What a charming novel! It focuses on Cat, an 11-year-old stray who has spent his life on the streets of NYC. What makes this an endearing story is how Cat relates to five different humans (an author, a barista, a mailman, a bodega owner, and a young woman searching for her sister), all of whom he is able to bring together in a really magical way. Told from each character’s point of view (including Cat) in alternating chapters, this ifeel-good, heartwarming story shows how kindness truly fosters the spirit, be it human or animal. A really enjoyable read — especially if you like cats.

I will start by saying that I did not know how I would feel about a main character being a cat. But let me tell you, this cat was pure gold. I loved the concept of a stray cat knowing and retaining intel on the people he interacts with daily. Because the story takes place in a NY neighborhood, most of the characters he interacts with also interact with each other. They all aren't aware of each other enough to know that they have the cat in common at first. Until one hot day when Cat isn't faring well and somehow their love for Cat connects them all and essentially changes their own lives trajectories.
This really was an adorable book and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

Strangers coming together through the neighborhood cat: Having grown up somewhere where stray cats are beloved members of neighborhoods, this concept was sure to be a winner for me. Guerrero starts off with a dedication to everyone who works with rescues and volunteers for cats and everything was charming from that point on. I loved the colorful cast of personalities, each dealing with their own problems, they were all unique and built well. I adored having the perspective of Cat, and getting to know him as well. If you like cats and found family, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!

3.5!

Cute idea and cute story! Multiple POVs in books usually aren't my favorite, but this had a good balance of showing the interconnectedness of community without being totally overwhelming. I loved the concept of Cat's POV chapters throughout, and I suspect most other cat lovers will enjoy his chapter's as well!

Overall, a really sweet story that makes me want to go cuddle the black cat in my life!

I have been waiting with bated breath to read this book because I love cats and I love books with an animal protagonist. This book is such a fun read!
I loved how the story flows so beautifully from character to character and the plot is never dropped. While Cat is the main protagonist each character is the protagonist within their chapters and it’s lovely seeing the main story unfold from so many viewpoints along with seeing their individual stories.
There were a few times things felt forced and a few times where I started to feel annoyed because the writing was lacking and didn’t flow with the rest of the book but overall it was quite enjoyable.
The descriptive writing was absolute perfect and made me feel like I was in NYC during the summer. Because the descriptions were so immersive I felt like I was along side each character instead of just reading about them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for an advanced copy of this. Cat’s People hit the shelves April 1st.

Cat’s People was a wonderful look at how interconnected we are with our neighborhood without actually realizing it.
The POV from each character was really well done. The situations that the characters faced were real, and I have personally experienced some.
Cat being the center of the story was warm and heartbreaking. Knowing that these humans cared for him, but slowly their lives took center stage, as life does, created a great source of stress in this book.
In would recommend this book as a quick read, for people who like the show Friends, it had a very FRIENDS vibe.

Tanya Guerrero's "Cat's People" presents a genuinely heartwarming premise, using a stray cat in Brooklyn as the catalyst for connecting a disparate group of individuals seemingly adrift in their own lives. I found the multi-POV structure, particularly the choice to give the cat himself a narrative voice, to be quite effective in building the story's gentle charm and offering unique perspectives on the unfolding human dramas. The novel certainly succeeds in exploring its core themes of found family, empathy, and the quiet ways community can form around shared kindness, especially towards an animal in need. There's an undeniable sweetness at its core.

That said, the narrative seems to prioritize this warmth and accessibility, perhaps sometimes at the expense of deeper complexity. For my taste, the prose felt quite straightforward, and while managing the ensemble cast (five humans plus the cat) is ambitious, I occasionally wished for more depth in certain character arcs or a bit more narrative momentum in the overarching plot, which felt secondary to the character interactions at times. It leans into its 'feel-good' nature quite strongly, which might feel a touch saccharine if one isn't specifically seeking that kind of comforting read.

Nevertheless, as a story about empathy and connection facilitated by our animal companions, I felt it achieved its aims effectively. It offers a hopeful and fundamentally kind perspective on finding belonging in unexpected ways.

Cat is a street cat in New York City. He has a cast of people that take care of him around the neighborhood. The local barista is a "crazy cat lady" who makes sure the street cats are as well fed at her own cats. The bodega owner recently lost his wife who always made sure to feed Cat. The postman recognizes Cat on his daily route through the neighborhood. Collin, a recluse author, ventures outside his comfort zone to build Cat a space of his own outside his brownstone. These characters all have their own challenges in their lives and they all intersect in their relationships with Cat.

