I think it’s official: I need to stop saying I’m not a romance reader. Or maybe I’m just not a dedicated romance reader. Although . . . if it’s a romance written by Katherine Center, I absolutely am.
I fell in love with Center’s writing when I read Things You Save in a Fire. Then I picked up The Rom‑Commers, which quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year (I know, I keep saying that about everything I read lately). After finishing a wonderful but intense book, I needed something nourishing—something to smooth and soothe the inside of my soul. And I knew exactly who to turn to.
Hello Stranger, Center’s 2023 release, felt like the perfect medicine. The story follows Sadie Montgomery, an artist who finally seems to be getting the break she’s worked so hard for: she’s named a finalist in a national portrait competition. It’s her chance to prove to her father—and herself—that her dreams and all the work behind them were worth it.
But life loves to toss pebbles into the spokes of our plans. Sadie experiences a seizure and needs brain surgery, and afterward she develops prosopagnosia—face blindness. Instead of seeing faces, she sees jumbled puzzle pieces. For anyone, this would be devastating. For a portrait artist competing in a portrait competition, “problem” is a massive understatement.
The story follows Sadie as she tries to hold onto hope and creativity even when everything she once relied on is suddenly scrambled. As often happens, one crisis cracks open the door to others both from the past and present.
But this isn’t just a story about pain, chaos, or uncertainty. It’s also about love—love for others, and love for herself. And yes, there are not one, not two, but three potential love interests woven into this surprisingly deep and tender story.
This is one of the things I adore about Center’s romances. They don’t rely on princes and princesses in castles perched on mountaintops (not that there’s anything wrong with those). Her stories are filled with real people—beautifully flawed, messy people—and all that mess makes the eventual happy ending feel even sweeter.
I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil anything. But if you love animals, you’ll adore Sadie’s dog, Peanut. Any dog who prefers Chicken Pad Thai is a character worth loving!
In her author’s note, Center mentions that she hopes readers not only enjoy her stories but walk away seeing the world a little differently. Her characters’ challenges invite us to shift our perspective, and Hello Stranger is a wonderful example of that. It reminds us that some of the most important things in life aren’t seen with our eyes at all.
This was another hit for me. It was sweet, moving, and inspiring. It made me even more excited to keep exploring her work.
Until next time,
Lisa
Because I believe that a TBR pile can never be too big, feel free to share some of your favorite reads with me here or on social media. You can find me on Bluesky, Instagram, and StoryGraph (lisareadsbytrees).
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