Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for proving me with an ARC. I’ll be honest, when I read the summary blurb, I wasn’t excited. I thought this seemed like a goofy premise. But wow I was wrong. I really loved this book. I loved Ms. Center’s writing and creativity. I loved the characters and also hated the ones I was supposed to— I wanted to punch the step sister multiple times. Lol. All around a successful book.

Synopsis: Portrait artist, Sadie, has an accident and develops face-blindness right before her potential big break. But her accident does bring potential love interests into her life, too bad she can't see their faces.

My take: I LOVED this book oh so much. Katherine Center is incredible at writing hilarious rom coms. The bodyguard was another of my favorite reads this year. Our main character, Sadie, refused to take help from anyone which was a little frustrating but her past perfectly explains why she was that way. Plus, she gets herself into so many insane situations that were an absolute delight to read. Hello Stranger was unique and perfectly executed. The tail end of the book had me laughing out loud. What a fantastic read!

Although this is not my favorite genre, I never say no to a Katherine Center book. Hello Stranger did not disappoint! Loved the main character’s voice and personality. She had me laughing and emotionally invested the whole time. Though I found the book somewhat predictable and I was able to guess key ploy elements, it was still a joy to read. This book was the perfect summer read. Thank you St. Martin’s Publishing Group Nd Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was such an unexpected delight!

Sadie is a portrait artist who, after brain surgery, experiences face-blindness, which is obviously an issue for a portrait artist. It's even worse for Sadie, who was just accepted into a prestigious portrait show. With the help of her friend Sue and her hunky neighbor Joe, though, Sadie begins to see the world in a different way.

I was fully immersed in this book and I loved it so much. I would have loved to have seen Parker get her comeuppance, but hey, the world isn't perfect, is it?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I have loved each and every one of Katherine Center's books. This one just might be my new favorite.

I love how she took the medical issue of face blindness and created someone's whole life around it. I had heard of face blindness but knew very, very little about it. It is fascinating to realize how much of a person's life is based on recognizing people by their faces. Katherine fashioned Sadie's life, both before and after face blindness, and allowed us to see how life changed for her.

Hello Stranger is a fun, delightful, and yes, sometimes serious story full of fantastic characters with a nice little twist to it. I enjoyed it so much and as always with this author's books, I loved getting lost in her made-up world and didn't want to leave. If you are a fan of Katherine Center's books, you are going to love this one.

Katherine Center can sure tell a good story ya’ll! 4 stars

This was my second Katherine Center book and I just love the way she writes a story with these characters who are very real and relatable. This story gave us such an interesting plot. I have never heard of facial blindness, or “Prosopagnosia”, and this book really gave us an insight into the acquired type.

Our main character, Sadie, is a portrait artist who must have brain surgery after having a seizure in the grocery story parking lot. She is devastated to learn that she has facial blindness as an after effect from the surgery and can’t see anyone’s face – especially when she is supposed to compete in a major portrait competition in only 6 weeks. She is struggling financially, and this competition means a lot to her for the money it could bring and since it was the same competition her mom was supposed to do before she passed away. There is no guarantee that her condition will resolve, and she sinks into a bit of a depressive state, as expected.

The only thing keeping her happy is her sweet dog, Peanut, who I LOVED seeing in this story…..until she meets 2 guys along the way and a relatively small love triangle forms. For those who don’t love the “love triangle” trope, I honestly wouldn’t really call this a true “love triangle”, because 1 of the guys is more in the story then the other and really, she was just “originally interested” in the other guy, but nothing pans out there. This entire circumstance of her love life leaves us with many laughs along the way with some witty banter between our main couple here.

We see Sadie trying to work through so much in this story. She is going through the motions of her diagnosis with her doctor and dealing with trauma from her mother’s death in the past and her evil-step sister. I loved her growth in this story as she went through all of this, and the growth between her, her step-mother and her father.

Overall, the romance was sweet, the twist was great, and it is SUCH a bingeable read! I read this so fast! There were some parts I rolled my eyes at and didn't always love, but overall really enjoyed it. Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy to honestly read and review. I did listen to the audiobook too, but read most of the ARC e-book so I appreciate that.

Content: Language, 5 “F” words, 10-15 “S” Words and other mild words used. Sexual content was clean for me, just some steamy kisses and discussions of sex.

Katherine Center does it again! Her books are like magic and I just can’t get enough of them!
In Hello Stranger, Sadie is all set to get her career moving with her big break as a portrait artist, but then she soon realizes she has face blíndness - the faces of all those she encounters now look like a jumble of indecipherable puzzle pieces. Sadie must now determine how she will navigate life, love, and her painting all while not being able to see faces.
The characters are lovable and quirky and the novel is full of banter and flirting that makes it a breeze to read!
On top of the novel being phenomenal, Katherine Center’s author note at the end was just the cherry on top and summarizes just why I love her writing and what she shared so dang much!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated by the face blindness, and I did my own research on it. This was so unique.

I took off one star because some things felt very far fetched to me. I don’t want to spoil anything, but at times, some people came across as very dumb. That’s all.

It was still a really fun read though!

Sadie is feeling on top of the world. She just found out she is a finalist in a portrait competition. But then after a seizure she has to have a small operation that causes her to have face blindness. Through her struggle she relies on the help of her neighbor, Joe. But she’s also falling for her veterinarian and dealing with lots of family issues. On top of everything Sadie has to complete a portrait without being able to see faces.

I loved this book! Sadie was definitely a mess but once she learned to actually accept help from others her life became a little less messy - mostly because she found ways to embrace the mess instead of trying to fix everything. I also found myself falling for both Joe and her vet - two handsome faceless men with caring hearts! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Hello Stanger is absolutely, adorably brilliant! With a very creative story, witty banter between the characters, romance, family dysfunction and heartbreak it makes for a wonderfully warm-hearted uplifting read!

The premise is Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist just as her late mother was has just been selected as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Just as her mother had been! This she thinks, will finally get her father, an acclaimed doctor to finally recognize she made the correct choice when she decided to not go to medical school, something he has yet to forgive her for. Considering he has basically shunned her since her decision and seems to want to have nothing to do with her. He only dotes on his second wife Lucinda and her daughter Parker, otherwise known as the evil stepmother and evil stepsister as there has always been conflict between them, especially Parker who bullied her so much in high school she ended up getting expelled. Could this make him proud?

So, to celebrate she and her best friend Sue Kim and her dog Peanut are going to have a little party at her illegal apartment in the building of Sue’s father. She goes to the corner store to pick up a few items, wine, dog treats and flowers which were her mother’s favorites to include her in the celebration. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital!

It’s discovered Sadie has a brain issue which needs to be corrected as soon as possible, but with the competition coming up she wants to postpone the surgery. But her father convinces her to do it as soon as possible. But after the surgery she discovers that she has something called face blindness where facial features look like blocks rather than faces. They believe this is being caused by the brain swelling after the surgery. Hopefully it will disappear as the swelling goes away. HOPEFULLY?? She has to compete in a portrait contest in a few short weeks and can’t see faces. How will that work?

As she begins her life trying to use the tools the doctor gave her to help recognize people, but absolutely not telling them about her brain issue, she is just grateful that a nice man with glasses and scruffy hair who wears a jacket with the name Joe lives in her building. Although she wanted to be independent, she realizes she does need some help. And Sadie loves she always knows who he is by that jacket!

But when Peanut gets sick and has to go to the vet, that’s where she sees (or attempts to see) the man she is going to marry! He has what looks like slicked back hair and a beautiful voice! And he asks her out on a date!

But the day of their coffee date he never shows, and never texts to apologize. How could her possible husband be that inconsiderate? Although she still has the hots for the vet, Joe seems to be stepping up in her life by helping her by posing for a portrait which Sadie has no way of knowing is good or bad.

As things heat up with Joe, the competition gets closer and she has no idea what her entry looks like and her evil stepsister tries to intervene in her life just as she did when they were young, she must make some decisions. Is the vet worth the wait or is Joe the one. Should she still be an artist when she can’t even see what she’s doing. What would her mother have done? What advice would she have given her.

