Another Katherine Center win! I’m a big fan of her work, and while this gave different vibes than her norm, I still really enjoyed it. I felt like I was living this book along with the characters, and couldn't stop listening!

HELLO STRANGER is an endearing and captivating romance novel that explores the challenges faced by Sadie, a talented artist who unexpectedly develops face blindness while navigating her love life. This unique premise adds an emotional complexity to Sadie's journey as she finds herself torn between two suitors. Love can be perplexing in its own right, but when you are unable to recognize the faces of those you care for, it becomes even more tumultuous. With heartfelt prose and compelling characters, this novel takes readers on a deeply affecting exploration of love's intricacies and the resilience of the human spirit. THE BONE GAP is the only book I have ever read before that features face blindness, and it was amazing, so I was intrigued to see how Center would pull it off.

While HELLO STRANGER didn't live up to the complete adoration and unadulterated devotion that I have for THE BODYGUARD, it did cement for me that Katherine Center is an author for me to watch. An autobuy, as they say.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Not being able to see faces?! I didn’t even know that was a thing, but thanks to @katerhinecenter new book, I do now. I appreciated the education along with the developing love story. Center just has a way with writing books that pull me in and not let go.

This is a great read!

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #ltbreaderteam #hellostranger #katherinecenter #smpinfluencers

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is a solid contemporary rom-com. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little over ten and a half hours and is narrated by Patti Murin.

Sadie is a portrait artist who is struggling for her big break. After she is selected as a finalist in a huge competition, she learns she needs to have "minor" brain surgery. During recovery, she realizes she can no longer perceive faces. Doctors tell her it's probably temporary but she struggles to cope.

The artist who did the cover really knocked it out of the park. They also did the cover for The Bodyguard, the author's last book, which was one of my favorite reads last year. It was the first book I'd read by Center, and I fell in love with her prose. I read the whole thing in one sitting, which happened again with her latest book.

I enjoyed Hello Stranger but not as much as I loved The Bodyguard. I think the story could have been tightened up a bit, and I'm not sure the side story with the evil stepsister needed to go that hard.

But I do highly recommend this book and the author in general. I need to pick up more of her back catalogue!

Tropes in this book include: strangers-to-lovers, love triangle, forced proximity, miscommunication, mistaken identity

CW: death of parent (prior to book), brain surgery, dog in hospital, description of panic attack, bullying, gaslighting, emotional abuse, suicide attempt (mentioned), face blindness

This was potentially my favorite romance novel of the year. It was cute, it was quirky, it had very serious moments. It was just rom-com/fairytale perfection and I really want my store to finally get some copies of it so I can throw it in literally everyone's hands.

Hello Stranger
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katherine Center

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: I LOVE everything about Katherine Center and especially loved this book. She always knows how to touch my heart. I needed some Center happiness when I read this book as I had surgery in May and was finishing my Master’s Degree in June when I read this. Sadie, a struggling portrait artist had to have brain surgery to fix an issue that could be terminal. Upon waking up from surgery, she is unable to see face details. Sadie was selected as a finalist for a contest that could establish her in the art world, a portrait contest, that she will not be able to do fully due to her face blindness. Then Sadie ends up with two men who mean something to her. Will she have to choose? Will she recover from her face blindness in time for the portrait contest?

The story is narrated by Sadie, in her POV. The author represents neurovascular issues, specifically prosopagnosia, extremely well, it is authentic and well researched. Sadie is independent, fierce, and loyal. There were times that Sadie was prickly but I still loved and was rooting for her. Parker is Sadie’s evil stepsister that plays a big part in this book (maybe we will get a follow up book on her). The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, emotion, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, heartfelt, thought-provoking, engaging, and just brilliant. I do not want to discuss the plot to much as I do not want to spoil for other readers, but I will say that while I expected the twist(s), it did not take away from the story.

The narrator, Patti Murin, does an amazing, amazing job at voice variation. So amazing that I really felt it added value to the audiobook, there may have been parts lost by reading versus listening. Murin really has an uncanny way of bringing the characters from paper to the heart. Again I love how Center’s books make me feel. They are lighthearted, heartwarming reads that will turn any day into a joyful one. I throughly enjoyed every word on the page. This story was more than a romance, or even a mystery, it was about hope, resiliency, and perseverance through life. I highly recommend this book and any book by Center. I would also recommend reading the author notes at the end of the story. The novel is available in physical, kindle, or audiobook formats.

This was another delightful read by Katherine Center. What would you do if you suffered a head injury that left you able to see everything but peoples’ faces? Young portrait artist, Sadie, has an opportunity to launch her career by winning a prestigious portrait contest. She just needs to submit a portrait of a live subject, but when Sadie suffers a brain injury, that task seems impossible. Sadie is diagnosed with face-blindness and told recovery will be gradual, if ever. Complicating her life are a sick pup & a pesky stepsister. As Sadie tries to navigate this new reality, she learns to rely on other human traits such as gait, smell, and voice to identify people. The local Vet draws her interest and an annoying guy living in her building irritates her, although he seems to be everywhere. The contest? An impossible feat. The story presents an interesting look into this disorder and keeps you interested in how Sadie manages it as well as how she fares in the contest and with seeing people in new ways. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

After suffering an accident, Sadie Montgomery is diagnosed with face blindness. The worst thing is that she’s a painter and a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition, and she can’t paint a portrait without distinguishing faces.

