Rating: 5⭐️/5

Such a perfect, meet-cute, rom com. I loved Katie as a main character and her internal dialogue was relatable and refreshing. Not the perfect “it girl” but a wonderful character arc with Katie finding her confidence with a little encouragement from Hutch and a wonderful cast of support characters including some older gals, especially Rue.

The Love Haters had me laughing, crying and feeling warm inside. A little mix of military man, he saves her, brotherly dynamics and the FMC overcoming her internal battles, The Love Haters is a fabulous new romance.

Specifically for the audio, the narrator was fantastic for this with the perfect wit and how I imagined Katie being! Well done.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"The Love Haters" is my second Katherine Center book (in a row!) and I gotta say, girl knows how to write unattainable yet down-to-Earth MMC's. The concept for this one was fun: documentarian (Katie) ends up going to Florida to try and save her job by working with an notoriously private but heroic Coast Guard rescue swimmer (Hutch) despite not knowing how to swim. Both of our main characters have sworn off love and/or are considered "love haters" yet manage to find love and community in the Keys, with the help of Hutch's colorful aunt Rue.

This book was full of twists and turns -- a lot of meddling side characters (and one very stubborn dog!) helped give this book it's fair share of drama and intrigue, I read/listened to most of it in two long sessions because I wanted to find out how everything came together.

That being said... this book felt like it needed another round of edits. I understand this what I read was an ARC, but it went beyond that. The characters spoke very literally and the dialogue often felt stiff. Further, the style of the book, written almost like a journal entry/speaking directly to reader, felt oddly casual. I understand this might be a stylistic choice (and some people may love it) but it wasn't my cup of tea.

(Mild spoilers ahead to ground my critique),
Lastly, there was a lotttt of talk about body image and self-worth in this book. This by itself is not bad -- I'm midsize, and I love seeing "normal" body representation, I just felt like a lot of this book was centered around self-love in a stilted way. At the end of the book, the author described it as a sort of enemies-to-lovers with the main character and her body and honestly that did make me understand the motivation more, I just think it felt heavy-handed. Plus, both of the main characters had a "who could love me and/or find me attractive? Absurd!" moment that just felt a little unnecessary. But again! This is just me!

I love this story and everything about it. I related to the FMC a little too much for my liking (lol), but that made me love the love story even more. Even the side characters are funny and lovable.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance authors so when I received an ARC of her latest book, I was thrilled. Love Haters has KC’s normal blend of quirky characters, great banter, and beautiful writing. I enjoyed the military and documentary themes, and the topical issues of splintered families and body image issues. I also really enjoyed the MC’s journey with self discovery with a friend, which was unique for me. I felt Love Haters was a bit cheesier and predictable than KC’s other books, but it was a quick, enjoyable read that really helped me with a reading slump.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of The Love Haters by Katherine Center. All opinions are my own.

The Love Haters follows two people that have issues but are such lovable characters. Katie, while good at her job, had such a poor view of her own body. It was beautiful to see others lift her up about her appearance, but I especially liked how she lifted herself up. Hutch was such an amazing character, but he didn’t seem to see himself the way others saw him. Not only did he literally rescue people for a living, but he also was just such a kind person overall and made sure others were taken care of.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was Hutch’s dog. He was such a sweetheart, and I loved his interactions with Katie and Hutch. I also appreciated the story behind Hutch rescuing him.

While the conflict bothered me a bit, I liked that it wasn’t super drawn out. I also liked that the characters were quick to forgive.

I listened to the audiobook, and I loved Patti Murin as a narrator. She did a great job with her inflection and overall tone. I would recommend this format if you like audiobooks.

Overall, I just really loved this story. It was sweet, and I loved the character growth. I’d recommend this book!

i love katherine center. she truly writes my comfort books and has a way of creating the most yummy rom-coms ever!!! there was so many parts of this novel that i loved and then others that i didn’t like so much. katie, our fmc, was the highlight of this novel. i related to katie in such a deep way, especially with her relationship with her body image and how much that effects her. the way KC wrote this character with such vulnerability and real emotion stood out to me. i found myself tearing up at the end when katie has this major breakthrough.

