Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I love Katherine Center's books. They are always heartfelt, heartwarming, and sweet. This is no exception. A character with face blindness sets the premise for looking at the world in a different way. The characters are real, easy to fall with with, and relatable. There were laugh out loud moments and I couldn't put the book down because I had to see how it all resolved. Safe to say I will read anything this author writes (I already have her next book on my shelf!).

Was this review helpful?

Such a cute love story with complex characters and fun side stories. I really wanted more of Sue and Witt, maybe next book? Parker and her issues got annoying, like could anyone be that bad? Is that even accurate? I loved learning a bit more about facial blindness.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Net Galley for a free e-arc of this book.

I’ve loved Katherine Center books in the past, but this one didn’t hit for me. It felt rather simple and a little cliché. Although I learned a bit about facial blindness - I found it odd she couldn’t distinguish people, she’s known forever, by their voices.

Overall it was a cute story with a nice message and I’d recommend it to people who are looking for a that type of read.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very cute rom-com by Katherine Center. I felt that it had a unique premise with the facial blindness and enjoyed learning more about prosopagnosia. It was full of witty banter as I've grown to expect from Center. I'll be honest that it wasn't my favorite of her novels, but I still really enjoyed it overall and her novels are quickly becoming "Auto Buy" books for me.

Was this review helpful?

Struggling portrait artist Sadie Montgomery is finally getting the longed for chance to be recognized she’s been hoping for when tragedy suddenly strikes and she is ultimately left with facial blindness. No longer able to visualize faces as they are, her life is completely upended. As if that isn’t enough, family dynamics, two very different men, and the fight to keep her career on target make for a story that keep the pages turning.

Katherine Center knows how to write both main characters you want to root for and supporting characters you want to hear more about and does the same with this story! I loved straightforward best friend Sue so much and would love to read more about her in a follow up novel. While the evil stepsister plot line felt a bit heavy handed at moments, I appreciated Parker’s commitment to her evil ways as it lent some serious outrage and don't we all just love to hate a good villain? Filled with funny moments, warmth, and substance, I was happy to spend time in another of Center’s written worlds.

Was this review helpful?

I cannot stop thinking about this book. Katherine Center is the QUEEN of romance books where you are rooting for the main character to love themselves (almost) more than you want them to fall in love. She has this way of writing about real life and heavier issues, while still making you giggle and kick your feet. Sadie's story is no different. You learn so much about yourself as you watch her struggle with a new reality and that is the highest compliment I can give a book. Highly recommend Hello Stranger by Katherine Center (and her whole catalogue).

Was this review helpful?

Oh this book was wonderful. The author clearly did her research on face blindness, and this approach to the disorder did nto appear insensitive or light. She applied an appropriate amount of heavines to it while also not making the story too dar. I'll be honest, I did not see the twist at the end and really enjoyed the suprirse. THis was a great break from some of the darker books I read, while also bringing awareness to a medical condition that I am aware of, but may not have known as much about.

Was this review helpful?

I love this book so much! It is so sweet and hopeful and absolutely beautiful. This is the kind of novel that really perks you up and teaches you how to forgive. Love it so much!

Was this review helpful?

"Hello Stranger" is absolutely adorable! You can tell when the writing is good when you absolutely hate the villain. And boy did Katherine Center create a good villain in Parker. This book was so sweet, wholesome, and a bit heartbreaking. With an evil step-sister, prince charming in a bowling jacket, an immortal dog named Peanut, and a fairy godfather acting as a landlord, this book has it all. Of all the characters we meet throughout this book Mr. Kim was my favorite. He became the father-figure that our main character, Sadie desperately needed. What I absolutely loved about this book was Center's attention to foreshadowing. There were so many moments to play off as throw away comments, but they become full circle moments that round out the story. You can tell that every word was intentionally written.

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center is a reliable win for me every book! I loved learning about a topic I knew nothing about, while swooning over the character's building romance. Another solid romance, not my favorite of hers, but still with the read!

Was this review helpful?

I will likely pick up another book by this author in the future but this particular type of relationship centering around a love triangle isn’t for me.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! It Katherine Center has always been a go to author for me and this book was no different! Books that make me want to stay up past midnight reading are the best and this one definitely fit in that category. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I will certainly recommend it to all of my reading friends!

Was this review helpful?

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute book! It was delightful and entertaining love story. I had so much fun reading the book and meeting these characters.
Recommend to everyone reading romance novels!

Was this review helpful?

Hello Stranger has a really unique premise with Sadie experiencing a condition that causes her to not be able to recognize faces. This is especially inconvenient as she is a portrait painter who is a finalist in a prestigious competition. What was interesting, though, was how she adjusted to compensate for not being able to recognize the faces of those around her. It allowed her to connect in a different way with those around her, and to find a bit more strength within herself. The pacing was a bit slow at first, but I really started to connect more with Sadie as the story went on.

This was another solid read from Katherine Center! After reading this book and The Bodyguard she has become one of my must read authors. I can't wait to read more of her books.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so promising at first and, considering it's written by an author whose work I have enjoyed in the past, makes this being a miss even more disappointing. The interpersonal relationships between the characters felt lackluster, and the characters felt one dimensional to me. I did appreciate Sadie’s story and the themes of blindness and understanding, opening up to love, and working out of family relationships. I liked what Center highlighted about growth, forgiveness, and compassion, but those times were overshadowed by a writing style that bored me. Perhaps she just tried to pack too much into one book.

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center is an auto-buy author for me as she always takes complicated human emotions and makes them so…simple. Hello Stranger is another homerun from her and I’m anxiously awaiting the next one…

Was this review helpful?

Katherine Center writes such beautiful stories that always leave me feeling like the characters are my friends and I’m cheering them on the whole time. I felt intrigued by the medical diagnosis which is very relevant to the main Character’s experiences throughout the book - what a unique storyline outside the “tropes” often represented in romance reading. Well done Mrs. Center you never disappoint!

Was this review helpful?

This was a big disappointment for me, unfortunately. I love every single Katherine center novel, but the premise of this one was just too unbelievable to enjoy it. I almost didn't finish it. So sad because her release every year is usually a favorite each year. I'll still read each of her books though !

Was this review helpful?

This was a surprise! Very cute, fun characters, the rare disease was a twist that lent itself perfectly to some romantic comedy setups. I did see the inevitable conclusion coming, but the execution was particularly fun. Definitely will recommend Katherine Center in the future!

Was this review helpful?