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adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Alcohol
funny
relaxing
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 of parent
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, Vomit
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
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:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listen, I’m 36 years old. I grew up with the early 2000’s romcoms.
Were they problematic? OF COURSE THEY WERE YOU KNOW THIS.
Were they predictable? YES, DUH.
Were they everything wannabe hopeless romantic (pre)teen wanted and needed before life smacked them so hard in their 20’s and 30’s that they miss ye olden days when things were simpler and you had to decide on either using the internet or using the landline? YES THIS IS WHY I AM THE WAY I AM.
The Love Haters is that ridiculous romcom in a book. It’s that ooey gooey cinnamon roll that might not be good for your cholesterol but will heal your soul. It’s that reprieve from how hard life has been and wondering if it’s always going to be this hard. It is everything I have been needing.
Katie doesn’t want to lose her job so she fibs about knowing to swim so she can film a documentary on her coworker’s brother who is in the US Coast Guard and went viral for saving a celeb’s dog. Hutch is supposedly notoriously grumpy but he is just a low key type of guy who has always had to be responsible after experiencing tragedy so young. Katie also has to deal with her ex becoming a superstar musician and the hits her self esteem has taken because of said cheating ex and social media comments.
This book is gonna be divisive. There’s a lot of body talk and having a bad body image and honestly it’s a little (or a lot) triggering. But the point of The Love Haters isn’t our heroine hating her body and complaining about it. Nope. The whole point is that we should just embrace love. Love ourselves. Love others. Love love. Life is short. So heartbreakingly short. Why not spend it loving ourselves and each other?
I love Katherine Center and The Love Haters might be my top fave from her.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book.
Were they problematic? OF COURSE THEY WERE YOU KNOW THIS.
Were they predictable? YES, DUH.
Were they everything wannabe hopeless romantic (pre)teen wanted and needed before life smacked them so hard in their 20’s and 30’s that they miss ye olden days when things were simpler and you had to decide on either using the internet or using the landline? YES THIS IS WHY I AM THE WAY I AM.
The Love Haters is that ridiculous romcom in a book. It’s that ooey gooey cinnamon roll that might not be good for your cholesterol but will heal your soul. It’s that reprieve from how hard life has been and wondering if it’s always going to be this hard. It is everything I have been needing.
Katie doesn’t want to lose her job so she fibs about knowing to swim so she can film a documentary on her coworker’s brother who is in the US Coast Guard and went viral for saving a celeb’s dog. Hutch is supposedly notoriously grumpy but he is just a low key type of guy who has always had to be responsible after experiencing tragedy so young. Katie also has to deal with her ex becoming a superstar musician and the hits her self esteem has taken because of said cheating ex and social media comments.
This book is gonna be divisive. There’s a lot of body talk and having a bad body image and honestly it’s a little (or a lot) triggering. But the point of The Love Haters isn’t our heroine hating her body and complaining about it. Nope. The whole point is that we should just embrace love. Love ourselves. Love others. Love love. Life is short. So heartbreakingly short. Why not spend it loving ourselves and each other?
I love Katherine Center and The Love Haters might be my top fave from her.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
I went into The Love Haters expecting a fun rom-com and got… so much more. Yes, there’s a romance (with some hilarious meet-cute moments and solid banter), but honestly? That was the least interesting part.
This is really a story about a woman learning to accept and love herself—especially her body. The body-positive message at the end genuinely warmed my heart. That said, there are some disordered eating references that aren’t warned for and might be tough for some readers. They felt a bit out of place at times and distracted from the bigger plot.
What really shined for me: the healing between two estranged brothers, the cozy found-family vibes, the goofy dog, and Katie’s relationship with her cousin (give me a whole book of just their convos, please). I laughed, cried, and smiled all the way through. Zero spice, but plenty of sweetness.
Did the “love haters” theme work for me? Not really. And the ending was a lot. But hey—we don’t read fiction for reality, right?
This is really a story about a woman learning to accept and love herself—especially her body. The body-positive message at the end genuinely warmed my heart. That said, there are some disordered eating references that aren’t warned for and might be tough for some readers. They felt a bit out of place at times and distracted from the bigger plot.
What really shined for me: the healing between two estranged brothers, the cozy found-family vibes, the goofy dog, and Katie’s relationship with her cousin (give me a whole book of just their convos, please). I laughed, cried, and smiled all the way through. Zero spice, but plenty of sweetness.
Did the “love haters” theme work for me? Not really. And the ending was a lot. But hey—we don’t read fiction for reality, right?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book so much. Katie’s struggles with body image were relatable and written very well. I loved her and Hutch so much!! And George Bailey of course !! I also loved the exploration of complicated family dynamics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
If you’re looking for a summer romance, this is a fun one. There is a cute “perfect storm of job requirements, physical proximity, removal of clothing, and . . . Hutch.” Ch 8
And also, there is an even deeper romance, “Specifically: Katie and her body—in a kind of enemies-to-lovers trope,” as she mentions in the author’s note.
It was this romance, I loved the most.
I loved all these parts of chapter 12:
“I remembered an article about bullying that said onlookers often didn’t stand up for bullied kids for fear that they would become targets themselves.
…
I could choose to be that one other kid. For myself. I could stay with her, and help her up, and we could turn to watch the sunset, side by side. I could keep one arm around her, and we could watch the sky darken until the moonlight sparkled on the waves, and listen to the water lapping the dock, and be okay together. What if I showed up like that every time?
…
If you don’t reject the harsh things people say to you, then I guess, at some point, that means you accept them.”
It was this part of the book I loved most. And also her friendship with Hutch’s grandmother Rue (who was fun-loving and quirky in all the best ways). And her relationship with Hutch’s dog.
Katherine Center’s writing always makes me think she would be the best kind of friend in real life. I have heard her talk about her husband being a middle school teacher and some of his students read her books, so she keeps them clean. I could imagine parts of this book she is saying to all women, but maybe especially young ones, these truths about loving your body.
Hutch was a great book boyfriend for sure. I also love how Center finds unique careers to write about. He is a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and all the facts and information about these heroes was interesting.
“Isn’t that how it always is? The thing you’re afraid of is never the thing you should be.” Ch 14
“He’s a love hater.” “What does that mean?” “He’s all rules and no heart! He’s all action and no reaction! He’s all body and no soul.” Ch 3
“that feeling of suppressed hope you get when somebody else might think the thing you also keep wanting to think.” Ch 11
“It was about the deep, enduring comfort that comes from looking at your life for exactly what it is, and exactly how it’s unfolded—and really seeing it. The past can’t hurt you now like it did then. The story of your life is always full of mystery. You can unfold it on a table like a map, and study it, and understand it in new ways. It’s not different, but you are.” Epilogue
Thank you libro.fm for providing audiobooks to librarians. This one was fun to listen to! And also thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for letting me read an advance copy!
And also, there is an even deeper romance, “Specifically: Katie and her body—in a kind of enemies-to-lovers trope,” as she mentions in the author’s note.
It was this romance, I loved the most.
I loved all these parts of chapter 12:
“I remembered an article about bullying that said onlookers often didn’t stand up for bullied kids for fear that they would become targets themselves.
…
I could choose to be that one other kid. For myself. I could stay with her, and help her up, and we could turn to watch the sunset, side by side. I could keep one arm around her, and we could watch the sky darken until the moonlight sparkled on the waves, and listen to the water lapping the dock, and be okay together. What if I showed up like that every time?
…
If you don’t reject the harsh things people say to you, then I guess, at some point, that means you accept them.”
It was this part of the book I loved most. And also her friendship with Hutch’s grandmother Rue (who was fun-loving and quirky in all the best ways). And her relationship with Hutch’s dog.
Katherine Center’s writing always makes me think she would be the best kind of friend in real life. I have heard her talk about her husband being a middle school teacher and some of his students read her books, so she keeps them clean. I could imagine parts of this book she is saying to all women, but maybe especially young ones, these truths about loving your body.
Hutch was a great book boyfriend for sure. I also love how Center finds unique careers to write about. He is a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, and all the facts and information about these heroes was interesting.
“Isn’t that how it always is? The thing you’re afraid of is never the thing you should be.” Ch 14
“He’s a love hater.” “What does that mean?” “He’s all rules and no heart! He’s all action and no reaction! He’s all body and no soul.” Ch 3
“that feeling of suppressed hope you get when somebody else might think the thing you also keep wanting to think.” Ch 11
“It was about the deep, enduring comfort that comes from looking at your life for exactly what it is, and exactly how it’s unfolded—and really seeing it. The past can’t hurt you now like it did then. The story of your life is always full of mystery. You can unfold it on a table like a map, and study it, and understand it in new ways. It’s not different, but you are.” Epilogue
Thank you libro.fm for providing audiobooks to librarians. This one was fun to listen to! And also thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for letting me read an advance copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol
emotional
funny
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
This was so much fun! The perfect summer/beach read, with plenty of funny moments throughout, and a charming cast of characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Car accident, Dysphoria
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment