Another fun and heartwarming book by Katherine Center. She is quickly becoming one of my auto buy authors for her engaging and entertaining books!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a heartwarmingly, swoon worthy, romance perfect for the spring and summer seasons. I loved the characters in this book and how well thought out they were complete with meaningful backstories. Katherine Center remains one of my favorite authors due to her consistently lovable and interesting characters and plot points.

I've always loved Katherine Center's romcoms and The Love Haters was no different.

Katie is chaotic and relatable in the best ways - you want to root for her the whole time because who amongst us hasn't feared rejection, putting on a bathing suit, and deep water? Hutch is your typical grumpy-for-good-reason love interest and the supporting cast does their jobs well.

The story is over the top in many places, but that works for this book. Katherine Center isn't trying to be too serious. If every romance novel can end in a happy ending, the stories along the way can be equally as unrealistic and entertaining.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Katherine Center is my go to for a feel good story! I love her novels and characters. She did not disappoint with The Love Haters. What I love most about The Love Haters, which is the same as all of Katherine Center's novels, is you know which two characters are going to end up together. It is apparent from the beginning, but what you don't know is how they will get to that point. The Love Haters does a great job of introducing the two love interests--Katie and Hutch. Katie is quirky and unsure of herself. She is such a realistic representation of what women go through. She is an independent woman working on herself and her career, which is refreshing. I enjoyed witnessing Katie venture through her journey of self-discovery and falling in love in the process.

Katherine Center writes the most relatable, realistic characters. I always can relate to characters in her book, and I never roll my eyes thinking, "No way that could ever happen!"

I was looking forward to reading this book, and I was not disappointed! I could not put it down!

I always look forward to Katherine Center's books, and this was another good one! Quirky and cute characters, a huge lovable dog and a girl learning to love herself. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I don't usually read romcoms. I'm more of a dark fantasy, gothic horror, spicy romance type of reader. But this book was just adorable! I liked the FMC (Katie) immediately. She was bubbly, intelligent, and vulnerable. It's one of those rare times where the MMC paled in comparison to the FMC. It was sweet and warm like a warm chocolate chip cookies. Even with zero spice, I still enjoyed reading it. This was a bright and cheery book, a nice change of pace to my usual dark and tense reads. This low stakes, cozy read was perfect for my anxiety flare up today.

I couldn’t put this book down! The chemistry between Hutch and Katie felt so real, and the miscommunication was kept to a minimum. I also loved the uniqueness of the setting/situation/occupations. My favorite part, though, was seeing Katie grow throughout her journey. And of course, the dog was absolutely adorable!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for gifting me this ARC!

Thanks so much to netgalley and st martins press for the arc in exchange for a honest review.
This was a beautiful story and it not only was a romance but it had familial love and self love. These characters felt real, the main male character is a coast guard and rescues people. I hadnt read about that before. The dog in this is so sweet. I highly recommend
This comes out may 20, 2025

This is my favorite ARC book so far. A cute little story about a sweet female character that we can all relate to and a man in uniform we can all want to stare at ❤️❤️ 5 stars. The characters were believable and I want to meet Rue and the Gals.

4.25 stars
I love Katherine Center’s work- the RomCommers had me in tears in the best way. The Lover Haters was equally special! I think one of my favorite part of her writing is that self-acceptance and self-understanding is such an important step alongside finding a partner in her books. I love that she’s proving that to be a good partner, you need to love yourself first. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!
Posted as Liz on Goodreads.

<A colorful story full of charming, warm characters that’s as much about falling in love with yourself as it is about falling in love with another person. This is my new favorite Katherine Center book.

Katie is in the middle of recovering from a recent heartbreak when she’s sent sent to Key West on a job that makes her face both her fears and herself.

The plot is dynamic, moving from hilarious situations, to softly heartfelt moments, and heart racing suspense with ease. You’ve got meddling retirees, an over-eager great Dane, and a best friend that’s the perfect balance of supportive and pushy. The romance is comfortable without being boring, and the conflict they face is more due to outside sources than issues between them. Hutch is capable, dependable, and kind. He rescues dogs. He teaches Katie how to swim. It’s a joy to watch them fall for each other.

