"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.

Núria, a single-by-choice barista with a little resentment for the "crazy cat lady" label, is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of the neighborhood's stray cats. On her volunteering days, she starts finding Post-it notes left by a secret admirer in an area where her feeds her favorite stray - a black cat named Cat. Like most felines, he is both curious and observant, so of course he knows who the notes are from.

Núria, however, is clueless.

Are the notes from Collin, a bestselling author and self-professed hermit with a weakness for good coffee? Are they from Lily, a fresh-out-of-high school Georgia native searching for her long-lost half sister? Are they from Omar, the beloved neighborhood mailman going through an early midlife crisis? Or are they from Bong, the grieving widower who owns Núria's favorite bodega?

When Cat suddenly falls ill, these five strangers find themselves bonding together in their desire to care for him, and discover that chance encounters can lead to the meaningful connections they've all been searching for."

Cats are what will unite us all.

This is a story of community, with a cat named Cat at the center of it all. In this little New York neighborhood, there is Nuria, a single barista who spends most of her time and money on the local stray cat society; Collin, a best-selling very introverted author who seldom leaves the safety of his home; Omar, the friendly and nurtering local mailman, and Lily, fresh from Georgia and searching for the half-sister she has never met. The book is the story of their interactions and growing relationships, with a certain cat assisting as necessity required. An engaging and charming story of community and friendship. Very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a slow moving but cute story. Even though it was cute, I did have a hard time connecting to the story. I am slightly dissappointed because as a huge cat lover I was sure that this book was going to be 5 stars for me. I did not love it, yet didn't hate it and hence I am rating it three stars. It definitely was an interesting premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the Publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my review. I was so excited to read this because I am a cat person and because I also take care of stray cats. However, I could not get into this book at all. I didn't like that the cat had a POV. I couldn't get into that. It felt a little juvenile to me. I hate leaving negative reviews on Goodreads since it is so hard to find readers in today's market so I won't be posting this on my account especially since I am a firm believer in "No two people read the same book."

Cat's People was extremely cute and Cat's chapters were adorable. I loved seeing the world from his perspective.

I do have to say that the writing was a bit simplistic and I feel like the story drug on a bit too long, I was starting to get bored a little more than halfway through.

Overall though it was a very sweet easy read that I think most cat lovers will enjoy!

Cat’s People is such a sweet, heartwarming story about 5 seemingly random people in Brooklyn and the stray cat that connects them all. Of course, some of the chapters are from the cat’s POV and being a major cat lady, lots of tears were shed. I cried 10 separate times to be exact. I definitely recommend if you are a cat lover, animal lover, or just needing a happy lil story to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy to read and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sure people that don’t like cats might still enjoy this book, but I highly recommend this story for self-proclaimed cat ladies and cat lovers out there. This was so sweet and heartwarming, and the story beautifully portrayed how these sneaky, cunning creatures can worm their way into your heart, even if you didn’t considered yourself a cat lover before. That’s honestly what happened to me with my cat daughter, so it just made this story all the more enjoyable and relatable.

It’s not often I find a story where I connect with more than 1-2 characters, but I thought just about all the characters were quite charming and adorable with their quirks. Their fears, their insecurities, and their doubts about themselves resonated with me, as some of their worries and thoughts felt like a reflection of my own.

I did have a bit of issues with Collin’s characterization. He was meant to be awkward and endearing, but he was so high strung and still borderline creepy at times. He made up for it in the end though with his kindness, so I won’t hold it against the story overall.

Wrapping up this review, I will next seek out my cat daughter to give her some pets and affection. She snuck into my heart and now I’m stuck with her, just as the rest of the motley crew in this book are stuck with Cat.

Cat's People is a lovely, sweet story about a plucky stray cat in Brooklyn and the five humans he brings together in various ways. All of the characters, as well as Cat, narrate the novel in sections. If you liked Hiro Arikawa's The Travelling Cat Chronicles but would prefer a story that doesn't make you reach for the tissues, this is a great choice. I was in the mood for an easy, heartwarming, feel-good read, so I flew through this. On the other hand, in a different mood I might have dismissed it as slightly too saccharine, so go into it knowing what you're in the mood for. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for a digital review copy.

Happy easy read. Did not necessarily feel wildly connected to any characters and felt the ending was rushed.

