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

Katherine Center is my favorite non spicy romance author. Her writing reminds me of all the romances I secreted away from the library as a teen. She always manages to write stories that highlight the delicate humanity of the characters. Highly enjoyed her latest book about the water-based antics of Katie, Cole, and Hutch.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Let me start by saying that if you have invited someone over for dinner, don’t start reading this book that morning. You won’t be able to put it down or get any of your work done because this book is just that unputdownable. That's what happened to me yesterday, sigh, but I got up early today to finish it. It's not all romance, neither is it all drama. It might make you shed a tear or two but also believe in the goodness of people. This is the Katherine Center book that will have you smiling the entire day at random moments just because…. :)

I'm so intrigued by Beanie. Will we get to read her story too?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I cannot express how excited I was to read the latest novel by Katherine Center. Her books have the ability to touch my soul and make me feel better about life and myself. This book was no exception. The best way I can think to describe this "The Love Haters' is healing fiction!

"The Love Haters" is a romance story about a woman named Katie trying to save her job by going to Key West to interview her co-worker's brother, a coast guard rescue swimmer. The only problem is Katie can't swim and hates the idea of being in a bathing suit. Determined to save her job she decides she will learn to swim. Once there she meets Rue, the owner of the motel and aunt to Hutch. Hutch is the rescue swimmer she is there to interview. What she doesn't count on is the immediate attraction and his dog, George Bailey. Katie finds herself falling in love but many different obstacles are determined to get in her way including a cheating ex-fiance, lying co-worker, and a hurricaine.

It took me less than 24 hours to devour this novel. In that time, I was absorbed in a moving novel that was not just about romance and falling in love with another person but about loving yourself. This book helped me reflect on my own life and really think about the love I have for myself. I can't say enough good about this novel and think this novel should be on everyone's must read list for 2025! Thank you Katherine Center for once again creating a story that can make me laugh, cry, and reflect on my own life in such a positive way.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Guess what? Katherine Center can write the heck out of action scenes too! Like, the super exciting hold-your-breath-until-it’s-over type action scenes!

As a main character, Katie seemed to me to be darker than what we Center fans are used to. There’s some really deep inner child work going on here that hurts your heart to read, and it’s almost bigger than the romance storyline.

All the minor characters here, from Rue and the Gals all the way to Lucky the Toad, will have your heart. Another solid novel from the best rom-com author on the shelves these days!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Katherine Center book and basically, I need to go back and read her other books. If you need an easy read, her books are great to pick up and breeze through. I will say, this one had more suspense than I was expecting, but that’s not a bad thing!

Her books are cute and are the perfect chick-flick read.

This was not my favorite Katherine Center book. It was cute but I was never really fully invested in the characters. I did enjoy the Key West setting and I loved the character of Aunt Rue.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.