The Love Haters by Katherine Center was like catching up with a good friend. Easy and good for the soul. The book manages to cover some heavy experiences while keeping a light hearted tone. I also appreciated the lesson on self love, which as a woman can be hard sometimes. I’ve loved all of her books and this is no exception. The characters were so well developed and I adored every single page. Katherine’s writing is so consistently wonderful. Wouldn’t change a thing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a classic Katherine Center novel, featuring a character at a low point and growing through her struggles with a mix of humor and a dash of romance. It's short and sweet, and it leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

Katie is desperate to retain her job amidst vast company layoffs, so she jumps at the chance to film a hype video for Hutch, a coast guard swimmer in Florida. But she can't swim, and her colleague, Hutch's brother, didn't exactly fill her in on details - especially the reasons why Hutch doesn't want her there.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a story of self-acceptance, unexpected friendships, and an adorable Great Dane who is terrified of thunder. It's an adventure of swimming lessons, surviving a hurricane in a houseboat, and choosing the red dress over the black dress.

It would be a five star read, but I loved Katie and Hutch so much that I would have enjoyed more of their development and interactions. There was a bit too much of Katie's internal struggles while we were being told about car conversations, workplace interactions, and dinners with Rue, but we weren't able to be a fly on the wall for those crucial moments of their relationship, and I would have loved to experience those moments along with them. For this reason, I'd categorize it more as Women's Fiction over Romance, but it is a wonderful blend of both genres.

Katie is a film producer working at a rinky dink agency in Texas. Recent cuts have put her job on the line, but Cole, her superior not boss gives her an opportunity to prove herself. The catch? It’s supposed to be his assignment but he doesn’t want to go for personal reasons. So Katie takes off to Key West to film Cole’s coast guard brother for a promo video. But she can’t swim and hates wearing bathing suits… But maybe Hutch will prove to be a good enough distraction that Katie won’t even mind?

This book was full of twists and turns. And pacing was good, a little fast but I enjoy that. I thought the characters were all super sweet. Minus Cole he was a turd. But Hutch, the mmc, was very sweet. Katie was funny and a bit of a head case. And then the old ladies were a fun crew. While I absolutely adore Katherine Center, this wasn’t her best work. It was still a great read, fantastic writing and super fun plot. But some of her other novels are much stronger.

Great Dane
One bed
Forced proximity
Lost at sea
Hot coast guard man

Thanks netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley, and especially Katherine Center for the early chance to read and review “The Love Haters.”

As soon as I received my copy of this book, I immediately dropped *everything* to read it and it was totally worth it. I loved the characters - Katie and Hutch were both so likable and the reader roots for them from the first minute. The secondary characters were also memorable and multi dimensional - especially Rue and Katie’s BFF Beanie. The setting and premise - the Florida Keys and the Coast Guard background - was interesting and set the book apart. And Katie’s emotional personal journey, apart from her romantic one, was moving and powerful. I laughed and cried throughout this one and I completely whole heartedly recommend it! 5 stars!

I loved The Love Haters (punny) and how unexpected and unique this book was for me. I never expected the action scenes that this book gave. The fact that she was literally stranded in the ocean was a WILD plot turn that made the book that much more intriguing. Rue and the gals also kept me laughing the whole time and was such a nice touch. There were also heartbreaking elements to the story like the story about what happened to bring Hutch and Cole to Rue and what actually happened in the crash that had me in tears. Katherine Center is always so good at mixing comedy with romance with a sprinkle of emotional elements with this book showcasing that perfectly. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to have been able to read this early and think it will be a hit come its release in summer! Also the gorgeous physical copy is going have to end up on my bookshelf once it’s published, the design is so good!

Genre: Romance
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼

Summary: Katie was betrayed by her fiancé and now her position at work is in question with layoffs looming. So, she takes a gamble and accepts an assignment she’s not exactly qualified for, filming a promo video for a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie conveniently forgot to mention one small detail: she doesn’t know how to swim. She takes on some swim lessons and is shocked to find out her instructor is the rescue swimmer she’s supposed to be impressing.

Thoughts: I immediately knew, chapter one, that I was going to love this book. The only thing that could have ruined it for me was if there was no happily ever after but Katherine Center would quite literally never.

Katherine has the most unique and refreshing approach to writing. The banter is so quick, the humor is so dry but the stories have such a warmth to it. There are just no other books out there like hers.

This book was truly a treasure. It provided me a chance to laugh, a chance to cry and a chance to evaluate how I treat myself on so many levels. There were so many important lessons brought forward in this book but it never interrupted the entertainment.

I am so honored I was sent this book. My thoughts are shared voluntarily and with complete honesty.

This book was both laugh-out-loud funny and so tender hearted. Pretty much all Katherine Center books are, but I can’t remember the last time one gave me actual belly laughs! It was definitely a needed shot of joy!

