This was a cute little romance. The FMC develops a condition, commonly known as Faceblindness. Which sucks because she is a portrait artist in a huge contest with a $10,000 prize. While her life is going way off course, she meets 2 guys that she begins to develop feelings for.

I liked this one. The faceblindness make it unique. It had a fun little twist. It was funny. But ultimately it’s not a favorite for me. I found myself feeling a little annoyed by the FMC at times. I wanted to keep listening and find out the ending, but it just didn’t give me that feeling I was hoping for.

Katherine Center has done it again! This book made me laugh, scream in frustration, and even tear up. The characters were so so much fun. I enjoyed listening to them develop and grow in their thinking as they were thrown into a crazy situation. This book also approached chronic illness in a really beautiful way. The thinking was very accurate and I could really empathize with what the main character was going through. If I could only ever read one book for the rest of my life it would be this one.

I loved the whole concept of this book. I have never read anything quite like it. The female main character goes through a traumatic experience and has to learn how to live her life in a new normal. She went through such a character development and it was so cool to see how everything turned out.

The male lead was such a sweet person. I loved the twist at the end even though I called it from the beginning. Their relationship was adorable and I loved how giving he was. Overall, I definitely recommend this book. It was an adorable love story.

This wasn't for me. I think I may have enjoyed it more if I didn't listen to the audio version. The narrator came across as whiny to me. I also felt that it was very predictable very early on and very repetitive.

The cover was very cute and I'm still looking forward to reading more Katherine Center in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

The author’s note was just the chef’s kiss! In it, she expreses how someone saying the romance book they read was predictable or unrealistic. Instead, she asks us to shift our views and remember exactly what the purpose of a romance novel brings to us. These books give us a predictable, but positive structure to look forward to. These books give us hope, joy, and bliss.

The anticipation in this love was something I looked forward to seeing unfold.

I found the story of Sadie having face blindness right after celebrating a high achievement, so unique. Sadie is an artist who focuses on faces for a living. She places as a finalist, hit then her world is flipped upside down when she wakes up in the hospital diagnosed with face blindness. She doesn’t know how she’s going to cope. Every face she sees is like a puzzle. As if that’s not enough, she is dealing with family issues that have stayed with her and somehow try to figure out how to continue with her artistic dream. She meets a man in her apartment building, but is put off by his behavior towards women. Her dog needs to be seen and she meets a nice veterinarian. Even though she didn’t have a good first impression of the guy in her apartment building, they end up in the same areas and start talking…. Now she has two men in her life that she’s having feeling towards. She’s starting to see things in a different way…

I loved every bit of this book! From the unique storyline to the audiobook narration. I was hooked from the beginning and waited patiently for that beautiful ending I wanted.

Although predictable, I loved this story. It was the perfect easy, summer read. I enjoyed learning more about face blindness and felt that added some uniqueness to the storyline. Katherine Center always publishes solid stories!

2.5 stars.

I didn’t like this book as much as “The Bodyguard.” I just felt like main character, Sadie, was just SO self-absorbed and constantly played the victim. Sometimes it was warranted, other times, it seemed like she just wanted to throw a pity party for herself. She constantly gets in her own way because of it.

I struggled through parts of it because it felt like the plot was going nowhere, and I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think at least 20% of the book could have been cut, and it wouldn’t have detracted from the book.

There is also a lot of family drama that’s alluded to and briefly crops up in various forms, but doesn’t really have much impact until the last quarter of the book. It felt rushed and sloppy, and I think there could have better character development with it.

I would also have questions that took a long time to finally get answered in the book, specifically around Joe’s character. Sadie doesn’t seem to question her initial suspicions of Joe, and it bothered me that she so easily overlooked what she initially thought were red flags.

Some may find that the book’s ending is predictable. I had suspicions but never knew for sure, so that added some intrigue to the story.

I could tell this was a well-researched book, which added some realness to it, which I appreciated. I think if the main character was more likable, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Simply put, this is not my favorite book by the author, but maybe others will enjoy it more than I did.

Sadie Montgomery, a talented portrait artist, is suddenly diagnosed with face blindness after achieving a major milestone in her career. As she navigates her new reality of seeing faces as jumbled puzzles, Sadie also grapples with family issues, pursues her artistic dreams, and unexpectedly finds herself torn between two men. Despite the challenges, Sadie discovers that sometimes we find what we need when we least expect it and that there are different ways of seeing beyond physical appearances. As a fan of Katherine Center, I was eagerly looking forward to reading Hello Stranger which is one of my most anticipated summer reads! I devoured the book in just one day! Center's writing style never fails to provide a comforting and engaging reading experience and the pacing was just perfect. I was particularly touched by Joe's unwavering understanding and support for Sadie throughout her journey with facial blindness. The author skillfully portrayed Sadie's struggles and doubts, while also emphasizing the importance of kindness, hope, and overcoming obstacles. I couldn't help but fall in love with Sadie's quirky and lovable complex character. I highly recommend picking up Hello Stranger if you’re a fan of Katherine Center’s work or are a romance reader!

