𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
I absolutely adore Katherine Center and her books. Her humor is top tier and after hearing @readswithstef and @paperbackswithsteph rave about it made me pick it up immediately! I feel like this is one would be best to go in blind. I didn’t, but after reading the synopsis, i was really fascinated by the plot.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook!

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
When Sadie finally places in a competition that will get her portrait painting career back on track, she unfortunately suffers from a temporary face blindness. She must find her way to still be able to paint a masterpiece amidst her disability. In the middle of it all, she stumbles upon two men who serve as a distraction and is struggling to cope with all of it.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This might be my favorite one from Katherine Center and a favorite romance this year for sure. I’ve only ever read Things We Save In A Fire and The Bodyguard from her, but gosh this one was just so precious. The humor was something else! And i highly recommend it on audio! I felt like an idiot laughing out loud while driving when i was listening to this on, but i just couldn’t help it. The main MC’s silliness was so entertaining😂 Despite the scientific themes surrounding the story, it was explained so well without sounding like a lecture. With a touch of Women’s Fiction, this super cute rom-com will definitely get you gushing and laughing all day! Fair warning though, this book has a HUGE miscommunication trope. BUT HEAR ME OUT: the author explains how real miscommunication is IRL. If you’re up for that, definitely put this one on your radar. The author’s note was also the absolute cherry on top.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘔𝘊𝘴, 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨

Love isn’t blind, it’s just little blurry.

I like this but didn't love it. Had Sadie punched that horrible step sister this book would have been a 10 star. I just could not get over the way Parker talked and tormented Sadie and how Sadie just took every single thing..
My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an jonest review.

This book is so lovely, and had me in grips because of how emotional it was at times. HELLO STRANGER is an absolute delight with plenty of family drama, sweet romance, and traumatic accidents to keep a reader busy. While I wouldn’t totally categorize this as a romantic comedy as there’s so much more personal exploration in Sadie’s character vs. romantic exploration, the romance was great.

The face blindness aspect was so interesting, and I really enjoyed how that played such a major factor in the story line. I was rooting for Sadie so much throughout this story, and I just adored seeing her winning in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Katherine Center is one of my favorites and an automatic buy on release day! Why? because you know it’s going to be a good read! When I received an ARC copy from @netgalley I had a fan girl moment!
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Sadie has had some major unfortunate events in her life. We find her at the beginning of her potential “big break” when another hurdle in life occurs. She is diagnosed with prosopagnosia but her life’s work is based on seeing faces. Throughout the story you watch her overcome this set back but find out in the end was it all a blessing in disguise?
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I connected with Sadie in a way that the last few years it’s just felt like one bad thing after another sometimes. It was like reading a light at the end of the tunnel. It was a sweet, happy and humor filled read! If you haven’t get your self a copy!!! 🩵
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⚠️Warning for anyone those that experience health anxiety. I’ve had it for years since giving birth. A mix of my health hasn’t been the same since and now me being terrified to leave my kid. (As I am writing this waiting for an MRI.) Anyway, this was the first time I heard of prosopagnosia. New fear-unlocked 😅

Wow! I've never read a book like this one before. It has a wonderful romance, yes, but with a twist I've not seen in any other romance I know of.

Sadie Montgomery has been a struggling artist for so long, she doesn't remember what it's like NOT to struggle anymore. But then she receives an invitation to participate in the same juried portrait artist competition that her mother aspired to be in before she died unexpectedly.

Sadie feels confident that she can fulfill her mother's dreams until an accident leaves her with a condition known as "face blindness." As a portrait artist, being able to see people's faces is kind of the norm. And she no longer can.

As she adjusts to this snag in her plans, she puts forth a strong effort to adapt and adjust to her new circumstances. But that leads to confusing situations she never dreamed of!

This book had so many layers of complexity to it, including dealing with the death of a parent, finding where one belongs, dealing with bullies, meeting Mr. Right, reaching for one's dreams, and overcoming obstacles. There were so many "feels" to feel, and Katherine Center swept us right along with Sadie. I found myself laughing at some spots and feeling emotional at others.

Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy. This was one of my favorite reads this year!

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a superbly written romantic comedy. A definite 5-star read for me! Center's writing is excellent, delivering a heartwarming & soul-searching story filled with healing and hope. I was captivated from the very start with the unique storyline. Several unexpected twists & turns made this one hard to put down.

The characters in the book are truly lovable & relatable, except for Parker. Sadie is the real gem… I just loved her! It's heartbreaking then to witness Sadie's life begin crumbling around her, but Center skillfully portrays her struggles. Despite the challenges she faces, there's a sense of resilience and determination that shines through.

