When choosing a romance book, I usually look for a story that has an interesting twist that I haven’t read before, characters, who sound from the synopsis, are likable, and a story that will deliver some of the feel good emotions I expect from a romance. “Hello Stranger”, by Katherine Center, delivers on all of the above. A delightful, quick read, I finished this book with a soft spot for the characters and overall contentment with what I just read.

The story centers around a starving artist named Sadie who, after years of just scraping by, is one step away from her big break. As she’s about to celebrate, a medical issue leaves her without the ability to see faces, something that deeply impacts her ability to create her art. As she tries to figure out how to continue with her painting, she also needs to learn to cope in her day to day life, not having the main way to identify those around her available anymore. During all this, she has to deal with a pet emergency which leads her to meet Dr. Oliver Addison, someone Sadie immediately connects to and wants to se more of. She also has to deal with her annoying neighbor Joe, who surprisingly proves to be more helpful and adorable than annoying during this time. Through all of this, Sadie learns a lot about her self, about who she wants to be and how to let people in.

There’s a lot to unpack in this book. Sadie suffers from Acquired Prosopagnosia, which leaves her with the inability to recognize faces after a medical procedure. Never having heard of this before, I thought the author did a great job walking through how life altering this condition can be, both for Sadie as an artist, but for any individual. We use faces as our main way to connect to each other, and when that is lost, Sadie has to use her other senses to build those connections. Doesn’t seem as hard when you say it, but we get to see how hard it really is for her and how easy our brain can make assumptions or make determinations that challenge some of those connections.

Another sub-plot revolves around Sadie’s struggles with her family, specifically her relationship with her father after her mother’s death and his remarriage. As someone who’s lost her mother, I related with so many of her feelings of loss. With that said, I don’t think this story was as developed as it could have been. Sadie’s relationship with her father and stepmother was rushed while her relationship with her stepsister was overplayed in my opinion. While I can see the importance of both, I would have flipped the amount of space they play in the story.

Lastly, the love triangle of Sadie/Joe/Oliver was was pure romantic fiction at its finest. Did I basically guess what was going to happen with this story from the beginning? Yes, I did. Did I care? No, no I did not. The interactions between the characters here was charming, cute, funny, basically what I look for in these kinds of books.

Some areas that fell a little flat for me included some of the internal dialogue that Sadie provides through the story….without providing spoilers, some of the descriptions went on a little longer than I cared for and I was kind of waiting for the story to move on. Some of the character development fell a little flat for me. I wish Sue had a larger, more positive role in this story as a friend (she comes off as lacking empathy at times) and, as I already mentioned, I wish Parker had less of a role in this story. There is enough happening that the need for her as the heel wasn’t necessary. I also wish we learned more about Sadie’s dad and Lucinda as I think they could have been a lot more interesting and integral than they were. However, I will say I can overlook this because I think Sadie/Joe/Oliver are so strong and likable, and are the main focus of the story, as they should be.

I especially connected with the Author’s note at the end of this book because it perfectly sums up my feelings for romantic fiction as well. Could you say this book is predictable in many aspects? Definitely! But fans of romantic fiction want the joy, the hope, that anticipation that come with these stories, and they pick up these books for that, not for the shock factor (in my opinion). Hello Stranger delivers on that aspect, and for that I would give it 4/5 stars.

Katherine Center’s book, Hello Stranger, is a fun and flirty romcom with quite a twist.

Sadie, an aspiring portrait artist acquires face-blindness after having to have brain surgery. This is a pivotal feature of the book affecting this fiercely independent character quite dramatically as a person who refuses to share her struggles or ask for help.

The love interest and chemistry was really great. I was really rooting for Joe and Sadie, there’s just something about finally rooting for a nice guy that felt so lovely.

While this was an interesting and quite a funny read at times, the idea just seemed so far-fetched and left me scratching my head: why don’t you just communicate? In the end, the conflict just felt a bit forced for my taste.

The book club treat is a fun one to do for your next meeting! Because Sadie is face-blind, I created a treat with a hidden feature - a little treat inside! This recipe is found on @spaceshipsandlaserbeams under “Secret Kiss Cookies”. I think the “secret kiss” theme is a little self-explanatory, BUT if you wanted, you could even play a game and mix it up, do a few different genres of candy and play a guessing game, “Who are you?” Think instead of just Hershey’s kisses, you could do: rolos, Reese’s cups, and other small candy bars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There were a few things that did not make any sense in this book, which ultimately is why I rated it as low as I did. It was witty and cute. I loved how her relationship with Joe evolved. There was a lot of humor throughout.

