This book has great commentary on self-love and self-growth. It was also cuter than I was expecting! I really connected to Katie and loved her relationships with her friends and love interest. However, I couldn’t stand one character and I really wish the author hadn’t used them as a plot device and found another way to create tension and drama as my hatred for them really took me out of the story. Overall, it’s a fun read and a great romance read for summer!

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I usually really love Katherine Center's books but this one just felt different. There was too much focus on the body image issues and honestly everything surrounding that felt too preachy and cheesy that it took me out of the story completely. I didn't really connect with the characters the way that I usually do with her books and overall it just left me wanting more.

DNF 15%

The main character's energy is maybe a bit too high-strung and manic for my liking. I suspect that I am not the right listener for this book. Readers who enjoy a breathless Meg Ryan in the 90s kind of FMC will likely adore this book, but it isn't for me.

I thought this book was a fabulous read! It had it all - witty banter, heartstring pulls and a lovable (yet clumsy) dog. It was nice because this book felt like a vacation down to the Florida Keys without having to pay for a flight. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the whole “keep this lie going” trend, it definitely worked itself out in the end. I think this is a perfect summer read and a lighthearted romance for those love haters out there.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin’s press for this opportunity and advanced copy!!!

The book gods had been extra nice to me lately. I can’t believe I received 2 copies of one of my most anticipated books this year!! I loved this book so much and I wanted to share the love so I’ll be giving away my extra copy!!!

Okay. This book is going to be one of your newest favorite summer reads!

The plot? Female lead needs to make a recruitment video for the national coastguard

The setting? Florida Keys! And also the national coastguard camp! (It was pretty interesting to learn some things about them!)

The side characters? GEORGE BAILEY!! 😍 And “The Gals” which reminded me so much of The Golden Girls ensemble. I loved them so much! 😂

The female lead? I actually really liked her. I can totally relate to all the body image insecurities and I loved following her journey towards self love!

The male lead? OMG YOU GUYS 😂 It’s been awhile since I swooned over a male lead and the male lead here is definitely your next top book boyfriend!!

Other things I liked was also how bingeable it is. I loved learning some stuff about the national coastguard. The SWET training was hilarious!
And omgggg. THE HIBISCUS CLIP! 🥹😍 (if you know, you know! 😂)

The audiobook was so easy to follow and Katherine Center herself narrates her own author’s note. And it’s one of my fave author’s note now 🥹

This was not my favorite of Katherine Center’s books. I really liked the Rom-Commers and a few of her other ones so this one just felt different and off.

What I really liked was the MMC. He was very likable and an overall good guy. I was confused why he liked the FMC especially after what happens at the end 🤣. Both characters had been through some pretty intense things - especially the MMC- and I feel like the surface was barely scratched with his trauma.

The miscommunication / lying was so weird and dumb. And then at the end the FMC gets caught in a boat in a hurricane to save a dog and she’s basically not even concerned and it was such a strange thing to read. The dynamic between the FMC and the best friend I thought was weird - we essentially knew nothing about the best friend and the FMC kept calling her and sharing all of her problems and was just a bad friend IMO.

To summarize: Far-fetched, predictable, and unrealistic. Still love KC though.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the review e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve waxed poetic before about my love for Katherine Center’s books, and I truly believe she’s one of the best romance authors of all time. Her latest novel, The Love Haters, is yet another standout in her stellar catalog. As always, her characters are deeply realistic and instantly lovable; you can’t help but root for them to find their happily ever after. This story tugs at the heartstrings (I bawled during some of the final scenes, but they were happy tears!) and is the perfect book to lose yourself in when you need a heartfelt pick-me-up.

The Love Haters is bestselling author Katherine Center’s latest romantic comedy. Her stories are character development fiction with slow-burn, closed-door romance.

Katie Vaughn is a young video producer who’s struggling. Her ex-fiancé hurt her deeply, and her company is reducing its workforce. Her supervisor, Cole, is impressed with her work and offers her an opportunity to keep her job by making a promotional video for the Coast Guard. Katie also does independent work online, and Cole says that she can use this gig to get material for it. The assignment involves profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and Cole’s estranged younger brother. Katie can’t’ swim but is too embarrassed to admit it. So she plans to fake it until she makes it.

Soon Katie is headed to beautiful Key West, Florida, to the Coast Guard station. Hutch is the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen, and a love hater. She discovers that he is estranged from Cole, but has a wonderful rescue Great Dane, named George Bailey. She becomes friends with his colorful Aunt Rue and learns from her wisdom. Meanwhile she has many adventures while taking swimming lessons, flying on helicopters, riding out hurricanes, and stealing kisses.

Katherine Center is a master story-teller and several of her books have been made into movies for Netflix. Her writing is crisp, the story moves along at the perfect pace, and the banter between Katie and Hutch is sparking off of the pages! The reader can’t help but root for Katie and Hutch as they overcome their individual challenges to find happiness with each other. While this story is a romantic comedy, there are a few heavy topics that are addressed. I would award The Love Haters more than 5 stars if I could. It is absolutely a must-read for Fiction readers.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Katie is this close to getting laid off from her producer job as a video producer when her weird boss offers a great gig making a video about the Coast Guard in Florida. Katie can’t swim, and that’s a requirement, but she decides nobody will really care once she’s there. The boss’s estranged brother, Hutch, is the focus of the project. If you can gloss over some of the weird things the boss pulls that set the story in motion, it’s a good enjoyable read. This is why you read Katherine Center’s books. They’re fun! Caution for bad self-talk by Katie. She has a hard time accepting her body and spends a fair amount of time in a bathing suit. Thank you to the publisher and netgally for the ARC!

