The Love Haters by Katherine Center was, unfortunately, a mixed experience for me, landing at a 3-star rating. As a longtime fan of Center’s work, I went into this book with high expectations, but it just didn’t fully click for me.

The humor, which is usually a strong point in her books, felt forced and unnatural at times, making it hard to fully engage with the story. I also struggled to connect with Katie, our female lead. Her body image insecurities were a key part of her character arc, but they became repetitive to the point of frustration. While I completely understand the importance of self-acceptance themes in romance, the way it was handled made it difficult to stay invested.

Additionally, Beanie—the quirky cousin/friend—felt like an odd character choice, and instead of adding charm, she often felt out of place. The romance itself didn’t feel entirely believable, lacking the natural chemistry and emotional depth that I usually love in Center’s novels.

I truly hate giving a lower rating to an author I admire, but The Love Haters simply didn’t work for me. That being said, I know every reader connects with books differently, so while this wasn’t a hit for me, others may still find it enjoyable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A disappointing read from an otherwise beloved author, with forced humor and an underwhelming romance.

The narration of this book was great!

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for providing an early audio version in exchange for my honest review!

“We’re here to be alive. To feel the sun on our skin. To breathe deep in the wind. We’re here to feel it all. To love and cry and love some more.”

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an eARC audio of “The Love Haters” by Katherine Center. I read “The Rom-Commers” last year and enjoyed it, so I was really excited to read this one as well. I listened to the audiobook in tandem with reading a digital copy and I loved the experience! The narrator really captures your attention and amplifies the story.

As far as characters go, I really enjoyed out FMC Katie and the MMC Hutch, but the real stars of the show were The Gals and George Bailey! I loved the found family aspect and the ending was fantastic!!! Katie had so much character growth.

I don’t love the miscommunication trope, so that was a big aspect for me that hindered with my complete enjoyment of this story. This story is more than just a summer romance, and I also loved the development of body positivity that the FMC grew as the story progressed.

However, the summer vibes of this story are going to be something that will make you want to pick this book up in June for sure.

This was such a fun book. I really like that the author is adding in extra depth with other completely normal problems. The miscommunication was really messy with the brother involved, but I ended up being ok with that included.

I dont have my posting schedule made for May quite yet, but I will share this title on my instagram at www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads shortly before publication day.

This book how can you not love it!!! Katie is a videographer in a company in Dallas. When she is given a chance to go and make a video about the Coast Guard she is dreading it but makes the best of it! Cole her boss send her to do a promotional video to get people to join up with a tiny little tid bit it’s his older brother hutch. As Katie gets to key west she is haunted by body image and her famous ex boyfriend and online trolls. Beanie Katie best friend tries to encourage her to look at the bright side of it all!

I love this book! It make me laugh and it’s just what I need I highly recommend!! So go buy it now!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I loved this book! The main character, Katie, is a low level video producer and is about to be let go due to cuts. She agrees to help shoot a video for the Coast Guard featuring Hutch, a man who was deemed a national hero for rescuing the pet of a celebrity.

The most lovable character in the book was Hutch's eccentric aunt, Rue. She and her wacky crew of older women brought comic relief and heartwarming conversations.

It is a great summer romcom for when you are wanting a great story with good characters but nothing so serious that you can't enjoy the lightheartedness.

Overall this was a fun read and a nice brain vacation. It’s also a true rom-com with no romance smut.

As usual, the dog was the very best part of this story.

My complaints are that I got tired of the author shoving body positivity down my throat.

My other issue was several parts of the story are beyond over the top and many of them were not necessary; it would have been a better book without some of them. For example, the MC ex boyfriend is a Justin Bieber. There was absolutely no need for this. She could have been a normal gal who has a bad breakup that left her feeling a little insecure or lonely or whatever.

