4.5 Stars - Such a delightful reading experience! and an easily recommendable romcom.

Center does an excellent job of capturing the emotional journey of Sadie as she copes with her condition and strives to pursue her artistic dreams while keeping the tone hopeful and lighthearted. I also appreciated the inclusion of family and friends who play significant roles in Sadie's life which rounded out the story beyond just the romance.

While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the engaging writing and well-balanced pacing made Hello Stranger a quick and fun read. If you enjoyed Center's previous book, The Bodyguard, you'll love Hello Stranger!

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

This story was the sweetest. I absolutely loved it.

💕 Sadie, the main character, is just really loveable. She’s sweet and a bit goofy, and I love her heart.
💕 The growth. I loved seeing Sadie look at life so differently because of her face blindness.
💕 the swoony love stories, the flibberty jibbet way Sadie just dives into them… it was fun to watch.
💕 Just the whole storyline dynamic. It really gives that “unreliable narrator” vibe because she can’t trust her own brain and mind. So interesting to watch it play out.

I love the romance, the plot twist, the sweet nature of Sadie’s love story. Definitely on my top 10 for the year.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I have the popular book "The Bodyguard" by Katherine Center waiting on my kindle to be read, but I wanted to give this one a shot too because even though I havent read the other book yet, I've heard such great things about it. This book really gives a good perspective on overcoming something that you may see as a detriment. The good vibes were basically pouring out of the book as I read it, and I'm thankful that even though it did touch on a heavier topic that mant people have to deal with, it still brought lighthearted humor throughout it. I definitely predicted the "plot twist" early on and this would probably be one of those books where if the main characters just communicated, there would be no issues. Usually this drives me insane but in this book I actually didn't mind it, despite it being pretty obvious what was happening during the third act conflict before the plot twist was revealed.

Needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Katherine.

Also extra points for cute dog.

dnf 40%
I struggled with this one from day one. I wanted to give it a fair chance as I've heard great things about the author but I just hate Sadie so much. The most interesting thing about Sadie and the book as a whole is the face blindness she develops after brain surgery. This would be a big deal to anyone but is even more disastrous for Sadie as she is a portrait artist who is about to enter a prestigious competition. I was annoyed with Sadie before she lost her face recognition. She was sooooo whiney and self-centered. She was constantly complaining but when someone tries to help she rejects them so she can continue to be miserable. She also claimed she did not want her family to be a part of her life, but the moment she got into the portrait competition she immediately called here dad to brag. Which is it? do you want a relationship or not? Stick to your boundaries. I get it, her step sister is cartoonishly awful, but if you want boundaries, you have to set them and stick to them. I also found the inconsistencies with who she could and could not recognize to be really really annoying. Why could she instantly recognize the voice of her friend but had no clue who her step sister was? If she really did have trauma from her step-sister there is no way she wouldn't recognize her voice. Also if she can still distinguish bodies, why didn't she figure out the whole veterinarian situation? it just didn't make sense and I was tired of trying to wrap my brain around the whole thing, so I'm done.

I want you to imagine your best friend, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your mom, your dad, hell your DOG. Now, imagine that you can vaguely think of them but you just cannot remember their face. You know that your best friend usually wears her hair in a high ponytail (but what about when she doesn't?) but nothing about the way she smiles. This is how we meet the main character, Sadie. She just had a random seizure and is now diagnosed with face blindness, which yes, is a real thing. As if that's not enough, she is supposed to be competing in a portrait competition that she's been dreaming about for so long.

I love Katherine Center's books. They're always interesting in the way that many of them bring in medical issues that are very much possible, yet pretty rare. It adds a little more to the romances that she writes. This story would have gone so much differently if Sadie were able to see the people that she was talking to.

I really enjoyed this story. It brought me back to her books like How to Walk Away, which is around where I started reading Katherine Center. I definitely would recommend this book and the audio was very well done also.

Sadie is ecstatic that she has been selected as one of 10 finalists in a prestigious Portrait competition. Unfortunately, the same day, she lands in the hospital needing brain surgery that leaves her with temporary face blindness. Probably temporary, maybe...? Sadie is devastated as the portrait competition requires her to see and paint faces and she's unable to see them. She tries multiple times and yet her best friend, Sue, truthfully lets her know that they are terrible. Winning the competition is necessary for Sadie as she wants to prove to her father that she made it as an artist and the prize money would also help since she's bumming a less than desirable place in Sue's parents' apartment building. Adding to the complications, she finds her self swooning over her dog's vet but also possibly interested with Joe who lives in her building. Life feels messy and especially hard since she can't see anyone's faces, but, as Sadie soon learns, there are ways of seeing and connecting with people other than their faces.

This was definitely a sweet read with humor and heart and a twist that I didn't see coming. Just like Center's other novels, this one has a strong female protagonist who overcomes obstacles and finds that maybe there are other ways to win at life than the path she had originally planned for. I really appreciated her Author's Note on why she loves romance novels. I'm not a romance reader but so much of what she said resonated with me that maybe I'm willing to dive back into romance with a new perspective.

This book was so much fun to read and the perfect summer book! She is a quirky artist and he is the supposed douchebag of the building. However, she lost her ability to see faces and she is losing fate in her senses. This is a story about love and finding one's self when everything seems to be failing.

The only reason for me that this is not a five-star read was because she was 30 years old. She was acting way too young for her age so if she was in her early 20s the story would make more sense in my opinion.

“Hello Stranger” by Katherine Center
The gift of SIGHT often undervalued
There was a time while reading this story that I wondered why I thought I wanted to read it. Thankfully I persevered because I am so glad I did read this story. There really is a condition called ‘Face Blindness’ check it out… I did. I think this would make a very good ‘book club’ read. This story has lots of discussion opportunities. And, yes, I really did enjoy my time within this story with an ending that surprised me. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story via NetGalley.

I rarely gravitate toward Romance novels, but something about Katerine Center's writing really draws me in. Her stories are so well-researched about interesting topics. In the author's note, she says that "romance novels, rom-coms, happy love stories --- they all run on a blissful sense that we're moving towards something better." Center has a unique talent for bringing the reader into that happy feeling.

Hello Strangers focuses on Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist who has just been accepted as a finalist in a major juried art competition in her hometown of Houston, Texas. A hereditary condition causes her to have brain surgery, which results in acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness. How will she be able to paint a portrait when she can no longer see faces? As Sadie tries to recover, she must also deal with long-seeded emotional issues. And of course, there is romance in the form of a neighbor whose face she cannot see as well as a lost opportunity with a cute veterinarian. Yes, one of the results is foreseeable, but it is still a cute plot twist.

4-plus stars.

“The more good things you look for, the more you find.”

Katherine Center never disappoints! First of all I learned so much about prosopagnosia aka facial blindness. I found this fascinating and love when I can learn about a new topic in a fictional story. The book follows Sadie’s journey as she falls for 2 different men. There is a bit of an enemies to lovers trope, which I always enjoy. The family drama was a bit much and I wanted to murder Parker! Finally, I adored Peanut the dog and felt Sadie’s relationship with him was touching. Katherine Center’s books are usually pretty clean and this one had no smut for anyone looking for a sweet romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All of the above is my own thoughts and review.

I loved, loved, loved this book!

I have to admit that The Bodyguard was a little bit of a let down for me so I was a little worried I wouldn’t like this one. But I’m happy to say that it blew me away. I loved the chemistry between Sadie & Joe. And the description of Sadie’s face blindness was so good, I really could imagine what she was seeing. I did not like how the villains of the story got away without any real consequences.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

Obsessed is an understatement!!! This was my first book by Katharine Center & I immediately bought 3 more by her upon finishing this one!! Such a good story and i loved the connection between Sadie and Joe, such a funny & cute connection!
This book was amazing!

*4.5 stars*
“Hello Stranger” is a light-hearted romance about a young woman named Sadie; a portrait artist who experiences a life-altering diagnosis that leaves her with ‘face blindness’ and the inability to recognize anyone. As she navigates her life and her career, viewing the world in a new way, she feels stuck between a rock and a hard place. With her family falling apart, her art on the line, she’s at her wits end— until she begins to fall for two men, neither of whom she can truly see for who they are.

I really, really liked this book, and the last quarter of it totally brought things home for me. once every little detail within the plot came together, I loved the story even more. i just adore how Katherine is able to incorporate some pretty deep/difficult topics into enjoyable stories; interweaving pain and heartbreak with humor and love— it’s really beautiful to read! this book is set to be published next month, so definitely check it out if you’re a fan of humor, romance, adorable dogs, and feel good stories.
Thank you SO much to NetGalley, @katherinecenter, and the publishers for providing me with this ARC to read & review!

