✨Katherine Center continues to remind us that romance - with all its longing, aching, swooning, overcoming, hoping and happy ever afters - is a balm for the weary soul. This one was an emotional roller coaster ride that had me laughing, saying bad words, crying, biting my nails then happy crying all over again

✨The supporting cast of characters – a modern-day Golden Girls group of ladies who call themselves “The Gals,” best friend/cousin/personal cheerleader Beanie, and a rescue dog named George Bailey – stole my heart from the start. Throw in the setting of a rehabbed vintage motor court where the aforementioned “Gals” reside, and you have a Florida Keys dream.

✨This book is an ode to loving yourself and discovering those things about yourself that are beautiful.

✨With that said, I have to confess this is not my favorite Katherine Center book. I feel like there is one element of this book that is perhaps not handled as responsibly as it could have been. There is also one insufferable character and some blatant dishonest centered around that character that almost ruined the book for me. In addition, there is an entire section that is so NOT believable that I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I did really like this book, don’t get me wrong, but I promised to always be honest – so there it is. 3.5 stars for the book – rounded up to 4 stars because I just love Katherine Center and her earnest desire to spread hope and joy.

✨Overall, an entertaining book, and I’m glad I read it.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Florida keys setting
✨Coast Guard stories
✨Lovable cast of characters
✨Themes of grief and healing
✨Found family

My thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

This book is a love letter to the soul and an action packed block buster I did not see coming!

The Gist:
Katie is trying to keep her job as a video producer. Her coworker, Cole, is trying to help her stay employed by sending her to Key West to shoot a promotional video for the US Coast Guard highlighting the handsome Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson. Ok, sounds easy enough... What's the catch? Katie can't swim and Cole is Hutch's estranged younger brother. I mean, what could go wrong?

This book reminds me of the Ru Paul saying, "If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love somebody else." or something like that! Katie has some issues with love, but finds her way by the end and you better believe its with her self (and a hot boy,) but mostly herself!

This book is a slow burn and much more character driven than steamy romance, so be prepared. I also loved the author's note at the end about books affecting the brain. Stories are extremely powerful-- it's hard not to be affected by The Love Haters.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

Layoffs are looming and Katie is desperate to keep her job as a video producer. Her coworker, Cole, has hatched a plan for Katie to avoid being laid off. All she has to do is film a promo video for the Coast Guard and interview Cole's brother, Hutch (who just happens to be a gorgeous human being). Hutch is a USCG rescue swimmer, a serial do-gooder, and doesn't do interviews. What's more - Katie can't swim, which is kind of a big requirement when you're hanging out with the USCG. One little lie turns into another, and Katie realizes just how tumultuous the brothers' relationship is. As Katie's feelings grow for Hutch, can he forgive her for the web of lies that she got caught in?

Katherine Center will forever be one of my favorite authors and I will read anything that she writes. Some of her scenes are legit laugh-out-loud funny. I adore her perfectly imperfect main characters - especially her quirky female leads. The Love Haters is another of her heart-warming romance reads and I flew through it in two days. The banter between Katie and Hutch was adorable, Rue is an absolute treasure, and even Cole ended up with some redemption. And let's not forget about George Bailey... we could all use an aloof rescue Great Dane in our lives. One of the main themes in this story is body positivity, which I really appreciated. Another great read by Katherine Center!!

3.5 stars. This was a sweet and very quick read and lovely in that signature Katherine Center way. Unfortunately, there was something about this book that just seemed unfinished. There were too many convoluted plot points (this person lying about this for that reason like five different ways) that detracted from the story and the love story seemed unfinished and was ultimately unsatisfying. I enjoyed the characters and the setting and I liked learning about Coast Guard rescue diving but this was not my favorite Katherine Center novel (that would be The Rom-Commers.)
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

St. Martin's Press eARC
I was needing some joy last week, so I dove into Katherine Center's 2025 novel because I know that she will always deliver joy in her storytelling. When I started this book, I was a bit more hesitant because of where she was going with a struggle Katie had, but as the book progressed, I knew this was a message I so needed to hear. She tackled the topic with grace and humor and loving side characters to support Katie along the way. I love how she writes the love stories in her novels, and I fell so hard for Katie and Hutch. I thought there was the perfect balance of sweetness and heavier topics. There was great banter, cringey scenes, and some amazing growth. But one of my favorite additions to this book was George Bailey. I loved, loved, loved how he added humor to the book. As always, I already can't wait to re-read this once it releases.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!

