The Love Haters (ARC)
AUTHOR: Katherine Center
PUB DATE: May 20. 2025, by St. Martin’s Press
PAGES: 320 pages
RATING: 4.5 stars
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction/Romantic Comedy

Thank you, THANK YOU to @stmartinspress, @netgalley, and the author for gifting me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK SYNOPSIS: Katie has been burned by love in the past. Now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices. She can 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. However, Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim yet fibs and says that she can. And turns out, Cole is Hutch’s brother, & the two don’t get along. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen, but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue & his rescue Great Dane, George Bailey, she gets trapped in a lie.

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: The Love Haters is a heartwarming romantic comedy that intertwines self-appreciation/acceptance, taking chances, and the healing power of love. At the heart of this story is George Bailey, an endearing Great Dane who plays a pivotal role in bringing two wounded souls together. (Give me a lead dog role in a book ANY day! The story follows Katie, a videographer grappling with self-doubt & body image issues, who is assigned to create a promotional video for the US Coast Guard. Her subject is Hutch, a rescue swimmer dealing with his own familial scars & a reluctance to be in the spotlight. Their initial interactions are marked by resistance & misunderstandings, but as they navigate their personal challenges, a genuine connection begins to form. George Bailey is more than just a canine companion. I LOL’d when he would not-so-subtly nudge our FMC & MMC closer together. I loved the slow burn, the character development, and how embracing vulnerability can lead to profound personal growth. Enjoy this story chalk-full of swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, & stolen kisses.

I am a Katherine Center fan, and this did not disappoint! The Love Haters was so much fun to read, and I miss the characters...lol. The pace and the story were great - makes for a fun read.

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. I wanted to love The Love Haters, really I did, I've loved Katherine Center's recent books but this one was too much. The ongoing discussions of weight, body type and size were too much. They were a huge turn off to the overall story and I had to put it down for my own peace.

My feelings about this were very up and down. At some points I loved the story, the characters, and just everything. However, there were many questionable parts that made me always stop reading. It felt like multiple books smushed together. The characters seemed to fall into insta-love since a lot of the bonding happened off page (a lot of telling us and not showing the first half). However, the plot itself was enjoyable and different. The setting was great as well. Plus I want The Gals to be my friends. I think if you like other Katherine Center books you should give this one a chance.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I struggled through the first half of this book. I had a hard time relating to or rooting for Katie because she was constantly in her head and bogged down by her struggles. I understand that we get this was as humans sometimes, but it was hard for me to personally read through. I just couldn't relate to her and she didn't have any redeeming qualities in my mind.

Once we got over the 50% hump and things were actually happening, I couldn't read fast enough. I had to know how everything would turn out.

Some people aren't going to push though like I did, but if the first half isn't getting you, I think its worth a push for the ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have rest most of Katherine Center’s books and enjoyed them. This was not one of my favorites of hers, but I still really liked it. The main female character is Katie, a video producer, that deals with body image issues and concerns for her job. She is sent to Florida to cover Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. There was also a fun group of women and a sweet huge rescue dog that made this enjoyable. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

4⭐️

Quick Breakdown

Coast Guard Hero
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Key West Setting
Single POV
Kissing Only

In order to impress her boss & try to save her job, video producer Katie agrees to take an assignment she’s not exactly qualified for featuring coast guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. Once at Key West, Katie finds herself forced to face her fears of swimming & bathing suits, color & the idea of falling in love again.

I enjoyed this! While not my favorite Katherine Center, I was able to binge this in a single day & had a great time while reading. While I had access to the audiobook, I ended up reading with my eyes only since I read faster that way & my NEED to consume this book ASAP won over all my love for Patti Murin’s narration skills.

I adored Hutch & he’s lovable pup George Bailey. He was the perfect grump to her sunshine & paired with his heroic profession, he read downright dreamy. Hutch’s brother & Katie’s boss, Cole, was a little much at times, but I was able to look above it & chalked it up to KC’s theatrical plots.

There is a heavy emphasis on Katie’s body dysmorphia, so take guard of your gentle hearts of that’s a stressor for you. Given her traumatic past, I understood her difficulties getting over her previous views of herself. Even though I’m now in my mid to *gasp* late thirties & primarily comfortable with the body I have, I once was that girl obsessed with every flaw & found her struggles relatable, if not a smidge over the top.

Overall, I saw this playing out as a movie as I read & struggled to put this down. A win in my book. Thank you @youhadmeathea for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The Love Haters is available now!

Thank you to NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read The Love Haters in a single day, and honestly? It was such an easy book to sink into. Light, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful in parts—especially when it comes to the whole messy business of self-image and learning to feel worthy.

Katie was a great lead—goofy in the best way, with a self-aware kind of humor that made her super likable. And Hutch? Loved him. He had major “quiet, steady guy” energy, which was the perfect balance to Katie’s chaotic charm. The poor man definitely went through it, but he handled it like a champ.
Katherine Center has this way of writing that feels effortless but lands deep. The story flows, the emotions sneak up on you, and before you know it, you’re completely invested.

What really stood out to me was how layered the relationships were. It’s not just about romance it’s about showing up for your friends, holding space for your family, doing work that matters to you, loving your scruffy pet, and most importantly, learning how to be okay with yourself. It’s all written in so naturally that it never feels heavy, just honest.

There’s a strong undercurrent of courage running through the whole book—being real with people, taking emotional risks, letting yourself be seen. It’s tender, it’s hopeful, and it reminds you how brave it is to love anything at all.

If you’re into stories that are warm, thoughtful, and full of heart, this one’s for you.
Would definitely recommend it to romance readers looking for something quick and heartwarming.
4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #TheLoveHaters, #KatherineCenterThank

This is my first book from Katherine Center. I've heard so many good things about her as a author and her books and let me say, this book and her writing exceeded all expectations that I had! I can't wait to pick up her other books and start reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for an e-ARC of The Love Haters!

Katie Vaughn, facing a layoff, takes a risky assignment profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch Hutcheson (what a name) in Key West—despite not knowing how to swim. Caught in a lie and between feuding brothers (one of whom she works with), Katie navigates chaos, chemistry, and courage. Amid hurricanes, swim lessons, and stolen kisses, she must face her fears and learn to be brave in love and life.

This was my second Katherine Center book and I devoured it. I saw a lot of myself in Katie and the way that she struggled with her body image. It was inspiring to watch her sparkle come back. We watch her fall in love with herself and Hutch.

I feel like I’ve been saying a lot of books are “so much more than a love story,” but it’s how I feel a lot of the time! Romance novels explore the full spectrum of human emotion. You can always find something to relate to.

The Love Haters is a truly wonderful story that you need to add to your beach read list.

3.5 stars rounded up. I hate to say this, because I normally ADORE Katherine Center’s writing, but this one wasn’t a hit for me.

The main characters, Tom and Katie, were described as being heroic and charismatic, but that didn’t come through in their dialogue. The descriptions of the characters and actual text seemed incongruous and left me feeling unsure how I felt about them. The only character who felt somewhat three dimensional was Tom’s great aunt, but even she was a bit of a caricature of a “Mrs. Roper-type” that we’ve met many times before. The dog was probably my favorite character, but I often prefer dogs to people, so that may be a personal problem.

The book touched on the topics of disordered eating and body dysmorphia, which I can appreciate, and was done in a respectful and gentle way. That was the one aspect of Katie’s personality that I felt was very well developed and carried throughout the story.

While this wasn’t my favorite of hers, I’m still a huge Katherine Center fan and will continue to read anything she writes. I hope this works better for others than it did for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center does it again with The Love Haters—a smart, witty, and heart-filled love story that had me hooked from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s signature charm and clever dialogue, which brought levity and warmth to even the toughest moments.

Center has a gift for creating deeply human characters who are easy to root for, and in The Love Haters, she balances emotional depth with irresistible fun. It’s a story about taking risks, facing fears, and choosing love—even when it’s messy or complicated.

If you enjoy romance with heart, humor, and a strong sense of personal growth, this book is absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

THIS BOOK IS MY CURRENT FAVORITE OF 2025!!! Oh my gosh. I laughed out loud, I cried because these characters are so real! This is definitely one I intend to read again!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC. ‧₊˚⊹

♡ Let me tell you the best parts of the book:
* I loved that Hutch lives on a houseboat! ⛵️
* The research into coast guard search and rescue and glimpse into what their training programs look like was cool 🪂
* George Bailey, the most loveably exuberant pup 🐶 🐾

Cole as a character was despicable and annoying and the fact Katie goes along with his lies just made no sense. This was missing the rom and the com! 😩

However I did love the audio narration of this and credit that for propelling me through to the HEA!

TW: Katie had a lot of body insecurity, eating issues, and while I can relate, it took up so much of the book space. The solution was to talk with her bestie about fave body parts…love herself. The authors note helped a bit to understand her thought process!