Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!!! I DEVOURED this book!!! I was a bit skeptical at first because of the marketing comparison to Evelyn Hugo (which is my favorite book), I was worried a description like that would feel like it was trying too hard to be similar to Evelyn Hugo but that wasn’t the case it all. Similar vibes but with a unique and fresh storyline that brought me on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout and a truly cannot-put-this-down-because-I-NEED-to-know-what-happens-next-read. Truly adored this book and can’t recommend it enough!!!

🖊️ The Three Lives of Cate Kay - Kate Fagan

4.25 ⭐️- OKAY, y’all know Lake George is my heart so extra props for one of the locations of this book! I got this Netgalley and I was excited to read it; but hesitant to start. I’m not really sure why that was because I really enjoyed it !

While the characters all frustrated me at times, I still loved them. I loved the way this was written - interview style but also still storytelling style. I was invested in all the many lives of Cate (it does give a little Evelyn Hugo) and at times I was rooting for certain ones over others. I enjoyed the growth and connection multiple characters experience across the many years of Cate Kay fame. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this - happy, sad, frustrated, satisfied, annoyed; you name it, I felt it. The ended felt a little rushed for me; I wanted more! I’m missing a couple of conversations to wrap up stories, but that could also be a me thing. I deff recommend reading this one this year or adding it to your BOTM box!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the early copy! This one’s out TODAY!!

I’ve said before that there are some books that deserved to be put in another category. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is one of them.
There is something enthralling about books reliving the character’s life, kind of like a fictional memoir. I easily got caught up in the mystery surrounding Cate Kay’s story starting by the title of the book. Why does she have three lives? What are the reasons, motivations and events that led her to create multiple identities?
This is a story of unravelling the truth but also of escaping home and coming back. Home here is not only the physical place but also the people you consider as such.

Our main character is complex and intriguing, not just because she contains multitudes but mainly because of how her mind works. It is sometimes complicated to understand her actions but it’s such a part of her identity that it doesn’t need to be explained. She is driven by this strange energy that make her who she is.
People are complex. Some are greedy. Some use others for their personal fulfillment. Others are just victims of machinations they are not aware of. Others are the pawns of the big machine that is the entertainment industry. All this complexity is explored in the book through the POV of each character who were involved, in one way or another, in our main character’s life. I strongly disliked some of them (I mean only one of them) and I sympathized with others.

There is more that can be said on this book like how I enjoyed the excerpts of the book within the book, but the best way to experience The Three Lives of Cate Kay is to take a leap of faith and immerse yourself in this adventure

I love books about books and authors so this was just a delight. The style of a fictional memoir of an anonymous author is such a great set up and was well executed. I loved each character and looked forward to their chapters. Highly recommend! one of the most engaging books I've read in a long time, I couldn't put it down.

4.5 / 5 stars

Anne Marie Callahan and her best friend Amanda Kent plan to set off for Hollywood as soon as they graduate high school. They know their enviable friendship and acting talents will help them make it big. But a horrible accident sends Annie fleeing alone and needing to change her identity.

Now, years later and having penned a wildly successful trilogy of books, Annie is ready to share the story of how she became Cate Kay. Her memoir will include perspectives from other important people in her life, including the lawyer who helped her conceal her identity for so long, and the Hollywood actress with whom she shares a (probably) doomed romance. Further enhancing her story will be snippets from her novel, which are of course deeply informed by her lived experiences.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay was an incredibly enjoyable read. The tight bond portrayed between Amanda and Annie during their teenage years reminded me of close friendships that I enjoyed. The poor choices that Annie makes feel incredibly genuine for a scared teenage girl.

My one small quibble with the book is that the conceit that this is the memoir of Annie/Cass/Cate doesn't quite work. There are large portions told from the perspective from other characters, and I would argue that this is Ryan and Amanda's story as much as it is Annie's. Also, Sidney would have no reason to contribute to the memoir given her actions and her background as a lawyer. But that's just quibbles.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is an uplifting story about female friendship, soulmates, and the power of fiction. I adored this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.