Also the audiobook narrator was wonderful on this!!

I really enjoy Katherine Center's books. She's great at creating situations and inner monologues that elicit a chuckle. I didn't know a lot about prosopagnosia (face blindness), but I always love to see disability representation and it made me more excited to read the book.

Sadie seemed a bit lost. She has a largely absent father, a step-sister who seems to have taken notes from Cinderella's step-sisters, and a loving but distracted best friend. Luckily, she has a darling, senior dog to keep her company. She's also trying to make a name for herself in the art world.

I enjoyed watching Sadie navigate a new disability and the way the community came through for her. She eventually finds her way as one would expect in a romance novel.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Katherine Center always delivers a lovely and uplifting story and Hello Stranger fell nicely into those categories. I loved the art, the history of our main character, and all the complex relationships and people in her life.

I’m sure I’m not alone in finding the miscommunication frustrating at times but knowing the HEA was coming definitely helped! This story was overflowing with love, an adorable dog named peanut, and humorous moments. I loved it!

I read a little of this to start but the audio was done so well that after I switched I ended up binging the rest of it in a day! I don’t think you’d go wrong with either route.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc and MacMillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

The narrator portrayed Sadie's character with a smooth performance was smooth. I found myself immersed into the story.

Sadie is a struggling artist who paints portraits and is celebrating her biggest achievement when she’s diagnosed with a condition that requires surgery.  A surgery that leaves her with a condition known as face blindness.  A condition that leaves her not being able to see faces.  Trying to cope with family problems and a condition that she hopes is temporary, she meets two men offering her something she didn’t think she needed. 

Sadie was a little quirky and full of sunshine.  She’s not a perfect character and faces quite a few crises but her struggles, feelings of grief, and mean step-sister made me want to wrap her up in a huge hug.

This is a story about healing and finding love. The plot was unique and the characters were lovable, including Peanut the dog.  It’s romantic and whimsical with the perfect mixture of hope and happiness.  

The ending pulled the entire story together.   It answered all of my questions, but at the same time made me want to go back and see what I missed. I felt like I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t.  I was so wrapped up in the journey that I read with anticipation of what would happen.

In the end, the story was reflective and left me thinking about the things I miss and don’t see.

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5🎧

I wasn’t sure going in exactly what was going to happen I know there was going to be Facial recognition blindness that was it. What we get is so much more. Sadie is such a sweet flighty girl and I say that with love she is sweet, but she over very flighty now that could be because of the way she grew up. She lost her mother young and her father kinda of checked out then she had a step-mother she never really liked and a step-sister who well makes Cinderella’s step-sisters look tame.

Determined to make it on her own she doesn’t ask her father for help she forges on her own path. Until something unexpected happen to her and just when she was about to get her big break.

It’s devastating to her but she does keep a positive attitude even when it’s hard. She meets Joe who becomes her friend first before things start to get more interesting with him. I really don’t want to say too much about all that because well I don’t want to spoil anything for you.

I just loved how this book made me feel. I liked Sadie and I like that even though she was faces with this hard thing she still fights pasted it.

Loved the narration I think Patti Marin does a great job, I felt like she didn’t over do the voice it was just right. Maybe the sister was a little “extra” but that is to be expected I thought with the type of character she is.

I adore Katherine Center’s novels. They are quirky, and fun yet I always walk away having learned something new. Hello Stranger is full of heart and surprise. Sadie is a truly special character. Her interactions with absolutely everyone had me laughing out loud. Yet I knew she deeply felt the pain of her family and the fear of her possible loss. I loved that there were multiple times that I was caught unaware (along with Sadie) of the details yet to be revealed. I highly recommend Hello Stranger.

The audiobook added another layer for me. To hear the voices and imagine what was happening had me completely swept up in the story. Outstanding narration by Patti Murin.

I loved this book. Watching how the main characters life changed due to her diagnosis was great. I had a feeling about the ending of the book, but it was great to see it all come together. The chemistry was so good.

I discovered Katherine Center's books after reading The Bodyguard last year. Since then, I've been slowly working my way through her back-list. However, Hello Stranger, which is set to release on July 11, 2023, isn't on that list. Luckily, I was able to obtain an advanced audiobook copy, and boy was it a treat!

