The absolute excitement that came with receiving this ARC was out of this world! Every Katherine Center book I have read has been an immediate 5 ⭐️’s, so to have this privilege was incredible!
I did love the setting of this story in Key West - it gave a perfect summery, beach vibe. The main characters Katie and Hutch were super cute, although I didn’t feel as strong as a connection with them as I have with Center’s other leads. Aunt Rue and “the gals” gave a much needed comedic relief when heavy topics like Katie’s ED were frequently discussed.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the brilliant Katherine Center!🏝️🩱☀️

This story had a lot of potential, but unfortunately wasn’t executed well. Katie was whiny and had so little confidence it was difficult to read. After reading many books by Katherine Center, I had very high hopes for this one, but it was a total miss.

“Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past, now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: 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. The catch? Katie's not exactly qualified. She can't swim-but pretends that she can.
Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don't get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . .. but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.”

This was a cute read. It was fun, but it also had its emotional moments. I think there was a topic that shouldn’t really have been the centre of the book. I get where the author was coming from, but it took away from the story. I really loved George Bailey though.

Wasn’t my favourite Katherine Center book.


Thank you to NetGalley and and St Martin’s Press for a DRC. The Love Haters is available now.

Katherine Center is becoming a go-to author for me. Her newest release, The Love Haters, is an excellent example of how to write a clever rom com novel with heart and depth.

Katie Vaughn has had a rough year and is on the verge of things getting even worse when she takes an assignment for work that she is woefully unqualified to accept. As a video producer, she is sent from the office in Dallas to film on location in the Florida Keys. Her assignment is to create a Coast Guard recruiting video featuring Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a man whose rescue of a celebrity’s dog went viral years ago but has shunned fame since. Can Katie overcome her own personal doubts and inadequacies to complete the job she’s been assigned and convince Hutch to allow her to make a personal video for her own YouTube heroes day-in-the-life series? As one obstacle after another are thrown her way, it seems unlikely.

The Love Haters puts Katie and Hutch in hilarious situations while simultaneously allowing them to have deep discussions about real things from their pasts. This story is much more than a romance. Katie learns to love herself and find her inner strength along the way. Hutch and his family also have some past hurts to overcome and broken relationships to mend. Although I really dislike the book’s title and the cover graphic has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline, I loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone looking for an uplifting and fun read. Also, I appreciate that this is a relatively sweet book with low level steam, unlike so many of the rom coms on the market lately.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Love Haters is a charming, feel-good read with a fun premise and heartfelt moments. Katherine Center’s writing is warm and engaging, though the story felt a bit predictable and the spark between characters wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped. Still, an enjoyable romance for a cozy weekend read.

Perfect for fans of feel-good fiction with emotional bite, The Love Haters is a tropical getaway in book form—with a few waves, some real heart, and a love story worth rooting for.

I’m usually a big fan of Katherine Center, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The Key West setting was vibrant and fun, and I really enjoyed the group of women who brought a great energy to the story. But the romance fell flat—I just didn’t feel enough buildup or emotional tension between Katie and Hutch. The ingredients for a compelling love story were there, but the execution felt a bit rushed.

Katie’s preoccupation with her body became repetitive, and the final stretch of the book veered into territory that felt more implausible than heartfelt. That said, Center’s signature warmth and humor were still present, and I appreciated the overall lightness of the read—even if it didn’t fully land for me this time. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center is a heartfelt, joyful story that offers so much more than just a love story. One of the standout elements for me was the vibrant setting in Key West, especially the scenes with Aunt Rue and the Gals. Their energy, wisdom, and humor added so much charm and heart to the book.

Learning about the Coast Guard through Hutch’s character was a fascinating and refreshing layer to the story. It’s a world that doesn’t often get explored in romance novels, and it added depth and texture. Plus, his dog George Bailey was a scene stealer in the best way.

But ultimately, this was Katie’s story. Her journey of confronting her body image struggles felt deeply authentic. Katherine Center handled that with care and realism, and it’s something so many women will relate to. Watching Katie embrace herself and begin to see her own worth was powerful and moving. Her cousin’s steady support throughout that process was incredibly touching.

While the romance with Hutch was sweet and swoony, it felt secondary to Katie’s personal growth. This is a quick, thoughtful read that reminds you how important it is to love yourself first, and how love often finds you no matter where you are on that journey.

