Overall, I thought this was a great read. This book can definitely be compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but with a different spin which makes it a consuming read. I would for sure recommend this book for fans of Evelyn Hugo.

The story throughout the book was beautifully written while interweaving multiple point of views of all of the characters throughout which made you not want to put the book down. It was heartbreaking at points, but then absolutely thrilling when the plot picked up and made you guess what would happen next in the life of Cate Kay. Kate Fagan did a great job of not only writing the book, but allowing you to be the judge of which characters were likeable and which weren't. You will get angry at some and cry for others, but all of these characters bring so much impact to the story which I haven't seen in a book of this style since reading Evelyn Hugo.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is a gripping exploration of identity, friendship, and the high price of running from your past. Cate Kay, a bestselling author whose book trilogy became a blockbuster film series, knows how to keep secrets—chief among them being her own identity. In a world where authors are celebrities, Cate has chosen to remain in the shadows, but the walls she’s built around her life are finally closing in.

Fagan crafts a compelling narrative that hooks you from the start. Cate’s story is full of intrigue as we watch her navigate the pressures of fame while carrying the burden of a painful past. The mystery of why Cate has hidden her identity and what really happened with her best friend Amanda adds depth to the book, keeping readers engaged as secrets slowly unravel. Cate’s journey back to the home she left behind and her reckoning with past tragedies makes for an emotional, yet relatable, storyline about facing our fears and embracing our true selves.

One of the novel’s strengths is how it weaves between Cate’s past and present. You really feel for young Cate and Amanda’s dreams of escaping their difficult upbringings, and the heartbreak of seeing those dreams shattered. Fagan does a great job of building sympathy for Cate’s choices, even if they were far from perfect. The supporting characters—especially Amanda—are equally well-drawn, making the emotional stakes of Cate’s return home feel all the more real.

If I had to nitpick, some parts of the story felt a bit predictable. Cate’s journey to self-discovery follows familiar beats, and there were moments when I could see where the plot was headed. Still, Fagan’s storytelling is sharp enough to keep it engaging, and the emotional payoff is satisfying.

Overall, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the weight of their past, or who has wrestled with the need to reinvent themselves. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter how far we run, the road to healing often leads back to where it all began.

I really did not enjoy this book unfortunately. It felt like it was trying to be "The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hugo" way too hard, and the story was just not nearly as captivating.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Novel about friendship and a horrible accident that fractioned their lives. One is grievously injured, the other runs and goes off to live her best life. Is there forgiveness? Should there be?

I’m really torn with whether I liked this book or whether it was just meh. Due to it claiming to be the next Seven Husbands, I went in with high expectations and I think because of that it fell a little flat.

I enjoyed the style and I do love me a good memoir (fictional or not) but I just didn’t really feel that invested in the book. The first 25% was a bit of a struggle but once I pushed through the middle of the book definitely had me invested. But then the final quarter had me bored again, the book kind of just… ends.

I knew something was going to sabotage the relationship between Annie and Amanda, so it felt a little predictable. Similarly with the relationship between Cass and Sidney. I was invested in Cass’ relationship with Ryan and yet when we circle back to that at the end of the book, you don’t really get closure, this again fell flat for me.

I wanted more from the reunions between all the characters and I found the chapters styles kinda worked but also for a memoir, there was a lot of unnecessary detail about side characters you meet once or twice.

There was also no introspection on any of the trauma that happens, it’s just kinda like -oh-well-that-happened-I-moved-on- and I wanted more reflection on that stuff. I couldn’t tell if I was meant to like Cate Kay or not and I’m still undecided.

Overall, I think the premise was great but the execution needed a bit more sorting out as it didn’t have me reaching up pick it back up. That being said, I do think I’d like to re-read it over a shorter period of time to see if I feel the same or not, perhaps in a paper copy instead of kindle as I do love the cover.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC.

This was a hard one for me to finish. I was very excited by the plot, but the actual fabric of the story couldn't hold it together. There were so many storylines and names - it quickly became a confusing read.

I couldn't connect with the characters enough to care what they were doing or what became of them, and there was no apparent chemistry between the main characters.

This one was just not my cup of tea unfortunately.

Thank you Atria Books for the copy of The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan. I’m not sure how this is like The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo. I didn’t catch any similarities, and because my expectations were so high I was disappointed. There were so many storylines and characters (or character names) it was confusing, so I think I missed out on some of the complexity of the story. I can see why there are so many rave reviews, because the ending was sweet, but this was not the book for me. 3 stars.

Loved it. At first, I struggled to settle into the book as the timeline and narrators changed. About 15% in, I was hooked. I love how we learned contradictory information and additional details from each perspective. One of my favorites of 2024.

DNF at around 80%— I struggled to connect to all the different voices in this one and just couldn’t bring myself to care enough to finish. I think the audio version would work better and don’t think the TJR comparison is inaccurate because this reminds of how I felt when I tried to read Daisy Jones and the Six and the audio made ALL the difference for me with that one too!

If you liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo then this one is for you! The Three Lives of Cate Kay delves into how people portray themselves differently over time and to various individuals, exploring the shifting nature of identity. Cate's journey across three alternate lives highlights how choices and relationships shape who we become in the eyes of others. Each version of Cate reflects a different path, revealing the complexities of how we adapt to circumstances and the roles we play for different people and ultimately lead to self discovery and growth.

At its core, the novel emphasizes self-reflection and the masks we wear, offering a hopeful, romantic conclusion. Cate's story leaves readers contemplating the fluidity of identity and the possibility of finding true happiness in any version of life.

The bonds of friendship run deep in this novel. This is the biggest non romantic love story I have ever read! The friendship between Annie and Amanda is beautiful in all its intense, codependent, joyful and delicious way. I loved their witty repertoire, which is how I love to banter with people. Annie makes some weird choices which stunt so much of her adult life and I love that even she doesn’t really understand why she did what she did. It leaves the door open for all us readers to throw our ideas into the ring (ie book club choice!).
I am very much looking forward to reading another Kate Fagan book.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Annie and her best friend Amanda are on the verge of leaving town together when tragedy strikes, changing both of their lives forever. Annie panics and flees, and ultimately creates a new identity for herself as Cass. She befriends Sidney and the two end up on an entirely new journey that will change everything for Cass.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that has given me chills, left me speechless, but also bursting at the seams to want to discuss it with everyone. This is that book! I would agree with other reviewers who compare it to an all-time favorite of mine, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It has the same type of queer representation, unrequited love story during a time when it wasn’t acceptable to come out publicly. It also reads like a memoir and I loved the author’s use of footnotes to add commentary and information for the reader. There are multiple perspectives and narrators included, but each one serves a purpose and adds to the story in a valuable way. Carl’s chapter had my heart and was the best addition!

This novel really has it all: an epic queer love story, a tale of friendship and forgiveness, commentary on fame, a villain, a book within a book, and several characters’ stories about finding themselves when all seems lost. It was impossible to put down and I encourage everyone to pick it up when it comes out!

Thank you to Kate Fagan and Atria books for the opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC. I liked the premise and cover of the book, however, I found the execution quite problematic. The main character was such a train wreck - their actions felt so bizarre and unbelievable to me. I failed to emotionally connect to any of the characters. I tried explaining the plot to a friend after finishing it and realized that it is just too ... absurd. Like... make it make sense?!

Wait I LOVE THIS!!!!! It was so engaging, so wonderful, so enjoyable. This was queer and funny and tender and just so well written. I cannot believe this is a debut and I really look forward to seeing more from her.

"The thing about writing-" I heard one guy say, and my ears perked. I paused, my fingers on a thumbtack, and turned fully into their conversation. "-is that it's unlike other creative endeavors. It's not about you, it's only about the story and the words. To be an actor or musician, you must perform - you're trading on yourself - but not the writer. Most readers don't even consider the author. I love that about writing."

Picture this: you've got two besties - Annie and Amanda - teen girls living in Bolton Landing, New York in the 1990s. They're typical teens for the most part, but they both have that "it factor" and have dreams of moving to Los Angeles to make it big post graduation. They'll make it big together, of course, because besties will have it no other way. But then a tragedy strikes that prompts one of the girls to go on the run and change her whole life. What follows is a changing POV story that tells the story of what happens to the protagonist as she meet various people, falls in and out of love, and writes a book that becomes an instant best seller under (you guessed it) the pseudonym Cate Kay - hence the book's title.

I have to be honest - I don't know that this will be a five star book for everyone. But it's a five star book for me, and I'm the one writing this review! This is exactly the type of book that I adore - there's best friendships, unrequited love, requited love, coming of age in the '90s - which is when I also came of age, secret identities, fame, fortune, and a page turning story that had me constantly on my toes wondering what would happen next. While the story certainly centralized around the protagonist, I dug how Fagan shifted the point of view with each chapter. And we even got a few snippets of Cate Kay's best selling novel in the narrative as well - so we could see how the events of her life shaped her writing. It was very meta.

I was impressed with Fagan's writing style - especially as a first time author. Not only was she able to portray these varied and realistic characters that the reader could relate to and envision, but her prose was quite stunning as well. I know, I know, this is an ARC so I'm not supposed to directly quote from it, but just keep in mind that this is an unpublished work:

"Tears were dripping, but I wouldn't say she was crying. Crying is an action. This felt passive - she was leaking."

Needless to say, if and when Fagan publishes more stuff, I'll be ready an waiting to read it!

this book felt like a journey. enough for me to feel upset being reminded that the book has ended because i didn’t want to let go of its characters. there’s something about complex characters which make me fall in love with a story and this one just had it for me. although i was feeling a bit detached and disoriented by the first half since it was moving quite slow, once everything aligned, its actually made out a heartwarmingly beautiful story.

This novel captivated me in ways I wasn’t expecting. The writing was absolutely sublime—beautifully crafted and deeply relatable. I found myself so absorbed in the prose that it became almost frustrating, simply because it was that stunning. Every sentence drew me in, leaving me aching for more.

The world of Annie felt both tragic and oddly comforting, as I saw so much of myself reflected in her. The characters quickly pulled me into their lives—their passion, love, friendship, jokes, and the bittersweet yearning to embrace all that life offers. It was their girlhood, bravery, and vulnerability that made me fall in love with them. Without a doubt, this is the most exhilarating book I've read all year.

I was so immersed that I finished it in just four sittings, which is remarkable since I’ve been in a reading slump. The story follows Cate from her childhood to adulthood, showing how her relationships, dreams, and identity evolve over time. It left such an impression that I can’t help but imagine this book as a limited series. Truly unforgettable!

Bittersweet examination of a hidden life finally opening up to the truth. But it totally could have been avoided with a few follow ups. Kate Fagan has talent. Quite enjoyable, but difficult to follow at times.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Flew through this book! Well written and a compelling story. I thoroughly enjoyed the story-within-a-story (and believed its impact on the world of the novel), different points of view, and meta footnotes throughout.

My only "gripe" with the logic of the book was Annie's failure to look up (or even stumble upon through mutual friends) Amanda via the local newspaper/social media. I understand her reclusive need to run and stay hidden but her obsession with archiving and re-reading Ryan-related content suggests she would have at least tried to find SOMETHING on Amanda.

4 Stars.

I ADORED this book. It’s my first by the author and all it made me want to do is pick up another one of her books. I loved the way this book is written. It is a fictional memoir written by multiple POVs over different time periods that all connect together in the end. I really felt for the main character, she went through something so horrible, and while she may not have made the best decisions afterward, it’s easy to relate to her because it really makes you think “what would I do?” It’s a wonderful story about female friendship, sexuality, and finding yourself.
My only frustration was that it felt like the ending was rushed. I wish we were given the details of how exactly they all got to that point in the end, because I loved how everyone’s stories lined up!