(3.5 stars) Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! #MacAudio2025 Thanks, St. Martin’s Press, for the arc!

I’m a Katherine Center super fan! While THE LOVE HATERS didn’t jump to my new number one favorite by her, as her new releases usually do—I’m not sure anything will ever beat THE ROM-COMMERS for me. I had fun experiencing the story.

My full review is on Goodreads and StoryGraph. If you want to know why this book didn’t become my new favorite, it's hidden under spoilers in the posted review.

I like Center’s books because she always has outlandish plots that *could* happen, lol, but they feature characters who deal with real struggles and issues that you can connect with. Katie, a fantastic name and the FMC, struggles with body dysmorphia and image issues. Many of her thoughts were relatable, as someone who has also struggled with this for her entire life. If only I could find a helicopter rescue swimmer to help boost my self-esteem…

(spoiler) The one aspect that I didn’t care for was that we found out Katie’s ex had cheated on her, which is why the relationship ended. I don’t like infidelity in books, but when it’s a previous relationship, I’m fine with it. Hutch, the MMC, and she discuss honesty and trust in relationships. Then she pulls a stunt with his brother and a fake relationship and lies to everyone, including Hutch, about her feelings for him. Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes, but not if they’re hurting people or implying cheating, which this one did both. After enjoying the book, it was a real bummer for this to happen in the last 25%. (spoiler)

I did read a little of the arc, but as soon as I received the ALC, all I did was listen to the fantastic narration by Patti Murin. She is one of my auto-listen narrators—I don’t have to know anything about the book; I just need to know that if she is narrating, I’m listening. Murin was an excellent choice for Katie’s voice and inner monologue. The emotions and insecurities came across wonderfully, and you can hear Katie’s growth throughout the book as she gains confidence.

The book's star is George Bailey, the Great Dane, lovable pet of Hutch, the MMC. I would love more books about him, his life, and his toads.

Even though this wasn’t my new favorite by Katherine Center, I’ll still be first in line for the next one! Her books make me happy, especially when read by Patti Murin on audiobook!

Oh Katherine, you did it again!
You grabbed my heart from the very first chapter and gave me all the feels.
Katie’s struggles with body image hit so close to home, and her brave journey toward self-acceptance was beautifully done. I adored Hutch, Aunt Rue, and yes, there’s an adorable rescue dog!
This story was pure perfection from start to finish. All the stars!

I absolutely loved the banter and loved that the plot was more complicated than just the romance aspect. Although the MMC was swoonworthy in what he did and his physical appearance, he also lacked in the communication aspect and not exactly someone to desire. Even the ending left a little to be desired in that realm. However, I couldn't put it down and had a fabulous time!

This was another heartwarming, adorable read from Katherine. I can always count on her books to leave me with warm and fuzzy feelings while reading.

Katie is sent to the Florida Keys by her coworker, Cole, to record a recruitment video. As it turns out, Cole is sending her in his place because he's trying to avoid his family drama. Katie is still working on loving herself and what comes with that after a bad break-up and a lot of body image issues. (Take care of yourself if this kind of stuff is hard to read, it is a pretty prominent topic throughout the book!)

Hutch is a rescue swimmer with the Coast Guard and the subject of Katie's video. He's stoic, protective, and has a giant rescue dog that loves to tackle Katie. I loved all the little moments between Hutch and Katie where you could see they were falling for each other, even if they didn't know it themselves. With an interesting cast of side characters, a lot of chaos, and a hurricane that puts Katie through the wringer, this book has a little of everything to keep you on your toes.

Thank you to SMP and Katherine for the ARC!

Thank you to @NetGalley for the ARC of Katherine Center’s The Love Haters. All opinions are my own.

I wouldn’t be surprised if at the bottom of every rainbow there is a Katherine Center book. Her books are a pot of gold, so valuable and rich with their humor, banter, creativity, research, lessons that don’t feel like lessons, quotable quotes, and of course, love.

The amount of highlights I made in my Kindle is RIDICULOUS. Reading through them is like reading the entire book again, and I’m not complaining. I highlighted entire conversations, not just one-liners. This book has it all- even action, adventure and weather drama! Katie gets an assignment to profile a helicopter ocean rescue swimmer for a recruitment video, and along the way she meets The Gals (who I want to buy a place next to and become a Gal) and Hutch, the rescue swimmer himself. I was laughing, I was bawling, I was gasping. I am recommending!

4/5 stars
10 hours 32 minutes at 1x on audio
Location: Texas and Key West in Florida

This was my first book of Katherine Center’s even though I’ve had some of her books on my TBR for years. I enjoyed several aspects of “The Love Haters” and overall found the book entertaining so I would recommend it and will definitely be giving her other books a read soon!

This was a cute story of learning to love yourself and facing your fears and had both funny and heartwarming moments. It also went deep into body image issues but with the comedic moments the entire book still felt mostly lighthearted and entertaining even while still giving some deeper moments.

A few items that lowered the rating slightly for me; 1) Hutch’s brother and his terrible choices. 2) There was a bit too much slapstick humor, which is not my favorite. 3) Katie’s extreme struggles with her body image have been happening for years but she is suddenly cured within a week? It was very unrealistic that she suddenly accepts herself fully, it would have been better if she started to slowly accept herself but still had some struggles at times. 4) Also, the epilogue was a list of updates of different characters but nothing about the main two characters and their relationship, just a quick note that they were still together.

This was fine but not great. The beginning seemed like it had promise but the conflict was pretty convoluted, and the last incident was genuinely just too insane to be even remotely realistic.

4 ⭐️

This was my first Katherine Center read, so I've got nothing to compare this to as far as her previous works. I've only heard great things about this author & now I definitely get the hype.

Follow along with Katie, a commercial video producer from Texas, as she travels to The Keys in Florida in hopes to avoid getting laid off through creating a killer documentary about the US Coast Guard. BUT... Katie can't swim, yet she takes this job anyway for the promise of job security. A lot happens during her time there— she works on self-love & healing, discovers friendship, finds love (in who just so happens to be the star of her doc!), learns a bit about swimming & helicopters, overcomes her fear of wearing bright colors, & befriends a rescue Great Dane named George Bailey.

Overall, this was a heartwarming story that felt like a great big hug. I really loved almost every character introduced (Rue!!!), but this book definitely could've used a little more romance, as many times I found myself just wanting to hear more about Katie & Hutch??? But still, a very fun, refreshing read that I will 100% recommend to anyone; perfect for February or the summertime.

I want to read more KC books now!

💞 Self-love
💘 Romance
🔥 Slow burn
🌴 The Florida Keys
🚤 Forced proximity
👙 Lots of swim time
🩹 Reframing negative body-image & healing
👪 Sibling rivalry / healing from past trauma
🎥 Creative video work & passion projects
🚁 USCG

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Katherine Center for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had very high hopes for The Love Haters by Katherine Center and I wish I didn't feel so strongly but this one was definitely not for me. I am so shocked and if I'm completely honest disappointed/sadden that the publisher and author didn't think it wise to include TWs for body image as the FMC deals with it along with an eating disorder. Diet culture/body image are such sensitive topics to certain readers and to not warn them surprised me. That honestly threw me off the book immediately. The story enjoyable for the most part but it's definitely not a fave of mine by Katherine. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded down💫 maybe a true 3 - I’m conflicted!!

There were things that I enjoyed - the dog, the interesting career (he’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer), Rue, the authors note, the intent behind the body image issues.

But there were also things I surely did not enjoy - Cole, the random lying??, and the execution of the body image issues.

I read a lot of reviews that commented on how often Katie remarks on her body, her size, her clothing, etc. etc. and how “annoying” or “repetitive” it was and while I can see where that’s coming from! as someone who has struggled with her own body image for most of her life I didn’t take issue with this BECAUSE it really can be allll consuming.

I just didn’t love how ~quickly~ the issues were resolved and how. I don’t think a couple weeks of saying barely nice things about yourself could really solve a decade+ long ED🤷🏻‍♀️ BUT again I appreciated the thought!!

As for the romance? It was just fine! I didn’t feel the sparks flying but it had its moments! So a middle of the road read for me!🙂🙃

This one has all the makings of a perfect summer read:
☀️ Location? Key West — check.
🐶 Golden retriever energy male main character? Check.
👯‍♀️ A great cast of supporting characters (the gals!)? Double check.

But if you're expecting a full-on rom-com, you might want to shift your lens a little. For me, this story wasn’t so much about falling back in love with a guy — it was about Katie falling back in love with herself. And honestly? That’s beautiful and so important.

Katherine Center has this incredible way of writing women through growth, resilience, and joy, even when the love story takes a backseat. This isn't the swoony whirlwind you get in Happiness for Beginners or How to Walk Away — and that’s okay. It still deserves a spot on your summer TBR.

If Katherine Center writes it I am going to read it and this was another adorable rom com that gave me all the warm and fuzzies. Katie was super relatable with her self-judgement (hey, we’ve all been there!) and I loved how supportive her friends were to get her to a better mental place. The side characters were excellent - I know Rue and I would have some margs and share town gossip. Hutch was a loveable MC and his family drama added an extra layer that I enjoyed. I went between reading and listening and would recommend either format!

Book Review: Love Haters by Katherine Center

Katherine Center’s Love Haters is a heartwarming, witty exploration of love, self-discovery, and the power of friendship. The story follows Katie, a woman who’s been dumped by her now-famous ex-boyfriend, leaving her with a bruised self-esteem and a complicated view of her own worth. As she navigates the difficult terrain of rebuilding her life and her sense of beauty, she finds herself thrown into the orbit of Hutch, a well-known "love hater" with a mysterious past. What follows is an emotional and uplifting journey of healing, self-acceptance, and, ultimately, love.

Characters:
Katie, the female protagonist, is easy to empathize with. Her low self-esteem and belief that she’s unattractive feel real and relatable, especially for readers who have struggled with similar issues. Her growth throughout the novel is truly moving. From the outset, Katie feels like an outsider in her own life, but the relationships she builds—especially with the eccentric Rue and her ever-supportive friend Beanie—help her rediscover her worth. Rue, the cottage-owning, wise soul, serves as a guiding light for Katie, offering advice and a much-needed perspective on self-love. Beanie, Katie’s loyal friend from back home, adds a fun and heartwarming layer to the story, always ready with support and humor.

Hutch, the brooding “love hater,” is an interesting and complex character. His initial disdain for love is intriguing, and as his backstory unfolds, the reasons for his resistance become clearer, making his eventual relationship with Katie all the more rewarding.

Themes:
At its core, Love Haters is about self-empowerment. It shows how difficult but necessary it is to recognize one’s own worth and embrace imperfections. The novel also delves into the healing power of relationships—whether it's the connection between Katie and Rue, or the evolving dynamic between Katie and Hutch. Love, both romantic and platonic, proves to be a transformative force, helping Katie find her own confidence and value.

Writing Style:
Katherine Center’s writing is warm and engaging, with a perfect balance of humor and depth. She has a knack for creating vibrant, believable characters who leap off the page. The pacing is spot on, and while the story has its emotional moments, there’s a lightness to it that makes it an enjoyable read from start to finish.

Final Thoughts:
Love Haters is a delightful and uplifting read, perfect for fans of romance and women’s fiction. Center’s exploration of self-worth, the healing process, and the power of love makes this novel both heartwarming and inspiring. Whether you're looking for a lighthearted romance or a thoughtful exploration of self-acceptance, this book is sure to leave you with a smile and a sense of hope.

I love Katherine Center's romances. Fun and flirty with a dash of whimsy. The body talk in this book tended to overwhelm the story at times but overall cute and perfect for summer!

If you can take anything from my review, I hope it’s this: I liked it enough to laugh, enjoy some moments, and obviously finish it… but this one wasn't 100% for me

First things first! I really hope the publisher added a trigger warning page (I only read the ARC), because the FMC struggles with body image shown through memories of a past breakup where she starved herself for a year and counted calories so her thighs “wouldn’t touch.” I know some readers don’t want to encounter that, even in passing, so I really hope TWs are in the final copy. 🙏

Now, the story itself was cute! Katie is your classic FMC who uses humor in every sentence 😂 and since the POV is hers, we get her inner thoughts which are hilarious. But by page 250, I was like, “I get it, you’re funny.” I just wasn’t getting that deeper, more emotional layer I usually look for in FMCs. I liked her and how she was working on loving herself again after everything with her body, but… it didn’t fully click for me the way I wanted it to 💔

The plot, omg it was a straight line most of the way and then out of nowhere it got messy and went in a million directions 😵‍💫 The last 20% had me thinking, “how did we end up HERE?” Maybe it was intentional for that dramatic rom-com flair, but I wasn’t really feeling it either aghhhh

As for the MMC, Hutch… I liked him, but he was meh. Like yes, we see him start to fall for Katie and get glimpses of his struggles with attachment. But aside from their first kiss and giving her swimming lessons, I felt no real chemistry 😬 She’d talk about him like, “he’s such nice company” and I was just like… andddd? Where are the swoony gestures?! He had a few good one-liners, but that’s about it.

