Know that this might be a bit confusing at first-who among the voices is the author of the book that Ryan, an actress, falls hard for. It's a clever device. And that makes this difficult to review without spoilers as new readers should have the same opportunity to watch the onion be peeled. I liked the different povs and I especially liked the small easter eggs throughout. It's sort of a coming of age story, sort of a sapphic romance, sort of a tale of Hollywood-and it's really good. You'll see characters grow. And there are little bits (Soulcycle!) that might make you laugh. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. I'm loathe to write more except to highly recommend it because I really enjoyed this.

I loved this story! For me, it had a little bit of everything. I’m a sucker for a story with multiple points of view, and loved how Kate Fagan brilliantly weaved this story together.

Cate Kay is a world famous author who penned a bestselling trilogy. Due to a tragic secret from her past, she chooses to remain anonymous, even as her stories take on a life of their own. When her past finally catches up with her, she finally decides to share her own story with the world.

This story reads like a memoir, but with the addition of multiple points of view. While most of the book is told by Cate/Cass/Annie, I love how we get to see how the lives of different characters, both big and small, intertwined with hers.

This story came together beautifully through past memories, multiple narratives and timelines, and even excerpts from Cate’s best selling novel.

If I had one fault with this book it would be that they ending felt a bit rushed for me and I still felt like there were questions left unanswered.

I am so thrilled that I has the opportunity to read this story before its release. I can’t wait for everyone else to get their hands on this book. Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for an advanced copy. I love that this was my final read of the year!!

The premise held up here. This was a delicious read, getting me invested at every moment. Though the plot outline may not have seemed exciting, the writing was absolutely gorgeous, and the emotions beautiful.

This book was like candy, but not your typical sugary, fluffy stuff. I craved picking it back up when I wasn’t reading it.

The characters were rich, and the interwoven POVs were a great way of adding elements of surprise. I can’t believe this is rhetorical author’s first fictional novel. But then I realized she wrote What Made Maddy Run, which is one of the best nonfiction long-form journalism books I’ve ever read. She is a force and I’m so glad to see this other side of her work.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

One quick note: the blurb compares to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which does a disservice to both authors. Try not to pit the two against each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the early review copy. This one will be popular!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan.

Cate Kay, a mysteriously anonymous, yet wildly famous author, has been known by many names. This book is written in chapters that cover different time lines, told by multiple people about the mysterious Cate Kay. Her roots were humble, and there was a time when her and her best friend Amanda were going to become famous actresses together. But when tragedy strikes, "Cate" flees her life in search for an escape and fresh start.

This book has everything, romance, betrayal, redemption, and friendship. I struggled to put it down, the characters were so knowable, and the story had me frustrated and intrigued. I really enjoyed this book.

“The Very Last” book trilogy by Cate Kay has been turned into a movie, a broadway show, and even a theme park ride… but still, no one knows who Cate Kay really is. Framed as Cate Kay’s memoir, with chapters from people in her life at various stages, The Three Lives of Cate Kay reveals her true identity and what she was running away from, but it also brings the reader along on her journey to reconcile with her past.

The writing was good, and I love a book within a book, so the excerpts from The Very Last were a fun way to get a glimpse into Cate Kay’s mind. My favorite character was Carl - a minor player, but he had such a sweet story. Overall, this was a good read and a solid start for the author, as it’s her first novel.

A few things I didn’t love: I found most of the characters difficult to like, even the ones I was supposed to be rooting for, and characters like Sidney don’t get the consequences they deserve. Several of the relationships seemed kind of toxic or at least unhealthy. I would have liked to keep guessing for a while longer what had happened to Amanda - it was revealed so early, and it felt like a missed opportunity to build suspense and intrigue. The other characters’ POV was sometimes useful and/or interesting, but it felt a little disjointed as part of the “memoir,” and I got a little lost in time trying to keep track of the flashbacks/memories.

This is not a thriller, and I wouldn’t call it a mystery either. The story is more about Cate Kay, her true identity, and her life and relationships. I think the Evelyn Hugo comparison is a little unfair to this book, but if you enjoy that type of story, you might like this too.

Billed as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins, this is all but guaranteed to be one of the buzziest fiction debuts of early 2025. While I didn't see any similarity to First Lie Wins, the Evelyn Hugo comparison holds up. (Bonus: this version includes much better queer rep from an author who is queer herself.)

The book is entertaining and easy to read -- I blew through most of it in a day -- but I found myself a little let down in the wake of such rave early reviews.

I think a lot of the writing choices strip the book of its emotional impact. In giving so many characters ample time to present their own perspectives, the readers wind up having too much information and major plot twists are crystal clear from miles away. I don't want to spoil the ending but I feel multiple significant moments are glossed over or even left completely offscreen -- it took some time for me to get attached to these characters and then once I did, I was left without any payoff.

I worry it's just a teensy bit overrated... but I feel this way about Evelyn Hugo too, so it's an apt comparison. I do think it would be a fun book club selection for many readers!

3.5 stars rounded up

I’m not sure what I expected from this cover and title, but I couldn't put down The Three Lives of Cate Kay after starting it! Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. It's a well-written saga of friendship and love and running away to avoid pain, although distance doesn't erase the pain as expected.
I don't want to say too much more because I loved discovering this read as I went, and I hope you will too. I am surprised it is the fiction debut for the author, and I can't wait to see this book everywhere after it publishes in early January!

4.5
I really enjoy books about celebrities, specifically sapphic celebrities. There's something about them that draws me in. I went into The Three Lives of Cate Kay knowing three things, the book was about a secretive writer, it dealt with fame & i probably would like it.

The first pages immediately lured me in, i wasn't expecting the format but i immediately enjoyed the storytelling.

