3.5 rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book from one of my favorite authors. The story had a great message to it but fell a little short at times compared to her others. It was definitely a little bit depressing though parts of it but had a good ending. I loved the parts with Sadie and Joe and wish it had a little bit more of that.

This book was SO SO good! I was so intrigued after reading the synopsis of this book and let me just tell you, it 100 percent lived up to that! I had never read a romance like this before, and I really enjoyed it! I had also never heard of the condition the fmc had! It was so cool to learn about it, and I think the author did such a good job of describing what it was and what it felt like!

I LOVED Sadie's character! She was super relatable! I loved how delusional she was -- something I can definitely relate to!

Also, can we just talk about that HUGE plot twist? I was not expecting that at all! It was probably one of the best plot twists I have ever read in a romance book! This really made my rating higher!

The only reason I gave this book one less star was because what was described as a love triangle on the synopsis was very far from one. Yes, there were aspects of a love triangle, but that was really only a very small amount of the book. I also just thought some parts were very predictable and some of the love story was really cheesy to me.

All this to say though, I really enjoyed this book! I am definitely going to have read more of Katherine Center's books!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a romance with a little more kick! It is also a closed-door romance, which was another plus that I really enjoyed!

First I would like to state that my favorite part of this book is the authors note at the end. It is such a wonderful summary of why I love romance and how society views reading them. It was so thoughtful and poignantly written, I almost wish the book had started with it, I may have enjoyed it even more.

This reminded me of Katherine Center's other books, very character driven. It was a fun, feel good read. The beginning was a little hard for me to get into. I thought Sadie seemed a little self centered and a lot negative. Her friend Sue was a nice counter balance, but she was so depressing. It was also hard for me to read about her dog being sick because we just had to put our dog down so I am sure that didn't help my first impressions.

However, once the ball got rolling (and the dog got better) this was a feel good, fun read that I have come to expect from Centers. It was "predictable", hopeful and fun!

i have read almost all Katherine Centers books because they are always lovely stories Hello Stranger may be one of my favorites. The protagonist Sadie Montgomery has been struggling, a near accident, brain surgery and now face blindness(prosopagnosia). A lot to deal with especially for a portrait artist. It seems my favorite Katherine Center books deal with some sort of disability. More to overcome, more emotions and just more heartwarming. Even though we know where the story is going it’s wonderful to be along for the ride. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy

Short synopsis: Sadie is a portrait artist and just earned a coveted spot in a painting competition, when she discovers she has to have brain surgery and is left with Face Blindness.

My thoughts: I just adore Katherine Center’s writing. She has a way of creating such lovable characters (and pets) that I just can’t help but binge her books.

I’ve never read a book about face blindness before. It’s so difficult to comprehend such a condition exists, but you can totally tell the research was done. Everything was explained so well, and the writers note and the end just amplified the condition.

Although I expected the “twist” in this story really early on, I loved the anticipation of watching Sadie unravel the truth herself.

Such a sweet story of love, growth, experience, following your dreams, and putting yourself out there.

“The more good things you look for, the more you find”

Read if you love:
- Foodie Dogs
- Great friends
- Standing up for yourself
- Following your passions
- Growth and experience

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I had really high hopes after loving The Bodyguard last year, but I didn't love it. I didn't vibe with the insta-love trope and I had a very hard time connecting with the characters. I'll still be reading future books by Katherine Center, because I have enjoyed her past work!

Hello Stranger-Katherine Center

Pub date: July 11, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Katherine Center is back with a fun, light hearted romance!

The main character, Sadie Montgomery is a little quirky artist who is going through a really rough patch. She has just become a finalist to a major art competition when she has an accident that turns her world upside down. Will Sadie miss her big break or will she overcome this “small” obstacle?

The premise to Hello Stranger was definitely unique; something I really hadn’t seen before which was really nice to see.

Sadie’s family is awful!! I did feel like the family drama resolution was a little random and quick.

