I loved reading this book! I loved the unique experience of the main character. The 3rd act break up she was using her words to be clear about her feelings (unlike most romance books).
I won’t be using it for the classroom, but I will be suggesting this book to friends, and for book club.

A light, humorous, entertaining read with a very original plot. It was a little predictable but still a fun read. The narrator was very easy to listen to and the story had a great, appealing flow to it.

Part of me adored Hello Stranger by Katherine Center, and the other part disliked it immensely. I feel unbalanced and utterly confused as how to rate or review this book.

Katherine Center does hope well. No matter what she puts her leads through, and sometimes it is a lot, the story is always hopeful. Her characters may not feel hope, but there is always a sense that things will get better. Even when they may not get better, there is a feeling that things will still be okay.

I know I can't describe this well, but I enjoyed the parts of the romance when the love interests were participating in the day-to-day things: dinners, walks, just talking, or comforting each other. During these times, they were vulnerable and fully fleshed out, and when their chemistry won me over. These scenes made me forgive a lot of what I didn't like.

This book made me cry. It is likely because I have an estranged relationship with a relative, and when this topic comes up in books, I tend to feel it deeply. EVERY. DAMN. TIME. However, I rarely cry. I don't think more than ten books have ever made me cry. So, if you can make me cry, you get a bump in stars.

I loved the author's note about romance books and their predictability of them. Predictability in books sucks unless it is a romance. If you aren't reading a romance book for the happily ever after, what are you even reading them for? It is sad that an author even needs to justify it.

The rest of this book made me roll my eyes. Like constantly. If this were any other book, it wouldn't get above a 2 star. Much of the premise requires you to suspend disbelief that what is occurring would and could happen. Here, the female lead has brain surgery, which causes her to suffer from temporary face blindness. Her face blindness resulted in so much confusion and utter ridiculousness that it made it hard for me to buy what was happening - like the inability to know someone by their voice despite her inability to see their face. However, I am not a doctor. I have never had face blindness. I have no idea about what may or may not happen. So, I let most of it go.

What ultimately bothered me the most; is that Center clearly knew this would be an issue because you are force-fed excuses and explanations as to how this entire plot could happen. She wants you to believe it so much that she tells you how to believe it. It took me out of the story.

My other issue with the story was the female main character's attitude. Due to past trauma, she doesn't let people help her, but she is mean about it. We all have trauma. We all go through things, but you don't need to be constantly rude because of it. It made me not care about her or what she was going through. BUT there is character growth by the end. So, that is something.

Lack of communication is a significant trope in this book. So much so that if the lack of communication doesn't exist, there is no plot. It made me want to scream.

Ultimately, I believe most people will love this book. It gives a lot of warm and cozy vibes and aww moments that even got me. I suggest going in with the expectation that her medical issues would result in everything that happens.

Patti Murin does a great job with the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Effervescent Sadie Montgomery has finally received her big break: a slot in the same exclusive portrait competition her mother entered years and years earlier. Sadie wants to win the competition in her mother’s honor and to prove that she can be a success as an artist to her father and wicked stepmother, but things aren’t so easy for Sadie. Her brain has other plans.

A necessary surgery leads to a condition that leads to face blindness. She is a portrait artist that can’t see faces.

How will Sadie recognize people in her life? How can she prove herself as a portrait artist when she can’t see faces—even the ones she has created on her canvases?

And so Sadie begins relying on coping mechanisms—identifying clothing and hairstyles, gaits and voices. But so much of that is an amalgamation in her mind, not a science.

Can Sadie keep a sunny, upbeat attitude in the face of so many challenges? Can she fall in love and establish a new relationship without seeing and committing faces to memory? Can she still prove her artistic prowess to her family and to the art world?

This book brought me so much joy and hope. From Sadie bopping down the grocery aisles to her skating on the rooftop, she makes you want to delight in living. Her burgeoning friendship and relationship with Joe is so sweet.

And it wouldn’t be a Katherine Center book without the reader experiencing the trials and tribulations along with her characters, aching for everything to work out. Your heart has to constrict before getting to that happy ending.

I loved it.

The audiobook is narrated by Patti Murin, and, as always, her narration is a delight. She captures Sadie’s personality, personability, and frustrations along the way. And just wait until you hear her vocal choices for the evil stepsister.

