Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katherine Center for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors and her strong sense of voice always shines through in her writing. While I laughed, smiled, and got teary-eyed at certain scenes, I was slightly underwhelmed.

Trigger Warnings for an eating disorder and an intense scene with a natural disaster.

Katie works at a video production company and decides to take a job on location in Key West to film a promotional video for the U.S. National Guard. The only problem is, she can't swim. And is terrified of wearing a swimsuit. She packs her camera bag and all her trepidations and heads to Key West. She gets the chance to shadow Hutch, a rescue swimmer who seems perfect on the outside, but is labeled a certified love hater by his brother. After hours spent together, will Hutch retire his love hater title?

What I loved:
- The message of body positivity throughout was fantastic, and very realistic. Her conversations with Beanie always made me laugh, while touching on the issues. Katherine's books always have a level of depth that feels so relatable and touches on the human condition with humor and grace.
- The level of research that went into the book was evident, and as someone with a film background, the video elements cut right to the heart of working in video production. Also, the U.S. National Guard elements were very factual and it was interesting to learn about a branch of the military I haven't seen covered often.

What wasn't for me:
- For some reason, I struggled to connect with Katie and Hutch the way I normally do with Center's characters. Maybe the other elements in the story slightly overshadowed the romance?
- I felt like the pacing never picked up. Even though there were intense scenes in the book, I felt like I was waiting for her normal spark and I didn't find it in the book. I was enjoying it because I love Center's writing style, but wasn't overly invested in the story, which sounded so interesting from the blurb and hearing her speak about it.

I highlighted too many items on my Kindle, giggled, and smiled too much to rate it anything below four stars, but overall, there was something missing from this release. I am still a huge Katherine Center fan and look forward to her next release!

My Thoughts

A smooth, easy read for me as my last book because it was a different kind of intense read with so many characters to keep straight it took me a long time to get into the story and finish it.

Being a Contemporary Romance, this story could have been read in a day but I purposely broke it up so I could give Hutch and Katie the attention they deserved.

Both characters brought certain strengths and vulnerabilities with them in their relationship, a relationship that I enjoyed as it evolved in a natural way despite its rough beginning.

A bit of humor mixed in with a lot of soul searching along with the best pet sidekick named George Bailey and this was a read that was hard to put down but very easy to pick up the rhythm again when one went back to reading it.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

When I heard about Katherine Center's 2025 novel I KNEW I had to read it as soon as possible, I just didn't expect to be able to get my hands on it five months before its release! Katherine writes books that I cannot put down and The Love Haters was no exception! It does have elements that are a little heavier - body image and grief, but they were well done and relatable for me.

Katie has recently broken up with her douchebag of a fiance and is facing downsizing at work. Her boss, Cole, sends her off to Key West to produce a video about a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer which is sure to help save her job. Cole's Aunt, Rue, greets Katie in Key West and introduces her to 'the gals' and help her feel welcome.

Katie learns a lot about herself, and her phone calls with her bestie (Beanie) resonated with me and reminded me of my own best friend!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my own thoughts and feelings.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of “The Love Haters” in exchange for a review.

I’ve been with Katherine Center from the beginning. I love the wholesome vibe of her books. Some of her recent titles haven’t hit as much, for me. The Love Haters though was very entertaining. I finished it in 24 hours.

While I didn’t *love* some of the story choices made. It was sweet, lighthearted, and included an adorable dog.

“Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time.”

There is a reason that Katherine Center is a must-read for me. She is brilliant, and this may be one of her best yet. Katie and Hutch are so insanely likable, and I loved watching their love story unfold. The emphasis on self-care and self-care was also deeply moving for me.

In truth Katherine fashion, there is a heartwrenching, emotional storyline that will bring tears to your eyes, as well. I love that there is always so much more to Katherine’s characters and this book was no different.

I highly recommend adding this to your TBR and picking it up when it releases on May 20, 2025!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer who really, really, really wants to keep her job. And she'll do just about anything. Like film a promotional video for the National Guard when she has no idea how to swim. This job she takes happens to be her supervisor Cole's super handsome and all-around perfect hero of a brother, Hutch.
So she decides to travel to Key West despite her lack of capability in the water and ends up staying with Cole and Hutch's Aunt Rue. During her time there she gets swimming lessons from Hutch who has suddenly realized his video producer cannot swim. Despite how hilarious Katherine Center's books always tend to be, they always focus on and center around a emotional journey within a character. Katie struggles with body image issues that are severe enough she does not own a swimsuit.
The Love Haters is a story about self-confidence, the relationships we develop, and the joy that can come from just grabbing the opportunity. Center continues to bring us joy in her writing and this story is no different, her books are an auto-buy that you will not regret!

