Skip to main content

Member Reviews

A very fun twist on the amnesia trope! It wasn’t quite as fun and silly as I hoped (based on The Bodyguard) but wow, does Katherine Center writes excellent love stories. The premise was interesting and well-developed, I really appreciated the detailed descriptions of what was happening in Sadie’s brain. And of course, in classic Katherine Center style, the author’s note was lovely.

That said, the step-sister was too flat—just a boring villain. And her best friend was a really shitty best friend on several occasions, which I felt either should have been worked through between the characters, or else we needed different plot points to throw our MCs together.

Huge thanks to StMartins and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I FINALLY finished this book.

I have no doubt that this story will be loved by mostly all who read it. It's unique, heartwarming, funny, and fabulously sweet. Very "feel good" romance.

Unfortunately, I was just a lil bored and I'm so sorry for that, because there's nothing I love more than writing a review that screams I COULDNT PUT THIS DOWN I DEVOURED THIS OMG OBSSESED. This just wasn't that for me.

Make no mistake - Katherine is a beyond talented author who's characters are likeable and have depth. I especially appreciated the comical moments, the fresh take on love at first sight sight but sight unseen, and the particularly well written ending. Just know what you're getting yourself into! I think I knew all along this wouldn't be a home run for me because I just enjoy dark/SPICY/high stakes/insane romance books so much.

This book is for you if you're cuddled up with a hot cup of tea on a late lazy Sunday morning and want to feel warm and cozy on the inside. This book is for you if you drew hearts next to your name in middle school. I could go on...

Personally though, it lacked excitement and I craved a little bit of drama. That's a ME PROBLEM, I know lol.

For what it's worth, I highly recommend this to you if you're looking for a comfort read. A beach read, even. I think this will appeal to the masses and be a huge success in the sweet romance world. It just wasn't my favorite!

Due to the interesting premise, well written character development, and feel good closure, I still rate this 3.75 stars and rounded it up to 4 for the goodreads rating. Just know that if we have similar tastes in 5 star reads, you may have a hard time finishing this or getting into it. To each their own!!!

Was this review helpful?

MY RATING: 5/5

QUICK SYNOPSIS: On her way to celebrate becoming a finalist in an art show, Sadie experiences a brain complication resulting in facial blindness. As she struggles to come to terms with her new (hopefully temporary) normal, she has to relearn who she can trust, why she's falling for two men, and how to continue her work as a portrait artist.

WHAT I LOVED: This storyline was so unique! I'd never heard of facial blindness before so following Sadie as she figures out life unable to see faces was truly fascinating. I loved the perspective we get and how we are left in the dark with her on who people she runs into are. I loved the evolution of romance in this one, and the crazy step sister was great comedic relief.

Definitely a must read of you like:
- family drama
- sunshine MMC's
- plot twists

Was this review helpful?

I was not a fan of this book and would not recommend it. I generally enjoy this author’s writing. In fact, one of my favorite parts of this book was actually the Author’s Note. I love how she wrote about the criticism of romance books and how books in this genre are all about hope. Getting to this note after finishing the book almost felt like the author herself was acknowledging how over-the-top unbelievable this book was and trying to provide an counterargument for the criticism that is likely coming- definitely the criticism I’ll provide. This book was just too much! I could suspend reality somewhat to believe that she didn’t recognize that Joe and Dr. Addison were the same person. Even that was a stretch and it was obvious to me from the very beginning. I kept reading though to see how the author would reconcile that. What was not necessary was all the other times that she had apparently met him and not remembered him. Times that he also somehow failed to mention. Did she have to have met him at the grocery store, while moving in, when he saved her in the crosswalk, AND as Joe and the vet?! I don’t think so. If all of that was to make the case for why she recognized him at the end, I think that’s overkill. I also found a handful of the side characters very unrealistic- namely her BFF who someone thought she’d want a surprise party after going face blind and mostly the excessively sinister stepsister. She was so one- note, and I couldn’t buy that she was just repeatedly spiteful just for the sake of being spiteful. There were other elements of the plot that also irked me- the random old high school victim who just happens to show up twice. And the number of times that the main character was overly helpless while also claiming to not need help. How immature she was in her reaction to her parents.

