Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Hello Stranger

Sadie has had her big break: after years of barely making it, she has landed a spot in one of the most prestigious portrait artist competitions there is. This could be the beginning of a whole new chapter in her life! As she gathers supplies for an impromptu celebration, she freezes in a busy intersection. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in a hospital with a doctor tells her that she needs brain surgery. Reluctantly, she agrees to the operation, but when all is said and done, she can't see faces. Well, she can <i>see</i> them, but she just can't make <i>sense</i> of them. With no guarantees on how long her face blindness will last, Sadie has to figure out how to cope, especially with the competition - and her future - hanging in the balance.

This is now my second Katherine Center book and I can decidedly say that I am a huge fan. I love the casual, quippy, humorous writing style - like a friend telling you a story - as well as the characters she creates. Sadie has been dealt a rough hand in life - even before her brain thingy - but has maintained her positivity and wit. The romance in the book is also swoony and sweet. I am rarely a fan of the misunderstanding trope, but it was executed flawlessly in this story with Sadie and Joe, fitting in perfectly with the story. All in all, a great book and one that I will highly recommend to anyone needing a laugh out loud funny story with a lot of heart.

Side note: the author's note at the end of this book about the importance of love stories was beautiful. Make sure you don't skip it!

Content Warnings

kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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kimib79's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I loved this story. It is so cute. The author tied up the misunderstandings in the best way.

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kristapeters's review against another edition

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inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

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annag77's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

2.75

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kaydeedickins's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Author’s Note is so so beautiful, an ode to love stories. 😍

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tamsterdam_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My heart was captured and melted into a puddle of emotions while reading this story. I absolutely adored all the characters and the occurrences that happened earlier in the novel that were brought together at the end, which made it all make sense in a superb way. The support from and feelings between Sadie and her love interest delivered all the feels; not to mention the hero delivered on the swoons! Sadie was such a darling protagonist with her silliness and quirks, but also her strength was admirable as she worked through her medical condition.

The narration was spectacular and matched the level of Center’s caliber of writing by captivating me with their voice.

This was such a dazzling novel that I will cherish for a very long time. Please do your heart a favour and pick this book up!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Content Warnings

jillkaarlela's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Taylor swift songs: “I think he knows”, “labyrinth”

Age rating: 13+ (closed door/not steamy)

*EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THE AUTHOR’S NOTE!! IT’S AMAZING OH MY GOSH!!*

Check TW!

This is quite different from her other romance book, “the Bodyguard”, but I heavily related to it!! It was really great!! Also the concept was super intriguing: what does a portrait painter do when they suddenly can’t see faces anymore? Brilliant!

Like the main character, I have experienced a sudden illness/issue (severe Rheumatoid Arthritis) that basically derailed my life. I related SO MUCH to Sadie’s determination to not tell people, because she doesn’t want them to see her as needy/a burden, or see her any differently. To someone who hasn’t experienced that, I don’t think they would fully get it, but the people who get it, GET IT!

The illness, acquired face blindness (Prosopagnosia), was so well researched and explained!! Additionally, in the acknowledgements, Katherine Center explains that all of the characters of color, specifically Sue (Korean) and her doctor (from Trinidad) were well researched and based on people Center knew in real life! We love to see it!!

This was an overall fun book with really cute romance, but I loved the depth that is brought in with the grief and coping that comes with a sudden onset illness that disrupts your life! I would very much recommend this book to anyone, especially if they want to understand the thoughts and motivations behind people who have chronic illnesses and try to hide it or try not to ask for help.

I did feel like this was leaning a little towards Women’s Fiction with Romance rather than strictly romance (since it deals mostly with the character growth of Sadie and her coping and dealing with her face blindness) but the romance elements were great!

Great job, again, Katherine Center!! She is an auto-buy author for me!

TW: an instance of fat phobia, which is later cleared up as he was talking about a dog, not a person (but it still bothered me)

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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