The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Kate Fagan

This should have been a DNF. Instead, I read it three times. Trying my hardest to find a cohesive storyline, to find a character to root for, to find a purpose. Unfortunately, for me, all three were missing.

I am not sure if it was intentionally confusing, meandering, and directionless but that is exactly how it came across for me. The main character body swapped and had no internal compass making it unnecessarily confusing and it was not worth the effort of haphazardly trying to keep track.

I’m sorry this didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay…⭐️⭐️

Cate Kay has been on the run since a tragic accident happened to her best friend, Annie, in their hometown of upstate New York. Annie and Cate were inseparable, and had both planned to go to Hollywood and become actresses after graduation. Now Annie's status is unknown and Cate flees to NY where she ends up writing the first of 3 blockbuster apocalyptic thrillers with details from her life growing up with Katie. Written under a pseudonym, the world wonders 'who is Cate Kay???'.  Her life changes dramatically and she begins a relationship with a famous actress. Soon this is in jeopardy as she finds out key information had been kept from her from her publisher in order to ensure her success. She soon needs to decide between her new life and her life back home where all her memories reside.
This story is told from multiple points of view but it's pretty easy to keep track of who all the characters are most of the time. Once you see some things from a different perspective, it alters your view of the story and how Cate is perceived by others. This is a great story, with impeccable character development that will keep you guessing until the last page. Will they or won't they?? A great 2nd novel from an author who was previously a basketball player!

This book really snuck up on me- I struggled to get into it at first, until about the 25% mark, though it wasn’t until the second half of the book where I started to feel invested.

In the beginning, there was more telling than showing, which isn’t my favorite type of story to read. And there are a LOT of POVs, which did at times feel overwhelming. I’m not great with names, so as more and more POVs came up, I needed to take notes because I started to feel unsure if the characters were new or had already been introduced.

By the halfway point, though, I found myself wanting to pick up the book more and more. Though Annie definitely is not an entirely lovable character, her flaws and mistakes did make her feel more real. I eventually became intrigued by Annie’s story and found myself wanting to know how everything would unfold.

When I finished the last page, I realized I had a smile and a few happy tears on my face. After sitting on my feelings, though, I realized I needed more from the ending. By the end, I had started to feel invested in these relationships and wanted more clarification on their statuses and a better look into their present lives. The reunions lacked the emotional impact I needed because we got little to no details.

3 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Three Lives of Cate Kay comes out January 7, 2025. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is a really solid debut with an intriguing premise and a captivating main character in Cate Kay. The multiple points of view kept things fresh, though they did get a little confusing at times, but the story ultimately came together in a satisfying way. I loved the way the mystery of Cate’s past unfolded and how her journey of self-discovery was both compelling and thoughtful. While not perfect, it’s definitely an enjoyable read, and I’m excited to see what Kate Fagan does next.

I wasn't sure what I was in for when I started this book. But as I kept reading and became enamored and lost track of time. I stayed up way past my bedtime. The chapters are nice and short each with a different point of view. Each chapter reveals a new piece of the puzzle. The puzzle of Cate Kay. I loved this book and I know I'll be thinking about this book for quite some time. I loved reading from the book Cate Kay wrote and getting glimpses and inside jokes. This book is fantastic and I highly recommend you add it to your tbr list. I cannot gush enough.

Wow! I can't believe this was a debut novel. Really well done, it flowed so well and kept me engaged. I can't wait to read more by Kate Fagan!

Sometimes a debut comes along and shocks you in all the right ways! I cannot believe this is a debut - this was so well done!
Absolutely adored this and cannot wait for more from Kate Fagan!

Honestly one of the best books I have read for 2024! I am excited for this to come out in 2025 and physically add it to my shelf! I feel in love with this whole story and the main character Cate Kay! Highly recommend this book!

OK, I tried reading this more than three times, and I couldn't get into it. Something about the intro just feels confusing, and I couldn't get into it!

I loved everything about this book! I kept wanting to read more. It made me question on what was right and wrong, and what was forgivable or not. In the end, I was rooting for the main character, despite her mistakes. I hope the author writes more novels, because this was such a nice surprise.

What a thrill ride! This was a wonderful debut full of teenage friendships, coming of age, and young love. I think every girl out there has had a friendship like what Amanda and Annie had which made the characters extra relatable. I had absolutely no idea where this book was headed and it wS chock full of twists and turns. I do feel like the ending was rushed and I wish it could have been flushed out a little more. At times, I got a little confused with the characters because it seemed like it would jump around a lot and I struggled at times to keep all the characters straight. Overall, I absolutely loved this and would gladly read whatever Kate Fagan puts out next!

Literary fiction wrapped up in a mystery; this book follows Cate Kay, the anonymous and elusive best selling author who writes of a post apocalyptic Manhattan and how the human race rebuilds through the POV of low level surviving journalists. Cate has had many different identifies since leaving her hometown and her best friend Amanda behind. It becomes clear that she must return to her hometown and come to terms with the reality of who she once was.

This book is a wonderful story; it has many points of view- SO many that you may lose which ones are actually Annie and which are not. There are a few mysteries that are interwoven in a compelling way. Although I was a bit confused around the middle, the story came together at the end. And I LOVE a somewhat ambiguous ending- the last couple paragraphs are **chefs kiss**

The main character is a gay woman, with a theme of having different identifies over the course of her life. I love the theme of becoming different people as you are in different parts of your life. There is a theory of reincarnation that says when the most important people in your life from one time frame don’t recognize the most important people from another time frame… then that means you are in a different “life.” And as tempting as it is to start over in your youth, the more likely you will need to return to a former identify to get closure.

