Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I gotta say.... I'm a bit disappointed with this book. I LOVE Katherine Center and think she comes across as such a sweet person and her writing is phenomenal and I can really tell that she loves love stories. But this one missed the mark for me.
It was a bit jarring going into a book with a pretty heavy focus on our FMC Katie's eating disorder right at the beginning with no trigger warning. I personally think this needed a TW because a detailed journal entry of her calorie counting is present and she explicitly mentions starving herself and states the exact calorie number she restricted herself to. There's also mentions of a scale being her best friend. She details this along with how she hated her body because of internet trolls, and how she is now on a journey to learn to love herself. The author's note also did not mention anything about eating disorders or give any resources if anyone is struggling, and I think in this case it should have. The author's note only stated (and I'm paraphrasing here) that this was a book about learning to love yourself. Interpret that how you will.
Aside from that, this book did have some swoon-worthy moments, and I liked Hutch as a MMC. There was just something missing. I did not feel connected to these characters. A spark was missing between Hutch and Katie, I think. It felt more lust than love at times.
Some parts of this book also seemed disjointed and didn't really fit with the rest of the story. The part about Katie's coworker and boss showing up in Key West seemed very far fetched.
I think it goes without saying that my favorite character in this book was the dog, George Bailey. He was such a sweetheart.
Overall, not horrible but missing an important TW imo and not as big of a focus on the love story as I wish there was. If you enjoy Katherine Center's previous works, you may be disappointed with this one or you may love it. Find out for yourself when it publishes in May!

Unfortunately this book isn’t for me, over 25% in and I just cannot get into it. I look forward to reading whatever Center writes next!

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC. Katie's video production office is having layoffs and to save her job, her boss sends her to do a video about a hero. Hutch, the hero, is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer that happens to be her boss' brother who he doesn't get along with. Wanting to stay employed, she jumps at the chance to go down to Key West for a couple of weeks. The problem? Katie can't swim and hoping she can hide that secret from Hutch. Nothing but surprises unfold.

If I am gonna read RomCom, it will always be Katherine Center. This story had me laughing out loud and rooting for Katie who has serious body image issues. Loved it! #TheLoveHaters #KaterineCenter #StMartinsPress #May2025

I almost can't find the words to express how much I loved this book. The witty banter, Katie's inner monologues, Hutch's kindness, the information about rescue swimmers, George Bailey (and Lucky), and Katherine's note at the end that brought me to tears. It's fun, it's a little crazy, it's a big nod to the power of being kind, and it made my heart smile. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Patti Murin and she is just amazing. This book is a new favorite and I can't get enough.

The Love Haters is new Romance from Katherine Center.

"Katie's marketing firm is talking about reducing headcount (aka layoffs) She has two choices - wait to get laid off or head to Key West to shoot a recruitment video for the Coast Guard ... with a rescue swimmer named Hutch ... who happens to be Cole's (her boss) estranged brother ... and once saved Jennifer Aniston's dog. Katie can't swim but she says yes anyway.
Katie gets entangled with Hutch and his rescue dog - a Great Dane named George Bailey - Aunt Rue, swim lessons, helicopter rides, a hurricane and stolen kisses. And a chance to be truly brave."

I love KC's characters - regular people with some quirks and insecurities and easy to relate to.

There are always hilarious moments in a KC story. There are several here but especially when Katie meets George Bailey for the first time. I love how Katie and Hutch both change and grow.The ending may not be what you expect - KC gets kind of wild with the weather - but
I like where KAtie ends up.

Fabulous, entertaining story from Katherine Story.

Katherine Center hit it out of the park with "The Love Haters," and I'm already talking about it with our library patron. The banter between Katie and Hutch is fantastic, and I really connected with the characters (as always). "The Love Haters" holds a secure spot at the top of my rom-com favorites list.

I have liked Katherine Center's other books, but from the very begining of this one, the immediate refrences to disordered eating and body image were very triggering for me and I will not be finishing it at this time.

TW: disordered eating

The setting of Key West made this feel like the perfect summer rom-com. Maybe I felt like I was escaping on a tropical vacation on my Spring Break instead of my reality of folding laundry 😂

I didn't find Katie to be the most likeable main character (whyyy did she put up with Cole?!) but she did have a lot of personal growth by the end. Hutch was the best, even if he didn't come across as an actual "love hater".

Thank you for the ARC!

I loved basically everything about this book. It was a beautiful romance with intense chemistry (though surprisingly little/no steam). There was a wonderful undercurrent of how to love your body/self. The side characters were charming. The banter spot on. And I learned a ton about rescue swimmers. I also liked how Katie handled her ex and Cole- very mature main character who still had room to grow. The only criticism was there were two plot devices that felt manufactured but I didn’t care, I was laughing and loving too hard. (Sadly no queer rep)

Short summary: while everyone around her is being fired, Katie is offered a dream job filming a hunky rescue swimmer- the only catch? She has to know how to swim, and he’s reportedly broody and private, but none of that’s relevant until she shows up in black to technicolor Florida.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

My first ever Katherine Center book!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: None
Book Boyfriend Ranking: 11/41

This book is the perfect beach read. I read this while on vacation in Mexico by the pool and I think if I had tried to read it at home I would have rated it three stars. But since I was on vacation in the perfect timeframe and mood for this book I ended up eating it up!

Hutch was a sweet golden retriever book boyfriend, though I for sure thought it would be his brother at first. I think there was some unnecessary drama added in that prevented me from giving it five stars when I finished. I felt like some of the drama was perfect. But then the whole thing with her ex and the song? That didn’t feel like it was needed. I would have much rather have slightly more drama with the two of them than adding in more fuel to her insecurities.

I did really appreciate the amount of growth that Katie does during this book, even though it’s a shorter book at just over 300 pages, she still learns a lot and it doesn’t feel rushed.

This is a really cute book and I’m glad I read it! I’d definitely recommend taking it on your next beach vacation since the setting works out perfectly for that!

*Posted to Goodreads, Lemon8, TikTok, and Instagram*

If you go into this book thinking it's like Katherine Center's last couple of romance novels, you will be disappointed. This story wasn't so much a romance about Katie and Hutch, as it was a book about self-acceptance and being kinder to ourselves.

As somebody who has always struggled internally with negative self talk and feeling like I'm not [______] enough, especially in my 20s, I appreciated the messaging of this story.

Be sure to read the author's note once you've finished which gives some insight into why this was a different kind of story.

From a technical aspect, for the first half of the book the characters felt lacking in development and emotional depth. The second half of the book felt far more polished.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book may be for some, but it was not for me.

Katie takes an assignment creating a Coast Guard promo video in Key West, despite not being able to swim. Hutch, the rescue swimmer Katie is filming, ends up helping her learn to swim and sparks fly between these two "Love Haters".

Things I enjoyed
* George Bailey, the adorable dog
* Aunt Ru was well developed and easy to love
* The Gals - a group of retired women who live near Ru

Things I wasn't a fan of
* The third act conflict made no sense
* The ex storyline felt extraneous and unbelievable
* Katie's body image issues felt like they both were too much of the story and treated way to lightly and didn't feel real to life
* Hutch felt barely developed
* Cole - I just hated him as a character
* Challenging a sober person to a drinking contest - who does this? and why was it treated like not big deal in the book??

Tropes
* Misunderstandings
* Tropical Setting
* Teaching someone to swim
* Cute dog
* Family Drama

2.5 stars

I can always rely on Katherine Center to provide something that is a joy to read. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is great but feels like so much of their development happened off of the page. The book felt more Katie centered than Katie and Hutch centered, which was good but just not what I was expecting going into the book. Either way it's another great book by Katherine Center and something I can't wait to recommend to all the readers in my life.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for an eARC of The Love Haters.

