There is a reason I love Katherine Center’s books. She always manages to get me to laugh out loud. And that was certainly true with her latest book, The Love Haters. (‘I don’t have time to debate, anyway,’ I said. ‘I’m late to go drown in a helicopter-crash simulation.’) Besides the humor, her characters are always complex and lovable. And Katie and Hutch are nothing if not lovable.

Katie has issues. Body images issues thanks to her stepmother, relationship/trust issues thanks to her ex-fiance, and job security issues thanks her company’s director deciding to go on a firing spree. Which may have contributed to her lying to boss in order to get an assignment about the Coast Guard. What did she lie about? Oh, nothing special, just the fact that she can’t swim…and yet in order to cover the assignment she’ll be having to swim, even survive a simulated helicopter crash in the water. Oh and the man she is supposed to be cover just happens to be her boss’s brother, Hutch. She’s informed that Hutch is a love hater and that his favorite hobby is frowning. Of course Hutch is nothing like she expected, and not only is a complex and caring man, he has a lovable Great Dane who instantly takes a overly friendly liking to Kate. But in order to keep her job, she’ll need to find a way not only to learn to swim but also get Hutch to agree to do a personal ‘day in the life’ documentary for her.

As I said, I liked our leading characters quite a bit, but not only did I like them but the entire supporting cast. The pool ladies were a hoot. (Did I really just use the word woot?) The story is fun, filled with plenty of humor, not to mention a fair amount of heart. While The Rom-Commers remains my favorite of Center’s books, I still enjoyed the heck out of this one. Not only did I have the pleasure of reading an eARC of the book at the start of the year. I also got a chance to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version, and Patti Murin does a spectacular job with the narration. And I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. 4.5 stars (rounding up to 5) Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the eARC and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the chance to listen the audio version as well.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-love-haters-katherine-center/1146167523?ean=9781250283825&bvnotificationId=aa037857-366b-11f0-9a32-0e72cec3303d&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/346861527

3.5 rounded down💫 maybe a true 3 - I’m conflicted!!

There were things that I enjoyed - the dog, the interesting career (he’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer), Rue, the authors note, the intent behind the body image issues.

But there were also things I surely did not enjoy - Cole, the random lying??, and the execution of the body image issues.

I read a lot of reviews that commented on how often Katie remarks on her body, her size, her clothing, etc. etc. and how “annoying” or “repetitive” it was and while I can see where that’s coming from! as someone who has struggled with her own body image for most of her life I didn’t take issue with this BECAUSE it really can be allll consuming.

I just didn’t love how ~quickly~ the issues were resolved and how. I don’t think a couple weeks of saying barely nice things about yourself could really solve a decade+ long ED🤷🏻‍♀️ BUT again I appreciated the thought!!

As for the romance? It was just fine! I didn’t feel the sparks flying but it had its moments! So a middle of the road read for me!🙂🙃

The audio narration was fantastic and really helped move the plot along!

thank you to katherine center, macmillan, and netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: summer read, rom-com style love story!? ummm just in time! the description of this book sounds like a hilarious early 00's rom-com and i'm digging that vibe a lot. if only they could make those type of movie again... who knows what the future holds right??

₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts: "stories go deep" um YEAH. this story had me in a chokehold. i loved the plot, i loved the characters, i loved george bailey. there are multiple relationships in this book that is beautiful to look deeper into. there is the obvious love story between hutch and katie, the friendship between beanie and katie, the platonic relationship between katie and rue and the bombshell... the complex relationship between katie and herself.
katherine center absolutely smashed this one and i definitely am looking forward to reading more from her.

If Katherine Center writes it I am going to read it and this was another adorable rom com that gave me all the warm and fuzzies. Katie was super relatable with her self-judgement (hey, we’ve all been there!) and I loved how supportive her friends were to get her to a better mental place. The side characters were excellent - I know Rue and I would have some margs and share town gossip. Hutch was a loveable MC and his family drama added an extra layer that I enjoyed. I went between reading and listening and would recommend either format!

