Hello stranger takes us through a sliver of Sadie Montgomery life. A portrait artist who is in the running for the biggest contest of her life gets to know her neighbors but it isn't till she's face blind 6 weeks before her submission is due that she needs help more then ever. Sadie's face blindness really made me think of how I would react to not being able to see faces and having to rely on my other senses. How hard it would be to tell who those we have known forever from the rest of the world. I loved getting to know more about this condition Sadie's struggles with and how Suzie and Joe help Sadie when she isn't used to needed help.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Imagine not being able to see people's faces. This is such a hard concept for me to grasp, it literally makes my head hurt pondering it, but such is the life of Sadie Montgomery after she has brain surgery to correct a genetic condition and awakes to discover that she can no longer recognize anyone by their main identifier - their face.

As a portrait artist, this is a huge dilemma for Sadie. How is she supposed to create art from people's faces when she cannot see them?! This condition has descended upon her at literally the worst possible moment because Sadie, the struggling artist, has just been selected as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition ... a contest that could literally change her life.

As if things could not get any worse, Sadie's beloved dog Peanut falls ill, and she finds herself insta-in-love with her dreamy new vet, Dr. Addison. At least she thinks he is dreamy since she can't exactly see his face. At the same time, she has started to develop feelings for the once-repulsive-turned-charming guy in her building, Joe, who has been helping Sadie without actually knowing he is helping her. Not only is Sadie not telling anyone about her condition, she is also a staunch non-acceptor of assistance from anyone, which makes navigating the world when you cannot see faces all the more difficult. It also creates some sticky situations when you are falling in love and you cannot see the guy(s)' faces!

While Sadie struggles to cobble together a portrait for the competition, she finds herself juggling issues with family, friends, and of course ... her two new love interests. All Sadie knows is that her face blindness needs to correct itself and fast before she makes an even greater mess of her already messy life.

I am a very selective rom-com reader. but I always enjoy a good Katherine Center novel. At the end of Hello Stranger, Center explains why romances have such appeal - that they offer hope and the promise of a happy ending. This resonated with me because I know that I can turn to Katherine Center whenever I need an entertaining, uplifting, feel-good story, which Hello Stranger certainly is. That's not to say that Hello Stranger stays away from the worries and stresses of life - in fact, this book chronicles the death of a parent, the loss of a career, and both personal and pet health scares - but Center writes in such a way that you can believe that no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay. This display of resilience in her books is partly why I find myself turning to her time and time again.

That is not to mention her amazing characters and compelling plotlines! I am always thoroughly entertained while reading Center's books, and I found Hello Stranger to be both hilarious and horrifying because I just cannot imagine suddenly having my ability to see faces taken from me. This scenario set-up some really intriguing storylines, and although I "saw" the main twist coming from a mile away, it was a lot of fun "seeing" the pieces all come together.

Katherine Center provides a ray of sunshine wherever she goes. I find such joy in her books! Hello Stranger delves into a world of face blindness and for artist Sadie Montgomery, that comes at a cost. Sadie was selected as a finalist in a portrait competition, but when she suddenly isn't able to see faces clearly or find defining features, Sadie is worried all is lost.

I had no idea this condition was real and it was clear Center put in a lot of research to get it right. It was such an interesting topic and worked perfectly for the storyline. I did not understand why the step-sister was so blatantly mean. I wish there was a little backstory to that other than just evil step-sister vibes, but everything else was so charming. The romance was lovely and the character development was so endearing (other than the step-sister). Center does it again!

The FMC has every right to be dramatic over this life altering change, but some bits were a little bit too cheesy. Overall, the book was good though! I predicted the outcome early on, but it made me want to keep reading to confirm my suspicions. Some parts were quite hectic and felt like my brain was being pulled into all sorts of direction. The author gave basic medical info, to the point where I almost wish there were more details. Also, if felt as though so much was smashed into the last chapter and it was all super rushed and closed out. Needed like 2 more chapters.

Well, Katherine Center has officially become one of my auto-buy authors! What an interesting, different book!! Still super cute! Still adorable! but this was just different! It covered a topic I wasnt familiar with (Face blindness). I learned so much but at the same time I fell in love with all the characters! I even ended up liking LUCINDA! Anyways! I will buy Katherine Center books even if she writes about toilet paper! Love this one!

Hello Stranger has one of the more unique premises of any romance I've read lately. Our female main character has facial blindness, which provides an interesting twist to the love story delveloping on these pages. Katherine Center has made a wonderful name for herself in the romance world, and Hello Stranger's ability to tug on your heartstrings, make you laugh, and give you a good dose of hope further cements Center's success in the world of contemporary adult romance.

(Very belated) ARC review

A portrait artist experiences acquired faceblindness after brain surgery and, for lack of a better word, life hijinks occur.

