I am conflicted about this book. The first bit was not my favorite and I almost gave up on it about 20% through due to the writing style. Either I got used to it or it got better, because I enjoyed the middle. I have a hard time with books where the characters are fairly unlikable and truly there would be no story at ALL if people would just communicate. Also the main point of the whole thing (the reason behind her “third life”) doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. It was all around an okay book.

I received this from net galley in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed the memoir feel of the writing style. When I first read the forward I stopped to double check to see if it was indeed the authors life story. Characters were well developed and overall a good read.

Sportswriter Kate Fagan’s fictional debut, “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” is a fictionalized memoir that unveils the hidden secrets of a bestselling author.

The novel begins in 2014 but spans more than two decades, starting in 1991, when Anna "Annie" Marie Callaghan first meets Amanda Kent, a girl who will become the center of her world. Annie, raised by an alcoholic and largely absent mother, finds in Amanda a lifeline. The two bond over their shared love of acting and dream of running off to Los Angeles. Their drama teacher, Mr. Riley, even selects plays with two strong female leads, written specifically for them. Despite Annie's unrequited romantic feelings for Amanda, their friendship runs deep, surviving the complexities of their mismatched emotions. However, when a tragic accident befalls Amanda, Annie flees her hometown and reinvents herself as Cassandra "Cass" Ford.

Shamed by her perceived cowardice and the secrets she left behind in New York, Cass starts fresh as a waitress at a local café. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she overhears two writers discussing their work and, intrigued, engages with one of them. This leads to an invitation to attend a writing class at a local college. With acting now a painful reminder of her past, Cass decides to pursue a career as a novelist. She eventually meets Sidney Collins, an aspiring law student, at a writing workshop. When Cass reveals her past to Sidney, she becomes entangled in a controlling, manipulative relationship with her, which includes helping Annie/Cass legally change her name to “Cass.”

When Cass finishes her debut novel, “The Very Last”—a dystopian tale—she publishes it under a pseudonym to shield her true identity. Sidney becomes her intermediary with publishers, editors, and journalists. When the book is optioned for a film adaptation, the actor slated to play one of its key characters, Ryan "Ry" Channing, asks to meet Cass. Though she has been hiding behind the identity of "Cate Kay," Cass agrees. Their meeting sparks an undeniable chemistry. For Cass, this is the first time she has felt genuine love since Amanda. Her relationship with Sidney, now a manipulative and transactional partnership, contrasts sharply with her newfound freedom and connection with Ryan. As Cass considers revealing her true identity to Ryan and leaving Sidney behind, her past resurfaces, complicating her decision and ultimately causing her to retreat from Ryan.

Fagan’s novel bears similarities to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, with both stories featuring a queer woman who is not openly gay, who runs from a traumatic event in her past, and whose life is recounted in a journalistic or memoir-like format. With a cast of well-developed characters who offer valuable insights into Annie/Cass/Cate’s relationships with Amanda and Ryan, the novel feels like a memoir, making the protagonist’s journey feel remarkably real.

There is an underlying theme of grace in “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” although it seems difficult to believe, given Annie/Cass/Cate's earlier actions. The novel ends with a neatly tied-up conclusion where every character seemingly finds a happy ending, despite the manipulation, toxic relationships, and abandonment they have endured. Still, Fagan’s characters remain multidimensional and memorable, their complexities resonating long after the book is finished.

A fictional memoir about an elusive best-selling author told from multiple POVs. This one got off to a slow start but once I got into it I could not put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a genre-blending fictional memoir told through multiple POVs, capturing the life of Cate Kay, her former selves and those around her. The book explores themes of identity, grief, and love while offering a unique storytelling approach.

While the narrative style and emotional depth resonate with many readers, the book has a slow start and some struggled to connect with its characters. The alternating perspectives can feel indistinct, and certain plot points stretch believability. However, the suspense and gradual character development eventually draw readers in, making it an engaging read for fans of character-driven stories and memoir-style narratives.

What a fabulous book! From the minute you meet Amanda and then they mysterious Cate Kay you will be hooked. A heartbreaking story of being young and in love and the quest to find yourself.

I find it hard to articulate just how good this book is. Saying, “It blew me away,” doesn’t begin to cover what a masterful job Kate Fagan did. Critics have compared it to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It’s a fair comparison. Put side by side, it is no shrinking violet. Its plot is equally complex, its characters comparably dynamic, and its impact is just as significant. And, much like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this story will be a topic of discussion in book clubs for years to come.
What truly makes The Three Lives of Cate Kay stand out is its employment of multiple points of view. Fagan effectively leverages the varied perspectives, giving the story a more holistic understanding. Each character becomes a narrator in the story, highlighting distinct aspects of Cate’s personality, relationships, and life. Though Cate is the primary voice of the story, readers walk away with a bigger picture of who Cate fundamentally is because of these multiple points of view.
So, who is Cate Kay? She is a profoundly complex and intelligent woman trying to outrun her past. Trauma and poor choices have forced her to reinvent herself and become cautious and reclusive. Fagan slowly and deliberately leaks the haunting details of Cate’s life via the various characters that cross her path. These narrators, including Cate, become guides, letting the storytelling unfold linearly and uniquely. Thus, Cate’s journey becomes a culmination of all these voices, each one filling in a piece of her puzzling life.
Fagan makes some interesting choices as she uses these narrators. Some seem to hold more knowledge about Cate’s life than she does. And because readers have an omnipresent view, they know the most. It creates a tension within the storytelling that’s irresistibly compelling. It is the kind of dramatic irony readers rarely see done this well. The heightened stakes and increased suspense are simply delicious.
Because Fagan uses multiple points of view, Cate’s story isn’t isolated; the choices she makes reverberate across the lives of others, creating a dynamic web of cause and effect. The same goes for the many narrators. Their choices affect Cate. It provides an interesting situation, enabling the exploration of subplots. These subplots are critical; they allow Cate’s character arc to expand. Her family, friends, and lovers illuminate different aspects of her personality and life story, adding emotional resonance and complexity to the storytelling. Additionally, these small-scale struggles mirror the overriding issues, making the story feel grounded and realistic.
Finally, the most masterful moment is the way it all comes together. Fagan’s shifting points of view eventually reveal the other characters’ motives. Some are unexpected. Some are welcome. These climatic revelations are what readers have been waiting for. The tension is released. The pieces fall into place. However, as readers finish the last page, what imprints the most is the intense energy of the narrative, making The Three Lives of Cate Kay an unforgettable experience.
Final remarks…
The Three Lives of Cate Kay transcends being a simple story about one woman’s life. Instead, it becomes a rich tapestry of perspectives that deepen the narrative’s emotional resonance, enhance its complexity, and keep readers fully invested. By including a range of narrators, the book appeals to a wide audience, as different readers connect with different characters. This is award-winning storytelling. Fagan’s writing style and storytelling choices will leave you breathless. It is a must read.
Strengths…
Well-written
Powerfully told
Impressionable, impactive characters
Memorable storytelling

The three lives of Cate Kay follows the story of the most famous author in the world, yet no one knows who she actually is. Starting with the premise of this mystery author planning on finally revealing all in a memoir we then get to read that fictional memoir for ourselves.
Starting in childhood we see ‘Cate’ as a child, living with an alcoholic mother in a poor apartment complex her life is altered when she meets a spirited girl named Amanda and the two instantly become best friends. But the two girls lives encounter tragedy leaving ‘Cate’ recreating versions of herself as she tries to escape her past.

I really enjoyed this read and found it compelling and original, and despite her flaws, ‘Cate’ was a character I couldn’t help but root for. I’ve seen it compared to other popular books such as the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and whilst I see the similarities in the how it discusses Hollywood and gay women’s experiences of having to perform as straight to be accepted, the storyline itself was original so I didn’t overly feel this comparison!

What I really appreciated with this read is that despite the far-flung drama of the story, it felt realistic and down to earth, it showed people’s flaws and insecurities without necessarily presenting them as bad people. It also covered important topics such as friendship, grief, identity, and toxic relationships (Sidney I hate u). I did find the character changes a little too frequent at times - especially with smaller side characters who I had to remind myself of their relevance - but overall I enjoyed this read! Thank you so much to the publishers and author for an advanced e-copy!

I’ve been professionally reviewing books for 12 years and I can say without a doubt that 2024 has been the shittiest year for literary fiction releases, so it gives me extreme joy to report that there is hope on the horizon for 2025…and its name is THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY!

Initially, I was skeptical of two things: the cover and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comparison. The cover is giving me Lessons in Chemistry vibes which I think is one of the worst marketing mistakes in recent years. So many of that book’s target readers passed right over the bright, pulpy cover and I worry that this could be the case here. The image of three rearview mirror reflections hits the mark but I think this should have been a real photograph rather than a graphic. As for the comparison with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I can see the connections, but I found this story to more closely aligned with The Resurrection of Joan Ashby (my favorite book of all time) for its nested structure, Shakespearean themes, and spiraling storyline centered on a female literary phenomenon.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten my petty critiques out of the way, let’s focus on the fact that this book is a true gem. The Three Lives of Cate Kay does not belong with the midlist, basic, contemporary fiction releases. This smart, uniquely detailed, and perfectly paced book gives me the kind of reading high that makes me do a John Bender from The Breakfast Club air punch after reading the last sentence. Kate “with a motherfuckin’ K” Fagan has delivered an absolute “mic drop” fiction debut. Sign me up for the fan club because I’m going to be raving about this one for a while.

This was an unexpected winner of a book for me. I went in with no expecations but easily fell in love with it. It's a fictional memoir with multiple points of view. More like a documentary where the other characters in Annie/Cass/Cate's life fill in missing pieces and alternate understandings.
<i>The Three Lives of Cate Kay</I> is a real coming of age story about true love and loss. When that true love is your ultimate best friend and the worst lost is that same friend. Annie finds herself running from the life she thought she was going to have and reinventing herself to stay in hiding. But in that time, she writes the most popular book series turned movie series. Throughout the telling there are little easter eggs that tie her true identity into the pages of her best seller. I loved picking up on those themes.
Somehow this story of loss and misunderstanding ended with me smiling. I applaud Kate Fagan for her writing style and for her ability to make the reader feel like they are part of the story because no secrets were kept from them. Exerpts from the book and footnotes from Cate were all part of the storytelling.

I had read the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and enjoyed it. I was curious when I saw comparisons of The Three Lives of Cate Kay to it. Having recently finished it, I can see some similarities but feel it really stands on its own. What particularly stood out to me was the evolution of the story through not only the main character but also those closest to her.

The story within a story also captured me and I could see myself reading The Last Verse if it was a real book. I found the overall story to be compelling and was curious to see how it would keep moving forward. I will say there were a few moments where the story slowed down and I found myself getting frustrated with the situation l. However, the story would take a turn and I was back in it.

I so appreciate how this book demonstrated the many forms of love and there impact on one’s life. This was a story that I am happy I read and would certainly recommend adding to your TBR pile. Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I heard a lot about this book and everything seemed to point it in the direction of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones. While I can see how it can be described this way, with Annie's life going in different directions, and the different POVs of everyone telling the story like in Daisy, I can't really say these stories are similar.

That is not to take away from Cate with a freaking K in the least bit. I really loved this book and was hooked from the start. It begins a little on the slower side but once it picks up I was thoroughly invested in ALL the characters. I loathed Sidney more than I can put into words and there was a part of her and Cass' story that wasn't really addressed that I wanted closure on.

I really liked how this book was a memoir but told from multiple people's viewpoint. I could see this making a great screen adaptation whether movie or series, I would watch for sure.

Whole heartedly recommend this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd at 12%. I didn't love this book.

4.5 stars
Slow to start but all of a sudden the story was all gas to the finish line. I loved the way the love story of Cate Kay’s childhood best friend shaped her entire life, the good the bad & the ugly. Coming to terms with her sexuality, consequences of her actions, and who she really was out of her 3 personas made for a great story. Part Evelyn Hugo (sapphic movie stars in the closet) and part mystery thriller this was a great read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy on exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book blind, and LOVED it- especially combining the physical book with the full-cast audiobook.

Author of an internationally best-selling book series and movie franchise, Cate Kay, is the entertainment industry’s biggest mystery. No one knows who she is or why she is intent on keeping her identity a secret. However, Cate, is finally ready to tell her story. The novel reads like a memoir, with snippets from Cate Kay herself, as well as her friends, lovers, and others who she has met or worked with from her teen years to the present. Readers are taken on a journey; a coming of age story of friendship, dreams of stardom, and a tragic accident that permanently altered Cate’s path and career, I love complex and flawed characters, and Cate is a perfect example of a heroine I cannot help but root for in her journey/character growth. At its core, this book is an exploration of identity, ambition, friendship and love; healing from past choices and determining what is most important in life.

It was compelling until about the middle and then it lost steam. I didn't understand why Cate Kay input footnotes, as though she were looking over the narrator's shoulders while they wrote. And I didn't find her appealing in any of the three forms she adopted. This book was not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the effort behind it.

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is @reesesbookclub latest pick - it is fun and I enjoyed it!!

Cate Kay is an author who wrote a best-selling-trilogy-turned-movie series that took the world by storm. But this ultra-famous author has never been seen, and no one knows who she is … until now. She is writing a book about her past and her many selves — what happened back in her hometown, how did she make it big, and why is she revealing everything now?!

I started the ebook version of this, but I wasn’t finding a lot of time to sit down & read, so I switched to the audio format. I preferred the ebook, just because there are many different sections you need to pay attention to: varying POVs and/or testimonials across chapters, and there are also footnotes and book excerpts from Cate Kay (truly the book inside a book inside a book!). Because of this, I found I was more easily able to follow along via print.

I really liked the characters and format of this one - although I wish some of the suspense lasted longer about what happened when Annie was younger. No spoilers, but I thought some of the ways things played out could have been solved a liiiittle easier (queue the “why don’t you just call Taylor up?!” sound!).

That being said, I did really like the writing and the ending — I was rooting for our girl(s)! I thought this was clever and really kept me engaged; I definitely will add Kate Fagan to my authors-to-follow list!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay took me awhile to get into (a good 25-30%), but I’m so glad I stuck with it. By the end I wasn’t ready for Cate/Cass/Annie’s story to be over.

Cate Kay is finally ready to tell her story. Born Anne Marie Callahan, she dreams of leaving small town New Jersey with her best friend Amanda. The girls both have star power, but then tragedy strikes and Annie must reinvent herself alone. We follow Annie (now Cass Ford) as she leaves that old world behind and goes on to write a blockbuster series. Now, years later, she is finally ready to reveal herself.

This was very much a character driven story and I loved that. We spend time in Annie’s head, but also in the women who know her best. The POVs are woven together so we really do see all sides of the story as Annie’s past is revealed piece by piece. I became so invested in Annie’s life and was really hoping she would end up where she did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for a review copy.

Synopsis: Cate Kay is the creator of a bestselling book series, and she’s seen much success. The thing, though, is Cate Kay doesn’t exist. Not really, anyways. Her real identity has been a well kept secret… until now. As a young adult, her and her best friend dreamed of moving away and creating a life together, but when this dream was shattered, Cate started running away and taking on new names in every new situation. After a new understanding of what really happened with her friends all those years ago, she knows the only way to move toward with who she is really is, is to confront the past.

Review: The Three Lives of Cate Kay explored themes of grief, guilt, and love, from all of the characters. Written in many different perspectives, another common theme felt like ego, and the ways we seek out what we want and craft our lives around various expectations.
I think that each character and part in this book had purpose, especially purpose for the protagonist, Cate and where she was at in her life when they came in, though I did have trouble connecting with the characters. I also felt that while there wasn’t necessarily a lot that happened, I understood and liked the story and why the things that did happen, happened. As a whole, it felt engrossing, and felt like a look into wanting to belong while wanting to stand out, and felt like a story about purpose and connection. I’d recommend this if you’re looking for a quick read that will pull you into the characters.

See some quotes I loved below!

“It's like you hold me steady, but without holding me still."

“I'd been listening intently for her while watching the raindrops on the glass; the beads of liquid kept merging before I was prepared to lose them.”

“In the many years since, I've thought of this memory as a blueprint that might help explain the life I constructed afterward.”

“We're all so much more, and less, than our best, or worst, moment.”

“I know you remember. I know everything we shared is threaded through you as it is me.”

“A student told me last week that we speak five thousand words a day. Instantly you appeared next to me, giddy over this factoid, trying to do the math: okay, so let's say half our words are to each other, that's 2,500 multiplied by 365 days multiplied by-how many years have we been friends? I pictured you calculating the many millions of words between us. However many, they were hardly enough.”

Rating: 3.5/5

I LOVE a story about an author, and boy did Fagan not disappoint with The Three Lives of Cate Kay, our elusive narrator who, after years of hiding not disclosing her identity, writes a memoir about her life under three different names. I loved how this felt like a memoir, although I don't agree with the similarities found with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The characters, however, were three-dimensional and extremely well-written, and I felt so invested in Cate's story that I was heartbroken when it was over.

It seems that character-driven stories are becoming more and more popular, something that I also really enjoyed about Fagan's writing. Their emotions were MY emotions - what more could you ask for from a writer?

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to Fagan's next literary venture!