Katherine Center's newest release, Hello Stranger, was a unique love story that was really sweet and fun. After having life saving brain surgery, artist Sadie wakes up with face blindness that will hopefully go away. We follow Sadie as she tries to navigate this new world and how she finds herself having feelings with two different men. I thought the characters were great, especially our leads. They were both written so vividly I felt like I could see them right in front of me.

Katherine Center does it again!!

Sadie Montgomery has had some tough breaks in her life, but she finally sees her chance to get a huge good break when she manages to beat out hundreds of other entries in a portrait competition with $10,000 going to the winner. Then she has to get brain surgery, and though it seems she’s recovering nicely, now she can no longer see people’s faces. She can make out other features like what they’re wearing and how they walk, but she can’t recognize her best friend or see her own face in the mirror. This is obviously a terrifying thing for anyone but is a particular problem for a person who makes her living painting portraits and is about to enter a potentially life-changing contest.

She can still see her beloved dog Peanut’s 14-year-old face, and when he gets sick, she rushes to the vet, which is how she meets Dr. Oliver Addison. From what she can see, she somehow knows he’s wickedly handsome and promptly begins fantasizing about their wedding, so she has something positive in her life, even if it’s all in head.

I was so impressed with Center’s descriptions of what face blindness is like for those experiencing it. She clearly did her research! I was charmed by this enjoyable & emotion-evoking read. 5 enthusiastic stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Pros: I liked the disability rep and the interesting premise. I liked Peanut and the love Sadie has for him. I also enjoyed how she gained confidence and stood up for herself throughout the book.

Cons: Sadie's family was awful and I kind of wished she had just cut them all out of her life. I also disliked the "love triangle" which made the relationship hard to root for, even while knowing the truth.

This is a cute book with some great messages but I honestly wouldn't call it a romance since the romance is such a small part. She doesn't even know his real name for most of the book!

Facial recognition blindness seems to be having its day in contemporary fiction (romance, thriller, etc). I’m easily triggered as there are people in my life with this condition. It is a spectrum issue so there’s no one experience, which lends itself to some fictional license. I went into this prepared to keep an open mind and was surprised to find myself going with the flow as things went along. I didn’t love the one dimensional nature of the side characters but I could deal. Where it lost me, and lost me completely, was the big love reveal at the end. I get that you can have facial recognition blindness and not always be able to recognize voices. But if you’re at the point of declaring love for someone whose full name you don’t know, who you haven’t told about your condition, and have never asked about their profession/where they work, I’m going to just not even with how that’s all going to resolve at the end.
*Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy for review.
PS- I was not given an audiobook copy for review but I did listen to the audio. Patti Murin was wonderful and saved the day for me!!

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and the author for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Hello, Stranger is a sweet rom-com about an artist who finds out she needs brain surgery before a big art competition. The simple procedure turns her life upside down when swelling in her brain causes her to not be able to process people’s faces.

When the book first started I wasn’t too sure about it as it seemed pretty judgemental on the looks of people but then the main character is unable to see others faces and she has to use her other senses to identify others. I loved how the book address confirmation bias, includes lots of love for dogs and has a funny twist.

I really enjoyed this book it was a light quick read and I think the author did a good job of really portraying each character and what the main character was feeling and experiencing. The only thing I wish was a little different was that her best friend was a little more attune to how the main character was feeling. I didn’t feel much sympathy from the main characters best friend and it made me question a few times how good of a friend she truly was. That being said I think that was minor and may not have been something that other readers feel. This was my first book to read by Katherine Center but I have already ordered one of her other books.

Highly recommended!!

Other note: the author includes a write up about the brain injury and ho to find more information about it at the end of the book which I thought was really cool!

A perfect mix of romance and also women's fiction, Katherine Center does a perfect job at taking those two genres and intertwining them into a beautiful story. This story was honestly one that I will be thinking about for awhile because of the story to sucked me into to and then the twist and turns that are within it.

The best way to describe this story is one of romance, laughter, and also emotional. You will start this book and finish it in one sitting because you will truly be sucked into this story.

Katherine Center is one amazing author and she knows how to write a great story!

Welcome to the world you beautiful book, you! I was OVERJOYED to get an eARC of Katherine Center’s Hello Stranger and would like to thank @netgalley and @stmartinspress for what I see as a GIFT.

