I am going to gush about this book! I loved it all. I loved the characters, the story, the way I learned about new things; prosopagnosia and pajankets, and how it made me believe in people.

Katherine Center is one of my favourite authors because she is able to bring stories to life in a way that allows the reader to jump in and go along for the ride. I could not put this down. I also admit that I didn’t even read the description because it is a given I would want to read it. And after reading the authors’s note I can guarantee I will continue to pick up the next book. I found Katherine’s discussion on romance books thought provoking and provided new ways to consider a book when reviewing it. When I think of this book I can say that it made me laugh, feel misty, swoon and be curious. Who can ask for anything more.

I am so very thankful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this arc for my honest review.

This was a cute book. I loved getting to be along side Sadie as she explored her hopefully temporary medical condition of being face blind. It was fascinating to me and I also really liked the at we got more of the doctor helping her understand and cope. Her dog Peanut, whose fave she can see, was so cute and I’m glad she had someone.

I wouldn’t however necessarily call this a romance. The book has her on a couple dates and she kisses a man twice but the other 99% of the book is about Sadie finding new herself. The evil stepsister was truly evil, the two men in Sadie’s life were great and Sadie was ok. I don’t truly like characters who live in self pity so while I understood her from a medical and artistic standpoint I couldn’t connect on a more personal level. Didn’t take away from an entertaining book though!

Would definitely read more Katherine Center!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a romance but so totally outside my experience I hardly know where to start. Our heroine, Sadie, suffers from face blindness or prosopagnosia. It turns out this is an affliction that from which some folks suffer their entire lives or some, who only suffer from it for weeks or months, based on an injury, or in Sadie’s situation, the aftermath of a brain surgery. Sadie is a portrait artist who has just gotten her big break having been selected in a portrait contest wherein only 10 of 10,000 were selected. It was just then that she fainted in the middle of the street and had to be rescued by a stranger, a Good Samaritan. She was diagnosed with a cavernoma, which simplistically is a weak spot in a blood vessel, in her brain. She was going to postpone the surgery but woke one morning to her all-but-estranged father, nearly hysterical that she do it immediately. It seems her mother had postponed the same surgery and died of a rupture: a stroke. She acquiesced and had the surgery only to wake up and discover that faces looked liked Picasso paintings: disjointed and bizarre, including her own. This is face blindness.

Joe was a guy who lived in her building. She seemed on the promiscuous side as she noticed him and overheard phone conversations on the elevator. But, when she went to get her dog, Peanut from the veterinary clinic where he had boarded during her hospital stay, and the subsequently when Peanut had a medical emergency, she met Dr Olivier Addison, and was in love. True, she couldn’t see his face, but she could see the rest of him and smell him. She decided she was in love and would marry him. Joe became a helpful friend. What a great character Sadie was. She opened up, mostly in her thoughts, about her face blindness and her life. She was stoic although she did have bouts of depression. It was a convoluted plot, often hilarious, but sometimes really sad. She had a great therapist who opened her eyes to ways of “seeing” things and her life began to change. Lots of twists and turns. This was a terrific read, not just a simple romance.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Hello Stranger by St Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #KatherineCenter #HelloStranger

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

This was my first Katherine Center read and maybe I just didn’t pick her best one. I didn’t love this story like I thought I might & Sadie as the MC drove me nuts. She handled things immaturely and just made it hard to like her as a person. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt because of her past family trauma and situations she goes through during the novel, but she just seemed kind of bratty about things. Some of the other characters seemed more real and level headed compared to Sadie. The story line was good & overall it was a quick, quirky, fun read. I will definitely read other books by Center, but this was not a favorite of mine.

My review will be posted to my Instagram at the end of July.

I absolutely loved this book! This is my first book by this author and I'm kicking myself for it because it was so enjoyable and I've been recommended her books so many times! The storyline, the feelings, the wonderful conclusion - I loved every minute of the journey. What a beautiful story!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie is an artist who’s just made top ten in a prestigious art competition. An exciting time turns scary when, due to a hereditary condition, she must get brain surgery. The surgery, while successful, leaves Sadie with face blindness. The good news is that it’s probably only temporary… though this leaves her unable to draw faces for the art competition.

I loved this story, and I was drawn in from the start. Sadie was a very likable MC. I loved following her journey of healing and self discovery, and the romance was super sweet! While the story was somewhat predictable, it did not lessen my enjoyment.

