⭐⭐⭐⭐
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.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio I received the audiobook and Ebook early. This was a solid 2 stars the entire book. I didn’t love the characters and never loved the love story. The only reason this is getting 3 stars is because of the authors note at the end. Those few pages saved the entire book. Here’s just a few of my favorite lines:
“Stories have this power to resonate for us like nothing else in human life can. They teach us things we need to learn, and show us new ways of understanding, and answer questions we didn't even know we needed to ask. Stories go deep. They don't mess around. They don't care about our attitudes, or our prejudices, or what we think we ought to think. They bypass the head-and go straight to the heart.”
“The best love stories are never just about romantic love. They're always about so much more than that: kindness, and joy, and belonging, and safety-not to mention growing, and changing, and healing from the past. They are always master classes on how we find the best in each other-and, by extension, ourselves.”
Now why couldn’t the rest of the book make me feel the way those beautiful lines did? Ugh, oh well.

This was a charming story with a fantastic narrator. However, I find it challenging to read insecure female characters. The standout characters were Hutch and George Bailey. 3.5⭐️

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

I LOVE when a book has a great representation of a Great Dane! George Bailey is a fantastic representation of a Dane, complete with anxiety, goofiness, and a total lack of awareness of his size.

Katie knows that she is on the chopping block at work, so she cannot say no when Cole asks her to do a profile on his brother, Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Only problem? Katie cannot swim and the job requires being in the water. As it turns out, there are more problems, as the two cannot avoid their attraction to each other. Then Cole shows up and drags Katie into his lies, making her seem untrustworthy. Can the two work it out in the backdrop of a massive hurricane?

This is such an enjoyable romance. The narration is great, although it took a few chapters to get into the narrator's voice.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I love, love, love this author. Her books take me away and keep me there. And this book is spot on for just that reason!

Katie is trying to save her job. She tells her coworker that she can definitely take the video job of recording Hutch, a famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. But, what Katie fails to mention is…SHE CAN’T SWIM!

This whole book had me exactly where the author wanted me to be…Halfway in love with Hutch, laughing at Katie because she is so much like me, and falling for the sweetest Great Dane on the planet! Oh and did I mention I love Key West!

And this narrator, Patti Murin, is the absolute BEST!

Y’all have to read this! It checks all the boxes.

Great characters ✅

Great setting ✅

Great banter ✅

Great narrator ✅

You cannot go wrong with this one!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

3.5 stars. Ended up being very cute but there were some not so good moments.

Katherine Center's books leave me with a smile on my face. It's so heartwarming to read a good romance story where you know that, despite some bumps in the road, the couple will find a way to make their relationship work.

This book features Katie, who in order to save her job as a video producer, agrees to produce a recruitment video for the Coast Guard. She will be profiling rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, her co-worker Cole's brother, who is known as a "love hater." The biggest problem? Katie can't swim and she has to keep that a secret or she won't have the job. And there's also the problem that Hutch, the love hater, is one of the best looking men Katie has ever seen.

I get where Center was going with this in general, but Katie's lack of self confidence and body image issues were absolutely grating. She had so much of a lack of self esteem, yet we got to hear how absolutely perfect Hutch was every time he entered the scene. And absolutely don't get me started about the lack of consent and transactional relationship she had with Cole, and that one instance where he was bartering her away and lying about their relationship and she went along with it--just NO.

That said, I loved George Bailey, the dog, and I liked how things ultimately worked out. I even got a little teary towards the end where Katie had to really look inside and confront herself and acknowledge her strengths. I listened to the audiobook and Patti Murin is a superb narrator. She elevates everything she narrates, so I liked the book better because of that. Her expressiveness added warmth and humor to the story.

Although this wasn't my favorite book by Center, I still remain a huge fan and look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

I have mixed feelings on this book. I liked learning about Katie and Hutch. Seeing their pasts, how they intertwined, and how their romance grew, was really fun to read.

While I understood Center’s idea for Katie’s body struggles (and how she worked through it), I found her self talk to be hard to follow. It felt like too much, too often. Unfortunately, that took away from the book for me. I know so many people would probably not be impacted by that, but it was hard for me personally.

I did enjoy this on audio!

Thank you to net galley for this ARC. I could not get into this audio book. The characters were not relatable for me and I ended up DNF the book around 30%.

This was a fun, easy read—perfect for the beach. I always enjoy Katherine Center’s books. The audiobook narrator did a great job. Hutch was my favorite, and I loved Rue and George Bailey too. Katie was mostly likable, but I didn’t love the “she’s beautiful but doesn’t know it” trope. Still, I’d recommend adding it to your summer reading list!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars) |
🌶️ Spice Level: 1/5
Pub Date: 05/20/25 🚨

I had the pleasure of listening to an Advanced Listener Copy of The Love Haters, and as a longtime Katherine Center fan, I was thrilled to dive in! This was such a cute, feel-good read with a slow-burn romance and a genuinely sweet male main character. He was such a lovable presence—thoughtful, kind, and everything you want in a romantic lead.

The audiobook itself was a joy! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing each character to life with warmth and personality. Her voice made the listening experience even more enjoyable.

And I can’t forget George Bailey, the 160-lb Great Dane—what a scene-stealer! I absolutely fell in love with him, and he made me want a giant dog of my own. 🐾

As a Floridian, I was especially excited by the early scenes describing the drive from Miami to Key West—it brought back so many memories. Unfortunately, once the characters arrived, the setting lost its sense of place. Key West is so rich in culture and iconic landmarks, and I was hoping for more vivid descriptions to really ground the story there.

And yes—another Florida hurricane subplot! I definitely rolled my eyes at first (because, of course), but I’ll admit I appreciated the unique and thoughtful way this book handled it. It offered a fresh perspective that felt grounded and real.

One theme that stood out was body image. It’s an incredibly important topic, and I admire that Katherine Center didn’t shy away from it. That said, the focus on it sometimes felt a bit heavy-handed and repetitive, which pulled me out of the story at times.

Overall, The Love Haters is a sweet, empowering summer read with heart, charm, and a big lovable dog you won’t forget. It’s not my favorite Katherine Center novel, but it still reminded me why I keep coming back to her books.

Out today—perfect for your beach bag or your next sunny stroll with earbuds in!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC and ARC!

3.5/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

CW -- eating disorders/body dysmorphia

While this one still had touches of the magic Katherine Center can write, it was an overall let down for me.

First the bad --the plot was so... random? From the very beginning I felt like I was missing something. This plot was entirely made up of random things happening "for romance reasons," and there is only so much I can just blindly accept. I wasn't able to connect to the plot from the beginning, and that stopped me from truly loving this one as much as I normally would a Katherine Center romcom. Points for creativity, though.

My other main complaint is Cole and Hutch's relationship. The entire thing was shrouded in mysterious and felt a bit tenuous and haphazard. Plus, let's just not force someone to drink who doesn't drink??? Cole was insufferable and I didn't like that Katie went along with his lies, however temporary.

Now for the good! I loved our FMC, Katie. Her growth and self-love journey was great to read. I liked that Hutch supported her through this journey with his words and actions, and their overall chemistry was great! I always have a soft spot of male characters caretaking (what does this say about me? Lol) and I loved the relationship Hutch had with Aunt Rue. Her character was delightful, as well, and really added some fun touches to the story.

No character was as good as George Bailey, though. While his role in the plot was so chaotic and, towards the end, frustrating, I loved him and his antics. Katherine Center can make me actually LOL while reading and, in this case, many of those moments were sparked by George Bailey.

This entire story just felt so random to me, it was hard to get past. Despite that, Katherine Center is still a phenomenal writer and Patti Murin a great narrator, which did keep me interested. There were moments of magic, like I said, but not enough for me to truly have loved this one.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and now I totally get why people rave about her!

Katie Vaughn is a video producer on the verge of being laid off when she’s thrown one last chance at career redemption: a gig profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch is that the swimmer is her coworker’s brother (they don’t get along), and Katie can’t swim. Which she absolutely does not mention. Sooooo.

What follows is a funny, feel-good story with a slow-burn romance. Katie’s voice is sharp and relatable, and I loved her journey as she fumbles her way into love.

