Book Details
Book synopsis of Hello Stranger:
HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center
Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break. Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say. Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces.
Temporary, they say. Lots of people deal with this, they say. As she struggles to cope―and hang onto her artistic dreams―she finds solace in her fourteen-year-old dog, Peanut. Thankfully, she can still see animal faces. When Peanut gets sick, she rushes him to the emergency vet nearby. That’s when she meets veterinarian Dr. Addison. And she’s pleasantly surprised when he asks her on a date. But she doesn’t want anyone to know about her face blindness. Least of all Joe, her obnoxious neighbor who always wears a bowling jacket and seems to know everyone in the building. He’s always there at the most embarrassing but convenient times, and soon, they develop a sort of friendship. But could it be something more?
As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys she realizes that happiness can be found in the places―and people― you least expect.
MY THOUGHTS: HELLO STRANGER
Katherine Center sets the stage with a near homeless aspiring artist, who finally has some good news of a potential opportunity of a lifetime. To celebrate, Sadie is ready to kick off her big break with a party, meeting a potential love interest at the liquor store across from her apartment complex. The banter is adorable, readers will be ready for this moment to last and turn into something more, when Sadie has a near death experience that leaves her hospitalized.
Things start to quickly unravel when she’s diagnosed with a rare brain disease, needing immediate surgery in order for her to survive.
And that’s just the first five chapters. 😉
A Few More Thoughts
Center paints her novel with quirky, artsy, heartwarming characters, with family drama dynamics that feels vaguely like a Cinderella retelling. With our prince charming, Dr. Addison, a veterinarian/good Samaritan neighbor, and the wicked stepsister who is literally pure evil.
I loved how Center weaved her story together with Sadie’s acquired neurodivergence (I would pause reading to google face blindness also known as prosopagnosia) and how that affected her personal life and her professional life as an artist, which was fascinating.
As for the spicy-ness🌶️ of this one it’s very minimal.
I would have loved more steam in this romance. I mean the scene with Sadie and Joe in her art studio screamed potential for more spice. My one and only hiccup with this novel was towards the end. Without getting spoiler-y, it was when Sadie talks to Dr. Addison about her feelings and the subsequent consequences that followed. This will make so much more sense when you read it and we can discuss in the comments 😂
With a fantastic setup and full circle conclusion Hello Stranger is a story that will give you all the feels, leaving you ready for the next Katherine Center novel.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
RATING: 
– Exceptionally Inked
Instagram Post
Check out my post on Instagram of HELLO STRANGER ⬇️
publication details
| Pub Date | ISBN | Page Count | Publisher | Age Group | Source & Format | Review Posted Online |
| 11-Jul-23 | 978-1250283788 | 384 | St. Martin’s Press | Adult | NetGalley, Digital ARC | February 26, 2023 |
FROM THE PUBLISHER
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Welcome Reader!
I’m Cecelia and I’m so glad you’re here! You’ll find honest reviews, book recommendations, along with other bookish essentials. So happy you stopped by!
– C
ABOUT THE CREATOR
CECE BECKMAN
Cece holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach. She lives in California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing reviews she can be found wandering book aisles at local bookshops, drinking iced cold lattes with cold cream foam, or passing the time with her cat.
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