Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! What a fabulous debut from Kate Fagan. The storyline was captivating - similar to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - I see why it is being compared to that novel - but different enough to be enjoyed and appreciated on its own. I was intrigued by the different POV and how the chapters were all set up. I really enjoyed the footnotes by Annie/Cass/Cate and often found myself going back to see what she was referencing. If I had a critique, it would be the ending. Endings are hard to write and this one was obviously a struggle. It was a semi-satisfying conclusion to a wonderful love story. I look forward to reading anything and everything that Kate Fagan writes next. A strong 4.5! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4.5 rounded up!

Cate Kay is one of the most successful authors of her generation, but she doesn’t really exist. Growing up in a small town in New York, Annie and her best friend Amanda dreamed of leaving and becoming big-named actors. However, tragedy strikes and Annie flees, leaving herself behind and becoming someone new in the process. Changing identities and constantly running, it’s finally time for Cate Kay to return home.

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by Kate Fagan is a fictional memoir told from multiple characters’ POVs, which I found to be done in such a clever and effective way.

Compared to EVELYN HUGO, what we get is a story spanning decades, full of love, loss, heartbreak, and Hollywood.

While I don’t think this book should have the “thriller” label attributed to it, I did find myself flying through this one thanks to the shorter chapters and the puzzle piece dropping that comes with the multiple points of view! It’s more of a fictional drama if anything and I ATE THIS SHIT UP!

Kate Fagan brings a beautiful new voice to fiction!

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

Publication Date: January 7

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy. Cate Kay is a bestselling author of a trilogy that is also a successful movie series. But her real identity is a carefully guarded secret. In this book "Cate" tells her life story, along with chapters told by other characters and excerpts of her books. The reader sees her as a teen Annie with her best friend and soulmate Amanda. When a tragic accident changes the direction of her life, "Cate" makes a decision and reinvents herself as Cass and writes her book with the Cate Kay pseudonym. As she becomes professionally successful she struggles in her personal life. Years pass and she finds out a truth that changes everything she thought she knew. This book was just ok for me. I found a lot of the characters unlikable and the ending seemed trite.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I loved the formatting of this story with the different characters “writing” their own chapters but with footnotes from Cate. I thought it brought an interesting POV to the book. I unfortunately just didn’t connect to the book or the characters in any way so I didn’t enjoy the content very much. I was also very underwhelmed by the last couple of chapters; I felt like it was a let down from the rest of the book.

Probably wouldn’t recommend.

This book is marketed for fans of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and I can definitely say that is correct.

This book had me hooked from the start and I am glad and grateful I got it as an ARC. The characters just had me in all the feels. I really connected with them and their feelings and everything about them were so in depth.

I loved the way the book was laid out, from so many different perspectives with the FMC making notes throughout. It just felt so personal.

I was satisfied with the ending and overall it was great. I just think I had huge expectations due to the marketing but there were no sort of twists. Overall though, I would definitely recommend it to friends and followers and urge them to buy when released!!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is an engrossing debut novel.

Anne Marie “Annie” Callahan’s life takes an incredible turn after she becomes friends with Amanda Kent. Annie’s mom is mostly emotionally and physically absent so her childhood is lonely. She and Amanda quickly cement a strong bond that is unbreakable until they are on the cusp of leaving for California after their high school graduation. Both young women yearn for the bright lights of Hollywood. Don’t they?

As Annie’s life takes an unexpected turn, she reinvents herself after leaving home. She eventually writes a bestselling trilogy and her lawyer girlfriend, Sidney, is pivotal in keeping Annie’s identity secret. But is Annie and Sidney’s relationship destined to last?

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a journey of self-discovery that is quite interesting. Annie does not like confrontation and her go to when trouble strikes is to run. She is quick to act and slow to make thought-out decisions. The supporting cast of characters is not always acting in Annie’s best interests. With chapters alternating from various characters’ perspectives, the storyline is engaging. Although a little slow-paced initially, Kate Fagan brings this wonderful novel to a delightful conclusion.

