Katherine Center’s books have become some of my most anticipated reads each year. I’ve been thrilled to be blessed with advanced copies the last two years. She’s an author that you know will deliver a “feel good” story, and this was no exception.

When (not if) you pick this book up, might I encourage you to read the Author’s Note first? Romance and rom coms have a certain reputation—they’re supposedly not “as good” or worth reading because they’re “light” reads. I’ve long struggled to put into words why so many people are drawn to them, especially since the pandemic. Center does a beautiful job of describing two things in her Author’s Note—

1. Why we’re drawn to romance stories
2. Why they’re worth reading

I wish I had read her Author’s Note *before* reading the book. I love how she describes romance novels as not just being predictable (which has a negative connotation), but that these love stories create anticipation. That anticipation is full of hope. I don’t want to butcher her note to her readers, but please do yourself a favor and read it first.

Center does a magnificent job presenting a character who has a unique medical experience—a seizure, followed by brain surgery, which presents itself with some unfortunate side effects, the primary of which is face blindness (prosopagnosia). I have only ever seen this featured in a book once before, but it wasn’t memorable beyond the unique medical diagnosis. This story line focuses heavily on Sadie’s struggles with face blindness, especially since she’s a portrait artist!

In addition to Sadie’s struggle with face blindness and her job as a portrait artist, she finds herself in a love triangle with Dr, Addison (her dog’s handsome vet) and the unlikely neighbor in her apartment building, Joe. Sadie is determined to keep her diagnosis to herself, but with that will come a host of complications. Will she be able to overcome her frustrations and insecurities? Well, you’ll have to read to find out.

One line that particularly stuck out to me was this—
“It forces me to reevaluate some ideas that I’d never questioned about who we all are and what it all means. Because things were so overwhelming, I had no choice but to accept some help. And then I found out that letting people help you isn’t so bad.”
That spoke to me in a way I desperately needed to hear, and I know many other women will resonate with this, as well.

Katherine Center, you did a fantastic job of doing what you set out to do—creating fantastic anticipation in a story that I didn’t want to let go of. I look forward to reading anything you publish!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to pick this up with it’s released in July!

Format: ARC

I haven’t yet read the other popular book written by this author but now I’m moving it to the top of the list. I loved “Hello Stranger.” Even if I anticipated the twists and turns of the plot. Even if Sadie has face-blindness and doesn’t tell anyone. Even if Joe is a womanizing weasel who also is steadily helpful whenever Sadie is having a tough time…just loved it. Happily read it in one sitting.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

The premise of this book sounds like a far fetched episode of Greys Anatomy. An accident that leads to sudden face blindness? For a portrait artist who has to see faces? Who is in a portrait painting competition in just a few weeks?
When I tried describing it to someone I started laughing because of how ridiculous the plot sounded. Somehow, it was the cheeriest feel good novel that was fun, clever, and really satisfying. It was a warm hearted rom-com that had moments of depth. My favorite unexpected part of the book was all of the details about how portrait painting works. You can tell that the author researched a ton and she included multiple stories about artists, galleries, and techniques that were enjoyable to learn about
Katherine Center is such a fantastically consistent author. I have read the majority of her catalog and have yet to walk away from one of her books disappointed. Even if you originally laugh at the premise of sudden face blindness from a portrait artist, I have a feeling you will end up loving this book!

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors, so I have been anxiously awaiting her newest release, Hello Stranger. I literally jumped for joy at the chance to read an eARC from NetGalley! I loved this book.

Hello stranger was so much fun! As someone from the Houston area, I always love when a book is set here and the author represents it well. This book surprised me several times. It’s is funny and romantic but it also tackles some serious issues as well. Learning more about Prosopagnosia (Face Blindness) and what it’s like for those who have it was so interesting. I also felt like it made this story stand out, as it’s definitely a unique plot device. I also throughly enjoyed all the fun side characters in this novel, especially Peanut! I highly recommend this book.

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

At first I wasn't sure about this book I was 40% in and going ... why did I add this book! But I am glad that I kept going and reading Hello Stranger. This book will give you all the feels and more!

The main character Sadie is a finalist in a portrait drawing competition in the top 10 to be more specific. Her mom was in the same contest that she was working hard in currently but she passed away when she was younger. Sadie was diagnosed amidst the time crunch of the portrait painting with something wrong with her brain and needing brain surgery and atlfter the brain surgery she got acquired Prosopagnosia (aka face blindness). It changes the way that she to paint in the portrait for the contest. And within this timeframe of 6 weeks when it it is due soooo many thing happen to Sadie. She likes two different guys (well she thinks they are two different guys) Joe and Dr. Oliver Addison (Veterinarian for Peanut her dog). And then comes in her evil step sister Parker who has been traumatizing her for as long as she has been in her life 6 months after her mom passed away.

Quotes I enjoyed and agree with:

"Confirmation Biased: Basically we tend to decide on what the world is and who people are and how things are - and then we look for evidence that supports what we've already decided. And we ignore everything that doesn't fit."

"The more good things you look for, the more you find."

In order to understand all the things. Definitely check out this book! I promise it does become a good read. And romance is the mushy kind that you want to keep reading. No spice in this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I first read Katherine Center last year when I got “The Bodyguard” from Book of the Month. I loved it and knew she’d be a new favorite author! “Hello Stranger” was so much fun, while also including depth to the characters.

I was interested in learning about facial blindness and felt for Sadie as she navigated this set back considering all the anxiety it causes. Joe was a fantastic male lead - mysterious, handsome, funny. I had the ending figured out fairly early but that didn’t matter. Center writes such likable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with them and root for them until the end.

The amount of laugh out loud funny moments makes the book worthwhile, too! I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone!

This was my first Katherine Center book and I absolutely loved it!

Sadie is a portrait artist who’s just gotten her big break. She’s been named one of ten finalists in a huge competition. The same one her mom placed in right before she died. On her way to celebrate her accomplishment, Sadie suffers a seizure and is told she needs brain surgery because she has a cavernoma, and it needs removed before it bursts. Her father demands she have the surgery because an untreated cavernoma is exactly what caused her mother’s untimely death. She’s assured that everything will be fine and she’ll have plenty of time to finish her portrait for the competition. Except Sadie wakes up and everything is not fine. She can’t see anyone’s faces. She’s told that this is sometimes a side effect of the surgery and it usually resolves when swelling from the surgery goes on.

The story that ensues is a fantastic one. Sadie has to learn how to cope and live with her prosopagnosia but she doesn’t want anyone to know. Unable to see faces, she finds herself once again being bullied by her evil stepsister Parker, not recognizing old friends, and falling in love with two different men, her neighbor and her veterinarian. The plot of this story was so unique and refreshing which I think made me love the story even more. When I caught on to the plot twist, I found myself on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how it would play out. From the relatable, lovable characters, to the great slow burn romance of the book, I don’t think I’ll be able to recommend it enough. I will definitely be rereading this one in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story. It was fresh and so unique. Such a feel good sentimental story!
I didn't see the twist at the end so that was a nice little surprise.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Katherine Center, and Netgalley for this ARC!

Every time I think I've discovered my favorite Katherine Center novel, she comes out with a new one and then I have a new favorite! I'm a huge fan. Hello Stranger was sweet and heart wrenching and hopeful. Even though I could see the twists coming, I couldn't put it down because I was desperate to get to those big reveal moments. Sadie is a flawed protagonist but I was rooting for her so hard! I cannot wait to see what Katherine Center comes out with next.

The first 5 Star read of the year goes to Katherine Center’s newest book!

I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I was fully immersed in Sadie’s life and truly could feel everything. My jaw was definitely hurting by the end of the book!

Pick up the book if you enjoy swoony romantic antics, fabulous main characters, family drama, and some unique plots!

Thank you to Netgalley for this advance reader copy.

Oh gosh. This was so wonderful. And so very clever! The amount of research that Katherine put into this is very obvious. Having an unreliable narrator under these circumstances was perfect. I didn't for a moment stop to think it was unrealistic. It was very predictable, but I absolutely loved how everything unfolded and played out. I saw a lot of myself in Saide which I think helped me connect with her character even more. Five whole stars for this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

"Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break. Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say. Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces. "

Very much a Katherine Center novel - much like several others of hers I've read. She's very good at bringing the story together through unseen bonds and concluding a story with a feel good ending.

I have posted the link to my review from goodreads. Thanks for the advance copy. Katherine Center did it again.

Pub date: 7/11/23
Genre: romcom
Quick summary: Sadie Montgomery is a portraitist - until a surgical complication leaves her face-blind and struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy. Making things worse, she falls in love with two men - not complicated at all.

Katherine Center's books always feel like a warm hug, and I love that they encourage readers to look on the bright side! Sadie was just a wonderful MC - I was rooting for her so hard as she fought to adjust to her new life. Her dog Peanut was the cutest sidekick, and Sadie's love for him shone through the narrative. The ending and Sadie's reflections made me teary in all the best ways.

This one didn't quite get five stars from me because slowed down a bit in the middle, and I guessed some of the plot twists. But I will still recommend it, and I think it's a lovely story with another great Katherine Center protagonist. It's a perfect match for your summer beach bag! While you're waiting for it to release, you need to read THE BODYGUARD!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have really mixed thoughts on this book. I found the plot line super interesting - the main character undergoes brain surgery early on and develops face-blindness as a result and can't recognize the faces of anyone around her, including herself.

However, even the most interesting plot can't propel a story forward. The first half of this book DRAGGED for me and I struggled to get through it. I'm glad I stuck with it though, because I did really enjoy the second half of the novel.

The book's ~twist~ is also extremely obvious from the beginning, but it was executed nicely and I enjoyed reading the end of the story.

Overall, while it wasn't my favorite book of all time, it was still an enjoyable read at the end and definitely a unique story.

What can I say, Katherine Center is a queen of fun and light romance novels! She knocks it out of the park again with this fun and witty new novel.

I enjoyed this book.Sadie Montgomery has routine surgery and ends up with Facial Blindness. This is very unfortunate for Sadie since she is a portrait artist. You follow Sadies’s journey with the facial blindness. I felt Sadie’s family with the evil step sister didn’t really make sense to me. There is a twist at the end though I felt the end of the story wrapped up to easy. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Katherine Center is a relatively new find for me, and Hello Stranger did not disappoint! Sadie is a portrait artist who finally hits her big break when adversity hits. Not only does Sadie have to overcome an unexpected surgery and recovery during the opportunity of a lifetime, but she has to face and reconcile the events of her past.

I absolutely love the characters in this story, as well as the story! it feels like I have known every one of them for a lifetime, and Parker is an instant enemy. If you've read it, you know! She is just awful!

You will come away absolutely loving this book! Thank you NetGalley for this delightful romantic comedy. I loved it!

Oh this is the first Katherine Center book I have read, but won’t be the last! This romance (and so much more) about Sadie, an artist, and her story as she loses the ability to see faces through a medical phenomenon is so tender, sweet, and moving. Center’s lessons about family, seeing what you look for, and love resonated with me from page one. The plot moves quickly and despite there being several tropes mixed throughout, the ending isn’t always obvious. I give this book 4.5/5 stars. Thank you Net Galley & St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of the e-book!

Thank you the St. Martin's Press, Katherine Center, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sadie is a portrait artist barely scraping by when she gets a big break and is one of ten finalist in a portrait exhibition. While walking home Sadie looses consciousness, when she wakes up in the hospital she learns she has facial blindness. Can she still create a portrait for this exhibition? Can she learn to live with facial blindness? Can she find love?

I loved this book. Katherine Center is quickly become an auto-buy author and she did not disappoint with this one. I love the layers of the book, you have the portrait exhibition, the medical issue, the face blindness, and love. This book had the perfect amount of romance, drama, and laugh out loud moments. I also love how unique the plot was and what I learned throughout the story. Thank you Katherine for another great read!