Another fun read from Katherine Center to kick off the new year! While I really enjoyed the story and characters, I didn’t love it like I loved some of her other books. Some things felt a little too surface level and wish it would have dove in deeper to the characters and their emotions rather than getting to start to see it and then move to another scene. All in all though it was a fun read and gets 4 stars from me!

Katherine Center does it again with Love Haters! This book is a heartfelt and beautifully crafted exploration of love, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships. Center's writing is sharp, witty, and full of warmth, making it impossible to put down. The characters are so well-developed and relatable that they feel like real people—flawed, funny, and utterly lovable. Love the balance of humor and depth of story. This book will give you lots of feels, but keep you entertained for sure! Love Haters is an absolute must-read. Katherine Center proves once again why she’s a master of feel-good fiction. Highly recommend!

“She’s grateful for the reminder to be grateful. We all need those once in a while.”
Katie is assigned a documentary job in Key West. This is a lady effort to keep her job.
She is to work with the Coast Guard for a training video.
What she finds in key West is so much more! She has to interview Hutch, who radiates hero !

This book was so much fun, so much about living in the moment and being grateful for what you have.
I loved Katie and Hutch, I loved the Starlight cottages and The Gals!
I want to pack my bags and move to Key West right now!!

I don’t usually do this, but I’m writing a partial review as I am 20% into the latest novel by Katherine Center. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book because I’ve loved every book of hers I’ve read so far. That being said… I hope this gets better.

So far, I haven’t enjoyed getting to know the main female character. I totally support women with body image issues (and it’s certainly relatable), but it feels overdone. I actually feel sorrier for her best friend, who has to constantly build her up and remind her that she is, in fact, beautiful. How many pages can there be about her agonizing over wearing a bathing suit? Please… let this plot thicken as we get to know more about her work assignment, where she’ll be filming a short documentary about a hunky Coast Guard hero.

Okay, I stuck it out, and it finally gets really good right around the time the hunky Coast Guard’s competitive brother shows up and lights a fire under everyone. Not literally.

I really ended up enjoying it. It finally felt like a Katherine Center book to me once the main character let up on some of the self-loathing. It never entirely goes away, but at least she has other things to focus on for a bit! The ending was quite the nail-biter, and I loved the intensity—it was exactly what the novel needed.

Katie has had a rough few years after being cheated on by her now pop-Star finance spiraled her into a state of deep self-hatred. She is also a filmmaker whose job is on the line with pending staff cuts. When her boss Cole asks her to take on an assignment promoting the Coast Guard, potentially saving her job, she says yes. Except this assignment requires her to shadow the infamously heroic (and hot) Pup Daddy- a viral sensation after he rescued a high profile celeb’s dog. The only problem, she can’t swim and that’s kind of a requirement. Once Katie gets to Key West, she meets a crew of retirees living out their best lives led by Rue, Cole (and Hutch’s) aunt. Hutch is surprised to find Katie is the one documenting him rather than his brother Cole but his anger is quickly tempered as he spends more and more time with Katie. As Katie starts to accept more of herself with the not so subtle nudging by Rue, she opens herself up to the possibility that Hutch may actually like her.. or does he?


Thank you St. Martin’s Press for giving me early access to this book! I was so excited to get the email inviting me to read it.

First book of the new year and started it off with such a great message. In the author’s notes, Katherine Center writes: “Love stories make us better at love. In all directions. And getting better at love, of course, means getting better at life.” I have mixed views on romance novels and the inner cynic of me often struggles with the genre as a whole but I think that’s what makes Katherine’s books unique. For one, I enjoy them (shocking!) and two, there’s always some sort of message beyond the love story; whether that’s learning to love yourself as Katie does in this story or leaning into challenging relationships. For me, Love Haters had me going back and forth about whether I actually liked it. The romance of course was cute, the craziness of Katie’s work situation was entertaining and there was suspense towards the end which I won’t reveal here. I think what held me back was the frequent examination of Katie’s view of herself and self-worth. It hit close to home- which is a scary realization when reading what is supposed to be a fun romance. As a whole, the book was enjoyable, made me contemplate on my own self perceptions and had a fun romance with some drama. With all of that said, I’m giving this one 3.5 stars and rounding up.

