To start, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to the ARC for Hello Stranger by Katherine Center.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Sadie is a struggling artist, trying to prove to her family and herself that she made the right move by following in her late mother's footsteps to become a portrait artist. When Said is accepted into a prestigious portrait contest, she knows that this is her big break, but then, enter...brain surgery. What follows is Sadie's process of healing her relationship with herself, her family, her outlook, and even a little romance all while adjusting to a complication in her surgery resulting in (hopefully) temporary face-blindness.

There were aspects of this book that I enjoyed, and this book has certainly received many enthusiastic 5-star reviews, so I may be an outlier here, but while I can say I overall enjoyed it, there was a lot left to be desired for me with this book. For starters, the main character. Now this one surprised me, because normally I enjoy a messy main character and love them for all their human messiness, but for some reason with Sadie, I had a difficult time enjoying her. She felt a little flighty and whiny, but not in a way I was rooting for. My other main hurdle was the romance. While I will not blatantly spoil the twist, I am finding it hard to write without some minor spoilers...so spoiler alert....

I found it hard to believe Sadie's feelings for both, neighbor Joe and the veterinarian Oliver. Both seemed like way too much too soon and while there was a portion of it that I found believable, particularly with Oliver, because Sadie herself admitted that a lot of it was fantastical, I really wish there was more time spent between Sadie and Joe because when feelings are admitted, I had a hard time finding them truly genuine. Also the lack of memory on Sadie's part from before the accident was a lot, and I think really spoke to the self-involved streak of Sadie's that felt like....a lot. I would personally be hurt if I were Joe.

So again, maybe not my favorite, but not every book is perfect for every reader and there was certainly a lot to love in this one for many readers out there!

I have to admit that I didn’t even know that a condition known as face blindness existed. While my nerdy Google Dive was wonderfully satisfying, the door to empathy really opened while following the story of Sadie Montgomery, who, after being hit by a car, is diagnosed with this condition, which is “probably” temporary… which means it also is, potentially, permanent.
Just to make matters worse… Sadie paints… Portraits. One of the few things that requires an in-depth understanding of what faces look like.
It was fascinating to find out about prosopagnosia. I don’t have it (because yes, of course I did the online test, although I can definitely see faces – and yes, I did glance up as I was typing that to make sure I could still see my child and my husband’s faces, stop laughing!), but I definitely felt the anxiety and confusion of not being able to see a face, a testament to Katherine Center’s ability to craft a story, dig into a character, and make you love them as if they were your IRL friends.
Fiction as a way to build empathy and understanding and Katherine Center does this really well. I think the way the story about Sadie’s struggle with her temporary (or not…) prosopagnosia was set within a very sweet love story helps readers truly empathise with her. The author also tugged at our heartstrings, making us more empathic from the get-go, by making Sadie mother-less and making her father unable to cope well enough with her passing to be a present figure in his daughter’s life. And she makes us protective of Sadie by throwing in a very toxic stepsister and an enabling but surprisingly sweet, by the end, mother-in-law.
One topic I particularly appreciated was that of perception. There is obviously the concept of what our eyes and brains perceive and its effect on the way that we move through the world. There is also the struggle to balance out our perception of a situation with the truth of the situation—and what truth really is.

This was my second book by Katherine Center and I really enjoyed it. This was a fun quick read with characters I really liked and connected to. Sadie is a portrait artist all set to win her first major competition when she finds out she needs brain surgery and it inadvertently causes her to have face blindness. While they think it will be a temporary problem she now has to figure out a new way to paint while also dealing with not recognizing people in her life. I liked the story and the journey that Sadie went through to really find herself something she had a hard time being able to do after losing her mother at a young age. The side characters were also likeable and the love interests were as well and was easy to see how she could so easily have feelings for both. I really enjoy her writing style it's very easy to read entertaining and gets you wrapped up in the story quickly. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite authors did not disappoint.
This was such a beautiful heartfelt story and an epic romance with a stunning couple.
Highly recommend it!

Okay, this was DELIGHTFUL! I had such a wonderful time with this book. I had never read a book about facial blindness before so that was new to me, but the way it was described and handled made perfect sense. Sadie as the MC, I overall really enjoyed, but there were times she grated on me a bit. I did find myself giving her a lot of grace because being a portrait artist and suddenly developing facial blindness was obviously a lot for anyone to handle. But I loved her journey of seeing things in her life differently and being more positive and gentle with herself. I really enjoyed her friendship with Sue and also her sessions with Dr. Nicole who was an absolute treasure. And the little twist with her love interests was just hilarious and honestly adorable. And PEANUT. Ugh, my heart! My one complaint was PARKER. I know we’re supposed to hate her, but it felt a little much at times for a grown woman to behave that atrociously. But honestly, great read with some sweet romance, funny misunderstandings and a lot of heart.


