Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist on the cusp of her big break when a life altering medical condition unexpectedly detracts her present life path, sending her on a journey to self discovery where she must confront the disappointments and heartache of her past while she comes to terms with the devastating impact her condition plays on her present.

Packed with humor, emotion and delightful characters, I absolutely loved this story from the very first page right through the very last. The characters were well drawn and the story moved along at a good clip. Sadie was easy to fall in love with. She was vulnerable yet strong, and independent almost to a fault, stubbornly pushing though on her own for fear of being pitied. She was funny and kind and just kind of person I would want for a friend. I absolutely loved that she was able to find love during the chaos of her life.

Katherine Center has done it again, penning a fantastic story of triumph over adversity that is full of courage, hope, resilience and forgiveness. It was a gentle reminder that life is not always simple, easy or may not be what we expected, but we are surrounded by blessings and reasons to be grateful, and with love, you can conquer all.

A hearty thankful to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance audio copy of this book that is due to publish July 11, 2023. Patti Murin does a fantastic job with her narration, truly bringing these characters to life. Highly recommend!

I have quickly become a Katherine Center fan as I have made my way through her backlist so I was very excited when I received this ARC from NetGalley. I really enjoy how she works medical issues into her books and I always learn something that I didn’t know. Hello Stranger was no different and this concept of face blindness was fascinating. Add in a portrait artist to whom this diagnosis would be devastating, a sweet, slow burn romance along with some family drama and you have a great read. Sadie’s personal growth and healing, both physically and emotionally was well done. I was definitely surprised by the story because this was going to be a 4 star book for me until the very end and I LOVED the plot twist when it hit.

I have really enjoyed Katherine’s books on audio and this was no different. I felt that the narrator did a great job with the voicing and emotion of the story.

I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note as she profoundly described exactly the reason that I love a good love story and long for the happily ever after.

Romantic Content: Kisses

Katherine Center is a must read/must buy author for me - so I was elated when I was approved for this new KC book - and it did NOT disappoint in the slightest, actually it may be my new favorite!

Sadie wants desperately to make it big - or at least be able to pay the bills - as a portrait artist. Her big break is finally here and she's ready to knock the competition out of the park. She'd love to prove her father wrong and pay the rent without stressing. An accident leads to a must-have surgery and Sadie's surgeon father will not let her wait a minute longer than necessary. They found something on her imaging that has lead to the inability to see faces - hopefully temporary - but the six weeks until the competition is rapidly dwindling and she’s not going to back down. Throw in then two gorgeous men and a twisting love aspect too and you’ve got yourself a book you won’t want to put down.

I loved Sadie, I loved the romance, I loved the full cast - even that she-devil-who-shall-not-be-named. Katherine has this amazing ability to pull all of the emotions out of me and weave these threads throughout that seem innocuous until it means so much more later. Her cyclical style is impactful and makes me want to start over immediately to see what I missed.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

This was a solid 4.5. I loved it but The Bodyguard is still the top KC book for me. This was a close 2nd.

The audio narrator was really good.

I just loved the progression of this one and couldn’t have been anymore satisfied with how everything came together in the end. Plus I learned more about “face blindness.” I loved that KC really raised awareness for it in this book and took the time to describe how it feels to the person experiencing it.

The object of Sadie’s affection was just the best. Sadie was very likable.

Although the trouble with Sadie’s dad, stepmother and worst of all evil step sister Parker, just really made me so mad. Parker was the worst, seriously she had no redeeming qualities and I loved that KC didn’t make apologies for her…she just let her be the awful person she was and that helped the overall story arc and with Sadie’s growth. Seriously…Parker. Is. The. Worst. She wins the award for most unlikable character in my recent memory.

I just loved it…I’m not surprised. KC writes so well and I’m always instantly drawn into her novels and rooting for her characters (except for that awful Parker)!

I highly recommend this one.

Per the book blurb--
"One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness."

I listened to this as an audiobook. This was not a book written or narrated for me. It's a cute and quirky story, but the story starts right off with face blindness, which gets really reiterated throughout the novel. The ending is really predictable because of it and the whole thing with face blindness comes off lazy.
I wouldn't really call it a romance novel because the romance in it is pretty minimal and if you took it out, it would just be a long novel about someone with face blindness who has a terrible horrible family.
It makes you wonder why she even speaks to her family, but they are right there constantly shoving themselves into her life for no reason. The narrator's voice for the step-sister was grinding, which I guess was the point maybe to show how awful the step-sister is.

This might be a Cinderella retelling actually, but with one step-sister.

