Layers and layers, this one. A thriller centred on a rather privileged and self-involved little liar. Annie, Cass, Cate. I enjoyed this fast-paced read, wondering where it was heading. But I couldn’t get past how basic the characters were … how much rested on insta-love and being told rather than shown who these people were … and the heart of the identity split? I read that section over several times and I still don’t get why our lead ran off and assumed the worst. And was too self-absorbed to even call in an anonymous tip. Sidney, too. These woman are apparently lustful and shallow wenches. So much for this sapphic thriller.

This book is super entertaining, I sped through it after being in a bit of a reading slump, it kept me engaged and wanting to know more. It follows ‘Cate Kay’, a mysterious bestselling author whose identity is kept completely secret. We see her childhood framed by her neglectful mother and deep relationship with her best friend Amanda, and try to figure out what exactly sent her running from upstate New York headlong into the rest of her life, desperate to keep her identity a secret.

I loved the depiction of female friendship in this book, especially the ways in which it can blur between the boundaries of romantic love, and I enjoyed the queer representation as well. I liked that the chapters featured the perspectives of different characters, especially where they prove to be unreliable. The story within a story was also an interesting element-seeing segments of Cate’s book scattered throughout, though I’m not sure if I believe it as a bestseller!

Some things didn’t work as well for me, there was one character who acted so villainously but whose motivations weren’t crystal clear and I feel like we never got to reckon with the consequences of their actions. I also wanted a bit more out of the ending, there were some things that were just not touched on at all and others I would have liked to see explored in more depth. Overall though it was a super enjoyable story and I definitely recommend it!

4.75

Setting: California
Rep: multiple queer POV characters, disabled POV character

This is such a layered and nuanced story. Don't be misled by the tags - it's not a thriller at all. It's more of a slowly unravelling character study with a richly realized cast with whom I wanted to spend a lot more time. The comp to Evelyn Hugo is apt. I'll be keeping an eye out for the author's future fiction!

I must disclose that I am the author's wife, so yes — I am the number one fan of this book. However, it also means I've been around to first-hand witness THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY from inception to submission to rigorous edits (so much passion!) to nearing publication. Kate (my Kate, with a K) poured her entire soul into writing this novel, and it shows in every line of the book. It's filled with astute observations that will make you nod and laugh, nostalgia for anyone raised in the 80s and 90s, and gives us the sapphic love story and cast of characters that every queer woman needs. She perfectly captures the intensity of youth, the unbreakable bond of friendship, the mesmerizing obsession with notoriety and fame, and the heartbreaking consequences of thinking success will complete you.

Trust me: you need to read this. She's about to become your favorite author's favorite author.

Okay this book exceeded my expectations! I was sucked in instantly thanks to the amazing author, Kate Fagan. I was immediately hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next. I loved the multiple POVs, it made the book incredibly hard to put down because I needed to know what was coming. Also, being from Upstate New York, that was a huge plus. I am excited to read more from this author.

This book is really wonderful. From the first pages, I was swept into this wild and relatable world of girlhood and friendship and love, and once there, I never wanted to leave.

The narrative structure of this novel is very cool. Like an oral history, each event is relayed by the character (or occasionally characters) in the best position to reveal the (their) deepest truths from that event. The sections are typically longer than the average oral history structure; however, giving the reader the time to really get to know the speaking character. And then there’s a novel - or rather trilogy - within the novel. It’s dystopian, which to me links the quasi oral history style of the novel itself. I guess when I think oral history I think dystopia. Or rock music.

Anyway, this is a truly excellent novel. I couldn’t put it down. Thanks, Atria, for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars (can I give it 6 stars?)

I wanted to read really fast to know what happens but at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I loved this book. Cate Kay is the author of a best selling trilogy but no one know who Cate is.

Annie and Amanda are best friends in a small upstate New York town. They are both drama kids and dream of making it big in Hollywood after high school. Something tragic happens that changes their plans.

Don't read too much about the book, just dive in. Told in multiple POV from multiple characters from multiple time lines, this is a love story of best friends and of lovers. I highlighted so many amazing lines.

I now want (demand?) The Very Last to become a real book. Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl about fan fiction for Simon Snow became a trilogy of Simon books. Please give us The Very Last!

This was a read that exceeded all my expectations. I needed to stay focused to follow the time line and multiple POV switches but it was so worth that effort and deep digging into the story and all the feelings it came with. The story had such fantastic complexity and angst and I now have a serious book hangover. I so recommend this book to all readers wanting a fantastic love story.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

The Three Lives of Cate Cay is such an intriguing read. At first I was like walking into nowhere, the first few chapters left me all over the place with a lot of POVs - moving into the past and present; there were a lot of characters that I forgot who's who. Chapter 11 was one of my favorite chapters, I was like "what the hell? what happened?". I was so into that chapter that when Chapter 12 turns out to be someone else's POV I reread the Chapter 11 because the end of it was so good. I love how things make sense as the story goes on, how Cass came up with Cate Kay's name. I love that part. I also love the footnotes of Cate Kay (ch30 is so cute). Am I listing now my fave chapters, 'cause I got another one chapter 42 - the one where Cass and Ryan is at a bar and Cass said she had to go. I love the angst. Ryan's coming out was also my favorite, she isn't scared about what reactions she might get that leads to Annie's determination to face her past.

