As a huge Katherine Center fan, I couldn't wait for this one. Sadly, its my least favorite. I had a hard time following along and engaging in this one. I appreciate Sadie's journey and struggles she faced but really wish she had bigger wins. There were definitely funny moments that I really enjoyed as well as some really loveable characters. If you're a Katherine fan, you should check out. #HelloStranger #NetGalley

Cute, easy romance story to enjoy. A unique twist to your typical romance story. I didn’t expect the ending, but it really made everything better.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Sadie is a struggling artist who is just about to make her BIG BREAK! After beating out 1,990 people, she has the opportunity to make a lot of money 💴 if she wins this portrait competition. All is going well until she has a nonconvulsive seizure in the middle of the street. While surgery was able to correct her brain bleed, it also came with the unexpected side effects of having face blindness. Sadie's life is spinning out of control, but the one positive is meeting two very different men, her veterinarian and her bad boy neighbor. Can her life get back to normal while meeting the love of her life?

What I 🤍:
🧠 Coping with a Medical Condition
🐶 Precious Support Dog, Peanut
🔺Love Triangle
🫠 Complicated Family Relationships
💕 Supportive Side Characters

I really enjoyed this book, especially once Sadie came home from the hospital and had to create a "new normal." I could tell Katherine Center did A LOT of research on prosopagnosia, and I appreciated the REAL feelings Sadie went through. If you lost the ability to recognize faces, your whole world WOULD be changed around. I loved how we watched her grow and go through the stages of grief while dealing with this medical condition.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Passion: 🔥 (Kiss)
Read If ➡️: You want a sweet romance with an emotional punch.
Read 📅: Springtime
CW ⚠️: Disabling Medical Condition, Death of Parent (off-page), Complicated/Unhealthy Family Situations, Divorce (Off-Page), Cheating (Off-Page)

In all honesty, this felt like Sadie's journey of healing with her condition and family trauma. But, the romance was perfect and helped lighten the mood of the book. The love interests were A+++, and I actually enjoyed this love triangle. I was able to anticipate the ending pretty early on, but I was grateful for the ending. The one thing that bothered me was Sadie's step-sister. She was over the top evil, and it just felt unrealistic to me. I recommend this book, and it comes out July 11th!

Thank you to Katherine Center and St, Martins Press for an ARC of this book.

My review will be posted soon to my Instagram Page (@LifeWithPrinceMan).

When you pick up a Katherine Center book, you can count on a few things: a woman battling difficulty; a wholesome, entirely lovable male main character who is probably also battling difficulty, a heartwarming story, a happy ending. As she acknowledged herself in her author’s note at the end of Hello Stranger, some may use those factors to call her books - or the romance genre - predictable. And maybe so, but it’s a comforting recipe. It’s knowing you’re going into a story that will build - as Center says - anticipation for the moment when it all comes together and there is joy for those who’ve struggled.

I loved Hello Stranger. I loved Joe, I loved Peanut, I loved Sadie, I loved Sue, and I loved Dr. Nicole. Hello Stranger is a remarkably visual book, and it was easy to dive into this world.

Were there parts I had to suspend disbelief? Sure. Did I see the end coming? Yup. Still loved it.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the eARC. Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of Hello Stranger.

I loved this book. The characters were amazing - sweet, ridiculous and flawed. The love story is adorable. It is a truly feel-good love story. It is over the top, it is unrealistic and frankly unbelievable, but that only adds to the joy of it. I looked forward to escaping into this book every day - I split between audio and e-version and they were equally fabulous. Honestly, a perfect beach read for the summer. 
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader and audio copies.

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist living in her art studio. While trying to follow in her late mothers footsteps, Sadie discovers that she is a finalist in a portrait competition that could give her the big break she's been waiting for. What could possibly go wrong? On the way home from the store Sadie has a seizure and winds up in the hospital needing brain surgery. Scared of not having time to complete the portrait for the competition she tries to delay the surgery to no avail. When Sadie wakes up with acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia, she can no longer see faces. How can she draw a portrait of someone when she can't even see faces? Her life is complicated enough as it is and now adding this to the pile, how will she cope?
This book was sweet, quirky and entertaining. I predicted the twist but it didn't stop me from wanting to continue reading. This was my first book from Katherine Center and I will now be going back to read her backlist books,
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received "HELLO STRANGER" as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest assessment of the book (I received the book and audio version). I love Katherine Center's novels - I appreciate her tone and voice, and the characters are well-developed and entertaining. I have a friend with face blindness but I hadn't given real thought until this book what that must actually be like. I enjoyed this story, and for those who opt for the audio version, the narration is well-done, easy to listen to, and just so good that I looked for other stories narrated by the same person.

Another one of my very few favorite books so far this year! This book had such an interesting concept, and I loved seeing the characters fall in love several times in different settings. The misunderstandings were stressful, but I was so glad for the happy ending they had in the end.

Sadie Montgomery just received the best news of her professional career, she has been selected as a finalist in a prestigious portrait competition. However, in a flash, her life changes when she ends up in the hospital needing emergency brain surgery which results in her being diagnosed with what she hopes is a temporary condition called face blindness. Everyone she meets now has a Picasso-style disconnected face, leaving her relying on her other senses to identify even those closest to her. One might say this is the very last thing she needed when painting the most important portrait of her career.

I had never heard of this condition before and had a hard time wrapping my mind around how it would affect a person's life, suddenly very aware of how much I rely on that visual recognition to identify people. It was really interesting to see how Sadie coped with her new reality and the line from the book I kept going back to was

Confirmation bias: "We tend to think what we think we are going to think"

So much of how we interpret other people is based on their facial expressions but when that information is no longer available to you, you are left to make assumptions based on body language or previously collected information.

Katherine Center did a wonderful job of painting a very detailed picture of Sadie and all she has been through to make her the woman is has become. She was moulded by the loss of her mother, a distant father, a challenging relationship with her stepsister and a struggle to really find herself. You couldn’t help but become invested in not only her health journey but also how that would impact her future as an artist and of course her romantic interests. There is so much complex history and family drama, coupled with the uncertainty of her recovery … I loved how her relationship with her neighbour grew and knowing how uncomfortable she felt around her own family my heart swelled every time the Kims treated her as one of their own.

This was my first book by author Katherine Center and it was an enjoyable read. I’ll admit it took me a while to get into the story and for a moment I considered DNFing the book but I am SO glad I kept reading as the book really came together for me in the second half. I will definitely be recommending this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

My first book by this author and I will definitely read more!

Sadie is a struggling artist, struggling financially and also seemingly personally because she isn't where she wants to be regarding her "success." On the brink of what could be a career breakthrough, Sadie has an accident that leads to her needing a minor brain surgery. Unfortunately her healing leads to a complication that completely changes how she "sees" the world. This leads to 6 weeks of struggle bus-sing for Sadie where she has to re-evaluate her perception, her interactions, and ultimately where her life is heading.

Sadie wasn't my favorite character but I could sympathize with her. Having suffered a major trauma during her formative teen years, her life has been shaped by her perceptions and interactions since then. When her senses get jumbled she slowly learns to realize even when she could "see" she wasn't always aware. Joe was a welcome bit of normalcy, always willing to be "helpful" and offering a bit of comedic relief as Sadie stumbles along. Some of the plot points were a little goofy but I appreciate the authors positive and anticipatory writing style to craft a "feel good" read. The story overall was interesting, shining light on a condition that many won't be aware of, while offering tidbits of wisdom through Sadie's therapy interactions with her doctor. I enjoyed it and will definitely check out this author's catalog.

Katherine Center possesses exceptional skills in crafting distinctive and heartwarming narratives. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading her previous works, you're in for a delightful surprise. And if you've already experienced and adored her books, much like myself, you'll undoubtedly fall head over heels for Sadie and the captivating cast of characters in this enchanting story!

