Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a heartwarming, funny, and tear-jerking slow-burn romance that totally hooked me. Patti Murin, the narrator, was spot-on as Katie. Her voice and delivery were very engaging. Overall a solid rom-com!

Katherine Center can do no wrong. I will take no criticism. This book was perfection. I absolutely adored Hutch and Katie. Katie’s character had incredible growth. Rue was the sweetest. I despised Cole and George Bailey was hands down my favorite character. I felt like I was in the story with these characters. I loved everything about this sweet story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another romcom from Katherine Center. I was a die hard Center fan with her earlier writing and I still enjoy her stories but this one was a little too out there for me. It was just fine- nothing memorable about either of the main characters. I felt like the love story was secondary to the personal issues of the female lead. She had major body image issues that were keeping her from really enjoying her life. It was sad! Plus the ending was so strange and far fetched that it kind of brought down the whole book.

I will always pick up a Katherine Center book but I miss her old style!

As far as the audiobook- it was well done and easy to follow.

Katie Vaughn really needs her job as a video producer so to avoid being laid off, she accepts an assignment that her boss Cole offers her-and “omits the truth” about her lack of swimming skills!

The assignment: Profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

The reason Cole offers her the job? Cole is Hutch’s brother and they don’t get along.

So, Katie packs her bags and heads to Key West. She will worry about a swimsuit later - Katie's character talks a lot about body image and being self-conscious which could be relatable, but did start to come off as annoying and would've loved to see more confidence growth from the character.

Not my favorite by this author, but will still pick up anything she writes!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC.

Choosing to DNF a book at 75% is never fun, especially when you were really enjoying the story up until some truly bizarre plot points made continuing completely impossible.

The first 3/4ths of The Love Haters is great! Katie is a director who is forced by a coworker into taking the job of creating a recruitment video for the US Coast Guard even though she can't swim. This brings her down to Key West, where she encounters a wonderful cast of characters and Hutch, a very handsome rescue swimmer. It was all so lovely, and the main characters were full of depth and had such interesting backstories. When the pushy coworker (who also happens to be Hutch's younger brother) makes a surprise appearance in Florida, everything goes off the rails in such frustrating, unpleasant, and completely out-of-character ways that I was unable to continue on with the story. Katerine Center has written many books that I have enjoyed and I would basically recommend any of them over this mess.

It is worth noting that the audio production is excellent, and I really enjoyed this narrator a lot!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is hands down my favorite read of 2025 (and possibly my favorite of hers)! I couldn’t put it down and was laughing out loud from start to finish. Katie’s emotional journey felt so real and raw, and I was right there with her through every high and low. The way Center brings her characters to life is unmatched—I felt so connected to Katie and her internal struggles. I cried, I laughed, and by the end, my heart was so full. This book is everything, and I cannot recommend it enough! 🩷

Thank you to Katherine and her team for the audio ARC — The Love Haters comes out May 20, and it’s an absolute must-read! ☀️

The narrator did a good job telling the story and working with what she had.

Overall the characters were enjoyable to read, except for the main character, Katie. Part of this could be the narration and partly how she was written. The story revolves around her body issues after getting negative press, but I think the way it was written more depressing versus trying to sympathize and relate to the character.

I could read some chemistry between Katie and Hutch, but it came off as more friends caring for one another and not in love.

The story had good elements to it. What felt like would be a bigger part of the storyline ended up reading more of a side story. Maybe there was too much the author was trying to put into the story and the main focus got lost.

This wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book and I have loved her stories prior to this one.

Thank you Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook arc.

I was lucky enough to receive the ARC and ALC so let’s talk about them.

ARC: This is a very unconventional love story… as it’s mostly about our main character Katie learning to love herself as well as Hutch. I honestly don’t think it only falls into the category of romance but also maybe Lit Fic or Women’s Fic. There was a very strong message about loving yourself and your body. There is definitely a lot of talk of ED and body dismorphia.

That being said I did enjoy myself. The story got a little too goofy for me in the middle but the end brought it all together.

ALC: I really enjoyed the audio. The narrator was great and I have nothing bad to say. I reccomend the audio if you’re an audio person.

Thank you to Katherine Centers, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy.

Had many ups and downs with this book as I read. This is my first Katherine Center book, and I will say I loved her voice throughout the story. Her writing is very descriptive and easy to breeze through. However, I was not a fan of Katie. In the beginning, chapter after chapter detailed her issues with her body to the point where being deeply insecure was her only character trait. The first few chapters were difficult to get through for that reason. But overall, the story was cute, light, and easy to read.

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.

I enjoyed the audio for this book. The narrators voice was soothing and made it easy to get lost in the book. Her pace flowed and at one point I thought maybe there was someone else, as she did a great job with all of the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

The author's passion shines through in this book. The characters were perfect enemies to lovers. I just didn’t connect with it like I wanted to. It has great potential to appeal to other romance readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

The Love Haters was totally sweet and a little silly. If you’ve ever dreamed of finding a real life hero who is instantly obsessed with you, this is the book for you. The ending was ridiculously fun and sweet and I loved it.

DNF @ 20%

The first few chapters are chock full of body dysmorphia, descriptions of incredibly disordered eating, and body image/weight issues. In a world where women face so many reasons for insecurity, I can’t support books where this is the main source of conflict on the page.

I was gifted an early copy of this book. 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.

Absolutely LOVED this book, not my usual read but so glad I picked it up. Perfect amount of humor and great grumpy sunshine storytelling. Would recommend to my one went a quick lighthearted read

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).

ARC review • pub date 05.20.25

My favorite thing about Katherine Center books is that reading them feels like talking to your best friend. Like a literal hug- feel good - and always hits on a sensitive topic in such a respectful manner.

This book follows Katie who is headed to the Florida Keys to save her job - filming a Day In The Life of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch. Katie has struggled with body image and eating issues , and also doesn’t know how to swim.

The story was written beautifully, and as with all of her other books, I fell in love with the story and all of its characters. Ugh and the ending! Recommend this one 💕

Patti Murin is the most perfect narrator for Katherine Center books and you cannot change my mind!

4⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC

#MacAudio2025

It always amazes me how quickly that I get sucked into Katherine Center’s stories, and this one was no exception. From the meddling old ladies to the hot coast guard diver to the very large and excitable dog, I could see it all unfolding in my mind like a movie! I am so glad that this story was so much more than just a love story between a man and a woman. It was definitely what I needed. Katie’s struggles with loving herself hit so close to home, and I am sure that almost anyone can relate to that in some regard. Whether you are looking for a “boy meets girl” story or simply a “girl learns to love herself” story, this is definitely one to consider!

Thanks to Katherine Center and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

Cute rom com from Katherine Center: a little long in spots. A bit predictable. But light and fun. Not a fan of the swear words that seemed unnecessary.