A beautiful love story. I'm grateful to have read this.

Sadie is someone who is relatable, and easy to root for. I felt such compassion and sympathy for her. She goes through some heartbreaking things in her life. I don't know if I'm just overly emotional right now but there were times I was so sad for her. I felt such a connection to her thoughts and worries. However, even though this book may touch on some darker aspects of life such as fear and loss, it is NOT a sad book. There were times I laughed out loud. It's funny It's hopeful. It's romantic. I wanted nothing more than for these characters to find love with each other.

It's a unique and fun read that you don't want to miss.

I highly recommend reading the authors note at the end too.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately right now, I am not in the right headspace to read a book with any sort of failed surgery and loss of a family member triggers. I made it to about forty-six percent, and I think that eventually I will come back to this since I have loved other work by this author and this was a unique concept that I think I would like to experience. Just right now, I think if I were to continue reading, my own feelings would cloud my judgement over something that otherwise would probably be a book I could love.

For anyone going in to this book, the synopsis actually sounds REALLY cute and based on what I had read so far, was super well written. The characters seemed likable enough (and in some cases, completely repulsive) and the story was going in a really great direction, I hope other readers enjoy this one a lot! If I do pick it up again, I will adjust this review :)

This was exactly what I needed right now. A charming love story with a happy ending, and some new knowledge to boot. Though I've heard of face blindness, I've not known much about it, so to have its impact rolled into a fun, easy read was a bonus.

Katherine Center always gives a fun and relaxing read. I appreciate that.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was exactly what I expect from this author. It was a unique story with relatable
and sometimes quirky characters. The main character discovers she needs emergency brain surgery and wakes up to find that she has face blindness. The swelling left in her brain prevents her from being able to recognize people based on faces, which causes her a great deal of anxiety. She meets a tenant in her building that helps her cope when things get overwhelming for her. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.

The thing about Katherine Center is that she takes circumstances that are foreign to me with my ordinary life and makes them so real and relatable. Face blindness is something I was aware of but never really gave much thought to. This story begins with Sadie, a young woman who’s not really crushing it in her career as a portrait painter. It’s been 14 years since her mom died suddenly and she still feels the loss deeply. She’s finally on the brink of success when she wakes up in the hospital after nearly being hit by a car.

What follows is the poignant and often hilarious story of Sadie’s struggle to live as an artist and just a regular person while not being able to see faces. She hates asking for help but her neighbor, Joe, always seems to be there when she needs him and she finds herself attracted to him. This presents a problem since she’s already made up her mind to marry her dog’s vet.

Sadie’s best friend, Sue, and Sue’s family were delightful supporting friends. Her evil stepsister and clueless stepmom were the characters you wanted to hate.

I loved this heartwarming story of newfound love and forgiveness. 4.5/5 Stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a advanced copy of Hello Stranger, and was so excited to read it. Sadie is a portrait artist who is enrolled in a competition. In a turn of events Sadie is faced with a medical complication and her life changes. Throw in a mix of a vet and a neighbor and a evil step sister and Sadie has to navigate her new life ........

I very much look forward to a Katherine Center offering and her latest, Hello Stranger, did not disappoint. Heart strings are vigorously pulled and her characteristic witty banter are in full display in this story of Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist who experiences face blindness just as she becomes a finalist in a prestigious competition. As she struggles to make sense of the world and her new reality, Sadie battles a childhood nemesis, navigates her beloved dog’s illness, and comes to terms with the loss of her mother and her father’s subsequent indifference. She also finds herself drawn to two different men, despite her inability to fully recognize either one (is love blind?). Sadie’s journey is not to be missed.

I received a free advance reader's copy of this from NetGalley, in exchange for a review.

I had a really, really hard time with the first fourth of this book. It was to the point that I wasn't even sure I wanted to finish reading it. It was dry and filled with people's conversations (just two characters discussing things without doing things like moving, apparently). There were a few times I just wanted to call it good and not finish. But, because, I'm not a quitter, I stuck it out until the end, and I'm glad I did. After the awful first fourth, the rest was moving, beautiful, and interesting. I knew several of the twists from the very beginning (<spoiler>that the guy in the store, Joe, and Oliver were all the same person</spoiler>), but that didn't detract from the rest of the book. So, the first fourth was 2 stars (if that), the rest was 4 stars.

I really enjoy this authors books. She writes with humor and details that have me laughing one minute and wanting to cry the next. I also learn a lot and in this case, I was unaware of facial recognition issues. Very interesting. The story was sweet and there was a light bulb moment when you see it all coming together. Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Hello Stranger was really cute. I mainly wanted to read this to “experience” face blindness myself. It was interesting to see how she navigated not being able to recognize faces. It kind of made me wonder if I could recognize people I knew by just their gait. Maybe? This is definitely one I’d read a sequel to!

