Started off as a light breezy read with heart pounding drama towards the end. Rom com with family drama along with learning to love yourself along the way.

I never miss a Katherine Center book, and The Love Haters was another fantastic read! While thrillers are usually my go-to genre, this book made me reconsider whether rom-coms might secretly be my favorite. Sometimes, you just need a break from dark and intense stories, and Katherine Center’s books are the perfect escape.

The Love Haters is a super fast read that’s both lighthearted and entertaining. The characters are charming, the humor is spot on, and the story keeps you smiling the whole way through. If you’re looking for a feel-good read that offers a delightful break, this book is exactly what you need!

The Rom-Commers was one of my favorite books from last year, so I was so excited to snag an advanced copy of this one. I am so bummed that I just didn’t enjoy this one. There were so many things about the story and writing that just felt rushed and like a content editor hadn’t even touched it. None of the characters, aside from the main character, were really well fleshed out—the hero in particular was basically a cardboard cutout. There was a lot of potential there though, especially with the old lady brigade (The Gals); they were such a good opportunity for some unique, hilarious characters, except as they were, they came across as just a lump of the same personality. I don’t even remember any of their names. Cole, the brother, was a complete caricature. His actions made no sense.

The plot was so choppy as well. The “alliance” Katie and Hutch decide on at the beginning of the story is literally never brought up again. She does nothing to fulfill her end of the bargain. A big deal is made of Katie not knowing how to swim and lying about it for her job, and yet Hutch—who is supposed to be this super moral military guy—doesn’t even seem to care she lied about this major thing vital to her filming this documentary? And then Cole comes with all of his insane, ridiculous lies, and Katie just…goes along with it??? Even though it makes her look terrible? Rue doesn’t want to tell Hutch her news…because it might be hard for him (but everyone else gets to know), so close to anniversary of his parents’ deaths, but has no problem with Cole and Katie going along with this ridiculous lie to keep her news from Hutch…and then Rue eventually tells him and all’s fine? There were just a lot of things that seemed like they should have been worked and reworked through the editing process so that the plot and the characters’ decisions made sense.

Two stars because it still had some good comedic moments like Center’s books usually do, and because of George Bailey.

So far, I have not been skunked by a Katherine Center and she is quickly becoming one of my top authors in this genre. I will say that her books walk the line between contemporary romance and fiction, and sometimes I find they are more fiction than romance or vice versa. The Love Haters is definitely more of a romance, but with enough character development and plot to make it a strong story overall. Katie is definitely annoying and there were many moments when I just wanted to smack her because she made stupid choices - who goes hands free on their phone in a situation where, duh, the phone could easily get lost?! (And that's why I had to give it 4 and not 5 stars here.)

But Hutch and Rue more than covered up those flaws by being such fun characters. Even Cole, who was supposed to be a bit of a villain I think or is cast as such, really isn't that bad of a person.

Rue is who I would love to be. She is fun, confident, and eccentric, but in such a loving and caring way. Oh my gosh, and the dog, what a great canine companion with a fun name.

The characters were well done. Even the secondary characters got enough page time to emerge as individuals. And the plot moves well. Sure, some things were a bit far fetched, but at the same time, I could imagine them as real events.

If you like Center then this will continue the trend. If you have never read her books, but you like a good romance with plot and characters who resonate, then I'd give it a try.

The Love Haters is probably Katherine Center’s most realistic/relatable books. Her writing effortlessly captures your attention and then her characters capture your heart.

This book has underlying messages about self love, self acceptance, and conquering fears. The story is sure to evoke an emotional response at at least one point, because everyone has most likely dealt with those things at some point in their lives.

