First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a roller coaster - I laughed, I teared up, and for just a moment about two-thirds in, I actually contemplated DNFing because of a wild twist. I’m very happy I didn’t though and that I trusted the author enough to make it all work out.
This was a book that I devoured though and when I wasn’t able to read it, I was thinking about it and couldn’t wait to get back to it.
I liked how Katie was a videographer and I think the author did a great job at making me see the shots and videos through the text. I loved how Hutch and Katie worked through their insecurities and past traumas together as their relationship grew.
Also, Hutch’s Aunt Rue and rescue dog George Bailey definitely stole every scene they were in and I loved them.
I only took a star off because of that twist because it was a little too unbelievable.
Please check trigger warnings because it does delve into some serious topics that affect Hutch and Katie.

Something about Katie and Hutch just clicked for me, I was obsessed with them. That being said- almost every plot point surrounding them bothered me so much I was convinced I didn't like this book- while I simultaneously couldn't put it down and finished it in a day. It was a crash course in cognitive dissonance truly. Something about Katie's background with her ex, and her insecurities- while very relatable were also unrelatable. Every woman is self conscious of their body, but including the famous ex who didn't really have relevance in the world of the story felt clunky. And maybe its because I just got laid off but Katie going along with Cole's insane lies after already having feelings for Hutch just felt off putting. If this had been a fake dating from the start where they had planned this lie for some reason- I think I could have gotten behind it more. It felt against Katie's personality to just go with it and not talk to Rue about it at least. Anyway all of that aside like I said I was STILL OBSESSED with Hutch and Katie and George Bailey.

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book!

I love Katherine Center. I could read her chicken scratchings on the back of a greasy napkin and still be enthralled with the story. This story was cute, but fell a little flat and was not quite the 5-Star romance I was anticipating.

This story centers around Katie Vaughn, a film maker/editor for a production company, who is on the verge of being canned due to corporate restructuring, and Tom Hutcheson aka "Hutch". Katie, besides frantically trying to save her job, is dealing with a slew of her own personal issues. She is recovering from an eating disorder, has body image issues, and is grieving the breakup of her engagement to Lucas Banks. And Hutch is still reeling in the death of his parents from when he was a child and the complicated family dynamic he has with his own brother.

There's hilarious swimming lessons, helicopter rescues, Sangrias with tiny parasols, brotherly fist fights, and a giant tackling Great Dane named George Bailey all intertwined in the story of Katie and Hutch.

PROS:
-The dreamy Key West background. It was vividly described and I could honestly place myself in the colorful theme of this story. I, too, wanted to start wearing vibrant floral caftans and matching sunglasses.
-Katie's growth during the book. I really enjoy how she grew to love and accept herself towards the end of the story. She felt empowered and really embraced who she was becoming and who she was. She took chances and faced her fears (i.e. swimming)
-Rue. Rue was a character and I wish I had a Rue in my life. She was supportive, feisty, and witty. She took Katie immediately and made her feel as though she was part of The Gals.
-Katie was funny when she wasn't putting herself down. I enjoyed the banter between her and Hutch
-Cousin Beanie, "queen of self help", was kind of annoying, however, I did appreciate the support she provided Katie and the role she played in helping Katie discover new ways to love herself.

CONS;
-I felt the narrative around body image (very important topic, especially for young female readers) felt very heavy at times and somewhat overshadowed the lightheartedness of this story
-COLE. Cole was a freaking loser and it was SO frustrating whenever he was involved. He was a lying, betraying, self-serving jerk who treated everyone, including his own brother, like absolute garbage. I despised the plot he dragged Katie in to and honestly, was annoyed at Katie for going along with it.
-LUCAS. What happened to him? He wrote this famous TikTok song called "Katie" and it was a huge topic in the book for like, 2 chapters and then all of a sudden we heard nothing else about him?

Overall, The Love Haters is a fun, quick, and charming book and I'd recommend it to any of my girlfriends looking for a lighthearted beach read. I will most definitely be looking forward to Ms. Center's next RomCom!

3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Katie has finally (mostly) gotten over being cheated on/dumped by her rockstar (ex) boyfriend. She is focusing on her job as a documentary profiler and taking some time to learn how to love herself. Cole, a coworker, tells Katie that her job is on the line, and the only way to save her job is to head to Key West and film a documentary about famous Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, famously known for saving Jennifer Aniston's dog. The twist? Not only can Katie not swim, but Cole and Hutch are estranged brothers. Also, Hutch is super hot.

