This book toed a very fine line, and ultimately fell into the "just bonkers enough to work" category. It didn't take itself too seriously, but never verged into slapstick. As the reader, it's fun to suspend your disbelief sometimes and just roll with the weird punches, and this book is definitely one of those!

I had a great time reading this. At one point I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. And I'm sorry, a giant recuse Great Dane named George Bailey?! Quite frankly, that was enough for me, I could weather any storm (lol) and be happy just because of that one side character (side canine?)

This book is for the readers who want to have a good time! I can see this being the perfect relaxation read, whether you're at the lake or chilling in your living room. I was engaged, I had fun, and when it was over I had a big ol' smile on my face. A truly delightful read!

Katie is in fear of losing her job and takes an opportunity to save it by doing a story on Coast Guard rescuers. She takes the job knowing it will be immersive albeit the fact that she doesn't know how to swim.

Hutch is a super good-looking rescue swimmer who Katie has the pleasure of meeting for her video story. She also happens to be staying with Hutch's "Aunt" and works with his brother, who set the whole thing up. Hilarity ensues while Katie learns how to swim and takes on the Coast Guard rescue course.

I liked this story but felt Katie and Hutch's relationship could have been developed more throughout. Although I did hope that they would get together in the end; we all want that happy ending; how they fell for each other just felt lacking. There was too much emphasis on Katie's body image throughout the book. Yes, we get that it's an insecurity of hers but it didn't have to become her whole personality.

I loved Rue and the Gals!

This was a fun, quick read but the ending seemed a little far fetched. I am a huge fan of Katherine Center's books and always look forward to their release. Unfortunately I had to drop this one down to 4 stars for reasons mentioned above. Thank you St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I love when a love story feels so all encompassing that it wraps around you in so many different ways and this story was so beautifully that. It was funny and complicated and inspiring and soul searching and I loved every second! Katherine Center does such an amazing job of pulling you in to not just the love story but the setting and the secondary characters that every moment leaves you wanting more. I felt as if I was sipping sangrias with The Gals and flying in helicopters with Hutch and that is truly the marker of an amazing story!

Katie’s story was one I think so many women can relate to and she had me wanting to give her a big huge hug the whole time. Watching her embrace her body and who she is and find the joy in being seen and noticed again was so so beautiful.

Hutch, my MAN!! Loved him so much and seeing all the little ways in which he loved Katie. He was constantly showing her not just telling her how he feels and I loved it! Always so interesting to watch a broody mmc come out of his shell.

This story is romantic and brimming with tension I truly cannot recommend it enough!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Katherine Center just gets better and better. This time with a documentary filmmaker who is experimenting a bit of employment uncertainty and tasked with a job to boost the Coast Guard. Luckily there is a handsome hero. He would be perfect if only he weren’t completely against the whole project.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This book was cute. It wasn’t extraordinary or exciting necessarily, but it was cute. The characters were likable (especially Rue and the Gals), the setting was fun, and it was pretty informative about the USCG while still being entertaining. If you have ever suffered from body dysmorphia you will relate to the main character; if you have NEVER suffered from body dysmorphia, I can totally see where the constant bringing up of this topic would get annoying after a while.

There was absolutely nothing realistic about this story— and that’s perfectly okay for what it was.

My biggest complaint is the writing style. The author chooses to fluctuate. I thought the whole thing was in first person, until all of a sudden the main character decided to start addressing the audience and it switched almost to second person? Not a fan. Also, she referred to the love interest as a “alpha male” multiple times, and *gag* I HATE that. Gives me major ick.

I’d give it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.

Katie’s job is on the line when she agrees to travel to Key West to film a profile on Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The only problem is Katie doesn’t know how to swim. One thing leads to another and Katie is befriending Hutch’s aunt, getting swimming lessons with him and filming a day in the life episode. It’s no wonder she falls so hard to the perfect man she finds in Hutch, but does he feel the same way? And if he does, will the secrets Katie’s been keeping push him away?

