So I got to meet Katherine at one of her book signings and I absolutely love her. Her personality is magnetic and charming so when I received an ARC for this book I was ecstatic.
Needless to say this book was not one of my favorites.
The story is about a romance between a film maker and a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie's boss Cole assigns her to Hutch who happens to be his brother and doesn't have a good relationship with. Even though the story emerges you into a fluffy love story, l'm not a fan of the main characters. I did enjoy learning about the Coast Guard and the setting in the Keys.
Katie has severe body image issues and low self esteem. And the ending was way over the top unrealistic. Overall the book fell flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center’s books never fail to keep me captivated the entire read. I loved the self love/discovery character arc that Katie goes through throughout the story. I found her character very relatable and also loved her friendship with Beanie. I cried laughed and read it all in one sitting. This story made me remember how much I enjoy Katherine’s writing and I will definitely be reading anything coming out by her in the future,



Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. (Swoon) I was so anxious to read her next novel The Love Haters. Since this book isn't due to be released until May 2025, it might be a good time to make sure you haven't missed any of her prior novels. (With the list of her other works at the end of this book, I think I have a couple to track down.)

Katie works with a team that produces films, her company (in the midst of corporate cuts) is contracted to do a recruiting film for the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. A coworker enlists her to do the assignment.

(A great "buddy" book to The Love Haters would be Calm in the Chaos: True Tales from Elite U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers by Brian Dickinson.)

The Love Haters is a very fun, quick read. I loved several characters, especially, Katie and her relationship with her (self-help guru) cousin and Rue.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read The Love Haters in exchange for an honest review. Approx 320 pages. Publication date is May 20, 2025.

Going into this book, I expected of course romance and the awkwardness surrounding it, especially given the title. What we got instead was a love story between not only a woman and a man but also a woman and herself, which is probably the hardest but yet the most profound kind of love to experience. This story was a fun, easy read with a loving aunt, a sexy rescue swimmer, an adorable rescue dog and his pet toad.

I’ve read other Katherine Center books and this one was just as enjoyable. I always feel happy after reading them.

I was at first concerned about the self-talk by the main character in this book, but as someone who grew up in the diet-culture time of the 90’s I found myself connecting more with Katie and her journey of love and self-love. As the book went on I really liked the way she was written as well as the rest of the characters. I really found myself rooting for each of them (even Cole) and wanted the HEA for all of them. I liked this book a lot.

Somehow Katherine Center's books always find a way to sink their claws into me and keep me sat in my comfy reading chair for HOURS while I finish them in one sitting. This one's probably my new favorite, surpassing The Bodyguard. I ADORED Hutch and his grumpy personality, and the fact that he's a rescue swimmer for the coast guard?? Yes please. The book also deals a lot with body image issues and family trauma, both of which I thought were handled very well. I will say there was one thing in the second half that got a little frustrating as far as the decision making went, but I was able to look past it cause the rest of the book was just so freaking sweet. Also Rue has my whole heart.

I was so excited to see this as an option to review. I truly enjoy Katherine Center books! The Love Haters did not disappoint. The characters and their interactions truly held so much depth and connection. From the first interactions between Katie and Hutch, I was hooked and ran through a gambit of emotions. The story and the lessons in this book are great and left me with a lot of joy.

I'm a huge Katherine Center fan and was excited to get an early read of this book. I really enjoyed it. With the title you can predict how the books going to go but there was more to it then that and I really enjoyed the details put into this book. Especially towards the end you felt like you are in the rxact situation being written.


Thanks to NetGallery for this Arc!

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed the journey the main character went on. I didn’t want to put this book down! My favorite quote: That longing to be looked at lovingly? That longing to be lovable…that’s really also so much about wanting to be connected and safe and just deeply, fundamentally okay? Maybe we didn’t have to outsource that. Maybe we could fill that longing for ourselves. 💛

The Love Haters features Katie, who finds herself on the verge of a lay off from the video production company she works at when producer Cole offers her a job that he doesn’t want to take in the Florida Keys. Despite Katie not being able to swim and having a phobia of bathing suits, she signs up for the job which is a recruitment video documenting the US coast guard featuring Cole’s estranged brother, Hutch. As always with Katherine Center’s books, there are lots of laugh out loud scenes mixed in with touching moments.

