This was my first Katherine Center and I'll definitely be checking out her other books based on reviews. I guessed the twist very early on with this one. This book is definitely a big embodiment of the dreaded miscommunication trope, even though there is a good reason behind it. I still just found it a tad unbelievable. I did really enjoy the narration though and it was great on audio. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one.

Hello Stranger was a super cute romance by Katherine Center. Besides the twist being a bit predictable (something that Katherine herself remarks on in her author's note as why she loves Romance... because the predictable gives you hope while reading), this story was a really cute development of the relationship between Sadie and a faceless man she shares a building with and can't stop running into. Some characters had a lot of redemption, which i am a sucker for in a book, and some were just the absolute worst from beginning to end (ahem, i'm looking at you Parker). There was even an adorable, quirky dog named Peanut thrown in there for dog lovers like me (hi!). I found it particularly interesting (albeit dumbfounding) to learn more about Face Blindness and the challenges that can add to everyday life. This was one of my favorite books from Katherine Center and i've read quite a few!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

As a huge Katherine Center fan, I was beyond excited to get the opportunity to read her newest novel before its publication. I always love her characters as they have hilarious banter with one another and feel like “real people”. Unfortunately, compared to this author’s other books, I was not impressed with this one. There is a plot twist that is crucial to the story’s development that I figured out very early in the novel. I would recommend Things You Save In A Fire, another title by Center, over this one.

Such a unique take on a story! The plot of it centers around a woman who can't recognize faces. She knows they have one, she can see everything around her but her brain doesn't compute the face. Which is not ideal, as she is a portrait painter. She begins to enlist coping mechanisms and going on about her life. Determined, she won't let this temporary setback deter her.

She begins to fall for two guys, her vet and a guy in her building. While she is grappling with that, she has to deal with her twisted step sister whose only goal in life is to make hers miserable. She does what she can to finish her portrait painting for a contest.

I loved the premise of this book. It is so different than anything I usually read. Yes, it is a romance. Yes, it has a bit of dramedy. But the whole plot of it, is amazingly different. I loved this book so much! You get to know these characters based on their personalities! So well done!

The audio is incredible!

HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center (Patti Murin, Narrator)

Sadie is a struggling portrait artist who has lost the ability to see faces. (acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia, or face blindness). “As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys, she realizes that happiness can be found in the places—and people— you least expect.”

RomCom done right is a joy, and this one was done right! Yes, there is an easily corrected miscommunication. Yes, there is some mistaken identity and some melodrama. Yes, I knew how it would end. Yes, the evil stepsister was over-the-top, but in a fun way (and you knew she would get her comeuppance!).

But as Center explains in her Author’s Note, that’s not predictability. It’s anticipation. We read romances to smile, feel good, know how it will end, and be rewarded. It’s why we re-watch movies and tv shows we love. It’s comfort. Pure comfort.

This was my favorite by Center so far. It was joyful and fun, with the added benefit of learning something new (face blindness in this case). Her novels are as happy as her covers.

I was also delighted by the narrator! Her delivery was the frosting on an already delicious cake. Each character’s voice was distinctive (Sue was my favorite), making the story fly faster than a roller skater listening to disco.

QOTD: Can you roller skate? Do you have any tricks?

Thanks, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio, for the DRC and ALC. US Pub Date: 11 Jul 23

Sadie is an artist who has been trying to make it in the industry for awhile and just when she gets her break, she faces a traumatic medical issue which forces her to have surgery that doesn’t go as planned. Sadie can no longer see people’s faces but she can recognize how someone dresses, or walks or by their voice. She can see her dog perfectly but when he gets sick she is forced to take him to the vet. She is faced with a hard decision when she starts to fall for two different men who she meets under very different circumstances.

This was a fun, pretty light read for the most part. There was different emotions and then the aspect of trying to stay positive when things aren’t going the best. Sadie truly had to see the world differently.

This was my first book by this author although I know there are others I want to read just haven’t yet. I enjoyed this so much and it was a quick read and can’t wait to read other books by her.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for the ARC, this is a voluntary honest review.

I honestly do not know what I would do if I lost my ability to see faces.

Sadie Montgomery is on the brink of getting what she has ever wanted out of her career when tragedy strikes. She has a tumor that has been causing her to have seizures. The latest one almost got her killed if it weren't for a handsome stranger who pushed her out of her way. There is a lot resting on her eyes to get her everything she has ever wanted but the question is whether or not her ability to see faces will return in time to get her there.

What this book has:
~Single POV
~Disability Representation
~A Hilarious Misunderstanding
~Redemption
~Slow Burn
~A Slight Cinderella Retelling

Thank you so much to Katherine Center, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved this book! It was very well written and was such a unique story. I loved all of the humor and found myself laughing out loud several times. The characters were well thought out; including well fleshed out side characters. Sadie is a little whiney at first, but as you get to know her you learn where it comes from and she learns to help herself. Joe is a compelling love interest. The twist(s) were predictable but so fun.

The narration was great, she brought the FMC to life. I felt sad when Sadie was and I was ready to scream when Parker was a bully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of this book.

