There were aspects of this book I enjoyed but overall, I think I was expecting more. I loved viewing Katie's realization that she loves her body after struggling with many body image issues prior but felt like there needed to be more character development to believe that change truly came from within instead of outside validation.

The romance between Katie and Hutch felt a bit too insta-love for my liking and while I know that trope isn't for everybody, I don't think there was enough development of their relationship either. The focus felt like it was on Hutch's past with his brother more than the romance itself.

This was my first Katherine Center read and while I don't think this is an accurate reflection of her writing, this one fell a bit flat to me. I enjoyed the storyline but ultimately found myself wanting more.

First thank you to st martins press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: Katie is a video producer that is over love. Her company is struggling and she needs something big to keep her job. When her coworker offers her the chance to film a popular reclusive rescue swimmer, she has to take it to save her job even if she can’t swim. Turns out hutch the rescue swimmer is really hot and her coworkers brother. She has to figure out how to get the story with help from his aunt and brother and herself

What I liked: Katherine center is a favorite author of mine so I was really looking forward to this book. It still contain a lot of what makes a Katherine center book fun but also a few things that surprised me. First being the self hate Katie had for herself. I could see where this would be hard especially if you suffer from body image issues. I get the message she was going for so continued to read the book but it was tough. Also the ending and relationship with his aunt and brother were a bit over the top and had to suspend belief for them. I still like her message that she presented and hutch and Katie were cute together. I like the villas and aunt rue a lot and wanted some more of her. I will still keep reading her books but this one is probably not going to be my favorite

A solid 3/5 romance for me. Katherine Center's books have always been hit or miss for me. I felt meh about The Bodyguard, but loved The Rom-Commers. Loved Things We Saved In A Fire, and thought Hello Stranger was just okay.

This for me probably falls in the Hello Stranger category, okay and probably just not the tropes for me. I read the whole thing and never felt wowed by the romance, but she is an engaging author that kept me on the journey regardless. It felt a little insta-lovey which is never my favorite, and the MMC wasn't doing it for me.

I do however think some people will absolutely love this, and shouldn't be swayed by me if you read the description and thought it could be just right for you!

Thank you BookSparks for my finished copy, St. Martins Press for my ARC, and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of The Love Haters! #SRC2025 #SMPInfluencers #stmartinspress #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio #katherinecenter #TheLoveHaters #booksparks

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

With her career on the line, video producer Katie Vaughn decides to take a job profiling Tim “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. He’s the brother of her co-worker, Cole, but with nothing else holding her back after having her heart broken, she has nothing to lose. The only problem is, Katie can’t swim. But Katie is determined to do what she needs to do to get this career making profile on Hutch, so she is determined to learn how to swim. Enter an amazing Aunt Rue, a good looking man who hates love, helicopter rides, lots of chances to face fears, a Great Dane, a couple of lies, lots of flirting, a hurricane, and a lot of bravery.

I don’t know how she does it, but Katherine Center has once again crafted the most perfect rom-com with the most dynamic characters. Her books are the kind that you want to hug as soon as you finish the last sentence. There was so much to this book. It had such an emotional counterpart to it with Hutch’s family history and also with Katie’s background and body image and personal insecurities. I felt like both were done so well! And can we talk about the Author’s Note? I don’t think I’ve ever read an Author’s Note more times in my life. Her words spoke to me and I love how she put romance novels into perspective - they are not just about falling in love. They are about so much more than that.

🛟Grumpy x Sunshine
🛟Forced Proximity
🛟Key West
🛟George Bailey (A Great Dane)
🛟Body Positivity
🛟Courage & Bravery

🎧Narrated by Patti Murin, I don’t know how this book could be better, but when you pair it with Patti Murin, she somehow manages to elevate this book even more! Talk about a 5★ performance. Everything about this book on audio was pure perfection. I’ve always been a fan of Murin, but this might be my favorite performance yet!

Posted on Goodreads on May 15, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 15, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 20, 2025
**-will post on designated date

Thank you @youhadmeathea and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary ARC & ALC

Filled with heart and humour. This is one of those feel-good romances that keeps a smile on your face for most of the read. While the story touches on some heavier themes, they’re handled with care and don’t weigh the book down or shift its overall light tone.

I absolutely loved the characters - Katie, Hutch, George Bailey the Great Dane, Aunt Rue and The Gals will all stay with me. They brought so much warmth and personality to the story. That said, the subplot involving Katie’s ex didn’t add much in my opinion. And there was a late-in-the-game ‘twist’ that, felt a bit overly complicated, and didn’t entirely land for me. Still, I appreciated how everything came together in the end.

This was (I think!) my first audiobook narrated by Patti Murin, and she was a perfect match for Katie’s voice. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more titles read by her.

I hate to say, but I think I am going to stop trying to read KC books.

Loved How to Walk Away & The Bodyguard. Nothing has hit for me again. In the last few books, I have really struggled to connect with the female lead. The last few characters have just driven me bonkers. I also feel that the eating disorder in this book should have been brought to light in a different way.

KC is loved by so many. I should just accept her books are not for me.

I wanted to love this book as this author is a favorite of mine, but it was just okay for me.

To avoid being laid off, Katie takes on an assignment from her co-worker, Cole, in Key West to profile Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson. The problem? She can't swim, but she will deal with that when she gets there.

It turns out Hutch is Cole's brother, and the reason Cole gave her this assignment is because he didn't want to go and see Hutch.

I was hoping for more of a romance in this book. It was there, but slight. It was overshadowed by Katie's self-doubts about her body. I get that the author was trying to promote self-love, but it was too much. That (and Cole's shenanigans) overpowered every other part of the story. I did enjoy the Great Dane, George Bailey, though.