I listened to the audiobook and also read parts of the ebook (I love switching off), and the narrator, Patti Murin, brought Katie’s humor and vulnerability to life and made it feel like a friend was telling me the story.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

Thanks Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Synopsis-

Katie Vaughn doesn't believe in love. With no choice to save her job, but to shoot a promo video for the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Hutch, as per her colleague Cole's request ( Hutch's brother), she flies to Key West, Florida. Hutch, she understands, is also a love hater and has a long standing rivalry with Cole. Katie's new work location is not exactly a paradise like she imagined and she has a lot to navigate through.

Review-

Patti Murin has outdone herself in her rendition of the audio. Her voice seamlessly doubles as Katie, Hutch and every other character. She brings out the MCs' naughty banter, camaraderie and adds vibrancy to this love-hate story.

I loved the setting and premise of this rom-com. The beautiful Key West in Florida and Hutch’s loving aunt Rue with her cheery, colourful persona were the highlights complementing the dreary grey and self deprecating nature of Katie.

Center‘s writing infuses a lot of humour as it builds the chemistry between Katie and Hutch, placing them in several awkward and hilarious situations gradually drawing them closer.

Hutch and Cole’s sibling rivalry is another major thread in the storyline and Center has excelled in portraying the complex dynamics of brotherhood encompassing hurt, loss, grief and plain old jealousy.

The author’s meticulous research into the workings of the US Coast Guard shines through adding a layer of intrigue and fascination.
George Bailey, the adorable Great Dane pet of Hutch, steals the show and me not being a dog person, ended up loving him to bits!

The ending throws Katie literally into the eye of the storm and she has to face her worst fears, while also disentangling herself from a web of lies not of her making, as her love-hate relationship with Hutch turns into something resembling real true love - tangible and magical.

I only wanted a teeny bit more from the epilogue, especially from Hutch’s POV, his feelings for Katie and their romantic life together. However, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining rom-com.

I appreciated the author's note as Center describes how love stories are not just frivolous, but a great form of escape both into our inner selves & out of our overwhelming worlds, how they help us understand and love both ourselves & others better, improve our ability to empathise, be more compassionate and finally make us more human.

I’m such a sucker for a Katherine Center book, and The Love Haters was no exception. It had me grinning, tearing up, and—okay—maybe kicking my feet a little. I went in expecting a rom-com, and while it is funny and swoony and charming in all the right ways, what really got me was the heart.

Katie Vaughn is one of those heroines you want to root for from page one. She’s smart, stubborn, emotionally messy in the most relatable way, and her whole “I don’t believe in love” thing was actually so deeply human that it hit me harder than I expected. And then there’s Hutch—the sunshiney, sincere, golden-retriever-in-human-form love interest I would absolutely fight a sea monster for.

But what I loved most was the way this story wasn’t just about falling in love with someone else. It was about showing up for yourself, owning your story, and realizing that maybe the scariest thing of all is actually letting yourself hope again.

So yes, I came for the banter and the vibes. But I stayed for the emotional gut punches, the healing arc, and the reminder that sometimes, the happiest endings are the ones we let ourselves believe we deserve.

I love KC's books; they are always a feel-good go-to read for me. This one, unfortunately may have been my least favorite of hers. The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard I absolutely loved, I wish this story would have been a bit more like those. Katie Vaughn, takes a job as creating a video profile of “Hutch,” a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. I did not really feel the chemistry between Katie and “Hutch”. I wanted it. It just was not there. The amount of body image issues Katie expressed throughout the entire story was contrasted with the ”perfect man.” Ugh, there is not a perfect man. Why do women compare themselves to this? I did love Aunt Rue as a side character. She seemed like a lot of fun! The writing was entertaining and I did enjoy reading, I just was not as connected with this one as others that I have read from KC. I did listen to the audiobook and LOVED the narrator.

ARC/ ALC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Katie Vaughn is a self-proclaimed, ‘love hater’. After enduring a nasty public breakup, thanks to her famous ex- fiancé, she dove head first into her career. Working as a videographer, documenting has been the major source of her happiness. Unfortunately, her company recently announced it was in the process of major downsizing. With her job on the line, Katie must travel to Florida to secure the reluctant Tom ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson as the subject for her upcoming video. Will she succeed in getting the footage she needs to save her job, or will her budding relationship with Hutch stand in the way?

