Sadie is feeling on top of the world. She just found out she is a finalist in a portrait competition. But then after a seizure she has to have a small operation that causes her to have face blindness. Through her struggle she relies on the help of her neighbor, Joe. But she’s also falling for her veterinarian and dealing with lots of family issues. On top of everything Sadie has to complete a portrait without being able to see faces.

I loved this book! Sadie was definitely a mess but once she learned to actually accept help from others her life became a little less messy - mostly because she found ways to embrace the mess instead of trying to fix everything. I also found myself falling for both Joe and her vet - two handsome faceless men with caring hearts! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Hello Stanger is absolutely, adorably brilliant! With a very creative story, witty banter between the characters, romance, family dysfunction and heartbreak it makes for a wonderfully warm-hearted uplifting read!

The premise is Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist just as her late mother was has just been selected as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Just as her mother had been! This she thinks, will finally get her father, an acclaimed doctor to finally recognize she made the correct choice when she decided to not go to medical school, something he has yet to forgive her for. Considering he has basically shunned her since her decision and seems to want to have nothing to do with her. He only dotes on his second wife Lucinda and her daughter Parker, otherwise known as the evil stepmother and evil stepsister as there has always been conflict between them, especially Parker who bullied her so much in high school she ended up getting expelled. Could this make him proud?

So, to celebrate she and her best friend Sue Kim and her dog Peanut are going to have a little party at her illegal apartment in the building of Sue’s father. She goes to the corner store to pick up a few items, wine, dog treats and flowers which were her mother’s favorites to include her in the celebration. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital!

It’s discovered Sadie has a brain issue which needs to be corrected as soon as possible, but with the competition coming up she wants to postpone the surgery. But her father convinces her to do it as soon as possible. But after the surgery she discovers that she has something called face blindness where facial features look like blocks rather than faces. They believe this is being caused by the brain swelling after the surgery. Hopefully it will disappear as the swelling goes away. HOPEFULLY?? She has to compete in a portrait contest in a few short weeks and can’t see faces. How will that work?

As she begins her life trying to use the tools the doctor gave her to help recognize people, but absolutely not telling them about her brain issue, she is just grateful that a nice man with glasses and scruffy hair who wears a jacket with the name Joe lives in her building. Although she wanted to be independent, she realizes she does need some help. And Sadie loves she always knows who he is by that jacket!

But when Peanut gets sick and has to go to the vet, that’s where she sees (or attempts to see) the man she is going to marry! He has what looks like slicked back hair and a beautiful voice! And he asks her out on a date!

But the day of their coffee date he never shows, and never texts to apologize. How could her possible husband be that inconsiderate? Although she still has the hots for the vet, Joe seems to be stepping up in her life by helping her by posing for a portrait which Sadie has no way of knowing is good or bad.

As things heat up with Joe, the competition gets closer and she has no idea what her entry looks like and her evil stepsister tries to intervene in her life just as she did when they were young, she must make some decisions. Is the vet worth the wait or is Joe the one. Should she still be an artist when she can’t even see what she’s doing. What would her mother have done? What advice would she have given her.

As decisions are made Sadie sees her life in a different light. She begins to understand what had been motivating her before her issue and quite frankly she does not like what she sees.

And then the night of the competition takes place and the chaos really begins!

Hello Stranger is uniquely wonderfully different in the best refreshing way possible. It has heart, soul and a beautiful story! Katherine Center’s books continue to amaze me as they seem to get better and better!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #HelloStranger #KatherineCenter for the advanced copy.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

I love authors who add characteristics/hurdles/struggles…whatever you want to call them…that we don’t often see being focused on in novels. Center does this with her stories, and it’s one of the many reasons she is one of my favorite authors.

Did you know that some people have face blindness, also known as prosopagnosia? I had no idea! The main symptom is having difficulty recognizing faces, even those you see on a daily basis. This was fascinating for me to learn about, so thank you to Katherine for teaching me something new.

Aside from that aspect of the novel, I loved the love story between Sadie and Joe. Falling in love with someone for who they are instead of their looks will always be 🙌🏼 for me. It didn’t hurt that Joe was handsome though 😂

This was a heart warming and wholesome book that made me laugh and cry. I really can’t ask for more than that with a romance novel.

I recommend this as a fun summer read 💜

Thank you to the publisher for a Netgalley.

Soooo this was a miss for me. I wanted to love it, but I just did not. Katherine Center is a hit or miss for me. This is my fourth book by her and she's 2/4. My problem with the two I did not like was the main character. I felt Sadie was extremely immature, as was her step sister Parker. The weirdest part of this story was this relationship. It felt extremely misplaced in this story. And please don't get me started on Sue who continuously forgot her best friend could not see faces. Like seriously?

Loved the relationship with Joe, but that is pretty much it. Oh and the very end. Here for the ending as it brought some sort of maturity to the plot.

