I was so very fortunate to read the ARC of this - thanks Net Galley! The concept for the book was very intriguing: A woman suffers an accident that leaves her face blind. Then we follow he predicaments through work, romance, etc. All in all the book was eloquently written and interesting and tied up nicely. I give this 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

I really enjoyed this story. From the moment it began, I was invested in all of the characters. The characters were well thought out and developed. This was definitely a book that kept me reading to see just how the character’s problems were sorted out.

First, I want to thank the publishers who allowed me the opportunity to read this arc via Netgalley. Thank you for this opportunity.
Okay, this was a different romance/fiction story than your usual romance book which I appreciated this. The main character named Sadie has a medical emergency which requires her to have emergency brain surgery, and leaves her with a face blindness disorder. I had no idea that there is such a thing as face blindness where a person can not visually see details of a human face. I should also mention that Sadie makes her living as a portrait artist so the face blindness is a wrench in her plan to win a contest. In this book we watch Sadie navigate family problems with her father that stem from her mother dying, and her father a surgeon marrying Lucinda her step mother who has a wicked step daughter. While Sadie is navigating her face blindness diagnosis she meets two men that capture her attention: One her neighbor name Joe who wears a bowling jacket and her 14 year old dog’s veterinarian. This story at times has some funny moments but also deals with some serious topics of bullying; family issues with her dad and step mother and Sadie trying to prepare for an art competition. The big moment in the book with Sadie’s love life made me scream out loud because I didn’t see that one coming. I really enjoyed Sadie’s story and I am falling in love with the author’s storytelling. I highly recommend.

I will be rating this a 2.5 stars.

Hello Stranger has an interesting storyline and is a very fast read. Unfortunately, the story itself feel flat.

What I enjoyed: Sadie and Joe's connection once she got over her overactive imagination. Joe, in general is the best character out of this whole book. I liked learning more about Prosopagnosia (face blindness). Semi enjoyed the plot twist at the end.

What I didn't enjoy: Sadie's friend and family, didn't like any of them. I feel as though we were supposed to at least like Sadie's best friend, but honestly if I think she was also a problem. It seemed like the only person that cared for her was Joe and then the best friend's parents. Despite all the bad things that were happening, the tension of the scenes/ interactions were very lack luster. It also seemed to be pretty rushed, especially the last few chapters.

This is my second book from the author, I would still pick up another read.

Hello Stranger was an eye opening romcom that had me hooked from the beginning. I had no idea face blindness was a condition that people suffered from. Going on the journey with Sadie kept me intrigued. I love the author’s writing style. Many times, I felt like I was right there on the rooftop with Sadie. I was happy to see the main character work through some of the family issues as well as her painting and love life.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC! After loving the Bodyguard, I needed another adorable romcom by Katherine. Hello Stranger did not disappoint! Although I was mad for at one certain part, by the end I was smiling like an idiot when everything came together perfectly! I love a face blindness trope and this was the first time I saw it done with a romance.

I don't even know where to start with this one. I freaking loved it! It grabbed me from the first chapter and I didn't want to stop reading it! Katherine Center not only wrote an amazing love story but made Sadie feel like the most genuine person you know who has plenty of baggage and life issues that when you root for her you root for yourself! The storyline of acquired face blindness was very unique and for me it made the whole story 1,000% more interesting and I felt Sadie's emotions through it all! Worth the 5 stars (probably more if I'm honest!) and highly highly recommend to all!

"Are you asking me to be your anybody?"

Sadie Montgomery has spent a good deal of her life determined not to need anyone. Not again. Not after losing her mom at a young age, and losing her father to his grief. But things are finally looking up for her when she places in the top 10 of a prestigious art contest--she knows this is her big break. She is about to finally prove her haters wrong. Until she's headed home one day and wakes up in the hospital. Soon her whole life is thrown upside down and she has to rely on other's help more than ever before.

Oh. My. Goodness. Katherine Center does it again. I absolutely adore this book. This book is a lot more serious than some of the others I've read, but still light enough to definitely stay in the rom com category. Sadie is going through A LOT and I think having it any more lighthearted than it is would have detracted from her struggles. It was a perfect balance of reality and escapism.

I was completely invested in Sadie's story and I loved how it played out. My only complaint, and it's minor, is that I wanted this to be longer. Mostly to get to know Joe and Dr. Addison a little bit more. I think it would have been fun to have Joe and Dr. Addison's POV once they were introduced into the story. I think it would have given that extra layer. But that's easy for me to say. I just sat on the couch and read this work of art. I didn't have to figure out all the fun details.

All that to say, this is a book that was totally worth staying up until 2am to finish.

As with the other Center books I've read it is a closed door romance so keep that in mind going in. Not a lot of steam but a lot of sweet and swoony.