Wow. This one was told from multiple perspectives and jumped around in time and it was done so masterfully. The story telling is top notch. It’s an easy read to get into and at about 20% the jaw-dropping moments start. I couldn’t put it down and I just wanted to finish it right then! Sadly I couldn’t but I was reading at every chance I got.
Some of these character’s actions were just so horrible. This would make a great book club pick! There’s lots of regrets or things that shouldn’t have been. Missed opportunities and misunderstandings that take years to resolve. I didn’t love the very end-I wanted to see more and it felt like it was cut too abrupt. We as the reader understand the ‘where are they now’ but I just wanted to see it play out a little more.
An enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I was wanting Evelyn Hugo vibes, based off what the blurb said. Unfortunately, that did not live up to my expectations. However this was a fun book and I would recommend to most people!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc.

This was a passionate story that was heartwarming, heartfelt, and empowering all in one. This book definitely left me in my feelings and at certain plot points left me with my mouth open. This book would’ve easily been a five star read for me, but the different point of view was hard to follow at some points. Going along with a different point of view some of them I felt weren’t necessary for the story, but the author did do a good job about weaving in all the views at the end.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of second chances and self-discovery. Cate’s journey feels authentic, filled with relatable doubts and unexpected twists that keep you hooked. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own choices while rooting for the main character’s happiness.

I think this was a good concept with a questionable execution. I liked the overall thread of the story but could not get into the characters. I think the biggest issue was the Sidney character. She behaved in a way that was heinous, and it was played off as if it was a relationship faux pas. If that character were a man, this would be a story about an abusive relationship. I think that emotional wrong note threw me off for the rest of the book. I liked Ryan and the portions of the book in Los Angeles. The house in Los Feliz may be the best character in the book. It is a very quick read. It feels more like a magazine article. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I was interested in reading this book because the plot summary seemed very ambitious and a unique story. I think this sub-genre of fake memoirs can be very hit or miss because the character needs to feel like a real person. The author pulled it off relatively well, but there are still some things that I found hard to believe and occasionally the character motivations made no sense to me. I feel like this book has a lot of morally grey women trying to figure out who they are to the world and each other. The beginning of the book was definitely slow for me and the multi-pov was sometimes confusing because the storylines weren't always chronological. I did really enjoy this book though and the ending genuinely surprised me (in a good way). If you're looking for a mysterious, slightly twisted, book about the complications of friendship where most of the characters are queer, I suggest you pick this up!

Rating: 3.5/5

I always wonder about the author of books. Especially my favorite ones. Infact it's been a bit of a weird experience, with the age of social media that I can indeed readily see some of them. And I have been shocked by some and in shy giggles about others who might have even liked a comment of mine, ha!
And of course what we "see" on sm still isn't ever truth. Is it?
So with this book we get to know the author of a book. Or do we, because it turns out she isn't who she says she is or isn't who she can admit to. Confused? Yes well, you need to read it. Because it's worth every angle, trick, twist and point of view.
It's a book you wish to cover in school lit lessons so you can discuss for hours.
Brilliant new tale. One of not seen the like of.
I really do adore these sweeping you up, beautiful, and wrap you all up in them books. Ones that touch the soul.

*** The Four Lives of Kate Eff? ***

A novel within a novel, full with clues from a previous life. A mysterious author, and _where the author photo and bio would be just one sentence: This is Cate Kay's debut novel._ This is also Kate Fagan's debut novel. And just like with her protagonist Cate Kay, I did not know much more about Kate Fagan.

But she seems to love about writing that _most readers don't even consider the author_. The reader is directly immersed in a many-bottomed, high-speed story of intense childhood friendship, big dreams, betrayal, and a traumatic past. We find all the time secrets and clues before they are found by the characters in this drama. This could be predictable and boring. But it is not. The suspense is instead derived from constantly wondering, When and how will they find out?

I just ploughed through this book in less than two days and I already know this will be one of the best I read this year.

But I keep asking, Who is Kate Fagan? And _you know what, ironically, makes readers care about who has written the book? A pseudonym._ ;)

(based on an ARC from NetGalley)

This feels like “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” but if the book ended happy without me sobbing. I loved it. It was a quick-paced, light read that was easy to get through. I loved Annie/Cass/Cate. The book would be a five star, except for the fact that Sidney exists. She’s a caricature of a character. She’s so manipulative that it actually feels unreal to have to read her chapters. Plus, some of the dialogue felt a bit cringy (such as the interaction between Ryan and Cass where they talk about “cosmic bigness and Ryan says, “The phrase defined some unnamed thing within me.” That was extremely cringy). Other than that, I loved everything else! Amanda was my favorite, her voice was so strong and she knows who she is, she’s confident in it at the beginning and end

“I’d know her silhouette anywhere. I’d spent my childhood looking for her.”

“Love didn’t always mean staying.”
“We’re all so much more, and less, than our best, or worst moment.”

“Being closeted can make you angry. Without even knowing why, you’re acting like humanity is rotten at the core because how could a world denying love be any good at all.”

“I know everything we shared is threaded through you as it is me.”

“Only love can fill the black hole— that it’s the only thing worth chasing.”

This book was absolutely wonderful. It was so creatively written. We follow Annie as she navigates tragedy, success, love, growth, and so much more. This is the type of book where you learn something new after every read. I highly recommend this book.

I liked this a lot. It was unique -- definitely didn't know where it was going and liked where it ended up. I think some people will be perplexed by the ending, but I liked that it was vague and open to interpretation. Give it a try!!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay comes out next week on January 7, 2025, and you can purchase HERE!

Beneath the table I was twirling my thumbs. As I mentioned earlier, a key part of being a lawyer was playing with the silences. Or rather, enduring them. If you were always pouncing on a witness, my professors would explain, you'll never know their second thought-and the second thought was where the useful information lived.

My jaw has not left the floor since finishing this book yesterday. It truly has everything you could want in a contemporary/literary fiction book: hidden identities, twists, turns, compelling characters, romance and a deep view into relationships that make you look at yourself closer in the mirror.

Cate Kay has written the book of the century that’s being turned into a movie. A dream for anyone, truly! But, Cate Kay can’t even publicly enjoy her fame, as she is writing under a pseudonym that hides her true identity. Literally, no one knows who she is. In this multi-POV, time spanning novel, you get to dive into Cate Kay’s background-who is she, what influenced her, what happened to her to make her hide her identity?

I absolutely loved this book. I found the multi-POV perspective super engaging and different-allowing you to dive into each character differently and see “the truth” of the circumstances. There wasn’t a character I didn’t enjoy interacting with, and I found each character easy to fall back into when it was their turn to narrate. This book would be fantastic on audit too! I don’t want to describe many more of my thoughts, as they will spoil the book, but please do me a favor and pick this book up in the new year. It is truly a refreshing take on contemporary literature and I hope to this author continues to publish unique books like this one.

Absolutely loved this! I was so invested in the plot, the twists, the characters, and the relationships. It was so uniquely written and I was itching to read more. The relationships between characters were interesting and the banter between Amanda and Annie was my favourite.

Anne Marie Callahan is on the run - from herself. After her best friend is involved in a tragic accident, she assumes different identities - first, Cass Ford, and then later as the mysterious best-selling author, Cate Kay. With interweaving accounts from multiple characters, Fagan explores themes of love, identity, and the courage to face yourself.

These characters were stunning. Through all their flaws and tragedies, Fagan manages to give them depth, emotion, and connection that makes them quite memorable. Through all the timeline shifts and changing points of views, the book could have been confusing, but Fagan is masterful in how she crafts this story.

While there was a plot point or two that drove me crazy, overall, this story shines. I was a big fan of Fagan’s nonfiction/journalistic writing in What Made Maddy Run, but this book also demonstrates that Fagan has true talent in the fictional genre as well. I am excited to see if she continues to write fictionally, and this book is also the prompt I need to finally pick up another one of her books currently on my bookshelf: All the Colors Came Out.

3.5 💫

I’m so torn on this one. I didn’t feel super invested until at least 40% of the way in, but it did pick up and my interest was held enough to want to know how everything played out.
My favorite aspect of the book was obviously the friendship and sisterhood between Annie/Cass/Cate and Amanda 🤍

But that’s also where I struggled… (SPOILER? It’s in the description so idk) It was hard for me to believe that “Cate” just bounced completely, never once looking back or touching base whatsoever? I understand she had her own way of navigating and dealing with her trauma and heartbreak, but it was just a little unbelievable to me that she never would have known the truth about certain things. I don’t want to say more for fear of really spoiling.

The storyline was good. I love how “Cate” weaved details of her personal life into her novels, little hints here and there. I do think a lot of people are going to really enjoy this book! It comes out next week, already a January BOTM choice, so give it a try! Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the eARC!