I will continue to read this author books. 3.75 stars
Thanks netgalley

Katherine Center does it again! Relatable characters with character development throughout. A fun and engaging romance full of humor while still hitting deep topics of self worth, bravery, grief and family. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end - it really pulled it all together for me.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

I'm a fan of Katherine Center, and this book was another fun ride, but unfortunately, from time to time, I did feel that there were too many subtopics to tackle and that nearer to the end some ideas for the characters felt a bit forced/ contrived. However, it is still a solid romance, and a light beach read. I must state I read the ebook and audiobook in tandem. I got invested in most of the main and supporting characters and I loved the dog George Bailey. The love story was still entertaining and the rescue job aspect was well done. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job with the voices and for me, it helped move the story along through some of the heavier subtopics. Overall, a quick and easy read.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC. This is my honest review.

Narrated by Patti Murin, and due out May 20

If you go into this one looking for romance, you're gonna be disappointed, BUT...

Katie was once deeply in love with a fiancee who left her after becoming famous. After being shamed by his fans for her appearance, she withdraws and embraces a future of all black clothing in the hopes of never again standing out.

In an effort to save her job, Katie takes an assignment interviewing Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. There's a decent amount of awkwardness here, because Katie has told a few lies to get this opportunity. (Yes, she's taken a position requiring that she swim knowing that she can't swim, and also that she's not comfortable being seen in swimwear).

Thankfully, she finds a tribe of older ladies, led by fairy godmother Rue. And this is the true heart of this story. The relationships here, formed in the most heartbreaking of times, are the best parts, full of love and solidified as chosen family. Katie is welcomed and evolves as she finds herself to be worthy of the attention and affection she finds.

Though some of the growing pains were pretty cringey in this one, and some parts downright silly, I liked Katie's learning to accept herself.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Katherine Center’s unapologetic love for writing romance makes me love reading her books. I’m comforted in knowing there’s always some swoon and warm fuzzies along the way to love. This book delivers as Katie sets out to interview Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch and save her job. Hutch is such a dreamy lead- he ticks all the boxes. Katie also struggles with self image and body positivity throughout the book which I can certainly relate to, so this felt more real than annoying to me. The final complication/scene in the book feels both extremely unrealistic and also a bit frustrating that Katie got herself into the situation, but I forgive a lot in the name of a happy ending courtesy of Katherine Center. As usual, Patti Murin provides excellent audiobook narration. I listened to an ARC from NetGalley and also had access to a digital copy. I did read several luke warm reviews of this book and understand some of the critiques, but while this book may have its imperfections, it’s a net win.

I love all of Katherine's books but this book mossed the mark for me. The characters seemed very childish and the heavy topics seemed to be brushed over. I was just left wanting more from this. It almost seemed like a different author.

I didn't enjoy the narration for this story. It fell a bit flat and didn't really hype up the story. Overall I would recommend physically reading this one.

First things first, this book definitely needs a trigger warning for the eating disorder content, in depth analysis of calorie counting and self image issues in regard to weight and overall body dysmorphia disorder. As someone who kind of doesn’t like my body sometimes, even I struggled to get through the first half of this one. I have always enjoyed when an author speaks about difficult things and shows the struggles and trauma of such topics as well as the challenges of living with and working on such things, but I felt like this could have been done better.

By favorite quote of the book was Beanie saying “This feels melodramatic.”, Yes Beanie, it does.. and I find it hard to believe that Beanie (sp?) didn’t see that Katie was struggling with these issues enough to suggest therapy. I mean it was all Katie thought about, like literally the only thing, I felt like I listened to a five minute long diatribe about worrying what her thighs would look like in a bathing suit. Which I mean, OK I get it but when it’s the third or fourth diatribe about how your body looks within, I don’t know 10 or so chapters I think some of that bleeds out into your personal relationships to where your friends and families can see that there’s an issue But maybe I’m just an over sharer and I don’t keep things to myself and other people do who knows.

For the title being the love haters, I didn’t feel like either of the main characters really hated love. They were both felt written as very open to love ways, In my opinion. I think it was just that neither of them were looking for love, rather than that they hated it.

