Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins Press for an advanced reader copy!

To start, this cover is playful, colorful and fun.
Overall I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up. Not my favorite of Katherine Center but still a dang good read! Dropped everything I had and flew this to the top of my TBR!

What I absolutely love about reading any Katherine Center book is the tension and build and The Love Haters was no different. Add in a love triangle our main character momentarily finds herself caught in, with two brothers who have lost connection with each other. A personal growth in body acceptance and finding what makes us happy doesn’t always align with our career path and add in a big dopey sweet dog. I can’t wait for this book to hit shelves in May. Fun summer read!

Everything about this book is amazing. The characters, the flow of the story, the twists, and most of all, the uplifting message of learning to love yourself.

“She loved all of her everything because it was hers.”

Just saying…we all would be better if we can get to this point. This book is going to stick with me for a long while.

#romance #womensfiction #TheLoveHaters #KatherineCenter #smpromance #StMartinsPress

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

After loving The Rom-Commers, I could not wait to get my greedy hands on this book! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for Mr honest thoughts. It PAINS me to say this, but this was a miss for me.

Unfortunately there were just many aspects of this story that didn’t work. First, our FMC is recovering from an eating disorder, and omg the focus on her weight and struggle with her body image was just over the top. As someone who has personally done a lot of work in this area, reading her negative self talk (Katherine even goes as far as giving an example of a calorie tracking journal page from when she was starving herself) was sort of triggering for me. I wanted to skim every dialogue about her body, but gosh there was a lot.

Next, there is a whole MESSY story line with her job and the will she won’t she lose her job was exhausting. Additionally, her co-worker (and brother to coastguard) Cole is a piece of trash. His entire story line and all of the lying was so ridiculous and downright CRAZY and frustrating. Seriously, I CANNOT with lying. Just tell the truth!!

Ok, and now for our love story. She and Hutch seemed to build a good friendship, but I really felt the chemistry was lacking. Again, there were moments. But no butterflies. It just wasn’t believable. And it didn’t help at all that Hutch didn’t have much depth. Like, he sort of felt like he was just made out of cardboard. Does that even make sense?

There were parts I enjoyed and dialogue that made me laugh, but overall this book was just not it for me. There was quite a bit of this book that just felt sort of unbelievable, but nothing will top the ending for me. It took a turn I should have honestly expected, but could not help but feel SO annoyed by.

The best parts of this book were Rue and The Gals and George Bailey the dog.

Katherine Center is a master at tackling heavy, difficult topics in a sensitive, heartwarming, and slightly humorous manner. I loved how she approached Katie’s negative relationship with her body image, putting her into situations where she was forced to confront her feelings, but providing her with emotional and loving support. Rue and Beanie were the perfect balance of tough love and cheerleaders - they both jumped off the page with their very first lines.

The side characters alone could have carried this story, but the relationship between Katie and Hutch was full of everything you’d want in a romance novel. Full of tension, laughter, and extraordinary circumstances. I loved the situations they found themselves in and how well they complemented each other!

George Bailey was by far my favorite character, not in the least because of his name. I loved his matchmaking antics and the levity he brought to every situation! The Love Haters is exactly the heartwarming read you need in your life!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a rare Katherine Center miss for me, I'm afraid. I usually LOVE her releases, but this one fell a little flat. I appreciated what she's trying to do, especially when it came to Katie's struggles with her own self-love/body image issues, but I think overall this one was a little shallow.

I liked Katie as a character overall. I think it's okay to have a FMC who is as lost as she is, and I appreciated that despite her struggles, she is good at her job and knows it!

My biggest character issue was Hutch. He felt like a template of a book boyfriend, rather than a real book boyfriend. He had all the hallmarks of a great guy, but with very little depth, so I was being told to love him rather than actually loving him. I didn't get much of a sense of his character at all, even when he's getting more vulnerable with Katie about his childhood.

My biggest issue over all was the lies that Cole was telling - are you kidding me??? It required a much bigger suspension of disbelief than I am used to even in romance novels, and I couldn't really get past it. To have that insanity be the motivator for the third act issues made it really hard for me to enjoy it.

