A relatable self-love romcom with all the feels.

I found Katie to feel forced in the first couple of chapters of this book (and for some reason, I kept forgetting her name). However, the more the story went on, the more I realized that I related to her. She's as uncomfortable in colors as she is her own skin. She became so much more likable as the story progressed, and you can't help but root for her. I wanted Katie to have the best of everything, and she deserved all the good things.

This story had a mix of great characters. Charming characters. Dishonest characters. Private characters. But the very best ones - catty elderly women. Each of these characters held a place in my heart while I read this book.

The story was wholesome and complete. Center left no detail unfinished. I've not read any other books by her, but I am looking forward to adding some to my list for this upcoming summer.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC opportunity. This review has been left voluntarily.

There’s something about Katherine Center’s writing that is just so fun and engaging! From the very beginning, I was sucked into this story and I couldn’t put it down.
Katie has dealt with body dysmorphia and eating disorders, and although I loved seeing her journey to truly love herself, I do also wish that we got to see her get some further help. Hutch was such a wonderful MMC and I loved seeing the depth to his story. Cole, on the other hand, was so toxic and it was unfortunate how he dragged Katie down with him.
Overall, this was another great read from Katherine Center and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thanks St Martin’s Press and Raincoast Books for the gifted copy . All opinions are my own.

The Love Haters had an intriguing plot that drew me in, especially with the Key West setting. Out of all the Katherine Center books I've read, this one was my least favorite. I was still able to enjoy some funny parts, but the execution was a miss for me.

The chemistry between Katie and Hutch fell short. While body image is an important theme, it was over the top and felt forced. It over shadowed the plot of the book.

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

Another sunshine filled love story from an auto-read author, with plenty of humor and personal growth sprinkled in! I appreciated all of the therapy and body acceptance talk throughout the book. I loved all of the side characters except for one who was just plain awful but necessary to bring conflict to the story. I want to go live in a cluster of cottages in the Florida Keys with my besties now!

Katie’s story is a powerful look at body shaming and how it affects self-worth. It really opened my eyes to the real struggles people face, especially with the pressure of modern technology. Katie starts off with almost no confidence, but throughout the book, we see her grow, heal, and learn to love herself and her life. It definitely gave me something to think about—like, what <i>is</i> my favourite body part?

Now, Hutch... he’s totally swoon-worthy. But I’ll be honest—their relationship had its cheesy moments. A little too corny for me at times, and yes, I did cringe here and there.

The true star of the book? George Bailey—the Great Dane with a frog obsession and a habit of knocking Katie over. He completely stole the show!

Katherine’s writing is so vivid, witty, and funny when it needs to be. I always feel like I’m right there in the moment with the characters.

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read and review this ARC!

I keep trying Katherine Center hoping I will enjoy one of her books as much as The Bodyguard. This one was better than her last 2 releases for me but it wasn't great. The FMC was VERY insecure which is realistic but not necessarily fun to read about. There were a couple cute moments plus a generous dose of absurdity.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

⸻

Katie Vaughn is reeling from a messy, very public breakup with her famous ex and facing potential layoffs at her corporate video production job. So when she’s offered a temporary assignment profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Florida, she jumps at the chance—even though she can’t swim and keeps that detail to herself. Enter Hutch, the swimmer in question, who’s also carrying baggage from a recent heartbreak.

I’ve read all of Katherine Center’s books, and while I usually love her stories, The Love Haters didn’t quite land for me. I never fully connected with Katie and Hutch as a couple—the chemistry just felt off. That said, I really liked Aunt Rue, who brings warmth and charm as she encourages Katie to step out of her comfort zone (and into more colorful clothes). Katie’s ongoing struggles with body image are woven throughout the story—her inner monologue about food, swimsuits, and self-worth felt real but a bit repetitive.

George Bailey, the Great Dane, completely stole the show for me. He was such a lovable presence that I bumped my rating from 3 to 4 stars just for him

Katie Vaughn has just been through a very public breakup with her famous now ex boyfriend. Her job in corporate video production is on the line due to possible layoffs. So when Katie is offered the job to profile a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Florida, she takes it. Katie, however, neglects to tell her boss that she does not know how to swim. and can't go on the swim rescues with Hutch, the rescue swimmer. Hutch like Katie has gone through a bad romance breakup.

I have read all of Katherine Center's books and I have to say The Love Haters disappointed me. The relationship between Kate and Hutch just did not click for me. I did enjoy Hutch's Aunt Rue, who worked on Katie to add color to her wardrobe. Katie struggles with body image throughout the book, worried about calories consumed, wearing a bathing suit, etc. The Great Dane George Bailey was my favorite character, and I bumped my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars because he was so adorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Katherine Center writes a good vulnerable female lead. She's often relatable and in the midst of learning more about herself, shows that people never stop growing. I liked the characters and the premise of the story - it felt different than other romance books that I've read. And since attending an event with her last year, I will just always love her books and her author notes especially.

This story is about how the narratives we hold in the dark about events, our relationships, and ourselves have a way of making it into the light and when they do, they are often exposed as lies that we have told ourselves. It’s a love story, between Katie and Hutch, but also, and maybe more importantly, it’s a love story between Katie and her body. Katie is a documentary film maker, Hutch is a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard. She’s making a series on heroes and he’s a hero. It’s funny and sweet. Banter and angst. Fear and bravery.

In the acknowledgements, Center reminds us that love stories can save the world. And with all the dark in the world, I love a story that brings some light in.

“We’re here to rescue ourselves - and everybody else - in every way that we can.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: 5/20/25
When Katie is unexpectedly sent to Florida to film a promo piece on a Coast Guard swimmer everything’s going to change. As she works on the project, she’s introduced to a cast of characters, including the swimmer,she’s following Hutch’s and his aunt Rue and her tribe of girls and also Hutch’s lovable great Dane George Bailey. The longer she is there the more out of her shell she gets. After a bad public breakup Katie definitely needs this time to heal. But when Hutch’s brother, who is also Katie’s coworker, shows up things get messy. Can they all get back on the right page? The cast of characters really made this one fun! Rue the boy's aunt was a hoot!

This was a great quick summer romance beach read. It’s a cute and quirky romance novel set in the Florida Keys. Katherine’s fan will definitely love this one.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors and I am always excited to read a new one from her!

I really loved the setting for this one, it is set in the Florida keys and it gave you all the summer beachy feels! The love interest, Hutch, was an also very swoon worthy! As a cat lover, I didn’t find his dog who jumps on Katie every time he sees her, to be very appealing but to each their own. Unfortunately, I never really felt a spark between Katie and Hutch and they share 3 kisses the entire book. I don’t mind a closed door romance but need a little more of a spark to feel invested. I also found Cole to be insufferable but loved the character of Rue. I would have loved to hear more stories of Cole and Hutch growing up in Rue’s care.

Overall, this is a cute quick romance. Is it Katherine Center’s best work? No. Was it still a fun read and do I recommend it? Yes.

3.5 rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for arc.

I really enjoyed this one. I will say that it’s more than just a romance story, and more so about Katie’s journey within herself. The banter was great, I found myself engaged with the characters but the overarching theme here was a road to healing for our FMC. And that in of itself is worth a read.

The first 30% are pretty heavy on the self-flagellation and body dysmorphia so that was tough to read because I can relate all too well. If this is a trigger for you; then I would take a pass.

But as our story goes on and Katie meets Hutch, she starts to blossom within herself and has alot of realizations about herself, which I loved. Professionally as well, which was another aspect that I related to!

Hutch’s character was so sweet and I loved his protective nature of Katie and their journey. Also absolutely love George Bailey! Not my favorite of Katherine Center’s but loved it regardless!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Katherine Center for an advanced readers copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review!

The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center
St. Martin's Press
Pub date: May 20, 2025
Romance / Women's Fiction

Spring is even better with a new Katherine Center book. The latest in a string of her books that I adore is The Love Haters, set amid the atmosphere of Key West, Florida. It offers romance, excitement, and humor, as well as insight into the important world of the Coast Guard and search and rescue.

