I can see why this was a Reese's book club pick!

This is a multi- first person POV novel with twists and turns that ultimately asks... what makes us truly happy? Fagan's writing style becomes especially evident in the later half of the novel, beautiful and literary. My only criticism is that for the first third, it was hard to care about any of the main characters. I am not sure why, but the connection just wasn't there. I am glad I kept reading. The memoir format is well-executed and the various stories that culminate Cate Kay's life are beautiful.

Definitely give it a go.

The novel is layered with multiple characters and POVs across various timelines. We follow who Cate Kay was before and after she became the persona she invented for herself. We catch a glimpse of Cate's yearnings and worries long before Cate was truly born. 

It's well-written espcially when it comes to world-building in contemporary fic as it attempted to be "book within a book" kind of thing with hints and clues scattered throughout. Kate is a compelling protagonist but I think Ryan was the best of the bunch in terms truly getting to know her. 

And while there are plenty of dynamics and storylines to keep me focused on the main plot, it is sometimes hard to keep track of it all between all the POVs' switching - often done with minor characters who don't appear again. But I get the reasoning behind it as it's supposed to be a fictional autobiography so it works well. 

I kindly received an advanced reading copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Who is Kate Kay? Well she’s a hit writing author who’s books have taken the world by storm, but no one knows who the author is. Soon you will find out that she has several different names and several different lives. However, Kate Kay believes she can never go back to that first life where it all fell apart.

What a beautifully written story and the way that it was told in different perspectives is my absolute favorite way of story telling. A book within a book.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy.

In the “Three Lives of Cate Kay,” the author of a bestselling trilogy of books, turned films, turned broadway show is ready to drop the pen name. Behind the pseudonym is a tale of friendship and betrayal told through an author’s memoir. The main character is a deeply flawed character but her motivations are understandable. The novel holds the reader’s attention through various POVs and a nonlinear timeline. It’s these elements that make the memoir format unbelievable. Minor characters are given voice that seems unrealistic but do help to move the narrative forward. Overall, I found the story interesting and a quick and enjoyable read.

I am conflicted about this book. The first bit was not my favorite and I almost gave up on it about 20% through due to the writing style. Either I got used to it or it got better, because I enjoyed the middle. I have a hard time with books where the characters are fairly unlikable and truly there would be no story at ALL if people would just communicate. Also the main point of the whole thing (the reason behind her “third life”) doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. It was all around an okay book.

I received this from net galley in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed the memoir feel of the writing style. When I first read the forward I stopped to double check to see if it was indeed the authors life story. Characters were well developed and overall a good read.

Sportswriter Kate Fagan’s fictional debut, “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” is a fictionalized memoir that unveils the hidden secrets of a bestselling author.

The novel begins in 2014 but spans more than two decades, starting in 1991, when Anna "Annie" Marie Callaghan first meets Amanda Kent, a girl who will become the center of her world. Annie, raised by an alcoholic and largely absent mother, finds in Amanda a lifeline. The two bond over their shared love of acting and dream of running off to Los Angeles. Their drama teacher, Mr. Riley, even selects plays with two strong female leads, written specifically for them. Despite Annie's unrequited romantic feelings for Amanda, their friendship runs deep, surviving the complexities of their mismatched emotions. However, when a tragic accident befalls Amanda, Annie flees her hometown and reinvents herself as Cassandra "Cass" Ford.

Shamed by her perceived cowardice and the secrets she left behind in New York, Cass starts fresh as a waitress at a local café. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she overhears two writers discussing their work and, intrigued, engages with one of them. This leads to an invitation to attend a writing class at a local college. With acting now a painful reminder of her past, Cass decides to pursue a career as a novelist. She eventually meets Sidney Collins, an aspiring law student, at a writing workshop. When Cass reveals her past to Sidney, she becomes entangled in a controlling, manipulative relationship with her, which includes helping Annie/Cass legally change her name to “Cass.”

When Cass finishes her debut novel, “The Very Last”—a dystopian tale—she publishes it under a pseudonym to shield her true identity. Sidney becomes her intermediary with publishers, editors, and journalists. When the book is optioned for a film adaptation, the actor slated to play one of its key characters, Ryan "Ry" Channing, asks to meet Cass. Though she has been hiding behind the identity of "Cate Kay," Cass agrees. Their meeting sparks an undeniable chemistry. For Cass, this is the first time she has felt genuine love since Amanda. Her relationship with Sidney, now a manipulative and transactional partnership, contrasts sharply with her newfound freedom and connection with Ryan. As Cass considers revealing her true identity to Ryan and leaving Sidney behind, her past resurfaces, complicating her decision and ultimately causing her to retreat from Ryan.

Fagan’s novel bears similarities to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, with both stories featuring a queer woman who is not openly gay, who runs from a traumatic event in her past, and whose life is recounted in a journalistic or memoir-like format. With a cast of well-developed characters who offer valuable insights into Annie/Cass/Cate’s relationships with Amanda and Ryan, the novel feels like a memoir, making the protagonist’s journey feel remarkably real.

