Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE LOVE HATERS is a book I’ve been anticipating for months and I’m so happy I got my hands on a copy! There were so many things to enjoy about this book: the characters were fun and dynamic, especially Rue, The Gals, and George Bailey the Great Dane; some truly swoon-worthy moments between our main characters, video producer Katie and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch; a ton of conflicts to be explored; and a last minute dramatic twist that had me unable to put the book down because I so badly wanted to see how things worked out.

However, a few things kept THE LOVE HATERS from being a 5-star read. While weight and body image are a main conflict for Katie, something I and SO many others can relate to, the way it was handled felt somewhat clunky and surface level. Now, while I don’t necessarily want or need to read tens to hundreds of pages of characters struggling with this topic, especially in a romance novel, I almost wish it had been something Katie had previously come to terms with so more time could have been spent fleshing out her relationship with Hutch. The moments we do get with the pair were adorable and, again, swoon-worthy, but I wanted more (though that is not unusual with any book I read!).

In the end, I’ll read whatever novels Katherine Center puts out because reading them is always just a truly enjoyable experience.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

In order to save her job as video producer Katie agrees to make a promotional video for coastal guard in Key West. Katie might not have mentioned that she doesn’t know how to swim and things get interesting as one of the coastal guards is a handsome guy who went viral because he saved Jennifer Aniston’ s puppy.

For me Katherine Center’s books are a cozy place despite all the trauma and stress that her characters go through because I know that she will magically fix it all. Katherine has a talent to make different characters relatable and as a reader I always root for their happy endings. I love how she brings complicated topics through stories of her characters and shows that some things have resolutions.

Katherine Center does it again. I love how she writes such different books every time, with characters who are so different from what we’ve read before, and we get totally immersed into the world in how she teaches us about something new (in this case, the U.S. Coast Guard!). I think she brilliantly weaves stories, arcs, little details beautifully. I’m excited I was able to read this early and can’t wait to share about it on social media.

I really just adore everything Katherine Center writes. This story is a love story, but at it's heart it's also a story about grief, loss, guilt, nonromantic relationships, and how we learn to love ourselves.

The FMC deals with a lot of issues (especially how she views herself and her weight) which were really relatable to me. I swear Center is inside my brain. Her characters always have a stream on consciousness and thoughts that are similar to my own. I relate so much to them.

The plot was fun, deep, and honestly like a little movie playing in my head the entire time. It somehow made me want to hop on a plane to the Keys in FL while also doing a deep search into my soul and learn to love myself. Was the entire plot believable? Not so much. But was it an unputdownable read? Absolutely,

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the author's note. It was such a beautiful add on to her story. It made me cry a few times.

Thank you SO much to Katherine Center (I am now a lifetime fan as your last three books have been FANTASTIC for me), the publishers, and Netgalley for this eARC. Review on my Bookstagram to come.

I LOVED this book. Katie is a video producer who is trying to save her job amidst layoffs. When she is told by her boss that she needs to go to film his big brother, a grump and true “love hater”, she decides to do it in an effort to save her career.

Upon her arrival, Katie is immediately ushered in by Aunt Rue. Rue is an eclectic bolt of color who immediately makes Katie feel like family. But when Katie meets her filming subject, Rue’s nephew Hutch, things take a turn.

Hutch is heroic, kind, attractive, and gentle. Katie is immediately swept up by his quiet charm as he teaches her how to swim and (reluctantly) lets her into his heart and home. Alongside his rescued Great Dane George Bailey, Hutch charms Katie (and readers alike) with his charming grumpiness.

This story shows a woman processing through complicated feelings about her body (which, who doesn’t have those moments?!), a couple working to be together, and such a charming cast of characters. The Lover Haters has stolen my #1 Katherine Center book read through its charming tale of love, loss, kindness, and hope.

