After listening to two highly anticipated novels and having them fall flat, I was a bit scared that maybe my love affair with audiobooks was done. Fear not-Hello Stranger brought me right back!
Hello Stranger told in first person. Sadie is a portrait artist who collapses in the street at the beginning of the novel. She comes to find out she has to get minor brain surgery to alleviate a condition. The problem is, she is a finalist in a major competition and she needs to be top-of-her-game to create a winning portrait. As she recovers, she realizes that she cannot see features in faces, a condition that is a side effect of the surgery and will likely heal in a few weeks. The problem is, she is a portrait artist who needs her sight to paint for the competition. In addition, Sadie, while face blind, falls for two guys-her vet and a guy who lives in her building. Falling for men you cannot see was a cool twist, and while not at all spicy, this book does deliver in all the good things that make up a good romance. Sadie is a character who is so well written, I was amazed at her resilience. I highly recommend this book if you love the genre like I do. Better than the book though is the author’s note at the end. Do not skip this part! She addresses why those of us who love romance feel the way we do, and her words brought tears to my eyes. I can’t tell you how many people scoff at me when I tell them the books I truly love. While I’m old enough not to care too much about this, Center’s words about why we love romance made a lot of sense and resonated. I hope you enjoy this book too!

Katherine Center had recently become a must-read author for me, and Hello Stranger exemplifies why. Sadie Montgomery is immediately likable relatable, and I found myself rooting for her from the get-go. Through the course of the book, Sadie is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, yet through her struggles Sadie perseveres and remains true to herself. Sadie’s complex relationships and the way she navigates them through her condition were the highlight for me, and most of all her relationship with her beloved pooch, Peanut - it’s evident that Center herself is an animal lover, it shows through in the love in the narrative. Finally, I can’t speak highly enough about the narrator. She brought the story to life, and make me feel what Sadie felt. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read (and listen!)

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed The Bodyguard but this was even better. I loved all the characters they all were so realistic. They were flawed but in a way that makes sense. I loved the originality of the story. Sometimes romance books can feel like the same story recycled over and over but this was unique and the concept was originally what drew me in to request the arc. I read the book via audiobook and the narrator was also really good. Some narrators can make it difficult to connect with the story but not this one. Overall I really recommend this book especially if you enjoyed Katherine Center's other works.

This is my favorite of Katherine Center’s books to date! Not only is it a heartwarming story with a poignant message, it’s also completely unique in the storyline. This is the story of a struggling artist, with complicated family dynamics, finally catching her big (and well deserved) break. I think it’s best to go into this book “blind”. I have to say, the plot twist was not surprising in the least. I saw it coming early on. That said, it doesn’t ruin the book. This is much more than a simple love story - it’s about self preservation, struggling through life’s obstacles and finding hope. This is truly a feel good novel and I will be recommending it everyone.

Hello Stranger is a very silly book, and I loved it.

The plot is ridiculous, so just go with it: Sadie is a portrait artist who suddenly needs brain surgery, and comes out of it with the inability to recognize faces.  She meets two new men: her veterinarian, Dr. Oliver, and her neighbour, Joe, while she’s preparing for a major art competition.

You can probably guess where this is going.  At times it was frustrating that as a reader things were SO obvious and Sadie wasn’t getting there, but fortunately Center used that fact to add to the comedy.  I laughed out loud multiple times.

I also appreciated that Hello Stranger isn’t just focused on the romance: Sadie has a tonne of character growth around her art and her family.  The supporting characters and potential love interests are wonderfully conceived and so fun to read about.

I listened to the audiobook version of this. Patti Murin is a fantastic narrator, and I don’t know if I’d have liked this book as much without her.  She beautifully captures the range of Sadie’s emotions, her confusion, joy, and grief.  She’s very funny and lends extra hilarity to some of the “who’s on first”-style conversations as Sadie tries to explain her brain condition.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy of this audiobook.