There is some confusion and mystery surrounding the love interest but that helped build the storyline.

I really enjoyed this book. It had some fun, sweet moments throughout. It showed how much life can change in a blink of an eye. And you really need the whole picture to truly understand someone.

Also there is an adorable dog! 🐶

3.5 stars
I always enjoy Katherine Center books! I enjoyed this cute romance story. I felt that the character read immature and there were some inconsistencies within the characters. I will continue to check out Center's writing, her books do always make me laugh.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary fiction📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I loved how unique this story was and I’m a sucker for romance books that sneak in a twist.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Lovable characters
Great character growth
Romantic comedies
Heartwarming stories
Unique plots
Love triangles
Family drama
Sweet slow burn romance

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Peanut butter, the dog!
Learning about prosopagnosia
Quick and light read

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Was slightly predictable but I still loved it

thank you so much netgalley and st. martin’s press for the e-arc of hello stranger!! i really love center’s writing style its super captivating and really draws you into the story! i was super excited to read this after loving the bodyguard by her! i really enjoyed the book sadie is quite loveable, and while she is flawed i loved getting to see her heal from her past! i will say i did not love how as a grown adult she was still focused on high school issues with her sister but i can understand how those events were pretty impactful. i really loved joe he was overall 10/10 male mc for me! i feel like i should’ve seen the twist coming i felt like everything clicked into place once i realised it but it was honestly a really good twist! the book’s pacing was a bit off for me, i felt like it was slow at some parts and it would drag only then to pick up and things to happen quickly together back to back. peanut was a highlight in the book for me as well! i know center is always going to be an instant read author for me, she crafts her stories so beautifully, and brings new light into romance! i highly recommend this book, its a perfect summer beach read!

I’ll start off by saying that I liked this book as much as I disliked it. 😆 I also love the cover! It had a unique premise and was good enough to finish, but overall it didn’t hit the mark for me. The story was a little disjointed at times and the book could have gone without the evil stepsister drama…Overall, I know some will love/have loved this one more than I did, but it just wasn’t my favorite. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Okay, overall I really REALLY enjoyed this one, I absolutely sped through it... It was sweet and easy in the best way. It was also my very first Katherine Center book, and will NOT be my last!

However, there was a fair amount of suspension of disbelief needed with some of it... Just the way her best friend was treating her, it felt like she was one way and then the complete opposite--like, she was thoughtful and then completely inconsiderate--and her sister was just WAY harsher than seemed possible. There were a few bumps along the road like these that pulled me out of it and had me thinking a little too much... BUT it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story, and I truly loved this book.

Katherine Center's latest rom-dram, "Hello Stranger" was silly and sweet. I highly recommend to fans of Beth O'Leary, Emily Henry, and any of Center's previous work.

The novel follows a portrait artist as she navigates her love life, family life, and professional life after contracting face blindness - a complete inability to recognize faces.

Everything here was cute: the plot, our heroine's dog, our heroine's dog's veterinarian. The entire book. I especially loved Center's author's note on the power of romance novels at the end of the novel. The best kind of cheesy; I loved it.

I loved the premise of this book! It was really cute. It didn't capture me as much as I would have liked, but it was a cute romance!

“The more good things you look for, the more you find.”

I love Katherine Center; her writing style and concepts, her approach to romance and sense of humor, the hidden messages in her novels and her focus around overcoming hardships and creating uplifting stories. The Author’s Note in this book was simply amazing and loved getting some additional insight on her inspiration.

In summary, I liked Hello Stranger that is a book about a young portrait artist who has to have brain surgery and when she wakes up she realizes she can no longer see faces. The concept is super interesting and I liked the author’s approach towards prosopagnosia and art. A fast and enjoyable read overall even though I saw what was coming from the first few chapters. Not my favorite of her novels but still a feel-good book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This one took me a little bit to get into, the first 40% felt super repetitive to me. We find out what happens after surgery and then it’s like her life is on repeat and we see her do the same thing over and over. Once it got past the 40% I flew through it! It got so good, it was just such a sweet turn! The third act issue hurt my heart for Sadie but after it all and get new outlook on life made me happy for her! The last 60% really had me and I adored it, I was so happy to see Sadie thrive and see her life fall apart but also come back together!

