This book was so sweet! I loved how this story felt like so much more than just a book about a relationship, it felt about discovering yourself in the process. Sadie was so unique compared to other characters and I loved getting to follow her journey. Her relationship with Joe was also so sweet! This one had humor but was also so sweet at the same time.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Once again, Katherine Center does not disappoint, she gave me a book I read in a day and went to bed happy.

Sadie Montgomery lost her mom at age 14 to a stroke, or so she was told. Sadie follows in her mom's footsteps, must to the chagrin of her surgeon father, to become an artist. They had a falling out around the time her mom died and her father quickly remarried Lucinda who had a daughter the same age as Sadie, Parker.

Fast forward about twelve years and Sadie is a finalist in the North American Portrait Society. She has six weeks to paint a new portrait to enter win the top prize of $10,000. However, the night of learning the news, while out buying provisions for an impromptu celebration party, she is crossing the street when suddenly everything goes black. When Sadie comes to, she is diagnosed with face blindness. The doctors assure her it should be temporary, due to swelling in her brain, but in some cases, it does stay permanent. Now Sadie must decide how to do a portrait when peoples faces resemble puzzle pieces lying on a table.

As Sadie navigates this temporary? permanent? new world, she realizes that things can go right when you least expect them.

Again - I loved this book - and all works done by this author. I anxiously await the next book!!

I read this book towards what I think will be the end of a reading slump. I’ve just been busy. And yet, I finished this book in a sweet 48 hours because it was so good! This is 100% on brand for Center’s work (I’ve previously read How to Walk Away and The Bodyguard) so if you’ve tried her books before and liked them this will fill your bucket too!

Sadie is a portrait painter who suffers a brain injury and struggles to work. But she has to because she’s just gotten her big break - a spot in the top ten showcase for a national competition. She’s got a host of family issues that are mostly realistically wrapped up at the end of the novel but that’s not the best part…

The best part is that while you’ve got the Good Samaritan on the back burner (he’s involved in the inciting action!), there’s also Joe her neighbour and the mysterious vet Oliver. See, Sadie suffers, as a result of her brain injury, from face blindness. So she’s piecing together life, and her work, from clues, hints, and her other senses.

I enjoyed this book very much and it did keep me guessing how it would turn out until very close to the end. Well done!

ARC REVIEW

Hello stranger
By Katherine Center

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing date: 7/11/2023

Sadie, a portrait artist, needs brain surgery. It's a relatively easy procedure, but as a result, sbe experiences "face blindness."  She can still see the world around her, but faces are unrecognizable as a result of swelling in her brain. It's HOPEFULLY only a temporary side affect, but the timing couldn't be worse. Sadie is a finalist in a portrait competition, and she needs to paint...you guessed it,a FACE.

While trying to adapt to her new normal, Sadie develops feelings for 2 men....at the same time, (Even though ahe cant SEE them) has some major family issues, and also has a sick dog.  Sadie is trying to navigate her new reality while trying to understand the world without using her eyes.

This was adorable! The 2nd half was my favorite. The first 50% didn't hold my interest, unfortunately.  I was certain I was only going to give it a 3 star rating, but the  ending was soooooo good!

Joe?!! LOVED his character. TALK ABOUT SWEETHEART!! What a great book boyfriend!

This is definitely a sweet, non spicy romance. I did struggle to feel free romance vibes in the first half. It didn't suck me in like I hoped, but by the 2nd half, I was invested and finished 50% in one sitting.

Need a heartwarming read? Pick this one up on 7/11!


THANKS TO @netgalley AND @stmartinspress for the cute arc!
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We start the story with Sadie receiving this amazing news - she's been chosen to participate in the final round of a prestigious portrait competition! But after a medical scare, she awakes from brain surgery with acquired face blindness. She can see just fine, but her brain can't make sense of the features of a person's face, so she doesn't recognize anyone. She only has weeks to paint a portrait for her submission to the contest, but she can't even make sense of her own face, let alone anyone else's.

In the midst of this trauma, Sadie also deals with a health scare for her pup, the never-ending grief of losing her mom when she was a teenager, a tormenting step-sister, and the daily fear of not being able to recognize anyone in her life or trust her senses at all.

