The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Our main character is Katie Vaughn, a video producer hired to make a recruitment video for the U.S. Coast Guard. Her ex-fiancé, Lucas, skyrocketed to popstar level fame and cheats on her, which she finds out on the INTERNET! She also faces online bullying after she attended a red carpet with her ex. And this took a serious toll on her to the point where Katie developed an eating disorder and continues to struggle with body dysmorphia. I love how this was a major plot point because many girls can relate to this. We navigate learning how to love our bodies together with Katie, and I think that was done so well. The story takes place in the Key West, it’s the perfect background and we have moments filled with sunsets and cutesy small-town vibes.

Now Hutch, who is out love interest, is a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who is described by his brother Cole as serious, guarded, and the kind of person who doesn’t believe in love. Hutch and Cole are brothers who have a major fallout for reason we don’t know until the end of the book. But I will say that watching their relationship grow and their brotherly bond get fixed was gold. It was a minor plot point but I really did appreciate it, their fallout really did add depth and complexity to the story.

The Love Haters isn’t just a romance book. It’s about rebuilding yourself and learning to love again, yourself, your body, and even someone new. My rating would be a solid 4⭐, it a perfect romance book. I would definitely recommend, so be sure to check it out on May 20, 2025!