I know the author wants to argue for being hopeful and having faith but this book was a leap to far for me. Also, I’m assuming some good editing is still in order because there are a lot of typos. Maybe there is still some time to edit out some of the unnecessary plot details and focus in on just building a believable, engaging relationship development between the main love interests. Here’s hoping!

Was this review helpful?

Hello Stranger
by Katherine Center
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2023
St. Martin's Press
Romance
Rating 5/5

As a finalist in an elite portrait painting contest, Sadie Montgomery is well on her way to becoming a respected professional artist. Sadly, the aftermath of unexpected brain surgery left Sadie with face blindness. When she looks at faces, she sees a maze of disengaged features.

Sadie meets not one, but two dreamy men while adjusting to her health condition. Besides her best friend and dysfunctional family members, Peanut, her loving dog, also poses challenges to her recovery.

Hello Stranger is highly recommended and should not be missed. Katherine Center tackles grief, infidelity, and unexpected disability with honesty and grace. Readers will not want to miss the author's note at the end of the book. There is a beautiful love note addressed to the romance genre in it.

Thank you NetGalley, and ST. Martin's Press, for sharing this stunning book with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

Was this review helpful?

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 11, 2023
Katherine Center is the queen of light hearted, engaging romantic novels and her new work, “Hello Stranger” delivers exactly that!
Sadie Montgomery gave up medical school to pursue her dream of being an artist, to the dismay of her father. Now, Sadie is living the very definition of “starving artist”, living in a hovel on the rooftop of her best friends’ building and desperately waiting for her career to take off. Finally, Sadie’s work is noticed, giving her the oppourtunity to win $10,000 in a contest, and to display her artwork in a gallery in her hometown. But, as fate would have it, weeks before the competition, Sadie suffers a brain injury which leaves her struggling with prosopagnosia, or face blindless, leaving everyone around her completely unrecognizable, including the new handsome vet she had one-sided dreams of marrying. Against her will, Sadie is forced to literally look at life a different way, and ends up seeing the world in an entirely new way.
“Stranger” is a quirky, delightful novel that, yes, can be defined as a romance novel, but that isn’t all it is. Center, as with all of her other work, focuses more on love itself and less on the over-the-top sexual overtures and acts, as well as the innocence and vulnerability of newly developed relationships. Sadie, initially torn between two men, is strong and stubborn, unable to admit to her own weaknesses, which serves only to compromise both of her possible relationships. She is brave and creative, honest and humble, and readers will immediately connect to her.
I recognized the twist in this novel almost right away, but I loved exploring the rest of the novel with Sadie anyway, and being right beside her when she, too, figured it out. Center not only provided a cute, hard-to-put-down novel, she also brought prosopagnosia to the forefront, and I always love when I can learn a little bit (especially about brain disorders and differences!) while enjoying a great story.
I am not a romance reader in general, but Center’s previous novels (“How to Walk Away” and “Things to Save in a Fire”) introduced me to a whole new type of romance story, and I will never turn down the chance to read another novel by this author.

Was this review helpful?

I didn't love it for the first half of the book. Sadie was a really unlikable person for me, mostly because of her stubborn attitude. Her family situation just made me mad and never really got resolved, but I think it's probably more realistic than most family dynamics that are portrayed I'm books.

Joe, however, was the perfect guy in this story and everything we needed in a romance!

Rounded up to 4 stars just because I love an ending in a romance that comes together so well.

Was this review helpful?

If you’ve read any of Katherine Center’s books you know she has a way of telling a story of romance that also promotes positive mental health. Hello Stranger, is no different. Sadie Montgomery’s life may be falling apart but she’s surrounded with loving friends, neighbors and medical professionals who help her navigate the most difficult time of her life. I love that this book highlights a support system that differs from the traditional view of relying on family members. I wish I had my own Dr. Nicole, everybody should have this amazing woman in their life.

