For some reason, this book was slow and a bit hard to follow for me. I struggled to get too invested and follow along with all the characters. I had to pick this book up several times to finish it. I ultimately did, but this was not one of my favorites. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy for review.

3.5 stars.

This book took forever for me to get into. It was confusing and didn't come together until the last third of the book when I finally found myself somewhat invested. In the end I liked it but it was so much work.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Cate Kay has decided to out herself. The reclusive author of 3 internationally known best sellers, turned into movies, has decided it is time to stop hiding. She has been in hiding ever since the book was published - no one knows who she is. Now, she has decided to write a book, exposing herself, using stories from friends that either know, or now know who she is.

What a wonderful concept for a book - thoroughly enjoyed this!

This was really good, so addictive. 4.5 stars rounded down to 4! I wish I had read it when I first got the ARC almost a year ago, but at least by waiting so long, it meant I was able to listen to the audiobook instead, and I liked it being multi-narrator. It was hard to keep track of all the different POVs at first, but I think that helped. It also felt a bit overwritten at times, for example writing out every action/gesture a character would make while having a conversation. Maybe that wouldn't have stood out to me if I'd read the physical book? Idk.

But I really liked the story, all of the many complicated female relationships were so juicy, and the relationship between Amanda and Cass/Annie especially killed me. I kept eagerly anticipating when they would finally meet each other again. I was a little disappointed that both reunions were kiiind of breezed over - the ending felt kind of rushed to me? But it was still very satisfying and I definitely cried.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC; all opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed the queer representation and the attempt at a unique POV/storytelling style, I think pitching this as similar to Evelyn Hugo was a disservice as the book often became hard to follow re: characters and plot points.

Loved the full cast audio and really enjoyed the story overall. I don’t know if this is one that’s going to stick in my brain long term though.

Comparisons to Evelyn Hugo are accurate in a way but this one separates itself enough in style and story to stand strongly on it’s own.

This tells the story of Annie using several POVs that get to know her in different states of her life. The blurb promises The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes and I have to admit they were there, even if the books are very different. The suspense kept me entertained, and I think this is a story a lot of people are going to enjoy: it’s fast paced and fun to read, with the Hollywood glamor some readers adore in the background. I advise going in blind, because I enjoyed a lot not having any idea of how everything was going to end and liked how the author executed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook to preview.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay wasn’t really my thing—I struggled to connect with the premise. While creative in concept, it just didn’t resonate with me. I got turned off by the incident near the beginning and just couldn't get back into the book.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel very invested in the story, and I don’t usually enjoy the miscommunication trope, which played a big part here. Some sections lingered too long while others felt rushed, and by the end I didn’t get the satisfying payoff I was hoping for with certain characters or plot threads.

That said, I did enjoy the structure and the way the story was told through different perspectives over time, it added an interesting layer. Still, there were elements that required more suspension of disbelief than I was able to give, which pulled me out of the story.

Overall, while this one didn’t work for me personally, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy layered narratives and don’t mind a heavy dose of miscommunication.

I’m not sure what took me so long to read this book but I’m so glad that I did. It is a little bit of a mixed bag as far as genres- little romance, little coming of age drama, little bit of a documentary type book. The end product is one that kept me engaged and wanting to figure out what happens next.

Cate Kay is the main character of the story that is presented as it is a memoir that she has written about her life. The name Cate Kay is a pseudonym- she grew up in a small town in upstate New York, with the name of Anne Marie. After a horrific accident, Anne's life is forever changed and she begins an entirely new identity, one that twists and turns and eventually leads her to becoming a famous writer of a dystopian type trilogy that is rooted in her childhood. We are introduced to different characters as they shape Anne to be Cass and eventually Cate. At the core of this story is the story of love and friendship that Anne has for Amanda, her best friend, as well as grief and self discovery. I thought it was entertaining and unique once I got into the book, and I definitely enjoyed the ending. There were some parts that were a bit frustrating, like a miscommunication that continues throughout the book and at times almost made it unbelievable, but I really appreciated how it all came together at the end. This was my first Kate Fagan book, but I will certainly be looking to read more from her in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader’s copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Wow! This was a breath of fresh air and such a well formulated story I loved it. The perfect blend of angst and longing, and an original story that I have not seen before. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of The Three Lives of Cate Kay.

I really wanted to like this book since it was compared to the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was not even close for me. I kept getting confused on who was who and who was talking. I felt like there were too many different people and you may only get a small amount about them. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. This was a good idea for a book but just not it for me. Others may love this one. Thank you the Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Unfortunately I couldn't connect with this book or its characters. The cover is gorgeous, the idea seemed interesting, yet I could not suspend disbelief and get on board with how the characters acted.

I wasn't invested in the book. Point for everyone being gay I guess, that I liked :)))

I think the premise intrigued me from the start but it was much more of a slow build in the pacing of the story than I realized, making me pull from the plot a bit. I did pair the book and audio and that helped to keep me engaged a bit more though.

Part coming of age story, part mystery as Cate Kay shares dark secrets she ran from which made up the three identities she’s been using.

*many thanks to Atria, S&S audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

The Three Lives of Cate Kay was a compelling and emotionally rich story that kept me deeply engaged. Kate Fagan explores themes of identity, family, and personal transformation with great sensitivity and insight. The characters felt real and complex, making their journeys authentic and relatable. It was a beautifully written novel that stayed with me long after I finished.

I wanted to like this so much. It had so much promise. But I just couldn't get into it and finally DNF'd it.

i loved this book - the beauty of the queerness coupled with the beautiful balance of friendship love and romantic love. i read on my kindle and think i may have enjoyed a physical copy more, because it was hard to keep the characters straight for a while in the beginning. i would’ve benefitted from the ability to flip back and forth and compare. besides that, i loved the writing and the creative storytelling. it all came together so beautifully.

thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

At first, “The Three Lives of Cate Kay” started off a bit slow as it took time to build the story. But once it picked up, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about the main character. By the end, everything came together nicely, and the story tied itself up in a satisfying way.
It’s definitely a coming-of-age story. I had to keep reminding myself that the character is young—some of her decisions had me questioning, “Why would she do that?” But in the context of youth and growth, it made sense.

** Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kate Fagan for an eARC copy of “The Three Lives of Cate Kay”.

Cate Kay is a bestselling author. She also isn't real — it's a pen name, and the real person behind Cate Kay is ready to come clean about the dark secrets she ran from for decades by assuming three different identities. This story is messy, twisted, and deeply queer in a way that grabbed my attention right from the start. The shifting perspectives and asides as footnotes work really well. I want to see this adapted for the screen!!

Did I read this book with the Overbooked Randos in February? Yes but this had me h o o k e d!

Thank you @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of "The Three Lives of Cate Kay"

But the ending came so abruptly & I was like a little baby grasping for a bottle saying gimme gimme more. (I also felt like things ended up like life's perfect for this story, am I wrong to think this?)

I was left with so many questions!!! Like so so so many *interal screaming of destruction*
[‼️BEWARE SPOILS AHEAD‼️]

How did those convos with Amanda and Ryan go? What about the moments with her mom? What about Sidney not writing the letter that she LIED about Amanda being dead? Hello??? I need the tea!!!!

But getting past my own internal drama that still storms my brain about the ending...I really liked the idea that this was a memoir about a famous and mysterious author. The multiple points of view helped grip me deeper into the stories plot. The second chance romance was good but kind of okay (but you don't need to hear me whine about the ending again *wheeze*)

I appreciated being a reader facing difficult topics & experiencing the tough moments LGBTQIA characters experience when they navigate through life & love in a climate that wasn't particularly accepting. But that's why we read, right? To expand our worlds. To learn. To appreciate & understand everyone around us.

I'm glad I read Cate Kay. I really enjoyed the secrets & how I needed to know what was going to happen deep in my bones. Yes, the ending (for me) was blah BUT the journey & what you learned for the story is what's the most important. And trust me, I learned a lot from Cate, Sidney, Amanda, Ryan, and Brett.

🎧 The audiobook is worth it for this one. A full cast of narrators sparkle magic into this story. The variety of voices really helps make this feel like it's a memoir about a real author.

📚 Bookish
❤️ Multiple Timelines + POVs
📚 LGBTQIA
❤️ Seven Husband's meets First Lie Wins
📚 Debut
❤️ Memoir Style
📚 Friendship