I have loved everything I’ve read by Katherine Center so it’s no surprise I loved this book too. I was pulled in from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. Katie and Hutch were great lead characters with depth and complexity that added so much to the story. The chemistry and attraction between them was strong and hard to ignore. This book was full of funny, sweet, tear jerking and romantic moments. It took me on the full roller coaster ride of emotions but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoyed this romance so much and would definitely recommend it. If you are looking for a good romance read with great characters, depth and some comic relief look no farther!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the ARC of Katherine Center’s latest, The Lover Haters! I’m such a fan of Katherine Center and this is my SEVENTH novel I’ve read by her. She always does such a great job sharing a sweet love story while also tackling heavier issues and I’m always excited for her newest release!

This is a romcom between a famed coast guard rescuer, “Hutch”, and Katie, a video producer on assignment in Key West. Their story was a simple, predictable romcom (which I do love!), but Hutch didn’t seem quite fleshed out other than the fact he was hot and loved his dog- so their chemistry and romance didn’t make much sense to me. Katie also made some pretty questionable decisions throughout the whole novel, so that was a little hard to get through. This one was a miss for me, but I ADORED two of the side characters so much, Rue, Hutch’s quirky and lovable aunt, and George Bailey, his adorable dog. In addition to the love story, Katie had her own journey dealing with her body image issues and self-love, which was nice to show for some more depth to her character, but still didn’t have me loving this book. This was not my favorite from the author, but I will always check out her latest and hope to connect more with her next novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn’t love The Love Haters, but I really liked it! The story follows Katie, a videographer who pretends she can swim to keep her job—landing her in Key West to film a Coast Guard hero (and her co-worker’s estranged brother). There’s humor, romance, and some over-the-top moments, but Katie’s journey toward self-acceptance is heartfelt and satisfying. A fun twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope.

DNF at 30%. I have really loved Katherine Center’s last three books so I was excited to pick this one up. But it was not for me. I really didn’t like the FMC (she was very two dimensional and her big thing was that her body image issues made her hate color, like even color that she wasn’t having to wear?) and the plot took a long time to pick up. It was hard for me to connect to the story and I couldn’t make it through. I hope her next book is better but this one is not for me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. [note: I do not post reviews of books I DNF online.]

✦POV: Single first-person
Katie is living the hero’s journey. While on this adventure in Key West, she will explore her relationship with her body and self and open herself back up to romantic love with Hutch after a very public betrayal. Katie is relatable and sympathetic and has great growth by the end. I liked Katie, but did find her tendency to repeat statements back as questions annoying.

Hutch is a hero, through and through. It’s the whole point, and the reason she goes to Key West, but as we learn more about him and his struggle, I wanted to reach through the page to hug him. He gets in his own way but his devotion to Katie from the start is achingly obvious. He also practices random acts of kindness, and that is hot af.

✦Spice: No/Low
This is a wholesome rom com, with a hint of suggestion. Like, we know they’re thinking saucy thoughts, but they aren’t printed. There are a couple of swoon-worthy kisses, but that’s as far as the spice goes.

The tension, however! This is one thing I love about Katherine Center’s writing: even though we’re only getting one POV, she writes scenes and reactions so that reading between the lines is easy and their longing is clear. She’s one of few authors who can make my chest ache with nothing more than the lead-up to a kiss. 💋

❝You know that feeling when someone’s about to kiss you? That tension? That palpable anticipation? How everything slows down and seems to matter in a whole new way? That was the feeling I had. And it pushed out all the others.❞

✩ Meddling matriarchs are my catnip in rom-coms, and The Love Haters adds a massive Great Dane into the mix! Cue genuine LOLs.

✦More to love about The Love Haters
🌺 Beautiful setting
🛥️ A houseboat!
🫶 Strong relationships
🥰 Found family
🛏️ Only one bed
❤️‍🔥 Forced proximity
☀️ Grumpy/ sunshine
😆 Banter!

♡ The Love Haters is an addictive, fast-paced read I recommend if you like rom-coms featuring thoughtful, moral-of-the-story vibes, and heroic grand gestures.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨ Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the chance to read this book early in exchange of an honest review.

