3.5 /5
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the #ARC audio book.

This was a super light and fun book with endearing characters, cute interpersonal relationships and a picturesque backdrop. The quirky background characters of Rue and her lady friends added a lot of the comedy to the story line. The chemistry between our MMC and FMC was fantastic, thought I do wish it was explored a bit more. I am not embarrassed to admit that George Bailey was my absolute favorite character.

On top of a rom-com esque storyline we also get the self discovery of a woman trying to fall in love with herself. I loved the body positivity that our FMC gained as the story went on.
Another highlight for me was the narrator. Her voice perfectly told the story and though I rarely like a book in a single POV, it was perfect for telling this story.

The Love Haters
by Katherine Center
5/5 ⭐️

Five stars isn’t nearly enough for this book. The Love Haters has officially stolen the number one spot on my favorites list. This romantic comedy is not only laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart, but it is also rich with themes of found family, friendship, and learning to truly love yourself.
I connected with the main character, Katie, on a personal level. Her beauty list was an uplifting concept, and watching her personal growth unfold made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect. She is flawed yet determined and easy to root for.

Rue, with all her gals and confident quirkiness, is the kind of best friend/mentor every woman dreams of having. Her big heart brought so much soul to the story. And let’s not forget Hutch! He is hot, charming, and in the Coast Guard. Yes, please. The Coast Guard storyline was fascinating and added a unique aspect to the book. If you’re like me and love it when a story includes a furry friend, George Bailey, the dog is the cherry on top. He was so loyal, lovable, and full of personality.

This book was nearly impossible to put down. It made me laugh, smile, and cry. I highly recommend this book! @katherinecenter continues to amaze me!

Read if you like:
🧡fake dating
🚁only one bed
🧡body positivity
🚁workplace romance
🧡forced proximity

Thank you to @Macmillan.Audio and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own.
Publication Date: May 20, 2025

2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3
Katherine Center is one of my favorite romcom writers, so I requested The Love Haters audiobook from Net Galley. This was a first miss for me. There was not much chemistry and no spark between the MC's. It was missing Miss Center's usually witty conversation. FMC is constantly dealing with body image and fearful of everything because of what her stepmother told her years ago, which could work for some time, but it lasted for the entire story. It was just overdone. Info on the coastguard was interesting. Loved the dog,

3 stars — sweet, awkward, and surprisingly relatable
The Love Haters isn’t my usual genre, but I gave it a shot and ended up enjoying it more than I expected. The chemistry between the characters was fun, and the overall vibe was light and heartwarming.

That said, there were a few awkward moments that pulled me out of the story, and I felt like the main character’s body image struggles, while very real, were a bit heavy-handed at times. Then again—body issues are all-consuming in real life, so I get where it was coming from.

It’s a fast-paced, easy read with some genuinely sweet moments. If you like books that lean into rom-com tropes and emotional growth, you might enjoy this one too.

I loved this book! Patti Murin did an incredible job with the narration. This was my first book of hers that she's read for and I would totally reach for it again.

I personally really enjoyed the FMC the the things she was navigating as I have been in those shoes. I can understand when those things don't have an explanation and a full circle moment but that's not the case here. I think it all came to a head really well. Anyway, Katie, our FMC is filming a documentary for the Coast Guard with a focus on a rescue swimmer named Hutch who's not so thrilled of the arrangement because come to find out, our girl Katie can't swim.. The banter had me sat and I loved the swim lessons of it all. The end was honestly really fun and kept me on my feet but I wish we had a bit more to it.

I really loved the beauty list activity. It was a really sweet part of the book and a really great reminder that we're all different and our bodies are our homes.

Thank you Macmillan for the ALC <3

I unfortunately had a really hard time finding things I liked about this book, so now I am going to be talking about things I didn’t like.

