𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

Katherine Center has been one of my favorite authors to read over the years as I enjoy the depth of topics she covers and her style of writing.

This story of Katie and Hutch was such a fun enemies to lovers story that had me intrigued from the start. It had the best push and pull with great banter which had you rooting for the characters the whole way through even though they didn’t really connect until the very end.

I loved the tropical setting in Key West and appreciated how well it was described. I absolutely adored the side characters that brought so much fun and light to the story. Rue, Hutch’s aunt, was my absolute favorite character of all!

Katie’s growth over the course of the book was such a beautiful development to read. She went through so much over the years being criticized and it damaged her tremendously. Seeing her develop confidence and overcome some of these issues was admirable.

While I did love this book and will easily recommend it to others, it wasn’t my favorite book of hers. The reason for this was the chaos of the FMC. She is a bit frustrating with her constant rambling and her letting people take advantage of her. She wouldn’t stand up for herself or communicate which put her in horrible situations and it was just frustrating in the end.

The authors note at the end of the book is a must read! It really resonated with me and affirmed why I love reading Katherine’s books so much!

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook in tandem and I loved being able to hear all the personality Patti Murin put into the characters. She did a wonderful job bringing this story to life!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
Found Family
Forced Proximity
Tropical Location
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy x Sunshine
Learning to Love Yourself

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025. I adore Katherine Center and her ability to write fiction and love stories that have some substance along with humor. I loved that this book was set in the Florida Keys and wished that it had been explored more through their time together. I loved the descriptions of Hutch and the things I learned about the Coast Guard from Katie's experience being thrust into that world. Rue was my favorite side character and someone that I adored after learning her backstory and the unusual way that the brothers joined her family. I never connected with Cole or the whole Sullivan/fake dating side story. The chemistry in this book felt like it was a secondary plot line to Katie's obsession with her body. I wanted to love the focus on her trying to learn acceptance and body positivity, but it became annoying when it was the whole topic of every conversation. She even decides to make that the topic of her possible last call to her best friend ever while she is in danger?? Come on. Ultimately, I still enjoyed both reading and listening to the story and finished it in a few days, but it won't unseat my other favorite Katherine Center books.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC to this book and audio.

Do you want a book that will fill your heart with Love? Then you need to read this one! This book was absolutely amazing. It had me laughing out loud, kicking my feet and crying. I never wanted it to end and now that it has I want to listen to it all over again.

This story is about Katie who has 2 choices. Get laid off or take a job profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Why is this bad? Katie is highly unqualified and can’t swim. Katie decides to fake it to you make it and heads to the Key West. This story has conga lines, drinking games, stolen kisses and hurricanes. This book is full of love and overcoming your fears and self doubt. Highly recommended, 5⭐️

Genuinely, and I cannot stress this enough, F*CK COLE. I am currently 75% of the way into the book and there is genuinely NOTHING Cole could do to redeem himself in my eyes. Which is unfortunate because he is the MMC’s brother, and you don’t really want them to be estranged; but also, again, F*CK COLE. F*CK THIS GUY.

Making the MMC’s brother the main villain is a bold choice. Why couldn’t he be an ex? It would fit the storyline and then I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable for not forgiving him… because I will not. He is the worst. I also don’t understand Katie’s motivations for going along with Cole’s scheme. Like yes, it’s to keep her job- but she doesn’t appear to really love this job and has the possibility to do at least moderately successful freelance work. There’s no reason for her to go along with such an absurd scheme for a job she is just good with. She doesn’t love it, doesn’t absolutely need it because she has no other options. Also, Cole doesn’t appear to be high enough on the totem pole that if Katie had immediately exposed his lie, the boss wouldn’t have taken Katie’s side, or at the very least, taken no sides. But then they say the lie is for Rue? Which I just really don’t get. The gist of this: the third act conflict makes ZERO sense.

Love Patti Murrin’s narration as always!

The Love Haters is a wild ride from Katherine Center following a video producer and her reluctant Coast Guard subject. This book is humorous, sexy, and thrilling at times. The author thoroughly researched the Coast Guard and does an amazing job of accurately representing this hardcore heroes. I highly recommend this book for spicy adult romance lovers, as long as you're willing to suspend your disbelief at some of the likely coincidences and ridiculous situations.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center.

