I thought this was a really cute romance. The writing was excellent, and the story kept me hooked until the end.

This story is the most relatable and the most non relatable I’ve ever read in my life!! I know sounds confusing but it’s not I swear! This was enjoyable to read and so therapeutic in a way.

Katie struggles with self love, body image, and acceptance of herself in general. She takes a job hoping to be amazing and not get fired from the looming downsizing of the production company she works for. She ends up in the Florida Keys spending all her time filming with a real life US coast guard hero of a man with a giant lovable dog and a group of women who bring the party to every situation their in. So here’s the relatable part, I swear Katie’s inner monologue I have said to myself multiple times and I hate that. I hate that we as women have a picture in our head of what we should look like or should be and if we fall short we berate ourselves. Here’s the non relatable part, I’ve never met a hot coast guard that’s an amazing man and loves dogs….unfortunately 😂

This drops next month and if you want a summer read with a side of therapy and a hot, wounded coast guard MMC this one’s for you❤️‍🔥

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was SO cute. Katherine Center did such a fabulous job developing her characters. Katie was a character that I think many women would relate to (even if you haven't dated a famous singer)- not necessarily unhappy but definitely feeling a bit lost and insecure. Cole: while he seemed decent at first, he ended up being such an irritating character. Rue: how could you not absolutely adore her? And finally, Hutch: dreamboat in every way.

I loved the plot and how it unfolded, but what I loved most of all was the strong underlying message: stay true to yourself, do what you love, live the life that makes you feel true joy.

5/5.

Unfortunately The Love Haters did not live up to The Rom-Commers to me (the only other Katherine Center book I've read and can base on). I really wanted to like this one but I really found myself not caring about really any of the characters except maybe Rue. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Katie and Hutch. I did like the overall story and did have some moments I enjoyed. But I wish it had just a little more.

The Love Haters didn’t fully live up to my expectations. The story revolves around Lucy and Cole, two people who believe love is overrated, yet find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other despite their reservations. Lucy, dealing with past heartbreak, crosses paths with Cole, who has his own emotional baggage.
While the concept was promising, the execution didn’t quite hit the right notes. The chemistry between the characters felt forced, and the plot didn’t offer much in terms of unexpected twists. The back and forth dynamic wasn’t enough to keep me hooked. It’s a quick read, but if you're hoping for something deeper than the typical romantic storyline, this might not be the one.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher for the chance to read this book in preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

OH MY GOSH!! Could I love this book more?! Katie was such a great MC and I loved her point of view. And Hutch... was he perfect or what? I loved them together and enjoyed their banter so much. I think my absolute favorite character, however, was Rue. She was sweet, and loving and she provided the voice of reason throughout (as did Beanie). Cole and his relationship with Hutch irked me and he was my least favorite and the last part of the book seemed a bit far fetched, but it totally worked in the end. Overall, I loved this book and Katherine Center can do no wrong! I devour everything she writes!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

The Love Haters starts with a fun setup—fake swim lessons, family drama, and a swoony Key West setting—but it didn’t fully live up to its promise for me. Katie is a relatable, spirited lead, but her romance with Hutch felt more told than shown, lacking the spark I was hoping for. Some side characters, like Rue, added charm, while others felt underdeveloped or frustrating.

The book touches on meaningful themes like grief and body image, but they often got lost in the mix of humor and over-the-top moments. Still, I enjoyed the tropical setting, adventurous touches, and Katie’s journey toward self-worth.

I'm excited to read more from Katherine Center!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the early read opportunity!

Unfortunately this book wasn't a good fit for me! It lacked the depth of her previous romance novels and all of the plot twists and turns felt chaotic.

I just adore Katherine Center so much. I think that she does such a wonderful job of writing in a relatable, real world way that makes my heart flutter. I adore how she makes me feel, how true her characters are, and how unique her stories are. love love love love love.

Katherine Center's books are always an automatic read for me! I was so excited for the opportunity to read "The Love Haters". The Love Haters didn't disappoint. I loved the characters, setting, and the body image points in the story line. You are sure to love this read!

Katherine Center’s books are very hit or miss for me, but when they’re a hit they’re fantastic. This wasn’t one of those times. I think body image struggles are a common theme that many people can relate to— however this was over-exaggerated and not handled thoughtfully. All of a sudden she meets a man who thinks she’s a human hot fudge sundae, and is healed?? Ick. Katie didn’t feel relatable and came across a bit annoying. There was no chemistry between the MC’s. It felt like a lot of tropes thrown together in one book, and it didn’t work. Like the fact that this same person who has horrific body image issues dated a famous person?! It just felt so far fetched, and like a book that was trying to be too many different things.

