This was a great romance! I love Katherine Center. It was on the cheesy/predicable side, but I thoroughly enjoyed the unique plot line of facial blindness. I would recommend Hello Stranger to romance readers and non-romance readers alike!

Sadie is a self-proclaimed struggling portrait artist, left ostracized from her father after he remarried a cruel woman with an even crueler daughter after the death of her mother, another struggling portrait artist. When Sadie finally accomplished her and her mothers life long dreams of making it as a finalist into the North American Portrait Society competition, Sadie really thinks like couldn't get better- until life proves her not to tempt fate and everything goes topsy-turvey. After a cavernoma in her brain causes her to have a seizure while crossing the street, Sadie is forced to get brain surgery to fix the issue, or end up the same way her mother did. The only downside, the removal of the cavernoma caused a post-surgical edema (swelling) that resulted in prosopagnosia (face-blindness), tough break for a portrait artist that finally got her big break. Over the next 6 weeks Sadie struggles to accept her new face-blindness, but still tries to work through and with it to complete the portrait for the competition. But, when her best friend and portrait model Sue unexpectedly gets whisked away for an elopement, Sadie is left with no choice but to accept help from her sleazy neighbor Joe. While working on the portrait together she ultimately discovers that Joe isn't the sleazball she thought he was, and Joe is actually a really great guy who is far more helpful than not. But when a case of face-blindness ruins the best thing she has going for her at the moment (ie, Joe), Sadie is left show casing her less than stellar portrait at the art showcase solo. Sadie ultimately comes in dead last, but thanks to her landlord and best friends dad, her painting earns the highest bid for their charity, and now proudly hangs in the lobby of her apartment building. At the conclusion of our story, Sue is back from elopement to celebrate and her dad invites "Mr. Helpful" aka Joe, where it is finally revealed that Joe is actually Sadie's super hot veterinarian Oliver Addison, and when she broke up with Oliver, she actually broke up with Oliver. The pair then go around the party and repeatedly tell the story to everyone about the case of mistaken identity. The End.

I gotta say, normally I love Center's super predictable storytelling and lighthearted, good natured fun. But this time, I almost DNF'd at 10%. As a fat person, there is just something unsettling as an author using a characters weight as some kind of plot driven punchline, a gotcha haha moment. And listening to Joe in the elevator describe this fat "woman" so early in the book, I was ready to close up shop and never turn another page again. It's disgusting to hear another person talk about someone that looks like you and how disgusted they are by this character. Not to mention heartbreaking. I used to love this author and now she's using fat people as a plot line? Disgusting. But, I kept reading, I did not actually stop there. I wish I could say I was glad I didn't stop there but I'm not really. What followed was super predictable, I could tell Joe and Oliver were the same person the second Oliver asked Sadie out on a date, because no Vet with an ounce of professionalism would ask out a patient (or their mother I guess) the 3rd/4th time they see them, regardless of how hot and quirky the patient (or mother) was. And so the rest of the book felt like a drag waiting for the big reveal to finally happen.

Let's be honest. It's super cringey to proclaim the first time that you meet someone that they are your future fiancé and husband and start planning the wedding. I get it, people do it, but this WOMAN is 28, she's not 14 or in high school. It's off-putting to say the least.

And through the whole book, I think my biggest problem was Sue. Sue is supposedly Sadie's best friend, but she never does one thing to earn said best friend title. The book starts with Sue throwing Sadie a party (fine) but telling Sadie that she HAS to buy wine for this party that Sue is throwing, when she knows (and Sadie even reiterates) that Sadie does not have money for that. Then, Sadie gets diagnosed with the face-blindness, and the ONLY person she confides in with the information herself (until the tail end of the book anyway) can't even be bothered to REMEMBER! Let alone recognize that throwing a party with a ton of people (her ex included!!!) just weeks after a TRAUMATIC BRAIN SURGERY and with a very INTENSE PORTRAIT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING is not even a remotely good idea?? But Sue does it anyway because Sue wanted to. Then the final straw for me was the fact that she was the model for Sadie's portrait and she either doesn't communicate the seriousness of this to her fiancé or once again, doesn't even care about the seriousness of this so her fiancé doesn't realize how serious this is, because he just whisks her away. And being the horrible friend that she is, SUE GOES! With just an "lol byeee" to part with. Like that put Sadie in such an uncomfortable spot, it forced her to go to the event alone, Sue messed up big time, but she acts like her elopement was the only important thing going on. The trip was 16 days, her fiancé, or herself lets be honest, could've postponed the trip until the next time it came around in less than 2 weeks. But no. Sue is a selfish and terrible friend.