As she learns how to live with her new (and hopefully temporary) condition, she struggles with some family issues and with her dog’s health. And on top of that, she finds herself in a love triangle with her neighbor and her dog’s new vet. What else could go wrong in her life?

This book is definitely one of my top romances of the year. The plot is clever and the story is funny and heartwarming. I really adored the main characters and their chemistry too!

I’ve always liked to study neurological conditions and Prosopagnosia has always intrigued me. I loved how Katherine Center explores this condition. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end too.

The book is wonderfully Narrated by Patti Murin. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this audio copy with me. Can’t wait to read more of Katherine Center's books in the future!

Title: Hello Stranger
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: July 11, 2023

I received a complimentary ALC of this book from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Entertaining • Outlandish • Predictable

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality.

But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls in love—not with one man but two. The timing couldn’t be worse.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Hello Stranger was among my most anticipated releases for 2023, yet it was also the one I was the most unsure about. Katherine Center quickly became a favourite after reading Things You Save in a Fire. But I also wasn't a fan of her 2022 release The Bodyguard, which contributed to my apprehension. Regardless, I dove it shortly after publication, and it turned out my gut feeling was right.

To me, this novel reads more like a rom-com intended for film. The evil step-sister side plot felt outlandish. She was just absolutely awful! As a non-violent person, the fact I wanted to punch her in the face throughout the entire thing, speaks to just how terrible of a person she was. There was also a scene of one character appearing to describe a sexual encounter with a plus-size woman in a derogatory manner that was absolutely unnecessary and harmful. It stopped me in my tracks and I just couldn't believe it made it through editing. It's as though the author was going for shock and the silliest things she could come up with. Throughout reading there was a lot of eye-rolling and the execution just felt silly.

It was a quick read, and the premise had so much potential (focusing on what has become Center's go-to protagonist - a young single woman navigating a tragic pivot). Both of the main characters felt genuine and likeable, but as I've mentioned it was everything else that really ruined it for me. The audio narrated by Patti Murin was fine with good pacing and dictation, but again the story just took away from my enjoyment.

I am sad to say Hello Stranger was a dud for me. It along with The Bodyguard require the reader to suspend belief with such outlandish ideas. I am disappointed that Center has moved away from her signature depth, which is what originally made me love her work. It's clear she's going for more of a fun factor and that just jive with me. With that said, I will likely still give her another shot.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the love triangle trope

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, grief, car accident, medical trauma, medical content, injury/injury detail, bullying, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, gaslighting, suicide attempt, fatphobia, body shaming, abandonment

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The more good things you look for, the more you find."

"And the idea that anything could just disappear at any moment is something you suddenly understand in a whole new way."

If you’re unfamiliar with Katherine Center, she is the Queen of heartfelt, feel-good, closed-door rom-com novels. When frustrated with life, I know her books will bring me joy. Her characters are always enduring, charming, and lovable. Hello Stranger did include one or two characters we love to hate, but in the end, you’ll sympathize with even the “unlikeable” ones.

The unique plot line works for me; our MC, Sadie, develops a rare medical condition, prosopagnosia (AKA face blindness). I’ve never heard of this condition before and learned much from our character and the author’s note. I also really liked, to my surprise, the love triangle. Typically one of my least favorite romance tropes, but Center handles the trope with uniqueness and care. And as always, I love the message the book delivers. Plus, who can’t resist a dog in a story - so much love for Peanut!

Patti Murin’s narration needs no hype! She performs Sadie perfectly as she struggles with her diagnosis and new life. Murin also performs the side characters exceptionally well, bringing the whole cast to life. I highly recommend this format!

So, "Hello Stranger" whisked me off on a rollercoaster ride of artistic dreams, face blindness, and a love triangle that might make a geometry teacher jealous. The book's a mix of feel-good fuzzies and eyebrow-raising plot leaps, but let's just say I'm here for it.

Sadie's an artist who suddenly sees faces like Picasso gone wild – not exactly what you want when you're hanging out in the real world. But amidst this colorful chaos, she's juggling life, love, and her trusty sidekick, Peanut the dog.

In the love department, Sadie's got two guys vying for her attention. Talk about a dicey situation. But hey, life's all about multitasking, right?

Now, let's talk about the author's note at the end. Katherine Center had me doing a happy dance with her deep dive into why we adore romance novels. It's like she took a peek into my book-loving soul.

This was my first Katherine Center ride, and I'm already buckling up for another. "Hello Stranger," you may have been a bit of a wild ride, but you left me grinning and craving more.

