Title: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: May 20, 2025
It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.
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.
Enjoyable!
Katie Vaughn is worried about being laid off from her job. Then, she’s given the chance to create a video about Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, already internet-famous for saving a famous actress’s puppy. Katie is told that Hutch doesn’t do interviews, but she might convince him for a “Day in the Life” segment after filming the Coast Guard video. Determined to keep her job, Katie will do whatever it takes.
Katie arrives in Key West without her suitcase, but Hutch’s Aunt Rue helps by providing clothes from a store and a place to stay in one of her villas. Katie is deeply grateful. While shopping, she bumps into Hutch himself. She’s instantly attracted to him but unsure how she’ll manage the assignment, as it requires swimming—and Katie doesn’t know how.
Aunt Rue helps with this, too, arranging swimming lessons with her and the gals. Katie is ready to try until she discovers the instructor is none other than Hutch.
Despite learning Katie can’t swim and that she’s filming the video instead of his brother Cole, whom he expected, Hutch agrees to teach her as long as she puts in a good word with Cole.
A fun, fast-paced romance with characters you wish were real, especially the Great Dane, George Bailey. Narrator Patti Murin does a great job bringing these characters to life. Though I loved the characters, I found the romance took a backseat to Katie’s body image struggles.
Will I read Katherine Center's next book? Absolutely!
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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