5 ⭐️
Check out my “Hello Stranger” mood board for the ~vibes~ before you read: https://www.pinterest.com/barclayann27/book-reviews/hello-stranger/

So happy to have received this ARC copy from St. Martin's Press (thanks NetGalley ily) of “Hello Stranger” as I adored Center’s last book, “The Bodyguard.” I accepted that this story would likely not eclipse my enjoyment of “The Bodyguard,” and boy did I have a great time being proved wrong. “Hello Stranger” was full of a lot of great things, but, in particular, it seeped with hope, something that I find we all need an extra serving of when things feel bleak.

Sadie, aspiring portrait artist, undergoes urgent brain surgery after experiencing an unexpected stroke. Side affects of said surgery include: itchy stitches, trauma, and face-blindness. Upon waking, everyone, including herself, is a stranger. Every face is unrecognizable, which just made her job a whole lot harder. Amongst all this, romance ensues.

Center’s inspired by the rom-com movie greats (i.e., Nora Ephron, Rob Reiner), and you can tell; her writing is cinematic and satisfying. Having one great scene where the tension between Sadie and Joe comes to a head is enough, simple, intimate, and entirely tonal to their character development. This is all to say that Center doesn’t force the characters into hyper-sexy moments to check that romance box.

The main cast of characters feel genuine and dynamic, all while remaining relatable to some degree.

Although I haven’t read all of Center’s work, having now read her two most recent books, there seems to be a pattern…the dead mother trope. I don’t lean strongly one way or another about this trope, but I do find it an interesting decision to establish conflict and more complicated relationships between characters before the reader steps into their world. Being that Sadie’s mom is dead, her perception of her mother does occasionally seem more one-dimensional. She is remembered for only the good things, and comes off a bit perfect. I suppose there is a tendency to glorify the dead to some extent, but I would have enjoyed seeing a bit of Sadie’s internal reflection on more than just the best parts of her mother and how her love prevailed because of the many facets.

The plot was unique and I was very happy to find that the added twist at the end went in the direction I was hoping. The twist in the book worked entirely so well because it is, well, a book. This kind of visual game of who’s who we tag along with through Sadie’s POV is only made to be so effective through it’s literary vessel. Wonderfully and masterfully executed. As Center says herself in her delightful Author’s Note, there is wonderful “satisfaction” to be had with this joyful and engrossing novel.

Sadie is working hard to show her dad, stepmother, and stepsister that she is perfectly independent and successful as a portrait artist;however, the truth is that she’s living in her hovel studio atop her best friends’ parents apartment complex and barely surviving on the pay from her Etsy shop. Everything changes when she is selected for a portrait contest, with the top prize of $10,000. Before Sadie can begin working on this portrait, she is involved in an accident. This results in temporary face blindness; this not only makes it difficult for Sadie to recognize people, but it also makes it challenging for her to paint portraits. While this book was a quick, easy read for me, I felt that it was a bit cheesy and predictable at times. About halfway through, I knew exactly how the story would end.

Overall Thoughts:

THIS. BOOK. I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I ate this UP.

This book gets a 5🌟 rating from me simply due to how much freaking FUN I had while reading it and the things it made me feel. The ending is pure perfection, but lead up is a crazy entertaining ride while getting there. It’s a perfect example of a book that isn’t “perfect” but still gives me those 5🌟 feelings. The writing could have been better, the characters deeper, the plot more developed. But I flew threw it so fast and can’t deny the light & airy feeling it gave me throughout, which is the whole reason I read romance, anyways.

Things I Loved:

The dialogue was incredible, and there were so many little snippets of humor sprinkled throughout. I smiled and giggled throughout the entire book. Have I mentioned how FUN this book is?

The main love interest is precious. He is so sweet and supportive and easygoing.

There is major miscommunication throughout this book, and while it was infuriating, I felt that it ended up being a major reason why I fell in love with this book. I think it was done well and realistically.

The plot was super unique! I absolutely loved the concept AND the execution!

