I love Katherine Center's romance novels. Every character always feels so fleshed out, and even if there is something in the plot that feels like it's a little too unlikely, Katherine is able to make it feel real.

Katie had a horrible stepmom and internet trolls that gave her some horrible body image problems. But she has a great best friend and a new Aunt Rue that both help Katie to feel more confident in her skin. I really like how the book takes Katie on a journey of how to recover and move away from her body issues with concrete actions while also showing us a variety of ways that life can knock you back down, even when you are making progress.

George Bailey, a giant rescue great Dane, is the main reason that our romantic couple, Katie and Hutch, get together and keep having romantic interactions with each other. We don't ever actually find out why Geoge Bailey is so smitten with Katie when he doesn't act that way around anyone else, but without him, there would have been no relationship. Both of our main characters don't believe they are in any way special and don't believe anyone could be interested in them, even when those around them keep telling them otherwise. Because the dog is used as a way to get this couple together over and over, it makes it harder to believe this couple can actually make it on their own, besides both being physically attracted to each other.

The Love Haters did not have the greatest start for me, as lying about knowing how to swim for a job that requires one to swim is not at all funny. However, our main character immediately tries to remedy this and miraculously learns to swim in less than a week. I'm not sure exactly what the cover of the book has to do with the story, but it is pretty and colorful. The title also was not a great fit, even though it was tried to be forced onto some of our characters by others who didn't really understand what they were going through.

The other Katherine Center books I have read have stayed more in a positive, happy place than this book. The tension with Cole and all of the lies causing so many complications I did not love. I hate it when the lies of others are part of the reason a couple doesn't work out. The stress Katie goes through in learning to swim and during the hurricane made this rom-com much more suspenseful than I usually prefer my rom-coms to be. There are definitely silly moments, but it is hard to be uplifted by them when there are so many other emotions pulling me down. I never wanted to give up on the book, but it was not as strong as some of her others for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC.

Although entertaining and enjoyable, especially with Patti Murin as the narrator, I wish there had been content warnings on body image and eating disorders. I think a lot of people may appreciate seeing that before going into this book.

♾️⭐️
Format: 🎧

The Love Haters is a romance but not just with the swoony MMC.

At its heart, it’s about self love and the messy, nonlinear, beautiful journey of learning to see your worth after a lifetime of being told you’re not enough.

Katherine Center has this incredible way of writing stories that go deep. Her books always explore self worth, personal growth, and all the honest, raw parts of being human and this one was no exception.

One moment in particular hit me so hard I had to pause the audiobook and just sit with it. Katie is reflecting on her relationship with her body, and the grief of realizing how long she’d treated herself with unkindness.

<i> “What does that old song say, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone… the very real, very immediate prospect of my body, the one I picked on and complained about and denied for so long suddenly just not being there… it saturated me with a sadness so deep, so cellular, I’d never felt anything like it before. Grief for a body that it turned out I loved all along… I should have loved all of my everything, because it was mine.” </i>

I also loved the mention of the Gottman Method! I’ve learned about it in my own therapy journey, and it made the story feel even more intentional and grounded.

And while Hutch is 100% a swoon-worthy hero, what I appreciated most is that Katie’s growth didn’t come from him. She didn’t need anyone to make her feel whole or beautiful she found that within herself. The romance is sweet, but Katie’s relationship with herself is the one that truly shines.

There’s a twist halfway through that I did not see coming, and I loved watching Cole and Hutch work through their family dynamic. And Rue absolutely stole the show. Katherine Center always gives her side characters so much personality, they feel just as memorable as the leads.

TL;DR: This is a feel good, heartfelt romance with a strong (and perfectly imperfect) FMC who faces her fears, grows into herself, and finds love along the way. It gave me all the swoony, inspiring vibes—and with the Key West setting, it’s the perfect summer read/listen. 🥰🌊🏝️

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Katherine Center for the ARC!

I was so excited to see that Katherine Center had a new book coming out. She’s one of my authors that I get the book without reading the blurb and they are always so wonderful! Her characters are so great in every one of her books. Big fan here! I just loved Hutch and Katie. Loved their story so much, Cole not so much(IYKYK). Aunt Rue was just a wonderful addition to such a great character lineup. I mean we would all like to live how Aunt Rue does.

To sum it up, it’s a wonderful book with characters that you just fall in love with…. But that’s pretty much all her books.

Patti Murin was such a great narrator. She really brought the story to life.


Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

Katherine Center does it again - the perfect feel-good rom-com! This one is cute and eccentric with “the gals” and their antics on the sideline all while rooting for Janie and West. This felt a little less traditional with the outline of the plot- I didn’t realize the description matched the book until about 60% through the novel! Either way, I was instantly in love with the three main characters. Katherine Center does such a wonderful job of balancing real issues with a feel good story that you think could actually happen. It’s the perfect balance of inspirational and funny and cozy. All at the same time I know I will always enjoy reading her books and I also love that they are all clean romances, but the plot is never cheesy. The narration for this was lovely and the voices just made the experience that much better. 5⭐️, 0.5🌶

4.75 stars. A swoony ride with a fast-burn romance.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center was such a fun, heartwarming read. I really liked the characters and everyone felt full of life and personality. I was rooting for them all almost immediately. The dialogue was written so well.

The love story of it all moved a little too fast for me. It felt a bit unrealistic how quickly things escalated. I wanted a more slow-burn kind of relationship but I guess when you know you know! Still, the charm of the writing and the depth of the characters totally carried it. I really appreciated the emphasis on self-acceptance and self-love too.

Overall, I genuinely loved this book and was sad to get to the end. Great narrator for the audiobook. Light but meaningful with powerful personal stories, romantic but not crazy cheesy. If Katherine Center has 0 fans, I am dead.

Katherine Center has done it again. I love her books so much 🥹 at sometimes the plot does get a little squeeze-y cheesy but honestly that’s part of the allure for me. I really fell in love with every single character in this story. Kate’s body imagine issues were also very relatable for me as they do seem to take over and dictate the way you think you have to do things, no matter how silly they may be. This book was funny & heartfelt. I loved how it ended and I always get a bit sad whenever I finish reading her books.

Thanks NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the arc of the book and audiobook. The audiobook is very, very good and the narrator is a pleasure to listen to.

Title: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5 stars)
Publication Date: May 20, 2025

Thanks to #netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC.

Katherine Center delivers another sunshine-soaked, heartfelt rom-com in The Love Haters, filled with emotional growth, witty banter, and just the right amount of chaos. Katie Vaughn is a video producer on the verge of losing her job when she's offered one last chance to prove herself: film a career-defining profile of Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a gruff but gorgeous Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

There’s just one problem—Katie can’t swim, and she lied about it. Add in Hutch’s stubborn rescue Great Dane named George Bailey (who steals every scene), his estranged and slightly infuriating little brother Cole (Katie’s coworker), and her own sassy, truth-bomb-dropping best friend back home, and you’ve got the perfect mix of mess and magic.

The forced proximity between Katie and Hutch brings out some genuinely sweet and funny moments, and the tropical setting only adds to the charm. Hutch is the definition of the reluctant romantic—brooding, principled, and unexpectedly soft underneath it all. Katie’s journey toward self-trust and honesty is easy to root for, even if some of the emotional beats feel a little rushed.

This one’s for fans of beachy rom-coms with heart, big dogs, reluctant heroes, and heroines learning to take up space in their own lives.

#TheLoveHaters #KatherineCenter #ContemporaryRomance #RomComReads #BeachReads #ForcedProximity #GrumpySunshine #RescueDogLove #BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #InstaBooks #BooksOfInstagram #WeekendReads #RomComLove #TBRPile #Bibliophile #FictionFaves #WomenWhoRead #GeorgeBaileyIsTheRealMVP

Honestly, every single book I have read by this author has been amazing. And this book is absolutely no different.
I loved the story of Katie and Hutch and I really resonate with Katie the older I get. I loved getting to see her accept her body and accept the life she’s living and find a way to be happy with the circumstances she has. I absolutely adore hutch, and George Bailey. They are both amazing characters and once you realize all the wonderful things that Hutch has been doing this whole time without her, knowing it just warms my heart. I adore you. I think she was an absolutely beautiful character to have in the story and especially with the sickness and the blog at the end I loved I love that. I think the narrator did a really great job with it. I would’ve really liked it. If it could’ve been a dual narration, I think finding a hutch voice would’ve really just sent it over the edge, but it was really really good.

This was probably my second or third favorite Katherine Center that I’ve read, but that isn’t saying a ton. I didn’t get super frustrated or annoyed with it like I have for her last few books, but I just kept waiting for feel more interested in the story. I do think this should come with some content warnings related to eating disorders, which are tackled in the novel, but in a way that I could imagine might be triggering.

