Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story 😍

The #BetterThanTherapyBookClub chose this book to read this month because it was a new release and we were ALL excited to read it….and it did not disappoint!

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but it was such a sweet story with a great ending (it was a tad bit predictable but that didn’t make it any less good). This was my first book by Katherine Center, but I will be reading more.

I loved the overcoming of hardships, and the love in this book was just so good. ❤️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and ALC of this one - it was fantastic!

#bookstagram #bookish #bookfriends #bookbesties #katherinecenter #hellostranger #bookclub #newrelease #arc #netgalley #alc #audiobooks #listenwhileyouwork #readingchallenge

“Hello Stranger” is a beautiful masterpiece!

I just finished reading this book and it left me brimming with feelings of hope, joy, possibility, and wonder.

I loved it!

"Hello Stranger" introduces Sadie, a portrait artist, who after an accident and subsequent surgery, experiences face blindness. Due to this, she is forced to view the world and others around her differently, which is endlessly frustrating for her. However, Sadie's reluctance to ask for help ends up coming with lots of surprises. Especially when she gets to know her neighbor, Joe, a man who just can't help his natural inclination to help others.

Katherine Center’s writing in this book is smart, informative, and infused with lots of food for thought about how we treat others, and how our outlook on life impacts us.

"The more good things you look for, the more you find."

“Hello Stranger” is a FIVE star read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early book review copy of this book!

“Hello Stranger” is being released July, 11th 2023-mark your calendar!

**Posted to Goodreads on 1/22/2023
**Posted to Amazon on 7/29/2023

I struggled with this one for personal reasons of having had my own life altering diagnosis, but felt validated and invested in the story for the same reasons as I struggled.

Sadie’s art and internal turmoil are a love story in their own right. This was a romantic and rich read that was as sweet as it was a struggle.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I tried to walk into this book without any expectations after not enjoying her last novel "The Bodyguard" (unpopular opinion I know) and I am glad I did. I enjoyed "Hello Stranger" much much more.

Sadie is an aspiring portrait artist that is finally getting her big break, becoming a finalist in a prestigious contest, who after having unexpected brain surgery experiences face blindness. I found this to be an interesting and fairly unique premise to the novel. The romance was a little quirky but fun. I really enjoyed how the author balanced Sadie's healing journey with her injury, trying to figure out her family dynamics, and her budding career along with the romance. The end is maybe just a tad bit far-fetched but (without spoiling anything) it's not often that I get surprised by a romance novel so I will give the author that.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Hello Stranger. I am a big Katherine Center fan and was very excited to be chosen for an ARC of this novel. I enjoyed the book and the story moved quickly. I had no trouble picking it up to continue. It had the class romance notes - it was cringeworthy, sweet, and intriguing. I found aspects of the story to be unrealistic (not the medical diagnosis but the plot itself) but overall I liked it. However, it is not nearly as good as The Bodyguard by Katherine Center.

I am Katherine Center's number 1 fan! I requested this knowing I love her, and it didn't disappoint me. While it took me a bit longer to get into/invested in the story, the ending made it all worth it. Sadie, a portrait artist, is on the verge of a big step in her career when she gets in an accident. Due to the subsequent brain surgery she needs, she is left with face blindness. While navigating her uncertain future, her "evil" step-family, and her late mother, Sadie somehow makes connections with 2 men and starts falling for them both. This story carried Center's usual wit and banter while the main character is dealing with something not-so-great. I just love her writing so much and of course recommend this to anyone!

One of the joys of reading is stumbling upon a story that surprises you, takes you on a roller-coaster of emotions, and leaves you with a lingering sense of satisfaction. 'Hello Stranger' by Katherine Center does exactly that, weaving a tale rich with humour, character development, and a unique take on romance.

Center takes us on a journey with Sadie Montgomery, an aspiring artist who quite literally does not see what's coming. After a monumental achievement of making it to the finals in the North American Portrait Society competition, life throws her a curveball in the form of face blindness. Every face Sadie encounters is a jumbled puzzle, a foreign language that she struggles to comprehend.
However, Center doesn't let this situation define Sadie. Our protagonist battles not only her newfound condition but also familial tensions and the demands of her artistic career. And of course, let's not forget her loyal canine companion, Peanut, adding another layer of heart to this story.

At the heart of 'Hello Stranger' is a comedy of errors fueled by mistaken identities. It's a testament to Center's writing prowess that she weaves these plot elements together seamlessly, producing a story that keeps the reader intrigued.

