Holy heck! Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is the best blend of Romance & Comedy- I woke up my husband while reading! Literally the perfect RomCom that will have you Laughing Out Loud!!!

5 stars!

4.5 🌟

Katherine Center is an auto read for me - I love her as an author and the books she writes. They always have a little more depth than romcoms and feel a bit more realistic. Hello Stranger did not disappoint!

I liked Sadie's character and couldn't imagine losing the ability to recognize people's faces. The twist in the middle was a little predictable but not too predictable. I loved seeing Sadie's growth in her relationships. Overall, a quick, easy (but not too light) read.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: July 11, 2023

Rating: 3 stars

I was very excited to be approved for this book especially since I haven't read a Center's book in a couple of years. At the time that I had attempted one of her books, I wasn't into the romance genre like I am now. The premise of this book is what reeled me in. A woman trying to navigate her life and love life but without being able to see faces? Count me in!

I loved the beginning of this book but at about 25% it came to a slow crawl. I had to force myself to pick the book up. Center's writing tries to have this vibe of "easy" but it comes off choppy and repetitive.

The character of Sadie really rubbed me wrong. If we were friends in real life, I probably would have rolled my eyes and avoided her company like the plague. I think with all this, it made it hard for me to enjoy the story more.

After suffering from a medical emergency and unexpected brain surgery, portrait artist Sadie Montgomery discovers she has face blindness. She cannot make out people's faces, including those of her closest friends. While navigating this new reality, Sadie must also try to complete a portrait for a prestigious portrait competition. Misunderstandings and mistaken identities lead to a comedy of errors. Super fun read!

Hello Stranger follows portrait painter Sadie as she prepares for a career-making competition while dealing with an accident-induced case of “face blindness.” The main characters are thoughtfully drawn and nuanced enough to feel real, the conflicts more complex than simple mis-communication, and the resolution generally satisfying. The one exception is the character of Sadie’s sister in law / primary antagonist, who seems almost cartoonishly villainous. I recommend Hello Stranger for fans of romantic comedies - think Emily Henry, Jasmine Guillory, or Center’s previous works. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for the Advanced Reader Copy!

This was cute. She's about to get her big break and has a potentially life saving surgery and gets a specific type of face blindness that is mostly out to ruin her life. She's a finalist in a portrait contest and can't put all the pieces together of anyone she knows, let alone strangers. She's in a loathe at first sight relationship with a guy from her building, keeps getting tricked by her evil stepsister, is in lust at really no sight with her new veterinarian, and is faking it until she makes it with everyone else.

A thing about me is that I cannot do secondhand embarrassment. If it's in a movie, I'll walk out of the room for ten minutes and come back when the scene is hopefully over. I read the second half of this book with a hand over my face like a scary movie. So kudos to Katherine Center for this book being good enough to finish.

Narrator: The narrator was great. Patti Murin did a nice job handling her range of emotions and everyone elses. Especially Joe's complete and total bafflement.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

I adored this book. Katherine Center definitely knows how to write a romance and this one is no exception. The book was so sweet, but at the same time it was emotionally hard-hitting. Watching Sadie deal not only with face blindness, but also the mess that her life was was heart breaking at times. There were some fun twists and turns throughout the book that kept me guessing.

My favorite part of Ms. Center’s romance novels is watching the growth and character development of her heroines and this one was no exception. I will happily continue to read anything that she writes.

5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book.

Read Completed 5/7/23 4.25 stars
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio/St. Martin's Press for the audiobook review copy!

This book was such a delight! I think it has a little bit more dose of serious than THE BODYGUARD did (and that's the only other Katherine Center book I've read since I prefer to read romcoms over more serious/sad/dramatic romances) and I was a tad worried in the beginning when it was taking a while to get to some laughs. I really did appreciate it though! There were still plenty of swoons, cute moments, and some really valuable perspectives in this book.

I REALLY liked the concept of face-blindness in a romance story. Once the love story started to develop, I knew how it was going to go but I liked being able to see both sides of it as the reader! (I think we're supposed to be able to know/guess... the author's note at the end talks about hope and positivity in romance novels vs calling them "predictable" because they're kind of supposed to be predictable.) The face-blindness was an interesting and unique angle to use in a romance... falling in love with someone because of who they are and how they act without ever knowing what their face looks like was a fresh perspective and I always love when a romance can give you something new! I loved seeing Sadie interact with Joe and appreciating his kindness so many times without knowing that it's him half the time.

The only thing I didn't love about the book was the evil step-mother/evil step-sister thing. I'm sure some marriages and family blending does cause terrible relationships and there are tons of step-families that don't get along, but I would have rather had that be a bit less polarizing. There was some resolution there that was really heart-warming and I liked that not everything was perfectly tied up, either.

I also did enjoy that not everything was 100% perfect happily ever after to keep some more reality in this adorable book. There is still a happy finale with the romance, so don't worry there! But Sadie doesn't get everything she magically wanted and there are some real struggles, real hurdles to overcome, and relationships that get better, but aren't perfectly fixed.

