Hello Stranger introduces Sadie, a portrait artist, who ends up with face blindness that she is told may or may not be temporary. This is devastating news to Sadie, as she is in a portrait contest that her career depends on.

Soon, Sadie finds herself in a love triangle with two very different men who start out as strangers to her. But here's the thing: she can't actually see their faces. Sadie struggles to recognize her love interests and those closest to her, even by their voices.

While I did appreciate some of the underlying messages such as "just be kind to everyone that you come into contact with and then no one will be a stranger to you" (from Sadie's Facebook support group), I found Sadie to be a bit unlikable as a main character. Sadie is self absorbed and jumps to a lot of conclusions without asking clarifying questions of the situation (which does lend to the plot in the end, but I still found it frustrating to listen to). Because of this and her face blindness, Sadie ends up isolating herself and giving herself more cause to complain about her life. I understand she is going through a lot, but she doesn't often think of others except with regard to what she wants in life.
A handful of times there is a mention of Sadie's evil stepsister; this gave me the feeling that the familial bit of the plot was a hint influenced by Cinderella, which I personally found to be a bit cringe-worthy.

Overall, listening to this book on audio, it was an easy listen with a great narrator to follow along with, I finished the story quickly, and I found it was entertaining. Pairing that with some of my thoughts on the plot I have decided to give this title 3 stars.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early opportunity to listen to this book on audio in exchange for my review. Hello Stranger is expected to be released on July 11, 2023. All opinions stated above are my own.

Sadie Montgomery Goes face blind after a head injury, and being a portrait artist, it is a career crusher, but not only does it affect her career, it affects her every day life in ways she could never imagine.

Katherine Center has done it again! You know that book you read where you feel like you’re with your best friend and you never want the book to end because it gives you all those warm fuzzy vibes? This was that book for me. I loved all the characters (with the exception of the evil step family), and I didn’t want the story to end! The ending of this book is laugh out loud hilarious, and it is one of those books you will want to read over and over again! Pick this one up for a fun read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and @NetGalley for an advanced copy of another GREAT book!

I loved this so much that I will read anything Katherine Center writes from now on.
It takes such talent to make you willing to suspend your disbelief as your brain waves red flags, and to be willing to go on a journey with characters without cynicism even as you can tell where this road is going, and that's just what this book achieved with me - I loved getting to follow these characters on this chaotic journey, and I was wholeheartedly along for the ride.
This was such a treat.
(added points for the fantastic narration!)

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reading copy of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center.

This is definitely one to go into blind (no pun intended). I loved it just as much as The Bodyguard.

If you do want more information this is a novel about Sadie, an artist, who placed as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Sadie finds herself with a complex health problem that alters how she sees individuals. All while dealing with that fact that everything around her is now a puzzle to be put together Sadie finds herself in a complicated love triangle. Will Sadie get the clarity she needs in time to fit the pieces together?

This was a solid 3.5 star read for me. It wasn’t anything special, it didn’t have me kicking my feet in the air squealing, but I did enjoy my time reading it.

The plot of this book was really interesting. Sadie undergoes brain surgery and develops facial blindness. She then meets a romantic love interest, doesn’t tell him about her facial blindness, which obviously complicates things for her. This made for a really unique and fun plot, but also frustrating. The thing that was going on, what could be considered a plot twist, was so obvious to the reader the entire book, and it got annoying when Sadie couldn’t figure it out.

It’s hard to talk about the romance in this one without spoiling anything. What I can say is the romance was cute, but her immediate obsession with him was very cringe.

I listened to this as an audiobook, which I think helped me get through this. It took a bit for me to get into, and if I had been reading it normally I’m not sure if I would have been able to get through it. Also, the narrator did a great job, I really loved the narration.

Overall, this book was decent, I enjoyed my time listening to it and I liked it but didn’t love it. Would I recommend it? Probably not.

What would you do if you suddenly could recognize the faces of those around you? Your best friend? Your neighbor?
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Sadie going through an unexpected case of face blindness was a very interesting storyline. It resulted in hilarious moments and touching ways of her getting to know people again.
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I loved this one. I’ve had some great reads lately and I hope that doesn’t stop!
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🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

This was such a good book! The main character has a seizure and finds out a small blood vessel is pushing on the part of the brain that makes you not see faces. She can see people's bodies but not their face. Insanity ensues when she doesn't tell anyone of this disorder. She just tries to go through walking around with out others not noticing that. She has a dysfunctional relationship with her stepmother and step sister. This book is all about a woman finding herself and standing up for herself.

