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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wildly outlandish, yet heartwarming…🧐? Great side characters (The Gals, Rue, and Beanie), George Bailey the Great Dane, some laugh out loud lines, but some odd/hard to believe situations. Main characters were fine.
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
2.5/5
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I tandem read and listened to this one.
Katherine Center is usually a mixed bag for me—and sadly, this one just didn’t land.
Right from the start, the plot felt a little chaotic in a way that wasn’t fun. You know those books where things keep happening but you’re not really sure why? That was the vibe. It was like plot twists for plot twist’s sake, and I found myself trying (and failing) to grab hold of the story. I sort of felt like I was spinning out of control trying to catch the plot more often than not.
I’m typically a sucker for the fake dating trope, but here, it came out of nowhere and felt forced—like it was tossed in just to stir up drama rather than deepen anything meaningful.
Katie, our main character, was tough to connect with. Her constant self-deprecation didn’t read as charming or relatable—it just made it hard to root for her. And while I did enjoy Hutch, his communication skills were...not great. So many problems could have been solved with just one singular conversation. Just one.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I tandem read and listened to this one.
Katherine Center is usually a mixed bag for me—and sadly, this one just didn’t land.
Right from the start, the plot felt a little chaotic in a way that wasn’t fun. You know those books where things keep happening but you’re not really sure why? That was the vibe. It was like plot twists for plot twist’s sake, and I found myself trying (and failing) to grab hold of the story. I sort of felt like I was spinning out of control trying to catch the plot more often than not.
I’m typically a sucker for the fake dating trope, but here, it came out of nowhere and felt forced—like it was tossed in just to stir up drama rather than deepen anything meaningful.
Katie, our main character, was tough to connect with. Her constant self-deprecation didn’t read as charming or relatable—it just made it hard to root for her. And while I did enjoy Hutch, his communication skills were...not great. So many problems could have been solved with just one singular conversation. Just one.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is so much in this book that quickly came to mean so much to me it’s crazy. I also am strongly considering buying a colorful dress that looks like I belong in a corral reef
3.75 ⭐️
—
maybe I will say more later but for now: I enjoyed this
—
maybe I will say more later but for now: I enjoyed this
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
A romantic read with heart and healing at its core
*Spoiler alert for the ending.
The Love Haters was such a beautiful, romantic story—full of charm, heart, and unexpected depth. I absolutely loved Hutch. He was one of those rare, honest good guys, and you could feel his warmth and integrity on every page. The way he cared, listened, and showed up was just… swoon-worthy. Katherine Center wrote him in a way that made you believe in the quiet strength of kind-hearted people.
Cole, on the other hand, was a wild one—but even he got his happy ending with a surprising (and satisfying!) little twist. And I loved Hutch’s aunt and her group of friends. They brought so much joy and life to the story. Their friendship, wisdom, and humor gave the book a richer texture—they really helped it shine.
Adding the storm element near the end was such a smart way to show Katie’s growth. And that final moment—when the houseboat sinks and she starts naming all the things she loves about herself and her body—absolutely floored me. It was tender, empowering, and deeply personal. There’s so much pressure in the world to look a certain way, to shrink ourselves, to be “perfect.” Before I became chronically ill, I used to obsess over numbers on the scale, how I looked, and what others thought of me. But now, all I wish for is health. That scene felt like such a mirror to my own journey—reminding me that in life’s most critical moments, none of that superficial stuff matters. We are already enough. Our bodies carry us through so much, and they deserve love and kindness—not shame.
Even now, while being sick, I’m still unlearning those old beliefs and trying to reprogram my brain to love my body as it is now. Katie’s moment of self-love didn’t feel forced or cheesy—it felt earned, and it left a lasting impact.
The only part that confused me a little was the rescue scene. For a second, it felt like they were leaving Katie behind, and then all of a sudden she was with them. I would’ve loved just a bit more clarity there to make that moment feel as grounded as the rest of the story.
Overall though, this was an absolute gem of a read. It made me laugh, swoon, and reflect—and it reminded me of the quiet power of loving ourselves exactly as we are.
*Spoiler alert for the ending.
The Love Haters was such a beautiful, romantic story—full of charm, heart, and unexpected depth. I absolutely loved Hutch. He was one of those rare, honest good guys, and you could feel his warmth and integrity on every page. The way he cared, listened, and showed up was just… swoon-worthy. Katherine Center wrote him in a way that made you believe in the quiet strength of kind-hearted people.
Cole, on the other hand, was a wild one—but even he got his happy ending with a surprising (and satisfying!) little twist. And I loved Hutch’s aunt and her group of friends. They brought so much joy and life to the story. Their friendship, wisdom, and humor gave the book a richer texture—they really helped it shine.
Adding the storm element near the end was such a smart way to show Katie’s growth. And that final moment—when the houseboat sinks and she starts naming all the things she loves about herself and her body—absolutely floored me. It was tender, empowering, and deeply personal. There’s so much pressure in the world to look a certain way, to shrink ourselves, to be “perfect.” Before I became chronically ill, I used to obsess over numbers on the scale, how I looked, and what others thought of me. But now, all I wish for is health. That scene felt like such a mirror to my own journey—reminding me that in life’s most critical moments, none of that superficial stuff matters. We are already enough. Our bodies carry us through so much, and they deserve love and kindness—not shame.
Even now, while being sick, I’m still unlearning those old beliefs and trying to reprogram my brain to love my body as it is now. Katie’s moment of self-love didn’t feel forced or cheesy—it felt earned, and it left a lasting impact.
The only part that confused me a little was the rescue scene. For a second, it felt like they were leaving Katie behind, and then all of a sudden she was with them. I would’ve loved just a bit more clarity there to make that moment feel as grounded as the rest of the story.
Overall though, this was an absolute gem of a read. It made me laugh, swoon, and reflect—and it reminded me of the quiet power of loving ourselves exactly as we are.
This was fine! Certainly readable and a quick read at that. But it didn’t do much to stand out against the plethora of romance books out there. Center writes sweet and fun stories, but I wanted more yearning/ longing/ banter. I didn’t feel the chemistry until things got physical & since her books are closed door, that lasted about a page. At one point Katie says she “has a crush” on Hutch and it sort of felt like that’s all it was! The body image stuff didn’t bother me, but as someone who has struggled with body image since puberty, I didn’t really relate to it much either. I felt like the convo around it stayed pretty surface level. Also (a bit of a spoiler) I haaate a “lost at sea” storyline. It’s too stressful for a rom com!!!! Overall, if you’re a huge fan of Center’s other books you’ll probably like this! But it didn’t really work for me.