A simple but lovely story about five people who get to know each other because of a cat. thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is such a different book than I usually read. It was a wonderful changes, as an animal lover, i know how animals can change your life and this book tells the stories of 5 new yorkers and how they and their relationships were affected by one special cat. well all cats are special as well as all dogs. this is a good feel good book.

Such a heartwarming and sweet story about strangers that are brought together by a stray cat. I liked it well enough that I could overlook the thrown in your face all-inclusive variety of people to finish the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

This book is heartwarming, ingenious, moving, and overall, such a stunning novel. Showing the ways that people can create connections over something as simple as a street cat, is just beautiful. I loved all the different voices throughout the novel and felt like Cat’s voice was just so strong. His compassion and curiosity bringing strangers together through their connection to him is just so poignant. This is a book that I will be proud to recommend and one that I hope gets all the positive attention it deserves.
Thank you ever so much to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and Netgalley for allowing me to review this stunning novel. I will post my review closer to the titles release.

{ ARC REVIEW }

• Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero

A stray cat brings together five strangers over the course of one fateful summer in this heartwarming novel about love, found family, and the power of connection.

Cats rule! Dogs drool! Just kidding... please don’t come for me.

This was a simple and cozy read. It’s 100% for cat people. If you don’t like cats, you’re not going to like this book. It’s just the way it is.
The story felt like a quick episode of Friends of Gilmore Girls, how random strangers in a walkable town bump into each other over one commonality: a scruffy stray cat that doesn’t like to be touched.

But just like that, a sitcom episode, there wasn’t a whole lot of depth. I don’t think it’s meant to be mind-blowing or even earthquake-life-changing. Too many serious problems got resolved too quickly, and simple problems were blown out of proportion with a dose of immaturity on some characters’ parts.

It is the author’s first book! so, overall, well done. It kept me entertained enough to finish.

As the biggest cat person I know... I loved this book so much 😭😭

I knew that, as long as nothing horrific happened to this kitty, I was going to love this story. This book was made for people like me. The people who try to help abandoned and stray cats. The ones who look out for our helpless furry friends. The ones who care so deeply about the little angels roaming around out there. I, myself, am currently on a mission to help the 5 stray cats at my work, and I have a group of conspirators with me, much like this story.

I really enjoyed the aspect that all of these people are connected, one way or another, and that they all become friends in the end. That connectedness was beautiful to watch develop, and it made my heart feel warm.

Also, if you're afraid to read this book because you think harm will come to the kitty, I can tell you that nobody harms the animal. The animal also doesn't pass away, but it does get sick, so if that bothers you, please prepare yourself.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for this ARC for review. I loved this sweet book!! This book is a lovely book about a community of different people and how an adorable stray cat brings them all together to care for him and care for each other.. I can’t recommend this adorable book enough!

Even if you are not a fan of cats, you will be a fan of this book! Such a sweet uplifting story about a group of five strangers who come together one summer to save a stray cat living on the streets of Brooklyn. It’s told in different points of view for each chapter - even from the cat’s- but I found it easy to keep the characters and their stories straight and became quite immersed in each of their lives as the story progressed. I liked how the author subtly revealed the connections between the “strangers” which the cat helped orchestrate. I highly recommend this charming story!

Cat's People was a sweet story about a stray cat who brought 5 strangers each from a different walk of life together. We meet our cast of characters in the beginning of the book from the wildly dressed lady who feeds the neighbor hood cats, to the Sad and lonely Bodega owner. Each character has their own problems they are trying to work through throughout the book, however Cat is the one thing they all will come to find they have in common.
While I found the story to be super sweet it also got a little repetitive. I found myself at times being a little bored. I'm a cat lady so needing to find out what happened to Cat is what kept me going. Also, I understand being inclusive but I found the author tried to fit every woke narrative in the book which got annoying.

Cat’s People is a charming book for cat lovers and fans of slice-of-life stories. It reminded me of She and Her Cat and The Traveling Cat Chronicles. Despite being written by a Filipino-Spanish author and set in Brooklyn, it has a style that feels distinctly Japanese—gentle, introspective, and full of small, poignant moments.

The story centers on a stray black cat named Cat, who brings together five strangers—each character’s perspective unfolds in alternating chapters, including the occasional chapter from Cat’s point of view.

This is a cozy, feel-good story, perfect as a palate cleanser or when you’re in the mood for something warm and hopeful. If you’re a fan of stories that revolve around quiet relationships, found family, or, of course, cats, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press!

Tanya Guerrero’s Cat's People is a warm and immersive novel that transports readers into the intimate world of its protagonist, Cat, a young woman who’s navigating the complexities of life, love, and personal growth. Set against a backdrop of vibrant, nuanced relationships, this novel delivers a thoughtful exploration of connection, community, and healing in a way that feels both comforting and rich with emotional depth.
What makes Cat's People especially cozy is its focus on the quieter, everyday moments that shape the fabric of a person’s life. Whether it’s Cat’s interactions with her friends, her family, or the new people she meets, each connection feels authentic and grounded. Guerrero’s characters are well-drawn, each with their own stories and struggles, yet they feel relatable and inviting. These are people you want to spend time with, and it’s this sense of comfort and connection that makes the book so enjoyable to read.

