Sadie Montgomery finally has a chance at making a name for herself in the art world by becoming a finalist in the North American Portrait Society. But after having a seizure, brain surgery, and being diagnosed with facial blindness, the way she used to paint portraits isn't going to cut it anymore.

This book takes you on a ride as Sadie rediscovers her love of painting, falls in love, deals with family issues, and worries about her beloved dog Peanut.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. I could barely put it down!

A great read: the protagonists are sympathetic, the trivial descriptions are kept to a minimum, and there is enough attraction and action to keep me reading (up too late!).

The story informed me about face blindness, and the condition made a great anchor for the plot. I wonder if there will be a spin-off about the only unsympathetic character, the only unresolved thread, in the story, Parker)?

You'll want to pick up a copy of this if you like Katherine Center as an author, or if you like perky heroines and just-the-right romantic lead. Coming out July 11, 2023. THANKS to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a really satisfying and enjoyable read.

I love Katherine Center's books. I love how there's a cutesy romance with a happy, feel good ending. I am in the minority with this one, but I really just didn't like it as much as I wanted to.

My review contains a lot of spoilers, so if you haven't read the book, please stop here.

My main issue was how long it took for readers to know Joe was bad mouthing a dog versus a woman when Sadie overheard his phone conversation in the elevator early on in the book. That scene made me automatically not like Joe, and I rejected any attempts at Center humanizing him and any positive attributes she gave him. I had my mind made up that he was a gross, misogynistic pig, and it took over half the book to find out that that wasn't the case. I really wish Center would have omitted this scene, because the book would have been a 4 star read without it.

I did like the inclusion of Sadie's face blindness as a portrait painter. It was an interesting plot point, and unlike other books I have read. I also liked how in the end, Joe was also revealed to be Dr. Addison. I had suspected that this could possibly be the case, but the reveal was nicely done.

I did notice quite a few typos and grammatical errors in the book. But since it was an ARC, I am hoping that these will be fixed before publication. They didn't effect my rating, but it was something that didn't go unnoticed.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 11 July 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Sadie is a struggling portrait artist who has recently entered a competition to win $10k. However six weeks before the competition she learns that she needs to have minor brain surgery. What she doesn't expect is to wake up after the surgery with apperceptive prosopagnosia (e.g. acquired face blindness).

WHAT I LIKED:
- despite the heavy topics, it has such levity & ultimately is such feel good story
- how much research was done into prosopagnosia & the descriptions of what its like to experience face blindness
- the whole cast of characters (even the unlikeable ones)
- the "anticipated hope" made the story an absolute delight to read
- the authors note at the end

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- more resolution with her dad, stepmother & stepsister

I loved this book. Sadie is a quirky, independent 20-something, who finds out she needs brain surgery. After begrudgingly going through with the procedure, she has a problematic side effect - swelling in her brain has caused her to be unable to see people's faces. Doubly problematic when you consider that she makes a living as a portrait artist, and has weeks to go until her work for a prestigious portrait contest is due. Add in a couple of love interests, a lifelong nemesis (her stepsister), and unwanted attention from her family, and this quickly becomes a delightful read. Sadie's world has turned upside down, but she befriends someone in her building who helps her out along the way.

The main plot "twist" was predictable, but the characters are full of heart. Katherine Center creates a compelling protagonist, and it's easy to step into Sadie's world and root for her to figure things out.

Looking forward to Katherine Center's next book!

This is my second Katherine Center novel after listening to "the Bodyguard" this past summer (which I loved). Hello Stranger I enjoyed, but the first half was slow to get going. I liked Sadie and felt for her as she navigated a truly awful family and scary medical situation with humour and grace.

The last 25% was fantastic as everything was resolved and Sadie's growth was really shown, but I think I liked the Bodyguard more. I also suspected that this might have been better on audio. All that said I'll definitely look for Katherine Center's next book.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

4.5 stars, but I’m rounding up to 5 because the anticipation in this book gave me butterflies in a way I’ve never gotten from reading a rom-com. BUTTERFLIES, that’s how much I loved the love story in this book. (Albeit, sure, pieces of it seemed implausible at points, but Center even addresses that via another character, which I really enjoyed.) And even though I had guessed the ending by about halfway through, I absolutely adored it!

