CAT’S PEOPLE is the sweetest most perfect book I’ve read all year! I adored every second of it — both reading and listening to it.

Told in alternating perspectives, the book follows Cat, a New York stray who loves his life on the street — getting fed by various neighbors, most consistently by Núria, a 30-something barista and cat lover. Cat accidentally brings his people together — his newest friend Collin, a famous author who’s quite shy; Omar, a mailman figuring out his next move; Bong, recently widowed bodega owner; and Lily, a young new New Yorker looking for her long-lost sister.

LOVED this cast of characters and LOVED Cat. I had a pit in my stomach the whole time hoping nothing bad would happen to our tiny purrfect friend! Seriously regret finishing the book away from snuggle territory because the second I got home I had to bury my face in Junie!

Psa. Anyone with a heart (not just cat people!!) will love this sweet read. It reminded me of THE READING LIST, which was one of my fave books last year.

I was so intrigued by the cover and the fact that I have cats of my own. I think this is a unique way to tell a story of friendship, building community and found family.

This story has given me a different perspective of the animals who travel through the city.

I’m never going to pass up a cozy found family situation. It’s just not going to happen. This was vaguely reminiscent of Remarkably Bright Creatures for me maybe because they both had highly intelligent animal perspectives. While this was cozy, it didn’t shy away from difficult topics and I appreciate that a lot. This is definitely a love letter to the cat distribution system.

I was excited to receive this as an ARC/widget! Even though I am a self-proclaimed dog person, I have a lot of love for cats, especially the two cats in my life--my fur nephew Calcifer and my fur niece Delilah. This book was unexpectedly emotional and just a really beautiful story.

The writing style was very similar to Fredrik Backman, in the best way. It was so funny to me that Cat called humans "cat feeders". I found myself wondering what nickname Cat would give me. In this story, we had Rainbow Lady, Sad Bodega Man, Awkward Neighbor Guy, Cheery Mailman.

This book radiates a deeper message of human kindness and, of course, compassion to animals.

Short chapters in this book make for an easy and quick read. Highly recommend for fellow animal lovers like myself!

This review will be posted on my booksta, toomanyfivestarreads.

This book! I love a good cat book so obviously had to get my hands on this one. THis was such a cute one, and the author was so kind! I was lucky enough to have a gifted finished copy sent, as well. Thanks so much for both gifted copies!

Set in Brooklyn, Cat’s People follows Núria, a barista and member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group dedicated to caring for stray cats. When she starts finding mysterious Post-it notes near her favorite stray—an observant black cat named Cat—she embarks on a quiet mystery to uncover their source. The novel introduces a cast of five strangers, each navigating their own personal struggles: Collin, a reclusive bestselling author; Lily, a young woman searching for her half-sister; Omar, a mailman facing an early midlife crisis; and Bong, a grieving widower. Their lives intertwine as they rally around Cat, forming unexpected bonds that reshape their perspectives on love, loss, and community.

The novel's alternating perspectives—including Cat’s own voice—adds depth and charm, making the story feel immersive and intimate. The characters are richly developed, each carrying emotional weight that unfolds naturally through their interactions. The setting, a vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood, enhances the novel’s themes of interconnectedness, reinforcing the idea that even the smallest gestures can lead to profound relationships.

One of the novel’s standout elements is its portrayal of Cat—not just as a beloved stray, but as a silent observer and catalyst for change. Guerrero’s ability to write from an animal’s perspective without veering into sentimentality is impressive, lending authenticity to the story’s emotional core.

At its heart, *Cat’s People* is a celebration of human connection, resilience, and the quiet ways in which love manifests. It’s a novel that lingers, offering a comforting yet thought-provoking reading experience.

Oh my goodness how fun was this book! I was so excited to read this and it did not disappoint!

A stray cat brings together five strangers in fun and unique ways and they have more in common then you think. This story is so wholesome and heartwarming. I was near tears the entire book just from how sweet it is.

If you love a cozy, heartwarming read and also believe in the cat distribution system - this book is for you!

Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero is one of those quietly magical books that sneaks up on you with its warmth—and yes, part of that magic involves a black cat who narrates. You read that right. This story is all about unlikely strangers coming together, and somehow it all starts with a cat.

It’s lighthearted, cozy, and full of heart—the kind of book that gently reminds you what it means to find your people. I read somewhere that this is a book you should read with your heart, not your head, and honestly? Couldn’t agree more. The characters are quirky, kind, and deeply human, and if you’re a sucker for the found family trope like I am, this one will hit you right in the feels.

It’s a great summer read or a perfect palate cleanser when you need a break from heavier or more intense genres. Would absolutely recommend if you're looking for a feel-good story with just a touch of feline magic.

This book was adorable! I love a found family/community building book and this was perfect. I especially enjoyed reading Cat’s perspective! This was a feel good book all around and I loved that people with such different backgrounds/struggles were brought together by this cat. Would recommend to any cat lover or someone just looking for a feel good book this summer. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book tells a story of 5 strangers, a stray cat, and how that cat brings them all together and changes their lives.

This was such a sweet story and a great read, it had me hooked from the beginning! Tanya Guerrero is an amazing author and storyteller who has truly crafted a beautiful story that shows the power of kindness and true connection. I adored all of the characters and how incredibly relatable they are. It was nice to see how each of the characters interacted with Cat and just how he made an impact on their lives. As someone who has cats, many of which were originally strays, this story now holds a special place in my heart.