• Sadie, an aspiring artist who specializes in portrait painting, was on the brink of a breakthrough in a prestigious competition when an accident changed everything, requiring brain surgery and then a diagnosis of prosopagnosia—a neurological condition that impairs the ability to recognize faces. Each encounter becomes a fresh introduction for Sadie.
• Rather than surrendering to despair, Sadie has a mere six weeks to devise a way to create a portrait without relying on sight, all in preparation for the life-changing competition. I was particularly captivated by the diverse methods Sadie explored in her quest. The anticipation was electric as she ultimately decided to create a portrait through touch alone—astonishing! Enter Joe, Sadie's charming neighbor and secret crush, who agrees to be her model. The scenes between them were so engrossing that I couldn't help but envision this story on the silver screen. It would undoubtedly be a resounding success!
• In the wake of this life-altering event, Sadie grapples with the challenges of adapting to her new reality. She must contend with an evil step-sister, a distant father, a somewhat eccentric stepmother, an ailing dog, and two new romantic interests. None of her potential love interests are aware of her recent diagnosis, making it fascinating to witness Sadie's reliance on her other senses to distinguish between individuals. I found myself wholly invested in Sadie's journey as she unraveled her true identity and discovered her desires in the face of life's unexpected hurdles. The narrative prompted me to pause several times, reflecting on how life might be if I or someone I cared about were diagnosed with such a disorder.
• This book is more than a romance; it is an inspiring, uplifting, heartwarming, and occasionally humorous tale. I truly adored the unique storyline and Center's adeptness in crafting unforgettable and relatable characters whom you'll cheer for from the opening page to the very last.
• Don’t forget to listen/read the Author’s Notes at the end. Katherine Center perfectly describes the importance of the romance genre.
• I had the pleasure of alternating between reading and listening to the audiobook and I highly recommend the audiobook if you have the option. Patti Murin @pattimurin has narrated some of my favorite books and she is a joy to listen to! She always makes it easy to distinguish between the different characters with her many inflections and keeps the pace of the story moving.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second novel by Katherine Center that I've read and can now safely say that her books are great beach reads with that 'something different' mixed into it. In "Hello Stranger", the female protagonist, Sadie, is a portrait artist who has the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase her work but has an accident a couple of weeks before the event after which she wakes up from surgery with acquired face blindness. A portrait artist who can't see the faces she needs to paint? What a pickle!

A very interesting take on how the main character rolls with the punches and learns to accept help after going her whole life being fiercely self-sufficient. Not only does the face blindness make it difficult to paint, it makes it quite hard to date new people too with our main character encountering two new men in her life. I especially enjoyed the book's final twist! The author's treatment and development of her main character Sadie, was also very well done.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center just jumped into my top five books I’ve read this year. This story was so beautiful and I felt every emotion that was depicted throughout. Sadie’s character was one of a kind and I found myself relating to her overthinking and insecurities many times. This love story is one for the ages and not one that I will soon forget. If you want a book that has a unique plot and is sure to have your emotions swirling, pick this one up when it comes out!

This was a delightful read about a heroine named Sadie who is a portrait artist. She's on the cusp of her big break being selected as a finalist for an art show when disaster strikes and she ends up in the hospital struggling with face blindness. The story follows Sadie through her journey to accept her current reality while also watching her come to terms with some family challenging dynamics from her past. The first half of the book was a bit slow for me, but really picked up in the second half.

The author did a great job weaving this story and creating some mystery, romance, and fun throughout. She also brought to light some very real concepts of confirmation bias and accepting help when needed in a fun and meaningful way. This was a fun read.

Thank you to Katherine Center, Netgalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC; all opinions contained here are my own.

This was a lot of fun! It wasn't my favorite of Katherine Center's, I think mostly because a lot of it wasn't super focused on the romance aspect of the story but instead on the struggles that Sadie went through after the accident. It also felt like the pacing was almost off a little bit- it felt like the plot would start to progress a little bit but then go off on a tangent about one of the side characters that didn't feel like it fit in with what was happening with the story. I did really enjoy the way it all came together in the end, and I liked the way that the romance did tie together in the end, but it just wasn't quite my favorite of hers.

