I read and enjoyed The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan while on holiday. This book was the perfect easy to read keep you entertained kind of read. Like many other reviewers I am a little hesitant on the comparison to Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo. I have a lot more to say about this book- but am struggling to articulate. The friendship between Annie and Amanda was so beautifully written. I do not want to spoil anything- so I will say that the twist that happens in their relationship- was truly a shock. I found myself trying to analyze from all kinds of angles and though I did judge Annie for what happened fairly harshly at first- I did find myself coming around throughout the development of the plot. I felt like the queer representation was well done. I felt the characters had nice depth. The stand out was definitely the sisterhood between Annie & Amanda though. The way those relationships can ebb and flow and the effect of a true betrayal. Secrets and how the people close to us can completely derail our lives. Speaking about that one Narcissist that basically controlled the entire trajectory of the post incident story. Wild to think how different the story could have played out without her.

Thank you for my advanced galley. I will have more to say on this on socials in the very near future.

For years, there has been the measure of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones. But now Cate Kay must be included. At first, I found myself comparing this story to theirs. And then it morphed, and Cate completely captured my heart all on her own.

This is one of those books that alters you. That removes you from your life and gently cradles you between the pages. It’s hard to tear your eyes away, because it is so painfully beautiful. Real, raw, shattering.

“The trick of life, as I see it now, is to make what’s around you beautiful. It’ll grow from there. Took me a long time to see that.”

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is one of the best coming of age stories I’ve ever read. And I read it while I was in my own coming of age. Shirking who I thought I needed to be in my twenties. Settling in this skin of adulthood, motherhood, womanhood. This book made me feel empowered, and reiterated what I quote time and time again: “Women draw strength from other women.”

What a sensational book.

I'm coming up for air after being immersed in the world of Annie/Cass/Cate. The author really created a world with three dimensional characters and an addictive story. I will admit the first hour of reading I wasn't sure I would be totally engaged, but then everything started coming together and I couldn't put the book down!

I won't go over the plot as other reviewers have done that, but here's what caused me to give the book five stars:
1. The story is told as if a memoir is being written by Cass's friends and associated, as well as herself. It was interesting to get the different viewpoints of a situation and sometimes have Cass's observations as to what others have written about her.
2 Totally immersive characters. Each chapter is in one of the character's voice, the main ones being Annie (Cass, Cate), Amanda, Sydney and Ryan. Each was distinct.
3. I loved the friendship between Amanda and Annie (Cass), before horrible circumstances drove them apart. Their wordplay was adorable and their enjoyment of each other evident, like two pieces of a puzzle.
4. There's some seriously good writing going on in this book.
5. I loved the short cameo's by sideline players. My favorite was the man who was the gatekeeper of the office where Cass's fan mail had been stored. We only got a brief insight into him and his wife, and why Cass's story had affected him so, but it was sweet.

If you get a chance to listen to the audio it's great, with a large cast.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Fagan, and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very real and raw while also being fiction. However, I found it difficult to follow and it took a while for it to come together in my head. Overall, I felt as though it was well written, but I struggled with following the story so it was harder to enjoy.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I had it sitting in my TBR pile and then Reese Witherspoon featured this as her pick for the month. This prompted me to read it and I am so glad I did. Puzzle pieces coming together as infamous author Cate Kay tells the true story of who she is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

The premise of The Three Lives of Cate Kay had me so intrigued. I really loved the multi pov and that there were multiple timelines throughout this novel. It was enjoyable and an easy read.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has all of the intrigue. scandalous secrets and Hollywood drama that one would expect from a story that is being compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. However, for me this book lacked the heart that made so many fall in love with Evelyn! Cate Kay’s story is told in a way that is extremely factual and lacks a sense of emotion and depth, the characters although very interesting really felt one dimensional, which made them extremely hard to connect to. The most important part of an underdog or redemption story is the HEART OF THE CHARACTER and I really wish we had gotten to see a bit more of that from Annie as she grew into her different personas - I really didn’t feel myself rooting for her!

Although I was given an e-ARC, I did take the opportunity to listen to the audio when it became available. This is the format that I would most recommend for this story - full cast narration (that was extremely well done) which helped bring the characters to life a bit more and made me want to keep reading!

Overall, an intriguing plot that carried this story along and made it enjoyable to read in the moment but unfortunately not enough emotional depth to be a story that will stick with me for the long haul!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: literary fiction
📖 304 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: ✍🏼🤫🎬🎭📖☕️❤️✉️💔🌇

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ multiple timeline
◽️ heartbreak & second chances
◽️ a book within a book

🧡𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🧡

Thank you @simon.audio @atriabooks for the #gifted copy!

I really enjoyed this! I listened to it & the audiobook is definitely the way to go. The full cast narration brought the story to life, with each character given a distinct & engaging voice. The performances added depth & made the listening experience feel more immersive.

