Another great romcom from Katherine Center. Besides the usual love aspect, the author did her research again. This time our male main character is a rescue specialist for the US Coast Guard who is the subject of a recruitment video. Katie takes this assignment in an attempt to save her job. Of course sparks fly, but there are a few wrenches thrown in to make this a very entertaining story with both laughs and tears. This is a sure fire summer hit!
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC of one of my no-fail-go-to authors.

Unfortunately, this book did not cut it. I have read all of Katherine Center's books but one (saving it for a glorious weekend in the sun, sit on the patio, and escape into a book!) and she is always reliable feel good author for me. But this book was just too silly and lecture-y I just could not enjoy it. I really wanted to. I kept looking at the pretty cover. I kept thinking of Rue and her pals and their little bright cheery world. I kept seeing how happy Katherine was in all her promos. But this book is just not up to her other books standards.

First, the book would be 40% shorter if we removed any mention of Hutch's looks. I get we need to know his physique and he's hot, but it was just SO MUCH, and ALL THE TIME. On the other hand, the point of the whole book was Katie coming to terms with her body image, and I don't know a single thing about how Katie looked except that she has a perfect pinkie and a lovely thumbnail. We should all visualize our own person here, I think that is part of the lesson of judgement, but it was just such a dichotomy between the two characters it was frustrating. Then, the part of Katie finally coming out of her shell and loving her body was very long, drawn out, and yes, very lecture-y. I wanted to read the Epilogue and the author's notes (and I did) but by then I was like "its not the last page yet?!"

The story line with her co-worker and all his ridiculous lies was totally unbelievable- first that he told them in the first place (he seemed like he just pulled Katie randomly out of a group of newbies- not like he had any reason to care about her specifically) and then that Katie went along with it. It was just so dumb. The other thing was a very stressful and scary scene, but yet Katie was just to.......perky..... through the whole thing. You forget the wind is howling and the waves are giant until Katherine actually reminds you, because Katie just does not have you feeling it.

Oh man, I am just so disappointed for Katherine Center that this book isn't all she's promoting it to be and I didn't love it the way she does. I won't give up on her, but if you are a true Katherine fan, maybe avoid this one so you can keep having little hearts dancing around your head like I do from all her previous books. As I said before, my one word summary for this one is "silly".

Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me, and once again, she delivers a solid five-star experience. As always, her writing is heartfelt, engaging, and emotionally rich. Honestly, there’s not much more to say—she never misses.

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and exchange for an honest review. It took me a minute to get into this book, but like all Katherine center novels it picked up and I really enjoyed the depth of characters and the interesting setting and work background. I liked the chemistry between the main characters and how a female character did not shy away from her insecurities. This is a great beach read.

Thank you to SMP and Katherine Center for this ARC.

Katherine Center is one of those authors I can count on for heartwarming stories with just the right amount of humor, depth, and charm. The Love Haters fits that formula perfectly: a sunshiney romcom about a woman learning to love herself, and maybe someone else along the way. 💗

🌴 What did you love the most?
The premise alone hooked me: a documentary filmmaker with body image struggles is assigned to film a swoony Coast Guard rescue swimmer. YES, PLEASE. 😍 I loved how this story tackled body positivity in a way that felt current and important. Did it get a little repetitive? Maybe, but the message still hit home.

Also: shoutout to the supporting cast! From George Bailey the clumsy Great Dane to vibrant, no-nonsense Aunt Rue, the side characters brought so much life and humor to the pages. 🐕

🌴 What to expect:
🚪 Forced proximity romance
🗣️ Single POV, first person
💗 Strong body positivity themes
🐾 One chaotic dog and one lovable aunt

🔥 Steam level: closed-door (just kisses on-page)

🌴 How was the romance?
Hutch, the MMC, is straight-up dreamboat status. Kind, grounded, and emotionally intelligent, he might be one of my favorite love interests this year. 🤩 I loved the MCs dynamic, though I definitely found myself wanting a little more romantic tension and build-up. 😅

🌴 Do you recommend this book?
If you’re a fan of Katherine Center’s previous work, this one will feel like a cozy return to her signature blend of heartfelt themes and feel-good romance. It wasn’t my all-time favorite from her, but it’s the perfect easy, uplifting beach read with a meaningful message. 😉

🌴 Perfect for fans of:
💗 Abby Jimenez
💗 Sophie Cousens
💗 Annabel Monaghan

🌴 Mood: ☀️ Uplifting | 💕 Empowering | 🐶 Feel-good

🌴 Read if you like:
🌊 Coastal settings and beach vibes
💗 Body positivity in fiction
🐾 Chaotic dog cameos
🫶 Closed-door romance with emotional depth

