🛼🎨 Hello Stranger by Katherine Center 🎨🛼

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5)

Genre: Contemporary fiction with a sprinkle of romance
Tropes: Love triangle, forced proximity, opposites attract
⚠️ TWs: Death of a parent (mother) - heavily discussed, fatphobia, health issues - face blindness, toxic family relationship

📖 Read if you like 📖
🧲 Opposites attract
🥜 An adorable book dog named Peanut
🔺 Love Triangle-ish
🏠 Forced proximity
🏥 Overcoming/adapting with health issues
👍🏼 Quirky, loveable, messy MCs
👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Family Drama
🧠 Therapy positive
😢 Working through grief

💭 Thoughts:
This book was an absolute delight! I loved this story and how unique it was. I always look forward to the “life nuggets” in Center’s writing, and this provided that plus laugh-out-loud moments. I flew threw this, and it’s the best book I’ve read in a couple months. I adored the dog in the book, Peanut, and the love triangle was so nicely done. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Katherine Center's last book The Bodyguard and was very intrigued by the premise of this one. Sadie, a portrait artist, develops face blindness. Every face is new to her as they look like a mix of disconnected features. She has to rely on other means to recognize someone.

This was a quick read, more contemporary fiction than romance. I wanted to love Sadie but I had a hard time with her character. I liked her neighbors, The Kims, and Joe's character. Peanut, her geriatric dog, was a cute addition to the story. The end had a bit of a twist and as always I appreciated the author's humor. I look forward to the next novel by Katherine Center. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

This was my very first Katherine Center novel and I truly enjoyed it. The story was wonderful and I called the plot twist from the very beginning, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the way the story unfolds.

Sadie is a portrait artist who after an unexpected accident, undergoes surgery and wakes up with face blindness. This new situation in her life brings about so many emotions as well as struggles and we feel Sadie’s anxiety and desperation. Sadie is strong-willed and as she powers through her new way of viewing her surroundings she falls into some unexpected relationships.

I loved the chemistry between the main characters and the way our heroine navigates these new struggles as well as feelings throughout the story. Sadie was a bit self centered in the beginning, bit she shows growth by the end of the story and I always appreciate some honest character growth.

“If I told you, that I can’t remember the last time I met someone who woke me up like you do . . . That there’s something about you that I can’t get out of my head . . . That I keep thinking about you and wondering if we might be . . . really right for each other . . . What would you say?”

This was a truly emotional read. I was teary eyed at moments and absolutely overjoyed at others. Definitely read the author’s note at the end of the story.

*A huge thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC for review. All thoughts are my own.*

Another great summer read from Katherine Center! Sadie all of a sudden suffers a hard blow that could risk her career - and stumbles through forming relationships and experimenting with art techniques. Incorporating family wounds and personal struggles, you feel for the characters.

Perceptions altered and will she recover?

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

I've never read anything about this author before but heard only great things about her books, so I was really excited to read this book as I've only heard great things about her writing! 

This book was an interesting experience. First of all, the whole concept was very unique and I enjoyed the overall story. The book starts with our FMC, Sadie, needing to get emergency brain surgery which leads to her developing face blindness. As a portrait artist, this really messes up her career path and she needs to learn how to function with it. I really enjoyed reading about this as it's not something I heard about before, and it was interesting to learn about something new, one of the things I love most about reading. This really fascinated me as I thought the whole premise was so unique and I was excited to see what this story had in store for me.

To me, the plot and characters felt very predictable and a bit over the top (Parker) so I lost interest while reading, and I felt like the overall story was a bit long. I felt like the romance was more of a secondary part of the book, but I did enjoy the author's note at the end that described romance novels as being anticipatory and I could see how this story did that, but it just didn't hit home for me unfortunately. I also didn't like Sue as the best friend.

One thing I really enjoyed was watching Sadie's character growth throughout the book, and I enjoyed reading about her struggle with grief about losing her mother unexpectedly and how it affected her relationship with her dad. I also liked how she was a bit quirky and was just unapologetically herself. Also, JOE. He was the highlight of the book for me and one of the sweetest heros ever in a book, but I would have loved to know more about him as it feels like we only brushed the surface of his character. I also liked the romance between Joe and Sadie as it felt believable despite wishing for a bit more from them. 

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. Out July 11th!

3.25

I absolutely adore Katherine Center's books! This one did not let me down.

Sadie has just been picked as a top 10 contestant in an art portrait contest when she finds out she needs brain surgery. The procedure causes more long term problems than expected. This problem interferes with her portrait painting for the contest.

Joe can't help but be helpful. People or animals. In fact he's volunteered himself to help Sadie out with her painting. Little does he know how confusing she's about to make his life.

I of course really enjoyed this one. However there was so much missed communication it became frustrating. Which is the reason for my 4 star rating rather than 5. I know it wouldn't have been the story it was had that communication occurred but it's almost unbelievable that it didn't.