Katie Vaughn is still getting over the trauma of her very public breakup with her now-famous ex. Desperate to
keep her mid-level video production job, she agrees to do a profile on the perpetually frowning Tom “Hutch”
Hutchinson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who happened to go viral saving Jennifer Aniston’s beloved pup.
But as Katie gets entangled in Hutch’s daily life in the Florida Keys, she is forced to confront some of her
greatest fears and insecurities, all while not getting fired.
Read if you like:
Abby Jamenez
▪️coast guard hero
▪️quasi-Hollywood romance
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️forced proximity
▪️dogs named George Bailey
▪️fun side characters
▪️romcoms with heart
▪️Key West setting

I wrestled with this rating for a while, but ultimately, I decided to give it 3 stars. I think Katherine Center is a great writer, and this story had some truly terrific laugh-out-loud moments. However, I struggled to care much about these characters or their story. For an MMC, I found Hutch rather bland, and while Katie was quite an amusing and interesting FMC, I never felt the chemistry between the two of them. I felt more chemistry between her and George Bailey (who was my favorite character by the way). The story had potential, and I think if we’d had a better view of their relationship growing over the weeks they spent together, it would have shown their feelings and attraction in a better light. But instead, we’re told, and not shown, “we’ve been together every day for weeks” so the development of their relationship we did see felt rushed an inauthentic. This was good, but it wasn’t great.

As for our narrator, Patti Murin, she did a wonderful job. Her pacing was great and she conveyed the emotions behind Katie’s body image struggles very well.

I wanted to LOVE this book it’s got all the ideas that I love and it had a lot of important topics they were going to go over. I just did NOT love it! There were parts that I laughed out loud and I loved George Bailey and Rue (my absolute favorite character) but I shouldn’t love side characters more than the main ones. I also HATED Cole entirely through the book and it just got worse as the book went on. I love me a good military man and a girl that (with her friends help) starts to find things that she loves about herself BUT the chemistry was just not there in the book and some of the comments and actions by both of them were cringe worthy. I am still giving it a 3/5 stars because I really did like some parts and who doesn’t love George Bailey !? I just wish there was more chemistry with the main characters and that would have changed my opinion dramatically! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ability to listen and review this book.

♡ thank you to Katherine Center & Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book via NetGalley♡

3.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

i would like to preface by saying there are some trigger warnings in this book that (i feel) were not properly disclosed by the blurb, including eating disorders, bullying, and a brief mention of suicide. this book does turn into a positive look on these topics, but maybe be harmful to some readers.

Patti Murin, the narrator, did an INCREDIBLE job. i felt every emotion thanks to her! this was definitely a good listen.

📖 plot & pace: this book focuses on the FMC, Katie and her attempts to save her job. she goes to Key West, Florida in order to film a Coast Guard recruitment video and meets the "Love Hater". the two end up falling for each other but there's so many crazy events they get in the way of their relationship. this book was paced nicely, i didnt feel like there were any particularly slow or (too) fast moments. i did feel like some parts of this book were terribly unrealistic, but it wasn't anything that truly took away from the story.

👥 characters: i really liked the majority of these characters! i wasn't a fan of Cole or Sullivan, but everyone else was so wholesome!! my favorite (of course!) has to be our sweet George Bailey💖 i thought the FMC had a deep background that made us understand her character and has so much growth!

🤩 tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine

this was ultimately a good listen for me, but not a favorite. please be mindful of the trigger warnings before venturing into this one!

Pub Day Pick
The Love Haters
Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to St Martin’s press and Macmillan audio for the free eARC and ALC via NetGalley.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance writers. Her stories have never missed at delivering a feel good romance while also hitting a nerve I don’t expect.

In the Love Haters, Katie finds herself falling for Hutch, a coast guard rescue worker, when she is sent to Florida to film a promo video. While Hutch may be the perfect man by many definitions, Katie has to first come to terms with her own lack of self love before she can see what he sees in her.

I’m always stunned at how well Center is able to use tropes I’ve seen over and over again and yet makes them feel new in a way that catches me off guard. Is Hutch too perfect? Yes. Could I see where the plot was headed at the end? Absolutely. Was it any less enjoyable to read for me? Absolutely not!

