Katherine Center is just so good! Romantic books typically aren’t my thing, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book I’ve read by her! Hello Stranger was no exception. I loved the storyline and the characters so much, I finished this one in a couple of days.

Swoooon. I love a good romance and this was the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump. I looooved the author’s note so much. Katherine Center described romance novels best when she spoke of the anticipation and hope that they bring to the reader. If you’re looking for a fun rom-com that will give you all the feels, then HELLO STRANGER is the book for you.

Sadie Montgomery may have finally caught a break as a struggling artist when she becomes a finalist in a portrait competition. The competition holds sentimental value because it is also the very competition that her late mother competed in herself. The chance of winning the competition is the perfect opportunity to honor her mother’s memory and prove to her father that she is accomplished, even without a medical degree. Unfortunately, Sadie finds out that she needs surgery even though it’s untimely, and it can’t wait. The surgery should be minimal downtime and she can begin preparing for the competition without any distractions. Of course, nothing goes as planned and Sadie develops a rare condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness. When Sadie’s dog peanut becomes sick and needs to see the veterinary clinic, Sadie is smitten over the handsome new vet, Dr. Addison. To her surprise, he asks her on a date, but she is hesitant due to her new onset face blindness. Sadie’s obnoxious neighbor, Joe, also seems to show up suddenly at all the wrong (and sometimes right) times. Their friendship blossoms and could it potentially be more than just friendship?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is sure to be one of my favorite rom-coms of the year. You can get your copy on July 11, 2023.

Many thanks to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found Hello Stranger to fall short to other Katherine Center reads. The story felt disjointed at times with random blurbs about characters that could’ve been woven in better. Admittedly it did take me longer then I would like to admit to catch onto the “twist” and once that happened I liked it way more, but that was only ~30 pages left in the book

I think that Center said this best in her author's note when she stated "This love story really crated fantastic anticipation."

Having read The Bodyguard in 2022, I was highly anticipating Hello Stranger and I was thrilled to be able to read the ARC. I simply adored this book. If you want a book that feels like a warm hug, look no further.

Sadie Montgomery finally feels like she has an opportunity for a big break. As a portrait artist, she's landed a spot as a finalist in a prestigious competition. But when she discovers that she will need brain surgery and ends up with face blindness, her dreams are put on the rocks. Sadie now must navigate how to deliver a portrait without seeing a face, all while navigating a sick dog, an evil stepsister, and a seemingly annoying weasel of a neighbor.

But with the help of her best friend, Sue, and shockingly, the annoying weasel of a neighbor, Sadie begins to see what truly matters. And the handsome veterinarian taking care of her dog, Peanut, doesn't hurt either. The reader has the opportunity to walk alongside Sadie as she navigates her health, her family, her job, and her love life.

From page one, it is easy to fall in love with the whole cast of characters. I knew from the prologue that the MMC would be one of my favorites of all time. Is the plot twist easy to guess? Yes, but it did not make me rate the book any less. Rather, I felt that I was seeing the story from an overhead view and I found myself trying to tell the characters to "Pay attention! You can do this!" Where many books feel predictable, ruining the story, Center somehow managed to do the opposite. Although I could see what was coming, I was so engrossed in the characters and the story that I couldn't put the book down until they found the joy that I felt reading. Overall, this book was engrossing, funny, and deeply comforting. I'm now a huge fan of Katherine Center's romance writing and this is a book I feel confident in putting in the hands of many. This will no doubt be one of my top favorite books of the year.

Glad to see another Katherine Center out in the world. This is my third fave of here, which is actually decent praise ha. Very much enjoyed how this story all wrapped up.

Hello stranger was an adorable rom com that takes the miscommunication trope to a whole new level. Sadie is a portrait artist who, after a necessary surgery is left with face blindness. This is unfortunate because she needs to finish a portrait for a competition for her big break. While her work life is falling apart, sparks are flying with her new veterinarian… but is now the best time to be falling in love with someone she can’t see? This book was predictable from the first page, but it was so cute and sweet I could not put it down! It gets a little “here are all my themes and lessons” in the end but honestly it was still a fun read. Sadie is a likeable FMC, and the MMC is so fun throughout. Could the plot have been avoided with one honest conversation? Yes but I still think it’s worth the time!

I adore this book !

Sadie is a struggling portrait artist who is about to get what she hopes is her big break. She has been chosen to premier a portrait is an exclusive contest with a $10,000 prize. But after suffering a seizure and needing brain surgery, she awakens to realize she can't see faces. She has what's called face blindness , a condition doctors hope will resolve itself once the swelling on her brain goes down post surgery. Unfortunately this does not happen in time for Sadie to enter a masterpiece in the contest.

Meantime, Sadie becomes friends with a guy living in her apartment named Joe, who is lovingly referred to as "helpful" by their landlord. At the same time she develops a crush on the veterinarian who saves her dog's life. All while not being able to see either of their faces!