4.5 stars
This book was just fun. The Bodyguard was one of my favorite books last year so I knew I needed to give this one a go.
Sadie finds out she needs brain surgery and after she gets it, she finds out she has face blindness. She can't make sense of anyone's face and literally can't even recognize her family or friends. Thing is, she is a portrait artist who is supposed to be in an art show. She can't even see faces she tries to paint. The romance. Sadie meets Joe who lives in her building. After her friend Sue ditches her and elopes, Sadie needs to use Joe for a model. Their relationship is cute. Sadie has decided that her new vet will be her future husband (even though she can't see him) so she kind of keeps Joe at arm's length even though you can see them falling in love.
The characters and plot were both so engaging and I was always excited to pick this back up. But I figured out the twist super duper early, so through the whole book I was SO impatient for the characters to figure it out. At times it made me angry that they hadn't figured it out yet. It never put me off the book though and when it all finally came out, it was so satisfying. It was resolved so perfectly and the epilogue was so heartwarming.
The narrator of the audiobook was wonderful and really brought a lot to the story.

3.5 stars

I loved the premise of this book (potrait artist with prosopagnosia). The premise was not like any other romance novel I have read in the past. I also enjoyed the portrayal of complicated family relationships. I found the two main characters likeable and I did want them to end up together. I thought I had figured out the twist right off but then thought I hadn't! So I enjoyed that despite being a romance novel the book was not always predictable. The end tied things up nicely but not too neatly. Loved the author's note, it always helps to learn about what the author is thinking and loves about romance.

My only critique of the book was the central conflict. I found it hard to understand why the main character wouldn't share what she was struggling with with other people. This made more sense with additional explanation in the end but I could have used that information sooner in the book. I also worry that her unwillingness to share can make it seem like she is or should be ashamed of her new found problem which is not the case.

I really enjoyed this book!! I loved Sadies personality and character development.

There was a huge plot twist and unexpected parts to the story. Thank you netgalley for the free audiobook copy.

This book was absolutely spectacular. The narrator did such a good job and I didn't want to stop listening. I'll admit that even though this book is listed as romance it read more like women's fiction to me. Overall, this book was so good. The entire concept was really interesting and I found Sadie to be a likeable character. I think her character growth was really great and I like how when she realized she had misinterpreted her past, she immediately took steps to adjust how she interacted with the world. I totally didn't expect the twist between Sadie and Joe. It was really funny and anticlimactic in a charming sort of way. I really wish there had been some sort of karma for Parker. She was not okay mentally and her decision to systematically and pathologically attack Sadie for years was messed up. Also, Sadie's dad and stepmom made me mentally boo everytime they were in a scene. While Lucinda had her moments, I found the entire scene at the art show and the fact that an outside person coming in and supporting Sadie was needed for them to see the truth to be unbelievable. I frankly could've done without her family altogether. Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend the audiobook.

If you love miscommunication in romance than boy is this the book for you. Face blindness is a concept I've heard of but was not overly familiar with and didn't realize the full extent of it. What it provides in a reading experience is a whole lot of mix-ups and miscommunication.

I love Katherine Center and will most certainly continue to pick up whatever she puts on paper but this one did not live up to my expectations (after loving The Bodyguard so much). I didn't care for or about the main character too much, she irritated me more than I wanted to cheer for her. I am also not a fan of miscommunication so I guess this was just a doomed endeavor from the jump.

Every book has its reader and I know some will adore this one as much as I did The Bodyguard just be forewarned that if you can't stand miscommunication take a pass!

I did love the narration of this one and would definitely recommend the audio version.

Sadie is an artist, however after finding out she has to have brain surgery she developed, face blindness, and what she goes for a living is paints people faces! To her father she a failure to her she is living her life, the best she can. When she gets in to the contest her late mother also go in to she can’t believe her luck only now she isn’t able to finish her painting because she can’t see what she painting! How will she do it?

This book was funny and ridiculous all at once I loved it!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

This book is utterly delightful! There were aspects of the plot that were predictable, but O still really enjoyed it. The narrator did a wonderful job. It also made me so curious about face blindness, which is so interesting

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review. This was narrated by Patti Murin and was very well done. I highly recommend the audio version as its very enjoyable and draws you in!

What can you say about a Katherine Center booK? You know that you are in for an engrossing and entertaining read! Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist who is trying to follow in her dead mother's footsteps. While her father has moved on and remarried, Sadie has not. She still desperately misses her mom and has been the victim of unjust treatment at the manipulative hands of her step sister and step mother. Also, she has a fatal brain aneurism in the making and needs immediate brain surgery. The surgery saves her life in more ways than one.

