I did like this book, I listened to it very quickly. I know we don’t want to use the predictable but it was. The ending wasn’t a surprise but I still loved it 💜. LOVED the narrator. Can’t imagine not being able to see faces that’s wild- had to google it to see if it was a real thing (it is!!) thanks for this!!!!!

Katherine Center is incredibly talented at writing witty, sweet, and a bit spicy stories. "Hello Stranger" is a wonderful addition to her works. I also reccomend listening to her Virtual Book Tour Podcast - it made me love her even more.

I have read all most all of Katherine Centers books. Hello Stranger does not disappoint! It was a fun read ! Loved all of her quirky characters. I listened to the book and really enjoyed the narrator. She bought the characters to life. It was a fun romance with lessons to learn. It will make for the perfect beach/pool book.

I loved this one! There were some fun twists that I thought were obvious but that made ir even better. I love her books and this one was so good!

Hello Stranger
By Katherine Center
Sadie Montgomery was finally getting the chance she’d been waiting for to show her father who ignored her very existence and her mother posthumously that she could make it as a portrait artist! That is until something turned her world upside down. How could a portrait artist recover from “face blindness?” I was so amazed at the way the author explained a true condition unknown by most in a way the reader could understand and sympathize with the character! It was fascinating! I was rooting for Sadie page after page! I loved how I was surprised at many turns and changes Sadie made throughout and how her growth enhanced her relationships. I listened to this book on audio and it was phenomenal! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the amazing Katherine Center for the ARC.

I enjoyed this story about Sadie, a struggling artist who feels like she's on the brink of her big break. It kept my attention on a day I was home with a cold, and even helped ebb some of my grumpiness - which is exactly what I was looking for.

I didn't always love Sadie's behavior, but I thought it made sense given what she'd been through.

I enjoyed the narration by Patti Murin overall, though I wish her pacing were faster. (I listened at 3x and wanted to go faster, which is rare for me.) There's also one part in particular that I think could have been handled differently: The narrator reads this as written, "'That's huge!' She stretched out the U for what felt like a full minute. Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge." I'd have rather the narrator just say, "That's huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!" It felt off for her to not actually stretch out the U in "That's huge!" but then tell us that's what the character did. Again, overall, I enjoyed it - these are minor critiques!

This was a fun read! I’ve read a few thrillers that dealt with face blindness and it was fun to have a new take on it, in a different genre. I think it was tackled well and i liked that the author also made the reader more understanding and empathetic of it.

It was a cute story and i enjoyed it. I do wish i had a little more from the side characters, because they were pretty cool.

And i figured out “the twist” early on. But it was ok just not shocking. I also loved the love interest. Never thought he was a bad dude. I figured out what was really going on and the phone call in the beginning seemed kind of obvious what it was to me. So i never thought badly of him 😜

I really didn’t like Parker, not that you’re supposed to! But man she was a monster.

Enjoyable read. And the narration was easy to listen to.

I loved this story! I do not want to spoil any of it for anyone who may listen to so I will not even attempt to describe the story!

I learned so much about something I had never heard of! I was delighted! I was surprised! I was cheering for the main character and was very invested in her story!

Book Title: Hello Stranger
Author: Katherine Center
Narrator: Patti Murin
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Stars
Pages: 336

In this story our author Katherine Center approaches neurovascular issues -cavernoma, prosopagnosia (face blindness).
Personal Note: Since I have had two corneal transplants in both eyes due to Keratoconus.
These types of stories always peak my interest.
I actually read this story and forgot I had and actually thought I was requesting “The Stranger Upstairs” However, it worked out fine as I am a big audiobook fan so enjoyed it again!.
Narrator Patti Murin did a great job in performing the characters.


Sadie Montgomery is struggling artist. Her father is successful surgeon and so far has not been pleased with Sadie’s career choice.
He remarried after his wife/Sadie’s mother dies. New wife and Stepmom Lucinda is not ideal for Sadie. Lucina has a brat of a daughter – Parker who is always bulling her - what is worst is her father takes Parker’s side!

Sadie is excited about s recent art contest but has a seizure the doctor’s diagnosis is serious! There’s a malformed blood vessel in the brain: called cavernoma that needs surgery. Although the surgery itself is serious the big side effect is she will not be able to recognize people’s faces- Everyone will looks like stranger.

Yes this situation is serious but the story left me feeling good.
There are several words of wisdom. e.g. “We are lucky in that we are drawn to people who can teach us things we need to know.” Like letting people help us.
Bottom line
The more good things you look for, the more you will find.

Epilogue gives many examples of simple little things.