A fantastic read! I blew through this. I love Katie and her personal story of growth and self-love. The enemies to lovers troupe was captivatingly told with career details that create suspense. Cole’s character had me wanting to skip parts. Although he is integral to the story, I didn’t enjoy him! It still was a book that I couldn’t put down. Rue and The Gals seemed like a lively bunch that I could picture gabbing poolside. It really was a great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. What's better than a work trip to paradise (Key West), a group of outrageous senior ladies, a big sloppy rescue dog, and the hottest man on the planet? This should be a dream come true for Katie, but the pressure of saving her job, with holding secrets and a hurricane could put a damper on what should be the time of her life.

I love this book! Katherine Center always brings the crazy characters, impeccable banter, and HEA we all love; this book is no exception. Add into that an actual hero for the MMC and it is everything you could want in a romance.

I had no doubt I would love The Love Haters by Katherine Center. I adore everything she writes, and this story is no different! Katherine knows how to weave the most beautiful stories, and gives her characters so much heart...I already have my physical copy preordered!

Gosh, I really didn’t like this one as much as I’d hoped. I’m a huge KC fan but this book, while fun and cute in the beginning, became outlandish and cartoonish to the point where I just fell out of the story. The part where Cole comes to Key West was just ridiculous and all of the lying was so incredibly frustrating as a reader! I would have much preferred the conflict to be between Hutch, Katie and her now famous ex fiancé. The brothers’ arguments seemed fabricated and unrealistic. I strongly disliked the unnecessary lies and I fast forwarded/skimmed to just get to the end.

I love Katherine Center and all of her previous books, but this one fell flat for me. The story was intriguing and had me hooked at the beginning, but about 75% of the way through, miscommunication happens because of a bunch of lies that are told, and I didn't like the direction the plot took. It did have moments that I loved and had me laughing, but overall it felt like something was missing. For being a romcom, I didn't feel the connection between the two main characters Katie and Hutch. The epilogue didn't even talk about what happened to them after they got together.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

Holy smokes! Katherine Center just keeps getting better with every book and I was already giving her five stars. Can we make an honorary 6 star just for her? I think so! In this novel, Katie is sent to film a promo for the US Coast Guard to save her job. The subject of the promo is Pup Daddy, also known as Hutch, born as Tom Hutchenson. Per Hutch's brother, he is a love hater. Katie, after being cheated on by a pop star, has also deemed herself a love hater. This book had love bursting from the seams! There was the obvious, this book is a romance and the two main characters are both love haters (ha!), but there was also (1) adoption, (2) self-love, (3) family, and (4) friendship. And when I say these were all there, I mean they were all front and freaking center! I nearly cried at the end of the book, and I never do that. I identified so much with Katie. In this one, Katherine Center also leaves a delightfully sweet and charming author's note that highlights exactly what I was feeling. This one is planned for release on May 20, 2025 with gorgeous teal edges. So mark your calendars and/or get your pre-orders placed! This is a must read for 2025! PS- check the content warnings on this one as the backstory is a bit heavier than others by the author! Thank you to St. Martin's Press Early Reader's Program and NetGalley for my copy. This is an honest review.

Once again Katherine Center has made me fall in love. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, I loved that the main character, Katie learned to love herself. This is a wonderful story about all the good that the Coast Guard does as well. Possibly my favorite of Katherine Center’s to date. Although, I say that after every book. Thank you as always to Netgalley.

What a fantastic rom-com from the author of The Rom-Commers, a favorite of mine!

Katie Vaughn lives a beige life—beige clothes, beige routines, and zero excitement. When her company announces job cuts, she jumps at an unexpected opportunity to save her career: travel to tropical Key West to create a video profile on her colleague Cole’s brother, Hutch, who serves in the Coast Guard. The problem? Katie knows nothing about the Coast Guard—or the ocean—and she can’t even swim.

Arriving in Key West, Katie is thrust into a world of vibrant pastel apartments, eccentric locals, and a hurricane of lies. Cole hasn’t been entirely honest about why he sent Katie to film his brother, and when he unexpectedly shows up, the fabrications multiply. Katie finds herself stuck in an increasingly absurd situation, pretending she knows more than she does while desperately trying to maintain her sanity (and her job).

