This was a read that exceeded all my expectations. I needed to stay focused to follow the time line and multiple POV switches but it was so worth that effort and deep digging into the story and all the feelings it came with. The story had such fantastic complexity and angst and I now have a serious book hangover. I so recommend this book to all readers wanting a fantastic love story.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

The Three Lives of Cate Cay is such an intriguing read. At first I was like walking into nowhere, the first few chapters left me all over the place with a lot of POVs - moving into the past and present; there were a lot of characters that I forgot who's who. Chapter 11 was one of my favorite chapters, I was like "what the hell? what happened?". I was so into that chapter that when Chapter 12 turns out to be someone else's POV I reread the Chapter 11 because the end of it was so good. I love how things make sense as the story goes on, how Cass came up with Cate Kay's name. I love that part. I also love the footnotes of Cate Kay (ch30 is so cute). Am I listing now my fave chapters, 'cause I got another one chapter 42 - the one where Cass and Ryan is at a bar and Cass said she had to go. I love the angst. Ryan's coming out was also my favorite, she isn't scared about what reactions she might get that leads to Annie's determination to face her past.

I mean I shouldn't be surprised that Amanda will know that Cate Kay is Annie they talked about it before but the thing that Amanda knows Annie is alive is so. I love how after so many years, their friendship didn't end.

I also love how the story ended, like it was an open one. It was up to reader's imagination on how they want the story to end - not just by all of them together watching a play.

Characterwise, I don't I love a certain character but I admit I do hate some characters like Sydney's gaslighting to Annie/Cass/Cate was foul. Also Janie, who called the paparazzi and for telling Ryan that Cass already called her two weeks after.

Really moving, emotional and a compelling story. A romantic tale that flows well with good characters and writing. I also loved how it was told from multiple perspectives.

A romantic story between best girl friends and girlfriends, Annie and best friend Amanda have always known they would leave their small hometown as soon as they graduated to become actresses, but a tragic accident changed that plan at the last minute. Annie, floundering, leaves town, changes her name and writes an epic novel under the pseudonym Cate Kay. Believing Amanda dead, Annie’s novel is an ode to their close friendship together, but as she tries to start a new life she wants no one to know she is the author.
A good story, that flows easily from multiple viewpoints it’s a fun read but not the epic read the editor promised it to be.

This was so much fun! I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing. I think having perspectives from the different characters made it more complex and interesting. Fun but also moving! Great book!

This is a really interesting book where the main character has 3 names during her lifetime.

I don't want to include spoilers but the only problem I have is that the way the character behaved after the initial incident seemed out of place and I couldn't fathom her not checking the information she was given. However, this aside, I greatly enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to get to grips with the style of writing as we jumped around in time and voice, but it was worth persevering. It's a really good story with likeable and strong characters and a great style. I'd definitely look for more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

OH MY GOD. I loved this book so much. I read the last 75% of it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down!

I loved all the queer characters and the overall LGBTQ+ representation. I was gripped from the first page. A story about friendship, love, sexual identity. Filled with complex female characters.

This coming of age story starts with Annie and Amanda who are best friends since elementary school. They both have a dream of leaving their small town and making it big in Hollywood. A tragedy occurs their senior year, and Annie runs away from everything and everyone she knows.

I just loved the way Annie/Cate/Cass story unfolded and really kept me engaged and wanting more. The story is told from multiple POVs.

I just loved the way Kate Fagan draws you in and the story telling was so beautiful. I can’t believe this is her debut novel! It was heartbreaking, raw, sad. At times I was laughing and I also cried while reading it. This book truly exceeded my expectations and will be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria House for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!


i am sorry to say i had to dnf this one. i did happen to read it on vacation, so maybe my mind was already half out of it but this didn’t draw me in the way i expected to based on the title/cover and i may have to come back to it at a later date.

This is a delicious book - I gobbled it up! Amazing characters and what reader doesn’t love a story about a best selling author? Absolutely love Cass and her tender heart. This was just so good and I can’t wait to brag it up! The ending was lovely.

Can you change your life by changing your identity or is it just hiding? Read what Kate Fagan thinks in The Three Lives of Caty Kay.

OH MY GOD… oh my god. SPECTACULAR GIVE ME FOURTEEN OF ‘EM RIGHT NOW. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!!!!

The first night I started reading, I put down the book to go to bed. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I woke up and read another 50 pages. Nothing has gripped me like this in so long. The way that Annie/Cate/Cass’s story is set up from the various points of view with easter eggs that are intricately woven throughout every chapter is remarkable. It’s predictable in all of the right ways — as soon as you string one plot line together, another shoe drops. How complicated, yet devastatingly beautiful. These are the queer character portrayals we need more of!! I wish I could rate this higher than five stars. Instant all-time favorite!

KATE FAGAN, YOU GENIUS, YOU!!! The Three Lives of Cate Kay exceeded my expectations in every possible way and I already want to reread it to find more puzzle pieces I couldn’t have picked up without knowing what I know now.

I feel so lucky to have been one of the first to read this book… and I promise I won’t rest until every single one of my friends reads it too.

“The trick of life, as I see it now, is to make what’s around you beautiful. It’ll grow from there. Took me a long time to see that.”

—

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Fagan, and the publishers for the ARC!

I read this entire book in one sitting. WOW! I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The authors characters, story-telling- it was such an entertaining story that really held me the entire way through. loved all the different POVS and I will be highly recommending this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the early copy of this masterpiece. Just perfect, Kate Fagan is an amazing non-fiction writer, this fiction debut is outstanding. A book about friendship and the complexities of it—count me in, LGBT+ rep, I was in. This book grips you from the first page and it'll hold on to you until the final page.

This novel is pitched as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins, and I think it lives up to that comparison.

Cate Kay has many names and just as many lives. This best-selling author has remained anonymous to the public until she comes to terms with her past and sets the record straight in this book.

The story begins with childhood friends who aspire to go to Hollywood until tragedy strikes. In response, Cate forges ahead. She was always running from her problems and past.

This novel is within a book and is also told from multiple POVs, which keeps the story fascinating and engaging. It also demonstrates what unreliable narrators we all are. This book provides more insight into why and how and the consequences of unhealthy trauma and her actions. I recommend this page-turner of a novel!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley,Atria Books and author,Kate Fagan for the opportunity to read ebook,The Three Lives of Cate Kay.
This novel was a quick and sweet story of best friends Annie and Amanda who come from similar and somewhat lonely backgrounds who meet as young schoolmates. They share dreams throughout their young lives where the story gets complicated as they try to embark on those dreams. It may be more of a YA novel for some?
On sale January 07,2025

A thrilling, heartbreaking story about a woman hiding while finding herself - I loved it!

“Cate” didn’t necessarily set out to write a bestselling novel. She wanted to be an actress until a shocking accident changes the course of her life and propels her to change her identity…

The story is constructed so well - there are multiple narrators, charming footnotes from Cate, and a novel within a novel - this all works to deepen our understanding of Cate. There is plenty of angst and also humor throughout the novel and Cate is a compelling (and flawed and lovable) protagonist in all her forms.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

good story about annie who finds love with amanda. Am accident happens and she finds life working in a coffee shop and ends up writing a best seller book. she finds love with different people through her life. she realizes who she loves and reads letters and the book is told in different point of views and how they helped this story come to pass.

This was a refreshing story about an author and their true identity. It was well written and the MC fascinated me. I enjoyed her tales of girlhood. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow! The Three Lives of Cate Kay, what an amazing story. Told from multiple POVs, we learn about love, friendship, and the effects of fame on them both. The characters are fascinating, the friendship between Annie and Amanda is quite beautiful. I had the hardest time putting this book down, especially as the characters became more complex. This is the first book I have read by this author, but that will not be for long. I laughed, I cried, I adored this story! Easy 5 stars!

Thank you to Net Galley, Simon and Schuster, and Kate Fagan for the ARC! All opinions above are my own

I've never read anything by this author, but heard she also writes non-fiction. After reading this book, I'd be interested to read her non fiction works and see if I like it. I enjoyed her writing a lot. There was fantastic character development in this book and I loved the multi-POV. It helped add complexity to the story.