Katie and Hutch are relatable and lovable main characters. It’s easy to fall in love with them and root for them. George Bailey (Hutch’s dog) is a perfect addition to the story and his personality jumps off the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I got this ebook as an ARC from NetGalley. Let me tell you I LOVE a Katherine Center book. The first book of hers that I read was The Bodyguard and I haven’t looked back! So when I saw the ARC I couldn’t wait to devour it and I did. I finished this book in 24 hours and I keep thinking about it and what happens next. This book was unexpected and twists and turns. I will recommend this book to anyone who loves a rom com, I laughed out loud at many points. Katie, Hutch, Cole and Rue were so multidimensional characters and I really enjoyed each and every aspect of them. I was super excited that it was set in Key West cuz it’s one of my favorite places and I am going back this spring! I can’t wait for this one to come out in May!!!!! Thank you to Katherine Center, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC

Thank you for the advanced trader copy of this book. The love haters was very cute, I’ll be at somewhere boring at times. The story has good detail, but it is hard to empathize with the protagonist at first because of her very complex and specific issues. Either way, finished reading it fast and would read more from Center.

My first ARC from Netgalley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will forever be a Katherine Center fan. Her quirky characters with their hilarious inner monologues never disappoint. Characters make or break books for me and Center is so good at making her characters feel ~human~ (humans who just happen to be super hot.)

Four stars instead of five because there was a plot device that was annoyingly unrealistic. [I’m not referring to the ending, loved that.] I don’t love the “you” remarks made at the reader because they pull me out of the story — like a Jim from the Office looking at the camera moment. I also wanted less about side characters & more main characters in the epilogue.

Overall, though, I was hooked from beginning to end. The plot twists didn’t stress me out and I appreciate a happy read. Love many of the side characters. Loved to hate some of the side characters. Smiled and laughed throughout. Highly recommend✨

“If you don’t reject the harsh things people say to you, then I guess, at some point, that means you accept them.“

I have a love hate relationship with The Lover Haters.
On the one hand, I couldn’t put it down. It was written in an addicting, fast paced way. I LOVE Hutch, George Bailey the dog, Rue and the gals. I love the key west vibe and the coast guard aspect. The climax was interesting. HUTCH the hot coast guard swimmer!
But on the other hand I hate Katie the fmc and her best friend. Katie is insufferable and downright stupid.
Example: Katie calls 911 in an emergency situation and explains “a rescue swimmer for the USCG. Except he goes by Hutch. Isn’t that the sexiest name you’ve ever heard in your life?”
GIRL?! What?! Sort out your priorities. That was one of the cringiest things I’ve ever read/heard.
Example 2: “I’m sorry but I’m having a hallucination that you are a different rescue swimmer who I have a tortured crush on.” Dear god why in the fuck would that come out of your mouth?
Katie was always saying the dumbest shit.
I understand the authors desire to have an enemies to lovers romance with Katie and herself. And I think that’s an awesome thing to have in a book, but it wasn’t done well. The book was 80% self hate talk. It was a too much emphasis on body image issues and the way it was treated wasn’t always great. There was a lot of great work she did on herself that resulted from an old lady, emergency situations, etc but there was a lot of emphasis placed on the scenes of her being hated by others and loved by others which can be very easily misinterpreted into validation curing her.
Can we swap out some of the self hate talk and put in more of Hutch and Rue and George the dog? I wanted to see Hutch’s panic at the end. I wanted to see more interactions between Hutch and Rue. More of Hutch’s day in the life video. More of the coast guard routine and rescues. Less of Katie on the phone with her annoying friend and talking about how ugly her thumb is. I’d even be okay with Katie’s internal monologues figuring out her love for herself.

Wow! Possibly my favorite KC book!!! This book wasn’t just about romance with another human, but the importance of loving yourself as well… all parts of yourself :)

Katherine Center is almost always a 5 star read for me but I just can’t give it that last star this time. The book was fun and her classic writing style but I felt she could have dug deeper on the very serious issue of body image struggles. She touched on it but it felt superficial and like it was added as an afterthought to give Katie a flaw. I would have loved her to go a bit deeper on this issue (particularly as someone who struggles with this herself).

The romance was cute and quirky as always with obstacles along the way. I absolutely loved the accessory characters Rue and the Gals. I could picture them poolside with their drinks every time they were mentioned. Overall the entire cast of characters and premise made for a very fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Honestly, this is one of my favorite rom-com books I have ever read. I enoyed the characters and their growth, it made me laugh and made me cry (and not many books make me cry). I think the only thing I was wishing for was to get Hutch's POV, but I also understand why that needed to be a little more of a mystery. Truly enjoyed this novel.

Absolutely delightful romcom escapism with self-love taking a center role. The perfect beach read, especially for those of us who have doubted our abilities, been critical of our body parts and hated the thought of not falling in love.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc, this is my first Katherine Center read and I’m so glad I got the chance for it. I plan to dive into her other books after reading this. I really enjoyed the story of Katie and her growth with accepting herself, wasn’t what I expected from this read but it was truly great.

Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read it again. Everything in this book was a 10 out of 10 from the world building, character development, atmosphere tropes, and so much more. This had me literally kicking my feet giggling, laughing audibly, crying and so more many emotions. This is definitely a book. I cannot wait to reread again and will be recommending to anybody who wants a amazing romance,

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: When video producer Katie Vaughn takes on a career-making assignment profiling a dashing Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, she finds herself tangled in lies, family drama, and unexpected romance, forcing her to confront her fears and redefine bravery.

My review: Katherine Center delivers another stunning, beautifully crafted story with The Love Haters. This slow-burn romance focuses on rich character development rather than steamy moments, making it a thoughtful and deeply engaging read. Center’s writing is as charming and entertaining as ever, immersing readers in a world where honesty, vulnerability, and courage shine. I also loved the insightful author’s note about the profound impact stories have on the brain, a fitting reflection for a book that is so emotionally powerful.

Genres/Themes: Fiction / Romance - Romantic Comedy / Women

The Love Haters is scheduled for publication on May 20, 2025, by St. Martin's Press.

I always really enjoy Katherine Center's books, and this was no exception. Cute story with growth from both the main characters, and overall just a great read.

The Love Haters tells the story of Katie, a film maker who has been dumped by her rock star boyfriend and struggles with body issues. Her company is laying off many of her coworkers. Her co-worker Cole, asks her to go to Key West to create a recruitment film for the Coast Guard which will feature his brother, Hutch, and he describes Hutch in very negative terms. There's more to it than this - way more- but no spoilers. Can two people who don't really get along become friends - or more than friends? This novel features very likable characters as well as supporting characters like Aunt Rue, George Bailey the dog, her bestie and cousin, Beanie, and The Gals, Aunt Rue's pals. I absolutely loved the Epilogue where Katie talks about the positive changes in her life and shares some of her own growth as a person. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center always knows how to make you feel good, in a swoony way, while also subtly telling you something you didn’t know about yourself. This was my first five-star fiction read of the year! While it’s a typical forced proximity romance, the circumstances and details truly set this apart from anything else I have ever read!

I adore Katie and Hutch. They both are great characters but are so much better together. However, Rue and Beanie stole the show! They are the two people in your life you want to keep forever. They both helped show Katie her true value and loved her every step along the way. This was a book I was sad to have finished.

The Love Haters by @katherinecenter is a 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star contemporary romance. 🥰 Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC! In this romance, Chloe, a video producer hates her body and past romances and is willing to do anything to at least move forward professionally. She goes to Key West to meet Hutch, a rescue swimmer to create a Coast Guard recruitment video. Everything seems to be going poorly, but they mesh so well. But, why does he seem to hate love? Suddenly, secrets of the past are revealed and lots of lies muddy the water for friendships, family and love. Do they both hate love or are they willing to move on and love each other and themselves as well? Finally, when an emergency arises, Katie must face her fears and trust Hutch with her future and her heart. This was a fun read and doesn’t have quite the depth that some of her other books have had in the past, but it was still very good. Check it out soon! #peachypages #bookstagram #bookreview #books #arc #stmartinspress #katherinecenter #lovehater #romance #lovetoread #booklover #bookworm #keywest #coastguard #readreadread