A big, goofy grin and a heart overflowing with happiness— that’s an exact description of me finishing this book.  

Last week, I was in desperate need of sunshine, both literal and figurative.  And since the weather wasn’t cooperating, I turned to another tried and true source... Katherine Center and her newest book, The Love Haters.  

Don’t take the title too seriously.  There’s nothing to hate here.  As always, Center delivers a swoon worthy romance full of satisfying sighs and laugh out loud moments while tackling some relatable heart-centered issues.  

Set in the Florida Keys, there’s plenty of summer fun to be found in this read, and no doubt it is ideal for reading by the pool or at the beach.  It’s also important to note that Hutch, our MMC, is a broody and oh-so-fit man in uniform.  Whooo! 🥵  

Center has a way of drawing me into the romance, and watching Hutch and Katie get to know one another and fall irrevocably in love gave me all the butterflies.  It was the perfect mix of sweetness and heat.  

But the most impactful part of the storyline for me was Katie’s journey of self-discovery.  As someone who still struggles with body positivity, I understood Katie’s difficulty with finding the right bathing suit or wanting to throw out the scale.  It was relatable and encouraging, especially as Katie overcame her fears and embraced her body.  

Truth be told, I didn’t love the 3rd act tension inducing narrative.  But the entirety of the storyline couldn’t be undone by that one dynamic for me.  

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the absolute BEST character in the book, a Great Dane named George Bailey.  The way he would LEAP into Katie’s arms every time he saw her.  I was IN LOVE.  

🎧Patti Murin and Katherine Center were MFEO (made for each other).  Murin perfectly embodied the full range of the storyline and breathed life into Katie.  An audiobook homerun, for sure.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted audiobook.