As decisions are made Sadie sees her life in a different light. She begins to understand what had been motivating her before her issue and quite frankly she does not like what she sees.

And then the night of the competition takes place and the chaos really begins!

Hello Stranger is uniquely wonderfully different in the best refreshing way possible. It has heart, soul and a beautiful story! Katherine Center’s books continue to amaze me as they seem to get better and better!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #HelloStranger #KatherineCenter for the advanced copy.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

I love authors who add characteristics/hurdles/struggles…whatever you want to call them…that we don’t often see being focused on in novels. Center does this with her stories, and it’s one of the many reasons she is one of my favorite authors.

Did you know that some people have face blindness, also known as prosopagnosia? I had no idea! The main symptom is having difficulty recognizing faces, even those you see on a daily basis. This was fascinating for me to learn about, so thank you to Katherine for teaching me something new.

Aside from that aspect of the novel, I loved the love story between Sadie and Joe. Falling in love with someone for who they are instead of their looks will always be 🙌🏼 for me. It didn’t hurt that Joe was handsome though 😂

This was a heart warming and wholesome book that made me laugh and cry. I really can’t ask for more than that with a romance novel.

I recommend this as a fun summer read 💜

Thank you to the publisher for a Netgalley.

Soooo this was a miss for me. I wanted to love it, but I just did not. Katherine Center is a hit or miss for me. This is my fourth book by her and she's 2/4. My problem with the two I did not like was the main character. I felt Sadie was extremely immature, as was her step sister Parker. The weirdest part of this story was this relationship. It felt extremely misplaced in this story. And please don't get me started on Sue who continuously forgot her best friend could not see faces. Like seriously?

Loved the relationship with Joe, but that is pretty much it. Oh and the very end. Here for the ending as it brought some sort of maturity to the plot.

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her stories are infused with joy and thought-provoking inner dialogue that makes you want to live a happier, more connected life. Hello, Stranger, is a love story, but also includes a healing story as we follow Sadie through her complicated family dynamic, current medical diagnosis, and art career. Center pushes readers to question how they see the world, how a first impression may not be accurate and how that can shape our future beliefs. She addresses loneliness, leaning on others and the importance of asking for help. I loved the romance in this. I love how Katherine writes male characters and Joe/ Oliver was no exception. Highly recommend this wonderful, thoughtful story! Thank you so much to SMP Romance for the early copy; all thoughts are my own.

In "Hello Stranger," Sadie Montgomery's life takes an unexpected turn when she is diagnosed with face blindness just as she reaches a pinnacle in her artistic career. This unique and intriguing premise sets the stage for a story that explores love, personal growth, and the complexities of human connections.

The portrayal of face blindness as Sadie's central struggle is both fascinating and empathetic. Katherine Center does an excellent job of conveying the challenges faced by someone with this condition, and readers are drawn into Sadie's world as she navigates her new reality. The emotional and psychological toll that face blindness takes on her relationships and her passion for art is portrayed with sensitivity, allowing readers to empathize with her journey of acceptance and adaptation.

The romantic aspect of the story is where the plot takes a more uncertain turn. Sadie's simultaneous attraction to two very different men adds a layer of complexity to her already tumultuous life. While this love triangle aims to enhance the story's emotional tension, it occasionally feels forced and distracts from the core themes of the book. Some readers may find themselves torn between rooting for one suitor over the other, while others may feel that the romantic entanglement overwhelms Sadie's personal growth. I guessed the major plot twist right near the beginning of the book which sometimes made me want to just get to the end.

The writing style is engaging and expressive, effectively conveying Sadie's emotions and the challenges she faces. The author beautifully captures the art world and the complexities of family dynamics, enriching the narrative with depth and authenticity.

"Hello Stranger" is a thought-provoking read that offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of human perception and relationships. The idea of finding unexpected connections and love amidst life's blurry realities is an inspiring and hopeful message that resonates with readers.

