What do you do when you have to take a job filming a Coast Guard base but you can't swim?
The character development was top tier. Katie's internal struggles, healing, and love were so real, I was completely immersed in this story. Hutch was a breath of fresh air, and I felt for him so much.

The plot was so captivating. I loved the characters - Rue completely had my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks for the review copy. I’m glad I was able to review this book. It’s definitely a love story but also with Katie learning to love herself. I want to visit the Keys now.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was very excited to receive this book early. I loved Katherine Center’s previous work, The Rom-Commers. Unfortunately, The Love Haters completely missed the mark for me.

Katie, the main character, did not resonate with me at all. Her backstory was not adequately addressed. Katie’s actions were infuriating and didn’t make sense. (Ex: calling your friend for random chit-chat while on a sinking boat).

The workplace drama storyline with downsizing and the fear that everyone would lose their jobs was a little much. The decisions characters made to prevent losing their job was completely unrealistic (ex: telling your boss you’re dating your coworker in order to save their job).

Lastly, the beef with brothers had was so silly. Cole’s character was out of hand. I wish there wasn’t so much miscommunication.

Katherine Center does it again! I will never not read her books. She has nailed wholesome, feel-good romance that has depth and meaning. This is a sweet story about finding love, but, more importantly, learning to love yourself! I read so many books that often after I've read them, I slowly forget what happened or what they're about, but I never forget what Katherine Center's books are about even years later. I devoured this book, and I can't wait for more from Katherine Center.

Content Warnings: eating disorder/body dysmorphia

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy! 3.5 stars, not sure if I want to round down or up. I’ll say a very strong 3!!!

I was immediately excited about this book when I saw that the story takes place in my beloved hometown of the Florida Keys! It’s a fresh and often overlooked setting, and the author did a fantastic job capturing the essence of it and making it a strong part of the story.

The main character, Katie, and some of the supporting characters were very relatable and lovable. I really appreciated Katie’s inner monologue about her body image issues and her journey to love and accept herself. Rue was another standout character—she brought so much warmth and pizazz to the story. On the flip side, some characters, like Hutch, felt one-dimensional and unrealistic. I LOVED George Bailey the dog.

The plot had its highs and lows. There were parts that were intriguing, relatable, and unique, but other parts felt totally off the wall and far-fetched.

Lastly, I was exhausted by the author’s use of italics, ellipses, and ending sentences in question marks!!! Omg. Editor, please step in. Way too many sentences felt… just like… this? Which is nice here and there? But it was just… way too much??? (See what I did there?!)

Overall, I still enjoyed the story and was invested in seeing what would happen next. Despite a few unbelievable elements, the setting really shone, and the standout characters made it a solid read. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a summery love story filled with self-love, stepping out of comfort zones, a dreamy vacation setting, an A+ canine companion, and a little adventure. The epilogue and author’s note added some perfect sweetness at the end.

I loved this! Katie and Hutch were so much fun, and so were The Gals. I loved the Key West setting (it’s currently in the 20s with snow on the ground where I live) and it made me feel like I was reading while on vacation. I normally do not like a miscommunication trope, but I liked how Katherine Center used it in this instance because I think it showed what a kindhearted person Katie is when it comes to those she cares about. I also appreciated the journey to self-acceptance that we saw with Katie. Was she magically, perfectly healed by the end of the book? No, but that made me love her even more. Katherine Center does a great job creating characters who feel like real people. This was so enjoyable and I read it in two days, even staying up late to finish it.

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

(Closer to 4.5 stars, but I couldn’t give it 5 stars because Cole really sucks.)

4.25 stars!
This was my first Katherine Center book and it did not disappoint. I related so hard to Katie and all her feelings/insecurities. It’s a reminder to love yourself and everything about you. I teared up a few times!
There were some moments where I was like ok maybe she’s a bit drama but other than that I truly enjoyed this book!
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

2.5 stars

I seriously cannot believe I am rating a Katherine Center book 2.5 stars it makes me SO SAD😭

I just feel like we skipped over a lot of the important bits on showing Katie and Hutch’s chemistry. I think by the end of the book I still feel like I didn’t really know Hutch other than the fact that he had a great body, and was vulnerable sharing the story of how his parents died.

