Sadie is an independent kind of soul. Even when she has no money to her name, she tries to stop a kind man from buying her $6.00 wine and dog treats. However, this man was not taking no for an answer. He bought the items anyway and handed them to her, right before she walked into the street and ended up on the ground, covered in $6.00 wine. To make matters worse, this occurred in her mother’s dress, that then gets incinerated while she is in the hospital. This was one of the few things she had left of her mom, and it was a devastating loss. Life continues to go downhill, as she learns of a malady that she has in her brain that needs fixing… right before she is due to complete a portrait for the first big art break she has ever had. Something called "face blindness" that makes it impossible to piece a face together in her mind. Can things get worse? Absolutely… but they can also get better and then worse again… and so on.

Trying to write this review without spoilers is quite the feat. We can start that I read this book, probably Center’s best to date, in a single day, while on a cruise. A completely positive addition to an already excellent vacation. While I figured out the twist before the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Sadie, Joe, Oliver, and Sue. I also loved the kindness of Mr. And Mrs. Kim and the subtle ways they tried to be parents to Sadie, who appeared to be woefully bereft of caring family. I loved all the ways she unveiled things in the novel and the ways Sadie learned about herself from such unusual circumstances.

Loved this book and look forward to reading Katherine Center's next novel. Definitely read this book. No regrets on this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

When portrait artist Sadie can no longer see faces after an accident it is a terrible situation for her. Add to that her being invited to participate in a highly esteemed and 'could be life changing' portrait competition and Sadie finds herself in an impossible situation. Add to that an estranged father and sick dog and her life couldn't seem to get much worse. Don't miss this wonderfully written book that is full of wit and hope and courage.

Katherine Center’s novels never fail to please. That holds true for this one too. Sadie is a near-starving artist who has her life saved by a good Samaritan one day, only to end up (post brain-surgery) with face blindness. Lost in the world with the exception of her shelter dog Peanut, Sadie tries to figure out how to carry on as a portrait artist when she can’t comprehend faces. Add in some romance, some character flaws turned conundrums, and you have a very heartwarming book that will be perfect for spring and summer. .

Sadie is a classic starving artist who is inches away from her big break. Only a couple weeks separate her from portrait painting success. Only a tragedy happens and she's left without the one sense she needs to make her masterpiece-the ability to see faces. After being diagnosed with face blindness, she struggles to navigate her life and work. Fortunately, she is bolstered by her best friend, loveable landlord, and aging dog Peanut. But our cast also includes Dr. Oliver Addison, a handsome vet who saves her pup, who contrasts starkly with Joe, a floppy haired jerk living in her building. But a few encounters have her thinking.... is he really so bad after all?

This is a perfect gateway romance to anyone who is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the romance genre, as I was up until very recently. The romance is sweet, with practically no spice. But that charming romance runs alongside a very compelling exploration of what it's like to live life with a prosopagnosia/face blindness diagnosis. You will finish with a new perspective and appreciation for an overlooked cognitive skill.

I loved the build up to the ending. You were solving the puzzle that is Sadie's life right along with her. Engaging and enjoyable until the end.

Bonus: There are some hilariously astute observations that I couldn't help but highlight for later reference. Super fun and good for a few laughs.

Will certainly be recommending to our library patrons!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy in exchange for a review.

KC does it again! I love Katherine Center’s books. I always know what I’m going to get and am never disappointed. She tells a great story that centers around a FMC that typically is challenged with some sort of adversity and in the end she prevails after a series of misunderstandings. Hello Stranger is no different. Sadie is a portrait artist who develops a pretty major complication following brain surgery: face blindness. A portrait artist that cannot see faces! As she tries to overcome this hopefully temporary obstacle while preparing for a portrait competition, her life intersects with a new veterinarian for her beloved geriatric pup, her evil stepsister, and an adorable boy next door.

Be sure to read the author’s note. She perfectly explains the emotions certain genres evoke in us and why romances are important and how they differ from all other genres. I now know why I pick up and definitely look forward to a romance novel every few books. Well done!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was so much fun! Not only did I learn more about face blindness, but this one was impressively tied up at the end. I read this one along with a friend and we both had such a good time. This was my second Katherine Center book and I adored it! I am looking forward to reading more of her others. The romance in this one was really different based on the face blind aspect of the story, which I really appreciated. A unique take is definitely what I am most enjoying in my reads these days and Katherine Center absolutely delivered. I would totally and easily recommend this one to folks and have already done so! Looking forward to seeing what Katherine Center comes up with next! I'll be there to devour it promptly, that's for sure!

Pros: I think Katherine Center is a very dependable author—my favorite of hers is The Bodyguard. I think readers who have loved her prior books will be excited to get their hands on this one. Two elements of this book that I especially enjoyed are its Houston setting and that the main character is an artist.

Cons: This is not a con of the book but is just my reading preference—I do not like the trope of if people would just communicate . . .

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

A new book by Katherine Center is always a treat and this one was no different. An artist who comes down with face blindness before the portrait contest that could be her big break, Sadie has a lot going on when meets two new men, her dog’s new vet and a neighbor who appears to be her building’s heart throb. Hard to trust new people with your heart when you can’t even trust what you are seeing.

The love story is sweet and comfortingly predictable but what had me get emotional was Sadie’s love for her elderly dog (who has a more refined palate than many people I know) and her emotional scars from the passing of her mother and deterioration of her relationship with her father. I thought the over the top villain was unnecessary and jarring when there was already more than enough emotional weight in the story.

This was a lovely book that I was sad to see end. Reading it made me want to devote time to reread all my favorites by Center.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once I started this book I could not put it down. I literally finished it in under 24 hours. I loved this book so so much. The idea of having face blindness scares the hell out of me but it was very interesting to read about it from someone's point of view who has acquired it. There is no other book that I could compare this book to.

The only thing that kind of irked me was that I would have liked to see a little more of a conclusion with her father and stepmother. But at the same time it didn't bother me enough to knock it down a star. Also Parker might be the most hated person I've read in a book in a long time, so good job with that. That character is a horrible person.

Rating: 3.75/5

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! While I have The Bodyguard on my shelf, I haven't read it yet - so this was my first Katherine Center book. I loved how this book had a strong standalone plot alongside the romance aspect and that the entirety of the plot wasn't solely based on the romance/relationship.

Learning about the FMC's sudden diagnosis of prosopagnosia - or, face blindness - was so fascinating and exploded my brain in much the same way as stories about time travel or thinking about the fact that some people don't have an inner monologue. Trying to imagine what her experience must have been like made my head spin! The sudden loss of ability to see faces properly and recognize people must have been so overwhelming and isolating and I don't understand why Sadie was so secretive about her condition - you'd think that telling people about what you're going through would make for far less confusing and embarrassing interactions (and maybe, you know, avoid some miscommunications) - but I suppose that goes along well with her character's strong desire to refuse help in any way.

Joe was the actual sweetest MMC - I loved the "Helper" aspect of his personality so much.

I found the ending to be a tad predictable and I picked up on the twist very early on, however a) I can see why the FMC did not, given her condition, and b) it still didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I found it to be a very cute story and I loved seeing how Sadie's diagnosis caused her to learn so much about herself and experience growth in the process.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free early copy of this book!

I have reviewed this book on GoodReads and will also be mentioning it on my TikTok and Instagram accounts (@promisevideo) later this month.

I appreciated this change of genre (for me as a reader) and the quick pace of this book. With a quirky but likeable protagonist, some strange events throughout, and a passionate romance, this led to an enjoyable read. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book!

Hello, Stranger has an intriguing premise—a portrait artist develops face blindness—but had a bit of a slow start. There was lots of background on the main character, Sadie, and exploration of her introduction to face blindness, but it felt a bit prolonged.

Once we got into the thick of the plot and the drama, it was a fun read. Sadie’s relationship development with her family, her love interests, and herself were enjoyable to witness. The themes felt a bit forced, but overall the relationships were fun.

*Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for this ARC!

Sadie is a portrait artist who has brain surgery and wakes up with face blindness. She now has to figure out how to paint for a big competition while navigating her (disastrous) personal life. She develops a crush on her dog’s vet and starts to have feelings for a man in her building.

4.5 stars!! This was DELIGHTFUL. Sadie was incredibly charming and Joe was so lovable. I enjoyed this so much. I definitely recommend this book if you want a little something different with your romance. My favorite book by Katherine Center!!

Wow! I went into this blind (no pun intended), and it was such a great surprise! Oh my goodness! Sadie was so easy to like. I immediately connected with her need to prove herself and her determination to pursue her dreams. That girl needed a win and encountered the most unreasonable obstacles throughout her life; it just broke my heart. I cried ugly tears several times during the novel, but I'd read it again in a heartbeat to watch the love story and all the good things unfold. I didn't know much about face blindness before this novel, especially the way that other senses can be affected, so it was enlightening too. I loved it!

I really enjoyed this novel, it was easy to read and fast paced. I found myself wanting to read more so I could see what Sadie was up to. The characters are all so lovable, all except the one's you aren't supposed to like. But even those ones, you kind of feel sorry for in the end. I loved the relationship between the 2 main characters, and the twist in the end, I didn't see coming honestly until about 2/3rds of the way through the book. I haven't read anything I didnt like by Katherine Center, this was different in a good way, I didn't know about "face blindness" before so I also learned a lot.

A truly cute story that would get anyone out of the doldrums. One can always count on Katherine Center to add a bit of sparkle to one's reading experience.