One of my most anticipated books of the year and it was such a delight! I thought Katie was so funny and relatable and I especially appreciated the mental health/body image representation! It also has a fantastic cast of supporting characters- though George Bailey 🥺🐾 easily steals the show! It was hopeful, emotional, and heartfelt with the perfect summer setting! 4.5⭐️

If Katherine Center wrote the phone book, I would read it. All of her writing is wonderful. In Love Haters Katie works toward her dream job and meets "Hutch", an active Coast Guard member who's related to her boss! As they fall in love, there are many different humorous and some serious situations that the two find themselves in. The pacing and writing is excellent. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[3.5 Stars😊] I'm a big fan of Katherine Center's writing and sense of humor. The Love Haters though, was an unfortunate miss(ish) for me. I thought the overall story was a fun one and I loved the premise of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and a short film/documentary maker--all set in Key West, FL. The escapism was so much fun, and, of course, Katherine Center brought that sense of humor I love so much. There were so many times where I laughed out loud while reading this book, and the side characters added an overall light-hearted element to The Love Haters.

However, the romance wasn't there for me. I didn't think it developed enough over the course of the story, and I didn't pick up on the tension between the Katie and Hutch. I thought they had a connection and the elements of a great romance were there, but the execution left a lot to be desired. The story went a little bit off the rails at times, too, with Katie's hyper-fixation on her body, and the last 20% of the book felt like it came out of left field. The miscommunication twist was unnecessary and, honestly, I think that it was a missed opportunity to deepen the emotional connection between Katie and Hutch.

With all this being said, I still enjoyed the overall story. It was a good Katherine Center book, but I've also read some GREAT books from her, and I was expecting more out of The Love Haters. Am I still a believer in Katherine Center? Absolutely! But The Love Haters won't be the first book I recommend by her either. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

+Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the ARC of The Love Haters!
____________________________________
Details:
💘Contemporary romance
>>>🎖️Military romance
>>>🎈Romantic comedy
>>>👔Workplace romance
👀Single, first-person POV
🥀Third act breakup (Yes-ish)
✈️Travel
🙌Would re-read

Tropes and Characters:
🪢Family ties
📍Forced proximity
>>>🛏️Only one bed
🤐Secrets

Spice:
🧨Slow burn
🌸Spice: None (no explicit content)
____________________________________
Emoji Ranking System:
🤩Excellent to Fantastic (4.75-5.00)
😍Very Good to Great (4.25-4.50)
😊Good to Really Good (3.50-4.00)
🙂Just OK to Decent (2.75-3.25)
😒It's A No (1.00-2.75)
🚫DNF

"Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: 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. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but fakes it that she can. Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!"

I've enjoyed Katherine Center's other books and this one is not an exception! Plus the setting is in Florida? Sign me UP, STAT! It definitely gives off summer/beachy vibes and is the perfect summer read, especially if you love KC like I do!

Katie truly faked it until she made (?) it! She found herself in the middle of her coworkers family drama (BIG, no strike that, HUGE YIKES!!!), but the plot was pretty straight and narrow the entire time & easy to follow! I don't want to give too much away, so just read it yourself!

Probably one of my favorite things in this is that Katie finds that confronting your fears IS worth it & that embracing your worth is such a beautiful, yet hard thing to do. (think of it like a roller coaster, in terms of truly finding out who you are as a person!)

Tropes Included:
🌴Touch Her and Die
❌Fake Dating
❤️‍🩹Caretaking
🛏️Only One Bed
💛Body Positivity
🌴🌞Location: Key West, FL
💬Witty Banter
💛Workplace Romance

KC shares in her Author’s Note that she loves to write stories about healing & I truly felt like you got a lot of that from this book!

HUGE thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love how when I was reading this book, at times, I felt like I was learning something.

Katie's lying in the beginning was a little too much for me, but it seemed to work out well for her. She was able to work with the delicious Hutch and get to do what she loves at the same time. Her low body confidence is a big part of this book, but does seem to get better.

I will say that I loved some of the side characters in this book. Even though I didn't love the main characters as much as I hoped.

The pacing of this story was a little strange. It was good in the beginning but the end was too rushed.

Overall, a cute story. Not one I think I will remember forever, but cute.

3.5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of Katherine Center's latest!

