I love Katherine Center's books. This one was no exception. Sweet story about facing challenges and being resilient: a shared theme in her novels. Good summer read!

Another Katherine Center winner! Why do I love her books so much? She has this tremendous ability to introduce fresh, well-researeched topics into her novels that both interest and entertain the reader. Not only was I captivated by the story of Sadie and Joe, I was equally interested in her complicated relationship with her father and extended family. I thought she tackled the issue of face-blindness with grace, dignity, and humor. This book just make me feel good.

The audiobook was extremely well done and enjoyably to listen to. I'll be looking for this narrator in the future. The perfect beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book introduced me to something I didn't know existed: inability to see people's faces, face blindness, or Prosopagnosia. This condition can not only be traumatically induced but people can be born with it. It teaches us about how people with this condition come up with mechanisms to recognize people. I never realized how much we rely on faces to recognize people!
This is my second Katherine Center book. Her writing is solid, though her cadence took some getting used to.
The topic she chose was rather heavy: how to cope with a trauma that leaves one of your senses unable to operate. The main character, Sadie, is an artist. How can an artist do their work without being able to see? Sadie begins to compensate and see she can use other senses to help her in her art.
With her facial blindness fully in place, she begins to recognize people through other ways: voice, the way they walk, what they wear, etc.
I will say I figured out the twist in the romance early on. But that didn't leave me not wanting to see how it turned out in the end.
This book is a quick read with some good information on a condition that affects about 10 million Americans. There is a great deal of comedy in the book, which definitely adds some lightness to it. And I did like the romance that bloomed. I also liked the fact that Center did not take Sadie's condition and make all the things ok all the time. She struggled and learned how to do things a different way. She also learned to stand up for herself and be honest about who she truly is and what she truly wants to do.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I would read more from this author.

Hello Stranger was another cute addition to Katherine Center’s collection. The premise was unique and I actually learned a thing or two based on Sadie’s experience. (Trying not to give anything away here.)

Once I reached the halfway point I will say the book took a turn towards predictable. The intrigue wasn’t there for me, but I was already along for the ride and enjoyed the book anyways.

If you are in the mood for a feel good and uplifting rom-com this is one you may consider.

There were a few kissing scenes, but overall the story was clean.

I would recommend going into this one blind, don’t read spoilers!

When anyone recommends @katherinecenter books to me, the words “feel good” are used every single time. This was my first of hers and I’m officially a fan. The storyline in this was so unique and nothing like I have read before. I don’t know how much I can contribute to the audio- but her tone just brought this character to life so much for me. I’m not even going to post a synopsis because truthfully I went in blind, and am so glad I did. I listened to this audio in a day, and am running to get more of her books.

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book (and audio)- I have been SO excited to read this and it did not disappoint.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@katherinecenter The relatability with this character (specifically her relationship with her dad) just hit so close for me. I was invested from the very first chapter and it feels rare with any reads for that to be the case. I can’t not wait to read more of your work!

#bookreview #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #tbr #advancedreaderscopy #ARC #hellostranger #katherinecenter

I finished Hello Stranger by Katherine Center in less than a day. By page 30 I was hooked in and dedicated my Sunday to finishing this novel.

Hello Stranger is a contemporary romance following Sadie whose life has been turned upside down by her inability to see/process faces after a life-saving brain surgery. Not only is this inconvenient for her normal life but it also causes a problem for completing a painting for a art portrait competition. How is she going to get her big break now?

Hello Stranger is heart-warming and funny. I loved Sadie and her determination to persevere, and her delightfully hilarious best friend as well as doctor. The romance was a full of misconceptions and misunderstandings, which at the end made it fun to see righted.

Highly recommend this novel to lovers of romance looking for a fun read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Can’t wait for the next novel, @katherinecenter. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me to review this e-arc.

Hello Stranger is my first Katherine Center book but definitely not my last! Sadie is a struggling portrait artist who finally got her big break. On the way to celebrate, Sadie has a non-convulsive seizure and wakes up in the hospital being told she needs brain surgery. After her surgery, Sadie is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, unable to recognize faces. She can see them with her eyes, but her brain isn’t transmitting the recognition information to her. As she struggles to relearn how to recognize faces, Sadie meets her helpful next door neighbor, battles her evil stepsister, and meets a cute veterinarian. But with a competition deadline approaching, what happens as a portrait artist if she does not recover her ability?

Hello Stranger was such an enjoyable and well-written story. Sadie was very relatable and I really liked learning more about prosopagnosia. Prosopagnosia is very interesting because in developmental prosopagnosia, many people do not know they have it because they assume the world is that way for everyone! Sadie has acquired prosopagnosia so she immediately realizes. I enjoyed seeing how Sadie dealt with it as an artist and also how she used clues to figure out who people were, especially reading emotions when she found it difficult to look at their faces. In the end, I loved that she was able to accept herself and view her diagnosis as more of a superpower than something wrong with her.

I loved Sadie’s dog Peanut!! I adored his diet of human food and his discerning gastronomic taste. The romantic escapades that Sadie goes through are great, though I don’t want to say too much about them and spoil them. Her neighbor Joe is one of my favorites, especially because he always tries to be helpful even when absolutely befuddled. Sadie initially does not tell him about her diagnosis, because she does not want to be judged and looked down on. I think it was very understandable that she was going through this cycle of grief/acceptance, even though as a reader I wanted her to just tell him already!!

Hello Stranger would be the perfect book for readers who enjoy a well-written romcom, satisfying standalone, and a heroine who finds joy even in difficult and life-changing circumstances.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

I wasn't sure anything could beat The Bodyguard, but I absolutely loved Katherine Center's new book Hello Stranger. A perfect read for this summer, so do not hesitate reading this gem of a book!

Sadie is a portrait artist, and one day, a freak accident lands her in the hospital where she finds that she now has face blindness. She cannot make out faces of anyone, which is obviously a huge problem when a competition in which she is a finalist needs her to submit a portrait within 6 weeks. Not only was her deceased mother a finalist in this competition, she really needs the money and the opportunity to prove to the world that she can do this. However, how do you create a portrait when you cannot see faces?

What comes next is the story of Sadie, her family who has excluded her most of her life, her best friend who really does not understand what she is going through, her beloved dog Peanut and his vet that WILL be her husband, and Joe, the bowling jacket wearing guy from her building who comes off as rude and crude.

This book will give you all the feels, and best of all, you won't want to put it down. It's one of those books where when you are done, you are going to miss the characters. These are the best books to me!

Full disclosure, I do not usually read romance but I have heard wonderful things about this author's books so I wanted to give her a try. Overall, I did enjoy this one and I found the premise interesting but I enjoyed the humor most of all. This is a perfect book to read over the summer by the beach or at the pool.

Reading a Katherine Center book always leaves me with a smile on my face. I was excited at the chance to listen to the audiobook version of Hello Stranger. The narrator does a great job and the story is full of emotions. You will experience love, loss, warmth of friendship, the angst of family dynamics, insecurity, encouragement, and humor. Sadie’s life journey will have you laughing one moment, full of anger the next, and then crying tears of sadness. I had never heard of prosopagnosia (face blindness) but appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book with information about this condition. This is a romance, but not syrupy sweet. It’s lighthearted and emotional. What a great book in which to get lost and enjoy great characters. Put this on your to-be-read list. You’ll be inspired and filled with joy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Oh man... this one was a rollercoaster for me.

I thought the premise of it was really interesting, but i struggled through the first 40%. Then it got better and I was def more engaged...then I almost gave up at 75% because something happened that had me going WTF??? THEN a twist happened (that I didn't see coming) and it all made sense and was super cute at the end, but like wowsers... I also couldn't past how horrible our FMC's step-sister was and I was not satisfied with how everything ended up... I was all over the place lol

The story had some really great character growth and many "life lessons" learned, which I appreciated, but overall just did not love this as much as I wanted too!

This is the second book by Katherine Center I have read. I did not think this was a light read due to the content nor the character of Parker. That girl has chosen to be evil. She needs help but won’t get it until she’s ready.
I figured out the major plot twist way ahead of time but was compelled to read to the end. I finished this book in one sitting and a box of tissues even though I figured out what was coming.

The topics of this book are: acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia- aka face blindness, family dynamics, and bullying.

Let me say romances are not my usual reading genre. But I was blow away with Things You Save In A Fire, that I had to read this book when given the opportunity. I really like the way the author sets up her books, yes, I’ve only read two. She draws me in and makes me want to continue reading. I felt a full range of emotions as I navigated the story.

I know I’m in for a treat when I pick up a Katherine Center book. I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read the book and Ms. Center for writing it.

I was given an advanced copy and am NOT required to leave a positive review.

Being a devoted fan of Katherine Center, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of Hello Stranger!

In this latest novel, we are introduced to Sadie Montgomery, accompanied by her loyal sidekick, Peanut the dog. As a struggling portrait artist, Sadie faces financial difficulties, residing in a shed intended for painting rather than living. Despite the unfit living conditions, Sadie makes the most of her rooftop abode and its space. Ironically, Sadie's father, a successful doctor, doubts her ability to sustain herself as an artist, leaving Sadie hesitant to confide in him about her dire circumstances. Following her mother's unexpected passing, Sadie's father remarries, and her stepmother and stepsister contribute to her feeling disconnected from her father. The stepsister, in particular, treats Sadie with disdain.

Just as Sadie's father's skepticism about her career seems justified, she receives news of placing in a prestigious portrait contest. However, her newfound hope takes a downturn when she discovers she has a medical condition requiring brain surgery. Although they assure her it's a minor procedure, Sadie wishes to delay it until after the contest. In a rare display of paternal concern, her father convinces her to prioritize the surgery.

Upon awakening from the operation, Sadie realizes she is unable to recognize people's faces—an affliction known as face blindness. The medical team cannot predict if or when she will recover from this condition.

