Katherine Center... You write some nice emotional stories. I would almost say this is less a romance novel, and more a about a woman coping with something new that's been brought on and allowing herself to ask for help when she needs it. I do have to say that I didn't really like Sadie very much, but it was also understandable how sad and dark she felt all the time. A lot of that came from dealing with the loss of her mother, very abruptly, at a vulnerable time. I really enjoyed her trying to figure out how to paint portraits while having face blindness (cue "ironic" by Alanis Morissette), and loved her best friend Sue as well. As for the love story part, it was a bit unique in a sense but really predictable. I kept reading anyway to see how her journey improves over time, so it was good pacing there with enough to keep you hooked. I also learned a lot about face blindness, and could really feel what Sadie was feeling. I also liked how things were not super clean from an ending perspective. What I didn't love was some of the ending being a bit too deus ex machina in some ways. I think personally I enjoyed the Bodyguard more but this was a good read if you're into someone feeling like they hit rock bottom... And then actually hitting rock bottom, in terms of circumstance, and then pulling their way out of it.

Steam: CLEAN
Heart Flutters: ❤️

4.5 ⭐️

“This love story really created fantastic anticipation” ❤️


I love KC’s writing style. It’s incredibly easy to devour her books! Her writing feels so relatable and like you’re talking with a friend.

Did I absolutely know how it was going to end? Yes. Did that make the story any less fun and enticing? Not at all. This book felt like a hug in a book.

This was such a sweet, fun, interesting and actually educational read. I found myself telling my husband and my work bestie about face blindness 😂

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for this advanced ebook copy of Hello Stranger in exchange for my honest review. I am rating this 3.5 stars. I’m so 50/50 on this book!

This was definitely an interesting story to say the least. I had never heard of this condition so it was interesting how it affects a person who lives with prosopagnosia. There were times I thought that maybe Sadie’s condition was being exaggerated, but as you go through more of the book you can tell this is probably something that is very serious. Having said that I was not a huge fan of Sadie’s character. She did grow throughout the book, but she was so unlikeable most of the time. Do not even get me started on other extremely unlikeable characters…. Yes I’m looking at you Parker and Lucinda. Also I wish we would have had more romance vs Sadie’s family troubles.

Now what did I like about this story? I loved Peanut the pup and Joe! I liked the twist at the end and how the story ended. I liked that I learned something new like prosopagnosia. I loved Mr and Mrs Kim and the way they helped Sadie throughout the story. I loved that Sadie was an artist and how she essentially had to relearn her craft. I liked the banter between Sadie and Joe and I definitely laughed out loud a few times during the story. The thing I really loved about this story was the Author’s Note! It’s a must read.

Overall I definitely recommend this book. I think most readers will enjoy this binge worthy read. This was my first Katherine Center book and although it was not a favorite read of mine I will definitely check out her other books.

This was my first Katherine Center book and I must say I absolutely loved it.

"We're all so busy seeing what we expect to see."

Who knew face blindness was even a thing? But it is, and our MC Sadie is struggling with it after having brain surgery. Worse yet, she is a PORTRAIT artist. Who can't see faces. There was something so heartwarming reading about a character who literally begins to "see" the world with her heart instead of her eyes. She begins to recognize people not by their faces, but maybe by their hair, or the way they walk, their perfume or cologne, maybe simply the jacket they always wear.

I was drawn into Sadie's story from the very beginning. I could feel her pain as she watched her dream slip away. I appreciated her sense of humor and watching as Joe went from 'weasel' to one of the best characters I have ever encountered. Oh, how I loved Joe. Even, her elderly dog, Peanut, has a place forever in my heart.

I cannot say how much I value a plot line that has not been done before (at least not that I have read). I definitely see more Center books in my future.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my gifted advanced readers copy of this one.

This one is out July 11th and if you are looking for a book with a great message and some extremely lovable characters, be sure to check this one out!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

My rating:
5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay so originally I gave this a 4, but I had to round up because it made me feel good and I just loved it. There were a couple times where I was frustrated with the book & I think I could have used more overall spice, but even without any spicy parts, there was a level of intimacy that made my heart sing.

When Sadie, a portrait artist finds out she has a brain condition where she needs surgery, she decides to get this surgery done and has a serious complication. When she wakes up, she can no longer see anyone’s faces. They are like a puzzle to her. She can see bits and pieces but not their face as a whole.

This book told the story of Sadie’s life after she had the surgery and had romance, life lessons & some parts that made me so infuriated for her I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall. 😂

Overall I would absolutely recommend this one. Thank you netgalley for the ARC! This one is out now so go add it to your TBR!

This was my first Katherine Center book but it will definitely not be my last!

3.5

this was really good but omg i guessed all components of that big reveal. that’s not a bad thing, and i quite enjoyed that. this was overall a pretty good, cute, and sweet little book. overall, i really enjoy this author and her style of writing <3

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc !!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book is just.. *chef’s kiss* for me. I don’t know how Katherine continues to do it, but I absolutely loved the book, especially the twist at the end! She has definitely become an auto-buy author for me over the years.

If you have a feel good story that teaches you that we have to sometimes slow down and enjoy the little things in life, then this book is for you.

