The first thing that stood out to me with this one was that it was based on an interesting concept. Sadie, the FMC, has to learn to navigate the world around her after losing her ability to recognize faces.

The main character’s lesson on jumping to conclusions was quite in your face, but you know what? Sometimes that’s the only way we figure things out.

I saw the “twists” coming — possibly from the time I read the synopsis. This didn’t detract from the degree of enjoyment I experienced with the story. I think that’s part of Katherine Center’s magic — the character development is so compelling that the plot is entertaining but doesn’t demand everything from the reader.

This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I think I’m just all in with her. Forever a fan of how she writes a character’s inner monologue.

The author’s note at the end about romance novels, positive anticipate, hope? Just a lovely touch to an already lovely book.

I enjoyed this one. I finished it feeling happy. The delivery of the audio was pleasant and contributed to the overall effect that the story had on the reader.

This book was utterly delightful. I’ve read several of Center’s books and this is my favorite. It is pretty typical for her, and I love the relatable protagonist. It was somewhat predictable, but in no way did that detract from my enjoyment and devouring it in a day.

Hello Stranger was a unique and delightful read. Full of amazing characters from Sadie, Joe, and Dr. Oliver Addison to Mr. Kim. You can’t forget Peanut and his love of Pad Thai, who stole the show in my opinion.

During the book you see Sadie deal with how to go about her life after getting face blindness after having to have brain surgery. This leaves her having to learn how to figure out her life with the uncertainty of how her life will be like if she continues to have face blindness as her career is a portrait artist. You also witness Sadie trying to navigate personal relationships with her step-mom, father, and truly evil step sister. With this part, I do wish we saw some further interaction with Sadie and her father. Especially since this played, what I would say, a large part in the story line.

With every Katherine Center book I read, I fall more and more in love with her writing.

Hello Stranger is another delightful romance from Katherine Center. Sadie has been diagnosed with face blindness. It's maybe just a temporary condition, but she's a portrait artist. And she is working on probably the biggest project of her life. She ends up falling in love, but she's not sure if she can trust her judgment since she can't actually see the guy's face. This is such a fun read, and it is perfect for fans of Katherine Center. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I've loved every Katherine Center book I've ever read. She writes refreshing, strong, emotionally intelligent female characters with interesting, posh, and unique careers. The ground shakes when the main character is introduced in her stories and that's one of my favorite things about how she writes characters. The guys in her books are always so respectful, so flirty, so kind, and so approachable. Again, very refreshing to read. I love Dr. Oliver. And as with all Katherine Center books, this book is full of funny dialogue, lots of banter, and tension, and will also make you tear up a bit.

Hello Stranger is a delightfully entertaining romance about missed opportunities for communication and connection. The main plot twist was relatively predictable but the journey to get there was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the main characters and felt the pacing was appropriate; striking a nice balance between being character and plot driven. Another winner from Katherine Center. My only gripe is that no self respecting veterinarian would feed a patient pad thai.

Hello Stranger was a joy to listen to. Katherine Center always knows have to suck you into the story!

Hello Stranger is about a medical diagnosis I have only vaguely been aware of and was interesting to have it in this book. Made me think wow how would I do on this situation!

The narration was enjoyable to listen to!

I can’t wait to see what Katherine has in store next!

I haven’t read any of Katherine Center’s books before but I know they are highly rated and beloved by many. I adored this book and the characters were so lovable and one specific character made my eye twitch like crazy. This is one of the romance novels that has a great plot and you get to dive into the story and not be bombarded with unnecessary “tension” between characters. This did have a very adorable, fun twist at the end that I saw coming.

Sadie is a starving artist but she finally got her big break. That is until she collapses in the middle of the street and is saved by a Good Samaritan. After getting brain surgery, she can’t see faces. As a portrait artist and a top ten finalist in a big competition, she is ultimately screwed. Sadie is having a hard time and feels like the universe is constantly punishing her. That was way too relatable.

The love triangle was probably the funniest part of the novel. Sadie meets her dog’s veterinarian and decides he is the love of her life. So relatable! The funniest thing is that she’s falling in love with a guy named Joe in her building. I would love to spoil it but I won't. The internal dialogue for Sadie having a hard time picking between the vet and Joe was so hilarious.

The only reason this is a 4.5⭐️ read is because I was sick and busy while reading this and I didn’t get to enjoy this as much as I wanted to. That is completely on me and not on the author at all. I do plan on rereading this and hopefully enjoy it much more. Also, this book was a bit too long but I really enjoyed everything about this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book.

