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!

I’m finding it hard to rate this one. I read it quickly because it was engaging and pulled me in. Yet I felt like I was waiting the whole time for it to take off. There was a lot of telling about the love story, and not as much showing. Coupled with the pacing, I found some of it hard to buy. It took me out of the moment. But I loved The Gals and the Starlite and appreciated the body relationship stuff (though it also didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me.) I also wish we had gotten much more of the actual romance. Right when it was starting to take off the book ended!

I think 3.5? rounded up? I hate star ratings, it’s like when the doctor asks you to pick a number on the pain scale. Idk pal, it hurts. In this case, idk pal, I liked it well enough!

This comes out May 20.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for honest review!

First off...thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC copy of the Love Haters.

I was in desperate need of a light fluffy read that would make me laugh and kick my feet like a schoolgirl. This book filled that requirement.

In the early chapters I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it. The FMC, Katie, annoyed me and I just wasn't sure if I could put up with her for the rest of the book. However, just a couple chapters later, I fell in love with Katie, and Hutch, and Rue, and The Gals. I think my favorite character was George Bailey! I'm so happy I finished it.

This book put a smile on my face and that's exactly what I was looking for. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a fluffy rom com (no spice) with plenty of swoon worthy moments. It was a breath of fresh air.

This is my third Katherine Center book and I really have enjoyed all of them.
This book follows Katie a jilted, insecure, about to lose her job if she doesn’t take this job, quirky girl to Key West Florida.
When she meets her “job” the perfect all-american coast guard rescue swimmer ‘Hutch’ all sorts of chaos ensues but in the silliest and somehow most heartfelt way possible.
This book is so funny, and also somehow relatable, even though a lot of the wacky situations aren’t close to real life you can just imagine being there.
I find myself highlighting tons of phrases and passages when I read Katherine Center.
Please do yourself a favor and do not skip the authors note.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I love Katherine Center books. The romance is great, the banter is strong and the characters are likable. Anytime she comes out with a new book it instantly goes on my tbr.

This review is going to be rough…. I typically love Katherine Center and I’m not exactly sure what’s happened to her writing, but this book was just not reflective of her typical work. It was cheesy, lacked depth, and when it came to the plot point of our FMC having an eating disorder, it was completely unresearched. So disappointed

Dallas-based corporate filmmaker Katie is facing a layoff when she’s approached by a higher ranking coworker to shoot a promotional video geared toward recruitment for the US Coast Guard. Cole assures Katie she can use the person she’ll be shadowing for her own “day in the life” serial in addition to the campaign. There are only a few problems with it: one, the subject is a hero who shuns the spotlight entirely, and he also happens to be Cole’s estranged brother.

When Katie is swept under the wing of delightful aunt Rue and The Gals on arriving in Key West, she finds herself trading her standard all black jeans and tee OOTD for tropical prints and - say it ain’t so! - caftans! She also finds herself hopelessly enamored with Cole’s too good to be real brother, the subject of her pieces.

Rescue swimmer Hutch along with his enormous rescue Great Dane George Bailey has been stationed in Key West for a little over a year. He enjoys the close proximity to his beloved honorary aunt Rue, who raised him and Cole after a horrible and avoidable car crash took the lives of their parents and Rue’s beloved husband. He’s also been avoiding dating since an unfortunate and ugly experience involving Cole, which I won’t spo!l here. He is unexpectedly drawn to the young woman staying at his aunt’s motor court, but is unhappy about her initial dissembling about the real reason for her presence.

As the pair spend time together at Hutch’s job, at the motor court with Rue and The Gals, and exploring the island, they develop feelings, but Cole isn’t done manipulating the situation and it becomes a big, tangled hot mess. Throw in a hurricane, ghosts of the past, and a newly divorced boss hoping for some revenge smashing with a hot Coastie, and it’s a wild ride.

I love the ride or die relationship between Katie and her cousin Beans, especially as it pertains to building up Katie’s self image. I also loved the strategic use of the precious pup George Bailey, and the complicated nature of Hutch and Cole’s dynamic. Additionally, Rue is a goddess among humans, who stepped up in the middle of her own grief when the brothers needed someone; she may be the character who’ll stay with me the longest. Finally, I’m a big fan of open door intimacy, so it’s rare that I’ll rate a book highly when all the reader is treated to are a few devastating kisses, but such is the talent of this particular author to charm and entertain my finicky a$$.

