Hello Stranger has one of the more unique premises of any romance I've read lately. Our female main character has facial blindness, which provides an interesting twist to the love story delveloping on these pages. Katherine Center has made a wonderful name for herself in the romance world, and Hello Stranger's ability to tug on your heartstrings, make you laugh, and give you a good dose of hope further cements Center's success in the world of contemporary adult romance.

(Very belated) ARC review

A portrait artist experiences acquired faceblindness after brain surgery and, for lack of a better word, life hijinks occur.

Very Katherine Center, but definitely kept me hooked for the reveal (which was what I hoped it would be!)

This book was three stars for me. I would read one of her other books first if you are a Center first timer. This was a bit over the top for me and it made me dislike the characters. I am sure some people will love this, but it isn't the best for part-time romance fans like me.

"Hello Stranger" by Katherine Center is a unique take on finding love and purpose in the face of unexpected challenges. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an artist who suddenly develops face blindness after a surgery—right when her art career is on the brink of success. Imagine trying to navigate life and love when everyone around you becomes an unrecognizable blur!

While the premise was intriguing, I found Sadie's character a bit difficult to connect with at times. She often came across as whiny and a bit entitled, which made it hard for me to fully empathize with her struggles. On the bright side, her dog, Peanut, totally stole the show! As a dog lover, I was thrilled by how much heart and warmth this little furball added to the story.

The book picks up in the last few chapters, offering a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together. Though I preferred "Things You Save in a Fire," I appreciate the different perspectives and life lessons Katherine Center brings in "Hello Stranger."

Katherine Center writes warm, entertaining books that always give weight to the characters' real problems while allowing them to hope and plan for their wonderful, imperfect lives.

I will be withholding my review of this book in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

Absolutely loved this read! Katherine Center does it again. A fun new POV to add to the rom com genre. Characters are endearing and the storyline will keep you hooked. Grab your best pet friend, and cozy up with “Hello Stranger”!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!
Fantastic read! I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. This is the first book that I have read featuring face blindness that actually explained anything about the condition. I loved the journey that the main character went on while suffering from this condition, and how much stronger she became because of it. I really enjoyed the little surprise at the end and didn't see it coming! This is the second book I have read by Katherine Center and I have thoroughly enjoyed both!

"Hello, Stranger" by Katherine Center was a delight to read. I learned a great deal about Prosopagnosia or face blindness and marveled at how Center used this affliction to create a unique love story. Imagine being a portrait painter, trying to enter a huge contest and becoming face blind.
The main characters, Sadie and Joe, were both struggling with issues they were trying to work through.
The possibility of a love triangle was humorous and I enjoyed how it resolved itself. The other characters in the story - from her best friend Sue and her parents, the Kims, to her absent father, her stepmother and horrible stepsister added to the enjoyability of the story.
I highly recommend this romance. For me, Center’s books are always a must read.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Sadie has a brain tramua which causes face blindness and she is an artist. A good samaritan saves her when she passed out but she doesn't know who it was. Lots of connections bring them together repeatedly and I really did enjoy that part of the story. I had to suspend judgement on how the characters didn't figure out who each other was several times during the story. The book was kind of a slow burn in that way, but it made for some laugh out loud moments and it was really cute.

For readers who adore sweet, lighthearted romance, art, and a dash of humor, Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a perfect fit, offering a heartwarming tale of love, self-discovery, and the blurred lines between reality and beauty.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! I'm a huge Katherine Center fan and have never been disappointed! Hello Stranger is no exception. It is a brilliant and heartwarming story that captivated me from the beginning. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an up-and-coming portrait artist, whose world is turned upside down when she undergoes brain surgery and wakes up with face blindness, unable to recognize anyone, including herself. Center masterfully weaves Sadie’s journey of adapting to her new reality with a touching romance and the struggle to reclaim her career. In true Katherine Center fashion, you can expect bits of humor mixed in to lighten up the tough spots. Sadie's resilience and humor in the face of adversity makes her incredibly relatable. Make this your next read!

I put off reading this book for a while but after thoroughly enjoying Center's latest, I figured I'd give this one a go. Historically, I used to love 2nd books better than first when it came to romance authors but recently, that trend seems to have been broken. Unfortunately, that's the case here.

The premise was interesting but I called the twist before I even started the book. To be fair, the beginning did make me doubt my instincts for a bit but ultimately, I was correct. I really wanted to love this, but I couldn't quite connect with Sadie and Oliver, rooting for them though I was.

The plot of this was so unique compared to other romance novels which was so refreshing. Somewhat predictable, but I found the characters very likeable. You couldn’t help but rooting for them to figure it out.

“My entire life up until now had been a before. And now I was in the after.”

Well, it’s happened. Your thrills & chills bestie is now also a Rom-Com girl. Thank you so much to a sweet friend for introducing me to the wonderful Katherine Center! This was my 3rd read from Center and each one has been absolutely delightful! Trust me, no one is more surprised than yours truly.

“That’s the dark underbelly of hope that nobody ever talks about. How it can skew your perspective. How it can keep you in long past when any reasonable person would’ve been out.”

Center’s ability to masterfully combine humour, relatable characters, and a captivating plot is the key to my cold, dark heart. Her books are emotional and real, lovely and heartwarming. They just make me feel good. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in gold!

“The more good things you look for, the more you find.”

Really cute, just as expected. Center is a must read for me. The setting in the city was romantic and the dog was my fav.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a novel based on a portrait artist who has been selected for a competition that would change her life and
her work would receive national recognition.
Due to a car accident, Sadie is unable to see faces clearly. Will Sadie be able to achieve her dreams of being a recognized portrait artist and have a life of love and happiness? I enjoyed reading this novel and felt emotionally involved in Sadie's life and her problems. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this novel..

I love KC books!!! This was such a good one! I also loved how the covers all follow a similar layout! So cute

File this under I love Katherine Center but this wasn't my favorite book of hers. I had seen a lot of negative reviews, and honestly that caused me to not make this a priority, however after a horrible vacation excursion, I needed anything light and escapist to read and Katherine Center is just that for me. I love that Center takes "harder" situations for characters and walks beside them through it. The main character in this story deals, Sadie, with face blindness and I think Center carried you through it perfectly as far as seeing what the character saw, the panic she felt and the adjustments she had to made.

What I did not love was how the romance played out. She's essentially torn between two men with a big reveal at the end that really just seemed WAY too convenient.

Also Sadie's family was the actual worst. My god.

Katherine Center strikes again with another delightfully charming and swoony love story. Similar to her other books Center's main character shares a world in which she has a rare health condition, giving us characters that are not only enjoyable to read but have depth.