Unfortunately, there was just not a lot of good going on in this book for me. There's enough that I did in fact make it to the last page, but idk that is really that great of an achievement.

i really really love her first book the bodyguard but right now im currently prefer to not have anything to do with st martin press right now.

Katherine Center stays an auto-buy author with this insightful book. Center always does an incredible job of weaving romance with real-life emotions and problems. Life isn’t always a fairly tale, and it can be if you truly open your eyes to the beauty in life. This book explored face blindness and the impact this very real condition can have on someone who wasn’t expecting their world to change in an instant.

Sadie miraculously survives an accident, and not only survives, but wins the game of recovery. Until the doctor’s realize her recovery isn’t as perfect as they thought - she suddenly can’t recognize faces. Sadie navigates her new world and rides the emotional waves of a lifestyle altered.

This book is, like all of Center’s books, is an exploration of life and how to face it head on - no matter the circumstances. There’s a transformation story and a love story. I loved this one although didn’t feel the 5-star pull that some of her books have. It’s possible this is due to the fact that face blindness is simply hard to relate to for someone who’s never experienced it. Despite missing that 5th star, I am very grateful to learn and follow Sadie’s story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another sweet romance by Katherine Center! Some unbelievable elements and a little too repetitive, but cute story that also provided education about face blindness. The characters were well developed with engaging dialogue that dealt with heavier themes of loss, mistaken identity, grief, and coming of age moments.

I typically enjoy everything by Katherine Center, but this one missed the mark a bit for me. I thought the main character was hard to like, which made it hard to keep reading. Overall, the story was okay but it was not my favorite.

Sadie is a portrait artist who just learned she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition. She is flying high until she experiences a medical issue that requires her to undergo brain surgery. Sadie wakes up from surgery to her worst nightmare--she is face blind. Adding to the drama, she is now torn between two men--neither of whose faces she can see.The “anticipation” of what would happen, next and after that and after that, ETC, delivered all I wanted and more! (DO READ her acknowledgments at the end of the book).
Love me a fabulous romance, but it's also safe to say I am officially obsessed with Katherine Center!

Give me everything and anything Katherine writes. I adore her characters, her plot and everything in between. Definitely a must read

Hello Stranger was a very fun read - I was a little skeptical at parts of the book and then came around after reading the author's afterward. It's a fun escape like most Katherine Center books that will keep you entertained.

I loved this! A really refreshing romance novel.The characters felt fully realized which led to me really rooting for the relationship

This one was delightful! Sadie is a portrait artist and has is a finalist in a competition. However, she has suffered a severe seizure that sent her to the hospital where it was discovered she needs brain surgery immediately or she could die. Her mother had the same problem and did not have the surgery and did die and so she relents and undergoes surgery. Now postoperative she now has face blindness. She cannot distinguish one face from another. The man she met on the street could be the same man next to her and she would not know. How is she going to be able to paint. Also, how can she remember who is who when she cannot remember who she spoke to before. This was a fun story that took Sadie through all the stages of recovery and when she finally learned how to let someone help her she was able to live life a little easier.

This was the first Katherine Center book for me, and I will definitely be looking up more! I found this to be an easy, fun read that kept me entertained throughout. Sadie was likeable, though I was not a fan of her step family. I liked her friends, and enjoyed getting to know Joe as well. And you couldn't help but love Peanut! There wasn't anything in particular that made this book a must read for me, but I would recommend it for a no stress, relaxing on the couch read.

And the cover is just so cute!!!

I had never heard about face blindness, but it was interesting to learn more about the science of the brain. Katherine Center's books are like a warm hug and are endearing. While the conflict of the romance is a bit predictable, I loved seeing the character development. I felt all of the characters were well built, and included enough family drama, humor, emotional tugs, and resolution to feel satisfied.