As Sadie anxiously awaits the return of her ability to see faces, she encounters her neighbor Joe and Theo, Peanut's veterinarian. Through the lens of face blindness, Sadie begins to see the world and its inhabitants in a different light.

Hello Stranger is an enjoyable read featuring a captivating cast of characters. The exploration of face blindness adds a fascinating and distinctive element to the story. Thank you to Katherine Center and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love all things by Katherine Center, this book was sweet and caring and such a fun read. Would be a great vacation beach read for anyone.

I’d like to start by saying that although I’ve been interested in Katherine Center’s books in the past, this was my first dive into her works. Unfortunately, it did not go well for me.

It was really hard to like anything about this book. Our main character, Sadie, was incredibly unlikable. She was super whiny and childish about every little thing both verbally and in her head. She’s a 28-year-old woman who carries herself like a teenager and it was so frustrating to be in her head for 300+ pages. She claims that her big flaw is that she refuses to let other people help her, but this girl was so dependent and needy it was exhausting to read about.

I feel like this concept could have really worked out if it had been executed better. A portrait-artist with face blindness? Trying to start a relationship with two different people you’d never met before your accident? Even while being able to guess the ~twist~ from the synopsis alone, this had the set-up to be a hilarious romcom but it just fell flat for me.

I also had a really hard time believing the rivalry between Sadie and her “evil” step-sister, Parker. You really mean to tell me that this adult woman despises Sadie so much that she makes it her personal mission to infiltrate every aspect of her life and ruin it? I’m not buying it. Even the explanation we got for the family drama didn’t make any of it more believable for me.

The only consistently good part of this book (and the reason for my second star) is dear sweet bowling jacket Joe. He was so kind and caring and understanding and I believe he deserved so much better than what he got.

Also side note but it irritated me sooo much that Sadie was “too embarrassed” to tell people about her face blindness and would prefer struggling through every conversation but could confidently tell her friends and doctor that her veterinarian — that she knew on absolutely no personal level — was her future husband? Like you’re really too self-conscious to explain your actual medical condition but not your deranged fantasies??? Come on.

Overall, just a really ridiculous read in my opinion. The ending was cute enough but just didn’t redeem the rest of the book enough for me.

* I received this book via NetGalley, but all thoughts and opinions are my own!*

Rating : 4.5/5

I requested this ARC a long time ago and solely based on the cover. I did not know who this author was and I did not even read the resumé. So, I did the best thing a reader could do : go in blind. This was 100% the best decision ever. At first, I thought this was going to be a fluffy romance you read and forget about. Perfect spring/summer reading and that's it. (I am reminding you that I just thought this based on the cover which I love btw). Well, this was so much more than I expected. Was it cheesy at times? Did I saw the plot twist coming like a kilometer away? Yes, but the story had so much more than that.

I loved the main character, Sadie, so much and I could relate to her easily. She has a bit too much pride to ask for help and has a sassy attitude that goes with it. She gave a me soft girl boss feeling : focus on the task and she is ready to try anything to complete her portrait. I won't spoil anything (even if the resumé does), but the news she receives at the begining of the book is hard and, in her case, life changing. What if she can't do portrait anymore? The stakes are high for her. The way the author described what Sadie saw with her special condition was really inventive. I was picturing Picasso's painting in my head throughout the book.

As the characters and story line go, I thought it was absolutely well written. The romantics interests were just so sweet and loving. It reminded me about Peeta in the Hunger Games trilogy. Nothing but wholesome vibes. Again, I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go further into my explanations about this topic.

For me, the only downside to the whole story was Parker. I get that she was the evil step sister and all, but I think it would have been really nice to explore further her motivations for doing such awful things to Sadie. It lacked substance there. Same goes for how Sadie and her dad reconciliated. I needed more.

Finally, I also adored how the author decided to write about this specific condition. I never heard or read anything about it and I was immediately drawn to the story. The characters hooked me on right away after that (Yes, I include sweet Peanut in the mix).

I recommend this book to anyone wants to read a lovely romance with some heavier subject. It is a fast read!

I love Katherine Center, I really do, but I did not love Hello Stranger. I honestly just couldn't get into the story (I think that's a me problem rather than the book itself).

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story overall is quite swoon-worthy and can teach us all about life and the things we miss or don't notice unless they are taken away from us. The main character felt very realistic and I loved the writing style so much that I will be picking up previous published books. Bravo!

This was such a refreshing and funny read. I’m not gonna lie I was putting off reading this book because I haven’t been in the mood to read romcoms lately, worst mistake ever! The story like for this book was something different and I wasn’t expecting. The FL has an accident and gets faceblindness so she can’t see people faces, and as an artist she had to navigate with this while getting ready for an art competition. Plus add a hot neighbor, and a veterinarian.CHEFS FREAKING KISS.

This book wasn’t for me. I was excited because I really enjoyed the bodyguard but almost immediately I wasn’t vibing with this one. I didn’t love the main character and ultimately couldn’t make myself push through and I ended up DNFing about 5 chapters in