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist looking for her big break. When she finds out she is a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition, she feels she can finally make her Father proud that she has chosen this career over following in his footsteps and becoming a physician. Only weeks before her portrait submission due date, Sadie undergoes emergency surgery and develops face blindness, which is not the ideal outcome for a portrait artist. On top of Sadie trying to figure out new ways of painting and recognizing all of the strangers around her, she develops feelings for two recent acquaintances – Joe, her neighbor who is not as he appears to be, and Dr. Oliver Addison, her dog Peanut’s sweet veterinarian. Hello Stranger is a story about standing up for what you deserve, creating new paths for yourself, and finding love amidst the chaos.

I was immediately drawn to the premise of this book. I knew very little about face blindness, so learning how someone in that situation would navigate their new normal was interesting. Unfortunately, a few things didn’t work for me, and I didn’t end up loving it as much as I’d hoped. Every interaction with her stepsister Parker was too over the top. I found the amount and severity of the awful things she did to her very unbelievable. It would’ve been easier to digest if only one or two bigger situations were discussed. The other thing that didn’t work for me was the ending. I wasn’t surprised by the reveal; I immediately picked up on it pretty early on. Adding a few different situations into the middle of the story could’ve remedied it. I wanted to be left second-guessing myself and hoping for one ending over the other. Overall, I’d still recommend this book to anyone interested in the premise or who enjoys the author’s previous works.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Katherine Center for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was freaking AMAZING. I knew what was going to happen. Any self-respecting romance reader has the beats down to a science, but this is the ONE and ONLY time when the miscommunication trope didn't make me angry one iota. I liked it. It made the story fun and totally fit with the plot.

I didn't read the blurb of this before reading and I think that helped certain plot points be a total surprise. I rooted for Sadie so hard and loved her so much! Her family drama gave me total Cinderella vibes and I'm a Cinderella stan.

This was my first book by Katherine Center, but it won't be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

How would your life change if one day you woke up and couldn't see? Sadie suddenly finds herself living in a world with no faces. Sure, she could see... just not faces. As an aspiring artist, she begins to navigate life through what she hopes will just be a temporary minor inconvenience.

This love story really created fantastic anticipation. (Iykyk) Hello stranger is jammed packed with all the favorite things: family drama, falling in love, best friends, and overcoming trials. The twists and turns kept me grasping for more and more, then wrapped up by the perfect grand finale!

Read if you like: love triangles, evil step-families, aspiring artists, characters you can fall in love with, and overcoming challenges.

Katherine Center never disappoints! Her ability to write emotional stories laced with humour has made her an auto-read author for me. Hello Stranger might just be my favourite of her books.

Portrait artist Sadie Montgomery has just learned of the big break she’s been looking for – she’s a finalist in an upcoming competition that will give her the exposure she’s been waiting for. But then life changes in a minute.

Following brain surgery to correct a recently discovered congenital anomaly, Sadie is no longer able to recognize faces. Faces look like something from a Picasso painting. She’s told this condition may be temporary, but the competition is only six weeks away. Will her ability to see faces correctly return in time?

To make matters worse, her senior dog is ill which forces her out in the real world to the veterinarian where she meets the good-looking new Dr. Of course she can’t see his face, but the rest of him looks great and his gait is fantastic. Then there is Joe a man who lives in her building who initially seems to be a womanizer – could her initial impressions of this man be wrong?

There are some very beautiful moments in this book and a twist I didn’t see coming. The characters are well-developed and highly-likeable. Sadie’s backstory is compelling and the reader cannot help but root for her.

I highly recommend this book to those readers who enjoy contemporary romance. I cannot wait to read the author’s next book.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.