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adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Katherine Center is the queen of rom-coms, and this book is no less than perfection. I read this one in less than a day and it will so stick with me. I adored Katie’s character, and how real she felt and how much I could see myself in her. I also absolutely adored Hutch, that giant hero hunk of perfection. Like - talk about a book boyfriend. WOW. These characters really made this book, and honestly even the side characters were to die for! Rue and the Gals, George Bailey - I was cracking up at these characters and the love for life they brought to the story.
This book will have you laughing one moment, thinking about those difficult life moments the next, to reclaiming your relationship with your own body. Katherine Center’s rom-coms always come with a hint of important topics to foster self growth.
This book is a definite must read!!
This book will have you laughing one moment, thinking about those difficult life moments the next, to reclaiming your relationship with your own body. Katherine Center’s rom-coms always come with a hint of important topics to foster self growth.
This book is a definite must read!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
Katherine Center’s “The Rom-Comers” is one of my favorite books of the past few years, same with “The Bodyguard”. Both were pretty straightforward romances, which I am here for.
That said, “The Love Haters” is not a Romance. It’s a romance-adjacent story about holding onto family (both kinds), self-acceptance and letting go.
I disagree with other reviewers takes on dual POV. It might have been fun to get Hutch’s thoughts, but I think it would have changed the story completely.
I loved the audio, narrated by the always fab Patti Murin and afterward read by the author.
Make sure to check the content warnings!
That said, “The Love Haters” is not a Romance. It’s a romance-adjacent story about holding onto family (both kinds), self-acceptance and letting go.
I disagree with other reviewers takes on dual POV. It might have been fun to get Hutch’s thoughts, but I think it would have changed the story completely.
I loved the audio, narrated by the always fab Patti Murin and afterward read by the author.
Make sure to check the content warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
The last few chapters take place during a hurricane, where Katie and George Bailey (Hutch’s comically large Great Dane) are trapped on/in a houseboat, which eventually starts to sink.
George Bailey is injured but does not die.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Alcohol
Minor: Sexism
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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
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
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
2.75/5 stars, rounded up to 3 on Goodreads. Characters lacked depth. Nice premise, pretty poor execution. Patti Murin did a wonderful job narrating as usual though. There is a miscommunication trope which I absolutely *HATE* in books with adult characters. Found myself speeding up the narration to finish this and get it to the next person in line at the library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship
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
DNF at 22%. I've never read Katherine Center before, but she is so highly recommended by my friends that I was excited to read this one. I was unpleasantly surprised when I started reading and realized that the primary conflict for the FMC of this rom-com? is her body image issues and history of an eating disorder. There is no mention of this in the summary of the book or the blurb. I have no problem reading heavier material and difficult topics, but not packaged as a light-hearted, forced proximity, summer romance. I was really turned off by a prolonged scene where the FMC has an internal spaghetti-western style "standoff" with her bathing suit because it's the first one she's contemplated trying on since middle school. She's crippled by her anxiety and negative thoughts, which her best friend laughs off as being a "phobia" she needs to get over by using exposure therapy techniques. I mean, why would anyone think such a situation is funny, and should be played for laughs? There are no TW/CW either in the e-ARC I received.
Thank you SMP for the opportunity to read this novel prior to release. I was not compensated in any way, and all of my opinions are my own.
Thank you SMP for the opportunity to read this novel prior to release. I was not compensated in any way, and all of my opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria