What a charming and lovely book! This is a must-read for cat lovers and really all animal lovers. I have been following Poets Square for a few years now, and was thrilled to see this book coming out. Not only does Gustafson talk about her rescuing experience, but she also weaves in tales about her own life. I preordered a physical copy of this book, and am looking forward to a re-read once it arrives!

Perfect for lovers of cats, but most importantly, lovers of people.

When you usually hear "the internet is fake", you think of skinny, tanned models on luxury yachts. Not that your favorite cat rescue Instagram might be winging it as she goes like the rest of us! Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats is an honest look behind the curtain at the very real person behind the account.

“I started an Instagram account for the cats because I had too much love form them, scary amounts of weird obsessive love for these creatures in my carport who could, at any moment just die. I had a creeping sense of how big my grief would become. I was inviting someone to share it with me. Please, I was saying. I cannot feel this much by myself.”

Of course, Courtney Gustafson didn't mean to inherit a feral colony of 30 cats when she moved into a rental house with her boyfriend during COVID. But here she was, and there they were. Gustafson, like most of us, didn't know exactly what to do about her situation and initially thought she could ignore the pitter-patter of kitty feet on her roof and the big sad eyes of the kittens in her yard. But soon enough, she was cataloging each cat, spending hours and money to care for them, running an Instagram account and her own cat rescue.

None of this happened by accident, but it all happened organically and with hard work. Told in essays, Gustafson takes us through her life, her insecurities, and her duty to these cats. She's fearful that she can never do enough to save every cat, that maybe she's only doing it to prove she's a good person. She recounts sleepless nights searching for feral cats, digging through hoarders' homes to rescue dozens of kittens living in squalor, and the gut-wrenchingly human mistakes we all make when we care too much. While caring for cats all around Tucson, she meets all sorts of people living in various stages of poverty whose dedication to the roaming cats breaks your heart- because there is only so much we can do. The chapter "The Hotdog Man" will stick with me for so long. I knew the cats that lived there, but never their story.

I found Gustafson's musings on her emotional state beautiful in their openness and rawness. Her longing for community is all too real, and when dealing with the constant crisis mode of animal rescue, she feels herself slipping. But, those following her online and those in the local rescue community always came through and helped her find that purpose and drive to continue.

“I wanted belonging to be something I could inherit, something I could step into fully formed. I imagined community as a space I could passively inhabit. It would be so many years before I learned that community was an action, something we build and rebuild and contribute to. That belonging is something we invent.”


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

this was a sweet, compulsive, easy to read memoir about a woman who rescues feral cats in her neighborhood. she weaves in vignettes about her upbringing, family, and identity through stories of cats that she had saved and cared for. i love the overarching themes of community and care, as well as her commentary on gender, race, and systemic failures in our society that she finds ways to connect to her stories of being the neighborhood cat lady. i loved this book!

After following Courtney for the last few years I have had the pleasure of following her journey through social media. I was beyond excited for this book when it was first announced. This book was everything I wanted and more. Photos of the cats that I have loved through a screen had me crying on public transportation. As someone who works in food and nutrition, I had no idea Courtney’s background in that field and really connected with what she talked about facing during the pandemic. I enjoyed this book so much that I have already preordered a copy for myself. A must read for all cat lovers.

Poet’s Square by Courtney Gustafson is a heartfelt memoir that blends cat rescue with reflections on community, empathy, and personal growth. Gustafson’s storytelling is both raw and poetic, weaving tales of feral cats with deeper themes of mental health, systemic failure, and human connection. More than just a book about cats, it’s a meditation on care, resilience, and the impact of small acts of kindness. A moving, beautifully written read.

Poet’s Square by Courtney Gustafson is a poignant, character-driven novel set in a charming neighborhood where residents are bound together by their shared love of poetry and art. The story weaves the lives of these individuals, each dealing with their own personal challenges and dreams, into a tapestry of self-discovery, creativity, and emotional growth.

Gustafson’s writing is lyrical and evocative, capturing both the beauty of the characters’ creative expressions and their internal struggles. The pacing is reflective, allowing for deep character development and emotional exploration. The novel’s atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it an ideal read for those who appreciate stories about human connection and the transformative power of art.

Overall, Poet’s Square is a heartfelt and insightful read, perfect for fans of literary fiction and character-driven narratives about creativity and self-reflection.

The book is written around the premise of how feral cats helped the author understand more about the world and it's brokenness.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I love this book. There is no way other to describe this book other than an act of love. I have been following Poet Square Cats on tiktok and instagram since 2020 I think. Courtney speaks with love about every cat and the lessons she has learned through the hard work of caring for feral cats who may never love you back, and trying to care for the struggling communities who also love these cats.

The book reads in the same calm voice that Courtney brings to every video. Reading this book felt like a movie instead of a book. I love this book like a feral cat. I only wish there was more stories int he book.

