Hello Stranger

By Katherine Center

Hello Stranger - Katherine Center
  • Release Date: 2023-07-11
  • Genre: Romantic Comedies
Score: 4
4
From 245 Ratings

Description

The glorious novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called “My perfect 10 of a book” (Emily Henry) and cheered for their “speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles” (People).

Love may be blind. But what if . . . what you see isn't what you get?


It’s all starting to come together for struggling artist Sadie Montgomery. She was just named a finalist in the national portrait competition of her dreams. But when she winds up with a rare, but real, condition where human faces look like jumbled puzzle pieces . . . it is, to say the least, not good.

With only a few weeks to paint the best portrait of her entire life, Sadie will do anything to reverse her condition and get back to work, but it’s anyone’s guess when (or even if) that'll happen.

Enter her dog’s charming veterinarian (who may or may not be Sadie’s daydream fiancé), and her bowling-jacket-wearing, Vespa-riding neighbor (who she can’t seem to stay away from)—both vying for her attention and adding to the chaos.

It’s a lot, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Because the truth is, seeing the world differently has its upsides. And love has an undeniable way of giving us courage. And the best way of looking is always, always with the heart.

"With its emphasis on its central character, combined with its “swoony” romance, “Hello Stranger” is a hit. Sadie is everything you could want in a protagonist — the right amount of quirky, sunshiney and stubborn, and the men she’s in love with are equally fascinating. All the side characters provide humor and comfort, and even those characters who you aren’t really supposed to like are annoyingly intriguing and captivating. Center created a brilliant cast of characters, set to a plot that’s sure to keep you reading." --Michigan Daily

Reviews

  • Great read!

    5
    By bobnjgu
    This author is hilarious. I loved this book. Page turner for sure. Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤩
  • A breath of fresh air!

    5
    By embulee
    I can’t say enough about what a joy it is to read anything by Katherine Center. She writes about imperfect people who work really hard to be better and who ultimately find love and light in their lives. There are no politics or preaching, just a great story that ends happily. This book not only was a great story but I learned a lot of things I didn’t know before. It was just a joy to read. The author waxes poetic in the notes at the end of the book about why romantic novels are so important and well loved. She says, “…tragedy is a given, but joy is a choice.” In a world where so many of us are dealing with huge problems, it is such a joy to take a breather and escape. I highly recommend doing just that with this book. You won’t be disappointed. ♥️
  • I love Sadie and her inspirational story!!

    5
    By Romance213
    Why haven’t I read more books by the amazing Katherine Center? Her latest masterpiece “Hello Stranger” is funny and uplifting, as well as serious and emotional. Sadie is my new hero as she faces a complex medical condition that changed everything about her life. She desperately wished her beloved mom, Nora, was still alive to help guide her through this difficult time. The special memories Sadie has about her mom brought tears to my eyes as I realized how close they were when she was growing up. I admired Sadie’s kind heart, her zest for life and her ability to ignore the naysayers as she traveled down her own road to success! The brightest light in Sadie’s life is her dog Peanut, a spry and energetic 14 year old Maltese/Yorkie mix. I worried along with Sadie when Peanut became ill, as she bundled him up and walked as fast as she could to the emergency vet, praying he could save his life. Sadie faced her illness with courage and humor as she bravely navigated the world of faceless strangers. Sadie needed to rely on her other senses to help her recognize her friends, acquaintances and her annoying family members. Romance was in the air for Sadie as she fell in love with Peanuts veterinarian Oliver, and also her helpful neighbor, Joe. I found Oliver to be more like a book boyfriend, too good to be true whereas Joe made Sadie laugh, kept her company when she was sad, and was always there with a tender hug. Sadie showed the world that with determination and the help of good friends and the man of her dreams, life goes on and the future is what you make it. Sadie had a decision to make though, and it was a big one. Which handsome man, vying for her attention, would win her heart?
  • Highly recommend!

    5
    By akbaird
    What’s a book you are excited about with a Summer publication date? I’m excited about Hello Stranger by Katherine Center! Her books are always entertaining, full of humor, but tug at your heart strings! Ultimately, leaving you feeling satisfied in the end! When Sadie decided to switch career paths from pre-med to fine arts to pursue her dreams in art, her Dad was not happy. He didn’t even come to graduation. 8 years later, she still had to prove to her Dad she could be successful. Sadie is preparing to celebrate being a finalist for the same art competition her mother won. On the walk home from the grocery store, she has a seizure and ends up in the hospital. Sadie is confronted with much needed brain surgery right before her big art competition. What would you do if you had brain surgery and then couldn’t recognize or see faces? This is exactly what happened to Sadie. Can she finish the competition or will her life continue to be a complete failure? This book will have you turning the pages to find out. This book highlights the implications of prosopagnosia, which is face blindness. Have you heard of this condition? It sent me down a rabbit hole, in order to learn more about it! I loved how this author included more info and resources to learn about this topic in her author’s note. A highly entertaining book with an unsuspecting ending that will leave you feeling satisfied in the end! This book would be perfect for a pool or beach bag! A fun book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!