This is also a NO SPICE book, which I loved. I adored the close moments between Sadie and Joe and there's some wonderful scenes to make your heart flutter and fall in love with Joe too.

I am forever here for new Katherine Center books and I loved the combination of cute rom-com and real life seriousness without either one taking over in extreme.

Recommended for fans of: Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez
Also check out: Linda Holmes, Ellie Cahill

Hello Stranger
Katherine Center
Pub Date: July 11, 2023

Whenever I read a book by an author I just adore, I always get nervous to start a book because what if the book doesn’t live up to my expectations? Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about that because I just ADORED Hello Stranger! I’ve loved every single book written by this author, and this book might now be my favorite one of hers!

Sadie, a struggling artist, lands a spot in a portrait competition that could be her big break. As she is set to celebrate with her best friend, she has an unexpected medical event and is told she will need a minor surgery. When her somewhat distant father demands she has the surgery right away, she reluctantly agrees, knowing that she will still have plenty of time to participate in her art competition. As a portrait artist, she paints faces, but when she is no longer able to see faces after her surgery, a potential side effect, she struggles to cope and hold on to her dream of being an artist.

When Sadie’s dog, Peanut, needs medical help, she rushes him to a local veterinarian office and meets a handsome vet, Dr. Addison who is able to help Peanut, and eventually asks Sadie on a date. At the same time, she starts to develop a friendship with her annoying neighbor, Joe, who seems to make his rounds in her apartment building. Suddenly, Sadie is falling for two guys at the same time, trying to figure out how to move forward with her portrait competition and facing family drama.

The character development was just phenomenal and I found myself flying through this book because I was hooked after the first chapter!

Read if you like:
🎨A love triangle between the main character, her neighbor, and her vet
🎨Family drama
🎨Mental Health Rep
🎨A unique premise and storyline
🎨Strangers/Friends to lovers trope
🎨Health Rep (Prosopagnosia)
🎨Laugh out loud character banter
🎨Absolutely perfect character development
🎨An adorable dog

Favorite Quotes:
“Isn’t it lucky when we’re drawn to people who can teach us things we need to learn?”

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

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Hello Stranger!

Posted on Instagram on May 10, 2023 (Currently Reading): http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
Posted on Goodreads on May 13, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram (full review) on July 11, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Instagram (mini review) in late June/early July 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on July 11, 2023
**-will post on designated date

Sadie is a portrait artist who has just been named a finalist in a major competition--her career is finally beginning to take off! However, as a result of a necessary and urgent medical procedure, she develops face blindness. How can Sadie continue as a portrait artist if she can't see faces? I found the information about face blindness, the issues Sadie and others face, and the ways they learn to cope to be fascinating. The story was cute and had some good characters. Some of the story and characters were too over the top, but it still was a fun and interesting read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

"Hello Stranger" by Katherine Center is a truly captivating and heartfelt novel that follows Sadie Montgomery, an artist diagnosed with a rare condition known as face blindness. Center expertly explores themes of resilience, self-discovery, and love as Sadie navigates the challenges of her condition. The book delves into the complexities of human connection and offers a compelling and thought-provoking reading experience. Center lands another fantastic read here with evocative writing and well-developed characters, creating an engaging narrative that tugs at the heartstrings. While the plot may have some predictable moments, the emotional depth and relatable protagonist make "Hello Stranger" a touching and worthwhile read.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

In Hello Stranger, Sadie suffers acquired Prosopagnosia following surgery for a serious medical condition. As a struggling portrait artist on the edge of making it big, luck definitely isn’t on her side.

On top of having face-blindness, she also has to deal with an evil step-sister, a distant dad, an annoying stepmom, and a sick 14-year old pup at the same time.

Not all is bad though, Sadie meets Joe and Oliver, who couldn’t be more different, and falls in love with both

This is a sad, sweet, funny, exciting romance. There isn’t a lot of spice here, but definitely enough heat to keep it interesting.

In the author notes section, Katherine Center describes why likes romance novels and it made so much sense to me. It’s all about hope, potential , anticipation, anticipation. They lift your spirit.

This notes section made me love Katherine Center even more! I’ll be looking for more from this author.

Thanks @netgalley and @stmartinspress and the author for an #arc of this book.

IG post to follow

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center. This fun little rom-com is about Sadie, a struggling artist who develops facial blindness just as she's about to start on a portrait for a huge art competition she's qualified for. It's a little predictable and a lot over the top, but who cares! A great summer read.

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist on the cusp of her big break when a life altering medical condition unexpectedly detracts her present life path, sending her on a journey to self discovery where she must confront the disappointments and heartache of her past while she comes to terms with the devastating impact her condition plays on her present.