It took me a little to fully settle into the story, likely because the author spent the opening chapters setting the scene & introducing a large cast of characters. Initially, I had expected more of a mystery, but this book leans heavily into fiction & drama. Once I adjusted my expectations, I found myself deeply invested in the themes of reinvention, self discovery, heartbreak, & love.

The narrative structure was refreshingly creative, as the MC, Annie/Cass, speaks directly to you in a conversational tone, making it feel like an intimate dialogue. The “book within a book” element added another layer of intrigue. This story would translate beautifully to the big screen, & I can see why it’s receiving so much buzz, including being a pick for @reesesbookclub. A heartfelt, standout read I for sure recommend!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Cate Kay is a celebrated author of a bestselling trilogy turned blockbuster films, but she doesn’t actually exist. Her true identity has always been a secret—until now. Years ago, Cate & her best friend Amanda planned to escape their troubled lives & chase stardom, but a devastating tragedy derailed their dreams. Since then, Cate has lived under different names, crafting a new life while hiding from her past. When a shocking truth emerges, she realizes that facing her old life is the only way to find peace.

An author who has stayed anonymous finally starts to reveal her past and why she was anonymous. It follows mostly Annie/Cass/Cate and her story growing up and how she came to be a famous author. It flips between other characters as well, proving their view on the story (almost like an oral history, as Annie/Cass/Cate has footnotes in areas).

I was torn on how to rate this one. I almost did 3.5 but that felt too low. 4 didn't quite feel right either (too high) but it seemed like the best option.

Pros:
It was easy to read, and I really enjoy books with this style. I also love that the main romances were sapphic (although Sidney is the worst!).

Cons:
The plot was fine? It wasn't like oh my gosh I have to know what happens. I think it was trying a lot to be like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and it just wasn't. Additionally, Annie/Cass/Cate is only like 32/33 when she writes her memoir? It is less the memoir writing but this big secret was ultimately only like 7-8 years old at most. That just made the impact feel lesser for me. Like what worked with Evelyn Hugo was that she was old and reminiscing about her life. But it being so close to when Cate's book was released was weirder for me.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read. It just didn't give me as many of the vibes I wanted.

What a debut! Kate Fagan somehow manages to combine wit, emotion and complexity flawlessly. I found myself loving and hating the characters as if they were in real life. A beautiful examination of friendship, being queer and how we grow - I would highly recommend to anyone looking for the perfect read. It’s no wonder this was chosen as a Reese’s book club pick.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay was an enjoyable read but I think the comparison to The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hugo set my expectations way too high. I enjoyed the unique structure of the book with all of the characters getting their say. And I found myself rooting for “Cate” in the second half of the book. But I had a hard time relating to the characters or finding any of them likeable and so I wasn’t really invested in what happened to them. I would like to read the book within the book The Very Last which I found more intriguing then the book I was reading. Overall a solid, engaging read with characters that fell flat to me.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a novel about a young woman who witnesses a traumatic event so devastating that she flees her small town, her best friend, and her mother to start a new life under a different name.

Anne Marie couldn’t face what happened to her best friend, Amanda, so she left town without saying goodbye to anyone and eventually reinvented herself as best-selling author Cate Kay. Everyone wants to uncover the real woman behind the pseudonym, including actress Ryan Channing, who is starring in the movie adaptation of Cate Kay’s famous novel, The Very Last. By revealing herself to Ryan, Anne Marie opens up to someone for the first time since Amanda.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is told through multiple points of view from the people in Anne Marie’s orbit, along with pages from her novel. It features well-crafted backstories for each character and beautiful lines that I found myself highlighting. Ultimately, it’s a story about chasing dreams, finding love, and forgiving yourself and others for the past.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review. I know I am in the minority but this book just wasn’t for me. I really tried to like it since it was a Reese’s recommendation but it was a DNF for me..

I could not put this one down. I was constantly thinking about this book in between readings. Wondering where the story was going to go next.
I loved the way this book was written, it is written as if you are reading a memoir, but also reading the main characters novel at times too.
I must admit that I was confused in the beginning. A lot of characters, a lot of different time periods I had to get into a groove of it, but once I did I was able to follow easily.
Annie/Cass/Cate was one of the most real and relatable characters I have read in a long while. I absolutely loved her, and this book. SO MUCH!
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARK.

I absolutely adored this book. I do want to say, that I do not think it's really anything like either Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones; which it was marketed as. However, I don't think it needed to be compared to either. It was something wholly unique and spectacular. Once you settle in and are able to distinguish fully between each voice, you're in for something really special.

“People say power is intoxicating; you say you’ll be the first to stay sober. But let me tell you, everyone gets drunk. So, when you wonder about our sanity, way out here in these Hollywood hills, remember that we’ve all pretty much lost it.”

I was a little confused as to how this story would unfold with the three lives of Cate. And then BAM! At about 25% there is an event that slammed me in the gut and I couldn’t put it down.

