One of the things Katherine Center consistently does well is giving her characters meaningful backstories, and that really came through in this book. I also appreciated how the main character’s insecurities were portrayed in a way that felt real and relatable. As always, the humor was a highlight and added a nice balance.

This one leaned more literary fiction than romance. One area the story lacked as in the characters’ expressions of fear, they need to feel a bit more realistic and mature. There was also a fair amount of miscommunication driving the plot, which took me out of the story a little bit.

Overall, a strong and enjoyable read with a lot to love.

The Love Haters is an entertaining, funny, heartfelt novel about facing your fears and loving yourself. Katie has struggled with her weight and her body image for her entire life. After getting dumped and losing her job, she realizes how unhealthy her relationship to food and her body has become, and starts to work on fixing it. She also gets a new job as a video producer. However, her co-workers start to get fired left and right, and to keep her job, she has to film a recruitment video featuring Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

There’s a few problems with this: first, Katie can’t swim and lies on her paperwork about it, and second, Hutch is the older brother of Katie’s co-worker Cole, and Hutch is expecting Cole to be the one filming the video about him. As Katie gets trapped in the increasingly tangled web of lies, she finds herself drawn to the handsome Hutch, his sweet Great Dane (named George Bailey) who is afraid of thunder, and his eccentric Aunt Rue.

What follows is a chaotic rom-com filled with forced proximity, heartfelt longing, adventures, emotional growth, and body image struggles. It was relatable, honest, and very sweet. I listened to the audiobook, which was performed by Patti Murin, and I highly recommend it. She did a great job of blending humor and vulnerability and really brought Katie’s story to life.

Thank you to You Had Me At HEA, St Martin’s Press, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, Katherine Center, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. And thanks to BookSparks for the gifted copy.

📔The Love Haters
✏️ Katherine Center
📆 May 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🐾journey of self-love
🐾body positivity
🐾Coast Guard rescue swimmer
🐾mutual pining
🐾forced proximity
🐾found family

Thank you, St Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Love Haters.

My new favorite Katherine Center novel. Ugh! Why do I say that after I read each of her novels? Katherine Center is a hands-down, no-questions-asked, must-read author for me, and she just keeps getting better and better. I know that if I need a book to get me out of a slump, make me swoon, and give me a few giggle-out-loud moments, her books will deliver. Keep doing what you're doing, Katherine! You are the escape from reality that we as readers crave!

Katie Vaughn is on the verge of being laid off from her job as a video producer. Layoffs are happening left, right, and center at her job, and she knows she's on the chopping block next. When her manager gives her two options, get to packing or take a job hyping up the Coast Guard, she jumps for the latter. So what if she can't swim? They're the Coast Guard. Surely someone can rescue her. *Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson enters the chat* Hutch is the main ingredient for the Coast Guard's video. He's the total package. Dude even went viral for saving Jennifer Aniston's dog. This novel will have you swooning in no time. Pick this one up to find out all the different shenanigans Katie can delve into all while dragging Hutch along with her.

The Love Haters was hands down the funniest book I have ever read. I was cackling uncontrollably. I replayed the scenes in my mind again and again. They never ceased to be less funny!
Katherine Center wove a beautiful love story, not only between the main characters, but between Katie and herself. Katie’s transformation from self loathing to self appreciation, respect, and love, was inspiring and laid a roadmap for readers to follow.
This was the first Katherine Center book I’ve ever read, but it truly won’t be the last!

Katie is tasked with flying to Key West to film a promotional video for a USCG rescue swimmer by her coworker, Cole. There are a few issues here. One, Katie figures out she is filming Cole's older brother and the brothers don't get along. Two, Katie's job is on the line. Three, Katie can't swim.

This is probably my favorite Katherine Center book yet!! I loved seeing how Katie was not only filming the video with Hutch, but also learning to love herself in the process. My favorite part was the very end of the book where Katie realizes that she does love herself and her body!