Kudos to the expertise of Katherine Center for another incredible story. I started this one and so just wanted to cancel the rest of my life and curl up and finish it in one sitting but life got in the way. The premise of the book, as well as the way Katherine Center enveloped it into her plot and twist, was so very unique, as well as compelling to read.
Sadie, a young struggling artist specializing in portraits, has just won a place in a contest for a prestigious award. After a freak accident one day her family history, as well as her estranged family, converge and Sadie is convinced to have elective surgery, after which nothing is the same. Imagine a portrait artist developing prosopagnosia, or face blindness.
My heart went out to Sadie throughout this book - her love for Peanut, her struggle to never ask for help, her crush on the vet, her elevator ride with “Joe”, the revelation of her prosopagnosia, her friendship with Sue, her developing feelings for Joe… so many endearing events that created a beautiful story. As I love to learn something while reading this book definitely checked that box for me. The characters in this book, even Parker, will linger in my thoughts for a long time. This story would make a powerful movie. One of my favorite books so far this year. Please keep writing Katherine Center as I loved What You Wish For and now Hello Stranger.
Many many thanks to Katherine Center for making me care so deeply about these characters that come to life as I am reading, St. Martin’s Press for having the wisdom to see her brilliance, and NetGalley for affording me the absolute pleasure of having the opportunity to read an arc of another of her incredible books, just published on July 11th. I cannot praise this read highly enough.

If you know me, you know the minute this landed on my doorstep I started reading it. I am a HUGE fan of Katherine Center’s books and Hello Stranger is another good one! This feel good story about a woman named Sadie has some deep underlying issues, but Center’s stories always leave me feeling hopeful. There was even a little twist in here I didn’t anticipate that I really loved! This is the perfect summer read and I highly recommend you grab a copy now that it’s out! It will be a great addition to your beach bag!

4.5 but i always round up when i rate half stars.

This was such a fun book. So much of it was a bit silly and over the top, but i love how the book recognized that and literally called itself out. I laughed out loud multiple times, and teared up a couple as well. Sadie and Peanuts relationship was my absolute favorite!!! "I know everyone says their dog is the best but mine REALLy is." RELATABLE!!! Seriously, I think I'd have rated it 4 stars if it weren't for the worldly pup. Everyone talks about their book boyfriend...we'll Peanut is mine.

Highly recommend sticking through to read the authors note at the end. Everything she said about romance books and why we read them was just spot on.

Sadie has sudden acquired face blindness. Everyone’s face, even people she knows, looks like a jumbled puzzle. This is difficult as she is a portrait artist and has two guys she met and is interested in.

This was such a great read. I was hooked from the very beginning. The whole face blindness thing I was a bit worried it may be cliche, but the entire story was refreshing. I even guessed the twist from the beginning but it did not affect my enjoyment at all! I recommend this to everyone, despite your genres of choice.

“Maybe life was full of surprises. Maybe disappointments could turn out to be blessings.”

Hello Stranger is available now.

Welp, folks, in case there was any worry or doubt about the newest from Katherine Center, rest assured, she has done it again!

First, let me just say what a unique book this was. Yes, it has all the parts that makes a Katherine Center book amazing. The wit, humor, lightness, love, adorable characters... the works basically in a rom-comm type chick lit story. But, this time, the story line was so interesting. Without giving too much away, Ive never heard of the condition Sadie had and it intrigued me to go look it up which I love when authors can suck me in a story like that. I got immersed in every part. I was hooked and its a been a long time .. years and years since having children that I stayed up until almost 5 am to finish a story. Even knowing I would Most definetely regret it with 3 children to wake up too on a summer day no doubt where they will be going at it for 15 hours straight lol Oh well! Sooooo worth it. And thats a fair warning that once you begin, you will not want to stop.

5 stars!

** thank you netgalley for the oppertunity to read this one**

This book is unique in the topic that it touches on – I have never read anything like it! Sadie, the main character, has to recover from a brain bleed which resulted in a condition which causes face blindness. Since she is an artist who needs to create a portrait for a contest, this is a big deal. We grow with Sadie, fall in love with her and experience this world through her.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Five soft, uplifting stars for this beautiful book. I was little skeptical going in wondering if it will weigh down my mood being a heavy read, i mean one would expect a plot involving a brain surgery, acquired facial blindness and a evil step-sister would be a little heavy but take my word when I say I was cackling and making puppy eyes half the time. Kathrine centre has a way with her books where she shows how to be immensely strong via her main leads when you are in the direst of the life situations.It is not only uplifting but also quite inspiring, the book sends a prominent message that you get something good out of even the most ugliest life situations as the quote insists "You see what you want to see"

This might be my new favorite Kathrine's book after all, it has perfect amount of everything including a dollop of happiness and a double scoop of sweetest romance between two cinnamon rolls and lets not forget the puppy, overall it is such an adorable read I throughly enjoyed from the very beginning. I urge you all to pick up this read and get lost in it, definitely do not miss the author's note.

Thank you St.Martin's press for my digital ARC and a finished copy!