I was very fortunate to have been furnished an advance reader copy from the author and NetGalley, and I’m happy to share my wholehearted endorsement of this book.

Katherine Center is one of my favourite authors and this book definitely did not disappoint! I enjoyed the romance and I also enjoyed all of the side characters. I really enjoyed how the main female character was presented as strong and you saw growth in her by the end of the story. Highly recommend this book!

Lover Hater follows the journey of Katie, a mid-level video production employee who takes on a high-stakes video promo project for the Coast Guard to save her job. The twist? Katie can't swim and struggles with her own body image. Enter Hutch, her video subject and the love-hate brother of her coworker, who unexpectedly turns her world upside down.

This book delivers a few impactful lessons,
First: Love yourself. Don't let societal norms or social media define your worth, especially in today's world.
Second: Be your own person. Comparing yourself to others—like Cole comparing himself to his brother Hutch—only holds you back. Embrace your individuality and thrive.
Third: Learn to swim. Seriously, life skills like this can save you (both literally and metaphorically!).

From the very first chapter, Lover Hater had me laughing, swooning, and fully immersed. The slow-burn romance between Hutch and Katie was absolutely delightful, full of moments that made me smile and root for them. The supporting characters added so much heart and depth to the story, forming a found family dynamic that radiated love and support.

Hutch turned out to be far more than Katie ever expected—kind, thoughtful, and genuine, with a warmth that drew everyone in. Meanwhile, his brother Cole struggled with insecurities, feeling overshadowed by Hutch’s seemingly “perfect” persona, which caused some missteps in Katie’s perception of Hutch. Beanie, Katie’s best friend, was an absolute standout, always ready with encouragement to remind Katie of her strength and beauty. And let's not forget Rue and George Bailey, Hutch’s lovable Great Dane—my absolute favorites.

All in all, Lover Hater is a heartwarming story full of charm, personal growth, and unforgettable characters. It’s a feel-good read that teaches us to embrace our true selves and find love and courage along the way.

Another great beach read from Katherine Center! The characters were so cute and once again Katherine created such a unique scenario. I loved this book! Thank you netgalley for my free copy.

1/5 - I’ve had mixed feelings about Center’s previous books - some I’ve really enjoyed and others I’ve struggled with. Unfortunately, this one was the latter and is probably my least favorite book of hers so far.

While I understand and appreciate the importance of body struggles as a theme, and an overarching one at that, I don’t think it was well or thoughtfully executed here. Katie is not a likable narrator, and her tendency to be glib and rambling was frustrating at best, annoying at worst. I simply didn’t find her relatable or enjoyable. The rest of the characters fell flat, the chemistry was lackluster, and the problems were exaggerated and the overall story arc didn’t hold much attention. The best part of this book was the authors note at the end.

I probably wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t an ARC, but thank you so much to @netgalley and St. Martin’s press for sending it my way in exchange for my (brutally) honest review!

4.25 stars!

thank you so so much netgalley and st. martins press for the ebook arc! the way my jaw DROPPED when i got the approval email. i really loved hutch as a character!!! katies journey with herself throughout the book was very inspiring. i did find that there was moments that people with body image issues could be triggered depending on how easy it can be for triggers. i had one moment that made me slightly uneasy but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. i also adored rue and the gals. it felt like one big family and honestly such a fun idea of being able to live the chill years with your best friends. the last couple chapters did kinda throw me for a loop but not in a bad way! without spoiling anything it was just unexpected with what goes down and how semi fast paced and fast forwarded it got but also made it enjoyable in the way i couldnt guess how it was nearing the end. there were also so many good quotes and moments on the self love journey that i honestly needed to hear and strive to feel that way someday myself. this was such a fun read. katherine is a newer to me author and so far im really really enjoying her works. this also makes me really wanna take a trip to key west and bask in the sun and take life a little less seriously for a bit! this was so exciting to read in advanced and cant wait to get a physical copy when it comes out!