Personal Note: This reminded me of when I was being treated after breast cancer surgery~` actually had breast cancer twice. We all know that family and friends feel helpless. They don’t know how to help so will ask how they can help.
Most of us will answer~ I’m okay but thank you ~ or I will call when I need some help.

I learned that i t was best to answer their request on how to help by suggesting something small that they can manage.
I need to pick up a few things from the store. Wonder is the next time you go would you pick up . . . .such n such) Simple but friends are thrilled to be able to help!
Other suggestions are mentioned in the Epilogue.

The end of the book also gives more info on ‘face blindness.

As always I love the ‘Author’s Notes’. This is definitely worth taking the time to read!
Author: ,Katherine Center tells us that reading romance stories is fun.
She goes on to say that all stories have an emotion this emotions fuels anticipation.
Mysteries ~ curiosity
Thriller ~ Heart Thumping
Horror ~ Fear –
Romance ~ gives us the sense that something is going to get better; something to look forward to ~
Awww so true!
I never again will describe a romance story as predictive but one that satisficed my positive anticipation of hope and love.

BTW: Narrator Patti Murin does a great job performing the characters!

Additionally an added treat is that the ‘Author’s Notes’ are told to us by the Ms. Center.
-I am a big audiobook fan and typically don’t like when the author reads their story; an actor or actress will performing whereas the author reads. However, I do enjoy when the author reads their ‘Author’s Notes’ as well as ‘Acknowledges’. It makes for a special connection to the author.
In fact, I wanted to give this story 5+stars as I enjoyed the author’s comments so much!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me the pleasure of listening to this early audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 11, 2023

I had a smile on my face the entire time I listened to this book. The anticipation of the main characters finding their way to each other was so delightfully funny and engaging. The narrator gave Sadie a Mrs. Maisel feel and it was perfect. Love love love! I would encourage you to also read the author’s note at the end. I would highly recommend this book!

After listening to two highly anticipated novels and having them fall flat, I was a bit scared that maybe my love affair with audiobooks was done. Fear not-Hello Stranger brought me right back!
Hello Stranger told in first person. Sadie is a portrait artist who collapses in the street at the beginning of the novel. She comes to find out she has to get minor brain surgery to alleviate a condition. The problem is, she is a finalist in a major competition and she needs to be top-of-her-game to create a winning portrait. As she recovers, she realizes that she cannot see features in faces, a condition that is a side effect of the surgery and will likely heal in a few weeks. The problem is, she is a portrait artist who needs her sight to paint for the competition. In addition, Sadie, while face blind, falls for two guys-her vet and a guy who lives in her building. Falling for men you cannot see was a cool twist, and while not at all spicy, this book does deliver in all the good things that make up a good romance. Sadie is a character who is so well written, I was amazed at her resilience. I highly recommend this book if you love the genre like I do. Better than the book though is the author’s note at the end. Do not skip this part! She addresses why those of us who love romance feel the way we do, and her words brought tears to my eyes. I can’t tell you how many people scoff at me when I tell them the books I truly love. While I’m old enough not to care too much about this, Center’s words about why we love romance made a lot of sense and resonated. I hope you enjoy this book too!

Katherine Center had recently become a must-read author for me, and Hello Stranger exemplifies why. Sadie Montgomery is immediately likable relatable, and I found myself rooting for her from the get-go. Through the course of the book, Sadie is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, yet through her struggles Sadie perseveres and remains true to herself. Sadie’s complex relationships and the way she navigates them through her condition were the highlight for me, and most of all her relationship with her beloved pooch, Peanut - it’s evident that Center herself is an animal lover, it shows through in the love in the narrative. Finally, I can’t speak highly enough about the narrator. She brought the story to life, and make me feel what Sadie felt. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read (and listen!)

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed The Bodyguard but this was even better. I loved all the characters they all were so realistic. They were flawed but in a way that makes sense. I loved the originality of the story. Sometimes romance books can feel like the same story recycled over and over but this was unique and the concept was originally what drew me in to request the arc. I read the book via audiobook and the narrator was also really good. Some narrators can make it difficult to connect with the story but not this one. Overall I really recommend this book especially if you enjoyed Katherine Center's other works.

This is my favorite of Katherine Center’s books to date! Not only is it a heartwarming story with a poignant message, it’s also completely unique in the storyline. This is the story of a struggling artist, with complicated family dynamics, finally catching her big (and well deserved) break. I think it’s best to go into this book “blind”. I have to say, the plot twist was not surprising in the least. I saw it coming early on. That said, it doesn’t ruin the book. This is much more than a simple love story - it’s about self preservation, struggling through life’s obstacles and finding hope. This is truly a feel good novel and I will be recommending it everyone.