This felt more like a corny self-help book than a romance novel. While an FMC with body image issues had the potential to resonate with me, Katie just didn’t at all. The first 10% of the book just felt like a mockery of every single eating disorder behaviour known to humankind, which I found quite distasteful. Even by the 40% mark, it was still solely about Katie’s insecurities and nothing else. I understand repetition to develop a character, but this was just trying a bit too hard.

I wasn’t a fan of the romance either because I felt zero chemistry between Katie and Hutch. Their meet-cute, albeit sort of funny, was more cringe than cute, and the interactions afterwards didn’t sell me on their developing relationship. It just felt sort of…shallow. If I had a penny for how many times Katie referred to Hutch’s “smokin’ hot, ripped af, big, burly” body, I’d have a million effin’ pennies. The fake-dating trope in the third act also felt so forced by the author. Sometimes it’s okay to not check off every trope tick box in one book. In this case, I don’t feel like it added anything to Katie’s relationship with Hutch at all. Plus, bringing the plot back to all Katie’s insecurities, the second the big handsome man tells her she’s pretty suddenly she loves herself? Girl.

I feel bad because this is my first Katherine Center book and I definitely have a sour taste in my mouth. I will possibly pick up other books from her someday, but I hope they’d be insanely different from this one, because this one unfortunately wasn’t for me.

This may be my favorite book ... ever? It's that feeling in a book where you want to savor every page, appreciate the beautiful writing, and swoon at the perfect love story. I think Katherine Center is right -- love stories have the power to change the world. (Side note: Center's author's notes are an absolute must read. They are so life affirming and perfect. Chefs kiss!) The other great part? Witnessing our main character Katie fall in love with herself.

Audiobook review: Patti. Murin. Holy cow. She knocked it out of the park. The internal monologues from Katie, the banter between Katie and Hutch. Everything was absolutely perfect.

Five big ones. THANK YOU to NetGalley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this ARC.

Rating: 5 stars!

Honored to have received another Katherine Center ARC! The story starts off with our sweet Katie and the threat that she might lose her job if she isn't able to pull off the ultimate interview with hunky coast guard Hutch. The unfolding potential love story if obvious from the start. The way the relationships unfold throughout the story, a flair of an old lady social circle, and a stubborn great dane are the perfect ingredients for this summer read.

A lot of reviews have called out their disinterested in Katie's comments about her own self-worth and her physical appearance. I have a genuine question for those people: Did you read the entire book? Typically, this would be a big turn off for me also.. BUT if you read the entire book, the emphasis placed on all of those things comes full circle. I also had a deeper appreciation for the character's flaws after reading the author's note. Round of applause for another Center book!!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center books have been hit or miss for me (loved the Rom-Commers and Hello Stranger, did not like The Bodyguard). As a daughter of a Coastie, the premise of this book had me intrigued and I feel like it was represented well without going too much into military information. Good story with some fun characters, especially George Bailey! Just a bit too cringe at times for me and some of Katie’s inner monologue felt a little excessive especially with the body image topic. Narrator was engaging and all characters were easy to follow.

Listening to this audiobook was an emotional journey for me. Patti Murin's narration was so captivating that it transformed the story into a vivid experience, bringing the characters and story to life. I found myself laughing and crying at various moments, completely immersed in the storytelling. The combination of Katherine's writing and Patti’s performance made me feel a genuine connection with the characters, as if we were close friends sharing their experiences. The themes of self-love and personal growth were empowering, especially as Katie learns to love herself with Hutch's help, leading to their beautiful and humorous romance. Overall, I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed.

🛟 The Love Haters 🛟

“It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks if you’re having fun. And all the fun is in color.”

Ohhhhh my heart, Katherine Center can do no wrong. I absolutely ADORED this latest addition to her collection of rom-com magic. As she says in the book, “joy is a kind of magic, for sure.” And WOW does this one bring joy.

Katie is assigned to film a documentary and promo of US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch. She relocates to the Florida Keys where she learns Hutch is less than thrilled her appearance when he was expecting someone else… Especially when he finds out she doesn’t know how to swim. Even still, Katie and Hutch work together and around their undeniable chemistry.

