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A review by jillkaarlela
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content