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Hello Stranger
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Romance (2023)Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.
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 with every face she sees.
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 into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.
If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.
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 with every face she sees.
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 into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.
If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.
323 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2023
About the author
Katherine Center
17 books16.3k followersBookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She's the New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including The Bodyguard, How to Walk Away, and Things You Save in a Fire. Her summer newest book is Hello Stranger—and her forthcoming one is The Rom-Commers (June 11,2024). Katherine's novel Happiness for Beginners just opened as a Netflix original movie (starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes), and the movie adaptation of her novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix in 2020. Katherine writes deep, laugh-and-cry rom-coms about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Her books have made countless Best-Of lists, including the LibraryReads Hall of Fame, Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, the Indie Next Great Reads List, and many more. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,896 reviews
July 27, 2023
HELLO NEW BOOK I WILL NOT BE SHUTTING UP ABOUT!!!! PLS READ THIS!!!
April 25, 2023
I enjoyed the message of this novel, but getting there was a struggle.
2.5 stars
"We see what we're looking for."
Hello Stranger is a novel about an artist who loses her ability to see faces and the two men she is torn between.
Sadie is a portrait artist who just learned she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition. She is flying high until she experiences a medical issue that requires her to undergo brain surgery. Sadie wakes up from surgery to her worst nightmare--she is face blind. Adding to the drama, she is now torn between two men--neither of whose faces she can see.
Here's the thing: the premise is compelling. The problem is Sadie’s character--I found her bratty, selfish, and whiny. Even before she experiences her crisis, she is self-consumed. I got bored of her feeling sorry for herself--I know she was struggling, and she should have had my sympathy, but her behavior put me off.
The triangle between Joe, Sadie, and Dr. Addison also was a failure. I was cringing almost the whole time while reading this. Sadie experiences crisis after crisis and is constantly helped by Joe, Sue, and other mysterious strangers (even though she prefers to rescue herself). Yet, she never takes the time to return the favor and ask others questions about themselves and what they do for a living. It's all about Sadie all the time. (I know part of this was for plot purposes but really?!)
Usually, with Center’s books, I pick them up and struggle to put them down. With this book, I had to coax myself into picking it back up once I put it down. I liked the premise and some of the characters. I loved The Kims and Peanut, and Parker was a great villain. Thankfyully, the last 10%, things took a turn for the better.
I am very much an outlier when it comes to this book. Most readers have loved it, so it might just be me. Check it out for yourself!
I receiveed an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
"We see what we're looking for."
Hello Stranger is a novel about an artist who loses her ability to see faces and the two men she is torn between.
Sadie is a portrait artist who just learned she is a finalist in a prestigious art competition. She is flying high until she experiences a medical issue that requires her to undergo brain surgery. Sadie wakes up from surgery to her worst nightmare--she is face blind. Adding to the drama, she is now torn between two men--neither of whose faces she can see.
Here's the thing: the premise is compelling. The problem is Sadie’s character--I found her bratty, selfish, and whiny. Even before she experiences her crisis, she is self-consumed. I got bored of her feeling sorry for herself--I know she was struggling, and she should have had my sympathy, but her behavior put me off.
The triangle between Joe, Sadie, and Dr. Addison also was a failure. I was cringing almost the whole time while reading this. Sadie experiences crisis after crisis and is constantly helped by Joe, Sue, and other mysterious strangers (even though she prefers to rescue herself). Yet, she never takes the time to return the favor and ask others questions about themselves and what they do for a living. It's all about Sadie all the time. (I know part of this was for plot purposes but really?!)
Usually, with Center’s books, I pick them up and struggle to put them down. With this book, I had to coax myself into picking it back up once I put it down. I liked the premise and some of the characters. I loved The Kims and Peanut, and Parker was a great villain. Thankfyully, the last 10%, things took a turn for the better.
I am very much an outlier when it comes to this book. Most readers have loved it, so it might just be me. Check it out for yourself!
I receiveed an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2024
Another five starred review is coming up for one of my favorite romance authors who knows how to play with the strings of our hearts with her uplifting, feel good, sentimental stories and sweetest characters!
This time Katherine Center approaches neurovascular issues such as cavernoma, prosopagnosia ( face blindness), informing us about how many people suffer from diagnosis, coping strategies, effects of the daily lives of the people!
I haven’t known there was so much people suffer from face blindness and interestingly some of them are living their lives without knowing their condition.
This is absolutely another heart warming story contains a lovely mystery:
This twisty, entertaining, lighthearted romance is centered on Sadie Montgomery who is struggling artist, barely making ends meet, living in her art studio because she’s broke. Her estranged father is successful surgeon who never approves the life choices she’s made. After losing her mother, Sadie’s life completely changes. Her father marries with Lucinda and she gets bullied by her evil incarnation step sister Parker for over and over. ( Parker is worst kind of villanelle who earns ten million slapping points: Because of her Sadie gets kicked out from her school, losing her reputation, her boyfriend. Even her own father picks Parker’s side: she also loses her entire family)
When she has a seizure in the middle of the street, being saved by a Good Samaritan from being hit by a car, she opens her eyes at the hospital, seeing her Martha Stewart’s evil step sister a.k.a. stepmother is giving her worried looks. The doctor’s diagnosis takes her breath away: There’s a malformed blood vessel in the brain: called cavernoma. She might be living with this lesion in her entire life and now she needs to have a surgery. The timing couldn’t be so bad because she becomes finalist at highly prestigious portrait competition and she has not much time to finish her task.
But having a surgery is not the worst thing that will change her future. After the surgery she realizes she cannot see the people’s faces. She cannot differentiate between her best friend Sue and arch nemesis Parker. Everybody looks like stranger to her.
How can she draw a portrait when she can see people’s faces? As she tries so hard to cope with her own situation she finds herself between a love triangle. She falls for two men and she still didn’t know how their faces look like. One of them is womanizer bad boy/ helpful Joe lives in her apartment and the other one is good hearted veterinarian who saved her dog Peanut’s life!
Her doctor tells in a few weeks she may get healed and start seeing the people’s faces but what if her condition is not temporary? She can lose her entire career she’s worked for and she may also lose the chance to look into the eyes of her potential soul mate : helpful neighbor Joe or veterinarian with perfect gait! Eventually she has to make a choice!
I foresaw the big twist but it was still entertaining to read the surprising revelations! This is emotional, inspirational and highly enjoyable, heartwarming reading that highly deserved my shiny five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this perfect digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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This time Katherine Center approaches neurovascular issues such as cavernoma, prosopagnosia ( face blindness), informing us about how many people suffer from diagnosis, coping strategies, effects of the daily lives of the people!
I haven’t known there was so much people suffer from face blindness and interestingly some of them are living their lives without knowing their condition.
This is absolutely another heart warming story contains a lovely mystery:
This twisty, entertaining, lighthearted romance is centered on Sadie Montgomery who is struggling artist, barely making ends meet, living in her art studio because she’s broke. Her estranged father is successful surgeon who never approves the life choices she’s made. After losing her mother, Sadie’s life completely changes. Her father marries with Lucinda and she gets bullied by her evil incarnation step sister Parker for over and over. ( Parker is worst kind of villanelle who earns ten million slapping points: Because of her Sadie gets kicked out from her school, losing her reputation, her boyfriend. Even her own father picks Parker’s side: she also loses her entire family)
When she has a seizure in the middle of the street, being saved by a Good Samaritan from being hit by a car, she opens her eyes at the hospital, seeing her Martha Stewart’s evil step sister a.k.a. stepmother is giving her worried looks. The doctor’s diagnosis takes her breath away: There’s a malformed blood vessel in the brain: called cavernoma. She might be living with this lesion in her entire life and now she needs to have a surgery. The timing couldn’t be so bad because she becomes finalist at highly prestigious portrait competition and she has not much time to finish her task.
But having a surgery is not the worst thing that will change her future. After the surgery she realizes she cannot see the people’s faces. She cannot differentiate between her best friend Sue and arch nemesis Parker. Everybody looks like stranger to her.
How can she draw a portrait when she can see people’s faces? As she tries so hard to cope with her own situation she finds herself between a love triangle. She falls for two men and she still didn’t know how their faces look like. One of them is womanizer bad boy/ helpful Joe lives in her apartment and the other one is good hearted veterinarian who saved her dog Peanut’s life!
Her doctor tells in a few weeks she may get healed and start seeing the people’s faces but what if her condition is not temporary? She can lose her entire career she’s worked for and she may also lose the chance to look into the eyes of her potential soul mate : helpful neighbor Joe or veterinarian with perfect gait! Eventually she has to make a choice!
I foresaw the big twist but it was still entertaining to read the surprising revelations! This is emotional, inspirational and highly enjoyable, heartwarming reading that highly deserved my shiny five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this perfect digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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July 11, 2023
My new favorite Katherine Center book! 🥰
I NEEDED a dose of hope and a dollop of happiness, so when an invitation to read an early copy of this book, arrived-I started IMMEDIATELY!
Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist, following in her mother’s footsteps. She paints portraits-her style being compared to Norman Rockwell-and has just been told that she has earned one of the coveted finalist spots in a competition that could be life changing.
It’s the same competition her Mom placed in, years ago-so it means all that much more to her-since she lost her mom when she was fourteen. So, when she learns that she needs surgery, 6 weeks before the show, she isn’t going to let that stop her from competing. She will just have to work faster, and work harder, when she is released from the hospital!
She NEVER expected to wake up from the surgery with “acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia”-Face Blindness.
How can a Portrait Artist paint-if she can’t see faces?
Sadie may not have the support of her father, step-mother, or evil step-sister-but she does have a best friend, Soo Hyun (Sue) and Sue’s parents-who always offer her unconditional love and encouragement.
And, her elderly dog, Peanut, who just happens to have her FAVORITE face in the World-and one that thankfully, she can still see!
But, when Peanut gets sick-it’s more than she can bear with everything else she is facing.
Until she meets the emergency Veterinarian, Dr. Oliver Addison-who she can tell is good looking, as well as brilliant, even without seeing his face.
After all, he saves Peanut!
It’s Love at First Sight-Sight Unseen!
As Sadie confronts all of her new challenges, she is going to need some help-something she HATES asking for.
Fortunately, her neighbor Joe, is just the kind of person who LOVES to provide it-and doesn’t take “NO” for an answer.
All of a sudden there are two men in her life, each offering something she needs.
Sadie discovers that not being able to “see faces” is making her pay attention to all that she has been missing-and maybe-just maybe-she is seeing things clearly for the first time!
Katherine Center offers us a heart warming, HUG of a story, filled with her trademark humor-and dancing!
And, it was EXACTLY what I needed!
Sweet but not spicy…
The “anticipation” of what would happen, delivered all I wanted and more! (DO READ her acknowledgments at the end of the book).
Isn’t that why we pick up a romance to begin with? ❤️
A buddy read with DeAnn who loved this just as much as I did! Be sure to check out her fabulous review!
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank You to Erica at St. Martin’s for the gifted copy that I was obviously thrilled to receive- it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
I NEEDED a dose of hope and a dollop of happiness, so when an invitation to read an early copy of this book, arrived-I started IMMEDIATELY!
Sadie Montgomery is a struggling artist, following in her mother’s footsteps. She paints portraits-her style being compared to Norman Rockwell-and has just been told that she has earned one of the coveted finalist spots in a competition that could be life changing.
It’s the same competition her Mom placed in, years ago-so it means all that much more to her-since she lost her mom when she was fourteen. So, when she learns that she needs surgery, 6 weeks before the show, she isn’t going to let that stop her from competing. She will just have to work faster, and work harder, when she is released from the hospital!
She NEVER expected to wake up from the surgery with “acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia”-Face Blindness.
How can a Portrait Artist paint-if she can’t see faces?
Sadie may not have the support of her father, step-mother, or evil step-sister-but she does have a best friend, Soo Hyun (Sue) and Sue’s parents-who always offer her unconditional love and encouragement.
And, her elderly dog, Peanut, who just happens to have her FAVORITE face in the World-and one that thankfully, she can still see!
But, when Peanut gets sick-it’s more than she can bear with everything else she is facing.
Until she meets the emergency Veterinarian, Dr. Oliver Addison-who she can tell is good looking, as well as brilliant, even without seeing his face.
After all, he saves Peanut!
It’s Love at First Sight-Sight Unseen!
As Sadie confronts all of her new challenges, she is going to need some help-something she HATES asking for.
Fortunately, her neighbor Joe, is just the kind of person who LOVES to provide it-and doesn’t take “NO” for an answer.
All of a sudden there are two men in her life, each offering something she needs.
Sadie discovers that not being able to “see faces” is making her pay attention to all that she has been missing-and maybe-just maybe-she is seeing things clearly for the first time!
Katherine Center offers us a heart warming, HUG of a story, filled with her trademark humor-and dancing!
And, it was EXACTLY what I needed!
Sweet but not spicy…
The “anticipation” of what would happen, delivered all I wanted and more! (DO READ her acknowledgments at the end of the book).
Isn’t that why we pick up a romance to begin with? ❤️
A buddy read with DeAnn who loved this just as much as I did! Be sure to check out her fabulous review!
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Thank You to Erica at St. Martin’s for the gifted copy that I was obviously thrilled to receive- it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
May 13, 2023
PHENOMENAL!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!❤️❤️Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
AMAZING!! This is my favorite book by Katherine Center!! There are some books that stay with you forever and this is one of them. Literally everything I could ever want in a book. Hello Stranger is such a unique and heartwarming story that is so much more than a romance. It is about finding hope and persevering, despite all the struggles and difficulties in your life. Center has a way of pulling at your heart strings and making you fall in love with the characters. I cannot recommend this book enough!! I felt ALL the emotions!! Definitely, one of my top reads for 2023!! 🥰🥰
Purposefully, I am not discussing the plot because I feel like it is better to go into reading this blind. I will say that I did foresee the big twist but that did not take away at all from the story. Center has author notes at the end that you will not want to miss! Her description of the romance genre was on point. I was completely captivated from start to finish and highly recommend this book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AMAZING!! This is my favorite book by Katherine Center!! There are some books that stay with you forever and this is one of them. Literally everything I could ever want in a book. Hello Stranger is such a unique and heartwarming story that is so much more than a romance. It is about finding hope and persevering, despite all the struggles and difficulties in your life. Center has a way of pulling at your heart strings and making you fall in love with the characters. I cannot recommend this book enough!! I felt ALL the emotions!! Definitely, one of my top reads for 2023!! 🥰🥰
Purposefully, I am not discussing the plot because I feel like it is better to go into reading this blind. I will say that I did foresee the big twist but that did not take away at all from the story. Center has author notes at the end that you will not want to miss! Her description of the romance genre was on point. I was completely captivated from start to finish and highly recommend this book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
September 22, 2023i reaaaaaally did not enjoy this. not sure how it's possible to make a heroine with a TERRIBLE family unsympathetic but it was certainly accomplished here. she feeds her dog anything BUT nutritionally appropriate dog food. she whines a lot. and for someone with a true passion in life, it didn't seem like it mattered much at all. (and the multiple romantic misunderstandings??? no.)
i'll still probably pick up more books by this author in the future since this is the only one of her's so far that i've actively disliked. but dang am i disappointed.
i'll still probably pick up more books by this author in the future since this is the only one of her's so far that i've actively disliked. but dang am i disappointed.
August 10, 2023
I want to be as delulu as this main character is. ( I do not know how I feel about her)
July 10, 2023
We all know that sometimes we just don’t see clearly when it comes to love, but for Sadie Montgomery … she literally can’t see clearly.
In an unexpected chain of events, one week she’s painting photorealistic portraits and qualifying for a prestigious art contest, and the next she finds herself experiencing prosopagnosia, or face-blindness. Talk about bad timing! How is she going to paint a portrait for the contest when everyone’s faces now look like a puzzle?
On the brighter side, despite not being able to distinguish faces, she really likes her dog Peanut’s new vet, Dr. Addison, and there’s also her questionably-behaved neighbor Joe in the picture. Neither of them know that she can’t tell who they are by their faces, though she has definite ideas about which one she wants, until that starts getting fuzzy too!
Katherine Center shows again why she’s a master of her genre. This is funny, charming, and filled with entertaining characters. Sadie can be prickly at times, but I was always rooting for her as she worked through her painful past and present circumstances. Her best friend Sue was hilariously blunt, Joe was fun, and even her cruel stepsister Parker somehow made me laugh.
From the premise to the ending, it’s well written and engaging. The only downsides: I thought there was a little too much explaining at the end and a few story elements that my overthinking brain had to just roll with and not question too much, but as Center so brilliantly explains in her author’s note, it comes with the territory of the genre. Definitely read or listen to her thoughts!
I both read this and listened to the audio narrated by Patti Murin, who I absolutely love! I think it would’ve been harder to find the humor in some characters - especially Parker - if I’d only read it, but Murin’s voicing for her was snarktastic, and she does gender voicing perfectly, which I always appreciate.
It’s a great read, a wonderful listen and a whole lot of fun. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, and author Katherine Center for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This will be out on July 11, 2023.
In an unexpected chain of events, one week she’s painting photorealistic portraits and qualifying for a prestigious art contest, and the next she finds herself experiencing prosopagnosia, or face-blindness. Talk about bad timing! How is she going to paint a portrait for the contest when everyone’s faces now look like a puzzle?
On the brighter side, despite not being able to distinguish faces, she really likes her dog Peanut’s new vet, Dr. Addison, and there’s also her questionably-behaved neighbor Joe in the picture. Neither of them know that she can’t tell who they are by their faces, though she has definite ideas about which one she wants, until that starts getting fuzzy too!
Katherine Center shows again why she’s a master of her genre. This is funny, charming, and filled with entertaining characters. Sadie can be prickly at times, but I was always rooting for her as she worked through her painful past and present circumstances. Her best friend Sue was hilariously blunt, Joe was fun, and even her cruel stepsister Parker somehow made me laugh.
From the premise to the ending, it’s well written and engaging. The only downsides: I thought there was a little too much explaining at the end and a few story elements that my overthinking brain had to just roll with and not question too much, but as Center so brilliantly explains in her author’s note, it comes with the territory of the genre. Definitely read or listen to her thoughts!
I both read this and listened to the audio narrated by Patti Murin, who I absolutely love! I think it would’ve been harder to find the humor in some characters - especially Parker - if I’d only read it, but Murin’s voicing for her was snarktastic, and she does gender voicing perfectly, which I always appreciate.
It’s a great read, a wonderful listen and a whole lot of fun. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, and author Katherine Center for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This will be out on July 11, 2023.
May 30, 2023
3.5 STARS
A little OTT for a romance, but very readable. I had no trouble picking it up and getting lost in Sadie's world (She is dealing with so much)!
She has major family issues, a career crisis, money problems, and has just found out she needs brain surgery! Talk about a pile on, anyone would be overwhelmed with everything she was dealing with. Not to mention what happens next....
I love that this author's books are always easy, light and have funny moments to move the story along.
The little twist surprised me (not really though), but I was still a bit enchanted by it! I'm a happy reader.
This was a Giveaway win for me! Thanks GR! OUT July 11, 2023
A little OTT for a romance, but very readable. I had no trouble picking it up and getting lost in Sadie's world (She is dealing with so much)!
She has major family issues, a career crisis, money problems, and has just found out she needs brain surgery! Talk about a pile on, anyone would be overwhelmed with everything she was dealing with. Not to mention what happens next....
I love that this author's books are always easy, light and have funny moments to move the story along.
The little twist surprised me (not really though), but I was still a bit enchanted by it! I'm a happy reader.
This was a Giveaway win for me! Thanks GR! OUT July 11, 2023
June 13, 2023
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Imagine being a portrait artist, finally getting some recognition and ending up with acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia (also known as face blindness or the facepocalypse 😆). Well, that's precisely what happens to Sadie in Hello Stranger. Add to the fact that she falls in like with two different men and you have a pretty decent romantic tale.
This is my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I love feel good fiction once in a while and this fit the bill, I wanted to hug this book when I had finished it! I am not a huge romance reader but this book was so much more than that. It's about growing up, not letting life's pitfalls stand in your way and learning to let go of weights that hold us back and yes it is about falling in love too. The plot played out as I anticipated it would (I will not say predicted...read the acknowledgements to find out why) but it in no way ruined my enjoyment of the book as the journey to get there was so much fun.
The book is well researched and the author describes Sadie's experiences so well, I could easily imagine them in my mind's eye. Center uses humour to help Sadie get through her ordeal and it was so much fun. Other reviewers have said this is the author's best work yet and I can certainly understand why, I enjoyed this one a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Imagine being a portrait artist, finally getting some recognition and ending up with acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia (also known as face blindness or the facepocalypse 😆). Well, that's precisely what happens to Sadie in Hello Stranger. Add to the fact that she falls in like with two different men and you have a pretty decent romantic tale.
This is my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I love feel good fiction once in a while and this fit the bill, I wanted to hug this book when I had finished it! I am not a huge romance reader but this book was so much more than that. It's about growing up, not letting life's pitfalls stand in your way and learning to let go of weights that hold us back and yes it is about falling in love too. The plot played out as I anticipated it would (I will not say predicted...read the acknowledgements to find out why) but it in no way ruined my enjoyment of the book as the journey to get there was so much fun.
The book is well researched and the author describes Sadie's experiences so well, I could easily imagine them in my mind's eye. Center uses humour to help Sadie get through her ordeal and it was so much fun. Other reviewers have said this is the author's best work yet and I can certainly understand why, I enjoyed this one a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
August 13, 2023
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center is Her Best One Yet!
Wow! It's been over two years since I've read a Katherine Center book. Two long years! So, I was worried about starting Hello Stranger and more than a little nervous, as well.
During this two year gap, I read less and less of the Romance genre, especially Rom-Com, as the stories began to sound muddled in my ears, my head, and in my heart. The thought of reading one more with the Insta-Love troupe or another with the bedroom door completely torn down, well let's just say it's not my idea of romance. I'm a little old fashion that way.
When I began reading and listening to Hello Stranger "all the feels" of a Katherine Center story came rushing back to me and all my concerns melted away. It was like visiting an old friend and getting a great big hug.
What I truly love about this author's storytelling is how she picks a topic, wraps it around a female main character who's struggling through it and trying to get to the other side as whole as possible.
Then, love walks in. And why not? Everything's a little better with it than without it, right?
In Hello Stranger our main character is Sadie Montgomery and she walks you through her story in a first person point-of-view that is touching, humorous, and believable. She's a struggling portrait artist who's having trouble seeing a few things clearly right now. That's enough to get you started and like all this author's stories, this one isn't only about romance, it's about life, dealing with challenging situations, memories from the past, and through it all, trying to carve out a future that works.
Hello Stranger was a joy to both read and listen to. My preference, by far, is the audiobook with the excellent narration by the talented Patti Murin. Her voicing is fabulous and worthy of a second listen!
There is one more thing you'll need to know about this author. I ugly cry with every single book I've read from her. Heck, I cried writing this dang review. I suggest you plan on having plenty of tissues to get through Hello Stranger. It's a doozie.
I think I say this about every Katherine Center book after I've read it, this is her best one yet. I mean it this time. Really. I highly recommend Hello Stranger to everyone that reads!
5⭐
Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for a DRC and ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Wow! It's been over two years since I've read a Katherine Center book. Two long years! So, I was worried about starting Hello Stranger and more than a little nervous, as well.
During this two year gap, I read less and less of the Romance genre, especially Rom-Com, as the stories began to sound muddled in my ears, my head, and in my heart. The thought of reading one more with the Insta-Love troupe or another with the bedroom door completely torn down, well let's just say it's not my idea of romance. I'm a little old fashion that way.
When I began reading and listening to Hello Stranger "all the feels" of a Katherine Center story came rushing back to me and all my concerns melted away. It was like visiting an old friend and getting a great big hug.
What I truly love about this author's storytelling is how she picks a topic, wraps it around a female main character who's struggling through it and trying to get to the other side as whole as possible.
Then, love walks in. And why not? Everything's a little better with it than without it, right?
In Hello Stranger our main character is Sadie Montgomery and she walks you through her story in a first person point-of-view that is touching, humorous, and believable. She's a struggling portrait artist who's having trouble seeing a few things clearly right now. That's enough to get you started and like all this author's stories, this one isn't only about romance, it's about life, dealing with challenging situations, memories from the past, and through it all, trying to carve out a future that works.
Hello Stranger was a joy to both read and listen to. My preference, by far, is the audiobook with the excellent narration by the talented Patti Murin. Her voicing is fabulous and worthy of a second listen!
There is one more thing you'll need to know about this author. I ugly cry with every single book I've read from her. Heck, I cried writing this dang review. I suggest you plan on having plenty of tissues to get through Hello Stranger. It's a doozie.
I think I say this about every Katherine Center book after I've read it, this is her best one yet. I mean it this time. Really. I highly recommend Hello Stranger to everyone that reads!
5⭐
Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for a DRC and ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
May 27, 2023
Me = disappointed!😫
I’m a huge Katherine Center fan, even proudly displaying several of her works on my favorites’ shelf. So what happened here?🤷♀️
Sadie’s dream is about to come true. She’s a struggling artist who became a finalist in a prestigious portrait competition. But now all that hard work may be for naught as she recovers from a repair of a leaking blood vessel in her brain. That’s right, six weeks before the final competition Sadie had to have brain surgery that left her with the inability to see faces!
And yes, it’s a real thing! Face blindness (Prosopagnosia).
I wish I could say I empathized with Sadie, but just couldn’t. She was such a despicable character even before her surgery. Selfish, whiny and rude.
The storyline itself gave me some difficulties. Inconsistencies regarding whose voice Sadie could recognize and who was a stranger every time they approached her.
Example:
Those are just a few but they just seemed to be endless.
A buddy read with Susanne that we both came away with identical thoughts and feelings. It generated quite the discussion, let me tell ya!!
I see most readers absolutely loved this book and I wish we could have joined them.
We’re very much in the minority here, enjoying cocktails on Outlier island.🍹😎🏝️ .
I had both the digital and audio versions, and on the positive side I did enjoy the narration from Patti Murin.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio.
I’m a huge Katherine Center fan, even proudly displaying several of her works on my favorites’ shelf. So what happened here?🤷♀️
Sadie’s dream is about to come true. She’s a struggling artist who became a finalist in a prestigious portrait competition. But now all that hard work may be for naught as she recovers from a repair of a leaking blood vessel in her brain. That’s right, six weeks before the final competition Sadie had to have brain surgery that left her with the inability to see faces!
And yes, it’s a real thing! Face blindness (Prosopagnosia).
I wish I could say I empathized with Sadie, but just couldn’t. She was such a despicable character even before her surgery. Selfish, whiny and rude.
The storyline itself gave me some difficulties. Inconsistencies regarding whose voice Sadie could recognize and who was a stranger every time they approached her.
Example:
Those are just a few but they just seemed to be endless.
A buddy read with Susanne that we both came away with identical thoughts and feelings. It generated quite the discussion, let me tell ya!!
I see most readers absolutely loved this book and I wish we could have joined them.
We’re very much in the minority here, enjoying cocktails on Outlier island.🍹😎🏝️ .
I had both the digital and audio versions, and on the positive side I did enjoy the narration from Patti Murin.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio.
July 12, 2023
4.5⭐
Awww, this was such a feel-good and happy read!! When I finished I had this big grin on my face and felt I want to give strangers a hug like a crazy woman that I am, hahaa! 🤗🥰
Kathrine Center has become my top go-to romance author. Hello Stranger is my third novel by the author and I find her greatest strength to be her characters. I fall in love with her characters every single time.