I was absolutely fascinated by Sadie's journey. Along the way she meets Oliver (her dog's handsome vet) and Joe (a guy who lives in her building) and she develops strong feelings for both of them. I think the most compelling part of the story was that I felt like my understanding of Oliver and Joe were also muted in a way - Sadie didn't know what they looked like and I felt like I never really got to know them that well. And I can't tell if this was done intentionally (it made me feel like I couldn't "see" them either) or not, but it definitely interfered with my ability to feel invested with the romance. There was some very sweet and adorable caretaking scenes but I just felt a bit disconnected from them when usually I'd be swooning alongside the heroine! I should note that I am a strictly romance reader and I would say this felt like much more of a women's fiction story than a romance to me, so that could be part of it as well.

Either way, it was a heartwarming story that I think a lot of people will enjoy for its unique premise! I especially enjoyed reading Katherine Center's notes at the end explaining her research process and all of the people she met along the way!

I absolutely love Katherine Center, so I knew I would absolutely love this book. I thought the premise was brilliant and so interesting to dive into and consider. A portrait artist who can no longer see faces? Yep, I'm in. Those who love a medical anomaly will love to read about facial blindness. It was something I had never heard of, so I loved that I learned something new through Sadie. And, as always, Katherine Center nails the romance part of the story. I loved it! I will forever be a fan.

This book was really cute although very predictable. There were some hints in the beginning where I had a suspicion of what was going on and then about 50% through was confirmed. Very guessable twist if you’re paying attention.

Other than the very guessable twist- Sadie lost her mother to the disease that she also has but was luckily able to get it removed thanks to the persistence of her father. A broke artist trying to win the same competition her mom was supposed to be in when her world changes and she can no longer see faces. Being an artist who does portraits for a living really through off her game.

She doesn’t get along with her family, her step sister is constantly competitions with her and trying to ruin her life. And then this guy comes along and changes Sadie for the better. Read along and find out how. The story really comes together in the end and is a really good read. Everything works out as it should.

I love this author and will be recommending this book to everyone definitely an auto buy author for me for now on! Everyone should pick this up and give it a shot! Love this book so much.

I voluntarily read and reviewed “Hello Stranger”. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sadie is a painter who had an accident and through the accident she finds out she needs to have brain surgery. One of the side effects of brain surgery is that she can no longer see faces of people they are all in pieces.
I really enjoyed the story, considering there was absolutely no spice whatsoever. It was extremely good. I found myself coming back to the story all throughout the day, wanting to finish it. I called what was going to happen about halfway through the book. It all kind of clicked, but it was so well done.

Where go even begin? The fact that this book is done is just tragic... I could keep reading about Joe and Sadie for at least another novel. To experience Sadie finally coming into her own and learning who she is... that would be worth reading.

I loved this book, as I do all of Katherine Center's books. I had to slow myself down to keep from finishing it in one night. She writes people and emotions so well. Her heroines are relatable, flawed and pitch-perfect! The romance is real, not too heavy, not too trite. I feel like Sadie will live on and I will be cheering for her. Though she is too kind and generous to Parker... I understand what made her into the terrible person she is to Sadie but I cannot forgive her.

And the romantic twist... totally did not figure that out! Nicely done.

Hello Stranger was such a delightful and light-hearted read! Katherine Center always knows how to deliver on the laughs and the swoon-worthy romance!

Sadie was a spunky and hilarious main character to follow! Watching her navigate her life, her career, her relationships, and romance after being diagnosed with Face Blindness was so interesting. I think Katherine Center did a great job with showing the reader the challenges that come with Face Blindness without it pulling you out of the story or feeling clinical.

Joe was everything. I'm glad that he turned out to be exactly what I thought he was from the very beginning.

One thing that felt a bit out of place to me was the characterization of Parker and that whole conflict with Sadie, Parker, and their parents. I just don't think enough time was given to that to really give Sadie (or her family members) more layers and depth. So, for me, it fell a bit flat.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one a lot and I am always looking forward to more Katherine Center books!