When the name Katherine Center appears on a book, there’s no need to read the blurb or check the number of stars from Goodreads. You just have to buy it, borrow it or in this case I was lucky to get an advanced copy from NetGalley. According to Google AI, a love hater is “someone who has a strong aversion to love or romantic relationships, often stemming from past negative experiences, leading them to actively avoid or resist getting involved with others romantically”. According to our protagonist, twenty-six year old videographer Katie Vaughn, a love hater is someone who is “all rules and no heart, all action and no reaction, all body and no soul.” In order to not be downsized at work, Katie accepts an assignment from her superior, Cole Hutchinson, to travel to Key West to film a promo for the Coast Guard. The thing is, Katie has to film from a helicopter (which means getting weighed) while flying over water (she can’t swim) . And to make everything worse, the subject she’ll be filming is Cole’s very handsome, “human specimen of perfection” brother Tom also known as “Hutch”. In her signature style of writing, this story is filled with great dialogue and banter from a cast of characters that are fun, witty and loveable . Bonus - there are many tidbits of self love wisdom to digest.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this reader with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have so much fun with this author and this book was no exception. Her books are just fun--a little wacky, a little ridiculous, but charming and enjoyable.

With that said, the love interest in this particular book felt a little bland and "too" perfect (it was basically his defining trait--being too good looking, too handsome, too good at everything). There were also some small plotting changes I would have made--I won't go into the specifics because of spoilers, but if the "fake dating" had been introduced earlier, it could have made for some more fun tension/forbidden romance between the romantic leads and perhaps made the hero feel just a little less perfect. With that said, the final action sequence (while over the top) felt genuinely high stakes and I really enjoyed it.

I will read this author again and again.

This was not my favorite Katherine Center book. The story line was cute, but the body image talk was a bit too much for me and I just didn’t relate to the characters.

As always, Katherine Center did not disappoint in her latest book, and I’m always glad to have an arc of hers! Katie and Hutch were such a nice couple — it wasn’t the true enemies to lovers I was expecting, but I also didn’t miss it. Katherine’s ability to show a true connection between characters always shines, and this book was no different!

This was another great book by Katherine Center. I loved all of the characters and the romance but most of all I loved the positive body image messages.

Why are books magic? And in particular, what makes Katherine Center’s books magical to me, especially this novel, The Love Haters? Often when we read a book, we are voyeurs—on the outside looking in as the characters work through their stories. But in this book, as in all of Katherine’s books, we are not just watching— we are living it! We are experiencing everything Katie, Hutch, and the rest (including George Bailey) go through, right alongside them. Their dreams and hopes are ours; their fear and doubts are ours as well. We celebrate with them, we grieve with them, we love with them. This book is a love story yes, between two captivating people; but it is also about learning to love yourself, to be happy and proud of who you are, loving your perceived flaws as much as you do the things you believe are beautiful. Katie was an incredibly relatable character, her inner monologues capturing so many emotions that we all feel, as we live and love the best we can. I could go on and on about everything I loved about this book, but all you really need to know is that this is a book that spoke to me. The Love Haters mesmerized me and charmed me and let me live in a technicolor world with giant dogs and houseboats and rescue swimmers and toads and bathing suits and love—all of it one hundred percent magic.

5 stars!!! I started reading this book, and didn’t put it down until I was done. I fell into the story almost immediately, and loved everything about it! The characters - they are relatable, fun, and have great chemistry between them.

Reeling from a breakup with her (now) famous ex-fiancé and struggling to be comfortable in her own skin, Katie takes an assignment in Key West filming a promo for the US Coast Guard in an effort to save her job…despite the fact that she can’t swim. She stays in a cabin owned by Rue (who is one of the best characters in the book), the aunt of the Coast Guard Rescue swimmer she is profiling. Will Katie get the footage she needs?

This book also has a secondary theme of learning to really see yourself, and appreciate the things that make “you” you, a thing that I am sure will resonate with most of us…

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of The Love Haters in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published May 20, 2025.

4.5 * There is much to love and little to hate in Katherine Center’s new Rom-Com. I feel that calling it a Rom-Com diminishes the depth of many of the book’s story lines. The main character is searching for her place in the competitive corporate world of visual storytelling. She heads off on assignment to the Florida Keys, to film a promo about the Coast Guard search and rescue team. The author did a great job with the Coast Guard descriptions , seamlessly integrating teaching moments into the plot. There is also a surrounding cast of characters, including many supporting female characters. One of the non-romance themes was the leads struggle with her body image- this was handled with a high degree of realistic sensitivity.

I highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for author comps think Abby Jimenez.

I love Katherine ‘s books. She couldn’t write a bad book if she tried. I appreciate in this book the research she took for learning more on coast guards. The research really shows.

This story is a slow burn, and has a good meaning and some humor. I really liked the MFC Katie.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the e arc. Be on the lookout for this great book. PUB Date: 05/20/25

"This is a title you've been invited to view." cue me screaming!!! Im so incredibly grateful that I got to read an early copy of Katherine Centers new book! I read this in less than 24 hours so, do with that what you will (pls go read this immediately!!!)
This was such a wonderful read. I was full on laughing and had tears streaming down my face in the next second because some scenes and topics hit a little too close to home. I loved Rue and the gals, absolutely adored Hutch and Katie OH and George Bailey stole my heart! Like all of her other books this was the perfect mix, its full of love, funny and heartbreaking moments and also had me on the edge of my seat while reading the end.
Katherine if you‘re reading this: please never stop writing! I will 100% read everything you‘ll publish and I‘m absolutely sure I will love it just as much as all your other books!
The absolute biggest thanks go out to netgalley, the publisher and everyone involved so that I got to read this arc!

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a masterclass in crafting a story that feels both heartfelt and empowering. With her signature blend of warmth and wit, Center introduces readers to a heroine whose resilience and growth are nothing short of inspiring. The narrative beautifully balances moments of laughter, love, and self-discovery, delivering a tale that’s as emotionally satisfying as it is entertaining. This is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, embracing the chaos and charm of life with a refreshing sense of humor. A must-read for fans of contemporary romance, it reminds us of the courage it takes to rewrite our own stories while having fun along the way.

I absolutely love Katherine Center. She has never led me astray. I loved this book, but I'm going to say its not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I just know it.

Do not go into this read anticipating a serious vibe until the end. Its fun and ridiculous and I think that's why I loved it and was sooooo invested in the characters at the end.

I really enjoyed the summer vibes in this book! Our MC, Katie, was going through an acceptance stage in her life after a public breakup. What I enjoy most from a Katherine Center book are the messages and inspiration of self love, with a side of romance and funny situations. I think this definitely delivered a sweet, lighthearted beach read. The silliness and cute factor was really there and I was imagining myself in Key West on the beach reading this story. The relationship between Katie and Hutch, even though set up his brother, felt very organic and realistic. I had a good time overall with this read!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy, set to publish May 2025.

This was fun and the ending was WONDERFUL. I really loved the self love journey and Center’s humor was up to her usual standards!

Maybe my favorite one yet? I picked it up last night and barely put it down until I finished it. Loved it so much, loved Katie, adored Hutch. All so good.

I loved this book so much, but not quite a 5⭐️read for me, more of a 4.5. I wanted more! I wanted more of Rue and The Gals, every female needs a group of gals! I wanted more of Hutch and Cole and Katie and George Bailey, and even more of Sullivan!

This story was written in first person which made it fun to read and learn all about Katie’s insecurities. I loved how Beanie tried to show her that she is beautiful and needs to quit comparing herself to supermodels by using the “beauty list”. Also, why are so many super models not representative of the general population in regards to size?

Katherine Center always has a way to give you all the feels, while also having a small lesson interwoven in the pages. This one was to remind you to love yourself. My beauty list starts with my eyes. I love how brown they are, but sometimes look green.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of The Love Hater in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.