2SLGBTQIA+ Contemporary Fiction about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

1/5 stars: This is Fagan's stand-alone 2SLGBTQIA+ Contemporary Literary Fiction that features a mega-bestselling creator of a book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series who has kept her identity a closely guarded secret, until now. Something tragic happened in her past and she's been on the run ever since, slipping into different identities. Three names, three lives. Everything changes, however, when she receives a letter that turns her past on its head and she's given a second chance to make things right. Fagan explores the price of ambition, the longings of sapphic love and the power that comes from being true to yourself. Written in multiple POVs and timelines, Fagan's writing and character work are nicely done. Fagan touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 16%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Memorable. The quality of the writing and the memoir format really stood out. The multiple points of view added depth and richness to the story. Cate’s character was a highlight for me—ambitious and laser-focused. The writing was so vivid I could feel her pain, and I admired her determination to build a different life for herself. I also loved learning about her deep loves and connections. The touch of drama was enjoyable, though I didn’t feel that what she witnessed entirely justified changing her identity. Still, a great book with a stunning cover. Truly memorable.

This was an impressive debut from Kate Fagan. The storyline was unique and compelling for the reader. I enjoyed the change of point of view and the cliffnotes at the bottom from Cate. There were lots of a-ha moments throughout the book. I will definitely read another book from this author.

Where the book fell a little short was the ending. The ending was rushed in my opinion. I would have liked to have read a chapter where Annie and Ryan come together after Annie finds Ryan's letter. I also wanted a bit more conclusion and maybe revenge for Sidney and Annie's mother. Then again, Annie wasn't a confrontational character.

Lastly, I'm not sure I would market this book as being similar to the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. While I do think they have some plot points in common, I think holding a debut novel like this to the writing of Taylor Jenkins Reid might actually harm how much people enjoy this book, since Evelyn Hugo is so widely loved by so many, myself included.

Still I enjoyed this book and will happily read another book by this author.

It was challenging to connect with the characters, and the narrative presented multiple perspectives, making it difficult to maintain a clear understanding of who was who. I found the author’s writing style to be unappealing. The story would progress for a chapter or two, only to slow down to the point of boredom for a few chapters.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are my own.

This was a thrilling read from beginning to end, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've never read another sapphic novel that so accurately depicts the yearning for a childhood friend and the intense blurring of romantic and platonic love. Beyond the novel's excellent depiction of the complexity of sapphic love as a whole, I think this was an invigorating tale about identity, exploring your passions, and just all the complicated emotions that make one human! I was never bored and always excited to see which way the story would lead me next. I loved the multiple POVs and the way they flawlessly came together. That's not a skill level all authors have!

In terms of my criticisms, yes, you do need to kind of suspend your disbelief at times. It's true Annie/Cass/Cate could have figured out Amanda was alive with a certain Google search. and there are other plotholes scattered through this novel that exist in a similar vein too. However, I'm fine overlooking those nitpicky details since the rest of the novel made up for it.

Laslty, I know there's some discontent with the ending and how a lot was left open-ended. Even though I experienced some slight frustration, I think this was a bold artistic choice that paid off. In a novel that's wrapped in mystery and secrets, isn't it only fitting that the ending follow a similar pattern? From a creative standpoint, I think it's brilliant.

Overall, "The Three Lives of Cate Kay" was a fast-paced and tense read with a lot to say, and I hope many readers pick it up once it's published in January!

This was a little bit meta, in a good way! The Cate Kay title by author Kate Fagan… hurt my brain a bit with all the K sounding names. Was also a teeny hard in the beginning to put together the identities of Cate Kay, but once my distracted brain got that sorted I loved it. Just had to slow down a bit to get immersed in the story. For some reason (cover maybe and good reads description?) I initially thought this would have more thriller vibes than it did. It didn’t need them. This was multilayered and compelling drama. I am always on board with a book about an author.

Cate Kay is an author hiding behind her pseudonym because of a tragedy when she was young. Cate formed a deep friendship with Amanda and had dreams of going to Hollywood to be a big movie star. Cate and Amanda starred in all of their high school plays After an accident, she flees and sets on a different path. The three lives are interspersed so some details of the past are trickled out while also telling us about Cate’s present day life as an author. The author wove a complicated story about how Cate’s true identity came to be and how she unravels it. This is a love story at the center. Not a romance, but more reality of a relationship. Mistakes and misunderstanding are all part of real life. Cate makes some poor decisions, but her decisions also lead her to professional success. There were some puzzle/mystery elements that needed to come together to connect past and present.

