The Love Haters is the twelfth novel by Katherine Center. Her stories are warm and humorous but they also touch on serious events and situations and are told with great care.

Videographer Katie Vaughn loves what she does. So much so, in fact, that she has her own YouTube site called a Day in the Life where she spends 24 hours filming the everyday life of her subjects while also interviewing them about their lives and livelihoods. The Dallas company Katie works for is in a state of flux and many are being laid off. She will do whatever it takes to remain on the job so when her immediate report Cole Hutcheson gives her an assignment to spend three weeks in Key West creating a recruitment video for the Coast Guard she, of course, says yes. . Her contact is Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, Cole’s older brother.

Hutch has already had some notoriety when he rescued Jennifer Anniston’s dog when it fell off a California cliff. Although he had no choice of being an object of interest at the time, Hutch has made it his business to stay out of the limelight since that experience. However, he has brought this project to Cole in hopes of spending time with his brother and mending the year long rift between them.

But Cole isn’t ready for such a reunion just yet but has a talented, eager underling that is anxious to save her job in the layoffs and this piece may just be the golden ticket. So Katie packs her wardrobe of black jeans and T-shirts and flies to Miami. After landing, Katie hurries to baggage claim just to be doused with another hurried passenger’s coffee and then to learn her baggage has been lost. Her only option seems to be to collect her rental car, head to the Stardust Inn in Key West, and hope her luggage follows suit. Luckily, Katie always carries her video equipment with her so she can still do her job.

Upon arriving in Key West, Katie meets Cole’s Auntie Rue, owner of the Inn, and the story takes off. From underwater survival training for a lady who doesn’t know how to swim, to hanging out the door of a helicopter to grab rescue footage, many encounters with a 160 pound Great Dane named George Bailey, witnessing hostilities between brothers, riding out a hurricane with said George Bailey this story is a wild ride. Along the way, Katie has many adventures but the greatest part of the journey is the people she meets along the way.

This is such a good story. While quite humorous, it also has many serious topics woven into the tale. The characters are dynamic, the setting tropical, and the storyline is a wild ride for the reader with a lovely conclusion. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I was so excited to receive this as both an ARC and an ALC! Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors of all time, a national treasure. She is also a fellow Texan. Her books are always well researched and feel like a love letter to Texas, to human connections, to love stories. Her authors notes at the end of her books are one of the best parts, and getting to hear her speak on the ALC was so cool!

These books are sunshine. These are the kinds of books so good you forget to take notes because you are so involved in the story.

The body acceptance piece of this story was so powerful. I loved in the authors note where it says the relationship with the main characters body is an enemies to lovers trope!

George Bailey is the ultimate wing dog.

Katherine Center has done it again! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I’ve never really thought of the Coast Guard as being filled with swoony, heroic types—but let’s just say that’s changed now!

This story follows Katie, who’s still reeling from a messy public breakup with a famous musician and struggling with body image issues. Her journey toward self-acceptance is raw, emotional, and so incredibly relatable. I especially loved the bond she shares with Rue—such a beautiful friendship rooted in support, wisdom, and some seriously great advice (hello, time horizon!). Their connection added so much heart to the story and reminded me how important it is to have someone in your corner when life gets heavy.

And can we talk about Katie and Hutch?! The chemistry between them was off the charts! Their banter, their emotional support, and the way they just got each other—it was everything I wanted in a romance.

I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator did such a great job bringing the characters to life. Everyone had a distinct voice, and the performance really pulled me into the story.

This is definitely going on my list of favorites this year—Katherine Center fans will not be disappointed!

First let me begin with how much I loved this. The lesson in loving and accepting yourself is something I definitely need to work on myself. Katherine Center knows how to slip in these important lessons in each of her book.

My only complaint is I wish there had been a dual POV. I feel like reading Hutch's point of view could've helped give us an insight to his thoughts and feelings.

Katherine Center is an amazing author and this was another amazing rom-com. I truly enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved the narration.

Katie is a video producer on the brink of losing her job thanks to her company's downsizing. Her coworker Cole seems determined not to let that happen and pushes her to take on a project that will help prove her worth to the boss; documenting Coast Guard Swimmers in Key West with a special interest in one particular man - Hutch, who also happens to be Cole's brother. There are only two problems with this plan. Hutch does everything he can to remain out of the spotlight, and Katie lacks one particular skill required for the job; the ability to swim.

Feeling she has no other choice, she takes the job and decides to figure out the details as she goes along. Only nothing seems to go as planned.