4.75 ⭐️ The right book at the right time for this mood reader! The story was absolutely lovely, really funny in parts, and the narrator for the audio version was a great pick. Without spoiling it, there is one scene towards the end of the book that tries to tie a few things together, and in my opinion this didn’t quite work as well (hence the teeny deduction in rating), but other than that I everything else. I’m turning into a Katherine Center fan, and can’t wait to read more of her backlog.

I enjoyed reading this romcom book sooo much!! When Sadie Montgomery finally gets what could be a big break in her portrait painting career. She gets hit with needing brain surgery leaving her with maybe temporary face blindness of all things!! See how she muddles through life for the next 6 weeks of her life. The end had me laughing out loud. Love, love, love, this book! You will not regret reading or listening to this fun, light hearted rom com.

I''m a Katherine Center fan. Her audio books are some of my favorites to walk to. This one, however, for me was just okay. On the plus side, I liked the premise, the setting (the apartment building was very cool), Sadie was a great character with a lot of depth who grew throughout the book, and most of the characters were well-developed and interesting. On the negative, Parker was one of the most annoying characters I've ever encountered. I almost didn't finish because of her over the top meanness. Also, you can like both dogs and cats as pets. Cats do not run up and randomly pee on people. I listened to a ARE and there was a weird timing thing, but I'm hoping it was fixed in the final version. Still,glad I listened and looking forward to her next book.

This was such a fun book! I found myself completely immersed in Sadie’s world and never wanted to leave.

This story followed Sadie. She's a broke artist trying to prove her dad wrong because she quit medical school for art school. She wants to win this art contest to win some money but unexpectedly, a medical condition appeared and demanded her to undergo brain surgery. After that, well, meeting people becomes a challenge for her. I love how Center creates the most relatable characters and Sadie is no different. Her love story with Joe is swoon-worthy and I appreciated her growth throughout the book.

A definite winner and this author has solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me!

TLDR a woman gets faceblindness and starts liking 2 guys while also struggling as a portrait artist.
What I liked
The characters (minus the step sister and MFC
The comedic moments
The "quotable" lines
The whole concept and writing style
What I didn't like
The MFC. She was a tad bit oblivious
The THRID ACT BREAKUP
Features:
Single pov
MC with a brain disorder
MC grieving a parent
Cute dogs
No spice
3.8/ 5 overall
3/5 anxiety
0/5 spice
Bargain or borrow (buy bargain borrow burn)
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

So I loved the last book by Katherine Center. I came in with high expectations and man did this book disappoint. The book read more like a women’s fiction with a slight bit of romance.

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center so I was quick to sign up to read her latest romance, "Hello Stranger," narrated by Patti Murin. Although my anticipation was high, I found myself landing on a rather mixed verdict.

The novel, set against the backdrop of a bustling city, promised a delightful romantic journey filled with unexpected twists and heartwarming moments. The plot, however, failed to live up to these expectations. While the concept of "blindness" held potential, the execution left much to be desired.

Patti Murin's narration, on the other hand, was a saving grace. She was full of charm and emotion, effectively portraying the characters' feelings and bringing them to life. And her ability to differentiate between characters made it easy to distinguish who was speaking.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy via the NetGalley app. While I'm grateful for the opportunity to read every book by Katherine Center, it doesn't change my view on the underwhelming nature of this romance.

From my blog: Always With a Book

Katherine Center has been a favorite author of mine for a while. Her books just make me happy – I can count on some laughing, some tenderness and a sweet love story, and I love that. She creates such real, relatable characters and is able to infuse humor into her stories at just the right time while still giving us little moments of truth.

I always find myself completely immersed in these books and this latest one is no exception. I love that this time around, we are given a character that finds herself confronted with a major medical issue that will have a huge impact on her life. She ends up with face blindness and while it’s not the first time I’ve read a story that addresses this issue, I have to say, it was still quite an enjoyable story.

I think what I love most about Katherine Center’s books is the way she tells her stories. You cannot help but find yourself totally immersed in the character’s lives and that is exactly what happened to me with Sadie. As soon as I started this one, I needed to see how she would handle what life threw at her and I quite enjoyed all the little snafus she finds herself entangled in.

While this is at its heart a story that is classified as romance and possibly women’s fiction, I loved that there were still a few twists and turns that I was not expecting. That kept the mystery lover in me quite happy! Katherine Center is most definitely a must-read for me and I highly recommend adding this to your summer reading list.



Audio thoughts: I find that Katherine Center’s books translate so well onto audio and this one was no exception. Like her last book, it was narrated again by Patti Murin, who does such a fabulous job bringing the story to life. Patti was able to give each character their own voice and personality and I just loved how she infused emotion and tension into her voice as needed.

There is no denying this is a well-written book.
Center writes the most loveable characters, you just can't help but fall in love with them.
That said, I have one huge gripe with this book and it's the overuse of the misunderstanding trope.
It literally dragged through the entirety of the book, like the last page dragging.
Uhhgghh
Very wholesome story with no angst or steam,
If that's for you, then you will enjoy this