Hooked from page one!
Big thanks to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. Katherine always delivers heart, humor, and all the feels — no smut, just a classic rom-com vibe I love. A total must-read!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Quote: “Proving once again that sometimes it’s worth it to take a risk on love.”

Hutch was such a quiet likable character. He was a Coast guard Rescue Swimmer in Key West Florida. Katie was a hot mess sent on assignment as a video producer in place of her coworker Cole also Hutch’s brother. She was sent to do a story on Hutch in hopes to save her job as her boss Sullivan has everyone on the chopping block. Katie can’t swim, she knows nothing about what the coast guard does but she takes the job and figures she will learn as she goes. Needless to say she learns a lot about herself, falls for Hutch and nearly dies trying to save Hutch’s Great Dane George Bailey. There were some funny moments with George Bailey, Aunt Rue and the gals, which were entertaining side characters.

#thelovehaters #katherinecenter #romcombook

📖 Review of The Love Haters by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The banter sparkles, the chemistry sizzles, and the ending is deeply satisfying.

The Love Haters is classic Katherine Center: uplifting, empowering, and full of heart. A must-read for anyone who believes in second chances and love that’s worth the dive. #iykyk Big thanks to Netgalley & @stmartinspress for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Quote - "Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."
Katie is a videographer on the chopping block of a downsizing company. She gets sent on a project to shoot a promo video for the Coast Guard. Hutch is the rescue swimmer and the subject of Katie's project (he is also the brother of the colleague that sent Katie to Florida!). You can imagine how that unravels...
This book is full of fun and laugh out loud moments...most of which involve a Great Dane named George Bailey! There are moments of miscommunication and a little deceit and the side characters AKA "the gals" are hilarious!
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC!

Katherine Center draws you in to her stories. Likeable characters and different story lines. I loved this story an absolut breathe of fresh air with hidden messages about finding yourself and love. Such a perfect summer read

Get your annotation supplies ready—Love Haters by Katherine Center is overflowing with quotes you'll want to highlight, underline, and revisit again and again. This book is a treasure trove of heart, humor, and healing, and I truly believe it’s her best yet!
From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn in by the magnetic grumpy-sunshine romance. The chemistry between the leads is irresistible—sweet, sharp, and emotionally rich—and the narrators bring them to life perfectly. I thought I’d sneak in a quick hour of the audiobook, and suddenly, I’d flown through 80% without even realizing it. It's that good.
Beyond the romance, Center masterfully weaves in delightful family dynamics, laugh-out-loud moments, and just enough suspense to keep your heart pounding. There's a depth to the emotional storytelling that makes you feel both seen and comforted—like the literary equivalent of a warm hug.
Love Haters is more than just a love story. It’s about resilience, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to open your heart. I can already tell this will be a top book of the summer—one I’ll be recommending to everyone I know.

I was super excited to be given the opportunity to read this book early, as I loved The Bodyguard. Unfortunately, parts of this book just fell flat for me. There’s a huge focus on body image/eating disorders that should have come with a TW, and I felt like it made her characters fall even more into this cliche broken, timid girl gets saved by alpha male.

I loved Rue and The Gals! They were the highlight for me!

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

First, I have to say I love this cover, and it instantly grabbed my attention. Second, I enjoyed this book. Katie was a character that I immediately connected to.

The topic of struggling with body image is something that needs to be talked about more. I am so glad that it was included in this book.

As always KC writes addicting fast paced stories. This story talks a lot about self acceptance and to allow yourself to truly live for yourself without worrying so much about others. I loved the FMC's journey with that. I do wish there was more buildup in the romance. I felt like it was leading up to the perfect slow burn, but then...burned quickly? I think something was missing. Maybe just more scenes with the main romantic interests connecting? Since this is literary fiction with a romance subplot, I do think the romance wasn't fully fleshed out, and could have been added to. The literary fiction aspect was really good though! Loved Rue and the dog. 3.5 stars

This was a profoundly beautiful story all the way through to the end of the authors note (which was one of the best authors notes I’ve ever read). I was healed and touched by Katie’s journey to not just accepting herself but truly loving herself. Hutch had incredible depth. I adored him. I genuinely laughed out loud throughout this story and was utterly charmed by George Bailey the dog. I can’t recommend this enough

There were some aspects of The Love Haters that I really loved, and some that I didn't love.

Things I loved about the book:
- Katie's longtime struggle with a negative body self-image was sensitively and caringly portrayed and I cheered for her big time once she finally started to recognize how much that affected her.
- Her cousin's unconditional love and support was so sweet and heartfelt yet she didn't hesitate to challenge Katie to try to get her out of her negative thinking.
- Hutch's rescue Great Dane, was adorable.
- The connection between Katie and Hutch felt genuine and unforced.
- The glimpses of Coast Guard operations and rescue swimmers were informative and engrossing.

Things I didn't love:
- There were a lot of lies and omissions of truth throughout the book
- Although I felt sympathy for Katie, just when she started to grow on me, she'd get embroiled in yet another lie
- Hutch was a bit too perfect, and because we never got his POV, it was hard to understand why he was attracted to Katie
- The hurricane subplot was rather farfetched and seemed shoehorned in.

I would recommend the book as I think a lot of readers will enjoy it, but it wasn't one of my favorites of the author's. Still, I'll be looking forward to her next book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.