There's just something special about Katherine Center's rom-coms. I will always drop whatever I'm reading to read her newest book. This book is well written, has a great pace, and is full of all the Katherine Center goodness we've come to know. 5/5

Katherine Center's "The Love Haters" is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy. It features a classic enemies-to-lovers trope with plenty of witty banter, charming characters, and a sweet, slow-burn romance. Center's writing is warm and engaging, and she has a knack for creating relatable and likeable characters. "The Love Haters" is a perfect feel-good read for anyone who enjoys a lighthearted and funny love story with a touch of emotional depth.

I love Katherine Center. L O V E! This was the perfect book to pull me out of my reading slump, and I believe it's her best work yet! I loved these characters, I was rooting for all of them! Except one specific character, and even by the end I was even rooting for him too! 5/5 stars, this will be the *perfect* beach read this summer, and I will definitely be buying a copy once paperback is available!! I loved the FMC's journey toward loving her body, it felt realistic without feeling too cheesy or instantaneous.

I really enjoyed this book! The story was captivating, the characters were memorable, and the writing drew me in from the start. It was a great mix of emotion and excitement, making it hard to put down. Highly recommend!

I adored this book! I think one of my favorites by Katherine Center. First of all, how do we not get sucked in by a dreamy US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer that is perfectly broody but also a sweetheart? Most of all, I loved Katie’s journey with her self-image, loving herself and her body. It’s like Katherine Center held up a mirror to every woman who was ever told she wasn’t enough and said “you are absolutely beautiful and unforgettable.” This book was a balm on my soul and my younger self. All while also being swept up in a swoony love story between Hutch and Katie.
Katherine Center’s Author’s Note on self-love, the power of love stories, the therapy that is reading, and her ode to the romance genre was perfection and a highlight of the reading experience! *Pro-Tip: never skip Katherine’s author’s notes❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Center for the advanced copy of “The Love Haters” it was a delight!

Another Katherine Center story that brought unexpected tears (really should be expected by now) and left me feeling really good. Maybe not her strongest book (my fav is Hello Stranger), but definitely better than 95% of everything else on the market. One unexpected trope showed up around two-thirds into the book that had me rolling my eyes and saying, “Really?!” But that aside, I was laughing out loud. I will always read everything she writes. Thanks to St. Martin’s for the ARC.

Katie embarks on an empowering journey to the Florida Keys, where she produces a promotional video for the coast guard, featuring Hutch, Cole's brother. As she resides in a charming cottage owned by Rue, Cole and Hutch's aunt, Katie forms meaningful connections with Rue and her vibrant friends, who shower her with affection and support. Throughout her stay, Katie undergoes a transformative process of self-discovery, learning to embrace her quirks and strengths. Her growth is further facilitated by her best friend Beanie, who encourages her to recognize her own potential. As Katie navigates her feelings for Hutch, a kind and dependable individual, she begins to heal from past wounds inflicted by her cheating ex-boyfriend, Lucas. This heartwarming tale, set against the stunning backdrop of the Florida Keys, is a testament to the power of resilience, self-acceptance, and the unwavering support of loved ones. With its unexpected surprises and uplifting message, this story is a true delight. The undeniable chemistry between Hutch and Katie, combined with the lovable presence of George Bailey, Hutch's massive Great Dane, makes for a truly unforgettable read.

This book so much more than a rom com book and I loved it. It’s about finding love of yourself. I think so many people can relate to the main character, Katie, and learn to stop the negative self talk. This was a cute, quick read and had some fun story development but I truly loved the direct message of you don’t need a partner to tell you how great you are, you can do that all by yourself.

I have a season pass for Katherine Center, she’s an autobuy for sure. This was good, but it wasn’t her best. I loved the body positivity plotline and identified with that part of the book for sure. I didn’t connect with the love story as much, it felt forced. Katherine Center always does impeccable research, so the Coast Guard parts were thoroughly believable. I did feel like this seemed like she wrote it to be turned into a movie, it had a lot of cinematic moments. The ending was clunky and the epilogue felt too neat.