What happens when the swelling goes down and Sadie's 's vison mostly returns is the truly magical part of this book. The ending may be a bit surprising but oh so satisfying. Sadie is a character to truly love and I found myself rooting for Sadie and Joe . The main characters are lovable and show growth and development .The ending of this book is satisfying and hopeful, and a brook I would read again.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Hello Stranger

Also reviewed on GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5354970736

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a sweet story! I fell in love with the characters and I felt all the tender moments so purely. Solid story and meaningful romance with a few twists that made it fun. Highly recommend!

Hello Stranger was an absolute delight to read. I loved everything about this book I was in a 4-week long reading slump and picking this up was *exactly* what I needed to get back into the swing of things. I don’t know how Katherine Center consistently turns out gem after gem but she keeps doing it! Every book she writes ends up being a new favorite of mine. This book was uplifting, the characters were relatable and lovable, and I learned something too! Come to think if it, I think I learn and take something away from every book of hers I’ve read. Hello Stranger gets a solid 5-stars from me!

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. This is an easy read, yet with full depth. It is so cute, without being cutsey, annoying, or eye roll. The main character is so likeable. It is one of my favorite books I've ever read - and I read a ton, and rarely books like this. It is feel-good, with substance - well done :)

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was more of a romance than I initially suspected. Romance not being my favorite genre, that could have been a deal breaker for me except Katherine Center compensated for the emphasis on MC Sadie's love interests, imagined love interests and past love interests by mixing in lots of drama related to Sadie's 'condition', prosopagnosia. Even though I am a health care professional, I had little knowledge of the impact prosopagnosia can have on one's life and whoa what an impact that turns out to be on a portrait artist's life! I managed to be surprised by the ending even though the inevitable outcome of the contest Sadie was vested in was clear early on. So for an expected ending in an unexpected way I give this read 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for getting this copy of the ARC in my hands. I would recommend you give it a read.

I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH!

First off, what an interesting topic! I'm not going to write any spoilers here, but the main topic of this book was SO captivating and revolved around something I had no idea existed?! It inspired me to bring it up in conversation with friends and family because I was so taken aback from it ha. Besides that, I also really resonated and fell in love with the main character, Sadie. I feel like a lot of us can relate to Sadie and her life in many ways and I felt comforted by the fact that a character made me feel less lonely in this season of life.

Like Katherine mentions in her author's note (READ IT! IT IS SO GOOD), this book had me wanting more and had me hoping for x, y, and z for Sadie. I love the way Katherine tells a story and how she intertwines humor and life lessons all into one amazing romance novel. There were gushy love moments, heart-wrenching moments, and so many plot twists in this one.

Although this one was technically an ARC read for me, I'm already anticipating the release date just so I can grab a physical copy of my own because I loved it that much. Also let's have a moment of silence for the stunning book cover please *moment of silence*.

Definitely add this one to your must reads of 2023! ...especially if you're a romance book lover :)

So funny. So witty. So romantic. So enjoyable. I had read two Katherine Center books before this one, and enjoyed them but with reservations. The stories and concepts were good, but I found the heroes boring and almost nondescript although they were both lovely. The heroines were, in one case, flat-out annoying and in another just meh. In both cases, their situations seemed intriguing and the stories full of possibilities but they ended up seeming a bit contrived to me. They were both immensely popular highly rated books, so it was a personal problem, apparently.

But this one! Yes, the heroine was flawed and frustrating at times and had some major issues to conquer and grow past. At first, I found her a little off-putting and I had a hard time getting a handle on her. But I liked her. She really spoke to me. Literally. Sadie tells her story in the first person and she establishes a close relationship with the reader. It is as easy and natural as if she is talking to her best friend (you). I was drawn in immediately. You listen to her telling you her side of the story, but you can also see her flaws and things she may be wrong about. Early in the book, I thought we might be dealing with an unreliable narrator situation. As it turned out, she wasn't really, but confirmation bias is a theme.

"Anyhoo." (and I quote.) As a result of minor brain surgery, Sadie develops face blindness. When she looks at a human face the features do not come together as such. It is as if they are “puzzle pieces spread out on a table.” Difficult and disconcerting for anyone, but alas she is a struggling portrait painter who has secured a place in a prestigious contest and is on a deadline to complete a traditional portrait. Even being asked to compete is an honor. Doing well will finally give her choice of profession much-needed validation. Sadie had a very painful childhood thanks to the death of her beloved mother, who was also a painter, and her subsequent relationship with her father, stepmother, and stepsister. She was victimized. It has caused her to always put on a brave face, never admitting vulnerability or need for others’ help. As Sadie works to deal with her new disability and complete the portrait to enter the contest, she learns and grows. Unfortunately, The North American Portrait Society folks cater to the Norman Rockwell set rather than the Pablo Picasso crowd. Her condition forces her to treat other people differently and accept help. The self-protective layers start to peel off. Meanwhile, we meet some interesting characters, both good and bad. Her long-term friends and landlords, the Kims, their daughter Sue, her wise doctor, her beloved old dog, Peanut, and his veterinarian, who she decides will be her future husband. Her troublesome family arrives on the scene and we learn that some step-sisters really are evil. And we meet Joe, who turns out to be the, at first, unlikely love interest. He is quirky, funny, and adorable.

