The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is a thoughtful exploration of identity, friendship, and the stories we tell to survive. The novel traces Cate's evolution across three personas, from an aspiring actress to a mysterious bestselling author, with a plot that dives into themes of reinvention and reconciliation with the past. While the multiple points of view add depth, they can occasionally feel disjointed. The pacing starts off slow but picks up, culminating in a conclusion that some readers found a bit underwhelming due to off-page resolutions.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a poignant and reflective read for fans of women's fiction and character-driven narratives. It balances emotional depth with moments of suspense, though it might not be everyone's cup of tea due to its structure and pacing.

I think it is hard when you compare one book to another. I will say I love the queer representation and the original plot line of the story. where it feel flat was I was expecting some big twist but never really got any. the love stories were full of such great emotion that some of the reasons for Cate's choices I felt were lacking in reason. overall still a good book.

This debut novel has strong writing with a queer love story and a book within a book: What's not to like? I enjoyed the multiple POV and how each one gave further clues to the central story. The consuming love between the characters and intense friendship was palpable. Recommended for readers who like queer love stories, mysteries, and character-driven novels. Thanks to NetGalley for he ARC. Pub Date: Jan 7th, 2025.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is marketed as a blend of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and First Lie Wins—both of which rank among my all-time favorite books. So, naturally, my expectations were high.

Cate Kay is a reclusive bestselling author whose true identity is a secret. Her past is shaped by the loss of her best friend, Amanda, on the eve of their shared dream to escape to California. As Cate builds a career under a pseudonym, she’s forced to confront her past when long-buried secrets resurface, pushing her to face unresolved guilt and reconsider her future.

The representation of LGBTQ+ relationships is undoubtedly a highlight of the book. Through Cate’s romantic connections, the story brings depth to the idea that “we accept the love we think we deserve.” The relationships are nuanced, unique, and offer an engaging exploration of identity and emotional growth. Additionally, the Hollywood glamour is adds an intriguing backdrop, even if it doesn’t evoke the same allure as Evelyn Hugo.

Sadly, that’s where the positives end for me. The protagonist, Cate, is difficult to root for. Her decision to abandon her best friend in a moment of crisis to pursue personal freedom felt deeply unsettling. While everyone makes mistakes, Cate doesn’t seem to learn or grow from hers. The forgiveness she receives for her actions also felt contrived and unrealistic.

The narrative also suffers from ineffective execution of its multiple POVs. Cate’s perspective is primarily self-centered, marked by overthinking and regret, while other characters’ perspectives seemed to exist only to glorify her, which felt forced.

In the end, this just wasn’t the book for me. Still, if you enjoy stories with flawed characters and a touch of Hollywood glam, you might find something to appreciate here.

Rating : 🌟🌟.5/5

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagen has a lot going for it, with interesting characters and a clever narrative device that uses multiple POVs to reframe the same events. It’s an engaging way to peel back the layers of Cate’s story, and I enjoyed seeing how each perspective added depth to the unfolding drama.

However, the central conflict didn’t quite land for me. In a world with the internet, the obstacles Cate faces just felt implausible, making it hard to fully buy into the story. While the writing and structure kept me reading, the plot’s believability held it back from being a standout.

If you can suspend your disbelief and enjoy the multi-POV storytelling, this one might be worth picking up!

I couldn’t get into this book. What are readers supposed to get from this story? Why was Cate, as an adult, still sounding childish? The story needed a lot of work. It’s an ambitious story that ultimately failed.

*The Three Lives of Cate Kay* is a captivating, fast-paced memoir that follows Annie, a mysterious bestselling author who has kept her identity hidden for years, as she reveals her tumultuous journey from daydreaming about fame with her best friend to a Hollywood career gone awry. Told through multiple points of view, the story delves into her complicated life and the deep secrets surrounding her, with the promise of *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* vibes—though the books are quite different in style. Initially, I struggled to connect with most of the characters except Ryan, but as the story unfolded and the suspense built, I became fully invested in Cate’s life and the unexpected twists. The intricate storytelling, including clever Easter eggs hidden in each chapter, made this book an addictive read, and the portrayal of queer characters added a refreshing layer to the narrative. *The Three Lives of Cate Kay* is a beautifully complex and gripping read, and it’s one I can’t wait to revisit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Atria Books @atriabooks , Netgalley @netgalley , and Kate Fagan @katefagan3 for this free ebook!
“The Three Lives of Cate Kay” by Kate Fagan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Fiction/Womens/LGBTQ. Location: Upstate New York, Charleston, South Carolina, Los Angeles, California USA. Time: 1991-2014.

Teens Anne Marie and Amanda love movies, Sarah Maclaughlin’s music, and key lime pie. They dream of escaping Bolton Landing, New York to become movie stars in California. They plan to leave in the fall of 2000, but the day before their trip, tragedy shatters their dream. Anne Marie has been running ever since, taking different names, charting a new future. Now, as Cate Kay, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. Her bestselling book trilogy struck box office gold as a film series. Cate has never attended author events, granted any interviews. Her real identity is a deep secret. But after a shocking revelation, Cate knows she must return home, and she writes a memoir of her journey from Anne Marie Callahan to Cass Ford to Cate Kay.

