I always enjoy a mystery or historical novel at the beach, but sometimes you just want something light, romantic, and fun. Today, I'll be sharing two reviews of beach read romances. Although I usually adore the works of these two authors, their latest novels didn’t quite meet my expectations. Nonetheless, they still offer a great way to spend an afternoon.
The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance
Pub. Date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's
Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: The Bodyguard
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says, "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 Vaughn, a videographer, is still reeling from a breakup, so when her boss offers her a job that could garner her a lot of positive attention, she takes it. There are a few catches though. Her boss, Cole Hutcheson, has assigned her to work on a piece about a Coast Guard rescuer in Key West, Florida. There are a few catches though. One, Katie doesn't know how to swim and two, Cole's brother, Hutch, is the person she would be featuring. Cole and Hutch have a complicated relationship, so this is going to be awkward. To make matters worse, once she meets Hutch and spends time with him, she finds she is starting to have feelings for him. Meanwhile, not being able to swim while at the Keys and featuring a rescue swimmer is starting to add to the complications. Throw in some fake dating, and a hurricane, and you've got yourself not only a comedy but also a entertaining romance in Katherine Center's The Love Haters.
Katie is feeling pretty jaded about love after her latest breakup, and her work assignment partner, Hutch, is in a similar situation. However, the more time Katie spends with Hutch, the more she realizes she is developing feelings for him. This becomes super awkward when her boss unexpectedly shows up! Also, Katie is a complicated character. At first, I enjoyed her, despite her shortcomings; however, as the story progressed, I found myself getting annoyed with her body image issues and disordered eating. I had just finished another novel with similar themes, so my patience in this area was quite limited.
Nonetheless, my issues with The Love Haters didn't prevent me from enjoying the story overall. I adored the Great Dane, George Bailey, as well as the tropical setting of Key West. There were some laugh-out-loud moments reminiscent of a romantic comedy. Overall, while The Love Haters isn't my favorite from Center, it's still a solid romance.
Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance
Pub. Date: June 10, 2025
Publisher: Random House
Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: A Winter in New York,
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says,"Talent agent Charlie Francisco has three problems: a divorce that ended his screenwriting career, a business he never planned to inherit, and a take-your-breath-away romance novel whose author wants nothing to do with its publication. The book is a surefire hit, if only his agency can find someone to “play” author on its summer book tour.
Enter Kate Elliott, a former soap actress who’s miraculously right for the part at the very moment her life seems to be going all wrong. Kate is still recovering from her own divorce and Charlie’s job offer is a lifeline. She agrees to the pretense for all interviews, signings, and appearances surrounding the novel’s publication. But she can’t know who really wrote the remarkable story—the one so beautiful it’s made her believe in love again.
When Kate and Charlie meet they’re all friction and sparks—the one thing they have in common is they’re determined to play their respective parts. But as the summer heat ups and the lies get bigger and bigger, can they stick to their lines . . . or will they go off-script?"
Kate Elliott is a former actress, newly divorced, and trying to find her way. She writes a desperate email to her old agent, and finds out her agent's son, Charlie, is running the company. Charlie offers Kate an unconventional job, and Kate, who is short on cash, takes it. Kate will be posing on tour this summer as the author of a romance novel as the actual author is publicity shy and also wants to keep his or her identity a secret. Kate has read the novel and is enthralled, so she immediately jumps at this chance. Charlie, who is also divorced, and did well as a screenwriter of rom-coms, is starting a new page in his life helping run his deceased mother's talent agency. The more time Kate and Charlie spend together, the more sparks fly, but sometimes Katie wonders what is real and what is fiction. Kate is also curious who is the actual author of the novel she is promoting as this is always in the back of her mind. Josie Silver's Slow Burn Summer is a delightful rom-com perfect for fans of contemporary romances.
I enjoyed both characters, Kate and Charlie, but I found their romance to be a bit uninspiring, as they lacked a strong chemistry. Slow Burn Summer focuses more on deeper themes, such as public personas and the distinction between performance and true identity, rather than on romance. I also appreciated the secondary characters, particularly Kate's sister, Liv, who adds a great dynamic to the story. While Slow Burn Summer is a solid summer read, it isn’t my favorite of Silver's novels due to some pacing issues and the lack of chemistry. Nonetheless, I believe Silver's fans, especially those who enjoy books about books, will appreciate it overall.
I enjoyed both characters, Kate and Charlie, but I found their romance to be a bit uninspiring, as they lacked a strong chemistry. Slow Burn Summer focuses more on deeper themes, such as public personas and the distinction between performance and true identity, rather than on romance. I also appreciated the secondary characters, particularly Kate's sister, Liv, who adds a great dynamic to the story. While Slow Burn Summer is a solid summer read, it isn’t my favorite of Silver's novels due to some pacing issues and the lack of chemistry. Nonetheless, I believe Silver's fans, especially those who enjoy books about books, will appreciate it overall.
Are you a fan of Katherine Center or Josie Silver? Do you plan to read The Love Haters or Slow Burn Summer this summer? Let me know in the comments below.
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