Very Katherine Center, but definitely kept me hooked for the reveal (which was what I hoped it would be!)

This book was three stars for me. I would read one of her other books first if you are a Center first timer. This was a bit over the top for me and it made me dislike the characters. I am sure some people will love this, but it isn't the best for part-time romance fans like me.

"Hello Stranger" by Katherine Center is a unique take on finding love and purpose in the face of unexpected challenges. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an artist who suddenly develops face blindness after a surgery—right when her art career is on the brink of success. Imagine trying to navigate life and love when everyone around you becomes an unrecognizable blur!

While the premise was intriguing, I found Sadie's character a bit difficult to connect with at times. She often came across as whiny and a bit entitled, which made it hard for me to fully empathize with her struggles. On the bright side, her dog, Peanut, totally stole the show! As a dog lover, I was thrilled by how much heart and warmth this little furball added to the story.

The book picks up in the last few chapters, offering a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together. Though I preferred "Things You Save in a Fire," I appreciate the different perspectives and life lessons Katherine Center brings in "Hello Stranger."

Katherine Center writes warm, entertaining books that always give weight to the characters' real problems while allowing them to hope and plan for their wonderful, imperfect lives.

I will be withholding my review of this book in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

Absolutely loved this read! Katherine Center does it again. A fun new POV to add to the rom com genre. Characters are endearing and the storyline will keep you hooked. Grab your best pet friend, and cozy up with “Hello Stranger”!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!
Fantastic read! I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. This is the first book that I have read featuring face blindness that actually explained anything about the condition. I loved the journey that the main character went on while suffering from this condition, and how much stronger she became because of it. I really enjoyed the little surprise at the end and didn't see it coming! This is the second book I have read by Katherine Center and I have thoroughly enjoyed both!

"Hello, Stranger" by Katherine Center was a delight to read. I learned a great deal about Prosopagnosia or face blindness and marveled at how Center used this affliction to create a unique love story. Imagine being a portrait painter, trying to enter a huge contest and becoming face blind.
The main characters, Sadie and Joe, were both struggling with issues they were trying to work through.
The possibility of a love triangle was humorous and I enjoyed how it resolved itself. The other characters in the story - from her best friend Sue and her parents, the Kims, to her absent father, her stepmother and horrible stepsister added to the enjoyability of the story.
I highly recommend this romance. For me, Center’s books are always a must read.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Sadie has a brain tramua which causes face blindness and she is an artist. A good samaritan saves her when she passed out but she doesn't know who it was. Lots of connections bring them together repeatedly and I really did enjoy that part of the story. I had to suspend judgement on how the characters didn't figure out who each other was several times during the story. The book was kind of a slow burn in that way, but it made for some laugh out loud moments and it was really cute.

For readers who adore sweet, lighthearted romance, art, and a dash of humor, Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a perfect fit, offering a heartwarming tale of love, self-discovery, and the blurred lines between reality and beauty.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! I'm a huge Katherine Center fan and have never been disappointed! Hello Stranger is no exception. It is a brilliant and heartwarming story that captivated me from the beginning. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an up-and-coming portrait artist, whose world is turned upside down when she undergoes brain surgery and wakes up with face blindness, unable to recognize anyone, including herself. Center masterfully weaves Sadie’s journey of adapting to her new reality with a touching romance and the struggle to reclaim her career. In true Katherine Center fashion, you can expect bits of humor mixed in to lighten up the tough spots. Sadie's resilience and humor in the face of adversity makes her incredibly relatable. Make this your next read!

I put off reading this book for a while but after thoroughly enjoying Center's latest, I figured I'd give this one a go. Historically, I used to love 2nd books better than first when it came to romance authors but recently, that trend seems to have been broken. Unfortunately, that's the case here.

The premise was interesting but I called the twist before I even started the book. To be fair, the beginning did make me doubt my instincts for a bit but ultimately, I was correct. I really wanted to love this, but I couldn't quite connect with Sadie and Oliver, rooting for them though I was.

The plot of this was so unique compared to other romance novels which was so refreshing. Somewhat predictable, but I found the characters very likeable. You couldn’t help but rooting for them to figure it out.

“My entire life up until now had been a before. And now I was in the after.”

Well, it’s happened. Your thrills & chills bestie is now also a Rom-Com girl. Thank you so much to a sweet friend for introducing me to the wonderful Katherine Center! This was my 3rd read from Center and each one has been absolutely delightful! Trust me, no one is more surprised than yours truly.

“That’s the dark underbelly of hope that nobody ever talks about. How it can skew your perspective. How it can keep you in long past when any reasonable person would’ve been out.”

Center’s ability to masterfully combine humour, relatable characters, and a captivating plot is the key to my cold, dark heart. Her books are emotional and real, lovely and heartwarming. They just make me feel good. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in gold!

“The more good things you look for, the more you find.”