I’m…in awe. I expected the romance, I expected the loss, but I did not expect to be so moved.

It’s hard to accurately explain what <i>Hello Stranger</i> by Katherine Center is about. I can summarize it just fine: after undergoing <i>minor</i> brain surgery, Sadie develops Prosopagnosia, better known as face blindness. As a portrait artist, her career relies on being able to see faces. In the process of coping with her new reality, Sadie discovers just how much she didn’t see before. Explaining it is a little harder.

This book explores grief—old grief in regards to a lost love one, new grief in regards to a lost normal, preemptive grief in regards to unknown future loss. It also has love. The tumultuous love of life, the steady love of friends, the strained love of family, and the budding love of a seemingly obnoxious neighbor.

The themes are intertwined in such a delicate way that despite the heaviness of the topics discussed, the book has a levity to it that seems impossible to achieve. It’s reality in it’s best form.

From its premise to its plot to its characters, I am in love with this novel.

★★★★★

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC of <i>Hello Stranger</i> by Katherine Center in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: I devoured this book. Cover to cover in one evening after work. I could not wait to finish this book (literally battling a dying kindle and refuses to stop to charge it)

This has everything you’d want in a cute romance book, quirky main character, debilitating brain condition, art competition, and two main male characters both eyeing for her attention.

Spoilers: I told tell at about 70% that Joe and Dr Oliver were the same person based on how he (Dr Oliver) handled their break up conversation. None the less this book was written well. I don’t necessarily think the cabana yet of Parker should’ve been that evil but I also a bit of an optimist and believe everyone is capable of being good.

Wow, this is the hardest one to decide how much I enjoyed it.
I can’t decide between 4-5 ⭐️.

I absolutely loved the scenery & heartfelt composition of this ARC of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center, and thinking of a world where perspectives can changer for the better if you believe it so.

This is a story of a portrait artist that catches a big break, but a minor surprise surgery changes her world, and views of faces—-

Literally.

Her dog, Peanut, is her best friend & soon gets ill where she meets a nice Dr. that asks her out. She’s intent on keeping her face blindness a secret, even from her nosy neighbor Joe. They soon start a friendship that might become more…


I was so enthralled with Sadie’s thoughts & humor, so much so I was laughing out loud too many times to count. Her struggles were so palpable, and I felt so much love from her for her deceased mom, dog, and her wants of affection from her father.

The love triangle was a bit less conflicting than expected, but the twist was more than worth it. I’m in awe of this author’s dedication to the main focus of face blindness- and their additional information. I can’t wait to grab this book ASAP!

5 stars!

I read this book in one sitting, which is a rare occurrence for me.

This book had a unique plot, i've never read anything on this subject before and I found that really refreshing.

I really loved this book, it had a mix of family drama/dysfunction and an interesting/surprising love triangle. I found myself laughing out loud throughout this book. The characters were very well written in my opinion and the romance was super cute without being "corny". Although the year just started, I don’t doubt this one will be in my top five books of 2023.

I've already added more Katherine Center books to my TBR and I can't wait to start reading them!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review

Highly highly HIGHLY recommend this book! 5/5 stars for originality- I adored learning about people along with Sadie. Beautifully written, couldn’t put it down. This is only the second book I’ve read by Katherine Center, but each book has been a delight and I will be going back to read her full back catalog now!

You will love this book. Seriously. A true delight. Plus, there’s animals in it. ♥️

I have enjoyed prior books by Katherine Center, and this one also met my expectations. My heart ached for Sadie, the main character, because of losing her mom at 14, having a poor relationship with her father and step-mother, and enduring her step-sister’s lies and bullying. On top of all this, she is a struggling artist who gets face blindness after brain surgery, potentially crushing her career.

Even with all her misfortunes, Sadie’s observations of others and her circumstances are charming and humorous. The romance sparkles, and her crush worthy fellow is an absolute good guy.

I have given this read 4 stars only because parts of the romance plot seem far-fetched and the evil step-sister’s malevolence is over the top. Still, this was a most enjoyable read.

I loved The Bodyguard, but I think this might be even better. I could not get enough of this book and found myself flying through it. I loved how I didn't feel like I knew what was going to happen; I honestly did not know how it would end! Katherine Center is now a must-read author for me!

Omg! This book is SO good. I'm so glad I was able to get an early copy. I'm also glad I pre-ordered it because I'll definitely be doing a re-read. I able to devour it in a day. The writing is fantastic and will suck you in.

