A review by bethreadsandnaps
The Love Haters by Katherine Center

4.0

 

Katherine Center does it again with her newest rom com that has a lot of heart! Katie works as a video producer, and - in order to not get laid off - takes a gig in Key West profiling her coworker Cole’s brother “Hutch” as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He’s saved Jennifer Aniston’s dog, so this is a big deal. ;) 

Once she gets to Key West, Katie has to confront two big fears: her body image issues (wearing a bathing suit) and not being able to swim as she makes a documentary about a swimmer. Hutch is swoon-worthy, but will he be able to help Katie confront these fears in a way that supports her? 

There’s a fun cast of peripheral characters in this novel, like Aunt Rue and Hutch’s dog George Bailey. The story is fun and light with some heart - a delightful combination. The only part I wasn’t a fan of is when Cole came to check on them, and it sent in motion the part of the novel that separated Katie and Hutch. It felt a little too forced (but yet unique) although I get that rom coms always have this separation.   

I really liked the audiobook narrator Patti Murin. She was a great choice to narrate Katie. It was easy to empathize with her, and she had a perfect balance of emotion without being too over-the-top.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an Advance Reader and Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It publishes May 20, 2025.