I have read and loved every Katherine Center books, and this book was no exception. I love her style of writing, and the humor that she has in her books. Lets face it, she just writes fun and smart books.

In this book, the main character, Saddie, had to have brain surgery, and ends up with face blindness. It was a condition that I had heard about. but didn't know much about it. It was really interesting to journey with Saddie as she navigates her new condition. Along with a dysfunctional family and a looming art contest, Saddie has a ton on her plate.

3.5 stars. Sadie needs unexpected brain surgery, which her surgeon father convinces her to have right away. The only problem is, she's a portrait artist competing in the biggest contest of her life in a few weeks' time, and the surgery has left her with a post-op complication: she can't see faces. It's temporary. Probably. But still a problem, because she has to paint a new portrait for the contest, and her face blindness is making it an impossible task. Ashamed and frustrated, Sadie keeps her condition under wraps as she stumbles through caring for her dog, her career, and the surprising arrival of TWO seemingly perfect men into her life. She can't see their faces, but she knows one of them has got to be "the one" — doesn't he?

Alright so this story was adorable, but I found The Bodyguard to be much more on the "com" side of romcom, while Hello Stranger was pretty firmly a romance. The twist (if you can call it that?) is easy to predict, but I will admit that I did love Katherine Center's author note about predictability in romance novels (definitely don't skip it). Sadie herself is kind of annoyingly stubborn and isolating, but that's part of her journey, so don't get too exasperated with her.

Overall, this is a very cute story with some good "life lesson" type of takeaways, so don't skip it if romance is your thing! (It's not really mine, I'm here for just the romcoms, but I can appreciate it.) Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

This is somehow my first Katherine Center book, and it definitely won't be my last.

Sadie is a portrait artist that ends up in a situation where she gets face blindness. This book goes through emotional struggles of overcoming the face blindness and finding love through it all.

I enjoyed the premise and the 'love triangle' that occurred between her, Joe, and Dr. Anderson. I hated Parker so much. She was meant to be hated, clearly, and boy, did I hate her. There were also times I was beyond frustrated with Sadie, but to be fair, she had gone through a lot.

Katherine Center did a beautiful job in her writing, her research of prosopagnosia, and emotionally developing each character. Definitely recommend this book!

Me = disappointed!😫

I’m a huge Katherine Center fan, even proudly displaying several of her works on my favorites’ shelf. So what happened here?🤷‍♀️

Sadie’s dream is about to come true. She’s a struggling artist who became a finalist in a prestigious portrait competition. But now all that hard work may be for naught as she recovers from a repair of a leaking blood vessel in her brain. That’s right, six weeks before the final competition Sadie had to have brain surgery that left her with the inability to see faces!
And yes, it’s a real thing! Face blindness (Prosopagnosia).

I wish I could say I empathized with Sadie, but just couldn’t. She was such a despicable character even before her surgery. Selfish, whiny and rude.

The storyline itself gave me some difficulties. Inconsistencies regarding whose voice Sadie could recognize and who was a stranger every time they approached her.
Example:(view spoiler)

Those are just a few but they just seemed to be endless.

A buddy read with Susanne that we both came away with identical thoughts and feelings. It generated quite the discussion, let me tell ya!!

I see most readers absolutely loved this book and I wish we could have joined them.

We’re very much in the minority here, enjoying cocktails on Outlier island.🍹😎🏝️ .

I had both the digital and audio versions, and on the positive side I did enjoy the narration from Patti Murin.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio.

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼ (4.25 stars)
I've recently stumbled upon a hidden gem that left me with warm fuzzies and kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Katherine Center's upcoming release, "Hello Stranger," is a delightful mix of family drama, mistaken identity, and a medical quirk that had me hooked and grinning throughout.

Let's start with the main plot point of prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which was completely new to me. Center seamlessly weaves this unique condition into the story, adding an endearing layer to the main character's experiences and relationships. It's an intriguing twist that will make you appreciate the little quirks that make us human.

Speaking of the main character, Sadie Montgomery, she's an absolute delight to follow. With her lovable quirks and relatable personality, Sadie quickly steals your heart. Her journey is filled with charming mishaps and unexpected encounters that keep you eagerly turning the pages, hoping for her happily-ever-after.

If you're an audiobook enthusiast like me, you're in for an extra treat. Patti Murin, the narrator for the audiobook version, deserves applause for her stellar performance. The pacing of her narration is so spot-on that you can easily enjoy the audiobook at double speed without missing a beat.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review.

"Hello Stranger" is a charming and entertaining read that deserves a spot on your must-read list this summer. So mark your calendars for July 11th and get ready to be whisked away into a world of mistaken identities, family dynamics, and a touch of medical quirkiness.