This book started off so strong! I even noted at the end of the first chapter "and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you pull your reader in."

The characters were weak compared to other books I've read by this author. The main character can admit she is wrong to herself, but not others. Knows it and continues acting the way she does anyways. She hates being helped. Like it is a huge deal throughout the book. However, it is never explained where that strong trait manifests from. Only that she realizes it and heals towards the end of the book. I even made a note in my kindle "I'm curious why she feels so strongly that she doesn't want to ask for help. While I can relate to the rambling thoughts that the main character had, because I do the same, it got pretty annoying. Almost overkill. She also came off as really mean so many times throughout the book to strangers.

I did not like Sue. She is rude, and even tells her supposed best friend that she has been "tragically failing at life". She unapologetically abandons her in her biggest time of need and does so flippantly.

I called the "twist" early on. It is unbelievable that after all that time she didn't realize it was the same person. However, it would have been bearable if they didn't try SO hard at the end to convince the reader it was plausable. Add to that the fact that August Ross happened to be right there when everything went down.

If the book hadn't ended with all those excuses, I would have just accepted it as quirky. But it just made it awkward.

Things that didn't add up: "I didn't even know he had my contact info" when her dad texted her. However, she called him in the first chapter. so how does he not have her contact info?

Also, I thought Lucinda brought her moms dress so it could be worn at the art show. Then it says that she was wearing Sue's dress.

Her voicemail to Joe would have never been able to be that long.

How did Sue not know the vets name etc whenever she is the one that took Peanut to be boarded there?

Thank you for the ARC!
This is the fourth Katherine Center book I’ve read, and it’s officially my favorite. Hands down. I devoured it.
Not going to lie though, I was apprehensive at the beginning because I thought it might be a little triggering for me. The condition Sadie has and finds out she needs surgery for is something my brother has (Cavernous Angiomas). It’s not an easy condition and, for many, it’s life changing. I was worried it would get glossed over like it was no big deal, but I didn’t feel that way. I wish there was more conversation about the condition itself, but it was nice to see it represented!

But anyway, it’s adorable. I’m not going to say in a predictable way (read the author’s note at the end of the book!), but it’s just such a good feeling love story. I figured out what was happening towards the end before the character did, and I anticipated the reveal SO much! I was just rooting for her happy ending.
Anyway, highly recommend you keep this one on your radar. It’s a solid 5⭐️ from me.

Loved it! Hello, Stranger gave me all the feels. I love that Sadie had flaws and was relatable. While the plot might be an easy guess, I was still hooked and looking forward to reading every chance I got. I will definitely recommend this book and make sure to add Katherine Center to my must read list.

Thank you for this ARC! I completely enjoyed the latest book from Katherine Center. I loved The Bodyguard and this did not disappoint! It also had lovable characters, a fun plot and satisfying ending. If you are looking for something light but not cheesy, I highly recommend this book.

Sadie Montgomery is an artist struggling to make ends meet. She receives what she believes will be her first big break as a portrait artist, and then has to deal an unexpected health issue resulting in a surgery that renders her unable to clearly see faces. Sadie is dealing many things during the aftermath of her surgery complications: unexpected love interests, her sick geriatric dog, and family issues.

Katherine Center yet again writes a novel full of fun and hope. Are there times it feels hard to believe and a bit far fetched? Yes, but Center’s novels are enjoyable enough that I lean into the improbable and just enjoy the story. I’ve really started looking forward to the escape from reality that Center’s yearly novel brings every year, and I look forward to her book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love this author so much all of her books are light and funny laugh out loud books. I love the way she dove into a medical condition after brain surgery. The story had lots of twists and turns but turned out so well in the end. I can't wait to recommend this book to our book club.

Rating: 5 Stars

Tropes:
Mistaken Identity
Slow Burn Romance

Emoji: Roller Skate

Pairs well with: A croissant, ripped up, just the way Peanut likes it

This is my first time reading Katherine Center and I can assure you it WILL NOT be my last. I loved every single thing about this book including the author’s note in the back about novels. I thought this book was absolutely brilliant! A 5 star read, for sure!

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist who does not know how to ask for help. The problem is, she actually needs help in most areas of her life. Especially when she finds out she has a wonky blood vessel in her brain that needs immediate surgery right in the middle of her big break! Now she has to jeopardize her chance at $10,000 to have a “quick brain surgery.” Unfortunately for her, there are some complications that leave her unable to see faces for now. Thankfully, she meets Joe, the chronic helper. Joe lives in her apartment and seems to be there at all of her times of need.