🥹🥹🙌
STOOOOOOOP!! This book is so cute! My frickin heart! I loved every part of this one!! The characters are so real and I instantly loved them all! Especially the POV chapters from Cat!! 🫶🏻
This is a story of how a stray cat brought together a group of unlikely individuals in New York City.

I just felt so light and optimistic reading this story. It was cute, funny, emotional, and so heartwarming. 🥰 I hope there is another one! I would love to hear more from cat, nuria, collin, lily, omar, and bong. 👌🏻
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ʏᴏᴜʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
•cats
•secret love
•uplifting stories
•New York life
•found family

Cat is a stray who lives by his wits on the streets of Brooklyn. This story centers on the people who feed and care for this wily feline. A perfect book for all animal lovers, that feeling of joy and community as this cat brings his various caretakers together.
One of the sweetest stories I have read and quite an enjoyable one too. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC

I don’t even know where to start with this one other than this book brought me so much joy! My heart is full & as I am currently away from my most handsome feline babies, I can’t wait to snuggle them so hard.

This is so out of the box of what I normally read & I am glad my cat-loving, simple brain got caught up by the adorable cover – I mean look at Cat (/Gatito/Itim)! His little face! & the pink background! I was in love. I went in expecting to love Cat & came out with 5 other new friends too. Seriously, I loved each character so much & want to be in their little found family group.

I really appreciated the Guerrero’s writing style. It was straightforward, yet kept me captivated & caring about the story. Each character was nuanced & had real personalities, without having to dwell on long backstories or ramblings that didn’t add to the story. I also appreciated that I could clearly picture each character, without having overly detailed paragraphs devoted to their appearance. Small details were added in organically & a lot was told more by how the characters interacted. I never wanted to put the book down, but given the character-driven style, so there were definitely times in the middle I felt the pacing slow a bit. But for me, it didn’t change the enjoyment of the book.

& of course CAT! Oh my goodness. I absolutely loved his point of view, I just know I was smiling like an idiot. Guerrero put us in the mind of a cat (or at least what we assume would be the mind of a cat) so easily. Every mannerism was spot on & I could picture so easily. His attitude was a perfect combination of inquisitive, cat-superiority, trepidation & charming. I love how he knew his people & tried to do his best to (knowingly or not) pull them together. & even attempted to save them. Cats are truly wonderful creatures & I just can’t get over how well Cat’s POV really personified what I feel like goes on in every cat’s mind.

Bottom Line: this book is perfect for any cat-lover, or animal lover in general. I feel so warm & happy after reading. Did I cry? Look I cry at most books, so knew on page 1 of this that I would sob. & I did. I adored this one & will definitely be recommending to anyone with pets, but especially cats!

PS. I know animal-centric books can be super sensitive for some, so to alleviate any TW concerns, please know this ends happily for all felines.

Well this was just the sweetest story! I was a little apprehensive going into it, I was worried it was going to be too cheesy and weird. But I was very surprised to be so invested in the lives of these strangers!

I loved hearing more about each of the characters; finding out about their lives, struggles and all. It was fun to see the ways that they all intersected too.

And at the heart of the story was Cat. Being a cat person, I could really see all his mannerisms and actions. Reading his inner monolog allowed for his character to come alive! I was very worried as to where his story line was going and am pleased with the ending!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to its publishing!

Cat's People
Disclaimer - This is Not a Romance Genre Book
By Tanya Guerrero

Delacorte Press - April 2025

Fiction


Cat had a good life. He had street smarts and had his neighborhood. He also had a few people he graced with his presence. Some even fed him. These were Cat's People. Five individuals whose lives begin to intertwine.

Nuria, a cat lady who worked as a barista, volunteered at a shelter, and fed some local cats.

Bong, a bodega owner who was recently widowed.

Collin, a reclusive bestselling author struggling to find his muse.

Omar, a mailman who truly enjoyed his interactions with the people and animals on his route.

Lily, a young lady who had recently lost her father and come to town searching for someone.

Cat's People was a fascinating read that I truly enjoyed. Each chapter would end with me eager to continue to see what happened next, only to move on to the next character with their intriguing storyline. As the pages passed, their stories began to weave together in a very Love Actually-esque way and I was engrossed to see how all their stories would end. I highly recommend this story for any cat lover.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Cat’s People tells the story of five complete strangers who are indirectly brought together by one very special black alley cat.

