This is the second book that I have read that dealt with prosopagnosia. I love learning about topics I do not know about through a fictional story and this one did not disappoint! As always, Katherine Center always makes her characters so relatable and likable.

I think that this is definitely the book for somebody but unfortunately the writing style just didn’t work for me. I found the story to be a little contrived and had a hard time getting through it.

Katherine Center keeps the romance genre refreshing and includes a lot of topics that I don't run into in a lot of other books. I typically steer away from love triangles, but it worked in this scenario. A bit over the top in terms of terrible family, and I think the main character may turn some people away, but personally I love to see a heroine who doesn't follow all of the typical characteristics of the genre.

While this wasn’t my favorite book from this author, I did still enjoy it. The writing was still very good but I think there was a level of anxiety that I carried throughout the story and the main character’s condition that took away from my enjoyment. Still an auto read author for me though.

I was gifted with an early copy of Hello Stranger from St. Martin's Press, and what a gift it was. I love books that explore a unique theme or experience of life. This book depicts what it means to deal with face blindness and what better way to explore this condition than through the eyes of a portrait painter. I mean, faces are their business. They can't do their job if they can't see a face. Talk about conflict and adversity!

The heroine, Sadie, has finally caught a break with her career as an artist and is a finalist in a contest that could really bring about success she desires more than anything, but she needs to have a "minor" brain surgery that should not be postponed for six weeks until after the contest is over. As previously mentioned, she experiences face blindness as a side effect from the surgery and must figure out a way to paint the best portrait of her life.

This book also explores Sadie's relationships (and challenges) with the people in her life. She has a strained relationship with her father, who remarried quickly after her mother's premature death. Sadie's stepmother makes some long overdue attempts to help Sadie in her time of need and build a modicum of a foundation with her, but is sidetracked by the spawn of Satan (aka her daughter, Parker). Sadie's stepsister has pulled the wool over everyone's eyes except for Sadie. Parker has tortured Sadie long before she couldn't see faces, but her pernicious behavior is unrelenting during the course of this book. Scenes with Parker in it stressed me out, which is a testament to Katherine's writing. While I wanted to wring her metaphorical neck, Sadie doesn't retaliate against Parker with more evil. Even when Sadie is down and being kicked while down, she responds with kindness--a great reminder for humanity always.

Her best friend is away throughout the majority of the book, which forces Sadie to navigate her new reality on her own. Not one to seek help or suffer people's sure-to-be pity, Sadie hides her condition and creates additional conflict in the romance department. While seeking medical treatment for her senior dog, Peanut, Sadie meets a hot vet, Dr. Oliver, who asks Sadie out on a date. Sadie also keeps running into an obnoxious neighbor in her building, Joe, who seems to know everyone and help with everything. An unexpected friendship forms, but Sadie has already envisioned her wedding to the vet.

Life is full of ups and downs, but it's what you make of both extremes that define who you are. I would highly recommend experiencing Sadie's journey in HELLO STRANGER!

This book has been on my Netgalley for a bit and I haven’t picked it up. I haven’t been into romance in a minute, so I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

Hello Stranger - Katherine Center

★★★★

“We’re all just doing the best we can. We’re all struggling with our struggles. Nobody has the answers. And everybody, deep down, is a little bit lost.”

✨ Mini Synopsis:

Starving artist Sadie Montgomery has placed as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition! Just as her big break is on the horizon, she finds herself in the hospital following an accident that has temporarily left her with a condition known as face blindness (prosopagnosia). Although she can still see, every face that she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features, including her own. Sadie feels her artistic dreams slipping away from her, and struggles to cope with all of the changes happening in her life. On top of her current health condition, she’s dealing with family issues, taking care of her sick dog, and has managed to fall in love with not one, but two men. The timing couldn’t be worse, but Sadie has no choice but to start looking at things differently.

✨ My Thoughts:

Katherine Center is such a gem and I enjoy everything that she writes. I especially liked this novel and the interesting storyline. My heart broke for Sadie and the way life continued to knock her down. I just wanted to wrap her up in a big hug. She might not have always known how to navigate the hand she was dealt, but I loved seeing her growth by the end of the novel, and I was definitely rooting for her. Don’t even get me started on KC giving us not one, but two, hottie male leads? Of course Sadie fell in love with both of them.. I did too! 😂 Additionally, I appreciated learning about prosopagnosia and commend KC for having this representation in her novel. I had never heard of this condition before and this story prompted me to learn more.

Thank you to Netgalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of Hello Stranger. All opinions are honest and my own.

