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The Love Haters
10 hours, 33 minutes
It’s a thin line between love and love-hating in the newest laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center.
Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can.
Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
“[Patti] Murin's portrayal...is captivating—a blend of sass, humor, and empathy with impeccable timing and nuances.”—AudioFile on The Rom-Commers
It’s a thin line between love and love-hating in the newest laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center.
Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can.
Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.
“[Patti] Murin's portrayal...is captivating—a blend of sass, humor, and empathy with impeccable timing and nuances.”—AudioFile on The Rom-Commers
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First published May 20, 2025
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About the author
Katherine Center
21 books31.5k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 18,548 reviews
March 24, 2025
DNF @40%
The whole plot was her body image insecurity and I can't find it in me to care anymore. The writing and pacing is fine, I just couldn't vibe with the plot. Nor did I really care about any of the characters aside from the dog.
This is a long ass trope list and I didn’t experience any of them except BODY IMAGE ISSUES for 40% of the book. It’s not even body positivity. She questions everything she wears and eats non stop in everything she does.
I quit bc the story was going down the path of “hero swoops in and makes the heroine realize she’s beautiful “
And I’m sorry, women don’t need a dude to feel beautiful.
Key West setting? Nope not for half the book. I had to ask my reading buddies if they ever even got there.
If you typically enjoy KC books, it might be worth your time. But this is the 4th book I’ve read of hers now and the worst one in my humble opinion.
Expected Release Date - 05/20/25
💛Unique Interesting Job
🌴Touch Her and Die
💗Fake Dating
💛Caretaking
🌴Only One Bed
💗Meddling Family
💛Body Positivity
🌴Key West Setting
💗Witty Banter
💛Workplace Romance
🌴Forced Proximity
💗Strong Friendships
💛Loveable Side Characters
🌴Imperfect but Relatable FMC
Buddy Read with my prettiest loves Kitkat and Cara Be sure to check out their thoughts as well! 💗🎀
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the complementary advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
The whole plot was her body image insecurity and I can't find it in me to care anymore. The writing and pacing is fine, I just couldn't vibe with the plot. Nor did I really care about any of the characters aside from the dog.
This is a long ass trope list and I didn’t experience any of them except BODY IMAGE ISSUES for 40% of the book. It’s not even body positivity. She questions everything she wears and eats non stop in everything she does.
I quit bc the story was going down the path of “hero swoops in and makes the heroine realize she’s beautiful “
And I’m sorry, women don’t need a dude to feel beautiful.
Key West setting? Nope not for half the book. I had to ask my reading buddies if they ever even got there.
If you typically enjoy KC books, it might be worth your time. But this is the 4th book I’ve read of hers now and the worst one in my humble opinion.
Expected Release Date - 05/20/25
💛Unique Interesting Job
🌴Touch Her and Die
💗Fake Dating
💛Caretaking
🌴Only One Bed
💗Meddling Family
💛Body Positivity
🌴Key West Setting
💗Witty Banter
💛Workplace Romance
🌴Forced Proximity
💗Strong Friendships
💛Loveable Side Characters
🌴Imperfect but Relatable FMC
Buddy Read with my prettiest loves Kitkat and Cara Be sure to check out their thoughts as well! 💗🎀
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the complementary advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
May 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5!!!!
March 16, 2025
guys i think i figured out who the real love hater was all along! me. maybe if i practiced self care and dnfd books i would have stopped when hutch was described as an alpha with a saviour complex.
anyway, unfortunately it has been established that i almost seldom find a romance book that i actually like and makes me feel things. was this an exception? absolutely not.
this was, undoubtedly, and almost painfully, unfunny. very rom and no com, but even then i didn’t feel anything for the rom. for instance, was him teasing her while tweezing things out of her ass- or as she so specifically put it, her haunch- supposed to be funny? i had to put my phone down and take a deep breath after that scene.
as for the chemistry, i can't feel anything from the scenes given. everything feels forced to me and was very insta-lovey (hutch also confessed his feelings 50% in). i can draw two stick figures with more chemistry than these guys and i care about katie and hutch as much as i care about a wet paper towel. they both irked me. for that matter, i felt the same way about everyone else too, most particularly cole. if cole has no haters, i’m dead. the fake dating instigation by him out of nowhere pissed me off and he just kept getting worse. he direly needs to verbally restrain himself.
katie: being stuck in her head got genuinely exasperating for me, especially during the first 50% of the book. she was morbidly and chronically ogling and praising hutch’s bodybuilder-esque body with model abs and calf muscles or whatever on what felt like every other page, or his said melancholic eyes. it was to the point where my neurons were killed and i started questioning if i have dementia because katie made it seem like i do. everything he does also unfolds in slow-mo apparently which she never ceases to mention. hes just THAT HOT guys! i’m swooning! also her after they kissed for the first time? i’m sorry, but i wasn’t aware having the best kiss ever with a said really irresistibly hot guy is a personality trait. i get that it was life changing and all, but perhaps we can practice wordless sentences? i’m developing listening fatigue.
hutch: he's a guy who didn’t talk or flirt much with anyone apparently until he met katie. she’s just different. oh also he happens to have abs and muscles for days, not sure if i mentioned that yet. i appreciated his efforts to comfort her while she felt insecure; however, it just gave me the ick. he called her a hot fudge sundae. which is.. very empowering. right? definitely not among one of the least sexiest compliments i’ve ever heard my entire years of living. had someone said that to me, i’d be pulling a serena van der woodsen. (saying i got to go and running away as fast as i can)
i do appreciate the implementation of body image issues, but it felt oddly/strangely handled—forced, if you will. her talking about it also took up what felt like 50% of the book.
the pacing and writing just didn’t sit right with me either.
with that to say, i don’t hate you katherine center. i just feel disdain for this book. maybe it was worse because i felt like being a behemoth of a hater today.
thank you to the publishers for the e-arc
-
my first arc!! hopefully this doesn’t disappoint
anyway, unfortunately it has been established that i almost seldom find a romance book that i actually like and makes me feel things. was this an exception? absolutely not.
this was, undoubtedly, and almost painfully, unfunny. very rom and no com, but even then i didn’t feel anything for the rom. for instance, was him teasing her while tweezing things out of her ass- or as she so specifically put it, her haunch- supposed to be funny? i had to put my phone down and take a deep breath after that scene.
as for the chemistry, i can't feel anything from the scenes given. everything feels forced to me and was very insta-lovey (hutch also confessed his feelings 50% in). i can draw two stick figures with more chemistry than these guys and i care about katie and hutch as much as i care about a wet paper towel. they both irked me. for that matter, i felt the same way about everyone else too, most particularly cole. if cole has no haters, i’m dead. the fake dating instigation by him out of nowhere pissed me off and he just kept getting worse. he direly needs to verbally restrain himself.
katie: being stuck in her head got genuinely exasperating for me, especially during the first 50% of the book. she was morbidly and chronically ogling and praising hutch’s bodybuilder-esque body with model abs and calf muscles or whatever on what felt like every other page, or his said melancholic eyes. it was to the point where my neurons were killed and i started questioning if i have dementia because katie made it seem like i do. everything he does also unfolds in slow-mo apparently which she never ceases to mention. hes just THAT HOT guys! i’m swooning! also her after they kissed for the first time? i’m sorry, but i wasn’t aware having the best kiss ever with a said really irresistibly hot guy is a personality trait. i get that it was life changing and all, but perhaps we can practice wordless sentences? i’m developing listening fatigue.
hutch: he's a guy who didn’t talk or flirt much with anyone apparently until he met katie. she’s just different. oh also he happens to have abs and muscles for days, not sure if i mentioned that yet. i appreciated his efforts to comfort her while she felt insecure; however, it just gave me the ick. he called her a hot fudge sundae. which is.. very empowering. right? definitely not among one of the least sexiest compliments i’ve ever heard my entire years of living. had someone said that to me, i’d be pulling a serena van der woodsen. (saying i got to go and running away as fast as i can)
i do appreciate the implementation of body image issues, but it felt oddly/strangely handled—forced, if you will. her talking about it also took up what felt like 50% of the book.
the pacing and writing just didn’t sit right with me either.
with that to say, i don’t hate you katherine center. i just feel disdain for this book. maybe it was worse because i felt like being a behemoth of a hater today.
thank you to the publishers for the e-arc
-
my first arc!! hopefully this doesn’t disappoint
January 16, 2026
I'm a devoted fan of Katherine Center, and I think I’ve only rated one of her books less than 5 stars. Unfortunately, this time, I’m reluctantly lowering my rating to 3 stars. This is my first three-star review for the author, and yes, this is an unpopular review alert! Don’t get me wrong—this is a solid romance read. Nothing about it is unenjoyable, and there were moments when I considered rounding 3.5 stars up to 4. But ultimately, my expectations were too high, and the storyline, along with the love story, just didn’t work for me. Here’s why.
Katie Vaughn’s journey in The Love Haters had an intriguing setup with its mix of humor, high stakes, and a dreamy Key West backdrop. The story promised all the feels, but I found the execution didn’t fully live up to the premise. Katie, a video producer faking her way through swim lessons and entangling herself in her coworker’s complicated family dynamics, started as a relatable and spirited protagonist. However, as the plot unfolded, the chemistry between Katie and Hutch, the so-called “love-hater,” felt underdeveloped and more told than shown.
The supporting characters were a mixed bag. Rue, Hutch’s quirky aunt, brought some much-needed vibrancy to the narrative, but others, like Katie’s friend Beanie and Cole, Hutch’s brother, lacked depth and likability. Beanie’s questionable support and Cole’s abrasive nature left me frustrated, and their roles in Katie’s life could have been explored with more nuance.
Another aspect that fell short for me was the handling of heavier themes, such as body image and grief. While these issues are important and commendable to include in a rom-com, they often felt overshadowed by the book’s lighter tone and over-the-top moments. The humor, which typically shines in Center’s books, occasionally missed the mark for me here, coming across as forced or distracting rather than charming.
That said, there were still elements of the story that kept me entertained. The tropical setting was vividly described, and the blend of swimming lessons, treasure hunts, and helicopter rides added an adventurous flair. Katie’s personal growth—learning to confront fears and embrace her worth—was a highlight, even if the journey felt uneven at times.
Overall, The Love Haters is a quick and easy read with flashes of Katherine Center’s signature charm. While it didn’t quite hit the high notes I’ve come to expect from her, it may still appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted rom-com with messages of self-discovery and empowerment. I’ll still be eagerly awaiting her next release—everyone has an off day, and this just wasn’t the perfect match for me.
3/5 stars
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Katie Vaughn’s journey in The Love Haters had an intriguing setup with its mix of humor, high stakes, and a dreamy Key West backdrop. The story promised all the feels, but I found the execution didn’t fully live up to the premise. Katie, a video producer faking her way through swim lessons and entangling herself in her coworker’s complicated family dynamics, started as a relatable and spirited protagonist. However, as the plot unfolded, the chemistry between Katie and Hutch, the so-called “love-hater,” felt underdeveloped and more told than shown.
The supporting characters were a mixed bag. Rue, Hutch’s quirky aunt, brought some much-needed vibrancy to the narrative, but others, like Katie’s friend Beanie and Cole, Hutch’s brother, lacked depth and likability. Beanie’s questionable support and Cole’s abrasive nature left me frustrated, and their roles in Katie’s life could have been explored with more nuance.
Another aspect that fell short for me was the handling of heavier themes, such as body image and grief. While these issues are important and commendable to include in a rom-com, they often felt overshadowed by the book’s lighter tone and over-the-top moments. The humor, which typically shines in Center’s books, occasionally missed the mark for me here, coming across as forced or distracting rather than charming.