Sadie is a portrait artist who has a problem: she develops acquired face blindness after a health scare, and her entry into the final round of a portrait art competition is due in a matter of weeks. While recovering and learning how to live with her condition, she has run-ins with a maybe jerky but also kind of wonderful guy in her building, and a crush-worthy veterinarian taking care of her geriatric dog, Peanut. Family antics ensue as well with Sadie’s wicked stepsister, her sometimes buttinsky stepmother, and her awkward and detached dad.

Does what I just typed sound bananas? Absolutely! But somehow Katherine Center makes it work in the best way. This feels like a warm hug, while also being laugh-aloud funny, heartfelt, and totally, charmingly relatable. I rooted for Sadie and her relationships and for her to overcome her struggles. And that climax? It makes me want to go back and read it all over again. All the feel-good, laugh-aloud, swoony stars forever for Katherine Center.

My thanks to St Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie Montgomery is a portrait painter who is suddenly struck with face blindness. It happens at a critical time in her career and she is struggling with how to continue doing what she loves. She also needs to find a way to recognize the people around her. One person is Joe, a helpful man in her building who she is attracted to. But just when she thinks she is moving forward, someone who has plagued her for years, throws more complications in her path. My heart broke for Sadie as she struggled to find her way, but soared as she learned to let go of who she thought she should be, and become her authentic self. Joe was so sweet, caring, and patient with Sadie, from the very beginning, even when she tries to push him away. I really fell hard and cared for both of them, as I cheered for their HEA. I also loved all the secondary characters who were always there for Sadie, supporting and caring for her, showing up when she needed them most. There is just so much to love about this story, the clever writing, the wonderful characters I want to be friends with, and a hilarious, emotional, intriguing, and heartfelt storyline that made me feel, and left me extremely happy!

I have enjoyed every Katherine Center book I've read and this one was no exception! I won't go into details about the plot, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Suffice it to say that this is a sweet and humorous romance which delves into some serious medical issues that never takes away from the hopeful attitude of the characters. I was surprised by the twist at the end and loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel. It was terrific!

Huge Katherine Center fan since reading The Body Guard. Hello Stranger is another enjoyable read! Lovable characters, interesting story, and charming romance. Feel good fiction at its best.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the early copy for my honest opinion.

I recently dove into Hello Stranger during a plane ride and found myself captivated by the unique plot and relatable characters, and the exploration of prosopagnosia.

Comparing Hello Stranger to The Bodyguard, I found myself favoring the former. I was uncertain about continuing with Center's books. However, Hello Stranger convinced me to give her writing one more chance. The plot was more engaging, the characters more relatable, and the overall storytelling more captivating.

Hello Stranger book did have a few predictable moments and leaned toward some clichés, yet it didn't hinder my overall enjoyment.

I have received an ARC on NetGalley, but my experience with the book itself and my review remained untainted.

This was a great story and a great romance. Sadie’s neurological condition was so interesting and made for a very unique obstacle on the way to her HEA.

What a great romance novel by Katherine Center, with a twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Sadie is a portrait artist who is selected to enter her artwork into a gallery where should could finally prove to her father that she is making it on her own. He wanted her to become a doctor, but she chose to be an artist instead, and follow in her late mother's footsteps.
But a seizure lands her in the hospital, and with that, she finds out she needs brain surgery due to a cavernoma. A complication from the surgery causes facial blindness, which may or may not go away. She needs to figure out how she can still paint her portrait for the art show. Meanwhile, there is an evil step-sister who she has to deal with, who has caused so much anguish for Sadie growing up.

Sadie feels she has only her beloved dog Peanut, until he gets sick. When she brings him to the vet, she imagines her entire life laid out in front of her, which consists of marrying the vet, Dr. Oliver Addison. (He doesn't know this, of course.)
What transpires in the days of Sadie trying to deal with her facial blindness, her evil step-sister, the vet, and the guy in her building, Joe is all part of this great novel. You'll have to read it to find out how it all goes together. It is such a great story, and an easy read. I highly recommend it!! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy in return for my opinion.