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

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for this eARC! This is my second Katherine Center book read (first one was The Bodyguard) and I absolutely adored it! The premise was very different but so well thought out, and it had just the perfect amount of intrigue that kept me reading to find out how it's going to end. Hello Stranger focuses on Sadie Montgomery, a starving artist down on her luck, but ready for what is expected to be her big break. She's been through a lot (loss of a parent, absent father & evil step mother/sister duo, not to mention horrible ex) but she somehow still sees the good in the world and wants to make a name for herself.
Unfortunately, she is discovered to need brain surgery, which gives her a horrible side effect that threatens to ruin not only Sadie's career, but who she thinks she is at her core. Sadie has to go through a journey of self-discovery in order to figure out what she wants out of life during this time and also happens to meet two potential love interests.

I really loved the way this story was told, this was such a different premise, gave me a lot of laughs and also brought forth some tears. You empathize with Sadie and you also can't help but cheer for her and hope she comes out winning in the end. The twists and turns from this book were so well written and it was such a happy read. This was such a palate cleanser of a book and I cannot wait to read more of Katherine Center's books going forward.

4.5* rounded up to 5

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist who lives in a not-quite-hospitable top floor studio (described as a "hovel", new vocabulary word for me) at the top of an apartment building that her best friend's father owns. She enters a national portrait contest that her now deceased mother entered before she died, and needs to paint a portrait for an art show. However, she discovers that she needs brain surgery. It's described as NBD and minimal recovery, but when she wakes up she cannot distinguish anyone's face. Her elderly dog becomes sick, her best friend goes on a trip at the worst time, and her life is falling apart. She starts dating her vet and he ghosts her on the first date. I don't want to go into too much more to avoid spoilers!

Katherine Center's books are always a delight and feel like a warm hug. She writes such well rounded characters with actual flaws and money problems that jump right off the page, and this book was no exception. I had never heard of face blindness going into it and learned a lot. I enjoy books that are a mix of romance, humor, and where you learn a little something. I would rank this right under How to Walk Away of her books that I have read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've loved Katherine Center ever since I read Things You Save in a Fire and stayed up until 4am finishing it, and all of her books since then have been a delight. I really enjoyed Hello Stranger and thought the premise was unique and well-executed, and as always, her writing draws you in right away. I love stories with a healing journey and was rooting for Sadie as she navigated the cards she was dealt. This will be a great summer read and definitely recommend picking it up when it is released on July 11th! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eArc of this book!

Oh my heart this book! Katherine Center has done it again. A delightful, FUN romance story that brought me SO. MUCH. JOY.

Sadie is a portrait artist entering the biggest competition of her career when she has a minor setback - experiencing facial blindness as a result of a necessary surgery, which makes it more than a little difficult to paint portraits. Amidst this confusing period of not recognizing anyone and feeling like her life is crumbling around her, her dog Peanut needs to be rushed to the nearby emergency vet, Dr. Addison, who Sadie can tell is gorgeous even with her face blindness. Warm sparks spread with the kind doctor at the same time that Sadie's neighbor Joe keeps popping up everywhere and offering to help her out when she's in a bind.

A fun and heart-warming tale that shows how people can surprise you and love can be found when you open yourself up to it. Center does a fabulous job of weaving deeper emotions and healing into stories of love and joy. If you have not yet picked up one of her books, RUN, don't walk to your nearest bookstore!

I received an ARC of Hello Stranger from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. My opinions are my own.
Hello Stranger is on shelves July 11, 2023!

Sadie tells her story in a first person narrative. She has a lot of bad luck surrounding her but also some good luck that gets pushed aside as she focuses on the negative: emergency brain surgery; a medical diagnosis of Prosopagnosia; an "evil" stepsister; an emotionally distant father and more. She refuses to share her medical diagnosis with the people around her and she cannot accept help when kindly offered to her. Sadie is self-consumed and not a very endearing character. Also, about two thirds of the way through I figured out what Sadie was unable to see. That didn't ruin it for me as I was still curious how the author would resolve Sadie's issues. It is only once Sadie realizes that it is okay to accept assistance from others that she is finally able to achieve her HEA.

This was rather different from other novels by Katherine Center that I've read and enjoyed. In her other novels I was better able to relate to the main female character. Despite the negative aspects of this particular novel, I continue to look forward to reading future novels by this author.

I would probably give this book 3.5 stars.

I liked this book but I just had trouble getting into the plot. I realize this face recognition thing is real but I just had a hard time imagining it. And I really didn't like the character of Parker and thought it was a bit over the top. I did like how the ending turned out though, definitely wasn't expecting that.

Hello Stranger was so unbelievably good. This romance novel is an absolute treat, filled with heartwarming moments, quirky characters, and a whole lot of love vibes.

Our heroine, Sadie Montgomery, is an artist trying to make it big in the world. She's got this awesome opportunity as a finalist in a portrait competition when life decided to throw her a curveball. She needs surgery. And not just any surgery, but one that leaves her with a temporary condition called face blindness which means she can’t recognize faces anymore. Not the best news for a portrait artist.