I genuinely felt like the characters had no chemistry, and the lack of communication truly was astonishing. When you do closed door romance, you really have to focus on the emotional connection since you are not showing the physical side (aside from kissing, handholding, etc. - but there was hardly even that!!)

For how in love Hutch allegedly was with Katie, he showed absolutely zero emotion in saving her other than saying he was really worried about her after the rescue was over. Even for him to be joking, saying that he’d come back for her later since they were out of gas felt so calloused. Work mode or not he’s IN LOVE with this woman. Feral, can’t get enough, is longing so hard over her, and that’s the reaction? Nor. Plus your first in love kiss is hanging from a helicopter mid air…ok.

Again, I love Katherine Center! I absolutely devoured The Rom Commers and I was over the moon to see that I was approved for this ARC, but unfortunately, it fell super flat for me🥲

A romance book that teaches you to love yourself first. The book touches on learning to love your body and tips for body positivity and also anxiety calming techniques.

Five Stars. I didn’t want to put this book down. It had me laughing and gasping, swooning and stressing out.

The tension between Katie and Hutch was perfect, agonizing and swoon worthy. I was rooting for them from their first meeting.

The supporting characters were all great and meddlesome.. and I didn’t expect Cole to throw everything into disarray.

Overall I think this book balanced the combination for romance, comedy, life lessons and complicated relationships perfectly. It’s more than just a romance book, you can walk away from this book with a full heart and a more positive view of yourself and the world around you.

It was adorable in such a Katherine Center way! I love that she ventures outside the box and makes her readers learn all about new careers and hobbies; this one being swimming! I may be semi-prepared to jump out of a helicopter during a natural disaster now.

As for the plot and romance, it was mediocre. The chemistry was too immediate for my liking and there wasn’t enough banter and conversation to make me connect to their relationship. However, Hutch is such a cinnamon bun hero, I can’t help but love him.

What this book really focused on was self love and positive body image. Katie was so destroyed by her ex boyfriend and the internet, she became completely insecure with herself. I do think though for someone so insecure, she was too easily over her ex, and it would have been more believable if she still had feelings for him.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Rom-Commers was one of my FAVORITE romance reads of 2024, if not of all time, and was the first and only book I've read by this author. I feel like my expectations were too high going in, and I found it to be pretty underwhelming.

I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, because I feel like at one point the story just took a weird turn with a whole bunch of unnecessary child-like drama happening. That part just kind of ruined the romance/story for me. The epilogue was pretty cliche and over the top as well.

This was a nice, easy, funny romance read though. Just not anything too special IMO

The Love Haters swept me away and introduced me to an engaging and delightful book of characters.
I also enjoyed the sense of community between the characters, the various relationships like friendship, love of family, love of your profession, love of a pet, self-love, and romantic love. It is also about being honest, being vulnerable, taking chances, and being brave.
Such a well written, engaging, and page gripping book!!

If you are a fan of Katherine Center love haters will not leave you disappointed if you're new to Katherine Center this will surely make you a fan! It will be the perfect summer beach read. It is written with wit and charm and plenty of laughs. My only complaint is that I wished it was 50 maybe 75 pages longer in the front end. The start felt rushed and could have used more building.

Cue the book hangover… At this point, Katherine Center can do no wrong in my eyes. The Love Haters was readable and entertaining full of Center’s signature witty banter alongside a heartwarming theme of self-love and body acceptance. Whether you are new Katherine Center or her books are an auto-buy for you, grab The Love Haters.

5-Star Review: "The Love Haters" by Katherine Center

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a heartfelt and irresistible story that blends humor, emotional depth, and a touch of romance in the most delightful way. From the very first page, I was hooked by the authentic characters and the fresh, engaging writing style that Center is known for. The book explores the complexities of love, vulnerability, and personal growth with a perfect mix of wit and warmth.