KC will always create a romance that just feels like sunshine and i will forever read her books. unfortunately the romance in this novel just fell a little flat for me. there wasn’t a whole lot of ‘wow’ factor moments that made me feel giddy or even route for this couple. hutch (mmc) was very forgettable for me tbh.

so while the romance aspect of this novel definitely wasn’t my fav and sometimes a little TOO cheesy, i throughly enjoyed katie’s journey!

thank you macmillan audio for the gifted arc!! the audio was very well done and the narrator brought katie to life!!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. There was too much going on in this book! There were too many plots and twists and subplots and subplot twists. However, I read it all the way through because I wanted to know how it ended.

As a big fan of Katherine Center, I always look forward to the heart, humor, and emotional depth she brings to her stories—and The Love Haters did not disappoint. While it may not top my list of favorites from her, it still delivered all the charm and introspection I’ve come to love in her writing.

The story follows Katie, a video producer with a fresh heartbreak courtesy of her pop star ex-boyfriend. She’s been assigned to film the life and work of Hutch, a rugged, kind-hearted rescue diver (and brother to her coworker, Cole). Both Katie and Hutch carry a bit of a chip on their shoulders when it comes to love, which makes their slow-burn connection all the more satisfying to watch unfold. Add in a big lovable dog, simmering chemistry, and the wild unpredictability of Key West during hurricane season, and you've got a setup where anything can—and does—go wrong in the best kind of way.

What really stood out to me was Katie’s internal journey. She’s relatable, especially in how she grapples with body image and self-worth. Watching her relationship with herself evolve was one of my favorite parts of the book—it felt authentic and empowering. Hutch is the kind of genuinely good guy that feels like a Center specialty: steady, compassionate, and unexpectedly swoony.

If you’re a fan of witty banter, heartfelt growth, and romances that bloom under pressure, The Love Haters is worth diving into. A solid 4.5 stars from me!

This is classic Katherine Center! She knows just how to bring together a wonderful romance with humor, a sweetness that will make you say "awww" and friends who become like family. As Katie and Hutch were falling in love, I was falling in love with their story too! But honestly, I think George Bailey, the dog, stole the show!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this amazing audio book! All opinions are my own... and in my opinion this is one of the best books I've read in 2025! I always look forward to reading Katherine Center's latest every spring!

Publication date: 20 May 2025

A solid Katherine Center read with some shaky parts-I enjoyed the setting in the Florida Keys-the rescue swimmer stuff-even George Bailey-the giant Great Dane with a heart of gold! Loved The Gals and Hutch is pretty much perfect (maybe too perfect?)-a rescue swimmer with also, a heart of gold, and his fair share of family issues and a bit of a savior complex? The shaky part for me was the FMC Katie-her body issues were crippling and extreme in my opinion, and became repetitively painful. I’m all for body positivity but she fought against it and against loving herself til the bitter end, which was frustrating! Also her lying bothered me a lot. So basically I enjoyed most of it well enough, but it was always in the shade of those negative things.

so good!!! Katherine Center is the QUEEN of romcoms and i will die on that hill. this book was cute, funny, quirky, and so much fun to read. Katherine knows just how to capture my attention and i could not put this book down.

A romantic read with heart and healing at its core

*Spoiler alert for the ending.

The Love Haters was such a beautiful, romantic story—full of charm, heart, and unexpected depth. I absolutely loved Hutch. He was one of those rare, honest good guys, and you could feel his warmth and integrity on every page. The way he cared, listened, and showed up was just… swoon-worthy. Katherine Center wrote him in a way that made you believe in the quiet strength of kind-hearted people.

Cole, on the other hand, was a wild one—but even he got his happy ending with a surprising (and satisfying!) little twist. And I loved Hutch’s aunt and her group of friends. They brought so much joy and life to the story. Their friendship, wisdom, and humor gave the book a richer texture—they really helped it shine.

