Poor, wonderful, adorable Sadie. Just as she finally gets a big break as a finalist to participate in the same portrait contest her mother entered just before she died years ago, Sadie gets gobsmacked that she has the same inherited brain anomaly that killed her mom. Her re-married, estranged doctor dad insists she has the surgical repair immediately (thank goodness, it is a curable condition). So she does. But as she recovers she discovers she has face-blindness. It’s supposed to be temporary, but will it resolve before her 6 week portrait deadline?

Complicating matters is her instantaneous crush on her dog’s new vet and the helpful neighbor who she first thought was a weasel. The rest of her family consists of a truly evil stepsister and a stepmother who can be a pest. Her best friend suddenly disappears. Sadie does find ways to identify the people around her without comprehending their faces and she desperately tries to complete her competition portrait in time without the loving support she needs.

You cannot help but to root for Sadie. The guys are mystifying — basically unrecognizable as good or bad, so you are along for her journey. The novel is funny, delightful and bittersweet. The central character is written so well and the ending is so satisfying — Katherine Center has written another great romance. 5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO This is a book about Sadie’s eyes, whatever color they may be.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): Hmmm. It’s March and there are marigolds in a bouquet when marigolds usually only bloom in summer, but florists have their tricks.

Ahhhh!!! I’m so grateful and honored to have received an ARC of Katherine Center’s new book. After reading The Bodyguard earlier this year, I immediately went out to buy 3 more of her books. Katherine is such a talented storyteller and holds a real knack for creating such realistic and multi-faceted characters. I’ve become such a huge fan of her work, and I’m certain I will not be disappointed by HELLO STRANGER!

I really wanted to like this book because I love the rest of Katherine Center's work. The plot is unique and it's a classic Center slow burn but I was just bored.

However, the book seems rushed, it is too predictable even for your typical romance novel, there aren't very many foils for the couple, and the secondary characters seem to be copied/pasted from any other book. Sadie isn't a character who I really cared about, despite her family and friend troubles. The resolution between her and her family seems too good to be true and is wrapped up too nicely. There should have been some tension remaining but everyone reunited and things were fine and good.

Neither Sadie nor Joe are particularly well-developed and I just couldn't bring myself to care about them, particularly Joe.

I'll obviously read Katherine Center's next book and I only hope that this was just a fluke.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I received an email with an early digital copy of Hello Stranger from Katherine Center, I literally jumped out of my chair. Not only do her bright beautiful book covers bring me so much joy, but her words just skip along the pages in such a beautiful sing-song way, I just can't help smiling through the entire book.

It's almost mean to tease this book so early because it doesn't come out until July 2023, BUT it's one to keep on your radar and add to your most anticipated 2023 summer reading list, fore sure!

Struggling artist, Sadie Montgomery, lands herself a coveted spot in a portrait contest - on the verge of her big lucky break. However, an accident leads to a minor brain surgery. This surgery, unfortunately, results in face blindness. Sadie can see things around her, but when it comes to faces, it's an upside down mess of a jigsaw puzzle. Not exactly the break she needed while preparing for a 'portrait' contest. With the help of her 14 year old dog, Peanut, his sexy veterinarian, Dr. Addison, and her grungy neighbor, Joe, Sadie is able to put her life back together one jigsaw piece at a time, but not without some mistakes along the way.

I simply love Katherine Center.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun trying to figure it out!! Watching the friendship unfold between Sadie and Joe, as she struggled to maintain her everyday normal that's compounded by acute facial blindness... The secondary players were fun too; Sue, Mr. and Mrs. Kim, and even Lucinda. I love Katherine Center books; she is one of my favorites. I always feel invested in and a part of the character development in her books. This book doesn't drop til June 2023 so I was super excited to get an ARC of this via email from the publisher. Thanks St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this very advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just when things seem to finally be going Sadie Montgomery’s way, she discovers that she needs surgery, which she would like to put off because she needs every single day for the next few weeks to get her portrait ready for the contest that she has reached the final round in. But her estranged father returns early from his conference and arranges her surgery, telling her that it can’t wait. If her father, whom she hasn’t talked to in ages, declares the surgery is imperative, she must believe him. Although the surgery is a success, Sadie can no longer see faces. They look like pieces of a puzzle to her. How can she possibly paint a portrait if she can’t see faces? And, then Sadie also has two men in her life. One a veterinarian she decides she’s going to marry and the other a misogynist womanizing weasel named Joe who may not really be a womanizing weasel after all in Katherine Center’s Hello Stranger.

