Huge KC fan, Huge!

& she certainly delivers with her upcoming release, The Love Hater.

Katie is faking, it until she makes it. As a video producer, she’s on the potential chopping block as her company looks to reorganize. When her boss offers her a job filming an advertisement for the Coast Guard, she jumps at the opportunity. Until she learns she’s going to have to swim, in the ocean, and potentially jump out of a helicopter. As someone who doesn’t swim or wants to be in the middle of the action, this is not what Katie signed up for. However, she’s doing what she can to ensure she keeps her job, even if that means having to follow around the super buff, nice, and handsome Coast Guard Hutch – who also happens to be the brother her boss doesn’t seem to get along with.

While there was less love-hating and spice than I originally thought there would be, there was still plenty of witty banter and chemistry between our leads. I think this might be my new favorite Katherine Center book, but let’s be real, I say that almost anytime I read her books. I loved the beachy and dreamy Key West backdrop, the summer vibes, Rue and her vibrant friends. There is also plenty of deeper themes such as body imagine and grief. All these themes are typical of a KC novel and will make this a perfect vacation and beach read that is fun but also has substance.

However, I didn’t entirely love Katie’s ex-boyfriend’s plot line. It felt like it would be so much more apart of the story and I honestly would have preferred it to be gone from the book. I felt just like a filler piece.

That said, that was really my only note and the reason why I gave this a 4.5 rounded down to 4 stars. BUTTT after thinking about wishing the story wasn’t over or that a movie gets made of this book ASAP, I decided to give it a nice 5 stars! Because let’s be real, I rate books on vibes, and The Love Haters gave me all the happy summer vibes, and I’m here for it!

See my other KATHERINE CENTER REVIEWS HERE

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★.5

The Love Haters comes out May 20, 2025. Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.