The protagonist is instantly relatable, someone we can all see ourselves in, struggling with life’s disappointments but still searching for meaning and connection. The dynamic between the main characters is so well-crafted, providing moments of both tenderness and tension that make every page turn so satisfying. What makes The Love Haters stand out is Center’s ability to show that love is not always easy, but it’s worth fighting for—even when it’s messy or complicated.

What truly impressed me was how Center tackled deeper themes—self-worth, healing, and forgiveness—without ever losing the charm or lightheartedness that make her books so enjoyable. The humor in this book is sharp and endearing, balancing the more serious moments with just the right amount of levity.

The ending left me feeling uplifted, with a renewed sense of hope. It’s a book that reminds us that love, in all its forms, is something to cherish, even when it feels complicated or out of reach.

The Love Haters is a perfect blend of humor, heart, and hope, and I couldn’t put it down. Katherine Center has once again delivered a story that is emotional, thoughtful, and ultimately, a celebration of love in all its messy, beautiful forms. Highly recommend!

ARC Review- This book! Our main character Katie is so damn relatable. She struggles loving herself and knowing her worth but is so adorable, kind, and sassy af. I enjoyed her pov and was rooting for her all the way. There is a part that she is facing life or death and her best friend calls. She answers and lets her talk so she can enjoy what might be the very last time they speak. Before she can tell her bf what was going the phone gets lost. It was such a small thing but I related to it in a such a big way. And our love-hater himself was delicious. Hutch really helped Katie feel seen. Those two made me smile or grumble through the whole book. And my absolute favorite character was Rue. This story would have been nothing without her. She tried to live life to its fullest even when most of us would feel like it was impossible. When you find out about her history with the boys you will see everything in a whole new way. You absolutely need to read this book!!

Cannot post review on Amazon but will in the future. Waterstones is posted but has a 48 hr waiting period before it shows up.

Katherine Center does it again with another occupational romance, but this one has the tender heartwarming nature of a romcom where the character learns so much more about herself in the process. In this book, Katie goes to the Keys on a work trip to film a promotional video for the US Coast Guard with the focus on Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. Through the project, Katie is forced to face the self-deprecating aftermath she’s been dealing with since her breakup a year ago while meeting, arguably, the cutest group of old women. (“The Gals” were my favorite part of the book, by the way.) This book felt entirely like a 2000s romcom in the best ways.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy of this!

You know those books you never want to end? The ones where you wish there was an entire series to dive into because one book just doesn’t feel like enough? That was this book for me. I absolutely loved it!

The story takes us on a journey with Katie, a videographer doing her best to save her job amidst a wave of layoffs. Desperate to prove herself, she takes on a project she has no business agreeing to. Her subject? Hutch—a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who also happens to be the brother of her superieror. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, Katie can’t swim, knows nothing about the Coast Guard, and has to create an incredible video to save her job.

This book explores a variety of deep and emotional topics (TW: disordered eating & death) while weaving in humor and heartfelt moments. It delves into how past traumas and experiences shape the way we understand ourselves today. One moment, I was laughing out loud; the next, I was tearing up.

The characters are so well-developed, and the story truly immerses you in another world. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and wish I could stay in this world a little longer. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance reader copy.

I enjoyed ‘The Bodyguard’ by Katherine Center recently so I was very excited to go into this new book. However, this book felt kind of flat. The pacing felt very long and the situation that pushed our character on an adventure just didn’t feel believable.

This book had some heavier themes such as body dysmorphia/not liking your body, which was mentioned multiple times and the character had to work through, but it didn’t leave an impactful feeling.

Overall, I wanted to like this book and I gave it a good shot but I think it is just okay.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read an advance copy of The Love Haters.

Katherine Center always provides relatable, honest, quirky heroines, wrapped up in a delightfully cozy read with the perfect amount of love story. The Love Haters wasn't just a love story between Katie and Hutch but also a story of personal growth and the importance of friendship. I love when characters have flaws and cracks that feel true to life, which is one of Katherine Center's gifts as an author and something that we see in The Love Haters. I am always excited to have a new Katherine Center to read!