I love everything Katherine Center writes so this one was another win for me. An insecure female videographer, a hunky rescue swimmer, a cast of fun old gals who turn into family, an extremely boisterous great dane, and one completely unexpected climax… this one ticked all the boxes.

Character development and pacing were on point. There were a couple of spots where things waxed on a bit longer than I would have liked (think, telling your younger self something and really trying to drive the point home) but not enough to make me not enjoy the book.

All in all, I loved it. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for honest review. This one gets 5 stars from me, recommend!

Rating: 3 stars for the book | 4 stars for the audiobook
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley 💌

So I tandem-read The Love Haters—earc in one hand, audiobook in the other—and let’s just say: this book and I had a complicated situationship.

This was my first book by Katherine Center, and no hate at all, but… it didn’t hit like I hoped. Somewhere between the coastal vibes, rescue swimmer energy, and fake-it-til-you-make-it plot, I got caught in a current of mid-feelings.

Okay, here’s the setup:
Katie’s about to get laid off unless she takes a risky assignment—interview a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The catch? She can’t swim. The other catch? The swimmer, Hutch, is her boss's estranged brother. And somehow she’s in Key West, tangled in family drama, pretending she can float, surrounded by strangers and secrets.

Sounds like chaos, right? It was.

Let me just say it:
The plot was fine. The setting was cute. The vibes were summer. But Katie's constant insecurity wore me out. I get body image struggles—I really do—but this felt like it was being replayed on a loop. I wanted to root for her, but after the 5th self-hating monologue and the 9th “omg I'm awkward” moment, I just needed her to grow already.

Hutch? Yeah, he was hot. Rescuer type, emotionally stunted, very “I don’t do love” until suddenly he does. But their chemistry? More lukewarm than sizzling. I was waiting for that magnetic pull, the tension, something that made me feel like yes, THIS is why they’re meant to fall in love. Never really happened. The banter felt manufactured sometimes, like dialogue trying too hard.

Also—I swear the rom in this rom-com was hiding. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch? Mid. I needed banter, longing, some fire, but instead, it was giving slow-burn that never fully lit up. I felt more emotional connection to Hutch’s dog, George Bailey (aka the MVP).

Aunt Rue and the “Gals” were the scene stealers. They were vibrant and warm, and honestly, I would’ve read a whole book about Rue running her inn and match-making on the side.

Now Cole... don’t even get me started. He gave manipulative snake. And Beanie, Katie’s best friend? Useless. No real backbone or support.

Also, can we talk about how over-the-top some moments got? The conga line? The hurricanes? The treasure hunt? It went from rom-com to cartoon real quick. Like, I signed up for cute chaos, not full-blown sitcom absurdity. The plot also dipped into full-on chaos toward the end. It was like the book remembered it had to wrap up 15 storylines in 50 pages.

BUT.

Katie learning to accept her body was probably the most powerful part of the book. Even if the journey was messy, even if it was too dragged out, it’s still something important. I just wish it had more balance.

So yeah—not a total miss, but not the hit I hoped for either.
Would I still try another Katherine Center book? Yep.
Would I recommend this one? Only in audio.

Final thoughts:
– Best format: audiobook, 100%
– Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, enemies-ish to lovers, forced proximity, fake it till you make it, self-love journey
– Standout: the dang dog and Aunt Rue
– What dragged: repetitive body image dialogue, weak side characters, low romantic spark

Not my fav, but not a flop. Just... in between.

I love Katherine Center's book cover art! Her books are always so bright and fun!!

The Love Haters features a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch and a video producer, Katie, who is barely hanging onto her job. She takes the assignment in Key West to produce a recruitment film for the Coast Guard, but there is only one major problem, she needs to be in the action, but she can't swim! She is paired up for swim lessons with Hutch, who is also known as a Love Hater, and now the face of Katie's film. Together they spend the next few weeks getting to know one another surrounded by a little bit of chaos and self-reflection.

