The Love Haters

Videographer Katie Vaughn’s boss is looking to downsize her staff. Co-worker Cole believes in her talent and has an idea to save her job. The Coast Guard wants a new promotional video to recruit members and he wants her to film it. He just forgot to mention the featured Coast Guard rescue swimmer is his ridiculously good-looking older brother Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson who he’s trying to avoid, and she “forgot” to mention that she can’t swim!

As the ‘80’s band The Thompson Twins sang: 🎶 Lies, lies, lies … yeah 🎶. This book is full of them. In fact, Cole lies like it’s his full-time job, while Katie’s are more of the omission type. Whatever the reason, those lies predictably cause some problems! That, and the fact that Katie is struggling with body image issues that make her want to avoid a bathing suit like it’s poison. 

It’s trademark feel-good Katherine Center featuring two likeable opposites attract MCs, a delightful cast of side characters including Cole and Hutch’s very colorful  “aunt” Rue and her posse of friends in Key West, Florida, a hilarious thunder-phobic Great Dane named George Bailey and Katie’s biggest cheerleader, no-nonsense cousin/bestie Beanie. 

I didn’t feel as much chemistry with last year’s MCs in The Rom-Commers, so for me this was a return to characters I felt more invested in. It was fun to see all-business Hutch loosen up a little and color-phobic, insecure Katie learn to see herself and the world with more adventurous eyes. Their banter was top-notch. Honestly though - I think George Bailey may have stolen the show!

I always admire Center’s ability to take what could be heavy issues and find the joy and light in the situation. Hutch and Cole’s backstory with Rue was quite poignant (no spoilers), but never went dark, and Katie’s struggles with body image are something that most of us can relate to on some level. It’s nice to see a romance show characters with vulnerability and depth.

If you want good clean fun with a splash of adventure … this one should do the trick! I read and listened to the audio by the amazing Patti Murin, who once again doubled the enjoyment. She and Center make a great team!

★★★★ ½  

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Katherine Center for the DRC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.