I would give this book more of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up to a 4 :)

I quite enjoyed this book. I thought many parts of it were cute and funny. I can't exactly pinpoint what I didn't like about it but there was something that wasn't quite my cup of tea. However, I didn't hate the book and thought it was a cute little rom-com.

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center, but this book didn’t hit for me.

There were too many plot elements and some of them did not mesh with the arc of the story. Confronting body image issues because you have to work with the Coast guard..that works. The famous ex..a bridge too far. A tragic backstory keeping emotionally stunted brothers apart..makes sense. A fake dating scheme for job security/revenge/secret keeping..too much!

I needed more romance. What was here was fine, but it got drowned (pun intended) out by all the other competing elements. Also, I don’t think either of the MCs, at any part of the story, actually hate love.

Katherine Center's upcoming novel is the rom-commiest rom-com to ever rom-com in the best possible way. I finished it in less than 24 hours, stayed up way too late reading it, and changed my morning plans so I could finish reading it. And now I'm a little bit mad at myself for that, because it's over. I'm not ready for it to be over. I loved being in this world.

Shortly after becoming engaged, video producer Katie is jilted by her fiancé after his singer-songwriter career takes off. A year later, her company has announced layoffs are imminent when her supervisor, Cole, offers her an assignment that could save her job: go to Key West and film a recruitment video for the Coast Guard. The subject is an unbearably perfect, unattainably handsome rescuer fondly known by the internet as Pup Daddy since he saved Jennifer Aniston's dog from a cliff face. He also happens to be Cole's brother, who Cole is avoiding.

Katie is suspicious of Cole's motives, but packs her bags and heads to Key West in an effort to save her job. There's just one teeny, tiny problem: Katie doesn't know how to swim, and to go up in the helicopter to film, she has to pass a simulation that involves swimming from a helicopter that has been flipped upside down in the water. Thankfully, the internet's favorite Pup Daddy (AKA Cole's brother, Hutch) is there to give her swimming lessons.

What was it about this novel that so enraptured me? Was it Katie's relatable, if troubled, relationship with her body? Hutch's gentle giant Great Dane, George Bailey? Beanie, Katie's cousin, whose self-help obsession manifests to coach Katie through her phobias? The healing journey, the cinematic quality of the scenes, the dialogue, the hijinks so hilarious I snort-laughed in public because it simply could not be helped? Of course the answer is all of the above.

But--on top of all of that-- this story has so much heart and depth. I cared about these characters. Every side character, animal, moment is so well developed. This gives each character, regardless of how much page time they get, a sense of realness-- they could easily be someone you pass on the street, or even fall in love with.

If you're looking for a delightful, enchanting story full of heart, humor, and of course a perfect dog, look no further. This one is imminently re-readable, and has definitely made my favorite rom-coms of all time list.

Special thanks to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinion.

The Love Haters will be available May 20, 2025.

First, I would like to thank Katherine Centers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I have a friend who loves Katherine Centers and is always trying to get me to read her books. This was my first, and I really enjoyed it. I love a book that keeps you laughing out loud but also touches on deep topics as well.

Katie, our FMC, was very relatable. She has BEEN THROUGH IT, the last few years. In turn, she had some things to work through on her own. She had to be vulnerable and brave. We have all been there, right? Learning to stand up to that little voiced in our head that tells all the negative things? Being inside Katie's head in this book was a wild ride, she is HILARIOUS. Also, I also have a little "pie piece" in my right eye that a different color, so that was a neat thing to relate to!

"𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎"

Hutch, our MMC, is the literal definition of GREEN FLAG. He is the opposite of what I expected going into this story. He was kind, caring, understanding, gentle and a hot US coast guard rescue swimmer. Is that legal to be all of that at once? I adored him.

"ｙｏｕ'ｒｅ ｌｉｋｅ ａ ｈｕｍａｎ ｈｏｔ-ｆｕｄｇｅ ｓｕｎｄａｅ ｏｒ ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ"

If you’ve read Katherine Center before, then you’re familiar with her quirky heroines, seemingly starchy but surprisingly approachable heroes and her brand of romance that is comedic and low angst. The Love Haters is exactly what readers will remember about Center’s novels. This one hit the middle of the road for me. It was more on the light end of romance than others of Center’s. I laughed, I smiled, but there are also more serious topics at hand here.

