A review by ghh2023
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hello Stranger was a new take on the classic rom-com. Could you imagine being able to see everything around you except human faces? Well, Sadie learns what that is like when she acquires a condition known as facial blindness after a brain surgery. This is quite the problem because she is a portrait painter and she has a huge showcase coming up in a few weeks. At first, she really beats herself up about the condition because it is frustrating to have to acclimate to a new normal. Sadie wants to hide the condition from everyone because she is embarrassed about it. On top of it all, her dog becomes sick and she has to take him to the vet. And, when she meets the vet, she develops a fantasy for him and her fantasy almost comes true when he asks her out on a date. Then, she thinks that she got stood up but it was all one epic confusion. She also likes this other man that she thinks is named Joe in her apartment building. They really like each other and then things go South at the last minute. But, like always, this is just a big misunderstanding and it all ends in happily ever after. I did not see that ending coming at all and it was a really pleasant surprise! I never knew that facial blindness was a condition and it was interesting to learn about its impact on people. It would probably feel so strange to walk through the world without seeing faces. They are such a big part of our identity and they connect each person to the jumble of facts that make up who they are. People live with this everyday and I did not even know that. I really enjoyed the author's note in this book too. I liked hearing about some of the psychology of romance novels and why they draw us in so much. I find myself really drawn to this genre and I did not know exactly why that was until I read this book. This book was cute and it had a message to it that I can really appreciate.