But this book had a lot of moving parts and I found that distracting at times. There are a plethora of viewpoints, multiple timelines, and stories within stories within stories. Although I did enjoy it I will admit I almost DNF’d it a few times. Am I glad, though, that I stuck with it and finished? Yes.

Thank you to Netaglley, Atria Books, and the author for the gifted ARC.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is a poignant and gripping exploration of identity, fame, and the elusive nature of self-knowledge. Cate Kay, the protagonist, is a literary and cinematic sensation—her bestselling book trilogy turned box office blockbuster has made her one of the most celebrated authors of her generation. Yet, behind this successful, public persona, there lies a far more complicated and tragic backstory. Cate Kay is a construct, a name shrouded in mystery, and her real identity has been carefully hidden from the world—for reasons that are both deeply personal and haunting.

At the heart of this novel is Cate’s journey of self-discovery, as she comes to terms with the secrets of her past and the pain that has shaped her present. As the narrative unfolds, we learn that the name Cate Kay is a facade—a product of years of running, of reinventing herself over and over again, as she fled from a life marked by tragedy. A tragedy that stole away her dreams of becoming a movie star alongside her best friend Amanda, a tragedy that turned the course of her life onto a path of isolation and secrecy.

Cate, as we discover, was once a young woman full of hope, with a future brimming with promise. She and Amanda had big dreams of escaping their difficult homes and venturing to California to chase fame and fortune. But just as they were about to embark on this grand adventure, a devastating event shattered their shared vision and set Cate on a course of self-imposed exile, assuming new names and leaving behind the remnants of her former life. Her attempts to outrun her past through a series of reinventions have come at the cost of genuine human connection, leaving Cate a ghost of the person she once was.

Fagan’s writing is sharp and evocative, and her exploration of identity is both tender and raw. The novel delves deeply into the complex and often painful relationship we have with the versions of ourselves we present to the world. Cate’s journey is not just about uncovering the truth behind her secret life, but also about confronting the emotional wounds that have long been buried under layers of lies and self-deception.

The stunning and intimate journey of a woman desperate for a life of greatness. A story of horrid manipulation and ultimately a story of love and acceptance.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Annie dreams of a life on stage. Together with her best friend Amanda she plans to conquer Hollywood and dazzle the world with their talent. The car is packed for them to leave during the summer after high school graduation, but fate decides differently. Annie leaves Amanda behind and strikes out on her own. She decides a new identity is needed and she adopts the name Cass. Also, maybe it’s not acting she really wants to do. No, it’s writing. Under the pen name Cate Kay she writes a huge best seller. Cate Kay remains a mystery though, nobody can know who the author really is. A decision that leads to a life full of half truths and manipulation.

This story gripped me from page one. The idea of this woman taking you by the hand and guiding you through all her life’s choices, her proudest moments but mainly her mistakes, is endlessly intriguing. The story is told from different perspectives, not only Annie/Cass/Cate’s but also various other characters that played a significant role in her life. They provide necessary glimpses into how different people perceived Annie/Cass but also provide answers as to why some of them treated her the way they did. All these little snippets build up to a complete picture of a truly eventful life.

Annie/Cass makes some very questionable decisions. Decisions that aren’t even fathomable to me. On the other hand she was a victim of other people’s lies. I wasn’t sure I even liked her, but somehow while the story continued, she won me over. This woman has been used and played by different people for very different reasons. It’s heartbreaking to see her run away from all the good things, making decisions based on corrupted information. Her happy ending is indeed hard fought, but how I cheered for her to get that HEA!

The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is a story that will stay with me for quite a while. It’s so deeply human, with the good, the bad and the very ugly. It’s not a light read, but a story to savor page by page.

Thank you so very much to author Kate Fagan, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay follows, well, titular Cate Kay in her various personas that she has crafted throughout her life. Before Cate Kay became a a successful best selling author with a blockbuster series of film-adaptations under her belt, she was simply Cassandra "Cass" Ford. Similar to Hannah Montana, Under the mask of Cate was the Miley of the story: Cass. Or was she? Before Cass was "born" she was simply a teenager running from a traumatic event from her past. At the heart of all her personas? Her name was Annie Callahan--aspiring actress and one half of a very dynamic duo.

I really enjoyed this book, and found that it wasn't what I originally expected of it. At its heart it is a story of two friends and the way that one event can haunt each other and the relationships around them. Beyond this, it also featured a vast array of miscommunication; whether it be on purpose or on accident.

One thing that did stand out to me was the overall voice of the characters. This was both a blessing and a curse in this case. I did enjoy being able to read the different POVs in this story, especially when one scene was told from another characters perspective. And on a side note I REALLY loved the inclusion of footnotes from "Cate" at the end of each chapter. It really made it feel like I was reading a memoir and not a fictional one. Back to the POVs. While I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and accounts of events, I did find that none of the characters had a very distinct Voice. I found that I would read a few pages of a chapter and forget whose POV I was reading since the way that the passages were written and the overall voice of each character just seemed too similar to differentiate from each other. Other than that, this was such an enjoyable read!

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.