That said, there were still elements of the story that kept me entertained. The tropical setting was vividly described, and the blend of swimming lessons, treasure hunts, and helicopter rides added an adventurous flair. Katie’s personal growth—learning to confront fears and embrace her worth—was a highlight, even if the journey felt uneven at times.
Overall, The Love Haters is a quick and easy read with flashes of Katherine Center’s signature charm. While it didn’t quite hit the high notes I’ve come to expect from her, it may still appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted rom-com with messages of self-discovery and empowerment. I’ll still be eagerly awaiting her next release—everyone has an off day, and this just wasn’t the perfect match for me.
3/5 stars
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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May 20, 2025
જ⁀➴ 2 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/25): Happy publishing day to The Love Haters!
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚
*prepare for a rant review, and as a disclaimer: I do describe some parts of the book, so there are some EXTREMELY minor spoilers, but nothing I discuss is a major spoiler for the overall plot.*
Like I said in my pre-read, this was my first Katherine Center book, so I don't really have anything to compare this to with her other books, but I'm starting to think I'm the love hater here...AKA, love hating on books. The Love Haters is my fifth book this month (out of eight so far and counting) that I've rated 2 stars or less.
I suppose maybe my low rating is a good thing because this is my baseline and what I have to work with when it comes to her books, but this was an absolute disaster. I think when I was rolling my eyes on the first page--no really, literally the first page of the book--it was a sign that this was not going to be fun despite hearing high praises about Katherine Center's books everywhere. I didn't DNF the book; I did (surprisingly) finish it, but this was so disappointing and there were red flags that went off that made me audibly say, "Oh HELL, NO."
Katie Vaughn, a video producer, is on the verge of potentially losing her job after it's announced they're laying off 50% of the company. Her higher-up, Cole, offers her the opportunity to film an advertisement with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, in Key West, Florida, who blew up and became a viral internet sensation after saving Jennifer Aniston's dog on a cliff. The only two catches: Katie can't swim, and Tom and Cole are brothers and they're NOT on good terms with each other. What could possibly go wrong?
For starters, I don't think that advertising this as a rom-com or a romance at that is doing anyone here any favors. The romance was barely there. It was the absolute bare minimum for you to know there was something going on, but I wouldn't say that romance was the main portion of the plot like it is with other novels in the romance genre. It was like a single sprinkle on the top of an ice cream sundae; barely there, but present enough for you to know it existed. That said, I didn't feel ANY amount of chemistry between Katie and Hutch the entire way through. Would I say this falls under the women's fiction/contemporary fiction genres? Yes. Would I classify it as a romance? No.
Let's start with the good parts of the book first. I liked the dog, Aunt Rue, and the Key West setting. That's it. Those are only three good things about the book. I would say Hutch, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like he was kind of dense and boring at times. (I think it's mainly because he can't take a compliment.) I loved his happy-go-lucky, energetic, toad-collecting dog named George Bailey though! I could also use a vacation to a tropical destination soon, so I was loving the Key West vibes and the summer feels make this a good summer beach read (if you're still going to want to read the book after seeing all the reviews). As for Aunt Rue....can she be my aunt? She offers amazing advice and lives life to the fullest, and that's all I can really ask for in a character.
Next, I have to bring up the red flags in this book. As much as I'd like to go into detail about everything, I don't want to include spoilers in my reviews, so I'll do the best I can. I think it's easier to list them out, so here we go:
˖°𓇼 Katie herself: This is kind of a tricky thing to explain, but I know that I'm probably not the only person who had major issues with her character. No really, I think--no, I KNOW--she needs to desperately go to therapy. To put things in the nicest way possible, she struggles a lot with body image. While I understand that most, if not all, girls go through this at some point or another in their life, Katie makes this her entire personality for the majority of the story. We just keep seeing line after line about her countless journals filled with calorie count goals, how much she wants to weigh and how she never wants her thighs to touch, the fact she thinks that no colorful clothes will look good on her (she HATES color), and how she NEVER wants to wear a bathing suit although she would be filming a commercial for the COAST GUARD of all things and they spend a lot of time in, you guessed it, WATER!
While I understand the intentions behind Katherine Center weaving the topic of EDs into the book to raise awareness and potentially bring some depth and complexity to Katie's character, I think it backfired. It felt at times that Katie would be glorifying the idea and happy about the fact that she has an ED, and I could see how this would be EXTREMELY triggering for someone who either has an ED or is trying to recover from one. It was nice to see Katie grow throughout the book as she learns to be more comfortable within her own skin, and the author's note was touching, but I think this topic could've been handled and written a lot more carefully. (I strongly suggest reading the content/trigger warnings at the end of this review to get a full picture of what else is in the book.)
Additionally, the story is told from Katie's POV and the writing felt very YA and juvenile for a character who's supposed to be in their late twenties or early thirties. Yes, this made for an easy read, but I also felt like the writing was nothing amazing or something special to freak out over.
(Just as a side note: YOU'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!💖)
˖°𓇼 Cole: ugh. He's literally a walking red flag, and I had my suspicions about him from the get-go. 🚩 There was a certain part of the book where I almost dropped my phone reading it and audibly said, "Oh HELL, no." Maybe this portion gets cut out in the final draft, I don't really know, but there was ONE scene that made my blood boil. I'm not joking; I was seeing red when I read that, and I don't think I've gotten this angry over a scene in any book, ever. I've gotten frustrated, but never angry. I don't know why THAT scene had to exist in the first place, but I'm hoping it's cut. Cole is a massive sleazebag and that's putting it nicely. I think the book would've been infinitely better if he weren't there.
˖°𓇼 This extremely minor thing that ticked me off way more than it should: On the first page of the story when Katie gets her assignment in Key West, she admits that she has no idea where Key West is. Yes, she's also an American citizen who lives in Texas. Like...I'm sorry; how does one not know where Key West is AS AN AMERICAN? Go back to middle school geography class, Katie. At least she was self-aware enough to know that was a bad thing, but seriously?
˖°𓇼 The ending: Again, I wish I could go into this more, but I can't! All I'll say about this is that there's a lot of suspension of disbelief involved over the ending. I'm no rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard or an engineer but there were a lot of things I just had to assume magically worked out for the sake of closure, a conclusion, and the plot overall.
Overall, this was NOT it. There were so many red flags throughout the story that I just can't believe that this was coming from a well-known, beloved, sweet romance/rom-com author. I suppose this is a good thing, though, because that means that I (hopefully) won't be let down by Katherine Center's other books! I've had a ton of people in the comments suggest The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard so I guess I'll be moving those up my TBR list this summer!
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚
Trigger/content warnings: eating disorder, body dysmorphia/body image struggles, off-page cheating, car accident, off-page death of a loved one, mentions of a terminal illness diagnosis, sexual harassment/nonconsensual touching, alcohol consumption
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: This is my first Katherine Center book, and yes, I got the ARC for this! It's summer weather over here where I live now, so I'm feeling up to reading a summer romance.🌴🌺🌊☀️ I'm honestly a little nervous to start this because I've heard mixed reviews about it, and apparently a ton of people are DNF'ing this?! I'm hoping this delivers🤞🏼🍀 (Also, I LOVE all of her book covers. They're so colorful!🩷💚🧡)
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/25): Happy publishing day to The Love Haters!
"Maybe it was the island breeze. Or the sangria. Or the warmth of the sun. Or the lovely feeling of being surrounded by the easy chatter of friends. But there was something special going on that I couldn't ignore. It felt like a different way of living that had something good--and long overdue--to teach me."
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚
*prepare for a rant review, and as a disclaimer: I do describe some parts of the book, so there are some EXTREMELY minor spoilers, but nothing I discuss is a major spoiler for the overall plot.*
Like I said in my pre-read, this was my first Katherine Center book, so I don't really have anything to compare this to with her other books, but I'm starting to think I'm the love hater here...AKA, love hating on books. The Love Haters is my fifth book this month (out of eight so far and counting) that I've rated 2 stars or less.
I suppose maybe my low rating is a good thing because this is my baseline and what I have to work with when it comes to her books, but this was an absolute disaster. I think when I was rolling my eyes on the first page--no really, literally the first page of the book--it was a sign that this was not going to be fun despite hearing high praises about Katherine Center's books everywhere. I didn't DNF the book; I did (surprisingly) finish it, but this was so disappointing and there were red flags that went off that made me audibly say, "Oh HELL, NO."
Katie Vaughn, a video producer, is on the verge of potentially losing her job after it's announced they're laying off 50% of the company. Her higher-up, Cole, offers her the opportunity to film an advertisement with a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, in Key West, Florida, who blew up and became a viral internet sensation after saving Jennifer Aniston's dog on a cliff. The only two catches: Katie can't swim, and Tom and Cole are brothers and they're NOT on good terms with each other. What could possibly go wrong?
For starters, I don't think that advertising this as a rom-com or a romance at that is doing anyone here any favors. The romance was barely there. It was the absolute bare minimum for you to know there was something going on, but I wouldn't say that romance was the main portion of the plot like it is with other novels in the romance genre. It was like a single sprinkle on the top of an ice cream sundae; barely there, but present enough for you to know it existed. That said, I didn't feel ANY amount of chemistry between Katie and Hutch the entire way through. Would I say this falls under the women's fiction/contemporary fiction genres? Yes. Would I classify it as a romance? No.
Let's start with the good parts of the book first. I liked the dog, Aunt Rue, and the Key West setting. That's it. Those are only three good things about the book. I would say Hutch, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like he was kind of dense and boring at times. (I think it's mainly because he can't take a compliment.) I loved his happy-go-lucky, energetic, toad-collecting dog named George Bailey though! I could also use a vacation to a tropical destination soon, so I was loving the Key West vibes and the summer feels make this a good summer beach read (if you're still going to want to read the book after seeing all the reviews). As for Aunt Rue....can she be my aunt? She offers amazing advice and lives life to the fullest, and that's all I can really ask for in a character.
Next, I have to bring up the red flags in this book. As much as I'd like to go into detail about everything, I don't want to include spoilers in my reviews, so I'll do the best I can. I think it's easier to list them out, so here we go:
˖°𓇼 Katie herself: This is kind of a tricky thing to explain, but I know that I'm probably not the only person who had major issues with her character. No really, I think--no, I KNOW--she needs to desperately go to therapy. To put things in the nicest way possible, she struggles a lot with body image. While I understand that most, if not all, girls go through this at some point or another in their life, Katie makes this her entire personality for the majority of the story. We just keep seeing line after line about her countless journals filled with calorie count goals, how much she wants to weigh and how she never wants her thighs to touch, the fact she thinks that no colorful clothes will look good on her (she HATES color), and how she NEVER wants to wear a bathing suit although she would be filming a commercial for the COAST GUARD of all things and they spend a lot of time in, you guessed it, WATER!
While I understand the intentions behind Katherine Center weaving the topic of EDs into the book to raise awareness and potentially bring some depth and complexity to Katie's character, I think it backfired. It felt at times that Katie would be glorifying the idea and happy about the fact that she has an ED, and I could see how this would be EXTREMELY triggering for someone who either has an ED or is trying to recover from one. It was nice to see Katie grow throughout the book as she learns to be more comfortable within her own skin, and the author's note was touching, but I think this topic could've been handled and written a lot more carefully. (I strongly suggest reading the content/trigger warnings at the end of this review to get a full picture of what else is in the book.)
Additionally, the story is told from Katie's POV and the writing felt very YA and juvenile for a character who's supposed to be in their late twenties or early thirties. Yes, this made for an easy read, but I also felt like the writing was nothing amazing or something special to freak out over.