While this is a romance novel it’s not gushy, cringey or closed door. The emphasis is on Sadie’s relationships both with her friends and neighbors and also her love interest. Sadie’s best friend, Sue, is a great supporting character. She’s always trying to lift up her best friend, and just like in real life, doesn’t always read the situation correctly to see what her friend truly needs at the moment.

One of the main themes of the book is to celebrate life. I’ll admit I typically read fiction and am drawn to stories that just make me feel good. This is certainly one of those books that just makes you happy. Sadie learns that different isn’t always bad and that there truly is hope in humanity.

I’m such a sucker for the Author’s Note and this one didn’t disappoint. I know this is an ARC but I sincerely hope nothing in the Author’s Note changes. I loved the book and now I love it twice as much after reading Katherine Center’s thoughts on it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

TW: brief mention of attempted suicide

Was this review helpful?

“Sadie," Joe said then, "I noticed you from the start. Since that day I carried all those canvases up to the rooftop for you."

Sadie & Joe. What a delight! Sadie has a cured face blindness. Her brain cannot puzzle faces together. “Facepocalypse”!!! Joe is *the* sweetest cinnamon roll. Surprisingly nice. Surprisingly attentive. Surprisingly good at back rubs. Daddy Warbucks. SUPER CUTE! Hello Stranger is perfect for readers looking for a love story with fantastic anticipation! Page-turning magic!

“Knowing how much I used to be missing has taught me to pay better attention. To pause from the hustle more often and just take it all in.”

Ps. Have some tissues ready! You might get a little weepy.

Pps. Don’t skip the back matter! KC’s explanation of love stories is unlike any other!

✨ THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-neighbors
-friends to lovers
-he’s got that golden retriever energy
-acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia aka face blindness
-a cultured, geriatric dog whose also a foodie with a very refined palate
-classic, traditional portrait artist
-roller skates 🛼
-flowers behind your ear
-grief, hope, & joy
-#IsThisAKissingBook: closed door. Smooching! “Fake, not fake kiss.” For humanitarian reasons! “Very nice accidental sweet-revenge kiss.”

Thank you St Martins Press for an advanced copy!

Song: You Send Me by Sam Cook

Was this review helpful?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ON JULY 11th FOR THE RELEASE OF MY NEW FAVORITE ROM COM, HELLO STRANGER BY KATHERINE CENTER !!!

Sorry for the all caps, it was urgent to get your attention because this book deserves ALL of the attention!

This story follows Sadie Montgomery, a struggling artist who is on the verge of having her BIG break after becoming a finalist in one of the most prestigious portrait art competitions. Unfortunately, as her luck would go, she needs immediate brain surgery. Again with the bad luck - during her recovery it dawns on her that she can’t recognize her best friends face. After realizing that she notices that she can’t see ANYONES face - it’s all crazy mixed up puzzle pieces. Turns out she’s left with a rare (maybe temporary) condition caused face blindness (you’ll learn the scientific word for it 😅). HOW CAN A PORTRAIT ARTIST WORK WITHOUT SEEING FACES?!?!

Now this is pretty much how the story begins. You’ll follow along Sadie as she rediscovers life without being able to recognize/see the people around her. Also there’s a super hot neighbor, a swoon veterinarian & a dog. So much win! It’s so funny, it’s heart warming, its filled with tender moments and lots of love.

100% swoon worthy and 100% bingeable 100% recommend !

TW: death of parent, bullying

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review! I can’t wait to purchase my own copy 😍

Was this review helpful?

Wow. This is my first Katherine Center book, and while I knew I'd probably enjoy it, I could not have anticipated just how much!

When everything came to a head for the main character, Sadie, and as I read the last 20-30% of the book, I cried. Sad tears, happy tears, proud tears - all the tears!

As the synopsis suggests, this story follows Sadie in the weeks following a surgery that leaves her face‐blind. There's a romantic relationship at the heart of the story, and it's very well written! But it's also a story about her relationship with her family and ultimatley with herself. There was a depth to it that I didn't expect, but the story was still light and Sadie's wit and humor shown throughout.

The synopsis also alludes to a love triangle, of which I'm not usually a fan. Please don't skip this book based on just that! It was clear very early on that this would not a love triangle in a traditional sense!

Was this review helpful?

"Seeing the world differently helps you see things not just that other people can’t—but that you yourself never could if you weren’t so lucky. It lets you make your own rules. Color outside your own lines. Allow yourself another way of seeing."

This was my first Katherine Center book and I already know I will be reading through her entire backlog. The characters were so beautifully written that I was just sucked right in immediately, all of the little quirks and details were so descriptive that they just jumped out of the page. The whole book was funny and heartwarming and just so adorable!! It was a very unique plot and it was so interesting to read how Sadie muddled through her situation, you end up cheering her on the entire way.

There were a lot of layers to this book as well, there was Sadie's struggle with her face blindness and trying to paint her portrait for the art show, her difficult family dynamics which in turn led her to have a difficult time asking for and accepting help, and then there was the romance element, which was unique and refreshing and just so enjoyable to follow along with.

The ending was also absolutely perfect, I highly recommend going in blind as much as you can with this book and just seeing where the ride takes you!!

Was this review helpful?

"Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality.

But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls in love—not with one man but two. The timing couldn’t be worse.

Making judgment calls on anything right now is a nightmare. If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to have it all."

This book was so fun! I'm a huge fan of Katherin Center stories, and this was no exception for me. This was a sweet, romantic hug of a story that plays on your heartstrings and lifts you up. Highly recommend for fans of sweet but not spicy romances with some quirky humor.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The FMC of our story is funny, and simply so charming. She is a struggling artist who paints realistic portraits. We open the story finding out that she is in the top 10 of a really important contest. She just so happens shares this fact with her late mother who died when Sadie was teen. She is going to celebrate her placement when tragedy strikes and her life is put on halt. With her slowing down, Sadie starts to appreciate and learn things that have been there right along, that she hadn't been able to "see" before.

This book was SO good! It was a uplifting, feel good, sentimental story with the cutest characters (including a dog named Peanut!) The way that Center was able to make me feel like I was reading about my friends that I knew everything about, is truly a superpower. This book also touches on healthy communication in relationships, good friendships, bad familial relationships, and therapy as a way to get through hard times.

I loved that the author faced neurovascular issues head on with good facts so I feel like I learned something! KC clearly did plenty of research on the topic. We also love a book that wraps up so beautifully in the end with a pretty bow on top! I can see this being a really successful movie adaptation!

Was this review helpful?

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! I ate it up. Joe and Sadie are the absolute best! There were many quotes in this one that I highlighted and will go back and look at time and time again. I love the way Ms. Center tells a story and this one was in no way predictable (at least not for me) and I was there for it all. These characters—Sadie, Joe, even the supporting characters—were terrific, and I was completely hooked. This would be a great movie! It made me laugh out loud, cry, and forget my responsibilities for the day. That my friends, is a win.
<i>Hello Stranger</i> was perfect for me. This cozy, cute, and self-reflective novel delivered on all fronts.

A unique premise? Check.
Amnesia trope but done a bit differently? Check.
An incredible amount of chemistry between our leads? Check.
Laugh out loud moments and totally adorable scenes? Check.

I could go on.
All in all a very satisfactory reading experience!

(Adding a note here to say there is zero spice in this book. I don’t mind it, but I know people tend to ask the spice level).

Was this review helpful?

Girl gets brain surgery, girl develops face blindness, girl meets 2 boys. 😶🧠

In @katherinecenter’s latest novel she delivers a tale that winds love and friendship and pets and family with a classic case of face blindness. If any other author wrote this, I don’t know that it would work. But as always, Katherine manages to weave enough heart into the characters that it melts yours completely. 💕

My only complaint is that I saw the twist coming from the second I read the word face blind. However, that really didn’t take away from the story.