In this book we meet Sadie Montgomery, a woman who will give you the dress off her back. I immediately felt like I knew her, and wanted the best for her. In true Katherine Center style, this book is creative, with some unknowns that keep the pages turning; it is not a book to be put down. Of course she has created at least one or two lovable and unforgettable book boyfriends. There is not only one love story- from dedication to throughout the book, I felt like this was a love story to the wonderful mothers in this world, and I adore that. I have been fortunate to be involved in author zooms with Katherine Center and while none of the above surprises me, please tell me how her joyful, glass half full, ¾ full or glass totally-full brain came up with one of the all-time worst villains in all of romance history??

This book begs for a reread, and now that I know the incredible Patti Murin narrates, I will be giving that a go ASAP.

No complaints about this book- only oohs and aahs.

5/5 ⭐️
No 🚪
Location: Houston, TX

"Love isn't blind. It's just a little blurry." What a perfect way to summarize this one, including my blurry eyes as I completed this beautiful novel.

At least 5 stars from me - Katherine really wrote with her heart for this one. This book brought me to tears on more than one occasion. To start, thank you to the author, Katherine, and to her publisher, particularly Erica Martirano at St. Martin's Publishing Group for advanced access to this one. I wish I could go back and read this one sooner so I could love it longer.

Sadie really gets put through the ringer in this book, and while she's a painter and her brain is leaking or something, which caused onset face blindness, I deeply connected with her character, particularly in relation to her family struggles and the way that she fixated in her world. I oftentimes find myself so in my head that I miss looking up and seeing my life (although I'd like to think I'm more observant than she is - haha). How would it feel to wake up one day and not be able to recognize your own face? Katherine lets us into that world for just a few hundred pages, and wow it makes me compassionate towards people. I get migraines, and that makes me see the world differently, but it isn't a permanent situation. Sadie's face blindness doesn't go away after a few hours or a few days, and the reader gets to experience how she navigates her new (but hopefully temporary) normal, first with her best friend by her side, then leaning in and relying on strangers for help (hence the title, Hello Stranger).

The parts that made me cry though? Her TRULY evil stepsister, her stepmother who buries her head in the sand so she doesn't have to deal with uncomfortable confrontations, and her dad who disappeared the minute Sadie's mom died 13 years ago. Her best friend? Doesn't seem to make Sadie a priority (the girl KEPT FORGETTING THAT SADIE COULDN'T SEE FACES, like it wasn't a big deal! Kinda made me mad!). PRAISE THE LORD FOR JOE. Seriously. He saw her and, actually, he saw EVERYONE, in a way that Sadie really needed. He wouldn't take no for an answer (but not in a demanding, creepy way). He just HAD to help.

Other highlights from me:
1. When Peanut is literally put on prednisone and cyclosporine - my dog, Bear, was on both of those for the past year (I might have a little PTSD but it's great to see that recognition)
2. Peanut eating Pad Thai
3. Peanut wanting to take a nap and Sadie laying on the ground watching him sleep
4. Dr. Oliver Addison
5. Hazel One and Hazel Two
6. When Sadie lets down her walls and lets that joy from within shine (only confirmed at the end by a little surprise from her dad, but no spoilers here)

I'll read anything and everything that Katherine writes. Check this book out!

AND, I was granted early access to this audiobook, and let me tell you, I thought the book was emotional, but I was even MORE of a wreck listening to Patti Murin perform this story. It was moving and engaging and funny and just an overall joy to listen to!

Thanks to NetGalley/St. Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC of this book, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

Perhaps it's cheating a bit to use the author's own words when writing a review, but I can't think of any combination of words better than "this love story created fantastic anticipation".

To understand Sadie's facial blindness is not an easy feat, Katherine paints a picture (no pun intended) that lets the reader both follow Sadie and also feel equally disjointed.

Romance readers chose romance because of how we know it will all end, eventually. Hello Stranger made me a lot sadder than I expected, but the hope of the story unraveling for Sadie kept me turning the pages (even into the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep).

