Jesus came to give His life so that we might live...to change our thinking about what it means to love others...and like others...to show us how to hold out hope that the unlikable can become likable as they are transformed into the image of Christ just as we hold out hope that we can change as well....to first remove the plank...then the speck.
There is truth in saying, "I have to love 'em but I don't have to like 'em". But we must not stay there. A statement like that must not lead us to ignoring or avoiding the unlikable co-worker or cousin or husband's friend or even our own spouse. We must humble ourselves asking the Spirit of God to live through us as He teaches us to become like Him...then show others the love of Christ until they are changed as well. This is hard work...and it takes time.
Of course it is not easy, but neither was the cross...and it stands as a testimony that even the most unlikable person who ever lived is worth the effort. Speaking as one of the umlikables, I say "Thank you Jesus. You did this for me."