A slowburn romance between a coast guard and a video producer, The Love Haters takes its time—maybe a bit too much. The romance could’ve used more spark, but the story stands out for its honest take on body image and grief. While not the author’s best work, it’s still an enjoyable read with emotional depth and a thoughtful

In an effort to keep her job as a video producer, Katie Vaughn has accepted shooting a piece about Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, the man who saved Jennifer Aniston's pup when it fell down a cliff. But this assignment isn't going to be as easy as it seems for several reason:

1. Tom is a man of few words.
2. Tom doesn't see himself as a hero
3. And Tom is expecting his brother to shoot the piece.
4. Katie can't swim.

But Katie Vaughn doesn't expect to get drawn into a fight between the two Hutcheson brothers, fall in love with Hutch, and find herself trapped on a boat with a dog during a hurricane.

As always a Katherine Center novel is well written. I enjoyed the lighthearted and comedic approach of The Love Haters. The Katie Vaughn character was relatable, but I really enjoyed the antics of the dog and the group called the gals. It was exactly what as needed to help escape a hard week.

Thank you Netgalley for my gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun easy book to listen to! I always enjoy Katherine’s books and this was no exception. This cover might be my favorite of all her covers. It is so colorful and fun.

The narrator was way to listen to while multitasking! I enjoyed the pacing of this book. The relationship wasn’t too rushed or too much of a slow burn.

If you enjoy sweet romances this is the perfect book to get you in the mood for summer!

maybe I’m a love hater.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and… I’m so disappointed. I knew 20 pages in that I wasn’t going to vibe with this book because the FMC was so annoying. I was literally gaslighting myself into thinking it would get better. BOY WAS I WRONG.

She would state the most obvious things like “the water is wet” level obvious, and it felt like I was being spoon-fed every emotion or thought. Like okay, thank you Captain Obvious?? And don’t even get me started on how dumb she came across—she reminded me of a middle schooler trying way too hard to impress her crush.

Most of the book focused on body dysmorphia and image issues, which could have been powerful… but the way it was done just irritated me. It wasn’t like a “she found herself and grew into her confidence” moment—it was “a hot man told me I’m pretty so now I love myself.” Women don’t need a man to feel worthy. It felt outdated and lowkey frustrating.

Also? There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Like she talks about his body every single chapter but somehow they still have the flattest connection I’ve ever read. I was just confused the whole time.

I do appreciate the attempt at body image representation, but it came off forced and surface-level. Combine that with the plot holes, the lies, the chaotic pacing, and the fact that the most interesting character was the rescue Great Dane… yeah, this was a miss for me.

This book was fun and entertaining and was a good fluffy romcom to break up the serious tone of the books I’ve been reading lately. Overall, I enjoyed the story and had a great time.

This was my first book by Kathrine Center. I’ve heard great things about her books, so I was super excited when I received an Advance Listener Copy from Netgalley! I enjoyed the writing style. It was fun and kept me interested in the story. The overarching plot was really cute.

The FMC Katie is a video producer and her job is on the line due to layoffs. She travels to beautiful sunny and tropical Key West to produce a video featuring Hutch who is a coast guard rescue swimmer most famous for a viral video of him rescuing a dog, and well he’s pretty hot too! Katie finds herself swept up into a whirlwind of thrilling helicopter rides, fun gatherings with new friends, swim lessons with our handsome MMC, and stolen kisses when the tension becomes too much to resist.

One thing to note was the large focus on Katie’s body image issues. She is very insecure about her body and this is mentioned over and over again. Especially at the beginning of the book. It wasn’t subtle or nuanced at all. It was drilled into the story over and over again to the point where it was annoying and took away from the overarching plot. Now, I fully understand that many women, including myself, have insecurities about their body, but this was next level and felt very forced and not genuine at all. This topic could have been executed in a much more sensitive way and had a much more powerful impact.

All that being said, I still very much enjoyed the book, and will definitely be reading more books by Katherine Center in the future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🎧Song Pairing: Florida!!! - Taylor Swift

💭What I thought would happen:

It’s Katherine Center, the female main is going to be a quirky hot mess that everyone loves.

📖What actually happens:

🔥FMC burned from a shitty famous ex
⚠️Body dysmorphia
🌴Florida setting
🌊Coast guard rep
🩷Hot, serious MC

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I continue to give KC more chances and most often I hate her characters with a fiery passion. Happy to report I was delighted in this book! An absolutely wonderful summer read! I mean it gets pretty silly by the end but I’m just choosing to over look that.

