I was so happy to receive an early copy of this book from Net Galley. I love Katherine Center! The bodyguard is one of my favorite romantic comedy reads. I was disappointed by The Rom-Commers and was happy this book was more similar to the bodyguard.

Now to the book at hand… It was a quick read and very engaging. I loved both the main characters and their story. The only thing I kept wishing is that the characters had more development. I feel like I wanted more and wanted all the major chapters to be longer. The characters were great but I felt like their story was missing. All that to say it was a good book and cannot wait to read it again.

I am a romcom lover. I am also a fan of Katherine Center books. Overall, I really liked Hutch and the depth that he brought to the story. The main character, Katie, was likable; however, frustrating at times. I loved her self love discovery—- but it became too much of the story. I do think the ending could’ve included more of the love story between the characters, as it felt like an abrupt end. It was a fun read with some heavier topics throughout.

A sweet and flirty book set in Key West sounds like exactly what I need to warm up this never ending Midwest winter.

We quickly learn Katie Vaughn’s struggling a little- in her love life, with regards to her famous ex and in her job. Dangerously close to being fired, her colleague suggests a Hail Mary type of a gig- profiling his rescue diver brother Hutch.

Of course Hutch is the Love-hater this book is named for- he plays the adorable grump perfectly. I love Rue, George Bailey, and The Gals; I truly would love to spend a week swimming and dining with them.

Much like Center’s other books, i enjoyed this story quite a bit and smiled through most of it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Katie’s career is in shambles and it’s somehow getting worse. She’s a video producer and has a new project from her coworker Cole: film a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who recently went viral for rescuing a celebrity’s dog. Hutch (the rescue swimmer) and Cole have a past. They’re estranged brothers. Will Katie and Hutch’s project sink or swim? (Ps Katie can’t swim)

Katherine Center has a funny way of making me laugh out loud with her humor. It happens in every book of hers! Read this if you love grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and of course, dogs.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press, Net Galley, and Katherine Center for the ARC! Pub date 5/20/25

Katherine Center has done it again—The Love Haters might just be my new favorite of hers! This book had everything I love: heart, humor, personal growth, and a swoon-worthy romance that left me grinning from ear to ear.

First off, I loved that the hero, Hutch, is in the Coast Guard! I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance with a Coast Guard main character, and now I need more! It added such a unique and exciting element to the story. Plus, grumpy-sunshine romance? Sign me up! Hutch is officially a top-tier book boyfriend, and I have a serious crush. My new “puppy love!”

The heroine was incredibly relatable, especially in the way she worked through her struggles with body image. Katherine Center handled this with such care, making her journey feel personal and inspiring. It was the best kind of therapy—one of those books that makes you better at love and life while also making you laugh along the way.

This book gave me all the feels, and I genuinely wish I could go back and read it for the first time again. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply satisfying romance, The Love Haters needs to be on your list. Don’t miss it when it releases on May 20th!

I love Katherine Center and her ability to write such amazing storylines that make you forget they are closed door romances. This one has so much heart and I knew after just a few chapters that this would be my favorite I've read by her yet.

I had a hard time walking away from this one, or the willingness to take breaks. I LOVED it so much that I read it in basically one sitting. When I had to go to dinner with the family I didn't put it down even while eating.

Katie was such a winning FMC with all her authentic struggles, and need for a confidence boost after her failed relationship. Also some of the moments she had to overcome with water and her inability to swim and trying to move past those fears, learning to swim, sharks in the water (my BIGGEST fear) and all her body positivity...she was just so amazing!

All the characters in this one stole my heart and just the way George Bailey (a fun loving great dane rescue) who whenever he say Katie attacked her in the most entertaining ways. He really was the glue that kept her and Hutch together. These two were magic. And then add the brother and the added storyline to the mix and I just had so much fun with this storyline.

Katherine you are the best warm fuzzy writer that just kept me so engaged and I adored this book! Thank you for writing these beautiful stories with some hidden messages that are profound and beautiful.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of The Love Haters, this one was fantastic!

I liked this! Almost more women’s fic than a romance as it seemed more about Katie and her learning to love herself than her relationship with Hutch. A few coast guard related things felt unrealistic but I still enjoyed it.

I felt like I related to Katie a lot with her insecurities and I loved how she learned to overcome it with the help of her best friend Beanie, who I loved!

Hutch was a great MMC and i really felt for his story and his complicated relationship with his brother.