I LOVE Katherine center How to walk away was beautiful and this one was to , My only gripe was the miscommunication , it wasnt as clear as how to walk away.
But I really loved Sadies growth through this book . Also the narrator was amazing


Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I am absolutely in love with this book. In the interest of a spoiler-free review, I’m changing a few tactics on my usual review formula. Usually I start with a short synopsis, focus on the characters and their connection, and then what I liked about the writing and the story itself. But I refuse to spoil anything about this story or the love interests, so instead I will focus on the FMC, who tells the story in first person narration, the audiobook, and the incredibly masterful storytelling by Katherine Center. I didn’t read the synopsis before diving in, and I REALLY encourage you to go in blind as well.

The story revolves around Sadie, a portrait artist whose ability to see the world around her changes dramatically just when she gets her big break, and I absolutely adore her. She is a fiercely independent person with a past, and because of this past, she is determines to never need any help, except for a few exceptions from her inner circle. Perhaps because she’s an artist, and because her perceptions of the world around her change, I found myself obsessing over the way she describes this new strange place she finds herself in, and how incredibly isolating this journey is for her. I also found her reaction to the ordeal, the mistakes she makes along the way, and her response to adversity incredibly relatable and human.

I want to champion how incredibly well written, entertaining, swoony, thought-provoking, infuriating (there’s an evil step-sister) and endearing this story is. It is such an interesting story, such an interesting trauma, that naturally create interesting interactions, connections (or disconnections as the case may be). And because it is told from Sadie’s point of view, you only have the information that she has, and are left, as she is, to wonder about who these characters are that are coming into her world at such a turbulent time. Characters that I want to love and swoon over as much as Sadie does, but have to navigate in new ways.

I listened to the audiobook, and I feel that Patti Murin was given an incredibly hard task - establishing a character who is then very quickly thrown into a state of severe mental anguish while the world around her carries on as it always has, somewhat oblivious to what Sadie is going through - and she absolutely succeeded. I hung off every word as I, alongside Sadie, try to navigate her life without the ability to perceive it as she once could. I really felt the moments of frustration, determination, and joy. Moments of attraction, moments of defeat, and moments of utter confusion. Meanwhile she also brought to life the disconnect between Sadie’s thoughts and the people in her life.

Bottom line: you need to read this, and the audiobook is an excellent way to do so.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this Advanced Listener Copy. My review and opinions are my own.

Katherine Center once again does not disappoint. This one is probably my new favorite of hers.
Hello Stranger is a light hearted romance that centers around Sadie Montgomery. Sadie is a struggling portrait artist, barely making ends meet and living in less than a stellar apartment. But things start to look up when she is announced as one of the finalist at a highly recognized portrait competition. This is going to be Sadie’s big break. That is until she had a seizure in the middle of the street and rushed to the hospital. With even more bad news, the doctor tells Sadie she must have surgery due to having a malformed blood vessel in her brain. After the surgery, her world is flipped upside down when she realizes she cannot see faces! How can she paint a face portrait when she can’t see what their face looks like?! Ugh

Once again, Center creates vulnerable, likable, relatable characters and makes you care about them, makes you root for them, and makes you angry when roadblocks occur. Sadie was a strong female character who changed and grew over the course of this book. She had flaws, she had pain, she had sadness and anger, but she also possessed courage, heart, and determination. She felt real. I was completely and totally immersed. I listened to this one on audio and let me tell you…it was amazing. Patti Murin did everything right. I don’t have one bad thing to say.

If there is one book I would recommend above all others this year...it would be this one! Do not miss out! It is a must read!

Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist who develops a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Kinda puts your career and love life in jeopardy or not?

Before going into this book know that you are going to have to suspend belief a bit. I had so many questions related to the facial blindness plot that didn’t get answered. So just go with the flow. Also if miscommunication is not your trope may be check out Katherine Center’s How To Walk Away because it’s my favorite.

Sadie’s love interests are super sweet and it was interesting to see how a relationship develops when she can’t see faces (picture Helen Keller style of learning here). Add an adorable pet that likes Thai food for comedic relief and this one was cute. Heads up for my spice queens…this is closed door.

Hello Stranger is hands down one of my top favorite reads this year!. I loved it from beginning to end, especially the author’s note.
At first I didn’t know what the story was about. As it began to play out I started researching about the subject and was drawn instantly and couldn’t stop listening. The chemistry between Sadie and “Joe” was swoon worthy. I can’t wait for release day so I can talk about it with readers in the book club! The narrator was great. 5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and SMP for an advance copy, in exchange for my honest review.

"We see what we're looking for."

Well that was a very fun and unique romance book! Truthfully, I struggled in the beginning. I didn't LOVE Sadie (our FMC) until later in the book and found her a bit unlikeable for a while. But she grew on me as she grew as a character. I loved Joe (MMC), her bestie Soo, and even her evil step-sister/arch nemesis Parker. She played the villain VERY well.