ALSO — and this isn’t even part of the actual story — but I really appreciated Center’s “author’s note” at the very end about “predictability” in books, specifically in rom-coms, and how the word has started to get a negative connotation, even if it’s “predictable ‘in a good way’” (like many rom-coms are). She writes about how all genres run on anticipation, where we piece together and predict what’s going to happen, but most novels use “negatively valanced anticipation” (a sense of worry or concern that things might get worse), whereas romance novels use “positively valanced anticipation” (a sense that you’re moving towards something better, something to look forward to), a predictable structure that lets you know you’re heading to a happy ending, which is why people love these types of stories. But she proposes that rather than saying a book is “predictable ‘in a good way’,” we should start to use “anticipation” (i.e. “this book created great anticipation”) and I loved that. She also makes great points about writing happy endings on purpose, misery vs. joy in literature, and how we need more unapologetically optimistic books. All in all, just a really eye-opening author’s note that gave me a new perspective on, as well as a newfound appreciation for, romance novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Center, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book is the story of a struggling artist who has has just been invited to participate in a prestigious portrait competition. However, due to a freak accident, she has to have brain surgery before the competition and suffers with the complication of face blindness. In the meantime, she’s also juggling her obnoxious neighbor and trying not to fall hopelessly in love with her vet. So funny and heartwarming and even though it is closed door, it has probably THE sexiest makeout session I’ve ever read. Don’t be surprised to see this in my best books of 2023

KC does it again! Sweet, funny, full of charm and wholesome. Her signature loveable characters are so easy to root for. This time we have Sadie: a portrait artist suffering from acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia also known as facial blindness as a result of a brain surgery. The timing could not be worse because Sadie is preparing for a competition that could change the trajectory of her career. She needs a win to prove to her distant father and everyone else that she made it as an artist. Her best friend Sue is there to help her with that very serious obstacle, she needs to paint an original portrait without actually being able to see her model. Until Sue is tied up with her own life and Sadie gets the help from her neighbor Joe. Sadie and Joe's friendship has a shaky start. On top of all that Sadie has a crush on a vet. A vet, once again, she cannot see the face of but their future was planned on the spot the moment they met, by Sadie. This book has the funniest and cutest love triangle I've ever seen.

While grief is part of the storyline and Sadie misses her late mom so much the tone of the book is light.

This book made me giggle. I read the book with a smile pasted on my face. There is an evil-stepsister storyline that was unnecessary but overall Hello Stranger was such an enjoyable read for me. I found the phenomenon of face blindness fascinating.

You cannot be mad at Sadie when she needed "a little oxytocin-filled romantic pick-me-up courtesy of Dr. Oliver Addison's GQ-level hairdo and Olympically handsome gait." "Let's not forget his gait:that confident, badass, I'm-going-to-save-your-pooch stride" He is also very "symmetrical" Sadie's attractiveness criteria in the absence of her eye-sight was certainly unorthodox:)

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

HELLO STRANGER

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ innuendo
🤬🤬🤬

I’m so glad I took the chance because it is one of my favorite books of the year so far! The MC’s growth was so inspiring, the romance was sweet, and I loved the twist! And as before with Katherine Center, the author’s note is absolutely beautiful.

Read this book if you like:
•Sweet rom-coms
•Neurology + psychology
•Love triangles
•Cultured Kanines
•Giddy anticipation
•Satisfying denouement
•Staying up waaaay too late reading

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

*Will post this review on Bookstagram before July 10, 2023*

I enjoyed the unique premise of this book. Sadie temporarily loses the ability to see faces after an emergency brain surgery. How is she supposed to do her job as a Portrait artist? I really felt Sadies pain.

What I liked: Sadie- her tenacity to still enter the Portrait competition even with her face blindness.
Her Bestie Sue- their banter & Sue's support was needed
Neighbor Joe- I really liked his character and his willingness to help Sadie, even though he really didn't know what was wrong with her. Their painting scene really showed their connection.

What I disliked: The step sister. I really don't think her part added anything to the plot. She was so mean and I so disliked everything about her.

Overall, I'd rate this 3.5-4 but did find it a enjoyable read.

I have loved every Katherine Center book I’ve read but this might just be my favorite. I instantly loved Sadie and connected with her friendship with Sue. Their sense of humor reminded me of my best friend. I fell in love with these characters and I didn’t want it to end.
I laughed, I almost cried, I felt so so annoyed (at Parker).

Five stars from me and more if I could give it!