Author Fagan has written a book full of the good, neutral, and bad choices people make in their relationships and in pursuing their dreams. It reads like a 1st draft of a memoir. There are Cate’s narratives, bits from Cate’s famous book, narratives from friends, teachers, lovers, and narrative from the star of the movie adaptation. It’s not linear-it moves back and forth in time. Her unique writing style is as engaging as it is thought-provoking: (The day I caught the sickness of wanting to eat the world) (…being cool in high school was a death sentence. No pain to fuel you later.”) Reading this book made me ponder my public and private selves and how they balance. If you like multiple narrators, each with their own opinions, and a plot that grows and grows until finally all threads weave together, pick up this book! If you love Taylor Jenkins Reid , pick up this book immediately! It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️🎀

Absolutely loved this! The multiple povs and way the story is told keeps you hooked throughout. It was a book I was excited to pick back up and read.

Worthy of 3 stars and definitely a book I’ll recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Kate Fagan

This should have been a DNF. Instead, I read it three times. Trying my hardest to find a cohesive storyline, to find a character to root for, to find a purpose. Unfortunately, for me, all three were missing.

I am not sure if it was intentionally confusing, meandering, and directionless but that is exactly how it came across for me. The main character body swapped and had no internal compass making it unnecessarily confusing and it was not worth the effort of haphazardly trying to keep track.

I’m sorry this didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay…⭐️⭐️

Cate Kay has been on the run since a tragic accident happened to her best friend, Annie, in their hometown of upstate New York. Annie and Cate were inseparable, and had both planned to go to Hollywood and become actresses after graduation. Now Annie's status is unknown and Cate flees to NY where she ends up writing the first of 3 blockbuster apocalyptic thrillers with details from her life growing up with Katie. Written under a pseudonym, the world wonders 'who is Cate Kay???'.  Her life changes dramatically and she begins a relationship with a famous actress. Soon this is in jeopardy as she finds out key information had been kept from her from her publisher in order to ensure her success. She soon needs to decide between her new life and her life back home where all her memories reside.
This story is told from multiple points of view but it's pretty easy to keep track of who all the characters are most of the time. Once you see some things from a different perspective, it alters your view of the story and how Cate is perceived by others. This is a great story, with impeccable character development that will keep you guessing until the last page. Will they or won't they?? A great 2nd novel from an author who was previously a basketball player!

This book really snuck up on me- I struggled to get into it at first, until about the 25% mark, though it wasn’t until the second half of the book where I started to feel invested.

In the beginning, there was more telling than showing, which isn’t my favorite type of story to read. And there are a LOT of POVs, which did at times feel overwhelming. I’m not great with names, so as more and more POVs came up, I needed to take notes because I started to feel unsure if the characters were new or had already been introduced.

By the halfway point, though, I found myself wanting to pick up the book more and more. Though Annie definitely is not an entirely lovable character, her flaws and mistakes did make her feel more real. I eventually became intrigued by Annie’s story and found myself wanting to know how everything would unfold.

When I finished the last page, I realized I had a smile and a few happy tears on my face. After sitting on my feelings, though, I realized I needed more from the ending. By the end, I had started to feel invested in these relationships and wanted more clarification on their statuses and a better look into their present lives. The reunions lacked the emotional impact I needed because we got little to no details.

3 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Three Lives of Cate Kay comes out January 7, 2025. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is a really solid debut with an intriguing premise and a captivating main character in Cate Kay. The multiple points of view kept things fresh, though they did get a little confusing at times, but the story ultimately came together in a satisfying way. I loved the way the mystery of Cate’s past unfolded and how her journey of self-discovery was both compelling and thoughtful. While not perfect, it’s definitely an enjoyable read, and I’m excited to see what Kate Fagan does next.

I wasn't sure what I was in for when I started this book. But as I kept reading and became enamored and lost track of time. I stayed up way past my bedtime. The chapters are nice and short each with a different point of view. Each chapter reveals a new piece of the puzzle. The puzzle of Cate Kay. I loved this book and I know I'll be thinking about this book for quite some time. I loved reading from the book Cate Kay wrote and getting glimpses and inside jokes. This book is fantastic and I highly recommend you add it to your tbr list. I cannot gush enough.

Wow! I can't believe this was a debut novel. Really well done, it flowed so well and kept me engaged. I can't wait to read more by Kate Fagan!

Sometimes a debut comes along and shocks you in all the right ways! I cannot believe this is a debut - this was so well done!
Absolutely adored this and cannot wait for more from Kate Fagan!

Honestly one of the best books I have read for 2024! I am excited for this to come out in 2025 and physically add it to my shelf! I feel in love with this whole story and the main character Cate Kay! Highly recommend this book!

OK, I tried reading this more than three times, and I couldn't get into it. Something about the intro just feels confusing, and I couldn't get into it!

I loved everything about this book! I kept wanting to read more. It made me question on what was right and wrong, and what was forgivable or not. In the end, I was rooting for the main character, despite her mistakes. I hope the author writes more novels, because this was such a nice surprise.

What a thrill ride! This was a wonderful debut full of teenage friendships, coming of age, and young love. I think every girl out there has had a friendship like what Amanda and Annie had which made the characters extra relatable. I had absolutely no idea where this book was headed and it wS chock full of twists and turns. I do feel like the ending was rushed and I wish it could have been flushed out a little more. At times, I got a little confused with the characters because it seemed like it would jump around a lot and I struggled at times to keep all the characters straight. Overall, I absolutely loved this and would gladly read whatever Kate Fagan puts out next!