I love Katherine Center's books and look forward to each new one. This was a fun one about face blindness. I did have to suspend some disbelief, but I'm okay with that.

Can Katherine Center do wrong? I don't think so.

The story? Fantastic.
Characters? Real, loveable, annoying, laughable and just overall a good time. I adored Sadie. Sue and Mr. Kim were fantastic side characters, and I loved both Dr. Addison and Joe. I even felt a bit of pity for Parker. But only a bit.

The narration felt so authentic throughout, it was so easy to picture all of the goings on and Sadie's frustrations trying to navigate the world with her acquired face blindness. A definitely feel good contemporary romance with some tough parts and hilarious parts.

Hello Stranger felt like a comfort read! This is the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center and that seems (through other reviews) to be the premise for most of her books! It’s not going to give you fanny flutters, but it’s going to make you feel good in the end! I enjoyed Sadie as a character so much! I respected how she went after the career path she wanted, truly very independent, and attempts to solve problems herself. Hello Stranger actually gave me A Cinderella Story (Hilary Duff version, obviously) vibes!

I will say it was hard to relate to her prosopagnosia diagnosis because my brain just can’t wrap my mind around how this is possible (I know it’s a real thing). So in that aspect it was hard to relate to the experiences she was in, but it didn’t make the story unenjoyable. I was actually fun watching the puzzle pieces come together in Sadie’s life - specifically between Sadie, Joe, and Dr. Addison. I was a bit surprised with the L-bomb was dropped because it felt like it came out of left field!

Overall, if you're looking for a feel-good read I recommend Hello Stranger!

Thank you to @ and @St. Martin’s press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, but I definitely felt like this was more of a women's fiction book than a romance. I enjoyed the writing and the fcharacters, but the chemistry and romance fell a little flat for me. I would definitely still recommend this book, but would have loved a little more spice.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⬜
Title: Hello Stranger
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Month Read: January 2023
Book Type: E-Arc
Publication: July 2023
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 336
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this E-Arc. It in no way influences my review on this work in any way, shape, or form.

TRIGGER WARNING-
Sexual Content / Surgery / Complications from Sugery / Emotional Abuse / Maternal Death


"So when I catch myself worrying, I should try to convince myself that things are going to be fine?"
"That's one way to do it."
"But what if I don't believe it?"
"Then keep arguing.”






No Spoiler Summary (Goodreads):
Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break. Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say. Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces.

Temporary, they say. Lots of people deal with this, they say. As she struggles to cope―and hang onto her artistic dreams―she finds solace in her fourteen-year-old dog, Peanut. Thankfully, she can still see animal faces. When Peanut gets sick, she rushes him to the emergency vet nearby. That’s when she meets veterinarian Dr. Addison. And she’s pleasantly surprised when he asks her on a date. But she doesn't want anyone to know about her face blindness. Least of all Joe, her obnoxious neighbor who always wears a bowling jacket and seems to know everyone in the building. He’s always there at the most embarrassing but convenient times, and soon, they develop a sort of friendship. But could it be something more?

As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys she realizes that happiness can be found in the places―and people― you least expect.





Review:
I read my first Katherine Center book (The Bodyguard) last year, and let me tell you how much I have loved both of these books. She writes fresh, tough, women that are such a breath of fresh air in a genre that sometimes is a little too predictable. I loved reading a novel from the perspective of a portrait artist that can no longer see faces- I thought it was interesting to see that there are artists that actually have this phenomenon, and create beautiful art despite being able to see.

A new kind of love triangle. I love the Joe v. Dr Addison moments in the book, and how wild it seemed for Sadie to have to date around without seeing who she's dating? I do think her not speaking about her medical diagnosis was a little annoying (why are you ashamed of something that isn't your fault?) but I guess we wouldn't have much of a book without her stubborn shame.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and you should pick up a copy in July when it's released. Holding out for it to be a BOTM pick so I can get a hardcover version of this. :)





Recommendation:
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren



"But I find the antidote to that is just keeping a sense of humor. And staying humble. And laughing a lot. And doubling down on smiling. We’re all just muddling through, after all. We’re all just doing the best we can. We’re all struggling with our struggles. Nobody has the answers. And everybody, deep down, is a little bit lost."


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No one writes a smart romance like Katherine Center. I’d say her books are more than romance, because they are - but that feels dismissive of the genre, a back-handed compliment, as though all romance books aren’t about so much more.

Here’s our setup. Portrait artist Sadie finally has her big break, when she is named a finalist in a prestigious portrait competition. She has six weeks to paint the portrait of her life, one worth $10,000 and (she hopes) the respect of her father. There’s just one problem (isn’t there always?): a recent freak accident has left her unable to see faces in a rare condition called prosopagnosia. To cope with the turn of events, she develops a crush on the swoony Dr. Oliver Addison, the vet in shining armor who saved her elderly dog Peanut, and works out an arrangement with Joe, the obnoxious player in her building. But without the ability to discern faces, nothing in Sadie’s steady life is what it seems - and when you introduce love to the equation, all reason goes out the window.

As with any good romance, we know all will work out, but we don’t know who will be holding Sadie’s hand at the end of the book: Dr. Addison or Joe?

I figured out what was happening in this book quickly, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment. Katherine Center brings so much life to her characters, creating a world of flawed people who make you want the best for them and who remind you of the good around you. This isn’t my favorite of hers - in truth, it’s probably fourth on the list - but when you consider how much I adore her books, that’s still a high mark.

Katherine Center is a wonderful writer that definitely knows how to tug on your heartstrings. Her latest book Hello Stranger is no different and I’d recommend preordering it or picking it up when it’s released! The main character in this story is Sadie, a struggling portrait artist that finds herself in need of brain surgery. After the surgery, there are complications from the swelling which lead to her developing a condition where she can longer see peoples faces. I find this a fascinating look into the condition that I wasn’t even aware of. The story is heartfelt and in the end uplifting but I definitely cried along the way.

This book has such an interesting premise, i felt anger, happiness , tearful and touched reading this one center did an amazing job with sadiess face blindness and how much she deals and overcomes because of it

YET AGAIN, Katherine Center knocks it out of the park. There are just so very few contemporary romance authors that can capture this magical mix of superbly written, loveable-but-flawed characters and plot that you just want to sink into. This one was cozy, charming and full of humanity. My one qualm, as a few other reviewers have stated, is that it did start to feel a touch repetitive at points - but I was so charmed by the rest of the story that I didn’t mind. I’ll continue to read whatever Center writes!

Sadie, a struggling artist, feels like she is finally getting the break that will validate her choice to be an artist. She has been invited to enter a portrait contest and plans to win! She suffers a medical incident that after surgery leaves her unable to recognize faces, hopefully temporarily. As she deals with this, she has the help of a few as she want to keep "it" a secret. When her family gets involved it goes from bad to worse. A chance meeting of two men begin to change things that brings a surprising twist. Heartwarming, emotional and satisfying! Loved it!

This book was great. I didn’t want to put it down because I was genuinely drawn in by the characters and what was going to happen next!!

After the last few Katherine Centre books, I told myself I wasn’t going to read another as I had decided they just weren’t for me. But then I got the email with the e-galley so I downloaded and read it as a palate cleanser between books, and I am so glad that I did.

This was such a sweet story. At the end of book Katherine Center includes an Author’s Note about romance and love stories. She talked about how they often included witty banter (which this book has), kissing (which this book has), tropes (which this book has), and spice ( can you guess what I am going to say here? Yep, this book has some spice - not a ton - but it’s still there). Most of all, Center says that romance books provide us with hope - and that is so true. It was lovely to read about the troubles that Sadie was having with her health, family, and love interest(s); but know deep down that everything was going to resolve itself.

I think that this is a winner for Katherine Center, and I hope that it provides you with the hope that you may be looking for!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the egalley!

This story pulled me in as Sadie tried to navigate her new face-blind life. I can’t imagine suddenly being unable to see faces especially if faces are integral to your life’s work. Sadie, Joe, Sue, Dr. Addison, Mr and Mrs Kim, and even Lucinda all had truly excellent moments throughout the book. I’m so glad I got to read this courtesy of Net Galley and Katherine Center’s team. I already pre-ordered a copy when it comes out later this year.