And honest I'm going to be... I like Katherine Center and have enjoyed most of her books, but this book was the worst. There was so much body talk that is was a huge turn off for me. It was obsessive and yes I know there are people who struggle with that but I don't need to read about it in a "romance/light hearted" story. It was overkill to the point that I started skimming. And don't even get me started on Beanie! I couldn't wrap my mind around why she kept sending Katie every song and article that came up with her in it. Like how was that helpful to your friend that is trying to move forward. This was categorized as a romance but it felt more like a chick lit with a dash of romance thrown in. Towards the end of the book the whole plot just went sideways and I was hate reading just to finish. it Maybe this will work for some but it definitely didn't work for me. I will continue to read Katherine Centers books and hopefully the next one will work out better for me.

This was a 2/5 stars for me.

Thank you to @katherinecenter @stmartinspress @netgalley for the #gifted e-book and @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 for the #gifted audiobook.

Katherine Center is my go-to author for romantic comedies, and her latest book did not disappoint.

In this captivating story, we meet Katie, a video producer at a career crossroads, facing a difficult decision: wait for a looming layoff or take a leap into the unknown by profiling Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, all while being encouraged by Hutch's estranged brother, Cole. Despite her inability to swim, Katie embarks on this assignment with unwavering determination.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Key West, Katie finds herself drawn to Hutch, a man with a complex perspective on love, a playful Great Dane, and an enchanting Aunt Rue. As she takes swim lessons and navigates unexpected chemistry with Hutch, Katie confronts her own fears and learns to embrace her truth.

I was truly captivated by Katie's character—her vulnerability, her wit, and her courageous spirit. This heartwarming narrative serves as a powerful reminder that love is worth fighting for and that facing our deepest insecurities is an essential part of growth. It's a story about bravery—not just the grand gestures, but the everyday courage it takes to be vulnerable and take risks on the beautiful, albeit scary, aspects of life. With its delightful twists, warmth, and just the right sprinkle of romance, this book will make your heart flutter.

The narrator did a superb job of bringing the characters to life with amazing emotion. The writing is exceptional—thoughtful, engaging, and utterly gripping. I also appreciated the rich sense of community woven throughout the character dynamics. The author's note at the end offers profound insights about our self-perception and the vital role love stories play in our lives, making this book an absolute must-read!

Important themes—but the execution felt overwhelming.

I usually love Katherine Center’s books for their heart, humor, and hopeful tone, so I was really looking forward to The Love Haters. Unfortunately, this one didn’t land for me the way her other stories have—and a big part of that was how it handled body image.

Katie, the main character, is dealing with deep insecurities about her appearance, which is a completely valid and important topic in romance. But the amount of focus on her body and food—page after page of inner monologue centered on what she’s wearing, how she looks, what she’s eating, what others might think—became overwhelming and, honestly, triggering. There is a huge content warning here for body image struggles and disordered eating. If that’s something you’re sensitive to, proceed with caution.

What disappointed me most was that Katie’s growth felt largely tied to male validation. Instead of watching her come into her own power and confidence, much of her self-worth seemed to shift only once Hutch—her love interest—starts complimenting her. That messaging didn’t sit well with me.

There were elements I enjoyed: the Key West setting (once we got there), Aunt Rue and her rescue dog were bright spots, and I appreciated the author’s note about wanting to write a story of healing between a woman and her body. But the delivery felt uneven, and the romance lacked the spark and emotional depth I’ve come to expect from this author.

I’ll continue to read Katherine Center’s books, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger by Katherine Center, but this one fell a bit flat for me. While I did love the fun Key West cottage setting with a group of old gal pals, I was not crazy about our main character Katie. I understand her struggles with body image, but it seemed to be the only thing her inner monologue mentioned. It was a bit "in your face" with the revelations as well. Like she was overexplaining these "ah ha" moments she was having in regards to overcoming her body image issues.

I quite liked our MMC Hutch and his lovable Great Dane, and felt bad for him with how AWFULLLL his brother Cole (Katie's coworker) was and how he manipulated him. Cole was literally the worst character ever and I was so mad at Katie for going along with his scheme. (I know she was mad at herself for it too, PLUS I understand the one reason she went along with it, not wanting to bring up something hurtful to Hutch, but still.)

