In Hello Stranger, portrait artist Sadie undergoes brain surgery and experiences face blindness, a “hopefully temporary” side effect. As she navigates needing help from a complicated family and friends that are like family, she’s also working toward her biggest break—a prestigious contest that her late mother also was a finalist in.

Katherine Center has a way of crafting stories that make you swoon, laugh, rage, hope, cry and learn something. I swooned for the romance between Sadie and Joe, but honestly also fell in love with the Kim family. I laughed at so many little moments and one-liners. I raged at the evil stepsister, who was quite literally the worst. I hoped alongside Sadie, willing her to find her way through. I cried for the big feelings, grief and family dynamic. And I definitely learned something new about face blindness as well as neuropsychology—you can tell just how much research the author did.

I haven’t met a Katherine Center book that I haven’t enjoyed, so I definitely recommend adding Hello Stranger to your summer reading list. A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Oh these characters!! Sadie Montgomery ran into some unexpected health issues causing her to have acquired face blindness, which made it difficult to do the things she loved such as painting, not to mention making it very difficult to see the faces of new people. While trying to navigate life with this new difficulty, she meets Dr. Oliver Addison, This is by far one of the sweetest love stories I have ever read! And the author is sure correct when she says that love stories are the best with a happy ending. I am so sad to be done with this book! I wish that I could go on and read more about the life these characters build together. Definitely a 5 star read for me and in my top 5 books of the year for me so far! Thank you so much NetGalley, the Publishers and especially Katherine Center for allowing me the chance to read this phenomenal book! I cant say enough good things!!
I received the ARC ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Hello Stranger is a great romantic comedy that’s well paced and kept me wanting to find out how it was going to end. This is the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center and it did not disappoint. I especially liked Sadie, Mr. Kim, and Joe. I couldn’t stand Parker, but that’s good because she truly was an evil stepsister! This book has a satisfying ending and happily ever after. 

For those curious: this romantic comedy is not in the sweet romance category. There are sexual references and swearing. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions in this review are my own.

I’ve read hundreds of romance novels, but never one with this type of story before. I loved the uniqueness of it, the funny conversations, and the cute girl-next-door vibes. An entertaining and clean romance that will lift your spirits.

Sadie Montgomery is a painter. Or at least she was. After being urged to have brain surgery, she now suffers from a condition known as face blindness - which is rather upsetting when you paint portraits and you have a major art piece due in just 3-6 weeks.

As if dealing with the repercussions of a massive surgery were not enough, pile on top some family drama, neighbor problems, a sick dog, and a good dose of lust. Actually the lust part is a good distraction, so she leans heavily into daydreaming about the guy she’s lusting after. But things aren’t always what they seem and soon she finds herself making her way through life with a completely different view on it. Literally.

I got the feeling that the reader is supposed to guess the twist near the end because the subtle hints that were peppered throughout the story are not quite so subtle. Instead, you’re left anticipating how it’s all going to play out. For me, it was a little slow. While I enjoyed the character arc, I wish there was less internal dialogue and self-loathing and more communication and growth. Especially to make up for the lack of a romantic plot twist. That’s not to say there’s no plot twists! But I picked the book because of the romance aspect.

All in all, this is super cute and I’m actually really glad I read it. It gave me a glimpse into another world I didn’t know existed that was right out my own front door. And it changed my perspective on how to view life in ways I didn’t expect.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Love isn't blind, it's just a little blurry"

Just when Sadie, an artist, thought her career was about to take off, she is diagnosed with the "probably temporary" condition of face blindness. Instead of giving up, much to her evil step-sisters dismay, Sadie finds new ways to cope and hone in on her artistic abilities to not pass up on the opportunity of competing in a portrait competition.

But what happens when you meet someone (or two people) and are ready to give love a chance without ever seeing their face(s)? Can you crush on two completely different people at once? And how do you know if you've chosen the right person?

This was a super cute, fast paced and easy read. The writing is great and holds your attention. I look forward to reading more of Katherine Centers work. I love a good HEA!

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for access to this e-ARC.

This book started out slow. I was easily distracted and caught myself setting it down after only a page or so. However, at about halfway through it picked up and I finished in one sitting. I have to say I saw one twist coming but when it came, I didn’t expect to laugh so hard. It was executed perfectly.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

A heartwarming and hilarious book from Katherine Center about a portrait artist who has acquired prosopagnosia or face blindness. I enjoyed reading through Sadie’s journey of processing her condition and rewriting the rules regarding her art and life. A cute romance for the summer!

I absolutely adored The Bodyguard. Hello Stranger was no different. Katherine Center does a wonderful job telling the story of Sadie and her new disability. The story takes us along her journey in a way only a rom com can. With a fun cast of characters and a very unlikable stepsister. This book was such a fun summer read.

3.5 stars rounded up

I really enjoy Katherine Center's books. She's great at creating situations and inner monologues that elicit a chuckle. I didn't know a lot about prosopagnosia (face blindness), but I always love to see disability representation and it made me more excited to read the book.

Sadie seemed a bit lost. She has a largely absent father, a step-sister who seems to have taken notes from Cinderella's step-sisters, and a loving but distracted best friend. Luckily, she has a darling, senior dog to keep her company. She's also trying to make a name for herself in the art world.

I enjoyed watching Sadie navigate a new disability and the way the community came through for her. She eventually finds her way as one would expect in a romance novel.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Katherine Center always delivers a lovely and uplifting story and Hello Stranger fell nicely into those categories. I loved the art, the history of our main character, and all the complex relationships and people in her life.

I’m sure I’m not alone in finding the miscommunication frustrating at times but knowing the HEA was coming definitely helped! This story was overflowing with love, an adorable dog named peanut, and humorous moments. I loved it!

I read a little of this to start but the audio was done so well that after I switched I ended up binging the rest of it in a day! I don’t think you’d go wrong with either route.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc and MacMillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Sadie Montgomery is a lovely main character that we can all empathize with. She is a struggling artist who lives in her art studio that is owned by her best friend Sue’s parents. She is the daughter of her surgeon father and her deceased artist mother. She started out pre-med but then pursued her love of art and followed in her mother’s footsteps much to her father’s dismay. She’s had a tough life mainly due to the struggles of growing up with her mean step-family and then barely making ends meet as an adult.

Then one day, she gets a big break and is a finalist in a portrait competition and the prize money would be a game changer for her. Sue encourages her to throw a party at her apartment/art studio even though she doesn’t have much money. Sue handles the guest list and Sadie goes out to get the cheap wine. At the shop, she realizes she forgets her wallet and although a cute guy offers to pick up the tab, she heads out for it anyway. In the street, she has a seizure and a Good Samaritan pushes her out of the way of an incoming car however she does suffer brain injury in the form of face blindness.

This is of course a huge blow for her for many reasons….one of the main ones being that she paints face portraits for a living and also needs to do so for the competition. The doctors don’t know whether her face blindness is temporary or permanent and thus she navigates through her new life with many unknowns……particular the people she encounters since she can’t see their faces properly. And yet, she handles her evil step-family with gusto and tolerates her father and even meets two competing love interests along the way.

Overall another very touching story by Center that highlights perseverance in the setting of a neurological illness and gives us that happy ending that we all look forward to…..highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

"We see what we're looking for."

I absolutely LOVE this author so I was beyond thrilled to get a copy of this one early. Her stories always have such great life lessons woven in. I admit that this one wasn't a favorite but that ending tacked on another star to my initial rating.

Sadie is a struggling artist who paints portraits and is celebrating her biggest achievement when she’s diagnosed with a condition that requires surgery.  A surgery that leaves her with a condition known as face blindness.  A condition that leaves her not being able to see faces.  Trying to cope with family problems and a condition that she hopes is temporary, she meets two men offering her something she didn’t think she needed. 

Sadie was a little quirky and full of sunshine.  She’s not a perfect character and faces quite a few crises but her struggles, feelings of grief, and mean step-sister made me want to wrap her up in a huge hug.

This is a story about healing and finding love. The plot was unique and the characters were lovable, including Peanut the dog.  It’s romantic and whimsical with the perfect mixture of hope and happiness.  

The ending pulled the entire story together.   It answered all of my questions, but at the same time made me want to go back and see what I missed. I felt like I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t.  I was so wrapped up in the journey that I read with anticipation of what would happen.

In the end, the story was reflective and left me thinking about the things I miss and don’t see.

Thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date: July 11, 2023.

I genuinely don't know if I like Katherine Center's books as I've had a RANGE of experiences. I really enjoyed [book:Things You Save in a Fire|41150382], thought [book:The Bodyguard|58724801] was decent, and didn't like [book:What You Wish For|51168993]. Unfortunately, [book:Hello Stranger|61884987] has joined the latter category.

Premise: Due to an unexpected side-effect of brain surgery, Sadie, a portrait artist, has developed face blindness which couldn't come at a worse time. On top of just being named a top finalist for a prestigious portrait artist competition despite not being able to see faces anymore, Sadie's dealing with years of family drama, including an evil step-sister and distant father, two love interests- Joe, her neighbor, and Oliver, her vet-, and a serious lack of financial security.

What didn't work for me here is that there were zero surprises. Zilch. Nada. As a romance reader, I know exactly what I'm getting into when cracking one open. But, I still want to <i>feel</i> the emotions the characters have to go through and be surprised every now and then by how our HEA comes to be. [book:Hello Stranger|61884987] didn't have any of that.

