I feel like every Katherine Center book gets progressively better. The first book I read from her was The Bodyguard, and every consecutive book has been more fun. I loved watching both characters deal with their limelight trauma and then growing from it. I'm also a huge fan of meddling aunties, so this was just a hit.

I love Katherine Center books! Just like all her other books that I have read this one will make you laugh and cry. Her characters are so relatable. I loved Katie and Hutch. Katie was very relatable with her struggles. Also, the dog, George Bailey was the BEST!! This narrator was so good. I switched between audio and reading and when I was reading I kept hearing the narrator's voice in my head. She did a great job with all the emotions in this book!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a vibrant, emotionally-charged story that blends wit, charm, and just the right touch of action. The book follows a dynamic plot centered around themes of love, resilience, and unexpected connection — all wrapped up in a narrative that’s as empowering as it is entertaining.

From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The pacing is spot-on, and the dialogue feels natural and engaging. This is the kind of story where you quickly fall in love with the characters — they’re complex, relatable, and full of heart. Even the moments of tension or conflict are balanced with warmth and humor, making it impossible to put down.

This was my first book by Katherine Center, and I’m so glad I picked it up. Her writing style is accessible yet powerful, and she knows exactly how to keep readers invested from beginning to end. I especially appreciated how there were thought provoking action elements woven into the plot in a way that enhanced the emotional stakes rather than overshadowing them. There was one part where my imagination went crazy and I needed to know what was going to happen.

As for the audiobook, Patti Murin’s narration was excellent. Her pacing was smooth and clear, and she gave each character a distinct voice that made the story come alive. It was effortless to follow along and stay immersed in the story. I highly recommend the audio version for anyone who enjoys a well-performed narrative.

This book was a total win for me — and I can’t wait to read more from Katherine Center in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this hilarious, and breathtaking story that is full of witty banter, comical and awkward hijinks, exciting adventures, and tender moments of healing. Katie Vaughn is desperate to take a job in Key West filming a promotional video of Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson at the request of her boss, Cole. To save her job, she doesn't mention that she doesn't know how to swim, which is one of the main job requirements. Hutch wanted his brother Cole to be there so they could mend their relationship. He was not happy Katie showed up, especially because he was wildly attracted to the quirky, smart, beautiful woman that his aunt has taken under her wing. Katie and Hutch's meet cute was hilarious and set the stage for many more interactions. As they spend time together, they begin to respect, like and have fun together. But when Cole shows up unexpectantly, he causes miscommunication that divides them. Before they can reconnect, a hurricane that is baring down on them, could separate them for good. I loved Katie and Hutch together! They were opposites that fit so perfectly together. Katie lived a grey life, not looking for adventure, but found a colorful life, full of love with Hutch, his dog, and his sweet aunt and her community of supportive friends. Hutch is a true hero who just wants to live a quiet life with those he loves. I loved how he kept the things he cherished most close to his heart. I was so captivated by this story with it's wonderful and quirky characters, awesome storyline, and superb writing. I was so intrigued by the life of a coast guard rescue swimmer, which added some heart-pounding, breathtaking moments!
The narration by Patti Murin was spectacular. She easily brings the characters to life, capturing the essence of Katie’s vibrant personality and Hutch's more composed nature. Her voice is deceptively bright with her perfect comedic timing, while she draws you in, and makes you feel all the extreme emotions the characters felt. I was completely captivated by her beautiful performance!

Easily my favorite Katherine Center book! I will say Katie’s self loathing was a littler redundant but once she started finding some confidence this book was so enjoyable!

Hutch is perfect and the found family vibe with Roo sucked me in. I liked that there was no big fight as a 3rd break up and the high stakes ending was fun.

Something I wish we got more in was the random connection Katie had to George Bailey and maybe a visit from her bestie.

