Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

This book was so wholesome, relatable, and heartfelt. I knew I would like it because I love Katherine Center but WOW I devoured this! I loved the mentions of topics (and TW needed) for suicide, grief, absentee parents...they're such real issues and they were talked about in a way that didn't feel forced. Probably one of the best Katherine Center books!

This is the best book ever *sobs hugely* 😭 I reread the last two chapters like 15 times in the last week.

I read the blurb and some reviews before starting and I was a teeny bit afraid that the book would be sad (even though the reviews all assured me that the book is wholesome), and now that I've read it, I'm so glad I impulse requested the book 😭 the love triangle is one of the best written ones ever, and the MC's journey through the book and her interactions with the other characters are perfect. The book is extremely warm and wholesome, and it's a perfect read if you want a romance/romcom to cheer you up on a low day.

That being said, please do be aware of the TWs - MC dealing with the grief of her mother's death from a decade ago, absentee father, lack of support system at home as a kid, extreme bullying by a step-sibling, tumors, brain surgery, suicide attempt (of a very minor character, in the past and mentioned as a story), a dog who falls sick (said dog gets cured though, so no worries <3)

--- ty to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Katherine Center has become one of my favorite romance authors. She writes the most relatable characters. This story was so well done. The swoony romance, laugh out loud moments and unique plots are what draw me to this author!

This sweet novel was so enjoyable, with a fascinatingly unique plot told in Center’s cozy and relatable voice. I don’t want to give anything away so I can’t even really tell you what I liked about it or what favorite trope it played on. I might even recommend skipping the blurb on this one just to dial up the “what will happen” vibes. Similarly (as not to spoil anything) so can’t say much about what took that 5th star, just a facet of the story that I wish was slightly more developed. Overall though it was one of those comforting “dose of happy” reads and I loved learning about face blindness (at one point I took like a 45 minute sidebar googling and learning more about the condition).

Katherine Center has done it again with another heartfelt novel that made my eyes leak on more than one occasion. If you’ve not read a Katherine Center novel before, it’s so important to know that her characters are often indescribably endearing. Hers are the types of novels that leave you wishing the characters were someone you could meet in everyday life.

Hello, Stranger is the story of a portrait artist, Sadie, who is diagnosed with Prosopagnosia, a disorder which makes facial recognition impossible. Sadie understands that this disorder may be temporary, but it does not change the dilemmas she faces. Without facial recognition, creating her artwork is nearly impossible and managing her new apartment is equally challenging.

The juxtaposition of Sadie’s story may have been my favorite aspect of the story. She is a character who desperately needs and deserves the kindness of strangers, but so adamantly refuses it. I loved the way this story was written from a viewpoint where the reader had a clear perspective, but the characters did not. It seemed symbolic of Prosopagnosia as a whole, and it made Sadie’s struggles that much more tangible and heartbreaking.

Center’s novels generally end beautifully, and this one was no different. I loved the characters Oliver, Joe, and Sadie and adored the way Katherine Center puzzled them all together in the end. In a world where gloom is often easier to find than sunshine, I’ll take Katherine Center’s happy endings every day of the week. Thank you to Netgalley and Erica at St. Martin’s for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the book but definitely not my favorite of Katherine Center's. The characters were very likable and the story flowed but I had a hard time believing the end. I felt the backstory with her step sister and father as a little too heartless to be believable.

What a lovely love story. i read it in one day. And i adored every single moment. And oh, that sweet reveal at the end melted me..

***I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.***

Sadie is a struggling artist with immense talent just awaiting her big break. Dr. Oliver Addison is helpful almost to a fault. This is the story of two strangers who find themselves interwoven due to unexpected circumstances - creating what can only be described as a unique love story.

Overall, the plot and idea are extremely creative. Sadie has an episode that left her with temporary facial blindness (prosopagnosia). This book led me to learn more about this and I think the author wrote it in a way that I could understand what Sadie, and those with facial blindness, are seeing. The author also wrote Dr. Oliver Addison as the whole package - adorable, loveable, kind, etc. I attached easily to the characters and couldn’t not root for them.

However, there were some things I could have gone without. The evil stepsister side story almost got in the way of the overall story and this book lacked some of the steam that I’ve come to look for in a book by Center. I also felt that the ending was almost rushed in that everything suddenly pieces together and is then just over.

Overall a good read and I would recommend it to other Center lovers, like myself, but not as a read for someone trying this author out for the first time.

Katherine Center never disappoints and every time I get the chance to read something new by her, I’m immediately ready for there to be more! This was a super sweet romance with complicated family dynamics that got me out of my 2022 reading slump.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. But, I have to be careful because I think you should go into this book blind. Without any knowledge of what the content would be like. The female main character has strong independence but is on a journey to realize that sometimes it is okay to ask for help. The male main character is perpetually helpful and all around sweet guy you cannot help but fall in love with. The main character has a huge shift in life circumstances and is forced eventually to ask for help and the help ends up coming from our male main character. I fell in love with both of their stories and loved watching how their relationship developed. There is a major twist that makes you laugh out loud and the book definitely has a happily ever after. If you've read any other Katherine Center books then you know her books of self discovery and growth are very light and enjoyable, you won't be disappointed with this one. My favorite book from this author, yet.

Center's work never fails to impress. Relatable characters, zippy dialogue, and the perfect balance of humor and emotion - Hello Stranger is like lowering yourself into a warm bath on a cold day.

After reading my first Katherine Center book last year (The Bodyguard) I was super excited to recieve an e-Arc of Hello Stranger, as it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023.

