This was an interesting fantasy-ish novel about belonging, found family and community. Told from multiple POV, including Cat's POV, this is a gentle and slow comfy read that I enjoyed. The chapters were very short and at times it felt like the POV switched unnecessarily often. The pace of this novel is very slow and not a ton happens, so it did start to lose my interest at the end.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a heartwarming book. The world of these characters is interesting. I like the cover, too.

I will admit- this is not usually my initial pick when I go to start a book but wow!! I loved that this is told from the cats POV, I have cats and I adore them so that made this a million times for me!!

As a cat lover, I adored this sweet book, told from the perspective of a cat. I found it charming and sweet, and I recommend this for any cat or animal friends!

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. A story written from a cat's POV with a lovely and exotic cast of characters in New York City. I enjoyed this book greatly and recommend it to all cat lovers. I definitely think there could be spinoff books written on some of the human characters.

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero is a beautifully written novel that explores the intricacies of family, love, and personal growth. The story follows Cat as she navigates her complex relationships and uncovers truths about herself and her past. Guerrero’s prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing me in from the first page. I loved how the characters were deeply developed, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable. This book is a heartfelt read that lingers long after the last page, and I highly recommend it!

Various points of view, including Cat - the stray that connects all the various people in the story. Lighthearted and entertaining.

This book is a must read for any lover of cats, sweet stories,. and animal rescue work. A stray cat, called by many names, is well known in his neighborhood in New York City. To Núria, a barista and lover of cats, he is Cat, one of the many strays that she feeds on a daily basis. For Bong the Bodega owner, he's Itim, the cat that his wife Conchita used to feed before she passed away. For Collin, an author struggling from writer's block, he's the cat that the woman he secretly admires is always feeding. For Omar, the neighborhood mailman, he's Gatito, his little helper on his daily mail runs.
And for Lily, he's the cat with a special bond to her half-sister... who she has never met before.
As the story unfolds, these characters begin to bond, both through their common love for Cat and through the need of each of them to have a sense of family and home. While they each needed Cat in their lives, they also needed each other.
And of course, Cat needed all of them too.The writing gave ne the same vibes as Fredrick Backman. The story was extremely sweet and the characters each had their own journeys, with Cat ever present at the center of everything. At times, it was definitely a bit emotional. Really it was just a cute and easy read which will leave every cat lover feeling warm and cozy.

From the publisher: A stray cat brings together five strangers over the course of one fateful summer in this heartwarming novel about love, found family, and the power of connection. Cat’s People is a feel good, found family novel about ordinary people going about their lives but benefitting from the support of friends and even random strangers. Cat is a black feral street cat. Unknown to his people, he has multiple people who look out for him and feed him.

Like the author, Núria is passionate about trap-neuter-release for feral cats and other efforts to keep them fed and housed. She has three cats at home but also has a route to check in on street cats, including Cat. Her mother is constantly asking about the boyfriend Núria doesn’t have. Bong runs a bodega and unexpectedly lost his beloved wife a year earlier. He is lonely and depressed, and just barely hanging on. Núria shops at his store, and unknown to both of them, Bong’s wife also looked after Cat.

Collin is a best-selling author with extreme anxiety and writer’s block. He sees Núria out his window every day, in the alley feeding Cat. Omar is an amazing mailman who takes the time to be friendly to the people on his route. Despite his skill at his job, he feels like something is missing. He also watches out for Cat, who follows him on some of his rounds. And Lily is Núria’s half-sister – a half-sister Núria doesn’t know about. She has a dead-end job and a passion for watching Núria as she tries to work up the nerve to introduce herself.

The cast of characters all live and work within a few blocks of each other, and they pass on the street, at the bodega, at the grocery store where Lily works, and at the coffee shop where Núria works. Eventually through coincidence, awareness, and a certain Cat, they meet, form relationships, and become friends.

The author in her Acknowledgments confesses that she has always wanted to write a cat book from the point of view of a cat. Interestingly, for me, Cat’s chapters were the least effective. I had a hard time believing a Cat thought in English, including giving the people in his life names like Rainbow Lady and Awkward Neighbor Guy. But I still enjoyed the book, and was glad to see Cat receive his happily ever after.

This is a lovely little book with a gorgeous cover. Not a lot happens, but if you like to read books about ordinary people getting help from others, you might enjoy Cat’s People. I read an advance reader copy of Cat’s People from Netgalley. It is scheduled to come out on April 1, and the Galesburg Public Library will own it.

A woman spends her days feeding strays (one in particular) and working as a barista. This stray brings together an eclectic group of people. A sweet story I enjoyed very much. I did like the chapters from the cat’s point of view ( what cat owner wouldn’t want to know what they’re thinking.)

As a cat lover, I found Cat's People to be an absolute delight! The story is cute, fluffy, and cozy, perfectly capturing the charm that comes with feline companionship. The narrative weaves together the lives of its characters through the adventures of a stray cat, showcasing how this little creature can bring people together in unexpected ways.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I’m so glad I did. If you're a cat person or simply looking for a feel-good read, I highly recommend Cat's People. It's a charming reminder of the joy and comfort that pets can bring into our lives.

“Isn’t it just so pretty to think, all along there was some invisible string thing you to me.” - Taylor Swift

“Cats had this sneaky way of crawling into your life and making you fall in love with them. Even if they were complete and total assholes.”

As a cat mom of two (and one who crossed the Rainbow Bridge), I was drawn to this book for obvious reasons, knowing full well it may wreck me and turn me into a sobbing mess.

Tanya Guerrero clearly wrote this book for and about cat people and the felines we love and have loved.

Cat is at the center of everyone’s stories, and he is the best boy. In my heart, my kitties can also understand what is going on with me, knowing exactly when I need love from them. He is independent, but knows when he needs to rely on his people. And he knows when his people need each other.

Every character’s story unfolds so beautifully as Guerrero slowly and masterfully weaves everyone together. At first, it’s hard to imagine how they could all become important in each other’s lives. None have clear ties except Núria and Lily. They are all so different and are all a bit lost in their own ways. But with every page, it becomes more evident how they all fit together in a six-piece puzzle. Cat, Núria, Collin, Omar, Bong, and Lily.

Cat doesn’t just bring them together. The act of bringing them together helps them find what is missing in their lives. And in the end, this motley crew becomes friends.

Once again, the found family trope got me. It is one of my favorites for a reason.

Side note: Núria calling her three cats “the ingrates” is hilarious and truly captures what it’s like to be a cat parent.

Spoiler: There is no animal death in this book.

This was a sweet story. Liked the characters and how everything ties together. And, of course, I liked Cat. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This book was so good! It reminded me a lot of The Authenticity Project, but with cats, which is just an amazing combination. Such a sweet story. The male cast made the book for me. Collin, Bong and Omar are just the best.

The Cat's POV lead to a most interesting read. As someone who doesn't see themselves as a cat person, I couldn't help feeling like I was totally eavesdropping on another person's life. I found this quite interesting. Kudos to Tanya Guerrero. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

As a certified cat-lover...this book was written FOR ME. Cat's People follows five people living in Brooklyn, some who are lonely, and some who are grieving, and how they end up connected by their care for a stray cat living on the block. There are so many lines in this that made me laugh, and made me seen, in the way that only a fellow cat person would understand. There were so many heartfelt moments, funny moments, and I may have even shed a tear. Coming from me, you know that's rare. Maybe I'm a sucker for found family, but it's a scarcity that I find a book that feels like so cozy, inclusive and like I've connected with on the level that I did with this. I loved Cat and his people, and agree: some cat's are just special.

Cat is a stray who wanders through his neighborhood, engaging with his people. Omar, the mailman, Bong, the bodega owner, Collin, the author, Nutria, the barista and Lily, the newest member of his club. Cat, has different names depending on who is talking to him. Omar calls him Gatito and Bong calls him Itim. Cat also has different names for his people, Nutria is Rainbow Lady, Collin is Awesome Guy, and Bong is sad guy. As Cat travels through his neighborhood, you see the world from his perspective, how he connects differently with each person, and how he survives in the bustling world of NYC.

What an enchanting book, all told from the perspective of a Cat. I took pleasure in reading Cat’s outlook on the world. I liked how the author created unique relationships for each person Cat encountered. The community build is a charming world, the friendships are developed through a mutual love of a cat and as Louis Armstrong sang oh what a wonderful world. Enjoy this delightful read, you sure to be engaged in Cat’s People as I was.

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I started it on a whim (thanks to Random House for sending it my way), and I loved it so much. The story follows a stray cat and his humans. We get several POVs, each following people who have been kind to the cat in some way. Every story is beautiful and complex, and I loved how, in the end, everything connected thanks to the cat. This was such a heartfelt story that made me feel so many emotions—it was unique, fun, and brilliant! I'll write a full review close to release date. Thanks to the publisher and to netgalley for this eARC.

2.5/5

Cat’s People is about a stray cat who by a mix of coincidence and slight urging, brings together 5 people’s lives. Each of these five people are at either at a crossroads in their lives or in a rut.

Set in a modern New York, it’s eclectic and quirky and highlights the uniqueness of the city and its people. There is a beautiful range of cultures and different socio-economic backgrounds, but the underlying vibe is comforting and homey. It’s a pretty quick read, and although alternating between the five different POVs, it’s easy to follow. For the most part, it is lighthearted but with deeper themes throughout.

The biggest issue I had with this was the writing. It seemed too simplistic and each character felt one dimensional. Like each one had one character trait and that’s all they were. There was not a lot of depth so when the problems of each character was resolved, it didn’t feel satisfying. Things just sort of happened and especially bad things would pop up out of nowhere but resolved very quickly and cleanly.

I also didn’t buy the romance; especially with the notes. The ending was sweet but the journey there was unsatisfactory.

Overall it was okay. If the character and plot were fleshed out just a bit more, it would have been more enjoyable.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the eArc. All opinions are my own.

This story centers around a black street cat who is street smart, and the people who watch over him, sometimes leaving him a bit of food, and sometimes grander gestures. He is hesitant to accept these gestures at first, but slowly he learns just how much they do care about him and for him. He is especially fond of the woman he calls ‘Rainbow Lady’ who makes sure he has some water and food each day, and the man who lets the woman know he appreciates her gestures to the cat.

Cat likes to follow the Mailman, who is also known to offer him treats, which helps since the lady who used to give Cat treats died a year ago, leaving her friend sad.

When author Collin Thackeray meets up with his agent in a coffee shop, he realizes that the woman who works as a barista there is the ‘Rainbow Lady’ whose name is Nuria. Over time, a bond is formed between them to give Cat a better life, buying him cat food, and providing him with a house just his size to have his own place to sleep in peace, as well as other necessities. What he doesn’t know yet, is that the cashier is the woman that Nuria’s been looking for most of her life.

There’s a lot of love and charm in this story, as some of the people in the neighborhood seem to become closer through this bond they share over Cat, and how it changes their lives, and Cat’s life, as well.


Pub Date: 01 Apr 2025


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Delacorte Press