The Love Haters by Katherine Center | Book Review

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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.

If Katherine Center writes it, I want to read it. I picked up The Love Haters without a context. I did not read the summary, instead just dove into it. This is a wonderful contemporary novel — I think the term used to be women’s fiction. Either way, I loved it and love that whole genre. There, of course, is romance involved in this book. I found myself entirely won over by the main characters. Also, the storyline felt empowering as I read it – as someone who also has body image issues from time to time, I felt I could relate to the themes of this book. 

The Love Haters follows Katie Vaughn who is a videographer who has recently been through it. Her company is about to do a round of layoffs. Katie is saved by the opportunity to do filming for the Coast Guard. She will film a hero named Hutch who went viral after being filmed saving puppies. There’s just one hitch to the plan – Katie can’t swim and she needs to be able to do so if she’s going to film Hutch. Also, Hutch is her coworker Cole’s brother. When Katie arrives in Key West, she is offered accomodations at a cottage owned by Hutch’s Aunt Rue. Rue, by the way, is simply fabulous, I loved her. She also has to work through her own issues around her body image and encountering some haters on the internet with regards to her ex – who wrote a song about her that got some fame. The fans saw her and said some awful things about her body which affects her. So, her confidence is shaken and she just can’t believe the chemistry with Hutch.

I gobbled The Love Haters up. It took me two days to fly through the pages. I liked how Katie was written and her inner voice and narration. She felt like someone who was realistic. Granted, I don’t know any videographers. Still, she’s a pretty great person, even if she did get the raw end of a deal with her previous relationship. Her interactions with Rue were interesting to read. I also liked how Hutch’s dog was portrayed. Hutch is interesting too – with a guardedness to him. When the two eventually do get together, the romance felt earned. I truly do love these kinds of books and cannot wait to pick up the next book by Katherine Center as well as make my way through her full backlist. 

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

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