The Bodyguard was one of my favorite books of 2022, so when I had the opportunity to read Katherine Center's newest book, I immediately dropped everything else I was reading and finished this in one sitting. Like The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger is more unique than most romance books. It focuses on Sadie, a portrait artist who develops facial blindness after brain surgery, and the two men she develops feelings for as she tries to process her new normal while she recovers. As I was reading, I found myself deeply immersed in Sadie's recovery and her journey to create art even though the world didn't look the same to her anymore.

As for the twist at the end, it honestly probably took me a lot longer to figure it out than most people. I was so consumed by the unconventional love triangle and Sadie's journey that I didn't even think to look for a predictable ending. However, I believe that there is nothing wrong with what people consider to be a predictable ending, because that is why we read these books in the first place, to feel happy at the end. Once I figured it out, I couldn't wait to get to the end to experience Sadie's joy with her.

Overall, I really loved this book and I would recommend it highly. I can't wait to see what Katherine Center comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

Hello Stranger is another beautiful, emotionally evocative story from Katherine Center. It follows the amazing story of Sadie Montgomery as she deals with the affects of face blindness following a surprisingly, but necessary brain surgery. Sadie must navigate her "new normal" while trying desperately to finish an art project she only feels capable of being able to complete it she hides this face blindness from almost everyone.

This is the sixth novel from this author that I have read and to say that I am a fan is a huge understatement. Center writes in a way that creates a world that the reader can easily step into and characters that the reader has very viscerally real reactions to. Even though Sadie lives in the unique circumstances of a struggling artist, her emotions, opinions, and attitudes regarding the world around her are so very relatable that you feel things right along with her. The way her relationship with two different men whose faces she cannot see is both entertaining and so interesting. I read this book in one sitting as I absolutely could not put it down.

Like her other novels, Center's Hello Stranger causes the reader to experience so many different emotions. You feel the anguish and frustration that Sadie feels at her current situation, and you feel her joy at something as simple as roller skating. You also have very strong reactions to the people she interacts with and the side characters are written well enough that you kind of love or hate them along with Sadie and you cheer at her development and evolution as a character throughout the novel.

This book is so immersive and you get really invested in Sadie's journey because she is so well written and so engaging that you really care about what happens to her. Half the reason I could not put this book down was because I just had to see things work out for Sadie. Five minutes into this book and I was invested in the character like she was an old friend. I have and will continue to recommend this book highly, especially to anyone who enjoys fiction and romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s filled with all the good and bad things you would expect from a romance book but Katherine Center just does it so good!

Sadie is a struggling artist who seems to be on her way to her big break until it’s discovered that she needs minor surgery. In recovery from said surgery she realizes she’s face blind. This is her journey of dealing with her diagnosis along with meeting two guys who turn her love life upside down and add some family drama to top it all off.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Publish date is July 11, 2023. Run to preorder this gem of a book!!!

Oh, my heart! Hello Stranger is rom-com gold with beautifully balanced heart, humor and the most tender, vulnerable moments. Sadie and Peanut left me in a puddle of feels in the best way and I absolutely adored this story.

While a romance (with a fun love triangle), I loved that the heart of this story was about Sadie and her mother’s relationship. Sadie’s memories with her mother while bittersweet, were tender, vibrant and full of life. I loved their shared love of roller skating and it reminded me and my sisters skating in our neighborhood with my dad. Sadie was a beautifully messy, totally relatable, and utterly charming character, which made her feel like someone you want to be best friends with. And Joe? What’s not to love about this Henry Cavill, adorable, hunk of a guy??

I didn’t think it was possible to top The Bodyguard, but Hello Stranger is my new favorite from Katherine Center and I will be swooning of these characters and this story for the foreseeable future.

Hello Stranger was exactly the type of book I was looking to read...feel good, uplifting, triumph of the underdog, and a true escape, yet this was not at all a typical romance novel. As always, it is very clear that Katherine Center puts so much heart and research into her books. Sadie, a down on her luck portrait artist, needs life saving emergency brain surgery, but as a result of the procedure, develops hopefully temporary face blindness. I actually have a friend's son with this condition, so it is sadly a real issue that many people suffer from and some may not even realize they have it. I was going to call this story "predictable, but in a good way" until I read the Author's Note at the end. I love her suggestion that we replace predictable with anticipation. So I will say that this story created wonderful anticipation. Since it's a love story, you want a happy ending, but I'd say it's more of a hopeful ending. We want to see Sadie, the underdog, triumph over the obstacles that she has had to face and find the courage and bravery to love again. Wonderful character development and there is even a small twist at the end to bring the story full circle. I think Hello Stranger is my favorite Katherine Center book so far. Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. The expected pub date is July 2023.

I stayed up late into the night to finish this book. It really sucked me in.

I frequently felt sad while reading this book (which is why it's only a 4 star read). Sadie's family is absolutely the worst. But there's a lot that made me laugh as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press.

