In her author's note, Katherine Center talks about coming to romance novels when she turned 40 and how she began to devour them. In short, she writes about how what's wonderful about romances is that they have a promise of a better future in them, that they strive toward hope. I think this sentiment is why I find them so fulfilling as well, the best ones that remind me that love and happiness are not unrealistic pursuits; that books can deliver joy. And perhaps that's also why Katherine Center continues to be my reigning favorite romance author.

In her latest, "Hello, Stranger," Center weaves the story of portrait artist Sadie who has lost her ability to see faces just as she's landed a prestigious spot in a portrait competition. This is not Sadie's only challenge; she is already dealing with trying to make a living as an artist and coping with family estrangement all while wrestling with her mother's death that happened when Sadie was a teenager. And now, her main support system, her dog Peanut, is also sick.

At it's heart, "Hello, Stranger" is a romance. Sadie meets her dog's vet at the same time she notices a man who lives in her building, and her journey to discover what and who she wants is woven throughout. But the romance is there to highlight Sadie's personal growth: as an artist, friend, daughter, and partner. And those are the best kinds of romances, the ones where the romance feels real and the hope buoys us along, cheering for characters who are working toward more beauty in their lives.

If you're looking for spicy books, this one is not for you. But if you're looking to cry your eyes out on a random afternoon while devouring a book, pick this one.

Where to start! Where to start! This book is hands-down, the most unique, original, and beautiful work of art I have read in a long time!

It’s almost hard to write about without giving anything away. Katherine waves a beautiful web throughout the story with the characters and events. While you think you know where the story may go you can’t stop turning the pages to find out how it unfolds. . . And if you’re right.

My only feedback for Katherine is the same as it was for The Bodyguard. Get rid of that epilogue, it does not add to the story. If it would’ve ended with the last sentence of the last chapter, I would’ve been left, throwing my kindle across the room at 1 AM cursing that it’s over while simultaneously cursing the absolute brilliance of the author. The book is a masterpiece, and the epilogue brings it down.

That being said, thank you so much to Erica Martirano and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for making my week! It is definitely one to remember!

I thought I was diving into a fun book by a favorite author. Excited to get an early copy to read and didn’t even sneak a peek at the description. So the entire book was a surprise— in the best way ever.

This one grabbed me and kept me guessing and thinking of my own journey. The emotions, the sweetness, the friendship and laughter is all what you find in Katherine Center’s books— Except Hello Stranger was a bit different and I appreciate it so much! I am a disabled portrait artist — this hits home!

I can’t wait share this book with other disabled-women artists… Especially the young ones still learning their craft and looking for love. We face a lot of difficulties in life, we need inspiration and fun and love. Thank you so much!

My new favorite Katherine Center book! 🥰

I NEEDED a dose of hope and a dollop of happiness, so when an invitation to read an early copy of this book, arrived-I started IMMEDIATELY!

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist, following in her mother’s footsteps. She paints portraits-her style being compared to Norman Rockwell-and has just been told that she has earned one of the coveted finalist spots in a competition that could be life changing.

It’s the same competition her Mom placed in, years ago-so it means all that much more to her-since she lost her mom when she was fourteen. So, when she learns that she needs surgery, 6 weeks before the show, she isn’t going to let that stop her from competing. She will just have to work faster, and work harder, when she is released from the hospital!

She NEVER expected to wake up from the surgery with “Acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia”-Face Blindness.

How can a Portrait Artist paint-if she can’t see faces?

Sadie may not have the support of her father, step-mother, or evil step-sister-but she does have a best friend, Soo Hyun (Sue) and her parents-who always offer her unconditional love and encouragement.

And, her elderly dog, Peanut, who just happens to have her FAVORITE face in the World-and one that thankfully, she can still see!

But, when Peanut gets sick-it’s more than she can bear with everything else she is facing.

Until she meets the emergency Veterinarian, Dr. Oliver Addison-who she can tell is good looking, as well as brilliant, even without seeing his face.

After all, he saves Peanut!

It’s Love at First Sight-Sight Unseen!

As Sadie confronts all of her new challenges, she is going to need some help-something she HATES asking for.

Fortunately, her neighbor Joe, is the kind of person who LOVES to provide it-and he doesn’t take “NO” for an answer.

All of a sudden there are two men in her life, each offering something she needs.