Packed with humor, emotion and delightful characters, I absolutely loved this story from the very first page right through the very last. The characters were well drawn and the story moved along at a good clip. Sadie was easy to fall in love with. She was vulnerable yet strong, and independent almost to a fault, stubbornly pushing though on her own for fear of being pitied. She was funny and kind and just kind of person I would want for a friend. I absolutely loved that she was able to find love during the chaos of her life.

Katherine Center has done it again, penning a fantastic story of triumph over adversity that is full of courage, hope, resilience and forgiveness. It was a gentle reminder that life is not always simple, easy or may not be what we expected, but we are surrounded by blessings and reasons to be grateful, and with love, you can conquer all.

A hearty thankful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book that is due to publish July 11, 2023. Pre-order your copy now. You won’t be disappointed!

PHENOMENAL!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!❤️❤️Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

AMAZING!! This is my favorite book by Katherine Center!! There are some books that stay with you forever and this is one of them. Literally everything I could ever want in a book. Hello Stranger is such a unique and heartwarming story that is so much more than a romance. It is about finding hope and persevering, despite all the struggles and difficulties in your life. Center has a way of pulling at your heart strings and making you fall in love with the characters. I cannot recommend this book enough!! I felt ALL the emotions!! Definitely, one of my top reads for 2023!! 🥰🥰

Purposefully, I am not discussing the plot because I feel like it is better to go into reading this blind. I will say that I did foresee the big twist but that did not take away at all from the story. Center has author notes at the end that you will not want to miss! Her description of the romance genre was on point. I was completely captivated from start to finish and highly recommend this book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have quickly become a Katherine Center fan as I have made my way through her backlist so I was very excited when I received this ARC from NetGalley. I really enjoy how she works medical issues into her books and I always learn something that I didn’t know. Hello Stranger was no different and this concept of face blindness was fascinating. Add in a portrait artist to whom this diagnosis would be devastating, a sweet, slow burn romance along with some family drama and you have a great read. Sadie’s personal growth and healing, both physically and emotionally was well done. I was definitely surprised by the story because this was going to be a 4 star book for me until the very end and I LOVED the plot twist when it hit.

I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note as she profoundly described exactly the reason that I love a good love story and long for the happily ever after.

Romantic Content: Kisses

This was a solid 4.5. I loved it but The Bodyguard is still the top KC book for me. This was a close 2nd.

I just loved the progression of this one and couldn’t have been anymore satisfied with how everything came together in the end. Plus I learned more about “face blindness.” I loved that KC really raised awareness for it in this book and took the time to describe how it feels to the person experiencing it.

The object of Sadie’s affection was just the best. Sadie was very likable.

Although the trouble with Sadie’s dad, stepmother and worst of all evil step sister Parker, just really made me so mad. Parker was the worst, seriously she had no redeeming qualities and I loved that KC didn’t make apologies for her…she just let her be the awful person she was and that helped the overall story arc and with Sadie’s growth. Seriously…Parker. Is. The. Worst. She wins the award for most unlikable character in my recent memory.

I just loved it…I’m not surprised. KC writes so well and I’m always instantly drawn into her novels and rooting for her characters (except for that awful Parker)!

I highly recommend this one.

Katherine Center is a must read/must buy author for me - so I was elated when I was approved for this new KC book - and it did NOT disappoint in the slightest, actually it may be my new favorite!

Sadie wants desperately to make it big - or at least be able to pay the bills - as a portrait artist. Her big break is finally here and she's ready to knock the competition out of the park. She'd love to prove her father wrong and pay the rent without stressing. An accident leads to a must-have surgery and Sadie's surgeon father will not let her wait a minute longer than necessary. They found something on her imaging that has lead to the inability to see faces - hopefully temporary - but the six weeks until the competition is rapidly dwindling and she’s not going to back down. Throw in then two gorgeous men and a twisting love aspect too and you’ve got yourself a book you won’t want to put down.

I loved Sadie, I loved the romance, I loved the full cast - even that she-devil-who-shall-not-be-named. Katherine has this amazing ability to pull all of the emotions out of me and weave these threads throughout that seem innocuous until it means so much more later. Her cyclical style is impactful and makes me want to start over immediately to see what I missed.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

Oh how I adored this book! This is my second Katherine Center and it won’t be my last. It had a lot to live up to and it exceeded my expectations. This book gave me butterflies, made me feel and warm and gooey inside but most of all, it made me laugh OUT LOUD. I laughed so much while reading this book and I didn’t expect it. It’s not a comedy (that I’m aware of) but it had such a good dry humor. This is a story that will stick with me for a while.

I read a lot of thrillers. Sometimes I really need to change up genres and I usually always go to Katherine Center. I was so happy to be approved for an ARC for Hello Stranger. I wanted to wait to read this until summer time but I just couldn't wait any longer! This book was such a breath of fresh air. There were definitely unexpected parts that I never saw coming. This is the perfect summer/beach read! Another 5 star book from Katherine Center! I think the Authors note was probably one of my favorite I have ever read, so do not skip it.