One of the key strengths of 'Hello Stranger' is its colorful cast of characters. Sadie is undeniably engaging, and her duality of being sunshiney and stubborn makes her relatable. The men in her life are equally compelling and nuanced, further enhancing the narrative.

The secondary characters too, like the best friend Sue, although a tad insensitive at times, brings in her own share of humor and conflict. Sadie's parents and her step-sister Piper are portrayed as caricatures, yet they serve the purpose of furthering Sadie's journey and personal growth. Notably, the transformation of Sadie's father and stepmother is satisfying, while Piper's fate provides a sense of poetic justice.
I do love how Joe calls Sadie on her preconceived notions. Like with “Busty McGee”, who ends up being the exact opposite of Sadie’s made up persona for her. Joe ends up challenging Sadie (and us, the readers) to reevaluate our quick judgments.

Now, I won't pretend that 'Hello Stranger' is perfect. For a romance novel, it does fall a little short on the spice scale. Readers expecting steamy romance might find themselves yearning for more. Yet, Center's focus on character development and plot progression gives the novel its own unique charm.

Despite the occasional stumble, 'Hello Stranger' is a triumph of character-focused storytelling. Katherine Center has created a heartwarming, hilarious tale that embraces the complexity of human relationships and the myriad ways of seeing the world. As Sadie learns, sometimes what we find when we're not looking can be the most surprising thing of all.

Potential spoiler- stop now if you haven’t read the book yet….


Still here? I am not unconvinced that this chick has not had some kind of face blindness or issue recognizing people her whole life. I don’t know how you can think that there are two different barista‘s a.k.a. Hazel one and Hazel two based on someone putting their hair up. End of rant.

I love Katherine Center books and I have read all of her books to date. Unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. The face-blindness issue to me was strange and I just didn't understand it.

I am going to try it again at a later date and hope to love it!!!

A blend of serious topics, emotion and fun cheesy moments, Hello Stranger follows our lead character Sadie, an art enthusiast who suffers a terrible accident leading to face blindness. As Sadie navigates life and love through a different lens, we are introduced to several side characters. My favorites would include our hero, and of course Peanut the dog, but there were also a few side characters that I felt took away from the story line. Ultimately, I was left with mixed feelings. There were aspects I enjoyed, including the narration, and aspects I didn’t love, including the miscommunication trope. Although this wasn’t my perfect read, I was invested in the story, and I’d still recommend considering this novel as your next read, as I’ve seen several rave reviews from other readers.

Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I adore this book!

I can always count on Katherine Center to deliver heartfelt fiction. I find the plot of this book interesting, as I've never read a book with the main character suffering from a condition called Face Blindness. This book features Sadie Montgomery, who, after so many setbacks in her life, is in the running to win the North American Portrait Society competition. But unfortunately loses her ability to see faces clearly, and doctors aren't optimistic if it will be temporary or not. Suddenly it's a whole new world with more unexpected difficulties to navigate. Little by little, she's discovering her strengths and self-love with the comfort of her beloved pet, the help of friends, and a newfound friendship from a stranger.

I love Sadie. I like that she pursued her passion despite how it made her life difficult because she loves what she does. She's funny, a little bit clumsy, and very kind. Like some of the author's work, this book also features how complicated family dynamics can be, especially when not everyone gets along.

The romance part of this book is another gratifying part of this story. It's also so amusing to me, especially when misunderstandings unravel bit by bit. The MMC is adorable! He's such a sweetheart, always lending a hand to help Sadie and others.

If you enjoyed the author's previous works, you'll enjoy this too—another heartfelt book on self-discovery and perseverance.

Another great book by Katherine Center!

Sadie is about to have her big break but then she is in an accident that leaves her with face blindness. This leads to sadness and frustration on how to continue to be a portrait artist if she can't see faces.... and some funny run-ins with people that don't know she is "face blind"

I can't imagine going through face blindness but I am happy Sadie did because I enjoyed her humor and determination.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙮.

I can’t believe this is only my second book by this author. I absolutely adored The Bodyguard last year and have been wanting to read more by Katherine Center. I definitely will be picking up some of her backlist after reading Hello Stranger.

I blended the ebook and audio together - I think that was a great way to read this story.

Sadie was such a fun and quirky character. It was so interesting following her character. She gets a medical condition after she gets surgery where she is left with face blindness.