Katie’s journey with self-esteem could be triggering for some readers, but the majority of millennial girls who grew up in the “Kate Moss” era of fashion can find something relatable about her relationship with her own body and her perception of how the world sees it. It’s one thing to say you love yourself, but it’s another thing to actually believe it, and watching Katie work through that is empowering.

I read this almost in one sitting and I could see myself rereading it in the future.

The Love Haters was unfortunately a pretty significant disappointment for me. I enjoyed The Rom-Commers and was looking forward to reading more by Katherine Center, but I'm wondering now if maybe I'm not the right reader for her.

I thought the humor and plot (especially the ending!) were over-the-top, unrealistic, and a bit juvenile, which detracted from the more emotional parts of the plot. Cole is a bizarre, mean-spirited character, and I don't understand Katie's willingness to put up with him. He does several things, especially in the second half of the story, that I found both completely inexplicable and off-putting. The negative body talk throughout was excessive and confusingly handled.

This book tackles some pretty heavy subjects (including parental death and disordered eating/body image) and I felt that the overall tone of the book really detracted from how seriously those issues could be addressed.

It wasn't 5 stars for this one, but it was a solid 4 for me. I just think she's an amazing writer, and I haven't disliked anything yet, but Katherine Center delivers a heartfelt and humorous gem with The Love Haters. This nourishing and uplifting story encouraged self-love, personal growth, and embracing new perspectives, all wrapped in Center’s signature humor that felt like the best kind of therapy. The slow-burn romance between Katie Vaughn, a documentary filmmaker, and Tom Hutcheson, an Aviation Survival Technician, was beautifully written, with a focus on vulnerability and connection that felt deeply relatable. Center’s storytelling is both inspiring and entertaining, leaving me smiling throughout. A must-read for fans of thoughtful, feel-good romance. Four stars. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank so much you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of The Love Haters by Katherine Center!

Katie, a video producer at risk of being part of a workforce reduction, is assigned to film a profile on Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Hutch turns out to be the brother of her coworker, Cole. When she travels to Key West to film the profile, Cole arranges for Katie to stay with his Aunt Rue. The video profile lays the stage for a forced proximity romance between Katie and Hutch.

The Love Haters is very much a contender for being my new favorite book by Katherine Center! I absolutely adored Katie and Hutch! Rue, the Gals, and George Bailey were also major scene stealers throughout the book. This love story will make you swoon and the last act of this book will have you on the edge of your seat! It was absolutely incredible and brilliantly done!!!

I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book! I highly recommend having the Love Haters as part of your TBR for this year!!

This book was absolute perfection! It was a love letter to every person who has ever thought that they weren't enough, that they needed to change something about themselves. Katherine Center has a way of making you laugh through the heartbreak and tears, and this was no exception.

Review to come on instagram closer to release, posted on goodreads 1/6.

B O O K R E V I E W
Title: The Love Haters
Author: Catherine Center
Pages: 320
⭐️: 4/5

Katie Vaughan’s love life came crashing around her a year ago when her social media- made famous musician fiancé cheated on her. A year later, her life has stalled - that is until work begins laying people off. Katie can either be the next video producer to be let go, or a the request of her colleague Cole, go to Florida to film his brother, Hutch, for a Coast Guard recruitment piece. Katie is faced with fears and old scars, as she dives straight in.

Katherine Center knocks it out of the park again. Her characters, especially the FMCs, feel real and imperfect in the best possible way. Katie is strong, and smart and has baggage that doesn’t immediately disappear the moment she meets a man. This book is about love, not just between a couple, but also the love one has for oneself and their family - whether biological or chosen. It’s a beautiful story that I just couldn’t put down. I rated it four stars because I wish there was just a bit more about the couple at the end, but I love and respect that their relationship was just one part of the journey.

One of my favorite types of romance novels! I loved the characters and the whole story line. Love to hate is so so fun to read! I highly recommend reading this one. You will fall in love with it.