This book delivers all the heart, humor, and emotional depth that fans of Katherine Center have come to expect. It blends romantic tension with themes of self-worth, personal growth, and second chances in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. The main character’s voice is relatable and sincere, and the setting adds a breezy charm that enhances the story’s warmth.

While the pacing felt uneven in spots and some emotional beats could have landed stronger, the overall journey was engaging and satisfying. A solid read for fans of contemporary romance with a meaningful, empowering core.

This is my 3rd Katherine Center read and she has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors! And Patti Murrin narrated and next to Julia Whelan she is my top audiobook narrator!

This book is a cute summer read while also tackling difficult issues like insecurity and family conflict. It takes place in the Florida Keys (which, as a born and raised Floridian I was super excited to have my home state as the background of this story) about a video producer (*who can’t swim*) who is tasked with profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Honestly, I was sold at ✨Coast Guard rescue swimmer 😮‍💨🤪

Anyways, I loved this book! It was cheesy at times and a little predictable, but I still had fun reading it and felt touched by the internal struggles of the main characters. Katie’s difficulties with self love were so relatable and while other reviewers have said she comes off as whiney and too insecure, I felt that she expressed feelings so many women experience.

Be sure to check this one out when it releases May 20th!!

And big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy 🫶🏼

If you are looking for a closed-door book that you will totally pull you in, this book is for you! The narrator draws you and keeps you entertained from the beginning till the end. You will fall in love with Hutch. He is such a great cinnamon roll MMC. I loved that Katie is a strong FMC also. Katherine Center wrote her so well! Katie's self-loathing turns into self-love, that resignates with this reader. Personally, it made me look at my own self-loathing.

Thank you MacMillian audio for allowing me to listen to and leave feedback for this book.

I love Katherine Center and this book was exactly what I’ve come to expect from her. Fun, thought provoking, and fun facts learned along the way.

I absolutely loved this one! Yet another great Katherine Center read! The characters had great chemistry. The plot was fun and different. I loved the back story and listening as the whole story progressed and developed. Her work is so healing to me. Love it and will be sure to recommend to others!

Being rescued by a handsome Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer was not what Katie had planned when she attempted to evacuate during a Hurricane.
Stubborn dog, complex Man, a documentary and a ton of second hand humiliation earns this Katherine Center title 4 stars. I took away 1 star for predictability.
Wildly entertaining and laugh out load funny! Another hit for Katherine Center. This could happen to any of us! I like that the story is relatable and could really happen!

Any review I write will not come close to the author's note about this story. Katherine Center talks about why we benefit from reading romances with happy endings, why we bond with certain characters, and why we need to stop the self-loathing and love ourselves, faults and all. Yes, this story has a unique magic, as the author says, and is so not real life, but we can still involve ourselves in their lives as they struggle with the things we all struggle with. 'It's healing to read stories about healing, it's nourishing to read stories about people finding nourishment....' and so on and so on. The narrator for this story is perfect for the part of Katie.

This story was fun. Katie & Hutch & Rue are such great characters. I wish Beanie had been in the story more since she was great. I liked the addition of George Bailey & the exposure to the topic of puppy mills. The build up of the friendship between Katie & Hutch was fun to read and then when it deepened into something else Cole wrecked it. Hutch’s jealous brother was pretty annoying but he brought Sullivan and I liked her. There were a few things that I didn’t enjoy. When Katie was talking to the 911 operator when the boat came unmoored she was annoyed that the operator wasn’t nicer. That person was sooooo busy in that moment & Katie was just chattering inanely. But…..did I love this book & was I grinning like a fool from the rescue until the end of the book? Yes, 100% yes. Katherine Center knows how to write a great romance book with some serious issues thrown in. The narrator was amazing & helped make the book even more fun.

Thanks to NetGalley, Katherine Center and MacMillan Audio for St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was a cute listen and I always enjoy Katherine Center’s writing. I liked the story between Kate, Hutch and Cole and was intrigued until the end.

Well if a book can make me cry , I’m giving it all the stars. If she writes it, I am reading it. Katherine center did it again. One month, one month, 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I LOVE THIS BOOK

Here is my emoji review

😂😂🔥💕🥹🫣😑😏😏🤣🤣🥹🥹🥺🥺🤣😏😏😳😳🥹🥹🫣🫣❤️🤣🤣🤣🥹🥹🥹

I repeat don’t drink water why listening or reading this book,

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance recorded copy of this title.