Katie is about to embark on an adventure for work with the Coast Guard and for that she must pass swimming tests and be dressed in swimming attire for a good portion of the trip. This book played heavily into Katie’s self-acceptance of her body. Her struggles with loving her body and loving herself were forefront for much of the book. The way she handles her insecurities isn’t healthy (and she realizes that), but readers sensitive to discussion of body acceptance should be wary. It doesn’t help that she’s faced with Hutch, the perfect specimen of masculine virility, someone whose job it is to stay fit. And for as little as Hutch considers his self-worth through his body, it makes Katie more hyperaware of her own. I think these are considerations many women have and struggle with, but I perhaps was not expecting this to be the leading foot for Katie’s personality.

The chemistry between Hutch and Katie is tender and believable, but I’m not sure I was as connected to them as I was to other characters Center has written. I was also thoroughly frustrated with Cole (Hutch’s brother and Katie’s work superior) who expects Katie to pretend they’re dating, and then later basically wants to auction her off to a room full of drunk men. Fortunately Hutch is the man to save this disaster, but I just didn’t feel that the reason Katie went along with Cole’s agenda was worthy. I did, however like the houseboat twist at the end and this brought back some of the swooniness I typically read Center’s book for. She’ll continue to be an auto-read author for me, even if this wasn’t my fave. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5️⃣
Steam: 🪭
Humor: 🤡🤡

Katherine Center has a gift for creating a story that gets you hooked and wanting more from the characters and the romance they get caught up with. The main character struggles with being body positive and this often takes over the story and takes away from the overall plot. There could have been less of this as it got to be too much at times and more of the romance or character building in other ways. I would love to see the story from the perspective of Hutch. Crazy at times, this story did have me laughing out loud or shaking my head. Overall, it is a cute love story that makes you dream of love and sunshine.

Katherine Center has once again delivered a captivating and heartwarming story with The Love Haters. This novel is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and personal growth, set against the picturesque backdrop of Key West.

Katie Vaughn, a talented video producer, finds herself in a precarious situation after a public breakup and the looming threat of job loss. To salvage her career, she agrees to profile Hutch, a heroic Coast Guard rescue swimmer, in the idyllic setting of Key West. However, complications arise when Katie's inability to swim becomes apparent, and she discovers that Hutch's brother, Cole, who assigned her the task, has a strained relationship with Hutch. As Katie navigates the challenges of her assignment, she also confronts her own insecurities and the possibility of new love.

The Love Haters is a testament to Katherine Center's talent for crafting stories that are both heartwarming and meaningful. With its compelling characters, engaging plot, and insightful themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone seeking a story that celebrates love in all its forms.

3.5⭐️ for me rounded up. I’ll caveat this review by saying I’m a tough rater when it comes to romance books, but there’ve been a few KC books I’ve really enjoyed so I was excited to get this one on NetGalley. I probably should’ve read the synopsis as well, because as a veteran myself I often find the rhetoric about service men to be far more romanticized than reality (I get it… it’s a romance book…)

Katie is a video producer given an opportunity of a lifetime to prove her worth to the company amidst layoffs by taking a job to do a day in the life and promotional video of her boss Cole’s brother. His brother, Hutch, happens to be an infamous Coast Guard rescue swimmer who rescued Jennifer Anniston’s dog. The catch? Katie cant swim, her boss and his brother don’t speak, and Hutch doesn’t want to be famous. Katie finds herself head over heels and stuck in the middle of an unexpected love triangle (sorta).

There were many moments that had me chuckling out loud in this book. I enjoyed the witty banter and loved the dog. I found Katie to be a middle of the road FMC - she wasn’t helpless (thankfully!) and she took some big risks but she suffered with an over the top need for affirmation from others due to her internet-caused body image issues. Rue snd Hutch’s dog really steal the show!

I did like the theme about how terrible the internet trolls can be, and the damage that can cause to our self-esteem. Loving yourself is hard enough without the added pressure to look perfect in case the internet decides to judge you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨ A Romance That Rescues Your Heart: Full of Healing, Humor, and Heroic Love ✨

I never thought a romance book could be this riveting, that I would crave every page and find myself sitting on the edge of my seat. The Love Haters by Katherine Center hits you with all the feelings and intensity. Once you start, it lingers in your mind all day long, and you won’t be able to stop until you know what happens next.

