4 stars

You can read all my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I really enjoyed this quick and easy contemporary read. Annie and Amanda are best friends with big plans to take L.A. by storm and become famous actresses. Their relationship is amazing. They just get each other. Their inside jokes and short cuts are the epitome of friends that have known each other most of their lives. Amanda loves Annie, but Annie is in love with Amanda. Not that she's been brave enough to tell her, of course. When a tragedy occurs Annie flees town on her own and assumes a new identity as Cass.

Trying to work through her emotions, Cass writes a book under the pseudonym Cate Kay and ferociously protects her identity. No one knows Cass wrote the book except her attorney. When the book becomes a hit and is turned into a movie, Cass is drawn to the lead actress playing the starring role and agrees to meet with her in L.A. During her stay Cass realizes that she will never move forward in her life until she moves through her pain.

This book requires you to pay close attention as the chapters and POVs alternate through a variety of narrators. The payoff is a beautiful story of friendship, pain, love, and redemption. I loved the friendship between Annie and Amanda. I loved the dynamics between Cass and the actress. I enjoyed the surprising twists and turns the story took, and I loved the way the story ended. It's hard to say much more about the book without spoilers, so I encourage you to read this one for yourself.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay explores how a single event or rash decision can shape your whole world. Annie and Amanda were the best of friends until one incident changes the trajectory of both of their lives. Annie spends the next decades running from her past while Amanda is left wondering. This novel had me reflecting on my own lost high school and childhood friendships. Some bonds can never be broken. 4/5 stars.

I was given this arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is described as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins and I did get those vibes.
It took me a minute to get into the book, but once I was in, I was IN.
Cate Kay is a best selling novelist whose identity has been hidden, up until now. We follow “Cate Kay” through her early years, what led to her changing her name and writing a novel, and what made her decide to finally reveal her true identity.

This was a pretty good read! It leans on the anonymity and lack of instant communication of earlier decades. There are moments where a few phone calls would have resolved a lot, but that’s part of what makes the story work. Each main character and phase of life felt authentic and believable, which kept me invested. The pacing was excellent. I couldn’t put it down because I had to see how things would resolve. While there weren’t any shocking twists or jaw-dropping reveals, the story was heartfelt and compelling. I only wish there had been more consequences for a certain character’s actions. At times it felt repetitive, but in a way that added to the charm, like an inside joke we’re in on. Overall, it was an enjoyable and satisfying read. Worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy.

This book was a great read! And I think an incredible read for Reese’s Book Club.

I really loved the idea of a “memoir” type read. I can totally see the comparison to Taylor Jenkins Reid novels. Annie/Cass/Cate was a complex character who really stood out to me. I thought the book had a slow start but the overall character development really was done so well.

I couldn’t stand Sidney and wished the worst for her so when it didnt happen, I got mad. :)

I think that people will love this book if they give it a chance!

A fast-paced and easy read about the turmultous life of a formerly anomynous fictional author of a bestselling franchise. This is like Evelyn Hugo exept the main pairing was easier to root for and you don’t have to bother reading about all those husbands before it gets to the good part. Instead this follows the narrator’s relationship with the three women she was the most emotionally engaged with at three different stages of her life: as Annie, as Cass and as Cate. Each of these relationships was deeply interesting for different reasons. Surprisingly, my favorite relationship to read about was not the romantic one (I actually wanted even more yearning). Instead, I found myself deeply moved by the platonic love story that’s at the heart of this book, and hooked by the most toxic relationship the narrator is engaged in – it’s fascinating how wrong we can be about other people, power dynamics and ourselves. My favorite character was Ry and I enjoyed her commentary about the public’s expectations regarding gender performance that come with being an actress and especially the sideplot where she re-evaluates who she’s doing all that for and if it’s what she really wants. Great book! I’m eager to find out what this author publishes next!

At first, it took a bit to figure out what was happening in the story but once I was able to differentiate each of the characters I was hooked on this book. I had to know exactly how things unfolded and where the friendship ends up. Each character felt well fleshed out and easy enough to understand. It was nice to see a true friendship at the root of a story and how a book could lead to friends back to each other. It was also nice to see how the side characters came into play and how it all came together. Definitely a book I would tell everyone to check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

“The Three Lives of Cate Kay” by Kate Fagan
What an Emotion filled read ! !
I had read a few chapters of this book and realized I was completely lost. For some reason I had lost track of each character and their relationship with other characters. So, I stared over again and kept a log of who was who. I still had trouble connecting with the story; until, all of a sudden I knew everyone and I was so very anxious to find out what was going to happen next. I am ever so glad I gave this story a second chance to win my attention. It really is a good read and food for thought for anyone so inclined. Happy Reading

I think I can say that I liked this, overall, but not without effort. I was unable to form a connection with any of the characters and I think that’s due to each POV being mostly indistinguishable from the others. Tone, syntax, and attitude was too similar in each. I really held on for the Ryan bits and the Amanda-Annie reunion, but aside from that, I felt there were more times than I’d like where I really had to put apply myself to stay engaged. I don’t think this should be marketed for fans of Evelyn Hugo because it’s its own thing, and that’s okay.

“It’s like you hold me steady, but without holding me still.”

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC!

I was very excited to get this novel by Kate Fagan if only for the description itself: for fans of Evelyn Hugo. Let’s just say that is enough for me.

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY is story of friendship, love, ambition, and big dreams. It is told in various POVs with excerpts from a book, alongside footnotes from the main character.

I can see how this is said to be “Evelyn Hugo” meets “First Lie Wins” but the format reminded me of Daisy Jones. It took me a while to connect to the story because of the format the story is written; it isn’t my favorite as I struggled connecting with the characters and the story itself. But if I looked past it, I enjoyed the book.