As a fellow cat lover and rescuer, I’ve been a long time follower of Poets Square and have long admired her work with feral cats and TNR. For years, I looked forward to tales about her 30 feral cats- seeing Sad Boy and Lola’s love, MK and Georgie, Francois, Monkey.

This book was so much more than a tale of 30 feral cats. Courtney’s beautiful writing and the well- woven snippets of her life was a story about love, heartbreak, survival, humanity, and community. Her vulnerability and growth were admirable and I often found myself in tears while reading this book. An excellent memoir and a true 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the arc!

I don't remember how I happened upon this book, but suspect I was drawn in by the inviting book title and the whimsical presence of cats on the cover. I do love cats, and at one point in my life owned three along with a dog. While I did enjoy the book, it did somewhat exhaust me as I neared the end with the neverending stories of cat rescues. This book is around 250 pages, but it began to feel like longer. The author Courtney and her partner Tim were renting a place in Tucson, Arizona called Poets Square, and they discovered around thirty feral cats occupying the area. She already had a love of cats having owned one called Bubbles in the past, who was a comfort to her. The author has a history of mental and physical challenges, and these passages about her own makeup were randomly interspersed throughout the book between the cat rescue stories. I actually would have enjoyed more of those glimpses into her person and a little less of the cat stories. Some of the rescue situations were tough to read about with hoarding and people living in condemned buildings and cars. Courtney would handle mammoth cleaning situations clearing mounds and mounds of garbage, while also feeding and caring for loads of cats. She learned rescue techniques like trapping so that she could transport cats to the vet for spaying and neutering, to control the population and help the cats live easier lives. She started posting photos and videos of these rescue cats on social media, and to her surprise garnered a huge audience of likes and interest. Through the success of these postings, she became monetized and also received a steady stream of donated pet food, toys, beds, and other needed items. She started with the cats where she lived, but it branched out to her being called into other rescue situations on a regular basis. Just reading about it I felt overwhelmed for her, and I admire her strength, hard work, and love for these animals that became her mission in life. This was a good read, but I just would have enjoyed the subject matter being balanced out with more human interest content about her personal life along with the cat rescue stories.

Thank you to Crown Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

As a cat volunteer in my city and longtime follower of Poets Square Cats, I was so excited to see that Courtney would be putting out a book, and it absolutely surpassed my expectations (which were pretty high). Followers will recognize some of the stories and cats mentioned in the book, but it is more than a retelling of the Poets Square story; this book lets us get to know the person behind the cats and what caring for animals has taught her (that has nothing to do with animals). It shows us that caring is sometimes hard, dirty, and even confusing work. And to me, one of the most important things about this book is that it shows us as readers that anyone can step up and make a difference - we do not need specialized training or fancy equipment to improve the lives of the people and animals around us. We have more power to improve the lives of living things, be they animals, people, or our communities and environments, than we often think.

There are many lessons in Poets Square, some of which have nothing to do with cats but are about love and compassion for people, including ourselves. This is one of the best books I've read in quite a while (and I don't just say that as someone in the cat/animal area). The writing/prose of the essays are wonderful, the book is organized well, and I hope that readers will finish this book inspired to make something better for someone or something in the world - I certainly did.

I can't wait for this book to be released and for more people to read it. It's an absolute gem. Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this eARC.

Thank you Courtney Gustafson and Crown Publishing for an ARC copy of Poets Square!

Rating 4.5/5

As a long time follower of Poets Square's TikTok and huge fan of all the cats, this was by far one of my most anticipated releases this year.

This book was so many things; a collection of silly cat stories, an exploration of the darker sides of rescue work, a realistic view of life with depression & anxiety, and most importantly how necessary a community is for you to truly thrive. Courtney’s narration on life, tragedies, and successes is both raw and inspiring.

I laughed, I cried (happy & sad tears), this is such an excellent memoir. I can't wait to see what Courney’s future holds!

Thank you to netgalley for the e-arc! I'm always an easy sell when it comes to memoirs and stories about animals -- if it involves a cat, I'll probably read it. I've been following the poets square cats online for a while now, and I was so excited to read about the people involved with running the account. Each chapter ties in a story from the author's life to the story of one of the many poets square cats (or even cats from other rescue situations). I think it was so well written, and the stories tie in perfectly. The book touches on the author's struggles with mental health, finances, and confidence, but ultimately these sections tie back into her time caring for the cats. There are discussions of bigger societal problems -- her followers' eagerness to send donations for the cats, but less care for the unhoused folks she helps along the way; the feelings of shame and anger she sees in folks in her time working at a food bank. Big discussions happening alongside the stories of the well known cats of poets square. I think this is a really great read whether you're a follower or not.