(Just as a side note: YOU'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!💖)
˖°𓇼 Cole: ugh. He's literally a walking red flag, and I had my suspicions about him from the get-go. 🚩 There was a certain part of the book where I almost dropped my phone reading it and audibly said, "Oh HELL, no." Maybe this portion gets cut out in the final draft, I don't really know, but there was ONE scene that made my blood boil. I'm not joking; I was seeing red when I read that, and I don't think I've gotten this angry over a scene in any book, ever. I've gotten frustrated, but never angry. I don't know why THAT scene had to exist in the first place, but I'm hoping it's cut. Cole is a massive sleazebag and that's putting it nicely. I think the book would've been infinitely better if he weren't there.
˖°𓇼 This extremely minor thing that ticked me off way more than it should: On the first page of the story when Katie gets her assignment in Key West, she admits that she has no idea where Key West is. Yes, she's also an American citizen who lives in Texas. Like...I'm sorry; how does one not know where Key West is AS AN AMERICAN? Go back to middle school geography class, Katie. At least she was self-aware enough to know that was a bad thing, but seriously?
˖°𓇼 The ending: Again, I wish I could go into this more, but I can't! All I'll say about this is that there's a lot of suspension of disbelief involved over the ending. I'm no rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard or an engineer but there were a lot of things I just had to assume magically worked out for the sake of closure, a conclusion, and the plot overall.
Overall, this was NOT it. There were so many red flags throughout the story that I just can't believe that this was coming from a well-known, beloved, sweet romance/rom-com author. I suppose this is a good thing, though, because that means that I (hopefully) won't be let down by Katherine Center's other books! I've had a ton of people in the comments suggest The Rom-Commers and The Bodyguard so I guess I'll be moving those up my TBR list this summer!
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚
Trigger/content warnings: eating disorder, body dysmorphia/body image struggles, off-page cheating, car accident, off-page death of a loved one, mentions of a terminal illness diagnosis, sexual harassment/nonconsensual touching, alcohol consumption
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: This is my first Katherine Center book, and yes, I got the ARC for this! It's summer weather over here where I live now, so I'm feeling up to reading a summer romance.🌴🌺🌊☀️ I'm honestly a little nervous to start this because I've heard mixed reviews about it, and apparently a ton of people are DNF'ing this?! I'm hoping this delivers🤞🏼🍀 (Also, I LOVE all of her book covers. They're so colorful!🩷💚🧡)
March 31, 2025
thank you to netgalley for providing this arc!
unfortunately having to DNF this one at 44% 🥲 i usually absolutely adore katherine center's books so this one is so sad for me. i personally found the fmc to be really hard to read from - there is a HUGE TW for body image/disordered eating in this one and i personally found it to be too much. The fmc herself i found to be really grating to read from aside from this anyway, e.g. she constantly described the mmc as the biggest/burliest/manliest man ever, and it got to a point where it drove me a bit mad. really just think this one wasn't for me sadly!
unfortunately having to DNF this one at 44% 🥲 i usually absolutely adore katherine center's books so this one is so sad for me. i personally found the fmc to be really hard to read from - there is a HUGE TW for body image/disordered eating in this one and i personally found it to be too much. The fmc herself i found to be really grating to read from aside from this anyway, e.g. she constantly described the mmc as the biggest/burliest/manliest man ever, and it got to a point where it drove me a bit mad. really just think this one wasn't for me sadly!
May 20, 2025
Maybe I’m a love hater…
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and… I’m so disappointed. I knew 20 pages in that I wasn’t going to vibe with this book because the FMC was so annoying. I was literally gaslighting myself into thinking it would get better. BOY WAS I WRONG.
She would state the most obvious things like “the water is wet” level obvious, and it felt like I was being spoon-fed every emotion or thought. Like okay, thank you Captain Obvious?? And don’t even get me started on how dumb she came across. She reminded me of a middle schooler trying way too hard to impress her crush.
Most of the book focused on body dysmorphia and image issues, which could have been powerful… but the way it was done just irritated me. It wasn’t like a “she found herself and grew into her confidence” moment, it was “a hot man told me I’m pretty so now I love myself.” Women don’t need a man to feel worthy. It felt outdated and lowkey frustrating.
Also? There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Like she talks about his body every single chapter but somehow they still have the flattest connection I’ve ever read. I was just confused the whole time.
I do appreciate the attempt at body image representation, but it came off forced and surface-level. Combine that with the plot holes, the lies, the chaotic pacing, and the fact that the most interesting character was the rescue Great Dane… yeah, this was a miss for me.
⸻
Pre-read: I GOT THE ARC!!! I am beyond excited to finally get my hands on this book
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and… I’m so disappointed. I knew 20 pages in that I wasn’t going to vibe with this book because the FMC was so annoying. I was literally gaslighting myself into thinking it would get better. BOY WAS I WRONG.
She would state the most obvious things like “the water is wet” level obvious, and it felt like I was being spoon-fed every emotion or thought. Like okay, thank you Captain Obvious?? And don’t even get me started on how dumb she came across. She reminded me of a middle schooler trying way too hard to impress her crush.
Most of the book focused on body dysmorphia and image issues, which could have been powerful… but the way it was done just irritated me. It wasn’t like a “she found herself and grew into her confidence” moment, it was “a hot man told me I’m pretty so now I love myself.” Women don’t need a man to feel worthy. It felt outdated and lowkey frustrating.
Also? There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Like she talks about his body every single chapter but somehow they still have the flattest connection I’ve ever read. I was just confused the whole time.
I do appreciate the attempt at body image representation, but it came off forced and surface-level. Combine that with the plot holes, the lies, the chaotic pacing, and the fact that the most interesting character was the rescue Great Dane… yeah, this was a miss for me.
⸻
Pre-read: I GOT THE ARC!!! I am beyond excited to finally get my hands on this book
May 20, 2025
Soundtrack: The Song “Heart and Soul”
Best heartwarming moment: The Flowers 🌺🌼🌺
Best Heartbreaking moment: Chapter 22 DO NOT PEEK! 🫣
Whenever I get the opportunity to read a Katherine Center book early, I move it straight to the top of my TBR pile! I love the ✨JOY✨ that her books usually bring. But this one missed the mark just a bit for me!
Katie Vaughn really needs her job as a video producer so to avoid being laid off, she accepts an assignment that her boss Cole offers her-and “omits the truth” about her lack of swimming skills!
The assignment: Profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.
The reason Cole offers her the job? Cole is Hutch’s brother and they don’t get along.
So, Katie packs her bags and heads to Key West. She will worry about a swimsuit 🩱 when she gets there. (Katie struggles with her body image, and doesn’t own one).
Getting there is a travel nightmare but fortunately her host, Cole and Hutch’s Aunt Rue is there to greet her . (She and her pals, “the gals” are colorful, scene stealers!)
Rue will take Katie under her wing-setting her up in a cozy cottage at her Inn, and with a weekend of swim lessons. Katie is grateful until she meets her swim instructor-Hutch.
Oops! Can’t keep that secret now!
Sounds cute, right? But unfortunately the first part of the books spends TOO much time on body image, and once swim lessons start, the humor becomes too “slapstick” for my personal taste.
But, where it REALLY went wrong was when Cole arrives in Key West with their boss, Sullivan. He is insufferable his shenanigans and the lies he tells (and the excuses for them!) seem SILLY at best.
Katherine Center can’t write a BAD book, but this just wasn’t a favorite for me. Still, it has its moments-and a rescue Great Dane named George Bailey.
The author does share in the Author’s Note that she loves to write stories about healing, and in addition to Katie and Hutch having a love story, she also considers this to be a love story between Katie and her body-a kind of enemies to lovers trope where Katie learns to let go of the hate of what she sees in the mirror and learns to embrace what she sees instead.
You have got to love that! ❤️
A buddy read with DeAnn. Was it a favorite for her? Be sure to watch for her review!
Available NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Best heartwarming moment: The Flowers 🌺🌼🌺
Best Heartbreaking moment: Chapter 22 DO NOT PEEK! 🫣
Whenever I get the opportunity to read a Katherine Center book early, I move it straight to the top of my TBR pile! I love the ✨JOY✨ that her books usually bring. But this one missed the mark just a bit for me!
Katie Vaughn really needs her job as a video producer so to avoid being laid off, she accepts an assignment that her boss Cole offers her-and “omits the truth” about her lack of swimming skills!
The assignment: Profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.
The reason Cole offers her the job? Cole is Hutch’s brother and they don’t get along.
So, Katie packs her bags and heads to Key West. She will worry about a swimsuit 🩱 when she gets there. (Katie struggles with her body image, and doesn’t own one).
Getting there is a travel nightmare but fortunately her host, Cole and Hutch’s Aunt Rue is there to greet her . (She and her pals, “the gals” are colorful, scene stealers!)
Rue will take Katie under her wing-setting her up in a cozy cottage at her Inn, and with a weekend of swim lessons. Katie is grateful until she meets her swim instructor-Hutch.
Oops! Can’t keep that secret now!
Sounds cute, right? But unfortunately the first part of the books spends TOO much time on body image, and once swim lessons start, the humor becomes too “slapstick” for my personal taste.
But, where it REALLY went wrong was when Cole arrives in Key West with their boss, Sullivan. He is insufferable his shenanigans and the lies he tells (and the excuses for them!) seem SILLY at best.
Katherine Center can’t write a BAD book, but this just wasn’t a favorite for me. Still, it has its moments-and a rescue Great Dane named George Bailey.
The author does share in the Author’s Note that she loves to write stories about healing, and in addition to Katie and Hutch having a love story, she also considers this to be a love story between Katie and her body-a kind of enemies to lovers trope where Katie learns to let go of the hate of what she sees in the mirror and learns to embrace what she sees instead.
You have got to love that! ❤️
A buddy read with DeAnn. Was it a favorite for her? Be sure to watch for her review!
Available NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
May 24, 2025
If you can take anything from my review, I hope it’s this: I liked it enough to laugh, enjoy some moments, and obviously finish it… but it didn’t HOOK ME like her other books 😕
First things first! I really hope the publisher added a trigger warning page (I only read the ARC), because the FMC struggles with body image shown through memories of a past breakup where she starved herself for a year and counted calories so her thighs “wouldn’t touch.” I know some readers don’t want to encounter that, even in passing, so I really hope TWs are in the final copy. 🙏
Now, the story itself was cute! Katie is your classic FMC who uses humor in every sentence 😂 and since the POV is hers, we get her inner thoughts which are hilarious. But by page 250, I was like, “I get it, you’re funny.” It just wasn’t getting any deeper, that more emotional layer I usually look for in FMCs was missing. I liked her and how she was working on loving herself again after everything with her body, but… it didn’t fully click for me the way I wanted it to 💔
The plot, omg it was a straight line most of the way and then out of nowhere it got messy and went in a million directions 😵💫 The last 20% had me thinking, “how did we end up HERE?” Maybe it was intentional for that dramatic rom-com flair, but I wasn’t really feeling it either aghhhh
As for the MMC, Hutch… I liked him, but he was meh. Like yes, we see him start to fall for Katie and get glimpses of his struggles with attachment. But aside from their first kiss and giving her swimming lessons, I felt no real chemistry 😬 She’d talk about him like, “he’s such nice company” and I was just like… andddd? Where are the swoony gestures?! He had a few good one-liners, but that’s about it.
