Genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
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Katherine Center’s Hello Stranger is a heartwarming and inventive contemporary romance that delves into themes of resilience, love, and the transformative power of seeing life from a new perspective. The novel follows Sadie Montgomery, a struggling artist whose world is upended when she develops a rare condition that causes human faces to appear as disjointed puzzle pieces. This sudden change threatens her career and forces her to confront both her artistic limitations and her personal life.
Sadie’s predicament is both unique and relatable, tapping into the universal fear of losing one’s ability to do what they love most. The condition not only jeopardizes her chance to win a prestigious portrait competition but also challenges her sense of identity and purpose. Center effectively uses this unusual premise to explore deeper themes of self-discovery and adaptation.
The novel’s charm is further enhanced by its colorful cast of characters. Sadie’s interactions with her dog’s charismatic veterinarian, who harbors a secret admiration for her, and her quirky, Vespa-riding neighbor, who seems to disrupt her orderly life, add layers of romance and humor. These relationships inject energy and warmth into the narrative, providing both comedic moments and heartfelt connections.
Sadie’s journey is both a literal and metaphorical exploration of seeing the world differently. As she grapples with her condition, she must also navigate her feelings and relationships, discovering that love and support come from the most unexpected places. The theme of seeing with the heart rather than just the eyes is central to the story, and Center’s writing beautifully illustrates how love and compassion can offer new perspectives and courage.
Center’s prose is engaging and accessible, making it easy for readers to connect with Sadie’s struggles and triumphs. Her depiction of Sadie’s condition is sensitively handled, and the way the story balances the gravity of Sadie’s challenges with lighthearted romance and humor is commendable.
While Hello Stranger is deeply satisfying, some readers might find the plot’s romantic elements predictable. However, the novel’s strength lies in its emotional resonance and the way it highlights the importance of support and love in overcoming personal obstacles.
Overall, Hello Stranger is a delightful read that combines romance, humor, and a touch of whimsy with a heartfelt message about resilience and perspective. Katherine Center’s ability to weave together a unique premise with relatable characters and meaningful themes makes this book a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
About Katherine Center
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, The Bodyguard, and her newest, Hello Stranger. Katherine 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.” The movie adaptation of her novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and the movie of her novel Happiness for Beginners, starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes, opens July 27 on Netflix. Katherine’s summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, was an instant New York Times bestseller, a People Best New Books pick, and nominated for Book of the Year by Book of the Month Club. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “a shot of pure joy,” and bestselling author Helen Hoang calls it “a perfect feel-good rom-com.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.