Katie is at the heart of this story. She’s the perfect representation of so many of us, her life isn’t perfect, but she does her best to survive. She’s hurting, insecure about her body and how she dresses, and has stopped wearing vibrant colors because of past trauma. What I love about Katie is how much she grows throughout the story. She made me reflect on life and truly represented what many women feel.

Then comes Tom Hutcheson also known as "Hutch", the seemingly perfect guy with the perfect everything. He looks flawless and seems to have it all together, but no one knows what he’s had to endure to survive. The pain he carries and everything he’s lost make him so much more than just the "perfect guy." Together with supporting characters like Rue, Beanie, George Bailey, and Cole, this cast is full of relatable, lovable people, and one unforgettable dog.

The Love Haters is a story of trauma, grief, healing, and kindness. It's packed with funny scenes, a sweet rescue dog, a town full of unforgettable characters, helicopters, and a sprinkle of hot rescuers. I am absolutely in love with this book. Katherine Center made me fall for her characters and delivered plot twists that went far beyond anything I expected.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read the story of Katie, Hutch, and George Bailey, and for making me fall in love with every single page.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Katie being saved multiple times by Hutch
📌 Rue being a lovable foster mother adored by all
📌 Rue bringing vibrant swimsuits and dresses for Katie every single time
📌 Rue and The Gals’ hospitality and warmth
📌 Hutch dedicating his life to rescuing people
📌 George Bailey jumping onto Katie every time
📌 Katie’s heroic act (Like, OMG!!! This girl is amazing!)
📌 Cole’s powerful character development
📌 Katie finally embracing her insecurities and finding her confidence

✨TROPES:
📌 Grumpy x Sunshine
📌 Rescue Romance
📌 Found Family
📌 Small-Town Charm
📌 Opposites Attract
📌 Emotional Healing
📌 Insecure Heroine with Inner Strength
📌 Hot Hero with a Tragic Past
📌 Slow Burn Romance
📌 Big Dog, Big Heart
📌 No Spice

Center is an auto buy author for me! I’ve loved the majority of her books and this was no exception. It does read slightly different than her other books but I really enjoyed this one. I wouldn’t describe it as a romance, more a women’s fiction!

🏖️ The Love Haters by Katherine Center 🏖️

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️.5 (2.5/5)

Katie has two choices: get laid off from her video producer job; or take a job profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a coast guard rescue swimmer in Key West. It should be an easy choice, but Katie can’t swim. And Hutch hasn’t necessarily agreed to the profile. When Katie lies about her abilities to get the job, things get messy, and both her and Hutch have to learn to be brave.

I was super excited to receive an ARC of The Love Haters, as I’ve loved some of Katherine Center’s books in the past. Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit for me. I kind of felt like it started really fast with us being thrown in, and I would have maybe liked to see a bit more of Katie first.
First - let’s talk about the romance. I felt like I didn’t get to know the characters very well, and I didn’t see their chemistry. There were a couple cute moments, but overall, I didn’t see why they were into each other.
Second - the body image stuff. I felt like this was an important topic that maybe wasn’t handled in a great way. While the handling of it may be relatable to some, there should have been trigger warnings that I hope are part of the published version. Even if being talked about in a way that is relatable, it felt kind of like a punch line at some times, and I think there should have been more acknowledgement of the harm and trauma and ways people can get help. And like referring to a girl posting bikini pictures as being flirty?? I didn’t love it.
While I liked some of the characters (mostly Rue and George Bailey), I wanted to know Katie and Hutch a bit more. I also felt that Beanie didn’t add a lot (and how did she not notice the eye thing?????).
Overall, this wasn’t my favourite Katherine Center book, but I understand why people love it, and I’ll definitely read her next release.

Read this if you like:
- deception
- funny senior characters
- intense jobs and a look into those

Vibes: 🩱🚁🌊🎥

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

🌸The Love Haters is out May 20, 2025! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.🌸

I adore Katherine Center’s books, and this story was great. It had some heartwarming moments and made me laugh out loud.

Katie is on a job-saving mission to video Tom ‘Hutch’ Hutcheson in Key West, Florida. He doesn’t know she’s coming (It’s supposed to be her coworker/his brother), and she also doesn’t know how to swim, which is a requirement, so this is about to get a little wild.