She’s also an artist so there’s a challenge with her not being able to tell what’s going on in regards to that. We also get so many side characters, all are enjoyable - except for the evil stepsister.

As much as I loved Sadie, I also adored Sue’s character. She had me giggling at times and I hope we’re able to get her story too 🤞🏼

Also, can we talk about how adorable Peanut is. I loved the love triangle (ish) trope with Peanut’s vet, Dr. Addison, and Sadie’s neighbor, Joe. There is a twist towards the end that was predictable, but it didn’t affect the way I felt after finishing this book.

This is one of those feel-good and heartwarming romances. I have loved what I’ve read by this author and can’t wait to pick up her backlist titles. I have a feeling she’s going to become an auto-buy author when it comes to these fun romances.

If you’re looking for a fun, unique, quirky, swoony, humorous, lighthearted romance with lovable characters… then you might want to pick this one up.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Death Of Parent, Bullying, Medical Content, Gaslighting, Panic Attacks/Disorders, and Grief

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of Hello Stranger in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first time reading something by Katherine Center, and it was quite the lighthearted and touching experience. I'll admit that Sadie can get pretty damn whiny and self-centered, but this didn't stop me from connecting with her as a flawed protagonist who's contending with tons of life crap. Her face blindness, of course, is a part of that, and I love how fleshed-out it gets. All of that is compelling, even when the story hits a few preachy points (the epilogue in particular could have significantly toned down the sermonizing), and so is the charming romance she gets involved in. The climax ends up throwing in a twist that I feel like might come off as contrived if I inspect it too closely, but I'm willing to forgive it. And I can't forget to comment on Sadie's sister, Parker, who's so damn insufferable—not in a negative way, mind you. Her hatability works effectively for the narrative, and there's even some sympathetic nuance that gets shed on her towards the end. But hooboy, she's still such a sadistic and conniving little asshole.

Overall, Hello Stranger is definitely worth checking out, and I'll be keeping Center's other books in mind for future reading.

Katherine Center is a must read author for me. I love her books, they do not disappoint! While I figured out what was happening early on, I still needed to know how it all would end up. And even though I thought I knew it all, she managed to surprise me too. I learned about a condition I had never heard of before, while also being swept away by a beautiful love story. Highly recommend!

I am in the minority when it comes to Hello Stranger, but I really didn’t like the book.

I disliked the main character, Sadie, who was immature, complained too much (I empathize with what happens to her in the book, but she made it so hard to like her) . The plot was predictable and while the characters were over the top and unbelievable. The only part of the story I liked was Joe.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I had no idea that there was a brain injury you could get that makes you not able to recognize faces. Such a fun, interesting and very sweet story! One of resilience and being able to overcome difficult experiences. I highly recommend everyone give this a read!
Also, I'm so glad I got to meet Katherine Center at her book tour for, Hello Stranger!! 💗✨️ She was such an absolute joy, so funny and so very sweet! 🩷 I look forward to reading more of her books!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this early arc ebook copy! 🫶

hello stranger was a great summer read by katherine center. it was fun, unexpected and had a few twists to. make you want to read more. sadie is a struggling portrait artist who suddenly finds herself challenged as she finally receives an opportunity to achieve her big break, which would mean validation, some much needed money, and a chance to impress her father. as she is recovering from unexpected brain surgery, she realizes she has face blindness and cannot recognize her friends and family. read this one straight through.

I adored this book!!
This was such a great story! Even though the main character goes through some major life trials and obstacles, I felt for this character and wanted to hug her and rooted for her!! The characters were likable and cute and the romance was so cute!
Such a huge fan of Katherine Center!

I have really enjoyed Katherine Center’s books so when this was offered on Netgalley it was an automatic request from me to read.

This was definitely a lighter read for me compared to her other books but still entertaining as I wanted to know how it would all shape up in the end. Too bad I figured out the ending around 3/4 of the way in. So yes, a bit predictable, but I learned more about facial blindness (prosopagnosia) and how it affects a person emotionally as well as artistically.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I would recommend this book to those who are wanting a light entertaining read.

- I always feel like these are marketed as romance and I don't feel these are romance novels (no spice/little romance, imo)
- the plot was intriguing and creative (facial blindness) loved the first half
-family themes
-love the cover
-parental loss/grief

Honestly, I feel like Centers earlier work is better.