“Cat” has lived his entire life on the streets of New York, living off left behind scraps and the kindness of strangers. One stranger in particular, Nuriq, is a barista who feeds the stray cats of the neighborhood regularly. Cat feels Nuria is a human he can trust, but as an any smart stray cat knows, it’s still important to keep your whiskers on high alert.

Unbeknownst to Nuria, a shy author named Collin watches her from afar. Just like a cat, Collin is curious about Nuria’s interest in the cats, but even more curious about the woman herself. Still he maintains his distance, often finding himself entering Nuria’s place of business, but unable to speak to her at length.

One day with some pawing from Cat, Collin begins to communicate with his crush via sticky notes left by Cat’s food. And so begins a unique friendship that slowly brings in other members of the neighborhood like Omar the malcontented mailman, Bong, the widowed bodega owner, and Lily, the half sister Nuria never knew existed.

Then Cat gets sick. Suddenly, these five lonely strangers are brought together to help the charming feline who managed to steal all of their hearts. Their strong feelings a surprise to everyone, even Cat is confused by his newfound attachment, finding himself warming to the idea of being a late in life house-cat.

Cat’s People is the literary equivalent to a warm hug- its premise whimsically simple and childlike, yet somehow still appropriate in the pages of an adult fiction novel. Never cringey or corny, it’s a story that reminds readers how powerful the presence of a pet can be, and how the animal/human connection is one that can be pawsitively purrfect when given the opportunity to grow.

Let me begin and end this review with a very strong recommend. I am a cat person and I found this be a totally delightful book. The main character is the cat himself who is a feral cat living on the street in Brooklyn. He tells all about his environment and all the people he encounters and how their lives intertwined. Each person has their own name for him and he names the person to suit himself. You know his thoughts and his reactions and I was totally enchanted with it. I have highly recommended it to my book clubs This was truly a book I did not want to end and I look forward with great interest on what Tanya’s next book will be.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing /Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cat’s People is for all cat owners, lovers, carers, and even those who aren’t sure if they like cats! More importantly it’s for anyone who’s ever questioned who they are. Because who knows that better than our pets? Cat is a wise stray cat living on the streets in Brooklyn. But he gets by with some help from some friends. There’s Núria, aka Rainbow Lady, a barista who loves cats and makes sure to feed all the strays. There’s Bong, the sad bodega owner whose wife died last year, who sells his favorite food. Can’t forget about Omar the cheerful mailman, who Cat loves to follow on his stops! Colin is the famous author but also a super awkward and shy guy, new to the cat business. And finally Lily, who Cat doesn’t know what to think of. But as these wonderful characters come to discover, Cat is going to bring them all together in new and exciting ways when they most need it.

Y’all, this book was so freaking cute!! I couldn’t put it down! I’m a new cat lover, and I love strays. Cat and his POV were adorable, and the way everyone takes care of him melted my heart! I want more of these characters, more of Cat’s adventures, and all the wonderful feels. I’m obsessed right now with this book! It’s the perfect lighthearted read, and I can’t recommend it enough!

4.5 ⭐️ This book was filled with so much heartfelt, human connection - it provided me with an escape into a world that was a little kinder, more open-minded & brimming with feline mischief.

As much as I enjoyed each of the MC's individual storylines - reconnecting with lost family, facing our fears & dreams, overcoming loss - I FELL IN LOVE with Cat and couldn't wait to keep reading about his interactions in the city & with his people!

For fans of the emotional story-weaving you can find in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, you'll find a very similar vibe in this sweet novel, only set in the heart of Brooklyn with a diverse cast of characters who all share one thing in common: a street cat.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG).

Cat’s People drew me in from the description and the adorable Book Cover Art. This is a character driven story that is very heart warming and touching. There is strong character development throughout the story and the characters are very lovable. There is also a diverse cast of characters and their stories flow effortlessly. I would say the book is set at a medium pace read, but once you start reading you don’t want to put it down. If you’re a cat person or animal lover, this is a good story that makes you feel something, Cat’s People is definitely worth the read.

I will be reviewing this book more in depth on my TikTok account on 3/14/2025 - @carleykellyy

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this arc.

✨literary fiction
✨multi pov
✨found family

This was the cutest and sweetest and most heartwarming arc I've ever been given. This story won't be for everyone and that's okay but it was ABSOLUTELY written for someone like me 🖤

A HUGE thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book!