Her characters are likable and quirky. They often have some sort of challenges in their life and are surrounded by characters that are equally memorable.
Sadie Montgomery's a portrait artist down on her luck and kinda broke. A sudden seizure put Sadie in a hospital and surgery resulted in her temporary (?) face blindness. How will she paint? Her beloved fur baby Peanut is sick and needs to see a vet. Her BFF Sue elopes while she's going through all of this. She can't even see the face of her evil stepmother and sister. That weasel neighbor Joe is just too helpful.
Wow, that's a lot for poor Sadie to overcome. I love how the author adds humor to all that life throws at Sadie. The crush on Dr. Addison, Peanuts's vet who she fantasized about marrying (without knowing what he looks like), and her wonderful landlord Mr. Kim who is like family.
I love the message of joy and strength and how one overcomes her challenges. The author gives readers another heartwarming and clean romance. I completely enjoyed this romcom and yes, I did see the reveal coming a mile away but it was still a pretty amazing read. Don't miss the author's note and the audio by Patti Murin is fantastic. Loooved it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my advance copy for review.
Published July 11, 2023!
Awww, this was such a feel-good and happy read!! When I finished I had this big grin on my face and felt I want to give strangers a hug like a crazy woman that I am, hahaa! 🤗🥰
Kathrine Center has become my top go-to romance author. Hello Stranger is my third novel by the author and I find her greatest strength to be her characters. I fall in love with her characters every single time.
Her characters are likable and quirky. They often have some sort of challenges in their life and are surrounded by characters that are equally memorable.
Sadie Montgomery's a portrait artist down on her luck and kinda broke. A sudden seizure put Sadie in a hospital and surgery resulted in her temporary (?) face blindness. How will she paint? Her beloved fur baby Peanut is sick and needs to see a vet. Her BFF Sue elopes while she's going through all of this. She can't even see the face of her evil stepmother and sister. That weasel neighbor Joe is just too helpful.
Wow, that's a lot for poor Sadie to overcome. I love how the author adds humor to all that life throws at Sadie. The crush on Dr. Addison, Peanuts's vet who she fantasized about marrying (without knowing what he looks like), and her wonderful landlord Mr. Kim who is like family.
I love the message of joy and strength and how one overcomes her challenges. The author gives readers another heartwarming and clean romance. I completely enjoyed this romcom and yes, I did see the reveal coming a mile away but it was still a pretty amazing read. Don't miss the author's note and the audio by Patti Murin is fantastic. Loooved it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my advance copy for review.
Published July 11, 2023!
July 17, 2023
4 Stars
I wanted to write a long, fully-fleshed out review for this book; but, alas, I just can't be bothered right now.
Because tired.
Lazy.
Sadly lacking in any motivation for actual effort.
You get the picture.
Instead I just figured I would lay something down here before I completely forget to do so.
So off we go.
After really, really not liking Katherine Center's last book (which I found WAY too cheesy sweet and the review for which you can find HERE), I didn't look toward her next release with all that much excitement; however, after seeing that this book featured a character with Prosopagnosia, I was 100% on board.
You see, a few years ago, I remember reading an article that talked about Brad Pitt having Prosopagnosia, or "face blindness," and he talked about his struggle to recognize people outside of environmental context, etc. As I often do when I find something particularly interesting, I fell down a research rabbit hole and read alllllll up on Prosopagnosia. So I was super intrigued by this book premise.
And overall, I feel like this delivered for me on the intriguing Prosopagnosia front AND the sweet romance-lite (without being TOO sticky sweet) front. Sadie was a nice character and I enjoyed her. Was she borderline Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Yes. But at least she wasn't as obnoxious as What You Wish For's Samantha.
Man, I could not stand those characters. At ALL. So I was a little worried Sadie would head in that direction. Thankfully, she didn't. And add in these quotes:
"'Are you telling me that love isn't real?'
But Dr. Nicole pulled rank on me then. Pausing a good while before saying, 'Is that a question designed to get us closer to the truth or to steer us away from it?'
God, she was good."
Stop it, you magical mage.
Followed up with:
"If there were a dog hall of fame, Peanut would be on all their merchandise. He was cute as hell without being full of himself. He was endlessly cheery. He was a good eater without being a glutton. He was just as happy to go on a walk as he was to spend the entire day napping. He loved a good squeaky toy, but he lost interest at exactly the same rate I did...His self-esteem was solid. His fashion sense was legendary. His sense of humor was totally deadpan. I preferred him to most people even in normal times, is what I'm saying."
SOLD.
Speaking of dogs, the "twist" here was so obvious that any one of my four dogs would have seen it from a mile away if they could actually read. And one of my dogs is arguably and legitimately mentally challenged.
Was the evil Parker stepsister character seemingly right out of Cinderella?
Yes.
Was the ending completely ridiculous and overly convenient?
Yes.
Did I still appreciate the overall optimism and feelings of HOPE Katherine Center always goes for? Yes.
In fact, the author's note in this book was one of my favorite parts of the reading experience and it actually made me enjoy the book that much more. It made me appreciate Katherine Center's brand of storytelling and the hopefulness with which she paints the page. What You Wish For had the same underlying theme, but did not land for me. Well this one did.
Perhaps it all comes down to timing. Who knows. Either way, I really enjoyed this book for what it was: a book about humanity and hope with a sprinkle of romance and an interesting premise.
I wanted to write a long, fully-fleshed out review for this book; but, alas, I just can't be bothered right now.
Because tired.
Lazy.
Sadly lacking in any motivation for actual effort.
You get the picture.
Instead I just figured I would lay something down here before I completely forget to do so.
So off we go.
After really, really not liking Katherine Center's last book (which I found WAY too cheesy sweet and the review for which you can find HERE), I didn't look toward her next release with all that much excitement; however, after seeing that this book featured a character with Prosopagnosia, I was 100% on board.
You see, a few years ago, I remember reading an article that talked about Brad Pitt having Prosopagnosia, or "face blindness," and he talked about his struggle to recognize people outside of environmental context, etc. As I often do when I find something particularly interesting, I fell down a research rabbit hole and read alllllll up on Prosopagnosia. So I was super intrigued by this book premise.
And overall, I feel like this delivered for me on the intriguing Prosopagnosia front AND the sweet romance-lite (without being TOO sticky sweet) front. Sadie was a nice character and I enjoyed her. Was she borderline Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Yes. But at least she wasn't as obnoxious as What You Wish For's Samantha.
Man, I could not stand those characters. At ALL. So I was a little worried Sadie would head in that direction. Thankfully, she didn't. And add in these quotes:
"'Are you telling me that love isn't real?'
But Dr. Nicole pulled rank on me then. Pausing a good while before saying, 'Is that a question designed to get us closer to the truth or to steer us away from it?'
God, she was good."
Stop it, you magical mage.
Followed up with:
"If there were a dog hall of fame, Peanut would be on all their merchandise. He was cute as hell without being full of himself. He was endlessly cheery. He was a good eater without being a glutton. He was just as happy to go on a walk as he was to spend the entire day napping. He loved a good squeaky toy, but he lost interest at exactly the same rate I did...His self-esteem was solid. His fashion sense was legendary. His sense of humor was totally deadpan. I preferred him to most people even in normal times, is what I'm saying."
SOLD.
Speaking of dogs, the "twist" here was so obvious that any one of my four dogs would have seen it from a mile away if they could actually read. And one of my dogs is arguably and legitimately mentally challenged.
Was the evil Parker stepsister character seemingly right out of Cinderella?
Yes.
Was the ending completely ridiculous and overly convenient?
Yes.
Did I still appreciate the overall optimism and feelings of HOPE Katherine Center always goes for? Yes.
In fact, the author's note in this book was one of my favorite parts of the reading experience and it actually made me enjoy the book that much more. It made me appreciate Katherine Center's brand of storytelling and the hopefulness with which she paints the page. What You Wish For had the same underlying theme, but did not land for me. Well this one did.
Perhaps it all comes down to timing. Who knows. Either way, I really enjoyed this book for what it was: a book about humanity and hope with a sprinkle of romance and an interesting premise.
July 12, 2023
3.5⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Publication date ~ July 11, 2023
Page Count ~ 336
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Patti Murin
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ face blindness, slow burn, no steamage
Sadie is excited about some news that could change her life when she has a seizure that does change her life. She has brain surgery that results in face blindness, which doesn't bode well for her career as a portrait artist.
I fount it to be a bit on the slower side as Sadie had to try to figure out who was talking to her based on their voice and what she can recognize of something someone has worn in the past. While I'm sure this is quite disconcerting and something I never want to experience, and I know this is the main plot, but it got to be a little much for me. How many times can one person dupe her ~ and the duper was a doozie.
She has 2 possible love interests:
Joe ~ the helpful neighbor who she mistakes for a sleaze.
Dr. Addison ~ the veterinarian who tends to her beloved, Peanut.
Who will she choose? I must say I am very happy with her choice 😉
Overall, I did not love this one like I did The Bodyguard, but I still liked it well enough. There is so much love for this one from other reviewers, so go see what they have to say.
I was fortune enough to have a kindle copy and an audio copy ~ both ways were fine. The narrator did a fine job. She totally nailed a good voice for the rude bully step sister, Parker.
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the audio copy and ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Publication date ~ July 11, 2023
Page Count ~ 336
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Patti Murin
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ face blindness, slow burn, no steamage
Sadie is excited about some news that could change her life when she has a seizure that does change her life. She has brain surgery that results in face blindness, which doesn't bode well for her career as a portrait artist.