Things I Didn’t Love:

I had a bit of a hard time getting through the beginning of the book. There was a lot of repetitive inner dialogue when the main character finds out about her condition that had me thinking “WE GET IT”. That didn’t last forever, though it soured my experience in the beginning a little.

Didn’t love the family drama. I understand why it was there but also felt like it could have been completely left out and it would have been the same story?

SPOILER: The plot twist was incredible and had my jaw on the floor (I’m sure many could guess where this was going, but I insist on not thinking too hard because I LOVE a good plot twist and hate ruining it by guessing it). I just had one little thing that irritated me about it. HOW in the world did Joe go all that time without making it obvious he recognized Peanut? Or simply ask how he was doing? I don’t buy it. But I’m going to stop thinking about it because it’ll ruin this book high I’ve got going on.

Bonus Thoughts:

Please do yourself a favor and read the author's notes at the back.

The vet being so obviously irritated by Peanut’s diet but still allowing it is giving me life.

Tropes:

Strangers to lovers AND dislike to lovers
Love triangle-ish
Insta love-ish
Miscommunication

Spice: 1/5🌶️

Plot Twist: YUP

POV: First person, FMC throughout

Trigger Warnings:

Death of a parent
Bullying

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! It's so outside of the box, focusing on an artist who loses her ability to see faces after an accident/surgery, and how she navigates her new world and meeting new people. I was hooked from the beginning. I needed to know what played out, how these characters were going to develop, and how the main character was going to adapt. Katherine Center did a beautiful job with Hello Stranger. I highly recommend!

I feel like I'm in the minority here with my review of 3 stars. First, let me say I love Katherine Center and her books are normally strong 5 star rating for me. This one fell a little short for me and I really wanted to love this book. Why? Because it's Katherine Center!!

This is a quick, easy read. And it has all the rom-com elements you would expect from Center. I enjoyed learning as much as I did about face blindness. This is not a storyline that's been hammered to death, so that was a refreshingly new plot. Several of the characters are extremely likeable (though that is not a requirement for a stronger rating - I wanted to throw Parker off the roof because of how badly I disliked her 🤣). I really enjoyed Joe's character, and while the ending was predictable, it was still a good ending.

Where the story fell short for me was how reptitive parts of it were. And while I enjoyed the ending, everything was just a bit too predictable. The main character, Sadie, acted more immature than I could deal with at times. And the dialogue was extremely choppy. The family dynamics at the end of the book were somewhat unbelievable.

Having said all of that, I will read anything Katherine Center writes, even though this one fell short.

My thanks to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Solid four stars for another great book by Katherine Center! I flew through this book in one sitting, and it gave me everything I wanted from a new Katherine Center romance.

In Hello Stranger, we follow our FMC, Sadie, who is a budding portrait artist that is suffering from "face blindness" after a recent brain surgery. After the surgery, we get to see Sadie's exploration of herself as she deals with how to meet her deadline for a large portrait competition she has coming up while also working through some difficult family relationships. Along the way, her dog, Peanut, gets sick, and Sadie starts to fall for both the vet and her neighbor.

What a journey this book was - seeing Sadie work through her challenges and grow was so fun and rewarding. I did find the plot twist somewhat predictable, but loved the vibes and uniqueness of this book.

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

Before reading this book, I had vaguely heard of prosopagnosia, but I had never considered the ramifications of such a health issue. This unique storyline absolutely tugged at my heartstrings. While the plot was a little predictable, the story was full of hopefulness and expectation, and there were quite a few twists and surprises. I loved Sadie’s character. (and hated Parker) Sadie’s personality spoke directly to my heart. Even though she had every right to be bitter and cold, she was a kind and loving person. At times this one had me laughing, crying, spitting mad, and even a little sad. Gosh, I sure do love a book that hits all my emotions. And I can’t forget about Peanut! Dogs always make it even better! This was an inspirational and delightful book. I loved watching Sadie’s personal journey to a better place. Oliver & Joe were written to perfection; definitely boyfriend material. This was a fascinating love triangle! Sigh, so many sweet things happening here. All of my romance-loving friends must read this extraordinary feel-good book! Katherine Center did not disappoint!