I was given a free advance copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is not your typical romance story. Granted it does have a meet cute (or two), some predictable moments, a HEA, and fun likeable characters. But... The whole time the main character, Sadie, can't see anyone's face! Can you fall in love with someone without seeing their face?
Due to a complication after brain surgery, Sadie has temporary (hopefully) face blindness! Not great for a portrait artist who just qualified as a finalist in a huge national competition. Not for any new relationships she may want to start!
@katherinecenter is a great fun romance writer! I liked this one a lot! The characters were fun and I was rooting for them! I did figure out a big "twist" pretty early on, but it didn't ruin the story for me.
This one is set to be published tomorrow, so check it out!
#HelloStranger #NetGalley

I read The Bodyguard last summer and was so excited for Katherine Center’s newest novel. I loved the unique plot of facial blindness and the main characters portraiture profession. Sadie’s continued run-ins with neighbor Joe are sweet and fun, making this a great summer read. The reason this is a 3-star for me is because of Sadie’s family. At times this plot point was completely unrealistic and cringey, making the whole story fall a bit flat. Overall it was a good beach read that could have had more relatable family dynamic.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this before it's pub day and honestly, it took me a while to get through it.

This is my second Katherine Center book and even though it's only my second book I've come to the conclusion that her writing is a bit dramatic and a little unrealistic to my liking. It still deserves a full 4 stars for me because I am a sucker for a support animal like Peanut.

There were a few plot holes that I wasn't expecting but they totally made sense at the end which made me enjoy the book overall.

I wasn't a fan of Parker she was my least favorite character in the whole book. She took the role of being a stepsister to a whole other level which made me mad. However, she tied the whole vibe overall in the book. I would have loved to hear the audio but I was able to read the ARC which I appreciate for getting approved.

Katherine Center is one of the comfort authors for me so I will be reading/listening to her other books. This book opened my eyes to an illness that does happen to people out there. It made me actually look into it while reading this book which was different. I would recommend this book to my fellow book lovers.

This book was nothing short of incredible. I cannot stop thinking about it and I read it months ago at this point. I’ve always loved Katherine Center’s books – and I refuse to pick a favorite because they’re ALL just THAT good, but this book left me without words.

Sadie creates portraits for a living… at least until a routine procedure leads her to being diagnosed with temporary face blindness. Suddenly everything she took for granted is infinitely more difficult and no one seems to be who she thinks they are.

While I 100% predicted the ending of this book, I was amazed throughout. I loved the significance of the title – especially after going into this book blind (no pun intended), and each step of Sadie’s journey just pulled me in deeper. I couldn’t put it down, and better yet, I didn’t want to.

I also loved the audio – the narrators did a phenomenal job and kept me engaged the entire time!

This book is so much more than a romcom – although I can promise you’ll both laugh and swoon. It’s heartbreaking, healing, and all-around enlightening, too. If you haven’t read a Katherine Center book yet, stop putting it off and get started, because I promise you you’ll want to buy her entire backlist once you get started.

Sadie wants to experience success in the art world. After years of failing to make a name for herself, she finds out she's a finalist in a portrait show taking place in weeks. When something goes wrong the night she plans to celebrate with Sue and her friends, the one thing she needs to help her win the competition is lost.

Katerine Center can do no wrong. She does a great job exploring grief and how that can influence relationships with others, not just family. I liked her relationship with Sue and her budding romances. Sadie is self-deprecating in a quirky way and in no way gives up on herself. While there is miscommunication in this novel and I typically do not like it, I understand the reason for it. I also loved Center's Author's Note at the end and it's such a great reminder that romance novels really do give us that hope we so often need. ♥️

Thank you SMP Romace/St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sadie is a portrait artist who just qualified as a finalist for the American Portrait Society competition, when she finds out she needs brain surgery that ends up giving her “face blindness.” This obviously makes portrait painting and life difficult for her.

This one was all over the map for me…there were aspects that I loved: Peanut, Joe, Mr. And Mrs. Kim, Dr. Nicole, descriptions of painting processes, and how to learn to see the good in things.

But just as equally I struggled a bit with Sadie and her constant “woe is me.” And just super despised Parker and am not sure why she needed to be in the story? It got so frustrating at times that I struggled to push through to less stressful chapters….

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I’m not sure I’d ever reread.

3.5 stars.

HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center is a charming and heartwarming story of kindness, love and perseverance in the face of unexpected adversity. I have loved every one of this author’s books and this one is now my new favorite. Sadie Montgomery is just about to celebrate a huge achievement in her life, placing as a finalist in a prestigious portrait-painting competition, when she suffers a catastrophic medical crisis that results in a condition called acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia, better known as face blindness. How can a portrait artist paint portraits if she can’t see faces? But Sadie really needs to win the prize money and validate her life choices so she will try anything to complete her competition portrait on time despite the odds. So begins a journey with her best friend, Sue, and a couple of unexpected romantic interests that is filled with humor, heart and hope. This delightful story captured my heart and kept me reading late into the night. I loved all the characters and the engaging and heartfelt story is one I will not soon forget. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This was a fun, light, love story that also touches on grief, loss, complicated family issues and self-discovery.
I was laughing out loud and loved Sadie’s inner thoughts and monologue while overcoming tough surprises life threw at her. She was real, witty and easy to connect with.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope which plays a big part in this book, but it did work in this unique storyline. There were a few moments that seemed unrealistic but overall, I enjoyed this “feel good” romance with a little positive mindset sprinkled in.

This book had such a great message and made you think about some of the things you take for granted on a daily basis. I wasn’t surprised at the twist in the book and I kind of wish I had been or at least it wouldn’t have been as obvious early on. Overall it was a very enjoyable, cute read. I love the amount of self discovery that this book allowed the main character, Sadie, to go through.

This is the second book I’ve read by Katherine Center and I’ll definitely be looking out for any future books that she releases!

Sadie Mongomery has spent much of her adulthood trying to prove to her father that she has her life on track. When she finds out that she is a finalist in a portrait competition, she feels like she finally has a chance to honor her mother and show the rest of her family that she is proud of her choices. Suddenly, a medical incident leaves Sadie with face blindness and she feels like her chances to succeed have been crushed.

Hello Stranger is a stand-alone contemporary romance. While the book does cover the MCs frenemies to more relationship it also heavily follows Sadie’s health journey.

Trigger/Content Warnings: medical emergency, bullying by family member, parental death

I had previously heard of face blindness but was not familiar with all of the technicalities. The amount of time and research the author put into studying this condition really comes across throughout the storyline. I learned quite a bit and appreciate the sensitive but realistic way in which face blindness is conveyed.

I have read each of this author’s books and she continues to impress me every time. Everytime I think I have found my favorite Katherine Center book, she writes another exceptional work of art. I can’t wait to see what she has for her readers next.

Patti Murin is one of my favorite solo narrators. She does a fabulous job bringing the characters of Hello Stranger to life. Her portrayal of Sandie’s snarky “evil” step-sister is particularly delightful.

I voluntarily read, listened to, and reviewed advanced copies of this book and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio!

This was a fun, light, love story that also touches on grief, loss, complicated family issues and self-discovery.
I was laughing out loud and loved Sadie’s inner thoughts and monologue while overcoming tough surprises life threw at her. She was real, witty and easy to connect with.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope which plays a big part in this book, but it did work in this unique storyline. There were a few moments that seemed unrealistic but overall, I enjoyed this “feel good” romance with a little positive mindset sprinkled in.
As my first read by Katherine Center, I appreciated her writing style and character development and will be adding The Bodyguard to my TBR list!

I had high expectations for this book since I've heard Katherine Center's books are really great. Maybe it was the premise of the story, or that I wasn't in a reading mood, but I struggled to connect to this book. You didn't truly get any romance plot until halfway through. This book was more about Sadie's face blindness and her problems with her family. I found that there really wasn't much chemistry between Sadie and the love interest. I think the face blindness plotline made it hard for the story to flow and seem natural. I found myself skimming this book and mainly reading the dialogue. I really wanted to love this one. Hopefully, I connect with her other books more.

"Hello Stranger" by Catherine Center is an interesting novel that introduces readers to a lesser-known condition known as Prosopagnosia, or face blindness. The premise of the story immediately grabbed my attention, as Sadie Montgomery, the protagonist, navigates her life after being diagnosed with this puzzling condition.

The author skillfully explores Sadie's struggles to cope with her new reality while juggling her artistic aspirations, family issues, and the care of her beloved dog, Peanut. Center's portrayal of Sadie's journey with face blindness is informative, shedding light on a condition I had no prior knowledge of.

However, I found that the story lacked sufficient interaction between the couple, leaving me wanting more. The narrative was often weighed down by an excess of Sadie's internal dialogue, which hindered the development of meaningful connections between the characters. Furthermore, Sadie tended to be a selfish individual, which made it challenging to fully engage with her. Nevertheless, the unexpected twists and turns in the plot kept me intrigued, and I appreciated how the story ultimately unfolded.

"Hello Stranger" offers a unique premise, shining a light on the lesser-known condition of face blindness. While this didn't feel like a typical rom-com, the novel still managed to hold my interest with its unexpected turns. This is my first book by Catherine Center, whose exploration of self-discovery and the different ways we perceive the world left me contemplating the power of human connection and the beauty of unexpected encounters.

Katherine Center became a must read author after The Bodyguard so I went into this blind and enjoyed it! It’s a cute, heartwarming story about life’s journey and how things don’t always go as planned. Sadie was a fun MC and I loved her tenacity and grit. She had some great character growth and finally learned how to stand up to others. I am reading Happiness for Beginners now because an adaption is coming out soon and I always try to read before I watch!