Again, I did enjoy it overall I laughed, I smiled, I finished it, but I definitely had some eye rolls and “huh?” moments. I love Katherine Center’s writing, but this one just wasn’t for me in comparison to The Rom-Commers. 💁♀️
tropes
🌺 strangers to lovers
🌺 forced proximity
🌺 small town vibes
🌺 self body image representation
🌺 1st POV
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I heard mix reviews, but I love Katherine Center so let's see how this one goes.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for my eARC
First things first! I really hope the publisher added a trigger warning page (I only read the ARC), because the FMC struggles with body image shown through memories of a past breakup where she starved herself for a year and counted calories so her thighs “wouldn’t touch.” I know some readers don’t want to encounter that, even in passing, so I really hope TWs are in the final copy. 🙏
Now, the story itself was cute! Katie is your classic FMC who uses humor in every sentence 😂 and since the POV is hers, we get her inner thoughts which are hilarious. But by page 250, I was like, “I get it, you’re funny.” It just wasn’t getting any deeper, that more emotional layer I usually look for in FMCs was missing. I liked her and how she was working on loving herself again after everything with her body, but… it didn’t fully click for me the way I wanted it to 💔
The plot, omg it was a straight line most of the way and then out of nowhere it got messy and went in a million directions 😵💫 The last 20% had me thinking, “how did we end up HERE?” Maybe it was intentional for that dramatic rom-com flair, but I wasn’t really feeling it either aghhhh
As for the MMC, Hutch… I liked him, but he was meh. Like yes, we see him start to fall for Katie and get glimpses of his struggles with attachment. But aside from their first kiss and giving her swimming lessons, I felt no real chemistry 😬 She’d talk about him like, “he’s such nice company” and I was just like… andddd? Where are the swoony gestures?! He had a few good one-liners, but that’s about it.
Again, I did enjoy it overall I laughed, I smiled, I finished it, but I definitely had some eye rolls and “huh?” moments. I love Katherine Center’s writing, but this one just wasn’t for me in comparison to The Rom-Commers. 💁♀️
tropes
🌺 strangers to lovers
🌺 forced proximity
🌺 small town vibes
🌺 self body image representation
🌺 1st POV
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I heard mix reviews, but I love Katherine Center so let's see how this one goes.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for my eARC
June 16, 2025
╰┈➤ 2 stars!
i’ve read two books by katherine center so far—and if i’m being honest, both have felt pretty underwhelming for me. that’s not to say this one was a bad read, but i also wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it as a great one either. maybe i should’ve adjusted my expectations from the beginning, especially since the first book i picked up by her didn’t impress me all that much.
the love haters follows katie, a video producer who pretends her way into keeping her job just to avoid getting laid off. because of that decision, she ends up tangled in some family drama—mainly due to the strained relationship between cole and his brother, hutch. along the way, a few lies are told that only make everything more complicated than it already is.
౨ৎ katie. her character was relatable—though only to a certain extent. there were moments when reading from her point of view felt a bit overwhelming. she was too much in her own head, and at times, it made the story drag for me. that said, i did appreciate her journey of self-realization. i liked how she eventually had her epiphany and chose to make things right—not just for others, but for herself.
౨ৎ hutch. yes, i get it. he’s dreamy and charming in that classic way. but honestly, some of his scenes came off a little cringey, even if they were meant to be cute. it’s not that i didn’t like his character, i just wish things weren’t as predictable as they turned out to be. there’s more i could say about him, but it would spoil the story—so i'll just leave it at that. he was overall okay.
this book had a lot of potential, and i truly wanted to love it, but one of my biggest issues was the lack of chemistry between the main characters. they had their sweet moments—don’t get me wrong—but those were the only times i actually felt like they belonged together. another thing that didn’t work for me was the miscommunication trope. it’s one i absolutely hate, and i just wish they had addressed the situation like actual adults instead of overthinking everything and letting it pile up.
despite my critiques, i will say that this book had some bright spots. i appreciated how it handled themes like self-love, grief, and friendship. it may have been underwhelming overall, but i still made it to the end. just like the first book i read from katherine center, the story picked up its pace near the end—finally giving me something to hold onto, even if it came a little too late.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
trying to catch up with all the arcs i’ve received! this is the second book of katherine center i will be reading and i’m starting with this with no expectations because the first one wasn’t something i would say that is enjoyable :(( wish me luck!
i’ve read two books by katherine center so far—and if i’m being honest, both have felt pretty underwhelming for me. that’s not to say this one was a bad read, but i also wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it as a great one either. maybe i should’ve adjusted my expectations from the beginning, especially since the first book i picked up by her didn’t impress me all that much.
the love haters follows katie, a video producer who pretends her way into keeping her job just to avoid getting laid off. because of that decision, she ends up tangled in some family drama—mainly due to the strained relationship between cole and his brother, hutch. along the way, a few lies are told that only make everything more complicated than it already is.
౨ৎ katie. her character was relatable—though only to a certain extent. there were moments when reading from her point of view felt a bit overwhelming. she was too much in her own head, and at times, it made the story drag for me. that said, i did appreciate her journey of self-realization. i liked how she eventually had her epiphany and chose to make things right—not just for others, but for herself.
౨ৎ hutch. yes, i get it. he’s dreamy and charming in that classic way. but honestly, some of his scenes came off a little cringey, even if they were meant to be cute. it’s not that i didn’t like his character, i just wish things weren’t as predictable as they turned out to be. there’s more i could say about him, but it would spoil the story—so i'll just leave it at that. he was overall okay.
this book had a lot of potential, and i truly wanted to love it, but one of my biggest issues was the lack of chemistry between the main characters. they had their sweet moments—don’t get me wrong—but those were the only times i actually felt like they belonged together. another thing that didn’t work for me was the miscommunication trope. it’s one i absolutely hate, and i just wish they had addressed the situation like actual adults instead of overthinking everything and letting it pile up.
despite my critiques, i will say that this book had some bright spots. i appreciated how it handled themes like self-love, grief, and friendship. it may have been underwhelming overall, but i still made it to the end. just like the first book i read from katherine center, the story picked up its pace near the end—finally giving me something to hold onto, even if it came a little too late.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
trying to catch up with all the arcs i’ve received! this is the second book of katherine center i will be reading and i’m starting with this with no expectations because the first one wasn’t something i would say that is enjoyable :(( wish me luck!
June 22, 2025
4.5⭐️ (on audio) Katie Vaughn is still getting over the trauma of her very public breakup with her now-famous ex. Desperate to keep her mid-level video production job, she agrees to do a profile on the perpetually frowning Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who happened to go viral saving Jennifer Aniston’s beloved pup. But as Katie gets entangled in Hutch’s daily life in the Florida Keys, she is forced to confront some of her greatest fears and insecurities, all while not getting fired.
Let me start by saying that my favorite character in this story is the very gentle giant, George Bailey, a Great Dane rescued by Hutch and a dog who is hard not to fall in love with. He pretty much stole the show in every single scene he was in. And having just watched It’s a Wonderful Life over Christmas break, the name definitely put a smile on my face every single time I read it. The second star of the show? It’s easily The Gals as they are so fondly referred to, a group of retirees who swim, drink cocktails, and mettle, but who are the group of friends everyone needs in their life.
While this book didn’t necessarily blow me away like some of Katherine Center’s others, it’s still a wonderfully charming story about loss, friendship, and learning to love yourself as much as you love others. Katie is a solid MC who is so easy to relate to (I am pretty sure I have had many of the same self-conversations), and Hutch is a total sweetheart. What stands out about this book is the laugh-out-loud humor, including one scene involving a big dog, splinters, and Katie’s haunches (IYKYK) that made me laugh so hard I cried. I usually save KC’s books for when I need a life pick-me-up, and this one did not disappoint.
🎧 Patti Murin is, of course, perfection as this audiobook’s sole narrator and one of the reasons I always choose to reread books she has narrated once the audio is released.
Read if you like:
▪️coast guard hero
▪️quasi-Hollywood romance
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️forced proximity
▪️dogs named George Bailey
▪️fun side characters
▪️romcoms with heart
▪️Key West setting
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
Let me start by saying that my favorite character in this story is the very gentle giant, George Bailey, a Great Dane rescued by Hutch and a dog who is hard not to fall in love with. He pretty much stole the show in every single scene he was in. And having just watched It’s a Wonderful Life over Christmas break, the name definitely put a smile on my face every single time I read it. The second star of the show? It’s easily The Gals as they are so fondly referred to, a group of retirees who swim, drink cocktails, and mettle, but who are the group of friends everyone needs in their life.
While this book didn’t necessarily blow me away like some of Katherine Center’s others, it’s still a wonderfully charming story about loss, friendship, and learning to love yourself as much as you love others. Katie is a solid MC who is so easy to relate to (I am pretty sure I have had many of the same self-conversations), and Hutch is a total sweetheart. What stands out about this book is the laugh-out-loud humor, including one scene involving a big dog, splinters, and Katie’s haunches (IYKYK) that made me laugh so hard I cried. I usually save KC’s books for when I need a life pick-me-up, and this one did not disappoint.
🎧 Patti Murin is, of course, perfection as this audiobook’s sole narrator and one of the reasons I always choose to reread books she has narrated once the audio is released.
Read if you like:
▪️coast guard hero
▪️quasi-Hollywood romance
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️forced proximity
▪️dogs named George Bailey
▪️fun side characters
▪️romcoms with heart
▪️Key West setting
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
May 28, 2025
Rating: 3 stars for the book | 4 stars for the audiobook
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley 💌
So I tandem-read The Love Haters—earc in one hand, audiobook in the other—and let’s just say: this book and I had a complicated situationship.
This was my first book by Katherine Center, and no hate at all, but… it didn’t hit like I hoped. Somewhere between the coastal vibes, rescue swimmer energy, and fake-it-til-you-make-it plot, I got caught in a current of mid-feelings.
Okay, here’s the setup:
Katie’s about to get laid off unless she takes a risky assignment—interview a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The catch? She can’t swim. The other catch? The swimmer, Hutch, is her boss's estranged brother. And somehow she’s in Key West, tangled in family drama, pretending she can float, surrounded by strangers and secrets.
Sounds like chaos, right? It was.
Let me just say it:
The plot was fine. The setting was cute. The vibes were summer. But Katie's constant insecurity wore me out. I get body image struggles—I really do—but this felt like it was being replayed on a loop. I wanted to root for her, but after the 5th self-hating monologue and the 9th “omg I'm awkward” moment, I just needed her to grow already.
Hutch? Yeah, he was hot. Rescuer type, emotionally stunted, very “I don’t do love” until suddenly he does. But their chemistry? More lukewarm than sizzling. I was waiting for that magnetic pull, the tension, something that made me feel like yes, THIS is why they’re meant to fall in love. Never really happened. The banter felt manufactured sometimes, like dialogue trying too hard.
Also—I swear the rom in this rom-com was hiding. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch? Mid. I needed banter, longing, some fire, but instead, it was giving slow-burn that never fully lit up. I felt more emotional connection to Hutch’s dog, George Bailey (aka the MVP).
Aunt Rue and the “Gals” were the scene stealers. They were vibrant and warm, and honestly, I would’ve read a whole book about Rue running her inn and match-making on the side.
Now Cole... don’t even get me started. He gave manipulative snake. And Beanie, Katie’s best friend? Useless. No real backbone or support.
Also, can we talk about how over-the-top some moments got? The conga line? The hurricanes? The treasure hunt? It went from rom-com to cartoon real quick. Like, I signed up for cute chaos, not full-blown sitcom absurdity. The plot also dipped into full-on chaos toward the end. It was like the book remembered it had to wrap up 15 storylines in 50 pages.
BUT.
Katie learning to accept her body was probably the most powerful part of the book. Even if the journey was messy, even if it was too dragged out, it’s still something important. I just wish it had more balance.
So yeah—not a total miss, but not the hit I hoped for either.
Would I still try another Katherine Center book? Yep.
Would I recommend this one? Only in audio.
Final thoughts:
– Best format: audiobook, 100%
– Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, enemies-ish to lovers, forced proximity, fake it till you make it, self-love journey
– Standout: the dang dog and Aunt Rue
– What dragged: repetitive body image dialogue, weak side characters, low romantic spark
Not my fav, but not a flop. Just... in between.
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley 💌
So I tandem-read The Love Haters—earc in one hand, audiobook in the other—and let’s just say: this book and I had a complicated situationship.