Again, I did enjoy it overall I laughed, I smiled, I finished it, but I definitely had some eye rolls and “huh?” moments. I love Katherine Center’s writing, but this one just wasn’t for me in comparison to The Rom-Commers. 💁‍♀️

tropes
🌺 strangers to lovers
🌺 forced proximity
🌺 small town vibes
🌺 self body image representation
🌺 1st POV

➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I heard mix reviews, but I love Katherine Center so let's see how this one goes.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my eARC
86 likes

I found The Love Haters to be an easy read, though it had its fair share of unrealistic moments. Katie's body image struggles weren't really addressed or resolved in a very healthy way and Cole, her 'work superior', seemed to stir up unneeded drama. The plot's direction towards the end was a bit much, but there were plenty of enjoyable and humorous moments throughout. Overall, it was a decent read.

Not my favorite by Center but still hit the mark! This is a good and fun romance perfect for the summertime. It did feel a bit slow at times and I did Not like the Mc focusing so much on her weight and looks. Overall center is still an auto but author for me. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center's books seem to always have objectively ridiculous premises (she and Beth O'Leary are queens of this), and this is probably my favorite iteration yet. This book got me through an absolutely horrendous commute, which is really saying something.

Katie is a mid-level video producer with borderline crippling body insecurity after a horrible breakup. Her company just got a new CEO and her job is on the chopping block. Thankfully, her boss offers her an opportunity to keep her job: go to Key West and make a recruitment video for the Coast Guard. The catch? Katie can't swim, but she's supposed to profile Hutch, a rescue swimmer who is, of course, her boss's estranged brother. So Katie accidentally gets in the middle of some family drama, and naturally, sparks fly between her and Hutch.

This book is fast-paced and just so much fun. The writing pulled me in from the beginning, and I adored the colorful - emphasis on colorful (in a good way) - cast of characters. Katie's quest to be okay with her body really resonated, and I appreciated how she tried to focus on what her body did for her and how she felt. I loved her friendships with her cousin and Hutch's aunt, and the chemistry and ease between her and Hutch felt easy and natural. There were definitely times the family drama felt a bit exaggerated, but Center anchored the more heightened moments with deep emotion and pathos between the brothers, which helped. The plot goes a bit off the rails towards the bed, but it's not completely unrealistic and it works. This was just a really fun summer read!

I will say this book contains a lot of talk about body image and disordering eating, so just be aware of that.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was another delight from Katherine Center. It had it all - heart, humour, romance, wise but quirky backup characters, tension, catastrophe, and a dog. I really enjoyed it as I had all the feels - laughing at one point, wiping a tear at another. Perhaps a little ridiculous at moments, but a ridiculous that works. A perfect summer (or anytime) feel-good read!

Katherine Center has carved a niche in the rom-com world with her heartfelt, hopeful stories, and The Love Haters continues that tradition. It's an enjoyable, easy read that combines humor, a sun-drenched setting, and a classic opposites-attract romance — though it may not pack quite the emotional punch of some of her earlier novels.

The story follows Katie Vaughn, a camera-shy videographer unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when she’s assigned to film a feature on Hutch, a ruggedly kind Coast Guard rescue swimmer stationed in Key West. Katie is determined to stay behind the lens, but as she spends more time with Hutch — and his lovable Great Dane, George Bailey — her guard slowly begins to drop. Their relationship develops from friction to flirtation, and eventually into something deeper, all while Katie grapples with insecurities about her body and her career.

The best parts of the book shine in Center’s signature style: snappy dialogue, heartfelt reflections, and a strong undercurrent of personal growth. Hutch is a romantic lead who feels genuinely good — grounded, respectful, and patient. The setting, with its beachy charm and laid-back vibe, adds a vacation-like quality to the reading experience, which makes it a perfect summer or weekend read.

That said, The Love Haters doesn’t always fully land its deeper themes. Katie's journey with body image and self-worth is an important one, but at times it feels a bit surface-level or underdeveloped. There’s a clear attempt to inject emotional weight, but some readers may find the internal conflicts a little too neatly resolved. The pacing can also feel uneven — the buildup is slow, and some character shifts feel abrupt or overly tidy by the end.

Still, The Love Haters is a perfectly pleasant, uplifting romance. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s warm, funny, and affirming — especially for readers who enjoy stories about finding confidence, learning to love yourself, and discovering that sometimes, the best things in life come when you least expect them.

Final Verdict: If you’re a fan of Katherine Center or enjoy gentle, heartfelt romances with a side of sunshine, The Love Haters is a charming, if slightly imperfect, addition to your TBR.