Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.

Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life―placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition―the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees.

But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into―love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?―with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.

If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

Book Type:

Romance

Review: Hello Stranger

A portrait artist struggles with “probably temporary” face blindness after an accident, in Katherine Center’s heartwarming and funny, HELLO STRANGER.

After celebrating her most significant accomplishment to date (placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition), Sadie Montgomery undergoes emergency brain surgery and wakes up without the ability to see faces clearly. As a portrait artist on the cusp of her big break, this more than dampens her prospects. Intent to figure a way through, and with the help of her best friend, Sue, and her beloved dog, Peanut, Sadie starts to paint again… sort of. Along the way, she begins to fall for two very different men—her neighbor Joe (with his telltale bowling jacket), and hunky veterinarian Dr. Addison. All this couldn’t happen at a worse time, though, as her whole life spirals into a jumbled mess she can’t seem to unravel. And as the days tick by, will she be able to deliver an entry to the competition that could change it all for her?

Center (THE BODYGUARD) delivers an endearing story about hope, love, and found family. While it’s not too difficult to predict the direction of the narrative, and despite questioning the reality of some scenarios, this was such a charming escape. Funny and sweet, HELLO STRANGER is a warm, feel-good type of story. Center also clearly did her research on Prosopagnosia (face blindness), helping to shed light on this difficult condition.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming one-weekend binge, this is a great book to pick up.