I enjoyed this book so much! Such a cute and easy read. I now want to read every book by Katherine Center. My new favorite author! Thank you Net Galley!

This book definitely leans more towards women's fiction than romance but I didn't mind that at all. This was such a unique book in dealing with the tough topic of face blindness. This isnt something I had ever read about before and I really enjoyed learning more about it. As with all of Center's books, this one really tugs at your heartstrings and gets emotional. I did guess the "plot twist" or conflict early on, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all.

What can’t Katherine Center do? She always finds a way to write directly to my heart. It was so interesting learning about face blindness. This was my second book with it in it, and I never knew it was a thing!

I always appreciate Center’s writing about issues with parental relationships: death, disappointment, boundaries etc. she gets the complexity of jt

4.5 ⭐️
This book was so enjoyable; the premise was unique, and I adored the characters. Sadie is so endearing, and how her relationship with Joe grows is beautiful because she can’t even see his face but loves him. Center is able to relay the emotions and frustrations that come from going through this major life change while still keeping the book fun and romantic. Typically, I do not do well with miscommunication, but in this instance, it works because while it could be solved with a conversation, there was a believable plot point that didn't allow for this to happen.

I will say the little twist I figured out pretty early on, but it was enjoyable to see it play out for Sadie in the end. this is the second book that I've read by Katherine Center, and it definitely won't be my last. She has wonderful pacing, and the stories are original and refreshing.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center writes the most refreshing romance books and Hello Stranger is no different. Our main character has an accident which results in her developing a condition known as face blindness. So she can't differentiate one face from another. As you can imagine that makes life pretty difficult. In true Katherine Center fashion this makes for an excellent book of page turning mishaps and romance. Katherine is a must read when I need a good palate cleanser and I can't wait for the next one.

Hello stranger takes us through a sliver of Sadie Montgomery life. A portrait artist who is in the running for the biggest contest of her life gets to know her neighbors but it isn't till she's face blind 6 weeks before her submission is due that she needs help more then ever. Sadie's face blindness really made me think of how I would react to not being able to see faces and having to rely on my other senses. How hard it would be to tell who those we have known forever from the rest of the world. I loved getting to know more about this condition Sadie's struggles with and how Suzie and Joe help Sadie when she isn't used to needed help.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Imagine not being able to see people's faces. This is such a hard concept for me to grasp, it literally makes my head hurt pondering it, but such is the life of Sadie Montgomery after she has brain surgery to correct a genetic condition and awakes to discover that she can no longer recognize anyone by their main identifier - their face.

As a portrait artist, this is a huge dilemma for Sadie. How is she supposed to create art from people's faces when she cannot see them?! This condition has descended upon her at literally the worst possible moment because Sadie, the struggling artist, has just been selected as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition ... a contest that could literally change her life.

As if things could not get any worse, Sadie's beloved dog Peanut falls ill, and she finds herself insta-in-love with her dreamy new vet, Dr. Addison. At least she thinks he is dreamy since she can't exactly see his face. At the same time, she has started to develop feelings for the once-repulsive-turned-charming guy in her building, Joe, who has been helping Sadie without actually knowing he is helping her. Not only is Sadie not telling anyone about her condition, she is also a staunch non-acceptor of assistance from anyone, which makes navigating the world when you cannot see faces all the more difficult. It also creates some sticky situations when you are falling in love and you cannot see the guy(s)' faces!

While Sadie struggles to cobble together a portrait for the competition, she finds herself juggling issues with family, friends, and of course ... her two new love interests. All Sadie knows is that her face blindness needs to correct itself and fast before she makes an even greater mess of her already messy life.

I am a very selective rom-com reader. but I always enjoy a good Katherine Center novel. At the end of Hello Stranger, Center explains why romances have such appeal - that they offer hope and the promise of a happy ending. This resonated with me because I know that I can turn to Katherine Center whenever I need an entertaining, uplifting, feel-good story, which Hello Stranger certainly is. That's not to say that Hello Stranger stays away from the worries and stresses of life - in fact, this book chronicles the death of a parent, the loss of a career, and both personal and pet health scares - but Center writes in such a way that you can believe that no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay. This display of resilience in her books is partly why I find myself turning to her time and time again.

That is not to mention her amazing characters and compelling plotlines! I am always thoroughly entertained while reading Center's books, and I found Hello Stranger to be both hilarious and horrifying because I just cannot imagine suddenly having my ability to see faces taken from me. This scenario set-up some really intriguing storylines, and although I "saw" the main twist coming from a mile away, it was a lot of fun "seeing" the pieces all come together.

Katherine Center provides a ray of sunshine wherever she goes. I find such joy in her books! Hello Stranger delves into a world of face blindness and for artist Sadie Montgomery, that comes at a cost. Sadie was selected as a finalist in a portrait competition, but when she suddenly isn't able to see faces clearly or find defining features, Sadie is worried all is lost.

I had no idea this condition was real and it was clear Center put in a lot of research to get it right. It was such an interesting topic and worked perfectly for the storyline. I did not understand why the step-sister was so blatantly mean. I wish there was a little backstory to that other than just evil step-sister vibes, but everything else was so charming. The romance was lovely and the character development was so endearing (other than the step-sister). Center does it again!

The FMC has every right to be dramatic over this life altering change, but some bits were a little bit too cheesy. Overall, the book was good though! I predicted the outcome early on, but it made me want to keep reading to confirm my suspicions. Some parts were quite hectic and felt like my brain was being pulled into all sorts of direction. The author gave basic medical info, to the point where I almost wish there were more details. Also, if felt as though so much was smashed into the last chapter and it was all super rushed and closed out. Needed like 2 more chapters.

Well, Katherine Center has officially become one of my auto-buy authors! What an interesting, different book!! Still super cute! Still adorable! but this was just different! It covered a topic I wasnt familiar with (Face blindness). I learned so much but at the same time I fell in love with all the characters! I even ended up liking LUCINDA! Anyways! I will buy Katherine Center books even if she writes about toilet paper! Love this one!

Hello Stranger has one of the more unique premises of any romance I've read lately. Our female main character has facial blindness, which provides an interesting twist to the love story delveloping on these pages. Katherine Center has made a wonderful name for herself in the romance world, and Hello Stranger's ability to tug on your heartstrings, make you laugh, and give you a good dose of hope further cements Center's success in the world of contemporary adult romance.

(Very belated) ARC review

A portrait artist experiences acquired faceblindness after brain surgery and, for lack of a better word, life hijinks occur.

Very Katherine Center, but definitely kept me hooked for the reveal (which was what I hoped it would be!)

This book was three stars for me. I would read one of her other books first if you are a Center first timer. This was a bit over the top for me and it made me dislike the characters. I am sure some people will love this, but it isn't the best for part-time romance fans like me.

"Hello Stranger" by Katherine Center is a unique take on finding love and purpose in the face of unexpected challenges. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an artist who suddenly develops face blindness after a surgery—right when her art career is on the brink of success. Imagine trying to navigate life and love when everyone around you becomes an unrecognizable blur!

While the premise was intriguing, I found Sadie's character a bit difficult to connect with at times. She often came across as whiny and a bit entitled, which made it hard for me to fully empathize with her struggles. On the bright side, her dog, Peanut, totally stole the show! As a dog lover, I was thrilled by how much heart and warmth this little furball added to the story.

The book picks up in the last few chapters, offering a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together. Though I preferred "Things You Save in a Fire," I appreciate the different perspectives and life lessons Katherine Center brings in "Hello Stranger."

Katherine Center writes warm, entertaining books that always give weight to the characters' real problems while allowing them to hope and plan for their wonderful, imperfect lives.

I will be withholding my review of this book in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

Absolutely loved this read! Katherine Center does it again. A fun new POV to add to the rom com genre. Characters are endearing and the storyline will keep you hooked. Grab your best pet friend, and cozy up with “Hello Stranger”!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!
Fantastic read! I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. This is the first book that I have read featuring face blindness that actually explained anything about the condition. I loved the journey that the main character went on while suffering from this condition, and how much stronger she became because of it. I really enjoyed the little surprise at the end and didn't see it coming! This is the second book I have read by Katherine Center and I have thoroughly enjoyed both!

"Hello, Stranger" by Katherine Center was a delight to read. I learned a great deal about Prosopagnosia or face blindness and marveled at how Center used this affliction to create a unique love story. Imagine being a portrait painter, trying to enter a huge contest and becoming face blind.
The main characters, Sadie and Joe, were both struggling with issues they were trying to work through.
The possibility of a love triangle was humorous and I enjoyed how it resolved itself. The other characters in the story - from her best friend Sue and her parents, the Kims, to her absent father, her stepmother and horrible stepsister added to the enjoyability of the story.
I highly recommend this romance. For me, Center’s books are always a must read.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Sadie has a brain tramua which causes face blindness and she is an artist. A good samaritan saves her when she passed out but she doesn't know who it was. Lots of connections bring them together repeatedly and I really did enjoy that part of the story. I had to suspend judgement on how the characters didn't figure out who each other was several times during the story. The book was kind of a slow burn in that way, but it made for some laugh out loud moments and it was really cute.