One of the main reasons I'm giving this 4 Stars is because I found the book to be a bit slow-moving for a little while. It didn't truly hook me until about halfway through. That said, I'm really glad I kept reading. That was one of my favorite endings to any romance book I've read. I really thought it was perfect and appreciated that nearly all of the storylines were resolved/wrapped-up. You don't always get that!

Read If You Like:
-Grumpy/Sunshine (Her/Him Respectively)
-Fun, Unique Romance Plots
-Men Who Love Animals
-Stories About Perseverance/Self-Discovery
-Family Dynamics/Drama
-Well-Done Love Triangles
-Medical Storylines

Audiobook Notation: FANTASTIC. I loved the narration by Patti Murin and really felt that she brought the story and characters to life. Each character/voice was unique and I really enjoyed listening to the whole thing.

Overall, while it wasn't perfect I definitely recommend! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

A light, fun read with touches of drama. Definitely what a girl needed.

I felt bad for Sadie a lot. Her stepsister was the worst. Her dad and stepmom could have been on her side a bit more. I definitely laughed out loud at the big reveal.

I never thought I would like a Katherine Center book MORE than I liked her book The Bodyguard, but Hello Stranger has surprised me in the best of ways! I really enjoyed reading this one!

Sadie is a portrait artist who experiences “face blindness” and can no longer see faces properly due to a complication with her brain surgery. And this led to so much of a journey for us to read along. I loved watching her grow into a more confident person, despite her disability. Her friendship with Joe was so wholesome and I loved watching it develop into a romantic one.

The Kim’s are the sweetest/funniest human beings on the planet and I absolutely loved them. Top tier side characters for sure. Also the twist at the end didn’t surprise me, but was still cute!

Overall, I loved this book. I loved Sadie and I loved Joe! I would highly recommend this one!

🤍 Thank you so much to the publisher @stmartinspress & @netgalley for this advanced reader copy!

⚠️TW: bullying, death of parent, medical content, gaslighting, panic attacks/disorders, grief, suicide attempt, fatphobia, infidelity

Book: Hello Stranger
Author: Katherine Center
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
Places Featured: United States
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded up)
Review: Sadie Montgomery is an artist struggling with a lot more than just art–her mother died when she was young, her beloved dog is sick, her stepsister torments her, the relationship with her father is strained, and she’s so broke she’s living in a “hovel” that’s actually her art studio owned by her best friend’s parents. And just to make things really bad–she needs brain surgery and ends up with a possibly/hopefully temporary case of face blindness. (And how does a portrait artist enter the contest of her dreams with face blindness?) Two men do appear in her life, though, that give her a little bit of hope. I really liked Sadie and I liked her relationship with Joe. Katherine Center has a knack for writing likable believable female characters who are struggling with relatable feelings and although Sadie’s problems are a little over-the-top and the “twist” was VERY predictable, it's still an enjoyable love story. Patti Murran’s talents shine as the narrator.

This book! This is my 2nd KC book and I already have the rest of her books on my backlist tbr. And I need to trust her and I know I’ll already love it. I was drawn to the cute cover, and the plot was so intriguing!
🖼️
Sadie is a hot mess but on the brink of changing her life. As a portrait artist she has won a spot in an art contest, only shortly after hearing the great news she has a near death experience, as a side effect she has face blindness and can’t see faces. This changes everything!
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I was interested from the beginning by my ignorance of never having heard of this. There’s a love triangle, friends to lovers, great women’s fiction character arc and beauty in the small things of life. KC sees that beauty and she has a gift with prose by painting the whole picture of her fantastical and whimsical world. Patti Murin narrates Sadie and hits the emotion right bring Sadie to life during this turning point.
🖼️
Katherine swept me up in the story, pulled at my heart in multiple directions, kept me guessing and making me fall in love with love stories all over again. Make sure to read her Author’s Note at the end 💜
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Be kind to all you meet. You don’t know what they’re going through or what they have gone through. “The more good things you look for, the more you find.”
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This book releases next month on July 11th. You won’t want to miss it! Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc and alc of this book. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
🖼️
Content: near death experience, bullying, manipulation, some language, closed door, mention of past loss of parent

Hello Stranger packed much more of an emotional punch that I was prepared for. Center really knows how to weave together personal growth and romance seamlessly.

Sadie is getting ready to celebrate one of her biggest achievements when the unexpected happened - which resulted in her having to have brain surgery that ends up giving her a condition known as face blindness. I can't even imagine what it's like to not be able to see faces correctly and Sadie's struggles with it really came through. Through Sadie's journey you also learn a lot about the condition, which I liked.

Sadie is a portrait artist so her new face blindness really impacts how she is making money and the big art competition that she is in. Unsurprisingly she has a hard time dealing with it, as well as dealing with family issues. Her mom passed away a long time ago, her step mom keeps pushing her after her accident/surgery and her stepsister is the wicked witch of the west.

There is also Joe, a neighbor who ends up giving Sadie the help she needs, in more ways than one. I adored Joe and loved how their relationship slowly developed.

When life as you know it changes and you have no control over the future. This gives you the opportunity even if it doesn't feel like an opportunity to find the life you always wanted. Sadie had life-altering medical event. As she relearning how to identify people she learns about herself and how she sees others.