This was my first book by Katherine Center, and no hate at all, but… it didn’t hit like I hoped. Somewhere between the coastal vibes, rescue swimmer energy, and fake-it-til-you-make-it plot, I got caught in a current of mid-feelings.
Okay, here’s the setup:
Katie’s about to get laid off unless she takes a risky assignment—interview a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. The catch? She can’t swim. The other catch? The swimmer, Hutch, is her boss's estranged brother. And somehow she’s in Key West, tangled in family drama, pretending she can float, surrounded by strangers and secrets.
Sounds like chaos, right? It was.
Let me just say it:
The plot was fine. The setting was cute. The vibes were summer. But Katie's constant insecurity wore me out. I get body image struggles—I really do—but this felt like it was being replayed on a loop. I wanted to root for her, but after the 5th self-hating monologue and the 9th “omg I'm awkward” moment, I just needed her to grow already.
Hutch? Yeah, he was hot. Rescuer type, emotionally stunted, very “I don’t do love” until suddenly he does. But their chemistry? More lukewarm than sizzling. I was waiting for that magnetic pull, the tension, something that made me feel like yes, THIS is why they’re meant to fall in love. Never really happened. The banter felt manufactured sometimes, like dialogue trying too hard.
Also—I swear the rom in this rom-com was hiding. The chemistry between Katie and Hutch? Mid. I needed banter, longing, some fire, but instead, it was giving slow-burn that never fully lit up. I felt more emotional connection to Hutch’s dog, George Bailey (aka the MVP).
Aunt Rue and the “Gals” were the scene stealers. They were vibrant and warm, and honestly, I would’ve read a whole book about Rue running her inn and match-making on the side.
Now Cole... don’t even get me started. He gave manipulative snake. And Beanie, Katie’s best friend? Useless. No real backbone or support.
Also, can we talk about how over-the-top some moments got? The conga line? The hurricanes? The treasure hunt? It went from rom-com to cartoon real quick. Like, I signed up for cute chaos, not full-blown sitcom absurdity. The plot also dipped into full-on chaos toward the end. It was like the book remembered it had to wrap up 15 storylines in 50 pages.
BUT.
Katie learning to accept her body was probably the most powerful part of the book. Even if the journey was messy, even if it was too dragged out, it’s still something important. I just wish it had more balance.
So yeah—not a total miss, but not the hit I hoped for either.
Would I still try another Katherine Center book? Yep.
Would I recommend this one? Only in audio.
Final thoughts:
– Best format: audiobook, 100%
– Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, enemies-ish to lovers, forced proximity, fake it till you make it, self-love journey
– Standout: the dang dog and Aunt Rue
– What dragged: repetitive body image dialogue, weak side characters, low romantic spark
Not my fav, but not a flop. Just... in between.
March 12, 2025
Did I think this book was going to be 5 stars? I did. Am I rating it 2 stars now? I am. 😔✋
When I got this arc, I really felt like gods favorite (I know lots of girlies got it, but let me feel special). This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025 and I was sure I was going to love it. I did not.
There was only a bit of romance in this. A whisper. Hardly anything. Maybe I shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover, but the cover is giving summer romance vibes and this was not that at all.
The story revolved completely around the FMC and when the MMC was introduced, there was nothing. No chemistry. I didn’t even feel the chemistry in the epilogue.
I will say, I always do enjoy Katherine Centers writing and a lot of topics in this book were very real and relatable. I know 2 stars seems really low, but this wasn’t necessarily a bad book. It was still fun! If there was more development between the two main characters it really could’ve been a 4-5 star read.
Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the arc <3
When I got this arc, I really felt like gods favorite (I know lots of girlies got it, but let me feel special). This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025 and I was sure I was going to love it. I did not.
There was only a bit of romance in this. A whisper. Hardly anything. Maybe I shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover, but the cover is giving summer romance vibes and this was not that at all.
The story revolved completely around the FMC and when the MMC was introduced, there was nothing. No chemistry. I didn’t even feel the chemistry in the epilogue.
I will say, I always do enjoy Katherine Centers writing and a lot of topics in this book were very real and relatable. I know 2 stars seems really low, but this wasn’t necessarily a bad book. It was still fun! If there was more development between the two main characters it really could’ve been a 4-5 star read.
Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the arc <3
March 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars!
I rate a book on how it makes me feel so this was a complete winner!
Katie isn’t the first woman to have body image issues but hers are complicated by growing up with a negative and critical stepmother, and then enduring vicious online attacks on her looks when a picture of her and her rock-star ex surfaced.
Don’t we all engage in negative self-talk? Aren’t we our own worst critic? I think many of us can identify with Katie on some level.
Currently, Katie’s job is on the line, so when she is offered a job to produce a documentary on Hutch, a coast Guard rescue swimmer, she takes it. Never mind that she can’t swim, she will learn when she arrives. Desperate times require desperate measures. What ensues is often laugh out loud funny.
When Katie arrives in Key West, she meets the delightful Aunt Rue, her gal friends, as well as Hutch and his rescue Great Dane, George Bailey. Rue makes it her mission to make Katie feel at home and sets her up in one of her colorful cottages, while arranging swim lessons.
No surprise that her swim instructor, much to Katie’s surprise, is none other than Hutch.
What follows is a mixture of hilarity and seriousness. I loved Rue and her friends, and George Bailey, the Great Dane, completely won my heart. I loved the sense of community this group built in Key West. Rue in particular is colorful, warm, and inviting.
In this genre, the focus is on the journey and I enjoyed Katie’s journey as she faced her fears and learned self-acceptance and self-love. The focus on friendships & community was an added bonus.
If I have any complaints I don’t think Cole’s character added much to the story and I’m not a fan of the web of lies as a plot device.
But despite those flaws, I found this a delightful read that addresses some important issues, all while making me wish I was the one living in the Key West cottage and sitting around the pool in colorful clothing having cocktails with Rue & her friends.
An added bonus is learning more about the Coast Guard and the rescuers. The author did her research and it shows.
Enjoy life, silence your inner critic, face your fears, and enjoy to the fullest this one spectacular life we’ve been given.
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end! I love, love, love her thoughts and perspective.
I received a digital review copy via NetGalley . All opinions are my own
I rate a book on how it makes me feel so this was a complete winner!
Katie isn’t the first woman to have body image issues but hers are complicated by growing up with a negative and critical stepmother, and then enduring vicious online attacks on her looks when a picture of her and her rock-star ex surfaced.
Don’t we all engage in negative self-talk? Aren’t we our own worst critic? I think many of us can identify with Katie on some level.
Currently, Katie’s job is on the line, so when she is offered a job to produce a documentary on Hutch, a coast Guard rescue swimmer, she takes it. Never mind that she can’t swim, she will learn when she arrives. Desperate times require desperate measures. What ensues is often laugh out loud funny.
When Katie arrives in Key West, she meets the delightful Aunt Rue, her gal friends, as well as Hutch and his rescue Great Dane, George Bailey. Rue makes it her mission to make Katie feel at home and sets her up in one of her colorful cottages, while arranging swim lessons.
No surprise that her swim instructor, much to Katie’s surprise, is none other than Hutch.
What follows is a mixture of hilarity and seriousness. I loved Rue and her friends, and George Bailey, the Great Dane, completely won my heart. I loved the sense of community this group built in Key West. Rue in particular is colorful, warm, and inviting.
In this genre, the focus is on the journey and I enjoyed Katie’s journey as she faced her fears and learned self-acceptance and self-love. The focus on friendships & community was an added bonus.
If I have any complaints I don’t think Cole’s character added much to the story and I’m not a fan of the web of lies as a plot device.
But despite those flaws, I found this a delightful read that addresses some important issues, all while making me wish I was the one living in the Key West cottage and sitting around the pool in colorful clothing having cocktails with Rue & her friends.
An added bonus is learning more about the Coast Guard and the rescuers. The author did her research and it shows.
Enjoy life, silence your inner critic, face your fears, and enjoy to the fullest this one spectacular life we’ve been given.
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end! I love, love, love her thoughts and perspective.
I received a digital review copy via NetGalley . All opinions are my own
February 11, 2025
3 stars
a perfect summer romcom! We follow Katie on her quest to save her career in a paradisiac, sun-soaked setting. Her mission? convincing the stubborn and selfless Hutch—our swoon-worthy male lead with a savior complex—to share one of his heroic rescue stories. I was thoroughly enjoying the ride until a major miscommunication entered the picture, dimming the novel’s spark a bit. but that’s just personal preference, as I’m not a fan of this arc in romance. If you’re craving something fresh, vibrant, and fast-paced, this book is for you!
many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc
a perfect summer romcom! We follow Katie on her quest to save her career in a paradisiac, sun-soaked setting. Her mission? convincing the stubborn and selfless Hutch—our swoon-worthy male lead with a savior complex—to share one of his heroic rescue stories. I was thoroughly enjoying the ride until a major miscommunication entered the picture, dimming the novel’s spark a bit. but that’s just personal preference, as I’m not a fan of this arc in romance. If you’re craving something fresh, vibrant, and fast-paced, this book is for you!
many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc
May 23, 2025
Videographer Katie Vaughn’s boss is looking to downsize her staff. Co-worker Cole believes in her talent and has an idea to save her job. The Coast Guard wants a new promotional video to recruit members and he wants her to film it. He just "forgot" to mention the featured Coast Guard rescue swimmer is his ridiculously good-looking older brother Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson who he’s trying to avoid, and she “forgot” to mention that she can’t swim!
As ‘80’s band The Thompson Twins sang: 🎶 Lies, lies, lies … yeah 🎶. This book is full of them. In fact, Cole lies like it’s his full-time job, while Katie’s are more of the omission type. Whatever the reason, those lies predictably cause some problems! That, and the fact that Katie is struggling with body image issues that make her want to avoid a bathing suit like it’s poison.
It’s trademark feel-good Katherine Center featuring two likeable opposites attract MCs, a delightful cast of side characters including Cole and Hutch’s very colorful “aunt” Rue and her posse of friends in Key West, Florida, a hilarious thunder-phobic Great Dane named George Bailey and Katie’s biggest cheerleader, no-nonsense cousin/bestie Beanie.
I didn’t feel as much chemistry with last year’s MCs in The Rom-Commers, so for me this was a return to characters I felt more invested in. It was fun to see all-business Hutch loosen up a little and color-phobic, insecure Katie learn to see herself and the world with more adventurous eyes. Their banter was top-notch. Honestly though - I think George Bailey may have stolen the show!
I always admire Center’s ability to take what could be heavy issues and find the joy and light in the situation. Hutch and Cole’s backstory with Rue was quite poignant (no spoilers), but never went dark, and Katie’s struggles with body image are something that most of us can relate to on some level. It’s nice to see a romance show characters with vulnerability and depth.
If you want good clean fun with a splash of adventure … this one should do the trick! I read and listened to the audio by the amazing Patti Murin, who once again doubled the enjoyment. She and Center make a great team!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Katherine Center for the DRC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
As ‘80’s band The Thompson Twins sang: 🎶 Lies, lies, lies … yeah 🎶. This book is full of them. In fact, Cole lies like it’s his full-time job, while Katie’s are more of the omission type. Whatever the reason, those lies predictably cause some problems! That, and the fact that Katie is struggling with body image issues that make her want to avoid a bathing suit like it’s poison.
It’s trademark feel-good Katherine Center featuring two likeable opposites attract MCs, a delightful cast of side characters including Cole and Hutch’s very colorful “aunt” Rue and her posse of friends in Key West, Florida, a hilarious thunder-phobic Great Dane named George Bailey and Katie’s biggest cheerleader, no-nonsense cousin/bestie Beanie.