My favorite thing about this book was the quirky observations, the storytelling and the rich characters. A solid effort from a celebrated journalist to become an outstanding debut novel.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC. Book to be published January 6, 2025.

The marketing compares this to Evelyn Hugo and I was definitely skeptical going in, but you know what? I can see that comparison for sure! There’s definitely a similar vibe but this one was very unique and original on its own. At first glance this seems like it may be a bit ambitious as far as structure and plot goes but the author delivered everything in a seamless manner and with a deft hand and I was never confused for a second. There are several points of view, some you only hear from briefly but everyone that does contribute does so for a reason, it’s very thoughtful and purposeful. There’s also a book within a book with I love so much and you also get a queer love story, some mystery, and deeply developed characters and strong writing. I absolutely loved this unique story and highly recommend it when you’re in the mood for a book that is consuming, thought provoking and smart.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the creator of a bestselling book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series, she's one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is, Cate Kay doesn't really exist. She's never attended author events or granted any interviews. Her real identity had been a closely guarded secret, until now.

As a young adult, she and her best friend Amanda dreamed of escaping their difficult homes and moving to California to become movie stars. But the day before their grand adventure, a tragedy shattered their dreams and Cate has been on the run ever since, taking on different names and charting a new future. But after a shocking revelation, Cate understands that returning home is the only way she'll be a whole person again."

I LOVE authors who have a secret past! LOVE!

I was worried this book would be cheesy, but I had nothing to worry about. This was an in-depth look at what hiding and self sabotage can take away from your life. The characters were really well developed and had incredible depth, I’m glad we got as many POVs as we did. The formatting was unique and really fit the storyline well. The ending felt like a warm hug and really brought everything full circle.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Three Lives of Cate Kay. At first, I had no idea what was going on, but it pulled me in and didn't let go. The plot is hard to explain. Annie and Amanda are best friends in high school and make plans to run away to Hollywood together. But tragedy strikes and those plans are thwarted. The story is told from many, many points of view, really too many, and I found myself wishing it would move forward a little quicker, but it was a great book and i highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this fun, voicy debut! With a propulsive structure, a great, diverse cast of characters, and a storyline that weaves together every thread from start to finish, I can see The Three Lives of Cate Kay having wide appeal.

Our main character is bestselling author Cate Kay, who had an interesting life to say the least. Cate Kay is a pen-name, and no one in the real world knows the real person behind her huge novels aside from her literary manager - and if it's up to that literary manager, it will forever stay that way. But at the urging of her agent, Cate agrees to write a memoir of her experiences, which is the book we're holding. While it's largely written in Cate's words (with footnotes!), she invites other people that played a large role in getting to where she is now to contribute their own sections as well, resulting in alternating POVs and time periods. The story opens when Cate (or rather, who she was before she started writing) was a carefree teenager, and chronicles the years and identities that bring us to the present.

I think it's best to go into this one with less knowledge of the plot as opposed to more, as much of the fun for me was watching the story unfold, slowly understanding more and more how we got from point A to point B. It was addicting in the way that I just wanted to know what happened next, but it also felt like what I think of as a little bit "fizzy" in that it doesn't bring too much depth to get tangled up in. I was admittedly a little slow to connect with the characters at first - it felt like I was watching through a window rather than being in the room with them - but by the end, I really came to care for them. It felt to me that the author had a choice between rich, deep character development and more surface level with heightened entertainment, and while either strategy could have worked here, she went for the latter and truly delivered on the entertainment factor. I was really impressed with how intricately all the various POVs were woven into a cohesive story that worked SO well in a way that felt cinematic.

Kate Fagan (if that's even her real name...) is definitely one to watch, and I'll be looking forward to her next book! Pre-order this one for a late holiday gift for anyone in your life that you think might like to read a book. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book hooked me from the first chapter! This was a shorter novel, but boy did it pack a punch. There’s so much depth to Annie/Cate/Cass’s story here. The different timelines and the different POV’s just ughhh yesss. The writing was very well done that it wasn’t confusing at all either.

Kate ,with a K, Fagan you are definitely meant for fiction writing!! I’m excited to read the author’s next fiction work.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is an intriguing fictional memoir that explores the complexities of identity, friendship, and ambition. The story follows Annie and reclusive author Cate Kay, navigating their past traumas and present successes.
Fagan's exploration of themes like toxic friendships and professional dilemmas is both thoughtful and engaging, although some plot points seem a little unbelievable.
Overall, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a decent read with moments of brilliance, without reaching its full potential.
A solid easy read, if you love The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, or Who is Maud Dixon, you will like the 3 lives of Cate Kay.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book felt like a stumbling upon a trail of Hershey kisses. You open one and savor the flavor. But then you want to hurry and get to the next Hershey kiss!

This book will be a best seller no doubt. I enjoyed every moment. Short chapters. Fast pacing. Different POVs. A little web of information that wraps up nicely.

This book was probably the most real book I’ve ever read. The thoughts and insecurities they had…and their reactions to them. Even if some of their reactions were ugly, they were real. And honestly how most of us react to certain scenarios. Humans aren’t perfect and neither are these characters.

Please add this to your TBR for 2025. Because it was delicious. ✨

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher Atria for the advanced copy for my honest review.



(All my opinions are my own. And this is the truest review I could have ever written.)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7018305750?book_show_action=false

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