Honestly, I’m not entirely sure if I really enjoyed this story, it was different meaning it was captivating in places but I must confess I had to keep reminding myself who I was reading about and what date it was! Maybe it’s just me. I eventually finished it.

To compare THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY to FIRST LIE WINS feels like a bit of a disservice to this debut novelist. Is this an interesting character study? Sure. Was it a cat-mouse thrill ride with twists at every turn? It was not. This is a fine book, I just don’t think it's the type of book that the publisher is wanting it to be. I kept waiting for the action to really take off but I don’t feel like we ever really got there for a few reasons:

The multiple POVs were too distracting. We had new POVs make their way onto the scene throughout the book and as well as right up to the end and I didn’t feel they added to the narrative.
The book within a book aspect felt underdeveloped and didn’t seem to move the story forward.
I could not understand the main character’s motivations for her decisions. As a reader I didn’t get the sense of who this person really was and why she was choosing certain paths.

I’m always rooting for debut authors and had this great premise been fleshed out a bit more I think it would have worked better for me.

RATING: 3/5
PUB DATE: January 7, 2025

Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

my mind is reeling from everything this book was. right there and then from the first few pages, i knew i had to finish this in one sitting or in my case, in one lying in bed session.

the writing was so incredibly sublime, i was like so shocked at how captivating and relatable it was that i got so frustrated. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. the prose was enticing, i ached for it.

the world of annie was so tragic but comforting in a way as i saw myself in her. it didn't take too much for the characters to reel me in the world of theirs—with their passion, their love, their girlhood, their inside jokes, their compassion, their bravery, and their sickness of wanting to eat the world.

i wished i could be a part of their universe.
i wished i could hug each of them.
i wished i could tell them that they are enough.

this book provided a sense of clarity in me. i hold this book dearly in my heart.

(thank you netgalley, atria books, and the author for allowing me to read this in advance in exchange for an honest review that is entirely my own)

This book is absolutely incredible and the format of it could not have been written in a better way. It follows the life of an author, who keeps her identity a secret, throughout her childhood and into adulthood. It’s written through many different povs like friends, love-interests, and agents so you as a reader can get a full explanation of events taking place from a variety of perspectives. This book could’ve gone on forever and I would have been happy. I loved the writing and how quickly the plot moved.

I really liked the full-circle nature of the book, and the characters’ development over years of time.

Overall I found this book really tough to finish. Few of the characters are actually fully fleshed out and I really could not fathom the main character's reaction to "the incident." It seemed wildly out of character and for her to just run with what Sidney (a woman who she barley knew) said without validating made absolutely no sense to me. I also felt like the chapters from the book Cate wrote were a disservice to the book, anytime an author writes about an author who wrote a book that took the world by storm, it never works out that way in writing. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!

I don’t even know where to begin with this book—it’s unbelievably beautiful. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a coming-of-age story that dives deep into love, friendship, self-identity, and queerness, with a strong focus on lesbianism. The narrative is uniquely structured, giving you a fresh perspective that keeps you hooked. The author’s writing style is nothing short of godly which truly sets this book apart, leaving me with a flood of emotions that I can barely put into words.

(As I sit here, emotions are running wild, and I’m struggling to fully express just how much this book has moved me).

The characters are complex and relatable—you might not agree with all their decisions, but you don’t hate them either. It forces you to reflect on what you would have done in their shoes. The story picks up quickly, making it impossible to put down, and the ending is nothing short of beautiful.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a must-read that will stay with you long after the last page 💗
Thank you Kate for blessing us 🧚🏽‍♂️✨

I really enjoyed this read. While I knew what to expect the twists were fun and I always enjoy a sapphic read.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has layers upon layers. Anne Marie and Amanda are childhood best friends planning their future after high school. An accident and panicked decision change their lives forever. Themes of love, friendship, honesty and finding oneself are at the heart of this novel.

This book was Gone Girl meets Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I was absolutely hooked and loved the alternating POVs between people, places, and years. 4 stars because although I absolutely loved the story; I couldn't stand any of the characters. Every single one of them had the worst communication and wasted so much time getting upset about assumptions. For as big of a build up for the final reveal of who Cate Kay is, I found the ending unsatisfying and unrealistic by everything wrapping up nicely. The crux of this book is how messy each person is, so I wanted a messy ending! Let Annie kill Sidney!!

It's not often that I finish a book and wish it was longer. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is one of the rare occurrences where I would have happily read another 200 pages of this book. The story follows Cate from her relationship with her childhood best friend in her hometown, to becoming a best selling author under a pseudonym after leaving her life behind. Fagan weaves together multiple perspectives throughout the novel to piece together the story of Cate's past and bring us into the present. The sapphic representation was incredible & the characters felt so genuine.

