This story hit way deeper than I was expecting. It's part of the reason why I adore Katherine's writing so much! She took this adorable romance story and filled it with life lessons about self-love. The kind that smack you right upside the head and open your eyes at the same time.

You know what else it's full of? Brilliant characters! From the love haters, Katie and Hutch, right down to Lucky the toad- you can't help but love every unique character along the way.

I was soooo intrigued by the book description. A fun romcom with two "love haters" in Key West ? Sign me up!! I really enjoyed the beginning, but then Katie's insecurities took over the whole plot and I was getting really annoyed. I kept going since I actually really liked Hutch. But unfortunately I felt no chemistry between the characters.

That being said, I was so glad to have Rue and the Gals to bring some lightness and fun. I also really enjoyed getting to know Hutch and loved his character arc.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book 🫶🏽

Katie, Cole, Hutch, Aunt Rue and a dog named George Bailey will have you laughing, getting angry and falling in love. What a fun story. Another hit by Katherine Center. I went from reading the book to listening to the audiobook. I so enjoyed both formats.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillianAudio, #StMartin’sPress, #KatherineCenter, #PattiMurin and #TheLoveHatersANovel for the arc for my honest review.

4.5⭐️
As someone who has suffered from BDD her whole life, I very much related to Katie. This is a story about love from so many angles. Loving partners, friends, animals, and at the end, loving yourself. Was the plot absolutely silly and unrealistic? Absolutely. But for me it was a relatable rom com and another great read from Katherine Center. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Katie, a videographer who is on the verge of being laid off, gets assigned by her coworker Cole to make a video about the Coast Guard in Key West. Specifically highlighting a hero (who also happens to be Cole’s brother) named Hutch. There’s one problem: she can’t swim. She lies and Hutch teaches her. She starts falling hard for Hutch, and then Cole shows up and turns everything upside down. Chaos ensues.

I really enjoyed this! I have loved every Katherine Center book I’ve ever read, and this one is no exception. Katie was so great, and I loved her (colorful) growth throughout the story. Hutch was the perfect love interest. I feel like I’m half in love with him myself! I definitely recommend this book.

It feels like spring is coming when a new Katherine Center book is around the corner. I was really looking forward to The love Haters. I enjoyed the book and think it would be a wonderful beach read. The book follows Katie, a woman who is learning to love herself, as she goes on an assignment in Florida where she falls for Hutch, a charming Coast Guard. I did find that there were a lot of things going on in the book. However, it was a quick read overall and one to put on the spring/summer reading list.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

2.75/5 stars

I was really enjoying the first 2/3 of this book, but we completely lost the plot in the last third. What happened to the documentary Katie was filming on the coast guard? Why all the lies and frustrating miscommunications?

I would have enjoyed this book so much more if it stayed on track with its initial course. The tension between Katie and Hutch was building at a nice pace. I was fully on board with their compelling character development regarding past traumas with body image issues for Katie and a tragic loss for Hutch. But unfortunately, all of this halted with the unnecessary and really jarring third act conflict, and the plot never managed to get back on course from there on.

I nearly DNFed at 70%, but Patti Murin’s vibrant narration made me finish the book. The ending, sadly, was not any better.

This was my first Katherine Center read and I was really looking forward to reading The Love Haters after hearing her other novels being spoken so highly of by others. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it but would give her other work a chance in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this book before publication. If you’re a fan of Center’s other work, I recommend giving The Love Hater’s a chance as it will probably be a hit for fans of her other work.

I normally do not read romance books or any type of books where one of the main characters in the military… why you might ask because I myself I’m in the military and this one while I’m not in the Coast Guard I am in the Navy. I work on the same type of helicopters that they would use as the Coast Guard to do the rescue swimming in this. But not only that I work with rescue swimmers! When we got to the beginning of the book, I can say that when it came to Weight and Balance I was a bit annoyed. And this is why I don’t read books with any type of military talk or what I do in it. While they do go for weight and balance of the aircraft and a commercial aircraft, they do average the average person‘s weight for weight and balance. I have flown on aircraft and they’ve never once asked me what my weight was nor do they know my weight so when she started kind of freaking out about that, it made me roll my eye.
Looking past that and trying to take the rest of the story for what it is I found that the book was cute I ended up really liking the characters. If it is a Katherine Center book I am going to pick it up. I like her writing style and how she tells her stories. The personal growth of Katie was great to see and I really loved the Key West setting.

Another great love story from Katherine Center! I loved the behind the scenes look at the coast guard and I always love a Great Dane cameo.

What a fun story! A little over-the-top, which is what I expect from Katherine Center. I love these characters and their personal growth as they get to know each other. This is a perfect beach read - set in Key West and starring a kind, if private, Coast Guard rescue swimmer. As does all of Center’s books, this one addresses a timely, serious topic which lands this story between romance and women’s fiction. Our leading lady deals with body image issues, so please be aware and be kind to yourself when reading. This sweet romance leaves all spice off the page - kissing only! Another wonderful love story from Center and one I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I really love Katherine Center and I’m so sad that I didn’t love this more… it just felt like a miss for me. It was a very quick, lighthearted rom-com which had focuses on self-discovery and self-empowerment which was beautiful.. but could’ve done without a lot of the rest. Also.. For a title that is about lover haters, I truly didn’t get the vibe that any of them hated love..

That being said, I’ll continue to read future books of Center’s as I do love her writing style, and hope others hit closer to home for me!!

Thank you NetGalley, Kathrine Center, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read / listen to this story.

Katie is a videographer making a promo video in Key West encouraging people to sign up for the Coast Guard, but she has no idea how to swim.

I started this book as an ebook ARC and couldn't get into it, but then I was gifted an audiobook ALC from Netgalley and the narrator made the whole story come to life! I loved her so much and I would definitely recommend this one on audio. She made the antics funny and the banter swoony.

I did not like the body image storyline. It just wasn't enjoyable to read about, but the rest of the story was so good.

I did get misty eyes about some of the trauma the characters have gone through, but it wasn't a huge focus!

Things I love about this book:
The meddling old ladies 🥰
Single point of view - sometimes I just don't need to know what the MMC is thinking. It adds a layer of mystery 😆
Narrator
Banter
Documentary behind the scenes
US Coast Guard behind the scenes
The dog!
Side characters except Cole obviously
The reconciliation subplot

If negative self talk is not an issue for you, you should totally pick this book up (and by book, I mean your headphones).

Katie Vaughn’s job as a video producer is on the line, so she must do whatever she can to prove her worth. Her coworker, Cole, offers her a gig to make a promo video for the Coast Guard following a rescue swimmer named Hutch. Katie jumps at the opportunity even though she has no idea how to swim. Cole also suggests that while Katie is there, she should try to convince Hutch to be a subject in her “Life in the Day Of” series, her side hobby where she highlights female heroes. This is the video she believes will save her job. Katie has no idea that this life changing opportunity will change her life in more than one way.

Love Haters is exactly what I would expect out of a Rom Com. Katie finds herself in hilarious situations while falling in love with. One of my favorite scenes is when Katie shows up to the pool to take a Coast Guard swimming test in a “sexy bathing suit” instead of a more practical athletic swimsuit. She ends up showing a little more than she is comfortable with. My one critique of this book is that there were too many things going on in the storyline. I thought that Katie getting wrapped up in Cole’s lie in the middle of the book was frustrating and unnecessary, it really took away from the romance storyline.

I am a fan of Katherine Center. I really enjoyed The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger. Love Haters did not quite meet the mark for me. As I was nearing the end of the book, I was sure that I would be rating it three stars. I had a change of heart after reading the Author’s Note. Katherine shared that when you are reading a really great story, you are not just watching it from the outside, you are literally in the story. I have to admit that this was true for me. I didn’t love all of it, but I was in it. I was right there with Katie and Hutch. I could see, feel, hear and smell all of it! For this reason, my official rating is a four.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review. My review can also be found on Goodreads, http://goodreads.com/sara_chisholm.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Love Haters in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center is never a miss, with witty banter full of depth. And always bright with laughter “Are ordinary ankles that mesmerizing? That sleek? That sophisticated?”