Hello Stranger tackles "things will get better" in a way unlike anything I've read. Highly recommend this for all readers, whether or not they typically read romance. This was my first book by Katherine and I'm greatly looking forward to reading more.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Synopsis: Struggling portrait artist Sadie Montgomery gets news that she has earned herself a spot as a finalist in the same art competition her mom placed in right before she passed. Just as things start looking up for her career, Sadie has a sudden surgery that leaves her struggling with facial blindness. Sadie now has to learn to navigate through life with a new set of challenges. With all this going on, she is also dealing with a sick pet, horrible family members, & the challenge of falling in love.

Review: This book is so different from other romance's I've read. Such a refreshing, light-hearted read. For the most part, I really loved Sadie's character & how she tried her best to stay positive through everything. Sometimes she would annoy me with how badly she refused to ask for help. I couldn't stand her step-sister at allll (I know that's the point but she was so annoying lol) It was pretty predictable at times but it was still a very cute, fun read!

I love that the premise of Katherine's books are very unique, but still feel grounded in real life.

In this novel, Sadie is a portrait artist suffering from temporary face blindness, which not only impacts her work, but all of her interactions and relationships. Sadie's character had so much to deal with, but I loved her positive outlook and overall plucky attitude.

There is a good balance between family drama and romantic storylines in this book, with very memorable characters and conflicts.

Hello Stranger is exactly what I have come to expect from this author: feel-good stories with heartfelt messages and satisfying romances.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Level: Adult
Content: some language, kisses

As excited as I was for Hello Stranger, this one was not for me.

💙 What I loved: The plot.

💔 What I didn’t love: Sadie, the main character, and her “evil step sister”.

Hello Stranger is a great story. The idea of a portrait artist losing her ability to see faces and the ensuing mayhem/romance is spectacular. It’s the type of story that I believe would make a great film adaptation. It’s funny and interesting.

I just couldn’t stand Sadie.

I found myself increasingly annoyed with her actions, behavior, and ‘coping’ strategies. I didn’t enjoy her inner monologue, which was essentially the entire book since it’s a first person single POV. And, her character arc just wasn’t redeeming enough for me.

Parker, Sadie’s ‘evil’ step sister was such a hyperbolic bully that it bothered me. Sadie and Parker’s interactions were so outlandish, it felt like reading the script of an early 2000s romcom. So much drama that it was hard to think any of it was believable. There were also plot points regarding Parker that didn’t make sense to me.

Overall, I’d pick up another Katherine Center book but, unfortunately, didn’t enjoy this one.

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me. I love her witty contemporary romance writing style. The Bodyguard was my first 5 star read this year so I was really looking forward to Hello Stranger. Hello Stranger has everything I look for in a RomCom and more. It was funny, heartwarming, and had a few twists along the way. It also brought awareness to prosopagnosia, or face blindness, a very real condition that I knew nothing about until this book.

I enjoyed the fast paced plot and the well developed characters. Sadie, the main character, is faced with an unexpected challenge and has to figure out new ways of facing life’s challenges. Normally the MC tends to be a favorite but I’d have to say that Sue may have been my favorite character. She was so ditsy and brutally honest but in a fun loving way!

The story had several great life lessons:
—life is all about perspective…”we only see what we’re looking for”
—face life’s challenges
—look for the good in life and in others…”the more good things you look for, the more you find”
—help yourself by helping others
—see the good in people

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read and listen to this ARC in return for an honest review.

I’m so glad I got to binge this. I loved how unique this storyline was. It captivated me and I wanted to know more. I also always love that “moment” where the title is quoted or suddenly makes sense in the novel. This was another hit for Katherine Center. Great summer read.

I really enjoyed this book! I went into it without reading the summary, so I had no idea what to expect. I loved Sadie as the main character and loved the writing of this book. It kept me wanting to read. I found the ending a little predictable, but I was very curious to see how it would all play out.

Overall, a great read!

Katherine Center has done it again! Hello Stranger was a completely lovely story that made me smile and giggle the entire time I was reading it! One day Sadie is celebrating the biggest achievement of her life— placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition— the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a condition called face blindness. She can see, but every face looks like a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features! As Sadie struggles to cope, she falls into love with two different men. What a mess!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick, fun read that was totally uplifting and sentimental. The characters were precious and the Sadie was continuously getting herself into silly situations that made me laugh. Super cute! Five stars!