Katherine Center is a must read author for me and I was thrilled to get an arc of this new book from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the story of Sadie, a portrait artist, who is struggling to find the success she has been chasing for years. After an accident leads to a brain surgery, Sadie finds herself unable to see faces in the same way. Though she is told it is a temporary issues, she has a deadline for a major art contest and this turns her world upside down. She is struggling with many things and finds an unexpected friendship with her neighbor Joe and sets her romantic sights on her dog Peanut's new vet, Dr. Oliver Addison. She also is dealing with a complicate family situation and the loss of her mother. This isn't just a romance, but a story about how we see the world and how we observe the things around us. The way that Center deals with the sight issues and discusses faces and the viewing of the world really makes you think. Thank you netgalley

I read a lot of thrillers. Sometimes I really need to change up genres and I usually always go to Katherine Center. I was so happy to be approved for an ARC for Hello Stranger. I wanted to wait to read this until summer time but I just couldn't wait any longer! This book was such a breath of fresh air. There were definitely unexpected parts that I never saw coming. This is the perfect summer/beach read! Another 5 star book from Katherine Center! I think the Authors note was probably one of my favorite I have ever read, so do not skip it.

I loved this story. At first Sadie was a little woe is me but her character grew a lot. I can't even imagine having a disability like face blindness. Book was great, narrator was also great.

Spoiler ahead:

At about 70%, I KNEW Joe was Oliver and I just had to keep going for proof. When he ghosted Sadie, that's all I needed. I was just thinking "is Joe his middle name?" Lol!! Also, Parker is the absolute worst. Wow.

“And the idea that anything could just disappear at any moment is something you suddenly understand in a whole new way.”

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center. 

I have yet to be disappointed in any Katherine Center book. She has this charm she gives her characters that make it hard not to fall in love with them. 

What I loved about this story was Sadie's perseverance. She is faced with the unthinkable...face blindness when she is a portrait painter. She has finally got the biggest break as an artist in her life, and is unable to paint as before. I loved that she used her creative spirit to find a new way to paint. 

Oh Joe, what a great character. I loved his nickname, Helpful...he really was Mr Helpful!

This was another win from Center! And the audiobook is the way to go with this one, so perfect!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is officially my favorite book by this dynamic author! Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors! I loved everything about this book, the premise was unique, the character development was stellar and the audiobook quality was top-notch ( I loved the narrator).

Center is truly the master of writing complex relationships and emotionally charged events with care. I can always count on her ability to write stories with well-developed characters who I cheer on; characters that are flawed (like all of us) with interesting backstories that tug at your heart. This book did not disappoint because it was all of these things and more.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this book! Katherine Center is a genius author, as it is, but this book was super engaging and I kept wanting to know what happens next. The book is definitely a contemporary romance, but does not necessarily follow your typical romance plot line. I was surprised to learn from the authors notes that the medical condition in the book was actually real! This made the book so much more interesting and made me want to research and learn more about the condition. I really enjoyed this!

I adore this book. By the end of the first chapter, I was absolutely hooked and didn't want the book to ever end.

I listened to this as an audiobook and let me tell you it has quickly gone to the top of the list as one of my favorite books of the year. The plot was unique, intriguing, refreshing, and endearing. My favorite part of any book by Katherine Center is how well she writes her characters and Hello Stranger is no exception. I highly recommend picking this up and finding out for yourself how wonderful this book is.

I was provided an advanced listener's copy by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley and I have to say, I highly recommend this as an audiobook. This is slightly niche feedback, but the audio quality of this book was superb. The narration by Patti Murrin: 10/10.

This is a predictable (in a good way!- listen to the author note at the end) rom-com. I didn't really enjoy the MC as I felt she was kind of immature. She didn't seem 28 to me and I also don't enjoy the miscommunication trope. However, the plot was unique and I'd still recommend this book to select groups of people (art lovers, Katherine Center fans, etc)
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen early!

Another great novel from Katherine Center! I enjoyed the unique story line and genuine romance. I fell in love with the characters and adored the ending.

Quick Summary: An epic, full stop wo-fi ro

My Review: Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was a dream read. I absolutely adored it! I laughed. I cried. I smiled. I empathized. I cheered. I understood. I celebrated.

About the Book: There was so much to love about this book. I was totally invested the whole time. Every character, every struggle, every moment was beautifully written.

My Final Say: This novel gets a 💖 rating. I highly recommend it. It should be read on repeat often.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties of All Time: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Digital ARC: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to St. Martin’s Press, to Macmillan Audio, and to NetGalley who provided access to digital ARCs of this work. The words I have shared are my own and have been voluntarily rendered.

This was a delightful book to ok listen to. I always love reading this authors stories as she has a way of weaving a narrative that feels akin to Rom-Coms of the 1990’s/early 2000’s. Her hopeful storytelling leads the reader through emotions and excitement as they picture their characters as movie actors/actresses so vividly I almost feel like I’m reading a screenplay for a Reese Witherspoon flick.