I love a summer Katherine novel! I loved the characters in Hello Stranger. As typical for a novel by this author - the characters may be a bit quirky but they are so likeable and always a bit humorous. This book also gave me some insight into face blindness (there's a medical name for it but I can't remember or know how to spell it for that fact) I believe I had heard of it but really didn't know anything about it at all. I really enjoyed this one! It was a light, fun read and I needed a bit of a break from the thrillers I typically read. Katherine Center's novels typically are normally quite enjoyable! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! The narrator Patti Muran did an excellent job - I have enjoyed her narration in other novels as well. She made listening to this book so enjoyable!

I really loved the premise of this one! The whole face-blindness thing really made for a unique and dynamic love story. I love how all of Center's books have that extra layer of...trauma? probably not the right word but we'll go with it. Her characters are just flat, broke, down on their luck, looking for love characters. They have very real, very tangible problems, and it's what makes her one of my favorite romance authors. I found Sadie to be a bit much at times, but I loved how I totally expected the romance to go in a different direction than it ultimately did.

Oh and Peanut was the star of the show.

Another wonderful lighthearted romance with underlying life lessons weaved in to make it even better (and don't say this story is predictable - listen to/read what the author says about that at the end of the book!) She makes a point. We pick up romance novels because we expect the two main characters to get together by the end after several bumps and misunderstandings along the way. That's not predictable, it's what we expect! It's the bumpy, clever, road along the way that makes it all worthwhile.

And this author (and narrator - the same one who narrated The Bodyguard. I love this narrator!) does not disappoint. Sadie ends up with a form of face blindness, horrifying for a portrait painter, and the story unfolds with one misunderstanding and wrong decision after another. The cast of characters is unique and fun, and I rooted for Sadie all the way to the satisfying end.

Fun, informative, story with a great message. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this entertaining audiobook!

Sadie is a struggling portrait artist that has just become a finalist in a huge portrait competition. Winning this competition would not only be life changing but would give her the validation she needs to prove to her family that she made the right career choice. She has spent the last few years focused on her art with little time for love. Her happy day is cut short with a trip to the ER and finding out she needs brain surgery. To make matters worse, she agrees to the surgery and wakes up with a life altering side effect. She can no longer recognize faces; she is a portrait artist who cannot see faces.

What follows is far from the tragic tale we are expecting. Sadie, our strong, funny, and determined protagonist, keeps trying to work on her art. We also watch her fall in love with two different guys, dodge annoying family members, and continue to be her delightful self. Just like all of her other books, Center gives us characters that we love, love to hate, and would love to hang out with. Watching Sadie fall in love and deal with all of her brain issues you can't help but root for her.

Pros of this book are great characters, witty dialogue, and an interesting plot. A con is that it was a little predictable. I also felt like the medical diagnosis and treatment didn't fit with the lightness of the plot. I know that the side effect of no facial recognition fits with the plot, but it seems too serious for a rom com. Perhaps, I am just being a little picky. Overall, still a 4-star read for me and I continue to be a big fan of Katherine Center. This will be a perfect beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an audio copy of Hello Stranger, in exchange for my honest review. Narrated by Patti Murin
I am a huge fan of Katherine Center and was overjoyed when I was preapproved for an advanced copy of the audiobook.
If you are looking for a great beach read, pick this. There is a great storyline that will keep you reading. The main protagonist, Sadie, is an artist who undergoes brain surgery and ends up with Prosopagnosia; the inability to recognize faces. Sadie is a strong character that has endured a lot in her life, so hiding that she has Prosopagnosia is not challenging, but she will learn that she has to let her guard down to let others in.
The narrator of this book did a great job and I finish the audiobook in one setting.

I absolutely LOVE Katherine Center books. Everything she writes is gold. I haven't read a single one that didn't live up to my expectations, and this didn't disappoint at all. All of her books are a light read with fun, lovable, and quirky characters that you can't help but to root for all while exploring normally difficult situations.

When Sadie, a portrait artist, undergoes brain surgery after an accident and wakes up with face blindness, her entire world is left upside down. As she tries to grapple with her new reality, she finds herself in a love triangle between her veterinarian (who even though she can't see him, she can just feel that he's extremely hot) and her womanizer/bad boy neighbor, Joe.

I saw the big twist coming from miles away. That normally deters me from a book, but honestly, I think it made me love this one even more. While I knew what was going to happen, I had no idea how in the hell we would get there, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

Highly recommend if you're looking for an easy to read romance that has you laughing out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Katherine Center’s books. They always feel like a hug. Even though the storyline is predictable it’s just such a fun story to see how you get to the end. I enjoyed reading about Sadie but at the end in the authors notes I found out more about this disease that I never heard of. This would be a wonderful read for the beach.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book. I’ve read a few other Katherine Center books and really enjoyed them, and this one is right up there with the others. Hello Stranger was a cute ron com that you’d expect from KC.
I did find the main character a little annoying but have to remember that she’s in her early twenties. Sadie is a recent art school grad that’s broke, however her father is a well know surgeon.. She’s entered a portrait contest in which the winner is paid a hefty sum. Soon before the contest she is in a fluke accident, while in the hospital getting looked over they discover genetic brain condition. After she has the brain surgery she has a rare complication that usually goes away, facial blindness.
Sadie meets a few young men while having facial blindness and tries to navigate her relationships, art contest, and estranged family life. Cute story that taught me about this rare condition.

I loved this book, it's a quick read or listen. Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for the advanced audio copy.
I've been a fan of Katherine Center's books since I read her first book years ago, and while they are romance with some drama, I find her writing so entertaining and pleasurable. I believe these books just make me smile and feel good. The ending author's note reminds me of why I enjoy this genre.
Sadie is the kind of character that makes rooting for her easy! When an accident leads to a discovery of a neurological issue, and her outcome leaves her with face blindness, look it up, it's real. As a portrait artist with a competition upcoming this is devastating. Sadie is suddenly looking at faces all messed up, and she messes up so many people , can't recognize her evil step sister, and many others...it's frustrating. She is surrounded by people who love her, people who want to help her and some frustrating familial relationships.

Read this book, enjoy the people and the discovery of a unique disorder and how Sadie works to overcome its impact.

The audio narrated by Patti Murin was very well done.

*4.5

I have read two Katherine Center books and they have both been absolute gems. Never would I have thought I would go this crazy over a closed-door romance, but here we are. Katherine Center specializes in romances that are so feel-good, you won't be able to help but awww out loud (I did. Several times).

This book has a lot of moving parts, but it works so well. We have a painter who suffers from face blindness as a result of surgery that she has right before the biggest portrait contest of her career. We see her as she reconciles her faith and ability within her career with her new reality. This also takes place within a family drama and a new relationship.

There were times when the story got a bit predictable, but I don't feel like the book suffered from it. The author's note at the end of the book definitely backs up my thought about this. Katherine Center basically says that romance is supposed to be predictable - it is one of the hallmarks of the genre. So while I predicted a lot of what was going to happen, it only made me love this book more.

If you need a pick-me-up, this book is the perfect thing for you. It is so feel good and I just loved it with my whole heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Katherine Center for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.

Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist when out nowhere she has brain surgery, she wakes up diagnosed with Prosopagnosia. (the inability to recognize faces). With the North American Portrait Society competition coming up she struggles with her art piece due to the fact that every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle...

Home from the hospital she meets one of her neighbors, as she tries to study him in the elevator he thinks she's checking him out, so she immediately dislikes him. & then when her dog gets sick she meets her dream husband, the veterinarian... Making judgment calls on anything right now is a nightmare.

Keeping her prosopagnosia a secret from everyone, her timing for falling in love couldn't be worse.

I really enjoyed this book, when you can cry and laugh you know its good! Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & Katherine Center for this ARC! loved it!

Hello Stranger
By: Katherine Center
Narrated by: Patti Murin
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 07-11-23

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is so unique and helps the stories flow seamlessly. Listening to this book as an audiobook had me hooked from the start. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

I loved this book so much. I can not describe just how many emotions this book made me feel, but it did a great job in making me laugh, and swoon, and want to smack some evil step sisters. So, very good.

I actually want to start at the end, by end I mean the supplemental material by the author where she talks about romance novels (this has nothing to do with the story). The author talks about the stigma of romance books how people use the term "predictable" because you know what you're getting in to when it comes to romance novels. It gave me a new perspective when she goes on to describe the reason why we love these books and it is because it elicits joy, a dopamine response. On a scientific note( not in the authors note) it makes sense that we love to experience these stories, dopamine can cause vasodilation causing us to relax or give us a mild since of euphoria. That really happy feeling you get when you finish a great book. Anyway, thank you Ms. Center for that perspective shift.

Now on to the story, again I loved it AND I learned a little bit too. I don't really know much at all about face blindness, I honestly thought it was a generic term that people used when they said they don't pay attention to what people look like. It does not mean that at all. This story gives us a little glimpse in the emotional impact of what it would be like to have acquired face blindness (the book also uses the medical term which is much longer). How crazy would it be to not be able to recognize anyone at all based on characteristics you are used to recognizing them? Or not being able to continue painting portraits when this is what your career is based on.

There is so much more to this than the fun love story, there is well, I guess it's several love stories and several versions of love. There is the love your self, family, pets, and of course the potential significant other. The finding of oneself is always so satisfying in stories and the journey to find yourself and find the love of your life is amazing. The whole journey of this story was amazing. I stayed up late to listen to it because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I loved all of the characters (except for the step-sister) and could not get enough.

The narrator also did a wonderful job with all of the voices. She make Sue seem a little ditzyer than I would imagine for her character, but overall, her voices were spot on. She conveyed all the happiness, sadness, joy, anger and everything in-between.

This was a really well rounded and fun romance that you will not be able to get enough of.