In her author’s note at the end of Hello Stranger, Katherine Center writes: “I hope this story made you laugh. And swoon. I hope it kept you up way too late reading and gave you that blissed-out oxytocin-laden tipsy feeling that all the best love stories create.” I laughed because I stayed up into the wee hours of this morning reading, deciding that when I couldn’t keep my eyes open that I was permitted to get some sleep. I rarely do that anymore but I just couldn’t put this book down. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I had to get there, be there, be part of it.

There is something joyous about Hello Stranger. It’s like getting a big warm hug, a hot drink, and spending time with someone who believes in the kindness of the human race. You don’t want it to end, know it must, while hoping that another novel is springing to life in Center’s Texas home.

Sadie Montgomery is a wonderful character. She is quirky and determined. Self-aware and resilient and giving. She would say she’s a pessimist but I don’t see it. She changes throughout the novel, opening herself to the world and living her life, realizing that this was the way her mother was: open to everything that life has to offer. She finds joy in simple things like dresses that her mother wore and roller skating to 70s disco music.

Despite first impressions, Joe is the type of swoony nice guy that seems too good to be real (yeah, I know he’s fiction) but he does have a failing–if being too helpful can be considered a failing. He’s perceptive (mostly) and kind-hearted, romantic and solid. And swoony, which I know I said already but it bears repeating.

Sadie has an evil step-sister and step-mother, although we discover that maybe the step-mother isn’t really evil but just manipulated by the controlling step-sister. And, maybe there is just a touch of Cinderella in Sadie’s story.

While I didn’t notice as I was reading, some questions arose later about certain circumstances that occurred. But. But. I was too immersed in the story to care about those questions as I was reading. And, frankly, I am willing to shrug away those questions now because that feeling of being so immersed in a wonderful story is far better than nitpicking. I think that says a lot.

Hello Stranger is one of those novels where I felt myself smiling at intervals because it made me happy and definitely made me laugh. This is the book we all need when we want joy and a warm hug–in novel form. A literally literary feel good story.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center really can do no wrong.

Hello Stranger introduces us to Sadie, an artist, a portrait artist, who may have just gotten her big break. Sadie is estranged from her widower father but finally feels like she can brag about herself. That is until she has to have brain surgery and can no longer recognize faces. At all.

As Saide struggles with her new reality she meets Dr. Oliver Addison - who saves her dog's life and who is obviously handsome - even without a face. They set up a date! In the meantime Joe lives in Sadie's building and just always seems to be around and willing to help. Sadie does not need help, except that she does. As Sadie and Joe spend more time together she now has these 2 pretty awesome men in her life.

To find out what happens you need to read the book.

Although Hello Stranger deals with some heavy topics - loss of a parent - and is predictable, but in the best way. This is book also has fantastic characters, 2 dreamy men, some family drama and was just what I needed to break me out of a slump.

5 stars. Read it and you'll love it too.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always excited to hear Katherine Center is releasing a new book. She's become an auto-read author for me since I read How to Walk Away. Hello Stranger was another great release. It had a unique storyline and entertaining characters. It's kind of a hard book to explain without giving a lot away, so here are some things I loved and one I struggled with.

What I loved:

*Katherine Center's writing was as captivating as usual. She knows how to pull me into a story.
*The face blindness aspect was very interesting. Everything Sadie went through with it made me consider things I hadn't before.
* Sadie took me a bit to like, but by the end I loved her.
*All of the side characters were fantastic -- even the ones I loved to hate. They felt like real people I could meet on the street.
*The romance. It was really sweet. I loved how it challenged Sadie and made her a better person. 
*The twists. I could see a couple of them coming, but I thought they were done so well. I am sure there are going to be some surprised readers out there. 
*The overall feeling of happiness at the outcome of the book when I finished.

What I struggled with:

*Sadie. There were moments when I thought that if she was my friend, I would have wanted to give her a good shake. Her thoughts could be very immature. That did help with the growth of her character throughout the story, though. 

Overall, this was another great book by Center. I have a feeling fans of her writing are going to love it.

Thank you St. Martin’s for the advance copy!

I loved it. Katherine Center can do no wrong. She remains an autobuy for me. Read this in one sitting the day I got it! I absolutely loved the story! I really feel like every book gets better and better. The chemistry between the characters was great. The twist and how it was revealed was great too. Loved it all!

