Well this was just the sweetest story! I was a little apprehensive going into it, I was worried it was going to be too cheesy and weird. But I was very surprised to be so invested in the lives of these strangers!

I loved hearing more about each of the characters; finding out about their lives, struggles and all. It was fun to see the ways that they all intersected too.

And at the heart of the story was Cat. Being a cat person, I could really see all his mannerisms and actions. Reading his inner monolog allowed for his character to come alive! I was very worried as to where his story line was going and am pleased with the ending!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to its publishing!

Cat's People
Disclaimer - This is Not a Romance Genre Book
By Tanya Guerrero

Delacorte Press - April 2025

Fiction


Cat had a good life. He had street smarts and had his neighborhood. He also had a few people he graced with his presence. Some even fed him. These were Cat's People. Five individuals whose lives begin to intertwine.

Nuria, a cat lady who worked as a barista, volunteered at a shelter, and fed some local cats.

Bong, a bodega owner who was recently widowed.

Collin, a reclusive bestselling author struggling to find his muse.

Omar, a mailman who truly enjoyed his interactions with the people and animals on his route.

Lily, a young lady who had recently lost her father and come to town searching for someone.

Cat's People was a fascinating read that I truly enjoyed. Each chapter would end with me eager to continue to see what happened next, only to move on to the next character with their intriguing storyline. As the pages passed, their stories began to weave together in a very Love Actually-esque way and I was engrossed to see how all their stories would end. I highly recommend this story for any cat lover.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Cat’s People tells the story of five complete strangers who are indirectly brought together by one very special black alley cat.

“Cat” has lived his entire life on the streets of New York, living off left behind scraps and the kindness of strangers. One stranger in particular, Nuriq, is a barista who feeds the stray cats of the neighborhood regularly. Cat feels Nuria is a human he can trust, but as an any smart stray cat knows, it’s still important to keep your whiskers on high alert.

Unbeknownst to Nuria, a shy author named Collin watches her from afar. Just like a cat, Collin is curious about Nuria’s interest in the cats, but even more curious about the woman herself. Still he maintains his distance, often finding himself entering Nuria’s place of business, but unable to speak to her at length.

One day with some pawing from Cat, Collin begins to communicate with his crush via sticky notes left by Cat’s food. And so begins a unique friendship that slowly brings in other members of the neighborhood like Omar the malcontented mailman, Bong, the widowed bodega owner, and Lily, the half sister Nuria never knew existed.

Then Cat gets sick. Suddenly, these five lonely strangers are brought together to help the charming feline who managed to steal all of their hearts. Their strong feelings a surprise to everyone, even Cat is confused by his newfound attachment, finding himself warming to the idea of being a late in life house-cat.

Cat’s People is the literary equivalent to a warm hug- its premise whimsically simple and childlike, yet somehow still appropriate in the pages of an adult fiction novel. Never cringey or corny, it’s a story that reminds readers how powerful the presence of a pet can be, and how the animal/human connection is one that can be pawsitively purrfect when given the opportunity to grow.

Let me begin and end this review with a very strong recommend. I am a cat person and I found this be a totally delightful book. The main character is the cat himself who is a feral cat living on the street in Brooklyn. He tells all about his environment and all the people he encounters and how their lives intertwined. Each person has their own name for him and he names the person to suit himself. You know his thoughts and his reactions and I was totally enchanted with it. I have highly recommended it to my book clubs This was truly a book I did not want to end and I look forward with great interest on what Tanya’s next book will be.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing /Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cat’s People is for all cat owners, lovers, carers, and even those who aren’t sure if they like cats! More importantly it’s for anyone who’s ever questioned who they are. Because who knows that better than our pets? Cat is a wise stray cat living on the streets in Brooklyn. But he gets by with some help from some friends. There’s Núria, aka Rainbow Lady, a barista who loves cats and makes sure to feed all the strays. There’s Bong, the sad bodega owner whose wife died last year, who sells his favorite food. Can’t forget about Omar the cheerful mailman, who Cat loves to follow on his stops! Colin is the famous author but also a super awkward and shy guy, new to the cat business. And finally Lily, who Cat doesn’t know what to think of. But as these wonderful characters come to discover, Cat is going to bring them all together in new and exciting ways when they most need it.

Y’all, this book was so freaking cute!! I couldn’t put it down! I’m a new cat lover, and I love strays. Cat and his POV were adorable, and the way everyone takes care of him melted my heart! I want more of these characters, more of Cat’s adventures, and all the wonderful feels. I’m obsessed right now with this book! It’s the perfect lighthearted read, and I can’t recommend it enough!

4.5 ⭐️ This book was filled with so much heartfelt, human connection - it provided me with an escape into a world that was a little kinder, more open-minded & brimming with feline mischief.

As much as I enjoyed each of the MC's individual storylines - reconnecting with lost family, facing our fears & dreams, overcoming loss - I FELL IN LOVE with Cat and couldn't wait to keep reading about his interactions in the city & with his people!

For fans of the emotional story-weaving you can find in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, you'll find a very similar vibe in this sweet novel, only set in the heart of Brooklyn with a diverse cast of characters who all share one thing in common: a street cat.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG).

Cat’s People drew me in from the description and the adorable Book Cover Art. This is a character driven story that is very heart warming and touching. There is strong character development throughout the story and the characters are very lovable. There is also a diverse cast of characters and their stories flow effortlessly. I would say the book is set at a medium pace read, but once you start reading you don’t want to put it down. If you’re a cat person or animal lover, this is a good story that makes you feel something, Cat’s People is definitely worth the read.

I will be reviewing this book more in depth on my TikTok account on 3/14/2025 - @carleykellyy

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this arc.

✨literary fiction
✨multi pov
✨found family

This was the cutest and sweetest and most heartwarming arc I've ever been given. This story won't be for everyone and that's okay but it was ABSOLUTELY written for someone like me 🖤

A HUGE thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cat’s People
Author: Tanya Guerrero
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
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Cat’s People, a novel by Tanya Guerrero, will be published on April 1, 2025. The story follows a group of neighborhood residents who help a feral cat needing food, shelter, and attention. The narrative is written in a style reminiscent of young adult literature, making it an engaging and accessible read for middle schoolers and adults.

The book sheds light on the challenging lives of homeless cats on the streets, highlighting their struggles to survive. Witnessing how this group of compassionate individuals band together to find a solution for the stray kitty is heartwarming. In the process, this unexpectedly results in a romantic relationship between two rescuers.

One aspect of the book that I particularly enjoyed is the inclusion of the cat’s perspective. Guerrero effectively conveys the cat’s thoughts and emotions, suggesting that cats maintain an innate ability to sense when someone can be trusted to provide them with care and support. It's a sweet story.
🐈‍⬛
#CatsPeople @tanyaguerreroauthor #YA #fiction #feralcats #rescue #romance #neighborhood #animals #cats #friendship @delacortepress #netgalley
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader#bookreviewer

Cat’s people is a book that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. As the title suggests, a cat takes a focal point in the story. Cat, which is his name, is a stray black cat that trusted very few people not to hide from: “People with kind eyes, soft voices, and hearts that weren’t completely made of stone. Those people were his people.”
We get to follow the lives of different characters, with very different personalities, with their emotions, their peculiarities, their struggles and sometimes their grief. We also get to follow them through Cat’s eyes. Cat will bring them together in very meaningful ways.
Without sharing any actual spoilers, the found family trope is beautifully written and there’s the most adorable romance subplot.

To me it’s a must read, with an extra special meaning if you love cats!!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book is very character driven, and though I liked the characters, this style book just doesn’t typically work for me and unfortunately didn’t here either. It doesn’t have much in the way of plot, so it was a very slow read right up until almost the end. It just really couldn’t keep my attention for long.

I do think some people will enjoy this book so I May recommend it to some but it’s not for everyone.