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an eARC of this sweet romance!

Hello, Stranger" by Katherine Center is a heartwarming and uplifting novel that explores the power of human connection and the importance of living in the present moment.

The story follows the lives of two strangers, Annika and Jonathan, who meet by chance in a coffee shop. Annika is a quirky and charming woman who struggles with social anxiety, while Jonathan is a successful businessman who is still reeling from a painful divorce. Despite their differences, the two are drawn to each other, and their relationship blossoms into a deep and meaningful connection.

What sets this book apart is the way that Center approaches the topic of mental health. Through Annika's character, the author addresses the challenges that people with social anxiety face, and shows how with patience, understanding, and support, it is possible to overcome these obstacles. The book is a beautiful reminder that everyone has their struggles and that we should be kind and compassionate towards others, even when we don't fully understand their circumstances.

Overall, "Hello, Stranger" is a beautiful and heartwarming story that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. The author has done an excellent job of exploring the complexities of human relationships and the power of empathy and compassion. This book is highly recommended for anyone looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read.

I've loved all of Katherine Center's books, but I think this one is my favorite! It had everything--great main characters (except evil Parker, of course!), romance, a bit of mystery. I could not put this one down! As a psychology nerd I was super interested in the author's exploration of face blindness and what it was like for Sadie. I absolutely loved her dog, Peanut. This book was a delightful read from beginning to end. Absolutely fantastic!

I'm always excited whenever a new Katherine Center book is released. The vibrant covers always catch my eye and the stories grab me and don't let go. So far, three of her recent novels have made it to my top picks list at Chick Lit Central.. This year, another one is joining the ranks, as I absolutely loved Hello Stranger and couldn't put it down! I read it all in the span of a few short hours and had a huge book hangover afterward.

I have heard of face blindness, but wasn't sure how it worked. I used to think that it was just the inability to recognize someone each time you saw them. I keep thinking I sometimes have that problem, but I think it's more about the forgetfulness that comes with age for me. I was once in a situation where I hosted a gathering and someone new came over but didn't introduce themself or tell me they were new. I panicked thinking I should know who they are and that I just somehow couldn't place a name to their face. I faked it and was just my friendly self, but it was super awkward and their standoffishness toward me didn't help matters. So I can't even imagine what it's like to have actual face blindness with everyone you meet. Thankfully, Katherine's explanation made a lot of sense and was really helpful. Of course, I ended up picturing everyone looking like the one kid on Family Guy whose face is upside down.

I just loved everything about this novel. It was a refreshing and interesting story, and I found myself laughing and getting teary-eyed. The addition of a cute dog just enhanced the story even more. Also, there's a swoon-worthy book boyfriend in this one.

I read an ARC so there were some consistency errors that I hope were caught before final publication. That didn't take away from my enjoyment because it was something tiny in the overall grand scheme of things.

If you haven't read anything by Katherine Center before, this would be a great one to start with, but you should definitely read her others too. (And watch Happiness for Beginners on Netflix this summer.) If you are a fan, like I am, you will not be disappointed by her latest offering!

Funny side note: Sadie's father has the same name as a high school somewhat near where I live.

Movie casting suggestions:
Sadie: Amy Forsyth
Sue: Ashley Park
Oliver: Robbie Amell
Joe: Luke Bilyk
Lucinda: Mira Sorvino
Parker: Sarah Dugdale
Richard: Clark Gregg
Nicole: Tami Jordan

I really enjoyed this book! I have only read one other Katherine Center book (Things you Save in a Fire) and while I liked that one, I adored this one! The main character was super fun and pretty hilarious to me. And the romance was so cute. The writing itself was pretty well done as well.

I liked the relationship between Sadie and her father, and Sadie and her stepmother Lucinda. I don’t really understand the motivation for the stepsister Parker being so awful. But it served the story and gave me the emotions that the author wanted me to have.


