A black cat comes alive in this heartwarming book as the main character.

This story has its share of charm with a blend of humor from a sleek stray and at the same time sadness from lonely people in a Brooklyn neighborhood.

Every cat person can relate to characteristics profiled in the book such as when a fury paw wakes them up at the crack of dawn just so they can eat and get the day started. Anyone that owns a cat will know all the swift moves a cat can make and there are many.

In this book a cat appears to be human with different meow sounds and gestures. The name of the cat is “Cat.” Let’s call it quirky as part of the charm is how Cat names people: Rainbow Lady, Sad Bodega Man, Cherry Mailman, and Awkward Neighbor Guy. Short chapters focus on a handful of neighbors that bring food, shelter and attention to the stray. In return there is a presence of affection as each person has issues.

It’s the type of book you look for when you want to be inspired with kindness from neighbors who reach out amongst each other. It’s a breeze as long as you like cats. If not, it may not as much fun. But it’s one you won’t forget.

My thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 1, 2025.

This was a very good, feel good read, perfect for anyone who loves cats! I love how Cat connected all the characters, and didn't even realize himself how many people he'd touched and how they all came together in the end. I did find I wanted a little more depth from all the characters. Omar for example spent the entire book trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life, and then his revelation really felt like it came out of left field. But, I still loved him, and all the others. A great, light read that's sure to turn any bad mood around!

One stray cat. Many lives touched. Not sure how else to sum this up, but this is the gist. Yet there is so much more to it. As humans, we go about our lives and rarely see what is around us. This book takes the reader on a short journey that shows how we are all connected. How is this done? Through the eyes of a stray cat. 
The cat is feral yet allows one woman to feed him periodically. He also goes to a small store to get more food from a kind woman. He periodically sees the postman as he walks up and down the streets. Then there is the mysterious guy who finds the cat fascinating in his own way. These characters are connected though several have never met each other. They have their own challenges in life (death, family…) yet are drawn together by this one animal. Even their challenges are faced because of their connections with the cat. 
The best part of this story is unique connectivity through an animal most people would simply ignore. Some characters have to warm up to him, but they are still drawn to him as they face life. Even the small cat has his challenges, but they learn to lean on each other. 
Many chapters are simply told through the eyes of the stray cat. We get a little bit of info about his own past and how he views the world around him. Same world as those humans navigate but seen differently. 
The rest of the book is seen through the eyes of a barista, writer, postman, bodega owner, and a cashier. We learn of their troubles and how they view the world around them. Same world, different perspectives. Yet they are drawn to each other and become a "family" mostly through their care of the stray cat. The small animal brings them together to show how all those challenges can be faced easier with someone by your side. 
I'm afraid if I go on that I'll give too much away. A great read that makes you think. To me, that is one sign of a good read. Though the reader knows most of what the characters don't, it is the way the characters are drawn together that keeps the story interesting. 
I highly suggest you read this book.

I adore this book. An ode to community and connection- and the importance of lending a hand where you can. Perfect for fans of The Travelling Cat Chronicles and We'll Prescribe You a Cat. A heart-warming story and a reminder that, even if it’s in small ways, we are able to make our community a kinder place.

This is a unique story that I really enjoyed, especially as a cat lover. I loved seeing all the characters a’ lives slowly entwined with each other, building relationships and becoming friends. Perfect feel good book!!

Since becoming a cat mum last year, it's no surprise that cat books are near and dear to my heart. I simply love them. I am the target audience. Stray cats can, in fact, change lives, people!

A cute story of a stray black street cat named Cat bringing a community of people together.
Multiple characters whose lives intersect, humor, friendship, a cat who cared about his humans and what could be more fun than a cat narrator. Heartwarming story.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a precious little tale about a cat bringing together a community of people. I love the various points of view offered in this book. I love to think that the cat knew the whole time who wrote the admirer notes while the people tried to figure out the mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was cute! charming, emotional, and cozy but the writing was a little clunky so I couldn't fully get into it

Did I get teary and emotional reading from the perspective of a cat? Yes, yes I did. This book was SO charming, I loved all of the different characters and how their lives intertwined. But most of all, how Cat played a role in all of their individual and collective stories. Admittedly, I'm a huge cat person. I especially love black cats, and I really connected to the story having recently rescued a stray black cat. But I think anyone will enjoy this heartwarming book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a cute and sweet love story that was made possible because of a stray cat. Many different lives intersected, and the neighborhood stray cat was able to observe them all. Fast, lighthearted, and tender, this is a wonderful uplifting novel.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book.