The Love Haters is a story full of mishaps, misunderstandings, unexpected feelings, and a lot of heart. Despite loving some characters and appreciating the over-the-top elements commonly found in a good rom-com, I didn't love the story overall. There's a huge emphasis on Katie's body image and while I can appreciate her journey to self-love, it often seemed more forced into the storyline than naturally woven through it. I felt heavy-handed and kept taking me out of what the story should have been focused on.

I do always enjoy a good happy ending, and this one didn't disappoint, however, there were just too many other parts (that I won't give away because of spoilers) that prevented the story from flowing as smoothly as I would have liked. The narration was great and Patti Murin did a great job reading the tone of the situations the characters were in.

The book was good, but not my favorite. 3 stars.

Thanks so much to Macmillian Audio for the ALC of this novel!

Well, this was a delightful romp of a rom-com! I feel like all of Center's stories are just warm hugs in book form. I identified with Katie so much will her insecurities, and what's not to love about Hutch?

Katie is a video producer who is at work of being fired. Her coworker, Cole, urges her to go to Key West and make a short documentary on his brother, Hutch, who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Katie can’t swim, but reluctantly agrees because she feels like it is a last ditch effort to keep her job.

As Katie gets to know the curmudgeon, Hutch, and his anxiety ridden rescue Great Dane, she starts to fall for him. But when Katie gets caught in a few lies, she worries that she won’t be brave enough to come clean and learn to love herself in the process.

A big thank you to #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book! Katherine Center never disappoints! I love how the author writes in a realistic way, highlighting the difficulties that sometimes happen at the beginning of adult relationships. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was how Katie had to learn to love herself and her body, despite all of the outside noise. It's these relatable and humorous plot points that make Katherine Center a must read author for me!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a very well-written and engaging story, with excellent narration that really brought the characters to life. The banter between Katie and Hutch was a highlight—fun, flirty, and full of charm. I also really enjoyed Hutch’s aunt Rue and her group of wacky friends, who added a fun and heartwarming touch to the story.

Katie’s emotional journey felt real and relatable, though her insecurities and body image struggles dragged on at times and started to feel repetitive. Hutch was a sweet and steady love interest, but I would’ve liked a bit more depth to his character.

One downside was Hutch’s brother, who’s also Katie’s boss. I found him extremely frustrating, especially the lies he told and the fact that Katie went along with them.

Also worth noting—this is a closed-door romance, so the most the characters do is kiss. If you're looking for steam, this one keeps it very sweet and clean.

Overall, this was a witty, heartfelt story that I truly enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced listener copy!

I love Katherine Center’s storytelling and writing but this was a miss for me. I couldn’t get behind the main character, the storyline didn’t feel cohesive, it lacked normal KC charm, and there was unnecessary friction that took away from the story itself. The deeper themes were so heavy handed they just didn’t land for me and side characters were a miss as well.

But, I can see how others would enjoy this if you are looking for a summer time contemporary romance with themes of adventure, a fun sidekick pup, and swimming and Coast Guard training. It just wasn't for me 🙃.

I associate Patti Murin with Katherine Center audiobooks at this point!

I think she beautifully captures the essence that is the story that Center is portraying, evoking all the right emotions, expressions and intonations. As I only listened to a little bit of the book and decided to read it instead, full review will be available for the ARC.

Thank you so much to all parties involved for allowing me to read this one early ♥︎

If you’re looking for a story that combines humor, romance, and daring rescues, this book delivers all that and more. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Florida Keys, it follows Janie, a struggling video producer who must film a Coast Guard promo video to save her job. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Hutch, her boss’s heroic brother—and accidentally fall for him.

The narrative sparkles with colorful imagery: restored vintage cottages, rescue helicopters slicing through stormy skies, and the charm of Hutch’s matchmaking Great Dane. Janie’s journey is both romantic and empowering as she learns to love her body despite perceived flaws and confronts her fear of swimming in the most unexpected way—filming rescue swimmers in action.

The chemistry between Hutch and Janie is palpable, filled with stolen kisses, miscommunications (he thinks she’s his brother’s girlfriend!), and moments of vulnerability. The plot thickens with daring rescues during a hurricane and heartfelt swim lessons that bring them closer together.

This book isn’t just about romance—it’s about growth, courage, and finding joy in life’s chaos. With its vivid Key West vibes, lovable characters, and adventurous spirit, it’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys swoon-worthy romance with a touch of humor. Highly recommended!

First off I would start by saying this book gives a voice to almost everyone with how difficult self love is . You can always find something to dislike about yourself. Self love and acceptance was one of my favorite parts of this book ! It is an uplifting “ romance “ story . But I would say romance was secondary in the novel . The story line is pretty fast paced , keeping you interested. I resonated with Katie and discovering how to love yourself .