Book Review: The Rom-Com That Missed the LOLs

Katherine Center’s latest novel delivers charming characters and an engaging setting but falls short of its promise as a “laugh out loud” rom-com. The story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer with a career on the line, who takes on an assignment to profile Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson—despite being unable to swim. Cue the inevitable deception, romantic tension, and Key West adventures.

The book shines in its character dynamics, particularly the endearing Aunt Rue and Katie’s best friend, who add warmth and depth to the story. The setting is vibrant, and the emotional arcs are well-developed, making for an enjoyable read. However, the central romance hinges on a frustrating trope—Katie lying to the love interest for the sake of an irritating secondary character—dampening the chemistry and tension.

While the novel delivers a sweet romance with heartfelt moments, the humor feels overstated, as it never quite reaches “laugh out loud” territory. Fans of Center’s previous works may still enjoy the journey, but those looking for a truly comedic rom-com might find this one a bit underwhelming. A solid 3-star read with charm but a few too many missteps.

This read was so so charming, yet incredibly emotional and unique. In many ways, this one felt like an entirely fresh Katherine Center read, while also retaining the writing traits that I love so much. Nothing that happened in this plot was expected and I loved it. The romance in this story was extremely compelling but the focus of loving yourself/body is what truly sets this story apart. While this read has some deep rooted, emotional moments, I found myself chuckling on multiple occasions! Katherine Center never ceases to amaze!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Katherine Center delivers with another cozy rom-com. This was a cute story about a swimmer for the US Coast Guard and a video producer. While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt some characters were underdeveloped. This contributed to my four star rating. This book took me a little longer to get into as well, but I'm still a fan!

5⭐️
**Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC**

The Love Haters heals your soul. Not only a book of romance, but also a book about self love.

Katie is a videographer sent to make a promo about the Coast Guard which features hero, Hutch Hutcherson. Who also happens to be the brother of her supervisor. She becomes stuck in the middle of their brotherly feud while also struggling with her own self deprecation. While she learns to tackle her fears, self hate, and ex fiancé drama, she slowly starts to love her subject and his giant, thunder fearing dog.

Center draws you in and paints a picture of a FMC who you can’t help but love from the start. I rooted for her from the being to succeed. And Hutch? Well, he’s just the perfect half grumpy dream boat you could ask for.
What really resonated most for me was Katie’s journey towards loving herself and her body, specifically. I think we all have some piece (or maybe many pieces) of ourselves that we would change or find disappointing. Katie feels the same way after public criticism. Center almost creates a self help guide for the reader within the novel which leads you to learn how to love yourself. I changed mindsets as Katie did.

In short, I love this book. I nearly stayed up binging the second half because I couldn’t put it down. If you can, snag a copy when it releases!

With its blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt growth, The Love Haters will have you rooting for the characters to overcome their personal struggles and find love where they least anticipated it.

The FMC (Katie) is a video producer teetering on the edge of being laid off. In an attempt to avoid this fate, she agrees to take on an assignment from a coworker, hoping to secure her position, but soon realizes she isn’t fully prepared for the task.

The MMC (Hutch) is a compassionate Coast Guard rescue swimmer who takes his responsibilities to heart. His loyalty to his family is unwavering, even if it comes at the cost of his own well-being.

Katie is instantly captivated by Hutch the moment she sees him. What begins as just a work assignment soon turns into a profound journey, where she not only grows closer to him but also learns to love herself. Along the way, they share laughter, unexpected twists, tears, and a deep emotional connection.

Do I recommend? With Documented Yes!!

Katherine Center funny and witty as always! I enjoyed this new character's vocation and always *swoon* at the kiss! However, I feel like the story fell short by quickly having Rue adopt Katie and her purpose and presence at the Keys. All of her characters were great, however I felt like the story could have used some extra time for refinement of telling the backstory of the characters . I felt like during the third part of the story, it was better polished. All in all, honestly not my favorite (sorry!) but still very consistent in Katherine's voice of writing and always enjoy her Epilogue of deep insight and reflection.

I absolutely loved this book! Not only did I fall hard and fast for both Katie and Hutch, but I really found myself growing attached to all of the characters in the book. The Love Haters checked so many boxes for me: quirky characters, competition, interesting family drama and history, social media and body image challenges, fame, a beautiful setting, sexual tension, and even an adorably awkward animal subplot. I always enjoy Katherine Center’s books, and her newest one did not disappoint! This will be an excellent summer romance read, but I read it in the middle of winter and it was the perfect warm escape for me.