3.5 stars

Sadie is a portrait artist who finally achieves a milestone in her career: becoming a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. But her life is turned upside down when she has brain surgery that gives her temporary face blindness. How is she supposed to paint a portrait for the competition when she can't see faces?

I wanted to give this book a higher rating, but I had a hard time liking the heroine. First of all, it's unbelievable that Sadie at first refused to get life-saving surgery because she didn't have "time" 🤡 What kind of excuse is that? 🤡 She was so insufferable. She came across as a whiny brat who spent too much time inside her head. I also hated how Sadie treated her stepmother. Lucinda actually tried to help Sadie multiple times, but she just got placed into the "evil stepmother" category 🤦🏽‍♀️

Sadie's life gets more interesting when she crosses paths with her annoying neighbour Joe, and when she starts crushing on her vet Oliver. As much as I didn't like Sadie, I was invested in the storyline about her face blindness, especially since she couldn't see the faces of Joe and Oliver. There's some family drama involving Sadie's father, stepmother, and stepsister. I usually love family drama, but the family dynamic here was a bit too stereotypical for me. Sadie's face blindness also causes a few interesting misunderstandings. It was easy to figure out what exactly Sadie was missing, but I still had fun joining her on this tumultuous journey.

I really liked the audiobook narration. It's my first time listening to Patti Murin, and I really enjoyed her narration and her voices. She made Sadie a bit more tolerable lol.

Overall, I had fun reading this book, but I had a hard time being inside the heroine's head. The book is well-written as expected from Katherine Center. The story also has a good message, but man, Sadie was just too annoying 😂

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Sadie Montgomery is the definition of starving artist-- she lives in a shack on the roof of her best friend's parent's apartment building, she barely scrapes by selling portraits on Etsy, and the only family she can count on is her beloved (and aging) dog. However, Sadie may have just gotten her big break as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition and finally be able to make a name for herself. But then, after an accident where she was saved by a Good Samaritan, things take a turn for the much worse. Suddenly unable to see faces, Sadie scrambles to find a fix before her big break and things just keep getting more complex with each turn.

HELLO STRANGER is fun, flirty, and maybe a little sexy. Sadie can be a difficult protagonist to get behind (she's an odd mix of independent optimist and dependent catastrophizer), but if you don't nit-pick and just go with the flow of the story it's such a good ride! HELLO is just the right amount of sweet and entertaining-- yes, some of the twists are predictable, but the heart of this story is so wonderful it's still a wonderful summer reading choice.

This book was a great follow up and exactly what I needed after living her others. I was so glad to read the plot and would have loved some more spice but overall, I would purchase for myself. Thank you!!

What a pleasant delight this book was! When I first picked up this book & started reading, I got to a point where I had to google to make sure it was actually a romance novel. It was so centered in the main female character & her diagnosis’s, That I had to back track to make sure I was where I was supposed to be. The evolution of self discovery & love throughout was phenomenal! I loved the tie into confirmation bias at the end. And how joy and love for that matter is a choice we make.

This novel was so unique and fresh, unlike anything else I’ve read. I’m so excited to recommend it to other readers!

This was my first Katherine Center novel & while I immensely enjoyed it, I did find it to be a bit wordy at times. Like that person you just meet, who can’t stop talking, & you find yourself zoning out of the conversation. That was me inside Sadie’s mind! But whether is the was writers style or not, it seemed very fitting for the main female character. Who was slightly unhinged, but in all the best ways!

Although I saw the ending coming, I thought it was *chefs kiss* ingenious & a masterpiece. Loved. Loved. LOVED!

A big thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start by saying that I'm not a big romance reading. That being said, I can honestly say that this book was just a perfect blend of a great story, a fun twist, a strong female protagonist, a charming and cute and smart male protagonist and a complicated family history. I mean, what's not to like?
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to diving deeper into Katherine Center's writing!

As much as this pains me this one is a DNF at 32%

I seem to either LOVE or hate Katherine Center books and this one was just not doing it. As much as I wanted to feel sympathy or empathy for Sadie, I just could not. I could also see where this book was going from a mile away and after reading some spoiler reviews I just did not feel like sticking around. 2023 is the year of reading slumps so if I cannot put a book down I just walk away. I know I will read more of her books in the future and who knows maybe after a few months I will pick this one up again but for now it is going to be a pass for me.

