I’m not quite sure how much I like this book. The main characters, Sadie and Joe, are pretty perfect for one another. The secondary characters of Sadie’s stepsister, step mother, and father are horrible people and the parts where they were on scene were annoying for me to read.

If I take them out of the equation, though, the story line, pace, and dialogue was perfect.

This is a story that, at its core, is about seeing past people’s outer visage and discovering what’s really on the inside; what makes them tick; what kind of person they truly are. The fact that Sadie has temporary face blindness propels this core belief throughout the story until at long last she gets to see herself and recognize her worth above all else.

It took me a while to get thru the book, but I’m glad I stuck with it because, in the end, it was a great story.
4 stars from me.

Five fabulous stars for this one! She tells such a beautiful story, an intricate weaving of a journey full of both happiness and joy, with some heartbreak and unfortunate events mixed in. Katherine Center is one of my "auto-buy" authors, and this book did not disappoint. I stayed up until the very late evening, because I just had to get to the end!

Prosopagnosia, otherwise known as "face blindness", is only a term I have heard used in mystery novels- I absolutely loved her real life take on this condition. She did a wonderful job telling the story of Sadie, a face-portrait artist recently diagnosed with this condition. Sadie is all sorts of quirky, hopeful, sad and says some of the most relatable things every! I found myself laughing out loud at her responses and thoughts towards others in the book.

Thank you Katherine Center for giving me the boost of oxytocin that I needed to round out 2022, man it's been a rough one! I will be buying myself a copy next summer. Do yourself a favor and make sure you read the author's note, it explains perfectly why we need romance novels in our lives.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be published on July 11th, 2023- definitely add it to your list!

I often get asked by my colleagues what I love most about books. I’m an optimist at heart and, to me, books are possibilities filled with endless adventures. The kind of book that is unforgettable contains a tangible magic you can’t explain, you just have to experience. Hello Stranger is that type of book. It’s simply storytelling magic.

Sadie, our main character, is an artist, specifically a portrait painter. She feels like she’s been a disappointment to her father who’s a renowned heart surgeon. He wanted her to pursue medicine so she’s always trying to find ways to make her father proud. Sadie’s mom died when she was in her teens, and her dad, well, just checked out. Sadie from then on was emotionally abandoned. She is left to the whims of an apathetic step mom and a truly Cinderella-esque evil stepsister.

Sadie earns a prestigious spot in a portrait competition. She wants to win so she can prove to her dad that she was meant to be an artist. Before she starts painting, she gets injured, has brain surgery, and develops prosopagnosia, which makes her unable to recognize faces.

I really can’t say more because I went into this book blind and it was an enchanting experience. From Peanut, the Thai and croissant eating pup, to Sue (Sadie’s best friend) to Mr. Kim (Sue’s dad) who just has a giant heart this novel is filled with a cast of characters that create a beautiful ensemble. Plus, Hello Stranger has one of the sweetest Heroes I’ve ever read in a book!! You will adore him!!

I absolutely was mesmerized by this novel! I truly can’t wait to own a copy for my shelves. As soon as I finish this review I’m reading it again!! This book deserves all the stars, accolades, and love. Charming, captivating and unforgettable! 5 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great book by Katherine Center! I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to more books from her. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Being a huge Katherine Center fan, I expected this to be a fantastic read, but it took my breath away!

Hello, Stranger introduces us to portrait artist Sadie Montgomery and prosopagnosia, or face-blindness. Sadie is a struggling artist who earns a spot in a prestigious portrait competition, one that could be her lucky break. However, Sadie needs surgery, and it cannot be put off. When she wakes up, she cannot see faces anymore, not even those of people she's known for years. She is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, which throws a major wrench into the competition and her life. And that's all I'm going to say about the plot. Part of this book's magic is how Center has the reader sorting things out alongside Sadie.

I devoured this! The unique plot and the unforgettable characters, particularly the kind and very relatable Sadie, pulled me in immediately. I was at turns laughing, crying, cheering, mad and swooning, and always deeply invested. Even though handled with a light touch, this book makes you think as Center addresses some big themes, including how we often dismiss or take in pieces of information and validate our various opinions, including how we “see” others.

Center is an amazing writer, and this is a captivating, magical book and so full of heart. Center says in her Author's Note that romances bring anticipation and hope, and "this love story really created fantastic anticipation." And I couldn’t agree more!

Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press, Katherine Center, and NetGalley for the early invitation to review this ARC!

Imagine having a life altering seizure in the middle of a crosswalk. Now, imagine that it reveals a life-altering brain problem. That requires brain surgery. That leaves you without the ability to see people's faces. This is exactly what happens to Sadie Montgomery, portrait artist and slightly hopeless romantic, and leaves her without a chance at a portrait contest she's been waiting all her life for the chance to win. At the same time, she runs into her future husband (who she hasn't been on a date with yet), the charming veterinarian Dr. Oliver Addison, and her helpful neighbor Joe, who also has some redeeming qualities despite his less than illustrious first impression.