Ahhh this book was so perfect! this was such a quick fast paced happy little book! I was so happy I got to read this early!! So this story follows Sadie a struggling artist who followed her mother's footsteps and she was just the cutest! She gets placed into a competition, the same competition her mother place in years ago! So this competition meant a lot to her! I loved that so much, how much she wanted to make her mother proud by following in her footsteps! But later things get in the way of the competition and she needs surgery 6 weeks before the big comp! Even though she kept her determination to continue in the comp she woke up from this surgery with "acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia" which caused face blindness. so she turns to her best friend for help! But more things get in her way when her dog gets sick! when hope seems gone she meets Dr. Oliver Addison and he saves peanut her dog! and it was an adorable meet cute! Although all these hardships she feels glad she was able to see things deeper without seeing them with her eyes!! I absolutely loved this book and cant wait for its release!!

Thank you Katherine for the arc!!

2.75*

i will admit, i stayed up til 1 AM to finish this because i got into a groove and the romance gave me a hit of serotonin. what kept me from enjoying this more however are all the moments in which i couldn't suspend disbelief with all the archetypes some of the side characters were defined by. although the ending came full circle with callbacks, that wasn't enough to shed its foundation. loved the descriptions of what it felt like to lose face vision though.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Sadie is an artist much to the disappointment of her physician father. One day she has a seizure in the middle of the road and needs a very minor brain surgery. After waking up, she realizes she has face blindness. She's hoping it is temporary, but it is difficult to navigate as she ends up falling in love with two men. Bad timing as she can't make judgment calls!

I liked this book. It was a pretty easy read and has a good pace. I thought at times the characters were kind of flat and Sadie's quirkiness was getting old. Katherine Center writes such good stories, but she writes them all where they wrap up perfectly. I expected the ending. I still enjoyed this book and it was such an interesting story.

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center's work and I was so excited to read Hello Stranger! It definitely did not disappoint. Reading it was like wrapping up in a cozy warm blanket of joy and hopefulness.

This story is so unique and loveable. Katherine Center mixes fiction with science in a seamless way that makes you want to know more.
Her characters are so quirky and real. The character development is spectacular, causing me to wish I could befriend many of them in person.

The main character, Sadie, has brain surgery and awakens thinking that all is well. Soon she realizes that she can no longer put together people's faces. She has acquired prosopagnosia, or face blindness. She is a portrait artist, who is a finalist in a major competition. How will this affect her ability to paint her contest submission? We accompany her on her journey toward acceptance of this obstacle....however it's a very winding, sometimes funny, other times devastating road she travels. Throughout the book, we are reminded to always look for the good in things...a message we all need.

If you are looking for a feel-good read, this is the book for you. Katherine Center's books always leave me with a huge smile on my face and challenge me to be better.

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center has done it again. I had tears running down my face for the last ~1/3 of the book for the sheer emotionality and growth of Sadie. I really thought I saw the plot twist coming, but good lord, I did not in fact see it the real one coming. 10/10, will absolutely be rereading again and again.

Premise: Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist who has finally been offered her big break, but suffers an accident which results in temporary face blindness. Meanwhile, two love interests enter her life and she somewhat explores both of them.

This story started off strong (loved the meet cute), but I quickly found myself rolling my eyes and becoming exasperated as it progressed. Sadie is the typical “quirky” character who just seems to end up in unbelievable situtations. I found that the majority of the characters were very flat, and their relationships seemed super forced/underdeveloped. Like, how does her best friend just forget that she had brain surgery?

The flat characterization extends to the love interest as well – it was cute that he was helpful and loved animals, but that was it. However, I had a huge issue with how Sadie fed her geriatric dog only human food even when he was hospitalized, and Dr. Addison just views this with amusement. It was so frustrating to read.

One thing that I’ve noticed with Katherine Center’s books is that they tend to wrap up “too perfectly”. Her books tend to take happily ever afters to the next level, wherein everyone lives happily ever after, years of trauma and self-doubt are overcome, and all relationships are perfect. Across many of her books, I’ve found that the epilogue actually detracts from the story.

That being said, the author clearly did a lot of research on prosopagnosia. I liked the reference to Chuck Close. I just couldn’t buy into the ‘big reveal’ which was the backbone of the story.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for this ARC of Hello Stranger.

I love Katherine Center's storytelling. This book took me through a journey of emotions from my heart doing flips in my chest to tearing up at times. It was very beautifully written. My favorite character was Joe. I just fell in love with him and his kindness. I rated this book 4.75. The only thing keeping me from giving a full 5 stars was the ending. I wanted a little more of Sadie and Joe. I felt like the ending could've given a little more feels and a little more closure. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Katherine Center delivered as her usual.