There's so much guilt in every character, all of them have made one mistake or another, they have hurt one another, and wished things were different. But they continue to live. They are messes and make stupid decisions, but they feel human.
I really liked how much happened, there's something about it that makes it feel more realistic.
I wish it was a little longer so we could have dived more on somethings but overall really loved it.

I would recommend picking it up when it comes out January 7th, if you are interested.

"The Three Lives of Cate Kay" is simply one of those novels that will have you turn the page, and turn it, and turn it until you're all done. I devoured it in a weekend!
Kate Fagan writes about Cate Kay, a successful novelist who doesn't actually exist. Wait, what? Yes, you heard correctly, Cate Kay is not the author's real name, but neither is Cass, the name her former girlfriend and contacts call her. She is actually someone else, someone who has tried incredibly hard to leave her past behind after an unfortunate accident in her hometown.
However, she now wants - or needs - to come home.

This novel is told through multiple perspectives, which forms a wild kaleidoscope of stories and perceptions of who Cate Kay actually is. The writing is witty and captivating, and I honestly couldn't wait to see how Fagan would resolve all the threads she had opened. The characters created, especially Ryan and Cate, felt so vivid and bright, their emotions pouring from every dialogue. Their longing for connection, to be understood, was palpable through the pages.

My streak of unputdowanble 2025 reads continues with 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗞𝗔𝗬. I don't want to give too much away but the book centers on the revelation of the true identity of Cate Kay, a best-selling author who has spent years hiding the truth of her past.

Formatted as Cate's memoir, Kate Fagan infuses her debut novel with a little bit of everything - mystery, romance, the perils of fame, secrets, friendship and forgiveness - told from the POVs of the people in the writer's life. It's a fast, clever read with wonderful characters and fun twists. Also, I'm a sucker for a footnote and Cate's as commentary throughout really added to the story.

Thanks to Atria Books for the copy to review.

A little much going on for my taste, I wish it focused on one aspect of the story more - but I still enjoyed it a lot. A fun, fast read that will appeal to a lot of different types of readers.

I really liked The Three Lives of Cate Kay. It's very ambitious and takes risk with how it's written and structured. The memoir formatting is mixed with multiple extra POVs. Each chapter has different POV. The main character, Annie/Cass/Cate owns about 50% of the chapters, rest are divided with bigger and smaller side characters and even a few one chapter cameos. The story telling is linear but pacing is uneven. All these choices are risks that the debut author has taken. I found the structure and style interesting and enjoyed reading the novel. But the style is not for everyone.

The novel is about love, dreams, secrets, friendship, family drama, toxic relationships and mysteries. There's

There are similarities to Evelyn Hugo in the memoir style and the story telling feels also similar but the story itself is unique.

As a minor spoiler one thought that was constant during the novel: Fu*king Sidney.

Interesting plot but also very familiar. Cate Kay is an alias for an author who wishes to remain anonymous because of the life choices she is running from. Told in multiple voices starting in Cate/Cass/Annies childhood we learn her secrets. From a small town in New York state to the glitter of Hollywood and through decades we follow.
Some startling events and morally grey characters definitely give you the Taylor Jenkins Reid feels. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with a bit of mystery The Three Lives of Cate Kay is for you. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for this read.

Kate Fagan's "The Three Lives of Cate Kay" is a captivating exploration of identity, love, and deception.

Cate Kay, born Anne Marie Callahan but legally known as Cass Ford, is a multi-faceted protagonist whose journey—from a childhood of deep friendship and loss to a reclusive author's success—is relatable and deeply moving. The novel's supporting characters add layers of complexity, each with their own secrets and motivations.

The narrative grips you from the first page with its fluid and engaging writing style, weaving emotional depth and suspense into every chapter. The story unfolds at a deliberate yet gripping pace, enhanced by alternating perspectives through memoir-like footnotes and first-person viewpoints, offering unique insights into the protagonist's life.

Fagan skillfully explores themes of toxic friendships, professional success, and second chances, making this a smart, enticing read that lingers long after the final page. "The Three Lives of Cate Kay" is a standout in contemporary fiction, balancing love and self-discovery with suspense and emotional resonance.

Contemporary Fiction • Mystery • Love Story • Queer
Pub Date • 7 January 2025

‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🎧⊹♡ Thank you @atriabooks for the galley!

You’re going to want to add this to your 2025 list. I did not expect to love this one as much as I did. Mainly because I have not seen it discussed much on bookstagram.

Some peculiarities of the writing style:
⇝ Very short chapters: worked for me
⇝ Many many POVs, some who only get a single chapter (!)
⇝ Copious use of footnotes which I personally found hilarious
⇝ Fast paced and not every single loose end tied up

🥰 This book made me feel warm and fuzzy inside and was the perfect read for me at the time I read it.

❥ This was a story about running away in order to find yourself.
❥ There were flawed characters and broken homes, coming of age and coming out, and some Hollywood glamour.
❥ There was a love story. Sisterly love, platonic love and romantic love all get their moments.

I was satisfied by the ending. I could have read on if the story had been longer. Excellent debut from Kate Fagan.

This was a very interesting read. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it. Annie’s lives and loves were all really relatable in different ways. Thank you for the chance to read this early.

I thought this was a unique refreshing and smart novel. Glad I went in blind! Can definitely see the comparison to Evelyn Hugo in that it has a mysterious feeling to it. This did take a bit to get into, but once I did, I was hooked. The multiple POV's and the way in which Fagan chose to tell the story as a memoir was clever. Very moving story about identity, love and friendship. Highly recommend!

This one was not for me, but I can certainly think of some of my reader friends who would be interested. Thank you for the opportunity to read the arc.

This book was a do not finish for me. I could not connect with the character and it was very confusing storyline.