Luckily, Katie has Aunt Rue, Hutch and Cole’s delightfully motherly relative, and Hutch's giant, lovable Great Dane to help guide her through the chaos. As Katie juggles one awkward scenario after another, she begins to question everything—including the safe, uneventful life she’s built for herself back home.

Katherine Center delivers a laugh-out-loud rom-com with The Love Haters, packed with hilarious misunderstandings, quirky characters, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for. The romance blossoms beautifully, but what truly shines is Katie’s journey to loving herself and embracing the unknown.

An ode to self-growth and finding unexpected joy, The Love Haters will leave you smiling and maybe even a little envious of the quirky, colorful world of Key West.

#TheLoveHaters #KatherineCenter #StMartinsPress

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
I have never related to an FMC more than I have to Katie. Katie has severe body image issues and low self esteem. She was in a public relationship with a music star and her mental health took a toll. She was excessively counting calories and harshly judging her appearance.

The story takes place after Katie is assigned to follow a rescue diver, Hutch. Hutch and his brother, Cole, have a rough relationship. Hutch was famous for saving a celebrity’s pet, but won’t do interviews. Katie is in a rough position, but she and Hutch have a connection. She learns to love herself while exploring Hutch’s world. She learns to swim and face her fears of bathing suits.

There are a lot of hijinks and misunderstandings, but this book is my second favorite of Katherine’s afterThe Bodyguard!

I love Katherine Center's older books but I have found myself not enjoying her previous releases. Her characters are just not relatable to me, the MMC's are just not attractive, they don't work. I end up not caring for their relationships. I just felt this one went sideways and never came back. It wasn't for me.

I always feel like I’ve hit the jackpot whenever I get my hands on an early read from Katherine Center! Her writing is fun, breezy and impossible not to enjoy. The Love Haters is exactly what fans of rom-coms have come to expect from her: charm and brimming with romantic hilarity.

Center proves once again why she’s the undisputed Queen of Romcom. The story had me laughing out loud and grinning from ear to ear, with plenty of heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout. It’s lighthearted yet layered, and every page feels like a celebration of love and humor.

Whether you’re already a Katherine Center devotee or new to her books, The Love Haters will absolutely win you over. A must-read for romcom lovers!

Katherine Center continues to knock it out of the part with feel-good books. I love her strong voice that's quirky and yet not grating. It's so different from a lot of the other romances out there, so it's always fun to step into one of her worlds. She also doesn't shy away from tough topics — this one being body image issues (cue that mother in your childhood telling you to suck in your gut when wearing a bathing suit). This book is just as much about loving yourself as it is the main romance. As Center says herself, it's an enemies-to-lovers trope with Katie and her body. Her books continue to make me feel right until the last sentence of her Author's Notes (don't ever skip them!). This one, in particular, made me weep.

And apparently Coast Guard rescue swimmer is also the new main love interest career and I don't hate it. Strong swimmer capable of crazy water rescues? Between this and Variation by Rebecca Yarros I am definitely into reading more of that kind of love interest.

I stayed up until 2am finishing this book and woke up still thinking about it! I just love Katherine Center’s stories. I loved Katie and Hutch so much. I loved that Hutch was just such a good guy. I smiled throughout so much of the relationship development between Hutch and Katie - the banter, the splinters, the diaper (iykyk). I loved the relationship development with Katie and herself even more. I found her issues very relatable and I feel like a lot of women will relate to her struggles, unfortunately.

Absolutely adored the latest from Katherine Center and it will 100% be among my top recs for summer 2025! All the eccentricity and vibrancy from the colorful Keys (with the most charming cast of characters), mixed with a swoonworthy Air Force rescuer and his huge scared-of-thunder rescue pup, and a relatable FMC that you want to root for — I absolutely ate this one up. Perfect if you love substance and real life with real background tragedies in your romance — with humor, of course (my favorite kind).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the gift of this ARC!

I loved this book!!! Katherine Center is one of my all-time favorite authors, and she did not disappoint. I read this in one sitting and already can't wait to read it again