Katherine Center does it again. I love the realness of her writing and storytelling. She draws you in right off the bat and makes it hard to put her books down for anything. Katie is endearing as she slowly develops self-love, self-appreciation and self-worth. Her journey in the realization of her capabilities is a joy to be on. Hutch is easy to fall in love with with his calming demeanor and his ability to fill up whatever space he may be in. Rue and her crew are just the best sidekicks to the story.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.

Great title and appealing cover. Loved the story! The enemies to lovers relationship between the main character and her body was insightful and impactful. Really enjoyed this one.

I loved this book!

I personally really enjoyed the FMC the the things she was navigating as I have been in those shoes. I can understand when those things don't have an explanation and a full circle moment but that's not the case here. I think it all came to a head really well.

Anyway, Katie, our FMC is filming a documentary for the Coast Guard with a focus on a rescue swimmer named Hutch who's not so thrilled of the arrangement because come to find out, our girl Katie can't swim.. The banter had me sat and I loved the swim lessons of it all. The end was honestly really fun and kept me on my feet but I wish we had a bit more to it.

I really loved the beauty list activity. It was a really sweet part of the book and a really great reminder that we're all different and our bodies are our homes.

Thank you SMP for the ARC <3

ARC review for the love haters by Catherine center. I loved this book from start to finish. The FMC Katie was relatable to me as someone who grew up w and still struggles w body image. Her inner dialogue was endearing and I loved hearing her process over overcoming the negative self talk. The MMC Hutch was patient and strong and totally swoony. I loved the side characters also. They were funny and likable and added to the story. I stayed up until 2am *on a Monday morning* to finish this book as i could not put it down! Thank you for the advanced copy of this wonderful story!

Loved, loved, LOVED this book! I loved Rue and The Gals, loved Katie and Hutch, loved the banter/humor between Katie and Beanie, loved all the talk about increasing your self-love, and loved George Bailey! I truly can't say enough good things about this book. 5 stars! Thank you for the chance to read this one early! <3

While The Love Haters wasn’t my absolute favorite Katherine Center novel (The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard are still top faves), I still absolutely LOVED it. True to form, Center delivers a story that had me laughing out loud, sighing, sitting on the edge of my seat, and yes—getting seriously frustrated with a few side characters (in the best, most emotionally-invested way).

What stood out most to me was the raw and relatable representation of negative body image. It was honest, thoughtful, and something I think most—if not all—women will recognize in themselves. And the enemies-to-lovers trope? This time, it was with herself—and that twist on a classic romance device was so well done.

Katie, our quirky main character, was a joy to follow. Her inner monologue and banter were perfect—sharp, funny, and full of heart, exactly what I’ve come to expect (and adore) in a Katherine Center book.

This one hit a lot of emotional notes and left me smiling, even if I wanted to shake a few people along the way. This was a funny, heartfelt, and empowering read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This may be my favorite book ... ever? It's that feeling in a book where you want to savor every page, appreciate the beautiful writing, and swoon at the perfect love story. I think Katherine Center is right -- love stories have the power to change the world. (Side note: Center's author's notes are an absolute must read. They are so life affirming and perfect. Chefs kiss!) The other great part? Witnessing our main character Katie fall in love with herself.

Audiobook review: Patti. Murin. Holy cow. She knocked it out of the park. The internal monologues from Katie, the banter between Katie and Hutch. Everything was absolutely perfect.

Five big ones. THANK YOU to NetGalley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.25 stars

I read this book in less than 12 hours ☺️

This was a really quick and enjoyable read. It tackles poor self image and dealing with that incrementally. Katie was really funny and quirky, and I always think that blends well with an MMC who is a little more serious. And Hutch was great. The poor man had a little bit of whiplash in this story, but loooved him.

I just wish this was a little longer and we had more time for the developing relationship to marinade more. The two main characters did spend a lot of time together, but a lot of that time was glossed over, so I think we missed some good relationship building scenes.

Would recommend for romance readers 💚

Rating: 5 stars!

Honored to have received another Katherine Center ARC! The story starts off with our sweet Katie and the threat that she might lose her job if she isn't able to pull off the ultimate interview with hunky coast guard Hutch. The unfolding potential love story if obvious from the start. The way the relationships unfold throughout the story, a flair of an old lady social circle, and a stubborn great dane are the perfect ingredients for this summer read.