That was fun! Super cute rom com with such lovable characters. It also had a little bit of a unique premise, which I enjoyed. I loved Bodyguard and after this one, I’m sure to read all of Katherine’s books past and future.

Okay first off, 4.5 ⭐️ the ONLY reason I didn’t give it 5 was because this one took me a minute to get into. I actually started it 3 separate times (I would like to credit most of that to squirrel brain)!! I’m so glad I kept on bc I fell in love, but also… I was heart broke . Why couldn’t poor Sadie catch a break. A literal evil step sister, face blindness, at odds with her family. Honestly, I don’t know how she did it. I LOVE Center’s ability to project just how strong her female leads are. They persevere, conquer, and end up with a swoon worthy love 🫶🏼

I would also like to add, that I was SO confused!!! Three total strangers and potential love interests? The first stranger I thought “oooooh here we go!! Can’t wait to see this relationship blossom.” Then came along the vet and my thoughts were as follows, “what the heck happened to wine stranger?? Oh well, I’m down with the hot vet!” Then once again, I am bamboozled with Joe. Once we began to see their relationship flourish I was so curious what the point of the other three men were? Then we are hit with that twist at the end 🤯Let me tell you, my jaw usually only drops like that with a thriller 😂 The end product was so chaotic, fun, heartwarming, and mixing up three different men is something I would do 💀 that made me love it that much more!!

In this book I laughed, I cried, I SMILED SO HARD. The aspect of self discovery was so perfect for this storyline, and something I think so many readers also benefit from. Katherine Center is an auto buy author for me and when I was given this opportunity I was over the moon 🤍 so thank you and I will NOT stop recommending this book

"Hello Stranger" is a beautifully written novel that explores the journey of a female portrait artist named Sadie who has a random brain accident that changes the way she sees the world. Katherine Center does an excellent job of weaving together Sadie's personal struggles with her artistic journey.

Artist Sadie Montgomery is struggling, if she’s being honest. Until now. Now she’s on the cusp of her big break, becoming a finalist in a portrait painting contest that she’s determined to win. However, life has other plans when Sadie agrees to undergo brain surgery for a low lying condition and suddenly finds herself unable to see faces- faces that are completely necessary for a portrait competition. “Hello Stranger” by Katherine Center is a story of determination, wit, and finding happiness when you least expect it.

Katherine Center- why have I put off your books for so long?! “Hello Stranger” was my second Center read, but I was hooked from page one. It feels like Center creates these relatable, witty, awkward, sweet, fun characters that you just fall in love with and root for endlessly. Sadie and Joe were no exception! I liked them both immediately.

This was a pretty straightforward love story. I guessed the plot twist pretty early on, but that didn’t stop me from being completely fascinated with the other moving parts of the plot. Sadie’s face blindness diagnosis was interesting and created a greater awareness of the different unseen challenges someone might have in their everyday life. Things we often take for granted.

In the end, this was a solid 5 star read for me. I devoured it in about 24 hours and I already want more! Time to go check out some older Katherine Center while I wait.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book hits shelves July 11th- you do not want to miss it!

Katherine Center's books are ALWAYS a good time. I love them! They're fun to read and just something that brings a smile to your face. This one didn't disappoint. I enjoyed being with her characters and what they had to go through. Hello Stranger is another classic for Center and I cannot wait for what's next.

I LOVED this book! I really thought a lot of her problems would go away if she just TOLD people she couldn't see them, but then I guess we wouldn't have the whole story. I figured out the plot twist around 75% through the book, and wow I didn't really see it coming!

Being in Sadie's mind was such a riot. She was a hilarious character and I just couldn't get enough of her. I truly laughed out loud so much during this book, which is saying a lot for me.

The overall plot was interesting, but definitely required a bit of suspending my disbelief. I loved the romance, and this is perfect for those of us who prefer the spice to be closed door.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this early!

Another great book by Katherine Center. Sadie is a portrait artist who feels like she is finally getting her big break when she makes it as a finalist in an art contest. Don’t want to spoil anything but she goes through a lot and learns to be herself and that it’s ok to ask for help.

Not my favorite book of hers. There were multiple points in the book that I absolutely could not stand the main character and wanted to just shake some sense into her. I thought the premise was unique with the face blindness but the main character's immature personality ruined most of my enjoyment of the book.

I loved The Bodyguard and was SO excited to pick up another Katherine Center rom com! Hello Stranger was a unique, fun, light, and twisty unexpected romance. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading Hello Stranger but it reminded me of a silly 90s rom com, in all the good ways.

Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist looking for her big break and is chosen as a finalist in a portrait competition. After an unexpected medical emergency and surgery, Sadie develops face blindness leading her to fall in love with two different people..

I liked The Bodyguard better, but this book is a fun light, and easy read and I can’t wait to pick up another Katherine Center book!!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Stranger releases July 11, 2023. I definitely recommend adding this warm hearted twisty rom com to your summer beach read list!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️