Hello Stranger is an inventive rom com centered around a real world medical problem that makes this romance stand out.
The mc Sadie is immediately likeable and her face blindness only makes her more so. It's an interesting read to see how she works to figure out how to be the artist she is so desperately trying to be while managing this new condition. I also liked Joe aka Dr. Addison as a boyfriend for her. I will say what frustrated me so much about this book was why Joe never really confronted Sadie about how she seemingly seemed different to him as her neighbor and then as her client. I felt as a doc (yes even a vet), he should have been able to recognize that something was off. I was also infuriated by the way Sadie was treated by her evil step-sister and father and step-mother. It gave me Cinderella vibes and while it made me sympathize more with Sadie, it was so frustrating to see her treated so horribly and no one stuck up for her.
The romance was cute though and I thought the ending was really emotional but ultimately a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this title.

Following a sudden accident, portrait artist Sadie Montgomory has to come to terms with the new reality that she can’t recognize faces. This puts her career in jeopardy and complicates everything else, including dealing with the two men that enter her life.

So far, I would have to rank this one as my favorite of books I’ve read from Katherine Center. It was a sweet and heartwarming read with an adorable elderly dog and a great twist at the end. I always enjoy how Katherine is able to balance challenging topics - in this case brain injury and difficult family dynamics- with a sweet romance.

If you’re looking for a book to add to your summer reading list or take to the beach, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great book by Katherine Center. Absolutely loved it!! ! I really connected with Sadie and can't imagine what it's like to have face blindness. I read this back in July 2023 . Reviewed on Goodreads.

I think The Bodyguard is a one off because I have not liked another Katherine Center book that I've picked up. I really, really tried with this one but I just did not like the characters at all. Not one bit.

What a unique plot! I had never heard of this condition before and couldn’t stop thinking about it when I was out there living my life and looking at faces. I loved the characters and the plot kept things rolling which was nice.

Not my favorite Katherine Center book, as I found the main character difficult to connect with. It was an interesting concept but just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I have read a few books by Katherine Center and have enjoyed each one. This one was no different. Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist who is competing in an art competition. She had high hopes of winning until an accident left her with a startling discovery. Sadie is not able to see people's faces. This affects her chances in the competition. There is confusion on the romance front but things work themselves out in the end.

I have never read a Katherine Center book that I haven't loved, and this book is no exception! I felt drawn into this story from the very first page and it was as if the MMC and I were besties. I love the way that Center writes. This was one where I couldn't help but laugh out loud while reading. I was able to overlook the miscommunication trope in this one for the golden retriever MMC vibes. High recommend.

I enjoyed reading this book, and really liked the messaging behind it! The main character is an artist who copies the style of painting her mother used to do, prior to the mother passing. A step-sister from the depths of hell, a complicated relationship with both her father and MIL, and recently diagnosed with face blindness? I requested an ARC via NetGalley so quickly.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this prior to its release!

Now I love Katherine Center's writing and the fact that the heroine would be temporarily blind was a real hook for me. But to be honest I was a little confused while reading this - only because the synopsis talked about the MFC falling in love/lust with two different men... and the entire time there was NO connection at all with her Veterinarian love interest. The ending was a comedy of errors due to a mistaken identity and "accidental" break up. This was really the only part I didn't love - it was a tad over the top and unrealistic for her to break up with someone she didn't even go on one date with. So all the tension and drama at the end seemed super forced. It was a REAL big stretch Ms. Center. Despite all of that I have to say there was something about this story that I just loved. Mainly I just really enjoyed the characters that were developed. Sadie made me laugh multiple times and Joe was an absolute sweetheart. So bottom line is yes, I would recommend reading this fun story.

I really enjoyed this book. At first it took me a little to get into it. Sadie seemed the type to overreact to everything. But once we learned more about her family and upbringing, it made her characterization make more sense. I've seen a couple movies that had face blindness as a major plot point so I had a feeling that some of the plotlines would feel a little familiar. And they were, but with different characters, the reactions to situations were fresh and new.
Thanks to Katherine Center's descriptions, I was able to understand just how Sadie felt with loosing what was the most important sense to her. As an artist, sight is her everything. But with it altered after her surgery, she felt lost and didn't know how to cope. With encouragement from her doctor and friend, she learned to recognize and "read" other people based on factors other than their faces.

Katherine Center is always a win! Her stories have so much joy and fun. This book was a great story that kept me hooked from the beginning and I loved having it set in Houston. The big "twist" surprised me and I loved how the story was written. I always come away from a Katherine Center book feeling like I learned more about the human experience and this book was no different!

I loved this. Fun, light romance with great characters. Katherine Center is always great and this lived up to my expectations. It was sweet and funny, and I loved both of the MCs. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free copy. I recommend it to anyone that likes rom/coms. 4.5 stars rounded up.

This book was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ for me. One thing I love about Katherine Center books is that they’re all unique stories and even though they are tropey (as most romance books are) the characters are layered.

Spoiler below? Maybe?



I got easily bored by the Joe/Dr Hot Vet plot- I know we were supposed to know that he was the same guy all along- but the way it was written and dragged out a bit, it seemed like the author thought this was a reveal for the reader?

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. One of my favorite Katherine center books. It made me laugh out loud, cry and everything in between! 5 full stars!

An absolutely lovely romance book. Perfect for vacation or when needing a light read.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy this book very much and would recommend it to any of my friends. I love Katherine Center and her way with words that draws the readers in.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was my second Katherine Center book (previously read The Bodyguard).

I will first start by saying the author’s note was my favorite part of the book. I now appreciate these sections more than ever. With the amount of content out there for consumption, having that moment of connection to an author and the story you just read helps it all click. It’s as satisfying as a good epilogue! This was no different.

“Romance novels, rom-coms, happy love stories—they all run on a blissful sense that we’re moving toward something better.”

This novel moved toward something better. It was an interesting concept, plenty of anticipation and a well earned HEA. Katherine Center is becoming an automatic read for me.

I really enjoy Katherine Center books, but I have to be in a mood for them. I really liked Bodyguard so I was excited for this one. I really enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t my favorite Katherine Center.

In Katherine Center's "Hello Stranger," Sadie, a portrait artist gaining recognition, faces a unique challenge when she develops acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia (face blindness). Amidst navigating her condition, Sadie finds herself torn between two men, adding layers to this engaging romantic tale. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the feel-good nature of the story, which delves beyond romance into themes of personal growth and resilience. While the plot unfolds predictably, the journey is filled with humor and heartwarming moments that captivate the reader. Center's well-researched narrative and vivid descriptions bring Sadie's experiences to life, making for an enjoyable read that leaves a lasting impression and a delightful experience.