A clever take on the amnesia trope with a very lovable character in Joe / Oliver. It was a very sweet story with depth around discussions of loss and family. My only gripe is that it is as wrapped up in a bow a little too nicely for my taste, what can I say. Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm rounding my rating up from a 2.5. Unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. I'll start with the main female character, Sadie. She was borderline unlikeable from the start which made it hard for me to become invested in any type of romance for her. I actually liked the unique face blindness plot but Sadie seemed immature for being in her late 20s. She made it hard to be sympathetic toward her condition. I don't mind a family drama subplot in books but everyone (dad, stepmom, stepsister, and even her best friend) were just plain awful. The stepsister having a decade long vendetta in which she goes so far as moving into the same building just to torture Sadie was ridiculous and unbelievable. The ending was okay but it didn't leave me feeling much of anything.

I did enjoy Peanut the dog.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be an eARC reader. All opinions are my own.

This is my first Katherine Center book and I really wanted to like it. I am going to get around to reading The Bodyguard but after reading this story I am unsure if I want to.

I’m not completely tearing this book apart. I really liked the unique plot of the main character having face blindness and it hindering her being a portrait artist. I also loved the male lead and the way the male lead was always there for her and really being her saving grace. He was honestly the best part of the book. BUT on the flip side so many parts of the story were very random. The evil stepsister, the family members being so awful, the lead always being so up and down. She was negative the entire book (and yes, I can understand after an accident and trauma that this is valid) but then when it comes to her stepsister ruing her life forever she’s just like “meh!”. Her emotions were misplaced often. I feel like this could have been a much better story had the author really fleshed out the past trauma and the sister. And really delved into mental health and focused on “Joe” emotionally being her rock. It lacked romance and Joe is the perfect character for romance. It was a missed opportunity for a really heartfelt love story.

The miscommunication part just annoyed me. I feel like the veterinarian was not needed at all. All of the other “meet cutes” between them would have sufficed. Please, and DO NOT get me started on Augusta just randomly showing up and being : “ oh it wasn’t her, it was the sister!”. That honestly was the moment I rated lower.

It brought me back around in the epilogue because the last part was sweet:

“Sometimes we really are the best versions of ourselves. I see that about us. And I’m determined to keep seeing that about us. Because that might be the truest thing I know: The more good things you look for, the more you find.”

This is who I wanted the character to be much early on or at least had worked to get here alongside “Joe”. Instead we get her last minute in the end with no story of how she got to this place.

I want to thank NetGalley & St. Martins press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately hooked as soon as I started this book. I love how everything flows smoothly together with each page. I have already fallen in love with the main female character, and then she finds out she needs brain surgery. She has a side effect from the surgery. She can no longer put a person’s face together. She is diagnosed with Face blindness, also known as prosopagnosia, it refers to a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize familiar faces. I felt her pain and frustration. As a portrait artist, not seeing people's faces would make the job a little difficult.

Her life becomes more complicated when her dog, Peanut, needs to see a vet. She immediately falls for the vet’s voice, and demeanor. Then she builds a friendly relationship with nice guy in her apartment building.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and gives you all the warm feelings. I stayed up late to finish it! The only downside for me was I predicted the outcome but that is a good thing with a romance book. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a comfort romance book

"Every real human interaction is made up of a million tiny moving pieces. Not a simple one-note situation: a symphony of cues to read and decipher and evaluate and pay attention to. It’s a wonder we ever get anything straight at all." -Hello Stranger, Katherine Center

Hello Stranger has all of the key elements to a successful rom-com: two lovable leads, the first-meet moment, a unique and problematic situation, relationship jeopardy, the “lightbulb moment,” and the big speech leading to a HEA. What differentiates HS from the rest is the manner in which the author adeptly draws you in to the emotional struggle of the main character, Sadie. I found myself immediately empathizing with Sadie’s plight, feeling sad/angry/desperate right along with her. And her character growth was so well developed that in the end, I felt at peace with things too!

I learned a great deal about prosopagnosia (face-blindness) as well. Believe it or not, this is the second book I’ve read where a MC had the disorder. However, Center went into greater detailed defining it, the different types, and the effects it can have on a person. I had no idea so many people have been diagnosed with face-blindness (some very well-know people to boot!).

