If you need a palette-cleansing, lighthearted, hope-filled, maybe-there-actually-is-good-in-the-world kind of book, this is the perfect choice.

This is one of those fun books where you get introduced to a variety of characters from all walks of life that all end up interconnected in a beautiful way. An in the case of this book, at the center of it all is a sweet black cat. Known as Cat, Gatito, or Itim, he's involved in all of these people's lives and brings them together as they love on and take care of him.

All of the characters in this book were sweet and had struggles of their own, but nothing seemed so high stakes that I was stressed out or overwhelmed. It was a sweet, gentle read that we really need in today's world.

I also really loved having Cat's perspective. It was so fun to see inside his mind and how he perceived the world around him. As a cat lover, that was really sweet.

All in all, definitely pick this one up when you're in the mood for something charming and sweet with a fun cast of characters, low stakes, and an adorable cat.

Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC to review!

This was my first novel by Tanya Guerro and Cat’s People was a pleasure to read. Perfect for fans of A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce W. Cameron or Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley. This is a heartwarming story set in Brooklyn where the characters eventually form relationships with each other through their connection with a neighborhood cat. With themes of found family and the importance of community, a stray cat brings this diverse group of five neighbors together.

I highly recommend this title to readers looking for an uplifting, charming and cozy escape.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tanya Guerrero for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Cat’s People coming out April 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I have read by the author. I’m not really a cat person because I’m allergic. But I received this directly from NetGalley, so I checked it out. I thought it was really interesting to have the cats as people. They all had different personalities. It was an interesting concept. It felt like a cozy story. I would check out other books by this author.

I adored this book! It has a diverse cast of characters, that deep down, they all have something in common. Not just their affection for Cat, but something else.

Núria is a barista who takes time to feed the stray cats in her neighborhood.

Collin is a shut-in best selling author struggling to write his next novel.

Omar is a mailman who knows he's meant for something bigger.

Bong is a widow who isn't sure how he can go on without his wife.

Lily is a new transplant from Georgia who wants to find and get to know her sister.

Somehow, Cat manages to bring all of these characters together in a heartwarming way.

This book is for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures. It pulled at my heartstrings. And Cat's final words are a perfect ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Cats People is out now.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. The perfect book at the perfect time.

The book revolves around 5 characters and the cat. The story is told in alternating third person around each of the characters including the cat. Yes, the cat is a character.

This is such a sweet, charming book. Reminded me of “A Man Called Ove” with strangers coming together and eventually developing relationships.

There is Nuria - a barista, who feeds the stray cats around Boston. Collin - an introverted author who lives next to where Cat hangs out. Lily - from Georgia who is in Boston to meet her long lost half sister (who doesn’t know she has a half sister.) Omar the cheerful mailman who does the neighborhood route and who Cat walks with on his way to the bodega. Bong - the sad widowed bodega owner, who gives Cat a treat because that’s what his wife would have done.

If you love stories about strangers coming together, you’ll love this. If you love stories with kitty cats, you’ll love this. If you are in the mood for just a sweet story, you’ll love this.

Finished Reading

Pre-Read notes

The book's dedication: For all the cat people in the world, especially the suckers who always fall victim to the cat distribution system; the kind souls who adopt the oldest, sickest, and “ugliest” cats in the shelter; the hardworking, selfless, and brave cat rescuers; and the TNR volunteers You are my people, my favorite people. p5

Don't you just love it when you know you're in the exact right place? Or book?

My husband and I rescue feral cats, raise and find homes for their kittens and get them fixed, provide shelter and vet care for them, and feed the colonies living all around us. We love this work, it is hard and costly but not thankless. You've never met love until you've met a grateful semi-tame once-feral cat whose outlived their expected lifespan. And now also, Tonya Guerrero– I'm humbled by your gratitude!

And I'm really looking forward to this book!

Final Review

“Anyway, just so you know, that cat bed might become obsolete once he’s inside your place. Cats prefer everything that is ours. So you should fully expect him to take over your bed, your chairs, your kitchen counters … anything that’s yours will soon be his,” she said, leading him to the next aisle. p263

Review summary and recommendations

This book is definitely adorable and I loved it, despite any quibbles I listed in my reading notes. You will for sure feel the author's YA roots, and appreciate her measured approach to developing friendships and romances. Mostly, this is a lovely story full of charming characters, and I fell in love with the aptly named Cat. If you are a cat-lovet, enjoyer of anthropomorphism, or lover of the bright spirit of YA, I recommend this one to you. If you like this and want more, check out on of my favorites, The Traveling Cat Chronicles (my review!). I also really loved I Am a Cat (my review!).

Happy reading!

Quotation (6:08:15)

This book is quite cute, and I enjoyed it for that. Outside of snuggling with my own cats, I don't often get to experience my love for cats in such a direct way. I don't always go for anthropomorphized animals (giving them thoughts the reader can understand, for example) but I actually love the effect here, where the animal is mixed in with human POV's. POV is used interestingly in this book, like each POV character help pieces of the story, and I just had to put them together to get the whole picture. I absolutely fell in love with Cat, how he was careful and listened to his instincts, and yet sometimes he was erratic and made choices that didn't go his way. This reminds me of every cat I've ever cared for! Cat for me is the clear highlight of the book.

My quibbles are few here, and don't really detract from my enjoyment of the concept. I recommend this book to cat people and readers of magical realism and anthropomorphism. It's a good choice also for readers who enjoy romance or friendship subplots.

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The way he moved his limbs was slow and awkward, as if he hadn’t yet read the user’s manual to his own body . And though his eyes were brown, not green, he had the same vacant gaze as Rainbow Lady. p25 Guerrero use some beautiful and imaginative figurative language! The metaphors open like flowers, a few petals at a time. I really enjoy her use of this!

2. I love that Cat is called Cat, and not a name, as though he's saying, "I eschew your human traditions for I am ferrrral!"

3. This book focuses intently on characters/people with mental or cognitive disabilities, which I like. I really enjoy seeing myself in stories. So I'm surprised to say this book is full of ableist language– like using "duh" or referring to someone with social anxiety as "antisocial," which is an unrelated mental disability all its own.


Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The plot lacks conflict, which affects the pace and the tension.

2. Details make a story come to life, and this story is definitely bursting with detail. The setting is rather maximalist, in case you're into that.

3. I think this is listed as adult fiction, but the style reads like YA, which I think sort of suits this charming story. The author has mostly written YA books so I guess that makes sense!

Rating: 🐈‍⬛🐱🐈.5 /5 beloved cats
Recommend? yes
Finished: Apr 2 '25
Format: accessible digital, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🐈 cats and cat stories
🐈‍⬛ anthropomorphic animals
🐱 animal POV chapters
💓 unexpected romance
👥️ fulfilling adult friendships

Thank you to the author Tonya Guerrero, publishers Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of CAT'S PEOPLE. All views are mine.
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I loved my time with this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy lit with interconnecting stories. I thought it was pacey and well-plotted, and I liked how each character’s voice and backstory was distinct. As a person who doesn’t read a lot of romance, I struggled with the ending and the fact that the featured women felt incredulous about or unworthy of attention (admittedly, this insecurity also applies to one of the men, as well). Even with that being not for me, I’d reread and recommend this vibrant book full of intersectionality, kindness, and yummy food. Can only rate in full stars but this is really a 3.75!

I must admit, this book was nothing of what I expected it would be yet everything I needed to read right now.

Simple in its execution, this sweet and sorrowful story about a Brooklyn stray cat that brings together five strangers in unexpected ways melted my heart. As Cat nudges the strangers into each other’s lives the reader gets a glimpse into their individual struggles. What prevails is the kindness and compassion of strangers.

The cat’s perspective was original, engaging and completely relatable. I highly recommend this one. This is the perfect book to lift spirits and remind us that there is still compassion and kindness in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and the author, Tanya Guerrero, for an early digital copy.

Cats People by Tonya Guerrero, when the book starts we meet Mura, she’s almost 40, she volunteers to feed homeless cats, she’s single’ and has been a barista for almost 20 years. The next one we meet is Bon, he owns the local bodega and he’s a widow who recently lost his wife Concetta and is severely depressed in morning her loss. then we have Connor, he is a famous author he’s also almost 40 and it’s very awkward around new people. next is Omar he’s the local mailman in the Bronx, he has a partner named Neil and loves the people on his route and this includes their pets. Last but not least is Lily she moved to New York City and lives in the Bronx and works at the local grocery store but she didn’t move there for fame or Fortune but because she was looking for her half sister. throughout the book we see how one homeless cat who goes by a few different names but is mainly called Cat will bring the Mötley group together to form a family. I loved this book so much! This is my type of book. The characters were so lovable not to mention Mura was like a lot of characters but also very original in her own right. I loved the ending although kind of bittersweet but also very great. For those who love love and all it’s forms will definitely enjoy this book. This is definitely a great happy feeling fiction tale.#NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #TonyaGuerrero, #CatsPeople,

This book was exactly how it was described and exactly what I needed to read in the moment. So sweet and cute without being cheesy! A stray cat has wormed his way into the hearts of a variety of neighborhood characters and inadvertently brings them all together.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this charming novel.

The dedication alone had me (and the cover)! “For all the cat people in the world, especially the suckers who always fall victim to the cat distribution system; the kind souls who adopt the oldest, sickest, and “ugliest” cats in the shelter; the hardworking, selfless, and brave cat rescuers; and the TNR volunteers You are my people, my favorite people.”

This book was so cozy and warm! I love different character POV that interconnect. Storylines of characters living in Brooklyn and a lovely cat, a found family. There’s love, grief, friendship, family, humor. A feel good at a time that’s always needed!

“It was then, in his half-conscious state, that he realized that home wasn’t necessarily a place. Home could be people too. As long as he was with them, he would be all right. Cat had finally found a home to call his own.”

This unfortunately was a DNF. It’s a sweet concept and the writing itself is nice, but the premise just wasn’t for me. I wanted so badly to push through, as the reviews I’ve read are largely positive, but something about it just never held my interest. The characters are light and fun, and overall it’s a whimsical and heart warming story, I just don’t feel like I’m the target audience.

This book follows the journey of several different people and a beloved neighborhood cat who they all adore. Soon, they all become interconnected.

This book was really cute. It was multi perspective and eventually all the characters linked togheter. All brought together by a cat. It touched on so many emotions and hardships as each character walked through their own battles, including Cat. It was a touching story about the importance of interconnectivity with your community.

DNF @70%

This was not for me, but it isn't a bad book. If you are a fan of cozy, self-help-esque fiction in the realm of What You Are Looking for is In the Library, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, even Water Moon, etc and also are a cat lover, I think this will very much be for you. It was well written and felt very reminiscent of the aforementioned books in style. Unfortunately these types of books usually bore me and this was no exception.

This did do what it was trying to do well and I didn't dislike it by any means, so it doesn't feel right to give this any less than 3 stars. Just not quite my type of book and I don't care to finish it!

Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a sweet and heartwarming read! Perfect book for the cat lover in your life.

This book is about five lonely strangers in New York that somehow all meet and become important in each other’s lives all thanks to this stray black cat! 😍

This had multiple POVs, including the cat who is named Cat lol.

It felt a little like Remarkable Bright Creatures in that sense - which I loved. I was rooting for everyone in this book and I ended the book with happiness in my heart!

Thank you to Delacort/Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

3.5 Stars!

The heart warming and cozy story about a stray cat that has a way of bringing people together. If you're looking for a feel good book, then this is the one for you! The stray cat bonded with several strangers and aligned them together. With the several characters there was also multi POV which I loved. I would consider this a light read. It didn't have a lot of depth, but that didn't bother me. It's the perfect book to cozy up with at a coffee shop.

Cats People by Tanya Guerrero is a heartwarming story that celebrates friendship, kindness, and connection. This delightful tale follows the unlikely bond formed between five strangers and one extraordinary cat. A must-read for all feline enthusiasts, this book will warm your heart and remind you of the power of unexpected connections.

A sweet tale about a stray cat on the streets in Brooklyn and 5 lonely people who care for him. We get 6 povs and their interactions with the black cat who lives in the hedges. Nuria who helps take care of the stray cats by feeding them and checking on them. Collin is a bestselling writer but is stumped with his next novel. Bong, a recently widowed bodego owner. Omar, a mailman and Lilly a recent highschool graduate looking for her half sister and the black cat.

This book was so sweet and cozy. I'm a big lover of cats unfortunately I'm allergic and hubby is deathly allergic. So I can only admire them from afar, read about them or watch cat videos. 😻 I loved this book and loved the found family and the romance. This is a phenomenal debut and I can't wait to see what else the author writes.

Calling all cat people! I love a pet-centered book, and this one really tugged at my heartstrings. This read is for anyone who loves cats, dogs, found family and heartwarming tales. I really enjoyed the Brooklyn setting and the loveable cast of characters. Such a sweet read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you random house and PRH audio for the review copies! This was all the warm fuzzies about found family and how people find each other even when they don't know what they need/what they are looking for. Cats really are that kind of magic.... A charming story that won me over! Guerro's writing was easy to connect with and I loved the varied POVs as the stories were shared and how each character became part of the bigger story and themes.