🌶/5 - ⭐⭐⭐.5/5 - The best part of this book is the nerdy science behind the plot. As a scientist myself, I find that when a book can impart new scientific/medical/psychological knowledge, I tend to like it much more!

A SHORT PREVIEW:
In Katherine Center’s upcoming release Hello Stranger, down-on-her-luck portrait artist Sadie just placed in a prestigious art competition that could make her career. Upon the eve of an impromptu celebration, before she has to get down to work on her competition piece, she collapses and finds out she has a very rare brain condition. After a seemingly successful surgery, she loses the ability to recognize faces. With a hopeful prognosis that things will get better, follow Sadie blunder through family trauma, relationships and friendships the best way one can… without knowing who they’re talking to!

THOUGHTS:
- The plot of this book is incredibly good. That’s the biggest reason I’m still giving it 3.5 stars. It’s the kind of book that could 100% be made into a movie with whatever actress is trending and do really well as a quick rom-com. ‘Hello Stranger’ is even a great movie title!
- More than brain candy, less than an epic romance… this story could have still been funny while the FMC maintained a smidgeon of dignity. (Please read the Character Building section below for a full rant.)
- Something highly specific that I found myself appreciating is the vulnerability around scars/tender areas that have physically healed but emotionally you still feel like you need to baby. I personally had an emergency abdominal surgery a few years ago and I still have some strange emotional vulnerability around the scars and they’re totally healed? That’s something I think people don’t talk about enough.
- The storyline following someone with prosopagnosia (AKA facial blindness) but still falling in love with them for them is actually pretty beautiful. I love that the FMC starts to recognize the way people walk etc. It’s a fun study for a writer in descriptive prose to help the reader recognize people too, without faces etc.

CHARACTER BUILDING: (Thanks in advance for coming to my TedTalk: Why We Need To Dial It Back on Writing Neurotically Somewhat Annoying FMCs)
- Sadie (the main character) and her character building are I think what really made this book a 3-ish-star rather than a 4-star for me. I think, as a whole, I find highly neurotic female characters with little confidence to be an overplayed stereotype and it’s not something I’m looking for in my FMCs.
- Perhaps that’s because I’m about to be 30 and attack everything I indulge whether professionally or for pleasure, with an organized determination to succeed..? (Hence why my book reviews are so structured. It’s the only way I know how to thrive.) I just no longer identify with that kind of character. I want the stories of strong women who have strong convictions. (I’m also reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – which is a story that’s bringing me to my knees!)

THE ‘MEH’ STUFF:
- The plot of this book is surprisingly good – but some of the characters were so annoying and over the top that I found myself cringing when their characters were mentioned. It was probably intentional – but I can’t imagine anyone in life being so outright awful? As in the characters are just ready to be written into a lazy rom-com screenplay. It doesn't mean we won’t like it. But we won’t love it either.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
“ You are also your whole life story. And your sense of humor. And your homemade donut recipe. And your love for ghost stories. And the way you savor ocean breezes. And the appreciation you have for how the colors pink and orange go together. You’re not just your face, is what I mean. But man, it sure is a big part of you. Like your shadow.”

NOTES:
- We all love a cartoon cover
- HEA ending
- 3rd act breakup – kind of an annoying plot device, but it was resolved well
- Highly predictable – but in a good rom-com kind of way
- TWs: Blended family drama, and childhood bullying mentioned

**Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the early release copy! I received this book as an advanced reader copy, but all thoughts are my own. - SLR

"Color outside your own lines. Allow yourself another way of seeing.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Center for this e-ARC of Hello Stranger (releasing July 11, 2023) in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars!

Hello Stranger is my 6th completed book for 2023, and my first 5 star read! I always prefer to go into a book blind (without reading the blurb or synopsis), and this book was a perfect example of why I choose to experience my books this way. I had no idea what to expect from the story, so I was just as surprised as Sadie (the FMC) when life suddenly changed dramatically for her. She experiences some very difficult lows, but the story remains full of hope.

There were several minor editing issues, but with an “uncorrected digital galley,” one would expect those to be included and still in progress. That doesn’t take away from the way I felt while I read this book. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and wanted to pick it up even when I didn’t have time. That’s the making of a great story.

Did I mention I loved this book?