Adding the storm element near the end was such a smart way to show Katie’s growth. And that final moment—when the houseboat sinks and she starts naming all the things she loves about herself and her body—absolutely floored me. It was tender, empowering, and deeply personal. There’s so much pressure in the world to look a certain way, to shrink ourselves, to be “perfect.” Before I became chronically ill, I used to obsess over numbers on the scale, how I looked, and what others thought of me. But now, all I wish for is health. That scene felt like such a mirror to my own journey—reminding me that in life’s most critical moments, none of that superficial stuff matters. We are already enough. Our bodies carry us through so much, and they deserve love and kindness—not shame.

Even now, while being sick, I’m still unlearning those old beliefs and trying to reprogram my brain to love my body as it is now. Katie’s moment of self-love didn’t feel forced or cheesy—it felt earned, and it left a lasting impact.

***The only part that confused me a little was the rescue scene. For a second, it felt like they were leaving Katie behind, and then all of a sudden she was with them. I would’ve loved just a bit more clarity there to make that moment feel as grounded as the rest of the story.

Overall though, this was an absolute gem of a read. It made me laugh, swoon, and reflect—and it reminded me of the quiet power of loving ourselves exactly as we are.

I am always down to read a book by Katherine Center. I have enjoyed pretty much all of her books, and the covers get me every time! I was able to get an audiobook to listen to from the publisher and Netgalley. The narration was well done, and I liked listening to the story in this format. It was engaging and I feel like if I would have read it I don't know if I would have got through it as fast. Although I did like this overall, I wasn't in love with it which is disappointing for me to say.

The first half was definitely better. I enjoyed getting to know Katie and understanding her situation with work, her ex, and the body image issues she has dealt with and still does throughout the book. There was a lot going on but also at the same time not really. Some of the topics felt a bit rushed or just looked over and didn't get the time that they needed. Most of the side characters I felt needed more time on the pages and could have been fleshed out more to add to the lives of the MCs and give more context, especially since one is an aunt, and the other is a brother. I did like the aunt though because she was just so fun! Getting closer to the end there was miscommunication. Miscommunication is not my thing, and I dislike it so much. One of my least favorite things to read about.

Overall, this was good for the most part. I'm sure there will be those who enjoy it more than me!

I want to start off by saying that I have loved Katherine Center's books. I can tell that she really researches the topics she writes about and the effort really shows in her writing. Her characters are always multi dimensional.

I enjoyed the beginning of this story and learning about the coast guard rescue missions. It was also interesting to hear from Katie's perspective about her body image issues. When Cole got involved towards the end of the story, that's when things started going wrong for me. I did not enjoy his involvement in the story and felt that he was incredibly immature and selfish. It made the story go in a different direction and with the history he had with his brother, it felt cruel. I did not enjoy this and it spoiled the book for me. I did like the ending and how everything came together but the Cole storyline really took this in a different direction for me, one that felt unnecessary.

I really enjoyed the narration by Patti Murin and as usual she did a great job voicing these characters. She really put the right depth of emotion in to them and made the story more exciting for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this ARC.

⭐️: 3.5/5

George Bailey is the true hero and main character of this book, full stop. He was the most interesting and sympathetic character, and the one I cared the most about. George Bailey is a dog.

Ok, but being so serious, George Bailey was the best part of this book, and he’s what kept me invested in the last 20% or so. Katherine Center’s books are always a little hit or miss for me, because something about the trope of the girl who is prone to such unlikely accidents that inevitably charm the MMC gives me the ick. Like, the whole point of this book is that Katie couldn’t swim, so did she really have to fall into the pool and almost drown SO many times? Like I get that the absurd situations are part of the genre, but sometimes it goes a little too far.

I always wish all rom-coms that aren’t dual POV, were dual POV, and this one was no exception. I think being in Katie’s head was a little much at times (read: eating disorder and body dysmorphia TW) and her sudden ~realizations~ felt a little glib to me. I would’ve liked to hear from Hutch.