The narrator, Patti Murin, is really good. She made this a pleasant listen.

Thank you to the author and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listeners copy. Thank you to Booksparks for the #gifted physical copy.

Thank you for the ARC!

I love Katherine Centers books because they are just so cozy! This was no different.

I really enjoyed this because I live in the Florida keys so it was nice to have a familiar setting in the book.

I want to read it again and will probably come back with more!

I love absolutely everything I've read by Katherine Center and this story is not the exception! Great book!

Katherine Center delivers another heartwarming rom-com gem with The Love Haters! Set in sunny Key West, the story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer who lands a make-or-break assignment profiling charming Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson — despite secretly not knowing how to swim.
What follows is a whirlwind of hilarious mishaps, heartfelt growth, and sizzling chemistry, all wrapped in Center’s signature warmth and wit. With quirky side characters, a lovable dog, and a heroine learning to trust herself, this book is a feel-good escape that celebrates love, laughter, and second chances.
Perfect for fans of breezy beach reads with heart!

3.25 stars

I really wanted to love this book more than I did. I typically find Katherine Center’s books to be witty and delightful, albeit a little too chaste for my taste. However, if you’re looking for a slow burn with lots of over-the-top hijinks, colorful characters, and no on-page spice, this is going to be the perfect book for you.

The setting is the real star here, and I can picture many readers picking this up to read by the pool or at the beach. Fans of Center’s work will find that this is very true to her overall vibe and will hopefully really enjoy the book!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for this ARC of The Love Haters!

Katherine Center is always a yes buy for me when she comes out with a new book. Her books are always light-hearted, funny and full of romance but unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. Can we please stop writing FMC characters as these self-loathing, insecure women who can’t say anything positive about themselves? I wanted to like Katie, but she was so negative. It seemed the second half of the book was also written by a completely different author. It took a turn I did not like and thought was completely unnecessary.

I loved Rue & the ladies in the complex! I could read a whole novel just about them.

My first Katherine Center book and it was sooooo good. So funny, sweet, and cozy and perfect for the start of summer.

As a girl who has visited the Florida Keys sporting her wardrobe consisting entirely of varying shades of black and dark grey, I feel like this book was written for me.

Katherine Center never fails to deliver a story that sweeps you up and makes you fall head over heels in love with each of the characters and with love itself. The Love Haters is a perfect summer beach romance, but it’s so much more. It’s a whole journey of self healing, and for all the girlies like me hiding in all your dark colors, it’s time to break free and bust out your colorful caftans. Plus it features an extremely swoony rescue diver and a very lovable Great Dane.

The Love Haters comes out May 20th, and you definitely don’t want to miss this one!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Love this book and thought it was a really sweet story. While I loved the message about body positivity, I did feel like Katie always talking about how she struggles with her image to be draining. I also thought it was unrealistic how she learned to love and appreciate her body during the storm.

Katherine Center can do no wrong in my opinion! This was funny, heartwarming, perfectly paced, and had lovable side characters (and dog)! I read it almost in one sitting and don’t regret a thing.

Thank you to the publisher for me eARC and thank you for the traveling arc copy you gave our group!

I think it's honestly impossible to read a Katherine Center book and not close it with a smile on your face. Her latest story follows hunky but humble Key West Coast Guard hero, Hutch. Katie is a journalist tasked with filming a Coast Guard promo video who has been unlucky in life and in love.
Katie learns to let go of some fears and embrace the Key West life with help from Hutch, his Aunt Rue, and an adorable Great Dane. But her inability to swim and a hurricane coming make Katie truly confront her innermost fears and realize she's had what it takes to thrive all along.

I loved Katie's transformation with the love and acceptance she develops especially with her body. I think that's something all women will be able to relate to.

The Love Haters follows videographer Katie going to Key West to film a promo video featuring Hutch for the Coast Guard. The two of them are allegedly both love haters, but have no problem falling for each other for no particular reason in ways that the reader doesn’t really get to see. You really saw very little of Hutch and Katie falling in love.

These two sort of just inexplicably like each other from day one, but can’t be together for a slew of ridiculous reasons, the worst of all being his brother/her coworker lying about dating Katie, for reasons that don’t fully make sense. This plot line was convoluted and lasted too long.

Things I did like: the Key West setting, Hutch’s job (particularly the rescue scene at the end, yet even that felt anticlimactic), and the dog/aunt. Besides that, it was fine. Not a favorite of mine, but a moderately entertaining summer read.

Oh my goodness!!!!! Absolutely fabulous read! Everything I ever wanted in a book is in this novel! Center puts in different tid bits of knowledge that are enjoyable and entertaining. Center does a great job pacing the reader and establishing relationships with the characters. There is no wasted time in this book! I appreciate how Center sets the table. LET HER COOK! Every piece of information in this novel comes back into play! The relationships that the characters have with themselves as well as each other is unmatched. I was wicked sad when I completed this book. I am running, not walking, to getting another work from Center.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Love Haters.

Katherine Center can do no wrong in my book. This was another heartfelt, funny, and well-crafted rom-com with fully realized characters and just the right amount of emotional depth. Both Katie and Hutch felt believable and layered, and their chemistry unfolded in a way that was both satisfying and authentic.

The premise—being sent to profile a Coast Guard rescue swimmer while pretending you can swim—sets the stage for plenty of chaos, and Center delivers. Between the tropical setting, sibling tension, and one very charming Great Dane, the book had a great mix of levity and heart. I especially appreciated how Katie’s growth arc was handled—watching her confront fear and lean into bravery gave the story real emotional payoff.

Smart, funny, and full of charm, this is another strong addition to Katherine Center’s rom-com lineup.