2.5 - “I just want you to know, that more than anything…I hope you find peace.”

Sadie is celebrating the the biggest achievement of her professional life when she’s suddenly in the hospital with hopefully temporary face blindness. Every face now looks jumbled and blurry, as a portrait artist, it’s less than ideal. Struggling to cope, she finds herself in a love triangle while dealing with her childhood nemesis.

I had such a hard time with this book. Sadie is insufferable. She’s nearly thirty and acts like a teenager, and that was so difficult for me. She spends so much time feeling sorry for herself that it doesn’t feel like she deals with her new face blindness that she doesn’t learn to cope. She doesn’t want to tell anyone, and if she did, it would literally ruin the entire plot. She spends so much time feeling sorry for herself when she could be pursuing a romantic relationship and learn to cope in a healthier way with her condition.

The premise of the book is interesting and really has so much potential, but it never seems to come together. Sadie is too self-centered. The love triangle is honestly cringey and I knew what was going on immediately. I also found it incredibly hard to believe that she didn’t realize that they’re the same man. At least by the voice she should have known. It’s also incredibly icky that she talks about planning a wedding right after she meets Joe. It makes her sound incredibly juvenile and it was hard to empathize with her. Because it feels forced, the story feels like it drags and everything is filler. It never fully picks up steam to the point where I needed to keep going.

The supporting characters don’t feel developed and Sadie’s issues with her father never feel fully explored. It’s an aside that is integral to her character, but doesn’t feel substantial. Parker is actually a great villain and the Kim’s were really fun. The book just doesn’t feel realistic and the overall plot feels jumbled. A lot of interactions and conflicts feel unnatural and uncomfortable. It’s disappointing because overall Katherine Center is a great author.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Da mir der Liebesroman “The Bodyguard” von der Autorin gut gefallen hat, war ich sehr gespannt auf ihr neues Buch. Ich habe eine weitere schöne Romance mit starken Hauptcharakteren erwartet. Bekommen habe ich das leider nicht.

Blicke ich auf mein Leserlebnis mit “Hello Stranger” zurück, so fand ich die Charaktere teils zu flach. Ein Nebencharakter wurde so eindimensional dargestellt, dass es beim Lesen fast schon weh tat. Und auch Sadie, die Heldin der Geschichte, wirkte auch mich teils blass und ihre Gedankengänge zu absurd, um sie wirklich ernst nehmen zu können.

Zu vieles in der Geschichte wirkte zudem extrem konstruiert und vorhersehbar. Zu vieles machte außerdem keinen Sinn, teils musste ich beim Lesen den Kopf schütteln.

Immerhin war der Schreibstil angenehm und einnehmend. Das war auch der primäre Grund, warum ich das Buch nicht abgebrochen, sondern beendet habe. Ich habe zusätzlich noch auf ein paar Überraschungen in der Geschichte gehofft, dazu kam es aber nicht.

Alles in allem konnte mich der Liebesroman leider weder gut unterhalten noch überzeugen.

🖤🖤1/2

Für wen?

Falls euch die Grundidee der Geschichte anspricht, könnte das Buch einen Versuch wert sein. Es hilft beim Lesen nicht alle Details der Geschichte zu ernst zu nehmen. ;)

i am obsessed with katherine center. this was the pull at my heart, make me cry, make me fall in love with everyone type of romance that I needed. beautiful. everything she writes is beautiful. please go read this book.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy. all thoughts are my own.

A Katherine Center book is always likely to be amazing and her newest, releasing July 11, does not disappoint! This perfect dose of sunshine is just what I needed and I loved it! When a struggling artist has an unexpected health episode, acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia or face blindness, her life is changed in an instant. She is piecing her life back together and coming to terms with her past while maybe falling in love? I love a book where I learn something, feel something, and want to share it with others and this is that book!

This book is for you if you like Colleen Hoover novels, but prefer actually good writing. I thought while the plot was a bit predictable and corny, the writing itself and details of the story itself made this un-put-downable for me. Perfect blend of funny, self aware, and romance