The story follows Sadie, who's in desperate need of a break. But just when she thinks she's getting one, something unexpected happens that sends her life on a completely different path. I found the book to be both fun and educational, as I even had to Google "acute prosopagnosia" (face perception blindness) to fully understand what was going on (unlike Sadie).

Hello Stranger is a touching story about a woman still dealing with her mother's passing and her new step-family, giving off some serious Cinderella vibes. While the middle of the book was a bit slow, the last quarter was enjoyable as everything came together. I loved the ending, it surprised me in ways I didn't anticipate. It's always a joy when an author can keep me on my toes.

Overall, Hello Stranger is a well-written and entertaining story about family, grief, and trusting oneself. I highly recommend both the author and the book.

My thanks to St. Martins Press for the digital arc and Macmillan Audio for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review, all via Netgalley.

I love Katherine Center's books. This one was no exception. Sweet story about facing challenges and being resilient: a shared theme in her novels. Good summer read and great audio narration!

(A Spoiler-free review)
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Okay, so I’m a sucker for a good miscommunication/misunderstanding trope, and this story delivered. Following Sadie through a tale of budding romance, overcoming first impressions, reluctant second chances, and adjusting to new life changes is a journey full of highs and lows that keeps the reader rooting for the main character during every step of her journey.

Sadie is a portrait painter, a job she’s passionate about and a skill she’s good at, taking after her late mother who was also a portrait painter and a finalist in the same competition Sadie just got accepted to. Just when everything feels like it’s starting to fall into place, an accident combined with a time-sensitive brain surgery leaves her with the worst possible outcome short of death itself: the rare side effect of sudden face blindness.

Sadie is left without the ability to discern facial features, and a portrait competition deadline looming over her. On top of it all, her best friend has to leave town and her closest companion is a man she didn’t want to give the time of day to not-so-long ago, but who is growing on her more and more by the day. And Sadie is spending a lot of days with him. But how much does she really know this faceless Joe from her building, when she can’t even recognize her own step-sister in the halls? Can he help her finish a portrait to enter or will her attempts at new techniques to bypass her brain fall short along with her flirtations when it matters most?

I called the ending pretty early in, but I still enjoyed the experience of being in Sadie’s head and getting her one-sided view of things that, given her current circumstances, is more unintentionally biased and clouded than it would be for someone else. It’s a lesson on what might open up to us if we’re more willing to put aside assumptions and give new people and experiences a chance.

Go check out this release on its Pub Day, July 11, 2023! Thanks to NetGalley and @Macmillan.Audio for giving me a chance to listen to an ARC copy of this audiobook! All opinions are entirely my own.

When anyone recommends @katherinecenter books to me, the words “feel good” are used every single time. This was my first of hers and I’m officially a fan. The storyline in this was so unique and nothing like I have read before. I don’t know how much I can contribute to the audio- but her tone just brought this character to life so much for me. I’m not even going to post a synopsis because truthfully I went in blind, and am so glad I did. I listened to this audio in a day, and am running to get more of her books.

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book (and audio)- I have been SO excited to read this and it did not disappoint.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@katherinecenter The relatability with this character (specifically her relationship with her dad) just hit so close for me. I was invested from the very first chapter and it feels rare with any reads for that to be the case. I can’t not wait to read more of your work!

#bookreview #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #tbr #advancedreaderscopy #ARC #hellostranger #katherinecenter

Reading a Katherine Center book always leaves me with a smile on my face. I was excited at the chance to listen to the audiobook version of Hello Stranger. The narrator does a great job and the story is full of emotions. You will experience love, loss, warmth of friendship, the angst of family dynamics, insecurity, encouragement, and humor. Sadie’s life journey will have you laughing one moment, full of anger the next, and then crying tears of sadness. I had never heard of prosopagnosia (face blindness) but appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book with information about this condition. This is a romance, but not syrupy sweet. It’s lighthearted and emotional. What a great book in which to get lost and enjoy great characters. Put this on your to-be-read list. You’ll be inspired and filled with joy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I really enjoyed this story of Sadie learning how to navigate life in new ways due to this major change in her brain. I also learned a lot about a disorder that I honestly sort of thought was made up by dramas as a plot device. Turns out its very real and more common than I had imagined. I'm very impressed with the amount of research the author put into getting this story right. It's a great read where I was both entertained and educated. The story was touching and fun, and I even teared up a bit at one point near the end.

The audio narrator also did an excellent job with the characters.