If you loved the Bodyguard or Things You Save in a Fire, check out Hello Stranger when it publishes this July!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -K

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. 🥰

Was this review helpful?

I saw rave reviews about The Bodyguard and it's been on my list for a while now, so when the NetGalley and the publisher offered me this as an ARC I jumped on it! (Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.)

THEN I realized the author is the same person who wrote Things We Save in a Fire, a book that I did not like at all, and I got a little worried.

And I guess it's fine that I actually didn't care for this book at all, because everyone else seems to LOVE it, so my mediocre review won't really make that much of an impact.

But I'll start my review by saying, if you love a "woe is me, I'm always the victim" then great news! This story if for you!

The first thing I'd like to take issue with is the dead mother. She is the epitome of Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Her mom was such a free spirit! She made everything fun! She wore flowers in her hair! She roller-skated even when it wasn't cool anymore! Here's the thing, I think it's fine to romanticize your dead relative, and only remember their fun, crazy personality, but I think there's something to be said about the way Emily Henry did it in Book Lovers, where Nora had romanticized it and thought her mother was the greatest, where her sister had a different opinion. Nora had only remembered the good, and ignored all the rest. That's a pretty accurate portrayal of real life. In this though, that's not what happens. Sadie's mom straight up was as cooky, and fun, and wonderful as she remembers.

The second thing I'd like to take issue with is the artist take. As an artist myself, and someone who tends to love portraits...this just didn't click for me. It should have. This really should have been a perfect book for me. A hot vet? A dog? A portrait artist? Excellent, we're 3 for 3. I'm also fascinated by face blindness, so good, now we're 4 for 4. Yet...all of this fell flat for me. Sadie loves people that are symmetrical and she says it's because she's an artist, but I think if you ask a lot of artists, we DON'T want symmetrical. We love a unique face. It's more interesting, but not only that, it allows a bit more freedom in the drawing/painting. Oh, that eyebrow is slightly higher than the other? Yeah, perfect! Now they can be sisters and not twins!

Third. And maybe the thing that was the most frustrating for me the entire time (and it's the main plot of the book), the "I like two people but don't realize they're the same person" trope. This is a hard trope to make work. It really tends to only work when it's an online personality versus a real life personality. Julia Whelan was able to do it brilliantly in Thank You For Listening, but normally it's not an easy balance and I usually find it grating as a reader because the author goes about it one of two ways...

1.) we the reader knows they are the same person, but the character doesn't. Which can be irritating for us because if the characters just had one simple conversation or asked "why are you acting like I'm a stranger?" the problem would be solved.

Or 2.) it's supposed to be a big plot twist to us readers. Which it never is and that just means the author, editor, and publisher thought we were idiots. Booo!

Hilariously after reading this entire book, I'm not sure which option we're supposed to believe. Probably number 1...but????

Fourth, speaking of "if you just had ONE simple conversation we wouldn't be here." There's literally a line in this book that says <i>"when you're watching a movie and there's a simple Big Misunderstanding and you want to shout "just talk to each other!" </i> So the author literally acknowledges that this is a common frustration and people hate the miscommunication trope, and then she says but that's not real life. In real life you can't just clarify things with one sentence or conversation. GIRL WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ON? YES YOU CAN. Like I'm sorry, you just called out the miscommunication trope, and then USED IT. Jail.

I just really can't figure this out in stories. I don't think I'm the World's Best Communicator, but I have no problem, ya know, asking for clarification? I think most people are fine with it. And FINE, you can make the case that Sadie isn't...but what about the man? He at no point was like, hey, how's your dog? Hey, I'll see you Thursday at THE VET. Like, c'mon now.