I fount it to be a bit on the slower side as Sadie had to try to figure out who was talking to her based on their voice and what she can recognize of something someone has worn in the past. While I'm sure this is quite disconcerting and something I never want to experience, and I know this is the main plot, but it got to be a little much for me. How many times can one person dupe her ~ and the duper was a doozie.
She has 2 possible love interests:
Joe ~ the helpful neighbor who she mistakes for a sleaze.
Dr. Addison ~ the veterinarian who tends to her beloved, Peanut.
Who will she choose? I must say I am very happy with her choice 😉
Overall, I did not love this one like I did The Bodyguard, but I still liked it well enough. There is so much love for this one from other reviewers, so go see what they have to say.
I was fortune enough to have a kindle copy and an audio copy ~ both ways were fine. The narrator did a fine job. She totally nailed a good voice for the rude bully step sister, Parker.
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the audio copy and ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
July 12, 2023
Be still my heart! This book is fantastic. Keep them coming Katherine!
June 8, 2023
I'm awarding Katherine Center the Nobel Prize for a brand new category: Feel Good Literature!!!
In her Author's Note at the end of this novel, Katherine Center ably defends the love story: it's raison d'etre, its necessary place in a happier, more inclusive and progressive world, and the need for an end to the denigration of a genre labeled "romance" or "women's fiction".
AGREED!!! In fact, we should lobby for a new label: Feel Good Lit sounds perfect to me.
We DO need romance in our lives. These tumultuous love stories, as Katherine Center points out, are purveyors of HOPE - something we humans can't truly live without. I make no apologies for reading them, EVER!
Sadie Montgomery is a firecracker of a character! She refuses to admit that she ever needs help - especially from her distant, heartless father and her horrible stepmother, Lucinda! Parker, Lucinda's evil daughter, made Sadie's teenage years a living hell. Parker was one character you loved to hate!
You'd think a story about a woman needing brain surgery, then developing face blindness as a result, would be one long tear-fest. Well, think again. I laughed so hard and so often as I traveled along with brave, daffy Sadie on her slow road to recovery. I've also highlighted a colossal number of insightful, light bulb moment passages on my Kindle in this beautifully written, heart-stirring novel. Katherine Center has surpassed herself: I was impressed!
The final chapter was a parody of a Whodunnit, with the big reveal elaborately (and hilariously) dissected by Joe, Sadie and Sue. (Reminded me so much of a Three Stooges episode, that scene!)
And what a huge aw-worthy denouement! Just.... filled my heart and curled my toes! Well done!
I'm giving all the stars to this highly entertaining novel that delivered on all levels. (I highly encourage you to read the Author's Note: I cheered and was totally inspired!) My thanks to Katherine Center, MacMillan Publishers, and NetGalley for an ARC of this outstandingly fabulous novel in exchange for an honest review! It was my ABSOLUTE, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD PLEASURE!!!
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: (I tried to post this on the AUDIOBOOK VERSION, BUT NO LUCK, SO I ADDED MY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW HERE.) (jUNE 7, 2023)
Another fabulous audiobook experience. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this hilarious, edge of your seat life drama.
Do yourself a favour and listen to this "can't breathe - wet your pants - laughing so hard" audiobook.
Sadie is trying to put a brave face on a terrible diagnosis. Joe doesn't know what to make of Sadie.
It all makes for a sometimes heartbreaking, often times hilarious, whirlwind of a story - don't miss this wild but funny ride!
Do I need to say more?!! Hurry up and go listen to it!
My thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for an ARc of this most excellent audiobook.!
April 19, 2023
4.5 stars
Katherine Center does it again! She delivers a warm-hearted lighter read with substance. She doesn’t shy away from dealing with tough issues, but does so with a light hand.
Sadie, a portrait artist, is left with temporary face-blindness (prosopagnosia) after a TBI and brain surgery. She has 6 weeks before a major competition where she is the finalist. She NEEDS to win, not just for the prize money but to validate her career choice to herself and her family. But how can she paint a face when she can’t see faces?
Sadie has some baggage from her past (who doesn’t?), which is challenging enough without her added troubles. I loved how she worked through her issues and showed growth throughout the book.
Meanwhile, 2 men enter her life: her new vet, who helps her dog, Peanut, through a health crisis, and Joe, a neighbor who doesn’t exactly make the best first impression. How this plays out makes for much of the humor in the story.
I love a lighter read with substance, and appreciated the author’s research into the topics she addressed.
Don’t miss the author’s note as it’s a gem! Isn’t one of the reasons we love these types of novels is for the HEA, especially if we enjoy the journey along the way? She suggests we start using the word “anticipate” instead of “predictable”, which has a negative connotation.
So, OK, I anticipated part of the ending. Did I care? Absolutely not. As she says, the clues along the way give the reader something to look forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story played out. And, just to be clear, there were still a few “unpredictable” surprises. Best of all, I closed the book with a warm heart and a smile on my face. A few years ago, someone coined the phrase “Up Lit” and this is a perfect example.
*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* This was a buddy read with Marialyce, so don’t miss her review!
Katherine Center does it again! She delivers a warm-hearted lighter read with substance. She doesn’t shy away from dealing with tough issues, but does so with a light hand.
Sadie, a portrait artist, is left with temporary face-blindness (prosopagnosia) after a TBI and brain surgery. She has 6 weeks before a major competition where she is the finalist. She NEEDS to win, not just for the prize money but to validate her career choice to herself and her family. But how can she paint a face when she can’t see faces?
Sadie has some baggage from her past (who doesn’t?), which is challenging enough without her added troubles. I loved how she worked through her issues and showed growth throughout the book.
Meanwhile, 2 men enter her life: her new vet, who helps her dog, Peanut, through a health crisis, and Joe, a neighbor who doesn’t exactly make the best first impression. How this plays out makes for much of the humor in the story.
I love a lighter read with substance, and appreciated the author’s research into the topics she addressed.
Don’t miss the author’s note as it’s a gem! Isn’t one of the reasons we love these types of novels is for the HEA, especially if we enjoy the journey along the way? She suggests we start using the word “anticipate” instead of “predictable”, which has a negative connotation.
So, OK, I anticipated part of the ending. Did I care? Absolutely not. As she says, the clues along the way give the reader something to look forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story played out. And, just to be clear, there were still a few “unpredictable” surprises. Best of all, I closed the book with a warm heart and a smile on my face. A few years ago, someone coined the phrase “Up Lit” and this is a perfect example.
*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* This was a buddy read with Marialyce, so don’t miss her review!
April 29, 2023
Update - reread via audio and loved it! This book has such a special place in my heart.
It is no secret that I am a huge Kathrine Center fan. So there was very little doubt this would be any less than a five star read for me. And yet I had no idea I would love it as much as I did. From the wonderful, quirky characters to the very unique plotline, I found myself completely immersed in Sadie’s world and never wanted to leave.
First and foremost, Center creates *the* most relatable characters I have ever read. Whether the MC is a female firefighter struggling to succeed in in a male dominated profession, a thirty-year-old divorcee struggling to find her place in the world, or an executive protection agent assigned to a reclusive moviestar, I always feel as though I know the ins and outs of each of these characters. I knows what makes them tick and what demons lurk in their shadows. By the time I have finished reading, they have become the best literary friends.
Sadie is no different. From the moment she busts out a Smokey Robinson performance in the middle of the corner store, I knew Sadie was my kind of person. At every turn, I felt as I knew her. I laughed at her silly antics, cried at her struggles, and swooned right along with her as the least likely candiate became a potential love. As for Joe, well there are not enough words to express my love for his character. And let’s not forget the loveable Peanut who dare I say, eats better than I do.
Read if you like:
•unique plots
•well done love triangles
•laugh out loud dialgoue
•family drama
•swoony romance
•charming characters
If you are looking for a book that has a whole lot of humor, swoony romantic vibes, fantastic main and supporting characters, and a whole lot of heart, this is the book for you. I would give it 10 stars if I could. Somehow Center always manages to speak to my soul.
Thank you to SMP Romance and Edelweiss for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
It is no secret that I am a huge Kathrine Center fan. So there was very little doubt this would be any less than a five star read for me. And yet I had no idea I would love it as much as I did. From the wonderful, quirky characters to the very unique plotline, I found myself completely immersed in Sadie’s world and never wanted to leave.
First and foremost, Center creates *the* most relatable characters I have ever read. Whether the MC is a female firefighter struggling to succeed in in a male dominated profession, a thirty-year-old divorcee struggling to find her place in the world, or an executive protection agent assigned to a reclusive moviestar, I always feel as though I know the ins and outs of each of these characters. I knows what makes them tick and what demons lurk in their shadows. By the time I have finished reading, they have become the best literary friends.
Sadie is no different. From the moment she busts out a Smokey Robinson performance in the middle of the corner store, I knew Sadie was my kind of person. At every turn, I felt as I knew her. I laughed at her silly antics, cried at her struggles, and swooned right along with her as the least likely candiate became a potential love. As for Joe, well there are not enough words to express my love for his character. And let’s not forget the loveable Peanut who dare I say, eats better than I do.