Aside from the story, what I loved was the acknowledgments at the end. Katherine did so much research for this book and it is evident from the way she addresses things in the novel and the way the appreciated everyone in the acknowledgments. We love a well researched subject!

3.5 stars

What a fun story! I have to give major props to Katherine Center for writing such an unique romcom. It was clearly well-researched, and she executed the medical component and conversations in this book very well. I also want to echo what other reviewers have mentioned and say that the Author's Note at the end of the book was quite poignant and special. It tied the whole book up with a nice little bow.

The content of the romance itself was not my most favorite thing I've ever read--there was a lot that was fun and unique about it, but it also felt a little flat. The character development just didn't hit as much as I wanted it to, and the romantic connection between the MCs was not as swoony as I hoped for. There were still a few fun sparks of sweetness, but overall, this book was a lot less fun for me to read than her previous romcom The Bodyguard. I found myself skimming some of it toward the end simply due to just feeling like there were a lot of loose ends and plotlines that needed to be summed up instead of having the main focus be on the romance.

I was eager to read more Katherine Center after thoroughly enjoying The Bodyguard over the summer.

✔️ Love Triangle
✔️ Opposites Attract

I loved the main character, Sadie, and rooted for her from the start, but I have a soft spot for underdogs. She is trying to make it as an artist on her own and there are so many obstacles - her terrible family, her surgery that causes her to go faceblind (can't recognize faces), and a deadline for her art show.

So I'm not one for love triangles in general, but it worked for me here. I think because I understood why both options were attractive to Sadie at different points in the book. The resolution to the triangle was also well done.

I've only read thrillers where faceblindness was a part of the story and loved how it was explored in a romance. The plot was great and the emotional storytelling was on point too, from Sadie's romance to her family dynamics. I was very satisfied with the ending though some parts with family drama was hard to experience (I have no problem putting myself in the MC's shoes so there were many points where I was MAD 😂).

Hello Stranger was a terrific read. I'd say 4⭐️.

QOTD: Do you think you can fall in love without properly seeing someone's face?

Such a rom-com book and loving this book!! You did it again Katherine! I was not very disappointed. This book is fully loaded with romance, family drama, and sweet serendipity.

While reading through the book, all the characters were great. But this main character I instantly fell in love with and very relatable. All the challenges she endured and learned so much through to the end. She definitely know what her heart want. The heart wants what it wants I was rooting for her. I definitely love this book. It wasn't boring.

Five stars and definitely recommend to read this book. Don't ask me.

Thank you to Katherine Center, Netgalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

Another great read by Katherine Center!

Sadie is a portrait artist who’s just been chosen as a finalist for a big competition. When she has a minor seizure on her way home one day, she discovers she needs surgery. Brain surgery to be specific. This same procedure leaves her blind to faces. This making it impossible for her to paint a portrait.

There was a lot of humor in this book and a lot of heart. Can you expect anything else from Center? While I did call the plot twist pretty early on, it didn’t ruin the book for me in any way. It still felt like a warm hug when we finally got where we were going.

This book was everything that is great about Katherine Center. I laughed, I teared up, I was shocked. I loved all the little twists that were in the story. I was not expecting to be as surprised as I was. I gasped audibly at certain times. This is definitely a book that will go on my bookshelf at home and into the hands of loved ones, getting there because I'm shoving it in their face saying "you HAVE to read this book." I want to rate it four and a half stars out of five.

When Sadie has to get brain surgery, her recovery is complicated by temporary facial blindness. This created difficulty as Sadie is navigating a sick pet, family problems, and being a part of a national portrait competition. Throughout this book Sadie meets many people again but sees them for the first time as she needs to find different ways to identify them. This creates confusion as she thinks one person is multiple people.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the different components of Sadie's story. I loved the emphasis she placed on Peanut as her one constant companion through this rough time. I originally was hesitant to read this because of the advertised love triangle, not a huge fan of those, but it was not that emphasized. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that has a light focus on romance, with an emphasis on familial and friendship.

This book was very unique in its premise. I was immediately drawn into Sadie's world. How it must feel to see everything and nothing at the same time. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I have loved a few of Katherine Center's other books and I can say this continues her line of great reads. I can't wait to read more great books. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.