Despite the fact that this book starts with brain surgery, it is filled with laughter, enthusiasm, happiness, and optimism from beginning to end (literally from the front cover!). Sadie is a burst of joy, and as she navigates her altered brainscape, where everything seems topsy turvy and she doesn't even know what's real and what isn't, it's both a lesson in how our brains play tricks on us and an adorable (if ridiculously contrived) romance. While there were parts that were too contrived for me, such as much of the family drama and some of the ending scenes, I still loved the story, especially the main characters. This story was so vibrant and fun. Katherine Center, as usual, has provided a beautiful escape from reality!

I will start by saying that I really enjoyed The Bodyguard by Center because it kind of played off of a few movies AND reminded me of Christina Lauren who are an amazing duo. So, I went into this book with a lot of expectations for something equally good. The premise certainly was unique and drew me in. And overall, I enjoyed the book enough to give it 4 stars.

My biggest challenge was that I really found that the first part of this book dragged a bit. There was too much focus on Sadie's injury and resulting face blindness. I was happy to understand what she was going through and how it impacted her art, but at a certain point, it was like beating me over the head. Yes, she's going to have a hard time with her work. Yes, it sucks because she can't see anyone to recognize evil Parker. But I felt it was too much and pulled me out of what was (I think) intended to be a contemporary romance. I will also say that Sadie was not the most likeable person for most of the book which always pushes my buttons. If I don't like the main character, I have a hard time rooting for them to come out on top in the end. And Sadie seems very selfish and self absorbed for the first part of the book. Even if I were to look at the story as less romance and more portrait of a person maturing, I don't feel as though she matured enough for it to be anything but the romance I thought it was.

But I still genuinely liked the book. Joe is a wonderful character, and while the plot twists didn't really surprise me - I don't think I'm a brilliant plot twist unraveler - they were still an interesting way to weave the stories together. Even though Sadie's family is awful, her adoptive family is so supportive that I really wanted her to see that sooner. Some reviews said that Sue was not the best friend to Sadie, and I guess she wasn't in some ways. But I also think she put up with a lot in their friendship that we weren't privy to in the novel.

And Peanut. Such a fun doggo. Loved his penchant for human food.

What a fun read! I love a good romance novel. This one did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend it!

Katherine Center!!! I absolutely love everything this woman writes! Her take on romance is so sweet and has you reading long into the night. My only wish is someone makes a series dedicated to all of her books. They would make the best movies/ TV series. (Think The Lost Husband!! We need more movies or series like that, Katherine!! Swoon!)
In Hello Stranger, Sadie is living her best life, or at least the best life she currently can. She is struggling to make it as a portrait artist like her mom. And she may have just landed her biggest break to date, a local portrait contest. She made it to the top ten and has to create a new portrait in a short time to be judged at a local gallery. In the mean time, her poor dog, Peanut gets sick and has to be taken to the veterinarian. And by veterinarian, I mean the local hottie that Sadie can't get off her mind. Sadie manages to lock down a date and she is so very excited, planning her date and their whole future life together. Meanwhile back at home, she can't stand watching the the Average Joe guy make his way through every woman's apartment but hers in her building. He is everywhere! He is the rudest guy every time she is near him. As the deadline looms closer, Sadie finds herself in the hospital. As she is released, she realizes she can't see anyone face anymore. How can a portrait artist be successful if she can't see anyone's face?! Sadie has to learn how to cope in a whole new scary world. How scary is it to never be able to recognize the people approaching you?! This is only half of the story here. Katherine Center keeps you enthralled in her storylines and makes the most romantic stories that you with devour and want to reread just to have all the feelings again, over and over!
Hello Stanger is written in chronological order with Sadie as the narrator. She does use Sadie's voice to reveal the past so you understand what makes Sadie, Sadie. Her writing is so easy to read and the chapters are the perfect length to allow for breaks.
I will forever recommend anything Katherine Center writes! And in my opinion, her writing keeps getting better and better as time goes on! Special thanks to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 5 HUGE stars for me!

I LOVE Katherine Center and this was no exception. As someone who does not really read romance- I can’t help but pick up any and all Center books and this really took me by surprise at how much I enjoyed it! I really appreciate the research that was put into this book about face blindness, too. So so good!

While this is a bit contrived (a portrait artist acquires face blindness), it's a good read! Sadie navigates her issues realistically. I thought I had one plot line figured out, but the author surprised me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Katherine Center does it again! I absolutely adored this book! It was so unique and beautifully written. Sadie is such a strong character that will have you falling in love with her. I loved reading her journey dealing with love, loss, and major life challenges. While her condition is rare, she was a very relatable character. I loved this book and you should definitely add it to your tbr list!


📘: Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
🗓 Pub Date: July 11, 2023

Thank to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St.Martins Press for this ARC!

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

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads. Will review on retail once published!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is about a young woman, Sadie Montogmery, a portrait artist who undergoes brain surgery and loses the ability to see faces. So how will she paint portraits when she can't see faces? Sadie Montogomery has been following in her mother's footsteps by becoming an artist; she has even been placed in a competition in which her mother was established years ago. Her mother died before she could enter her piece in the contest. And now Sadie questions her ability to finish. Sadie's mother dies from a stroke caused by the same brain condition that Sadie undergoes surgery for; her mother refuses the surgery, wanting to spend time with Sadie. Sadie's father is a cardiac surgeon, and when he finds out his daughter has the same condition, he schedules her for surgery. Sadie finds solace in her dog Peanut, a dog her mother purchased for her when she was a child, and Peanut is an essential part of her life, so when Peanut falls ill, she meets veterinarian Dr. Oliver Addison. When he asks her for a date, Sadie is surprised but doesn't want anyone to know that she is suffering from face blindness. Least of all, her neighbor Joe, who wears a bowling jacket of all things and knows everyone in the building, sleeps with women and then mocks them, takes pictures of them, and posts them on social media.

"We're all so busy seeing what we expect to see." We don't pay enough attention to the actual stuff seen. I had a lot of questions regarding Sadie's ability to notice her surroundings and be present in her life before and after her surgery. While we take stuff for granted in our lives, being mindful and present in our everyday lives is a vital lesson.

This is tough for me to say as a devoted Katherine Center fan but this is the first book of hers that really made me cringe. The characters were all one dimensional with a slew of villains that could have been pulled directly from a Disney movie: the evil stepmother, the distant father, the stepsister that is so cruel it's bizarre we are to believe she's a grown woman. Protagonist Sadie lacked depth and came across as incredibly self-centered and insecure. The resolution and twist with her love interest was fairly evident from the beginning. Disappointing read, but I'll keep reading her books. Hoping this one was just a dud.

Sadie Montogmery is a struggling artist, and is beyond excited 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. She is face blind.

As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her relationship with her family, and handle falling in love with two different guys, she comes to terms with her new reality, and her future, whatever that may be.

Well written, and interesting, Hello Stranger explores the issue of face blindness, as Sadie learns to ask for help when she needs it. Recommended. #Hello Stranger #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

If you like other Katherine Center books - particularly Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away - or if you're just in the mood for a well-written if not 100% realistic romance, I recommend!
This plot was cute and slightly predictable but overall I enjoyed. I didn't give a full five stars because there were many parts of the book that felt wordy.

I liked the premise of this book. But I just could not click with the main narrator. Also, why does the author feel the need to state her characters’ nationalities when she describes them ? It’s completely personal but it stuck out and bothered me.

When I was gifted a copy of this book from the publisher, I didn’t know the subject matter would cut so close to home. My daughter was also diagnosed with cavernoma, a malformed blood vessel in the brain- otherwise known as a raspberry- after she passed out at work. Needless to say, it scared her mom and dad to death, but with careful monitoring, she will hopefully never go through the trauma Sadie had to live through.

Sadie has been an outcast since her beautiful, artistic mother died when she was fourteen. Her father quickly remarried, bringing an ambivalent woman and her vindictive daughter into their lives. Unable to cope, Sadie moves out as soon as possible and spends the next few years until the diagnosis working to stay afloat. But now, she has a chance to shine; a contest to win ten thousand and a prestigious spot in the artist community. Until the brain surgery wipes away her powers of facial recognition, leaving her unable to see anything other than pieces of a person’s face in strips and pieces. Can you imagine? It’s called prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

The author’s candid description of the procedure is both frightening and funny:

they’d wash my hair with Betadine solution to sterilize everything, and then they’d comb it with a sterile comb, and then they’d shave just the tiniest bit, and then they’d cut and peel a flap of my scalp back . . . and then they’d drill a four-inch hole in my head.
Like they were going ice fishing.
No big deal.
Katherine Center. Hello Stranger (Kindle Locations 539-542). Kindle Edition.

It’s moments like this that made reading this story a comfort for this very worried mother. It helps to learn with humor. Ms. Center does a wonderful job guiding us through Sadie’s emotional journey and all the highs and lows along the way with her core spirit that never lets her give up.

This is a must-read.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
I’d like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martins and the author for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for a honest review.
I was so excited to be invited to read this early, not gonna lie I let out an audible squeal!!
i absolutely devoured this book and while I am no stranger to Katherine Centers novel this book read a little different for me.
It reminded me how people can be so different yet so much the same, how in life challenges we incur shape the roads that we travel and with these trials and tribulations we have to keep pushing on!
I always love a good story and this one was no different. I admit there were some surprises in the book which just added to the excitement.
Thanks again! Five stars ⭐️

I have been a Katherine Center fan for a few years now. After reading How to Walk Away in 2018, I have read every new book as it has come out and even read some of her backlist.

I very much enjoyed Hello, Stranger. It's one part Cinderella, one part mystery and 100% what we have come to expect from Center. The characters were delightfully quirky and nuanced, while remaining completely loveable. It is closed door, but I would say at times it is on the edgier side of the spectrum.

All in all, a very delightful read!