I am always a fan of Katherine Center's works. They provide fun, easy reads that are the definition of a page-turner. This story was enjoyable; however, it is not my favorite of her works. The main characters were very likable, but this book also includes one of the most unlikeable characters I've encountered in a book of this style. I also found the ending to be very predictable (which is saying something because I never predict the endings of books very well) and the attempted character redemption at the end wasn't as satisfying as I would expect from a Katherine Center book.

That said, I will still read her next book and the one after that as I generally enjoy her style. This story just fell a bit flat for me.

The narration on the audiobook was wonderful.

I am a huge Katherine Center fan, so I was really excited to get an ALC audiobook to review.

Overall, this was a good rom com read - I was able to finish the audiobook in a few days. It was engaging, funny, emotional, and (of course) had a happy ending. The premise of "face blindness' was interesting and something I haven't read much about before.

I wasn't surprised by the twist and sometimes the plot seemed a bit far-fetched, but oh well - that happens in fiction sometimes!

This wasn't my favorite Katherine Center, but I'll always love anything she writes!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

HELLO STRANGER follows Sadie, a young woman who comes out of brain surgery with face blindness, a condition hoped to be temporary. With this condition she isn’t able to recognize any of the faces of those around her, not even her closest friends and family. Making matters even more complicated, Sadie has just been announced as a finalist in a portrait competition, an art which largely relies on the translation of faces into art.

Sadies’ life is further complicated in her relationships. Though she has a supportive BFF, that BFF has a busy life of her own. Her family life is complicated with a strained relationship with her father, and a step sister who lives up to the wicked label. The only face she really recognizes is that of her dog! Sadie doesn’t want to admit to anyone the condition she is in even as she meets and falls for two men she can’t even recognize.

There is something about Katherine Center’s writing that just makes for a cozy read and this definitely lived up to that expectation for me. It was a fun read and one that I could easily fly through. The audio was really well done as well.

I did struggle a bit in this book with Sadie because she definitely could be frustrating. While I could definitely feel the distress she was feeling in this situation, I did find her self-centered nature to be a bit extreme at times. I think it was probably necessary for the route the plot takes, but it did make it a little harder to connect to her. I did also find the wicked step-sister to be a bit over the top for me as well.

While this didn’t wind up being my favorite book by this author, I did still have a lot of fun reading it.

This was a story unlike anything I ever would have expected. What an interesting medical diagnosis. I can't imagine having to live life not being able to see faces. I really enjoyed all the characters in this book aside from Sadie. She was ok, but I really struggled with some of her reluctance to let people in and be more open. It made for drama throughout the book but I just felt, if I was in her situation, it would be exhausting and it was so counterproductive. Joe was incredible. Mr. Kim was the absolute sweetest. Who doesn't love when a pet plays a huge character in a book as well. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and feel grateful to have learned about this very real diagnosis that people experience.

The Author's Note at the end was beautiful!

First, let me start by saying that receiving the ALC of this book shortly after finishing The Bodyguard was an absolute gift. I finished listening to this book in the span of 2 1/2 days. It was a really sweet story, made even sweeter by the authors note at the end. I especially liked the uniqueness of the plot, and how the condition Sadie finds herself with (acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia—a.k.a. Face blindness) is clearly explained. In this case, it’s also believable enough to accept the premise of the story and willingly suspend your disbelief. I did have one burning question throughout, but it was answered very well by the author towards the end. As with The Bodyguard, the story had a very loveable hero, who paired so well with the stubborn heroine, and a sweet happy ending to root for. I also really appreciated the strained family dynamics, and how those were portrayed and overcome.
Another fantastic read by Center. Thanks to #netgalley and #macmillanaudio for the advance listen.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was a delight to read and a work of art! (See what I did there??) The premise was unique and I loved how Sadie overcame her struggles and blossomed throughout the story. I loved the emotions throughout as well as the growth and love. All around it was a feel good read and a favorite of the year! If you loved Center’s book from last year, The Bodyguard, you’re sure to enjoy this one as well.

I loved this book!!! I had started and about 2/3 of 3 other romances when I started listening to this one, having become bored with each of them and losing motivation to keep reading. Then, FINALLY, came a book that caught and kept my attention the entire way through, lifting me up out of my reading slump! Katherine Center's HELLO STRANGER gives us a fascinating and well-researched romance plot, along with layered characters, humor, and so much heart. I felt skeptical when I first read the premise of this book, because it sounded a bit far-fetched to me -- but as I read, I learned that our main character's condition is actually very real and not as uncommon as I'd previously thought. Center's writing does an excellent job informing the reader about the character's neurological condition, and helping them understand how people with it might experience the world around them. Ultimately the plot felt quite believable, and I found myself entirely invested in the characters, needing to know how their story would resolve. Completely absorbed, I finished this book in less than 24 hours, then missed it once it was over.