Overall, Hello Stranger is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. It will leave you with all the feels, & the exceptional writing and captivating plot made it a truly enjoyable experience.

Thank you #NetGalley, #stmartinspress &#KatherineCenter for the advance copy. It was a pleasure to read & my review is strictly voluntary!

3.5 stars

Please know this rating hurts my heart since Katherine Center is one of my favorites. Her writing and joyful story is still present in her latest novel, even if it wasn’t my favorite. Here’s what I thought:

Loved:
-Exploration into face blindness (a real condition I had no clue about)
-Quick sense of humor
-Sweet doggie references
-Author’s note about romance books 💪🎉

What didn’t quite work:
-MC just wasn’t for me…there’s a lot to unpack there
-Romance wasn’t my favorite although it was unique

Katherine Center will always be my favorite author and I will devour her next book as well!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy.

How do you know a book is amazing? The second you finish it you turn right back to the start to experience it all over again. That was me with this book.
I have been on a Katherine Center binge lately and absolutely adore her storytelling. It's full of introspect and hope. She gives us the tools to look for our own happiness and reach for it. I have so many lines from this book highlighted that I could write a short story with them.

Sadie was a joyful narrator who told us her wonderful story. Sure parts of it weren't that great but even the parts that had the tendency to be a downer, came out the other side with to much optimism. It was interesting to read about the acquired facial blindness and how Sadie navigated her new normal. I felt the emotions she had every time something happened that was beyond her control. I felt for her meeting Joe in the elevator and realizing her wasn't what or who she thought he was. I felt for her when she met her own Mc.Dreamy in the form of the vet who saved her dog's life. And I felt for her as she fell madly in love.

Seriously. This author has the best way of bringing couples together and while this had a bit of a twist to the romance that I kept having theories about, it all comes together to the destination we read romance for. The Happily Ever After.

The Author's Note at the end of this book should be required reading. I was mesmerized by how well Katherine Center adores and just gets the romance genre and what it means to its readers.

Swoon-worthy, sassy, and uplifting!

Hello Stranger is an absorbing, heart-tugging tale that takes you into the life of struggling portrait painter Sadie Montgomery as she juggles a disastrous, life-changing complication after surgery, a loyal companion in need of some emergency care, and an unfortunate blossoming attraction to not only the kind, caring veterinarian Oliver, but also her rude, cocky neighbour Joe.

The writing is sentimental and engaging. The characters are layered, supportive, and patient. And the plot is a touching tale of family, friendship, self-discovery, happiness, healing, taking chances, growth, revelations, tender moments, light drama, selflessness, misunderstandings, romance, new beginnings, and the ups and downs of living with prosopagnosia.

For the past few years, Katherine Center’s books have topped my must-read favourites list, and even though I didn’t think it was possible to love her books any more than I already did, she proved me wrong once again. Hello Stranger made my heart ache and smile all in just 336 pages, and not only did I absolutely adore it, but it might just be, dare I say it, one of my all-time faves!

Hello Stranger 🎨

Katherine Center has snuck up on me and has become one of the few authors I count down the days till their next book release.

I have never seen someone takes such life altering, traumatic events and twist them into something so uplifting and resilient.

I loved Sadie & Joe. Their romance was so pure, developed, selfless. I am in utter awe of the dimension of these characters. I was so invested in the storyline, the side characters, the drama, the romance and resiliency shown. Also, I went into this book without reading the synopsis which I highly recommend!

I will say, Katherine out cheesed herself in this one and some of the twists and setting were DRAMATIC. As a fan of realistic romances with depth, you can never go wrong with her books. So feel good, so positive, so heartwarming. Whatever she’s doing, it works. Also, I low key suspect that Katherine was a therapist in her previous life. That’s all.

5⭐️

Brilliant novel. Katherine Center delivers her best book yet about a bubbly protagonist with a case of face blindness. The premise hooked me immediately. Hello Stranger is charming, romantic, and filled with chemistry and tension. Great characters, loved every minute

This book took me less than 24 hours to read because I couldn’t put it down.

An artist on the brink of what she sees as her big break Sadie has a major setback that she sees ruining her entire life. After all, if she can’t paint what will she do? Then there is Joe.. trouble turned friend. This sweet soul searching book is the first I have read by Katherine Center, but it won’t be my last.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a unique & unforgettable journey of a romance novel. Katherine Center continues to deliver extremely interesting romance stories that are full of love, emotions & all the feels. Hello Stranger showcases the main character, Sadie, on the brink of new career success with her portrait artwork when she falls unexpectedly into a maybe temporary condition of face blindness. This was such a wild ride, but I ended up finishing this book astonished with a smile on my face.

