The Three Lives Of Cate Kay focuses on grief and the non-linear healing journey. We meet the main character as a teen on the cusp of adulthood and follow her through life as she does her best to survive in anonymity. While this book is being compared to Evelyn Hugo, I think that sentiment paints with too broad of a brush, and while it does have the similarity of a celebrity revealing her private life, it stands alone as a tale of learning who you are amidst pain and manipulation.

While reading, I found the various voices slightly challenging because at times it would take me out of a curated moment or catalyst and I'd struggle to fit back in -I would also advise that as an ecopy the footnotes don't necessarily line up and you miss the asterisk and then find the thoughts a little too late - i didn't feel each character that was highlighted necessarily elevated the plot but the voices I enjoyed were finessed and felt like spun silk.

What Fagan does supremely is dissect the layers and depths of pain completely coating the audience's organs in the turmoil of grief yet still leaving a thin shadow of hope in corners and darkest parts of self-loathing.

This was my first Kate Fagan fiction experience and my first NetGalley complimentary arc. All thoughts in this review are my own and left with kindness and enthusiasm. Kate Fagan has set the bar high for future arc reading, and I will closely follow for any future works she writes.

I can confidently say this book has taken over top spot as my #1 read of this year!

First of all, thank you so much to Kate Fagan, the publishers, and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I feel so incredibly lucky to have gotten to read this gem early, and all I want is for all my book friends to get to read it too!

From the very first page I was captivated. Kate weaved this story together so perfectly and in a way that I never had any difficulty placing myself in the world she created. The various points of view she utilized was done in a way that helped to paint the full picture of Annie’s story rather than feeling too much. Every loose end felt tied by the end of the story and nothing felt rushed or forgotten. The characters have so many dimensions to them and she was able to capture Annie and Ry’s sexuality in a way that I wish more authors did; authentically and relatable. I was blown away with how seemingly effortless Kate was able to tell this story and I highly encourage everyone to check it out upon its release!

I will absolutely be picking up the physical copy as soon as it’s released!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is such a unique book with such a distinct writing style. Normally I can find multiple POV books a little jarring but in this case they worked very well to weave the story together. Unlike some other books, the integration of multiple perspectives felt very purposeful and designed to drive the narrative. Each character also has their own distinct voice with different nuances in their character even if they only acted as a very small part of the plot.

The story is a touching, and sometimes infuriating (but in a good way), story exploring the relationship between an author and their work, growing up and learning about how you fit into the world, and an exploration of queer sapphic love and friendship in a very non stereotypical not tokenistic way which I thought enhanced the story. For me, it was such a page-turner but the pacing was also great in that at no point did the story feel rushed.


Note: Thank you to the published Atria Books who provided the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Honest Review
The Three Lives of Cate Kay
By Kate Fagan

I’ll admit I was a bit hesitant starting this one as it was marketed as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins. However, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by Fagan’s craftsmanship, character developments, and multi-layering story. Really enjoyed this and recommend.

📚Expected Release January 7, 2025📚
Thank you Atria Books, NetGalley, & the brilliant author Kate Fagan. I’m super appreciative for the opportunity.📚

There’s something about this book that’s both lovely and disorienting. Is it because of the numerous POVs? Is it because it feels more like of a memoir than your typical novel? Or is it because our protagonist still seems an enigmatic person even until the very end? As someone who prefers SFFs and RomCom stories, the Three Lives of Cate Kay felt so new to me that reading the first few chapters felt weird. At some point, I did ask myself whether I downloaded the correct file because I expected something typical only to be handed with a story centering around theC life of this queer individual who is as lost as the legend of yore. But as I plowed through the story and finally getting the hang of the multiple POVs, a certain hunger has awoken in me. I could not read the book fast enough; there are questions that I need to be answered as soon as possible so I devoured the book in one sitting. Just like our mysterious Cate Kay, this book has a certain charm that you cannot just resist.