Katherine Center does it again! I absolutely loved the narrator. I started off reading the physical copy of this and it took me a little but to get into it. After switching to the audiobook version I binged it in one day. I couldn't stop listening. This romance was unlike any other book I've read which is hard to find. I highly recommend the audiobook version.

This book was a five star book for me, it had every aspect I needed and I loved the entire journey. Did I see the conflict at the end coming? Yes but I still think it was done well and I am so beyond excited to recommend this book to others

Have you ever read a book that makes you wish you were more conservative with your previous 5 star reviews because you’d found a TRUE 5 stars? Well, that’s this one for me. I absolutely loved this book, even despite my hatred for the miscommunication trope. The characters are so
well written and this audiobook is wonderfully done. You’ll laugh, feel the warm fuzzies, and want to be Sadie’s best friend.

Hello Stranger was pure Katherine Center joy. I've read thrillers about prosopagnosia, but it was even more fun to read about a portrait artist with face blindness.

There was so much to love about this book: the storyline, the side characters, the dog, and the climax. I even loved the villian--Parker making fun of Sadie's condition was hilarious to me. I was fascinated to see how the love triangle would turn out and really enjoyed where she took it, although if Sadie was less self-absorbed it might have turned out differently.

The best part of the book might have been the author's note. I loved Katherine Center's message about romance books and what to expect of them!

Patti Murin is a fantastic narrator and is always such a good fit for Katherine Center's books. I definitely recommend the audio version of this book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Katherine Center, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC copy of Hello Stranger in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This was my second book by Katherine Center and once again I enjoyed her work!

This time around we follow portrait artist Sadie Montgomery who seems to be in a continual state of crisis. It sort of reminds me of the saying you win some and you lose some. Sadie lands herself a dream opportunity as a finalist in a competition that will help her score some much needed cash. The only problem... well what happens when you can't actually see the faces you are supposed to be paining because you needed surgery and the side effects take your sight temporarily away just 6 weeks before the big competition?!

As she navigates this crisis - two different men enter her life that are involved in other chaotic areas of her life. A vet who is taking care of her dog after a health issue, and a neighbor who made a bad first impression.

I love how light hearted things were overall, but was annoyed with how self centered Sadie was a majority of the time. The main character did undergo a lovely growth within herself throughout the book that did make up for it.

Read if you love:
-Love Triangles
-Hilarious banter
-Family drama
-Endearing Characters

The audiobook version is very enjoyable.

I loved this book. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you. I kept updating my husband on the book, even though, I’m sure he truly did not care. I just wanted to talk to someone about it.

Sadie has had it rough with her family and career. She just made a big break with acceptance into a career boosting competition when a medical procedure leaves her with a condition they prevents her from seeing and identifying faces. How do you paint a portrait without a face? How do you navigate life when those around you aren’t recognizable?

It’s one of those books that teaches you about a rare condition (yes I googled a lot for more information), but more importantly teaches you about self discovery and noticing more around you. Sadie’s journey was difficult and here breaking, but also beautiful and uplifting. I thought about this books for days after I finished it.

I listened to the audio of this book and loved the narration.

Content warning: a few swear words, but not often or a large part of any character’s language style. Difficult family dynamics.

First, I have to admit, I am a huge fan of Katherine Center. I was thrilled to receive an advanced audiobook copy of her latest love story, Hello Stranger. In Hello Stranger, Center introduces readers to Sadie Montgomery, a starving artist who is finally getting her first big-break, being a finalist in the North American Portrait Society's competition. Sadie's dreams and life are suddenly thrown upside down after developing a condition known as face blindness. I do not want to give anything away, but Sadie's inability to recognize faces creates a lot of confusion, many mix-ups while entertaining the reader. Did I love this as much as The Bodyguard? No. But it was enjoyable! 3.5 stars!

One downfall for me was the narrator's voice for Sadie's horrific step-sister. Understandably, you would not want to give a truly evil step-sister a sweet voice, but it was so harsh and irritating, it drove me crazy to the point that I wanted to fast forward. This could just be me.
A bonus was learning more about the condition known in layman's terms as face-blindness.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars

Hello Stranger was such a fascinating read. Katherine Center does such a great job of writing things you wouldn't see in your typical romance.

