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tamsterdam_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
momsmagicreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I also love a sense of connection with a character, and Sadie Montgomery's sassy independence, quirkiness, and self-deprecating humor was charming, though tinged with a bit of sadness. She is a portrait artist who, due to an unusual medical issue, is now living with a condition commonly known as face blindness - but that's not where the story begins. She has had a very strained relationship with her family since the death of her mother, which left her determined to succeed on her own - but also lonely. Her best friend, Sue, balances out what Sadie views as her shortcomings - Sue is cheerful, outgoing, and has a loving family who has welcomed Sadie in as if she's one of their own. And occasionally a "generic white male" appears in Sadie's life, for better or for worse. *Cue the somewhat obscured romantic storyline that makes you simultaneously crave reaching the end of the book to figure it all out but also wanting the sweet, slow burn to last forever* Does Sadie make mistakes? Absolutely! Some she can see coming and some she can't (but perhaps you, dear reader, can!). And we see that sometimes a serendipitous moment can change everything.
Katherine Center has created endearing characters in Sadie, Mr. and Mrs. Kim, and Joe; love-to-hate them characters in Dr. Montgomery, Lucinda, and Parker; and the best cheering squad you can imagine in Sue, Dr. Nicole, and Augusta. Her writing evokes a wide range of feelings; I laughed, wept inwardly, and had several a-ha! moments that would have been visible on my face to anyone nearby. Hello Stranger is a masterpiece of what Center explains to us (in her Author's Note) is a "positively valanced" novel, and I look forward - with great anticipation - to what she has in store for us next.
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
- 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
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book early!
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC and the chance to read this before it releases in July!
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
haylethal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Martin’s Press for the ARC! I was so excited to receive it, you have no idea.
Sadie is a starving portrait artist who is trying to get her big break and she’s almost there. She has placed in a big art competition and has the opportunity to win $10,000.
One night she’s on her way to a party to celebrate her newfound success when she suddenly has a seizure in the middle of a cross walk and a Good Samaritan saves her.
While she’s in the hospital, she finds out that she has an irregular blood vessel in her brain and has to have surgery. This surgery leads to her developing face blindness. Bad for a portrait artist, right?
I absolutely LOVE Katherine Center’s writing/books. Seriously, give me all her books right now, they’re amazing. And have you seen the covers?!
Her characters all have such great personality and witty banter, it’s adorable. And they’re imperfect, they all have their flaws they have to work through and eventually become the best versions of themselves. It’s good when you’re sad that the book has to end.
I can totally relate to Sadie and her relationship with her dog, Peanut, too. I have an 11 year old mini doxie who I hope lives forever.
Ps, don’t sleep on the authors note! And the book comes out in July 2023!
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
maggieparedesauthor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent