Katherine Center is one of my go-tos when I’m looking for a satisfying read. Emotional without the existential dread. Sweet without being cloying. This one is no different but MAYBE my least favorite of hers?Still worth recommending though!

ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but the opinions are my own.

Katherine Center is absolutely brilliant and everything she writes is pure gold. I adored this book and the character of Sadie. I actually was so invested I ended up researching the face blindness that she ends up with. Such an interesting twist and such a great ending. Loved it so much.

I predicted the big twist but it was still entertaining to read the surprising revelations! This is emotional, inspirational and highly enjoyable, heartwarming reading that definitely kept my attention and kept me entertained

Always a must read, Center's books are cute, fun, light hearted with enough emotion to keep you reeled in. The characters are likeable and relatable. This book is no different. A must read, a page turner, and relatable.

“𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵.”

Hello Stranger is a book about a portrait artist who just learned she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition and then experiences a medical issue that requires her to undergo brain surgery, but when she wakes up she realizes she has become facial blind. To make things more dramatic, she is torn between two men, whose faces she cannot even see.

I enjoyed the fast-paced and witty writing, reading about prosopagnosia, a condition that affects the way one may perceive faces, especially since prior to this book I didn’t know a thing about this condition. I felt that Katherine Center really handled and described the condition quite well. Additionally, the plot twist at the end definitely explains any miscommunication between Sadie and her love interest(s).

But while there may be some good parts of this book, I unfortunately find myself in the unpopular opinion category for it. I found the plot to be lackluster, family situation overdramatized and stereotypical, and Sadie appeared self-consumed and ill-mannered, never once taking the time to ask others about themselves. The ‘love triangle’ between Sadie, Joe, and Dr. Addison was, to put it mildly, cringe-worthy. Thankfully, the ending slightly redeemed itself.

With that being said, I am an outlier when it comes to Hello Stranger. Most readers have enjoyed the book, so if you're interested in it, check it out.

eARC was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a warm, witty novel about identity, love, and rediscovery. The story follows Sadie, a woman who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past six months and no idea who she is. As she struggles to piece her life back together, Sadie navigates a mysterious new face and confronts relationships she doesn't fully understand.

Center brilliantly blends humor with emotional depth, making Sadie’s journey both relatable and compelling. The romance is slow-burn and layered, emphasizing personal growth over typical romantic tropes. As Sadie uncovers her past, the novel explores themes of self-love, second chances, and the power of human connection.

With strong supporting characters and an inviting narrative, Hello Stranger is an uplifting, thought-provoking read. Center’s ability to mix lighthearted moments with deeper emotional insights makes this a charming and memorable story about transformation and healing.

Love Katherine Center books and this was no exception. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t put it down yet again. I don’t know how she does it, but every one of her books is just a little better than the last. I grew so attached to these characters and felt like I was living in the book. Incredible read yet again!

Sadie makes her living painting portraits but finds herself suddenly face blind. ARC from NetGelley.

I really loved this. I fell in love with Center’s writing with her first book, and my love continues with this one. It’s uplifting, beautiful, and romantic. And the author definitely knows how to play with your heartstrings.

Hello Stranger is a heartfelt, character-driven story about Sadie Montgomery, an artist who suddenly develops face blindness after a life-changing accident. As she struggles to adapt to her new reality, she grapples with personal and family issues while navigating complicated feelings for two very different men.

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me; she does a fantastic job creating flawed, relatable characters who grow and evolve over the course of the story. My one personal criticism is that I didn’t particularly love the face blindness aspect because it veered a bit too close to the miscommunication trope which is not my favorite. Overall, it’s a touching, thought-provoking read about love, self-discovery, and the unexpected ways we see the world. The audiobook, narrated by Patti Murin, brings the characters to life with warmth and sincerity. A solid 4-star book that’s both heartwarming and real.

This book was a struggle to get through. The concept of an artist going through a head injury leading to facial blindness was an interesting concept but I’m not sure it was executed the best. I had a hard time connecting with the main character

How does Ms. Center come up with such unique conditions that her protagonists suffer from or overcome. Loved this book. Always love KC's writing.

This was a sweet and quick read. I loved the interesting premise and learned some science too, regarding face blindness. But truly, the humanity of it all, and the emotional pull of the story were the right combination. I could have just as easily given this five stars but I figured out the ending a little too soon. Still, absolutely recommended as a feel-good, palate cleansing romance. 👀

*I was honored to read an ARC of this book via
NetGalley and the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.*

I absolutely love Katherine Center and this one was no different! Loved every second! The concept of face blindness was new to me but it added a very interesting element to the book.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

“We’re all just doing the best we can. We’re all struggling with our struggles. Nobody has the answers. And everybody, deep down, is a little bit lost.”
― Katherine Center, Hello Stranger

5 STARS. Vibes were vibing. Do you ever start a book or put off a book because you're just not sure you'll love it? Well that was it for me and I could not have been more wrong. I love an amnesia trope, which this was but wasn't and I loved that. Like in my head I knew what was happening and I could not wait to see how we would get to where we needed to be. An easy, feel good and break your heart read. I cannot wait for my next Katherine Center book.

3.5 Stars!! This was a cute one! I enjoyed the ending but did find most of the twists to be pretty predictable. I also learned a lot about face blindness!! This was my first book by this author but won’t be my last! Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!!

This was such a beautiful and unique book. It explores the concept of grief, perseverance, boldness, truth & love.

Sadie is a struggling artist whose has just reached a major career milestone by earning a coveted spot in a portrait competition. But she soon discovers that she has to undergo a minor brain surgery procedure. Although it was a success, the residual swelling leaves her with the inability to clearly see faces aka face blindness.

I was extremely happy to be gifted an ARC from NetGalley. I am a huge fan of Katerine Center! I find that I am unable to put down her novels and go through all the emotions with each and every one.

I listened to this in audio format and Patti Murin did a great job delivering the story.
As with all Katherine Center novels, we experience a story based on a severe medical situation happening to the MC. In Hello Stranger, Sadie experiences a medical issue that required brain surgery and she wakes up with face blindness (Prosopagnosia). It is hard to understand how an ability we take for granted gets taken away from us and Center does a great job of bringing these experiences to life. My dislike of the story comes from the unlikeable characters. The MC, Sadie, was bratty and woe is me, which is slightly understandable with the impact from the loss of her mother at a young age. The cliché evil step sister, Parker, was unbearable and hard to fathom someone behaving that way.

I think I need to stop reading her book because this wasn't for me ... it was not what I think it was going to be and I had expectations for this book

This just wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center book. The MC I had a hard time connecting with. It was still a fun read but just not my favorite.