I feel like the author set out to do something profound with this story, but by doing so ends up losing the reader in the process.

Katie has self-image issues. This character is supposed to be easily relatable since we all have parts and pieces we don’t like about ourselves or are self-conscience about. But the amount of this book that is spent laying the foundation of her image issues and her path of growth took away from the better part of the story - the actual rom-com. I was bored and disconnected for about 30% of this book.

What I LOVED was the documentary angle around Hutch’s job and what Katie goes through to showcase it. I loved Rue, the quirky aunt, who provided color in Katie’s world. I loved the onion peeling of Hutch and why he is the way that he is. His backstory had me falling hard for the character.

The drama and adventure at the end of the story had me elevating my rating from 3 stars to 3.5. Even though this one fell a bit flat for me, I still enjoyed the read and won’t hesitate to pick up another one of KC’s books.

I received an advanced listener copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. The production of the audiobook was fantastic.

The Love Haters
By: Katherine Center

The vibes:
- videographer + Coast Guard rescue diver / hero celebrity
- cinnamon roll MMC
- a clingy Great Dane named George Bailey
- body image & self love rep

Katherine Center does it again!! I will never stop loving her wonderful ability to capture real life struggle, humor, and love all in one amazing story! Hutch is a new favorite—so pure—and Katie was spunky and impossible not to root for! The self love and healing body image rep was so good & needed! I plan to reread this in the future which is the highest recommendation and praise I can give 🩷

I both read and listened to audiobook for this one. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and captures the emotions so well!

Trigger warnings: body image struggles, body shaming, loss of parents, loss of partner, grief, car accident

Huge thank you to Katherine Center, her team, & NetGalley for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!

This book was such a fun, vibrant escape! I absolutely loved Katie and Hutch together—their chemistry was electric, and their banter had me smiling the whole time. Aunt Rue was a total scene-stealer, and the Great Dane? An instant favorite. Watching Katie go from a gray, routine life to one filled with color, courage, and unexpected adventure was so satisfying. It’s romantic, funny, and just the right amount of chaotic. Highly recommend if you need a tropical pick-me-up with heart.

Readers who are looking for a wholesome, clean, funny romance will likely enjoy this one! It’s an easy read with a positive message and an interesting group of characters (I want to be Rue when I grow up!). Katherine Center is a master at writing books that are so immersive that I forget about the daily stressors and can just live in her stories for a while.

The Love Haters is a witty, sun-soaked rom-com about facing fears and falling for the last person you expect. When video producer Katie fakes her way through a dream assignment in Key West, sparks fly with grumpy rescue swimmer Hutch…who just happens to be her coworker’s brother. Full of humor, heart, and heat, this is a feel-good escape you won’t want to put down.

This was another great read from the wonderful Center! As always, the characters, vibes and storyline was top tier. However, I did struggle a little towards the end. I felt like the rescue portion was way dragged out, and the epilogue was very rushed. Other than that, really really enjoyed this one. The narrator was great, loved listening along.

4.5 stars. This was only my second Katherine Center novel, so I can't speak to all her other works, but I loved this and cannot wait to read the rest of her books!

The FMC Katie is reeling after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend after he becomes famous as a singer/songwriter. On top of that, she was ruthlessly dragged by the media about her appearance, leading her to develop an eating disorder. At the start of the book, she has mostly recovered from her ED with the help of her best friend, and moved on with her life by focusing on her career, while understandably shunning the idea of another romance.

At work, Katie is assigned to make a video documentary on Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who (according to his brother, who is Katie's colleague) "hates love." She must travel to his base in the Florida Keys and follow him around at work for weeks as part of her assignment. The story is predictable in that we know this is going to be a romantic comedy about Katie and Hutch falling in love. But I really appreciated that Center is not afraid to tackle difficult topics to create messy and realistic main characters. The cliché that you must love yourself before you can love anyone else is the moral of this heartwarming story.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
*Dogs featured as a main character
*Military MMC
*Grumpy + sunshine trope
*Coastal settings
*Fame-adjacent characters

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies of both the e-book and audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

Once again, Patti Murin does an incredible job bringing Katherine’s books to life! And I absolutely LOVED this book! I’ve always said that Katherine Center’s books are like my therapy…they heal a piece of my soul, and this book couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

And while there is a beautiful, swoony romance in this story and Hutch is the MOST dreamy, the most beautiful love story in this book is about Katie learning to love herself. And whew. That was healing. I loved every single thing about this book from the setting to the beautiful writing to the hilarious banter, and I am so grateful for Katie’s journey. I learned so much from her.