As I finished listening to this story I loved hearing the authors note at the conclusion. Katherine explains how romance novels = hopefulness. And that really hit the nail on the head. Reading a Katherine Center novel feels like the dose of hopefulness that all of us are in need of. Possibly a bit predictable, but if I can read something that is positively predictable I’ll take it in our cynical world!

*** Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook***
Release Date: 07. 11. 2023

Summary: Sadie just got her “big break” and is a finalist (made it to the top 10 out of 2000 applicants) in a portrait competition. Her best friend wants to throw a rooftop party at Sadie’s and begrudgingly Sadie agrees to go get some cheap wine. While Sadie is out, she realizes she left her money at home and the kind man behind her offers to pay for her. Sadie and this man have a flirty little back and forth in the street and Sadie suddenly has a seizure. The next thing Sadie knows she’s sitting in a hospital bed, with her evil step mother, Lucinda, horrifying her with the details.
Sadie’s biological mother died years ago. Sadie adored her mother. Sadie is an artist like her mother. Sadie has the same illness that killed her mother. So, Sadie’s father forces her to have the “elective” surgery. The surgery went well, but Sadie woke up to face blindness. She didn’t recognize her best friend sitting right next to her. THEN Sadie’s beloved dog gets sick. Sadie brings the dog to an emergency hospital and decides she is in love with her dog, Peanut’s, doctor – Dr. Addison.
Once Peanut appears to improve, Sadie realizes she needs to focus on the competition. Add in her neighbor, “Joe”, a hipster in a bowling jacket. Sadie originally decided she hated “Joe” but as time goes on, she realizes she might actually like Joe, the kind, will help anyone guy. Sadie’s best friend decides to elope in Canada leaving Sadie scrambling for a person to paint for the contest. Joe, the knight in shining armor agrees to help. Before Sadie decides to go further with Joe, she thinks she needs to end (the non-existent) things with Dr. Addison.
Dr. Addison does not take the ending of things well. Joe decides he’s moving out of the apartment. Sadie loses the competition. Sadie is still face blind.
A lot of other things happen, but I am trying to not to spoil too much.
My Review: This book hit e v e r y emotion for me. I felt everything Sadie felt, in real time – her concern when Peanut got sick, her grieving her mother, her family’s general lack of concern for her. I loved her character. I thought “Joe” was a great character too, a guy who always seemed to be at the right place at the right time. As of lately, I have not felt connected to characters and kind of just finished books just to say I finished it, but I hung onto every word said by the narrator. This book is definitely in the running for top book of the month for me.

This book confirmed one thing (that didn't need much confirmation), I love Katherine Center and I hope she never stops writing quirky books that make me cry and laugh and want to be her friend.

Let's start with the cover: OBSESSED. And everything on the cover ties in so perfectly to the story!

Katherine has a way of weaving deep tragedy with a lightness that makes you feel like hope is always on the horizon. I love that her books never shy away from the hard topics of life, but that she faces them so ferociously.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, but I will say she really had me going with this one and wondering how I was going to end up satisfied with a conclusion. I was surprised and satisfied in a way I did not expect to be.

This is one you're not going to want to miss! It comes out on July 11th, so place those pre-orders now!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

This book!!!! I adore it so much. I went into this one blind (ironic, if you actually read the synopsis), and I pretty much immediately fell in love after one page. I have read one other book about face blindness, so it was very fun to stumble upon another randomly. Reading about love when one person can’t recognize who they’re falling in love with is so special. I did see the “twist” coming, but as this isn’t a mystery novel, I don’t find that a big deal.

This book is pure sugar, swoon-worthy, and I truly did not want it to end. You need to put it on your radar now!

(Now I don’t want to start a new book bc I need to savor this giddiness)

5⭐️ for all the vibes!

(Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc)

What a charming and delightful read! It takes a lot for me to truly enjoy a romance novel nowadays, because I actually have to feel for and like the characters which is hard for me to do in under 400 pages. But Joe and Oliver were truly wonderful and I enjoyed Sadie even if she did some things that irked me (though I understand why she did so).

One thing I didn't love was Sadie's unwillingness to tell people about her face-blindness. While I understand the "it's so embarrassing" thought she had... it really isn't at all and even my anxiety-addled brain was like "yeah, no, we would tell everyone about that immediately" so I became increasingly frustrated whenever she refused to admit it to other people. If your worst enemy already knows, then why worry about what others would say? (But once again... I understand why for her character; it was just ANNOYING!)

I did love that it felt like I was watching a rom-com on TV and I finished this book in a day and a half (and that includes my sleep time). Highly recommend if you're looking for something fun, easy, and fast in between dense fantasy reads (like I am right now).

Katherine Center is a new "auto-read" author for me, because I have simply adored both of her most recent novels and can't wait to see what's next from her.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!