As if things weren’t bad enough, her dog, Peanut, gets very sick. When she takes Peanut to the vet, she meets Dr. Oliver Addison. Even though Sadie can’t see his face, she falls for him. And just to make things more interesting, there's also Joe, her neighbor who can be obnoxious but surprisingly helpful. Love triangle alert!

Katherine Center knows how to tug at your heartstrings while keeping you laughing along the way. She tackles some real-life issues, like coping with medical conditions and dealing with past traumas, but she does it with a light touch and plenty of humor. You'll find yourself rooting for Sadie as she navigates her way through her unique situation and discovers her true path.

The writing style is engaging and easygoing, making it a breeze to dive into the story. Center strikes a perfect balance between heartfelt moments and hilarious banter, creating a read that's pure entertainment.

While Hello Stranger might have some familiar romance tropes, it's the execution and the characters that make it stand out.

All in all, Hello Stranger is the ultimate feel-good read. It's like a warm hug on a cozy day, guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face. If you're a romance lover looking for a light-hearted and uplifting book, this one's for you!

Rating: 4 stars - It's the kind of book that'll make your heart go pitter-patter and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Don't miss out!

Another fabulous read by Katherine Center! This one tackled facial blindness and what it means to really see people....and ourselves. A wonderful message and a cast of likable characters you'll root for from page one.

Sadie has had her fair share of struggles as an artist, but when she loses the ability to see faces right after she wins an amazing opportunity she feels like all hope is lost. Will Sadie be able to cope with her temporary neurological problem? Is it ONLY temporary? Will she make new connections along the way??

I LOVED this book! I found Sadie to be funny and likable. I did think she was a bit self pitying - but who wouldn't be in this case?! I did know right away what the big reveal was going to be, but I still found it fun and cute. My only criticism would be the miscommunication trope used in this book. I am never a fan of that trope, so it isn't anything personal to this book.

Overall, I rated this one a 4/5 stars! I recommend it to anyone who wants a fast paced rom-com. Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this work in exchange for my honest opinion

This book was so cute! I loved the premise and it felt so unique to me (haven’t read another book with face blindness). I absolutely LOVED Joe, he was a fantastic MMC and I was rooting for him the whole time! The FMC was okay, sometimes I didn’t understand her rationale for things (like wanting to hide her face blindness from everyone) but I still enjoyed her story. As always with KC books, I finished feeling like I just received a big, warm hug from my favorite person!

Love, love, love! Grumpy Sadie, outrageous Sue, Joe, Dr Addison, Mr Kim. Hate, hate, hate Evil Stepsister. This is such a good story revolving around old hurts and new face blindness. I missed a lot of cues and had to go back and reread sections to get a different perspective. Happily, I might add.

I was a big fan of Katherine Center's "The Bodyguard", so I knew I wanted to read this as soon as possible! I was immediately intrigued by the unique plot and circumstances the main character found herself in. Reading about such a unique health condition was eye opening, but Katherine managed to make it light hearted and funny when it needed to be. I love how well developed the character's personalities were, and I will be reading more from this author in the future!

I am officially a Katherine Center stan. She is now permanently on my to be read immediately author list. Hello Stranger began with an outlandish idea and turned into a seriously thought-provoking romance. I’ve never read a romance that made me question confirmation bias so much before. But at the same time I was still deeply invested in the romance between the two main characters. I have a tiny issue with the idea of Insta forgiveness in books. (But that’s probably more of a me problem than a book problem.) Do yourself a favor and join the Katherine Center crew!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 This book was positively adorable.

After suffering a seizure, Sadie learns that she has a congenital malformation in her brain. The surgery to repair it leaves swelling in the part of her brain that recognizes faces, leaving Sadie face-blind.
Sadie's mother died when she was young, and the rest of her family is pretty terrible (I would've enjoyed less of the awful stepsister). Sadie's wish to follow in her mother's footsteps as a portrait artist is not respected and her biggest hope is to win a portrait competition and prove her talent, which feels impossible when she can't see faces.
Sadie suffers emotionally after repeatedly failing to improve. With the help of her best friend Soo, and new relationships with her veterinarian Dr. Addison and her neighbor Joe, she tries to find her way through a life that's now confusing and often upsetting.
There's a just right amount of detail about how Sadie "sees" faces, which was really fascinating, and also about how the brain separately perceives emotions even when your brain can't make sense of faces.

The author's afterword was beautiful and the narration was excellent!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for audio and digital ARCs of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center is one my favourite romance novels. I was absolutely over the moon to get an ARC through NetGalley for her newest novel Hello Stranger.

This book did not disappoint! It was absolutely delightful. Center has a way of making you feel every ounce of joy and anticipation on the page. Although this story wasn’t very spicy and the romance is a bit slower, I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen.