This was sadly a complete dud

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Katie Vaughn is worried about being fired, so she lies about being able to swim, and is persuaded to go to Key West to film a recruitment video about the coast guard. There she meets Tom “Hutch” Hucheson, the seemingly perfect older brother of her co-worker Cole, who has not been informed that his brother has weaselled out of filming the video. Katie is also pretty much adopted by Hutch’s “Aunt” Rue and her vibrant and colourful gang of pensioners who hang out in the apartment complex that Rue owns and manages.

Katie is a “love hater” because her boyfriend cheated on her and broke up with her right as his career as a musician took off, so she’s pretty much done with men. Now her ex’s songs are playing on the radio constantly, and his most recent hit is literally called “Katie” and seems to be all about how he messed up and wants her back. Katie also has self esteem, a very complicated relationship with food and because of fat shaming by her stepmother early in life, she pretty much hates her body. She literally has a near-panic attack when she has to put on a swimsuit.

Hutch isn’t really a love hater, it’s just that his brother Cole doesn’t really know his brother at all, he just seems to be jealous that his brother is easy-going, kind, very handsome, has a very impressive job (and became virally famous briefly for saving Jenifer Aniston’s dog). So anything he says is likely to be untrue. Hutch agreed to have his work featured, because the coast guard really does need new recruits, but he wanted his brother to do it, so they could spend more time together, and more importantly, with Rue. Nevertheless, he adapts without too much complaint and also agrees to give Katie swim lessons.

Full review on my blog.