This book is very unique. I have never read a book like this where there is a cast of characters telling the story from their own perspective and one of the cast is a cat. It's quirky, fun, and new.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of Cat's People.

This heartwarming and gentle tale follows the journey of a stray cat who unexpectedly connects five strangers, each yearning for something more in their lives. Núria wrestles with complicated relationships, Bong mourns the loss of his wife, Omar searches for a career with meaning, Collin struggles to overcome writer’s block, and Lily keeps a hidden secret close to her heart. Through multiple perspectives, the story reveals how Cat touches each of their lives, guiding them toward self-discovery and healing.
Perfect for fans of Clare Pooley and The Reading List, this feel-good narrative celebrates the transformative power of connection and the subtle magic of companionship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group and Delacorte Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I haven't lived with a cat for many years, I totally warmed up to CAT'S PEOPLE by Tanya Guerrero, the story of a street cat known as Cat. Former strangers break their habitual, polite, neutral distance when Cat falls ill and in the course of loving the animal, they are themselves connected in rich and rewarding ways. I felt hopeful as events unfurled and thoroughly enjoyed this warm and engaging, well-written story. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

always down for a good cat book! this was very cute, I've always wondered what it would be like to be a cat.

🐈‍⬛ For my friends who want a warm and fuzzy cuddle of a story.

CAT’S PEOPLE by Tanya Guerrero

Thanks, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press, for the review copy via #NetGalley. (Available now)

Mom will ask, “What are you reading now?” and 90% of the time, I reply, “You wouldn’t like it.” We’ve gotten to this shorthand after some trial and error (I read some strange stuff–well, strange to a small-town 83-year-old). But today! She asked, and I replied, “Oh, Mom! I need to send you a copy. It’s about a stray cat in Brooklyn and the five random people who help him by bringing him food and water. The story is about how the cat brings the people together to become friends. A couple of the chapters are from the cat’s point of view. You’d love it.”

It’s about found family, the kindness of strangers, and animal lovers, all of which are my (pardon the pun) catnip.

What a heartwarming story about the power of animals (especially cats) and how they can bring us together. I loved snuggling up next to my cat reading this. The way it all came together in the end was beautiful. Definitely recommend checking this book out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED Cat. I like how not only do we get the peoples POVs but also a POV from Cat himself. How all the characters connected was interesting as well!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cat’s people was a fine book. It didn’t really do anything wrong, but it wasn’t especially groundbreaking either. It was perfectly fine. My biggest complaint is that there are too many POVs to follow. This book has six POV characters: the cat lady, the author, the widower, the mail man, the half sister, and the titular cat. I personally feel like if this book had been reworked to completely exclude the half sister and the author characters it would have been a better book. I found that whenever their chapters came up I didn’t particularly want to read them. The other characters were more interesting and likable, and I think the story would’ve been more concise if it shaved off those two POVs. Overall, the story was cute, even if it felt a little long winded at times. I recommend it if you like cats and found family stories.

Absolute 4.5 out of 5 stars for this cat lovers fiction dream!!!

Five strangers in NYC end up connected together because of a stray cat in the neighborhood. As someone who works in cat rescue, many of us cat lovers can and will instantly bond over something as small as a cat in need.

Adding the Cat's perspective was a nice touch.

"Cat’s People" by Tanya Guerrero had potential with its cozy, cat loving premise, but it didn’t quite work for me. The story juggles too many characters, and I found it hard to stay interested or connect with any of them in a meaningful way. The plot moved slowly, and I often felt unmotivated to keep reading, I nearly marked it as a DNF. While I appreciated the message about unexpected connections and community, the story just didn’t hold my attention. A cute idea, but not one that fully delivered for me.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher for the chance to read this book in preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cat lovers will enjoy this story through the eyes of a cat. Sweet, heart-warming, easy to read because obviously the story is told in third person, Cat. Wonderful characters who bring kindness to Cat. Recommended.

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

Cat's People was offered to me several months ago and I finally was able to get around to reading it. This was such a feel-good book that was complex and layered, and I was so engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed the cat's perspective on the story, as it gave another dimension to these characters and to the story itself.

I definitely recommend to my audience!

Thank you again for the ARC!

This reminded me of the video game where you thrive and have to survive as a cat, and I loved it.
The pacing was simple and straight to the heart.
The plot was basically the cat distribution system at its peak and made my eyes leak!
The writing reminded of Emily Henry writings with five different people.

Perfect if you love:
MEOW
Own cat(s)
Want a cat(s)
heard of cats

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!