As a lover of Katherine Center, this was not my absolute favorite, but I did enjoy the story and the characters. I had trouble placing which "romance trope" this book is, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is an absolute delight from start to finish. Katie, the main character, is wonderfully relatable—smart, funny, and navigating life’s messiness with a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud more than once. The story strikes the perfect balance between heart and hilarity, making it impossible to put down. Center’s writing is warm and witty, and she brings each character to life with charm and depth. A special shout out goes to George Bailey, the lovable dog who steals scenes and hearts with his adorable antics. The chemistry between the characters sparkles, and the dialogue feels both authentic and engaging. What really makes this book shine is how it celebrates love, growth, and the joy of unexpected connections. If you're looking for a feel-good read that delivers both laughs and heart, The Love Haters is the book for you.

Another beautiful book written by Katherine Center!
The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is literally undeniable! You can tell from the moment they meet that there is a small spark! But there are so many secrets, tension between Hutch & Cole, and the hurricane-force emotions swirl around them that takes them a minute to fully commit to their feelings. Aunt Rue is hilarious and don't get me started on the dog! They both will have you laughing out loud.

I loved this audiobook. It enhances the story. I read along to the audiobook and thought it was really good.

Katie Vaughn’s company is downsizing and as one of the newest hires, she’s worried her job is on the chopping block. This is why she accepts an assignment to make a recruiting video for the Coast
Guard featuring Hutch Hutchenson, one of their rescue swimmers, when she doesn’t know how to swim. A major requirement, but off to Key West she goes.

Katie struggled with her body image and self-confidence after a brush with her ex-fiancé’s new-found fame (people can be so awful online!). It wasn’t just not knowing how to swim, that was a mental challenge for Katie.

I loved Katie’s journey from an insecure introvert to someone who wasn’t afraid to live in color. Hutch and his aunt and her friends gradually coaxed Katie’s true self out with swimming lessons, dinners, and a rambunctious Great Dane! Hutch was an absolute pillar and oh-so-dreamy! I also loved the Coast Guard aspects of the story which added an extra element of adventure, danger, and excitement!

The Love Haters was a pure delight from start to finish! I adored Katherine Center’s author’s note at the end, as well.

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to an audio version with Patti Murin narrating. Her performance was perfection! Just icing on the cake!

Katherine Center is an auto-read romance author for me. Romance isn’t my go to genre but something about Center’s quirky characters, amusing shenanigans, and the undeniable chemistry she builds just hits the spot for me.

The Love Haters is no exception and hit all the marks for me. Katie was relatable - body insecurity (which I sort of liked that her insecurity was vague because I think we’ve all been there), career-focused, and totally in over her head. Hutch was a great male protagonist. I loved his unique job, his caring personality, and especially his pup.

I also loved the setting. Center brought the Key West to life with her vivid descriptions and beautiful landscapes. And the Hurricane?! Hilarious and also terrifying and completely over the top - what more could you ask for?!

I listened to The Love Haters on audio and it was wonderful. Humorous, engaging, and totally made me fall in love with these silly characters and this stunning setting.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the copy. Don’t miss this one!

Could not get through this due to some of the ED content. sure people who can read this will love it

5⭐️- I could not put this book down!

Sometimes a book hits just right and you don’t want to stop reading. Perhaps it’s hilarious and makes you chuckle. Or you hope the sweet romance will work out by the end of the book. Or maybe the plot is engaging and well paced. For me it was all of that and more.

I’m going to admit that I struggled with Katherine Center’s last book, ‘The Rom-Commers’ and with only 25% of the way in I decided to DNF it. To say I was a little uncertain going into this book was an understatement. But for me it had a lot of the same vibes and feels that her prior books have. Yay!

I’ve seen a few reviews that didn’t like how much focus was placed on body positivity and learning to love yourself inside and out. However, after having a close friend of mine struggle with an eating disorder and lack of self worth just like the main character Katie, It felt very realistic. I didn’t find it over the top at all. Just like learning about the main male character, Hutch and his involvement with the Coast Guard wasn’t too much. Both of their experiences were well represented and made them feel more relatable and real. I love how Katherine Center has a way of immersing the reader into the lives and world of her characters.

PS- You’re going to LOVE Aunt Rue. She is hands down the best character in the whole book. I want her to be my Florida fairy godmother. 💕

Thank you @Macmillan.Audio and @NetGalley for the ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A Quick Overview:
❤️Katie & Hutch
🌴Floria Keys Work Trip
😍Instant Attraction
🛟Coast Guard Promo Video
🐶Giant Great Dane Doggie
🌊Swim & Safety Lessons
🥰Embracing Life
💗The Sweetest Cinnamon Roll MMC
☺️Hilarious & Heartwarming

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to have an ALC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Honestly, this book was fantastic, I loved the prose, how well the characters were fleshed out, and I loved how they all interacted. I enjoyed the overall plot, and found the story compelling and relatable. I appreciate how Katherine Center approached body issues, and how she developed a story around self-love and acceptance. I was moved by the overall message. I loved the narrator they chose for this book, she did an amazing job telling the story and showing all of the emotion.

Overall, 4.5 stars!

