I absolutely adored this book! Every time I pick up a book by Katherine Center I know that it will be a home run. Hello, Stranger was no exception. This book was so full of heart, the developing relationship between Joe and Sadie was so real and I loved how Sadie’s medical condition was such an integral part of the storyline. Katherine’s books always have women who overcome obstacles and Sadie had many to overcome in this novel. I loved this story so much! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book feels more women's fiction than romance. A story of a painter with facial blindness has to learn how to navigate her career and her social life without being able to recognize anyone. Along the way we get an adorable love story. Weirdly the path of the book felt kind of like the protagonist's journey with her illness - fuzzy at first, not sure at all where the story is going and then locking into clarity as it goes on.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGAlley for the ARC

Such a cute story! Can't go wrong with a Katherine Center book. Love the character development and was just waiting for the resolution which I was able to see right away! Love the characters and the emotions. What a great light hearted read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!!
I really really enjoyed this one!! I liked the Bodyguard a lot, a solid 3.5 stars for me, but this one was a step up for sure!! So many great twists and turns in this book, that still gave us what we all chase when choosing a romance novel. The premise of having the main character deal with prosopagnosia is interesting and unusual, I'd never heard of this before and I was so intrigued!!
This was the perfect cozy slow burn.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my bookstore, and reading more Katherine Center in the future!!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

Hello Stranger could not be any more Katherine Center, and I mean that in the best way possible. It weaves In her trademark joy meets sorrow with a sunny outlook on life that feels optimistic. The format is predictable, or as Katherine says, it created fantastic anticipation, but in a way that feels like a big hug. However the story itself is like nothing I have ever read, absurd in the absolute best way possible.

Sadie, a portrait artist, suddenly suffers from face blindness right before her opportunity for her big break. With the help of her terrible (or is he?) neighbor Joe amd her neighborhood veterinarian Dr. Addison saving her best friend, her dog, Peanut, Sadie does her best to hide her condition while still being able to compete in her portrait competition.

I love Sadie, Joe, Dr. Addison and Peanut. I love beig in Center's world once again. Hello Stranger is charming and comforting, perfect for romance lovers, and those looking for some bright, shiny optimism.

I read The Bodyguard last year and was so pleasantly surprised; I had to give Hello Stranger a whirl! I absolutely loved how digestible the the writing is, the light-teasing banter and the way Ms. Center creates her characters. Very uplifting in between heavy reads!

When minor brain surgery leaves portrait artist Sadie Montgomery with face blindness, her entire life is upended while she learns to survive and thrive with this uncommon medical condition. The premise of having the main character deal with prosopagnosia is interesting and unusual. Watching Sadie cope with not being able to recognize anyone around her (best friend and family included) lead to some funny and heartbreaking scenarios. The face blindness just exacerbates Sadie’s already clumsy tendencies, from a roller skating disaster to a shattered glass door. Her antics had me giggling.

Katherine Center writes a sweet slow-burn romance between Sadie and her hero that is made better by the fact she has to get to know and fall for him without relying on physical looks. It makes for a deeper connection between the two main characters. But it also highlights Sadie’s frustrating inability to accept help and negativity about the kindness of others. Center does a great job showing why Sadie is the way she is and gives us a truly nasty antagonist to root against.

I really enjoy Center’s writing style. It’s like having a conversation with a close friend. Comfortable, warm, fun, and crazy in the best ways. A vile villain, quirky heroine, and marshmallow hero make for an excellent read.

While I felt like the beginning of the book was a mess the ending was charming enough that I ended up giving it 3 stars. Sadie, the main character was a bit annoying and I did not personally relate to her but I did enjoy reading about her love interest and her best friend. I also feel like the villain of the story was overly mean. Most people are not that outright mean in real life and it took me out of the book at times. Certain plot points were too convenient or made zero. Overall the book was fun, and I think readers who like this author will enjoy the book.

I loved the body guard but omg this one is 1000x better. I couldn't put it down from start to finish, needless to say, I didn't even regret staying awake until 2:30 AM to finish it. I don't even know where to start, the storyline is so original that it was refreshing and the characters and their overall development give you something to root for. Even though it wasn't a "spicy" read, it was one of the best romance reads I've read in a while.

The FMC Sadie is faced with acquired face blindness after what was supposed to be a minor surgery on the eve of the biggest portrait competition of her career. After finally leaving her home to get her pup to the vet she meets Dr. Oliver Addison, who even though she can't see him she knows he's handsome and she develops a bit of a crush on him. What she wasn't expecting though is her "man whore" of a neighbor Joe to actually be the one around whenever things seem to go wrong, forcing her to consider that maybe her initial reaction was wrong.

This was a 10 out of 10 read for me, I'll absolutely be purchasing when it releases in July.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Center aand St.Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy of Hello Stranger. Katherine Center never disappoints! Sadie is a struggling artist who is trying to make a name for herself. An unexpected surgery sets her back from getting ready for a big portrait competition. This story has so much hope and love. It was unputtdownable and a must read! I loved all of the characters!!

This story was fun, but there were a few times the coincidences stretched beyond belief and took me out of the story. The big reveal was noticeable from the start, but then it was fun to see how the author tried to execute it throughout the story. The romance between Sadie and Joe was enjoyable to follow. Library patrons should enjoy this.

This book was SUCH a delight. Maybe my favorite KC so far? The protagonist, Sadie, is a portrait painter, but right before a big competition she finds out she needs brain surgery. Surgery goes fine, but when she wakes up she figures out she has acquired face blindness—not the best thing for an artist!!!
I enjoyed this so much because I know a few people who have the normal sort of face blindness to varying degrees so I found this super interesting reading about the experience. I also loved Sadie and her romantic entanglements and the deep heart to this book. I wanted to punch her stepsister (who is definitely evil) but I think this book is super emotionally fulfilling. Also I would totally reread this multiple times. FIVE STARS.
Heat level: 1🌶️, closed door.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my proof copy.

