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!

When I think of a Katherine Center book, I think of a fun romance with heart and depth, and that’s exactly what I got with this newest book.

The heroines in KC’s books are always funny and relatable, and I found Katie to be someone I’d want to be friends with. I did want to give her a hug and talk some sense into her during her (too many) negative self-talking moments, but I did enjoy seeing her growth in that area over the course of the book. I loved Rue (and The Gals!) and how she helped Katie in that process, and also for her lively attitude.

As for the romance, there was a lot to like here. A funny meet-cute, good banter, deeper moments, and shared vulnerabilities. The situation between Katie and Hutch felt like a rollercoaster at times, but I was 100% along for the ride. I could’ve done without the deception (or so much of it) towards the last 1/3, but the ending made it worth it to me.

Thank you netgalley and st.martins press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review😌

This read feels like having a conversation with your BEST FRIEND. Like that well needed catch up. Honestly, I feel like I am right there getting Katie’s run down of her life, as if this is a regular occurrence. Somehow she is levelheaded and irrational at the same time?? As for Hutch; GREAT MMC! Hutch… a gorgeous, dedicated, thoughtful HERO of a man who just yearns for someone to SEE HIM. And that’s all anybody wants, isn’t it? He’s also a coast guard rescue swimmer??? UM HOT!!🤤😍That alone should convince you to read this.

A lot of focus on the body positivity as well as aspects of body shaming and poor self-love. unfortunately this is a relatable topic for me and I feel it was handled so well. Not delicately nor bluntly per se but with the right approach to make it relatable to the reader in a healthy, positive and even kind of funny and lighthearted type of way. Everything Katie said, felt and realized along the way feels like my journey too. I almost highlighted a whole chapter!!!🥹

I’d like to say that I even really enjoyed the supporting characters. The ones who tell it how it is, hype you up and feed into your delusions BUT will also be the voice of reason and keeps you on track👏🏼

There is some really great imagery towards the end of this story and I felt so submerged in what Katie was experiencing at some points, as if I was experiencing it myself. I just kept leaning closer to my screen to see where we’d end up! Great epilouge, great story, thankful to have this be my first Katherine Center read🫶🏼

The Love Haters is another fun summer read from Katherine Center. Video producer Katie lies that she can swim in order to save her career and work on a project profiling Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. A summery romcom in Key West with fun side characters, The Love Haters also tackles body image and self confidence, family relationships, and accepting love. Center's writing has a wonderful balance of fun, humor, and charm with emotional depth and character development. As always, her books are feel-good, heartfelt, and charming, and this one is particularly escapist.

Katie is a video producer, tasked to film a piece on Hutch - the Coast Guard rescue swimmer who went viral saving Jennifer Aniston’s dog. The job was originally for her coworker, Cole, but he would rather do anything than spotlight his brother as a hero. Katie takes on the job, battling not only self-image issues but also the fact she doesn’t know how to swim. Hutch, reluctant to participate, rises to the challenge in more ways than one. As the two get to know each other, a few challenges and lies emerge, making it hard for Katie and Hutch to work together, and hard for them to stop liking each other too.

Y’all. This had me GIGGLING! I loved this story. I have only read one other Katherine Center, so I wasn’t sure how this one would resonate with me, but oh did it. I loved both main characters. Katie is relatable to me, and develops an amazing sense of self-love over time. Hutch is the perfect combo of grumpy and flirty, and I just KNOW he’s good looking 😂 Can we start producing a movie for this one? I’m in. I appreciated both of their back stories and how it helped them relate more to each other. The big blow up almost pissed me off, not gonna lie - but the rest of the story and the emotions I experienced still kept this one ranking high for me.

Another fun story by Katherine Center! I loved FMC Katie's character ARC and the way she learned to love and accept herself, despite inward and outward criticism. The supporting characters were lovable as always (maybe with the exception of Cole, eye roll). Hutch is a delicious cinnamon roll of a man and I officially think a Coast Guard swimmer might be the hottest job?

There were a few things I didn't totally love - I wanted more from Katie and Hutch's romance, especially at the end. I would've loved to actually "see" them get to know each other (i.e. the carpools to and from work) more instead of just hearing about it.

Overall, a solid KC read! I will read anything this woman writes and can't wait to listen to the audio because Patti Murrin always does a great job!

The first half was a cute, grumpy x sunshine. There were some twists in the second half that made it more interesting than I anticipated. I love a good hero coming to the rescue! As usual the dog was my favorite character!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St Martins Press for this ARC!

This author's fans are in for a treat. This is another lighthearted contemporary fiction romance by the ever-popular Katherine Center who is always on my must-read list. This book is the perfect escape. I shrugged off my cares and worries for a few days and melted into this story. The storyline is clear cut and the writing is flawless. I laughed and I cried, and I rooted for the romance between Katie and Hutch. I especially loved Rue, The Gals, and George Bailey. Overall, this was a very entertaining read.

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This author is usually 5 stars for me. But I just couldn’t get into this one. I was honestly just bored. I didn’t feel any vibes between these characters. I love the quirky banter between her characters but there wasn’t any here. The MFC was understandable with her anxiety and body image issues, because that’s me too… so I felt like I could step into her shoes there. I was more curious about the relationship between the brothers.

Edited: I came back because I finished the book! I was 1/3 in when I last posted about this one. I found the beginning to be very slow and hard to get into. But the last 2/3 picks up! I really enjoyed the body positivity and accepting yourself as you are. I think the relationship building kind of took a backseat in this story. It was more about character development. Which I can appreciate but I did want a little more there. I loved the couple tho. And I love the direction Cole went even if his character wasn’t very lovable. All the characters were great. I loved the dog too! All in all, a great story.. I just wished for more on the romance part.