There is an underlying theme of grace in “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” although it seems difficult to believe, given Annie/Cass/Cate's earlier actions. The novel ends with a neatly tied-up conclusion where every character seemingly finds a happy ending, despite the manipulation, toxic relationships, and abandonment they have endured. Still, Fagan’s characters remain multidimensional and memorable, their complexities resonating long after the book is finished.

A fictional memoir about an elusive best-selling author told from multiple POVs. This one got off to a slow start but once I got into it I could not put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a genre-blending fictional memoir told through multiple POVs, capturing the life of Cate Kay, her former selves and those around her. The book explores themes of identity, grief, and love while offering a unique storytelling approach.

While the narrative style and emotional depth resonate with many readers, the book has a slow start and some struggled to connect with its characters. The alternating perspectives can feel indistinct, and certain plot points stretch believability. However, the suspense and gradual character development eventually draw readers in, making it an engaging read for fans of character-driven stories and memoir-style narratives.

What a fabulous book! From the minute you meet Amanda and then they mysterious Cate Kay you will be hooked. A heartbreaking story of being young and in love and the quest to find yourself.

I find it hard to articulate just how good this book is. Saying, “It blew me away,” doesn’t begin to cover what a masterful job Kate Fagan did. Critics have compared it to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It’s a fair comparison. Put side by side, it is no shrinking violet. Its plot is equally complex, its characters comparably dynamic, and its impact is just as significant. And, much like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this story will be a topic of discussion in book clubs for years to come.
What truly makes The Three Lives of Cate Kay stand out is its employment of multiple points of view. Fagan effectively leverages the varied perspectives, giving the story a more holistic understanding. Each character becomes a narrator in the story, highlighting distinct aspects of Cate’s personality, relationships, and life. Though Cate is the primary voice of the story, readers walk away with a bigger picture of who Cate fundamentally is because of these multiple points of view.
So, who is Cate Kay? She is a profoundly complex and intelligent woman trying to outrun her past. Trauma and poor choices have forced her to reinvent herself and become cautious and reclusive. Fagan slowly and deliberately leaks the haunting details of Cate’s life via the various characters that cross her path. These narrators, including Cate, become guides, letting the storytelling unfold linearly and uniquely. Thus, Cate’s journey becomes a culmination of all these voices, each one filling in a piece of her puzzling life.
Fagan makes some interesting choices as she uses these narrators. Some seem to hold more knowledge about Cate’s life than she does. And because readers have an omnipresent view, they know the most. It creates a tension within the storytelling that’s irresistibly compelling. It is the kind of dramatic irony readers rarely see done this well. The heightened stakes and increased suspense are simply delicious.
Because Fagan uses multiple points of view, Cate’s story isn’t isolated; the choices she makes reverberate across the lives of others, creating a dynamic web of cause and effect. The same goes for the many narrators. Their choices affect Cate. It provides an interesting situation, enabling the exploration of subplots. These subplots are critical; they allow Cate’s character arc to expand. Her family, friends, and lovers illuminate different aspects of her personality and life story, adding emotional resonance and complexity to the storytelling. Additionally, these small-scale struggles mirror the overriding issues, making the story feel grounded and realistic.
Finally, the most masterful moment is the way it all comes together. Fagan’s shifting points of view eventually reveal the other characters’ motives. Some are unexpected. Some are welcome. These climatic revelations are what readers have been waiting for. The tension is released. The pieces fall into place. However, as readers finish the last page, what imprints the most is the intense energy of the narrative, making The Three Lives of Cate Kay an unforgettable experience.
Final remarks…
The Three Lives of Cate Kay transcends being a simple story about one woman’s life. Instead, it becomes a rich tapestry of perspectives that deepen the narrative’s emotional resonance, enhance its complexity, and keep readers fully invested. By including a range of narrators, the book appeals to a wide audience, as different readers connect with different characters. This is award-winning storytelling. Fagan’s writing style and storytelling choices will leave you breathless. It is a must read.
Strengths…
Well-written
Powerfully told
Impressionable, impactive characters
Memorable storytelling

The three lives of Cate Kay follows the story of the most famous author in the world, yet no one knows who she actually is. Starting with the premise of this mystery author planning on finally revealing all in a memoir we then get to read that fictional memoir for ourselves.
Starting in childhood we see ‘Cate’ as a child, living with an alcoholic mother in a poor apartment complex her life is altered when she meets a spirited girl named Amanda and the two instantly become best friends. But the two girls lives encounter tragedy leaving ‘Cate’ recreating versions of herself as she tries to escape her past.

I really enjoyed this read and found it compelling and original, and despite her flaws, ‘Cate’ was a character I couldn’t help but root for. I’ve seen it compared to other popular books such as the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and whilst I see the similarities in the how it discusses Hollywood and gay women’s experiences of having to perform as straight to be accepted, the storyline itself was original so I didn’t overly feel this comparison!

What I really appreciated with this read is that despite the far-flung drama of the story, it felt realistic and down to earth, it showed people’s flaws and insecurities without necessarily presenting them as bad people. It also covered important topics such as friendship, grief, identity, and toxic relationships (Sidney I hate u). I did find the character changes a little too frequent at times - especially with smaller side characters who I had to remind myself of their relevance - but overall I enjoyed this read! Thank you so much to the publishers and author for an advanced e-copy!