Katie and Hutch were so likable, and I rooted for them to be together. I also loved Hutch’s dog and his aunt. His brother Cole, eh. But I guess there has to be some drama, amiright? As a whole, this book pulled on my heartstrings and was a lot of fun. The ending had me smiling so big! Another win for Katherine Center.

3.5 stars- The Love Haters was an enjoyable book with characters you just want to root for. I liked the character relationships and the banter between them. I loved how the author really showed the character growth in Katie. It moved a little slow at the beginning but it did pick up a little over halfway through. Overall this was a cute read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

While normally I'm the biggest fan of Katherine Center's writing, this one fell short for me.

I think the premise of a filmmaker who can't swim filming a promo for the Coast Guard is prime KC material. Add to that some of Katie's struggles with body insecurity and Hutch's complex family dynamics and you've got something. But unfortunately all the added plot elements that I believe were incorporated to raise the stakes just ended up making things increasing complex and at times, a little unbelievable. I understand that with the genre, you might need to suspend belief at times but the last 25% honestly felt a bit like a different book to me.

Despite this, I pressed on and enjoyed the way things came together. I think that's a testament to Katherine's unique talent. I squealed and teared up in equal measure and really felt that Katie's relationship with Rue, the mentor character in this story, was an incredible high point. While there are definitely some passages that felt a little zany or over the top, there was still a good heathly dose of Katherine Center charm. So while, this is probably my least favorite read from her so far, I am still excited to see what's next from her.

Potential trigger warning for many references to disordered eating and body dysmorphia struggles. This is a primary theme for Katie's character and personal growth.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25⭐️
Despite how unrealistic a lot of this plot was, I really enjoyed this book and read it very quickly!
In Katherine Center’s writing I appreciate her lighthearted, humorous writing style as she masterfully pairs it with addressing a deeper conflict that the main character is working through. I thought this particular book spent about the same amount of time on both the FMC character growth as the romance which I particularly enjoyed.
The overall main message is beautiful as well as some subthemes of found family and friendship. And, the author’s note is very powerful🥹

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enter Katherine Center with another fantastic rom-com! I always love a KC character and even more so I feel like the setting of this novel was a character in and of itself. It has been a long time since I wanted to go visit a place based off a book I read, but if a real life starlite cottage existed I would be there in a moment. And hopefully it would have the Aunt Rue we all need.

Katie's job is on the chopping block and her manager in order to "save" her puts her up for an assignment creating a recruitment video for the Coast Guard in Key West Florida. Katie's biggest hurdle... she is a bobber not a swimmer. So when she arrives at her destination, the woman who runs the rental cottage offers to help Katie find someone to teach her. And that just happens to be the subject of her work project who now knows her secret inability to swim which could get her fired even quicker.

I feel like the biggest love story in this novel was between Katie and her need to love herself as well as Great Dane extraordinaire George Bailey and Hutch. I know it is actually between Katie and Hutch but goodness did those side love story lines take up a lot in my brain while I read. Hutch truly is book boyfriend material and I am with Colin in Hutch's perfectionism eclipsing everyone else. Which is not Hutch's fault in any way. He is just very godlike and we should worship him.

There was so much amazing found family (or tragedy led to found family) dynamic. I loved the relationship between Rue and Hutch as well as Rue and her gals. Honestly, that is a future that would be such a beautiful one to have. It gave Golden Girl vibes in the best possible way. I also enjoyed the varying levels of drama even the weather induced ones. Katie needed to be put in such a position to truly grow as a character and I was so happy that she had George Bailey by her side (well she was in fact the rescuer-er or attempted one) oh and we can't forget Lucky the toad!

I always love Katherine Center's writing and never want the book to end. In this case the only thing I wished for was more of Katie and Hutch romantically together as opposed to all the drama that kept unfolding that kept them apart. I needed like an extended spicy epilogue or something.

I did notice that there was an edit from the eARC that didn't make the ALC and I preferred the Hutch's fame name as Pup Daddy versus what it ends up being Puppy Love. Pup Daddy just fit so much better with the story in my opinion.

I am a fan of this author. I loved her last release but this one wasn’t for me. I’m sure others will enjoy it tho!

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book!

First and foremost, I love Key West and am mad at myself for leaving this unread for so long. The author describes the Keys perfectly: Victorian homes, colorful caftans, beautiful scenery. It truly made me want to go back.

Second, I loved that Hutch was a member of the USCG. I literally googled ‘rescue diver’ and ‘SWET test’ to get a deeper understanding. I appreciate that the author did some deep dives (no pun intended) into learning about this career.

Third, the plot was great until Cole (the brother) and Sullivan showed up. I know the story needed a turning point and this was it, but it wasn’t a great fit for me and missed the mark. I’ve never lived through or experienced a hurricane, but now I definitely don’t want to.

The Love Haters is Katherine Center’s newest romance novel that follows filmmaker Katie as she takes a gig to hopefully keep her job. Cole, her kind-of-boss, assigns her to make a promotional film about the Coast Guard starring none other than his brother, Hutch, a viral hero who rescued Jennifer Aniston’s dog and a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie accepts the job not disclosing that she cannot swim.

I am typically a Katherine Center fan. I like that her books feature characters that are full-fledge women who have their own lives outside of romance. The plots of her novels usually feature the protagonist overcoming an obstacle, healing from trauma, or growing. Yet, the synopsis of The Love Haters does not disclose what Katie’s issue is, since it is not part of the central plot. And herein lies the issue that forced me to put aside the book unfinished.

While I understand the need for trigger or content warnings, I have always been someone who skims past them to avoid plot spoilers. I also do this because I have never needed them. (Thank you, therapy.) However, The Love Haters desperately needs a warning (or at least inclusion of Katie’s struggle in the synopsis). I have seen very few reviews that are not positive for this book, and I feel like I have a duty to warn readers who could be potentially harmed by picking up the novel.

At least the first 20 percent of The Love Haters focuses on Katie as she takes the Coast Guard gigs and begins her stint in Key West. During this time, there is a near constant focus on Katie’s body and her body image. There is descriptive and extremely negative self-talk, while the narration also makes it clear that Katie is a thin person. She is 130 pounds and upset that her thighs touch. As I mentioned, the focus on her body is relentless, detailing Katie’s body, what she eats, how she looks, etc. I found it is done in a way that is both overwhelming and shaming.

I usually feel an obligation to finish books that are gifted to me by publishers, and I do not DNF easily. However, I felt like I need to put The Love Haters aside for the sake of my mental health. I have never ever been triggered by a book before, but this one did the trick before I even met the love interest. I want to make clear that this is not the first book I have read that deals with these topics, it is the first one I read that did so in a distasteful manner. Center desperately needed a sensitivity reader or two prior to publishing. If you have never experienced negative thoughts about how you feel in your body or how you look, you may not notice it. However, if you have struggled with your body image, eating disorders, etc. I would recommend steering clear of The Love Haters.

4.5 Stars – Katherine Center Strikes Again with a Sun-Soaked, Heart-Splashed Rom-Com!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Love Haters—a rom-com that had me grinning, swooning, and furiously Googling “how to become a rescue swimmer” (spoiler: I still can’t swim either).

Katherine Center has once again proven that she is the queen of writing heroines who are messy, brave, vulnerable, and laugh-out-loud funny. Katie Vaughn is no exception. She’s spiraling out of a job, faking her swimming abilities, and thrust into the tropical chaos of Key West to film a profile on the world’s most annoyingly attractive Coast Guard hero: Hutch Hutcheson (yes, his name sounds like a superhero—and yes, he kind of is one).

Their chemistry? Off the charts. But this isn’t just banter and beach vibes. It’s emotional vulnerability wrapped in a hurricane (literally and figuratively). Hutch is grumpy and guarded; Katie is determined and delightfully awkward. Together, they’re magic. Throw in a misbehaving Great Dane, a conga line gone rogue, and some seriously witty sibling rivalry, and you’ve got a rom-com that’s part forced proximity, part sunny redemption arc, and fully unputdownable.

Center balances humor and heart so well, and she’s not afraid to tackle real fear, grief, and growth beneath the rom-com sparkle. I also have to shout out Aunt Rue—truly the eccentric Key West fairy godmother none of us knew we needed.

The only reason I’m not going full five stars is because I wanted just a bit more time with Katie and Hutch once the emotional dust settled. But honestly? I’ll be thinking about their stolen kisses and hurricane confessions for a long time.

If you’re a fan of books that make you laugh, tear up, and contemplate swimming lessons, Love Haters is for you. Katherine Center, you’ve done it again—and I’d happily fake swim my way through any rom-com you write next.