I didn’t feel as much chemistry with last year’s MCs in The Rom-Commers, so for me this was a return to characters I felt more invested in. It was fun to see all-business Hutch loosen up a little and color-phobic, insecure Katie learn to see herself and the world with more adventurous eyes. Their banter was top-notch. Honestly though - I think George Bailey may have stolen the show!
I always admire Center’s ability to take what could be heavy issues and find the joy and light in the situation. Hutch and Cole’s backstory with Rue was quite poignant (no spoilers), but never went dark, and Katie’s struggles with body image are something that most of us can relate to on some level. It’s nice to see a romance show characters with vulnerability and depth.
If you want good clean fun with a splash of adventure … this one should do the trick! I read and listened to the audio by the amazing Patti Murin, who once again doubled the enjoyment. She and Center make a great team!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Katherine Center for the DRC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
May 16, 2025
Maybe I'm just the love hater. The Love Haters written by Katherine Center wasn't horrible by any means, but it also wasn't Katherine's best book either, in fact I did enjoy it, but I didn't really love this one. I love Katherine Center with my whole heart, she writes with so much wit, her characters are very lovable, Katherine write the most heart warming stories with pure intentions, her cover artwork is always so beautifully detailed, so when I saw she had a new book coming out I was jumping with glee, I was so excited to get my hands on it, but unfortunately it missed the five star mark for me. The Love Haters was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025, but this wasn't the authors best in my honest opinion. Katherine has the biggest heart, I absolutely love that she wrote a book about body positivity and loving yourself. I appreciate this trope so much, but I feel like there was just too much body image insecurity instead of the main character actually truly loving her body. Women don't need a man to feel beautiful and to love their body image. I know many women will resonate and love this book, I know I resonated with it a lot, but there was just way too much body image insecurity for me. Even though I didn't one hundred percent love this book, I still recommend it to my girls who struggle with loving themselves, so please do yourselves a favor and mark your calendars for May 20th, 2025. The Love Haters was so deeply inspirational in it's own way and it spoke to me on a personal level. Okay, before I get emotional again, it felt like Katherine wrote this book for my younger self, but again there was just way too much body image insecurity instead of teaching women to love themselves.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
First and foremost, I want to say a HUGE thank you to my favorite ladies Heather and Kat for buddy reading The Love Haters with me. I know we all didn't have the best of luck with this book, but I had the best time reading with you two lovely souls. I love you both so much. I couldn't have asked for better reading partners, and I want to thank both of you from the bottom of my heart for hyping me up and making me feel beautiful when this book touched on difficult subjects for me personally. Please be sure to check out their thoughts as well.
It's time for some girl talk. Ladies, I know we all struggle with body positivity in some way shape or form, I know I do, but you are all gorgeous in your own ways. You absolutely don't need a man to make you feel beautiful. Please please don't compare yourself to a gorgeous model you see on social media because half of the time they are probably full of Botox, I know it's easier said than done, but YOU ARE ALL OH SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
TROPES AND THEMES
Body Positivity
Fake Dating
Witty Banter
Strong Friendships
Forced Proximity
Touch Her and You Die
Key West, Florida Setting
Swim Lessons
Stolen Kisses
Drinking Contests
Conga Lines
Hurricanes
Helicopter Flights
Facing Old Fears
To Be Truly Brave At Last
"I'm not the only woman in the world with body image issues".
"You can confront your body image demons and learn a new skill at the same time".
"The cure for a phobia is to do the thing you are afraid of".
"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time".
"Having someone stand up for you and then kiss you senseless by the water at sunset is a hell of a thing".
Katie Vaughn, girl, you are absolutely beautiful and the most kind hearted human being. Katie is literally a version of my younger self and she was so relatable. I literally have so much admiration for this woman . Although I don't agree with Katie on a few things of some of the things she did, Katie was still a very relatable female main character. Katie struggles with her body image so much, she started a starvation diet after being cheated on and struggles to feel beautiful in her own skin. Katie is the type of person who is afraid of what other people think of her. On weekdays, Katie works as a video producer for a corporate video company and her job is on the line. In order to save her job, Katie takes a gig as profiling Hutch Hutcheson for a Coast Guard recruiting video. On the weekends, Katie is working on A Passion Project, which is a six minute mini documentary series about heroes who offer heroism, sacrifice, and kindness. There's a catch for this Coast Guard gig, Katie is going to be in the ocean and she can't swim for the life of herself and she knows absolutely nothing about the Coast Guard. I couldn't help but cheer on Katie throughout the book, but I think she was just way too focused on always being negative about herself instead of trying to embrace her flaws and love herself from deep within. By the end of this story, I love how Katie tried to feel beautiful, but I feel like she went about it the wrong way, she only felt beautiful when a man told her she was pretty.
Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson is the most selfless and sweetest cinnamon roll bona fide hero. Hutch is a survival technician commonly referred to as a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard. Hutch is a Pup Daddy after he went viral for rescuing a famous persons dog. Tom has a buzz cut, sand papery kind of voice, and buttery brown eyes. Hutch works out a lot, he drinks water, he constantly eats healthy, basically Hutch is a specimen of human perfection. Hutch rescues people all day long, he's also a love hater. Hutch is an all rules type of person, no heart and all action, he has no reactions to love, he's an all body but no soul type of human being. Hutch has a Great Dane named George Bailey whose full of love and dog kisses, he was literally the cutest thing in this book, he would constantly jump on everyone and slobber them up with dog kisses. Hutch is a love hater, he doesn't want a relationship, but he cares about those closest to him, he's constantly rescuing people lost in the ocean. Hutch has the biggest heart known to mankind despite being sassy and kind of has an attitude. This Pup Daddy is so hot and risks his life for others daily. I was a bit uncertain about Hutch because of his buzz cut, but this man is literally perfect and so attractive with his heroic qualities. Maybe I will get lost in the ocean so Hutch can come and rescue me one day, so I can see and get lose his beautiful eyes.
Together Katie and Hutch need to film a "Day in the Life" of Hutch Hutcheson so Katie can save her job. I loved watching Katie and Hutch together, their witty and smart ass banter made me laugh so much. While Hutch and Katie are filming this mini story, Hutch gives Katie swimming lessons because she never swam a day in her life. After Katie got in the pool, it was like she was a natural swimmer. You will need to read The Love Haters to see more of Hutch and Katie's interactions. Aunt Rue, Hutch's aunt, owns Vitamin Sea which is a tropics wear boutique that offers so many colorful swim suits and beach/pool necessities. Aunt Rue is also part of The Gals with Ginger, Benita, and Nadine. This group of women are full of life and casual wisdom, they made me laugh so much, they were just absolutely hilarious. Cole Hutcheson- Hutch's brother actually got this job for Katie because Cole wants people to see how kind and selfless Hutch is, but Cole and Hutch haven't talked in over a year because of some wedding mishaps. Cole is overly confident and a smidge narcissistic, but I appreciate him for trying to get people to see the type of person Hutch is. Katie's cousin- Beanie gave Katie the best advice, Katie is supposed to make a list of things she genuinely loves about her body. Things Katie thinks are beautiful, not things that Katie think other people would see as beautiful, but HERSELF. Beanie was seriously the best even though you only get a few glimpses of her. The Love Haters could have been an amazing book if it focused more on the female main character loving herself instead of always looking for negative things she hates about herself, but it was still a wonderful and inspirational story nonetheless.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
First and foremost, I want to say a HUGE thank you to my favorite ladies Heather and Kat for buddy reading The Love Haters with me. I know we all didn't have the best of luck with this book, but I had the best time reading with you two lovely souls. I love you both so much. I couldn't have asked for better reading partners, and I want to thank both of you from the bottom of my heart for hyping me up and making me feel beautiful when this book touched on difficult subjects for me personally. Please be sure to check out their thoughts as well.
It's time for some girl talk. Ladies, I know we all struggle with body positivity in some way shape or form, I know I do, but you are all gorgeous in your own ways. You absolutely don't need a man to make you feel beautiful. Please please don't compare yourself to a gorgeous model you see on social media because half of the time they are probably full of Botox, I know it's easier said than done, but YOU ARE ALL OH SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
TROPES AND THEMES
Body Positivity
Fake Dating
Witty Banter
Strong Friendships
Forced Proximity
Touch Her and You Die
Key West, Florida Setting
Swim Lessons
Stolen Kisses
Drinking Contests
Conga Lines
Hurricanes
Helicopter Flights
Facing Old Fears
To Be Truly Brave At Last
"I'm not the only woman in the world with body image issues".
"You can confront your body image demons and learn a new skill at the same time".
"The cure for a phobia is to do the thing you are afraid of".
"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time".
"Having someone stand up for you and then kiss you senseless by the water at sunset is a hell of a thing".
Katie Vaughn, girl, you are absolutely beautiful and the most kind hearted human being. Katie is literally a version of my younger self and she was so relatable. I literally have so much admiration for this woman . Although I don't agree with Katie on a few things of some of the things she did, Katie was still a very relatable female main character. Katie struggles with her body image so much, she started a starvation diet after being cheated on and struggles to feel beautiful in her own skin. Katie is the type of person who is afraid of what other people think of her. On weekdays, Katie works as a video producer for a corporate video company and her job is on the line. In order to save her job, Katie takes a gig as profiling Hutch Hutcheson for a Coast Guard recruiting video. On the weekends, Katie is working on A Passion Project, which is a six minute mini documentary series about heroes who offer heroism, sacrifice, and kindness. There's a catch for this Coast Guard gig, Katie is going to be in the ocean and she can't swim for the life of herself and she knows absolutely nothing about the Coast Guard. I couldn't help but cheer on Katie throughout the book, but I think she was just way too focused on always being negative about herself instead of trying to embrace her flaws and love herself from deep within. By the end of this story, I love how Katie tried to feel beautiful, but I feel like she went about it the wrong way, she only felt beautiful when a man told her she was pretty.
Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson is the most selfless and sweetest cinnamon roll bona fide hero. Hutch is a survival technician commonly referred to as a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard. Hutch is a Pup Daddy after he went viral for rescuing a famous persons dog. Tom has a buzz cut, sand papery kind of voice, and buttery brown eyes. Hutch works out a lot, he drinks water, he constantly eats healthy, basically Hutch is a specimen of human perfection. Hutch rescues people all day long, he's also a love hater. Hutch is an all rules type of person, no heart and all action, he has no reactions to love, he's an all body but no soul type of human being. Hutch has a Great Dane named George Bailey whose full of love and dog kisses, he was literally the cutest thing in this book, he would constantly jump on everyone and slobber them up with dog kisses. Hutch is a love hater, he doesn't want a relationship, but he cares about those closest to him, he's constantly rescuing people lost in the ocean. Hutch has the biggest heart known to mankind despite being sassy and kind of has an attitude. This Pup Daddy is so hot and risks his life for others daily. I was a bit uncertain about Hutch because of his buzz cut, but this man is literally perfect and so attractive with his heroic qualities. Maybe I will get lost in the ocean so Hutch can come and rescue me one day, so I can see and get lose his beautiful eyes.
Together Katie and Hutch need to film a "Day in the Life" of Hutch Hutcheson so Katie can save her job. I loved watching Katie and Hutch together, their witty and smart ass banter made me laugh so much. While Hutch and Katie are filming this mini story, Hutch gives Katie swimming lessons because she never swam a day in her life. After Katie got in the pool, it was like she was a natural swimmer. You will need to read The Love Haters to see more of Hutch and Katie's interactions. Aunt Rue, Hutch's aunt, owns Vitamin Sea which is a tropics wear boutique that offers so many colorful swim suits and beach/pool necessities. Aunt Rue is also part of The Gals with Ginger, Benita, and Nadine. This group of women are full of life and casual wisdom, they made me laugh so much, they were just absolutely hilarious. Cole Hutcheson- Hutch's brother actually got this job for Katie because Cole wants people to see how kind and selfless Hutch is, but Cole and Hutch haven't talked in over a year because of some wedding mishaps. Cole is overly confident and a smidge narcissistic, but I appreciate him for trying to get people to see the type of person Hutch is. Katie's cousin- Beanie gave Katie the best advice, Katie is supposed to make a list of things she genuinely loves about her body. Things Katie thinks are beautiful, not things that Katie think other people would see as beautiful, but HERSELF. Beanie was seriously the best even though you only get a few glimpses of her. The Love Haters could have been an amazing book if it focused more on the female main character loving herself instead of always looking for negative things she hates about herself, but it was still a wonderful and inspirational story nonetheless.
