What a book! I loved the twist at the end. I loved the side characters. I was glad to see Sadie work things thru with her father. Great ending.

Big thank you to @netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Pub date: July 11, 2023.

Hello Stranger was what I expected it to be and then some. As most rom-coms go, very predictable but in the best way. Despite thinking I knew exactly what was going on I couldn't put down the book until my suspicions were confirmed (aka the very end). The surprising part of this book was the amount of detail about face blindness. I truly learned something new! Sadie is such a lovable main character. What a perfect read to kick off February! If you can snag this book early, I highly recommend that you do :)

This was my first Katherine Center book and it certainly won’t be my last! I loved every minute of this book and couldn’t put it down! I thought the plot was unique and unlike the other romance books I’ve read. I thought there was good character development and I loved the twist at the end! Definitely a quick, easy and light read! I also thought it taught some good lessons about life in general. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advance copy of this book! 5 stars for sure.

Katherine Center’s books spark joy, and Hello Stranger was no exception. A unique storyline with authentic characters, this is a hands down winner!

Admittedly, Katherine Center's books have been a little up-and-down for me, including this one.... I've really loved some of her rom-com female heroines and their interesting jobs (especially the kick-ass ones - a firefighter and a bodyguard, for instance) so I will definitely keep coming back and trying anything she writes - but there are other times I've felt that the protagonists are a little bit all over-the-place, not quite striking a balance that works for me of between how the character deals with heavy issues + and how the comedy part of the rom-com comes out, feeling a bit slapstick or wacky. I was very interested in the concept of a heroine who is a struggling portrait artist with an "I need to do things myself" personality who has a brain operation that leads to the condition of face blindness. But it felt like her character was a underdeveloped in general (as well as the side characters - and side-characters really usually make a rom-com for me) - so while it entertained okay at the time of reading it won't really be memorable, unlike some of her others, as I wasn't invested in this underdeveloped character enough to get invested in the romance either.

This one didn’t really work for me. I loved The Bodyguard, but some elements of this just didn’t feel realistic (she really didn’t make any connection that the three separate guys were actually one? Her parents didn’t see at all that her stepsister was evil?).

2.5 stars. I must not have read the same book as everyone else. This didn’t get good until 70% into the book. I almost DNF’d. There was a good twist at the end that made it a 2.5 star rather than 1.5 star read. It was just so boring. And all the painting crap was…boring. Parker was too diabolical and Sadie’s dad too weak. I loved The Bodyguard so I’m just so confused about this. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I’m convinced Center can do no wrong. I’m not going to lie- the first few chapters drug for me and I was waiting to get into the meat and potatoes, but once I got to them, I couldn’t stop. This book really shows that we can become more despite the crappy hand we may have been dealt. Center created such a relatable story with Sadie’s parents/step family, but also gave her the best support system truly proving blood does not make family. I loved watching Sadie grow and was completely enthralled by Joe. Maybe I’m naive, but I never saw the ending coming and loved how so many puzzles pieces fell into place. So many details made this book perfect- from Peanut, to her mom’s birthday celebrations, to the hovel apartment. I give this book all the stars and am sad it ended so soon.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

Okay, not going to lie here but I didn’t think anything could top Katherine’s 2022 release of The Bodyguard but my gosh Hello Stranger did!!!! It is rare that we both get an ARC and are able to read the book around the same time but we did so you are lucky to get a joint review!!

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist looking for one lucky break. Life has been finally starting to go her way when she lands one of the coveted spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Her Doctors tell her it will be easy, less than a week in the hospital and nothing will change. Upon recovery, Sadie realizes that she can see everything around her, except she can no longer see faces. She keeps being told it is only temporary and many people deal with it. As she struggles to deal with it and hang onto her artistic dreams, she finds peace in her 14-year-old dog peanut. Unfortunately, Peanut falls ill and Sadie has to take him to the vet. Where she meets and falls in love with the Veterinarian, Dr. Montgomery, now she is dealing with her diagnosis of not being able to see faces, and she is also trying to navigate new love.

Sadie’s face blindness was a concept that made me stop and think- I even kissed my kiddos extra times the next morning when I woke up and saw their little faces. I loved the characters, I was invested in their stories, and loved the development. The story was fantastic, but I really enjoyed reading Katherine’s author notes at the end; how she views the romance genre and the role in making us all feel ‘good vibes’ and how the predictability of a happy ending is a beautiful thing that many of us love and appreciate. Highly recommend this one!!!

I loved this sweet romance of Sadie. The development of the characters of Sadie, Sue, the Kims, and Joe were wonderful. It made me want to turn the pages quickly to find out what Sadie would do next. I loved how sweet the romance unfolded and the nervousness that Sadie had as things develop.

A wonderful read to sit by the pool with. A great story that I truly enjoyed.

Ever heard of Prosopagnosia? Yeah me neither, but it’s also known as face blindness. It’s obvious the author did a ton of research on it and it’s pretty fascinating. Anyway, no need for a synopsis or summary and this is gonna be right to the point. If you like hopeful stories that are light and just make you feel good, read Katherine Center. Period.

