This is my second book by Katherine Center that I have read. I enjoyed this book but not as much as the Bodyguard which she released last year. I found the use of face blindness to be interesting because I had heard of it before but never fully understood what it could actually be like so it was nice to get a glimpse into that. Overall, I enjoyed the two main characters but it was a lot miscommunication which can get tiring in romance novels. This was a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me.

3.5 rounded up. A quirky shorter book about Sadie, a portrait artist that now has face blindness. She no longer can see facial features and recognize people by their face. I did enjoy learning about this condition, I don't think I have ever heard of it before. Sadie was a tad on the quirky side and I didn't agree with many of her choices, but I did enjoy the story of her navigating a portrait contest with this condition as well as her interesting developing relationship with the hotty Vet of her dog Peanut. I have read almost all of Center's novels and while I did enjoy this one, it was probably my least favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Hello Stranger is now available.

This was a delight to read! Sometimes life is really messy and stuff just piles on. And that is exactly what happens in this book. Sadie has finally caught a big break but her life is falling apart. I think the author did a great job balancing the heavy stuff with lighter moments and comical mishaps, and it gave the book an overall lighthearted vibe.

I'm not usually a big fan of miscommunication, but it worked so well in this story. Because of her face-blindness, Sadie is warned that her perception of things may be kinda off for a while. And since the story is told from Sadie's POV, we are just along for the ride as she fumbles through figuring everything out.

I really enjoyed the romance. You start out really hating the guy and slowly, slowly realize he's not what he seems. There was one thing I wish had been cleared up sooner because it's an absolute deal breaker for me. So I wasn't as invested as I could have been, but I still had a blast reading this.

3.5 stars rounded up

I have really enjoyed everything I have read from Katherine Center thus far and this one just kind of fell under the others a little bit. It was still an enjoyable read. I enjoy the good feelings I get from reading her books.

I didn't like Sadie for the majority of the book and honestly, it was because she was so slow to grow but it does happen eventually. The twist was kinda bright and flashy and easy to spot but it worked either way.

I think that she did a really good job researching and utilizing Prosopagnosia (face blindness) in this book. The way that she used it fit and was very effective.

I can't wait for the next book from Katherine Center, for that little boost of serotonin.

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

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley ,and Katherine Center for my copy of this earc in exchange for my review.

What a cute romcom the story was. I had never heard of this condition before reading the story, and it was extremely interesting to learn about. I especially liked how a CD was very real and honest about the condition and how it made her feel. I also like that the character had a lot of depth in going through the death of her mother, and how she was coping with it. I did also really enjoy the romance aspect between Sadie and Joe. I did guess around the 70% mark about the love triangle that was happening.

Some of the things that I did not enjoy in the book or some of the more cheesier moments. Like the evil stepsister evil stepmother vibe I also thought it was weird that a grown woman immediately developed this weird crush on someone she had barely even spoken to, and couldn’t even visibly see. I am a bit over the overly Corky main character girl that seems to pop up and almost all romcoms.

This was such a unique romance read. Very different from the Bodyguard last summer but still has the Katherine Center charm.

The premise of Hello Stranger sounded a little Hallmark-movie-y to me, but I'd heard great things about the author, so I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did! The artist/art aspect of the plot felt very fresh and exciting to me, and I loved that the main character was kind of floundering in the beginning. I tore through this, and would recommend it to anyone who loves an old-fashion romance.

I will read anything by Katherine Center. She is brilliant and writes the funniest, loveliest love stories. What a fun read!

At no point did I know where this book was going, but somehow I loved it? Sadie is a chaotic mess who also experiences some massive trauma and throughout the healing process, her life gets even more complicated. I read Hello Stranger in one sitting because I just needed to know what was going to happen next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Not a fan. I read Center’s The Bodyguard and thought it was okay, but this one bored me. Not a huge fan of the MMC by any means - to the point where I was also annoyed that the FMC tolerated him. Pass

I really, truly enjoy Katherine Center.

However, this one was just not for me. I struggled to get through this one and it started with the elevator scene which really was a fatphobic scene. I struggled to move past it for the rest of the novel.

Oh, how I LOVED this book! @katherinecenter delivers a heartfelt, compelling, unique, and hopeful story with some swoon-worthy romance and top-shelf supporting characters. I was hooked from the moment I started and literally couldn't put it down. I was reading on my Kindle at home but found myself pulling it up on my phone so I could read just a little more anytime I had a spare minute or two at work or while running errands.
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Sadie was a compelling main character and I enjoyed spending time with her. The way she reacted to certain situations or the way she built fantasy relationships in her head could feel immature at times, but it also felt realistic to me. I know I am guilty of reverting to childish behavior when faced with hardship. We see Sadie face challenge after challenge but she comes to realize that those challenges are helping her grow and overcoming each adversity is making her stronger. I loved getting to watch her take that journey. As someone who has been dealing with uncertainties of my own, this book basically felt like a big HUG!!
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Can we talk about Joe for a second?? I absolutely adored him and he slid very quickly into book boyfriend candidacy 🥰
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Peanut had my heart, Sue was #bffgoals, Mr. and Mrs. Kim were amazing and adorable, and Dr. Nicole was the therapist I wish I had 😀 Throw in the ending which had me grinning from ear to ear, and the gorgeous detail-filled cover, and you've got a book I heartily recommend and can't wait to add to my physical shelf!!!
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Tip: do not skip the beautiful author's note 🥰.
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Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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#bookishthespian #hellostranger #katherinecenter #netgalleyreads #stmartinspress #bookboyfriendalert #bookboyfriend #faceblindness #mentalhealth #doglove #pinkwednesday #pink #art #bookhug #foundfamily #secretcrush #bookrecommendation #arcreader #romancereader #rollerskates

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Sadie's life has been turned upside down! Not only did she just have brain surgery, now she's dealing with the unfortunate side effect of prosopagnosia (face blindness). It might only be temporary but after years of struggling to make it, she's on the verge of her big break after being selected to compete in a prestigious art competition. Did we mention that she specializes in portraits? Yikes!

Sadie was the kind of FMC we wanted to give a big hug to but also shake some sense into! She went on a journey and we were right there with her. She had to overcome situations that she didn't have any control over and learn how to cope. This whole situation also made her confront some issues from her past that needed to be addressed. Along the way, she found herself in a love triangle of her own making and that's where things got interesting. Joe taught her that first impressions aren't always as they seem!

Although some topics within the book were heavy and sad (grief, bullying, suicide attempt), Hello Stranger is a funny and heartwarming read which seems to be the Katherine Center formula we love!

Read if you like: 
▪️Friends to lovers
▪️Closed door romances (kissing only)
▪️Artistic + quirky FMC
▪️Sweet MMC who falls first
▪️Women's fiction + romance
▪️Cute dogs

Hello Stranger is an enthralling book that captivated me from start to finish. The writing was engaging and brought the characters to life, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was well-crafted, combining romance and humility in a seamless manner. I found myself eagerly anticipating each chapter, as the chemistry between the main characters kept me hooked. It was so original too…the subject manner like nothing I have read before, which made it so special and hard to put down!!! Whether you're a fan of romance or just looking for a captivating read, Hello Stranger is a must-add to your book collection. Highly recommended!

HELLO STRANGER is another light, relatively feel good book by Katherine Center (What You Wish For and How to Walk Away). Her latest novel centers on Sadie Montgomery who undergoes an operation that leaves her unable to recognize faces – difficult for any of us, but especially for a portrait artist. Sadie's perseverance is tested, of course, but she overcomes a number of obstacles and disappointments as readers of Center's work would expect. HELLO STRANGER has quite a bit of "woe is me" mixed in, but Sadie grows to accept help from others. Buried in the angst of post-operative trauma, a dysfunctional family, and somewhat far-fetched boyfriend troubles are some thought-provoking, inspirational asides: "our thoughts create our emotions;" "I just wasn't going to let the things I was afraid of hold me back anymore;" and "isn't it lucky when we're drawn to people who can teach us things we need to learn?" HELLO STRANGER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was chosen as a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for July 2023.

A usually love Katherine Center's book and look forward to reading her new one each time they come out. Hello Stranger was a little different for me. While it was a nice and easy read, I didn't find myself loving it as much as her other books. I felt there were parts of the story that did not make sense. Gorgeous cover!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the arc. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
Although the premise is a little far-fetched, since the female lead's condition is not a common one, and the story is predictable, it was still an enjoyable read. I really liked the male and female lead characters. The path to the happy ending was a little drawn-out but overall fun.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this romantic comedy! It was very easy to relate to the main characters and so difficult to watch their missed connections when I could see it all along! There were parts that were twisty and caught me completely off guard also! The humor in this story had me literally laughing out loud at parts and my teen daughter heard me and asked if I would but a copy for her! Definitely a five star read if you like romantic comedies!

I’ve enjoyed several Katherine Center books the past couple years, however this is the first time I read the book instead of listening to it. And I have to say, I enjoyed this one quite a bit!

We meet Sadie Montgomery just as she’s been notified she’d placed in the top ten of a prestigious portrait painting competition, which has extra special significance because her mother once placed in the same competition shortly before her untimely death. But on the way to celebrate, Sadie has a seizure which ultimately reveals a need for brain surgery. Once she wakes up in the hospital, she discovers she can no longer see people’s faces. Which is a big problem since she has just six weeks to paint a portrait that will win the competition and jumpstart her currently limping career.

As per usual Katherine Center, Hello Stranger is lighter on the romance - this is more a story of Sadie navigating a discouraging life as a struggling artist than one of finding love in the midst of an even more challenging part of her life. Within this charming story you’ll find a quirky best friend, found family (since her real family is mostly trash), and of course a cinnamon roll of a hero. Also, a plot twist I didn’t see coming (but with as much as I read I really should have…). I feel like the evil step-sister’s antics were a little over the top, but the rest of the story was utterly delightful.

This is my favorite Katherine Center book yet. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments but also heartbreak that ended with hope. And those are the best kinds of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was such a unique concept. While it wasn't my favorite, it definitely kept me reading until the end. My biggest issue is how slow the story was and how it felt like it dragged on. Great concept, but could've been a handful of pages shorter!