There was a point in the second half where I started to like the character of Katie, and I thought that was the turning point of the book where I’d be like “oh yeah, I can root for these characters,” but then she went and got SO much more annoying, and I just couldn’t. This was also such a slow burn of a book when it came to the actual romance aspect of it, with a lot of like, weird lying and random tropes interspersed.

Ultimately, I’m so glad that I had the ALC in addition to the eARC, because listening to it I think helped me enjoy the story a lot more. It was definitely popcorn-y and fun, and listening helped me mentally skim over the aspects of Katie that really bugged me.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
This was a cheesy but enjoyable story about a coast guard hottie named Hutch and a videographer FMC named Katie.
Katie needs to keep her job, so when her co-worker, Cole asks her to go to Key West to do a day-in-the-life-of video of a hero coast guard named Hutch because Cole doesn’t want to do it… she has no choice but to figure it out and make it happen.
Can’t swim? No big deal. Fake it til you make it. Or whatever.
The story is told through the POV of Katie. We get to fall in love with Hutch along side Katie and swoon….He is a keeper. And how about that rescue Great Dane. 🐕 🥰
Cole shows up in Key West and pulls some dumb crap and I was annoyed with the lies and fake relationship yada yada.
I got over it.
There is self-worth/body image dialogue throughout the book, which is wrapped up nicely in the end.
Hurricane comes and bet you can’t guess what Hutch does in the end. 🌀 Predictable.
Book boyfriend worthy. 🙌🏻💜

It wasn’t my favorite KC book but it was enjoyable and I would recommend to anyone who likes clean romance. Slow burn. Forced proximity.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this arc book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Release date: May 20, 2025

I think I have a crush on a fictional man named Hutch who, despite being an swoon worthy rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard, is also sweet, thoughtful, kind and humble. I also fell head over heels in love with George Bailey-- a rescue great dane who quite literally stole the show!

There are also themes of body image, self-realization and grief through the story-- heavy topics on their own, but weaved delicately through the storyline by Katherine Center. KC has always the ability to create an inviting world with her storytelling, creating characters that you love to love, and romances that leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. The Love Haters is no exception.

As always, Patti Murin does an exceptional job narrating the story and bringing the protagonist, Katie, to life. Her narration captivated me from the beginning, and held my interest straight through until the end. Murin has a gift for narrating and I always look forward to productions featuring her!

When Katie's coworker Cole comes up with a scheme to help prevent her world from crashing down around her, Katie leaps for it... And straight into the arms of self doubt. With a cousin that seems to be able to quote one too many self help books (don't we all have this person in our lives, With a loveable dog and a sexy pararescue swimmer, who couldnt help but swoon their way through this story?

2.5 stars, rounded up. This book focuses on Katie, who was recently cheated on by her ex and ends up with a job filming her coworkers brother, Hutch, who is a coast guard. This book was very slow to start and I felt focused a little too much on the FMC self-image and insecurities in the beginning. The last few chapters is honestly when it got better for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters as much as I wanted to :(

I liked the ending though!

I listened to the audio of this and thought the narrator did an amazing job! I didn't feel bored at all.

Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio of this book. All thoughts are my own <3

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Superb writing and storytelling from this author, yet again! This time, readers are treated to Katie, who cannot swim, but finds herself in the vicinity of water and rescue swimmer, "Hutch". She goes to Key West to profile him for work on behalf of her coworker, Cole, who is also the brother of Hutch. Hutch is a stud, but has his own issues, much like Katie.

This book brings all sorts of fun things melded together really well. The characters do not outwardly seem like they'd be a match, but they click and the chemistry is very real. There are also some great themes here, such as confidence and self-worth, and this is applied to both characters. Secondary characters are also pleasant here, and I loved the addition of the dog. Readers will laugh and feel deeper feelings, which is just a hallmark of this author, and that is why she is an automatic read for me and should be for you, too.

The audiobook version is also a great way to read this book. The narration was clear, as is the case with all of this author's books, and the narrator was able to deliver the appropriate emotions and delivery throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.