Thanks to Netgalley + St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is yet another fun and engaging read that will keep you turning the pages, especially if you're a fan of her previous works like Bodyguard, which I absolutely loved! This new book starts off strong and only gets more intriguing as it unfolds, with a perfect mix of romance, humor.
Katie Vaughn’s life is a bit of a mess when the story begins — facing the possibility of being stuck in a job she’s not sure she wants anymore, she’s given a shot at something big: profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The only problem? Katie can’t swim. Not exactly the ideal qualification for the job, but as with most of Center’s characters the FMC is strong and capable of anything.
The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is a lot of fun — they’re both full of surprises, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop in unexpected ways.
What I really appreciated about this book was how Center brings together humor and deeper themes of fear, bravery, and honesty. It’s a story about facing your past and confronting uncomfortable truths, all while navigating new relationships and embracing change. The setting of Key West is vibrant and adds an extra layer of charm to the story.
Katherine Center does what she does best — creating lovable characters, throwing them into slightly ridiculous but entirely endearing situations, and making you root for them every step of the way. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and the writer for this book, it was a delight!

I enjoyed the overall storyline of The Love Haters. A hunky Coast Guard helicopter rescuer is profiled by a documentary filmmaker who can’t swim? You know there are going to be lots of mishaps and laughter involved. The plot gets a little far fetched at the end but if you’re able to suspend disbelief, you can have a bit of fun with it. The message that it’s just as important to be a gentle, loving friend to yourself as it is to show up for other people came through but I didn’t like how much the book focused on Katie’s body image issues. I think it’s important for readers to know this going into the book because the way it is brought up will be uncomfortable for many women. Besides Hutch, my favorite character was Aunt Rue. I love that she made Katie feel good about herself and brought a bit of color back into her life. At times I forgot about Katie’s previous breakup, even when Hutch’s drama with his brother Cole was brought up. All the characters in this story are dealing with various levels of grief and that sometimes overshadows the romance. While I struggled with certain elements of the book, it was still an entertaining read and the Key West setting make this book a great summer beach read!

I really liked this one. I think it might be my favorite book by Katherine Center. The setting made a perfect spin for summer read. Katie was very relatable and cute. Hutch was sweet and strong. I gave it 4.25 stars because I wanted more about how much Hutch actually liked Katie. Overall, loved it and would recommend.

My heart beats just a little bit faster every time I open up a new Katherine Center novel. She never disappoints. The Love Haters features Katie, a video producer who's job is in jeopardy. In order to save it, she opts to head to Key West to film a feature on Coast Guard rescuer, Hutch. Hutch hates any attention and never does interviews; however, Katie works with his brother and Hutch would do anything for Cole after a falling out years ago.

I think what I loved most about this book is that there are a ton of laughs interspersed with real, vulnerable moments. Hutch has really been through it. He may be cool as a cucumber on the surface but that is only to mask a ton of emotion and hurt inside. Katie is simply desperate to save her career - so much so she opts to do a feature that requires her to be on and in the water despite her inability to swim. I loved the natural way these two fell together. It never felt forced or contrived. There are some things at the beginning that I didn't love around body issues; however, the overall message that Center pulls off in the end made me glad I stuck with this story.

I enjoyed the side characters, I felt the chemistry between Katie and Hutch, and I found myself smiling as I inhaled this delightful book. I am only sad that it's over and I now need to wait for the next release from this wonderful author.

Katherine Center's latest offering is an ode to the amazing selflessness of the US Coast Guards. Having a family member in the CG made me all the more excited to read this one. I am admittedly a KC fan and I love how she often gives us an unassuming hero to pine over (see previous books for fire fighter, physical therapist, teacher, farmer, veterinarian). So here we have "Hutch" and Katie, the small time documentary producer who can't swim but is now in Florida, learning all sorts of things and navigating self doubt and Hutch's family drama. I really wanted to love this but for me, as with the last few KC books, I just didn't find that distinct main character voice that I need to get sucked into the book. There's a lot of tropes happening and there's the layer of counseling/self help that I think she usually weaves in better, in my opinion. I liked this one better than the last (screenwriters), but this is no where for me as rich as Happiness for Beginners, The Lost Husband, or How to Walk Away.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

The saying goes: There is a thin line between love and hate. I will say that for this book, I skewed more toward the opposite of love unfortunately.

As I started this book, I got the vibes that this was not gonna be a book for me and about 4 chapters in, my feelings were confirmed. I think I just have to throw in the towel and finally admit that Katherine Center is just not an author for me. Something about her characters drives me nuts and I can't relate to them AT ALL.

I appreciate the author trying to tackle a touchy subject of body issues but it was too overpowering. Like when all you need is a dash of salt in a recipe but you end up dumping the entire container in.

The writing and pacing was fine but the characters were not my cuppa coffee.

George Bailey was my favorite!! I really loved all of the characters, but he was so special! Katherine Center is such an amazing writer and this book was no exception!

It was a joy to read The Love Haters! I loved the story and the characters - especially the supporting characters. I appreciated that the tragedies happened off the pages, as I am looking for happiness everywhere right now. Also, I think many of us are able to relate to the heroine and her body issues. It made me happy that the hero didn’t even focus on her body.

A great read about finding love and loving yourself. The book was fun and a fantastic read. Katherine Center never disappoints!