Fifth, the evil step-sister. I'm really tired of seeing this Cinderella storyline in books. I've read three already and it's MARCH. And they aren't retellings. They just want to include the evil step-mother and step-sister. And I'm sorry, but there is no one that is THAT horrific in real life, and if they are, other people are aware of it. No one is out here plotting and planning to just destroy someone's life for fun. And again, if they are, more people are aware of it. The family isn't going to just be like, wow this child, who has never been a troublemaker, is now such a monster she needs to be sent away. Again I say, c'mon now.

And I'll wrap it up here, but this whole thing of Sadie not wanting to seem needy, her not wanting to ask anyone for help actually makes her so insufferable. She doesn't want to ask for help, so instead she causes MORE problems for others. She's illegally living in a space that is not meant to be a living area. So instead of asking anyone for help, or doing anything about her situation, she does something that is illegal, and could get the building manager (her best friends family) in trouble. Girl, you're actually being a worse person and causing more problems. And her INSISTENCE on being an artist is fine, but she can't even afford to live, but she...doesn't go out and get a job to supplement her income? Any artist I know does this. You want to live off your art? It's going to be hard, and you're going to have to do another job at the same time. Wait tables, bartend, do freaking Doordash or Uber or something. But nah. Sadie just lives illegally in her studio and whines about making like $400 a month selling on Etsy. And then has the money to order take out and croissants for her dog??? In what world?

Also, how was she paying for these medical bills, or the vet bills? That's like, never addressed. And also, wasn't she pre-med? Yet she had to have EVERYTHING spelled out for her medically. And I get that she dropped out and probably wasn't in it for long, but some of these things were basic, and I would expect her to at least be AWARE of them.

She's also apparently the least observant person in the world. She crossed paths with Joe/Oliver like a shit ton and never noticed him. She didn't figure out she had face blindness for like 3 days.

I don't know. This just really didn't work for me and it actually bums me out. I wanted to like it. I wanted Katherine Center to be a go-to, closed door romance author, but I don't think that's going to be the case for me.

Anyway, it looks like everyone else is loving it, so my little two star rant will probably be lost in the ether and irrelevant in the long run.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book from the start. Struggling artist, Sadie Montgomery, finds she must have a surgery and then recover from it the same week she has been accepted to paint a portrait for a highly prestigious art show, which her late mother was also accepted for. Forced to have the surgery by her father, she awakes to realize she has face blindness. Which is going to be a problem if she's supposed to do a portrait.

With Sue, her best friend at hand, an annoying turned friendship neighbour down the hall, Joe and her veterinarian, Dr.Addison for her beloved elder dog, Peanut, she manages her face blindness the best she can- with humour, hijinks, and heart.

As the book progresses, we find out more of Sadie's family history and your heart just opens wider for this artist. I had a hard time putting down this book, but also did not want to stop reading because it was so good.
(Also- Dr. Addison and Sadie Montgomery? REALLY hoping this was a cute shout-out to Grey's Antomy/ Private Practice!)

Was this review helpful?

This was an adorable story. Katherine Center really knows how to take a rom com in a different direction. I love that every book of hers in completely different, yet equally amazing. I love Sadie and how she dealt with everything. Her banter with the other characters, including the doctors was amazing. Another win for Katherine Center.

Was this review helpful?

I have read and loved almost all of Katherine Center’s books. I love the lighthearted nature of them. They are sweet, easy reads. Hello Stranger is no different. Although I felt the misunderstanding was easy to spot early on, I enjoyed the author’s introduction of Prosopagnosia (face blindness) into the main character’s life. It made for an interesting story line.

Sadie Montgomery has been waiting for her big break in the art world her entire life and has finally been given the chance to achieve it by being named a finalist in a portrait painting contest. Unfortunately, an ill-timed brain surgery leaves Sadie without the skills to complete a painting for the contest that will help her achieve success. In the midst of this reality, she meets not one, but two men whom she wants to spend time with. Throw in a dysfunctional family and the stage is set for a remarkable book!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions listed above are my own.

Was this review helpful?