Katie Vaughn takes on the challenge of profiling Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, despite hiding the fact that she can't swim all in the name to save her job. As tensions rise between Hutch and his brother Cole (Hutch's brother and her superior at work), Katie gets caught in a whirlwind of lies, colorful characters, and chaotic situations in a tropical paradise. From hurricanes, glasses of sangria and swim lessons to a lovable Great Dane and stolen kisses, Katie navigates an unpredictable journey filled with laughs and drama. In the end, she might just find the courage to embrace her fears and discover her true self.

**Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for an eARC of The Love Haters.

The Love haters is the love story I didn't know I needed! Yes, there is a love story between the two leads, Katie and Hutch and it has the typical moments that you will expect from a rom-com. (The ripped sexy black one-piece swimsuit may be my favorite) Aunt Rue and her girls add a splash of color and George Bailey will have your heart at first leap. However, there is another love story that plays throughout the book - a story of self-love and being rescued from yourself. This storyline was totally unexpected, but so lovely to read and so easy to connect with.

If you love stories of second chances, chosen family, overcoming loss, battling inner demons, and choosing self-love all tied together with a great big rom-com bow then this book is for you! Katherine Center is an auto-buy for me and The Love Haters will definitely be added to my bookshelf. Also, be sure to read/listen to the author's note at the end.

I listened to the audiobook in conjunction with reading the book. The narration by Patti Murin was wonderful as always!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of this book and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I gave this book 5 Stars

4⭐ The Love Haters is the second book I've read from Katherine Center, and once again, it was once again a hit! It was the perfect romcom to set the mood for summer. And it's even more than just a romcom, I feel like Katie's (FMC) journey to healing and self-acceptance is an important one and is well depicted.

My reading experience was a combination of both the ebook and the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, St-Martin Press and MacMillan Audio for the ARC and ALC.

Katie is sent to Key West to 1. Save her job and 2. create a recruiting video for the Coast Guard, despite not knowing how to swim or even owning a bathing suit since middle school. While, she's there, she falls for Hutch, the subject of her profile and the brother of her superior, and learns to love herself again.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I want to preface this by saying I have absolutely adored all of Katherine Center's books and The Rom-commers was a 5 star audiobook for me.

I really wanted to love it, but there was just SO much going on. I wanted more of the focus to be on Katie and Hutch and less to be on her body image issues. It felt like their relationship formed off screen, and I wanted more chemistry and banter.

I also freaking hated Cole and his whole time in Key West. I would have been okay if that section had just been left out entirely. The whole final drama was absolutely absurd to me as someone who lives in SoFlo, qnd I wanted to yell at Katie.

I did, however, love Rue and the gals. I easily would read a book revolved around any of them. A book about Rue raising the boys would be amazing. There were some shining parts of the book and great quotes as well.

I'm also listening to the audio version to see if that changes any of my views. As of now, I'd rate it a 3.5.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

The Love Haters was an enjoyable book. Katie Vaughn has a very public break up with her former boyfriend. There is some unkind things said about her online which leads to her low body self esteem. As she is dealing with that, Katie’s job as a videographer is on the line as her coworker, Cole, sends Katie to Key West after she claims she can swim. The assignment is to make a video about the Coast Guard featuring Hutch Hutchison, Cole’s brother and a Coast Guard swimmer. Katie must navigate learning to swim, conquering her fears and her growing feelings for Hutch.
This has a great cast of quirky supporting characters. Some of my favorites are Aunt Rue, Hutch and Cole’s aunt. and George Bailey, Hutch’s Great Dane. He was such a funny, lovable animal.
This is a book about resiliency, overcoming fears and learning to love yourself. It was a quick and enjoyable read with both humor and seriousness.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advance Reader Copy.

I was SO excited to dive into this one, because I love Katherine Center's books normally. This one just missed the mark for me. I really didn't like the main character Katie, and the "romance" part of the book felt forced and didn't really come together in a satisfying way for me. Honestly, I mostly gave this book 3 stars instead of 2 because I adored Rue and The Gals and the Key West setting so much.
I will probably not recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.