It's not my favorite by Katherine Center, but it's still a good read. A large majority of the book felt like a self-help novel, and the romance was in the background.
I hated the entire Cole aspect of the book, completely unnecessary drama, in my opinion, that left me confused and wanting to wring Katie's neck for going along with his games.
Rue and her story with the boys made the whole book heartwarming, and I would have loved to have read more about her story and her point of view.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Katherine Center book, so I don't really have anything to compare this to with her other books. I suppose maybe my rating this so low is a good thing because this is my baseline and what I have to work with, but this was an absolute disaster. I think when I was rolling my eyes on the first page--no really, literally the first page of the book--it was a sign that this was not going to be fun despite hearing high praises about Katherine Center's books everywhere. I didn't DNF the book; I did (surprisingly) finish it, but this was so disappointing and there were red flags that went off that made me audibly say, "Oh HELL, NO."

Katie Vaughn, a video producer, is on the verge of potentially losing her job after it's announced they're laying off 50% of the company. Her higher-up, Cole, offers her the opportunity to film an advertisement with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, in Key West, Florida, who blew up and became a viral internet sensation after saving Jennifer Aniston's dog on a cliff. The only two catches: Katie can't swim, and Tom and Cole are brothers and they're NOT on good terms with each other. What could possibly go wrong?

For starters, I don't think that advertising this as a rom-com or a romance at that is doing anyone here any favors. The romance was barely there. It was the absolute bare minimum for you to know there was something going on, but I wouldn't say that romance was the main portion of the plot like it is with other novels in the romance genre. It was like a single sprinkle on the top of an ice cream sundae; barely there, but present enough for you to know it existed. That said, I didn't feel ANY amount of chemistry between Katie and Hutch the entire way through. Would I say this is a good women's fiction/contemporary fiction read? Yes. Would I classify it as a romance? No.

Let's start with the good parts of the book first. I liked the dog, Aunt Rue, and the Key West setting. That's it. Those are only three good things about the book. I would say Hutch, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like he was kind of dense and boring at times. (I think it's mainly because he can't take a compliment.) I loved his happy-go-lucky, energetic, toad-collecting dog named George Bailey though! I could also use a vacation to a tropical destination soon, so I was loving the Key West vibes and the summer feels makes this a good summer beach read (if you're still going to want to read the book after seeing all the reviews). As for Aunt Rue....can she be my aunt? She offers amazing advice and lives life to the fullest, and that's all I can really ask for in a character.

Next, I have to bring up the red flags in this book. As much as I'd like to go into detail about everything, I don't want to include spoilers in my reviews so I'll do the best I can. I think it's easier to list them out so here we go:

Katie herself: This is kind of a tricky thing to explain, but I know that I'm probably not the only person who had major issues with her character. No really, I think--no, I KNOW--she needs to desperately go to therapy. To put things in the nicest way possible, she struggles a lot with body image. While I understand that most, if not all, girls go through this at some point or another in their life, Katie makes this her entire personality for the majority of the story. We just keep seeing line after line about her countless journals filled with calorie count goals, how much she wants to weigh and how she never wants her thighs to touch, the fact she thinks that no colorful clothes will look good on her, and how she NEVER wants to wear a bathing suit despite the fact that she would be filming a commercial for the COAST GUARD of all things and they spend a lot of time in, you guessed it, WATER!

While I understand the intentions behind Katherine Center weaving the topic of EDs into the book to raise awareness and potentially bring some depth and complexity to Katie's character, I think it backfired. It felt like at times where Katie would be glorifying and happy about the fact that she has an ED, and I could see how this would be EXTREMELY triggering for someone who either has an ED or is trying to recover from one. It's was nice to see Katie grow throughout the book as she learns to be more comfortable within her own skin and the author's note was touching, but I think this topic could've been handled and written a lot more carefully.

Additionally, the story is told from Katie's POV and the writing felt very YA and juvenile for a character who's supposed to be in their late twenties or early thirties. Yes, this made for an easy read, but I also felt like the writing was nothing amazing or something special to freak out over.

Cole: ugh. He's literally a walking red flag and I had my suspicions about him from the get-go. 🚩 There was a certain part of the book where I almost dropped my phone reading it and audibly said, "Oh HELL, no." Maybe this portion gets cut out in the final draft, I don't really know, but there was ONE scene that made my blood boil. I'm not joking; I was seeing red when I read that, and I don't think I've gotten this angry over a scene in any book, ever. I've gotten frustrated, but never angry. I don't know why THAT scene had to exist in the first place, but I'm hoping it's cut. Cole is a massive sleazebag and that's putting it nicely. I think the book would've been infinitely better if he wasn't there.

This extremely minor thing that ticked me off way more than it should: On the first page of the story when Katie gets her assignment in Key West, she admits that she has no idea where Key West is. Yes, she's also an American citizen who lives in Texas. Like...I'm sorry; how does one not know where Key West is AS AN AMERICAN? Go back to middle school geography class, Katie.

The ending: Again, I wish I could go into this more, but I can't! All I'll say about this is that there's a lot of suspension of disbelief involved over the ending.

Overall, this was NOT it. There were so many red flags throughout the story that I just can't believe that this was coming from a well-known, beloved, sweet romance/rom-com author. I suppose this is a good thing, though, because that means that I (hopefully) won't be let down by Katherine Center's other books! I've had a ton of people in the comments suggest The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard so I guess I'll be moving those up my TBR list this summer!

A fun summer beach read, with some serious topics included (body image disorders, hurricane disasters, water rescues). I felt at times, the story was a bit repetitive and at other times, I wished there were more details, I would have loved to have known more about Katie's family, besides her cousin/best friend. I did find the main couple, Katie and Hutch cute, BUT I absolutely LOVED Aunt Rue and Hutch's dog--they made the story heartfelt and vibrant--I wanted to keep reading to see how they fared in the end! A cute summer book!

This is my first book from this author but omg this book was so funny but also so heartfelt. Mixed with humor and emotions, it's such a cute summer romance. I loved all the side characters, like aunt Rue, and Hutch's Great Dane rescue dog. I loved the mix of light humor as well as a more heartfelt backstory of both Katie and Hutch. While waiting to get laid off from her job, her coworker, Cole, encourages her to do a video profile on Hutch, who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and coincidentally Cole's brother. With tension between the brothers and the fact that Katie doesn't even know how to swim, makes the storyline even more entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a great summer read.

I knew I would like this book, and I did. Katie is funny and charming, and damaged and flawed. I loved her and wanted to be friends with her immediately. Hutch , kind and selfless and so keenly aware of himself was a perfect match. I loved the cast of characters, the plot, the Key West setting, absolutely everything. this book was heartfelt, romantic, funny and adventurous.

I did find the final "hurrah" a bit rushed, and the epilogue a bit rushed as well, but happy there was an epilogue tbh

I would highly highly recommend for multiple trigger warnings to be included - the majority of Katie's personality, character development and part of the plot was based on body dysmorphia, ED.

many thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC widget in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and view this book.
.
I’m a huge Katherine Center fan and was so excited to read her newest book.
What I loved about this book:
🛟Hutch- loved that he was a rescue diver for the Coast Guard
🛟Rue-she was the Aunt figure that we all would love to have in our lives
🛟the setting- hello, Key West 🌴
🛟George Bailey- the star of the entire book. 🐶
.
Katie is filming a documentary on the coast guard. Enter Hutch. As Katie is thrown into the day to day life of a rescue swimmer, she develops feelings for Hutch (and George Bailey). 😍
I did think the plot got a bit off track towards the end and lost a bit of steam, but I liked how the book wrapped up.
3.5 stars
🛟grumpy x sunshine
🛟body positivity
🛟did I mention a dog?😉

“It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.”

Look. If you’re here to get a breakdown about what happened in this book, I’m going to have to stop you there. I could describe to you all the plot points and give you a detailed description of the ins and outs of this book. But to me, that would convey absolutely nothing about this book. It is amazing. It is wonderful. It had twists I didn’t see coming. There you go.

This is a book that is dripping with pure emotion that you have to EXPERIENCE. I laughed out loud while listening to the audio or reading on the couch. I screenshotted my highlighted quotes or thoughts and sent them to my closest friends, urging them to add this book to their TBR immediately. I cried in my car, and my house, and my classroom thinking about this book after I finished. For days. Seriously. I can give you references. Not because it was sad, but because it was that good and I couldn’t move on.

Katie is all of us. Every single one. Relatable. Funny. Worrisome. Brave. A little weird. Hutch is everything we never knew we needed in a MMC. And he sees Katie for just who she is. Plus…he rescued a puppy. So yeah. Perfect.

I’m a major Katherine Center fan and when I requested this book I thought “It’s going to be good. But it can’t top The Rom-Commers. And I was wrong. As with all the great things in life, Katherine’s books get better and better with each one. Is there spice? No. BUT YOU DON’T MISS IT. And it’s not needed.

I was lucky enough to score an eARC and an ALC and I traded back and forth between the two. The audio is great as well! As someone who only usually listens to dual narration or graphic audio, I loved the single narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and also Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.
And a very special thank you to Katherine who somehow writes a new book every year that speaks to my soul. I will be your hype girl always.

When videographer Katie's job is on the line, she goes out of her comfort zone agreeing to profile Hutch, an ocean rescue swimmer. But Katie might get more than she bargained for, including a shot at love.