No huge surprises or shocking moments in her latest one. But it’s classic Center and just what I needed after a challenging work week. Easy, light, charming and hopeful.

This one comes out in July, but go preorder it now. I already know the perfect friend to send a copy to. 😉 My heroes in the book were Mr and Mrs Kim. I love them!

Do not miss the Author’s note at the end. It’s perfect and I wholeheartedly agree!

Big thank you to NetGalley and StMartins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Stranger is a cute story, giving you a new perspective on how you see the world. After life not necessarily going her way, Sadie finds herself needing a brain surgery that ultimately alters her way of life by leaving her with face blindness. She now has to navigate learning a new way of life and also figuring out the boy next door.

It ends up being a little predictable half way through but I still enjoyed the ride until the end. I did enjoy learning about face blindness in general and the frustration it can be going from one way of seeing people to not.

The last notes regarding humanity and the way we all sometimes need to see the world from a different perspective was really inspiring.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

just..... oh my god. oh my god this beautiful amazing unique never been done before book. holy shit. I wish I had the words to explain how much sadie's journey captivated me. her struggle with her grief with losing her mother, which made me feel incredibly seen and made me feel like i had my heart ripped out, but also her love story. Her ability to believe in being helped and being loved by the end, to believe in herself and to believe in the good things in the world. this book was so incredibly funny, heartbreaking and beautiful.
this book has an insane twist which I predicted but didnt disappoint or fall flat. this is definitely a must read. Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this perfect digital reviewer copy with me.

4.5 stars rounded up! Katherine Center does it again! Hello Stranger took me on a wild ride and I could not put it down. There are so many notable relationships in this book (including dog and owner) that all kept me invested. If you enjoyed the Bodyguard I would absolutely recommend this!

SPOILER: Only points deduction was because it bothered me how she went so long without knowing the love interests name and he never corrected her.

ARC Review! Thank you Netgalley and SMP for letting me read this book!

I loved Katherine Center’s last book The Bodyguard! I was excited to read this one.

This one is about Sadie who has a brain bleed and when they fix it she can’t see people’s faces clearly! This is particularly bad for Sadie, because she is an artist who specializes in portraits. She is also six weeks away from an art competition that could change her life. Sadie meets two guys; Joe “helpful”, who lives in her building and the local vet Dr. Oliver who helps save her beloved dog. A love triangle begins but not really.

What I liked:
Joe
The Kim’s
The ending (I’m a sucker for a HEA)
Who Sadie evolved into
The voicemail
Sadie’s doctor

I didn’t love Sadie’s character at times and kind of wanted to yell at her!

I would definitely read another Katherine Center book!

🌟🌟🌟.5

Hello Stranger will be released in July!

What an incredible follow up to The Bodyguard! These new books by Center are incredibly lovely and I cannot wait to devour more. I am not usually a fan of a love triangle, but this was just so well executed that I could not stop reading. I fell for Sadie and I very much appreciate when author's take care with conditions they write about which Center seemed to have done here. This was a very unique read and so refreshing to read.

I read this book in one sitting, past midnight, with no pee breaks. It was that good. I can't remember the last time I did that!

Once I got used to the MC's stream of consciousness, I was completely charmed and captivated with her story. She has a lot of struggles with her prosopagnosia (facial blindness) and her mess-up family and just life in general. This book dives deep into some meaningful themes, and I both giggled and teared up at different parts.

But the ROMANCE. Oh, my heart. The romance is completely unexpected, but it took my breath away. I loved seeing their relationship unfurl, twists and all. It would make for a fantastic romcom movie. This book is now one of my new favorite romances!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: facial blindness, seizure, brain surgery, bullying to the point of attempted suicide (off-page description), death of a parent, cheating

This was my first Katherine Center book, and I am definitely a fan. I really love that she incorporated a real health diagnosis and did a really great job at explaining it and incorporating it into the story. This was way more than a romance novel, as the character really went on a journey of self-exploration..which resulted in finding love in the end. Definitly will be recommending this sweet story to my friends. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC

Sadie Montgomery is a shoe-in to winning her first big break as a portrait painter until she wakes up in a hospital bed diagnosed with prosopagnosia - the medical term for face blindness. What happens when the face painter is unable to see faces when she needs to most?

Sadie only has a few weeks to figure out how to brushstroke her way to a win without her brain being able to compute faces. Can she do it while juggling family issues, her beloved but geriatric dog Peanut, and falling in love with two people? You can find out on July 11 when the book is available!

This is my third book by Katherine Center and she is an auto-buy for me now. I am very grateful that I was able to read this book in advance because it is amazing! I love Sadie and her love interests. Her family is a complete mess but her dog makes up for it. She is able to find herself while leaning into her other senses to navigate the world. It is a sweet, heart-warming, closed door, rom-com and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a feel-good book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a super quick read, and I found myself invested in the characters. While it took me a little while to get into the story line, I found myself really rooting for Sadie. I loved that she was able to find herself, gain confidence, and find love in the most interestingly unique way. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was not my favorite romance. A little too far fetched and out there, but I would definitely recommend this for someone who needs a quick, easy read. 3.5/5