Read if you like:
•unique plots
•well done love triangles
•laugh out loud dialgoue
•family drama
•swoony romance
•charming characters
If you are looking for a book that has a whole lot of humor, swoony romantic vibes, fantastic main and supporting characters, and a whole lot of heart, this is the book for you. I would give it 10 stars if I could. Somehow Center always manages to speak to my soul.
Thank you to SMP Romance and Edelweiss for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2023
Katherine Center never fails to delight me with her books. I love the feel-good romance and the knowledge that the book will leave me with a smile on my face. I adored her author's note at the end where she talks about the joy of reading romance novels and that is the attitude I always have when I start one of her novels.
This one is not perfect, the main character Sadie really annoyed me with her absolute iron clad insistence to not accept help from anyone. I felt like that was very immature and her growth comes pretty late in the story, but props that it does occur. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, but it was still fun and absolutely satisfying when it does.
When I first read that this book dealt with prosopagnosia (face blindness) I rolled my eyes and said "not again" because this seems to be a popular plot point these days. However, the way that Center uses it and describes it in this story made it completely plausible and was a very effective and intriguing premise. I understand it in a way that I didn't before.
Sign me up for the next Katherine Center book because I'm totally here for her thoroughly engaging and delightful stories. I listened to this one partially as an audiobook and Patti Murin's narration was wonderful for Sadie. She gives the story the exact amount of lightness and humor.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This one is not perfect, the main character Sadie really annoyed me with her absolute iron clad insistence to not accept help from anyone. I felt like that was very immature and her growth comes pretty late in the story, but props that it does occur. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, but it was still fun and absolutely satisfying when it does.
When I first read that this book dealt with prosopagnosia (face blindness) I rolled my eyes and said "not again" because this seems to be a popular plot point these days. However, the way that Center uses it and describes it in this story made it completely plausible and was a very effective and intriguing premise. I understand it in a way that I didn't before.
Sign me up for the next Katherine Center book because I'm totally here for her thoroughly engaging and delightful stories. I listened to this one partially as an audiobook and Patti Murin's narration was wonderful for Sadie. She gives the story the exact amount of lightness and humor.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 2, 2023
Finally. My first Katherine Center novel.
I picked a good one, too. At least it seems I did because most readers are loving Hello Stranger right along with me.
It’s a super cute, clean romance about a young artist named Sadie who suddenly finds herself suffering from face blindness while falling in love with two different men. Poor Sadie – love is confusing enough on its own, but it’s emotional chaos when you can’t see the faces of the people you’re falling for.
It seems like I’ve been reading a lot of books lately with prosopagnosia as a literary device. And I won’t lie – when I read the synopsis for Center’s latest I thought, Again? But in this instance, it really does work. The face blindness adds weight to the storyline while also providing stumbling blocks for Sadie as she makes her way towards love.
And what I couldn't get over is the vibrancy of Center's writing. The characters, the inner feelings and musings of the protagonist … it’s all drawn so well. I felt as if I was standing right beside Sadie, munching my popcorn, an eyewitness to the action. (Side note: Center may have drawn Parker a bit too well. She’s so hateful that she's almost a caricature.)
Will someone please give me a high five for my first Katherine Center read? I feel like I need it, I’m so gosh darn happy. Hello Stranger charmed me to no end.
My sincerest appreciation to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
I picked a good one, too. At least it seems I did because most readers are loving Hello Stranger right along with me.
It’s a super cute, clean romance about a young artist named Sadie who suddenly finds herself suffering from face blindness while falling in love with two different men. Poor Sadie – love is confusing enough on its own, but it’s emotional chaos when you can’t see the faces of the people you’re falling for.
It seems like I’ve been reading a lot of books lately with prosopagnosia as a literary device. And I won’t lie – when I read the synopsis for Center’s latest I thought, Again? But in this instance, it really does work. The face blindness adds weight to the storyline while also providing stumbling blocks for Sadie as she makes her way towards love.
And what I couldn't get over is the vibrancy of Center's writing. The characters, the inner feelings and musings of the protagonist … it’s all drawn so well. I felt as if I was standing right beside Sadie, munching my popcorn, an eyewitness to the action. (Side note: Center may have drawn Parker a bit too well. She’s so hateful that she's almost a caricature.)
Will someone please give me a high five for my first Katherine Center read? I feel like I need it, I’m so gosh darn happy. Hello Stranger charmed me to no end.
My sincerest appreciation to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
May 28, 2023
Was it cute? As sweet as candy. 🍭
Did I devour it? Like pizza on a Friday night. 🍕
I get picky with romance, but this is romance done right! ❤️
I adored the main characters and despised the antagonists. Who knew you could like as well as dislike fictional characters so much? 🤷♀️
Peanut reminded me so much of my friend’s dog so of course I had a magnetic pull there for the best for Peanut! 🐶
Sue (the BFF) was my favorite character and I’d love to read a book about her story if the author ever chose to write one!
I will say, you have to suspend a bit of belief during a portion near the end of the book, but A+ for creativity and the boldness to try something new!
A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this book. Hello Stranger will be published July 11th, 2023. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐️ rounding up.
Did I devour it? Like pizza on a Friday night. 🍕
I get picky with romance, but this is romance done right! ❤️
I adored the main characters and despised the antagonists. Who knew you could like as well as dislike fictional characters so much? 🤷♀️
Peanut reminded me so much of my friend’s dog so of course I had a magnetic pull there for the best for Peanut! 🐶
Sue (the BFF) was my favorite character and I’d love to read a book about her story if the author ever chose to write one!
I will say, you have to suspend a bit of belief during a portion near the end of the book, but A+ for creativity and the boldness to try something new!
A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this book. Hello Stranger will be published July 11th, 2023. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐️ rounding up.
Read
August 29, 2023DNF - I really tried and read two more chapters, but the female main character is insufferable. I cant do it!!!!
March 4, 2023
5 amazing stars!
I have loved all of Katherine Center's books and this one is not the exception.
Our heroine is Sadie Montgomery. She is a struggling artist who paints portraits. She has recently entered a competition and she might have the chance to win 10000 dollars. This is the same competition her mother, who passed away, entered too. Sadie wants to demonstrate to her father that she can be successful in doing what she loves.
However, six weeks before the competition, she learns that she needs to have brain surgery. The surgery has minimal risk and after it, she could begin painting her portrait. What Sadie was not expecting is to stop being able to see faces. After her surgery, she develops acquire apperceptive prosopagnosia. When she realizes this, she freaks out. To make matters worse, her dog, Peanut gets sick. She takes him to the emergency vet. Dr. Addison is able to save Peanut and even without seeing his face, she falls for him. She's thrilled when he asks her out. But things can't be easy, she also meets Joe. He lives in the same building as she does. At first, she dislikes him but the more she gets to know him, the more she starts falling for him too.
What is Sadie going to do? And how is she going to win the competition without being able to see faces?
Loved it. Love Sadie and Joe. So cute together. I also loved Peanut and thankfully no John Wick harm comes to pass.
Now that Happiness for Beginners it's coming to the screen, Hello Stranger can come out as a movie too.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
I have loved all of Katherine Center's books and this one is not the exception.
Our heroine is Sadie Montgomery. She is a struggling artist who paints portraits. She has recently entered a competition and she might have the chance to win 10000 dollars. This is the same competition her mother, who passed away, entered too. Sadie wants to demonstrate to her father that she can be successful in doing what she loves.
However, six weeks before the competition, she learns that she needs to have brain surgery. The surgery has minimal risk and after it, she could begin painting her portrait. What Sadie was not expecting is to stop being able to see faces. After her surgery, she develops acquire apperceptive prosopagnosia. When she realizes this, she freaks out. To make matters worse, her dog, Peanut gets sick. She takes him to the emergency vet. Dr. Addison is able to save Peanut and even without seeing his face, she falls for him. She's thrilled when he asks her out. But things can't be easy, she also meets Joe. He lives in the same building as she does. At first, she dislikes him but the more she gets to know him, the more she starts falling for him too.
What is Sadie going to do? And how is she going to win the competition without being able to see faces?
Loved it. Love Sadie and Joe. So cute together. I also loved Peanut and thankfully no John Wick harm comes to pass.
Now that Happiness for Beginners it's coming to the screen, Hello Stranger can come out as a movie too.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 26, 2023
I have always looked forward to Katherine Center’s books, and was anxiously awaiting this one to read, as well. I have read a few mixed reviews, but this wasn’t going to stop me from being open with my own mind and heart to it.
So here I go.
Premise: Sadie Montgomery is an artist looking for her break. Things seem to be going her way when she finally gets one as a finalist in a portrait competition. It coincides with a surgery she needs. They say minor surgery. Less than a week stay in the hospital, they tell her. Nothing will change, for her they convince her.
But…
That is not what Sadie wakes up to because what really happens is that she can no longer see faces.
They tell her it will be temporary. Lots of people deal with this, they say to her.
They sure do to tell her a lot of things, don’t they?
As Sadie attempts to cope and hang on to her artistic dreams – she finds solace in her 14-year-old dog, Peanut. Thank goodness for dogs! At least she can see animal faces!
When Peanut gets ill, she rushes him to the vet where she meets Dr. Oliver Addison. And well, what should occur but…
Romance perhaps?
But then there is her obnoxious neighbor Joe, who might become her friend.
Or…
Could there be something more here?
Swoon-worthy?
Come on, aren’t we in the mood for this after a few psychological thrillers?
Yes! We are!
Sassy and uplifting, too.
This is a heart-tugging tale that takes readers into the life of a struggling artist, trying to juggle life after a life-changing complication after surgery. Who with her loyal companion, who needs some emergency care, as well, gets some attention, too.
The writing is engaging.
The characters are layered, supportive and patient.
The plot centers on family, friendship, self-discovery, healing, taking chances, growth, revelations, romance, new beginnings, and living with prosopagnosia (face blindness).
It wasn’t perfect… but, I enjoyed being carried away. I think you will, too.
So here I go.
Premise: Sadie Montgomery is an artist looking for her break. Things seem to be going her way when she finally gets one as a finalist in a portrait competition. It coincides with a surgery she needs. They say minor surgery. Less than a week stay in the hospital, they tell her. Nothing will change, for her they convince her.
But…
That is not what Sadie wakes up to because what really happens is that she can no longer see faces.
They tell her it will be temporary. Lots of people deal with this, they say to her.
They sure do to tell her a lot of things, don’t they?
As Sadie attempts to cope and hang on to her artistic dreams – she finds solace in her 14-year-old dog, Peanut. Thank goodness for dogs! At least she can see animal faces!
When Peanut gets ill, she rushes him to the vet where she meets Dr. Oliver Addison. And well, what should occur but…
Romance perhaps?
But then there is her obnoxious neighbor Joe, who might become her friend.
Or…
Could there be something more here?
Swoon-worthy?
Come on, aren’t we in the mood for this after a few psychological thrillers?
Yes! We are!
Sassy and uplifting, too.
This is a heart-tugging tale that takes readers into the life of a struggling artist, trying to juggle life after a life-changing complication after surgery. Who with her loyal companion, who needs some emergency care, as well, gets some attention, too.
The writing is engaging.
The characters are layered, supportive and patient.
The plot centers on family, friendship, self-discovery, healing, taking chances, growth, revelations, romance, new beginnings, and living with prosopagnosia (face blindness).
It wasn’t perfect… but, I enjoyed being carried away. I think you will, too.
July 8, 2023
thank you netgalley for the arc !
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 2.5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ love triangle (with a crazy plot twist)
♡ super cute senior dog called peanut
♡ miscommunication galore
➸ after reading the man who mistook his wife for a hat many years ago, i recall being fascinated with the condition of prosopagnosia - dubbed more often as face blindness - for a significant amount of time. my terminal opinion of hello stranger notwithstanding, katherine center has authored a singularly unique story orbiting around a neurological condition affecting more of the population than you might suspect. the sheer creativity required to have concocted the foundational plot is absolutely and insanely commendable.
➸ sadie, a portraiture artist has scarcely begun celebrating being initiated into the finalist round of the North American Portrait Society competition when she’s prone in a hospital bed and slapped with a diagnosis of face blindness that may or may not be permanent. naturally, her career as a portrait artist and the competition are now at risk. struggling to piece her life back together with this newfound way of seeing the world around her, she’s caught up in comedic misunderstanding after misunderstanding - bent on not sharing with anyone the news of her condition. unable to judge others as well as before thanks to not being able to read their expressions, she’s now seemingly getting her poor neighbour joe’s number all wrong when he only seems intent on helping her, falling head over heels for a veterinarian she can’t see and just generally muddling her way forward till the day she’s told whether or not this change in her life is going to stick.
<➸ this is my second center novel and much as i maintain that this was foundationally brilliant, to my disappointment, the overall effect dims in the comparison. sadie came across immature, pathologically whiny and dare i say it… stupid. she initially seeks to defer her surgery for a potentially life-threatening condition and takes one too many pages to give in. riddled with prepossessions regarding both love interests, she cuts a rather narrow-minded figure. at least the relationship between her and peanut redeems her greatly in my eyes and for all her unpleasantness she is immensely humorous. that’s one element you can always count on with center, her comedic timing has been honed to a keen-blade - this book is seriously funny. joe on the other hand is more likeable if not a bit hallmark in his lack of foibles and same goes for the veterinarian. all told, the characters here are not doing too many favours in service of the story. the pacing is pretty fast which would have been fine on its own if not for the insta-love. the romance is a little heavy-handed and rushed in its development which is something i personally tend to veer clear away from so my opinion of that is coloured by a personal distaste. in any event, the writing was witty even if turns of phrases were repeated too frequently.
➸ conclusion :
hello stanger is an eccentric spin on a prevalent but little-known neurological condition which will lure you in with its humorous timing - or rather, in the case of poor sadie, its mistiming - and you’ll find yourself paging through this one rather quickly (so long as you’re not ill-disposed towards a more childish romance), if not having a blast.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 2.5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ love triangle (with a crazy plot twist)
♡ super cute senior dog called peanut
♡ miscommunication galore
➸ after reading the man who mistook his wife for a hat many years ago, i recall being fascinated with the condition of prosopagnosia - dubbed more often as face blindness - for a significant amount of time. my terminal opinion of hello stranger notwithstanding, katherine center has authored a singularly unique story orbiting around a neurological condition affecting more of the population than you might suspect. the sheer creativity required to have concocted the foundational plot is absolutely and insanely commendable.
➸ sadie, a portraiture artist has scarcely begun celebrating being initiated into the finalist round of the North American Portrait Society competition when she’s prone in a hospital bed and slapped with a diagnosis of face blindness that may or may not be permanent. naturally, her career as a portrait artist and the competition are now at risk. struggling to piece her life back together with this newfound way of seeing the world around her, she’s caught up in comedic misunderstanding after misunderstanding - bent on not sharing with anyone the news of her condition. unable to judge others as well as before thanks to not being able to read their expressions, she’s now seemingly getting her poor neighbour joe’s number all wrong when he only seems intent on helping her, falling head over heels for a veterinarian she can’t see and just generally muddling her way forward till the day she’s told whether or not this change in her life is going to stick.
<➸ this is my second center novel and much as i maintain that this was foundationally brilliant, to my disappointment, the overall effect dims in the comparison. sadie came across immature, pathologically whiny and dare i say it… stupid. she initially seeks to defer her surgery for a potentially life-threatening condition and takes one too many pages to give in. riddled with prepossessions regarding both love interests, she cuts a rather narrow-minded figure. at least the relationship between her and peanut redeems her greatly in my eyes and for all her unpleasantness she is immensely humorous. that’s one element you can always count on with center, her comedic timing has been honed to a keen-blade - this book is seriously funny. joe on the other hand is more likeable if not a bit hallmark in his lack of foibles and same goes for the veterinarian. all told, the characters here are not doing too many favours in service of the story. the pacing is pretty fast which would have been fine on its own if not for the insta-love. the romance is a little heavy-handed and rushed in its development which is something i personally tend to veer clear away from so my opinion of that is coloured by a personal distaste. in any event, the writing was witty even if turns of phrases were repeated too frequently.
➸ conclusion :
hello stanger is an eccentric spin on a prevalent but little-known neurological condition which will lure you in with its humorous timing - or rather, in the case of poor sadie, its mistiming - and you’ll find yourself paging through this one rather quickly (so long as you’re not ill-disposed towards a more childish romance), if not having a blast.
June 17, 2023
Katherine Center is my new go-to author for a feel good read. Sadie Montgomery is such a relatable and endearing heroine. Her acquired case of prosopagnosia or face blindness is a reminder of how intricately connected our senses are. The Author's Note included a checklist for a nourishing read:
Did it make me laugh? ✔
Did it make me swoon? ✔
Did it keep me up too late reading? ✔
Did it give me that blissed-out feeling? ✔
Did it give me something to think about? ✔
A new perspective? ✔
And something to look forward to? ✔
That's why I gave this one all the stars.
Did it make me laugh? ✔
Did it make me swoon? ✔
Did it keep me up too late reading? ✔
Did it give me that blissed-out feeling? ✔
Did it give me something to think about? ✔
A new perspective? ✔
And something to look forward to? ✔
That's why I gave this one all the stars.
March 20, 2023
I requested this book for my daughter to read.
This is what she had to say..
A quick and light read.. a sweet romance… interesting and different with the disability that she had.
Picked up on the twist early on!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!
This is what she had to say..
A quick and light read.. a sweet romance… interesting and different with the disability that she had.
Picked up on the twist early on!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!
July 13, 2023
4.5 well deserved stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have been a fan of Katherine Center for a long time. Her newest addition, Hello Stranger, not only met my expectations but surpassed them. I fell in love with the characters Katherine Center created and brought to life in Hello Stranger. It was so well paced, addictive in that I could not pull myself away from it and so well plotted. Hello Stranger just might be my favorite of all her books!
The main character, Sadie Montgomery, was a struggling but quirky portrait artist. Sadie lost her mother when she was a young and impressionable girl. Her mother was her best friend and she missed her each and every day even though it had been years since she died. Sadie had followed in her mother’s footsteps and had become a portrait artist. Sadie was intent in following in her mother’s footsteps as a portrait artist.
When Sadie learned that she was named as a finalist in an art competition that she had entered, she had high hopes that her luck and life was about to change. Sadie had just been informed that she was one of ten finalists in the North American Portrait Society competition. She had six weeks to prepare the portrait that she would submit for the competition. The prize money was impressive and could change her current lifestyle in so many ways.