This is a slow burn romance that also teaches us lessons about life and love. We see heartbreak, losing a mother, family drama, and perseverance all through the eyes of Sadie and it could not be any better. I liked that the romantic relationship was not front and center the entire time. We see Sadie dealing with grief and growth and Katherine Center does a fantastic job of taking us through those emotions to the point that I cried more than once reading this.

The cover of this book is beautiful and really portrays the story. I think it is eye catching and I love it!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me this advance copy

In this Katherine Center novel, Sadie has received her first potential "big break" as an artist; she is one of ten finalists in a national portrait competition. What Sadie didn't plan was needing life-altering surgery right before the competition and ultimately losing her ability to clearly see faces, a condition called prosopagnosia. Sadie is going to have to accept that she will potentially need her building enemy to help her complete her portrait, but does he actually turn into a romantic interest?

First of all, how gorgeous is the cover? Katherine Center's books ALWAYS have the prettiest covers. I definitely enjoyed this book. If you LOVED her most recent release, The Bodyguard, this one might not be as enjoyable to you, but having read her other books, I found this one to be right on par with her others. I will admit that there were points where Sadie could get a bit annoying, but overall, she was a likeable character. You definitely root for her and feel her pain when she cannot recognize people she knows well, thanks to her condition. Joe, the building enemy, is the most adorable character. You can't help but adore him...eventually. Also the other characters fit perfectly well with the plot, and I found myself smiling multiple times when reading this (as I tend to do with Katherine Center's books).

I give this one a solid four stars, and I definitely recommend it!

Having just finished Hello Stranger, I’m pondering how to crack the code of what makes Katherine Center’s writing so addictive. Her books are just intensely enjoyable and very difficult not to binge. There are few authors who can keep me up until the book is over, but Center reliably ruins my sleep (in the best way).

Struggling portrait artist Sadie finally has genuine good career news she can use to impress her distant, demanding father (and spite her cruel stepsister and oblivious stepmother). But just as she’s about to launch the most important portrait she’s ever painted, an unexpected illness leaves her unable to recognize faces. Now she must navigate a suddenly unfamiliar world populated with people who hate her and people who might grow to love her – but who’s who?

What Katherine Center does exceedingly well is find an interesting gem of information, in this case prosopagnosia (face blindness), and build a fascinating and deeply thematic book around it. In the process, she asks questions that mine the deepest corners of our hearts: what aspects of the people around us do we truly see, and what parts do we “see” simply because we expect to find them? In a world driven by face-based algorithms, both human and electronic, what information gets de-prioritized, and how can we rediscover it? How can we forgive people who didn’t see our truth, especially when it seems like they didn’t try too hard to look for it?

In summary, a recommended read for fans of books that land at the corner of women’s fiction and romance, with a deeply character-driven flavour and hooky, witty, emotional prose.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this was such a cathartic reading experience. i can't articulate what the book did to me exactly but just know each page was worth it. i went in with one thing and left with a handful.

the premise of this story underlies sadie's turmoil with herself and her career. after a minor brain surgery she develops prosopagnosia aka face blindness, and throughout the story we see her cope with this inconvenience and mourn the loss of what once was.

i know i made it sound melancholic but it's katherine center so you best believe you'll close this book with a smile.

thank you to netgalley for kindly providing me and so many others with an arc!! everyone else: go preorder :)

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Have read other books by this author and know she researches the background material.
Enjoy this read as it starts out when she's trying to prove herself to her father, yes she can succeed as an artist.
She accepts the bag of celebratory items as she heads home but is struck down in the crosswalk and wakes up in the hospital.
The surgeon is discussing her brain surgery... She has found some side effects after surgery, she can't see human faces, at least she can see her pet's face.
How will she ever be able to paint a portrait NOT being able to see the posers face....so many more obstacles. Love how the past comes to the future and things get worked out so they know who the culprit was all along.
Amazing thing for me was finding out this a real issue with brain surgery...Not being able to see much the first thing i notice in a person is their head. i can't make out the finer details but also the other senses kick in for me to recognize who's at the door.
some tell me who they are cause they know my lack of vision totally.
Great story and super amazing how it all comes to an end and how she justifies who are who.
Look forward to more works from thsi author, so descriptive I can see the scenes in my minds eyes.
Received this review copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Have you ever thought about the fact that our lives can jolt directions in one single instant? Changed by one single moment?
Sadie Montgomery is an artist that finally catches her ‘big break’. Unexpected events unfold after getting chosen for her ‘big break’ like: surgery, coffee shop misunderstandings, urgent puppy problems & more. These events aren’t exactly what she had in mind, but they all assist in weaving together parts of life that truly matter. A very innocent, closed door romance that I found absolutely engrossing.