Overall I didn’t really connect with this one, I wanted to know more about Rue and Cole than I wanted to know about Katie and Hutch. Also the dog and the frogs!

Solid 3 star mostly based on the fact that the writing wasn’t bad, the plot felt pretty fresh, the side characters were great and I liked a newish vibe with the coast guard, also I did enjoy the audiobook narrator Patti Murin. But for me the FMC just wasn’t it, I would have preferred a dual pov and the FMCs inner thoughts were a little too obsessive for me..

Please I beg of you put in a trigger warning!

Katie is facing job loss, but her boss gets her a job videoing his brother who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. While out of town on this adventure, there’s lots of laughs and giggles throughout. After she accepts the job, she fails to mention that she doesn’t know how to swim herself.

Then she learns about the brother’s past, and a little history while she’s in Key West with Hutch. As the story continues to unfold, there’s lots of humor which I really enjoyed. The romance is light and nothing outlandish, but overall I loved the story line and fell for all the characters, as they all had their own quirks and personalities.

Great read and highly recommend!

The Love Haters
By Kathrine Center
Narrated by Patti Murin
4.5 ⭐️

I was the definition of a captive audience for this story. Center puts humanity into her characters that I tend to instantly connect with. Add Murin’s ability to pour life into the characters through her narration, and I’m sucked in.

Katie’s body image issues made me uncomfortable. I think it’s because it’s difficult to not have at least some negative feelings re: body image in the world we live in. I think a good book making you uncomfortable is sometimes why we read. I don’t have a self image that in any way resembles Katie’s; and yet, I found myself pondering my own thoughts about body image and holding space for that. I really loved how this part of the story was wrapped up and found myself kind of liking having to think through some self help ideas along the way.

I really enjoyed this read. With the TW of body image issues, I’d highly recommend this.

Thank you NetGalley, Kathrine Center, Macmillan audio, and St. Martin’s press for an audiobook ARC and eARC copies of this story.

Just two MCs who realize they are love haters and enjoy spending time together. Katherine Center just knows how to write romcoms that will transport you into her world. Never let me leave I love it here.

Katherine Center is so good at creating characters that are multi-dimensional that you care about! This was a fun love story & will be one I'll recommend all summer long. As always, Patti Murin's narration is perfect!

This audiobook was absolutely amazing! I loved the book itself, but the narrator made everything ten times better. I love the way she read each sentence. she didn't sound like she was just reading lines, she actually put emotion into them, and I loved every second of it. The book itself was so fun and cozy, a perfect summer read by the pool! <3

I think the narration was great! I just did not love the story. I really struggled with this book. To me it was more chicklit than romance which is fine just not my thing. I do absolutely love Katherine Center and her writing. The book centered around Katieainky with kinda as a side character. I felt no chemistry even though he was sweet. But I will say the book did have some parts that had me actually laughing out loud.

I was so excited for this book and expected a five star read and I think I was the victim of too high expectations.

I struggled with Katie the main character at first because I found her tone annoying, and I dislike reading about body shaming ourselves. I did feel in the end that her growth through the story and how she learned to love her herself and her body was great, it was just not my favorite thing to read at first.

I loved Hutch (and his dog) instantly. He was perfect (seriously!) but I didn’t feel their chemistry. I liked how the relationship progressed but I wanted to feel it more.

In the end, it’s a fun romance story with growth for the main character, and some cute storylines. Unfortunately it is not a new favourite but it was still a fun quick and sweet read.

I did a mix of reading with my eyes and listening. The audiobook itself is good and easy listening. I enjoyed the narration.

I swear Patti Murin was total perfection to narrate this story! Katie is such a relatable character and the cast of side characters are were so wonderful! I loved those real laugh out loud moments and the emotional tearful ones as well. This was such a wonderful story with a cute romance and a good message about body positivity. Also… Katie’s best friend? She is amazing!