I had a lot of fun with this one, with Katherine Center's perfect craft of emotion and humor. Both Katie and Hutch had some trauma and issues to work out, including Katie's body dysmorphic disorder. Rue and her lady friends were delightful side characters in addition to Hutch's Great Dane rescue pup. I loved the Coast Guard aspect of the story and I appreciate all the thought and research that goes behind having that in the story.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center
Pub. Day: May 20, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Summer Romance, Audiobook

Trigger Warnings:
Body Image, Eating Disorders, Bereavement, Infidelity, Alcohol

Disclaimer:
I love all novels written by Katherine Center! She's one of my favorite authors!

Summary:
After a highly public breakup, Katie is struggling with harsh online scrutiny over her body image and weight gain. Desperate for a fresh start, a last-minute assignment in the Florida Keys offers her both an escape and a chance to salvage her career. Her assignment is to create a standout interview with Hutch, a heroic Coast Guard rescue swimmer—who’s only agreed to speak out of obligation to his brother, Katie’s co-worker. However, as Katie spends time with the man who’s built his life around saving others, unexpected feelings begin to surface. Now, Katie must choose between guarding her heart or embracing a love she never saw coming—despite the risks of falling for another man under the public eye.

Review:
Katherine Center delivers every time! The Love Haters conscientiously explores cultural issues, particularly the influence of social media and its harmful impact on body image. The characters are developed in an authentic, and emotionally personable way which invites readers to form deep, personal connections with the main character's journey. Another unexpected layer of this narrative is introduced through the depiction of Coast Guard rescue missions, offering insights into a world the reader’s are unfamiliar with, adding an element of curiosity.

The Love Haters is a clean, romantic exploration of the enduring power of family, love, hope, and forgiveness. With its influential narrative, rich emotional depth, and surprising twists, this novel draws readers in and leaves a lasting impression. Although it isn’t my favorite novel written by Katherine Center, it is very much worth the fast paced romantic read! Escape to the Florida Keys this summer and take Hutch and Katie with you! Highly Recommended!

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my review.

#KatherineCenter
#St.MartinsPress
#TheLoveHaters
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This was a sweet, fun and touching summer romance novel that has some depth to it also! It was a fun, unique plot and setting.. I LOVED the Florida Keys setting! Slow Burn, no third act break up (really draws that slow burn out), and a lot of personal growth and healing done interally for the main character. Told in first person, single POV with almost a "let me tell you a story", Katie breaks that "fourth wall" and addresses the reader from time to time - I loved that! It works for this story.

Trigger warning at the beginning for body image issues / mentions of eating disorder and really disliking your body. That was a little brash, and hard to read. I did find myself cringing during the "having to announce my weight" to get on a helicopter worry that was brought up a lot, and at the end when Katie still lies about her weight. That "self hate" didn't carry throughout the whole book, but this book goes on the journey of self love and you will be dragged along that journey. That subplot isnt my favorite, and its a big theme here. However there were other parts of this story I really enjoyed.

As for characters, the real standout characters were side characters - I adored Rue and her gang of "the girls". I am a sucker for an eldery sidekick who is just unapologetically badass. She made the story for me! Also loved the great dane, George Bailey and his toad-loving ways. Cole was an excellent villian, and I appreciated that the conflict between the two main characters was no caused by either one of them, but by an external character. Tom was (almost sickingly) a perfect gentleman, and there was a lot of talk of him "being perfect" but he did still feel human in a way. This book focused a lot more on Katie and her journey than focusing heavily on the romance. That being said, it's still a fun summer read, and loved the unique adventures that happen in this book! Beautiful, fun colorful cover also!

Thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 ⭐️


I really enjoyed the first half of this book. However, the second half lost me.

In the first half, the book had a great summer vibe and the romance was cute.

In the second half, those summer vibes kind of went away, and the plot started to get random. The romance was almost nonexistent. When the two love interests did interact, the mmc seemed like he was uninterested in the fmc.

Overall, I liked The Love Haters, but for a romance book there wasn’t a lot of romance. The book would’ve been better if the mmc pov had been included.


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the arc!

Katherine Center is an author I keep meaning to read more of, so I was excited to get this ARC copy! I devoured this in a few days because I couldn't put it down. I almost wanted to read the author's note at the beginning instead of the end, but it's a good one, so don't skip it! It wasn't a perfect read for me, because there were some topics that I wish were a bit more developed, but I still really enjoyed it and would highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list.

Thank you to Netgalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Without a doubt; my favorite character was George Bailey and my least favorite was Cole. The journey of self that Katie was on throughout this story was relatable and real. The roles everyone played to bring Katie out to see her true self, the way she deserved was a lot of fun. The different relationships and all their layers were an interesting part of the big picture. Hutch was definitely a complicated guy, especially his relationship with Cole. And then there's Rue. Oh Rue, an inspiration to live life!

One thing's for sure, I'm a love hater too. ;)

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing! Loved it! Another fun story by Katherine Center! She never misses and is an auto buy author for both me and my mom!

Thank you to st. Martins press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Katie, who is still getting over a horrible breakup, and Hutch. She is doing a video for her job, which relies on this video as her company is downsizing. This video is a promo video for the coast guard which includes none other than Hutch.

I loved this book and all that it had to offer. It was not my favorite book of hers but I loved it all the same. I liked that this book was about more than just the romance. This book was about friendship, and family, and finding yourself, and so much more. This book meant a lot to me. That being said, I feel like this book ended way too quickly and I didn’t quite get the closure I wanted.

This is the second novel I have read by Katherine Center and she is starting to become an author that I might automatically reach for when I need a fairly light, bubblegum-sweet romance with a guaranteed HEA.

The Love Haters follows Katie, a video producer who is about to get laid off until she is convinced by a manipulative coworker to take on a job that will inevitably entangle Katie with the coworker's family. Naturally, Katie starts to fall for her new project's protagonist - Hutch - the handsome brother of her coworker who also happens to be a real-life hero. He's also drop dead gorgeous and hates all things love. Or so we are told. I am still not convinced that this was the right title for this book as I wasn't convinced that either character hated love at all. But I digress.

Though I enjoyed the story of the couple, I found that there were moments that were so over-the-top that I had to suspend my disbelief in order to continue reading. I appreciated the author's inclusion of deeper topics like grief and self-image and I loved the side character of Rue, the MMC's aunt, who stole the show (in my opinion). Overall, this book had low stakes and was generally entertaining. It would be a great choice to take to the beach and leave at the beach for the next person to enjoy.

3 Stars.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to St Martin's Press, Netgalley and Katherine Center for this arc
If you're looking for a journey of self love this is it.

Katie's career is on the brink, until she gets an assignment profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson in Key West. Except she can’t swim (so she pretends she can) Hutch is her coworker’s estranged brother in charge of showing her the ropes.

I really enjoyed this one. Learning more about the Coast Guard was genuinely interesting, and the story was genuinely funny and heart warming. The addition of “the gals” (see: retired old biddies) and a canine George Bailey made this a perfect rom com.

That said, the book also explores some heavier themes on eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and body image. I do think it would have benefited from a content warning. Still, the way Katie navigates these struggles felt honest and relatable. I even teared up when she talked to her body with love and appreciation. It was a good reminder for me to do the same.

Ultimately this is a story about learning to love yourself.

3.5 ⭐

I'll leave you with an excerpt from the authors note about the power of story telling.

"The characters I write often struggle with the same things I struggle with. Because as I go through those stories with them— and as them— they get better at grappling with forgiveness, or vulnerability, or resilience . . . and I get to get better, too. It’s healing to read stories about healing. It’s nourishing to read stories about people finding nourishment. It’s life-changing to read stories about people changing their lives."

Rating: 4.25⭐️
Pub day: May 20

I honestly love every book I’ve read by Center. She creates thoughtful character arcs, always has an adorable pet to love, and provides both witty and humorous moments alongside very contemplative ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Big thanks to the publisher for the alc via Netgalley.