I listened to the audiobook of this story and was pleased with Patti Muran’s narration. I think she brought each of the characters to life and was a great fit for Katie. However, this wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the body image issues that Katie dealt with and had a hard time getting into the story.

Read If You Like
• Workplace romance
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Grumpy/sunshine dynamic
• Healing through storytelling

Emma Wheeler is a quiet, self-effacing screenwriter stuck ghostwriting romantic comedies while caring for her ailing father. When she’s offered the chance to rewrite a major rom-com script for former comedy star Charlie Yates—a cynical, washed-up actor who hates rom-coms—Emma jumps at the chance.

The job requires her to leave Texas and work closely with Charlie in L.A., forcing both characters into unfamiliar emotional territory. As the two collaborate on bringing the story to life, Emma must navigate her own romantic ideals while Charlie slowly reckons with his jaded view of love.

The Rom-Commers is sweet and self-aware, leaning more into emotional vulnerability than laugh-out-loud moments. While the pacing is uneven and the central romance may feel tepid for readers expecting high heat or sparkling banter, the novel succeeds as a gentle meditation on love, storytelling, and second chances. A solid, if not standout, entry in the genre.

Thanks to SMP and Macmillan for my ALC and EARC!

I read in other's reviews for this book that there is extensive topic discussion on body dysmorphia, disorderly eating, and toxic views on bodies. This is not something I can read about at this time.

If I change my mind in the future, I will go back and edit this review.

Thank you for the opportunity and consideration.

I loved this audiobook. Katherine Center really did such an amazing job with this book. I would recommend the audiobook or ebook to anyone looking for a feel good rom com!

🌴✨ 5 stars – A new favorite Katherine Center book! ✨🌴

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Love Haters absolutely charmed me from start to finish. I adored this book. It might just be my new favorite from Katherine Center! (which is saying a lot because I’ve loved each one I’ve read 😝)

Katie’s journey with self-image felt so personal and real, I saw so much of myself in her. It was empowering, vulnerable, and handled with so much heart. And the romance? SWOONY PERFECTION. Tender, funny, and full of sparkling chemistry. The kind of love story that makes you believe in second chances and happy endings.

The Key West setting was pure magic 🏝️ so vivid and alive that I felt like I was there, sipping something cold under palm trees. And I have to shout out the audiobook: it was perfect in every single way. The narration brought the story to life with so much emotion and warmth!!! I literally couldn’t stop listening.

If you love Emily Henry or Christina Lauren, you need this book on your TBR. It’s witty, heartfelt, romantic, and deeply uplifting.

The Love Haters had the potential to be a charming, feel-good rom-com, but it ended up landing squarely in the “just okay” category for me. The story touches on themes of body image, confidence, and self-acceptance, which had potential but didn’t quite deliver the impact I hoped for. My biggest issue is just that I was a bit bored. Not enough to DNF, but also not entertained enough to feel truly invested. The romance felt a bit flat, and I started to care more for supporting characters than the leads (e.g. Rue and the gals) . The novel didn’t leave much of an impression. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not particularly memorable. The narrator was fine- no complaints.

I loved this book! I thought the storyline of a single girl going on a random work trip and accidentally falling for her hometown hero. The other characters and relationships that were built making them so close I thought was a great addition. Many times characters fall off or their relationships don't make any sense but these ones were perfect! No extra complicated storyline to follow of random people.

The Love Haters is a I loved. This book is a **slow burn romance** with themes of self-love. Theprotagonist’s insecurities were a bit overwhelming, but I overall enjoyed the emotional journey.

I love Katherine Center's books and really enjoyed The Love Haters. Hutch was an amazing MMC (big fan here), but Katie did frustrate me at times. I can definitely relate to some of her struggles, but it took some time for me to really connect with her. The storyline was fun and I loved the setting being in the Florida Keys! As always with her books, she had me feeling all the feels and I was laughing and crying and just overall had a grand time with this one.

I adore Katherine Center's novels and this one did not disappoint. The beginning was familiar and similar to most of Center's novels. I will admit that during the middle portion of this audio, I lost a bit of interest but the author brought me back before it ended. Katie is quirky, awkward and funny. Hutch is quiet and moody. What could go wrong? When they are thrown together on a project, the two have to learn to navigate each others quirks - Katie because she needs her job and Hutch because he's trying to make up for past mistakes. Of course they fall in love with each other and of course neither of them will admit it. Will a close call with a hurricane force them to face their fears and admit their true feelings to one another? Read it to find out! Also, shout out to the author for creating a character like Katie (I also am afraid to wear colors and mostly stick with black or neutral! It's a real thing. Colors on my person frighten me!) The narrator also always does a fantastic job with her novels.

Center can definitely craft a tale, but this one fell a little flat for me. Summed up across the book it sounds like a good story, but I got a little bogged down in the details. I felt like the last quarter of the book helped redeem the rest. I was finally invested a little to find out what happened. Perhaps I didn't resonate with the characters as much as I'd hoped, especially Katie. I'll still try Center's future books out, of course...she has talent.
The narration for this audiobook was good with all characters portrayed well, and didn't divert my attention.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are mine.