Sadie discovers that not being able to “see faces” is making her pay attention to all that she has been missing-and maybe-just maybe-she is seeing things clearly for the first time!

Katherine Center offers us a heart warming, HUG of a story, filled with her trademark humor-and dancing!
And, it was EXACTLY what I needed!

Sweet but not spicy…

The “anticipation” of what would happen, delivered all I wanted and more! (DO READ her acknowledgments at the end of the book).

Isn’t that why we pick up a romance to begin with? ❤️

Publication date is July 11, 2023-I will remind you again, when it’s available!
Or just pre-order now!

Thank You to Erica at St. Martin’s for the gifted copy that I was obviously thrilled to receive it and it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

Wow. Hello Stranger is an utterly compelling & entertaining & giddy anticipation-filled read. As always, Katherine Center managed to make me feel so many different emotions at once. From the first chapter all the way to the author’s note (seriously, don’t forget to read the author’s note. As a general rule, but definitely for this book).

Katherine Center’s books always leave me feeling a bit awestruck. I feel uplifted, I feel like I learned something, I feel the joy of having found and truly delighted in a really good story. I feel incredibly sad that it is humanly impossible for her to crank out another new story for me to pick up immediately. And I always feel completely caught up in reflection, of how the story shaped my worldview or my self-view.

Prosopagnosia is an absolutely fascinating phenomenon that you probably haven’t heard of. Any author would be intimidated by having to understand a medical condition enough to write about it in a way that feels truthful for the people who actually experience it as well as comprehensible to the people who have no reason to have heard of it before. Plus, figuring out how to write about the roller coaster of emotions someone experiencing this would feel. And for me? Katherine Center absolutely nailed it. I always leave her books feeling like she approached her main characters’ dilemmas with the utmost compassion and awareness as well as intellectual interest.

The simple fact of the matter is: I adored these characters. I adored the very concept of this story. I adored every anticipation-filled moment and every “omg I think I know what’s going on here” realization. And I think, if you are a person who appreciates joy and hope and how those things are found even in the darkest of times, you will absolutely adore it too (yes, that was a Dumbledore reference).

In a way, I feel like I recognize book characters in a similar way that Sadie learned to recognize people - by how they dress, body language, how they speak to people, their general presence. Rarely do I have a clear face in mind when I’m reading about a character, other than an eye color or a unique feature, maybe a hairstyle and color. Which is especially apropos for this story. Every personality in this book is so distinct, almost a caricature, not because of what they looked like but because of how their presence drove the story. And I really loved not being able to come up with a clear image of what these people looked like. I felt like I was in Sadie’s head a little bit.

And isn’t that a beautiful representation of being a person? That what you look like doesn’t matter as much as what your presence brings to a moment? Isn’t that why we fall in love with book characters? Not because we have a clear idea of what they look like but because who they are speaks to us in some way? Isn’t that why so many of us prefer the cartoon book covers to the pictures-of-people covers? Because focusing on what someone looks like is incredibly limiting?

Anyways. I never know how to shut up about about a book that reminds me so thoroughly why I love reading so much, as this one did. Luckily there are word limits on these things. Read this book!

I was so happily surprised the other day with an email inviting me to download an eARC of Hello Stranger. This was THE book I needed this week and hit all the right notes for me.

It was the exact little bit of sunshine my grumpy heart was craving. It was full of Center's trademark heart and humour. I laughed and I sobbed and I got all the warm fuzzies. Most importantly, I absolutely did not want to put it down.

My crappy week had nothing on the things going wrong in Sadie's life and seeing her push through - while occasionally moping like the rest of us - was a little bit of encouragement and brightness on a dreary day. I wasn't particularly flummoxed by the big reveal, but then again I don't read rom-coms for the surprises. This was simply beautiful and sweet and heartbreaking and funny.

This was a cute rom-com by Katherine Center. Sadie is about to embark on her life’s dream—a portrait competition once achieved by her late mother. Unfortunately, an unexpected accident and resulting surgery leave her unable to identify faces. While trying to cope with this new hurdle, Sadie meets two men—Joe & Oliver—who are determined to help her along the way.

Cute story! The storyline was new and interesting. The characters were likable. It was predictable in all the best ways. I enjoyed it very much!

I’ve read this author before and I have to say this is by far my favorite of hers to date. The characters were so well written, it was so interesting, and I just loved it. Sadie was such a complex character. I had a feeling where the “spoiler” was headed and it was a great ending. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!