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eatreadbreathe 's review for:
The Love Haters
by Katherine Center
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
CW: Eating disorder and body dysmorphia (on-page), anxiety, mentions death of family members (off-page), mentions terminal illness diagnosis, sexual harassment
Well. It's me. Apparently I am the love hater, because all the big romance authors (including my faves) are disappointing me one after another this year and it's honestly quite upsetting? Edit: Oof, you know, the more I type the more enraged I become and thus my rating keeps dropping. Oh well, this was BAD and deserves my newly changed one star. Besides, my other disappointments so far this year were 2 stars but they were better than this. This is way longer than intended, sorry in adance.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I love Katherine Center's books. I own many of her titles and thus far have not rated a single one less than 4 stars. Until today. KC is on my auto pre-order list, but I'll be giving this copy away...
Unfortunately, as seem to be a trend this year, despite being marketed as a "laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com," there is no rom, no com, and definitely no feels anywhere to be found. Many romances (and rom-coms) tackle difficult subjects really well, but this was all difficult subjects with no romance or chemistry and definitely no laughter. I could have looked past some of these things as stupid marketing decisions, but those difficult subjects weren't even handled well.
Most importantly, I truly hate the way the FMC's obvious eating disorder and body dysmorphia are handled here (ie, NOT WELL, FRIENDS.) and almost DNF'd really early on because of it. I mean, Katie explains how she essentially didn't eat for an entire year and then one day just "decided" (HER WORDS) to be better. That's when I should have DNF'd, y'all. Obviously this does not fully work for her. Later on we get some marginally good depiction and advice for how Katie is finally learning to dealing with these issues, but a good portion of it is still "Hot man tells me I'm beautiful and fixes my body image issues we just spent 50% of the book DEEP diving into"
And then there's motherfucking COLE. Katie was already annoying, but her coworker Cole is genuinely an awful human for the many things he does that directly impact Katie, all while claiming he's trying to "help" her. No, my dude, you're only helping yourself and doing terribly at that too.
Some minor spoilers because WTF:From forcing Katie into fake-dating him and lying to their boss, Hutch, and everyone in an attempt to save his own job and get "revenge" on Hutch despite her many protestations -- to keeping their aunt Rue's diagnosis to himself and making Katie keep it a secret too -- to literally trying to give her away as a fucking PRIZE in a drinking contest, and somehow even more stupidity?? (hide spoiler)
Anyway, aside from all of that, the romance just isn't romance? What we do see of Katie and Hutch's solo interactions have no chemistry, no feelings. Then we spend a good chunk with her forced into pretending to be his brother's girlfriend, and there are even fewer interactions between them. Suddenly, during a time of crisis near the end, she's realizing she's in love with Hutch, who she kissed once and with whom she has zero chemistry? I just didn't believe any of it. Overall, I feel like there's too much telling and not enough showing, with very underdeveloped and one-dimensional characters and plots.
Well. It's me. Apparently I am the love hater, because all the big romance authors (including my faves) are disappointing me one after another this year and it's honestly quite upsetting? Edit: Oof, you know, the more I type the more enraged I become and thus my rating keeps dropping. Oh well, this was BAD and deserves my newly changed one star. Besides, my other disappointments so far this year were 2 stars but they were better than this. This is way longer than intended, sorry in adance.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I love Katherine Center's books. I own many of her titles and thus far have not rated a single one less than 4 stars. Until today. KC is on my auto pre-order list, but I'll be giving this copy away...
Unfortunately, as seem to be a trend this year, despite being marketed as a "laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com," there is no rom, no com, and definitely no feels anywhere to be found. Many romances (and rom-coms) tackle difficult subjects really well, but this was all difficult subjects with no romance or chemistry and definitely no laughter. I could have looked past some of these things as stupid marketing decisions, but those difficult subjects weren't even handled well.
Most importantly, I truly hate the way the FMC's obvious eating disorder and body dysmorphia are handled here (ie, NOT WELL, FRIENDS.) and almost DNF'd really early on because of it. I mean, Katie explains how she essentially didn't eat for an entire year and then one day just "decided" (HER WORDS) to be better. That's when I should have DNF'd, y'all. Obviously this does not fully work for her. Later on we get some marginally good depiction and advice for how Katie is finally learning to dealing with these issues, but a good portion of it is still "Hot man tells me I'm beautiful and fixes my body image issues we just spent 50% of the book DEEP diving into"
And then there's motherfucking COLE. Katie was already annoying, but her coworker Cole is genuinely an awful human for the many things he does that directly impact Katie, all while claiming he's trying to "help" her. No, my dude, you're only helping yourself and doing terribly at that too.
Some minor spoilers because WTF:
Anyway, aside from all of that, the romance just isn't romance? What we do see of Katie and Hutch's solo interactions have no chemistry, no feelings. Then we spend a good chunk with her forced into pretending to be his brother's girlfriend, and there are even fewer interactions between them. Suddenly, during a time of crisis near the end, she's realizing she's in love with Hutch, who she kissed once and with whom she has zero chemistry? I just didn't believe any of it. Overall, I feel like there's too much telling and not enough showing, with very underdeveloped and one-dimensional characters and plots.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Minor: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
CW: Eating disorder and body dysmorphia (on-page), anxiety, mentions death of family members (off-page), mentions terminal illness diagnosis, sexual harassment