This is my second favorite Katherine Center book! I was skeptical after reading the description but it sucked me in and I am lucky to have received an early copy from the publisher!

Loved this book! I am always a fan of Katherine Center but this might be my new favorite! This was just such an unique romance that I read so quickly.

I’m in love with Katherine Centers’ plots. In Hello stranger an aspiring artist life blows up in a matter of weeks and she’s left figuring out how to put the pieces back together. Figuratively and literally because she can’t recognize anyone’s face. From the first chapter I knew I was going to enjoy this read. The story takes the reader along with recently diagnosed ,Sadie, and highlights the brain condition of prosopagnosia. Never having heard of this condition prior, it was interesting to see it highlighted in the main character along with her process of healing and seeing things differently. In general I loved the theme of being forced to look at life differently, wether that be the strangers you’ll never see again or the people who’ve been in front of you the entire time.

Everything comes to a complete stop when a new Katherine Center book is released. My #1, must read, comfort reads. And this one does not disappoint. Although I actually saw where this one was going early on, it certainly did not take away from the enjoyment I got from reading it. It was an absolute honor to get to read this in advance. Thanks NetGalley, much, much appreciation!

I didn’t think it would be possible to love one of Katherine Center’s books more than The Bodyguard…but this one was incredible! Sadie is such a fun and unique character, Parker a perfect villain, and the circumstances were like nothing I’ve read before. By the end I was just as heartbroken as the characters and then Katherine lifted me right back up like I knew she would. Can’t wait to buy this one for everyone I know!

Five big stars! Honestly, I didn’t think anything could beat The Bodyguard, Katherine Center’s most recent release. I was wrong—I just stayed up until 1 AM, reading Hello Stranger in one sitting! I adored everything about this book: the protagonist, the love interests, the pup (I’m a sucker for any book with pets)! Would strongly recommend to any person who loves a sweet romance.

Just when I thought The Bodyguard was my favorite Kathrine Center book, she surprised me AGAIN with Hello Stranger!

Netgallery, thank you for giving me an advanced copy of this amazing book.

I absolutely loved Joe and Sadie. Their story was told incredibly well and the twists and turns within their relationship kept me rooting for this ship to finally set sail.

I don’t want to say too much in case I accidentally spoil it, but the topics, the banter, the friendship and romance was so well written!! If you get the chance, PLEASE read this book!

Every time Katherine Center comes out with a new book, it becomes my new favorite. And this one was no exception. Her writing is light and breezy, and even when bad things are happening, you feel hopeful. This was a great story. It had grief and hardship, but also warmth and humor. It was informative, but also swoony and quirky! It was just a joy to read. Highly recommend.

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

So excited that I got to review Katherine Center's new book. I loved it! It was one of my favorites so far. What an unexpected set of events. People got their due. She ties it all together so well.

If I could I'd give this book a million stars.
I fell in love with Katherine Center's How to Walk Away. Every time I think she can't write something better, she does.
Hello Stranger is a must-read. This story will warm your heart, make you cry, and give you a lot to think about.
Highly recommended

Katherine Center is an automatic read author for me so I was very excited the publishers sent me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I will do that with please!
Katherine is right in her wheelhouse on this one. It’s got a lovable main character, great side kicks and an adorable love interest! There’s laughter, crying and a plot twist you can see a mile away but love it anyway.
If you haven’t read any books by Katherine center before you can’t go wrong with any of them, but put this one on your TBR for sure!

This is the second book I’ve read about “face blindness”. The whole concept was so very interesting to me. This was a funny at times and thought provoking at times read. I really enjoyed this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I received the email with the download link for Katherine Center’s new novel, Hello Stranger, I abandoned every word of my current read and dove into this one head first. And I have to say, I have a new favorite love story. Can I give a book more than 5 stars? This one needs ALL of them!

I learned so much about Prosopagnosia (aka face blindness, a condition I previously knew nothing about. This is a story of resiliency, self love, and the power of human connection.

Sadie, Joe, Oliver, Peanut, and Sue … they are all lovely characters. I already want to dive back into their world and start reading about them all over again.

A handful of other characters are severely flawed, but that is life. While it is messy and imperfect, Katherine’s execution of the miscommunication trope is not. It is done flawlessly and on several occasions.

I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but everyone needs to add this to their preorder list. It’s perfection on paper! Katherine Center said it best herself: “This love story really created fantastic anticipation.”

Loved this book! I've read all of Katherine Center's books, and while it's hard to pick a favorite, Hello Stranger has to be near the top of the list. It tells the story of portrait artist Sadie Montgomery, who is "this close" to her big break when she undergoes brain surgery. As a result of the surgery, she can no longer recognize faces, and the doctors can't tell her how long this problem will last. Needless to say, this makes it nearly impossible for Sadie to work!

The book does a great job of working through the impact of Sadie's condition on both her personal and work lives. Although it can be characterized as a "traditional" romance novel, it had some really interesting twists and turns. I especially enjoyed the development of Sadie's relationship with her dad and stepmom.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

For me a good book is all about emotion. Does it make my heart go pitter patter? Can I feel it in my chest? The last @katherinecenter book checked all the boxes so naturally I was ecstatic when I got an email from her publisher to read and review her next book that comes out in July ‘23! #HelloStranger is a romance but the coolest premise - the main character is a portrait artist who, due to a medical procedure, becomes “face blind” (yes, it’s a real thing!). This sets up a great storyline and ensuing romance. Once again Katherine Center has hit it outta the park! There’s humor, unique characters, and the absolute BEST Author’s Note at the end. Add this one to your TBR shelf and preorder when it becomes available. It’ll be the perfect summer read - I will be reading it again next July! A huge thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the early early early copy! ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #netgalley #romancebooks #romcombooks #bookstagram #igreads #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #2023books

I just love Katherine Center's stories. They have the right amount of drama and more than enough feel good parts and they all kinda feel like a tight hug right when you need one. Hello Stranger was a delightful read! Sadie is a struggling artist that has a bunch of bad luck all at one time. Her best friend is supportive even though she has her own stuff going on, and her step sister is the epitome of evil. I loved Mr. Kim and how he helped Sadie throughout the story. I had a feeling I knew how it would end but honestly I wasn't disappointed! I love the underlying message in the book that makes you realize that perception can really change the way you see things and how those things affect you and your life. I absolutely recommend this feel good romance!

Hello Stranger by K. Center, published by St. Martin's Press, is a full-length, stand-alone novel.
Sadie is a semi-sucessful artist, ok she's the rather starving artist kind of. And she has to face a major change in her life. A change that leads to a highly entertaining, read full of unexpected twists and turns that had me in suspense from start till the last page.
A slow burn, told in a single pov, a beautiful story, very well written, beautifully thought out, beautifully told.
Sometimes love finds you in unexpected places, 5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending me an advance readers copy of Hello Stranger! Katherine Center is one of my favorite writers, and her books are an automatic buy for me. Hello Stranger certainly did not disappoint!

We meet Sadie Montgomery, struggling artist, stellar dog mom, and lovable human as she embarks on a difficult period in her life. After collapsing in the street, she learns that she needs brain surgery. As she recovers from her surgery, she has difficulty seeing faces which negatively impacts her work as a portrait artist. In her fragile state, she encounters two men who affect her differently. As she grapples to make sense of the new way in which she sees the world, she also must revisit events in her past that she may not have interpreted correctly.

My favorite thing about all of Katherine Center’s novels is her theme of hope. All of her strong protagonists endure some sort of struggle. All of them question how they will continue in this way, and all of them persevere. Hello Stranger reminds the reader that, while life is certainly difficult and imperfect, it can also be beautiful. I am looking forward to widely recommending this uplifting book upon it’s July release!

I love this author and this book didn't disappoint. It's full of humor, romance, irony, heartache, and the fun of anticipating a happy ending. The key that opens the door to all of this is the skill with which this author uses words to paint a scene. It's easy to read and enjoy a book when the reader is made to feel like they are right there in the same room as the characters. My only small critique involves the portrayal of the evil stepsister. Could somebody really be that mean? Yikes!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read and review this advance reader copy.

I was jumping up and down excited to get asked to read this one early! Of course I said yes and then immediately devoured it.

The fact that the main character is dealing with face blindness after an accident is an unusual, but totally legit, twist on the usual “girl who needs saving” romance trope.

Sadie is a likable character with a traumatic last, so it’s easy to cheer for her to get SOMETHING to go right in her life.

Her adorably high maintenance dog, Peanut is also quite charming!

In a note at the end of the book, the author talks about how people often say that romance novels are predictable, but in a good way. She suggests instead of using the word predictable, we start using the word anticipation.

As in: “This love story really created fantastic anticipation.”

She goes on to say: “Structurally, thematically, psychologically—love stories create hope and then use it as fuel. Two people meet—and then, over the course of three hundred pages, they move from alone to together…That’s a guarantee of the genre: Things will get better. It’s a gift the love story gives to you.”

I just adore that way of describing why romance novels curl up in our hearts and make us feel warm and gooey inside. Ultimately, they give us hope.

This book was fantastic and I am so thankful to St. Martin’s Publishing and #NetGalley for this ARC!