I’ve read every Katherine Center book. This was a Center book through and through. A strong FMC/MMC, amazing secondary characters, and a fun plot.

When stacking it up against her others, this doesn’t live up quite to the others. I felt like the ending just ruined it for me. The implausibility of it wasn’t for me. I still will rank this a 4 star read though.

3.5⭐️ I am thankful to the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC.

I was immediately drawn into this story about Katie and Hutch, our love haters. I was giggling and highlighting cute quotes right off the bat. I even gobbled it up in two days - in a time when reading ebooks has been more difficult for me compared to audiobooks, this is a testament to the writing and overall enjoyable story!

I loved the concept and the beginning of the book so much and then I just kept hoping it would redeem itself in the end. I am a Katherine Center fan for always, but this story just didn’t resonate with me as deeply in the end. I hope it finds those that will love it with all they’ve got!

Katherine Center is really great about weaving serious elements of life into her swoony love stories. For The Love-Haters it was regarding body image and body dysmorphia. My biggest hesitancy is that in this story, these issues didn’t seem to be addressed in a way that supported healthy processing - the FMC uses self-help books and her best friend/cousin to help her process her body dismorphia, along with sudden spurts of “exposure therapy” which mostly came in the form of just forcing herself to wear a swimsuit despite intense trauma that stems back to her childhood. This made me cringe more than anything and it pulled me out of the story frequently. I also struggled with the intense manipulation Hutch’s brother Cole performed - both with Hutch and Katie.

The ending (without spoilers!) was great and I’m glad I saw it through! Katherine Center NEVER disappoints here!
The dog doesn’t die, but there is a LOT of drama because our FMC Katie works so hard to make sure the dog is okay! That whole experience is just WILD! And I couldn’t stop laughing about the toad on the boat. That ended up being something that I thought was so clever!

I feel like we need a name for the toad? Hah!

This is a great summer rom com. I finished it a few weeks ago and have had time to think about it. I love how Katherine Centertakes a concept and infuses it into a fictional story. This book included references to the Gottmans . They’re a married couple who have written relationship books. I’m currently listening to their book The Love Prescription (7 days to a better marriage) and loving it. The concepts- one each day- can be applied to almost any important relationship. I liked how they were referenced by Katie and her best friend. Like all Katherine Center books, Katie and Hutch had their own growth arcs which made their romance that much sweeter. Loved all of the side characters.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

Let me preface, I LOVE Katherine Center and her writing! I didn't feel the same pull with this book. Usually I am pulled in by the end of chapter 3, however, I was struggling to make it through chapter 8. I did finish and I am glad I did.

Overall, I enjoyed the story between Hutch and Katie. I felt their joint character development could have been more. Their individual character development was amazing. The setting of the story was perfect, considering I was reading this during the cooler part of Spring. The imagery and description made visualizing the events much easier.

Overall, I think the lack of joint development and the balance of heavy themes and the lighter setting is why I rated this a 3/5. It is still an entertaining read, but not the best book.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for this eARC. All opinions are my own

I almost gave up reading this book several times. Shear stubbornness is how I read it. This book was just not for me, plain and simple. I hated the way bodies and body image was discussed. I hated how the character talked, and how the FMC was “not like other girls”.

This book needs a content warning! The eating disorder and body issues that are talked about in this book should be not be a surprise for a reader, there should be something written at the beginning of this book to alert the reader to this.

I didn't love how the body issues and eating disorder were handled in this book and when you start the book pretty heavy with covering the issue that it seemed to be handle with too much levity.

I ddi like Hutch and I love Katie's friend and of course the dog. I did not care for Cole and his lack of respect of care for Katie. I especially didn't like when he was trying to force people to kiss her without her consent at all. I also didn't care for the lie he came up and that Katie went along with it even if it was short lived. This book had all the makings a great story, but didn't hit as well as I had hoped.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, heartwarming , and romantic. This is the first book I have read by Katherine Center. I look forward to reading more by her. I really liked the name George Bailey for a dog's name. I love it's a wonderful life. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.