Katherine Center gives us another great book that had me laughing & crying. Sadie was a flawed but lovable main character and cheering for her HEA!
Favorite quote- “The more good things you look for, the more you find.”
Highly recommend!

This was one of the easiest 5 star ratings I have given! I adore Katherine Center’s writing style and how each story has emotional depth, beautiful moments, and funny parts that make the reader laugh out loud. And also the beautiful covers! The colors are always so vibrant and eye catching on the covers of her books.

Sadie is a portrait artist who has just gotten her big break by being chosen for the top ten in a portrait contest. She has 6 weeks to get her entry together when a formerly unknown medical condition flares up, leaving her struggling with her art.

I honestly went into this one with no clue what it was about. I saw the author and grabbed it and finished it in a day. I loved not knowing what was coming but knowing it would be good. Sadie is a fantastic main character who has to learn to rely on others and ask for help, something her fiercely independent side has not allowed her to do in years. Her family is messy to say the least, so she relies on her best friend and on a new friend in her life. Her journey through the story is heartbreaking at times but ultimately uplifting. Sadie is a study in resilience and the ability to find the good things in life and I felt a great deal of empathy for her. And yes, there is also a romance here, and it is sweet and has plenty of swoon worthy moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I am the BIGGEST Katherine Center fan so I could not have been more excited to be approved for an ARC of this book!

Hello Stranger follows main character Sadie, an struggling portrait artist following in her deceased mothers footsteps and a strained relationship with her father. When she is accepted as a finalist in a major art competition, she is sure this is her big break!

However, just a few short weeks before the contest is taking place, she finds out she requires brain surgery, it can't be put off as her life literally depends on it. She decides to move forward with both the competition and the surgery, and is shocked when she wakes up with acquired apperceptive porsopgnosia (otherwise known as face blindness).

When her beloved pet Peanut requires emergency vet attention, Sadie finds herself smitten by her new attractive vet, however shes also starting to develop feelings for her neighbour!

Sadie must figure out how to pull off the portrait competition while not being able to see faces, while simultaneously work out her feelings for the attractive vet and the boy next door.

I just love Katherines ability to take defficult, potentially dark topics and turn them into something beautiful. I've often heard her encouraging others to read for joy, and her books are always such a pleasure to read she makes reading for joy easy! I will say there was a bit of a "twist" in this one, that I didn't love and was very predictable, however that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book! Although if all romance authors could leave the miscommunication trope in the past, I would be forever grateful. There's nothing more annoying than a problem that could easily be solved with a grown up conversation between adults! Can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

Katherine Center does it again! Hello Stranger is the story of Sadie, following her dreams as an artist on the brink of her big break when life throws her a major curve ball and forces her to adopt a new way of thinking. It had me laughing out loud, tearing up and swooning. I didn’t want to put it down and finished it in a day! It’s definitely a must read for 2023!

To start, this was a fantastic book. I loved it so much I was reading at stop lights because I wanted to spent more time with the characters. When I can't put down a book, it's nearly always because of plot, not character. I was sad as I reached the end of the book, because I'm going to miss these people.

But. It turns out I still have unresolved trauma from a health emergency relating to a 14-year-old pet. Leading to death, in my pet's case. I wish I'd known that was in the book, because my plan for the night was not to end up rocking back and forth and sobbing at 11pm in a pitch black room.

I'll go ahead and give you a spoiler: the dog is fine, of course. So fine he kind of disappears from the book? I'm just now realizing that. If you don't want to read the medical emergency part, skip chapter 8. (Or at least any part of Chapter 8 where the dog's name, Peanut, appears.)

I do have some questions about how it might feel to be someone with face blindness reading a book describing it by an author who doesn't have the condition. Center does mention someone with face blindness reading an early draft. Maybe there were more expert reads, too?

Further triggers: bullying, suicide, loss of parent, fat-shaming (called out by the book)

Katherine Center is a must read author for me and I was thrilled to get an arc of this new book from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the story of Sadie, a portrait artist, who is struggling to find the success she has been chasing for years. After an accident leads to a brain surgery, Sadie finds herself unable to see faces in the same way. Though she is told it is a temporary issues, she has a deadline for a major art contest and this turns her world upside down. She is struggling with many things and finds an unexpected friendship with her neighbor Joe and sets her romantic sights on her dog Peanut's new vet, Dr. Oliver Addison. She also is dealing with a complicate family situation and the loss of her mother. This isn't just a romance, but a story about how we see the world and how we observe the things around us. The way that Center deals with the sight issues and discusses faces and the viewing of the world really makes you think. Thank you netgalley for this fantastic arc!