I found The Love Haters by Katherine Center to be one of the best rom-coms I’ve read in quite a while. It was such a fun, and also suspenseful story before the end, that I couldn’t put it down and was up until the early morning hours to finish it.
Katie Vaughn is about to lose her job as a video producer when her co-worker convinces her to take on a job filming a Coast Guard recruitment piece featuring his brother, Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson. Katie, who can’t swim, accepts, even though Tom is a rescue swimmer and part of her job will include a swimming test….what could go wrong?
When it comes to the swimming part of this novel, you definitely have to suspend your disbelief, but if you can get past that I think you’ll be okay, that was my most difficult aspect to overcome.
From their first meeting, it’s clear that Katie and Hutch’s story is going to be an eventful one, that first meet will having you rolling on the floor with laughter, and it won’t be the last time.
Although there’s lots of humour, and a number of quirky characters, including a Great Dane named George Bailey who steals the show more than once, there are some serious moments interspersed as well.
While I did find Katie’s body image issues a bit annoying, I also found her feelings to be pretty familiar to me. So while I didn’t necessarily love seeing her struggling with the issue like she did, I also know that it rung true for me, and I’m sure many other women out there.
Despite the unrealistic aspects, I found The Love Haters to be a lot of fun, with a touch of suspense thrown in, and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits at the time I read it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Love Haters will be available on May 20 2025.
Life, Tea, and Everything 