This book exceeded my expectations. As a certified crazy cat lady I was intrigued by a book with a cats point of view. The author was able to make you relate to all the characters not just the cat's. It was a moving story about grief, loss and the act of simple kindness. The need to feel seen, heard and loved transcends not just age but also relates to animals as well. The way the author described the animals fears is spot on from all the cats I observed. I really think this story was sweet and special.

Don't swipe! OK, hear me out.. I was invited to read a copy of Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero from @delacortepress . I was cautious, I mean, you see the stuff I normally read, right? But hey, I'm a voracious reader, and I'll give things a try.

     I am SO glad that I did. I'm gonna go out here saying that it may be one of my highest rated reads this year. You know why? Tanya's book absolutely pulled me out of the hellscape that has been the world at the moment, and let me escape into a cozy story about a stray cat and five people who's lives are intertwined (or about to be) because of him. That is all that Im giving away because it's cute, and I dont spoil things. It's a story that just made you smile reading about kinder aspects of humans. I guess I'd compare it to a Love, Actually kind of feel for all of you, non readers.

     Is this book going to change the world? I doubt it. A lot of great books don't. But it COULD improve your outlook just for a little while, and maybe make people seem decent and it came along for me just when I needed that most, much like cat did for the characters in this story, and I think that THAT is pretty special. I'm pretty sure Tanya worked some magic here to have this book do for me what cat did for the characters, and make me fall in love with it.

This is a book that came out earlier this year and it’s just your normal run of the mill contemporary fiction but the synopsis snagged me. It's an interconnected story between five people and a cat in in Brooklyn that will warm your heart and renew your faith in humanity which I’m sure most of you need right about now. Cat is living on the streets but he has several people who look out for him. From a barista to an author, a mailman, and more. The stories of all of these people come together in an amazing way and the Cat is behind the scenes helping to bring them together. It’s so charming, takes place in a bit of a quirky neighborhood that is a character on it’s own. As a cat lover, the narrative is spot on about cats and their people, and I especially enjoyed the chapters told from the Cat's perspective. Such a cozy, comforting read.

This was just the sweetest book!
As a cat lover, my heart was full. This book was such a cozy read in early fall days.
I was captured by the simple idea of a stray cat bringing a group of people together. Love and kindness is something that is hard to seek in a world of individualism but can be found in simple ways, like caring for a little black cat.
Pets really have such a huge impact in our lives. I loved the concept of this book and the shifting between each character and their stories, and even Cat's POV. I'm in love with Cat. I wish I could add him to my family of rescue cats.

Best described as a “cozy story.” I truly enjoyed this easy to read book of how a stray cat brings together a group of strangers, whose paths almost overlap, but all run past Cat. It’s a charming, sweet, kind story. Slightly predictable, but frankly who cares? Very enjoyable.

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Random House Publishing Group
Pub Date: 4-1-25

Thank you @netgalley, @randomhouse, and @tanyaguerreroauthor for this eARC.

This is the story of Cat and the people he let's into his world:

🐈‍⬛ Nuria (Rainbow Lady)

🐈‍⬛ Bong (Sad Bodega Man)

🐈‍⬛ Collin (Awkward Neighbor Guy)

🐈‍⬛ Omar (Cheery Mailman)

🐈‍⬛ Lily (Bright-Pink Person)

Chapters alternate between characters giving readers a glimpse into the lives of each, including their developing relationships with each other.

Ever wonder what a cat is thinking? Wonder no more!

This is the perfect book for those who enjoy stories of NYC, found family, secret admirers - and of course, cats!

"To make himself feel better, he needed to be surrounded by people, even though they were people he had just gotten to know. They certainly were a motley crew. How exactly had this group ended up here? Then he thought about his little buddy and smiled. It was Gatito who had somehow connected them."

#catspeople #tanyaguerrero #randomhouse #netgalley

An intriguing premise had me looking forward to this book but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. It is poorly written and lacking in every way.

If you are a cat-lover, you must this this! I laughed and cried. Not just cried, but SOBBED. I've rescued numerous cats over my lifetime, and I saw many characteristics of my beloved feline friends in Cat's personality. I do think there should be a trigger warning for almost animal loss and injury though. I had to step away from the novel a couple times because it brought up memories of my recently passed emotional support cat. That aside, you'll absolutely love this novel!

What a treat! This is a heartwarming read about a cat who manages to bring together five Brooklyn strangers. We get everyone's perspective, and yes, that includes Cat. It works.