At times, this book is realistically painful & I applaud this! Between her awful familial issues & her challenging new condition, it is a lot to place on any person’s plate. I’ve seen first hand the growing pains & even grief that come from dealing with chronic illness & health conditions & the hurt & pain was felt through the pages & therefore to me, quite accurate. It was an enthralling adventure in managing a health condition in a world that’s not always made for us.

The ending of this book made the emotional rollercoaster ride worth all the drama, hurt, anguish & tears. This is a book that I will certainly remember. I love the way Katherine Center tells love stories & I cannot wait to read the next one!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the gifted arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

A big thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC, allowing me to provide my unbiased opinion!

This was my 1st novel by this author, and certainly won’t be my last!

After being saved from what could have been a tragic accident, Sadie undergoes brain surgery, and learns she’s unable to recognize faces any longer. And the kicker- Sadie is a face portrait artist!!

Sadie now has to figure out how she’ll win a portrait contest that’s been on her path to career success, without being able to see faces.

What a fun journey it was to watch Sadie navigate her career, this contest, her love life, and her family and friend relationships all while being unable to recognize anyone!

I appreciated how the love story played out, even though I guessed it pretty quickly.

The growth in Sadie, and her relationships was messaged really well. I especially loved the shift in Sadie’s relationship with her dad, and stepmom.

The characters were impressive - from Parker (who is the absolute worst!), to Dr. Nicole who was my favorite.

I laughed, cried, and truly really enjoyed this story!

This was a solid book, although I did prefer The Bodyguard. I loved the MC’s internal dialogue and I did guess at part of the ending but there was another part that surprised me. I appreciate when authors do an epilogue of sorts. Def worth a read!

4.5 rounded up!! This was a really great book, I absolutely loved the main character and the plot was very unique and told really well. I listened to the audiobook and devoured it in just a few sittings!! Katherine Center is now on my list of auto-buy authors!

Dnf @ 20%z This book might be for some people, but it was just a little bit *too* ridiculous for me.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

Rating:4 Stars

This is my first Katherine Center book and I am kind of upset I waited so long to start reading her. I have had The Bodyguard on my bookshelf waiting to be read for over 6 months. I am so glad I had a book friend to bounce this one off of. I was questioning myself through the entire book, but I also loved this book.

If you get the plot twist right away I am proud of you, I had a feeling of something similar, but I never would have guessed that. So when the plot twist happened I was like OMG, I this, what? But it was perfect.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Hello, Stranger is author Katharine Center’s tenth novel, all of which are discreetly different and very special stories. Sadie Montgomery is having a wonderful day! She is one of only ten finalists in the North American Portrait Society yearly contest. This is the big break Sadie had dreamed of and now, fourteen years after her late mother gained the same position but died before the competition, Sadie is thrilled to be able to compete in her mother’s stead.

However, as Sadie and her best friend Sue Kim prepare for an impromptu celebration, Sadie has a non convulsive seizure as she narrowly misses being hit by a VW beetle as a Good Samaritan pushes her out of the way. When Sadie later awakens in the emergency room, it’s to find her evil stepmother Lucinda lurking over her, and a battery of tests awaiting her. These tests will discover a Cavernoma, a congenital and inherited malformation of blood vessels in her brain, the same malady that took her mother. Surgery is the only answer, but the competition is only six weeks away and Sadie has a portrait to prepare! Can’t she put it off that long? After all, she has lived almost three decades not even knowing she had it!

The answer is a resounding no and Sadie is a model patient. That is until the person who could draw with Norman Rockwell precision discovers she cannot see faces! She has acquired prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

This is such a well written human story! The characters are so well drawn, the circumstances both dramatic and humorous, and the demonstrations of kindness perfection. Not only was this a mesmerizing story, but it was also a lesson in maladies that aren’t too common. I very much enjoyed this book and certainly do recommend it!!

I went into Hello Stranger without knowing anything about it and thought the plot was super unique as the main character Sadie suffers from face blindness after having brain surgery. While somewhat predictable, I still really enjoyed following Sadie's journey as she processed her grief, adjusted to her new condition and how it impacted her daily life and her dealt with her family. I love Center's writing as well as how she mixes lighthearted moments, humour and some quirkiness with deeper and emotional topics all into one. I also loved the supporting characters and can we take a moment for this cover/spin of the physical book (and how well it goes with The Bodyguard!). At times I felt that the romance took a backseat in the story and I think I would have loved this one even more with a little bit more romance.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 4 stars! If you are looking for a cute romance read with a unique plot, great characters and some family drama, check out Hello Stranger! I can't wait to read more of this author's books - I think Happiness for Beginners is up next for me as the movie is coming to Netflix so so soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.