I’m her author’s note Center writes:

“The best love stories are never just about romantic love. . .
They are always master classes on how we find the best in each other—and, by extension, ourselves. .”

The Love Haters is indeed a master class in exactly this. Few writers get us to feel and BE the characters in their stores quite as well as Katherine Center.

🎧
I listened to the majority of this story on audiobook. Patti Murin does a phenomenal job, especially in the last act, of bringing Katie’s character to life and capturing the depth of her character.

First, I want to Thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Just finished the audiobook of The Love Haters, and I’m feeling a solid “meh—it was fine.” Katherine Center’s books usually hit that sweet spot between heartfelt and feel-good, and while this one had flashes of that charm, it didn’t fully land for me.

The enemies-to-lovers setup had promise, and I did enjoy some of the banter and romantic tension. The narration was well done, too—easy to listen to, and the tone matched the story well. But the pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and I never felt super invested in the characters. I did not like the forced fake dating. The FMC had so many insecurities that I feel didn’t really get healed so it affected my vision of their future. I also didn’t like the brother’s rivalry. I wanted more—more depth, more spark, more emotional payoff.

Not a bad listen, just not especially memorable. I wouldn’t steer anyone away from it, especially if you’re a Katherine Center fan.

This book is full of energy, with romance, action, and emotional depth all woven together. Katie is a film producer trying to avoid being laid off, and she travels to Key West to film Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Their story includes family tension, unresolved pasts, and high-stakes missions at sea. There are two very different video projects happening, a storm that throws everything off course, and moments of real danger.

What made the book especially meaningful for me was how it handled Katie's self-image. Her journey toward accepting herself felt thoughtful and real. At the end, the author describes the story as an enemies-to-lovers arc between Katie and herself, which captured the heart of the book perfectly.

There were two things I struggled with. One happened several times. Much of the dialogue had one person repeat what another just said, but with a question mark. This felt repetitive and unnatural, and it stood out even more in the audiobook. With a single narrator doing all the voices, those moments became distracting.

Even with that issue, I really enjoyed this story. I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance mixed with action and meaningful character growth.

Katherine Center’s book is ALWAYS a delight. And this one’s not an exception. Not only she delivers funny banters and swoony, heartfelt romance, but also A SUBSTANCE. This time it’s about body image.

Katie & Hutch are lovely characters I couldn't help but immediately love them. The Gals were wholesome. The narrative around body image and self love was beautiful. The USCG feature was really interesting, this book itself could be a promo for them. Because I’ve never heard of them before but now I’m going to look for USCG in action, especially the rescue swimmers lol. It’s insightful and clearly KC did a thorough research for this. But honestly I have some nitpicks too. Nothing big, only that the brothers quarrel felt a bit weird?? Like WTF??? Andd the ending could use some extra cute scene between Katie & Hutch, after everything they went through… and, I promise this is the last: the book title isn’t really fitting, because I didn’t feel the “they hate love” vibes at all? But it’s okay. I still love the book as a whole.

Props to Patti Murin who made the story so much more alive and entertaining, and significantly increased my enjoyment of this book. I hope she’d keep narrating Katherine Center books in the future because I’m obsessed with her works!!!!!

Patti Murin once again delivers a five star performance in this newest book from Katherine Center. Patti’s narration shines through with humor and passion. I will always be purchasing a Katherine Center title read by Patti because it never disappoints and always makes me smile and laugh!

This felt like a Katherine Center book. Funny moments, soft moments, and fun side characters. Our main characters definitely had some trauma to work through. The FMC but also issues stemming from childhood and just being a woman in the world. Her body issues do come up repeatedly, so make sure to take care of yourself if that’s something that triggers you.
I liked watching these two get to know each other and the will they or won’t they. The conflict made me angry (but not at our main two). I enjoyed the growth of the characters and the family relationships a lot in the story. It helped round it out and make our characters more relatable. I too have found myself on FaceTime doing *absolutely nothing* and being kept company. The story definitely put the comedy in romantic comedy, and can be a little over the top at times. I wanted a little more romance between Katie and Hutch. But if you’ve liked past books of Katherine’s, you might love this one.