I’ve been professionally reviewing books for 12 years and I can say without a doubt that 2024 has been the shittiest year for literary fiction releases, so it gives me extreme joy to report that there is hope on the horizon for 2025…and its name is THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY!

Initially, I was skeptical of two things: the cover and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comparison. The cover is giving me Lessons in Chemistry vibes which I think is one of the worst marketing mistakes in recent years. So many of that book’s target readers passed right over the bright, pulpy cover and I worry that this could be the case here. The image of three rearview mirror reflections hits the mark but I think this should have been a real photograph rather than a graphic. As for the comparison with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I can see the connections, but I found this story to more closely aligned with The Resurrection of Joan Ashby (my favorite book of all time) for its nested structure, Shakespearean themes, and spiraling storyline centered on a female literary phenomenon.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten my petty critiques out of the way, let’s focus on the fact that this book is a true gem. The Three Lives of Cate Kay does not belong with the midlist, basic, contemporary fiction releases. This smart, uniquely detailed, and perfectly paced book gives me the kind of reading high that makes me do a John Bender from The Breakfast Club air punch after reading the last sentence. Kate “with a motherfuckin’ K” Fagan has delivered an absolute “mic drop” fiction debut. Sign me up for the fan club because I’m going to be raving about this one for a while.

This was an unexpected winner of a book for me. I went in with no expecations but easily fell in love with it. It's a fictional memoir with multiple points of view. More like a documentary where the other characters in Annie/Cass/Cate's life fill in missing pieces and alternate understandings.
<i>The Three Lives of Cate Kay</I> is a real coming of age story about true love and loss. When that true love is your ultimate best friend and the worst lost is that same friend. Annie finds herself running from the life she thought she was going to have and reinventing herself to stay in hiding. But in that time, she writes the most popular book series turned movie series. Throughout the telling there are little easter eggs that tie her true identity into the pages of her best seller. I loved picking up on those themes.
Somehow this story of loss and misunderstanding ended with me smiling. I applaud Kate Fagan for her writing style and for her ability to make the reader feel like they are part of the story because no secrets were kept from them. Exerpts from the book and footnotes from Cate were all part of the storytelling.

I had read the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and enjoyed it. I was curious when I saw comparisons of The Three Lives of Cate Kay to it. Having recently finished it, I can see some similarities but feel it really stands on its own. What particularly stood out to me was the evolution of the story through not only the main character but also those closest to her.

The story within a story also captured me and I could see myself reading The Last Verse if it was a real book. I found the overall story to be compelling and was curious to see how it would keep moving forward. I will say there were a few moments where the story slowed down and I found myself getting frustrated with the situation l. However, the story would take a turn and I was back in it.

I so appreciate how this book demonstrated the many forms of love and there impact on one’s life. This was a story that I am happy I read and would certainly recommend adding to your TBR pile. Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I heard a lot about this book and everything seemed to point it in the direction of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones. While I can see how it can be described this way, with Annie's life going in different directions, and the different POVs of everyone telling the story like in Daisy, I can't really say these stories are similar.

That is not to take away from Cate with a freaking K in the least bit. I really loved this book and was hooked from the start. It begins a little on the slower side but once it picks up I was thoroughly invested in ALL the characters. I loathed Sidney more than I can put into words and there was a part of her and Cass' story that wasn't really addressed that I wanted closure on.

I really liked how this book was a memoir but told from multiple people's viewpoint. I could see this making a great screen adaptation whether movie or series, I would watch for sure.

Whole heartedly recommend this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd at 12%. I didn't love this book.

4.5 stars
Slow to start but all of a sudden the story was all gas to the finish line. I loved the way the love story of Cate Kay’s childhood best friend shaped her entire life, the good the bad & the ugly. Coming to terms with her sexuality, consequences of her actions, and who she really was out of her 3 personas made for a great story. Part Evelyn Hugo (sapphic movie stars in the closet) and part mystery thriller this was a great read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy on exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book blind, and LOVED it- especially combining the physical book with the full-cast audiobook.

Author of an internationally best-selling book series and movie franchise, Cate Kay, is the entertainment industry’s biggest mystery. No one knows who she is or why she is intent on keeping her identity a secret. However, Cate, is finally ready to tell her story. The novel reads like a memoir, with snippets from Cate Kay herself, as well as her friends, lovers, and others who she has met or worked with from her teen years to the present. Readers are taken on a journey; a coming of age story of friendship, dreams of stardom, and a tragic accident that permanently altered Cate’s path and career, I love complex and flawed characters, and Cate is a perfect example of a heroine I cannot help but root for in her journey/character growth. At its core, this book is an exploration of identity, ambition, friendship and love; healing from past choices and determining what is most important in life.

It was compelling until about the middle and then it lost steam. I didn't understand why Cate Kay input footnotes, as though she were looking over the narrator's shoulders while they wrote. And I didn't find her appealing in any of the three forms she adopted. This book was not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the effort behind it.