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist who just got her big break. Or so she thinks. Something happens to her that changes things. She starts to see things differently, people differently. She and her neighbor Joe sort of get off on the wrong foot, but with time they become friends. I love animals in books and Sadie has a dog she has to take to the vet, and that's where she meets Dr. Addison.

I want to keep a lot of the other plot points vague because although I guessed the twist fairly early on I don't think everyone else will. Sadie's journey was challenging, but also fun at times. I loved watching her heal and grow certain relationships in her life.

This is one of those books that perfectly balances emotion, humor, and romance. Hello Stranger was entertaining, enjoyable, and charming. I would definitely recommend this one!

I’m not even sure how to express how much I enjoyed this book. Katherine Center writes perfect every time! This book is funny, cute, unexpected, and keeps the reader absolutely hooked the entire time. While I had an idea of how it was going to end, it concluded even better than I expected and I couldn’t stop smiling. The narration was amazing and I was listening to it wherever I went. Highly, highly recommend reading or listening to this! 5⭐️, 1🌶

Sadie is living life on her terms, her mom passed away years ago, she and her father do not have a good relationship, her step mother and step sister are the definition of wicked, so it's just Sadie and her geriatric dog, Peanut. Sure Sadie is a struggling artist that specializes in facial art portraits and she has finally gotten a big break to represent her art in portrait competition. Unfortunately, life decides to throw Sadie a curve ball and she has a seizure in the middle of the street that leads to brain surgery that leads to her being unable to recognize and see faces. The doctor says it should be corrected (hopefully) in 4-6 weeks. This is a disaster for Sadie, she has art to create that will finally be showcased. Then to add another miserable circumstance, Peanut gets sick, but not all is lost because Sadie meets Dr. Addison. Dr. Addison is dreamy, so dreamy that he has Sadie planning their wedding in her head. Then there is Joe, a guy that lives in her building that is so nice his nickname is Mr. Helpful. Sadie finds herself torn between two guys that are the perfect package in their own ways, but she can’t really see either one of them. What if her brain doesn’t go back to “working” properly, what will happen to all of her dreams?

This was a funny, lighthearted, rom-com, perfect for a beach read type of book. Sadie’s character is delightful and relatable. At some points the writing was a little cheesy, that read a little like Young Adult(ish), but overall a sweet story of overcoming obstacles.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book! I really thought a lot of her problems would go away if she just TOLD people she couldn't see them, but then I guess we wouldn't have the whole story. I figured out the plot twist around 75% through the book, and wow I didn't really see it coming!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I reread/listened to the audiobook narration. The narrator did a good job, but not exactly how I pictured Sadie originally.

Original review:
Anything Katherine Center is a “can’t wait to get my hands on, must read.”

And of course, Hello Stranger was no different.

Sadie, a literal starving portriat artist catches her big break in being picked as a finalist for a portriat competition. The catch: she undergoes brain surgery that gives her (hopefully temporary) face blindness. How does one paint portriats without facial recognition?!?

Throw in some family drama, the power of grief, and falling in love without ever seeing the guy’s face as a face.

So much story packed into this novel and I adored every second of it.

For the last 25 percent of the book, I was on the edge of my seat or crying.

I want to live inside Center’s head, she outdoes herself every time.

#HelloStranger by @katherinecenter is the #romcom I finished listening to today and as usual, it was a 5 star production, and a 5 star story that made me laugh, made me learn about a medical condition which I cannot pronounce so I’ll use the vernacular term “face blindness., and gave me the warm fuzzies at the end. This story was particularly bitter sweet after everything poor Sadie had been thru in her life, and how strained her family life was, but in true #katharinecenter style, through eventual honest communication, love, and the breakdown of assumptions (one of our biggest barriers in life)… things inevitably fall into place. I adored this romance and even though there was a moment when the Dr was SO crestfallen that I kinda knew where it was going to go, the joy of the characters figuring it out for themselves was so much fun. A huge thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for allowing me an early listen to this book! And many thanks to the author @katherinecenter for always writing stories with such intriguing characters, fun banter, and joyful endings ! @pattimurin and as EVER, your narration is one of my FAVORITES! Your comedic timing brings out so many laughs, so fantastic job as usual!!! If you haven’t listened to or read this author before, I highly recommend her as one of the leaders in the romcom business today. If you need to laugh and feel warm and fuzzy, get this a read asap! #fanforLife #romcombooks
#whoknew #doit #readingisfun