I was really hoping this would live up to the hype and I found it to be a beautiful memoir! The characters of all the cats are standouts; it's clear Gustafson loves them and respects them. The book is both a great quarter-life crisis story (with important moments from earlier reflected back on) and a pandemic story.

I have been one of those people that followed the Poets Square Instagram and then later TikTok accounts since the early days, I have merchandise and stickers and I have donated when cats were in need, but I have a whole new outlook after reading this book. I have never TNR’d, but I have fostered cats for years and cared for sick and injured cats so I was excited to read about her experiences. I was not expecting that this was so much more! Her vulnerability throughout the book and the emotions she shared were something that I did not expect but I greatly appreciated. Sometimes you do not realize how much someone goes through until they put pen to paper. Courtney’s writing was amazing and you can feel her personality in the words. I felt every word of it and was surprised how so many things I could relate to. She touched on some really tough topics too, from mental health to the conditions of some of the communities the cats brought her to. I had so many emotions reading this and it really opens your mind to the experience of how you view what people put on social media compared to the things going on behind the scene.

I don’t think anyone plans on moving into a house and discover a colony of 30 feral cats, but that exactly what happened to Courtney Gustafson. In her memoir, Courtney details how caring for these feral cats has changed her life.

Given the title, you’d expect this book to be about cats, and sure it is mostly about cats but it’s also about people. About how we as a society often fail to care for the most vulnerable around us. About how society has convince us that those struggling on the fringes of society are there because of their own poor decisions. That if they would just work harder their situation would be different. When the reality is that many of these people ended up in these situations due to circumstances outside of their control. Like feral cats, these people have been abandoned by the system that created them.

I expected a cute book about cats, but what I got was so much more than that! This book explores the desire to help cats and humans alike. It humanizes unhoused individuals and their struggles, and treats the struggles of humans and cats alike with tenderness and empathy. This book is perfect for fans of other animal rescue books such as "The Hummingbird's Gift", and readers will feel seen in the author's struggle to figure out how to help, when the world's problems seem so big, and systemic failure is so rampant. I can't wait to recommend this book to others!

A fantastic memoir and profound story. Full disclosure, I have been a longtime fan of the Poets Square Cats' social media accounts. I'd even been a Patreon subscriber for a while. You can imagine that I was very excited to hear of this book, and thrilled to have the opportunity to receive an ARC.

That being said, what I'm about to tell you is (as far as I'm aware) in absolutely no way biased. I'm certain I would feel this strongly about this even if I had no idea of the story behind it. The author has compelling storytelling skills and such a unique voice to her writing, filling the pages with prose that felt both stunningly insightful and yet easy to read. I began saving quotes that I loved only to find them piling up. Most of the chapters focus on a single topic, one that might not even be explicitly stated to you but feels clear by the end regardless, with a story or two of the cats and a personal story of the author.

In many ways, this is about cats, as you'd expect. Cat rescue, the feral cat epidemic, and the impact cats can have on the lives of people who love them. But, it's also about so much more than cats. Largely, several parts of this are a harsh critique of capitalism without even having to say so. It sheds light on the real, complex effects of a system that often lets people (and cats!) fall to the wayside and then look down upon their struggle, blaming them for their situation, all whilst using them as stepping stones to embolden themselves. It also shows the many ways that people are guilty of doing this themselves, even when they might think themselves good or enlightened people. I learned a lot from reading this.

Other parts show the reach and impact of casual misogyny, and how it infects even the things you would least expect it to. There's also a focus on grief, on illness. It tells a story of community and the effort it takes to form one, to be a part of one, to love others as you might wish to be loved.

The thing that stands out to me the most about this book, though, is the unmistakable empathy that pours from the words. It's unique in how it is so clearly one that isn't necessarily innate, isn't something the author was blessed with from birth, but is instead an empathy that can only form from experience, from effort, and from time.

It's such a powerful, moving story, and one I'm sure I'll think about for a long time. Thank you so much to Crown Publishing and Netgalley for access to the ARC, this is my honest review.

Beautiful! This is a short read—under 200 pages—but I savored every chapter. I did not know about the Poets Square cats before I picked up this book, but I’m their new biggest fan :)

This writer is deeply empathetic and careful with every word. Gustafson draws so many meaningful parallels between the lives of feral cats and our own. I loved the chapter about the Trash Colony.

My cat was lying next to me for most of this read. 5/5 thank you NetGalley!

Poets Square hit me right in the feels, both as a cat mom and someone to whom activism is important. Courtney is a great writer; I love how she could write about the funny personalities of the cats then switch to a serious topic, like homelessness, without any disruptions. The second half of the book was particularly great, especially the story about the trash colony. I wish there had been more details about Courtney learning to trap cats, meeting other cat lovers and rescuers, and navigating the cats in her relationship with Tim. I enjoyed hearing about her childhood, but those stories felt random in the greater landscape of the book until it tied in at the end.