Absolutely ADORED this one! I loved the short chapters, the multiple POVs, and how the characters lives were woven together. I’m a sucker for found family types of books so this one totally hit the spot. Cat’s narrative voice was so clear and you could tell he was doing the best he could given the situation. The love and grief were palpable throughout the book. I loved where things ended up and I can’t wait to read more from this author! Absolutely would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Manny heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

Buckle up everyone because Cat’s People is one book that will leave you feeling touched and connected in so many ways-especially for those who have loved and lost along the away. This book has been lingering in the back of my mind after I have read it and I don’t think it’ll stop any time soon. I highly recommend this book for any one who likes cats, who has felt alone or lost in the world, and for those who need a positive, soul connecting pick me up. Cat’s People will be transformative for many.

This is a cozy read set in NYC about a stray cat and the people it brings together. If you love cats, then this is a great cozy read for you. We follow multiple POVs (including the cat's POV!) as the cast struggles with different problems from grief to family and romance. The variety of problems makes it easy to find a character to relate to. The story is predictable, but very heartwarming.

This book is for you if you love cats and are looking for a feel-good wholesome read to curl up with about people coming together to help each other.

Nothing exactly new here…just everything soft, sweet and relatable. Oh, and a cat ties it all together, so how much better does it get?! Sweet story of found family…since all of us can feel like strays sometimes.

This is a sweet, wholesome story about a stray cat named Cat and the people that surround him. It's very heartwarming, very full of 2000s romcom energy, very New York. A literary masterpiece this is not. The prose read like it was written for YA, and that may be because this is a debut. The book starts off strong but isn't gripping enough to keep the momentum going through the middle. To its merit, the ending was very satisfying.

Anyway, as a cat person, I was legally bound to read and love this book. The cover did half of that job even before starting, but this was decidedly a 3 star read for me. Read if you like feel-good, found family, romance-adjacent fiction.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Cat's People is being published on Apr 01, 2025.

This is a wholesome, feel-good, light read. Every so often, a low-stakes and sweet book about a cat bringing five people in a neighborhood together is just what I need. I adored this book for what it was. It reminded me a lot of the Asian cozy magical realism books without the magical realism. The chapters from Cat's POV were my favorite, and I enjoyed the awkward budding romance between two of the characters and the chosen family all of them became throughout the book.

This is lighthearted romance that brings a bit of charm to the workplace romance genre. The characters are likable, and the storyline is engaging, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The chemistry between the protagonists is enjoyable, but there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, which affects the flow of the story.

While there are several funny and heartwarming scenes, some of the plot points feel predictable, and the character development could have been deeper. Despite these minor issues, Its still enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a few laughs along the way.

Rating: 3/5

This reads like a series of short stories that seem unrelated and then come together. The cover of the book is so heartwarming, but the story did not hold my attention.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I enjoyed this book so very much! I've always loved stories that weave people from different walks of life together, and connecting all of the characters via a stray cat was nothing short of PRECIOUS.

Writing from the perspective of a cat to tie multiple stories together has to be incredibly difficult if you want the cat to feel real and match the tone, but I think Guerrero did a great job of this. There were parts of the writing that felt a bit clunky and hard to read; however, I mostly thought that the author painted a clear and cozy picture.

Each of the characters felt so real and endearing, and I became so attached to their stories! This is such a tender little read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves cats and people alike. ❤️

Thank you for my first ARC!

As a cat owner, this was heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. Luckily there were far more “warm and fuzzy” moments, despite the number of tears that were shed reading this. Cat stole my heart immediately and reminds me of the importance of the family we choose.

If you love cats you will love this book. Actually it doesn't matter if you love cats or not, this is a wonderful read! A heartwarming story about how a cat brings together 5 different people each struggling with their own personal challenges. The novel is set in Brooklyn and told from 6 different perspectives including the cat.

Nuria is a barista who is feeling pressure from her mom to settle down but all Nuria really cares about is making coffee and cats. Lily is he half sister and has moved to NY to meet Nuria. However Nuria has no idea that Lily even exists. Omar is the mailman but he is struggling with what he is going to do with his life. Bong is a widower who owns the local Bodega and even though his wife died almost a year ago, he still can't move forward. There is also Collin, a best selling author, who has writer's block and also looks forward to seeing Nuria as she comes by to feed stray cats. However Collin has severe anxiety and doesn't know how he will ever talk to Nuria. The best character of all though is Cat. He is a stray living in the hedges outside of Collin's house. He has a tie to each one of these characters and will help to bring them all together.

I really did not know what to expect when I read this book. What I was not expecting was to spend my entire Sunday reading this book until I finished it. I was fully invested in each character and wanted a happy ending for all of them. This is a wonderful read that I think everyone will enjoy especially if you are a cat person!

Thank you to Delacorte Press/Random House Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC.