Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Published: July 11, 2023
St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 325
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Katherine Center writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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.
“But maybe different wasn’t so bad.”
Sadie earned a spot in a prestigious art show that could launch her career. She also learned she needs brain surgery. Joe, always helpful and goes above and beyond to be there for her, but maybe the timing is off.
Oh. My heart has exploded. I love how Katherine writes a story. She combines every magical element necessary to keep you glued to the page while making you laugh and then cry, and then laugh.
I loved Sadie. Her flaws, her sass, her ambition, and her heart. She was such a brave character. Joe was such a perfect partner. He was charming, kind, loyal, and authentic.
The pacing of this story was beautiful. You can feel the anxiety and pain radiating from the pages as Sadie struggles. The emotions are brilliantly portrayed, and the story is perfectly delivered.
This was such a charming book. From the beginning to the end, you will champion for Sadie. You will grieve with her, laugh with her, cry with her, and mostly, fall in love with her.