In the Author’s Note, Center mentions “predictability” as frequently associated with the romance genre and how it is seen as a negative. She’s right that we need a new term, because although something follows a similar formula it hardly means the journey is the same let alone all the feelings that you experience along the way. Even though the “plot twist” was obvious very early on, it felt to me that the author intended it that way. It seemed a means to further establish all the problems and pitfalls associated with Sadie’s face-blindness along with a deeper layer of emotional engagement for the reader.

Hello Stranger is quirky and fun while tackling a unique and, to me at least, very jarring situation. Pick up a copy, I think it will make you feel good!

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

Katherine Center is an auto buy author for me. Ever since I read How to Walk Away I was hooked on Centers writing and story telling that always left me feeling warm and fuzzy. This book was no different. I really enjoyed Sadie's character and how she worked through her expectations of how her life should be. The focus on the prosopagnosia was very intriguing and I wanted to just scream at Sadie to ask for help! But, alas, that was the whole point of the book. I loved the supporting characters and the chemistry with Joe was beautiful. I will say, I had quite a visceral reaction to Harper. I have not hated a character so much in a long time. This was a great story focused on adapting to change, asking for help and falling in love. It was quirky and endearing. It was easy to root for these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy! I was iffy going into this book as I am not a massive fan of the memory loss trope however Center's informative take on face blindness was so well done. The events leading up to the prognosis made sense to the average reader while also informing readers about the diagnosis in more depth at the end of the book. Now to the romance! I loved Center's take on a mishmash of enemies to lovers and a meet-cute with some extra tropes sprinkled in at the end. I really enjoyed Joe's character and his development through the end. I would have liked to see a bit more detail about some of those juicy bits like Joe and Sadies first date or that long portrait session! Additionally, I struggled with those more dramatic story arcs like Parker and Augusta. I wish there was more depth given, and some closure, to Parker. She felt so mean that it was hardly believable, and I struggled to see her as a complete person. With Augusta, I felt like more detail could have been given about her coming into the art show. I struggled to see her coming into that scene and she left with the outburst never being spoken of again. That was such an interesting storyline I wish there was more closure too!

Overall, this was such a fun and lighthearted reach that I was pleasantly surprised by and would recommend to a friend!

I was first introduced to Katherine Center through book of the month and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books a smart, witty, funny and incredibly easy to read. I knew nothing about facial blindness going in and was worried it would be cheesy but this book was not that at all. Sadie was funny and relatable and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her relationships unfold. For me, this was another 5 star read from Katherine and would recommend to anyone who loves a good rom-com.

I was so excited when I opened up my NetGalley library and saw I received an ARC for @katherinecenter’s latest book. I was a huge fan of The Bodyguard, so I was interested in reading more of her work. I read this book in a day. It was that good. The story follows Sadie who is the definition of a starving artist. After having a seizure in the middle of the road, she’s taken to the hospital where she finds out she has to get brain surgery. The surgery goes perfectly…or so they thought. She soon realizes that she becomes face blind (she can no longer look at faces and recognize who they belong to). The story then follows to see how she learns to adapt to no longer recognizing people.
I will say the story starts off a little slow, getting to know Sadie and her backstory, but maybe at about the 10-15% mark it really picks up. I could not read it fast enough. I loved the her friend dynamic with Sue and Sue’s family. Especially considering how terrible her family life was. There’a a lot self-discovery (one of my favorite things that stories can really create depth with characters). And the way the romance is intertwined in this is perfect. I could not love the romantic interest more. He was perfect in every way. I highly recommend this book. 4⭐️s !

Gosh dang it, I wanted to love this one. Coming off the sunshine and joy of The Bodyguard, I was expecting a similar feeling, and this one didn’t do it for me.

I know Katherine Center talked about the use of the word “predictable” to describe romance novels and how it has a negative connotation… but, yeah? You figure the whole shtick of this novel out very early as the reader, and there’s no true romance element until close to 25%, and then you have to suspend disbelief until the last 5% of the book that no character in the book put any of it together or said anything to clue each other in. For lovers of miscommunication trope: this is the book for you. I am not one of you.

Also Sadie just felt woefully immature? I’m tired of late-20 year olds that act like this. Not to mention the insufferable Parker and Lucinda.

The cut and dry is that I was bored. Probably 2 stars for me but I’ll give it 3 because I do think the prosopagnosia element was unique. I think plenty of people would love this book, so it might be a “it’s not you it’s me” thing, which is fine!

I was so excited to read this new release after loving The Bodyguard and Hello Stranger did not disappoint. Katherine Center wrote a really likable character that was relatable, funny, and had a story to care about. I enjoyed the representation of ffs and the note at the end for anyone wanting to learn more about it. I have to admit, at first I was gearing up to give the book a 3/5 but the author quickly redeemed themselves by answering questions I had while reading and the twist at the end! The only things that kept this book from being one star shy from being 5/5 is that Sue, in my opinion was really unlikable. I did not think she was a great example of what a best friend should be and to be frank her character was dense. Also, maybe I was missing something but I felt that there was one inconsistency: when Sadie confronts Joe about leaving Parker’s apartment that morning he said that he she wasn’t even there because Parker left at 3 AM on a flight to New Amsterdam. But was Parker terrorizing Sadie at the coffee shop that same morning? Overall, great read and I’m so excited for it’s release so that everyone can have a chance to read this sweet romance. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! 4/5.

What if one day you wake up and you can’t recognize anyone around you? Sadie, a portrait painter, has to undergo brain surgery, and when she wakes up after what doctors call a successful surgery, she cannot recognize anyone around her. With an aversion for ever seeming needy, she has a hard time asking for help and relying on others to navigate the hard time she is going through, but sometimes problems are blessings in disguise.
I really enjoyed this story, which has a message of hope, acceptance, and compassion. It left me feeling good, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Books like this makes me really believe in love and happy endings!! I loved it so so much. It was quite a beautiful story. And the writing was simply yet sharp enough to had me fully immersed into it from the very first pages. It was beautiful. And, I absolutely loved that ending!

I'm awarding Katherine Center the Nobel Prize for Feel Good Literature!!!

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In her Author's Note at the end of this novel, Katherine Center ably defends the love story: it's <i>raison d'etre</i>, its necessary place in a happier, more inclusive and progressive world, and the need for an end to the denigration of a genre labeled "romance" or "women's fiction".

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AGREED!!! In fact, we should lobby for a new label: <b>Feel Good Lit</b> sounds perfect to me.

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We DO need romance in our lives. These tumultuous love stories, as Katherine Center points out, are purveyors of HOPE - something we humans can't truly live without. I make no apologies for reading them, EVER!

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Sadie Montgomery is a firecracker of a character! She refuses to admit that she ever needs help - especially from her distant, heartless father and her horrible stepmother, Lucinda! Parker, Lucinda's evil daughter, made Sadie's teenage years a living hell. Parker was one character you loved to hate!

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You'd think a story about a woman needing brain surgery, then developing face blindness as a result, would be one long tear-fest. Well, think again. I laughed so hard and so often as I traveled along with brave, daffy Sadie on her slow road to recovery. I've also highlighted a colossal number of insightful, light bulb moment passages on my Kindle in this beautifully written, heart-stirring novel. Katherine Center has surpassed herself: I was impressed!

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The final chapter was a parody of a Whodunnit, with the big reveal elaborately (and hilariously) dissected by Joe, Sadie and Sue. (Reminded me so much of a Three Stooges episode, that scene!)

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And what a huge aw-worthy denouement! Just.... filled my heart and curled my toes! Well done!

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I'm giving all the stars to this highly entertaining novel that delivered on all levels. (I highly encourage you to read the Author's Note: I cheered and was totally inspired!) My thanks to Katherine Center, MacMillan Publishers, and NetGalley for an ARC of this outstandingly fabulous novel in exchange for an honest review! It was my ABSOLUTE, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD PLEASURE!!!

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I unfortunately had to DNF this book at around 40%. I just could not get into it and I wasn’t loving the story line. I can’t judge much on it other than I was bored and couldn’t get past it.

Katherine Center has done it again! Hello Stranger is the perfect heartwarming book that will also be a tearjerker. I was so happy and I’m so thankful to have received this book as an advanced copy. I thought the twist was going to go one way and it completely shocked me! Everyone needs to read this book when it comes out in July! I know I’ll be reading it again when my preorder comes!

I thoroughly enjoyed Hello Stranger and it's light hearted love story. I figured out the twist very early on but still managed to read it in one sitting. It was super easy to read and I felt invested in the characters and finding out what would happen next. Definitely recommend this feel good story that reminds you to look for the good in the world.

My review and rating for this book is super surprising to me in more than one way.

I read and loved "The Bodyguard" last year - it was my first intro to Katherine Center, and I rated it 5 stars. I thought for sure I'd be rating this one 5 stars when I picked it up.

So when I was halfway through this book and kinda bored with it and not making any progress, I was shocked, but also could not imagine myself rating it any higher than 3 stars.

Thankfully, the book kicked into higher gear for me, and I just spent the last hour and a half reading the last 40% of the book, and it ended pretty solidly with 4 stars for me.

I think the story is incredibly creative - I've heard of face blindness before, but a character who makes a "living" off of painting portraits ending up with face blindness? Color me intrigued. (Pun not intended originally but now I see it, I'm not gonna delete it :-p)

Unfortunately, I think the first half of the book just fell really flat for me - the pacing was off or the character growth was slow or something. Instead of eagerly looking forward to picking up the book, I was avoiding reading. I was not the biggest fan of Sadie (also, I could not remember her name until someone called her "Sadie" again about 70% in... like, I couldn't even remember the main character's name?!) - I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly what I didn't like about her, but I just wasn't invested in her, as a character, until about 60% into the book. I think there just wasn't much happening. Her face blindness wasn't healing, but also she wasn't really healing or growing much either. It was just stagnant feeling.

I also felt like the twist was entirely predictable - I knew about 4 chapters in how this was all going to end, and I was not wrong in the slightest. I actually don't think it was the book that gave it away so much as the book summary, but it was quickly clear to me that SPOILER SPOILER! grocery-store-wine-buyer was going to be the same guy as the guy who saved her from the car who was going to be the same guy as the vet who was going to be the same guy as Joe. I think seeing that so early on took away some of the joy of the anticipation for me.

I will say though that I was hesitant about liking Joe AT ALL after his intro to the story, and I am glad that I was completely wrong about that - Joe became my favorite part of the story.

Will I read this again? Maybe? I wonder if now knowing that it gets better, if the first half would flow better for me? Do I recommend it to others - yes, with the caveat of DON'T READ THE BOOK SUMMARY BEFOREHAND! :)

I also have to add that I loved the Author's Note at the end about romance books. It was just spot on.

I really liked the concept behind the book. An artist having to rebrand herself when she is no longer able to see faces. Makes her reevaluate everything in her life.

I couldn’t get over the step sister Parker. I wish she was not in the book at all. Hated every interaction with her and Sadie. And felt like there truly can’t be someone so sucky in life.

Joe and Sadie are adorable. They way their relationship builds from her thinking he’s the absolute worst to being the love of her life.

What I struggled with most however is there is zero chance Sadie wouldn’t have known that Joe is also Oliver. Yes I know in the book she’s explaining to her best friend the reasons why it could happen, but I just don’t believe it. the fact that Joe/Oliver could have explained he sorry for being late to the date. Or the guy who saved her life. Or when she asked if he was a pet sitter he would have said and a vet.

Because if this I can’t give it more than 3.5 stars.

This was my favorite Katherine Center book & I really enjoyed it. Sadie, who seems to have nothing ever go her way, has another unfortunate event after almost being hit by a car. Thankfully, a stranger stepped in & saved her. After going to the ER, Sadie, learns she has Fusiform Face Gyrus Prosopagnosia. Sadie, decides to put it off as she has a very important, possibly career changing contest to win. After contest & a lot of pushing by her father, Sadie obliges with it being it only being a several day recovery. Only the several day recovery ends up extending for about 7 weeks. Sadie has to learn to do something she’s never known, ask for help & accept help. & also finds herself falling for two different men. This book is so super cute & different from the usual typical romance. 5 stars.