A lot of reviews have called out their disinterested in Katie's comments about her own self-worth and her physical appearance. I have a genuine question for those people: Did you read the entire book? Typically, this would be a big turn off for me also.. BUT if you read the entire book, the emphasis placed on all of those things comes full circle. I also had a deeper appreciation for the character's flaws after reading the author's note. Round of applause for another Center book!!

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

4.5/5

Every time I finish one of the authors books I have a smile on my face and I feel utterly charmed and this was no exception. Katie was such a warm and relatable main character, I adored her from the start and Hutch was a swoon worthy leading man. I love how the author writes, she really knows how to tell a story and she always makes me feel like I’m right there alongside the characters and I truly had that experience here. The secondary characters were also fantastic, Rue was the best and George Bailey the dog stole the show. Some of the plot points were a little silly but overall this was super fun and fans of the author will be delighted.

DNF @22%

Yay, another romance book where the main female character has body image issues, that the love interest will probably fix for her.

This was such a fast-paced bingeable read! The writing was so fast pace and humorous and was peak escapism. Was the plot realistic... No! and that's why I had a fun time! Katie essentially takes a trip to Floria to record a video on a coast guard rescuer for her job and ends up in a bunch of absurd scenarios. The only thing is I wish we got more of Hutch and Katie's relationship, I feel like we were so focused on the constant actions of the plot that their romance fell on the back burner. Overall, a fun quick read! Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Love Haters is a heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers both love and laughter. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and body positivity. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch is palpable!❤️ The inclusion of quirky characters like Rue and The Gals add charm to this enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

Super fun book! I loved the setting and it’s gonna be a great summer read! The characters were so fun! The story about body acceptance was beautiful and as someone who has struggled with that I felt a bit triggered but i appreciated the awareness of it. This was definitely more than a romance and I had a good time,

I had a really hard time finishing this book. The tropes sounds like everything I wanted in a romance novel but sadly the over emphasis on body image and insecurity was too much for me. I really appreciate this topic being written about and brought up but this was too much for me to enjoy. I felt like I need my boyfriend to remind me I’m pretty midway thru this book and I definitely felt guilty eating will reading. The cute romance and overall message of self-healing probably saves this book for most people just not me.

Title: The Love Haters   
Author: Katherine Center         
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 5 out of 5

It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.

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.

I loved this read! Katie was 100% relatable, from her body image issues and feelings of inferiority, to her mishaps and adventures. Her friendship with Beanie was great and I enjoyed their meandering conversations. Rue and the ladies in Florida were very entertaining and I loved their antics. Hutch was a bit hard to get a read on, but I ended up liking him—it was probably the way he took care of the dog.

Katherine Center is a bestselling author. The Love Haters is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/17).

This is the kind of book you can sit down and read in one sitting! It would be perfect for the beach, an airplane, or just before bed reading. I loved the interesting main character occupations. Hutch, the leading man is a member of the coast guard. Katie is a video producer and documentary filmmaker. It had all the typical romance book tropes, in the best way! The only negative was this weird body image storyline of Katie's, it just was a little weird to me. I wouldn't go crazy recommending this to people, but it was certainly enjoyable!

Thanks to Netgally for the advanced copy to read and review.

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

In The Love Haters, Katie is tasked with profiling a semi-famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer (previously known for rescuing Jennifer Aniston's dog), Tom 'Hutch' Hutcheson, in order to prove her worth and save her job when her company starts down-sizing. Hutch and Katie quickly become friends but Katie's previous relationship has made her want to hide her body and herself. As Katie works to overcome this she's able to be more vulnerable with Hutch and the two grow closer only for Cole, Hutch's brother and Katie's supervisor, to show up and spring a series of elaborate lies on Katie. Katie has to decide if she should be truthful with Hutch even if it might further damage his already rocky relationship with his brother Cole.

I've never read Katherine Center before but I've always meant to so it was a pleasant surprise to receive an ARC of her latest book from NetGalley. Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. I enjoyed the premise and the characters but I was a bit thrown off by the fact that The Love Haters wasn't actually as romance-forward as I was expecting. I actually liked the parts of the book that didn't centre on romance but unfortunately it felt like the time spent on that aspect of the book took away from the development of the characters' romantic relationship. I'm not sure if this is typical of a Katherine Centre book (and perhaps if it is and I had gone in knowing what to expect I would have enjoyed the book more) or if this book is a slight departure for her. I think that romance readers can appreciate this book but it would help to know going in that there is a lot of focus on the main character's personal development at the expense of some time spent on the actual romance.

<spoiler>

That being said, I think that Katie's journey in this book is really important and likely very relatable for many readers. It's truly heartbreaking to read about the way that she sees herself after her previous relationship. Unfortunately, I think this is something that many readers will have experienced themselves in some shape or form. Although the time spent on Katie's personal development was surprising to me (as noted above) I do think that it was very important to give Katie space to accept and love her body and herself on her own, without needing affirmation or reassurance from Hutch. I rarely say this about romance books lately, but The Love Haters might have benefitted from being a bit longer so that we could have had more space for the romance that I would expect in a contemporary romance novel without losing any of Katie's personal development.

As for Hutch, there's certainly nothing wrong with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who also has an endearingly goofy giant dog (Great Dane). Because of the focus on Katie though, I don't feel like we got to know Hutch very well. He certainly is caring and has a sense of humour. I liked learning about him in contrast to his brother Cole's original assessment of Hutch as this perfect brother who doesn't seem to enjoy much outside of his job. The reader gets to uncover other sides of Hutch along with Katie as he becomes a fully formed character over the course of the book. That being said, he doesn't really stand out to me as a particularly memorable romance MMC.

I did love the side characters in the book. Everyone -- from Beanie helping Katie through her personal issues to goofy George Bailey (Hutch's dog) to kind and welcoming Rue (Hutch's aunt) -- was really endearing. I would happily read another book with this cast of characters because I'd love to visit them again. The exception might be Cole who I think took lies and shenanigans a step too far. It was kind of funny, although ridiculous, up until the point he offered Katie up to be kissed as a literal prize in a bar competition. That made me mad on Katie's behalf and there was really no coming back from that for Cole.

Overall, I did enjoy this book although I was a bit thrown when it wasn't in keeping with my expectations for a classic contemporary romance. I did like the book though, especially Katie's personal journey, and I would definitely read more Katherine Center in the future.

4.5 Stars!

This was actually so cute, I’m a south Florida girl so reading this ARC was so cool as I grew up going to Key West and dealing with hurricanes.
0 spice but so much chemistry and tension, and a HEA. Loved it!!

Read Completed 4/6/25 | 3 stars | Book #48 of 2025
Love Hater, thy name is me. This was a pretty blah read for me, but the story was still readable. I do like Katherine Center's writing style and tone, but the romance, plot, AND characters weren't for me. I'm sure others will still love it, but none of it really hit for me. 3 stars isn't a bad rating and this wasn't a bad book, but I simply didn't connect and it didn't stir many feelings up.

At 33%, I was actively irritated by it. I didn't connect to Katie and I was mad that she and (selfish) co-worker Cole were trying to push his brother, Hutch, into essentially becoming internet famous when he didn't want to. There's more to that story, and I knew there was, but I still wasn't thrilled with how it all came around.

I had didn't love Katie's body issues and how they were handled. I felt like some of it was a little too quickly brushed by and aside from just talking about how she didn't want to know her weight, there really wasn't much detail about her new relationship with food (which would be a BIG deal) except some mentions here and there and of course, her self-perception. It wasn't handled *poorly* but it just didn't quite feel right. Those are some really deeply seeded issues and I kind of felt like once Hutch told her she was pretty and he liked the way she looked that it like, magically cured it for her for the most part? I don't know. I don't have anything against including this topic in this book, but I was also not at the right time to want to read about it, so I just had a hard time with it overall too.

Hutch was kind of .... BORING? Firstly he really wasn't a "love hater" so that was kind of annoying. I wanted him to be grumpy, but he was just kind of blah. When he had personality, it was a little too nice and too sweet. He could have used a lot more character development. Katie was okay. Rue was too typical sassy grandma/older female relative that's used so often in books. I liked her but she needed more personality too. The brother sucked. WHAT WAS WITH THE DRINKING CONTEST and why was that a thing and why was the prize kissing Katie!?! That was so stupid.

The ending was just FINE, nothing I really cared about by that point. All of the coast guard action wasn't really engaging for me. The best friend should have been on the page at some point too.

This is a very forgettable read and I felt little to no passion or chemistry between the two leads. Center is usually a closed-door romance author so I don't mind there really only being kissing, but I still want to feel that tension, yearning, butterflies.... this just didn't do it for me.