Hello Stranger is the latest release by best-selling author Katherine Center. Released on July 11, 2023, by St. Martin’s Press, Hello Stranger takes readers to Houston, Texas. Sadie Montgomery is a woman whose life is starting to go in the direction she’s been dreaming about when suddenly everything changes. Will she ever find her true path in life?
I want to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Hello Stranger. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
CW/TW: health issues, surgery, bullying, mentions of suicide/self-harm
Synopsis from Goodreads
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.
Positives
- An easy read.
- A diverse cast of characters, which are easy to tell apart from each other.
Negatives
- While interesting, not sure the concept is 100% believable.
My Opinions
Hello Stranger is the second book I’ve read by Katherine Center. While I did not enjoy this one as much as the previous book, I still found it enjoyable and easy to read.
My biggest issue with the story was the basic concept. While I’m not saying it couldn’t happen, I’m just wondering how likely it is to happen. Does that make sense? I’m sure Center researched the medical side before writing, but it still feels farfetched.
Though I did enjoy how Sadie’s face blindness plays out throughout the story, it shows how we use other tells about a person than just their face to inform us about those around us. How a person wears their hair, voice, and walk can tell you so much about a person. Those cues can be used for good or evil (looking at you, Parker!).
If you enjoy reading about people growing and learning more about themselves, you should read Hello Stranger.
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The brain part was more interesting than the romance for me! I wondered as well how common it is.
I found this situation not unbelievable, but not very common. I have read about face blindness before and always find it interesting. The story for me was more about Sadie’s life and all the changes rather than the romance, although I liked that part as well. Nice review, Pam.
I’m not sure if the face blindness was the issue for me, I just know I struggled to connect with the overall story. It could just have been the fact I was traveling while reading, and couldn’t full sink into the story like I wanted.
It happens to all of us. We want to love a book and for whatever reason, we don’t click. I hope your next read is a good one, Pam.
Great review! I haven’t seen many reviews for this one until now but it does sound interesting. I don’t think I’ve read a book where the MC has face blindness before so that’s unique. Hopefully, the “unrealistic” plot won’t take me out of enjoying this one!