And Rue! My fave.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-book ARC of “The Love Haters”. This book reminded me of corny hallmark movie. It was very easy to digest but also very cheesy. I am more of a spicy romance girl so this book was very adolescent to me. I rolled my eyes a lot during this especially at many things the FMC said.

As a devoted fan of Katherine Center, I eagerly dove into The Love Haters without knowing much about it, expecting her signature blend of heartfelt romance, humor, and emotional depth. While her signature witty banter was still present, this book didn’t quite deliver the love story I was hoping for.

The majority of the novel focuses on the main character’s struggles with body image, which, while an important and relatable topic, took center stage over the romance. I found myself missing the sweeping, emotional love story that usually defines Center’s books. The side characters were enjoyable, and there were moments of charm, but overall, the romance felt like an afterthought.

That said, the absolute standout of this book was the author’s note. Katherine Center always excels in providing thoughtful, heartfelt reflections, and this one was no exception. It added depth and meaning to the novel in a way that made me appreciate her intent, even if the execution didn’t fully resonate with me.

I’m torn writing this review because I admire Center’s writing so much, and I know this story will speak to many readers. While it wasn’t my favorite of hers, I still appreciate her ability to craft compelling characters and meaningful themes. If you go into this one expecting more of a self-discovery journey than a traditional romance, you may enjoy it more than I did.

Rating: 3.5/5

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

'The Love Haters' is the pinnacle treasure of the 'found family' trope. I don't know if I've ever wanted to join a circle of friends more than the ones found at the Starlite Cottages. I mean, when the group includes four spry retirees that love nothing more than a good romance, a *HOT* Coast Guard rescue diver, and the lovable Great Dane, George Bailey, what more do you need?

When Katie Vaughn finds herself at the mercy of The Gals (permanent residents of Starlite) after agreeing to take a last-minute assignment from a coworker, she finds herself pushed beyond her limits by the seemingly harmless retirees of the cottages. The assignment begins as a disaster of epic proportions; Katie is in Key West to shoot a recruitment video for the Coast Guard, without prior knowledge of the military, helicopter rescue, or even being able to swim. Add in lost luggage, insta-love from a Great Dane that renders her helpless every time they cross paths, and the fact that she has to lie to Tom 'Hutch' Hutchinson about her reasons for being in Key West prior to the start of shooting the recruitment video, and Katie has a mess on her hands of epic proportions. Sometimes being pushed out of your comfort zone, whether by necessity or well-intentioned meddling from The Gals, helps bring about the change that you need in your life.

The character growth and arc of the main character Katie was so, so rewarding to read. By the end of the novel I was out loud cheering for this woman and the growth she experienced while in the care of Aunt Rue. Fans of slow burn romance will love the will-or-won't they uncertainty as Katie learns about loving herself alongside falling for the subject of her video. Every moment between Hutch and Katie had such delicious tension that I was sitting on the edge of my seat almost begging them to finally make a move towards each other. George Bailey deserves an award as a most lovable Good Boy, even when he's being a stinker and I loved every scene that had him in it.

I will issue a trigger warning: this book deals with sensitive subjects such as body dysmorphia, anorexia, and online body shaming. While these subjects are included with sensitivity and care, and they are essential to the storyline, those who find such subjects upsetting should be aware that they are an essential part of the storyline.

The Love Haters is one of my new favorite rom com novels, and one that I will be revisiting on my shelf again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read The Love Haters by Katherine Center.

I am overwhelmed with emotions after reading this story! This author did a fantastic job of bringing this story full circle and providing us with a much deeper message. I highly recommend picking up this book!

this was cute! i loved the little town setting and descriptions. It was charming, and the characters grew on me. There were tons of laugh out loud moments, but the main character was very negative at times which got tiring to listen to.

I received an ARC for this video and was super excited. I have read almost all of Katherine Center's books, and I can honestly say this one might be my favorite! First things first - there are dogs in the stories, and NO DOGS DIE. I just like to put that out there for my fellow dog lovers. There is so much to love about this book. True to Katherine Center, there are so many laugh-out-loud moments. One of the first times the love interests meet, it turns into the girl getting splinters all up her backside and the guy taking them out one by one. As the story turns romantic, things become very complicated because of a surprise fake dating element, I was not expecting that but was thrilled to read it. As you read this story, you see the love start to develop, but you also see both characters deal with past issues. One of the parts that I applaud this book for was how it took on the idea of women being insecure about their bodies. This is not the first time I have seen this theme in a book, but it was unique because it was not extreme. It is just a girl who doesn't love how she looks and hides her body when possible. I felt like the author gave the characters very relatable insecurities, which I appreciated. Not only could I connect with the character, but it also made me reflect on my own insecurities. I have already recommended this book to a few friends that I think need to see that theme on paper.