The plot twist was extremely obvious. Like you can read the description of the book and know the plot twist obvious. But I think the author intended for it to be that way, because knowing it made the romance more fun. I’m glad I knew it.

The part of the dog being sick was a bit sad, but it was quickly resolved so it was fine with me.

I loved this. I would say maybe 4.5 or 5 stars, but I need to sit on it a bit.

Evidently I am a fan of Katherine Center as I found I had readily enjoyed many of her books. This one is no exception though a little bit too perfectly worked out. The charm, humor and romance carry the story about a portrait artist who loses the ability to see faces after an accident. The side story relationships are relatable and the characters and dialogue are snappy. I will continue being a fan.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Despite spending most of last year debating whether or not to read The Bodyguard (still haven’t), this is my first Katherine Center book and it did not disappoint! The story follows Sadie, a struggling artist who is completely down on her luck. Poor girl has a stroke, has to get brain surgery, and ultimately ends up with a temporary condition known as face blindness. This would be life changing for any old person, but it’s an especially big deal to Sadie who is a portrait artist aka makes her living painting faces. She’s a finalist in this huge art contest for portraits and suddenly can’t see people’s faces. While battling this condition, trying to figure out what to do for the contest, Sadie also ends up in a sort of love triangle. We follow her throughout the book as she battles it all. This book was pretty unique compared to anything I’ve ever read before. I’ve never heard of face blindness before this book. The unique premise and unknownness of it all is really what hooked me. I also became very interested in Sadie’s love life and how that was starting to unfold. I figured out most of the big truths throughout the book pretty early. Even knowing or being fairly sure of what was going on didn’t make the book any less interesting. I’ll say that while I think this book is marketed as romance, and it is a romance, it doesn’t read like strictly romance. To me this book was largely about Sadie and her finding herself, navigating her life, navigating love and family relationships etc. It kind of read like women’s fiction to me? Overall, I really enjoyed my first book by Katherine Center. It read very well and was well written and had a nice pace to it. I might just have to go back and read The Bodyguard now. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.

I was excited to receive an ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was my first book by Katherine Center, although The Bodyguard has been on my TBR list for some time. (Actually, after reading Hello Stranger, it’s now moved to the top of my TBR list!)

This book covered a lot of bases… loss of a parent, complicated family dynamics, living with physical and psychological challenges, and of course… love! The story is told in a way that, although you (the reader) become aware of where things are leading, you feel an excited anticipation and empathy for Sadie (our main character) rather than frustration about her lack of insight. This method of storytelling, for me, creates a connection with the main character that is often missing or lacking.

The story opens strong with an adorable grocery store scene and a climactic incident right out of the gate, but the romance in this book is a VERY slow burn with the focus on emotional connection more than physical. (If you’re in it for the spice, this isn’t going to be a five star - or rather, five chili pepper - read.)

As far as supporting characters go… Peanut, our MC’s geriatric and lovable mutt, stole the show for me. He is adorable and Sadie’s affection for him felt so relatable. Best friend Sue, on the other hand, didn’t deliver. Rather than come across as a tough-love, tell-it-like-it-is bestie, she seemed insensitive and uncaring. Exactly the kind of best friend that would make you lean on your dog for comfort.

Overall, I loved this book. I would have liked more physical connection and a friendship with more affectionate wit (rather than just snark), but the male and female MCs delivered where it really counted. I’m Katherine Center’s newest fan!

The author did it again. Such a great read. Kept me in engaged right from the very beginning. Katherine center has become a favorite author of mine and I always look forward to reading her books. She has a way with words that can tell a story like none other. I highly recommend this book as well as any other books she has written. I look forward to her next book to come out

What can we glean about the people in our lives if we can’t see their faces? [author:Katherine Center]’s latest is a unique premise, wonderfully executed.