Thank you so much Net Galley and Katherine Center for the eARC. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Sadie Montgomery finds out she needs brain surgery, and bad luck turns worse when she ends up with temporary face blindness when she wakes up.
The main character, Sadie, was a Debbie downer and pessimistic for much of the book. Even though it may have been for good reason, it got very repetitive.
I will say, the last couple chapters redeemed the tone of the book and was much more lighthearted. It even made me laugh out loud. This was an easy read, but overall this book was average for me.

Absolutely wonderful! I have loved every single Katherine Center book I've had the chance of reading and this doesn't disappoint! The love for Sadie that Katherine has poured through every word and embraced you as a reader.
Sadie faces mountains of obstacles, some of which some of which seem insurmountable, and feels like a strong, real, young woman attempting to make it through life. Sadie is an indestructible force of nature that shows an exceptional level of resiliency.
The plot was fun and unique and it all really comes together with the quirky characters.

3.5 Stars. The beginning of this book felt a little immature in the writing, but as it progressed I enjoyed myself more. The highlight for me were all the scenes with Joe. Overall a quick and easy read.

I very literally could not put this down. This would’ve been read in one sitting in my pre-toddler life. It was a breath of fresh air during a hard month where I just couldn’t bring myself to pick up a book. I am so glad I chose to pick up this.

This was my second Katherine Center novel. I read The Bodyguard and absolutely adored it, so when I saw this on NetGalley I just KNEW I had to have it.

This was another charming, cheerful novel that just leaves your heart happy. Like The Bodyguard, this one read like a Hallmark movie (cheesy in the best ways) but I’m not mad at it. The plot wasn’t anything like I’ve read before and I loved the uniqueness. I also appreciate while there was a love interest, this was more about the MC finding herself.

The biggest reason that this didn’t get 5 stars from me is that Sadie seemed very immature for her almost 30 years. I’m 30 and I can tell you that I kept forgetting Sadie was my age and not in her early/mid- twenties. I wish that she would’ve been more self-assured and headstrong in many instances, especially when it came to her evil step-sister. That whole plot line was cringey and I hated it. And the entire drama with her father left me feeling gross too. But I did love that Sadie was who she was and that she was able to love herself even more at the end.

BUTTTTTT what really and truly made this entire novel was Joe. I figured out his identity super early on but not having that big plot twist didn’t ruin anything for me. I was absolutely in love with him and nothing was gonna take that from me. He was perfection.

Overall, I didn’t love it *quite* as much as The Bodyguard but I was still captivated.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

Oof. This was a painful read.

I like the premise of the book well enough. I understand that it’s meant to be a cutesy rom com story, but I found the characters incredibly hard to relate to and the forced diversity especially off-putting.

As a person of color myself, I totally get the representation aspect! What I don’t get is why we have to insert lines like “My Trinidadian surgeon” or “My Filipino consultant.” What does that add to the story?

I had to force myself to finish this. Would not recommend.

I love Katherine Center. I have loved everything I have ever read by Katherine Center. Her books are warm, smart, well-written and have complex characters. Hello Stranger brought that same warmth and intelligence of previous Katherine Center books but it didn't quite live up to my love of her other books.

After undergoing brain surgery Sadie Montgomery experiences face blindness which complicates both her personal and professional life. I thought this was a very interesting premiss for a book that I had not seen before! The way it played out, however, felt a little frustrating given that a lot of the tension in the book was because of misunderstandings rather than actual problems.

That being said, I love a romance novel with smart and kind characters and Sadie and the male lead(s) of the book certainly were both smart and kind and the dog was a delight. It was a fast fun read filled with heart!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is another good one by Katherine Center! Hello Stranger kept me intrigued and invested, eager to find out what would happen next. I really enjoyed it!

I LOVED The Bodyguard a few weeks ago but Hello Stranger totally has me saying, “Jack Stapleton, who?!”

If you’re lucky enough to read this early, definitely do it - otherwise, preorder for its July 11th release. Easily my new favorite book 🥰 I went into this one blind (😉) and was so pleasantly surprised at every page. I loved everything about it (except Parker, she can go kick rocks) - I could just hug Katherine Center for such a joy inducing book to spend the day bingeing.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite Authors so this story did not disappoint. I love love and love reading about love. This is definitely a must buy for me & can’t wait to see what else Katherine has in store for us in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publication.

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors, and this one did not disappoint! My heart broke for Sadie during her prosopagnosia as a portrait artist. I loved the story and how she worked through it and didn’t allow herself to just wallow in sadness.

Also, Parker may be one of the bitchiest and miserable characters I’ve ever read.

My first Katherine Center book but definitely won’t be my last. This was such an easy story to fall into and become a part of. I totally loved the characters.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Loved this read! She adds so much depth and plot development to a genre that can be quite repetitive and expected at times.