Having read and loved Katherine Center's The Bodyguard, I was ecstatic to pick up her next novel. Unfortunately, this book felt incredibly different than her last. Initially, I wasn't sure I was going to love the premise, but trusted Katherine Center's writing style. Sadly, once I got into this novel I felt let down in the area as well. While I love a good rom-com, this felt more like a cliche chick-flick. The plot was very predictable and characters flat. I'm sure this will be up someone's alley, perhaps for someone from a different demographic than me, but personally, I didn't enjoy this one.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Hello Stranger is a quirky romance that was a fun light read in true Katherine Center fashion. Sadie finds herself as a portrait painter who suffers facial blindness after a brain bleed. There’s some laugh out loud moments. What i really loved was the authors blurbs at the end and how she describes what reading romances novels do to us and our need to have “fantastic anticipation”

I truly adore Center's books but this one was not my favorite. I was a little concerned with the description however it started off intriguing and I like learning about new medical conditions I'm not super familiar with. Unfortunately I found the book to be a little more tedious for my taste as I prefer more dialog and less descriptive paragraphs. I also found the twist very obvious and it was a little distracting. I still find Center a strong author but this one wasn't for me. I'm sure the next one I read will be amazing!

4.25/5 stars

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is just what I needed to help get me out of my reading slump. This cute rom-com follows Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist, as she struggles to unwrap the struggles of her past, all while dealing with a new issue - face blindness. The premise of Sadie's work is painting faces, and this medical emergency comes just as she is about to get her big break. Over the course of the story, will she find love, be able to paint the portrait for her big event - pick up this must read to find out!

This is my second Katherine Center book, and I am glad that I got the chance to enjoy this one as well. I loved that this story focused on many different elements, but also did them all well - family, friends, love, personal struggles, pets. It was light-hearted and cute, and I will definitely be picking up more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

HELLO STRANGER - Katherine Center

Fascinating! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Such an interesting scenario! Sadie has a terrible accident that affects the way she sees the world. And we watch as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog. Then she falls in love with two very different men! If her life were a little more in focus (literally and figuratively), Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

Writing - 5 stars - Center and I are sympatico! Everything she writes resonates with me on some level. Even though I have absolutely no experience with this medical situation and am not an artist, somehow, I find myself relating intimately with the characters and understanding them. That's the beauty of Center's writing, I think, and is what keeps drawing me back for more.

Characters - 5 stars - I wasn't sure about Sadie at first because I had nothing in common with her, and her situation seemed so over-the-top unusual. Even as I got to know her, I found her insecurity to sometimes be annoying. And her jumping to conclusions (especially about Parker) felt paranoid. But despite that, I still loved her, wanting to get to know her better. She's smart and funny and thoughtful and interesting, and she seems like a fun person to be friends with. And I suffered right along with her as she struggled with changing her life's dream, relearning how to look at life and those around her.

Title - 4.5 stars - With her face blindness, Sadie finds that everyone around her is a stranger. But she must learn to cope.

Cover - 4.5 stars - A gorgeous bright cover that draws the eye. And once you look, you see a few important bits of the story included--roller skates, a rooftop, and Peanut, among other things.

Overall - 5 stars - Center has a beautiful knack of taking an impossible situation and looking on the bright side, making the reader feel hopeful in a seemingly hopeless situation. In addition, she seems to know what I want to read before I do, then gives it to me before I even realize that I've been looking for it. in this case, it was fascinating to see someone's life totally change, then the reader struggled along with her as she tried to accept the changes and work with the changes to make a meaningful life, yet different. As it turns out, the focus of the book wasn't necessarily about change but about realizing that you can look at life in a new way. The twist at the end was a total surprise to me (although I suppose it shouldn't have been), but it was a nice surprise and made me shake my head in wonder and gave me even more food for thought.

I loved this book so much! I will forever buy and read Katherine Center's books!

I thought the premise of Sadie's struggle with face blindness. I've never heard of this condition and found it interesting learning about it and how it affects people. I think the addition of her being a face portrait and learning to cope with this new reality made for a strong storyline. I enjoy romance books with substance and this one definitely fit the bill.

The content was unique, the banter spot on, and the closed door romance just what I needed. I like Katherine Center's writing style and enjoy her romance spice levels.

I recommend this to anyone looking for their next low spice romance!