I loved the way Katie’s relationship with her body and her self-esteem evolved throughout the story. It felt so authentic to what many of us go through as women. And Hutch was such a loveable (literal) hero. Swoon times a hundred!

I have a special place in my heart for Rue. Her storyline was so beautiful and surprising. May we all have gals to grow old with! And an extra shoutout for George Bailey, the best matchmaking dog of all time.

If the book didn’t resonate with me as much as previous KC books, it’s mostly just because I have a hard time with certain kinds of family drama, and this story definitely has that.

But genuinely, Katherine Center has showed us once again why she is once of the best rom-com writers in the game!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

The Love Haters is the 5th Katherine Center book that I have read, with 2 hits and 2 misses, and this was the tie breaker. I'm happy to report, another hit! I loved so much about this story, the optimistic, hopeful and playful tone was the highlight for me. Another winning point for me was that the female main character has sectoral heterochromia and so do I! This is probably the first time I have read that in a book, hopefully not the last. The story is heartwarming, inspiring and easy to get through, the romance was sweet (except for Cole), and who doesn't love a large goofy dog thrown in the mix?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I appreciate getting the ARC so much, Katherine’s last 2 releases were 5 stars for me and I’ll always read what she releases.
Unfortunately this one was a miss for me.
We spend a lot of time in Katie’s head and reading about the body image issues again and again is exhausting.
The secondary cast is cute and lovable but Hutch, a main character, felt underdeveloped and the love story was very much tell with no show.
There was such little chemistry I felt confused where it was going.
In the last half when Cole shows up the story really went off the rails for me.
There were some fun and cute elements that I wish had been explored more.

Words cannot express how much I loved this novel! Center always delivers heartfelt, laugh-out-loud stories complete with meaningful messages that are relevant and truly uplifting to the soul. She knows just how to represent a woman's psyche and lay all of our insecurities on the table for display. The FMC in this book suffers from body image shaming and lack of self-love. I think many of us women have felt the same at some point in our lives, not living up to the world's view of beauty standards and hating our bodies. I can certainly relate, but after reading this story, I feel so much better about myself. I think all women who need a boost of self-confidence should read this book. The characters were charming, especially Rue and "The Gals". I can only hope that I'm that carefree when I reach their age. I fell in love with George Bailey. The humor, as always, was on point. The salad tongs had me laughing hysterically. The ending was bittersweet and made my heart so happy. This was the perfect book to make me smile and worry less about myself. I highly recommend this one! It deserves to be read and devoured!

Huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me a widget via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow what a page turner!
It hooked me from the very first page with its beautifully drawn characters and a plot brimming with emotional depth, this story explores love, heartbreak, and the messy yet magical process of healing.

The witty dialogue and heartfelt moments kept me completely engrossed, while the romance was both tender and captivating. Center’s writing has a way of making you laugh, cry, and cheer for the characters all at once.

I couldn’t put this book down—it’s a compelling, feel-good read that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

I immediately dropped what I was doing to start reading this. It is a sweet and exciting love story!

The first two-thirds of the novel are so engaging and Katie and Hutch are lovely together (though Hutch has no discernible flaws and some of their connection is told not shown). I did not enjoy the conflict that was very silly and unnecessary to advancing the story. This twist made it harder to root for any of the characters. Still, this is a charming romance that also tackles self-esteem and body image issues. 3.5 stars

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

4.5 ⭐️

First, thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this advanced copy.

Somehow, Katherine Center has managed to turn a novel into a diary; expelling the FMC's deepest fears and insecurities. This felt like talking to a friend in the best way possible. It was a little rambling and disjointed, but the best parts of life are. The vibe is everything you love in a good rom-com and so much more.

Our FMC, Katie, is dealing with some deep-seated body image issues and eating disorderment that feels profoundly real. Our MMC, Hutch, is dealing with grief and regret that makes him shut down. Somehow, you're rooting for these characters while also yelling at them to get out of their own way. This author has a way of making you laugh, cry, and rage all at once, and this was an unforgettable read.

Katherine Center can do no wrong! I adored this one. The story of learning to love yourself… omg I want to have a closet full of tropical bathing suits. The side characters were great. The Gals! I want to be their friends. and Hutch… we don’t deserve you! George Bailey! Read it!

I love Katherine Center and was so grateful to receive this ARC. And she does it again with The Love Haters.
This book feels like a warm hug, the kind you would probably give to yourself. Yes, this is a romance book, but it's first and foremost about Katie's in-depth journey to loving herself and body positivity. Katie's past relationship led her to develop an eating disorder, but throughout the book, she works to change how she views herself. I absolutely love Katie and after all she's been through, I just wanted the best for her. She has the most humorous inner monologues that made me laugh out loud with some self-deprecating humor that was really relatable. By the end, I was really proud of her progress and how she evolved throughout the book.

Hutch is the absolute best book boyfriend and is perfect for Katie. Yes, she spends a lot of time ogling him and his "perfect" features, but I felt like it was a reflection of herself and her body image issues and what she went through with people judging her by her looks.

Shoutout to the side characters, namely George Bailey (the MVP in Hutch and Katie's relationship), the Gals, and especially Beanie (!!!). They all were so unique and fun characters to read about. But honestly, I took off a star for Cole's character, who was honestly kind of annoying and a jerk. I didn't really felt like he added MUCH to the plot (felt like the book would have been just fine without him creating conflicts), and even though I did come to feel bad for him (Chapter 22), I felt that all his dramatics/lies were totally unnecessary.

Overall, I felt like this was another great book by Katherine Center, who's quickly becoming one of my automatic-read authors. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Katherine Center writes these books that I can envision perfectly. Her details conjure up such clear pictures of the characters and the events of their stories. THE LOVE HATERS is no exception. This is as much a story of self-growth as it is a romance. I really loved the first person narration, finding it a welcome reprieve from the many romances that are dual POV right now. There’s something about only knowing what one person sees that makes the story feel much more relatable!

Spoilers ahead!

Katie and Hutch are vibrant (but not always colorful!), and their feelings grow organically for each other. I will note that Cole is a truly unlikable character, even if his presence does serve an important point in the plot. Katie’s personal struggles with body image are difficult to read, so if you are someone for whom that would hit too close to home, please read with care.

I will read anything Katherine Center writes, even though they’re not always for me. I didn’t anticipate enjoying this one as the description didn’t seem like something I would be into - but was excited to read regardless!

I am so excited to be proven wrong! I loved this.

I loved the romance (I always do) but was so invested in Katie’s journey of self love that’s happening parallel to it. I love that that journey is not rooted in her finding love but an added bonus.

This felt like a return to Happiness for Beginners in terms of tone but with the com of romcom turned up a notch.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

3.5/4 stars. As a lover of Katherine Center, I found myself riding a reader's rollercoaster while consuming The Love Haters. To begin, The Love Haters is about a female filmmaker - recovering from an eating disorder and a broken relationship - who's sent on assignment to make a promo video for the Coast Guard. On the job, she meets the star of the promo video, who is - to nobody's surprise - the love interest. Throughout their time together, both characters grow increasingly fond of each other only for - again, to nobody's surprise - something to go wrong... only for them to get together in the end. Conventional rom-com, but let's not fix what isn't broken.

Overall, this is a very cute story with funny dialogue, great tidbits, and an enjoyable ending (especially the epilogue!) I absolutely loved several aspects of this book and continue to be a fan of Katherine Center for a great feel-good beach read.

However, I do feel like the "frumpy girl meets hot-hero-man" trope is both overdone and does a disservice to women. This critique is compounded by the way Katie's non-specified eating disorder is described throughout the story. During the current-day plotline, Katie is in recovery from the disordered eating, but remains plagued by her body image issues. Most notably, I took issues with the one scene where, when Katie is telling Hutch (hot-hero-man) about her eating disorder, she manages to explain that her cousin burned the bathroom scale one day and this magically healed her. Perhaps I'm grasping at straws here, but I felt that the way this particular story equated Katie's unattractiveness to her alleged weight was... frustrating. Further, the ENTIRE plot line with Katie's boss, Cole, lying (which is, in essence, the problem section of the book) was CRAZY. This is not to say it wasn't creative or well-written but I did NOT see that one coming.

To end this review on a good note, because I did enjoy most of this book, the final section of the book during which Katie drives INTO a hurricane to save Hutch's dog was my FAVORITE part of this book. This was crazy, hilarious, and 100% relatable as it's absolutely something I would do too (hot-hero-man or not). All this to say... yes, I would recommend this book to someone else - especially for a lover of rom-coms.

I'm more specifically giving this book a 3.5 because I didn't really enjoy the whole "lying" scheme cooked up by Cole. It felt rushed, harried, and incredibly clunky in the story itself. But this story did speak to me in a lot of ways when it comes to thinking about one's own body, and the kindness we need to give ourselves every step of the way. Not Katherine Center's best, but I do think this is a story worth reading if only to understand that body neutrality is probably the biggest gift we can give ourselves, far beyond love.

This book is exactly what I would expect from Katherine Center. If you also enjoyed The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard, this will definitely be the book. We have a slightly quirky FMC, a seriously hunky MMC, and a full cast of lively side characters. There is no spice, but a whole lot of tension.

Katie was sent to Key West believing her subject would be a silent, grumpy guy with a hero complex. Hutch's rescue dog, George Bailey, unexpectedly breaks the ice and instead they have almost instant chemistry. Katie goes through a lot of personal growth and healing throughout the course of their acquaintanceship. Cole, Hutch's brother and Katie's colleague, shows up and causes quite a bit of chaos. Rue, Hutch and Cole's "aunt" is a delight. There are some heavier topics discussed, but Center's writing keeps things light without being flippant.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to SMP for the ARC. I had literally just preordered this book ☺️

TW: body dysmorphia, past struggles with ED, digital self-harm, parental death (past)