The Love Haters
Katherine Center
It’s a thin line between love and love-hating. Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but fakes it that she can. Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
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0Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and [a:Katherine Center|409113|Katherine Center|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507831194p2/409113.jpg] for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Love Haters is an emotional, empowering, and utterly heartwarming read! While Katie & Hutch’s romance had me swooning, what truly set this story apart was Katie’s journey toward self-acceptance.
Katie, a videographer sent on a work trip to film the U.S. Coast Guard’s hottest hero, Hutch, she doesn’t expect to embark on a deeply personal transformation. With the support of her best friend Beanie, her colorific temporary landlord (his aunt) Rue, and his massive, scene-stealing Great Dane George Bailey, she slowly unlearns years of self-doubt and embraces herself as she is. Hutch, ever patient and kind, gives her the space to grow—making their love story all the more powerful.
This book isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about learning to love yourself. Katherine Center has a gift for creating deeply relatable heroines and feel-good yet emotional stories, and this one is no exception. If you love romance with depth, strong character growth, and a touch of humor, Love Haters is a must-read!
0This was my first time reading a book by Katherine Center, and overall, it was a light read.
I appreciated how it touched on themes of body positivity and self-acceptance. The cozy setting was a highlight, and there were some genuinely funny moments that made me laugh.
However, I couldn’t bring myself to care much about the side characters since they weren’t given enough depth. The chemistry between the main characters also felt underwhelming. I liked their banter, but their emotional connection wasn’t developed enough, especially toward the end, which made their relationship feel flat. What frustrated me the most was the conflict. It could have been resolved so easily if they had just sat down and talked. And honestly, I couldn’t stand the part where Cole decided that the game winner would get to kiss his girlfriend. It was unnecessary and really irritating.
While I did enjoy certain aspects, especially the humor, I can’t say it fully delivered. It’s a quick read, but it left me wanting more.
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