Katherine Center books are so much more than just a love story. Her books are inspirational. The Love Haters focuses on acceptance, self-love, and forgiveness, and I loved the growth of Katie's character throughout. I admit I wasn't crazy about the first 20% of the book and it started off a bit slow for me, but past that I fell in love. I loved Katie and Hutch, and I loved Hutch and Cole, though the real star of the show for me was Rue; she was just so delightful. The plot was fun and unique with some very heartwarming and emotional scenes, and my heartstrings were pulled in many different directions. A great summer read!

It’s been a tough year for Katie Vaughn. Her fiancé got internet famous, then really famous and then dumped her and now her job is on the chopping block. When her coworker Cole asks her to take a job for him shooting a Coast Guard promo video in the Florida Keys she jumps at the chance. Nevermind that she doesn’t know how to swim and hasn’t put on a bathing suit since junior high. Cole’s brother Hutch, a seemingly perfect but grumpy, no personality love hater is the video’s subject. Readers will jump right in to the pool with Katie and Hutch and easily get lost in their story. It may have been easy to fall for Hutch but the real love story here is what Katie finds in herself. Love Haters has a very body positive message and reminds all of us that we could be a little kinder to ourselves.

This was 4 stars for me because while witty and cute, it wasn’t outrageous or laugh out loud funny. It’s a sweet, no spice love story which is super entertaining. This is definitely appropriate for teen audiences and I love the positive mental wellbeing message.

This was my first book by Katherine Center, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it! The writing is so immersive, I felt like I was right there in Key West, taking helicopter rides and braving the storm alongside the characters.
The story was sweet and heartwarming. George Bailey, the Great Dane, was easily my favorite side character—such a fun addition! I’ve always loved the “found family” trope, and this book handled it beautifully.
It was a bit uncomfortable to read how hard the main character was on herself about her weight and appearance. But I appreciated how her journey evolved. The themes of self-love and self-acceptance were powerful and meaningful, messages that I hope resonate with readers who need them most.
Overall, it was a great summer read, and I’m excited to dive into more of Katherine Center’s books!

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

At first, I had trouble getting into The Love Haters, and I think it may be that I didn’t immediately relate to Katie. After getting to know her more and seeing her interact with other characters, I enjoyed the second half much more. I have enjoyed all of Katherine Center’s books and this was no different!!

“I’m also not declaring that kisses are magic. Though maybe the right ones at the right time with the right people are—who knows? But joy is a kind of magic, for sure. And if kissing Hutch at the water’s edge in Mallory Square doesn’t qualify as joy, then there’s nothing on this earth that does.” 🛥️🩱🩳🧡🩷🐶

Thank you Katherine Center, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC! This was my third novel from Center, and she. Never. Misses. 😍

I came for the romance, and left with not only a great story of Katie falling in love with the practically perfect rescue swimmer, Hutch, but a story of a young woman learning to love herself. Katie has a LOT of anxiety and trauma surrounding her body image and how OTHERS view her body, and it was amazing to see how, little by little, she learned to appreciate and love her body as it is. I highly recommend reading the author’s note. Thank you for being such a gem in the romance world, Katherine Center. 🩷

On the other hand, I have not felt the visceral frustration I held for Cole in a longgggg time 🤣 Things were going so well and then crap hit the fan as soon as he showed up lol. Everything worked out, but LET ME TELL YOU how fast I read the last 70% of this book 😂😂 (I read the whole book in 2 days)

The banter was top-notch, and I enjoyed seeing the incredible competence from both main characters. Both are VERY good at what they do professionally, and it was fun to see them rub off on each other.

There’s more I want to say but I have a toddler needing to go to bed lol, so I’ll return to this later!

This book was so cute!! Kate heads to KEY WEST to film a promo for the Coast Guard…I mean that sounds fab right!!? Well..her boss didn’t tell her the whole truth, but all good when she meets handsome Hutch.
This is such a fun summer read! I totally loved Hutch & all the ladies! I always love a deeper type of rom-rom & this was it! A perfect summer read!

Katherine Center has done it again! The Love Haters is a heartwarming, witty, and emotionally resonant story that reminds us why we turn to rom-coms for comfort, hope, and a little bit of magic. With her signature blend of humor and heart, Center introduces us to a cast of characters who feel both fresh and familiar—flawed, lovable, and fully human.

The chemistry between the leads sizzles, and the enemies-to-lovers arc is handled with such care and nuance that it never feels formulaic. Instead, it's a celebration of second chances, vulnerability, and the bravery it takes to believe in love again. Center's writing shines with sharp dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and a few tear-jerking scenes that sneak up on you in the best way.

Whether you're a longtime fan or new to her work, The Love Haters is a must read!

Katherine Center nails it again! This story about Katie was amazing 🤩🤩🤩. I loved all the romance in this book but I loved the love story that Katie has with herself. When Katie tells her body how much she loves it was by far my favorite part of the book! I will always read books by Katherine with enthusiasm!