Katherine Center is becoming one of my favorite authors. The title of this book is about how the main characters feel about love. The female protagonist was involved with a singer who hit it big, literally the night he proposed do her, and dumped her not long after. The man she is supposed to interview and make a short film of is described by his brother as a "love hater", though the brother does seem to have his own axe to grind. Katie is convinced to take the job, making a movie of Hutch, despite the fact that he is a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer--and she can't swim.

So off Katie goes to Key West, to stay in a cottage owned by the brothers' aunt, Rue. One of my very favorite parts of this book is the female friendships that it highlights--several of Rue's other cottages are inhabited year round by her friends, who have created a sort of septuagenarian sorority, swimming together regularly, sangria and dinner every night, etc. They welcome Katie with open arms.

Hutch is apparently an exceedingly good looking man who isn't aware of his own looks. And he has a Great Dane who is not aware of his own size. Thus, their first meeting is not exactly a meet-cute...

This book was timely for me, as I've just started dating again after a marriage ended badly 15 years ago. It had a lot--female friendship, self-esteem issues, sibling rivalry, trauma history, even a storm. On--and since this is an audiobook review, it also had a great narrator!

Highly recommend!

I'm a huge KC fan, but this book was a bit of a miss for me. I found it just OKAY. very forgettable, and the characters are a little too soft for me.

She does it again! Katherine Center is an immediate must read for me and this book did not disappoint. Her characters, Katie Vaughn and Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson, are real people, going through real life situations that force you to empathize and relate to the journeys without even trying.

I loved the dynamic of the relationships throughout the book and Katherine’s Author’s Note at the end is EVERYTHING! She explains every part of why this book is so important and heartwarming.

Patti Murin does a beautiful job narrating the story with dynamic voices for the character and passionate storytelling through Katie’s point of view.

This is a must read/listen for any Rom Com lover!

The Love Haters
by Katherine Center
5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When Katie is asked to produce a film for a Coast Guard project, she jumps in with both feet. Forget the fact that she can't swim. She'll figure that part out later. Along the way, Katie learns what it means to be brave.

I am pretty sure that each of Katherine Centers books gets better than the last. This book had all the elements- sad parts that truly had me chocking back a sob; happy parts that made me laugh; times I wanted to throw the book (well.... my phone since I listened to the audio) across the room from frustration... you get the point. Oh, and there is a dog!

"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time." Isn't this the truth? There are so many ways this quote applies to the story. I loved the characters and their development. Katie has the fears that haunt a lot of women in today's society and has to endure the pressures of social media.

"Sometimes words aren't quite enough."

I would highly recommend this book to fans of Katherine Center and fans of rom-coms. It is set to be published on May 20, 2025. Put it on your library hold list now because I suspect there will be a long wait for this one! The audio book narrator was great, but I would bet this would be fantastic in any format.

It's impressive how human beings can sometimes forget compliments received from people, but the negative ones can stay forever, affecting self-esteem.

In this rom-com novel, Katie struggles to accept her physical appearances and embrace the way she really is because of negative remarks she has received about her body and her likes throughout her life.

Katie's job as a video producer is in the line when she is asked by her coworker to profile a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who happens to be his good-looking brother.
Katie has no choice but to take this job and travel to the Key West even if she doesn't know how to swim, and she doesn't even like to wear a swimsuit. So, with all her fears, she will travel to the Archipelago and find adventure, love, friendship, and herself.

I love that there is romance, but this is more about self-love, healing, and reconciliation with oneself.
The romantic part is full of trope and is spicy-free, so if you are looking for a spicy read, this won't be the book.
Instead, if you would like to read something funny, lively, with parts that you know it only happens in stories but as well with things relatable to real life, this is the book.
Also, there are other themes present in the novel, such as grief, second chances, and courage.

I like how Katherine Center's novels are clean, for some readers like me who don't care about explicit descriptions and character growth have more weight.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Patti Murin, and it was quite amusing. She has the art to transmit so many feelings with her voice.
In the end, the author's notes and acknowledgments are read by the author, and it was very pleasant to hear about her writing motifs and motivations.
If all mentioned above sounds good to you, I will recommend this book in any format.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the advanced audiobook via Netgalley.
Publication Date: May 20th, 2025