Wow, what a great read Katherine Center has become a auto read for me! I absolutely love when a story catches you by surprise and keeps you engaged the whole time it’s funny, quirky, & with a unique story line. The way Sadie thinks is me 😂 I thought I was the only one talked to myself! I loved her character & of course Joe and the Kim’s but man oh man oh man did I despise Parker & her dad 😬
Very unique plot line & I actually learned how many people suffer from face blindness it’s very interesting topic. Story takes place in Houston Tx & like I’ve said before I love when I read A story that takes place here.
Please please please read the authors note when your done. I absolutely agree this love story really created fantastic anticipation! I cried in ch 26 & 27 😭

Thank you NetGalley for another great read!

4 🌟

Damn, Katherine Center is SO good at writing feel-good romance novels.

Hello Stranger is about Sadie, an artist entering a major life-changing art competition that her deceased mom also competed in years ago. The stakes are high - and then everything changes.

After getting an emergency procedure following a sudden seizure, she is diagnosed with a “potentially temporary” condition of facial blindness - right before her time to shine.

She also just happens to fall in love with two men while recovering and figuring out her next steps … and well, I will let you figure out the rest. All I will say is … the twists are just TOO good.

Is this novel a little cheesy? Yes. But did I eat it up? Duh!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC! 📚

*Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Katherine center does it again with another gem of a book. Was it slightly predictable? Maybe. But it was so good. Sadie really learns who she is and what she’s capable of. I throughly enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of Hello Stranger in exchange for an honest review.

My rating is 4.5/5 stars which translates to “I really really enjoyed this book.”

Katherine Center’s new book is perfect for rom-com lovers who value funny writing, good character development, and a substantial plot beyond just the romance. There’s a twist near the end of the book that most readers will guess early on, but the predictability doesn’t make it any less enjoyable— in fact, the fun of the twist is in figuring it out yourself, and then waiting in delighted anticipation for the characters to figure it out too. There were points were I was literally giggling out loud to myself because I knew what the characters didn’t.

There are some parts that would be technically possible to happen in real life, but would be incredibly improbable— still, that’s what makes for the premise of a fun book! So, in other words, I don’t fault the author for making events work for the narrative.

My one true complaint about the novel was the villain character. In my experience, even terrible people have redeeming qualities— I think it’s pretty rare to find a person who is truly rotten with not a single positive character trait. Because of that, I found the step-sister character to be too cartoonish, and I couldn’t take her seriously as an antagonist. All of the other characters felt fairly real to me, like they could actually exist in real life.

It’s clear that the author did her research on prosopagnosia (face blindness), and while Sadie’s acquired prosopagnosia made for an interesting story, the novel was also educational. I’d heard of face blindness before but only understood it in the vaguest of terms. Now I feel like I understand a bit of what it must be like to experience it.

All in all, though, I really enjoyed this book. I read it in a single day because I truly could not put it down. I highly recommend!

Link to my visual review on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnyIOBArt3G/?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE=

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
Katherine Center's books are like a warm hug. I know that her characters will have issues, but she always infuses her books with so much joy and strength, and Hello Stranger was no different. I really liked the aspect of using facial blindness in a main character because it gave Sadie so much room to grow. I was so invested in her portrait work and family drama. I loved how Center took her on a journey to become the best version of herself, even when she felt like she was in the worst place she'd ever been. Sadie had depth and realness. Her dog, Peanut, made me laugh. The storyline with family was full of heart and heartache. I am sad I can't read this for the first time again, but I know I'll be rereading once I have a hardcover for my shelves.

I absolutely love Katherine Center books and I’m so thankful to have gotten my hands on this one early! This story follows main character Sadie, a portrait artist, who was in an accident that resulted in needing a brain surgery. When she comes out of surgery she is shocked to realize that she has face blindness! While adjusting to a new normal she finds herself in a love triangle, sorting out family drama, and trying to make her big break in her career. Katherine Center has a way with words and I simply love her story telling. I found this book to be heartwarming, funny, and very entertaining
Five stars!

HELLO, STRANGER was a cute, charming rom-com with a fascinating, unique premise. Portrait artist Sadie is thrilled when she earns a place as a finalist in a prestigious art competition. However, her world turns upside down after she undergoes an important surgery and realizes she now has prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Readers follow Sadie on her journey to navigating not only her life-changing diagnosis (which was so interesting to learn about), but also familial drama, career struggles, and maybe even falling in love. This book has it all—complex characters to root for, swoon-worthy romance (plus a love triangle to get invested in!), and an adorable dog. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end as well! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Katherine Center is an absolute favorite author of mine and Hello Stranger further solidifies this. Everything about this story is classic of Katherine's work - a strong heroine who's been dealt a journey through mud, a story full of hope and the delicious anticipation of a happily ever after. But that doesn't mean it was predictable at all. At all. I can honestly say in all the books I've read, I've never read a story like this one, a heroine with the same challenges and a hero so multifaceted. I devoured this book in less than a day and felt so joyful when the story wrapped but also totally bereft that it was over. The story definitely took a few unexpected turns and had been guessing and theorizing. Overall, this was a blissfully binge-worthy read I won't soon forget.

Feeling so fancy to have received my first advance copy book from NetGalley, and happy to provide my candid review in return! I was thrilled to get a preview of this new book from one of my favorite authors for the fiction/romance genre, Katherine Center. I love her books because she blends all of the feel good rom com vibes we love with robust characters and challenges that give substance to the story.

Hello Stranger has relationship drama, family drama, a challenging medical event, and even pets! The main character, Sadie Montgomery, is a struggling portrait artist navigating difficult relationships with her father, step-mother, and step-sister, while trying to follow in her late mother’s artistic footsteps. Just as she receives her big break with a top spot in a major art competition, she has an accident, and then a surgery, that leave her with a condition known as face blindness. It was interesting to learn about this real diagnosis and how it affects so many individuals, but particularly interesting to see how Sadie navigates the unique challenges it presents to her as a portrait artist. These dramatic story lines are kept light and hopeful with the flirtatious relationships Sadie is also navigating through at the same time. The ending twist was predictable to me, but no less heartwarming even though I saw it coming.

And don’t skip the author’s notes at the end! I don’t always read them, but they were my favorite part of this book. I found myself nodding along in agreement as the author talked about the role rom com books play in our reading lives, how they create hope and anticipation for the feel good ending, and how it’s okay – and necessary – to read books that are light and fun and happy, particularly amidst the challenges we’ve all weathered in the world over the last few years. Yes! Definitely pre-order or add this book to your list when it comes out in July 2023.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Katherine Center is the queen of the relatable, heartwarming, heartbreaking romcom novel! This book gave me all the gut wrenching feelings along with laugh out loud moments! That is a gift to readers!

Center puts us in the middle of a dysfunctional family and makes us as readers examine our own relationships and our preconceived notions we carry around about people once we get an idea in our head. It's interesting how the cognitive disorder, prosopagnosia, that Center gives to our heroine, Sadie, shines a bright light on just that issue. Things are not always as they seem.

This will for sure become a summer read for many! Don't miss it!

I feel like this had potential but ultimately, for me this was… meh? The premise was outlandish, the family drama seemed Disney-level fake (featuring both an evil step mother and an evil step sister—how unlucky can one person be?) and the plot seemed very juvenile. What I think was supposed to be a shocking twist was incredibly obvious from the beginning? I honestly skimmed the last 20%.

If you absolutely adored Center’s The Bodyguard, then you may also love this.

Katherine Center can do no wrong and I am absolutely convinced of it. I would go to war for this woman. She was my favorite author of 2022 and it looks like 2023 is shaping up to be the year of Center again! Hello Stranger is such a unique concept, I’ve never read anything like it before. The idea is so fresh and in classic Center fashion, she had me in tears of heart ache, happiness, and from laughing until me stomach absolutely ached. Katherine Center is a 5 star author and Hello, Stranger is a 5 Star read! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

*****Publishing July 11, 2023*****

What’s a book you are excited about with a Summer publication date? I’m excited about Hello Stranger by Katherine Center! Her books are always entertaining, full of humor, but tug at your heart strings! Ultimately, leaving you feeling satisfied in the end!

When Sadie decided to switch career paths from pre-med to fine arts to pursue her dreams in art, her Dad was not happy. He didn’t even come to graduation. 8 years later, she still had to prove to her Dad she could be successful.

Sadie is preparing to celebrate being a finalist for the same art competition her mother won. On the walk home from the grocery store, she has a seizure and ends up in the hospital. Sadie is confronted with much needed brain surgery right before her big art competition. What would you do if you had brain surgery and then couldn’t recognize or see faces? This is exactly what happened to Sadie. Can she finish the competition or will her life continue to be a complete failure? This book will have you turning the pages to find out.

This book highlights the implications of prosopagnosia, which is face blindness. Have you heard of this condition? It sent me down a rabbit hole, in order to learn more about it! I loved how this author included more info and resources to learn about this topic in her author’s note.

A highly entertaining book with an unsuspecting ending that will leave you feeling satisfied in the end! This book would be perfect for a pool or beach bag! A fun book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!


Thanks to St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy!

Hello Stranger was such a sweet and uplifting novel. There are some heavier topics addressed, but Katherine Center balances the story so well with laughter and love. The book features a closed door romance, but the focus is more on Sadie's personal growth and reconciling her grief. Sadie's journey is filled with ups and downs and I wish that Sadie's family relationships would have been explored more. I felt that the reveal and wrap up were rushed and the main issues were unresolved, but perhaps the point wasn't the resolution, but rather being ready to try.

I loved how things evolved with her neighbor Joe and the vet Dr. Addison and how everything came full circle in the end. I could see where the book was headed pretty early on, but this didn't diminish my enjoyment at all. As Center discusses in her beautiful author's note, the anticipation was wonderful. And if you're worried about a love triangle, don't be. Trust that Katherine Center will take care of your heart.

Fans of Katherine Center are sure to love this one!

CW: death of parent (past), grief, trauma, strained family relationships, financial and housing insecurity, past and present toxic relationship and harassment from stepsister (mentions of being bullied, kicked out of school, framed for: cheating, stealing, lying, tormenting a classmate resulting in a suicide attempt, etc), cheating ex (past, MMC), manipulative ex (past, FMC), brain surgery & recovery, acquired prosopagnosia (face blindness) and changes to daily life

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

What can I say other than that this book blew me away. It was magical, heartbreaking, and full of intriguing family drama and a sweet slow-burn romance. This was by far one of my favourite reads of 2022 and it solidified Katherine Center as one of my must read authors.

This book has:
👩‍❤️‍👨 Strangers to lovers AND forced proximity
🐶 An adorable senior dog
💌 A love triangle between the heroine, her obnoxious neighbour who seems to be everywhere, and the vet who saved her dogs life (there’s a major twist here that I didn’t anticipate)

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

LOVE!!! This may be my favorite Katherine Center book yet. I loved the characters and their depth and their growth and.... ah! Just so much to love!!

Sadie has an accident which turns into a medical situation she could have never predicted. Not only is her life upended physically, but she seems to be taking hits personally and professionally as well. Bless her bones she is struggling... some self-reflection, good therapy, and supportive friends help her to look for the good and find herself along the way. Such a heartwarming story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Hello Stranger is a closed-door romance, but there is absolutely nothing missing in the sparks and longing department. Center has a gift of delivering romance while also writing characters who are relatable and who you just can't help but root for! (Full disclosure, I didn't have a lot of love for Sue (sorrynotsorry), but Mr. Kim totally made up for her). And Parker was so ridiculous - but I was HERE.FOR.IT. "If I ever get run over, it'll be by an Aston Martin." please put that on a t-shirt. ;-)

This is a must read! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was very good and interesting . The main character Sadie was an artist doing portraits. I was a finalist in a very important art contest. When the story begins Sadie has a seizure and is almost hit by a car. Taken to the ER. her brain MRI .They found a lesion and she would have to have surgery. she wanted to put it off until after the contest but her father wanted her to have it sooner. The lesion was a cavernoma(Malformed blood vessel). She had it done, After surgery, she realized she couldn't see faces. She had some edema around the site..She had Aquired apperceptive prosopagnosiia.,which is not able to see faces. Thus the trying to paint portraits without seeing a face begins. This is a VERY GOOD READ.

Katherine Center is a mastermind when it comes to creating unique and feel-good stories and Hello Stranger is no different! Although it wasn't my favorite of her books, and I found it to be slightly predictable, I still found it to be an incredible book and highlights a variety of topics extremely well!

It follows Sadie, a struggling portrait artist who is thrown both personally and professionally when she develops a condition called prosopagnosia (face blindness) after a medical emergency and brain surgery. As anyone could imagine, developing this condition would be terrifying and would come with so many struggles in everyday life, but it seems to be extremely difficult for Sadie's love life as she meets (and ultimately crushes on) two men who are unaware of her new diagnosis. She solely relies on her other senses to communicate with her steamy new vet and her broody neighbor.

It was unlike anything I've read recently! It was laugh-out-loud funny, charming, heartbreaking, and hopeful. I loved following the grief journey Sadie embarked after losing her mom and though it drove me nuts at times, the dynamic among a blended family was also great representation of different family models. I thought the topic was so interesting (I ended up researching it after I finished and found out the Brad Pitt has a version of it?) and I could tell Center put in so much thought and research into portraying the condition accurately.

Literally my only critique besides the predictability, is I wish the ending had more closure in the epilogue. I feel like I was hoping for certain things to come full circle and they never did... but overall, I'm so happy with this book and am adding the rest of Katherine Center's backlist to my TBR immediately!