I know this book is a gem because despite its imperfections, I can't help but love it. There were aspects that didn't really add up to me and the end didn't pack as big of a punch as I hoped it would. Yet, I loved reading it & something about it felt so special. It's been a long time since I felt this invested in a story.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this. This was a brilliant read, so cleverly written with the different characters viewpoints. I raced through it and found it thoroughly entertaining.

The three lives of Cate Kay are defined by who she wanted to be and who she believed she was at the time. Annie defined herself as an actress and was adamant of breaking free and becoming an actress in California but she believed herself to be a girl attached by her great love of Amanda but wondering if it was enough. Cass wanted to be an author but believed that she could be defined by her love by Sidney who due to her lies, determined her next steps in life. Cate was a great author but unlike The Very Last of which the characters remained in solitude due to the nuclear blast and even Persephone living at The Core, wanted to belong to someone and to be loved in a true relationship. Just like Ryan who as an actress made people feel something similar to an author, she wanted to feel something that could supersede any of her expectations. I found this book to be fascinating as I think all people cycle through parts of their lives as to who they are, what they dream and subsequently think they should be, and what they ultimately become. But most importantly, love is the black hole that needs to be filled.

Wow! Loved this unique, yet some how familiar story of friendship, forgiveness, and all kinds of love. With characters that make you cringe in their relatability, I mean we have all made bad decisions, right. I am a fan of Kate Fagan's non-fiction work and love how her voice shines through in this fiction tale.
One of those novels that grips you from the first page with a changing perspective from chapter to chapter that makes it easy to power through this engrossed entanglement. The story does leavesyou heavy with the underlining truths of how things not said can lead to so much unnecessary heartbreak, while at the same time uplifting you with the potential of the human spirit to change and forgive, themselves and the people they love.
I will be recommending this one to everyone.

Layers and layers, this one. A thriller centred on a rather privileged and self-involved little liar. Annie, Cass, Cate. I enjoyed this fast-paced read, wondering where it was heading. But I couldn’t get past how basic the characters were … how much rested on insta-love and being told rather than shown who these people were … and the heart of the identity split? I read that section over several times and I still don’t get why our lead ran off and assumed the worst. And was too self-absorbed to even call in an anonymous tip. Sidney, too. These woman are apparently lustful and shallow wenches. So much for this sapphic thriller.

4.75

Setting: California
Rep: multiple queer POV characters, disabled POV character

This is such a layered and nuanced story. Don't be misled by the tags - it's not a thriller at all. It's more of a slowly unravelling character study with a richly realized cast with whom I wanted to spend a lot more time. The comp to Evelyn Hugo is apt. I'll be keeping an eye out for the author's future fiction!

I must disclose that I am the author's wife, so yes — I am the number one fan of this book. However, it also means I've been around to first-hand witness THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY from inception to submission to rigorous edits (so much passion!) to nearing publication. Kate (my Kate, with a K) poured her entire soul into writing this novel, and it shows in every line of the book. It's filled with astute observations that will make you nod and laugh, nostalgia for anyone raised in the 80s and 90s, and gives us the sapphic love story and cast of characters that every queer woman needs. She perfectly captures the intensity of youth, the unbreakable bond of friendship, the mesmerizing obsession with notoriety and fame, and the heartbreaking consequences of thinking success will complete you.

Trust me: you need to read this. She's about to become your favorite author's favorite author.

Okay this book exceeded my expectations! I was sucked in instantly thanks to the amazing author, Kate Fagan. I was immediately hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next. I loved the multiple POVs, it made the book incredibly hard to put down because I needed to know what was coming. Also, being from Upstate New York, that was a huge plus. I am excited to read more from this author.

This book is really wonderful. From the first pages, I was swept into this wild and relatable world of girlhood and friendship and love, and once there, I never wanted to leave.

The narrative structure of this novel is very cool. Like an oral history, each event is relayed by the character (or occasionally characters) in the best position to reveal the (their) deepest truths from that event. The sections are typically longer than the average oral history structure; however, giving the reader the time to really get to know the speaking character. And then there’s a novel - or rather trilogy - within the novel. It’s dystopian, which to me links the quasi oral history style of the novel itself. I guess when I think oral history I think dystopia. Or rock music.

Anyway, this is a truly excellent novel. I couldn’t put it down. Thanks, Atria, for the ARC.

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

5 stars (can I give it 6 stars?)

I wanted to read really fast to know what happens but at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I loved this book. Cate Kay is the author of a best selling trilogy but no one know who Cate is.

Annie and Amanda are best friends in a small upstate New York town. They are both drama kids and dream of making it big in Hollywood after high school. Something tragic happens that changes their plans.

Don't read too much about the book, just dive in. Told in multiple POV from multiple characters from multiple time lines, this is a love story of best friends and of lovers. I highlighted so many amazing lines.

I now want (demand?) The Very Last to become a real book. Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl about fan fiction for Simon Snow became a trilogy of Simon books. Please give us The Very Last!