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Family Interference, Workplace Romance, Grumpy-Sunshine
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2️
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Closed door, full swoon)

🤩The Vibe:
With its sunny Key West setting, tangled lies, and a dash of reluctant romance, The Love Haters has all the ingredients of a fun beach read—but the focus leans more on personal growth than swoony chemistry. While Katherine Center once again delivers a unique plot and plenty of emotional beats, the romance takes a back seat in a way that may leave some romance lovers wanting more.

👩‍❤️‍👨Main Characters:
Katie:
A down-on-her-luck video producer who can’t swim… but agrees to film a profile on a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Her self-deprecating humor, stubborn streak, and relatable insecurity make her easy to root for—even when she’s in over her head (literally and emotionally).

Hutch:
A gruff, principled rescue swimmer with a heartbreaking past and a soft spot for his Great Dane, Hutch could have been a great book boyfriend… if we got to know him. While he did share some personal stories with Katie, it still felt like he was more of a background character than a co-lead, and the lack of dual POV makes it hard to connect with him or their growing relationship.

💕What We Loved:
* Aunt Rue steals every scene. A meddling, margarita-sipping icon who deserves her own spin-off.
* The Key West setting is vibrant and full of character—from conga lines to hurricanes.
* Grumpy/sunshine dynamic that builds tension and charm with every chapter.
* Katherine Center’s signature twists and turnskeep the story moving, even when the romance stalls.
* George Bailey the dog: big, goofy, loyal perfection.


🚫What Didn’t Work for Me:
* The focus on body insecurity was a bit overemphasized and sometimes overshadowed the romance.
* The romantic chemistry between Katie and Hutch felt underdeveloped. There’s very little build-up, and even less payoff.

* The romance was fun had great potential—I just wish it had been a slightly bigger focus over some of the heavier personal growth threads.

🤔Final Thoughts:
The Love Haters delivers a fresh premise, a lovable side cast, and Katherine Center’s signature twisty storytelling. But if you're picking this up hoping for a swoony summer romance, adjust your expectations. The romance takes a back seat, the chemistry is light, and the emotional focus stays squarely on Katie. Still a solid read—just not the romantic escape I was hoping for.  If you love unique meet-cutes, emotional depth, and a romance that blooms in the middle of chaos, this one’s for you. Bonus points for a giant dog, an even bigger twist, and a heroine you’ll root for even when she’s faking her swimming skills.

Audio Book was well narrated although I would have loved to have a male narrate for Hutch.

I really enjoyed this audiobook--thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this one. I loved this one. Katherine Center has the way of weaving a story that hooks the reader in really quick. The story has a great story line and the characters?? All the heart eyes!!

4.25 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and #macaudio2025 for a copy of this ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this one! I am a big fan of Katherine Center and this book was no different. I thought Hutch was such a fun MMC and I really enjoyed his character. This book flew by! I will say that our FMC, Katie's, commentary on her body may be upsetting for some but I definitely felt seen in her inner monologue that she had with herself. I had several scenes that had me laughing out loud. While there were some scenes that were over the top and exaggerated, overall I had a good time. The ex and Colin can kick rocks, but other than that, I had a blast. I will say Hutch does emote a lot for someone they say is a love hater. I definitely appreciate his character and his personality to of taking care of others. Also, much like Katie, I would do anything for George Bailey.

🎧: I thought that the narrator did an excellent job with separating the characters and having the proper tone at the correct times. This was particularly evident when they had multiple emotions to describe in the same scene.


CW: Death of a parent (past, described), Drunk Driving references (past, described), natural disaster

Loved this audio! So much more than a rom com, valuable lessons too! Center is always an auto-buy for me and this was no exception.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center, and. Macmillan audio for the advanced copy of Love Haters. This book follows Katie as she travels to Key West on assignment to film a video for the Coast Guard. Here she meets Hutch, a rescue swimmer and her bosses brother. Only one small issue, Katie doesn’t know how to swim.
I enjoyed this book and the character dynamics throughout. It was a perfect Katherine Center book reminding me of the books I fell in love with. I liked the spotlight on body positivity and Katie’s growth in overcoming the issues she had with her body. I loved Hutch as a character, and how different he turned out to be from his brother’s description of him.
My only dislikes was all the barriers to the relationship. Between the musician ex-boyfriend continually popping up and then Cole’s scheme it was one too many things. Overall though, this was the perfect summer read!

ank you to @netgalley, and @macmillanaudio for the advanced copy.

