I really enjoyed this book and the moral grayness of the MC. However, there were parts of the plot that seemed a bit farfetched (girl... use Google!) and I thought there were too many POV characters. Even still, a solid and enjoyable read.

"The Three Lives of Cate Kay" tells the story of a woman who went by three different names in different parts of her life - first is her birth name, then a fake name she used after fleeing her hometown, and lastly a pseudonym she used to write a bestselling book. There are a lot of comparisons to Daisy Jones because of the multiple perspectives but that's really where to similarities end. I found the book enjoyable and very readable.

Kate Fagan is a beautiful writer, I loved this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This story was about self-discovery and love between women, and was so moving. The main character, Annie Callahan / Cass Ford / Cate Kay grows and learns as she makes her way from a small upstate NY town to her dream of living in LA. The dominant theme was friendship rather than romance, and how true love comes in all different forms. This will be one of my favorite books of the year.

This is a beautiful story about the enduring love of friendship - as a child and as an adult. Cate Kay is the main character, but we learn the past names (not so much “lives” - since she carries it all with her) she had, and why she went through reinvention and hiding despite being one of the worlds most famous authors.

I really enjoyed how the chapters slipped around from perspectives, though I’ll admit found it confusing for a while at first. The varying chapter lengths kept things interesting, and I enjoying viewing the same experience from more than one characters POV.

It was a bit unrealistic in terms of the characters’ abilities to forgive so wholly the people who wronged them or impacted their lives in a challenging way. But I found the characters and their intertwined and complicated relationships super compelling; from broken Cate to resilient Amanda to their supportive teacher to Cate’s absent mother to insecure Sidney to passionate Ryan.

This was less like the books it was comped to, in my opinion, and more so an epic friendship novel. I appreciated the ending and I can see recommending this to so many.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I found this book to be fascinating and really well-written. Annie/Cass/Cate takes on new identities and does experience several moments of tragedy in her life but I found some of the best pieces were the alternative narrators who could tell the story from their point of view. It was a well rounded story that did not place the blame on anyone but more on circumstances and personalities and immaturity. Yes there are many mistakes made and yes people make bad decisions but this therein is life. The ending is somewhat ambiguous and while I did really want to know exactly what happened, I am still quite content with what we get. 4 stars.

Thank you to LibroFM, NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun, character-driven read with multiple points of view (they nailed the audiobook!) about second chances and chasing a life of greatness. I found the prose super binge-able and appreciated the mix of heart and humour. There are a few noticeable plot holes, but the book kept me hooked overall.

It’s fitting that the cover of this book shows a rearview mirror, because it’s an exploration of what happens if you run away and never look back—while also being haunted by that past you refuse to face.

This is the fictional memoir of Cate Kay, author of the most famous book series in the world—who has spent most of her professional life anonymous, even as her books were turned into movies, musicals, and theme parks. Now, she’s telling all, with help from chapters by other people in her life: her childhood best friend’s little sister, the love of her life, her former manager (and ex-girlfriend), and more. There are also excerpts from her books included.

At the heart of this story is the relationship between Cate—then Annie—and her childhood best friend, Amanda. They’re inseparable, and they have big plans to go to Hollywood together after graduation to live their dreams and become movie stars. Just as the car is packed and they’re about to go, though, an accident changes everything, and Annie runs, creating a new life for herself just to avoid looking back.

I find it interesting that many of the reviews mention this element of the story—the linchpin of the plot—as unbelievable, or requiring suspension of disbelief. But I think it’s understandable, to simultaneously refuse to look at an element of your past head-on while allowing it take over your life. It is, at the very least, a fascinating situation for a fictional character to be in.

While Annie goes on to reinvent herself as Cate Kay, bestselling author and mysterious celebrity, she also spends most of this story passive. She allows other people to control her life. She doesn’t try to fix her own mistakes. She doesn’t communicate well. Instead, she pines over things that could have been, even when they’re very much still an option. She’s in a hell of her own making—but I felt for her. Despite her mistakes, she’s still sympathetic.

