Katherine Center continues to be a reliable author for me even though "The Love Haters" was not my favorite. While I love the way Center writes nonverbal communication - it's so exacting and perfectly captures the way her characters seem to be feeling (especially Hutch) and I did have a good time with Katie and Hutch, the supposed "Love Haters," there were some elements to this story that caught me off guard.

In terms of the positive, I love how Center can evoke feelings with her story telling. I experienced joy and laughter as well as worry and sorrow. It was a quick and easy read for me and I'm sure it will be a good addition to many beach bags this summer. I enjoyed the peak into the lives of a rescue swimmer and mini-documentary maker. I remember when Center did her research trip with the Coast Guard and I loved knowing she infused the story with that experience.

However, I will share a warning for readers that this one will be especially difficult for anyone with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, parent loss/abandonment triggers, or trauma related to open water emergencies. This book has some very difficult topics and the internal dialogue for Katie was especially jarring. I wasn't a fan of several pieces of this book & while I know Center is reliable for a happily ever after, this one was somewhat lacking in satisfaction even after things seemed to work out.

Magic✨in a story!!!!👙🌊☀️🛟🌺🐾

Ahhhhhh I’m SO GRATEFUL to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review- this made my January! This was one of my most anticipated releases in 2025 and I’m also SO GRATEFUL to my hubby for preordering me a copy by the incredibly talented @katherinecenter because THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE STORY that she’s written 😍

This story has everything that I hope and pray a closed-door romcom will have:
👙calamity that is so hilarious you can’t put the story down! (And you guys, it’s like every other scene- KC was on a ROLL with the funny scenes in this!!)
🛟 swooney heart-throb MMC (who is a literal hero)
☀️ a group of old retired ladies who help facilitate…so much. Literally they were one of my favorite little gems- I love them endlessly
🐾 a giant clumsy dog who orchestrates the most ridiculous and hilarious meet-cute scene
💋 swoon-worthy slow-burn chemistry with a GREAT first kiss
❤️ a best friend character with a great life hack to learn how to love yourself (I started doing it too)

But one of my favorite things was watching a woman who had been beat down by life, discover herself and love again. To realize that she is worth so much- even if someone else didn’t see her value- may we all take a page from her book. KC writes stories that bring such joy and laughter (I always can laugh out loud during her books!) while also invoking some of the most raw human emotions- BRAVO!!! Not many authors can do this and I’m so grateful for the gift of another story from this brilliant story teller 🌺

If you need a pick-me-up, an infusion of joy, a giggly romance, and a bingeable read- this. Is. It. ❤️

I absolutely love Katherine Centre’s books, and The Love Haters is no exception. I loved the characters, the banter and the setting - a great beach read! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Enjoyed the book overall though some parts were very similar to variation by Rebecca Yarros which was odd.

Katie films and documents the corporate mundane until she doesn't. Cue Hutch- the Ashton Kutcher inspired Coast Guard rescue swimmer who she is tasked with following and leveraging for a recruiting video. Force proximity anyone?

This book is one of Center's best. It is sweet, it is witty, and the love story is a backdrop to the time old question - am I lovable? I am definitely one who gets annoyed with FMC's who spend the book figuring out "how to love themselves", but I really think Katie's journey is relatable because it is deeply nonlinear and often poorly timed.

If you are looking for some steamy sex scenes, this book is not for you. It is about as sexy as a 13 year old boy, but it is very sweet and the humor was the perfect brand of dry sarcasm.

TW for folks who struggle with ED and body dysmorphia.

I could not put The Love Haters down! Katherine Center is a gem. I have enjoyed all of her books, and this one was no different! The chemistry between the main characters was so believable and it gave me all the feels. Hutch is the book boyfriend you need in your life. It's going to be hard to get into my next read I have a feeling...here comes the book hangover. Our library will need to buy multiple copies of this, as all of Katherine's books cause long hold lines in the best way!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center. When I downloaded this book I immediately moved it to the top of my TBR pile.

Katie Vaughn is down on her luck: her ex fiancé cheated on her and she found her comfort in food. The company she works for is doing massive layoffs. In attempt to save her job, she reluctantly takes a castoff assignment from her boss.

Her assignment: a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard in Key West. Can she swim? No. Does she tell her boss? Also no. With her job balancing on a thin tightrope she packs her suitcase and heads to Florida to profile her boss’s rescue swimmer brother Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. Hutch is reluctant to be profiled, but agreed to because he thought his brother would be doing the interview. When he finds out his brother has passed it off, he was less than thrilled.

My favorite character was George Bailey, Hutch’s lovable Great Dane rescue dog. He was the ultimate matchmaker.

The Love Haters was a quick read and will be great to take to the beach. It wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center, but I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and I absolutely loved it. The premise sounded contrived initially, but it actually totally worked! Although I was expecting a light rom-com type of story, this was so much more than that. The two main characters were both really likeable, realistic and three-dimensional. The journey to self-love that Katie goes through is extremely powerful. The relationships with and between the other characters were also really well fleshed-out. There were several amazing female friendships, a found-family relationship, and a very challenging sibling relationship - all of which were portrayed incredibly well. I also adored George Bailey, the dog. :)

There are several scenes that were written so well that I think the book would make a fantastic movie. I know that a couple of her other books have already been made in to movies, so maybe this one will too. Regardless, I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Thanks for the ARC!

I have loved everything I've read from Katherine Center and this one is no exception! She writes the best romcoms. I liked this one so much that I preordered a hardcover copy. Can't wait for her next book!

There is so much to this rom com from Katherine Center. Yes, there is a love story that was well done and a read it in one day. Has all the things we love… the slow burn, banter, amazing first kiss, and the best side character (a Great Dane named George Bailey). There is also the FMC relationship with herself and her issues with her body image. This story is also about her journey of learning to love herself. Our MMC journey also includes healing relations between him and his younger brother.
It was enjoyable and worth the read!

4.5⭐️
Katherine Center is one of my favorite romance writers. I enjoyed Katie, albeit a little cringy at moments in regard to her lack of body confidence. I mean Hutch sounds like a dream and her ex is famous, she can’t be that bad looking. But I think this story did a great job encapsulating the battle of body dysmorphia, even for someone who is considered “conventionally” attractive. In the end I was proud of Katie and appreciated her self love journey. “It’s healing to read stories about healing.”
I loved Hutch and Katie, I couldn’t put their story down. Even with an outrageous end of surviving a hurricane adrift at sea on a houseboat and being rescued by Hutch himself.. I read fiction for a reason so I still devoured it.
Don’t skip the authors note!!

I don’t like romance novels. I find them boring, and repetitive, and predictable. Perhaps you’d call me a love hater ( see what I did there?). Despite the fact that I have given myself this title, Katherine Center has me coming back for more with every romance she releases. She has the capability of making her stories feel so real, like I am actually sitting on a chair next to the Starlite pool, sandwiched between Rue and Katie, chatting while the Gals conga line the night away. Her characters always seem to reflect such real qualities that I tend to see in myself, and she offers a brand new perspective on them. Whether you are like Beanie, a hopeful optimist( with one to many self-help books on your shelf), or like Katie, who doesn’t always love herself the way she deserves, or like Hutch who is “ Mr. Perfect”, The Love Haters tells the story of how glorious it can be to notice for ourselves what really matters, and decide what it means. KC, your writing is fun, thrilling, and unmatched. Maybe I’m not such a love hater after all…

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Unfortunately, The Love Haters was my least favorite Katherine Center book to date. While I typically love her signature blend of romance and heartfelt character development, this story left me feeling disconnected. The biggest issue was the overwhelming amount of telling rather than showing. Nearly halfway through the book, we had barely seen any real interactions between Katie and Hutch—just Katie recounting their time together rather than letting us experience their chemistry firsthand. This made their supposed connection feel abrupt and unearned, especially when we were suddenly told that Hutch had feelings for Katie without any meaningful buildup.

Additionally, the pacing felt rushed in all the wrong ways. Key moments, like Katie’s swimming lessons, were simply glossed over instead of shown, making it hard to feel invested in her journey. Hutch, as the male lead, also lacked depth beyond the generic “hero” archetype, making it difficult to connect with him. That said, I did appreciate Katie's journey toward body positivity and self-love, which added an important layer to her character. Still, without the emotional depth and relationship development I’ve come to expect from Center’s books, this one ultimately fell flat for me.

There is a reason I love Katherine center. From page one I am so hooked that I can’t put it down. I love every book from her and this one is no exception! I loved the characters, her writing and ending.

This may be Center's best book! I always love her books, but this one takes the cake. I laughed out loud dozens of times, but I highlighted so many things that resonated with me, there's a message in this book....not just for those looking for love with another, but those looking for ways to love themselves. This book will SPEAK to you! I fell in the love with the characters, got swept away in their story, but also learned a bit about myself along the way. So, so good!

One of my favorite Katherine Center books yet! It hits the same, funny (like the whole thing) and deep, so much personal growth, but the relationship between Katie and Hutch only takes second pace.
There are times I can finish a book and not remember a single thing about it (#nothoughtsjustvibes), but this book will be with me for a long, long time! For starters it was absolutely hilarious. I made 137 highlights and 44 notes in this book and the majority of them are me cackling at what was happening. Second, as is a the case with every Katherine Center book, it was filled with the perfect balance of struggles and triumphs, the just right amount of sadness and joy, and a life lesson that will resonate with everyone. Katie learns so much about herself, and I think the authors note summed it up perfectly, "...love stories are the best kind of therapy. They aren't shallow. They're deep. Start looking, and you'll see it too. Love stories make us better at love. In all directions and getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life." She is masterful at writing books, with characters who are flawed and face challenges and handle them in the most relatable way. She writes novels that make you forget you’re reading because they’ve drawn you in so much. Thank you Katherine, for having your main character fall in love with herself!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center book. It was a quick, entertaining read, but the story felt a little all over the place—like a bunch of random ideas were thrown together and made into a plot.

I also felt like the main characters’ relationship wasn’t developed enough for their instant attraction to feel believable. It caught me off guard and felt rushed.

Overall, it was fun, but not one I’d call a favorite.

Katherine Center's 'The Love Haters' is a delightful escape. Katie is a captivating blend of humor and vulnerability. Her self-deprecating inner monologue is hilariously relatable, and I found myself laughing out loud – something that doesn't happen often! George Bailey, Hutch's giant Great Dane, deserves a special mention for providing countless comedic moments.

The book itself feels as vibrant and refreshing as the cover suggests. It's the perfect beach read, a warm hug in literary form. While there were a few frustrating plot points (particularly anything involving Cole), the overall experience was incredibly enjoyable.

'The Love Haters' is more than just a romantic comedy. It's a story about self-discovery and the power of love in all its forms – romantic, familial, and most importantly, self-love. And if you're a fan of love stories (like me!), don't miss the author's note. It's a heartfelt tribute to the power of these narratives and will likely move you to tears.

There is no way anyone could hate this book. Katherine Center is like sunshine walking into a room. I always think that her books can not possibly get better, but they do! This is a charming thoroughly entertaining book. The Love Haters takes you on a vacation to Key West. Center's secondary characters are engaging, lovely and all things charming. They really bring the story together. If you ever get the opportunity to do an author visit with her, you will not be disappointed. I have had the opportunity to see her twice and she just gets more adorable.

I liked the personal growth aspects of the FMC and the negative self-talk she slowly overcame, but the romance was a bit lackluster and controlled entirely by miscommunication. I had hope beyond hope that Katherine was not the kind of author who would write that Katie would agree to be fake-engaged to Hutch’s brother…but she did. That felt like an annoying ploy to lengthen the book. And also…let’s be honest….the coast guard wouldn’t have taken a dog up to the helicopter before a human. I get we are supposed to be obsessed with dogs in all things and all times and all places, but that was too much. Kinda hated Hutch after that.