The way eating disorders and body dysmorphia is portrayed in this….perfection. I related so so hard! The calorie counting, choosing to only wear black, to not want to weigh oneself. At my OB you have to weigh yourself weekly and I refuse to put myself through that trauma so the amazing receptionist who became my bestie did it and I looked away. Love you gf 🩷🫶🏼💋

Ok but seriously read this! I’ve seen people who are hardcore KC fans not love this book so I wonder if that’s true for most. And maybe if her books haven’t worked for you - this is the one to pick up! It’s fun-diddily-umptious!!

Warning - the third act gets exceptionally funky fresh, don’t say I didn’t warn you!

** spoiler alert ** Center's last release, The Rom-Commers, was utter garbage. Between the shitty characters and the gross mishandling of lung cancer (in which the MMC was diagnosed with a devastating terminal illness and then the author went, "haha sike!"), there was nothing redeemable about it.

The Love Haters takes a similar approach in insensitively handling a very serious topic; this time, Center sets her sights on eating disorders. Katie, the jilted fiancee of a newly famous singer, suffers from body dysmorphia, partaking in a starvation diet in the aftermath of cyberbullying from her ex's rabid fangirls. Now, I have no problem with authors exploring difficult topics like eating disorders. The issue arises when they brutally butcher what is a real lived experience by many people who may be picking up the book.

Here's how Katie is "cured" of her eating disorder and negative relationship with her body: Katie's famous fiancee cheats on her. Katie quits her starvation diet and eats a gallon of cookie dough. Her cousin comes over and burns her scale so she'll never weigh herself again. Fast forward a bit and Katie has to go to Key West for her job. While on this work trip, her cousin calls her, essentially usurping the role of a therapist, and forces Katie to tell her one feature each day that Katie loves about herself. Katie also meets a man who finds her beautiful. Together, man and cousin make Katie feel beautiful again. Katie then has a traumatic near-death experience getting trapped on a houseboat in a hurricane. She calls her cousin one last time, who tells her "I love my body because it's mine." As Katie's houseboat starts to sink, she realizes she loves her body for the same reason.

/the end

I'm not kidding. That's Katie's journey. At no point did she seek professional help from a doctor or a therapist. The characterization of her cousin was also completely shallow; she served only as a vehicle throughout the story to propel Katie toward self-acceptance. They had literally no other relationship beside that. After a certain point, I kept questioning why the fuck Beanie wanted to call Katie so often. ALL they talked about on the phone was Katie.

To make matters worse, the MMC, Hutch, is a super hot coast guard guy, who rose to internet fame when he rescued Jennifer Aniston's dog after he fell from a cliff. Katie, who hates herself and thinks she's ugly, suddenly starts to feel beautiful when ultra hottie Hutch takes an interest in her.

From the romance to the handling of an eating disorder, this book pissed me off. I regretted picking it up after the epic disaster that was The Rom-Commers, but I just couldn't resist the allure of Patti Murin's hilarious narration and the Key West setting.

That leads me to my next issue with this novel. Key West??? Sure. That's where the book tells us Katie travels to. Except there is NO indication that the setting is any different from where she was before, aside from mentions of the over-water highway and a pool. Key West is a colorful, eclectic tourist destination. There was SO much Center could have done to immerse us in this setting, and she just chose not to even describe it.

I should've stopped with the shithole that was The Rom-Commers. I have so much regret giving this the time of day. Also, why was this called The Love Haters? No one actually hated love. Such an odd choice.

0/10. I do not recommend.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Another unputdownable book by Katherine Center! Full of chemistry, humor, banter and heart I loved all of it. The characters were loveable and I am always a sucker for elderly characters and Rue made for an excellent side character. I loved the relationship that formed between her and Katie. The writing was and plot were spot on and I was hooked from start to finish.

The narrator did an amazing job but I really wish this would have been a dual narrator audiobook. She did great at bringing all the characters to life though and I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her.

As always with Katherine Center books, I am left raw and satisfied by this story. I loved Hutch and Katie's relationship! they are a grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract duo who are so drawn to each other they just can't help but fall in love. there is so much tenderness, love, care, and affection in this story between these two, and the perfect pup! I loved the way both of them brought the other out of their comfort zone just enough to see the possibilities beyond their bubble. capped off with a suspenseful, hilarious, tear-jerking rescue mission, this story had everything you could want in a romance book!

reading as an audiobook was amazing! the narration and production let me fully immerse myself in the story and feel all the wonderful emotions this book has to offer!

thank you so much for the ALC!!!