The Love Haters

Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson is the deuteragonist and Katie’s love interest in The Love Haters. Hutch faced great tragedy as a child when he was involved in a car accident that killed his parents. Hutch was given the responsibility of saving his younger brother Cole just before the car burst into flames, killing their parents. Rue, who lost her husband in the accident, took in Hutch and Cole and raised them while dealing with her own grief. Hutch and Cole faced hardship in town once their neighbors discovered that their father was drunk when he caused the accident, but Rue made sure they were happy and well taken care of, and the small family honored the victims of the accident every year on its anniversary.

Hutch is characterized by his kindness and selflessness, as he is always willing to put others before himself. He adopted a Great Dane, George Bailey, from an abusive animal breeder and worked to give the dog a good life. Even the dog’s name symbolizes Hutch’s selfless character: George Bailey is the protagonist of Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, in which Bailey’s selflessness amid the 1929 economic crash earns him the gratitude of his town. Hutch became an Aviation Survival Technician (AST) for the Coast Guard, a grueling job that requires intense open-water rescues. Hutch was one of the few people in his class to make it out of AST school, and he is dedicated to helping save lives.

Hutch’s habitual heroism irritates his brother. Cole describes Hutch as “too perfect” (25), noting his looks, demeanor, actions, and the overall way others perceive him. Cole was always jealous of his older brother, even of his nickname, but a rift formed between them when his fiancée drunkenly announced the night before their wedding that she wanted to marry Hutch instead of Cole. Ever since, the brothers have been divided, though Hutch frequently tries to reestablish contact to no avail. Hutch does everything he can to get Cole’s company to work on a promotional video they are making, in particular because it would bring Cole down to Key West for the anniversary of their parents’ accident.

Not long before the beginning of the novel, Hutch experienced brief fame when he happened to save Jennifer Aniston’s golden retriever, who had fallen off a cliff. A video of the rescue went viral, and Hutch was nicknamed “Puppy Love” but refused to do interviews afterward, not wanting Rue to have to face the possibility that their past would become public knowledge.

As much as Hutch’s selflessness helps him in his job, it also gets in the way of his own interests. Hutch always puts others first, such as when he lets Cole get away with blaming him for his failed marriage or when he doesn’t pursue Katie despite his desire. Hutch is a relatively static character and changes little over the course of the novel, but his steady care and consideration for others eventually allow Hutch to reconcile with his brother and be with the woman he loves.

Cole is Hutch’s younger brother and Katie’s supervisor at work. Though he and Katie are not at all close before he gives her the assignment in Key West, their lives become inextricably entwined through Cole’s snowballing lies and secrets. Cole’s relationship with his brother is his defining feature in the novel, and his jealousy of Hutch drives many of his decisions, such as giving Katie the job in Key West. Though Cole has always been jealous of Hutch, their feud in the novel boils down to Cole believing Hutch stole his fiancée Scarlett from him, something he still makes Hutch feel guilty for, even though he was not involved. Cole also has complex feelings about Hutch because of their parents’ accident. Cole believes Hutch could have saved their mother instead of him, and this instills a guilt in Cole that he expresses in the form of anger at Hutch. Toward the end of the novel, Hutch reveals that their mother told him to save Cole instead of her. Cole feels that Hutch is too perfect and has done everything right after the accident, from saving lives professionally to abstaining from alcohol to avoid being like their father. Cole, meanwhile, is erratic and impulsive, picking fights and making up stories to get what he wants. The lies he tells about Katie and their relationship derail the plot and the lies continue to build on one another until he can’t tell the truth without facing major consequences. However, Cole does soften throughout the novel, especially when he learns that his brother was trying to be perfect for him. Despite his actions, Cole is rewarded with his own happy ending when he finds unexpected love with his boss, Karen Sullivan, and reconnects with his family.

Rue is Hutch and Cole’s honorary aunt, having adopted them after the accident that killed their parents and her husband, Robert. Rue hates to think of the accident, and Hutch isn’t even sure if she knows that his father’s inebriation caused the death of her beloved husband. Little is revealed about Rue’s life before the accident, yet she compares herself to Katie, especially in her fear of color. Like Katie, Rue wanted to hide herself, but eventually realized that she shouldn’t care what others think of her if she is having fun. When Hutch and Cole grew up, Rue moved to Key West and bought a complex of cottages and other properties, including a store called Vitamin Sea, which sells exclusively brightly-colored beachwear. Rue is characterized by her love of color and all things bold, yet also by the way she takes care of those around her, like her group of friends, the Gals. Toward the end of the novel, it is revealed that Rue has a terminal heart condition, yet she still acts bravely in the face of it. Rue’s bravery and courage help Katie gain her own, and Rue takes Katie under her wing to support her, just as Katie helps Rue when she moves to work at the Starlight Cottages in the epilogue.