This is a quick read that will truly warm your heart. I highly recommend reading this lovely book.

this was so so cute! as a certified cat person i was drawn to this book, and really enjoyed the found family that developed throughout the book. and the little stray cat, also affectionately named Cat, gets his own pov which had me in tears near the end! this is slower moving, character driven book rather than plot. also has the most lovely side plots about romance and how we impact each other in finding love, managing a relationship, and dealing with loss.

I had no idea what I was in for when I started this book. How freaking cute!!!! I loved the intercepting of their lives all around sweet, sweet Cat!

Cute!! Reminded me of The Traveling Cat Chronicles, but set in Brooklyn aka my home, so that was fun. Love a cat bringing wayward souls together. The writing isn’t too deep, but if you’re looking for a nice breezy read to give you back some faith in humanity, you could do much worse.

A beautiful story of connection; a rom-com for found family. I am going to be having some talks with my cat about her stepping up her game to find me my people

Cat has always been weary of humans, because sometimes humans can be awfully mean to him just for being a stray cat. But every once in awhile there's humans who can be very nice. Cats favorite humans are the rainbow lady who feeds him everyday, the cheery mail man that he helps with his daily route, and the bodega owner that has the soft treats.

The story of Cat and his people was so sweet! I cannot wait to physically own this book so I can tab all of my favorite parts. So far in 2025, this is one of my favorite representations of being a human and how important community can be - even through a connection of the local stray cat.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Tanya Guerrero for the ARC copy.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about a stray cat and how it unites the people he interacts with during the day. I thought this book was ok. It was good enough for me to keep reading, but not so good that I couldn't wait to go back to it. I enjoyed the characters of the book and the story of their lives. If you are a cat lover than you will LOVE this one.

I have been waiting a feel good easy and lovely book and this was it and to top it off, it has a cat as a narrator. I love the selection of characters that are all brought together by Cat. This story has found family, coming of age, grief, family drama. It made me laugh and cry multiple times and was just over just a lovely story of 5 strangers coming together for the love of a cat.
While Nuria was a focus of the story and I loved her story with Colin and Lily. I truly connected with Omar. He was just a ray of sunshine. He brought light and love to everyone he met. He was there for Nuria when she need a fake boyfriend, he was there when Bong needed a shoulder to cry on. He seemed to having everything together and really know what was going on but inside he knew that being a mail carrier wasn't his calling. Through helping cat he truly found a passion where his good nature and loving personality could truly shine.
The Lily and Nuria story was interesting also. Two kinda of loss souls that you know are going to come together. I pretty much cried my eyes out on the phone call where Nuria confronts her mother and she tells her she should connect with her sister.
I love Bong and Lily's father daughter relationship and how they are both dealing with grief.
I LOVE the Colin and Nuria letter writing. Colin learning to be true to himself and brave and listen to Cat was just so fun. The whole secret admirer thing could have been so cringy but it was so special. I loved how he kept going to visit her in the coffee shop.
This was just a lovely lovely book of people coming together and I recommend to all that love good people stories and of course a good cat storytelling!

Cat’s People marks author Tanya Guerrero’s debut in writing a novel for adults, and she does it beautifully. This heartwarming feel-good story tells the story of five people in Brooklyn that are brought together by a stray cat in the neighborhood. My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.

When I first received the call to read this book, I was leery. That pink cover with a cat on it; I thought it might be cloyingly sweet. I let the widget sit in my file for a while. However, Goodreads friends—people that are not dimwits—really liked it, and it occurred to me that my own selections were a little on the dark and heavy side, so I went back and retrieved it. It was a good choice. Because I was running a little late with it, I checked out the audio version from Seattle Bibliocommons, and it made a delightful travel companion when I found myself driving across the state line for a semi-emergency within my family. Even Ox, my oversized beagle, seemed to find it soothing. Reader Elena Ray does a wonderful job.

I’m not entirely sure whether the protagonist here is Nuria, the woman that volunteers for a local group that feeds stray cats in the neighborhood, or Cat himself; this would make a nice book club discussion question. Nuria is single and a bit at sea in New York, the city where her mother told her not to move. However, she begins finding post it notes in the area where she feeds Cat; they are from a secret admirer.

The admirer in question is Collin, a successful author who’s also single, lonesome, and very shy. Collin sees Cat outside in the cold, so he builds him a small house with a bed, and he puts it in his courtyard. Others in Cat’s orbit are Omar, the mailman who’s going through a crisis of his own; Bong, the owner of Nuria’s favorite Bodega, who’s grieving the loss of his wife; and Lily, the sprightly newcomer who’s come to the city to find Nuria. All of them are brought together when Cat becomes ill.

I have never said this about a novel for adults before, but this book is adorable! The tone is perfect, balancing the cares and anxieties of the humans with acts of kindness by each that remind us that humankind is inherently good.

Recommended to those that need something a little bit light and fluffy, even dog people.

This was a cute, clever, and heart warming story. It's told from Cat the neighborhood Alley cat's perspective. He talks about the people in the neighborhood; esp Rainbow Lady who helps take care of Cat and feed him. But what this book is really about are the interactions and relationships between the various people that centers around Cat. There is the Mailman, the owner of the Bodega who not long ago has lost his wife, when she passed away. The conflicts in Rainbow Lady's life, as Cat puts it, she is beautiful, colorful, and happy on the outside, but he doesn't think that's how she feels inside. I enjoyed this book and think you will too. Check it out for an interesting read.

I enjoyed the story. I thought there were all types of characters which made it interesting to see how it would come together. I also enjoyed the cat's point of view.

This was a very cozy book. I enjoyed the story but the writing just fell a little flat for me. The chapters were also so short that it sometimes made it difficult especially in the beginning to follow who was telling which part.