January 7, 2025
Charming, wonderfully written, entertaining, brimming with relationships, and water, The Love Haters swept me away to Key West and introduced me to an engaging, gripping, and delightful cast of characters. I enjoyed the emphasis on the various relationships in this book, being of service, taking chances, and facing your fears.
Katie Vaughn has had a rough go of it lately. Her ex-boyfriend is a rock star whose fans have commented on her looks and body online which resulted in Katie having body image issues. With her job on the line due to the possibility of layoffs she takes her boss, Cole's request to go produce a piece on his brother, Hutch who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. There is just one teeny tiny little hitch - Katie can't swim! But to keep her job, she will dive into learning how to swim once she lands in Key West.
Once in Key West she meets Aunt Rue, her friends, Hutch and his rescue dog, George Bailey! She can't help but notice the oh-so-handsome- Hutch, his sad eyes, and his chiseled body. It's all about the journey for me and Katherine Center takes readers on a journey full of swim lessons, Congo dancing, friendships, attraction, family, swimming, a loveable dog, bravery, and secrets.
As with her other books, I found The Love Haters to be wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, and gripping. I also enjoyed the sense of community between the characters, the various relationships i.e. friendship, love of family, love of your profession, love of a pet, self-love, and romantic love. It is also about being honest, being vulnerable, taking chances, and being brave.
Be sure to read the author's note at the end, it is a must read!
*A buddy read with Dorie, please read her review and get her thoughts on The Love Haters as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Katie Vaughn has had a rough go of it lately. Her ex-boyfriend is a rock star whose fans have commented on her looks and body online which resulted in Katie having body image issues. With her job on the line due to the possibility of layoffs she takes her boss, Cole's request to go produce a piece on his brother, Hutch who is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. There is just one teeny tiny little hitch - Katie can't swim! But to keep her job, she will dive into learning how to swim once she lands in Key West.
Once in Key West she meets Aunt Rue, her friends, Hutch and his rescue dog, George Bailey! She can't help but notice the oh-so-handsome- Hutch, his sad eyes, and his chiseled body. It's all about the journey for me and Katherine Center takes readers on a journey full of swim lessons, Congo dancing, friendships, attraction, family, swimming, a loveable dog, bravery, and secrets.
As with her other books, I found The Love Haters to be wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, and gripping. I also enjoyed the sense of community between the characters, the various relationships i.e. friendship, love of family, love of your profession, love of a pet, self-love, and romantic love. It is also about being honest, being vulnerable, taking chances, and being brave.
Be sure to read the author's note at the end, it is a must read!
*A buddy read with Dorie, please read her review and get her thoughts on The Love Haters as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 12, 2025
✦ ✦ ✧ ✧ ✧
arc review
- semi reasonable review -
i had very high expectations going into this book, but it did not live up to these expectations. i do realize that book is meant to be a romcom, but i never got into it. the book centers around katie, who is offered an opportunity to film a “hero” by her colleague in order to keep her job. the hero himself is hutch, a member of the coast guard who went viral when he saved a celebrity’s pet. but here’s the catch: hutch doesn’t want to be filmed, or become famous. this story navigates the boundaries of professional relationships, and the consequences when lines are crossed. there were multiple points in this book where I almost dnf'd it, but ended up pushing through. the fmc has a really bad relationship with her body and her self appreciation, which i can understand, but it became one of the main focuses of the story, and wasn’t really written in a way that i liked.
buddy read with my favorite girls heather and cara ~ go check out their thoughts too <33
>> thank you to netgalley and st. martin's press for an arc! all thoughts are my own <33
- semi unreasonable review -
i could not find it in me to give a fuck about any characters except the dog. and his toads.
i expected a lot going into this book, and it just… did not work. i was told this was a romcom, but so much of this book centered around the idea of body image. and not in a good way. it was like an “oh my god, did she really just say that-“ kind of way.
hutch was… he seems like he’d be a good boyfriend. except he could literally work all that buff hot man-ness in his favor and i would like him 1000% more.
there are women th-row-ing themselves at him and bro says “nah, i’m not hot. i’m actually on the ugly side.”
guys, if a girl outright says you’re hot, you’re hot. okay? let’s settle this.
and the katie had the whole “oh… but i’m not actually pretty, though…” *tucks hair behind ears* vibe going on. it screams pick me.
the red flags are flying high 🚩🚩🚩🚩
AND THEN… she starts appreciating her body more after she gets with her mans. who calls her pretty. and makes her feel better about herself. 🚩🚩
i would like to say to every woman reading this (i’m sorry men, this is girl talk):
you are gorgeous the way you are!!! you don’t need no man to tell you that you’re gorgeous, because you are. everyone’s body is different, and nobody expects you to look like the girls on social media who are probably half botox. 💖💖💖
let’s talk about… the bar scene!!! where cole decides to offer her as a prize after getting drunk. 🚩 yeah, that scene. he doesn’t even listen to the fact that- no she does not want to kiss some random drunk man. but of course, hutch, being our man, saves her from the howwible men, and won’t let them kiss her.
isn’t this the bare minimum??? what happened to common decency!!!
the red flags are flying even HIGHER!! 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
PLUS- the pool scene. about how women are more likely to drown than men because they’re made up of more fat??? 🚩🚩 like bro didn’t need to say it like that. i’m taking that as an insult against woman kind. and then he starts talking about how he likes to have a bit of fat so it keeps him warm?? tmi. go away.
꒰:🌿: post read ꒱
⤷ this… did not hit. nope. not for me 😭😭 rtc
꒰:👒: preread ꒱
⤷ i'm a little late to the party, but here we go 🤞
arc review
- semi reasonable review -
i had very high expectations going into this book, but it did not live up to these expectations. i do realize that book is meant to be a romcom, but i never got into it. the book centers around katie, who is offered an opportunity to film a “hero” by her colleague in order to keep her job. the hero himself is hutch, a member of the coast guard who went viral when he saved a celebrity’s pet. but here’s the catch: hutch doesn’t want to be filmed, or become famous. this story navigates the boundaries of professional relationships, and the consequences when lines are crossed. there were multiple points in this book where I almost dnf'd it, but ended up pushing through. the fmc has a really bad relationship with her body and her self appreciation, which i can understand, but it became one of the main focuses of the story, and wasn’t really written in a way that i liked.
buddy read with my favorite girls heather and cara ~ go check out their thoughts too <33
>> thank you to netgalley and st. martin's press for an arc! all thoughts are my own <33
- semi unreasonable review -
i could not find it in me to give a fuck about any characters except the dog. and his toads.
i expected a lot going into this book, and it just… did not work. i was told this was a romcom, but so much of this book centered around the idea of body image. and not in a good way. it was like an “oh my god, did she really just say that-“ kind of way.
hutch was… he seems like he’d be a good boyfriend. except he could literally work all that buff hot man-ness in his favor and i would like him 1000% more.
there are women th-row-ing themselves at him and bro says “nah, i’m not hot. i’m actually on the ugly side.”
guys, if a girl outright says you’re hot, you’re hot. okay? let’s settle this.
and the katie had the whole “oh… but i’m not actually pretty, though…” *tucks hair behind ears* vibe going on. it screams pick me.
the red flags are flying high 🚩🚩🚩🚩
AND THEN… she starts appreciating her body more after she gets with her mans. who calls her pretty. and makes her feel better about herself. 🚩🚩
i would like to say to every woman reading this (i’m sorry men, this is girl talk):
you are gorgeous the way you are!!! you don’t need no man to tell you that you’re gorgeous, because you are. everyone’s body is different, and nobody expects you to look like the girls on social media who are probably half botox. 💖💖💖
let’s talk about… the bar scene!!! where cole decides to offer her as a prize after getting drunk. 🚩 yeah, that scene. he doesn’t even listen to the fact that- no she does not want to kiss some random drunk man. but of course, hutch, being our man, saves her from the howwible men, and won’t let them kiss her.
isn’t this the bare minimum??? what happened to common decency!!!
the red flags are flying even HIGHER!! 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
PLUS- the pool scene. about how women are more likely to drown than men because they’re made up of more fat??? 🚩🚩 like bro didn’t need to say it like that. i’m taking that as an insult against woman kind. and then he starts talking about how he likes to have a bit of fat so it keeps him warm?? tmi. go away.
꒰:🌿: post read ꒱
⤷ this… did not hit. nope. not for me 😭😭 rtc
꒰:👒: preread ꒱
⤷ i'm a little late to the party, but here we go 🤞
May 14, 2025
˖ ⁺ ౿👙┆4 stars ⛧ ➛ arc review
⤿ i’m happy to report this book made me a love-lover, not -hater!
🎧┆risk
god i’m jumping in the deep end
it’s more fun to swim in
heard the risk is drowning
but i’m gonna take it
⤷ my thoughts
i love katherine center’s ability to create comedic and lighthearted romances, while also weaving in certain deeper elements! one thing i appreciated was that there was representation for struggling with body image, because i feel like it’s a common thing many people deal with today. to anyone who struggles with negative self image, just know that you are perfect just the way you are and you never need to change any part of yourself 🩷
𖥻 emma + hutch
i loved the character development in emma and i’m happy she was able to appreciate her body by the end of the book. she just needed someone to show her that the world isn't all bad <3 i feel like hutch had something to do with that—and he was such a cutie 🥹 he would encourage her even when her confidence was knocked down, and i actually loved how he noticed the little things about emma, as subtle as the small speck of her eyes that were a different colour. men who notice the details>> he was also really caring and considerate. plus he’s the coast guard 🤭 he’s definitely up there on my list of fav kc mmc’s!even tho i’ve only read 3 of her books so far.
⤷ overall i had fun with this! we love katherine center and i can’t wait to read even more of her works in the future 🫶 and if you’re thinking about it, i’d def encourage you to pick one of her books up 🙂↕️
୧ thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
⤷ quotes
“i should have loved all of my everything. because it was mine.”
“you can look around with your own eyes. you can find your own details. notice for yourself what matters—and decide what it means.”
“every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time. that’s what life is for.”
“it was such an odd idea, when you think about it: that i could hurt the world back by hurting myself.”
“i didn’t know what to do with myself. i felt panicked. trapped. caged inside my own body. and all i wanted, all i could even think about wanting, was out.”
“it’s called a time horizon—a sense of how much time we have remaining… as it shrinks, it makes everything more precious. we appreciate the days more because there are fewer of them to come… how much we have to be thankful for. what a miracle each breath is.”
—
˖ ⁺ ౿ 🪸┆pre-read
i'm excited to start this one! but for the sake of not being disappointed i won't set my expectations super high <3 let's see if i love or hate the love haters 🤭
april 3: AAH I GOT THE ARC 🥹 can't wait to see what KC's done with this one when i get to it! (also, we share the same initials, isn't that cool tehe)
⤿ i’m happy to report this book made me a love-lover, not -hater!
⊹ “proving once again that sometimes it’s worth it to take a risk on love.”