Overall, it's an enjoyable enough read, and Katherine Center books are always feel good, but this was a letdown compared to some of her more recent reads that have been five star reads for me! 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

*Love on the Line* is a fun, heartwarming romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and swoon at the same time. Katie Vaughn, a video producer on the verge of being laid off, faces a dilemma: she can either wait to get axed or take a risky career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in the sunny paradise of Key West. The catch? She can't swim—and she's about to pretend she can.

Things only get more complicated when Katie discovers that Hutch’s brother, Cole, her coworker, is the one who asked her to take the job. Katie and Cole don’t exactly get along, adding an extra layer of tension to an already tricky situation. But what starts as a job she’s not qualified for quickly becomes a whirlwind of mishaps, lies, and unexpected chemistry.

Hutch, a seemingly perfect but emotionally guarded man, challenges Katie in more ways than one. Despite his aloofness, there’s an undeniable attraction between them that grows as they spend more time together, navigating through swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, and stolen kisses. Meanwhile, Katie’s web of lies starts to unravel as she faces her own fears and learns what it means to be truly brave—and perhaps even to love again.

With a colorful cast of characters, including Hutch’s quirky Aunt Rue and his lovable rescue Great Dane, *Love on the Line* is a delightful escape into a tropical paradise. The story is filled with humor, heart, and a dash of adventure, making it impossible not to root for Katie and Hutch to find their happily ever after. If you love a romance with a touch of humor, a bit of deception, and a whole lot of chemistry, this book is definitely worth the read.

4/5
Katherine Center is an always read for me, and this one didn’t let me down. Great story, a little drama, a little romance, a lot of humor. Loved the setting and the characters. It wasn’t in my top 3 of her books (but that’s a hard list to crack) but overall it was a warm, pleasant, well written story.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

I laughed, I cried, I was anxious in suspense and I fell in love with all of the characters! Katherine Center is always a delight to read and this was no different. The story was fun and the epic side quests were a good time.

10/10, all the stars, must read for light romance with tough topics and vulnerable revelations.

Katherine Center has done it again for me. Her cute, romantic, slow-burn romances always do me in. The plot was incredibly fun and unique. I really enjoyed Hutch when he got out of his shell and flirted with Katie. I wanted so much more of that but understood that his character wasn't really meant for that. Overall, this book was so enjoyable and extremely fun to read. It's a closed door romance with lots of swoon worthy moments and epic kisses and rescues! 100% would recommend.

Things I loved:
- the setting: it's unique! A rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard and a videographer in the Florida Keys. Cool.
- slow burn romance
- men who love imperfect bodies
- George Bailey... aka the Great Dane: he was perfect and even the toad was perfect.
- the ending that left us wanting more (like in a good way). I love when books end without a wedding or a proposal or (heaven forbid) a baby. This is no different. Sure, it's a HEA but it's also just real life and people don't need to get married right away.

Things that could've been better:
- all the lying: so many lies especially towards the end and I really wish grown adults in books would just talk to one another.
- the "nods" that Hutch kept doing and then Katie's interpretation of what those nods meant. It got a little old.

The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the fact that the book was called "The Love Haters" because I didn't feel like either of the main characters actually hated love. Katie kept saying she was jilted (and she was) but she wasn't all that torn up about it. Mostly, she had body image issues and not a hater of love. Same thing with Hutch. So it was a tad confusing for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While this wasn't my favorite from Katherine Center, I still adored and devoured this book. I love the ability to escape into a rom-com, like one would while watching a Hallmark movie.

This story fell a little flat overall, but still had some beautiful moments. I loved that this wasn't only a love story with Katie and Hutch, but also a love story with Katie and Katie. I recognized my younger self in her, and loved the personal journey she takes.

It's a toss-up between Rue and George Bailey as my favorite characters though. I could picture Rue right away, and she was instantly everyone's fun, loving, adoring, and "quirky" aunt. Her and The Gals stole the show.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Love Haters.

THANK YOU Netgalley for allowing me to get my hands on this ARC.

Hutch... SWOON <3 and George Bailey I just love you!