It has banter and shenanigans. Swim lessons with a coast guard rescue swimmer 😏. A meddling Auntie with her gaggle of The Gals that tease and love.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Patti Murin is the QUEEN. She does SUCH a fabulous job bringing Katie and the cast of characters to life. She sucks you in and the story comes to life in your head as you listen. HIGHLY recommend the audio to have you laughing, giggling and grinning along.

Check this one out for:
🛟 Romcom magic
🛟 Incredible banter
🛟 Heartwarming found family
🛟 Finding yourself and appreciating your body
🛟 Learning to say no to the haters and yes to yourself

Thank you to Macmillian Audio for this ALC! The Love Haters in on shelves May 20, 2025! My opinions are my own.

This book was such a heartfelt and engaging read! I loved how it tackled body positivity—a topic that’s deeply personal to me. It was portrayed with warmth and authenticity, and I found myself truly connecting with the characters because of it.

The tension between the two main characters was so fun to experience! Their banter, chemistry, and emotional growth made the story fly by. I was completely hooked on their dynamic.

What really moved me, though, was the emotional core of the story—Hutch saving Cole because it was his mother’s dying wish. That moment hit me hard. As a mom, I felt the depth of that promise in my heart. It brought me to tears in the best way.

And then there was the splinter story, which had me laughing out loud! It was such a hilarious and memorable moment that added the perfect dash of levity to the emotional beats.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. Their performance really enhanced the emotional moments and made the humor shine.

One element that really stuck with me was the beauty list activity. It was such a sweet and empowering part of the story, and I plan to incorporate it into my own life. It’s a wonderful reminder to celebrate what makes us unique and beautiful.

This book had a beautiful balance of heart, humor, and healing. Highly recommend!

Read Completed 4/6/25 |3 stars | Book #48 of 2025
Love Hater, thy name is me. This was a pretty blah read for me, but the story was still readable. I do like Katherine Center's writing style and tone, but the romance, plot, AND characters weren't for me. I'm sure others will still love it, but none of it really hit for me. 3 stars isn't a bad rating and this wasn't a bad book, but I simply didn't connect and it didn't stir many feelings up.

At 33%, I was actively irritated by it. I didn't connect to Katie and I was mad that she and (selfish) co-worker Cole were trying to push his brother, Hutch, into essentially becoming internet famous when he didn't want to. There's more to that story, and I knew there was, but I still wasn't thrilled with how it all came around.

I had didn't love Katie's body issues and how they were handled. I felt like some of it was a little too quickly brushed by and aside from just talking about how she didn't want to know her weight, there really wasn't much detail about her new relationship with food (which would be a BIG deal) except some mentions here and there and of course, her self-perception. It wasn't handled *poorly* but it just didn't quite feel right. Those are some really deeply seeded issues and I kind of felt like once Hutch told her she was pretty and he liked the way she looked that it like, magically cured it for her for the most part? I don't know. I don't have anything against including this topic in this book, but I was also not at the right time to want to read about it, so I just had a hard time with it overall too.

Hutch was kind of .... BORING? Firstly he really wasn't a "love hater" so that was kind of annoying. I wanted him to be grumpy, but he was just kind of blah. When he had personality, it was a little too nice and too sweet. He could have used a lot more character development. Katie was okay. Rue was too typical sassy grandma/older female relative that's used so often in books. I liked her but she needed more personality too. The brother sucked. WHAT WAS WITH THE DRINKING CONTEST and why was that a thing and why was the prize kissing Katie!?! That was so stupid.

The ending was just FINE, nothing I really cared about by that point. All of the coast guard action wasn't really engaging for me. The best friend should have been on the page at some point too.

This is a very forgettable read and I felt little to no passion or chemistry between the two leads. Center is usually a closed-door romance author so I don't mind there really only being kissing, but I still want to feel that tension, yearning, butterflies.... this just didn't do it for me.