As universal and relatable as body image issues are, I found it difficult to connect with Katie’s motivations. I closed the book feeling like I needed more time with Hutch and Katie, who it seemed went from flirtatious to loves of each other’s lives too quickly; this reader wanted more build up, more longing. The chemistry was undoubtedly there, it just needed more time to brew.

I’ll always pick up a Katherine Center book and The Rom-Commers is one of my all time favourite reads.

All meet cute and no meat.

The body image self loathing side plot? Garbage.
Awful humans outnumber the good ones. 0 chemistry whatsoever. It ended and I was like do they even actually like each other?

I only finished because of George Bailey.

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center. This was my third book by her and I did like it but it wasn't my favorite out of the three I've read. I went between the digital and audiobook for this one. The audiobook was narrated by Patti Murin who also narrated Center's other books and even some other audiobooks I loved. She's always a joy to listen to.

Katie is a video producer who needs something good to get her career back on track. She heads to Key West to profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, who is her coworker's brother. He is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. She lies about knowing how to swim to get the job done.

This was a fun, light-hearted rom-com. There were some funny parts, and I did obviously love the Key West setting. Key West is my favorite place to visit. Like basically heaven in Paradise. Lol. Overall, a decent, feel good book. Just not my favorite by her.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

(warning, this review is gonna be a THIC and jUiCy one😋)

☆4 stars☆

now playing: over my head (cable car)- the Fray
0:35 ━❍──────── -5:32
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
VOLUME: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%

♫“With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind, she's on your mind”♫
Spice❣︎ 1/ 5 (two kisses, allusion to side characters hooking up)
Violence/gore❣︎ 2/ 5 (a fight and some minor none severe blood injuries)
Language❣︎ 2/ 5 (shit, ass, fvck, pretty infrequent besides the last 40 pages)
Other❣︎ grief, loss of parents, loss of SO, talk of past anorexia, body image, BED (i believe so…idek, from my own experiences that's what it looked like but please correct me if not!), drunk driving, i think that's it!
For age i’d recommend 14+ for the heaviorish themes, just my personal tho!!<3
♫“I wish you were a stranger I could disengage”♫
ChArAcTeRs❣︎
Katie~ while reading this all i wanted to do was hug her and tell her it would be okay…idc if she’s a grown adult and i’m a fourteen year old crying in my room over a book…she is ME. When I say I want to be felt by a character, this is what I mean. I’ve never related to a character more…..
Hutch~ I love this man. He isn’t here to validate her, or “complete” her, he is here to MAKE HER HAPPY. To compliment her. I want this kind of love….
Rue~ AHHH ADOPT ME. oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Katherine center are you trying to break me???? I love her so much. Her immediately taking Katie in and helping her find herself and caring for her! Ahhhh i love this woman, her story as well….oh my goshhhhhhh
George Bailey (ofc he gets a mention!!!)~ my boi. Imo he is the hero, he is the main character energy. I wanna go adopt a great dane now.
Cole & sullivan~ ngl hated how they got together…. But i think they lowk fit well. A book abt them would be appreciated;)
Beanie~ bestie. We love her, she is the definition of friendship. I love love love her sm.
♫“Everyone knows I'm in Over my head, over my head With eight seconds left in overtime She's on your mind, she's on your mind“♫
༺Synopsis༻
Katie Vaughn is a Video producer on the brink of getting fired, when her colleague offers her the option to go to the keys to film for “the love hater“ Hutch, she jumps aboard in effort to redeem her Job but quickly catches unwanted feelings for him, his dog, and his whole family.
♫”I'm losing you and it's effortless, Without a sound we lose sight of the ground”♫

༺my thoughts༻
My thoughts? Buy this book. I’m literally gonna count the days til release so i can purchase a physical copy. I felt so emotionally attached while reading this, the subplots are so so written to which i cared equally to them as to the romance. The side characters all leave sm impact and the relationships with the main characters…chefs kiss.