Near the conclusion, there is a surprise appearance and an interesting twist I did not see coming but probably should have. But no, I take that back. It was so well disguised that when I started to suspect what was going on, I went back to review some parts to see if it could be true. Yes, the clues were all there, but I still didn’t see how it could be. To Katherine Center’s credit, it the exposition of all of the reasons I (wrongly) didn’t believe it made sense. I bought it. Or chose to buy it. It made the ending even more satisfactory and joyful. No, her life and family relationships weren’t all perky sparkles, but as I’ve said before in a previous review, Katherine Center really knows how to end a book. My ratings of both of her books I read previously were bolstered by her climaxes and wind-ups. This one didn’t need bolstering.

There are two Author’s Notes at the end. One is about acquired prosopagnosia. The other is a defense and appreciation of The Romance Novel as a genre. Any reader who has ever felt belittled or apologetic about their tastes in reading such novels needs to read this. Anyone who has thought less of someone’s tastes in reading “Chick-Lit” or romance needs to read this as well. Though they probably wouldn't. Brava Katherine Center.

Thank-You to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an uncorrected digital galley of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

Katherine Center has a way of writing books that make me feel all the things and this was no exception. A beautifully written story about overcoming hardships that also had me laughing out loud. This book was just a pure delight! I loved the friendship with Joe so much and Sadie’s friendship with Sue was gold. This is one I can see myself re-reading in the future. Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my review!

This is a great feel-good read. I liked the unique storyline inclusion of sudden freak accident induced face-blindness, i have come to look forward to Katherine Center’s novels, and this one filled the bill with characters I cared about and a rom com atmosphere. There was also plenty of heart. My favorite part were the unexpected and delightful twists.

I definitely feel like I'm in the minority, but I sincerely did not enjoy Katherine Center's "The Bodyguard." Knowing that, I was anxious to read "Hello Stranger." I was, however, blown away just by the premise, so I gave it a shot. And I'm glad I did!

Center wrote Sadie so well. I absolutely would be her best friend. I laughed at her goofy antics, cried with her when she was struggling, and fell head over heels when she did. Joe and Peanut... no words can describe my love for them.

"Hello Stranger" was such a beautiful novel with the most unique plot I've heard of in a long time. There were quotes I laughed and cried to, characters I could see myself hanging out with, and a romance I couldn't stop reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

There is very little that makes me more disappointed than when a book I have the highest hopes for comes in super flat. And for me "Hello Stranger" was not at all what I expected from my beloved Center. Let me remind y'all I loved "The Bodyguard". I loved the e-book so much, I purchased the hardback and then listened to the audiobook as well. Trust me when I say I'm a fan of KC, but "Hello Stranger" was an absolute wreck of a book.

Instead of laying out the synopsis, I'm going to do a pro and con list because I don't want to ruin this book for those who haven't read it. I guess you can say my review is geared towards those who have read the book and are looking for someone who, like them, didn't love this one.

PRO:
-The amount of research the author did in regard to facial blindness.
-Quick and easy read; I finished in a little over 5 hours.
-LOL moments, although much less than what I'm used to from KC.
-Fun and slightly flirty storyline (this is a closed-door story).
-The author's note in the end was absolutely perfection.

CON:
-The dialogue was very choppy.
-Every character. Even Joe and the Kims. But I will admit those 3 were the cream of the character crop.
-The explanation on the good Samaritan/Joe/Oliver. I just couldn't buy it.
-The label of rom-com doesn't work here; this is women's fiction with a B-plot of romance.
-Predictable twist.
-The ARC from NetGalley felt very rough draft-ish to me. Like to the point that I'm curious of what the final book will be like because there were so many editing issues and a huge continuity error in one point of the book re: Joe and Parker.
-Poor character development.

Please read this and now that I respect KC as an author and will continue to hype her books I love, this just wasn't one of those. I do think this book will land with some, but it was a miss for me.

There is no doubt in my mind, if I had brain surgery, this book would still echo in my mind. A story this beautiful one does not forget.

Is it a romance? Yes. Is it more? Yes. It’s the journey of a women who loses her self worth and occupation (sort of) and how she rediscovers who she is. She’s an artist that ends up confiding in Joe, a seemingly unlikely character who trash talks in the elevator wearing a bowling jacket. But it’s not that simple, she has an evil step-sister, a crush on her (hopefully) hot Vet, and she lives in a hovel owned by her best friends dad.

I had moments where I put the book together, but I doubted myself. It make me squeal, and cackle, and cry, but I’m an easy crier. Read this book, no regrets. I found it working it’s way into my mind when I put it down, and even after reading it. It has staying power.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I love Katherine Center’s works and was really excited to read her latest book. The book has a unique premise which I liked.

But this one was a huge letdown for me. I found the main character Sadie really annoying and could not connect with her or the storyline. Some parts of the book felt ridiculous and a bit of stretch at times. The ending of the book was very predictable.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for arc.

At first I thought the book was predictable til I read Katherine's Author's Note. She writes in a predictable structure, but towards a happy ending.

Hello Stranger was a delight to read. Funny out loud moments.