P.S.- Spoiler alert- this is a squeaky clean romance and the dog DOESN’T die!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this perfect digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. Hello Stranger is out today- July 11, 2023!

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors – she writes books with richly detailed plots and well-developed characters. Her stories often involve nontraditional lead romance characters such as in her book, “How to Walk Away,” where the heroine is paralyzed from the waist down.

“Hello Stranger” was an engaging story featuring Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist who has temporary face blindness after a recent brain surgery. The face blindness leaves her unable to see faces, which is a struggle in both her daily life and in preparation for her entry as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition.

Following her surgery, Sadie struggles to prepare for the upcoming competition, navigate her challenging family, and recognize people’s identities due to the face blindness. Through this journey, Sadie becomes friends with her neighbor in her apartment building, Joe, who she can only identify by his leather jacket. Joe and Sadie become friends with sizzling chemistry as they spend more and more time together.

Meanwhile, Sadie also develops feelings for the hot veterinarian, Dr Addison, who cares for her beloved dog, Peanut. (Side note – I enjoy how many of Katherine Center’s books include an adorable dog!)

Sadie struggles to follow her dream, cope with the face blindness, and sort out her feelings for both Joe and Dr Addison. This book was a little slow for me as Sadie continually tried to figure out who was talking to her based on their voice and what that person had worn in the past. Much of this book involved Sadie being tricked by people she would rather not interact with.

While this book wasn’t my favorite one by this author, “Hello Stranger” was an enjoyable read. The plot and characters were endearing and unusual from what one normally finds in this genre.

Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I went in blind and was so happy I did! I have never read anything by Katherine Stranger before now and all I can say is that I have been missing out. I don’t usually read clean romances, but in this case, it did not matter. This is one of the best books I have read this year!

The characters were amazing, I love dogs and I can’t say enough about the extremely compelling plot. The story was so well written that words are escaping me. The ending made me feel the story was complete and whole, utterly satisfying!

The narrator, Patti Murin, was so amazing! I loved her voices and I listened to this audiobook in one day. I could not stop!

I wish I could read it over again for the first time!

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the chance to read and listen to this amazing #ARC!

Since finishing this book, I could do nothing but rave about it! I absolutely adored this one. This is my second book by Katherine Center, and I love the way she incorporates tough topics into her stories with a little humor. At times I was literally laughing out loud with this one. I cannot recommend this enough, and if you do read, don’t skip the author’s note at the end!

What would happen to you if you suddenly lost the one thing that you need for your job, your livelihood, your personal success? Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist about to potentially get the big break that will make her a success in the eyes of important family members when a potentially serious health condition sidelines her. But even worse, as a portrait artist who specializes in faces, her medical condition has left her with the inability to read faces, called face blindness.

I'll admit, I'd never heard of face blindness and this book makes it so that I'll never forget it! Sadie actually takes her situation quite well and she does have the help of a lovely therapist who helps Sadie navigate this fairly serious change in how she views the world. But there's no way to avoid the fact that the portrait she needs for the contest is not completed, and she'll have to tackle it while she has face blindness.

But there are some bright spots -- namely two -- her new veterinarian who she fantasizes about marrying, and one of her neighbors who lives in the apartment building. Joe, the neighbor, starts out by giving Sadie a wrong impression that gradually changes to something like friendship and maybe more. I don't want to say much more about this, but I truly loved how this unfolded! I had an inkling about what was happening here, but it wasn't confirmed until that glorious ending when a beautiful HEA lands in Sadie's heart.

By the end of this story, I just loved Sadie. The story is told in her voice and point of view which is cute and funny and sometimes sad. Sadie has suffered some loss in her life, for sure. I adored how the family situation come together nicely, even the episode with Sadie's evil stepsister.

I finished this book with a smile on my face and I ended up going back to read the deliciously sweet ending a few times since. Things almost go south for Sadie, but her friends really come through for her.

I loved everything about this -- from the story of a young artist finding her true creative calling to the romance that develops way before the start of the book. The romance here is just a lovely, slow build, that had me loving Sadie and hoping that everything would work out for her.

Overall, this is a terrific feelgood story that had me smiling and re-reading right away. I devoured this is a couple of days because I really needed to know how it all ended up for Sadie, including her art and her family. I just loved this and it will definitely be on my list of favorites for 2023.