Sadie is a struggling portrait artist who finally gets her big break as a finalist in a contest in which she has to deliver a portrait in 6 weeks – only to have a seizure out of nowhere, and a resulting surgery that gives her prosopagnosia: face blindness. At the same time as she scrambles to figure out how to paint portraits if she can’t see anyone’s face, her beloved senior pup has a health scare. While Sadie can’t see Dr. Oliver Addison’s face, she can just <i>tell</i> he’s very handsome and they’re destined to be together. But then there’s this guy Joe in her building – she thought he was a jerk and a cad, but it turns out he’s sweet and incredibly helpful. She and Dr. Addison are meant to be, but she can’t stop thinking about Joe.

I have no idea if acquired face blindness works the way it’s described here, but I found it fascinating as Sadie has to get creative in an effort to begin painting again. Chuck Close famously painted photorealistic portraits by mapping elements of faces out on a grid to overcome his prosopagnosia, but that’s not an option for Sadie. Her inability to see faces, including her own, could come off as cheesy metaphor in Sadie’s journey of self-realization, but it doesn’t, especially as she compares her art and herself as an artist to her late mother.

This stays on the side of romance (rather than fiction with a romantic plot) – but only just. Oliver is swoon-worthy; Joe is a dream. There’s something wonderful about the fact that Sadie falls for them without being able to see their faces (though it’s no shock they do turn out to be very hot). But Sadie’s relationships with her father, stepmother and stepsister, her art, and her dog, are equally, if not more important than the romance.

CW: Parental death (in the past, off page), bullying/attempted suicide (minor character, off page).

[book:Hello Stranger] by [author:Katherine Center]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ Too many interruptions to get far
🐶 🍜🥞 Peanut should get to eat pad Thai and crepes if he wants
🖼️ 🤪 Sadie’s art giving me bad-restoration-of-Mary realness

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Have you ever had a book hangover? That's me right now! Hello Stranger hooked me so fast and made my heart smile throughout. I was immediately drawn into Sadie's world. How it must feel to see everything and nothing at the same time. Add in the loveable Peanut, the evil stepsister, and all the other shenanigans that were a result of Sadie's face blindness and I was feeling all the feels! I already want to re-read and I just finished it. This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

"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."

"The more good things you look for, the more you find."

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Hello Stranger is hitting shelves July 11th, 2023!

I was so excited to receive this book as an ARC. I haven't read a book by Katherine Center. However, I have The Bodyguard on my TBR shelf and I've heard nothing but amazing things about her books.

In Hello Stranger, we are introduced to Sadie who is a struggling artist. We learn that she has to get brain surgery, and although she’s recovering nicely, she can no longer see people’s faces. Now imagine being a person who makes her living painting portraits and is about to enter a potentially life-changing contest and can no longer see people's faces.

Sadie meets Joe, who is her neighbor. Joe is a sweet friend to Sadie. However, he has no idea that she can't see his face. She only recognizes him by his vintage bowling jacket. Joe becomes her model for the contest. Without giving too much detail, I felt like I was reliving the scene in the movie "Ghost". Read this book and you'll know what I'm talking about. ;)

I really enjoyed the twist at the end as well as the author's note. I love how Katherine turns negativity into positivity. She seems to be about happiness and finding the good in a bad situation/choice.

I disliked Sadie's step-sister Parker. I felt Parker was thrown into the story to be the antagonist without much character development. Between Parker and Sadie's step-mom, Lucinda, I got a "Cinderella" feel.

I felt that Sadie was portrayed as the “starving artist”. Which is a common stereotype often used to imply that artists do not make money, or that if artists choose to pursue their passion, they will be broke. It perpetuates the idea that a majority of artists are not successful.

Despite this book being ok, in my opinion, I look forward to reading more books by Katherine Center.

Katherine Center is quickly becoming an automatic-buy for me. Her latest, Hello Stranger, is loaded with anticipation and kept me turning pages way later than I should have been. We can all relate to feeling like the world is against us, and we could all use a lesson or two on kindness. Not overly romantic, but just enough for me.

I enjoyed Center’s newest release. The quirkiness of the main character and the wild premise kept me engaged.

Full review to come on my blog the week of release.