🎧┆risk
god i’m jumping in the deep end
it’s more fun to swim in
heard the risk is drowning
but i’m gonna take it
⤷ my thoughts
i love katherine center’s ability to create comedic and lighthearted romances, while also weaving in certain deeper elements! one thing i appreciated was that there was representation for struggling with body image, because i feel like it’s a common thing many people deal with today. to anyone who struggles with negative self image, just know that you are perfect just the way you are and you never need to change any part of yourself 🩷
𖥻 emma + hutch
i loved the character development in emma and i’m happy she was able to appreciate her body by the end of the book. she just needed someone to show her that the world isn't all bad <3 i feel like hutch had something to do with that—and he was such a cutie 🥹 he would encourage her even when her confidence was knocked down, and i actually loved how he noticed the little things about emma, as subtle as the small speck of her eyes that were a different colour. men who notice the details>> he was also really caring and considerate. plus he’s the coast guard 🤭 he’s definitely up there on my list of fav kc mmc’s!
⤷ overall i had fun with this! we love katherine center and i can’t wait to read even more of her works in the future 🫶 and if you’re thinking about it, i’d def encourage you to pick one of her books up 🙂↕️
୧ thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
⤷ quotes
“i should have loved all of my everything. because it was mine.”
“you can look around with your own eyes. you can find your own details. notice for yourself what matters—and decide what it means.”
“every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time. that’s what life is for.”
“it was such an odd idea, when you think about it: that i could hurt the world back by hurting myself.”
“i didn’t know what to do with myself. i felt panicked. trapped. caged inside my own body. and all i wanted, all i could even think about wanting, was out.”
“it’s called a time horizon—a sense of how much time we have remaining… as it shrinks, it makes everything more precious. we appreciate the days more because there are fewer of them to come… how much we have to be thankful for. what a miracle each breath is.”
—
˖ ⁺ ౿ 🪸┆pre-read
i'm excited to start this one! but for the sake of not being disappointed i won't set my expectations super high <3 let's see if i love or hate the love haters 🤭
april 3: AAH I GOT THE ARC 🥹 can't wait to see what KC's done with this one when i get to it! (also, we share the same initials, isn't that cool tehe)
June 15, 2025
I'll need you to bear with me for a sec because I can’t not be the type of person who’s gonna complain about how one of her most expected five-stars-read of the year turned out to be… idk, WHAT THE HELL HAVE I JUST READ?!
Girl, pick a side. Pick a battle. Pick a trope.
And stick with that!
But between all the changes of direction and barely developed topics, the thing that I can't stop thinking about is the almost complete lack of… romance.
I mean, that's pretty essential, right? And it’s not even the miscommunication’s fault, it just barely exist — if you consider her falling for him because he's apparently stunning and them kissing twice, only one of which was actually good, the bare minimum for still considering this story a romance.
Rip The Rom-Commers , you would have hated this book.
↠ 2 stars
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Girl, pick a side. Pick a battle. Pick a trope.
And stick with that!
But between all the changes of direction and barely developed topics, the thing that I can't stop thinking about is the almost complete lack of… romance.
I mean, that's pretty essential, right? And it’s not even the miscommunication’s fault, it just barely exist — if you consider her falling for him because he's apparently stunning and them kissing twice, only one of which was actually good, the bare minimum for still considering this story a romance.
Rip The Rom-Commers , you would have hated this book.
↠ 2 stars
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 1, 2025
tbh 3 stars is generous for this… its like 2.5 rounded up. this just totally missed the mark for me which pains bc i look forward to her romcoms every summer 😭 it actually didn’t even feel like her writing?!
simply put, i didn’t feel any connection to any of the characters. i think i actually hated Katie. i can understand her body image issues with what she went through but to have it be over 50% of the book felt extreme. it also felt forced and like it lacked context?
i also never felt the chemistry and connection of her and Hutch. he was nice but boring 😂 and the plot w Cole and the boss? the drinking in the bar scene? the car crash drama? the hurricane out of nowhere? i was left scratching my head lol! it was all over the place.
the dog was my fave character low key!
i’m a big KC fan but sadly this might be my least fave of hers 💔
thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. per usual, this is another gorgeous copy and cover to have on your shelves. 7 just wished the romcom was as pretty 🥲
simply put, i didn’t feel any connection to any of the characters. i think i actually hated Katie. i can understand her body image issues with what she went through but to have it be over 50% of the book felt extreme. it also felt forced and like it lacked context?
i also never felt the chemistry and connection of her and Hutch. he was nice but boring 😂 and the plot w Cole and the boss? the drinking in the bar scene? the car crash drama? the hurricane out of nowhere? i was left scratching my head lol! it was all over the place.
the dog was my fave character low key!
i’m a big KC fan but sadly this might be my least fave of hers 💔
thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. per usual, this is another gorgeous copy and cover to have on your shelves. 7 just wished the romcom was as pretty 🥲
May 18, 2025
Katie’s story is a powerful look at body shaming and how it affects self-worth. It really opened my eyes to the real struggles people face, especially with the pressure of modern technology. Katie starts off with almost no confidence, but throughout the book, we see her grow, heal, and learn to love herself and her life. It definitely gave me something to think about—like, what is my favourite body part?
Now, Hutch... he’s totally swoon-worthy. But I’ll be honest—their relationship had its cheesy moments. A little too corny for me at times, and yes, I did cringe here and there.
The true star of the book? George Bailey—the Great Dane with a frog obsession and a habit of knocking Katie over. He completely stole the show!
Katherine’s writing is so vivid, witty, and funny when it needs to be. I always feel like I’m right there in the moment with the characters.
Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read and review this ARC!
Now, Hutch... he’s totally swoon-worthy. But I’ll be honest—their relationship had its cheesy moments. A little too corny for me at times, and yes, I did cringe here and there.
The true star of the book? George Bailey—the Great Dane with a frog obsession and a habit of knocking Katie over. He completely stole the show!
Katherine’s writing is so vivid, witty, and funny when it needs to be. I always feel like I’m right there in the moment with the characters.
Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read and review this ARC!
June 4, 2025
─ dnf at page 217 ⊹
hello, i'm the love haters hater.
hello, i'm the love haters hater.
August 29, 2025
3.75
This was a trust-the-process read for me. I wasn’t really liking how the body image element was being handled in the first 100 pages, BUT I do actually really like the progression of it and where we ended up. It actually was very reminiscent of my own journey with body image.
There were some ups and downs and truly BIZARRE moments in this one. The characters aren’t my absolute favourite, but I think this story was just packaged up so nicely, I overall enjoyed this one!
This was a trust-the-process read for me. I wasn’t really liking how the body image element was being handled in the first 100 pages, BUT I do actually really like the progression of it and where we ended up. It actually was very reminiscent of my own journey with body image.
There were some ups and downs and truly BIZARRE moments in this one. The characters aren’t my absolute favourite, but I think this story was just packaged up so nicely, I overall enjoyed this one!
August 28, 2025
3.25 stars! 🌟🌟🌟
(Spoiler-free🐵⛱️👙)
This definitely took me a while to read but I really enjoyed it! 😌
The fmc Katie was probably the most REAL character I’ve ever read?! There were so many parts of the book where I was astonished on how much I related to the struggles pointed out in here tbh 😭
Though one thing is I really wished we had more time with Hutch & Katie!
Their romance was so cute and there was definitely some miscommunication in there which I was not a big fan of 🫣
Overall, a very cute summer read with some twists at the end that’ll have you at the edge of your seat 🫢😆
📚Age Rating: 14+
🔥Spice: 0/5 (clean)
⭐️Rating: 3/5
_____________________
🎧Songs:
~You’re on your own, kid~Taylor Swift
~Cruel Summer~Taylor Swift
~Mess It Up~Gracie Abrams
~lacy~Olivia Rodrigo
~Everywhere~Fleetwood Mac
~You’re So Vain~Carly Simon
~I Knew You Were Trouble~Taylor Swift
~Florida!!!~Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine
______________________
🌊❤️🧡💚Preread:
I’m currently reading Redeeming 6 and I think I need a good summer romance book in between Redeeming 6 lol 😭😭
This definitely was an anticipated read that’s been sitting on my bookshelf foreverrrr, so I’m glad I’m getting to finally read it! 🩷🥹
_________________
🩷💌Prerelease:
I LOVE THE COVER OMGGGG IM SO EXCITED 🦅🦅🦅
(Spoiler-free🐵⛱️👙)
This definitely took me a while to read but I really enjoyed it! 😌
The fmc Katie was probably the most REAL character I’ve ever read?! There were so many parts of the book where I was astonished on how much I related to the struggles pointed out in here tbh 😭
Though one thing is I really wished we had more time with Hutch & Katie!
Their romance was so cute and there was definitely some miscommunication in there which I was not a big fan of 🫣
Overall, a very cute summer read with some twists at the end that’ll have you at the edge of your seat 🫢😆
📚Age Rating: 14+
🔥Spice: 0/5 (clean)
⭐️Rating: 3/5
_____________________
🎧Songs:
~You’re on your own, kid~Taylor Swift
~Cruel Summer~Taylor Swift
~Mess It Up~Gracie Abrams
~lacy~Olivia Rodrigo
~Everywhere~Fleetwood Mac
~You’re So Vain~Carly Simon
~I Knew You Were Trouble~Taylor Swift
~Florida!!!~Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine
______________________
🌊❤️🧡💚Preread:
I’m currently reading Redeeming 6 and I think I need a good summer romance book in between Redeeming 6 lol 😭😭
This definitely was an anticipated read that’s been sitting on my bookshelf foreverrrr, so I’m glad I’m getting to finally read it! 🩷🥹
_________________
🩷💌Prerelease:
I LOVE THE COVER OMGGGG IM SO EXCITED 🦅🦅🦅
February 25, 2025
i didn't connect to this one as much as other kc books, but i still enjoyed! rtc 🫶
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!
May 21, 2025
"Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."
--------------------
TW for body image, eating difficulties, calorie counting, etc.
--------------------
--------------------
Pre-reading:
Just give it to me, that's it.
I just need it, that's my reasoning.
Love the title already.
--------------------
TW for body image, eating difficulties, calorie counting, etc.
--------------------
--------------------
Pre-reading:
Just give it to me, that's it.
I just need it, that's my reasoning.
Love the title already.
Read
January 5, 2025I didn't love this as much as some of her other ones (The Rom-Commers, The Bodyguard and Things You Save in a Fire are my faves), but it was still a delightful read that I'm still thinking about several days after I finished it! She is just SUCH a great writer.
March 17, 2025
*+:｡.｡𝓞𝓻 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓶 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓽. 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓮𝔃𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓱𝓾𝓰, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝓪𝓻— 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮: “𝓘 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂’𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰. 𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵.”｡.｡:+*
This is the most wholesome book I've read in so long. Oh, how I love Hutch and Katie. They're the most perfect couple in the history of perfect couples. I was giggling the whole time, and if I'm not giggling, I'm swooning. I can't wait to read all of Katherine Center's other books
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕿𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
🌸 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝙶𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙼𝙼𝙲
🌸 𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝙼𝙼𝙲
🌸 𝙱𝙾𝙳𝚈 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙸𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙸𝚃𝚈
🌸 𝙹𝙾𝙱 𝙾𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙴
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I've been wanting to read a Katherine Center book for sooo long and today I got lucky and received the eARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
This is the most wholesome book I've read in so long. Oh, how I love Hutch and Katie. They're the most perfect couple in the history of perfect couples. I was giggling the whole time, and if I'm not giggling, I'm swooning. I can't wait to read all of Katherine Center's other books
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕿𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
🌸 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝙶𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙼𝙼𝙲
🌸 𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝙼𝙼𝙲
🌸 𝙱𝙾𝙳𝚈 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙸𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙸𝚃𝚈
🌸 𝙹𝙾𝙱 𝙾𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙴
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I've been wanting to read a Katherine Center book for sooo long and today I got lucky and received the eARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
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