This is the best book I’ve read so far in 2025. It is a quiet, feel good story that packs a powerful punch about the importance of connecting with other people. There are five human main characters who are all at crossroads in their lives. There is also a wonderful black cat named Cat who is the catalyst for these five people coming together. I loved every character including Cat. I love cats, but you don’t have to love cats to enjoy this story!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero is a third person multi-POV contemporary novel about a stray cat in New York City and his five humans. Cat runs about a small neighborhood and becomes friends with a small handful of people who treat him well. Those five become connected in a short span of time and open themselves to change.

My favorite POVs were Bong and Lily’s. Bong is from the Philippines and recently lost his wife quite suddenly, making him lonely in his old age. Lily is young and from Georgia state, having recently moved to NYC to find the half-sister she has never met or had contact with. While all of the characters have personalities and wants and needs, Bong and Lily felt the most human to me with an awful lot to lose if they don’t either achieve what they want (Lily having a relationship with her sister) or change something about their life (Bong being stuck in his grief). Cat’s chapters are delightful because it’s essentially these human relationships that are being created through a cat’s eyes.

Núria, Collin, and Omar are connected quite early with Collin a customer of Núria’s coffee shop and Omar is his mailman. Omar has the warmest personality of all the characters and the most at peace with himself in a way that is admirable. Núria is also very self-aware and prefers cats and coffee to most people, but she still has some struggles with her mother pressuring her to find a partner and settle down. Collin, at times, felt a bit old-fashioned and, at other points, was quite progressive. Of all the characters, he is the most contradictory but that does make him interesting.

The pacing is both fast and slow. It takes a while for their to be progress as the book is more slice-of-life and relationship-driven, but it’s a short book with chapters no longer than maybe five pages. As the chapters alternate between all six of the POVs, we do get forward momentum but it can take a bit to see it take effect.

Content warning for depictions of sexual assault and mentions of homophobia

I would recommend this to fans of books with animal character-POVs and readers who like faster-paced works that focus on relationships between characters

Collin has become somewhat of a hermit and has isolated himself. Bong, the owner of the bodega, who has recently lost his wife and is adrift in grief. Lily who has recently moved to NYC to find her half-sister who she just recently discovered. And last but not least, the neighborhood mailman, Omar, who is trying to figure out his life purpose.

I could not have loved this book more except for the fact that at time Cat does not know the words for certain things in the human world but knows other words. I just wish that Guerrero would have taken one path and stuck with it. But this is such a minor flaw that I am still giving this book 5 stars. I will be anxiously awaiting future books by Guerrero.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cat's People is a hopeful, feel-good story about a black stray cat whose life is spent interacting with the same 5 individuals each day who each have a different name for him. The book beautifully illustrates the way communities form, and the importance of found family. I love the cheerful cover. This would be a great gift book for gifting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Pub Date: April 1.

#Cat's People

Cat’s People: A Novel by Tanya Guerrero is the kind of book that makes you feel all the cozy, heartwarming feelings. As a self proclaimed crazy cat lady, it was pretty much tailor-made for me, and I absolutely adored it. I teared up and that's rare fired me when it comes to books.

Told from multiple perspective, the one that really stood out to me was Cat’s. He’s a stray cat in Brooklyn, and his observations about the world, the people around him, and his own emotions are so real. It’s the kind of thing that makes you pause and think, “Yeah, that’s exactly what my cat would think too.”

Cat’s life is wrapped up in the people around him, and I loved how each of them brought something special to the story. There’s Núria, the sweet “Rainbow Lady,” who takes the time to feed and care for him every day. Then there’s Collin, the author who’s a little lost in life, but whose days are brightened by watching Núria and Cat’s quiet connection. Omar, the mailman with a big smile, makes his rounds with Cat in tow, spreading some unexpected joy. Lily, the grocery store checkout girl, and Bong, the bodega owner, round out the group of people whose lives are all touched by Cat in different ways.

It’s really through Cat’s relationships with all of them that the story comes together. He’s this quiet spark, bringing people together in ways they didn’t expect. The book captures those little moments of connection that are so often overlooked, but that mean everything.

If you’re a cat person...or just love a good story that makes you feel something, Cat’s People is definitely worth the read. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much our furry friends can shape our lives and the lives of everyone around them.

In New York City, a streetwise stray cat simply called Cat keeps watch over a small group of people. Núria, a barista and volunteer stray cat caretaker feeds Cat every day. Reclusive author Collin observes Núria through his window and starts developing feelings for her, and starts to fall in love with Cat, too. Omar, the friendly mailman, Bong, the kind but grieving bodega owner, and Lily, a young girl from Georgia with a secret, also have soft spots for Cat. One day, Cat falls mysteriously ill, and all five strangers step up to care for him—and find the connections among themselves, too.

This is such a sweet story, and the magic lies in five seemingly random strangers finding solace in each other through one precious cat. Each character’s story is charming and heartwarming, and if you’re a cat person like me, Cat will have you hugging your own pets a little tighter.

The writing reminds me of many cat-centric books that I’ve read that have been translated from original Japanese. It’s simplistic and perhaps juvenile, and while it is very sweet, it lacks real emotional depth that I would expect for a book written for an adult audience. This author has previously published middle grade, so that might be where that comes from.

There were also a few times when I was confused with choices to include profanity. Curse words themselves don’t bother me (I talk like a sailor myself), but in a book written with simpler, “quaint” prose, the random f-bombs are totally out of place and unnecessary.

Overall, a sweet read for cat lovers and for readers who enjoy slice-of-life fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an e-ARC! Cat’s People publishes on April 1, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The publisher offered this to Ms to review early based on my previous reviews. I love animals, but admittedly am a dog person (have never been around cats much). If anything, this book makes me want to be around cats/have one!
There are 5 strangers whose lives become intertwined. Nuria is a barista who feeds the neighborhood stray cats and takes this job very seriously. She starts receiving post it notes from a secret admirer left by the feeling spot of her favorite car, Cat. Collins is a best selling author who keeps to himself. Lily is a newbie to the neighborhood and trying to find her half sister. Omar is the sweet mail person, who looks out for everyone on his route. Bong owns the neighborhood store and feels lonely after the death of his wife. Cat somehow brings all of these strangers together in a really sweet story.

Cat's People
By Tanya Guerrero
Release Date 4.1.2025

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for the e-ARC of Cat's People. When the publisher sent me this claiming that they recommended it based on other books I have recently enjoyed, I had my doubts. As a non cat person, I was worried that I was not the target audience. I also had concerns of the story turning out cheesy when I heard that Cat had their own POV. This was simply not the case. I enjoyed it very much and the POV worked!

A black stray cat who lives his life in a Brooklyn community spends his days interacting with the same five individuals. None of which seem to have anything in common or know one another. The one thing they do share is a love for Cat. They all refer to Cat by different names but are all positively affected by my home.

I'm a sucker for a found family story especially when it's multigenerational and multicultural. The true kindness of strangers is not a dead art form and makes you feel so good.

This is more than just the story of a cat bringing people together. It's about seeing people as they are, not fitting them into a social norm. Finding oneself and it never being too late for your calling in life. There are also subtle stories of characters experiencing grief and loss. This was a short fast read that will leave you smiling.

Sometimes, you just need a really sweet book to read. My life has been wildly chaotic lately, and this book gave me everything I needed to just recharge and get away from that chaos. This is a lovely book about Cat, a stray black cat in Brooklyn, who manages to bring together a disparate group of people in his neighborhood: Nuria, the barista who feeds him, Collin, the best selling author who is really shy, Omar, the mailman who wants a change in his life, Mrs. Lewis, an eldery widow soon to move in with her daughter in Boston, Bong, the widowed owner of the local bodega, and Lily, who comes to NY to find her sister.

As Cat goes about his day, and comes across each of these people, he changes their lives and brings them together in a way that helps them create a sense of family.

I just loved this sweet book. It was so easy to read, and get into their lives and all because of a single animal. I loved the idea of Cat having his own chapters and being far smarter than anyone gives him credit for.

I feel like we could all use more books like this to bring us balance and a little bit of joy.