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.

A new favorite of the year in LATE DECEMBER?! Yeah you read that right 👀

I loved everything about this book from the writing to the characters to the plot. This is truly exactly what I look for when I’m reading a book — it’s the perfect balance of character and plot driven, it has memorable characters, and the plot is engaging.

We’re reading the memoir/tell all of author Cate Kay after her debut novel blows up because the name is a pseudonym and no one knows who Cate Kay really is. Lots of people from her past are telling us parts of her life from their perspectives (and there’s footnotes from Cate herself in these chapters!!). That’s all I’m going to say because then we’d get into spoiler territory 🤐🤫

There’s a plot we’re following and we’re trying to understand what happened and why, and we understand it by reading from all of these different character perspectives and experiences throughout the roles they played in Cate’s life.

Such a unique way to tell a story!! I never once wanted to put it down because I just HAD to find out what happened next. I was filled with so many emotions while reading — sadness, anger, joy, frustration — and I love when a book takes me through all of the emotions.

Okay I’ll shut up about this book (for) now. Just read it!!

Annie is just a girl from a small town with big dreams. Her best friend, Amanda, also has a need for “cosmic bigness” and the two plan to take Hollywood by storm after graduation. Things don’t go as planned after an accident that injures Amanda and Annie just flees. She runs away and changes her name to Cass, where she meets Sidney. Sidney changes her life for better or for worse and encourages her as she tries to become a writer. The two of them come up with a plan to write under a pardon pseudonym, Cate Kay, so that no one can ever connect Annie to the accident she fled from. The book becomes an overnight hit but it isn’t enough for Annie. She will always have this need for something that she can’t pin down. As we read her backstory, we learn that love is the only thing missing in her life and she needs to let things go in order to receive it.

In the beginning of this book I never imagined it would end up being a 3.75 read rounded up to 4. I found it really hard to get into. There was jumping back and forth between time lines and points of view.

Cate Kay is a pseudonym for Cass Ford who started out life as Anne Marie Callahan. She and her best friend, Amanda, are inseparable and right after graduation plan to leave Bolton for LA to become famous actresses in rom-coms. Then there is a horrible accident and Annie sets off on her own and changes her name to Cass Ford. She writes a hugely popular book under the name of Cate Kay.

I thought the characters were fairly well developed but two characters I thought were awful and selfish all in the name of love or really probably money. I don't know if I really understood some of the things Annie/Cass did but I loved her friendship with Amanda and found I was reading because I was really invested. So if you can get past the beginning it is well worth the journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for providing me with a digital copy.

Welp I was not a fav of Evelyn Hugo and this was compared to that but despite that the premise sounded kinda cool so I gave it a shot. Should not have bothered. I did not get this book at all. It was like a book within a book or maybe it was meta idk. All I know is that I had to keep going back to make sure the story was what I thought and it just didn’t make sense to me. I seem to be the outlier in this feeling, but it is what it is.
It goes back and forth between several characters and not in any particular order, so if you’re not paying super close attention, you feel lost. Or at least I did. It does have short chapters going for it. I just had a hard time connecting in any way to the story. It was a lot of telling and not showing. Rounding up to 3 stars bc I’m feeling generous this holiday season;)
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

I could not put this book down! Seriously, it’s been awhile since a book made me want to stay up late and keep reading. The Three Lives of Cate Kay follows the writer Cate Kay (a pseudonym) and what’s happened over the course of her life until she writes a dystopian sci-fi fantasy that becomes a worldwide best-selling phenomenon.

The moment I first saw the cover of this book, I knew I needed to read it. That’s because I recognized the author’s name, Kate Fagan, from her sports journalism work. Here, in her fiction debut, she crafts a novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This book is likened to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins, which I don’t necessarily find accurate. I can understand the Evelyn Hugo comp a bit more, but the only similarity I felt to FLW is the hidden identity. The book itself is a lit fic, a bit of a mystery, a story about friendship, a (fictional) memoir and a romance all in one.

It would have been a 5 star for me, although I don’t think the book quite stuck the landing. To say any more would be to give away spoilers, but I very much enjoyed it and think others will enjoy it, too.

wow. just... wow. the three lives of cate kay might be one of the best books i've read this year, and i don't say that lightly. you know when a story grabs you by the heart, shakes up your brain, and then quietly sits in your soul for days? yeah, that's this book. it's emotional, thought-provoking, and so beautifully written that i found myself pausing every few chapters just to process what i was feeling.

so, here's the setup: cate kay is mega-successful author of a bestselling trilogy that's basically her generation's version of whatever's the highest-selling book franchise right now (box office gold, household name—big deal vibes). the catch? cate kay doesn't actually exist. she's a persona created by a woman who's spent her whole adult life running from a tragedy that shattered her world. now, after years of hiding, she's ready to step out of the shadows and finally confront her past. what follows is part confessional, part mystery, and all heart.

the story hooked me right away with its mix of glamour and grit. it's giving the seven husbands of evelyn hugo vibes (as the blurb suggests), but for me, it felt more like the emotional resonance of a haruki murakami novel—except without the surrealism. it's all real life here, messy and raw, and that's what makes it hit so hard.

this books is all about identity. cate's "three lives" represent the different versions of herself: the girl she was before everything fell apart, the woman she became while trying to escape it, and the person she's fighting to be now. it's such a relatable journey, especially for anyone who's ever felt like they've had to reinvent themselves to survive. the way fagan unpacks that tension—between who we are, who we were, and who we want to be—is just genius.

and then there's the whole idea of ambition and its cost. cate's career is the dream, right? massive success, total creative control, a legacy most writers would kill for. but the book really makes you think about what she gave up to get there. it's not just about fame or fortune, it's about chasing something so hard that you lose sight of the people and places that ground you. that push-pull between personal ambition and meaningful connection is one of the most compelling parts of the story.

speaking of connection, the relationships in this book are so layered and real. cate's friendship with amanda, the toxic partnership with sidney, her memories of family, the fleeting but deeply felt romantic moments—it all feels so grounded. fagan doesn't sugarcoat anything; these relationships are messy, imperfect, and sometimes painful, but that's what makes them so believable.

the book also dives deep into the weight of choices and consequences. cate's life is a domino chain of "what ifs," and it really made me reflect on my own choices. like, what paths have i abandoned (i'm not ready for this oh my god)? what lives could i be living right now if i'd taken a different turn? it's existential without being heavy-handed, which is a tough balance to nail, but fagan does it so well.

now, about the ending. i'll admit, it felt a little rushed, and it leaves a few questions hanging in the air. but honestly? i think that's part of its charm. cate's story is all about embracing uncertainty and making peace with the unknown, so the sort of open-ended finish feels fitting.

if you're into stories that combine emotional depth, messy humanity, and a dash of existential reflection, the three lives of cate kay is an absolute must-read. it's smart, it's heart-wrenching, and it's the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place (at least in my case).

thank you, @netgalley and @atriabooks, for the e-arc!

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by Kate Fagan started off so interesting - there's a book inside a book inside a book! Popular author Cate Kay is finally ready to reveal her identity and tell her story via memoir. What's to discover is why she's hid her identity as a bestselling author for so long.

This story drew me in - I read the first 37% in one sitting. I liked how much was going on (we get perspectives other than Annie/Cass'), but I did feel that the characters verged on stereotypes at times. It also seemed like the reader got a great deal more detail at the beginning of the book than at the end, which I didn't love.

There's also the kind of continuity error that I can't not see (I may have been around 3.5 stars, rounded up for 4, but that knocked my rating down to 3). To be sure, that may be fixed prior to publication, and I'd try another novel from Fagan.