I devoured this book! I'm only giving it a 4.25 because I was really hung up on the body image aspect of the book. In the end it all made sense and pulled together nicely but the beginning was painful to read and kind of gave me the ick, there was too much emphasis on it.

Here's one of the lines that I just loved and thought OMG how did you know I wanted to know what she looked like? (One of the reasons I love reading KC books, she just knows what I'm thinking!) **this is an ARC so this might be changed in the published edition**
"Why did Lucas Banks bring his mother to the Billboard Awards?" and "Who is the frumpy lady with Lucas Banks?" and "Is Lucas dating Mrs Doubtfire?" And, for the record, none of those comments was actually true. I did not-and do not- look like Mrs. Doubtfire. Now you're wondering what I do look like. DARN RIGHT I AM.

Katie works for a video production firm. She's a videographer, loves her job, and is good at it. She's also really insecure, hard on herself, and is living a very limited life. Her boss, Cole, gives her an assignment to travel to Key West to make a Coast Guard recruiting video, profiling a semi-celebrity rescue swimmer named Hutch, who happens to be Cole's brother. Cole tells her that Hutch is a negative person who strongly doesn't believe in love. Hence the title. From the start, Hutch and Katie have a powerful attraction, which is whipsawed by Cole's petty manipulations. At the end of the book, Katie will have to choose between her safe, beige little life and one with more color, and the dramatic question is whether that can include Hutch or not.

This was a good story. The characters have plenty of flaws and original wounds to overcome. I love the funny, smart narrative voice Katherine Center uses. I laughed out loud at times! That was really fun. A few negatives: I would like to have had resolution/revenge with Katie's rock star ex-boyfriend, but maybe that's asking for too much. Next, the fact that Center does tend to pad her books with a bit too much character introspection, Finally, while it was easy to root for Katie, she made two big decisions that weren't very logical or smart. However, that's offset by the majority of the story, including the loveliness of The Gals, a Greek chorus of elder women who reside together at a refurbished motor court, and the fact that the second decision led to a big cinematic finish that deserves its own movie. Overall, another great story by Katherine Center.

I adore Katherine Center! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The first three-quarters of the book were everything I love about her writing—realistic chemistry, lovable side characters, and yes, Hutch is seriously swoon-worthy. It’s classic Katherine Center in so many ways.

That said, the last quarter felt... different. Not bad, just a bit jarring compared to the rest of the story. The twists and turns were a lot—especially the drama introduced by Hutch's brother. It felt a bit over the top and not as grounded as I usually expect from her books. And while I get that certain things needed to happen (hello, Coast Guard plot!), the way it all played out was intense and almost too much.

Still, I’d call this a solid addition to her collection. Not my favorite, but worth reading, especially for the first 200 pages. 3.5 stars from me!

Katherine Center wrote a good old-fashioned EPIC rom-com! This book really has everything: an adorably grumpy love interest (normally, I don't love this, but Hutch is such a softie it worked for me!), an enormous dog named after Jimmy Stewart (SWOON), and a delightfully eccentric auntie! Not to mention a colorful (literally) location. I loved it throughout, but certain scenes really sang. As always, the dialogue popped...I couldn't stop laughing and giggling. More so than in her other books, this couple seemed so authentically made for each other. It's hard to explain, but I felt like the way they fell in love was invisible and inevitable in the best way possible. Katie's journey to self-love was a rewarding one to read; the themes that are present in this book are evergreen. I highlighted so many lines that have imprinted on me. Also, the author's note was really the cherry on top of this! Thank you, Ms. Center, for writing such meaningful love stories; I DO feel like I'm getting better at love just by reading your stories and so many others. It's truly not an escape, it's the opposite. You will ALWAYS be famous.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Honestly, I dropped everything in my life to binge read this book, and I have no regrets. I ADORED IT.

Katie’s life is a hot mess. After getting engaged, her fiancé becomes an overnight TikTok sensation, and the fame quickly goes to his head. As he drifts further away, Katie is left to deal with the fallout—public humiliation after a red carpet moment sparks brutal online trolling about her appearance, leading her to have toxic body image struggles. The cherry on top? She discovers her fiancé’s infidelity… through social media.