Wow, wow, wow, I loved this book! It's a little bit of a slow start and I wasn't sure if I was going to like Katie at first. She is the queen of too many questions in the first chapter. But, I trusted Katherine Center and stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. This one really has so much heart and depth. There's the main love story, of course, but then a lot of other love stories, too. It's a big love surprise, really, with so many forms of love that are growing and maturing. It's incredibly heartwarming and packed with a powerful message of self love that most women are going to really resonate with (I know I did).

Then, there's Hutch. Oh dreamy, handsome, do-gooder Hutch. I had no idea that I had a thing for rescue swimmers, but now, thanks to Hutch, they are on my radar. Who knew, suddenly I wish I didn't know how to swim. My only gripe, really, is that Katie has to do too much of the chasing and the work. I wanted to see Hutch be a little bit more assertive when it came to his relationship with Katie, particularly near the end. It starts to read like she's desperately chasing him.

All in all, a fantastic read. Swoony. Delicious. Hilarious. Heartwarming. A book I know I'll read over and over again.

As a big Katherine Center fan, I was really excited to receive an ARC for her newest book. I love the fun cover, title and the storyline sounded really good. However, as someone who can read a book in 1 sitting, I really struggled to get through this one. My expectations had been high given my love of Katherine’s other books, but this fell short. There were a few side characters who I felt could have brought more levity to the some of the seriousness of the heavy themes in this book and it was missed.

Katherine Center is quickly becoming a go to author for me. I have said that I would read anything she writes and lucky for me, she writes stories that draw you in and make you feel like you know the characters, Her characters are very relatable. They are flawed and have emotions and situations that are believable and that make you as a reader feel seen too.

Katies is a documentary maker. She is in a situation where her company is downsizing and as she have lower seniority may be one of the first to be let go. Cole a co-worker with more clout asks her to help him with his project. Film a recruitment video for the Coast Guard featuring rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutchinson. Turns out this is Cole's older brother. Throw in some miscommunication, some little white lies, and some no good exes and you have the recipe for a very fun, very entertaining, very heartfelt novel.

I can not recommend this book and all of Katherine Center's books enough. The way she tells the story and the way you care about the characters, it is truly magic. I fall in love with characters and feel as if they are my friends. I am always a little sad to finish her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this ebook. All opinion expressed are my own.

This was an absolutely delightful read! Truly what I needed after reading a few darker thrillers before picking this one up. I haven't read all of this author's books, but I have read a handful of them (The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, The Rom-Commers), and this one is probably my new favorite. In The Love Haters, Katherine Center's main character Katie is funny, charming, and above all, a realistic leading lady. There were several points I laughed out loud during the reading of this as her commentary on her life and her own self-worth was just so relatable and witty. What I loved most about this book came from reading Center's Author's Note at the end of the book where she talks about a compelling love story being love stories of all kinds - the romantic one, the one you have with your friends and/or family, and especially the one you have with yourself. She framed the story in such a lovely and heartwarming way, and there were so many beautiful and poignant moments between these characters that felt so real and cozy. Add in a giant Great Dane named George Bailey who thinks he's a tiny dog, has a fear of thunder and a penchant for carrying toads around in his mouth, and it's just the sweetest, funniest love story I've read in a long time. Thank you so much to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for this ARC!

I was so excited to read this when I saw it - I love Katherine Center books, I love the banter and slow burn buildup and laugh out loud humorous situations that the characters inevitably get into. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit all the high notes that I've come to expect. Was it a bad book? No. Did it have some fun quirky characters? Yes-ish - normally the best friends are more likeable and have a bit more backstory than this one. Did it deliver on the romance? Not really... just didn't feel it building through development and felt forced in a couple situations. Did the body positive love yourself vibe work? Mostly - it was fresh to have that woven into a more traditional romance and the theme was woven into many parts of the plot. Was the dog the real hero of the story? 100% yes.

Overall - cute fun romance read if you're looking for something light. If you're expecting another home run from Katherine Center... this is at least good for a double, maybe even able to steal third. I'll still be at the front of the line for her next book though!

A fun "rom-com" but so much more. Don't judge this book by it's cover! Taking place in Key West with the premise of filming a promo for Coast Guard rescue swimmers, Katie goes on a journey just not the one she thinks. I loved these characters- Katie, Hutch, Rue, and George Bailey the dog! In typical Katherine Center fashion you'll go on a rollercoaster as the novel unfolds.

I love all things K Center. This book was sooo cute and I am so glad I got to read this!! Check it out!