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!

Katherine Center has quickly became one of my favorite authors! While the last half of the book I thoroughly enjoyed, the first half was a struggle for me to get through. The main characters inner dialogue was a lot more than what was needed and went on for pages regarding her ankle (??) and her pinky (????). Overall, I certainly enjoyed this book!

This was my first Katherine Center novel and now I have added her backlist to my TBR. This was fun, quick, lighthearted, and also, who doesn't love a rescue dog?! I also loved the community the characters built and the emphasis Center had on not just romantic love, but love for many aspects of your life. You will find yourself feeling for Katie and cheering her on. I found myself chuckling at the banter between them even when I was not reading the book.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Now, off to my new backlist of Katherine Center novels!

It's not very often that I want to immediately re-read a book, but the second I finished The Love Haters I had this urge to start from the beginning again! This novel had me kicking my legs, laughing out loud, and tearing up more than I wish to admit. Seriously, Katherine Center could publish her grocery shopping list and I'd be riveted.

Katie is a woman working in film/video production, with aspirations to be a reporter, thanks to her YouTube channel. When her longtime (and newly famous) boyfriend publicly betrays her, Katie is left to pick up the pieces of her life and move forward with her next job. She needs to make a promotional video for the rescue swimmers of the American coast guard in sunny Key West Florida - how bad could that be?


I related a lot to Katie - being a woman in today's society, simply existing, is so hard. There are unrealistic beauty standards and the utter cruelty of social media. The transformation she goes through in this novel was exactly what I needed to read at the exact right time. This story is more than a romance - it's a story about self acceptance and self respect first and foremost.

The Love Haters is funny, beautiful, meaningful, and so romantic! I adored all the accompanying cast of characters and setting. I feel the need to visit a sunny beach the very first second I can.

I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy of The Love Haters!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is such a treat! The characters totally steal the show. I loved how messy and real they felt—especially the main character, who’s got that perfect mix of sass, heart, and vulnerability. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the banter between them is hilarious and sweet. It’s the kind of relationship that feels like it could go in all kinds of directions, and you’re just here for the ride!

Katherine Center’s writing is so much fun! It’s super relatable and filled with those little moments that make you smile. She has a way of capturing emotions that feel so genuine, but also light and entertaining. The whole vibe of the book just pulls you in, and before you know it, you’re laughing, cringing, and rooting for these characters like they’re your best friends. Seriously, if you’re looking for a book that’s funny, heartfelt, and full of charm, this one is it!

First off, I love Katherine Center's writing. She develops likeable, funny characters in her books, and this one is no exception. Katie, the main character in The Love Haters, travels to Key West to fill in for a coworker on a video producing job. The exchange is meant to save the coworker from interviewing his perfectly annoying, and annoyingly perfect brother, while also hopefully saving Katie from a round a layoffs at their company. What ensues is a hilarious and endearing experience: the subject of the video profile, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and Katie can't even swim; Katie's accommodations turn out to be a cabin in a motel type resort owned by Hutch's aunt and inhabited primarily by the aunt's retiree pals. I want to move there!

The book kept me entertained and invested, always rooting for Katie - who also ends up in a waterborne situation I did not see coming - no spoilers!

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, entertaining read.

First, thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book. I've enjoyed three of Katherine Center's books in the past, some more than others. This one was a swing and a miss for me, unfortunately.
This has all the markings of a traditional Katherine Center romance novel, and a lot of those portions were exactly what I expected. They were easy reads where I knew where the path was going to lead us. Unfortunately there were a lot of other parts to this book that just didn't work for me. Mainly, the main character's Katie constant fixation on her body. It is probably I am just not the right audience for this particular book, but I doubt I am alone. Katie frequently thinks about and comments on how much she dislikes her body, her past in starving herself, her refusal to even own a scale or know her own body weight. Male lead Hutch occasionally tries to dissuade her of this, but after every problem we circle back to how much Katie doesn't love herself. The romance between Hutch and Katie is underdeveloped for the sake of the romance between Katie and her body coming to fruition, but even that didn't feel totally successful. Instead, many moments had the feel of a 90s after-school special.

Similarly, the character of Lucas seemed unnecessary and unfinished, and the multitide of another character spins throughout the book never really have true ramifications.
The overall win for me was the inclusion of Hutch's dog, George Bailey. Those interactions were adorable and I loved how George Bailey tried so hard to get his people together.

Katherine Center has done it again! It seems like I’m always up past 2am with tears in my eyes when I try to read one of her books. But the thing is, they’re always happy tears because her words and her stories always bring me so much joy and I simply cannot sleep until I get to the ending.

Katie and Hutch are love haters. There’s no other way of putting it. Katie is sent to Key West to do a documentary on Hutch, who is in the Coast Guard and is somewhat of a famous hero. Their love story didn’t happen overnight but built quickly, which I really enjoyed. The pace was set just right for me - not exactly instalove, but fast enough to keep me swiping page after page. I really saw a lot of myself in Katie, which the author recognizes at the end that we usually do see ourselves in characters of books we love. And boy, do I love The Love Haters!

P.S. I love George Bailey.

P.P.S. And I love Rue, even though I think leaving an island with your girlfriends and not telling your guest she should evacuate a hurricane was kinda crappy. But she’s so lovable otherwise. She’s forgiven. 🧡

I received an advanced copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
5
For now I have officially read all of Katherine Center's books.
Everything she writes is gold and The Love Haters was no different! Love this plot. The relationship between Hutch and Katie! George Bailey and Bennie. All of the character except maybe Cole g we're just golden!!! All the love for this book!

If Katherine Center writes it, you better believe I am going to read it!
The first half of this book made me think this might be my fav KC book. I giggled. Out loud. Multiple times! SWET day amiright?!
Then the second half came and queue the groans.
The whole Cole ordeal. Her needing to be rescued (meh).
Hutch's response to finding her?? Was that not odd? Idk.
Something felt off.
But alas, it was cute and fun. I want to spend a day by the pool with The Gals for sure.
Thanks to netgalley & st.martin's press for the arc!

With its unique blend of wit and humor, this charming book tackles tough subjects head-on, yet maintains an uplifting tone that makes for a truly delightful read; the characters of George Bailey and Rue are particularly endearing, adding to the book's charm and making it a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will leave them feeling uplifted and inspired.

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.