Worse, this <i>entire</i>book embraces the miscommunication trope, which as a reader, I find extremely annoying. At one point, Center adds a little aside where Sadie comments on how it's easy to judge miscommunication as a reader but that it's realistic... but... I'm not reading a romance novel for realism? I'm reading it for the feels. And when the feels are constant frustration that characters are acting like idiots because they can't observe the obvious or you know, talk (whoa), it ruins the whole experience.

I adore Katherine Center’s novels. They are quirky, and fun yet I always walk away having learned something new. Hello Stranger is full of heart and surprise. Sadie is a truly special character. Her interactions with absolutely everyone had me laughing out loud. Yet I knew she deeply felt the pain of her family and the fear of her possible loss. I loved that there were multiple times that I was caught unaware (along with Sadie) of the details yet to be revealed. I highly recommend Hello Stranger.

I’ve been a big fan of Katherine Center’s works, but I also take off a star depending on what happens. And in this case, not only am I taking off a star for language, but also for inferences of sexual situations.

I'm not much of a romance fan, but I do like a cute rom-com, and this fits it.

Sadie, a portrait artist who's tight on funds, and just getting by, is getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to display a piece of her artwork in a prestige contest. It needs to be a new piece of work, and your specialty. She has a good friend ready to model for her and she's happy!

Then it happens. She winds up at the ER, put in a hospital room and discovers she needs brain surgery. After her surgery she is diagnosed with "face blindness", she can no longer see faces. She wants nobody to know, but of course her evil stepmother and evil stepsister know and her stepsister pick on her about it relentlessly!

Peanut, her sweet dogs face can be seen, and becomes ill. She rushes him to the the vet and Dr. Oliver Addison is a miracle veterinarian and she falls head over heels in love.

There's a rude and crude dude, Joe, according to his jacket, that lives in the building and she is totally disgusted with him. However, she does start talking to him and learns he may not be that bad after all. She's getting a crush on him now and it may be getting stronger faster.

She's trying to get through life right now ( might be a spoiler), but she is keeping her face blindness a secret out of embarrassment. With this and from here on, I cannot say I was Sadie's biggest fan after that. She was on the whiney side and refusing help from those who knew and refusing to inform others of it leading to the trope of "lack of communication", which is an eye roller. Also Sadie not recognizing voices she heard for years along with ones she hears almost daily, became a total eye roller also!

However, I did not let this ruin the book for me. I did love the sweet story, but the eye rollers in there did get stars removed. If I could mark with half stars it would be a 3.5 stars. This also is not going to prevent me from reading her next book.

Thank you #StMartinsPress for allowing me to read #HelloStranger though #NetGalley

Katherine Center has become a must-read author for me in the past few years, and I've been reading her backlist as well. I had high expectations for this one, and they were definitely fulfilled. It has the romance and the depth that I look for, and was a solid 4 star read. Artist Sadie is trying to carve out a career as a portrait painter, pay the rent, and just has gotten great news when she gets hit by a car. The accident results in the loss of being able to see faces, and hilarity and sadness ensue. There is a great love triangle, funny scenes with her step-sister and step-mother, and the fun romance. The neighbors in Sadie's apartment complex were great side characters, especially Sue. This is a contemporary romance you are going to want to read this summer. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced e-copy, all opinions are my own.

It’s a shame I enjoyed this so much until the last 25% or so, then it kind of fell apart?? The last minute twist felt like such a cheap shot. We’re supposed to assume that even though these characters talk so often it’s never come up that he sees her at the clinic?? He doesn’t know for most of the book she has a brain injury so he has no reason not to bring it up?? What started like a cute enjoyable book (with some heartfelt moments) really lost me. Little to no remorse from the family on the issues surrounding the mom so that also felt disappointing. I would give this author another shot, but this one went from a solid 4 to a 2.5 generously rounded real quick.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center has done it again. This was a delightful read! Sadie is ready to celebrate her biggest accomplishment to date - being a finalist in a portrait art competition. As she's picking up some wine for her celebration, she has an accident which leads to brain surgery and the discovery that she is now face blind. This couldn't have come at a worse time for her as she's preparing for her art competition that requires her to paint someone's portrait.

While she's recovering from her brain surgery, Sadie needs to learn how to navigate the world without recognizing anyone that she encounters. From the cute vet who helps her dog Peanut out in an emergency, to the cute neighbor who helps her out in unexpected ways, to her family who keeps showing up in inopportune times, Sadie keeps hoping that her brain will work correctly by the time her portrait is due for the competition. This is a tale of missed communications and missed opportunities bur also one of hope and perseverance and to never give up even when it looks like all is lost.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review.