Make sure to read the author's note about romance novels - it was like a lightbulb about why I find this genre one I'm drawn to, the hope, the bliss, the anticipation that is all positive.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am, admittedly, not a romance book reader, but I am a huge fan of Katherine Center. She writes real characters that are quirky, snarky, and downright interesting. Sadie, the main character of Hello Stranger, is everything I listed above and just a tad bit exasperating. I am not sure I know anyone who wants to admit their faults, but Sadie has a medical condition that explains a lot. Of course, it would not have been the same book, but I digress.

The thing that impacted me the most was the Author's Note at the end of the novel. Katherine Center talked about hope, the big reason for romance novels and their success. For me, it was not hope that propelled me to read this novel - it was having someone to root for in a world that is not all that hopeful. I wanted to root for an underdog and have that person become a champion. Whether it be in the romantic aspect of Sadie's life, her medical challenges, or her professional aspirations, I hoped for her to have everything she desired in life.

I have read many of Katherine Center's novels and I have enjoyed aspects of all of them. Though I had guessed what was going on in Hello Stranger (no spoilers), I liked the book just the same. I would definitely recommend Hello Stranger and cannot wait for the next novel by this author.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

Okay so Kathrine Center has become a new rom-com favorite of mine! Loved this book and I can’t wait for anything else she writes!

This was such a cute book! I love Katherine Center's The Bodyguard, and Hello Stranger lived up to the hype as well.

Sadie is quite literally a starving artist not living up to her surgeon dad's expectations of her when a freak accident happens. The accident uncovers a brain abnormality and Sadie's dad pushes her to have emergency surgery.

The surgery cause Sadie to have face blindness which really throws a wrench in her portrait artistry. Along the way she meets a few love interests, finds love, loses love, and finds understanding within her family.

5 out of 5 stars. Emotional, romantic, and full of growth!

Every Katherine Center is a joy. Hello Stranger takes the topic of face blindness and gives you a beautiful account of how a deficiency does not diminish your live. The dependable Rom Com plot is alive and well in Hello Stranger. Her visual descriptions of Houston and living in an urban environment are spot on.

We like the think or hope that this is a fair world, that everybody gets what they deserve, but the true is different. The world and our lives not always work on the basis that because I'm a good person only good thins will happen to me. This book shows this, and yes there is a HEA at the end but that is just happenstance.

When Sadie gets the opportunity of a lifetime as she becomes finalist of portray contest, at the same time, she gets the horrible news that she needs brain surgery, but it does not get better when after the surgery Sadie gets face blindness, how is she suppose to have her big break when every time she says a face her brain cannot translate the image.

I’ve never heard of face blindness before and I think this book made an amazing introduction of this topic. One of my favorite parts was when Sadie was checking on other people that had face blindness and one of them decided to look it as an opportunity and treat everybody the same, with kindness it was really nice to see that.

I had a lot of different feelings throughout the book. I cried a little bit, I laughed too. The book came together beautifully and Oliver a.k.a. Joe is an amazing guy and they truly both deserve the happy ending that they got

I loved this Katherine Center book! I had very little knowledge about face blindness, and I love that it shed light on something like this! The love story was also swoony!

The book was a 4.5 star read for me but the author's note was so good I had to increase my rating. As an avid romance reader, I felt like Center read my mind and addressed a thought I've been having after another reviewer kind of criticized me after I said a book was so predictable and flat and she said weren't romance books all kind of predictable? But Center gave me a new way to think about this feeling - the feeling of anticipation. Yes, we may know where a book is going but the journey, the feeling of anticipation is also so important! And Center does this so well. We may get to the destination we think but Katherine Center takes us on a windy journey that may still have some surprises! I've said it before but the true magic in Center's writing is how heartfelt her words are and I always feel a swell of emotion reading her books. This particular story is about Sadie struggling with a diagnosis of face blindness as a portrait artist. Wow, so unique and I felt like it was so well researched and described in this book. Take the delightful journey with Sadie and experience your heart being filled!