As someone who loved the seven husbands of evelyn hugo this book seemed to bring back every single feeling i had while reading this book. i love it

I finished this book at 1:00 a.m. in the morning. Absolutely superb. All the stars.

I have not had a book grab hold of me like this one did in a very very long time. I loved everything about this book. Huge Evelyn Hugo vibes. It’s a must read, friends.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a coming-of-age story told in memoir style with multiple POV chapters. I really liked the intermingling of key player voices throughout the story, as I'm always fascinated to hear the other side of the same story. Cate Kay's life lessons can be summed up into 2 overarching principles: 1.) Assume nothing, and 2.) Trust but verify everything. So much anguish could have been avoided by addressing insecurities head-on and by doing a little bit of personal investigation. But, then again, if Cate did that, she probably never would have had the interesting life experiences she did. The final lesson is that you can always go home... no matter how old you are or how many years have passed. The right day may not be today, but there is always someday.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Cate Kay was such an incredibly fun and clever read that I will for sure be recommending to readers in my life (I already passed my copy to my mom).

I really enjoyed the format of this book with multiple POV contributing to the storyline. I really enjoyed the book within the book and would actually love to read it on its own as it sounded super intriguing!

While I questioned some of Annie/Cass’s decisions, I was continuously rooting for her and loved her story. There were a lot of good characters in this book that I felt drawn to and interested in. The short chapters kept me reading and I really couldn’t put this one down! It is incredibly engaging.

My only critique is that I would have liked a longer ending. I was satisfied with the way it ended but would have liked it to be more detailed.

I cannot wait to see what this author does next- I loved her writing style and will be eagerly waiting for her sophomore novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Formal Review to Come - I enjoyed this book. It did take a minute to grow on me though. I think it was a wonderful debut novel into the fiction genre!

@AtriaBooks | #gifted Back in November, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗞𝗔𝗬 was the very first 2025 book I read. It was at a time when I needed something a little lighter, with a touch of both fun and heart, and debut author Kate Fagan definitely delivered!⁣
⁣
This is the story of a wildly popular author, Cate Kay, who is a mystery to the public. For reasons unknown by almost everyone, she refuses to come out of hiding. This drives people wild, but it doesn’t drive those of us reading crazy because we know. From the very beginning we know Cate as Annie, growing up in a small lakeside town with the name she was born with. She and her best friend Amanda had big dreams. Just as soon as they could, they were heading to Hollywood with stardom on their minds. Sadly, that didn’t happen.⁣
⁣
The story is told from a variety of different perspectives which I loved. I found it delightfully easy to follow in print and I think it would be great on audio, too. There’s a lot going on, including romance and identity, plus a whole lot of secrets. Misunderstandings abound, and that might normally cause a little eye-rolling on my part, but in this it didn’t bother me at all. It helped that as the reader, I knew everything. The real questions were how and when would everyone put all of the pieces together, and would Cate Kay ever get back to being Annie? It was an extremely satisfying read and just the right story for a much needed change of pace. It’s one I definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Coming-of-age search
for love, courage, ambition,
authenticity.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide more feedback.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book!

Annie is such a multifaceted and intriguing character and is the living embodiment of The Bolter. The book is written like a memoir, which I loved, and the switching povs was so smart as you got to see the same situation or conversation happen from the other character’s point of view.

Even though Annie is a fictional character, I really felt like I got to know her in the book - through her own words, the words of the people she knew, and through The Very Last. All of it just made me want to keep reading. I do wish some characters got a bit more comeuppance, but all in all, I had a great time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this debut from Kate Fagan. After being compared to Evelyn Hugo, I was excited to prioritize this one and I can see the similarities! But I also loved how original this story was. It felt so real as we heard all about how Cate Kay became Cate Kay from many different perspectives. Each chapter was very thoughtful and purposeful. The inclusion of footnotes was a very interesting addition that made me feel like I actually was getting Cate's perspective. There was also a book within a book which is one of my favorite things! Fagan includes lots of different structure and plot elements and I'm impressed how well it all comes together. She also references Lawrence, KS and the Kansas Jayhawks multiple times so I automatically loved this one.

This is Reese's January pick and is definitely worth the read! I look forward to more from Fagan.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins?!?! What?! LET'S GO!!!!

I had high hopes this book would deliver, rather than be a media ploy to get more readers, as that is very impressive company.

This new release has been getting positive reviews, so thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

It's also a Reese's Book Club pick, which means nothing to me as I don't follow her, but no doubt that's huge for the author, so congrats.

Here's the scoop:

This book is not on the same level, nor does it share the same vibe as Evelyn Hugo or First Lie Wins. Not even close.

The concept is interesting.

"Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the creator of a bestselling book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is, Cate Kay doesn’t really exist. She’s never attended author events or granted any interviews. Her real identity had been a closely guarded secret, until now.

As a young adult, she and her best friend Amanda dreamed of escaping their difficult homes and moving to California to become movie stars. But the day before their grand adventure, a tragedy shattered their dreams and Cate has been on the run ever since, taking on different names and charting a new future. But after a shocking revelation, Cate understands that returning home is the only way she’ll be a whole person again." (GR)

Had this story simply been about Amanda and Annie (Cate Kay), I think it would have been less scattered, but there were so many characters, and therefore, so many POV's that things became incredibly muddled. It lacked cohesiveness, drama and excitement for me.

I did love the references to my alma mater, KU, although there were A LOT of them and I did find that confusing.

In the end, a good concept, lacking in execution.

Available now.