I loved this! It was fun and flirty with a strong, believable female character with such a great personality! The other characters were quirky and realistic too. The plot was cute and the writing was solid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I really hope someone makes this into a movie!

I am a devoted fan of Katherine Center, and I’ve never rated one of her books less than 5 stars—until now. I’m reluctantly lowering my rating of *The Love Haters* to 3.5 stars, and I can't bring myself to round up. This marks my first disappointment with her work, which made writing this review difficult.

Katie Vaughn, a video producer, takes an assignment from her boss, Cole, to interview his brother Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. Katie doesn’t mention her inability to swim, and Cole conveniently omits their family tensions.

Arriving in Key West, Katie struggles with her body image and lacks a swimsuit but is grateful when Aunt Rue greets her and offers swim lessons. However, once Hutch becomes her instructor, the story loses its charm. The early focus on body image and the slapstick humor didn’t appeal to me.

Things worsen when Cole arrives in Key West with their boss, Sullivan, whose antics felt silly and out of place. While Katherine Center typically crafts engaging stories, this one didn’t quite resonate with me, though it has its moments, including a rescue Great Dane named George Bailey.

Katie’s journey has an interesting setup amid humor and a beautiful backdrop but lacks the emotional depth and chemistry I hoped for between her and Hutch. Supporting characters like Aunt Rue brought vibrancy, while Cole and Sullivan felt underdeveloped.

The handling of themes like body image and grief felt overshadowed by lighter moments, and the humor occasionally missed the mark. Still, the tropical setting and Katie’s personal growth offered some enjoyment.

Overall, *The Love Haters* is a quick read with hints of Katherine Center’s signature charm. While it didn’t meet my high expectations, it may appeal to others looking for a lighthearted rom-com centered on self-discovery. I will continue to look forward to her next release.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What an honor it was getting to listen to this beautiful story ahead of its publication. I had such a fantastic time listening to Katie and Hutch's love story unfold in The Love Haters by Katherine Center.

Full of heartfelt moments and confessions, dashed in with the most hilarious self-depreciating millennial humor only a truly talented writer can capture correctly, this book is such a delight to listen to. I was laughing, crying, and giddily smiling at myself as I listened.

Patti Murin does a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life in a way that so few narrators have the same talent for! I could easily follow along at a comfortable listening speed at 1.75x, up to 2x.

I love Katherine Center's novels! They're clean and realistic romances that have good character building and intriguing plots, and this one is so cute!

The Love Haters is a pleasant and fun read. The characters are well-drawn (though sometimes a bit of a caricature of particular character types), and largely likeable (with Cole and the boss as the obvious exceptions). The writing was good, and I was definitely interested in the story. The emotions largely rang true, though the romance was definitely tame, though about what I expect from Katherine Center. Perhaps the best aspects of the books were the side characters on Key West (the group of elderly women and adorable Great Dane - and trust me, I don't say that about Great Danes). What I probably liked least about the book was its lack of believability. I understand that this is a romance, so believability is not really critical, but this one really pushed the boundaries for me, both in terms of the unusual happenings (e.g., this particular hurricane survival) and the whole premise (e.g., would this amount of time/expense really be provided for a promo video?). All in all, a decent read that I'll recommend to readers who like light romance.

Body image issues are mentioned too frequently, accounting for 40% of the book. Women already face enough challenges without this theme being reiterated constantly. The protagonist questions everything she wears and eats, which becomes exhausting.

There are numerous tropes throughout the story, leaving you wondering about its direction.

That said, I do love Katherine Center's work.

I only got about 7% into this book before I decided to stop reading. The idea of the book sounds fun and entertaining, but there should have been some trigger warnings at the beginning of the book for eating disorders. The story starts off fine, but then takes a sudden turn into the main character being dumped and decided to restrict food. As someone who has dealt with eating disorders this would have been nice to know upfront. I'm not sure if the book continues down that path since I chose to stop reading.