This is my first Katherine Center book, and unfortunately it was a miss for me. The premise is super interesting: Sadie, a struggling portrait artist, has to undergo an unexpected brain surgery which results in acquired face blindness. Suddenly she can’t recognize anyone, even people she’s known her entire life. Even worse, she’s supposed to complete a portrait for a major art competition, but how is she supposed to do that when she can’t even recognize her own face?

I will say I liked the overall message of this book, and the beginning was promising. My main issue, however, is that this story relies entirely on a variation of the miscommunication trope. Sadie decides not to tell anyone about her face blindness, except for her best friend and her immediate family (and even that was done rather unwillingly). This results in SO many misunderstandings. I realize there wouldn’t be much of a plot without this, but it was so frustrating to read. And I think Sadie comes off as awfully immature because of this. She’s selfish and whiny and unwilling to ask for help, and being in her head with the constant self-pity got old fast. She’s experienced trauma and I should’ve been rooting for her, but instead I found her super unlikeable.

The side characters were okay and I actually liked the love interest, but I would’ve liked to see Sadie’s issues with her family addressed more than just at the end. I also couldn’t get over how over-the-top evil her stepsister Parker was, and I found it highly unbelievable that Parker basically ruined Sadie’s life as a teen with zero repercussions.

I seem to be in the minority with this one, but I’m still willing to give the author’s other books a shot! This one just wasn’t for me.

4.5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

I’ve yet to read a Katherine Center book that I didn’t love. She has a genuine ability to make us laugh through the worst of times. She makes a romance novel fun. Hello Stranger is no exception.

Sadie is an artist. Truly a starving artist. She makes her money commissioning portraits on Etsy. Sadie lost her mom as a teenager, and she’s never quite recovered from it. So when she’s accepted as one of ten finalists to a portrait contest, she’s overjoyed. Sue, her best friend, decides it’s time to celebrate. Sadie barely agrees, but she dresses in her favorite dress - that once belonged to her mom - and heads down to the closest little grocery to pick up some cheap wine.

But as life is insanely crazy, Sadie realizes she has no money to buy the wine. A cute stranger offers to buy the wine for her, even though she insists that he not. As she’s walking home, Sadie ends up having a medical emergency that leads to the discovery of a malformed vessel in her brain. Which means brain surgery. Which Sadie most definitely doesn’t have time for.

Surgery it is, only once the surgery is over, life does not go back to normal. Sadie is faced with challenges she never expected. Then there are others who come along to try to make Sadie’s life better. But can she accept help when she’s never wanted to depend on anyone?

Such a terrific story about someone battling more than just a physical issue. Sadie is struggling with much more than that. Katherine Center makes us want to slap Sadie upside the head a few times, and hug her about a hundred others. It’s a really good piece of chick lit.

NEW FAVORITE FROM THE QUEEN!!

I love how Katherine always goes for something realistic yet fiction! She just blows me away with each book I’ve read from her so far.

In this novel we learn about Sadie being a artist and she just won a knock out round and is now the top 10 (or 5 i forgot already) in the contest! When she’s about to party with her bestie sue and their friends Sadie goes to a grocery store and gets some snacks and booze, but when shes about to pay she realizes she forgot her wallet and then some dashing man has swooped in and pays for her while also flirting it up.
Whenever Sadie goes outside to cross the street she’s still in a trance and she freezes in the street and wakes up in the hospital to find out the worst news of her life, that she needs to have surgery on her brain which leads her to face blindness!

From here on everything doesn’t seem perfect for Sadie and we go through everything with her, learning about her past, her evil step sister, her family in general, and her struggling with the contest, heck maybe even love!

Spoilers:
Okay so peanut, is such a cutie and I’m sure the whole time he was probably looking at Sadie like “bi*ch how can you not tell this is the same guy I like!?”

Parker can F off she’s so evil!! I never thought I would hate another character so soon after Carval lol.

Lastly i fount it weird that “Joe” never told Sadie about his name or anything?? Like bro- but other than that I loved this book so much!!