I have to start this review by saying that I love Katherine Center. I think her writing is entertaining and goes beyond the typical romance in incorporating heavier topics in meaningful ways (i.e. dealing with grief in The Rom-Commers). I really appreciated and agree with all the sentiments included in her author's note for this book, but this one just wasn't for me. I think that says more about me than the actual book. The body image issues were handled well (in my fully non-expert opinion), but Katie's struggles were too much a reminder about how much we feel we need to pay attention to our physical appearance. Because of this (and one truly unlikeable character who had no redeeming qualities even when he was supposed to have been partially redeemed #IYKYK), the books wasn't really as much as an escape from reality and I just couldn't get into it.

All that being said, I think George Bailey is one of the greatest characters of all time and the action at the end of the book DID have me hooked! Looking forward to what Katherine Center does next. :-)

DNF

No matter how hard I try, I'm surprised I made it 40% of the way through the book. It wasn't for me.

The Love Haters was an enjoyable listening experience with a fun story and some things to think about. Katie Vaughn is a video producer and the company she works for will be cutting staff. She is offered the opportunity to keep her job by heading to Florida and make a video profiling Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson. He's a coast guard rescue swimmer in Key West, who wants to remain low key. Apparently there was a viral video of him saving Jennifer Aniston's dog and he isn't pleased with his infamy. There is only one big problem, she can't swim, and will have to prove she can in order to go out on the boat and train with him. Of course spending time together is bound to have some feelings develop between them, but both Katie and Hutch have been burned by love and have no desire to get involved with anyone. Katie also finds out that her immediate boss, Cole and Hutch are brothers who don't get along. Once she arrives in Key West, she meets their colorful aunt Rue who takes her under her wing when her luggage is lost, and Hutch's rescue Great Dane, who seems to immediately love her and listen only to her or Hutch. Lying about being able to swim causes some issues, but Hutch helps her out there. There is a lot going on in this one, so buckle up when you start it.

Katherine Center's books always have an issue that one or more of her characters are dealing with and in this book it is Katie's body issues. She is always worried about how she looks and what others will think. That is what caused some of her heartbreak. Being a plus sized woman myself, I was worried about this, but I thought the author did a great job with it. Unfortunately, our society often body shames and causes these feelings to develop, so bringing it front and center is realistic in my opinion. Katie is someone who is really good at her job, but she likes to fade into the back in her dull, dark colours, so it was fun to see Rue and her gals dress her up in bright colours and bring her front and center. George Bailey, Hutch's rescued Great Dane is also a star in this story. Something he does almost caused a tragedy, but you'll have to read it to find out what that is. Hutch is a great character, as described in the story, a gorgeous male hero, who is excellent at his job and wants his family to get back together. He was so helpful with Katie when she had to learn to swim, jump out of a helicopter and more, but humble. This story has themes of body acceptance, family drama, forgiveness, reconciliation, taking chances, honesty and romance. Although I enjoyed the story a lot, the ending was a bit over the top, but pulled all the threads together.

Set in the Florida Keys, Katie gets sent to FL to help produce profile on the Coast Guard and Hutch. While I normally love Katherine Center and all she does this book didnt work for me. I struggled to care about Katie and Hutch's relationship as well as there felt as if there was too much going on at time between the famous ex, the body image, the fake relationship it all felt over the top and forced. I absolutely loved the side characters and the setting and will continue to read what Katherine Center does next!

I was very excited to get an advanced copy of The Love Haters because Katherine Center is an automatic read author for me. I have so many thoughts about this book and the more I think on it, the more things bother me.

Katie and Hutch were cute, I'll give it that. I absolutely LOVED Rue's character and George Bailey? We love a gentle giant.

But I feel like the body loving storyline was overdone. We get it, Katie is overcoming her obstacles and has to learn to love herself, but this went over the top. Literally EVERYTHING about Cole was obnoxious. I don't see why Katie would ever agree to go along with his lies. And then the big drama at the end felt like it came out of absolutely no where.

Overall did I enjoy this and read it pretty quickly? Yes - it was cute and an easy read. But as far as a KC read, this was unfortunately pretty low on my list.

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

I think I have loved all of Katherine's books - and this one is no exception! I will be getting a physical copy to add to my collection of the rest of her books for sure. I am a sucker for a good love story and this one even included a dog so there's a plus! I would recommend packing this one up in your beach bag this summer for sure!

Looking for a new rom-com to read this summer? Then don’t sleep on this one!

This book is a breath of fresh air. It’s fun to read from the first page to the last. Full of fun, lovable characters, drama, and romance, it is the perfect summer book!

I absolutely loved it, and read it almost in one sitting. As always, it was a cute, sweet, memorable book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from the publisher and author through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.