I mean I shouldn't be surprised that Amanda will know that Cate Kay is Annie they talked about it before but the thing that Amanda knows Annie is alive is so. I love how after so many years, their friendship didn't end.

I also love how the story ended, like it was an open one. It was up to reader's imagination on how they want the story to end - not just by all of them together watching a play.

Characterwise, I don't I love a certain character but I admit I do hate some characters like Sydney's gaslighting to Annie/Cass/Cate was foul. Also Janie, who called the paparazzi and for telling Ryan that Cass already called her two weeks after.

Really moving, emotional and a compelling story. A romantic tale that flows well with good characters and writing. I also loved how it was told from multiple perspectives.

A romantic story between best girl friends and girlfriends, Annie and best friend Amanda have always known they would leave their small hometown as soon as they graduated to become actresses, but a tragic accident changed that plan at the last minute. Annie, floundering, leaves town, changes her name and writes an epic novel under the pseudonym Cate Kay. Believing Amanda dead, Annie’s novel is an ode to their close friendship together, but as she tries to start a new life she wants no one to know she is the author.
A good story, that flows easily from multiple viewpoints it’s a fun read but not the epic read the editor promised it to be.

This was so much fun! I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing. I think having perspectives from the different characters made it more complex and interesting. Fun but also moving! Great book!

This is a really interesting book where the main character has 3 names during her lifetime.

I don't want to include spoilers but the only problem I have is that the way the character behaved after the initial incident seemed out of place and I couldn't fathom her not checking the information she was given. However, this aside, I greatly enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to get to grips with the style of writing as we jumped around in time and voice, but it was worth persevering. It's a really good story with likeable and strong characters and a great style. I'd definitely look for more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

OH MY GOD. I loved this book so much. I read the last 75% of it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down!

I loved all the queer characters and the overall LGBTQ+ representation. I was gripped from the first page. A story about friendship, love, sexual identity. Filled with complex female characters.

This coming of age story starts with Annie and Amanda who are best friends since elementary school. They both have a dream of leaving their small town and making it big in Hollywood. A tragedy occurs their senior year, and Annie runs away from everything and everyone she knows.

I just loved the way Annie/Cate/Cass story unfolded and really kept me engaged and wanting more. The story is told from multiple POVs.

I just loved the way Kate Fagan draws you in and the story telling was so beautiful. I can’t believe this is her debut novel! It was heartbreaking, raw, sad. At times I was laughing and I also cried while reading it. This book truly exceeded my expectations and will be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria House for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!


i am sorry to say i had to dnf this one. i did happen to read it on vacation, so maybe my mind was already half out of it but this didn’t draw me in the way i expected to based on the title/cover and i may have to come back to it at a later date.

This is a delicious book - I gobbled it up! Amazing characters and what reader doesn’t love a story about a best selling author? Absolutely love Cass and her tender heart. This was just so good and I can’t wait to brag it up! The ending was lovely.

Can you change your life by changing your identity or is it just hiding? Read what Kate Fagan thinks in The Three Lives of Caty Kay.

OH MY GOD… oh my god. SPECTACULAR GIVE ME FOURTEEN OF ‘EM RIGHT NOW. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!!!!

The first night I started reading, I put down the book to go to bed. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I woke up and read another 50 pages. Nothing has gripped me like this in so long. The way that Annie/Cate/Cass’s story is set up from the various points of view with easter eggs that are intricately woven throughout every chapter is remarkable. It’s predictable in all of the right ways — as soon as you string one plot line together, another shoe drops. How complicated, yet devastatingly beautiful. These are the queer character portrayals we need more of!! I wish I could rate this higher than five stars. Instant all-time favorite!

KATE FAGAN, YOU GENIUS, YOU!!! The Three Lives of Cate Kay exceeded my expectations in every possible way and I already want to reread it to find more puzzle pieces I couldn’t have picked up without knowing what I know now.

I feel so lucky to have been one of the first to read this book… and I promise I won’t rest until every single one of my friends reads it too.

“The trick of life, as I see it now, is to make what’s around you beautiful. It’ll grow from there. Took me a long time to see that.”

—

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Fagan, and the publishers for the ARC!

I read this entire book in one sitting. WOW! I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The authors characters, story-telling- it was such an entertaining story that really held me the entire way through. loved all the different POVS and I will be highly recommending this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the early copy of this masterpiece. Just perfect, Kate Fagan is an amazing non-fiction writer, this fiction debut is outstanding. A book about friendship and the complexities of it—count me in, LGBT+ rep, I was in. This book grips you from the first page and it'll hold on to you until the final page.