I really enjoyed 'Love Haters'! The storyline was engaging and kept me invested throughout. The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique quirks that made them relatable. The themes of love and conflict were beautifully intertwined, making for a thought-provoking read

Overall, it's definitely worth a read if you're looking for something that challenges the usual!

I really wanted to love this. Especially after loving The RomCommers but man I did not. There were pieces I loved for sure but overall there was too much that bothered me with this one. It also felt like there was just too much going on that it kept me from connecting to the characters and their journey to love so it just didn't make me feel their connection to each other either. I am all for body positivity and realism when it comes to body image, but for some reason the way it's handled in this one just rubbed me wrong. And the place of work... what a mess. I will definitely be reading more Katherine Center but this one just wasn't for me.

It is some kind of sorcery the way Katherine Center manages to alchemize the joy, humor and weight of women's issues time after time and she does it again here.

This story could have felt very heavy given Katie's past and current struggles (no spoliers). Instead, this book manages to address Katie's struggles with grace and still be a joyful little escape to the Keys with some romance and a cute dog thrown in to boot!

I think this will be a book that will be lugged out to pools and parks alike this Summer so go put it on hold as soon as you can!

ARC through NetGalley

I’m not surprised….Katherine Center has written yet another wonderful book!

Katie was looking to boost her career, not her love life. She’s a love-hater after all. Katie arrives in Florida to complete a documentary about USCG rescue swimmer Hutch. She learned about more than just rescue swimming. She learned about herself as well.

Everyone should read a body positive book like this at least once in their life. "I should have loved all my everything. Because it was mine." Yes indeed.

This book plays out like a beautiful romantic comedy. You will not be disappointed.

Katherine Center returns with a heartwarming story combining themes of love, resilience, and bravery.

Katie Vaughn is a video producer and she has a choice to make - hope she doesn't get laid off or take a job doing a video profile of Tom "Hutch" Hutchison, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer in Key West, Florida. The only thing is, she can't swim....Surely that won't be important and she can learn quickly? Good thing Hutch is an expert swimmer. Surrounded by a cast of quirky and complex characters, this story explores themes of romantic rejection, body image, self love, confidence, and tons and tons of bravery!

This is quintessential Katherine Centre! As always, her romance always has an underlying message. This one was heavy on self love and body image. I didn't find the connection between Katie and Hutch to be as strong as some of her other books, but it was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC so I could review this book.

I’m a big Katherine Center, and this matches the theme of most of her books- a down-on-her-luck FMC, do-gooder MMC who can do no wrong, and a happy ending. Warning that this book discusses the topic of disordered eating. My one complaint is that the FMC has a regretful popstar ex who is pining for her off page- while this book DOES feature a fist fight, WHY ISN’T IT BETWEEN THIS EX AND THE MMC?! -
Apart from that, this was an enjoyable read!

Katherine Center's contemporary romances are just *chef's kiss* for me. Her main characters are always funny and smart and tend to have relatable issues and super interesting careers. In this book, Katie is a video producer for a small company, and, in a panicked attempt to save herself from being laid off, she agrees to film a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard featuring their ASTs (Aviation Survival Technicians, aka rescue swimmers) despite being vastly underqualified for the job. She can do the filming with no problem, but the problem is that she can't swim. She's being sent to the Florida Keys by Cole, a higher up at work who is motivated both by a desire to help her with her career but also by his own desire to avoid the main swimmer being featured in the video - his heroic older brother, Hutch. Hutch is predictably annoyed that his brother didn't show, as he wants to repair a long-term sibling rift, but he also can't help but be super into the woman who is going to be filming him for weeks/months on end. Katie likes him too, but the whole thing goes off course when Cole shows up and kind of ruins the whole thing. One thing I would want people to be aware of is that Katie, who is striving to be more body positive but still has a pretty fraught relationship with her body/body image, has a history of disordered eating and a lingering fear of basically having her body perceived. It was tough to read sometimes - not because it wasn't relatable but because it really was. Another thing to be aware of is that there's an amazing dog who plays a critical role in the plot. I loved it.