While I certainly enjoyed it, I don't think it hit the same high notes that The Bodyguard did, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

Sadie is a struggling artist, estranged from her father, on the cusp of potentially a huge break in her career. When she faints in the street and is saved by a stranger her world falls apart. She needs "minor" brain surgery (is there ever such a thing when it involves your brain?), and when she wakes up she can't recognize faces. To anyone this would be difficult to deal with, but Sadie is a portrait artist so it's not only difficult it's devastating.

Often in novels artists are portrayed as thriving, when in reality being an artist can be demanding and difficult. I trained as an actress and when I was making the decision to either go to university for theatre or for political science a professional theatre actor told me "if you love anything else, do that". Because it's a difficult, hard life. Most artists are not making millions, they are struggling to survive, but do so because their art is their passion. Centre shows us this reality with Sadie, how painting is her passion but it's come at a price. She lives in a studio that isn't really fit for a human to reside in, she struggles with a small income, she can barely afford $9 wine.

I also loved the evolving relationship with Joe, which is difficult to get into without revealing too much of the plot. But, in not being able to see faces Sadie learns about what she has, and has not, been perceiving her whole life.

I'm knocking off a star because of Parker. Sure every story needs a villain, but Parker was such a cartoon character it was just annoying. Every evil step sister trope was put into Parker. She reminded me of the villains in any early 2000s teen movie. I swear, I pictured her in a hot pink juicy couture sweatsuit, she was that much of a stereotype.

Big thanks to St Martin's Press via #NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Wow wow wow. Katherine does it again.

From the beginning I was intrigued and had to find out what happened to Sadie. So much thoughtfulness went into every confusion of Sadie’s and twist of characters. I loved this book! Thank you NetGalley!

Such an intriguing and fascinating premise! Probably my favorite Katherine Center to date. Sadie's unexpected brain surgery following a fall results in "face blindless" which is quite a stumbling block for a portrait artist. What follows is a hilarious tale of coping, learning, and determination. However my one "issue" was the narrative tension felt almost too taut/stressful for me - probably a personal gripe. I wanted everything to be a little less stressful!! But wow, what a payoff of an ending to see everything come together in a way I did not expect.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC - I'm always excited and honored to get a Katherine Center new release :)

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a unique tale. I am always immersed in her storylines and genuinely have a good time reading them. It never feels like a chore or has dips where I'm wanting to skim.

The way Katherine set this up could have gone a plethora of ways. I did end up seeing the big twist from miles away (which is fine) I didn't love some of the outcomes, but nonetheless an enjoyable read.

Things You Save in a Fire still claims the top spot for me. It will be hard to beat! I do think the people will eat up every word of this though.

I want to thank SMP Romance and Netgalley for giving me the pleasure of reading Hello Stranger in advance!

Publication Date: 7/11

A cute warm romance with a forever happy feeling. It was hard to get into and maybe it was just me, but it didn’t feel natural and pulled me out of the story

Many thanks to St Martin’s Press & NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book in advance of its July publication date!

Star rating: 5/5

Sadie is a struggling artist whose life changes before her eyes - literally - after undergoing emergency brain surgery that leaves her with a form of facial blindness. This isn’t very convenient when you’re a portrait artist on the cusp of your big break. And makes it more difficult to navigate the complexities of your family. Then throw a (you think) handsome stranger (or how about two?) in the mix. Life is bound to get a bit chaotic.

I’m not going to lie - this book had me grinning from ear to ear by the end. I loved Sadie’s story, her passion for art, and the series of misadventures she shares with Joe & Dr. Addison, her two male suitors throughout this delightful and fast paced romcom. This one reminds me of some of the classic romcoms, where you’re just rooting so hard for the main character come the end.

I figured out the “twist” about ¾ of the way through, and it made it no less delightful to read my way to the end. Katherine Center infuses her characters with funny quirks, good backstories, and dialogue you truly care about. Nothing stilted or awkward about the romance in this book, and despite the book staying PG-13 throughout, she managed to shape the chemistry and interactions in such a way that you still felt a bit of spice.

I really appreciated Center’s research on face blindness and how seriously she took the subject matter throughout - I learned a lot about a condition I knew nothing about and despite dealing with a serious medical issue, the book never felt heavy.

Make sure to snag this one for yourself when it comes out in July!

ok, wow. If you loved The Bodyguard, you HAVE to read this one. It had drama, angst, love, loss. All of the things and they all wrapped up so nicely and flowed seamlessly throughout this entire book. Sadie is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read, and that might be why I loved this one so much. I highly highly recommend reading this one!!

Hello Stranger is out July 2023. 🤍

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hello Stranger
by Katherine Center
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. Center is one of my favorite authors. I was so glad to be able to read the ARC. This book made be swoon, laugh, and kept me reading! What a great story!~
I learned a lot medically. I never knew something like face blindness even existed. I loved this book!! Love isn’t blind, it’s just little blurry.

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.
I never saw the twist coming and I am glad I didn't. It gave me hope and a new perspective. It helped me see the joy of helping others. I highly recommend this book! 5 stars no doubt!!

4.5 Stars

Hello Stranger is my new favorite book by Katherine Center! I really loved it and haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished.

I’m not usually someone who cries when reading but this had me choked up many times. First of all, I didn’t even know being facially blind was a real thing. I felt so empathetic towards Sadie and was eager to learn about what it means to live with this disorder. I thought Hello Stranger did a really good job at the portrayal & I feel like I learned a lot.

Another one of my favorite things was the way this book portrayed grief. I think if you’ve ever lost someone very dear to you then you will be able to relate to Sadie.

The only reason I didn’t give a full five stars is because there was a side storyline that was a little too dramatic for me… think an over-the-top cartoon villain! But other than that it was so good.

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