Things were starting to go right for Sadie Montgomery. She is a finalist in an art portrait competition that could help her out tremendously if she wins. The next thing she knows is that she's in the hospital being diagnosed with facial blindness, a condition which may or may not be temporary, but it prevents her from being able to see the faces of people. Instead of faces, she sees puzzle pieces all scrambled about. As Sadie struggles to adapt to her new normal, she's confronted by a few other dilemmas along the way. She's unsure how she'll be able to continue her art career, an old family drama pops up again, her dog has a minor crisis, then she meets two men who she develops feelings for.

I have always been a huge fan of Katherine Center books, and I was so excited to get an eARC of Hello Stranger, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as her other works. I found the FMC, Sadie, to be whiny, judgemental, and overly selfish. Sadie acted like this before she even had facial blindness, so it can't be blamed on her crisis. Sadie won't ask for help with anything because she always wants to rescue herself. However,  she won't really stand up for herself and will constantly cry about everything that didn't go her way. She was such an annoying MC. I did like Joe, Sadie's neighbor, who was constantly there to help Sadie when she's having one of her meltdowns or bad days. I figured out the plot twist early on, so there was no surprise for me there. I did like that this novel brings awareness to a not so well know medical condition.  Normally, Katherine Center novels are nothing short of amazing. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.

Another fantastic book by Katherine Center! I love her books and was so excited for this one; it did not disappoint. Her stories always have romance, comedy and a general feel-good story, but I always look forward to the serious issue each book will tackle. In this case, the main character, a portrait artist, deals with sudden face blindness. As I'm sure you can imagine this has a serious impact on her life. Center weaves the stories of a sweet romance, dealing with neighbors, family drama, a life altering medical diagnosis, true friendship, being true to yourself, a love of animals and much more into one novel that has you rooting for the main character the whole way.

This book was amazing and gave me all the feels! The ultimate love story!
Portrait painter, Sadie Montgomery suffers from a rare brain bleed that requires surgery. When she wakes up, she has face-blindness, which ruins her painting career temporarily. Enter two men who Sadie develops feelings for, even though she can’t see their faces. She has to make a choice, devastating one of them. But then it seems she will wind up alone. Will Sadie finally be truthful about what has happened to her before it’s too late?

Another winner by Katherine Center; I swear she only writes great books as this one was every bit as good as the others I have read by her. I always know I can open a new book of hers and feel like I am there watching the characters. They are not words on a page, but I feel like I am there with them.

Sadie has just learned that she is a finalist in an art contest and she can finally show her father that her choice of art as a major was not a waste. Before she can tell him, she has an accident that changes everything. No, not a car accident, but a physical failing accident requiring surgery now instead of completing her art project for the contest.

Without giving anything away, you can assume things don't go as she had planned. What seems like a labor of love, might just involve real love in the end. Pet lovers will also find a lot to like in this story.

A good beach book or one to enjoy while hiding from the heat this summer. 4.5 stars. As always, looking forward to her next one already! Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Sadie just got word she is in the finals for an art competition. This could be her big break. She loves drawing portraits. As luck would have it she ends up in the hospital needing brain surgery. When she wakes up from surgery she can't see anyone's face. How can someone draw a portrait if they can't see the face of who they are drawing??

Another Katherine Center book I couldn't help but enjoy! I liked Sadie and was rooting for her throughout the book. I have some brain disorders, not like hers, so I felt like I could connect to her in some way. Plus I'm a dog mom myself! And I fell in love with Joe and his floppy hair. I thought the two of them were cute together. I can't wait to fall in love with the next book Katherine Center writes!

I listened to the book as I read it and I LOVED the narrator. She did such a fantastic job. You could feel the emotions in her voice. She is a narrator I will continue to listen to!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the copies of the book!

Hello Stranger offers a lot of what I like in a book an interesting story combined with learning something. In this case I learned about prosopagnosia, otherwise known as face blindness. Learning about this condition was fascinating as I had no idea it was an actual medical condition. The main character, Sadie Montgomery develops face blindness after brain surgery to remove a malformed blood vessel. Sadie learns coping mechanisms to help in day-to-day life, but she is completely unable to do her job as a portrait artist, and of course she has just been accepted into a prestigious art contest.

While the story itself is interesting, compelling even there is something about the book that’s just a tad off for me. The wicked step-sister is a bit too over the top, the parents are a bit too clueless and Sadie is pretty negative and a kinda unlikeable in the vein of “nothing ever goes my way.”

My absolute least favorite trope is miscommunication and/or refusal to disclose pertinent detail(s) that are VERY IMPORTANT pieces of information. In this case Sadie chooses not to tell people she’s interacting with regularly - her new veterinarian, Dr. Addison, and her annoying new neighbor, Joe - that she has prosopagnosia, because she’s embarrassed by a condition she has zero control over.

Even though HS is considered a romance it’s more women’s fiction, IMO. The romance is lacking and never really develops, because the FMC and MMC don’t really spend a lot of time together. I may not have felt romantic chemistry, but I definitely felt strong friendship vibes between them.