The events and the setting may be different but every one of us has an inner Cate Kay that’s why this book hits differently in a personal level. At some point in our lives, we’ve all been there; trying to demand something from the world but not getting what we seek, making the wrong decisions, pushing everyone away, and all that. And amidst all that, we still fight, we still dream, and cling even to the smallest motivation there is. Out of the three personas of Cate Kay, I could probably relate more to the enthusiastic and uncertain Annie who secretly longs for her bestfriend, who dreams big, and desires to please her best friend. For her succeeding lives, however, I find them painful to read because she’s just lost despite reaching the pinnacle of success. It also did not help that she surrounded herself with the wrong person and shunned away the world, living in her own safety bubble. As I read through this slice-of-life novel, I was both emphatic and angry at Cate Kay while my heart bled for the other characters who got entangled with the chaos that is Cate. Like did they deserve such treatment from Cate? This is probably the reason why I had to knock off a star from my rating because the ending was some sort of anti-climactic. Our protagonist’s redemption arc was not thoroughly explored and I was not convinced that after all the hullabaloo that had happened, Cate can just waltz in easily into the lives of Ryan and Amanda.

Of course, I love how the story was wrapped up. It’s just the conflict resolution was too easy, and it makes Cate Kay look like this entitled goddess who cannot be denied with what she wants to happen. Like everyone is at her beck and call, like everyone needs to beg for her attention.

But all in all, there are no other words for this book but it’s a superb and nuanced tale about picking up the pieces and ultimately, embracing everything life has to offer.

thank you to netgalley, atria books, and kate fagan for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. all of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

i really liked this book. it was incredibly well-written and formulated, and i can see how much thought the author put into writing and developing this story. although the characters had their flaws and quirks, i couldn't help but fall and feel for them. i loved getting diverse povs throughout the novel, in this sort of memoir that cate kay herself is writing (which i thought was so clever. i particularly enjoyed the footnotes added throughout. they were a joy to read). it added so much volume to the story to know what the lives of our other characters looked like, even if cass herself didn't.

something that stood out to me is the author's use of OCD as a synonym for tidiness when cass is describing amanda, claiming her tidiness is/was her "lone streak of OCD." as someone diagnosed with the disorder, it never sits right with me to see it used in this context. it is a life-altering, life-consuming disorder that encapsulates so much more than just cleanliness (and in many cases, it is not even related to that). it was a small detail in the book, but clearly grabbed my attention, as i am still thinking about it now. however, that did not decrease my enjoyment, nor does it take away from the wonderful things this book has to offer. i just needed to point it out.

this is the first kate fagan wrote i've ever read, and after this experience, i can guarantee it won't be my last. it succeeded my expectations in so many ways, and i consider myself lucky to have had the chance to read it before the publishing date. i will be on the lookout for its release in 2025, and will notify friends and family about it! this is a book worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers below!

This book is billed as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins and I think that maybe not having read either of these books might have hindered my enjoyment of this novel. I think I’m in the miniority when I say I *liked* this book, overall, but wasn’t in love with it or its characters.

I have to say, upfront, that I did not like any iteration of our main character. I struggled to see her as this enigmatic, mind-blowing, mysterious, captivating woman that everyone else seemed to find her as. The Annie/Cass/Cate in my head as I read the opening (her initial POV) was so far from any of those characteristics, that I felt flung out of space (anyone know the Cate Blanchett reference??) when the next person Annie (for the sake of picking one name and sticking with it) met was immediately enamored with her. There was a lot of insta-love in this book and I’m sorry, I just didn’t buy it.

Another thing about the characters is that I just struggled to like them. I appreciated their motivations and their struggles, but I couldn’t connect. They felt very single-trait to me in some places, reduced down to parts of themselves whose faces I really didn’t vibe with.

The ‘mystery’ of the story, the horror that plagues Annie, also felt like it was this big, big, thing that didn’t quite pan out. It was disappointing that Annie didn’t just Google what happened and saw the results for herself. Trauma is trauma, of course, but to take the word of a person you just met and not look into it further? That feels like cheap writing to me.

What I did like was Fagan’s cleverness for almost the entire rest of the book. She has a mind for writing and enjoys doing it. The story is certainly unique to me (do I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo??) and I thought she balanced the pacing well. The writing did feel a little smart in some places, but again, Fagan has great control over what she’s doing. I felt compelled to keep going, if that matters.

Overall, I was disappointed I didn’t seem to have the same experience as other readers. I wish I could have connected with the characters more, cared more about what they were doing, and found them more believable. Fagan is a talented writer and I hope that this isn’t her last foray into fiction. She has a talent and I am looking at her nonfic work right now, to see if anything catches my interest.

Look for this book on January 7, 2025!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is the first book I have read by Kate Fagan, and it has made me want to go back and read her others. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book was predictable but not in a bad way. The story flowed well and made this a super-fast paced read. It is a multiple viewpoint story but is easy to follow and really aided in the overall story itself. I would highly recommend this book. Thanks so much NetGalley for the ARC.

"The Three Lives of Cate Kay" is an absolute pleasure to read. With its uniquely intriguing premise and deeply complex characters, this novel is sure to resonate with a wide range of readers. Kate Fagan masterfully blends elements of mystery and romance, crafting a narrative that delves into the intricacies of identity and the art of storytelling.

Fans of character-driven tales will find themselves captivated by Cate's journey. The book is crafted to deliver a measured dose of emotion throughout the saga, and by the end, it’s definitely a story you’ve immersed yourself in—one that you'll likely want to revisit as soon as you put it down. This debut is a must-read for anyone seeking a fresh and engaging literary experience.

What a delightful, fictional memoir! I loved the multiple points of view leading to each discovery, character development, and beautiful storyline. I also enjoyed the snippets of the fictional book included, which gave further depth into the story and were simply fun to read. I really enjoyed the ride and don’t want to give too much away, but very grateful to NetGalley for arc.

Whenever I see a book claim to be like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I'm sceptical because it's a tall order and few books measure up. Honestly, I think it's safe to say this claim is right on the money in this instance.

This is a memoir-style book that skillfully rounds out the story of one woman who has had multiple names over her life and lives in complete anonymity due to a traumatic event in her past. Cate Kay is the pen name of a woman who grew up in love with her best friend Amanda dreaming of being actors in Hollywood and chasing their dreams together. Through chapters from the points of view of various people in the story, some with larger roles and others with minor appearances, we fill in the details of Cate Kay's elusive and mysterious past and current loner lifestyle and it's a story worth hearing.

I especially appreciate the little touches in this book that lend authenticity to it being a memoir within a book, such as the little "Note from Cate Kay" at the end of many chapters where Cate wants to correct something said by another POV character, muse on the nature of memory, or just add some commentary of her own to the subject. This gives the whole "memoir" an authentic touch that's difficult to achieve through just the first-person narration of events we get in each chapter.

If I had anything negative to say about this book, it would be the very minor niggle that the ending wraps up very quickly, to the point of seeming abrupt, rather than fleshing out the payoff we have been slowly building towards for the rest of the book. Aside from this, I was deeply engaged in this book and loved the characters and their interactions, as well as how fallible they all are.

Honestly, this is going to be one of the best books I've read this year and is well worth waiting for in 2025.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kate Fagan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I think I have an unpopular opinion on this book compared with other reviews I’ve seen because while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t my favorite. Something about it wasn’t for me and I think it was a mixture of the writing and my not caring about some of the characters. I felt like a lot of the characters acted strangely at times too, which brought me out of the story. I think others will probably enjoy it more though! I’m glad that I had the chance to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book! 4.25⭐️

Oh my, I just put this down and had to write my review immediately (while I still had tears in my eyes😭). This was truly such a beautiful story. The author seamlessly weaved together so many timelines and POVS that I couldn’t get myself to put it down!

I haven’t felt this way about a main character in a long time. She was both relatable and also so human that when she made certain questionable decisions I was like “off I might have done that at that point in life.” I loved that I didn’t get just one main character - but technically 3 as she moves through different points in her life. It was honestly brilliant.

Kate Fagan definitely has a gift when it comes to pulling out human emotions in her characters. The good, bad and the ugly!

“we’re all so much more, and less, than our best, or worst, moment”

cate kay
cate with a kay
cate with a k

annie callahan, cass ford, and cate kay—three names, each carrying the weight of its own story.

it delves into the intricacies of girlhood, friendship, love, and female relations—how one person’s influence can profoundly shape another’s life. and how one decision can alter your life; in many ways.

there’s something profoundly interesting about reading complex characters, making me feel morally captivated to understand their decisions. like they were made coherently to reflect our own struggles and desires in their intricate, imperfect lives.

the story is written with such perceptiveness that every detail feels deliberate—poignant. however, the frequent shifts in perspective occasionally felt disorienting and distracting from the main narrative at times.

to sum it up, this story stands for those who have always felt second and are always seeking for more. for those who feel tethered to others but want change, and for those who crave validation and importance. if you’re interested in slightly more intricate workings with interesting plots then this one’s for you!

a big thank you to netgalley and atria books for allowing me to receive an early copy of this book!

4.25 Stars.

This book was so good and I don't think i have ever read a book like it. I loved the story line and how we were able to see the perspective of so many characters. However because of that it did take me a bit longer to remember what role each character had in the story as the pov was changing frequently. Overall I definitely enjoyed this book and will be recommending this to friends.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC!

Cate Kay will inevitably be compared to Evelyn Hugo, which I'm already going to say is unfair because I have never read a book like this before. Every relationship is so palpable and real, and the story is so gripping without needing a gimmicky twist to keep you hooked. I just fell in love with these characters (except for the ones I viscerally hated) in a way I almost never do. Gorgeous book top to bottom, cannot recommend enough

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has been continuously marketed for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and it’s safe to say THEYRE RIGHT!!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is the first book I’ve ever read by Kate Fagan and I am thrilled to find a new authour that I will consume from here on out. Her expertise is apparent throughout the entire book from her intricate weaving of a beautiful story to the nuances of the smallest details that will make you weep when revealed.

A slice of life story can become monotonous easily and Fagan is able to avoid this at every turn. I was enamored by her queer love stories while not being heavy handed in any way. Everything was plausible without being boring or even slow burning.

There are multiple POVs that allow for a deeper view into the mind set of our characters while still being told in a “memoir” by Cate Kay herself. It was an interesting twist to the storytelling while not being too meta and my favourite part was her use of footnotes that I would be skipping ahead to read every time they popped up.

It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a story in this genre that was as moving as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I’m so excited for everyone to finally get to experience this.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in January. Pretty solid. It took me a bit to get into it but the way the story lines were woven together was interesting. The queer panic was extremely relatable.

I binged this book in less than 24hrs. I thought it was very well done with character development and pacing! I was left wanting more.

3.25 stars!

Here are some great things about this book:
- the way the narratives were structured was cool! I enjoyed the premise
- The book within a book was actually good and I would like to read it!
- I did think the friendship between Annie and Amanda was nice, and I think there are Big Friendships like this in my past that made this feel relatable!

Here are some things that didn’t quite work for me:
- the stakes did not feel high enough at all to warrant the characters’ actions. For SURE the inciting incident was serious but the main character had no real rationale for hiding away that was clear
- The different narration style drew out tiny parts of the plot into huge long scenarios and skipped through more interesting plot points - it made it hard to keep track of what happened because it was referencing a minor plot point you’d heard about 5 chapters back.
- All first person written chapters made it so the only way we were observing these characters was through their (more detailed than expected) memories. It would have been cool to add in some articles/media and see how the public reacted to some of these things.

I can see the comp to Evelyn Hugo, but ultimately it suffered for that comparison since I felt Evelyn had a much tighter hold on the plot, and it was largely told by 1-2 people with clips/media in between. This was honestly more similar to Biography of X, but like a very light version of that more serious novel. And ultimately it felt too uneven in its stakes vs. its premise, which made me feel unmoored as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.