🎧Patti Murin does a wonderful job (as always) narrating the story. She brings emotion and comedy to the read. It was great to follow along with my kindle, and definitely found myself not wanting to pause to do other things.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the alc. All opinions are my own.

ATTENTION! ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO SWOON, OR A BIG HUG, PICK UP THE LOVE HATERS IMMEDIATELY AND ENJOY YOUR LOVE BUBBLE.

In this book we have Katie who is a documentary maker, whose company is going to through layoffs. She is offered a job to do recruitment video for the US Coast Guard, profiling one of their star rescue swimmers Hutch. One slight hitch, Katie doesn't know how to swim.

I adored this book. The setting of Key West Florida, all of the loveable characters, the banter between Katie and Hutch, and Hutch's lovable dog George Bailey , allhad me laughing and crying.

Katherine Center creates these stories with lovable characters going through emotional stuff but you know you are in good hands with this author. No matter how traumatic the things our characters go through, you know Katherine Center will deliver a happy ending that feels so well earned and a big hug.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy. I highly recommend this book. This should absolutely be on your summer reading list.


Edited to add that I have been fortunate get an advanced listener copy of the Lovehaters. Thankyou to Macmillan Audio. This audiobook is wonderful. Narrator Patti Murin is perfection. There is a type of rhythm in Katherine Center's dialogue, and Murin just knows how it flows. This was an absolute pleasure to listen to. this is great for any road trips this summer, Murin's voice is very soothing and the story itself will have you smiling.

I absolutely adored this book. Katherine Center hit it out of the park again! She tackles difficult topics (like body positivity and loss) in such a beautiful way. I felt all the feelings too, I laughed and I cried. Loved every single second of the ride and the ending did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest rom-com by a favorite, Katherine Center, with the audiobook narrated by the wonderful Patti Murin. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Katie has had bad luck in the romance department and now she feels like her career is in trouble as well. She either waits to get laid off as a video producer or take the task of profiling Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. But, Katie can't swim, which is a necessity. She figures she can fake it long enough. But she may get called out on a few things along the way.

I am not always a huge romance-genre fan, but Katherine Center is always a must read for me. While I may not have loved this one as much as her previous books, I still enjoyed the escape to sunny Key West. Plus I learned some interesting things about our brave Coast Guard personnel! There are some great side characters (mostly Rue, Hutch's aunt, as well as George Bailey, a Great Dane)., and I felt the story was charming and engaging. I'm always a fan of Patti Murin's narration and I ended up mostly listening to this one. Great book to stash in your beach bag for sure!

Audiobook. NetGalley ARC. I LOVED this book. I loved the characters Kate, Hutch, and George Bailey. And Hutch’s aunt and all her friends. The narration was good. Loved everything about this book.

This book was such a delight from start to finish! I adored every bit of it — the characters felt so real, flawed in the best way, and completely lovable (yes, even when they made me furious!). The chemistry between them was palpable, even without any explicit scenes — somehow, it still managed to feel steamy and swoony in all the right ways.

I found myself laughing out loud at the banter, clutching my heart during the emotional moments, and melting completely during the sweet, tender scenes. And let’s not forget the adorable dog — truly the cherry on top!

I experienced this both on Kindle and audiobook, and I have to say the audio version added another layer of charm. The narrator brought the characters to life perfectly — pacing, emotion, and tone were spot-on. I was hooked the whole way through.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress, @macmillan.audio and of course @katherinecenter for an ARC for my honest review.

Katie and Cole are coworkers at a video production company. Cole has a project that could save their jobs. Interview the Coast Guard rescue swimmer who once saved Jennifer Anniston's dog.

Two catches: Katie can't swim, a requirement to be a guest on the helicopter, and Hutch, the rescue swimmer, is Cole's brother.

Filled with lots of well-developed characters, a theme is self-love and how to get there so you can open up to being in love.