What a charming, heartwarming story! Brooklyn, a rather unusual cast of characters, and a stray cat, and somehow the author makes it all work out.

Nuria, one of the best baristas in the area, spends her days off working with Meow-Yorkers cat rescue programs and her route includes a black cat named Cat. Cat thinks of her as Rainbow Lady, since she always seems to wear bright colors. Collin, a successful author and social misfit, hides out in his brownstone. Omar, the always cheerful postman who carries treats for Cat and always has time to visit the people on his route. Bong, a bodega owner, grieving his late wife, also leaves snacks for Cat. Lily, a young woman who comes to New York to try to find her half-sister and feels out of her depth. The chapters alternate point of view and of course, Cat has his own chapters.

All goes well until one day, Cat becomes ill, not an unusual happening for strays. His "community" of up to now strangers comes together to try and help him out. Will they succeed? Will they become acquainted with each other?

A stray cat brings together a community in New York.

I'll be honest, I was a little on the fence about how many different points of views there were. We had Cat, Bong, Lily, Collin, Omar, and Núria. However, it was done really well where the stories interested in a brilliant way so you didn't feel like you were reading the same thing over and over again.

The plot lines hit in the best way. I did tear up a couple of different times but I adored the book. I liked the touch of other cultures and how they interacted as well and how we all need each other.

Thank you go Netgalley for the advanced copy for a review.

I am not a cat person at all, so it was ironic that a dog person like me picked up this book. However, it turned out to be such a delightful read! The cover initially caught my attention, but I stayed for the story. Five strangers become connected through a stray cat in their neighborhood. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the five strangers and the cat's own viewpoint. I loved the cat’s perspective; it was the highlight of the story and added a personal touch.
I also loved the love story between Nuria and Collin, where Collin started leaving cute notes for her near where the cat lived, and Nuria had to figure out who was leaving them. Overall, this was a sweet and heartwarming story about found family and the important role that animals play in our communities.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte for my copy.

Oh I ADORE books like these. This book was so creative. I loved how Cat brought together so many people in so many aspects of their life. Each person's life was full of complexity. I loved loved loved Omar and Collin. Just a really refreshing book of how the lives of others are interconnected. I always think that strangers are just friends we haven't met yet, and I think that shows in books like this.

This was so sweet and heartwarming. I was crying happy tears and worried tears and relieved tears - the characters and their stories were so well done.

This book checked a few boxes for me. Cats (obviously) and it felt very early 2000s romance to me. Two of my favorite things. This book tells the story of Cat the cat and the people all around him and how, somehow without even knowing it, they were all connected because of Cat.

A bit of a miss for me. I came for the cat and found him neither to be realistically cat-like or well anthropomorphized. He was more of a plot device/occasional childlike narrator with fur.

Most of the characters were somewhat sad sacks, and while they improved their lives by interacting with each other, it wasn't of much interest to me.

I feel like this book will be well received by people who like books that are what I call "Oprah books," books that want to be topical and deeply meaningful. But I read to escape, so I was bored.

Also, as a sign of just how boring these characters are, no one gave the poor cat an actual name and just called him Cat in their own languages.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for allowing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was just "okay" to me. I really liked the concept, and was looking forward to a unique telling of a coming together story all weaved together by this central cat character. And frankly, it does deliver on that. But it was the written the blandest way possible. It was such a straightforward, nothing is happening story, it didn't feel worth the time it took to read it. The biggest and loudest label this book should carry is "cozy". This is 100% up some people's alley, but was not what I was looking for from this book. I expected a lot more nuance to the story/characters, more weaving and emotions, and more down to Earth believability. For a story so simple and straightforward, there was a lot that didn't feel right or make sense.

The worst thing about it tho: 2/5 of these characters were just stalkers. Towards the same character. And to top it off, the character being stalked was okay with one character being a creep, and completely shit on the other character being a creep. For being creepy. What is that? FMC is fine with a dude she knows nothing about and has never met or been seen to creep on her and send her notes, but rips into someone that clearly genuinely cares about her for doing the exact same thing. Mindblowing.

There was splattering's of just weird choices throughout the story. Making the cat human level sentient. Hiring someone you barely know/starting to consider your friend to help work in your store (best way to kill a budding friendship imo), overbearing crazy mom suddenly saying 'you're an adult its up to you to make your own choices' then immediately going back to berating her over her love life. A lot of repeating events from different character views that didn't add anything to the story except length...

The book reads how you expect an airport bookstore find to read. Bland. Boring. But it gives you something to do. If you're looking for something to do - a beach read, plane companion, distraction at the doctors office -- this is your find. Tag it, 'cozy', 'cat', & 'creeps'.

First of all, I would like to thank Random House and Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of Cats People.
While I can't say I loved this book, it was a very heartwarming story. It is told from multiple characters' points of view, including the cat. It pulled me in very quickly and made me want to keep reading.