Another great one by Katherine Center! Her books always make me happy! I enjoy her writing style and her characters always complement each other so well!!! This one did not disappoint! It had me hooked from page one.

3.5 Coast Guard Stars

Here are three things I loved about this one: it’s loaded with romance, fascinating characters, and an exciting subject area. I’m still thinking about it long after I finished reading!

Katie Vaughn is the intriguing central character in this one. Her former boyfriend became a mega rock star/songwriter and is now famous, and the press and trollers posted lots of hateful comments about her appearance. And he is a cheater. She’s been through a whole cycle of body image problems and now doesn’t even have a scale.

She’s a video producer at a company going through a rough patch, and there are lots of pink slips being handed out. Her day job is a lot of tedious corporate work, but she has a side gig of creating day-in-the-life videos about everyday people who are also heroes. Her time with each hero provides an in-depth look at what it takes to do what these people do.

Her co-worker Cole sets her up with a video job in Florida to save her job. It helps that it also fits into her side gig. The video job focuses on creating a recruiting video for the Coast Guard rescue swimmers. There are some complications, however. One of the job requirements (for safety reasons) is being able to swim, but Katie can’t swim at all! Another complication is that Hutch, the talent for the video, doesn’t want to participate. He only agreed when Cole was going to do the job.

Katie arrives in Florida and is immediately taken with Cole and Hutch’s Aunt Rue and her delightful friends. She then meets Hutch and is immediately drawn to his incredible physique. He seems to be a great guy too, so why does Cole call him a love hater? As Katie begs Hutch to do the video, she has countless internal confidence struggles.

I loved the research and all the details about the Coast Guard rescue swimmers in this one! Hutch’s dog is a hoot, and it becomes clear that Hutch and Katie are destined for each other. But remember that pesky ex-boyfriend, he writes a beautiful song about Katie . . .

This is my ninth Katherine Center book! While not my favorite, I enjoyed the story, but it didn’t fully resonate. Some of the humor missed the mark for me, and a few plot points were over the top, but I’m still a huge fan and will eagerly read what she writes next!

THE LOVE HATERS was a quick, fun, laugh-out-loud read. Katie is relatable and quirky, making her the perfect main character. You follow Katie on a self-growth and a job-saving journey where a handsome foil jumbles her plans. Enter: the hero Hutch, your resident rescue swimmer and dog lover.

You’ll root for Katie in every aspect, but she never loses the humanity that makes her the perfectly relatable fictional character.

DNF @ 66%.

I 100% cannot believe I’m saying this about a Katherine Center book, but I hated this so much I had to quit. Maybe I’ll pick it back up again at some point, but the Big Conflict that appeared to keep the love interests apart was extremely off-putting and archaic and kind of gross. And the FMC’s body image and history of disordered eating was… confusingly handled.

Center will always be one of my auto-read authors, but this book was not for me.

Another delightful Katherine Center filled with charming characters, a realistic degree of human brokenness and a swoon able love story.

This time it’s Katie - a documentary filmmaker/journalist on the verge losing her job as layoffs loom and struggling to see anything positive after her rockstar boyfriend cheats on her with a pop star and gets super famous.

Cue her mischievous and badly behaved boss Cole who pushes her to take an assignment filming a recruitment video for the coast guard rescue swimmers - namely his older brother Hutch - in beautiful Key West

Bring on the eccentric and lovable aunt Rue and her posse of island gals and Katie is forced out of her black clothes loving shell and must deal with her fear of color and of life in general.

Hutch adds nothing but tension, angst, lust and a 170lb Great Dane terrified of thunder…which leads to more than one awkward situation for the pair.

Solid read - very much enjoyed it - well done!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc! When I get an advanced Katherine Center I have to drop everything and read it!

Katherine Center is forever the author that got me back into reading especially her book Things You Save in a Fire. And this is my favorite book I’ve read since reading that one. (Does that make sense )

So I adore a book that makes you sob as much as the next book girlie. KC is very good and ripping my heart out and putting it back together again. But this one didn’t get to that level. And I sort of loved it. I think it’s her easiest book to read recently.

As always, Katie has such a great arc. She’s dealing with her douchebag ex fiancé and the possibility of getting fired. And she also has a complex relationship with her body that KC calls an enemies to lovers relationship with herself. Body image can be tricky, but this was treated with such care and was very relatable.

I don’t want to rant or spoil anything else. But just know this is my favorite book of November and definitely a favorite of the year. My freaken heart.

5/5⭐️

Katherine Center is finally back after 2 real stinkers! I loved the whole vibe of Love Haters, and I’m craving a trip to Key West now. I’ll try not to hop on a houseboat during a hurricane though.

I love Katherine Center and she will always be an auto buy author for me… but The Love Haters just wasn’t it. The first half I just felt so bored reading. The slapstick comedy was not for me. They played up this ‘amazing, good looking’ man only to barely have chemistry with the main character.

Katie’s ex was introduced like it was going to be a focal point and then immediately fell into the background.

The lies to keep the couple apart? Ridiculous. Cole in general? Down right disgusting.

Katie’s relationship with her body? Relatable.

The best part of the book? The Great Dane, George Bailey.

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

Did I drop 5 fall releases just to start this one... 100%. There is something so special about a Katherine Center book. Her books are full of a special magic where you become part of the characters. I was laughing and feeling along Katie and her journey. Full review to come but starting with this!!

The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center
Pub date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: St. Martins Press
5🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Center always delivers a cute rom-com and this one made me smile. The perfect way to spend my day!

Katie is a fun and quirky character who is has her own insecurities. When she finds out her company is making cuts she takes a unique job. She is a video editor but her coworker talks her in taking a job which requires her to be able to swim.

Hutch is a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard and she is going to work with him. Their meet cute is under unusual circumstances.

The training for this assignment is strenuous, but Hutch comes to her rescue.

Thank you St. Martins Press for his advanced copy. I love Centers work and she is a hoot. I have had the pleasure to meet her.
#thelovehaters, #katherinecenter, #stmartinspress, #stamperlady50, #romcom

Not my favorite of this author's but to be fair I think I went in with too high expectations since I loved The Rom-Commers. The pacing of this one was a bit off for me I think...the confession relatively early on left me wondering what was left to happen. Still a fun quick read though!

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it! It has a short of movie magic, where the story unfolds and then sits with you and replays in your head nonstop. I loved these characters and the premise of this story so much! The self growth, paired with the charm of cozy cottage life in Key West, and an empowering narrative about the US Coast Guard... I've never read anything more original or deeply profound. My only drawback is that I wish I got more of a conclusion for this couple. I could've used a few more chapters to sum everything up since the epilogue felt very rushed in my opinion!

I'm so thankful to St. Martins Press for allowing me to view this novel early. I can't wait for others to benefit from this magic!

Okay hear me out. I love Katherine Center. And I was absolutely pumped for this book. Unfortunately, the book itself fell short for me. I loved the cast of characters, the setting, and the banter. I also loved that I could picture Glen Powell in the role of Hutch. However, the ending was much too crazy for me, even for a romance novel. I mean come on. The girl would not have survived a hurricane in a house boat with a 170 pound dog. Also the silly lies that the brother made up drove me absolutely bonkers. The conflict could have been resolved way sooner if the two had just talked to one another. I winded up rating this one three stars. It was worth the read, but just make sure you're prepared for a completely out there ending.

Another very cute book from Katherine Center - I really enjoyed the plot. The book is very focused on body positivity. The topic was not my favorite, but her writing is always a treat. Also, I love how her books are not 100% predictable! Great read.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars!

This book was WILD ! I felt the whole story was highly unlikely and completely unrealistic but damn was it ever entertaining. I laughed , cried , raged . All the emotions! Thank god I buddy read this with someone so that I could discuss with along the way! I definitely felt this was different than KC’s other novels, but it was so good , I will always be a fan ! 👏🏻

Out May 20th, 2025 . Thank you SOOO much St. Martin’s Press for the early copy 🙏🏼