I was so pleased to receive this ARC from NetGalley. My favorite thing about Katherine Center’s books is the unique settings/situations and characters. I had never heard of face blindness before, so this was a really interesting way to present an “obstacle” to the story. Katherine Center definitely has another hit on her hands with Hello Stranger!

I loved this book. Katherine Center has become a must read author for me. Her books are funny, lighthearted, sad all at the same time. This book was no exception. I finished reading it in no time. Great writing, a few twists I did not see coming. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to her next book already!

I love Katherine Center’s books and this one did not disappoint. I found myself fully invested in Sadie’s story and rooting for her to succeed. I was able to relate to Sadie and loved how well developed all the characters were. It read like my favorite comfort rom com!

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors because she spins such unique stories. This one is no exception. Sadie's face blindness as an artist and having to find herself again through her art while navigating difficult relationships creates a beautiful story.

I want to give this book ONE MILLION STARS! Hands down it is now my favourite and I have read all her books. She and this book are at the top of my list for 2022. I loved Sadie so much. A strong young woman who faces much tribulation in her life. She does overcome the obstacles and I applaud the Author for this heartwarming and fabulous story. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Loved this book! It had romance and humor all rolled into one. If you like rom-coms, this book is sure to please. It was a bit predictable, but after reading the author's note at the end, I think it sort of was meant to be. I knew the love story would have a happy ending, and I was anticipating getting there (did I say that correctly, Ms. Center?) I recommend.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was the perfect antidote to a cold and dismal day, and I devoured it in an afternoon. Ms Center's books are an automatic read for me and this latest is another winner.

Sadie Montgomery is a portrait artist who is finally being recognized for her work. But an accident will put her fledgling career in jeopardy and turn her entire world upside down. Following brain surgery, Sadie is left with face blindness, a condition where she sees faces, even those she knows, as indistinguishable. It is all very inconvenient, not only for her work, but as a particularly large hurdle on the road to romance.

Full of heart, humour, and a cast of characters you won't soon forget, including one special dog with a very sophisticated palate, you will want to get your hands on this one. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

I loved this book so much! I couldn’t put it down! I really liked the story line. It was different and interesting.

I just finished this book and immediately needed to write this review. I am so sorry for everyone who doesn't get the chance to read this one early, as it is a long wait til the July 2023 release, but it will be worth it! This story was wonderful!

Sadie is a down on her luck artist, who has won a place in a portrait contest that is the kick start her career (and her bank account) need. However, six weeks before the gallery presents her yet-to-be-completed piece, Sadie discovers she suffers from a medical anomaly in her brain that requires immediate surgery.

The novel follows Sadie's recovery process, where an unforeseen symptom of acquired prosopagnosia - otherwise known as face blindness that hinders her creative spark. As a portrait artist, this occurrence is devastating to Sadie. Hello Stranger follows her quest to attempt to complete her project, while coming to terms with her condition.

The other thing Sadie is struggling with is her love life. Torn between two men, ones she can not actually "see" - adds to the drama of this story

I binged this in one sitting and it was completely worth it. Beautifully written and filled with just enough angst and romance (closed-door) to have me really rooting Sadie and her future.

I was able to predict a few pieces of the story, but as Center's author's note states, predictability in a romance novel should be ruled as "positively valanced anticipation", the blissful entertainment readers go through as they read and look forward to the story's end In this story, Center's clues may have been intentional, but they ultimately help the reader head toward a conclusion that will be completely satisfying.

ARC provided by NetGalley. This is my giveaway review. I've loved every book by Katherine Center. She's an amazing writer! This book is certainly no exception! I love the character of Sadie. She's such a relatable character... Very funny and down-to-earth. She's someone you want to see succeed in life and her dreams of being an artist. She is waiting for her big break and decides to enter an art competition but right before she finds out she needs to have emergency surgery. The doctor assures her she'll still be able to proceed with the competition. However, she hits some roadblocks along the way and she falls in love with two men. This was a great read and I highly recommend!

Being a huge fan of Katherine Center I was super excited to get an advanced copy of Hello Stranger. Not going to lie, I was kinda turned off when Sadie was diagnosed with the face blindness. I just thought I knew exactly where the story was going. I am glad to say that I was wrong and was so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! A cute dog, a cute boy or two, and a sweet ending!

I also love when a book teaches me about something I didn't know previously and was excited to read a bit more about face blindness after finishing this book! Another winner by Ms. Center