"Cat’s People”, by Tanya Guerrero, has to be one of—if not the—cutest books I’ve read this year. Told from the collective perspectives of a stray cat on the streets of New York City and the many wonderful people who care for him. The title character, Cat, proves animals understand so much more than we give them credit for, as he tries to better the lives of those who help better his. More than simply exploring the bonds people and their animals share, it explores the very real idea of how much animal companionship can enrich one’s life.

There’s so much I loved about this book. The cast of characters were so well crafted and with meticulous care. I could really see these people as real, living and breathing individuals. These are the kind of neighbors I want to have in real life! I love them almost as much as the cats themselves.

Another note I can make here is it’s clear the author herself has animals (specifically cats I’m sure), as she truly captured life with them through Nuria’s parts and her “ingrates”. It may seem a small detail to some, but as someone who also lives with their own ingrates, it’s well noticed.

The only negative thing I can say about this book is it’s unfortunately a little removed from reality, though that’s in no way a fault of the book or author. I wish people could be as well-meaning as they are in this story. It’s a very light-hearted and optimistic outlook on life, something we could all use a little more of these days.

I had so much fun reading this and fully intend to do so again; I actually hope to see it adapted into a movie or cartoon! I think it would be so great, and I love it also generates awareness for adopting animals, namely cats, as it is such an important thing to do. I simply have to score this one 5 out of 5; I’d actually rate it higher if possible! I fully recommend this one to anyone and everyone, and I hope to read more from Tanya Guerrero soon. Simply fantastic!

There are so many books about the cats and their whimsical stories. But… This. One. Is. So. Good! I love me a good black cat that has an attitude, little bit of a trust issues, but still accept the food and love from specific people shamelessly.

This cat had numerous fans from all walks of life. A postman giving him treats, a “rainbow” woman giving him food in plates even if he was on the streets, an author building him a home (but also using him to meet rainbow woman), a husband whose late wife giving him so much love, and many more who knows him. And when misfortune struck him, all his people ran to his help

I couldn’t stop myself cheering on all the characters in this book and as much as I’m not a cat person I wanted to give this cat a big hug. I audibly gasped when he was injured. At the end he was the anchor in this community and book was not titled “the people’s cat” but “cat’s people”

Thank you to Ballantine Books for my copy of CAT'S PEOPLE.

I really enjoyed this book - it was light and a perfect escape for me. I was quite sad when it was over, I would have gladly lived in this world longer. This book wont change your life but it will brighten your day!

Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero is a heartfelt and charming story that really caught me by surprise. The writing is warm and sincere, and the characters — both human and feline — are full of life and personality. I loved how the story explored themes of belonging, healing, and found family in such a tender, genuine way.

The pacing felt just right, and I found myself easily drawn into the world Guerrero created. While there were a few moments where the story slowed a little more than I preferred, overall it was a lovely, satisfying read. Fans of emotional, character-driven stories (and of course, cat lovers!) will find so much to enjoy here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this! 🐱😻

As soon as I saw the cover of this I had to read it. Cats on book covers is one of my weaknesses. I really ended up enjoying this one. It follows quite a few POVs including the cat's but it not confusing at all because they each had their own distinct voice and storyline that converged at the end. They were also all well-developed and interesting to follow. This was just a story of people's lives as they intersected and overlapped and all were held together with our Cat character. I think the end was a bit cheesy but who doesn't need a little cheese every now and then!?!
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero 3.5

With a title like Cat's People, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of heart and connections it brought out.

Cat's People is a third-person, multi-POV story that alternates chapters from the perspectives of Cat and the five strangers living in Brooklyn. Each of these individuals is struggling in some way and is lonely. The stray Cat has a connection with each one of these characters, which leads to a connection among the different people. A big theme throughout is found family. Although the chapters from Cat's perspective were sometimes a little odd, overall, the book is full of charm.

Cat's People was slower than I usually would like. It just took a long time before things started happening. I also hoped there was more to the ending; it didn't feel complete.

Overall. Cat's People was a nice light read that is charming and gentle. Although it was a bit slow and not a ton happened, it was still a sweet enough story to enjoy.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This look at a city full of people through the perspective of one cat was SUCH a sweet and lovable story. Infused with so much humanity and heart, it shows our desire for connection and care.

Pacing was a bit slow for me in some parts, but I enjoyed it as a whole, and would highly recommend it for cat people!

I am not a cat lover, but I did love this heartwarming story set in a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Nuria is a cat lover, a barista who volunteers her time feeding strays, including Cat. Collin is a writer with writer’s block, awkward and shy. Omar is a mailman who enjoys a black cat’s company as he makes his rounds. Bong is a bodega owner, a widow who recognizes the cat his wife fed, and Lily is new to the neighborhood with her own secrets. All of these people are a bit lonely and lost, and as caring for Cat brings them closer, the telling of the story will warm your heart. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This sweet book is about five strangers in New York City - a barista who spends her free time helping stray cats, a reclusive author, a grieving widow who runs a bodega, a young woman who has recently moved to the city, and the neighborhood mailman - and the stray cat that eventually brings them together.

The book rotates through all of their perspectives - yes, including the cat! And as a cat person, the cat was my favorite character! A charming found family book - imagine a Clare Pooley book but set in New York and with a cat.

100% lovely, delightful, charming and sweet. Must suspend reality a tiny bit for the parts told from the cat’s POV BUT totally worth it to have the story come together as it does. Each character is developed enough to feel relevant but not so much that they have main character energy. This is important because there’s no complete resolution for the humans but the book is so precious, either way.

Advanced listener copy provided by Ballantine and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was pretty much what I expected it to be. I liked the parts from the cats perspective the most. It was a little bit cheesey, especially closer to the end. But it was still good overall.

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.