A couple of my favorite quotes:
“It takes a certain kind of courage to be brave in love.”
“Pause from the hustle more often and just take it all in”

I also fell in love with everything Katherine Center had to say in the authors note. She writes about her first romance that she read around age 40 & how it showed her that people read love stories for many reasons & not the stereotypical: ‘because they’re predictable’. She goes to say readers fall in love and swoon because love itself is “nourishing” & reading love stories helps fill out minds with the good in the world. They take our mind off the harder parts of life and although the stories very much end up happy (most of the time), they’re filled with “anticipation” not predictability.
I deeply connected with Katherine’s thoughts 💭

Thank you for writing this story & for keeping us ‘swooners’ occupied!

BRB while I go add all of Katherine Center’s books to my TBR list. This was my first book by the author and it gets 5 stars from me! I could not put this book down, I even had to reschedule some husband time so I could finish the book first.

Sadie is a portrait artist. She is about to get her big break when a brain surgery leaves her unable to see faces. The doctors say it’s temporary, but will it get better in time for her to finish her piece for the highly competitive art show? Along the way there’s a romance (or maybe two) developing. The storyline is also intertwined with family and friend drama and leaves you asking what does family really mean. This definitely is a feel good book that tugs at your heart strings. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!


Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fell in love with this book!!! I loved that Sadie was so beautifully described and we got to really feel her pain and then you get to the love interest and it all just comes together so beautifully !!!

If I could rate this with a thousand stars I would. I've read a few of Katherine's books before my favorite being, How To Walk Away, but wow!!! This one takes the cake, the ice cream, and the milk! It took me a couple days to read it Because work kept getting in the way but I finished it tonight, and stayed up all night! Bout to go to bed before working in the morning. Did I mention I killed my phone, it's at 4%. Nothing was going to stop me from finishing this book tonight. What a total twist and shock at the end like wow! I wouldn't have predicted that in a million years. I figured he overheard the convo somehow and thatis how he ghosted her, I guess in a way he did! Definitely recommend!! Thanks, NetGalley for the book!

Wow. I am left with nothing but a smile and joy. I have enjoyed every one of Katherine Center’s books that I have read to date but Hello, Stranger, took the cake! It is a touching story of Sadie, a starving artist type, with family drama for days, and her journey of overcoming struggles (emotional, physical and mental) all while finding the love of her life. Sometimes one is their biggest enemy and fan all the same time and finding the good is the only leg your have to stand on.

I also must gush on the cover art. All of Katherine Center’s books have beautiful covers but as a Houstonian, I cannot help but love the Houston skyline so beautifully displayed behind the stunning florals and characters.

I highly recommend adding this book to your list and reading as soon as possible.

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital advanced release copy in trade for an honest fair review.

I really loved Hello Stranger. What I enjoyed most was that the story was not your typical romcom. The majority of the first half of the book was really focused on the FMC. Sadie has faced so many incredible hardships and is trying to find her way through another huge setback. You get to know Sadie so well and really feel her pain. The love interest part doesn’t fully come into play until later in the story. I found this to be unique and make me feel so connected to Sadie.

Hello Stranger deals with personal growth and challenges, loss, difficult family dynamics, and coping with sudden changes in life. It is really a beautiful story and also has some twists and turns that I never would have guessed.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

This story follows a woman named Sadie. She has an accident and has to have brain surgery. She soon finds out she has acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia because of said surgery. It means she can’t really see faces. Anyways, she meets a vet that she starts liking but he “stands her up”, and so she started having feelings for a guy in her apartment complex named Joe. Long story short, she tells the vet that she just wants a patient/doctor relationship and that she likes someone else. She then goes to tell Joe she likes him but he ignores her and gives her the cold shoulder. She leaves him a voicemail explaining her brain trauma and then runs into him at a get together and he apologizes for how he acted. Then they get to the bottom of things and it turns out Joe is the vet and that Joe isn’t even his real name. There’s more to the story but that’s pretty much what I got out of it.

I wanted to like this book like really wanted too but it just fell flat for me. I don’t feel like the plot was executed in a good way. The romance wasn’t really there in my opinion and the book just felt rushed the whole time. It has potential but to me it didn’t meet the expectation that I wanted it too.

I’m very grateful for the chance to read and review it. 3 stars.