Oh my gosh, this book!!! Not only was a cracking up, but I found myself getting emotional. As someone who struggles with insecurities, the message about loving and appreciating yourself was so powerful. This is BY FAR my favorite Katherine Center story.

This is one of my anticipated reads of this year, and it was everything I’ve wanted and more. The Love Haters is a rom-com following Katie Vaughn, a documentary filmmaker, and Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, an aviation survival technician for the United States Coast Guards, also known as a rescue swimmer. In the midst of potentially being laid off, Cole, Katie’s work supervisor, offers her a filming documentary job in Key West, video-graphing a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard rescue swimmers. Despite not knowing how to swim or having any background knowledge of Coast Guards, Katie accepts the job in an attempt to prevent being fired. Cole informs Katie that the rescue swimmer she’ll be interviewing is his brother, Hutch, who he doesn’t get along with. During her stay in Key West, Katie learns more about Hutch and his history as well as rediscovering herself.

Katie is extremely relatable and heartbreakingly vulnerable. She is a character who perseveres despite difficulties. Her relationship with the way she struggles with her body and food hit too close to home, but her gradual acceptance and appreciation for them was extremely gratifying and beautiful. Hutch, on the other hand, was broody, stoic, and protective. His immediate first impression and reaction to Katie were charming and genuine. Hutch's appreciation and love for Katie for who she is as a person and never wanting to change her was endearing.

While The Love Haters is a rom-com, it reads more like women's fiction with romance in the rearview. It’s a story of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-discovery. It focuses on appreciating who you are as a person and how much you could achieve and accomplish if you set your fears aside. It focuses on accepting love, overcoming your past, and resilience. Moreover, it highlights the importance of self-empowerment and how much power you yield over yourself versus the world. Katherine Center wrote a profound book accentuating the beauty in learning how to be unapologetically yourself while finding comfort from inwardly reflecting and appreciating life for what it is and welcoming it instead of hiding away from it.

I truly adored reading this uplifting book, and anything Katherine writes exudes joy and warmth. I can’t wait for her future releases, and I’m beyond excited for what’s next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine is back and she is back swinging! Katie is a videographer who is about to get sacked (or she thinks) by her boss, Sullivan. So, what does her coworker, Cole do? He offers his assignment to her to make a documentary about the newly popular, Hutch, a coast guard who saved Jennifer Anniston’s dog. Hutch, Cole’s older brother agrees to the terms, hoping he would come back home to Marina Keys, to at least be civil in front of aunt Rue. Seems like he and Cole are in not so friendly terms. And, we don’t know why. As they spend more time with each other, he falls for her and her too. But, then Cole comes with her going-on-a-firing-rampant boss and tells everyone he and Katie are dating?!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Romance books are easy to predict when you have read them a lot. I thought I would get the older brother trope but it wasn’t predictable. Heck at times, it seems like it was contradicting tropes as a satire. And, I’m here for it. The laidback writing is able to convey such powerful meaning with the dialogue and descriptions.

The characters felt complex but still fun. Katie got dumped by her now famous musician fiancee a year ago and while she is over their breakup, she didn’t get over about the mean comments. She started not loving her body and who can blame her when social media endorse the unhealthy mindset of perfection. Then, in this assignment she met Hutch.

I thought at first, Hutch perfect physique (he is a Coast guard yall, his job desc is to stay ripped) would play into Katie’s insecurity. While they talked about a little, it wasn’t the main point. She opened up about how she hated her body and how her brain tried to love it but it’s hard. He opened up to her as well about Rue not being his biological aunt and what happened between Cole. Their trauma didn’t complete each other. They weren’t connected in some backstory. It did not NEED to match. They let and helped each other realize how grewt theyare. It felt like I was seeing two people connect and fall in love. It was dreamy, in a realistic and best way possible.

Her inner dialogue is so funny. I can relate of ‘why am i even thinking about this in this important matter right now’ mindset. I do widh that we could get Hutch’s inner turmoil more. We get to see much of Katie’s personality that he felt flat in comparison.

5 stars and I love it. It’s now my second fav book of hers, after the Bodyguard.