Sadie lived in a rooftop shack/hovel in a building that was owned by her best friend’s family. Mr. Kim had been told that Sadie was using the shack as an Artist studio. Unfortunately, Sadie was so broke that she and her adorable and faithful dog, Peanuts, lived and worked in the shack/hovel. Her father was a well respected cardiologist but Sadie’s relationship with her father was estranged. Sadie needed her father after her mother died but he was not there for her. He had remarried and Sadie acquired a step mother and an evil stepsister. Her father was unaware of Sadie’s current living situation and her financial woes and that was the way Sadie hoped to keep it.
Sadie could never had imagined how her life was about to spiral out of her control. A seizure placed Sadie in the hospital the day she learned about her becoming a finalist in the portrait competition. She was told that she required brain surgery and that it couldn’t be put off. What timing! She finally consented and remained optimistic about being able to complete her portrait in time for submission. Unfortunately, the surgery left Sadie with a condition called acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia or face blindness. How could a portrait artist paint her models faces if she could not see their features? What was Sadie going to do?
Sadie had another problem. She was attracted to two men. Sadie found herself fantasizing about a relationship with Peanuts’s veterinarian, Oliver. Then there was Joe, who lived in her building and was always there when she needed him. How could she choose between the two of them? What was she going to do? Would a long and passionate kiss make up her mind in a most difficult decision?
I adored Sadie’s character. Sadie was courageous, hopeful, determined, skeptical of certain aspects of the people she was associated with, a true romantic and good friend. I was surprised but pleasantly pleased with the conclusion of Hello Stranger. As Sadie’s and Joe’s relationship blossomed, I found myself rooting for them to accept their fate. I wanted them to find happiness with each other. Sadie’s friend Sue was just the kind of friend Sadie needed. I enjoyed Sadie’s relationship with her therapist as well. I was happy to make this journey with Sadie as she learned to deal with her face blindness, began to heal and found her own love story. Hello Stranger spoke about family dynamics, despair, acceptance, hope and falling in love. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Patti Murin. I highly recommend Hello Stranger to those of you who are hopeless romantics and can appreciate the real challenge that had been thrown in Sadie’s face.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The main character, Sadie Montgomery, was a struggling but quirky portrait artist. Sadie lost her mother when she was a young and impressionable girl. Her mother was her best friend and she missed her each and every day even though it had been years since she died. Sadie had followed in her mother’s footsteps and had become a portrait artist. Sadie was intent in following in her mother’s footsteps as a portrait artist.
When Sadie learned that she was named as a finalist in an art competition that she had entered, she had high hopes that her luck and life was about to change. Sadie had just been informed that she was one of ten finalists in the North American Portrait Society competition. She had six weeks to prepare the portrait that she would submit for the competition. The prize money was impressive and could change her current lifestyle in so many ways.
Sadie lived in a rooftop shack/hovel in a building that was owned by her best friend’s family. Mr. Kim had been told that Sadie was using the shack as an Artist studio. Unfortunately, Sadie was so broke that she and her adorable and faithful dog, Peanuts, lived and worked in the shack/hovel. Her father was a well respected cardiologist but Sadie’s relationship with her father was estranged. Sadie needed her father after her mother died but he was not there for her. He had remarried and Sadie acquired a step mother and an evil stepsister. Her father was unaware of Sadie’s current living situation and her financial woes and that was the way Sadie hoped to keep it.
Sadie could never had imagined how her life was about to spiral out of her control. A seizure placed Sadie in the hospital the day she learned about her becoming a finalist in the portrait competition. She was told that she required brain surgery and that it couldn’t be put off. What timing! She finally consented and remained optimistic about being able to complete her portrait in time for submission. Unfortunately, the surgery left Sadie with a condition called acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia or face blindness. How could a portrait artist paint her models faces if she could not see their features? What was Sadie going to do?
Sadie had another problem. She was attracted to two men. Sadie found herself fantasizing about a relationship with Peanuts’s veterinarian, Oliver. Then there was Joe, who lived in her building and was always there when she needed him. How could she choose between the two of them? What was she going to do? Would a long and passionate kiss make up her mind in a most difficult decision?
I adored Sadie’s character. Sadie was courageous, hopeful, determined, skeptical of certain aspects of the people she was associated with, a true romantic and good friend. I was surprised but pleasantly pleased with the conclusion of Hello Stranger. As Sadie’s and Joe’s relationship blossomed, I found myself rooting for them to accept their fate. I wanted them to find happiness with each other. Sadie’s friend Sue was just the kind of friend Sadie needed. I enjoyed Sadie’s relationship with her therapist as well. I was happy to make this journey with Sadie as she learned to deal with her face blindness, began to heal and found her own love story. Hello Stranger spoke about family dynamics, despair, acceptance, hope and falling in love. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Patti Murin. I highly recommend Hello Stranger to those of you who are hopeless romantics and can appreciate the real challenge that had been thrown in Sadie’s face.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 13, 2023
5 stunning stars - grab your copy now!
Katherine Center is a “drop-everything” author for me. When I was offered the chance to read her newest book, that’s exactly what I did! All other books were pushed aside, and I savored this read! If there was a way to give it 15 stars I would!
This story features Sadie Montgomery, she’s a portrait painter determined to get her big break one day and find success. That day might just be coming because she’s one of ten finalists in a big portrait competition. Interestingly, her mother was a contestant in this very contest before she tragically died when Sadie was a teenager.
She’s about to celebrate one night when something goes horribly wrong with her health, and she discovers that she needs brain surgery. Initially, she wants to put it off until after the portrait competition, but doctors convince her she should do the surgery, and all will be fine. Unfortunately, she experiences a (hopefully short-term) side effect after the surgery called face blindness in layman’s terms. This is awful news for a portrait painter and the competition, how can she paint a portrait if someone’s face is a jumble of shapes?
As Sadie tries to find other ways of coping, her elderly dog gets sick, and she must take Peanut to the vet. Even though she can’t see his face, she knows that Dr. Oliver Addison is charming and handsome. Things take a brighter note when he asks her out on a date.
One of the coping mechanisms Sadie learns is to take notice of other things about someone, like their clothing or gait. She recognizes her neighbor Joe because he always seems to wear a bowling jacket. As Joe helps Sadie out a few times, a friendship starts to develop, and I was Team Joe in the romance department. Although Dr. Addison was still in contention, especially when he puts Peanut back in good health.
Sadie’s family is no help with the situation with a wicked stepsister and a stepmother and even her father constantly siding against Sadie. Luckily, Sadie’s best friend Sue and her family have informally adopted her and serve as a great support network.
This book was the perfect one to read at this time and thanks to the author’s note at the end, I now realize exactly why. It’s the anticipation effect with this genre, you somehow know that things will end in a good way for the characters. It doesn’t create anxiety like some thrillers can as you read them.
I was so impressed with Center’s descriptions of what face blindness is like for those experiencing it, she clearly did her research!
As I finished this one, I had such a joyful feeling, hence my desire for 15 stars! I toyed with immediately re-reading it, but I think I will save that for a day when I need to reclaim joy!
Be sure to check out Jayme's review, we loved this buddy read! I highly recommend this one.
My sincere thanks to Erica Martirano and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this one. There may have been a shout of excitement when I got the widget for this one!
Katherine Center is a “drop-everything” author for me. When I was offered the chance to read her newest book, that’s exactly what I did! All other books were pushed aside, and I savored this read! If there was a way to give it 15 stars I would!
This story features Sadie Montgomery, she’s a portrait painter determined to get her big break one day and find success. That day might just be coming because she’s one of ten finalists in a big portrait competition. Interestingly, her mother was a contestant in this very contest before she tragically died when Sadie was a teenager.
She’s about to celebrate one night when something goes horribly wrong with her health, and she discovers that she needs brain surgery. Initially, she wants to put it off until after the portrait competition, but doctors convince her she should do the surgery, and all will be fine. Unfortunately, she experiences a (hopefully short-term) side effect after the surgery called face blindness in layman’s terms. This is awful news for a portrait painter and the competition, how can she paint a portrait if someone’s face is a jumble of shapes?
As Sadie tries to find other ways of coping, her elderly dog gets sick, and she must take Peanut to the vet. Even though she can’t see his face, she knows that Dr. Oliver Addison is charming and handsome. Things take a brighter note when he asks her out on a date.
One of the coping mechanisms Sadie learns is to take notice of other things about someone, like their clothing or gait. She recognizes her neighbor Joe because he always seems to wear a bowling jacket. As Joe helps Sadie out a few times, a friendship starts to develop, and I was Team Joe in the romance department. Although Dr. Addison was still in contention, especially when he puts Peanut back in good health.
Sadie’s family is no help with the situation with a wicked stepsister and a stepmother and even her father constantly siding against Sadie. Luckily, Sadie’s best friend Sue and her family have informally adopted her and serve as a great support network.
This book was the perfect one to read at this time and thanks to the author’s note at the end, I now realize exactly why. It’s the anticipation effect with this genre, you somehow know that things will end in a good way for the characters. It doesn’t create anxiety like some thrillers can as you read them.
I was so impressed with Center’s descriptions of what face blindness is like for those experiencing it, she clearly did her research!
As I finished this one, I had such a joyful feeling, hence my desire for 15 stars! I toyed with immediately re-reading it, but I think I will save that for a day when I need to reclaim joy!
Be sure to check out Jayme's review, we loved this buddy read! I highly recommend this one.
My sincere thanks to Erica Martirano and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this one. There may have been a shout of excitement when I got the widget for this one!
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