The character ensemble of video producer Katie, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch, his vibrant Aunt Rue, brother Cole, and rescue Great Dane provide non-stop action and adventure, as well as the intrigue of love vs. hate! Side characters also add color to the story. Center explores themes of body image, bravery, and overcoming fear, in this delightful romantic comedy featuring serious tones. She outdid herself with the suspenseful ending, which had me captivated.

I received a complimentary advance reader's copy from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press. My review is my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.🚁
⭐️⭐️
This is my second book by Katherine Center, and unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me after enjoying The Bodyguard. The Love Haters is a book that was marketed as a rom-com between a rescue swimmer and a video producer set in Key West with some general hijinks as she tries to save her job. I found parts of it fun: the dog, Aunt Rue, the Gals, the setting, as many other reviewers did. However, I thought the romance was dry and forced and very insta-lovey, the plot line with Cole was ridiculous in a bad way, and the beginning where the book beat me over the head with Katie’s body dysmorphia was really hard for me to read, as it was relatable to the worst parts of myself, and rather painful to read. I appreciate wanting to cover difficult topics, but the content was soooo at odds with the goofy tone and plot of this book that it came off disrespectful and too unserious. The way Katie solves her negative self-talk after a man calls her beautiful?? Not a fan, personally. The miscommunication between them was excessive and annoying. Also a writing comment: the switching between first- and second- person perspectives was weird and made no sense. Best part about this book is the gorgeous cover and the dog; unfortunately I had higher hopes and this could have been executed better.

I wanted to love this but I just liked it. I liked the characters. Loved Rue. I felt like the main premise of the story was a little hard to believe. There were also so many lies it became hard to keep track of.

Is The Love Haters my favorite book by Katherine Center? It is not. It was still, however, a good read, and I continue to be infatuated with Center's ability to tell a story, to create compelling characters.

Parts of this one stretched my credulity in ways I didn't love, and I've seen other reviews point out that this one should probably come with content warnings about body image issues. I thought Center worked through Katie's process of coming to accept herself well, but I do agree that, for some readers, parts of this might be very tough to read.

I did enjoy the awkwardness of Katie and Hutch's early meetings, and Aunt Rue and her friends are a delight. And I'm always a sucker for the complications a dog (in this case, a BIG dog) brings to a romance.

Overall, this one is a fun, summer read . . . and I'll definitely keep reading whatever Center writes. (I'm almost a completionist!)

When Katie, a body-averse video producer, fakes being a swimmer to land a gig in Key West, she’s caught between her fear of water, conflict with her boss Cole, and growing feelings for his brother, Hutch. With secrets, self-doubt, and sibling drama swirling, Katie must learn to trust her body—and maybe even love it.

I was really hopeful I’d love this message of body positivity, but alas… I think millennials will be triggered and Gen Z will just be annoyed. Are we really still needing to rehash this message of self-love as a groundbreaking revelation? I thought we were way past self-hate being considered normal.

Moving along—overall, I didn’t hate the book, but I also wouldn’t say I came anywhere close to loving it. The plot moved along at a good pace and the characters felt really developed. I just didn’t enjoy the plot or the characters. The romantic chemistry felt underdeveloped because of everything else happening—her body dysmorphia, fear of water, work crisis, and the drama with Cole (Hutch’s brother). Actually, I think there could have been a storyline where Katie and Cole ended up together 👀

Anyhoo, if you like Katherine Center’s pointed dialogue and characters who work through a disorder, I think you’ll still enjoy this one overall.

Thank you @youhadmeathea @macmillan.audio for the books! Patti Murin’s narration was excellent, as always.

Perfect for you if you like:
Family conflict
Characters working through body image issues
Florida sunshine, Great Danes, and rescue swimmers

Similar to:
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Rom-commers by Katherine Center

⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️frequent mild language, previous death of parents, illness, near death experience, online bullying, HUGE warning for body image/disordered eating

Katherine Center is one of those authors whose work I just enjoy picking up. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Was it my favorite by the author? No, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this is a solid book. If I had to complain, it felt like there was maybe one too many forced situations/tropes? The characters are fun, the story develops and grows in a good way, and I was thoroughly entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!