Annie and Amanda were best friends in their small upstate New York town, united by their dream of leaving for LA as soon as they graduated high school. Just before they left, Amanda wanted to show Annie something--when Amanda has a horrible accident, Annie flees, terrified. She reinvents herself as Cass, eventually moving to Manhattan while her girlfriend finishes law school. She writes a successful novel, but refuses to reveal her true identity. Cass remains on the run, denying her early life and its tragedies.

I wanted to love this book, but in the end, I kind of didn't get it. Annie/Cass/Cate, for an author, is remarkably uncurious about what really happened all those years ago. I don't know. It's just kind of strange. #TheThreeLivesofCateKay #NetGalley

Book Review: The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged novel that masterfully blends mystery, fame, and personal redemption. With vibes similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this story follows Cate Kay, a bestselling author who has spent years hiding behind a pen name and avoiding the spotlight. When a shocking revelation forces her to confront her past, Cate realizes she can’t keep running forever.

The way Fagan unravels Cate’s life is gripping. You’re drawn into her dual identity—Cate, the celebrated author, and the real woman behind the name who’s burdened with guilt and secrets. The flashbacks to her friendship with Amanda add so much depth, making you feel the weight of the tragedy that changed everything. The emotional tension is balanced with just enough glamour from Cate’s fame to keep it exciting without losing its heart.

The writing is stunning—lyrical yet raw, with vivid imagery that makes both Cate’s emotional struggles and the Hollywood world come alive. Fagan also nails the pacing, blending past and present in a way that keeps you hooked while slowly peeling back layers of Cate’s life.

If you’re into stories about complex female leads, hidden identities, and emotional healing with a touch of glitz, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a must-read. It’s powerful, thought-provoking, and will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is a fairly entertaining and unique tale about a woman finally coming clean about her past. While uneven at times, I did overall enjoy it.

This story is written as a fictional memoir as a bestselling author is revealing the truth of her identity. I’m not a huge nonfiction, memoir fan so that type of writing isn’t always my favorite. But I thought it was an interesting approach. It also allowed multiple viewpoints without having to circle back around.

Overall, a solid read. While a bit of a slow start, and I wish we had read more key scenes as they happened, I still found this to be such an original and absorbing story. So many strange decisions by these characters made it very fascinating. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.

👉🏻 For my friends who want a story about “big dreams, love, and unexpected twists.” (Reece Witherspoon, who selected it for her book club)

Thanks, @atriabooks, for the review copy via @NetGalley. (Available Now)

Anne Marie-Annie-Cass-Cate left home suddenly, changed her name, and then became crazy-popular anonymously, becoming one of the most successful authors of her generation. This book is her memoir, weaving her story and the stories of various key people in her fascinating life together in a book-in-a-book, complete with Cate’s footnotes on other people’s chapters (which I loved).

This is a fast-moving, well-plotted, and satisfying story of love, friendship, fame, and forgiveness. TIP: As much as I love a good story told via audiobook, I’m grateful I read this as an e-book. Following all the POV and timeline changes in this intricately layered story was easier (for me) that way. You’ll want to pay attention, as eggs laid at the beginning of the book come to roost at the end.

This one is very unfortunate to say that it fell into all of the common tropes that a white women usually falls into in literary fiction. This wasn’t the best, but this was not the worst. I’ve seen a lot of novels around recently that resemble this synopsis, so this did not surprise me.

I read and enjoyed The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan while on holiday. This book was the perfect easy to read keep you entertained kind of read. Like many other reviewers I am a little hesitant on the comparison to Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo. I have a lot more to say about this book- but am struggling to articulate. The friendship between Annie and Amanda was so beautifully written. I do not want to spoil anything- so I will say that the twist that happens in their relationship- was truly a shock. I found myself trying to analyze from all kinds of angles and though I did judge Annie for what happened fairly harshly at first- I did find myself coming around throughout the development of the plot. I felt like the queer representation was well done. I felt the characters had nice depth. The stand out was definitely the sisterhood between Annie & Amanda though. The way those relationships can ebb and flow and the effect of a true betrayal. Secrets and how the people close to us can completely derail our lives. Speaking about that one Narcissist that basically controlled the entire trajectory of the post incident story. Wild to think how different the story could have played out without her.