꧁my favorite quotes꧂
“It was such an odd idea, when you think about it: that I could hurt the world back by hurting myself.”
““No one’s born fearless,” Rue said. “You have to earn it.” Then she added, gesturing at the swimsuit dangling from my hand, “Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time. That’s what life is for.”
“If you don’t reject the harsh things people say to you, then I guess, at some point, that means you accept them.”
“I DIDN’T NEED A RESCUE SWIMMER TO THINK I WAS BEAUTIFUL. I COULD DO THAT FOR MYSELF.”
(in all caps for anyone who thinks this is just a book abt a woman desiring validation, BECAUSE IT ISNT POOKIE WOOKIES😋)
“Hutch went on. “You’re a TV jingle you never wanted to learn, but can’t erase. You’re a puzzle that can’t be solved—or a question that can’t be answered—or a dream you wake up from that feels like it really happened. But it didn’t happen. And it can’t happen. Because that’s not how dreams work.”
“And now I have. We’re here to be alive. To feel the sun on our skin. To breathe deep in the wind. We’re here to feel it all. To love and cry and love some more. We’re here to rescue ourselves—and everybody else—in every way that we can. What was it Rue said about courage? That no one’s born fearless? It’s true.”

♫“Everyone knows she's on your mind, Everyone knows I'm in over my head“♫
💕 now for recognition and thanks to my bestie Ari who buddy read this with me, but also thank you for being the Beanie in my life, who constantly makes me feel worthy of this special little life😭

Induction & playlist:)
READ THIS BOOK. Case closed.
Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DCWQrQPIaDqBPEJuLyuJj?si=qty9iPr0TPGbzPwjDMqlIg&pi=DXhC1tujT8y0W

Katherine Center has done it again! I absolutely devoured this rom com and started packing my bags for the Keys before I was event done. I did have some iffy moments with this one though.

What I liked: I loved so much about this book! First of all, it's rare to find a main character with my first name (Katie), so that made me like it immediately. I also love the tie in to Key West. I had one of my favorite vacations there several years ago and I am dying to get back to those islands. I really felt like I was back on the island, walking the streets among the palm trees and rogue roosters. If only I could rent a beach house from Rue! Speaking of Rue, I absolutely loved her as a character! Honestly, I loved her more than Katie. Her personality is everything I want to be when I grow up and I love her outlook on color.

What I didn’t like: There were some parts I thought weren't quite so flushed out. I don't know how much of the famous ex storyline was needed. I think just having him be a controlling ex to help shape the body issues storyline was fine, but I thought it would play more into the end of the novel than it did. He wrote a whole song about her and wanting her back but didn't actually reach out? I thought he would show up and we would have this love triangle. I would have enjoyed that more than the fake dating with her coworker. That was the other part I wasn't thrilled about. It felt a little thrown in there last minute for me. While I had those issues with the book, I still gave it a high ranking and still enjoyed reading it! Maybe I just had high expectations after being blown away by The Rom-Commers?

Read if you like: a summer rom com that will transport you to the Florida Keys and make you want to fake drowning so a hot coast guard swimmer will rescue you (don't actually do this, please).
Would I recommend?: Absolutely!

Star rating: 4 stars

The Love Haters by Katherine Center was, unfortunately, a mixed experience for me, landing at a 3-star rating. As a longtime fan of Center’s work, I went into this book with high expectations, but it just didn’t fully click for me.

The humor, which is usually a strong point in her books, felt forced and unnatural at times, making it hard to fully engage with the story. I also struggled to connect with Katie, our female lead. Her body image insecurities were a key part of her character arc, but they became repetitive to the point of frustration. While I completely understand the importance of self-acceptance themes in romance, the way it was handled made it difficult to stay invested.

Additionally, Beanie—the quirky cousin/friend—felt like an odd character choice, and instead of adding charm, she often felt out of place. The romance itself didn’t feel entirely believable, lacking the natural chemistry and emotional depth that I usually love in Center’s novels.

I truly hate giving a lower rating to an author I admire, but The Love Haters simply didn’t work for me. That being said, I know every reader connects with books differently, so while this wasn’t a hit for me, others may still find it enjoyable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A disappointing read from an otherwise beloved author, with forced humor and an underwhelming romance.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.