Don’t be fooled by Katherine Center’s latest novel, The Love Haters, being marketed as a summer romcom. While this book does feature romance, Center demonstrates that love is not limited to the confines we Americans have put on it. Taking a page from the Greeks she beautifully demonstrates self- love (philautia) and family love (storage).

My absolute favorite demonstration of love in this book is Katie’s journey to self-love. After being torn down physically from both her step-mother and the public’s unrealistic expectations of her body, Katie begins hating her appearance. It was heartbreaking to see her get to a place where she nearly starved herself. In addition to taking meticulously notes in her food diary, she would scrutinize herself for going over her allotted calories and limit her wardrobe to all black. Knowing first-hand how deeply disordered her relationship with food/ clothing was, getting to see her not only overcome, but be at peace with her own body was truly inspiring.

While Katie’s self-love journey resonated stronger with me, it could be argued the strongest love story in the book was that between Hutch, Cole, and Aunt Rue. The decades of history the ‘family’ members shared makes it difficult to top. I loved the resolution they came to after finally hashing things out (while celebrating the anniversary traditions). I wasn’t sure they would be able to get past their collective pain, seeing as it was so deeply rooted and rarely discussed.

I had the pleasure of consuming this book in two formats; physically reading it and listening to it on audiobook. While I enjoyed both, I highly recommend the audiobook. Patti Murin is a phenomenal voice actor. Her narration elevated the already fantastic story to an even higher level.

Needless to say, I simply adored Katherine Center’s The Love Haters. Her stories make a lasting impression on all her readers. I know I will be thinking about this particular one for quite some time!

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Katherine Center for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Pub day to the Love Haters!

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can.

I’m usually hit or miss with Katherine Center’s book. I’m happy to report I enjoyed this one. There were some comical moments from a sweet old lady gang and a Great Dane named George Bailey. The setting of Key West makes this a perfect beach read. There are some heavy themes of self acceptance/love that were conveyed repeatedly. Overall this was a sweet read for me.

Swipe to see my bestie KC with my book club!

Thank you @youhadmeathea for the ARC and @macmillan.audio for the accompanying audiobook!

Tell me about your last beach vacay!

(3.5/5 stars)

Let me start with this: this book should have come with content warnings. If you’re struggling with body image, food relationships, or trust issues, this might not be the best read for you right now. Those themes are present and could be triggering if you're not in the right headspace.

With that in mind, I do recommend this book for fans of contemporary romance. The plot, character development, and the vivid settings were all well done. Patti Murin’s narration really brought the story to life, and the chemistry between the MMC and FMC was beautifully portrayed in every scene they shared.

One thing to note: this book isn’t very spicy. It leans more into the emotional connection and the journey of the characters than physical intimacy—which honestly felt refreshing. It allowed the deeper themes of family forgiveness, coping with the past, self-confidence, and career reinvention to really shine.

I’ll admit, I liked almost every side character more than the FMC (which happens to me a lot in contemporary romance), but it didn’t take away from the impact of the story.

Overall, heartfelt and thoughtful with a romance that’s more about healing than heat.

I enjoyed this book so much, I wish I could go back in time to experience it again. Lately I have had a difficult time reading books because one or more of the characters begins to annoy me, not the case here. I loved every character in this book. (Well, there was one that eas not my favorite, but they were not a main part of the story.) I also loved the mention of my alma mater (Go Mean Green). Overall, it was a great read and I have already begun to recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced listen.

You’ve got
-Paradise
-Dog
-Romance

What else do you need?

I thought this book was super cute and enjoyed it overall. Hutch, our MMC is a total dreamboat. I also love to read books about writers, or readers, for that matter.

I loved George Bailey, the dog, Katie going to lengths to protect him during this book is the biggest green flag, ever, if you ask me.

My one beef here, however, is how Katie’s relationship with food and her body is written. I get what we were going for her, but I really hope the final copy of this book contains trigger warnings, or some resources included for anyone who is struggling with disordered eating