In this story, the author explores the idea of face blindness (prosopagnosia) which Sadie Montgomery acquired when she had her first seizure right in the middle of a traffic area. She is saved by the push of a good Samaritan, and though she is okay, learns she needs surgery to correct a faulty blood vessel in her brain.

This surgery couldn't have come at a worse time as she was a finalist in a prestigious art competition, her dog Peanut had taken ill, her step sister continually drove her crazy, and her doctor father was as distant as ever and missing her mother who she lost at age fourteen makes it ever so hard. Making matters a bit more complicated is the fact she was falling in love with her veterinarian, Dr Oliver, even though she couldn't really see him. She also, after hating him initially was developing a rare friendship with Joe, a tenant in her building, named helpful by her landlord Mr Kim. Of course, Sadie couldn't see his face either!

As her feelings deepen and her face blindness continues, Joe volunteers to be her subject for the art contest. This creates a very intense twosome as Sadie finds herself falling big time for Joe. What a dilemma!

At any rate with some stretch your belief system moments, our author manages to bring happy tidings to all and a life that seemed only destined to doom, tuned around into a healthy dose of love and forgiveness.

Thanks are extended to Katherine Center, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for a joyous story with love, laughter, and a bit of mistaken identity!

~3.5-4/5! A quick, thoroughly enjoyable read. Sadie is a 20-something year old portrait artist barely getting by, and after some emergency brain surgery, loses the ability to see faces. Naturally, she then meets two love interests and has to juggle getting to know them without seeing them. The big reveal was definitely predictable but enjoyable nevertheless. A bit slow to start and some things felt a little silly but I actually laughed out loud several times throughout the book which isn't something that I usually do. It's a great rom-com, and if you are in need of a pick me up this is perfect.

This story was a pocket of sunshine I wish to carry around with me 24/7 😭💖

My first ever Katherine Center read and I was so excited. I’ve heard amazing things about Katherine’s books and couldn’t believe that Net Gallery allowed me a copy before the release date!

I’ve truly never read a work of fiction like this. I admired each aspect of Sadie’s story, the build-up and all. You could consider this a story of romance but honestly, I was drawn in by the author and stayed because of Sadie. I have read another book where the main character has prosopagnosia and in no way did it live up to this story. Katherine had my heart beating wildly throughout the whole plot, I was on the edge of my seat for each moment.

Each character (even the protagonists) played a vital role in how the story played out, and I have literally no complaints as to how each aspect happened.

I will definitely be reading other Katherine Center books! 🌟

4.5 STARS

Portrait artist Sadie Montgomery has been determinedly trying to make a go of her career one Etsy sale at a time. When she is a finalist in an important art competition, Sadie thinks her career will take off until a health problem suddenly derails it. What is supposed to be a minor surgery, if such a thing on a person’s brain ever is, leaves Sadie with a condition called face blindness, something devastating for a career that depends on painting faces. Sadie can still see everything but faces which look like disjointed puzzle pieces to her.

Sadie’s condition is supposed to improve with time and while she is struggling to cope with it, her beloved dog, Peanut, falls dangerously ill. The veterinarian, Dr. Oliver Addison, becomes a welcome distraction for Sadie, not only helping her dog, but providing a nice fantasy attraction to keep her mine off the bad things. Dr. Addison seems attracted to Sadie too as they spend time together, he asks her on a date while he treats the elderly pupper. Another man who becomes part of her life is Joe, a neighbor whom she at first cannot stand, but then realizes he is not the bad guy she intially thought.

Above all, Sadie does not want Oliver, Joe, or anyone else knowing about her face blindness going to all kinds of efforts to pretend she is fine. Her best friend, Sue and her parents who own Sadie’s building, where she lives on the rooftop in her hovel of art studio, are among the few who know the situation. Sadie’s father, step-mother, and horrendous step-sister, Parker, who has made Sadie’s life a misery since she lost her mother years before also know, but provide little support, quite the opposite in fact. Sadie has been estranged from the family after appallingly bad treatment by them for years.

This story surprised me more than once; it is certainly not a predictable romance. It does have some features of a Rom-Com especially with Sadie’s quirky personality, but the seriousness of her disability and her family’s ill treatment put a heart wrenching spin on this book. Some aspects seem a bit unrealistic especially when facts about Oliver and Joe are revealed; however, Ms. Center skills at writing kept me invested in the story and engaged to the very end.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and now I can’t wait to read the Bodyguard!

I loved the fun voice of the narrator - think Sophie Kinsella but less scattered and random (and MUCH more likable and relatable in my opinion).

It was such a uniquely cool concept and such an interesting way to tie a plot together. It wasn’t a dime a dozen romance and I appreciated that. It had lots going on and kept me entertained.

Where I did find the beginning slow at times, the end certainly made up for it. I was shocked, I was laughing, I was crying, I was on the edge of my seat. Very fun read over all.