Hello Stranger is a very silly book, and I loved it.

The plot is ridiculous, so just go with it: Sadie is a portrait artist who suddenly needs brain surgery, and comes out of it with the inability to recognize faces.  She meets two new men: her veterinarian, Dr. Oliver, and her neighbour, Joe, while she’s preparing for a major art competition.

You can probably guess where this is going.  At times it was frustrating that as a reader things were SO obvious and Sadie wasn’t getting there, but fortunately Center used that fact to add to the comedy.  I laughed out loud multiple times.

I also appreciated that Hello Stranger isn’t just focused on the romance: Sadie has a tonne of character growth around her art and her family.  The supporting characters and potential love interests are wonderfully conceived and so fun to read about.

I listened to the audiobook version of this. Patti Murin is a fantastic narrator, and I don’t know if I’d have liked this book as much without her.  She beautifully captures the range of Sadie’s emotions, her confusion, joy, and grief.  She’s very funny and lends extra hilarity to some of the “who’s on first”-style conversations as Sadie tries to explain her brain condition.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy of this audiobook.

4.5 stars
This book was just fun. The Bodyguard was one of my favorite books last year so I knew I needed to give this one a go.
Sadie finds out she needs brain surgery and after she gets it, she finds out she has face blindness. She can't make sense of anyone's face and literally can't even recognize her family or friends. Thing is, she is a portrait artist who is supposed to be in an art show. She can't even see faces she tries to paint. The romance. Sadie meets Joe who lives in her building. After her friend Sue ditches her and elopes, Sadie needs to use Joe for a model. Their relationship is cute. Sadie has decided that her new vet will be her future husband (even though she can't see him) so she kind of keeps Joe at arm's length even though you can see them falling in love.
The characters and plot were both so engaging and I was always excited to pick this back up. But I figured out the twist super duper early, so through the whole book I was SO impatient for the characters to figure it out. At times it made me angry that they hadn't figured it out yet. It never put me off the book though and when it all finally came out, it was so satisfying. It was resolved so perfectly and the epilogue was so heartwarming.
The narrator of the audiobook was wonderful and really brought a lot to the story.

3.5 stars

I loved the premise of this book (potrait artist with prosopagnosia). The premise was not like any other romance novel I have read in the past. I also enjoyed the portrayal of complicated family relationships. I found the two main characters likeable and I did want them to end up together. I thought I had figured out the twist right off but then thought I hadn't! So I enjoyed that despite being a romance novel the book was not always predictable. The end tied things up nicely but not too neatly. Loved the author's note, it always helps to learn about what the author is thinking and loves about romance.

My only critique of the book was the central conflict. I found it hard to understand why the main character wouldn't share what she was struggling with with other people. This made more sense with additional explanation in the end but I could have used that information sooner in the book. I also worry that her unwillingness to share can make it seem like she is or should be ashamed of her new found problem which is not the case.

I really enjoyed this book!! I loved Sadies personality and character development.

There was a huge plot twist and unexpected parts to the story. Thank you netgalley for the free audiobook copy.

This book was absolutely spectacular. The narrator did such a good job and I didn't want to stop listening. I'll admit that even though this book is listed as romance it read more like women's fiction to me. Overall, this book was so good. The entire concept was really interesting and I found Sadie to be a likeable character. I think her character growth was really great and I like how when she realized she had misinterpreted her past, she immediately took steps to adjust how she interacted with the world. I totally didn't expect the twist between Sadie and Joe. It was really funny and anticlimactic in a charming sort of way. I really wish there had been some sort of karma for Parker. She was not okay mentally and her decision to systematically and pathologically attack Sadie for years was messed up. Also, Sadie's dad and stepmom made me mentally boo everytime they were in a scene. While Lucinda had her moments, I found the entire scene at the art show and the fact that an outside person coming in and supporting Sadie was needed for them to see the truth to be unbelievable. I frankly could've done without her family altogether. Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend the audiobook.

If you love miscommunication in romance than boy is this the book for you. Face blindness is a concept I've heard of but was not overly familiar with and didn't realize the full extent of it. What it provides in a reading experience is a whole lot of mix-ups and miscommunication.

I love Katherine Center and will most certainly continue to pick up whatever she puts on paper but this one did not live up to my expectations (after loving The Bodyguard so much). I didn't care for or about the main character too much, she irritated me more than I wanted to cheer for her. I am also not a fan of miscommunication so I guess this was just a doomed endeavor from the jump.

Every book has its reader and I know some will adore this one as much as I did The Bodyguard just be forewarned that if you can't stand miscommunication take a pass!

I did love the narration of this one and would definitely recommend the audio version.