The Love Haters is as much a rom-com as it is a book of self-reflection on learning to love yourself. The theme of body positivity was handled so well with humour and compassion. I found Cole’s motivations a bit far fetched but I understand that his story line was driving the conflict. I’m a big fan of Katherine Center’s work, and while this wasn’t my fave book of hers (Happiness for Beginners holds that spot!), it was still better than a lot of rom-coms I have read recently! I definitely will be buying a hard copy when it’s released and would recommend for your next beach vacation!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

She’s back!! The Queen of the Rom com! This is classic Katherine Center and after her last two books didn’t strike me the same way as The Bodyguard did, I’m so glad she’s back with this perfect love story. Is it a little unbelievable? Of course! But I still enjoyed it wholeheartedly. It is sweet, funny and even a tad suspenseful!!

Pick this up for a heroic romantic comedy delight.

3.5 ⭐

I enjoyed this book, but I wanted a little more from it. I think it’s my least favorite Katherine Center book so far, but it won’t stop me from reading more of her work. The characters and story were still enjoyable, and I might reread this later to see if my thoughts or rating change!

I read this book in one day and loved every bit of it. I love when I get lost in a book and the characters and this was pure perfection for me. I am sad it’s over.

Wow. This book has taken over as my favorite book by Katherine Center. Yes it's a rom com and yes I loved the characters and yes I loved the romance but I feel like I really connected with the main character, Katie. She navigates something women often struggle with - our body. Her journey was amazing and I truly loved it! I connected to it. Her growth is what I strive for. The romance, the funky aunt, the tropical setting and the adorable dog make it all better.

I couldn't stand Hutch's brother Cole. While he was the "villain", he gave me the ick.

I also usually skip the authors note but I read this one and it made me love Katherine Center even more. Thank you for this book. Thank you for Katie.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my thoughts!

Katherine never fails me to just absolutely fly and devour every word she writes. I don’t have to think too hard about the storyline, there is depth in the characters, growth, and love. Every page has me wanting more and it’s just so easy to fall for her characters. She really brings them to life and this was no different. I read this in 1 day as I usually do her novels, if you love slow burn, lies, heartbreak, depth, and growth read this book you will not regret it
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion

Another amazing read by Katherine Center. I loved Katie and Hutch so much. The plot and character development throughout the book was phenomenal. I finished the book in a day! It was so good.

This book is an absolute delight. Yes, it is extremely heavy-handed in its messaging, and yes, it is wildly ridiculous in some of its plot events - but I loved it anyway. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy this feel-good story. It addresses some heavy topics, but is also funny, charming, and hopeful. It’s a great read for anyone who enjoys contemporary rom coms, heroic male leads, and goofy dogs.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is posted on Goodreads and will be cross-posted to Amazon upon the book’s publication.

Content notes: readers may wish to know that this book includes mentions of body dysmorphia and disordered eating; discussions of death and grief; some profanity

To say I was estatic to receive Katherine Center’s newest romcom as an ARC is an understatement. As one of my favorite authors, I always look forward to everything Katherine writes.

Read “The Love Haters” if you enjoy:
*** Self-love and discovery theme
*** Witty and charming banter
*** Strong female friendships
*** The swoonworthy first kiss
*** A loveable dog that steals the spotlight

There was so many things to love about this novel. Describing someone as a “human hot fudge sundae?” I will never forget that speech. The hottest first kiss? No one writes them better than Katherine Center. I also appreciated the ongoing theme of self-love and confidence throughout the novel that our FMC grappled with.

All and all, I enjoyed the novel. Was it my favorite novel of the author’s? No it wasn’t. The drama that began halfway through was sort of silly, and actually kind of frustrating. I also wanted a little bit more on the page involving our couple.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

This was a fun and cute romcom! It was a great quick read for the summer. I have really enjoyed Katherine Center's books in the past and this one was very fun to read. Overall, I love the author's idea of a love story between the two characters and with oneself.

I’ve only had a chance to read one of Katherine Center’s novels, The Rom-Commers, but it was one of my top 5 reads from last year so The Love Haters was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025. The Love Haters did not disappoint! Hutch was swoon worthy and Katie was likable with more to her character than just a love story. I couldn’t put this book down, the key west vibes make this a great summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.