Just when things couldn’t get worse, Katie’s job is on the chopping block due to company restructuring. Desperate to keep her position, she agrees to a wild assignment: heading to the Florida Keys to create a recruitment video for the Coast Guard alongside a officer famous for saving Jennifer Aniston’s dog. Cue tropical chaos, unexpected turns, and a story filled with heart, humor, and healing.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so seen by a book. As a millennial who survived the *Jessica Simpson is fat* era5, body image struggles have always been part of my story. Reading about Katie’s anxieties felt like reading my own inner dialogue. Through her journey and her heartfelt moments with Beanie, I found myself asking the same question: *What do you like about your body?* Oof. This book was such an emotional ride.

The romance between Katie and Hutch? AMAZING 😍 Hutch is the ultimate mix of grumpy(ish)/sunshine/golden retriever vibes, and I couldn’t get enough of him. His constant support and the way he showed Katie what real love looks like? Absolute perfection.

The found family element WOW. Rue, Cole, and Hutch share such a profound and beautiful bond, transforming their shared darkness into something truly inspiring. (Rue might just be one of my all-time favorite characters EVER.) Their annual ritual? I cant copeeee.

I thought Rom-Commers was unbeatable, but this one might just steal the top spot. Katherine Center delivers again with a story that’s equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. I’ll read anything she writes because every book is a stunning, emotional and hilarious journey. 💕

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchnage for an honest review <3

This book is the warm fuzzy sweater, a cozy blanket, a lovely fire in the fireplace, curled up in a reading chair vibe. I was immersed in the book immediately and didn’t come up for air until it was done. Katherine Center books always deliver- when I start her books, I always know I’m in for a great time and can forget about the real world for a bit.

As usual, I absolutely loved this book- characters and character development was wonderful, the story was highly unique (first book I’ve ever read with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer!) and I loved every minute.

Also- the toad storyline is hilarious and adorable. And also- is it true about the poisonous ones? I must google this…

Highly recommend- 5/5 stars!

Katie’s personal growth as she faces her fears, builds connections, and finally comes clean about her lies adds depth to the romance and turns what could have been a simple story of love into a thoughtful exploration of bravery, honesty, and second chances. A delightful escape that’s lighthearted, yet packed with emotional resonance.

Another winner by Katherine Center! Unlike her previous book, The Rom-Commers, which I liked but felt was a bit "clunky," this one is smooth sailing all the way. Katie, a lower level videographer, is coerced into traveling to Key West to film a promo for the Coast Guard. In doing so she meets Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, who is scientifically perfect in appearance and extremely good at heart. With some fun supporting characters in a great setting, plus a 160 lb Great Dane named George Bailey, this was a terrific romp that had me rooting for the main characters from the beginning. I loved it from start to finish.

first and foremost, thank you to st. martin’s press and netgalley for this gifted arc. anything katherine center to me is an automatic read, so getting to read this early was a joy.

this was completely different to me from her past books. while it’s obviously romance heavy, it very much focuses on katie’s relationship with herself (which is mentioned in the authors note.) i felt what katie was feeling and i kinda adored her. i think parts of it spend too much time on it but then i also get it?

hutch is a character i completely adored. i don’t even know how to explain it, so i’m not. just know i loved him a lot.

romance wise, it was good. it felt fast paced and sudden at certain times, but i was still in it the entire time. i didn’t care for the “fake dating” with cole, i wish there was a different conflict if there was going to be one, but it wasn’t the end of the world. i just genuinely wish we got more of them because i really enjoyed the dynamic.

overall plot wise, it was good. i loved the setting how katie being in key west making a promo for the coast guard and this day in the life with hutch. the ending bit (hint, hurricane) was really good too. george bailey and rue were very fine additions to this cast of characters.

overall, i must give this a 4.25 but im rounding it up to 5 stars because even with these little things, i absolutely devoured it. finished it in only a few hours, and to me, that’s a perfect sign of me loving something.

Being stranded in the middle of ocean is one of my biggest fears. Katie in the Love Haters handled this situation so calmly. I would have panicked immediately. Katherine Center has another hit book on her hands. This book was a super quick read with short chapters and great characters!!