Stick around after the story to read Katherine Center’s author’s note for a lovingly articulated argument as to the importance of romance as a genre. If you listen to the audiobook version, that author’s note is read by Center herself.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I loved the narrator! She did an amazing job! This was such a cute read. I loved Sadie! This story mostly revolves around Sadie and her struggle with face blindness after having brain surgery. It is also a story about loss and how it affects people, about feeling like you were betrayed by those who should have supported you when you needed them most, and being able to get over yourself and ask for help when you need it. The love story is secondary to Sadie healing emotionally and I kind of like that. Although, the issues Sadie has with dating while struggling with face blindness definitely bring humor to this story. I find Sadie's step-mom to be over the top and her step-sister is just cringey and mean. Joe is amazing (definitely book boyfriend material) and all the quirky things that happen between Joe and Sadie had me shaking my head. Overall, this was a great way to start my summer reading!

I'm a big fan of anything that makes a novel unique, unforgettable.

Hello Stranger introduced me to a disease that I had no idea existed, acquired Prosopagnosia, face blindness. And it was quite fascinating to learn more about it. Also, I thought the author did a fantastic job of researching the topic and turning it into a great plot arc. Well done!!

But I was not a fan of the heroine, couldn't even point to exactly what irked me, but she didn't endear herself to me - which is never a good thing.

I also would have liked to have more interaction between the couple, and less of Sadie's inner monologue. Her inner musings were just so blah, and meh, almost childish and definitely vexing at times. Also her relationship with her family had me rolling my eyes at times - I was not a fan of it! And I must have spaced out here and there because I can't even remember if the couple slept with each other or not. :(

Best part of the book:
I had an Aha! moment at 72,8 % of the audiobook, that's how long it took me to realise who is who when it comes to "Jim". That was pretty brilliantly done by the author, if I may say so!

Overall, it was a solid audio performance, but not my favorite Katherine Center novel. Nevertheless I'm looking forward to the next one.

This book was pretty good kept me curious the entire time. Thank you for the audiobook.i have enjoyed everything I've read by the author so far

HELLO STRANGER - KATHERINE CENTRE
4⭐
PLOT - Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist whose luck might change as she is selected as a finalist in a competition but one day she has a seizure and needs to be operated leaving her with partial face blindness . Now we have Sadie a portrait artist who can't differentiate one face from another . While sorting this mess and her estrangement from her father she falls for her neighbour and is obsessed with her dogs vet. She might need to figure other ways of seeing and accepting help from least expected sources.

MY THOUGHTS -
I loved the premise and how one has to suddenly adjust to this new problem still maintaining and living your current life.
Sadie as a character inspite of hardships she faced was good hearted but I wished she stood up for herself even more esp with her father.
The plot of face blindness in a rom com was very well done with some serious issues also being discussed
I binged listened to this one and the narration was good .
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am so sorry but I DNF at 30%.

I automatically requested this title on NetGalley because I love Katherine Center. I had no idea the premise included face blindness. I don't know why, but it's my least favorite premise in romance. That's on me, though, and not the author or narrator.

I feel like it's impossible to write this plot without being contrived or overly cliché.

I hope other readers love it. For me, I needed to stop.

This audiobook was AMAZING!!!! I seriously love Katherine writing. I read this in a day. I highly recommend all of her books.

Before the twist even came i thought that might be the case and oh man. I couldn't even imagine going through all that Sadie did. I don't wanna say to much and give away the whole book.

Loved listening to this!

Hello Stranger introduces Sadie, a portrait artist, who ends up with face blindness that she is told may or may not be temporary. This is devastating news to Sadie, as she is in a portrait contest that her career depends on.

Soon, Sadie finds herself in a love triangle with two very different men who start out as strangers to her. But here's the thing: she can't actually see their faces. Sadie struggles to recognize her love interests and those closest to her, even by their voices.

While I did appreciate some of the underlying messages such as "just be kind to everyone that you come into contact with and then no one will be a stranger to you" (from Sadie's Facebook support group), I found Sadie to be a bit unlikable as a main character. Sadie is self absorbed and jumps to a lot of conclusions without asking clarifying questions of the situation (which does lend to the plot in the end, but I still found it frustrating to listen to). Because of this and her face blindness, Sadie ends up isolating herself and giving herself more cause to complain about her life. I understand she is going through a lot, but she doesn't often think of others except with regard to what she wants in life.
A handful of times there is a mention of Sadie's evil stepsister; this gave me the feeling that the familial bit of the plot was a hint influenced by Cinderella, which I personally found to be a bit cringe-worthy.

Overall, listening to this book on audio, it was an easy listen with a great narrator to follow along with, I finished the story quickly, and I found it was entertaining. Pairing that with some of my thoughts on the plot I have decided to give this title 3 stars.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an early opportunity to listen to this book on audio in exchange for my review. Hello Stranger is expected to be released on July 11, 2023. All opinions stated above are my own.

Sadie Montgomery Goes face blind after a head injury, and being a portrait artist, it is a career crusher, but not only does it affect her career, it affects her every day life in ways she could never imagine.

Katherine Center has done it again! You know that book you read where you feel like you’re with your best friend and you never want the book to end because it gives you all those warm fuzzy vibes? This was that book for me. I loved all the characters (with the exception of the evil step family), and I didn’t want the story to end! The ending of this book is laugh out loud hilarious, and it is one of those books you will want to read over and over again! Pick this one up for a fun read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and @NetGalley for an advanced copy of another GREAT book!

I loved this so much that I will read anything Katherine Center writes from now on.
It takes such talent to make you willing to suspend your disbelief as your brain waves red flags, and to be willing to go on a journey with characters without cynicism even as you can tell where this road is going, and that's just what this book achieved with me - I loved getting to follow these characters on this chaotic journey, and I was wholeheartedly along for the ride.
This was such a treat.
(added points for the fantastic narration!)

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reading copy of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center.

This is definitely one to go into blind (no pun intended). I loved it just as much as The Bodyguard.

If you do want more information this is a novel about Sadie, an artist, who placed as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Sadie finds herself with a complex health problem that alters how she sees individuals. All while dealing with that fact that everything around her is now a puzzle to be put together Sadie finds herself in a complicated love triangle. Will Sadie get the clarity she needs in time to fit the pieces together?

This was a solid 3.5 star read for me. It wasn’t anything special, it didn’t have me kicking my feet in the air squealing, but I did enjoy my time reading it.

The plot of this book was really interesting. Sadie undergoes brain surgery and develops facial blindness. She then meets a romantic love interest, doesn’t tell him about her facial blindness, which obviously complicates things for her. This made for a really unique and fun plot, but also frustrating. The thing that was going on, what could be considered a plot twist, was so obvious to the reader the entire book, and it got annoying when Sadie couldn’t figure it out.

It’s hard to talk about the romance in this one without spoiling anything. What I can say is the romance was cute, but her immediate obsession with him was very cringe.

I listened to this as an audiobook, which I think helped me get through this. It took a bit for me to get into, and if I had been reading it normally I’m not sure if I would have been able to get through it. Also, the narrator did a great job, I really loved the narration.

Overall, this book was decent, I enjoyed my time listening to it and I liked it but didn’t love it. Would I recommend it? Probably not.

What would you do if you suddenly could recognize the faces of those around you? Your best friend? Your neighbor?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sadie going through an unexpected case of face blindness was a very interesting storyline. It resulted in hilarious moments and touching ways of her getting to know people again.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I loved this one. I’ve had some great reads lately and I hope that doesn’t stop!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

This was such a good book! The main character has a seizure and finds out a small blood vessel is pushing on the part of the brain that makes you not see faces. She can see people's bodies but not their face. Insanity ensues when she doesn't tell anyone of this disorder. She just tries to go through walking around with out others not noticing that. She has a dysfunctional relationship with her stepmother and step sister. This book is all about a woman finding herself and standing up for herself.

I love a summer Katherine novel! I loved the characters in Hello Stranger. As typical for a novel by this author - the characters may be a bit quirky but they are so likeable and always a bit humorous. This book also gave me some insight into face blindness (there's a medical name for it but I can't remember or know how to spell it for that fact) I believe I had heard of it but really didn't know anything about it at all. I really enjoyed this one! It was a light, fun read and I needed a bit of a break from the thrillers I typically read. Katherine Center's novels typically are normally quite enjoyable! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! The narrator Patti Muran did an excellent job - I have enjoyed her narration in other novels as well. She made listening to this book so enjoyable!

I really loved the premise of this one! The whole face-blindness thing really made for a unique and dynamic love story. I love how all of Center's books have that extra layer of...trauma? probably not the right word but we'll go with it. Her characters are just flat, broke, down on their luck, looking for love characters. They have very real, very tangible problems, and it's what makes her one of my favorite romance authors. I found Sadie to be a bit much at times, but I loved how I totally expected the romance to go in a different direction than it ultimately did.

Oh and Peanut was the star of the show.

Another wonderful lighthearted romance with underlying life lessons weaved in to make it even better (and don't say this story is predictable - listen to/read what the author says about that at the end of the book!) She makes a point. We pick up romance novels because we expect the two main characters to get together by the end after several bumps and misunderstandings along the way. That's not predictable, it's what we expect! It's the bumpy, clever, road along the way that makes it all worthwhile.

And this author (and narrator - the same one who narrated The Bodyguard. I love this narrator!) does not disappoint. Sadie ends up with a form of face blindness, horrifying for a portrait painter, and the story unfolds with one misunderstanding and wrong decision after another. The cast of characters is unique and fun, and I rooted for Sadie all the way to the satisfying end.

Fun, informative, story with a great message. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this entertaining audiobook!