However, whilst frustrating at times, Hello Stranger is wholly enjoyable. A perfect beach read with a satisfying conclusion - character growth, comeuppance to the baddie, a new relationship and an understanding that everything doesn’t always have to be perfect.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital ARC for review. Hello Stranger is available on July 11th.

This is 4.5 so close to 5 but I struggled at times with the female narrator. There were some truly what felt like immature imaginings at times. But I ended up understanding her coping strategies and she grew on me over time. I loved this story and the kind of rom/com haphazard moments that happened before and after we got into the depth of the story.

I seriously adored the love interest, here and the side characters. Center’s writing is, as usual, really well paced and takes you on a wonderful, new, unique and sometimes strange journey. I underlined a lot and I think if you just let yourself enjoy this, you will find it a fun, sweet romance with a lot of heart and growth.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC. I read this one so quickly.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an EARC of Hello Stranger.

I am so giddy after reading this oh my gosh. I think the last quarter of this book I was giggling so hard and smiling like crazy. Katherine Center is such an amazing author. I am blown away by the books of hers I’ve read. Not only did I immediately want to pick this up after how much I loved the bodyguard, but I will definitely be buying every single book she has ever written after this book. My mind is made up, she is fantastic. Also I’m so excited to go to her book tour for this book.

Anyways back to the book, I absolutely adored this. I was not sure how much I was going to like this at first, especially with the introduction of a love triangle, but that quickly dissolved so I was happy. This book made me question so much. I could not imagine ever being in Sadie’s position of having face blindness especially since her career revolves around faces. However, she made the best of an unfortunate situation and learned a lot along the way. I loved her journey, I love her acceptance, I love her growth. This was a really fantastic book and I had so much fun with it and could hardly put it down. I really think this is a book that you should go in blind to. It makes it so much more fun. Just know it’s wonderful.

Center's newest release is a heartfelt exploration of self and a very romantic read. This book is Women's Fiction with a light element of Romance that mainly deals with the heroine dealing with a severe medical issue and reevaluating her life and career. Take care and check the CWs. Center's characters are not only complex but incredibly relatable; you’ll wind up hoping that Sadie gets everything she wants in her personal and professional life. Oh and man I very much wish all the bad things in the world to happen to a certain secondary character. As Center said in the author's note, this book's got “fantastic anticipation”!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I believe I've found my favorite Katherine Center book!

Hello Stranger is about Sadie, a portrait artist, who develops prosopagnosia (face blindness) after a medical issue. It is hopefully temporary, but it comes at a terrible time, as Sadie has just six weeks to complete a portrait for a prestigious portrait contest that she's been selected for. While Sadie is recovering and learning how to paint with her new condition, she meets two interesting men -- a dreamy vet who cares for her beloved dog Peanut and a neighbor who sometimes seems like a jerk but is somehow always available to lend a hand when she needs it. Sadie learns about herself, her art, her history, and her relationships as she navigates her new reality.

Honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The premise sounds more than a little far-fetched, but in the pages it didn't feel that way. It's clear that Katherine Center did her research. There were a couple of moments that I had to suspend disbelief, but oddly enough they weren't connected to Sadie's face blindness! They were just a couple of moments of coincidence that felt a little too convenient.

I think rom-com devotees will enjoy this book, and I think even people who don't often read them might enjoy it. The characters and story were engaging and the typical rom-com misunderstandings made sense in this context. It will make a great light pool-side or beach book for the summer.

5 Star Read⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hello Stranger was the first book I have read by Katherine Center, but I will 100% be going to read her other books. I loved Sadie’s story and the struggles she faced while dealing with life altering news. It’s sweet, emotional, and fun! I strongly recommend this book for those looking for an amazing romance that is nothing like you have read before!

Being approved for an ARC of Katharine Center's latest was definitely a gift from the universe...and of course, her publisher, to someone in need of that bit of "hope' as the author describes in her afterword

Sophie Montgomery, an talented portrait artist, has a accident that reveals she has an undiagnosed cavernoma in her brain. Having brain surgery 6 weeks before the art contest that could potentially make her career may not be optimal, but the surgery left her with a condition called face blindness. Her struggles with painting a portrait and with life itself form the crux of this novel. As a person who never wants to ask for help, she doesn't want to explain her condition to anyone.

I usually figure out the twist coming. I know as a Katherine Center novel that we are working towards a happy ending, but I really liked how we got there. Learn a little about neuroscience while being totally immersed in this book.

This was a one seat read for me. I just love Katherine’s books!

Sadie Montgomery is on top of the world. She’s just placed as a finalist in a photography contest, which is huge, but that’s all come crashing down. She’s had to have a surgery that left her being diagnosed with Prosopagnosia, where you can’t distinguish anyone’s face feature. Now she’s struggling with her dream, she’s not sure what to do with her life. She meets Joe who lives in building and decides to use him as a model. But really it’s her dog Peanuts vet she really wants to marry, but having Joe at arms length can make the unimaginable happen

I loved the characters and plot. As any book of Katherine’s I have read, she always makes them real and very engaging. Sadie did come off a little immature at times, but I do some women act like that so it wasn’t too terrible.

A very lighthearted sweet story!