Cat’s People was absolutely charming and I loved ever minute of it. The writing was engaging and the characters kept my interest even when I wasn’t reading. This was the perfect antidote to a book hangover.

Thank you Random House Ballantine for my copy. I absolutely loved this book!! It had so many of my favorite elements- found family, multiple POVs, endearing characters, overlapping storylines, humor and heart, AND a cat narrator! I truly don't think I could have asked for a more purr-fect book- it will be one of my favorite of 2025, no doubt.

A unique slice-of-life cozy read about the adventures of Cat in the city. And why is the inner dialogue of Cat so cute and true to life of the sassiness you would expect from a cat? At the same time, Cat cares for the individuals that interact with him, showing the reciprocal friendship and empathy between humans and animals.

Cat’s People is told from the third-person perspective of multiple characters whose lives intersect with Cat in NY. With regards to presenting stories in alternating perspectives it is very challenging to make all the characters’ plots and voices compelling. There were some characters whose chapters I would rather skip.

Other than their personal conflicts, I thought that a lot of the characters have a very similar voice - they all ruminate, they are all dealing with some type of personal challenge (parental expectations, broken families, and grief), and there’s a lot of negative inner dialogue from the characters. One of the characters is described as pathetic and loser by multiple characters including himself and his love interest, which was just sad…I also felt the characters’ perspectives were very surface-level. This book would’ve benefited from being told solely from Cat’s perspective as it would have lent a more different take on things.

As far as cozy reads go, I do think this is one of the better ones and feline friends or cat people will find Cat’s antics endearing and familiar.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own.

Unfortunately, it felt very surface level and predictable . I did, however, really enjoy the chapters from Cat’s perspective. It’s written in the vein of books like the Kamogawa Food Detectives and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, in that a group of different people are brought together by a specific place/person/object (in this case, the cat)

Charming story about a black street cat named Cat. Life on the streets makes has made Cat wary of people,
even the ones that feed or give him treats on a daily basis. As Cat observes rhese select lonely humans,
his actions will change their lives for the better.
#CatsPeople # DelacortePress #RandomHouse #NetGalley

Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero is a super heartwarming story that pulled me in right from the cover and description. It’s all about a stray cat that ends up bringing together the folks who care for it, creating a sweet tale of found family, connections, and a dash of romance over the summer.

Nuria, a barista and proud "crazy cat lady," looks after stray cats in her Brooklyn neighborhood. One day, she stumbles upon a note from a secret admirer at the spot where she feeds Cat, adding a fun element of mystery to the story. The characters in this book are all super sweet and endearing, and it's really nice to see their connections grow as you get to know each one. Guerrero does an amazing job at developing the characters, making each one feel so real and relatable. Plus, getting Cat's perspective is a really cute touch.

Cat's People is the perfect cozy, feel-good read, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and uplifting story.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte press for the advanced review copy. This is my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The story of a stray cat and the humans around him seemed a little niche. But it really came together nicely. Alternating chapters from the point of view of each person and Cat were fun, especially when it picked up with a different character right where another left. Each human had some influence on another and some, like Lily, had multiple connections from the start. I wanted her to get what she needed, I wanted Collin to find his voice, and I hoped Bong would find happiness.

The book and the characters came together like a puzzle and I laughed, smiled and got teary at times. Heartwarming and uplifting and well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Cat is a black cat who is living on the streets of NY, dependent upon the kindness of strangers to feed him and make sure he is comfortable. He loves the people he encounters on a daily basis. Nuria (the Rainbow Lady as he calls her) is the person who most regularly feeds him. When Cat sees someone take an interest in Nuria by leaving notes by his food dish, he immediately feels invested and wants to help bring the two people together. Little does he know that his actions will bring the whole neighborhood together and create a one of a kind bond that will form a found family.

I loved this book and all of the characters in it! It was heartwarming and I loved getting to know everyone and their relationships. I'm definitely a cat person and would recommend this to anyone who want a touching story that will make you laugh and cry happy tears!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.

I am a grown adult, but I have read (and loved) Guerrero's previous kid-lit books. So I was excited to read her first adult book. I would classify this as "cozy pet lover fiction." It's a sweet, cute, retro read- my only issue is that Guerrero retains her kid-lit prose and sentence style (short, simplistic), which would be fine, except for the random f-bombs that are frankly jarring with the otherwise childlike tone. But I loved the characters- she avoids the brainless 20-something white girl rom-com trope, and populates her books with interesting characters.