The Bodyguard was one of my favorite reads last year so I was certain anything Katherine Center touched would be gold and Hello Stranger did not disappoint. I just loved how everything came together at the end with a surprising twist (those are hard to come by these days). Sadie stole my heart and Joe did too.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
I absolutely adore Katherine Center and her books. Her humor is top tier and after hearing @readswithstef and @paperbackswithsteph rave about it made me pick it up immediately! I feel like this is one would be best to go in blind. I didn’t, but after reading the synopsis, i was really fascinated by the plot.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook!

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
When Sadie finally places in a competition that will get her portrait painting career back on track, she unfortunately suffers from a temporary face blindness. She must find her way to still be able to paint a masterpiece amidst her disability. In the middle of it all, she stumbles upon two men who serve as a distraction and is struggling to cope with all of it.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This might be my favorite one from Katherine Center and a favorite romance this year for sure. I’ve only ever read Things We Save In A Fire and The Bodyguard from her, but gosh this one was just so precious. The humor was something else! And i highly recommend it on audio! I felt like an idiot laughing out loud while driving when i was listening to this on, but i just couldn’t help it. The main MC’s silliness was so entertaining😂 Despite the scientific themes surrounding the story, it was explained so well without sounding like a lecture. With a touch of Women’s Fiction, this super cute rom-com will definitely get you gushing and laughing all day! Fair warning though, this book has a HUGE miscommunication trope. BUT HEAR ME OUT: the author explains how real miscommunication is IRL. If you’re up for that, definitely put this one on your radar. The author’s note was also the absolute cherry on top.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘔𝘊𝘴, 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨

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

I like this but didn't love it. Had Sadie punched that horrible step sister this book would have been a 10 star. I just could not get over the way Parker talked and tormented Sadie and how Sadie just took every single thing..
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an jonest review.

This book is so lovely, and had me in grips because of how emotional it was at times. HELLO STRANGER is an absolute delight with plenty of family drama, sweet romance, and traumatic accidents to keep a reader busy. While I wouldn’t totally categorize this as a romantic comedy as there’s so much more personal exploration in Sadie’s character vs. romantic exploration, the romance was great.

The face blindness aspect was so interesting, and I really enjoyed how that played such a major factor in the story line. I was rooting for Sadie so much throughout this story, and I just adored seeing her winning in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Katherine Center is one of my favorites and an automatic buy on release day! Why? because you know it’s going to be a good read! When I received an ARC copy from @netgalley I had a fan girl moment!
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Sadie has had some major unfortunate events in her life. We find her at the beginning of her potential “big break” when another hurdle in life occurs. She is diagnosed with prosopagnosia but her life’s work is based on seeing faces. Throughout the story you watch her overcome this set back but find out in the end was it all a blessing in disguise?
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I connected with Sadie in a way that the last few years it’s just felt like one bad thing after another sometimes. It was like reading a light at the end of the tunnel. It was a sweet, happy and humor filled read! If you haven’t get your self a copy!!! 🩵
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⚠️Warning for anyone those that experience health anxiety. I’ve had it for years since giving birth. A mix of my health hasn’t been the same since and now me being terrified to leave my kid. (As I am writing this waiting for an MRI.) Anyway, this was the first time I heard of prosopagnosia. New fear-unlocked 😅

Wow! I've never read a book like this one before. It has a wonderful romance, yes, but with a twist I've not seen in any other romance I know of.

Sadie Montgomery has been a struggling artist for so long, she doesn't remember what it's like NOT to struggle anymore. But then she receives an invitation to participate in the same juried portrait artist competition that her mother aspired to be in before she died unexpectedly.

Sadie feels confident that she can fulfill her mother's dreams until an accident leaves her with a condition known as "face blindness." As a portrait artist, being able to see people's faces is kind of the norm. And she no longer can.

As she adjusts to this snag in her plans, she puts forth a strong effort to adapt and adjust to her new circumstances. But that leads to confusing situations she never dreamed of!

This book had so many layers of complexity to it, including dealing with the death of a parent, finding where one belongs, dealing with bullies, meeting Mr. Right, reaching for one's dreams, and overcoming obstacles. There were so many "feels" to feel, and Katherine Center swept us right along with Sadie. I found myself laughing at some spots and feeling emotional at others.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy. This was one of my favorite reads this year!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a superbly written romantic comedy. A definite 5-star read for me! Center's writing is excellent, delivering a heartwarming & soul-searching story filled with healing and hope. I was captivated from the very start with the unique storyline. Several unexpected twists & turns made this one hard to put down.

The characters in the book are truly lovable & relatable, except for Parker. Sadie is the real gem… I just loved her! It's heartbreaking then to witness Sadie's life begin crumbling around her, but Center skillfully portrays her struggles. Despite the challenges she faces, there's a sense of resilience and determination that shines through.

Overall, Hello Stranger is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. It will leave you with all the feels, & the exceptional writing and captivating plot made it a truly enjoyable experience.

Thank you #NetGalley, #stmartinspress &#KatherineCenter for the advance copy. It was a pleasure to read & my review is strictly voluntary!