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her stories are infused with joy and thought-provoking inner dialogue that makes you want to live a happier, more connected life. Hello, Stranger, is a love story, but also includes a healing story as we follow Sadie through her complicated family dynamic, current medical diagnosis, and art career. Center pushes readers to question how they see the world, how a first impression may not be accurate and how that can shape our future beliefs. She addresses loneliness, leaning on others and the importance of asking for help. I loved the romance in this. I love how Katherine writes male characters and Joe/ Oliver was no exception. Highly recommend this wonderful, thoughtful story! Thank you so much to SMP Romance for the early copy; all thoughts are my own.

In "Hello Stranger," Sadie Montgomery's life takes an unexpected turn when she is diagnosed with face blindness just as she reaches a pinnacle in her artistic career. This unique and intriguing premise sets the stage for a story that explores love, personal growth, and the complexities of human connections.

The portrayal of face blindness as Sadie's central struggle is both fascinating and empathetic. Katherine Center does an excellent job of conveying the challenges faced by someone with this condition, and readers are drawn into Sadie's world as she navigates her new reality. The emotional and psychological toll that face blindness takes on her relationships and her passion for art is portrayed with sensitivity, allowing readers to empathize with her journey of acceptance and adaptation.

The romantic aspect of the story is where the plot takes a more uncertain turn. Sadie's simultaneous attraction to two very different men adds a layer of complexity to her already tumultuous life. While this love triangle aims to enhance the story's emotional tension, it occasionally feels forced and distracts from the core themes of the book. Some readers may find themselves torn between rooting for one suitor over the other, while others may feel that the romantic entanglement overwhelms Sadie's personal growth. I guessed the major plot twist right near the beginning of the book which sometimes made me want to just get to the end.

The writing style is engaging and expressive, effectively conveying Sadie's emotions and the challenges she faces. The author beautifully captures the art world and the complexities of family dynamics, enriching the narrative with depth and authenticity.

"Hello Stranger" is a thought-provoking read that offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of human perception and relationships. The idea of finding unexpected connections and love amidst life's blurry realities is an inspiring and hopeful message that resonates with readers.

Having read and loved Katherine Center's The Bodyguard, I was ecstatic to pick up her next novel. Unfortunately, this book felt incredibly different than her last. Initially, I wasn't sure I was going to love the premise, but trusted Katherine Center's writing style. Sadly, once I got into this novel I felt let down in the area as well. While I love a good rom-com, this felt more like a cliche chick-flick. The plot was very predictable and characters flat. I'm sure this will be up someone's alley, perhaps for someone from a different demographic than me, but personally, I didn't enjoy this one.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Hello Stranger is a quirky romance that was a fun light read in true Katherine Center fashion. Sadie finds herself as a portrait painter who suffers facial blindness after a brain bleed. There’s some laugh out loud moments. What i really loved was the authors blurbs at the end and how she describes what reading romances novels do to us and our need to have “fantastic anticipation”

I truly adore Center's books but this one was not my favorite. I was a little concerned with the description however it started off intriguing and I like learning about new medical conditions I'm not super familiar with. Unfortunately I found the book to be a little more tedious for my taste as I prefer more dialog and less descriptive paragraphs. I also found the twist very obvious and it was a little distracting. I still find Center a strong author but this one wasn't for me. I'm sure the next one I read will be amazing!

4.25/5 stars

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is just what I needed to help get me out of my reading slump. This cute rom-com follows Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist, as she struggles to unwrap the struggles of her past, all while dealing with a new issue - face blindness. The premise of Sadie's work is painting faces, and this medical emergency comes just as she is about to get her big break. Over the course of the story, will she find love, be able to paint the portrait for her big event - pick up this must read to find out!

This is my second Katherine Center book, and I am glad that I got the chance to enjoy this one as well. I loved that this story focused on many different elements, but also did them all well - family, friends, love, personal struggles, pets. It was light-hearted and cute, and I will definitely be picking up more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

HELLO STRANGER - Katherine Center

Fascinating! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Such an interesting scenario! Sadie has a terrible accident that affects the way she sees the world. And we watch as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog. Then she falls in love with two very different men! If her life were a little more in focus (literally and figuratively), Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

Writing - 5 stars - Center and I are sympatico! Everything she writes resonates with me on some level. Even though I have absolutely no experience with this medical situation and am not an artist, somehow, I find myself relating intimately with the characters and understanding them. That's the beauty of Center's writing, I think, and is what keeps drawing me back for more.

Characters - 5 stars - I wasn't sure about Sadie at first because I had nothing in common with her, and her situation seemed so over-the-top unusual. Even as I got to know her, I found her insecurity to sometimes be annoying. And her jumping to conclusions (especially about Parker) felt paranoid. But despite that, I still loved her, wanting to get to know her better. She's smart and funny and thoughtful and interesting, and she seems like a fun person to be friends with. And I suffered right along with her as she struggled with changing her life's dream, relearning how to look at life and those around her.

Title - 4.5 stars - With her face blindness, Sadie finds that everyone around her is a stranger. But she must learn to cope.

Cover - 4.5 stars - A gorgeous bright cover that draws the eye. And once you look, you see a few important bits of the story included--roller skates, a rooftop, and Peanut, among other things.

Overall - 5 stars - Center has a beautiful knack of taking an impossible situation and looking on the bright side, making the reader feel hopeful in a seemingly hopeless situation. In addition, she seems to know what I want to read before I do, then gives it to me before I even realize that I've been looking for it. in this case, it was fascinating to see someone's life totally change, then the reader struggled along with her as she tried to accept the changes and work with the changes to make a meaningful life, yet different. As it turns out, the focus of the book wasn't necessarily about change but about realizing that you can look at life in a new way. The twist at the end was a total surprise to me (although I suppose it shouldn't have been), but it was a nice surprise and made me shake my head in wonder and gave me even more food for thought.

I loved this book so much! I will forever buy and read Katherine Center's books!

I thought the premise of Sadie's struggle with face blindness. I've never heard of this condition and found it interesting learning about it and how it affects people. I think the addition of her being a face portrait and learning to cope with this new reality made for a strong storyline. I enjoy romance books with substance and this one definitely fit the bill.

The content was unique, the banter spot on, and the closed door romance just what I needed. I like Katherine Center's writing style and enjoy her romance spice levels.

I recommend this to anyone looking for their next low spice romance!

I love Katherine Center. I loved the bodyguard and this book was no different. This book reminded me of Marian Keyes The Woman Who Stole My Life but in the best way! That was one of my fave books and this book competes with it! This book is going to stay with me for a long time!

If you're looking for the perfect swoonworthy read, this is going to make you laugh and cry! I don't want to talk about the plot other than what I alluded to above with the Marian Keyes comp but dang you will love this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

I really needed happy, heartwarming and funny today and Katherine Center ALWAYS delivers. Her characters are always lovable and in this one our MC develops a unique syndrome after surgery that affects her livelihood and her love life in a big way. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was recently published and is available now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Hello, Stranger is a sweet romantic comedy about portrait artist Sadie Montgomery. She has finally gotten a big break with a portrait contest when an accident suddenly leaves her with face blindness. Adjusting to her new reality is made more difficult by juggling her family and romantic relationships.

Sadie was a very endearing character, and I felt for her in all the ups and downs she was experiencing. It was fascinating to read about the impacts of her acquired face blindness. I enjoyed the romance, and the writing was funny and relatable. I kind of saw the ending coming, but enjoyed it all the same. This was a sweet read with relatively low angst, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author!

Katherine Center does not disappoint in her most recent release, Hello Stranger. I had never heard of the condition the MC is experiencing and I was very intrigued. I felt for her, my heart ached for her. I did feel like some parts were a little far fetched, like the return of the girl from her childhood that she helped and the stepsister tormented. What are the chances that she’s the one Sadie lent her dress to! The behaviors that the stepsister exhibited towards Sadie felt over the top, especially for a grown woman.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I will ALWAYS read anything written by Katherine. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one early.

Katherine Center's novels can be described as warm hugs with soon to be new friends. You can not help but fall in love with her creative plots, characters, and frankly the realistic journeys the characters go on from the beginning of the book to the end. Over and over Center reminds the world that kindness matters, and actions both good and bad have ripple effects. If Hello Stranger is your first Katherine Center novel, I strongly suggest you check out her other novels. Each one can be classified as a truly charming romances with characters filled with heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy of this novel.

Another uplifting novel by one of my go authors Katherine Center. I had heard of face blindness but didn’t really know anything about it and to read a book that involves this really kept me interested. As usual, even when things are low, there is a positive vide and the characters work through things to have a positive outcome.
Sadie, an artist who paints portraits, learns she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition that could help her finally get recognized as an artist. She finds out she needs brain surgery and when she wakes, she finds that she has facial blindness. It could be temporary, but he time is limited to get the portrait painted for the competition. As she navigates this new condition and tries to relearn to paint without seeing peoples faces, she also starts to learn how to recognize people into their ways than their faces.
This has definately become joined the ranks as one of my favorite Katherine Center novels.

Katherine Center's writing is super charming and there's a warm and intimacy to the way she develops her characters that reminds me a lot of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Kate Clayborn. I loved Center's debut book and I will certainly be reading her next.

But. The main plot device of this book was so awkward and prominent that I kept being distracted by it. I figured out the twist pretty early, as I'm sure all seasoned romance readers would. But why would MMC fall in love with someone who was behaving so incredibly erratically? I spent a good half of the book waiting for the big reveal instead of really luxuriating in the MCs getting to know each other.

This one wasn't for me but the execution was strong and your mileage may certainly vary.

I really enjoy Katherine Center's books. She really knows how to write a romcom, and gives her characters a lot of, well, character. I've read books about facial blindness before, but never to this depth, and it was really interesting to consider the complexities of the story and wondering what it would be like to have one of the senses malfunctioning, throwing all the others off. Books like this lead me to wonder if men like Joe exist out there in the world, really and truly. Katherine Center is fun and refreshing.