Book Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Official Synopsis: 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 fakes it that she can.

Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. 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 also 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.

Katie is struggling with keeping her job, mostly because her boss is ready to cut anyone who isn't meeting her standards. When an opportunity is presented to her by a coworker, Cole, to go to Key West and make a promotion vide of the Coast Guard she has no choice but to take it. What Kate doesn't expected is being sucked into family drama while she is filming and having her main subject be one of the most attractive people she has ever seen. Katie has struggled since her, very public, breakup with a now famous singer, Lucas and she is trying to find ways to be comfortable within her own body and life.

Tom 'Hutch' Hutcheson is a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard, and is not looking for fame, or really attention. When he approached the company to make the promo video, he was hoping his brother would be sent, not some random girl who works with him. Hutch has been trying to get his brother to come visit him, and their Aunt Rue, for a few years but he has refused since getting divorced. Hutch is aware his job is to save people, and he is good at it, but trying to mend his own familial relationships is proving to be tough. Until Katie comes stumbling into his life, without her suitcase and dressed in some of his Aunt's wild clothes.

When Hutch and Katie start working together, first to teach her swimming, but also to help with the promo, they start to realize there is a mutual connection between them, that feels more than just being strangers. The more they hang out, or get pushed together by his aunt and her friends, the more they seem to made to be near each other. Then add in Cole showing up claiming Katie is his girlfriend, some more lies and a hurricane and nothing seems as easy as it should be. Afterall, can two people who hate love fall into it?

I really enjoyed parts of this story. Katie struggles with body image and how she views her self, her best friend does a really good job of helping her through it, and I liked the journey in the book. I also liked Hutch's journey of learning that it's not his job to save everyone and everything, and carrying burdens isn't always the healthiest way to form a relationship. Cole is his own problem, but he did turn around near the end and I think I sort of forgive him for everything else he did.

Overall, this book is a really cute summer rom-com, with just enough tension to make it grip you as you read. I wouldn't call it my favorite romance I've read this year, but it's a solid middle for just a quick summer read, especially outside in the heat. There isn't a lot of spice, so this book could be shared with some teens as well.

I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars!

The Love Haters come out May 20, 2025!

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