Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me a copy of this ARC! I read this book while sick at home recovering from Thanksgiving break (really hoping it’s not Covid!). I really enjoy Katherine center’s books and this one was no different. However, the first thing that I wanna be clear is that this book is definitely more of a women’s fiction novel and less of a romance. That’s basically my only criticism because the title and the cover are really misleading because you go and expecting a little bit more romance than you leave with.

The story follows our main character, Katie, who I’m just now realizing has basically the same name as the author, who is a filmmaker and gets sent down to the Florida Keys on assignment.

I really enjoyed the unique premise of the book and was surprised by the heightened emotions I felt during the climax at the end. I recommend this book to any readers who’ve enjoyed this author’s previous works. It’s an overall light read that is enjoyable and should be a huge hit in the warmer months!

3.5 rounded up. I was a little concerned at first about the main character’s body image issues - I feel like books often magically cure these or brush them under the rug but Katherine Center handled it well. The major conflict between the FMC and MMC wasn’t my favorite, hence why this isn’t a solid 4 star for me. Some of the FMC choices seemed ridiculous, which she immediately acknowledges but sticks with. Otherwise, Center’s writing flows so well and is hard to put down.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to receive the arc for The Love Haters. For the most part, I enjoyed the story and characters. The female lead character, Katie, was well developed throughout the story. I enjoyed her storyline and liked how the author stressed the importance of self-love. Katie’s inner-dialogue gave great insight to her struggles with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia. The story seemed to have a lot of telling about how Katie and her love interest, Hutch, got to know one another. There wasn’t a lot of showing them getting to know each other, just a few key scenes. I felt like I got to know Katie’s best friend and cousin, Beanie, better than I got to know Hutch. While I found the love story between Katie and Hutch lacking, I would recommend this book because I enjoyed Katie’s important journey to self-love to be so inspiring and the real love story of The Love Haters.
Other bright lights in The Love Haters -Rue, the fun-loving stand-in guardian of Hutch. She was a bright light in a sometimes heavy story. The location of The Love Haters was also a hit. Key West is an absolutely beautiful and fun place to set a book. With a setting like Key West, Jimmy Buffet should definitely be playing in a tropical clothing store (not Bob Marley!).

Katherine Center always delivers an amazing rom com. I absolutely loved her past books like The Romcomers and The Love Haters had me laughing soooo hard! I constantly was laughing at the dialogue and quick witted responses especially by Katie our FMC. The absolute drive and unhingeness she provides in order to save her job is comical yet so relatable. The book also touches on elements and themes of self love, body image, and fears/anxieties about appearances that women are subjected to in society. The romance was also top notch. The relationship building is organic and fleshed out. There is initial attraction from both sides, but nothing extremely insta love. Overall I loved reading this and I breezed through it so fast because it was that captivating that I wanted to keep going. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an early copy for my honest opinion and review.

To no one’s surprise I continue to adore Katherine Center’s writing! I was entranced from the beginning and the book never let go. I adored Katie’s journey of learning to love her body. It was extremely relatable and very touching. I loved Beanie’s continued encouragement.

I did have a moment where I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall, which is when Katie agreed to temporarily go along with Cole’s scheme. I wanted her to call him out, which she does eventually. But the end brought me back to loving the book. 5⭐️!

WHAT IS THIS IN MY EMAIL? An invitation to read an advanced copy of Katherine Center’s new book? BRB, I have some reading to do!!

Thank you SO MUCH to St. Martin’s Press (via NetGalley) for not making me wait until May to read this!

There is something about opening a Katherine Center book that just brings a smile to my face. I know that I can look forward to a strong, relatable FMC, a swoon-worthy MMC, and a story that has some meat to it. I have been divorced for over a decade now and have no desire even to dip my toe into the dating scene, but I devour romantic comedies like this one, and once again, this author has delivered.
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Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but fakes it that she can.

Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!

But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
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Less than seven hours have passed since I got the email offering me the opportunity to read The Love Haters, and I just finished it. To say that I accomplished nothing else today is an understatement. I carried my Kindle around the house with me as I did what little I did get done so that I could just keep reading. I loved Katie and found her so relatable, as she struggled with some of the very same things that I have in my past, and I enjoyed so much the dance that she and Hutch did around each other. The supporting cast of characters lent so much to the story, and as always, the research into the details was impeccable...I even learned a little something! All in all, this was an amazing way to spend my afternoon, and the only downside is that I now will have to wait over a year to have another new Katherine Center book to enjoy!

like all previous katherine center books before this, i sincerely loved this book. it gave me such a gooey, warm, yummy feeling inside and i just enjoyed it so thoroughly! the writing, as always, was so good and had so many beautiful quotes.

my only bone to pick would be the ending - the plot with cole felt a little random and i wish we got a little more of a HEA and less of a HFN! i also wish their reunion when he saved her from the boat was a little more heartfelt. maybe it would have helped if we got to see his POV in this moment. I know hes a professional so canonically it doesn't make sense for him to be freaking out over her safety, but maybe an internal monologue of panic would have been nice lol. i also would have appreciated some kind of long term commitment i.e. them living together or being engaged, but it didn't take away from the story as a whole! i still loved both characters so deeply and rue was such an amazing side character.

as a side note, the authors note at the end of this book is truly wonderful. katherine center really puts something so profound into words, the beauty of reading love stories and what they can do for us. i never skip an acknowledgements page or an authors note because i truly believe after spending so much time inside their mind, it's a nice thing as a reader to hear what an author has to say about the story, or who was involved in making it come together. this authors note is my favorite i've ever read ever, in my hundreds of books read. love stories really are special <3

This was my favorite Katherine Center book yet and I have loved them all! I couldn’t put the book down and fell in love with the characters. It was the perfect mix of funny, relatable and romantic! Will be highly recommending it.

Katie Vaughn had the right idea when she chose to accept an assignment to fly to sunny Key West to interview a hero rescue swimmer, nicknamed Pup Daddy. It may have taken her forever to get there, but as she approached the crushed-shell parking lot of the brightly colored Starlight Cottages, she knew her life was about to change in a big way. Was she ready to break free from her past and embrace the warmth and sunshine of this magical locale? She wasn’t sure, but she did enjoy the big hug she received from Rue, the owner of this magical oasis. Besides owning the Starlight Cottages, Rue was also the proprietress of the trendy boutique, “ Vitamin Sea.” Tropical colors swirled around throughout the shop causing Katie to wonder if she was dreaming. But no, reality quickly set in as Katie soon found herself wearing a flowing caftan and a hibiscus in her hair. Things got much worse when a tall, handsome stranger came into the shop looking for Rue. Katie wanted to hide when she realized this hunk of a man was the one and only Pup Daddy, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, the subject of her interview. She fell in lust with him after one brief glance of his chiseled jaw, sexy eyes, and smiling, but frowning face. “Can you smile and frown at the same time?” This thought would be on Katie’s mind throughout the book as she got to know the real man behind his media sensation persona. She followed him to work, to his houseboat, and when he walked his dog. She found out more about Hutch than she ever thought she would, but still felt like she didn’t really know him. His constant sadness and worrisome look haunted Katie late into the night. Spending time in Florida, getting to know Rue and her friends and being with someone as special as Hutch allowed Katie to shed her past and look forward to a colorful future on her own terms, because she was finally happy with who she had always been!

THANK YOU to St. Martin's Press for the early copy of one of my most-anticipated books by one of my most-loved authors.

One thing about me is that I LOVE a Katherine Center book. I think I've read all but one and I have never not enjoyed them. This one was no different, her writing ultimately just makes me happy. She shouts her goal creating the perfect HEA (happily ever after) from the rooftops and I truly think everything she touches turns to happiness. I've had the absolute honor of meeting her and she is a truly wonderful person.

Right off the bat, I was sold by the adorable cover and the title. The Love Haters? Sign. Me. Up.

I already knew that if these are Katherine Center characters that think they hate love, they won't be hating it for long! As is typical with KC books, there were quirky characters, deeper-than-the-surface themes, complicated character pasts, and an ending that made me smile.

If I had to be picky with this one, the one complaint I'd have was that there was SO much going on. Usually this is something I love about her books, because they're never boring, but I always want details and trauma of the past to be fleshed out and to serve a purpose in the story other than dramatic effect. While an argument could be made for most things, some of it just felt too over-the-top for me personally. Some will struggle with the lack of believability in this story, but I'm not one typically bothered with that since I'm reading for enjoyment solely and am more than happy to turn off my brain for a rom-com.

Overall, a fun and short read you'll be able to fly through in a day!

I absolutely LOVED this one but no one should be surprised because KC is one of my favorite authors of all time. She's just got a way with words! Her books make me feel literally every emotion. I loved this one and am so grateful to NetGalley for my early copy! 5 stars!

X♾️
What a fantastic book. I loved this book. Once I started reading I fell in love with the characters and I couldn't stop. The story and the lessons within the story really resonated with me. Doing things you are afraid of is good exposure therapy. Loving the body we have. George Bailey and Rue are definitely my favorite characters. KC is the champion of deep romances.

✨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.