Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great, quick summer read. It’s the equivalent of sipping one of those drinks Rue is always serving. And I just hope there really is a dog named George Bailey out there (and maybe a Hutch).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexism, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
(3.5 stars) Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! #MacAudio2025 Thanks, St. Martin’s Press, for the arc!
I’m a Katherine Center super fan! While THE LOVE HATERS didn’t jump to my new number one favorite by her, as her new releases usually do—I’m not sure anything will ever beat THE ROM-COMMERS for me. I had fun experiencing the story.
My full review is on Goodreads and StoryGraph. If you want to know why this book didn’t become my new favorite, it's hidden under spoilers in the posted review.
I like Center’s books because she always has outlandish plots that *could* happen, lol, but they feature characters who deal with real struggles and issues that you can connect with. Katie, a fantastic name and the FMC, struggles with body dysmorphia and image issues. Many of her thoughts were relatable, as someone who has also struggled with this for her entire life. If only I could find a helicopter rescue swimmer to help boost my self-esteem…
The one aspect that I didn’t care for was that we found out Katie’s ex had cheated on her, which is why the relationship ended. I don’t like infidelity in books, but when it’s a previous relationship, I’m fine with it. Hutch, the MMC, and she discuss honesty and trust in relationships. Then she pulls a stunt with his brother and a fake relationship and lies to everyone, including Hutch, about her feelings for him. Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes, but not if they’re hurting people or implying cheating, which this one did both. After enjoying the book, it was a real bummer for this to happen in the last 25%.
I did read a little of the arc, but as soon as I received the ALC, all I did was listen to the fantastic narration by Patti Murin. She is one of my auto-listen narrators—I don’t have to know anything about the book; I just need to know that if she is narrating, I’m listening. Murin was an excellent choice for Katie’s voice and inner monologue. The emotions and insecurities came across wonderfully, and you can hear Katie’s growth throughout the book as she gains confidence.
The book's star is George Bailey, the Great Dane, lovable pet of Hutch, the MMC. I would love more books about him, his life, and his toads.
Even though this wasn’t my new favorite by Katherine Center, I’ll still be first in line for the next one! Her books make me happy, especially when read by Patti Murin on audiobook!
I’m a Katherine Center super fan! While THE LOVE HATERS didn’t jump to my new number one favorite by her, as her new releases usually do—I’m not sure anything will ever beat THE ROM-COMMERS for me. I had fun experiencing the story.
My full review is on Goodreads and StoryGraph. If you want to know why this book didn’t become my new favorite, it's hidden under spoilers in the posted review.
I like Center’s books because she always has outlandish plots that *could* happen, lol, but they feature characters who deal with real struggles and issues that you can connect with. Katie, a fantastic name and the FMC, struggles with body dysmorphia and image issues. Many of her thoughts were relatable, as someone who has also struggled with this for her entire life. If only I could find a helicopter rescue swimmer to help boost my self-esteem…
I did read a little of the arc, but as soon as I received the ALC, all I did was listen to the fantastic narration by Patti Murin. She is one of my auto-listen narrators—I don’t have to know anything about the book; I just need to know that if she is narrating, I’m listening. Murin was an excellent choice for Katie’s voice and inner monologue. The emotions and insecurities came across wonderfully, and you can hear Katie’s growth throughout the book as she gains confidence.
The book's star is George Bailey, the Great Dane, lovable pet of Hutch, the MMC. I would love more books about him, his life, and his toads.
Even though this wasn’t my new favorite by Katherine Center, I’ll still be first in line for the next one! Her books make me happy, especially when read by Patti Murin on audiobook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.🚁
⭐️⭐️
This is my second book by Katherine Center, and unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me after enjoying The Bodyguard. The Love Haters is a book that was marketed as a rom-com between a rescue swimmer and a video producer set in Key West with some general hijinks as she tries to save her job. I found parts of it fun: the dog, Aunt Rue, the Gals, the setting, as many other reviewers did. However, I thought the romance was dry and forced and very insta-lovey, the plot line with Cole was ridiculous in a bad way, and the beginning where the book beat me over the head with Katie’s body dysmorphia was really hard for me to read, as it was relatable to the worst parts of myself, and rather painful to read. I appreciate wanting to cover difficult topics, but the content was soooo at odds with the goofy tone and plot of this book that it came off disrespectful and too unserious. The way Katie solves her negative self-talk after a man calls her beautiful?? Not a fan, personally. The miscommunication between them was excessive and annoying. Also a writing comment: the switching between first- and second- person perspectives was weird and made no sense. Best part about this book is the gorgeous cover and the dog; unfortunately I had higher hopes and this could have been executed better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Terminal illness
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Katie is fighting to keep her corporate videographer job amidst company-wide layoffs. At the strong urging of her manager, she accepts an assignment to go to Key West to profile a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Hutch is a heroic rescue swimmer of some fame (much to his dismay), who reluctantly agrees to be the subject of a promotional video. Earnest and gallant, he seems too good to be true. Katie is neurotic and very relatable, and Hutch is a frowny "still waters run deep" kind of guy who blossoms around the right person. I really liked Katie and Hutch, both apart and together, and I genuinely enjoyed their story. There was a sweetness to them both that was so comforting, and this read was just what I needed. It's pretty trope-heavy, which I ordinarily don't enjoy, but it was fun in a "don't over-think it" kind of way. Plus, some authors let the tropes do the heavy lifting in carrying the plot, but that's not the case here. There's high meet-cute energy and great supporting characters (especially George Bailey!). There's also a nice amount of humor, I wouldn't exactly call it a rom-com but there were enough comedic elements to make it fun. The book had great messages about self-acceptance and the profound joy of choosing to love yourself. I highly recommend you read the Author's Note at the end, she has some wonderful views on the healing power of love stories. :) I have read this author before and I have always enjoyed reading her books, and this one is no different. If you're looking for a closed door workplace romance with an HEA, this is the book for you! Publishes May 20, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC of this book, all opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sweet romance set in Key West. Katie takes an assignment hoping to save her job and meets Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hutch, his "aunt" Rue, and her group of elderly girlfriends. I loved the inclusion of Hutch's Great Dane named George Bailey! Unfortunately, the attraction between the male and female leads was underdeveloped. I did think the beginning spent too much time on Katie's body image and lack of self-confidence, although it continued to impact the plot. Once they began evacuating for a hurricane, it became predictable but still had a sweet ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent
Minor: Injury/Injury detail