I wish we had more moments of Hutch and Katie being happy and together! There wasn't enough of that for me. They had good moments of friendship in the beginning as they got to know one another, but I needed a little more romantic interaction.

Overall, even though I had some qualms with the characters and the plot was a little all over the place, the fun setting, great cast of side character, and our lovely MMC kept me interested so I am landing on a 3 star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. As with all of Katherine Center's books, you can expect a really enjoyable Rom Com but with some serious life issues mixed in. I've read all of her books and always find them so enjoyable and The Love Haters is no exception. Also, she's helped me realize that my retirement goal is to have a cottage on the beach with all my friend's living in theirs next to me and have sundown sangria and bbq every night. Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and liked the characters. I liked learning more about the coast guard and just how difficult their jobs are. Good chemistry with the main character, Katie, and reading how much she changed as a person during the course of the story.

Trigger warning on body image issues, if those stories are a problem for you.

Definitely a book I recommend!

I loved this book! Katherine Center is definitely one of my favorite authors and The Love Haters lived up to all of my expectations.
Kate is a videographer and sent to do a documentary on Hutch - a never of the coast guard. The catch is that Kate can’t swim and both she and Hutch have sworn off love.
I lived the characters and although, I received a free advanced copy, I will still be buying this book so I can have a hard copy for my shelf! I loved it!

Katherine Center's The Love Haters presents a central love story with undeniable appeal. The chemistry between the protagonists, Katie and Hutch, is a highlight, drawing the reader into their evolving relationship. Center excels at crafting witty banter and emotionally resonant moments, making the romance a compelling and enjoyable aspect of the novel.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. While the exploration of body image issues is undoubtedly important, it sometimes feels heavy-handed and preachy. Katie's internal monologues on the subject often overshadow other story elements, disrupting the narrative flow.

Furthermore, the book tends to veer off on tangents. Several plot threads are introduced but left unresolved, leaving the reader with a sense of incompleteness. For instance, the storyline involving Lucas' song release and his subsequent lack of contact with Katie feels underdeveloped and ultimately unsatisfying. These loose ends detract from the overall cohesiveness of the narrative. Adding to the narrative issues is the confusing and inconsistent voice; at times Katie addresses the reader directly, while at other times she narrates the story in a more traditional third-person style. This shifting narrative perspective can be jarring and disorienting, further taking the reader out of the story.

While The Love Haters is an engaging read, it ultimately feels somewhat superficial. The novel touches on deeper themes but often does so without fully exploring them. The character development, while charming, lacks the depth needed to elevate the story beyond a surface-level romance. The novel hints at a more profound exploration of self-acceptance and overcoming past hurts, but ultimately settles for a more simplistic approach.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the book.

The Love Haters is the latest Katherine Center title. Katie Vaughn is a videographer who has been tasked with filming a promotional video for the Coast Guard featuring Tom "Hutch" Hutchinson, a rescue diver based in Key West. Hutch thinks that the videographer will be Cole, his brother, but Cole sends Katie. The catch? Katie doesn't know how to swim, yet she is supposed to do everything the divers do to qualify to follow the rescue team.

The Love Haters wasn't my favorite Center book, by any means. Katie's "self-loathing" was annoying. Her ex-fiance is now a music star, and he cheated on Katie with another musician. Katie now "hates herself" and thinks that she is "ugly." Of course, Hutch is the most dashing man ever to live, and Katie doesn't feel adequate.

The body shaming and feud between the two brothers takes up most of the novel, and then when Katie is supposed to evacuate the Keys due to an incoming hurricane, she turns around and goes back to save Hutch's great dane. The entire novel was just too far fetched for me to enjoy.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of this title.

Read the book along with the Audible - just fell flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all. I will forever be a fan of Katherine Center but this one just wasn't for me.

I always look forward to reading the latest Katherine Center book every summer... but unfortunately, I had to stop reading the love haters. the body image issues were seriously mishandled & it was very hard to read about the toxic relationship she had with herself. as the love haters is pitched as a romcom, (& comes across that way in the blurb) with no content warning for the deeper issues at hand, I was unaware that the body issues was going to take such a front seat in the storyline.