Such a fun and engrossing read that makes you want to skip your calendar and keep listening to see how it all works out! Highly recommend!!!

I really loved the romance in The Bodyguard and gave it 4 stars, but this just didn't connect for me. I loved the representation and learning about facial blindness. It did get very predictable and I found myself having to pick it up rather than really wanting to. The narration, as always, was great! I hope her next romance is more like The Bodyguard and I would likely pick it up and enjoy that much more!

I love Katherine Center’s writing. Her books are excellent on audio, but this was by far my favorite because of how much I could relate to the main character. I admired Sadie’s perseverance and outlook on life. She faced one of the most challenging and unimaginable situations, but pushed right through. There were a couple of twists toward the end I wasn't expecting, but I couldn't think of a better way to wrap this story up and tie it all together. I've been thinking about this book every day since I finished and I don't see it being one I'll forget any time soon.

I'll be posting a full review on pub day. Until then, thank you so much, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC!

Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist who has a strained relationship with her father, stepmother, and evil stepsister. When she finally gets her big break in a competition her deceased mother also participated in, her life finally feels like it’s getting back on track. That is, until she gets into an accident that leaves her discovering she needs to have brain surgery. And, said brain surgery, leaving Sadie, with a condition called acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia (facial blindness).

As Sadie acclimates to her newfound brain condition, she discovers the things she took for granted in life. She recognizes that the brain is an system that works in wondrous ways to allow humans to connect a face with an individual and if one sense of that system becomes faulty, it may impact all other senses. She learns to open-up and depend on others when she needs help. Sadie discovers love again, both familial and romantic.

Quoting from the Author’s Note, “This love story really created a fantastic feeling of anticipation,” and provided a hope for the reader that our main character would find her happily ever after in her love story.

I also love any addition of a dog into a romance novel so Peanut’s presence was like a warm hug.

When I finished this book, I picked up my phone and texted everyone in my universe about it. It’s so so so good! It just hit me on all the feels. Katherine Center is everything!

Sadie portrait artist with newly developed facial blindness. She has this goal. She had to paint an amazing painting in a short amount of time. How can she do this when she can’t actually see people’s faces. If that isn’t definition of conflict in a story then I don’t know what is. Sadie’s journey is heartwarming at times and heartbreaking at other times. The secondary characters in this story were well developed. Some of them were fantastic and other characters I wanted to punch in the face. All of this made for a well written story that I devoured from beginning to end. The narrator did an amazing job bringing this story to life. This was a wonderful book!!!

It was really cute and I liked their relationship. The narrator was a nice touch as well. Would recommend to any romance lover.

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

The audio was very well done on this book and enjoyed hearing from the author at the end in her Author's Notes.

When an accident happens to Sadie that reveals a problem in her brain that requires surgery, it leaves her with Face Blindness. Although this is a romance or as the author calls it, a "love story", I found some really good "meat" in this story! How can you enter an art contest to paint a portrait when you can't see people's faces? How can you trust people what people are saying when you can't see their faces?

Sadie has a little dog, Peanut, who needs to be taken to the vet. She ends up making a connection with Peanut's vet and he asks her out! As the story plays out and she tries to hide her face blindness, she finds herself being kind to those who are unkind. She makes judgements on people by what she hears them say. She doesn't trust those who want to help her. There are some life lessons we could all learn.

I really enjoyed this book - a lot! - and I don't even read "Romances". But the Author's Note is not to be missed on this one and it helped me understand why so many people love romance/ "love stories" so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook version of this book. I am not compensated in way for my review. Everything I write is my own personal opinions and thoughts.
Sadie is a young lady who is a struggling artist. She gets a chance to enter a contest - one that her mom was a contestant in years ago but sadly she suddenly passed away. Sadie went to the store and on her way home she faints. She wakes up in the hospital only to find out she has rare brain tumor that needs to be removed the sooner the better. She also finds out that this is the same tumor her mom passes away from several years prior. She ends up getting the surgery but when she wakes up she can not see faces. She finds herself in a situation where she likes a guy she calls Joe and she also like a vet named Dr Addison. She still can not see faces but she doesnt realize is Joe and the Dr are the same person. She eventually figures it out and she eventually gets the ability to see faces again.