Katherine Center did it again! Hello Stranger is a beautifully written Romance with its Happily Ever After with some road bumps along the way. I loved how the story developed and we learned so much about face blindness, as I never knew anything about it before. But this story brought it to life and helped me learn about it while enjoying and amazing love story!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press. This is my honest voluntary review.

"Seeing the world differently helps you see things not just that other people can’t—but that you yourself never could if you weren’t so lucky. It lets you make your own rules. Color outside your own lines. Allow yourself another way of seeing." I loved this book again, just like all the other KC books.

Need a book that will make you keep reading and not get anything done until you're finished?
Love isn’t blind, it’s just little blurry. This is a story about healing from hard things, trying to connect, and working like hell to become the best versions of themselves. I discovered that our thoughts create our feelings and you should try to convince yourself that things are going to be fine, to keep arguing with yourself. Also, "our thoughts create our emotions. So if you fixate on your worst-case scenario, you'll make things harder for yourself."

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC release date July 11, 2023.

3.5 stars (rounded up)!

I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine Center's last novel "The Bodyguard." In fact, it was one of my favorite books from last year! Unfortunately, I don't think "Hello Stranger" is quite as good.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story and thought it was wholly unique. I've never read a book about Prosopagnosia (face blindness), so this was a first for me. The way Center works this condition into the context of her book is seamless! It brings about a bunch of different dilemmas and problems that the main character, Sadie, must navigate as someone recently diagnosed with Prosopagnosia. Sadie's entire way of life as an artist is turned upside down with her surgery and subsequent diagnosis. She is about to enter a very esteemed and important art competition, but she suddenly finds herself unable to see (let alone paint!) faces. With a plot like this, the miscommunication trope *actually makes sense* despite how much I personally dislike it. I think it is used effectively between Sadie and main male character, Joe, although it makes the ending of the novel quite predictable. Unfortunately, I found Sadie to be a major buzzkill of a character, which damaged my enjoyment of the book a lot. Even before her medical issues, I found Sadie to be a little insufferable and quite immature. Because of these personality traits, a lot of Sadie's interactions with Joe feel devoid of the significant chemistry to get me to root for them as a couple. I found their pairing to be lackluster. Luckily, this book is a breeze to finish. It's hard to put down one of Katherine Center's books once you get started!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

I really enjoyed this one! It reminded me of a twist on Cinderella and I loved the mysterious elements thanks to the face blindness. The Bodyguard was my first Katherine Center book and I loved it so I was nervous going into this one. I really enjoyed this one but it didn’t have as much humor to it as the Bodyguard but it still was really good! This might be one of my favorite new releases of the year! It was nice to read a cleaner romance book too that surprised me along the way - reads like a good mix of romance and women’s fiction. The author’s note was so good too!! Definitely one I would recommend to anyone!

Content notes: toxic family relationships, medical content

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book early!

Once more, this was a very enjoyable story by Katherine Center. I love her writing style. I wasn't excited by the blurb for this one, but having read Center's work before I was really looking forward to reading it anyway. As expected, Center made it work.

This is a slower moving, closed door romance with some cute giggles. I enjoyed getting to know our MC, Sadie, as well as the surrounding characters. It was fun to root for Sadie and I looked forward to her figuring it out and getting together with her person.

There is an interesting author's note at the end where Center discusses predictability vs positively valanced anticipation in romance novels that is certainly worth a read. I've considered this concept before, but as you would expect Center put it into words much better than I ever could. Center also includes a quick bit of information about prosopagnosia that is interesting. So, when you finish the story, keep reading.

I am already looking forward to reading whatever Center writes next.

This story begins with Sadie, a young woman who’s not really crushing it in her career as a portrait painter. She’s finally on the brink of success when she wakes up in the hospital after nearly being hit by a car. She never expected to wake up from surgery with “acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia”, also known as Face Blindness. She has earned one of the coveted finalist spots in a competition that could be life changing, but now she needs to navigate her new normal, and that includes learning when to ask for help. Two men enter her life: her new vet, who helps her dog through a health crisis, and Joe, a neighbor who doesn’t exactly make the best first impression. This is one of those books that perfectly balances emotion, humor, and romance. Hello Stranger was entertaining and charming read that . I would highly recommend!

Cute rom-com, a complex family drama. lots of twist-turns and sweet moments, unique plot.

I had a hard time enjoying Sadie, found her a little whiny, and the romance was a little hard to believe. An okay read, but I didn't connect to this book. It wasn't a perfect fit for me but could be for someone else.