The Bodyguard was one of my favorite reads of 2022 so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Katherine Center’s newest novel. Center writes the most relatable and likeable main characters, even if their professions are something we could never imagine ourselves doing. Sadie was no different, you want to root for her so hard, feel her struggles and celebrate her wins. I always know I can turn to Center when I need a little happiness in my reading life and this book was no different. Definitely a feel good read!

First off, thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this adorable book. This book has been on my radar for awhile after loving Centers other books. I will admit this one had a slow start for me with a lot of internal dialogue instead of conversations and descriptive language, but it picked up about 100 pages in when Joe is introduced. You can't help but root for Sweet Sadie in this delightful book. Also, I wish Peanut was my dog and I LOVED the twist at the end

I love everything Katherine Center does. She writes like she's talking to her best friend (the reader), casual and conversational, while still tackling big topics. Hello Stranger is about Sadie, a portrait artist, who, as a result of brain surgery, develops what's colloquially called face-blindness. As a result, she realizes that so much of her perception of reality is altered and she's constantly falling into the trap of confirmation bias. The author clearly did her homework when it comes to neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and neuroscience. Yes, there's a lot of big words and science thrown around, but it's done in such an accessible way.

I love books that teach you things while making you feel things, so I loved this book.

If I had one complaint, it's that the author used SO MANY rhetorical questions throughout the book. We're talking at least 1-2 per paragraph. If I were the editor, I would rephrase MANY of those questions into statements to avoid overkill. Just my two cents.

But overall, it was lovely and heartwarming and featured a strong, if slightly broken, independent heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

I was thrilled when I was selected to read and review this title. Katherine Center has always been a favorite since I discovered her first book, mostly because I feel as if the characters become my friends. This book was no different. I was immediately invested in Sadie’s story and could relate to many parts of it. It took me a little bit to put the pieces together (although I figured it out before Sadie did!) and I enjoyed the anticipation of watching Sadie figure it all out. There were a few things I hadn’t figured out, which were fun surprises. I still didn’t like Parker at the end - so Joe is probably nicer than I am! I learned some things while reading this book, which is always a nice side benefit of any book! As with any good book with well developed characters I hunger to know what’s going to happen to them in the future. I want a nice coffee date with them to sit down and catch up! The epilogue had just this feel to it. Now I want more - I’m greedy!

Sadie is a struggling artist who just got her big break in an art contest. Art brings her job because it reminds her of her mother who she lost when she was a teenager. When a medical issue occurs, it heavily impacts Sadie’s ability to compete in the art competition and changes her world tremendously.

I’ve enjoyed every Katherine Center book I’ve read, this one not being any different for me. I find her books to be page turners that keep me interested. This was a quick and enjoyable read for me. This book had some romance (not much and not a steamy romance read), family tension and drama, dealing with losing a parent, struggles, and friendship. I loved Sadie’s friend Sue and Sue’s family. I wish I had more of them but what a sweet relationship. The plot “twist” seemed to me a bit far fetched, and I figured it out, but it was still an enjoyable read. If you love Katherine Center I highly suggest you pick this one up in July.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eArc. Hello Stranger comes out 7/11!

Well, I just devoured this book! Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC, because I was super excited to get my hands on it. After reading The Bodyguard last year, I knew I would be a permanent fan of Katherine Center books. This story feels fresh and different, (especially since the only other novel I have read including prosopagnosia was Rock, Paper, Scissors😵), and definitely builds that hopeful anticipation. I loved her author’s note at the end about why people enjoy romance books.

When I saw this was available to read on Netgalley I was insanely excited! Thank you so much to Negalley and St Martins Press for the Ebook copy in exchange for an honest review! I absolutely adored this book! ⁣
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Katherine has done it yet again! This book is about Sadie who needs to have brain surgery. A result of the swelling is face blindness. Sadie can no longer recognize faces only emotions. She is a artist and has to paint portraits for the competition she’s in. How is she going to do that? Thankfully she can still see animal faces as her dog Peanut is the only thing that’s keeping her grounded. But when Peanut gets sick she meets veterinarian Dr Addison. Dr Addison asks Sadie on a date but she refuses to tell him about her face blindness. Then there’s also Joe who lives in her building who can be annoying and always shows up at the craziest of times. But the two develop a friendship. But could it be more? ⁣
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I loved the chemistry between Joe and Sadie. I loved how Sadie’s experience changes her outlook on the world and such. This book handled panic attacks with grace and care. I can’t imagine what Sadie was going through. I couldn’t stand Parker Sadie’s evil step sister she was something else! I loved this book. Be sure to pick it up on July 11,23.

In Katherine Center’s newest book, Hello Stranger, we meet a woman named Sadie whose life has drastically changed following an unexpected brain surgery.

Sadie has always wanted to be an artist, and a portrait artist at that. But everything becomes more complex following her brain surgery because she can no longer see (process) faces. She is face blind. Sadie has to learn how to identify the people around her while also relearning how to do what she loves most.

Up until about the 60% mark, I wondered where this book was going. Sadie’s life is extremely chaotic. She has a complex living situation, difficult family dynamics, career instability, and then add the face blind condition on top of all of that. The romance was not overly apparent and the chemistry took a long time to build.

That being said everything came together in the last third of the book. Though she did gain confidence, I would have liked to see a little bit more growth from Sadie as an artist. I also would have liked to see a bit more development romantically in the relationship a bit earlier on.

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy rom coms, light romances, and books that ride the line between romance and romance women’s fiction. I always enjoy Katherine Center’s books and this was no exception.