Thank you for my advanced galley. I will have more to say on this on socials in the very near future.

For years, there has been the measure of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones. But now Cate Kay must be included. At first, I found myself comparing this story to theirs. And then it morphed, and Cate completely captured my heart all on her own.

This is one of those books that alters you. That removes you from your life and gently cradles you between the pages. It’s hard to tear your eyes away, because it is so painfully beautiful. Real, raw, shattering.

“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.”

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is one of the best coming of age stories I’ve ever read. And I read it while I was in my own coming of age. Shirking who I thought I needed to be in my twenties. Settling in this skin of adulthood, motherhood, womanhood. This book made me feel empowered, and reiterated what I quote time and time again: “Women draw strength from other women.”

What a sensational book.

I'm coming up for air after being immersed in the world of Annie/Cass/Cate. The author really created a world with three dimensional characters and an addictive story. I will admit the first hour of reading I wasn't sure I would be totally engaged, but then everything started coming together and I couldn't put the book down!

I won't go over the plot as other reviewers have done that, but here's what caused me to give the book five stars:
1. The story is told as if a memoir is being written by Cass's friends and associated, as well as herself. It was interesting to get the different viewpoints of a situation and sometimes have Cass's observations as to what others have written about her.
2 Totally immersive characters. Each chapter is in one of the character's voice, the main ones being Annie (Cass, Cate), Amanda, Sydney and Ryan. Each was distinct.
3. I loved the friendship between Amanda and Annie (Cass), before horrible circumstances drove them apart. Their wordplay was adorable and their enjoyment of each other evident, like two pieces of a puzzle.
4. There's some seriously good writing going on in this book.
5. I loved the short cameo's by sideline players. My favorite was the man who was the gatekeeper of the office where Cass's fan mail had been stored. We only got a brief insight into him and his wife, and why Cass's story had affected him so, but it was sweet.

If you get a chance to listen to the audio it's great, with a large cast.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Fagan, and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very real and raw while also being fiction. However, I found it difficult to follow and it took a while for it to come together in my head. Overall, I felt as though it was well written, but I struggled with following the story so it was harder to enjoy.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I had it sitting in my TBR pile and then Reese Witherspoon featured this as her pick for the month. This prompted me to read it and I am so glad I did. Puzzle pieces coming together as infamous author Cate Kay tells the true story of who she is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

The premise of The Three Lives of Cate Kay had me so intrigued. I really loved the multi pov and that there were multiple timelines throughout this novel. It was enjoyable and an easy read.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has all of the intrigue. scandalous secrets and Hollywood drama that one would expect from a story that is being compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. However, for me this book lacked the heart that made so many fall in love with Evelyn! Cate Kay’s story is told in a way that is extremely factual and lacks a sense of emotion and depth, the characters although very interesting really felt one dimensional, which made them extremely hard to connect to. The most important part of an underdog or redemption story is the HEART OF THE CHARACTER and I really wish we had gotten to see a bit more of that from Annie as she grew into her different personas - I really didn’t feel myself rooting for her!

Although I was given an e-ARC, I did take the opportunity to listen to the audio when it became available. This is the format that I would most recommend for this story - full cast narration (that was extremely well done) which helped bring the characters to life a bit more and made me want to keep reading!

Overall, an intriguing plot that carried this story along and made it enjoyable to read in the moment but unfortunately not enough emotional depth to be a story that will stick with me for the long haul!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: literary fiction
📖 304 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: ✍🏼🤫🎬🎭📖☕️❤️✉️💔🌇

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ multiple timeline
◽️ heartbreak & second chances
◽️ a book within a book

🧡𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🧡

Thank you @simon.audio @atriabooks for the #gifted copy!

I really enjoyed this! I listened to it & the audiobook is definitely the way to go. The full cast narration brought the story to life, with each character given a distinct & engaging voice. The performances added depth & made the listening experience feel more immersive.

It took me a little to fully settle into the story, likely because the author spent the opening chapters setting the scene & introducing a large cast of characters. Initially, I had expected more of a mystery, but this book leans heavily into fiction & drama. Once I adjusted my expectations, I found myself deeply invested in the themes of reinvention, self discovery, heartbreak, & love.