I was completely engrossed in this story, which slowly unspools how Annie ended up here. Ultimately, it’s about this huge, complicated love between Annie and Amanda: how even in her absence, it was woven into every part of her life. The excerpts from Cate Kay’s books are full of references to their friendship.

That’s not the only love story in The Three Lives of Cate Kay: Annie has several romantic relationships with women, including a intense and dramatic love affair with an actress in the adaptation of her books, as well as a controlling relationship with a woman who would go on to control her professional life. These are all significant to the story, but the focus is on the relationship between Annie and Amanda—or at least, with her memory.

This is a twisty, compelling read that is perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Content warnings: Injury and internalized ableism

I enjoyed this book since it was a bit of a different romance novel than what I typically read. The interview/documentary/multi-POV was well done and gave this book an added level of entertainment. While Annie's relationships with romantic partners were shared throughout, I feel like this book also successfully portrayed the depth of love between Annie and Amanda as friends. Such love in a friendship is rare and beautiful. I appreciated getting so much of Annie's book within this book too since I think it helped further illustrate how important Amanda was to Annie.

I would have appreciated a bit more detail in the end of how things worked out between Annie and Amanda and also between Annie and Ryan, maybe a bit more of their conversations while reuniting. This left the ending feeling a bit more abrupt after we had gotten all of their POVs throughout the whole story.

Wow! I was hooked from the beginning of the book! I loved how the story was written from different perspectives, and as we learned more we realized how these perspectives and people became important to Annie/Cate. I found myself thinking about what I would do if I was in Annie/Cate's shoes and how I would react to what was the major turning point in her life. I was able to connect to the various characters and could really feel the highs and lows experienced. I definitely recommend this book to others!

This story was about a popular author who after years of being anonymous, finally decides to reveal her true identity.

I had a really hard time initially getting into this one. I was confused by the multiple characters and it started out really slow, but then I was hooked. The narrative was uniquely written as a memoir and the characters were complex. I enjoyed the non-linear time line and the themes of identity, secrets, ambition, and the complexities of female friendships. I found that at times some of the plot lines were unrealistic but overall, it was entertaining and I really enjoyed the ending.

If you’re looking for a read that blends friendships, drama and mystery check this one out.

This book starts out slow but quickly I began to feel more invested in the story. The idea of a memoir style book within a book was an interesting writing choice. The book is full of romance, grief, has multiple POV and just was overall a great book

The Three Lives of Cate Kay had all the makings of a juicy, dramatic read—secret identities, past trauma, fame, and a long-buried truth—but it didn’t fully hit for me. The concept was so promising (hello, mysterious author energy), and there were moments that totally pulled me in, but overall it felt more like a slow unravel than an emotional rollercoaster. I didn’t totally connect with Cate, and some of the twists were more meh than mind-blowing. That said, it’s a solid pick if you like character-driven stories with a touch of Hollywood glam and a dash of mystery, even if it didn’t end up being a fave for me.

Did not enjoy as I hoped I would. I felt like it couldn’t decide between being mystery thriller and women’s fiction.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has been consistently marketed to fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and let me tell you—it absolutely delivers!

This was my first book by Kate Fagan, and I’m beyond thrilled to have discovered a new author whose work I’ll be devouring from now on. Her storytelling expertise shines through every page, from the masterful weaving of Cate’s journey to the small, carefully placed details that hit like an emotional gut punch when revealed.

Slice-of-life stories can sometimes feel slow or repetitive, but Fagan skillfully avoids that trap. The narrative remains compelling throughout, with beautifully crafted queer love stories that feel natural and deeply moving without ever being heavy-handed. Everything unfolds in a way that is both believable and captivating.

Told from multiple POVs within the framework of Cate Kay’s own “memoir,” the structure adds depth to the characters while keeping the story immersive. One of my favorite aspects? The footnotes. I found myself eagerly skipping ahead just to read them, as they added an extra layer of charm and insight to Cate’s voice.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in this genre that moved me as much as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I cannot wait for everyone to experience The Three Lives of Cate Kay. This one is truly special.

I absolutely loved this! I picked it up out of curiosity, having read some of Kate Fagan’s non-fiction, without knowing what to expect—and it completely captivated me. Parts of it reminded me of Rainbow Rowell, but with an added layer of suspense. I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how the story unfolded!

2.5 stars

This really gave Daisy Jones and the Six vibes pretty intensely. Unfortunately I did not like Daisy Jones and the Six.

This took me a bit to get into, and even once I did I felt like there was a lot of suspension of disbelief required to stay engaged.

The premise felt a little grandiose to start (when has anyone cared this much about an author writing under a pen name?), but the way every single person in Annie/Cass/Cate’s life latched onto them as though they were some undeniably magnetic personality just felt so aggressively done.

The writing was very well done and I did feel like we got different voices across the “cast”, and if you liked DJatS, maybe you can look past some of the issues I noted above and still enjoy this read too.

I really liked this one! It’s got all the intrigue of a mystery without actually being one, keeping you hooked as Cate Kay—an ultra-successful but completely anonymous author—finally decides to reveal her true identity. The story jumps between her present-day reckoning and the past she’s been running from, full of romance, humor, and emotional weight.

It balances a sharp, engaging voice with real heart. You’ll find yourself rooting for Cate even as you uncover the secrets she’s been keeping.

In *The Three Lives of Cate Kay*, the protagonist discovers an extraordinary ability that allows her to experience multiple versions of her life. As she navigates love, ambition, and identity, Cate is forced to confront the consequences of her choices and the paths not taken. While the premise is intriguing and offers thought-provoking moments, the execution falls a bit short, with some predictable twists and pacing issues. Still, Cate’s journey is engaging enough to keep readers invested, making it an enjoyable, if not entirely groundbreaking, read.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot twists were a lot of fun. Sometimes it felt a little far-fetched how much Annie didn't question Sidney, but otherwise I really liked how the plot all came together at the end. Thanks for the opportunity to review this ARC!

In The Three Lives Of Cate Kay, author Kate Fagan weaves an interesting story that follows the journey of an elusive author who after years of living in anonymity, decides to come out of her reclusive life and confess her true identity.

The reader follows along as author Cate Kay reveals her true identity that she's held as a closely guarded secret in a memoir style way, with other characters who provide their connection to the author and their perspective / memories throughout the years.

Set in Charleston, South Carolina with past settings in Upstate New York and Los Angeles, California, the story is told in alternating first person narratives by Cate Kay and other characters who have been a part of her life. The reader follows along as Cate confronts her past by revealing three identities that she used in different parts of her life. Her story begins as a child/teen named Anne Marie (Annie) Callahan, who lived in Bolton Landing, NY with her mom Patricia. When a tragic accident happened to Annie and best friend Amanda Kent on a lake in the summer of 2000 after their high school graduation, Annie is in survival mode and drives out of town, settling in Plattsburgh, NY, working as a waitress in a cafe under her new name as Cass Ford. Cass meets pre-law student Sidney Collins in a creative writing course, and they start a relationship, and Sidney tries to help Cass release herself from her past that continues to haunt her. Fast forward to 2005, Cass and Sidney moved to New York City, Sidney graduates from law school and begins her law career, while Cass writes her novel, The Very Last, under the pseudonym of author Cate Kay. Cate continues to guard her true identity, there are no author photos or biography on the book cover. As the years go by, Cate becomes a successful author, and her fans are all curious to find out the identity of their mysterious favorite author. When the third book in her trilogy is set to be published, and she meets Ryan Channing, a young actress who is featured in a movie from the adaptation of her novel, Cate decides that she needs to confront her past through revealing her true identity in order to move forward and find happiness.

The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is a complex and multi-layered tale that is rich in detail. Cate's life has intriguing twists and turns, and the author takes the reader along for the ride as Cate reveals her life story with alternating memories from people who had been in her life. With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of delving into the tangled web of Cate's life filled with secrets, lies, betrayals, and a history of emotional past trauma. Cate's story is one filled with longing, misunderstandings, and angsty unrequited love. So, follow along as Cate's journey of self-discovery leads her to confronting her past and looking towards her future!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I also purchased a hardcover copy from my monthly subscription to Book Of The Month.

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