4.5 Star Review of The Love Haters by Katherine Center

I’m not typically a romance girlie and rarely give romances a 4+ star review, but The Love Haters deserves every single star. I picked this one up expecting a light, funny romcom, but it turned out to be so much more. This isn’t just a love story—it’s charming and funny, yet heartbreaking and deeply introspective. Katherine Center has crafted lovable, well-developed characters who will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

One of the most compelling aspects of the story is how it weaves in an “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic—not between two people, but between the main character and her own body image. This subtle yet powerful thread resonates deeply, exploring her internal struggles and gradual journey toward self-acceptance. Alongside this and the main love story, the book examines themes of social media bullying, sibling rivalry, tragedy, loss, and forgiveness with honesty and emotional depth, while humor is sprinkled in to lighten the tone.

This book prompted self-reflection in ways I didn’t expect, and I’m grateful for how it portrayed such a complex and relatable journey. Even if you’re not typically a fan of romance, The Love Haters is worth the read—it’s so much more than just a love story. Don’t sleep on this one!

Another 5 star book from Katherine Center!! Love Katie and the journey she was on to learn to love herself. Hutch was great, loved their dynamic. A great heartfelt and deep read!

The Love Haters is classic Katharine Center - great banter, lovable and hilarious characters who really care for each other. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was underwhelmed by the beginning of this book, which details Katie's life and her struggles with self-esteem. Her character is relatable, but her story felt very negative initially. Then she travels to Key West, meets Hutch, Rue and all of the Gals, and the book got very fun and much more interesting. Katie Vaughn is a filmmaker who takes on a Coast Guard video project in order to save her job in the midst of company layoffs. Her focus in the promotional video is Hutch, a Coast Guard swimmer who rescues people at sea. When she arrives, Katie meets Rue, her sort of fairy god mother, who provides her with fabulous clothing, a cute place to live and lots of encouragement. As she films him, Katie falls in love with Hutch and soon finds out her feelings for Hutch are mutual. Enter Cole, Katie's boss and Hutch's scheming brother. His character was truly despicable and really did not contribute to the story. Despite his efforts to mess with Katie and Hutch, and Katie finding herself stranded on a boat during a hurricane, Katie and Hutch find their happily ever after.
The banter between the characters was laugh out loud funny, and I loved the description of the details of Katie's work. I also loved Katie's relationships with her cousin Beanie, Hutch, Rue and the Gals. Katie went through many challenges in her ability to love herself, and that is one of the main love stories of this book. She finds peace and love for herself at the end of the book. A great read for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or felt insecure about the way they look. The dramatic happy ending really ties up the loose ends of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel-good story.

The quirky characters made this book enjoyable. Unfortunately some plot points made this a 4 and not a 5. I loved George Bailey the Great Dane and Aunt Rue the most. I thought it was relatable how hard Katie was on herself. I think most women can relate to not feeling good or pretty enough.

I really disliked Cole throughout the story but ended up liking him in the end.

Katherine Center writes the best rom coms and The Love Haters proves it! Katie arrives in Key West to film a documentary on the Coast Guard rescue program and she doesn’t know how to swim. Her co-worker set her up with this gig under false pretenses-he has his own agenda going on too! Not only can’t she swim but she has zero self confidence and she has to sell this idea to this swim god named Hutch. Come to find out Hutch is her co workers big brother so there’s drama there. Katherine weaves her magic again with lots of romantic angst; family relationship drama and of course, a cute dog named George Bailey. Throw in a hurricane and a sinking boat and you got a great story! 4.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

I received this book from Net Galley for a review and I was so excited. I absolutely LOVE Katherine Center. I have been following her new releases for years. This one wasn’t my absolute favorite hint (The Bodyguard) but it’s up there! I gave it 5 stars because it’s still a five star read. It follows the typical Katherine Center books with interesting characters (I do wish I knew more about Katie and why Hutch is so closed off) but it keeps you reading! If you love Katherine Center, Abby Jiminez, Meghan Quinn, or Tess Bailey, you’ll love this book too. Just think less steamy than the Quinn books.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute! Nothing particularly unique or compelling to the plot or characters, but an enjoyable quick read. There was some emotional content about body acceptance and loving yourself, which I found a tad overdrawn but at certain points it resonated with me.

I enjoyed this book! I really enjoyed seeing how Katie grows in terms of self love. Hutch as a character was great and I think he was my favorite along side his dog. I do wish that we got to see more of Hutch and Katie together in the end as a couple but besides that it was a great read. Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book!!