I enjoyed Hello Stranger but I don’t feel it is one of Katherine Center’s best books. I enjoyed the humor and silliness of the main character. I did feel it was really predictable and I found myself rushing to finish towards the end because I knew what was coming. Overall it was good but I was disappointed when I compared to other books if hers.

Katherine Center plays to her strengths in this one and knocks it out of the park with another unique storyline that I honestly can’t say I’ve ever read before. Don’t worry, even though the premise is new, we still get the beautiful love story and personal growth we’ve come to expect from Katherine Center’s loveable characters (okay they’re not all loveable but I’ll get to that).
I have never heard of face blindness and had to Google a few times to actually confirm that the things our main squeeze Sadie was experiencing were actually real- they are, there, saved you a Google session. Although it’s really fascinating to read about the actual condition if you find yourself curious.
Anyway, Sadie has had a hell of a past with the death of her mother when she was as a teenager, and a series of terrible events afterward including the accumulation of one evil stepsister who put soap opera stepsisters to shame with her true insanity- she was over the top in a way that made me anxious anytime she was even close to the page I was on.
Fortunately, evil sis’s plans to foil Sadie’s hopes and dreams don’t actually ruin the whole book, and we get to see Sadie grow and fall in love! With a guy! Whose face remains a mystery! What a fun premise, did I say that already?
I also loved the approach to Sadie’s relationship with her dad, as I have had a strained relationship with my dad as well, and that little push that keeps you trying to prove yourself to them and then eventually realizing they just don’t care is one I could really relate to. I highlighted several quotes from Sadie about her dad and connected with that part of the story big time. I’m glad Katherine Center gave that part of the story its time and allowed us to participate in that healing with Sadie.
Anyway, if you love Center’s books, you’ll need to read this one. The truly only thing holding me back from a perfect score is the love triangle/twisty part of the book which was kind of predictable and I held in a laugh when it actually happened (sorry if that’s a spoiler I’m trying to be vague). But if you suspend reality enough to just go with it, you’ll probably easily fill in that 5th star.

Dropped what I was reading because I needed a feel good story and like always, Katherine Center delivered! This story had the perfect balance of humor, romance, and heartbreak, plus I absolutely adored Sadie! She had amazing growth throughout the novel as she dealt with a failing career, family dynamics, romance woes, and the main focus of the story, her prosopagnosia (face blindness). Center did a great job educating about this condition and how it can affect people differently, many of whom don’t even know they have it. I guessed the twist early on but that made the story all the more enjoyable as I “anticipated” the reveal. Highly recommend if you’re in need of a book that lifts your spirits!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Anticipation is a beautiful thing! And I happily anticipated every next page of this novel. A five star gem of a book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the sneak peek.

I was nervous coming in to this book after absolutely adoring ‘The Bodyguard’ but ‘Hello Stranger’ knocked it right out of the park! I loved Sadie, I loved Joe, and I LOVED peanut. The premise was so unbelievably unique and made the generic romcom vibes feel special and fresh. The twist, that we all knew was coming, still made me gasp, and the last third of the book just had me weeping and cheering for the happy ending! I can’t wait to buy a physical copy of this book once it hits shelves.

In Hello Stranger, Sadie wakes up from brain surgery and quickly realizes she is face blind. As a portrait painter this is the worst possible thing for her career or relationships.

I liked the journey towards healing, both physically and emotionally, that Sadie goes on in this book. It was more of an internal do align and alone tome than her other books. I think @katherinecenter really sings as a writer when she does the banter between friends or loved ones and when she offers deep reflective truths about life and joy and healing.

Thanks to @netgalley for the copy!

First of all, I want to draw attention to how Katherine Center has the best covers for all of her books!
Secondly, I love this book. So much. You're immediately drawn into the life of plucky Sadie and watch her grow as she recovers from a surgery. She is feisty and passionate about her endeavors and I'm sure she'll capture your heart.
One of the things I love most about Katherine Center's writing is that she weaves a story with dimensions. You don't just get a love story, you don't just have a trauma, you get the full picture of what it is like to be a broken person figuring out life. All of her books break you and then put you back together.

I absolutely adored this book! Every time I pick up a book by Katherine Center I know that it will be a home run. Hello, Stranger was no exception. This book was so full of heart, the developing relationship between Joe and Sadie was so real and I loved how Sadie’s medical condition was such an integral part of the storyline. Katherine’s books always have women who overcome obstacles and Sadie had many to overcome in this novel. I loved this story so much! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book feels more women's fiction than romance. A story of a painter with facial blindness has to learn how to navigate her career and her social life without being able to recognize anyone. Along the way we get an adorable love story. Weirdly the path of the book felt kind of like the protagonist's journey with her illness - fuzzy at first, not sure at all where the story is going and then locking into clarity as it goes on.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGAlley for the ARC

Such a cute story! Can't go wrong with a Katherine Center book. Love the character development and was just waiting for the resolution which I was able to see right away! Love the characters and the emotions. What a great light hearted read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!!
I really really enjoyed this one!! I liked the Bodyguard a lot, a solid 3.5 stars for me, but this one was a step up for sure!! So many great twists and turns in this book, that still gave us what we all chase when choosing a romance novel. The premise of having the main character deal with prosopagnosia is interesting and unusual, I'd never heard of this before and I was so intrigued!!
This was the perfect cozy slow burn.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my bookstore, and reading more Katherine Center in the future!!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

Hello Stranger could not be any more Katherine Center, and I mean that in the best way possible. It weaves In her trademark joy meets sorrow with a sunny outlook on life that feels optimistic. The format is predictable, or as Katherine says, it created fantastic anticipation, but in a way that feels like a big hug. However the story itself is like nothing I have ever read, absurd in the absolute best way possible.

Sadie, a portrait artist, suddenly suffers from face blindness right before her opportunity for her big break. With the help of her terrible (or is he?) neighbor Joe amd her neighborhood veterinarian Dr. Addison saving her best friend, her dog, Peanut, Sadie does her best to hide her condition while still being able to compete in her portrait competition.

I love Sadie, Joe, Dr. Addison and Peanut. I love beig in Center's world once again. Hello Stranger is charming and comforting, perfect for romance lovers, and those looking for some bright, shiny optimism.

I read The Bodyguard last year and was so pleasantly surprised; I had to give Hello Stranger a whirl! I absolutely loved how digestible the the writing is, the light-teasing banter and the way Ms. Center creates her characters. Very uplifting in between heavy reads!

When minor brain surgery leaves portrait artist Sadie Montgomery with face blindness, her entire life is upended while she learns to survive and thrive with this uncommon medical condition. The premise of having the main character deal with prosopagnosia is interesting and unusual. Watching Sadie cope with not being able to recognize anyone around her (best friend and family included) lead to some funny and heartbreaking scenarios. The face blindness just exacerbates Sadie’s already clumsy tendencies, from a roller skating disaster to a shattered glass door. Her antics had me giggling.

Katherine Center writes a sweet slow-burn romance between Sadie and her hero that is made better by the fact she has to get to know and fall for him without relying on physical looks. It makes for a deeper connection between the two main characters. But it also highlights Sadie’s frustrating inability to accept help and negativity about the kindness of others. Center does a great job showing why Sadie is the way she is and gives us a truly nasty antagonist to root against.

I really enjoy Center’s writing style. It’s like having a conversation with a close friend. Comfortable, warm, fun, and crazy in the best ways. A vile villain, quirky heroine, and marshmallow hero make for an excellent read.

While I felt like the beginning of the book was a mess the ending was charming enough that I ended up giving it 3 stars. Sadie, the main character was a bit annoying and I did not personally relate to her but I did enjoy reading about her love interest and her best friend. I also feel like the villain of the story was overly mean. Most people are not that outright mean in real life and it took me out of the book at times. Certain plot points were too convenient or made zero. Overall the book was fun, and I think readers who like this author will enjoy the book.

I loved the body guard but omg this one is 1000x better. I couldn't put it down from start to finish, needless to say, I didn't even regret staying awake until 2:30 AM to finish it. I don't even know where to start, the storyline is so original that it was refreshing and the characters and their overall development give you something to root for. Even though it wasn't a "spicy" read, it was one of the best romance reads I've read in a while.

The FMC Sadie is faced with acquired face blindness after what was supposed to be a minor surgery on the eve of the biggest portrait competition of her career. After finally leaving her home to get her pup to the vet she meets Dr. Oliver Addison, who even though she can't see him she knows he's handsome and she develops a bit of a crush on him. What she wasn't expecting though is her "man whore" of a neighbor Joe to actually be the one around whenever things seem to go wrong, forcing her to consider that maybe her initial reaction was wrong.

This was a 10 out of 10 read for me, I'll absolutely be purchasing when it releases in July.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center aand St.Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy of Hello Stranger. Katherine Center never disappoints! Sadie is a struggling artist who is trying to make a name for herself. An unexpected surgery sets her back from getting ready for a big portrait competition. This story has so much hope and love. It was unputtdownable and a must read! I loved all of the characters!!

This story was fun, but there were a few times the coincidences stretched beyond belief and took me out of the story. The big reveal was noticeable from the start, but then it was fun to see how the author tried to execute it throughout the story. The romance between Sadie and Joe was enjoyable to follow. Library patrons should enjoy this.

This book was SUCH a delight. Maybe my favorite KC so far? The protagonist, Sadie, is a portrait painter, but right before a big competition she finds out she needs brain surgery. Surgery goes fine, but when she wakes up she figures out she has acquired face blindness—not the best thing for an artist!!!
I enjoyed this so much because I know a few people who have the normal sort of face blindness to varying degrees so I found this super interesting reading about the experience. I also loved Sadie and her romantic entanglements and the deep heart to this book. I wanted to punch her stepsister (who is definitely evil) but I think this book is super emotionally fulfilling. Also I would totally reread this multiple times. FIVE STARS.
Heat level: 1🌶️, closed door.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my proof copy.

The Bodyguard was one of my favorite reads of 2022 so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Katherine Center’s newest novel. Center writes the most relatable and likeable main characters, even if their professions are something we could never imagine ourselves doing. Sadie was no different, you want to root for her so hard, feel her struggles and celebrate her wins. I always know I can turn to Center when I need a little happiness in my reading life and this book was no different. Definitely a feel good read!