I enjoyed this and look forward to reading more of this author’s work. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kate Fagan, and Atria Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

3.5 rounded up. I'm conflicted on really where I want to start with this review because I'm conflicted overall in my feelings towards the book! I was immediately drawn in by the comparison of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins, as I adore both books (especially First Lie Wins!). And I do see ultimately where they got that comparison! I loved the format of the book being told through the perspectives of multiple characters in short chapter formats. I found each voice distinct and believable, and it really helped to tell the story of Annie/Cass/Cate from all angles. The book definitely had me hooked too, and I flew through the first half of the book especially. However, I just personally don't think the stakes were high enough in this book for me to get fully invested. <spoiler> Yes, it was horrible that she left her friend there, but for her to truly become so reclusive and "on the run" for so many years, this didn't seem a good enough reason for her to do that. I was expecting people to die or crimes to be committed or even people to be following her for the level of urgency and secrecy that was presented throughout. For Amanda to still be alive and for Cass to never question what Sidney told her, it just seemed disjointed and was ultimately a letdown. </spoiler> I felt like the ending wrapped a bit too neatly for the story as a whole too. I enjoyed this more as a story of how friends impact you even down to your individual identity more than a "mystery" book. I believe I'm going to have to sit with the book more to ultimately decide whether this book was fully worth it for me or not because while I did overall enjoy my reading experience, I think my expectations about what the book would be cause disjointed feelings when reflecting on the book for me.

This book warmed my sapphic book lover heart. It was heartbreaking, passionate, messy, and honest in the intricate ways only Kate Fagan knows how to do. As a lover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this book scratched the right spot and is easily being marketed perfectly for fans of that book.

Kate Fagan tackles so many topics from love to friendship and everything in between in such a perfect manner. This is a multifaceted novel that uses multiple POVs to allow us to get a deeper feel for all of the characters. I loved the relationships and the depth every character has. The interwoven storylines provide the perfect amount of intrigue that has you turning the pages as you beg for more. I enjoyed the rich writing and will definitely pick up another Kate Fagan book in the future!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay follows many characters, but mostly Annie. Haunted by a traumatic event and wishing to erase her past, Annie sees herself becoming three different entities: Annie, Cass and Cate Kay. When Annie decides to write a book inspired by her life, she learns about the importance of relationships, love and friendship in opposite to fame and success. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a fast-paced story told through multiple points of view, which could be very interesting but also a bit confusing at times. In this novel, we also get to read about queer relationships, identity and morality. The writing is beautiful, clever and straightforward all at once.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay touches on multiple hard-hitting topics such as, friendship, love and queer relationships as it follows Cate Kay, (a pseudonym) author of a now-famous book trilogy, across her lifetime from teenager to best-selling author and the steps - and possible missteps - Cate takes to get there. This was the perfect mix of literary fiction wrapped up in mystery and tied with a sapphic romance bow. Kate Fagan does a great job of tying together multiple POVs across multiple timelines while writing well-developed characters, who keep the reader invested until the end.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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 author 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 captivating story that follows cate kay (a pseudonym) and how she became a famous writer. it starts from the very beginning- what she was running from and all the people she had become along the way to get her where she is. honestly this book has a lot going on but i thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book has a lot of potential, drawing comparisons to Evelyn Hugo with its sapphic love story at the core. While the characters’ emotions are clearly laid out, the narrative tends to tell rather than show, which left me feeling a bit detached from their journeys. It doesn’t quite have the suspense or thrill of First Lie Wins so if you’re looking for a fast-paced story, this may not be the one. It’s still an enjoyable read just not for me.

This story is about Cate Kay and how she got to be known by that name. It is told in a memoir style from many povs over many years. You also get to follow her through all the loves she’s had over those same years.

Now this story is not fast paced and I found myself just wanting to have the answers. Unfortunately you just have to ride it out and let the story unfold. You will get all the answers in the end. Other than being slower, the story compressed is good.

I would not compare this to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo like it is stated in the description.