I had to DNF. There was no CW and there was way too much talk about eating, body size etc. it was too triggering

I have yet to be disappointed by a Katherine Center book. She always has this one point towards the end that makes me want to cry. I love that I'm emotionally torn for the character(s). I also really appreciate that it's obvious that Katherine Center does her research. I always learn something new. In this book, for example, I learned so many new things about Coast Guard rescue swimmers and helicopters in general.

There was one part in the book where the MMC showed human decency to the gate agents at the airport who were getting yelled at by frustrated fliers because of a delayed flight. I super loved that, because I feel like, in a way, Katherine Center is reminding anyone and everyone who is reading her book to treat people with human decency. It's not the gate agents' fault that the flights are delayed.

I did almost dock a star or half, because of the ending. The emergency situation that happened was something that I kind of expected, but not the treatment. I would absolutely have cried if I was her. That was not the kind of romance I was looking to read. However, it did make me go through a slew of emotions, which was probably Katherine Center's intention. So in that aspect, I appreciated the emotional roller coaster. 5 stars!

Katie is struggling and uncertain of her future. She is waiting to hear whether or not she will be fired from her job as a video producer, her fiancé has left her and she has never felt comfortable in her own body. Having reached a personal nadir, she decides to take on a new assignment in Key West, Florida, to profile Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Little does she realize that this new project will immerse her in a new, colorful world of retired friends, swim lessons, a Great Dane and just maybe self acceptance.

I loved this book. Katherine Center has a talent for drawing the reader in and keeping you there. I read so much of this book yesterday, not being able to stop until the conclusion. A couple of misunderstandings and lies stressed me out at one point, but I patiently worked through them, knowing I was in good hands and that joy and love could not be far. Thank you again, Katherine Center, for creating an amazing fictional world, grounded in reality, for your readers. Thank you as well to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC.

This is the first book from this author that I’ve read and now I’m hooked! In this book, Katie is sent to interview a USCG rescue diver to create a promotional video so she can save herself from getting fired as the company she works for downsizes. Big problem is that the diver is the brother of her boss and with that comes drama…and lots of laughs! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my review

This was an interesting read. I like the premise of the book., 2 people who are “love-haters” working together on a project. The characters were good but the Main character, Katie is so obsessed with her body image. Now don’t get me wrong. I understand that that is a big topic, but I think it took something away from the story. It took me a very long time to get into this book and to actually finish reading it. Like I said, I love the idea of it. It just needed something else.

Pure happiness! Katherine’s books make me feel so much joy… they are like therapy to me. I loved listening to The Love Haters so much. I got really lost in Katie and Hutch’s story and it was difficult to put down! George Bailey was probably my favorite character and the little toad that could had my whole heart. I was laughing my way through this whole book - it honestly made me so happy through a tough week. Read this! Or listen to it too - the audio was great!

This was a strong 4-4.25 for me. I’ve been in a bit of a slump, but her novels can always break me out of a rut.

But some important notes:
1. DONT EVER SKIP THE AUTHORS NOTE IN KATHERINE CENTERS BOOKS
2. This definitely feels more women’s fiction and romance takes a bit of a backseat. The FMC struggles with body image, probably body dysmorphia, and so that takes up a lot of real estate in the beginning/first half because it takes up a lot of real estate in her mind. But then you read the authors note and it’s like….ok I see you KC.
3. I did NOT like where it was going with Cole and the lying but it didn’t go as far as I thought so thank you for sparing my heart
4. I loved the USCG aspect. Like THE GUARDIAN but make it happy and comforting.
5. The ending felt a little rushed on the hurricane and how she had no idea…like some chapters got cut by her editor that shouldn’t have.

In the end, I did want more of the romance BUT this is a book strongly about self love too. You know what you are getting with a KC novel, and that is so comforting. It felt a little insta-lovey (my least favorite trope), but authors can’t be writing the same tropes over and over again so I deal lol

Cute! Fun! A lot going on! It felt a little chaotic & kinda all over the place, but overall it was a good read. I just felt like she tried to do too much and too many tropes in one book? It felt a little like whiplash trying to keep up.

Mostly, I wish there was more romance. I wanted more of Hutch and their relationship and the progression of their falling in love. It almost felt instant and too quick.

But I did love the elements of love-self & acceptance & conquering fears. I just wanted more of the actual love story. But another great book from this author!

Loved this book. It could’ve been longer! I feel like we were just getting to know the characters and it was ending. Loved the coast guard element as well!!

Katherine Center can do no wrong. I have never read a book of hers that wasn't an immediate hit. I love to read these to get me in the mood for summer. She really knows how to write strong characters that you care about their journey, not just the plot of the book. I sped through this, but didn't want it to end. Now I know I have to wait a whole year to experience her magical writing again.

Another great summer read from Katherine Center. As always, it's well-written and funny with a cast of characters that makes the story so enjoyable. Katie is dealing with grief and body image issues, and doesn't want to lose her job, so she takes up an assignment she really doesn't qualify for in Key West. When she meets Hutch, she already has a picture of who he is but slowly starts to discover that Cole, her co-worke and his estranged brother, misrepresented him.

I feel the romance fell a little flat in this one and the body image issues took up so much of the story, but it's still an overall nice read from this author. Absolutely adored George Bailey! Not my favourite of her books but worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center does it again! She’s become an Autoread/buy author for me, I always have the best time reading her books! This one took us down to key west where Katie was tasked with filming a promo video for the US coastguards.. easy right? Of course not! First problem.. she can’t swim 🙃

I loved the characters in this one. Rue, George Bailey and of course sweet Hutch. Katie was a great FMC and I enjoyed reading her journey to loving the skin she was in a bit more. Rue was so wise beyond her years and I got the warm fuzzies with the community they had. Totally recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced read copy of Katherine Center’s newest book!

Video producer Katie takes an assignment following Hutch, a Coast Guard member that’s gone celebrity status after a famous rescue involving an actress’s golden retriever. Hutch wants no part of the lime light but agrees only because he thinks his estranged brother, Cole will be the one completing the task. To Hutch’s surprise, Katie shows up in his place and the two begin to form a friendship and perhaps a little more than that too! With vibrant Aunt Rue, a massive Great Dane, and a hurricane thrown into the mix, this book made for a perfect light-hearted beach read. An adorable love story without all the spice.

I really struggled with what to rate this book - it may be more like a 2.5 stars for me. It had moments of very sweet potential and there were times I didn’t want to put it down, but there were also a lot of little things that I didn’t love. The body image stuff didn’t feel that overwhelming to me, although I can appreciate how that might be triggering for someone in the midst of that journey, and think there should be trigger warnings around that. Initially, Katie’s insecurity and almost meek nature was difficult for me to read but as she grew as a character it got better. Cole’s character was very abrasive and annoying during the middle of the book. But Rue and George Bailey (🐶♥️) really touched my heart. Overall just an okay rom com for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this story in exchange for my honest feedback!

First of all, I am a huge Katherine Center fan. Love, love, LOVE all her novels! However, this is definitely not in my top three favorites of hers.

Katie’s job is on the line. Her company director has came in a decided to lay off HALF of the videographers on payroll, and Katie’s on the chopping block as one of the newest employees. She needs this job. It helps supplement her income while focuses on what she truly loves to do: make hero documentaries. Enter Cole, the middle manager, asking her to go to Key West and shoot a promo video for the Coast Guard featuring his “heroic brother”. What can wrong? So what if Katie doesn’t know how to swim?

Hutch, our main male character, doesn’t think he’s a hero. It’s his job to jump into the icy open ocean to save people. He’s only going to do this video shoot as a favor to his brother.

Although the premise of this book was good and the banter was funny in some spots, I didn’t feel like the romance was very believable. No sparks between the FMC and MMC made the story drag, and the obsession with body positivity for the FMC drove me insane.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St Martins Press for the advanced copy of this novel out May 20th!