Loved the concept of "face blindness" and how this played out in the story. While the actual storyline felt a bit predictable, it didn't stop me from finishing the book in a single day because this was a cozy comfy read. Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this book! Characters were easily likeable and loved the face blindness thrown in as a way to change things up. Recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc! I was really excited to reward this book! The plot of it sounded amazing and different and it did not disappoint! This was such a fun read and there was so many good moments but there were some parts of it I didn’t care for or found needed because it didn’t really fully build the plot? Like it kinda did but I guess not in the way I would expect? Overall very fun and joyful read!

Did I read the same book as all of the other reviewers!? And I don't understand how this book came after a masterpiece like The Bodyguard!??!

Katherine Center is obviously an accomplished writer, but this book wasn't it. Although a quick read, the whole store fell flat. The end was very rushed and poorly executed in my opinion. When I was halfway through, I thought I was finally liking the book (the main character was super annoying to me until this point) but then it just crashed and burned during the last 25%.

I am still in shock over what I just read. 😦

Katherine center has some way better books. Read those and skip this!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

This was an interesting read for me. While I typically love Katherine Center and her light hearted rom-com themes. This one was a miss for me. While I finished the book and enjoyed it, it was not my favorite book of Center’s. I found the story line to be a bit far fetched. What was interesting is that she wrote her main character Sadie in a way that made me fall in love with her. While I enjoyed Sadie and her personality and her journey I did not love the storyline. Hence, why this was an interesting for me.

What an absolutely fabulous book! I am ashamed to say this was on my shelf until recently, but once I started reading, I could not stop. Sadie's way of rolling with the punches, her honesty and determination, and her spirit were enchanting and had me cheering for her. I was completely surprised by the big twist at the
end ❤️ proving that first impressions aren't always reliable. So many good lessons in this one!

3.5 ⭐️ cute, likable main characters, the face-blindness condition was interesting to read about. Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!

Katherine Center is one of my go-tos when I’m looking for a satisfying read. Emotional without the existential dread. Sweet without being cloying. This one is no different but MAYBE my least favorite of hers?Still worth recommending though!

ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but the opinions are my own.

Katherine Center is absolutely brilliant and everything she writes is pure gold. I adored this book and the character of Sadie. I actually was so invested I ended up researching the face blindness that she ends up with. Such an interesting twist and such a great ending. Loved it so much.

I predicted the big twist but it was still entertaining to read the surprising revelations! This is emotional, inspirational and highly enjoyable, heartwarming reading that definitely kept my attention and kept me entertained

Always a must read, Center's books are cute, fun, light hearted with enough emotion to keep you reeled in. The characters are likeable and relatable. This book is no different. A must read, a page turner, and relatable.

“𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵.”

Hello Stranger is a book about a portrait artist who just learned she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition and then experiences a medical issue that requires her to undergo brain surgery, but when she wakes up she realizes she has become facial blind. To make things more dramatic, she is torn between two men, whose faces she cannot even see.

I enjoyed the fast-paced and witty writing, reading about prosopagnosia, a condition that affects the way one may perceive faces, especially since prior to this book I didn’t know a thing about this condition. I felt that Katherine Center really handled and described the condition quite well. Additionally, the plot twist at the end definitely explains any miscommunication between Sadie and her love interest(s).

But while there may be some good parts of this book, I unfortunately find myself in the unpopular opinion category for it. I found the plot to be lackluster, family situation overdramatized and stereotypical, and Sadie appeared self-consumed and ill-mannered, never once taking the time to ask others about themselves. The ‘love triangle’ between Sadie, Joe, and Dr. Addison was, to put it mildly, cringe-worthy. Thankfully, the ending slightly redeemed itself.

With that being said, I am an outlier when it comes to Hello Stranger. Most readers have enjoyed the book, so if you're interested in it, check it out.

eARC was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a warm, witty novel about identity, love, and rediscovery. The story follows Sadie, a woman who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past six months and no idea who she is. As she struggles to piece her life back together, Sadie navigates a mysterious new face and confronts relationships she doesn't fully understand.

Center brilliantly blends humor with emotional depth, making Sadie’s journey both relatable and compelling. The romance is slow-burn and layered, emphasizing personal growth over typical romantic tropes. As Sadie uncovers her past, the novel explores themes of self-love, second chances, and the power of human connection.

With strong supporting characters and an inviting narrative, Hello Stranger is an uplifting, thought-provoking read. Center’s ability to mix lighthearted moments with deeper emotional insights makes this a charming and memorable story about transformation and healing.