The narrative structure was refreshingly creative, as the MC, Annie/Cass, speaks directly to you in a conversational tone, making it feel like an intimate dialogue. The “book within a book” element added another layer of intrigue. This story would translate beautifully to the big screen, & I can see why it’s receiving so much buzz, including being a pick for @reesesbookclub. A heartfelt, standout read I for sure recommend!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Cate Kay is a celebrated author of a bestselling trilogy turned blockbuster films, but she doesn’t actually exist. Her true identity has always been a secret—until now. Years ago, Cate & her best friend Amanda planned to escape their troubled lives & chase stardom, but a devastating tragedy derailed their dreams. Since then, Cate has lived under different names, crafting a new life while hiding from her past. When a shocking truth emerges, she realizes that facing her old life is the only way to find peace.

An author who has stayed anonymous finally starts to reveal her past and why she was anonymous. It follows mostly Annie/Cass/Cate and her story growing up and how she came to be a famous author. It flips between other characters as well, proving their view on the story (almost like an oral history, as Annie/Cass/Cate has footnotes in areas).

I was torn on how to rate this one. I almost did 3.5 but that felt too low. 4 didn't quite feel right either (too high) but it seemed like the best option.

Pros:
It was easy to read, and I really enjoy books with this style. I also love that the main romances were sapphic (although Sidney is the worst!).

Cons:
The plot was fine? It wasn't like oh my gosh I have to know what happens. I think it was trying a lot to be like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and it just wasn't. Additionally, Annie/Cass/Cate is only like 32/33 when she writes her memoir? It is less the memoir writing but this big secret was ultimately only like 7-8 years old at most. That just made the impact feel lesser for me. Like what worked with Evelyn Hugo was that she was old and reminiscing about her life. But it being so close to when Cate's book was released was weirder for me.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read. It just didn't give me as many of the vibes I wanted.

What a debut! Kate Fagan somehow manages to combine wit, emotion and complexity flawlessly. I found myself loving and hating the characters as if they were in real life. A beautiful examination of friendship, being queer and how we grow - I would highly recommend to anyone looking for the perfect read. It’s no wonder this was chosen as a Reese’s book club pick.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay was an enjoyable read but I think the comparison to The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hugo set my expectations way too high. I enjoyed the unique structure of the book with all of the characters getting their say. And I found myself rooting for “Cate” in the second half of the book. But I had a hard time relating to the characters or finding any of them likeable and so I wasn’t really invested in what happened to them. I would like to read the book within the book The Very Last which I found more intriguing then the book I was reading. Overall a solid, engaging read with characters that fell flat to me.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a novel about a young woman who witnesses a traumatic event so devastating that she flees her small town, her best friend, and her mother to start a new life under a different name.

Anne Marie couldn’t face what happened to her best friend, Amanda, so she left town without saying goodbye to anyone and eventually reinvented herself as best-selling author Cate Kay. Everyone wants to uncover the real woman behind the pseudonym, including actress Ryan Channing, who is starring in the movie adaptation of Cate Kay’s famous novel, The Very Last. By revealing herself to Ryan, Anne Marie opens up to someone for the first time since Amanda.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is told through multiple points of view from the people in Anne Marie’s orbit, along with pages from her novel. It features well-crafted backstories for each character and beautiful lines that I found myself highlighting. Ultimately, it’s a story about chasing dreams, finding love, and forgiving yourself and others for the past.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review. I know I am in the minority but this book just wasn’t for me. I really tried to like it since it was a Reese’s recommendation but it was a DNF for me..

I could not put this one down. I was constantly thinking about this book in between readings. Wondering where the story was going to go next.
I loved the way this book was written, it is written as if you are reading a memoir, but also reading the main characters novel at times too.
I must admit that I was confused in the beginning. A lot of characters, a lot of different time periods I had to get into a groove of it, but once I did I was able to follow easily.
Annie/Cass/Cate was one of the most real and relatable characters I have read in a long while. I absolutely loved her, and this book. SO MUCH!
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARK.

I absolutely adored this book. I do want to say, that I do not think it's really anything like either Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones; which it was marketed as. However, I don't think it needed to be compared to either. It was something wholly unique and spectacular. Once you settle in and are able to distinguish fully between each voice, you're in for something really special.