There is nothing better than a book that will make you laugh out loud. The Love Haters had quite a few LOL moments for me! It's funny, lighthearted, sweet, and makes me want to move to Florida despite the hurricanes! Patti Murin does a great job narrating the book. This is my second book by Katherine Center, and I am quickly becoming a fan!

I normally LOVE Katherine Center’s books, so I really wanted to like this audiobook. The setup had all the ingredients for a fun, romantic escape—Key West vibes, a swoony rescue swimmer, quirky side characters, and a main character with a secret (who can't swim but says she can?!). Unfortunately, it didn’t quite stick the landing.

Katie is supposed to be charmingly messy, but I mostly found her frustrating. And while the chemistry between Katie and Hutch had its moments, it never really sparked for me. Hutch, for all his "scientifically good-looking" status, came off more grumpy than dreamy, and their love-hate banter leaned heavy on the “hate.”

Overall, it had potential but just didn’t deliver the tropical rom-com magic I was hoping for. If you're in it for the setting and some light fluff, it might still work for you. Just don't expect deep dives—pun intended.

🌟🌟✨ 2.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this advanced reader digital copy.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Katherine Center, for this ALC of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴

Narrated by:
🎤 Patti Murin

Review:

I know that a lot of this book focused on Katie's issues with her body image, but I thought that was very relatable. I do love how she realizes that those thoughts have held her back from doing so many things. It's a sad thing to be able to relate to, but I love how Katie overcomes it.

Overall, I thought this book was wild and a lot of fun. There were a lot of funny parts, some serious parts, and a fun romantic story. It was a great audiobook!

The Love Haters will be released May 20th on Kindle, Audible, and Amazon.

☀️🐕🏖🛟🌀

I have enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator is good and easy to listen to. Katherine Center is a fun and easy writer to get into. Her stories are always a little different but have a feel good quality to them.

Another wonderful romance from Katherine Center! Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook. The narrator, Patti Murin, really makes you feel like Katie is telling her story. My favorite characters by far were, George Bailey and Aunt Rue. They were just honestly themselves and had me laughing out loud. Highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a light summer read!

Thank you MacMillian and NetGalley for the ARC!

Getting a Katherine Center book on NetGalley is like winning the lottery for me - I have been a fan of her work for many years and was so excited to read this one. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! This is probably my favorite Katherine Center book ever. You have no choice but to fall in love with both Katie and Hutch (Rue and George Bailey, too!) and their love story. I could not put this down. I also was given the ebook version, but I absolutely swooned over the audio. This was well-narrated and perfect for the story!

Thank you again for the ARC!

Loved the story, loved the characters, loved the banter, loved the setting. It was such a fun, engaging romantic book. The cover is so fitting. Narrator was great. Wish it was duo POV.

I wanted to love this. The writing draws you in and is so easy to read that it just keeps you invested. The story, however, was not my favorite; it felt bogged down with body positivity and self-esteem issues that felt overdone. I loved the dog and the romance but otherwise, this one didn’t work for me.

Katherine Center is a must read for me. Most of her books are 5 stars, and while I enjoyed this one (4stars) I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I usually do with her writing. I thought this was enjoyable, a light read (although some heavy trigger mentions). I’d recommend this to Katherine Center fans but just know it hits a little different in comparison. I listened to the audio version, which I thought was well done and easy to follow.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my advanced listener copy! Unfortunately DNF-ing at 54%. While the writing and pacing at face value are fine, I'm just so over listening to the fmc talk about her body image issues. Feeling 0% chemistry between the characters also did not help. Maybe the Love Hater is actually just me.