I am not a cat person but admittedly this cat was cool. I loved the cat’s perspective and voice. I loved the way he brought people together and connected their lives. On the flip side, I found it to be a bit dull at times. I felt like I didn’t get enough from each of the characters to really connect. But overall it was delightful, easy and fun to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Núria is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of stray cats. One day she starts finding Post-It notes from a secret admirer where a black cat named Cat lives. Núria tries to guess who it might be: Collin, the bestselling author who is a hermit who loves coffee; Lily, searching for her long-lost half-sister; Omar the mailman; Bong, the grieving widower who owns Núria’s favorite bodega. These five strangers bond through chance encounters and their connection with Cat.

We have short chapters from everyone's POV, even the Cat. At first, there's a bit of overlap as the characters see each other in the neighborhood and interact. Cat has a soft spot for certain people and is willing to help these five in particular. We get a chance to see how Núria’s daily life is and what she sees is important as she responds to letters that Collin writes to distract himself from writer's block. Omar, Bong, and Lily gradually get to know each other when small kindnesses and chance comments build on each other.

If anything, this book feels like the best of New York City. The smaller neighborhoods within boroughs are thriving and interconnected communities because of the connections that people have. These five strangers work through their fears and reach out, and are able to create new friendships, and caring for Cat is another link connecting them. Even Cat, an older stray who had seen a lot during his time on the street learns to trust these people and try to help however he can. The end of the book is truly a feel-good moment for everyone involved, a happily ever after, and a great Brooklyn-style slice of life.

This is a very sweet but simple story. There isn’t a ton of depth, it borders on cheesy, and I am expected to believe that a cat is really quite intelligent. As an animal person, I like the idea that these people all end up meeting because of this particular cat and their affection for him. I like that all of them “take in” the stray cat and give him love. It was just a touch too saccharine.

The first thing that caught my attention was the cover. I love all animals but I just find the cat cover with everyone petting them so cute and inviting! this was the perfect light fun read in between my usual thriller stories! I’d recommend for cat lovers and really and animal lovers in general!

One of the cutest, sweetest, most delightful books I've read in a long time. I loved absolutely ever character in this adorable book and I don't think that has ever happened. I've also never read a book where a cat was personified enough to have its own POV and it WORKS! I thoroughly enjoyed this slice of humanity with a bit of cat perspective woven in. The way the characters all interconnected and at the same time grew and flourished was a welcomed change of pace. Given the state of the world today, this was exactly the kind of soft hug type of book I needed. I 100% recommend this especially if you are a cat lover (any animal lover really) and in need of a light but powerful sweet escape.

I never thought I would love a book so much but it was just the calm comfort that a good snuggle with a furry friend can give to you. But in book form and I can’t wait take it on the train without worry. Thanks for letting me read this.

(4.5 stars)
One-liner: simply delightful!

Cat’s People takes us to present-day Crown Heights, a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Nuria is a single woman in her late 30s, who works as a barista and feeds stray cats as her second “job.” We also meet Cat, a stray black cat who has survived on the streets for quite a while, by being very smart and cautious. He’s had some bad experiences with humans but he trusts Nuria.

We also meet other neighborhood people, most of whom only know each other to say HI: Omar, the super-friendly mail carrier; Collin, the socially awkward semi-famous writer with writer’s block; Bong, a Filipino bodega owner; Lily, a new Georgia transplant; and more. I fell in love with each and every one of these characters! Cat eventually brings them all together.

Being familiar with the neighborhood, and similar ones around Brooklyn, had me easily picturing the action, but you do not have to be familiar with Brooklyn to picture things, as the author does a good job of setting the scenes. In addition to the Crown Heights neighborhood, there’s a wonderful scene at Coney Island.

I especially liked the chapters written from Cat’s point of view. He refers to the humans he interacts with by “Rainbow Lady,” “Awkward Neighbor Guy,” “Cheery Mailman,” “Sad Bodega Man,” and “Bright-Pink Person.” That alone had me smiling.

Don’t miss this quietly lovely book.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. While I received the eARC from NetGalley, I wound up mostly listening to the audiobook gifted by Random House Audio. The narrator, Elena Rey, did an excellent job with the many voices and accents. All opinions are my own.

This one completely stole my heart. Cat’s People is a beautiful, multi-POV story told through six voices—including our observant, opinionated, and unexpectedly wise hero: Cat. Yes, the cat gets his own POV, and yes, it absolutely works.

I’m not even a cat person (team dog over here), but after reading this, I might just be a convert. The characters—each with their own struggles, secrets, and heart—come together around their shared love for one remarkable stray cat. If you’re a sucker for the found family trope, this book is a must. There’s also a bit of mystery, a whisper of romance, and a whole lot of warmth woven through the story.

The audiobook is so well done. One narrator voices all the characters, yet somehow each one has a distinct tone and rhythm. It was such a pleasure to listen to, and I was fully immersed from the first chapter to the last.

Sweet, thoughtful, and full of heart—this one is a gem. Add it to your TBR now!

“There was no pretense when it came to her feline companions. When they were being sweet, they were being sweet. When they were being assholes, they were being assholes. When they wanted to ignore you, they ignored you. Cats didn’t have a hidden agenda.” 🐈

Full disclosure…I am NOT a cat person. But I am a lover of and a sucker for animals, especially when a storyline has an animals pov. Cat was such a sweet and endearing character and this book has me wanting to hug and snuggle the nearest kitty.

There is just something so special about animals. They never deserve anything bad that happens to them and give so much more than they take. So if you love animals too then I think you’ll love this story
of a stray cat and the power of healing and love.

The audiobook was narrated so well with the light tone of what I imagine a kitties thoughts would sound like. There were many characters and the narrators distinct voices really helped to differentiate them.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House/Delacorte Press, and the author for the complimentary ARC.

I really loved this darling book. I ended up mostly listening to the audio and only reading my e-arc for about a third, but both were equally great methods for this one. I love a found family book, and while I did find this slow at first and hard to get into, reading Cat’s perspective helped keep the book going. In the end, it gave me that heartwarming found family feeling that I was looking for.

Do you want to read something feel good without it being saccharine? That's <i>Cat's People</i>.

While the book is told from many perspectives, the two that bring everyone together are of course Cat, the street cat they all care for, and Nuria, who is both the known and unknown connections between them all. The things happening in all these peoples' lives are real, they feel real, they feel like the balance of good and bad in all our lives. The experience of all of them coming together for Cat was adorable.

This is a quick read with heart, and reassurance that people are good.

A heartwarming and simply-told tale of five New Yorkers and the stray black cat who brought them all together. Each character, including the cat, tells their own story. Cat lives in the alley of the Awkward Guy, Colin, and is fed by Rainbow Girl. The Cheery Mailman, Omar, and Sad Bodega Guy, Bong, are his friends too. And recently Bright Pink Girl, Lily, has become a regular visitor. This very definition found family meanders along as we see each person's own struggles and hopes until they come together to ensure Cat is okay.

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.