Hello Stranger by Katherine Center was the first book I finished in 2025, and it has most definitely set the standard for the books I will continue to read throughout the year. It was interesting, cute, and everything I was hoping for jumping into this book.
What’s It About?
This novel follows Sadie Montgomery, a portrait artist chasing her big break. Just as she gets accepted into a prestigious portrait competition, she needs brain surgery. The procedure leaves her with “face blindness,” making it impossible to see faces. While struggling to create her competition portrait, she starts falling for two endearing men. Sadie’s life feels like a mess, filled with tough challenges, but the story highlights the moments that help her navigate it all.
My Favorite Parts
Sadie’s “I don’t need help” attitude stems from her dysfunctional family, and I connected with this trait. I saw pieces of myself in her, which made the story feel validating. Both men Sadie likes enjoy helping her, and it’s heartwarming to see her open up and let them in. Watching her step out of her shell was one of my favorite parts!
The plot twist near the end involving the two men caught me completely off guard. It made the story much better and gave me a new appreciation for earlier moments I had overlooked. I even went back to reread, wondering how I missed the clues. This twist is definitely worth looking forward to!
Things I Didn’t Like
I loved most of the book, but Sadie’s terrible family life felt overly harsh. It sometimes felt like the story kept piling on her struggles unnecessarily. While the family conflict resolves by the end, I often found myself focusing more on her misfortunes than the good moments surrounding them.
My Rating
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars! I loved this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a cutesy little romance!
