Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

HELLO STRANGER is another light, relatively feel good book by Katherine Center (What You Wish For and How to Walk Away). Her latest novel centers on Sadie Montgomery who undergoes an operation that leaves her unable to recognize faces – difficult for any of us, but especially for a portrait artist. Sadie’s perseverance is tested, of course, but she overcomes a number of obstacles and disappointments as readers of Center’s work would expect. HELLO STRANGER has quite a bit of “woe is me” mixed in, but Sadie grows to accept help from others. Buried in the angst of post-operative trauma, a dysfunctional family, and somewhat far-fetched boyfriend troubles are some thought-provoking, inspirational asides: “our thoughts create our emotions;” “I just wasn't going to let the things I was afraid of hold me back anymore;” and “isn't it lucky when we're drawn to people who can teach us things we need to learn?” HELLO STRANGER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was chosen as a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for July 2023.