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Hello Stranger - by Katherine Center
$16.29 sale price when purchased online
$29.00 list price
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About this item
Highlights
- The glorious novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called "My perfect 10 of a book" (Emily Henry) and cheered for their "speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles" (People).
- About the Author: KATHERINE CENTER is the New York Times bestselling author of laugh-and-cry novels about love and family, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and Happiness for Beginners.
- 336 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Romance
Description
About the Book
"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"--Book Synopsis
The glorious novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called "My perfect 10 of a book" (Emily Henry) and cheered for their "speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles" (People).
Love may be blind. But what if . . . what you see isn't what you get?
Review Quotes
A New York Times bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller "Irresistibly fun...a fresh look at how people often let pride or misconceptions get in the way of their own happiness. Sure to grab readers right off the bat." --Shelf Awareness "The latest from the author of The Bodyguard (2022) is a winsome tale of a woman overcoming adversity and learning to lean on the people who care about her." --Booklist "This charming, heartfelt romantic comedy has a well-told, unique storyline, and Sadie's prosopagnosia feels deftly explained, explored, and treated with respect. There's chemistry between the protagonists with a slow-burn relationship, but there's also a focus on Sadie's mental and emotional growth, as well as her artistic frustrations and problem-solving methods. Readers who enjoy Jenny Colgan and Susan Mallery will love this engaging, well-written romance from Center (The Bodyguard)." --Library Journal "With a thoroughly modern millennial heroine at the helm, Center takes Sadie's life seriously and her struggles with adulting resonate even before her face blindness sets in. Meanwhile, a dash of humor and an endearing love story make the pages fly. Readers will be hooked." -- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "[A]uthor Katherine Center is back this summer with another voice-driven, funny, heartfelt and romantic escapist novel." --Good Morning America Online "Laugh-and-cry specialist Katherine Center (The Bodyguard) returns with the love story of talented artist Sadie Montogmery." --Goodreads "In this romantic comedy with depth, a health emergency leaves a struggling portrait artist unmoored with a possibly temporary diagnosis of face blindness." --Lansing State Journal "With its emphasis on its central character, combined with its "swoony" romance, "Hello Stranger" is a hit. Sadie is everything you could want in a protagonist -- the right amount of quirky, sunshiney and stubborn, and the men she's in love with are equally fascinating. All the side characters provide humor and comfort, and even those characters who you aren't really supposed to like are annoyingly intriguing and captivating. Center created a brilliant cast of characters, set to a plot that's sure to keep you reading." --Michigan DailyAbout the Author
KATHERINE CENTER is the New York Times bestselling author of laugh-and-cry novels about love and family, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and Happiness for Beginners. The movie adaptation of her novel The Lost Husband hit #1 on Netflix, and her books have made many best-of lists. She's been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron. The Dallas Morning News calls her stories "satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way," and BookPage calls her "the reigning queen of comfort reads." Katherine lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. Visit her website and join her mailing list!Dimensions (Overall): 9.3 Inches (H) x 6.4 Inches (W) x 1.4 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.1 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 336
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Theme: Romantic Comedy
Format: Hardcover
Author: Katherine Center
Language: English
Street Date: July 11, 2023
TCIN: 87421205
UPC: 9781250283788
Item Number (DPCI): 247-17-7572
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.4 inches length x 6.4 inches width x 9.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.1 pounds
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5 out of 5 stars with 6 ratings
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4.9 out of 5 stars with 7 reviews
100% would recommend
5 recommendations
More than favorite
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Ravitzam - 1 year ago
A definite must read. I finished it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I wish I could read it again for the first time. The only thing I didn't like was a bit of ugly crying I did.
Just buy it.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Sam - 2 years ago
Loved it so much. One of the best books of this year IMO! 100% recommend. Katherine center books are always so so good.
Delightful, quick read
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
SuPo - 2 years ago
When choosing a romance book, I usually look for a story that has an interesting twist that I haven’t read before, characters, who sound from the synopsis, are likable, and a story that will deliver some of the feel good emotions I expect from a romance. “Hello Stranger”, by Katherine Center, delivers on all of the above. A delightful, quick read, I finished this book with a soft spot for the characters and overall contentment with what I just read. There’s a lot to unpack in this book. Sadie suffers from Acquired Prosopagnosia, which leaves her with the inability to recognize faces after a medical procedure. Never having heard of this before, I thought the author did a great job walking through how life altering this condition can be, both for Sadie as an artist, but for any individual. We use faces as our main way to connect to each other, and when that is lost, Sadie has to use her other senses to build those connections. Doesn’t seem as hard when you say it, but we get to see how hard it really is for her and how easy our brain can make assumptions or make determinations that challenge some of those connections. Another sub-plot revolves around Sadie’s struggles with her family, specifically her relationship with her father after her mother’s death and his remarriage. As someone who’s lost her mother, I related with so many of her feelings of loss. With that said, I don’t think this story was as developed as it could have been. Sadie’s relationship with her father and stepmother was rushed while her relationship with her stepsister was overplayed in my opinion. While I can see the importance of both, I would have flipped the amount of space they play in the story. Lastly, the love triangle of Sadie/Joe/Oliver was was pure romantic fiction at its finest. Did I basically guess what was going to happen with this story from the beginning? Yes, I did. Did I care? No, no I did not. The interactions between the characters here was charming, cute, funny, basically what I look for in these kinds of books. Some areas that fell a little flat for me included some of the internal dialogue that Sadie provides through the story….without providing spoilers, some of the descriptions went on a little longer than I cared for and I was kind of waiting for the story to move on. Some of the character development fell a little flat for me. I wish Sue had a larger, more positive role in this story as a friend (she comes off as lacking empathy at times) and, as I already mentioned, I wish Parker had less of a role in this story. There is enough happening that the need for her as the heel wasn’t necessary. I also wish we learned more about Sadie’s dad and Lucinda as I think they could have been a lot more interesting and integral than they were. However, I will say I can overlook this because I think Sadie/Joe/Oliver are so strong and likable, and are the main focus of the story, as they should be. I especially connected with the Author’s note at the end of this book because it perfectly sums up my feelings for romantic fiction as well. Could you say this book is predictable in many aspects? Definitely! But fans of romantic fiction want the joy, the hope, that anticipation that come with these stories, and they pick up these books for that, not for the shock factor (in my opinion). Hello Stranger delivers on that aspect, and for that I would give it 4/5 stars.
A sweet, feel-good, engaging rom-com
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
PhyllisE - 2 years ago
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own. Another 5-star novel from Katherine Center! This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read, and – no surprise – I loved it. It’s a sweet, feel-good, engaging rom-com with a unique premise: Sadie Montgomery is diagnosed with “probably temporary” face blindness (a real condition) just as she is about to participate as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition. Her condition prevents her from seeing faces, so how can she paint an award-winning portrait? And to complicate the plot, she has just met her elderly dog’s new veterinarian and thinks she’s fallen in love with him (even though she can’t see his face). And then there is her very helpful new neighbor whom she is also attracted to but can’t see his face (detect a theme here?). It’s easy to get involved in this compelling story which includes Sadie’s dysfunctional family, her best friend, and her landlord. There were times when I had to suspend my disbelief, but it all came together in the end and was such an entertaining read. And Center’s explanation of romance novels, rom-coms, happy love stories put things in perspective: “They all run on a blissful sense that we’re moving toward something better. The clues writers drop in romance novels don’t give you things to dread. They give you things to look forward to. Why people love this genre: it’s the structure – that “predictable” structure – that does it. Knowing you’re heading toward a happy ending lets you relax and look forward to better things ahead. And there’s a name for what you’re feeling when you do that – Hope.” Sometimes I just want to read something with hope, as well as being well-written with likeable characters. Of course it can (and should) have some roadblocks, just like this novel does, but ultimately when I turn the last page, I want to feel satisfied and joyful. As Center explains, “Joy is also important – so I write stories about things getting better – about people healing from hard things, and trying to connect, and working like hell to become the best versions of themselves, despite it all.” That’s a summary of “Hello Stranger” and all of Center’s rom-coms. So if you’re looking for a feel-good novel that Center herself describes as “soul-nourishing, page-turning, life-changing magic,” I urge you to read “Hello Stranger.”
Highly Recommend!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Akbaird - 2 years ago
What’s a book you are excited about with a Summer publication date? I’m excited about Hello Stranger by Katherine Center! Her books are always entertaining, full of humor, but tug at your heart strings! Ultimately, leaving you feeling satisfied in the end! When Sadie decided to switch career paths from pre-med to fine arts to pursue her dreams in art, her Dad was not happy. He didn’t even come to graduation. 8 years later, she still had to prove to her Dad she could be successful. Sadie is preparing to celebrate being a finalist for the same art competition her mother won. On the walk home from the grocery store, she has a seizure and ends up in the hospital. Sadie is confronted with much needed brain surgery right before her big art competition. What would you do if you had brain surgery and then couldn’t recognize or see faces? This is exactly what happened to Sadie. Can she finish the competition or will her life continue to be a complete failure? This book will have you turning the pages to find out. This book highlights the implications of prosopagnosia, which is face blindness. Have you heard of this condition? It sent me down a rabbit hole, in order to learn more about it! I loved how this author included more info and resources to learn about this topic in her author’s note. A highly entertaining book with an unsuspecting ending that will leave you feeling satisfied in the end! This book would be perfect for a pool or beach bag! A fun book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!