This book was a total joy to read, Mia is an incredible character that really got under my skin. I could not put this book down I was surprised how emotional it made me while still being very funny and life affirming. Mia has a job she loves and is good at, a husband, nice home and a stepson she cares for, everything appears to be perfect but once you get to know Mia and see her unravel nothing is what it seems. Cat Lady is a very intelligent look at the power of friendship and embracing your weirdness so you can find your tribe.

Another great Dawn O’Porter novel, with her classic writing style that never fails to disappoint. Didn’t think I’d necessarily enjoy this as not the biggest cat person, but was really pleasantly surprised and I actually couldn’t put the book down!

I didn't know much about the book except that it was supposed to be funny and for the cat lovers. I was so excited to read this but unfortunately it just didn't work for me. I didn't find it funny at all and the main character was really annoying and condescending to anyone who didn't share her opinions. Even the cat love couldn't save it for me.

a poignant story in the authors typical style
a story of relationships with our animals that ask for nothing but give so much and the relationships with families and friends that sometimes can let you down.

Well I must admit I’ve not read any of Dawn O’Porter’s books before, but I’ll certainly be changing that and reading some more now.

I hate the term ‘Cat Lady’ as it is often used as a derogatory term . I’ve always had cats and and especially when I was single with cats would always get the old ‘oh your a cat person’ even though i was a dog and cat groomer with my own pet shop and normally covered in more dog than cat hair😂 so I went into this book very dubiously . Then I began … and I read this in one sitting !!!

I honestly could not put it down . Watching this woman’s life breakdown around her and watch her realise what was important made me a complete Mia cheerleader . Her strength, wit and her humanity was astonishing to find in a character . Once the worst she was afraid of happened she just became whatever she wanted to be and I I loved her for it , as the blurb says a woman always lands on her feet .

If you have never known the love of a pet aka best friend because that’s what they become (let’s face it) this book probably won’t be for you but for all you fellow animals lovers out there who understand how that connection feels I’m sure you will completely fall for Mia like me ! I want to read this all over again now .

Yes the writing not perfect at times and there are some silly mistakes (mothers days always on a Sunday so why are the kids and parents at work?!) but I really enjoyed this book and it far surpassed any expectations I had . Thank you netgalley and of course the author for the opportunity to read this !!

Cat Lady, like all Dawn O'Porter’s novels, is compelling, hilarious and perilously on the edge of disturbing in places. This novel is a really interesting deconstruction of the “cat lady” stereotype (and other stereotypes too) as well as an exploration of mental health, grief, trauma and abuse of power, as well as the powerful love and bond one can have with animals who, let’s face it, tend to love a bit more unconditionally than humans do.

I really enjoyed it but did find myself absolutely cringing at one point, wondering how far Dawn was going to go with it! I do admire authors who are braver than I ever would be! The whole crabs episode is quite inspired.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Mia is trying to play the part that everyone expects- the loving wife, doting stepmother, strong business woman…

But beneath the surface, there’s a woman trying to claw her way out. When a series of events shatters Mia’s perfect life, she has a choice to make. Follow the conventional life she was leading or be true to herself?

I’ve read quite a few of Dawn’s books and generally think that they are fun, entertaining, easy reads. I should probably point out that I’m a dog person but I can still relate to the main character’s love for her feline companion Pigeon. Her cat is the one constant in a world that dramatically shifts for her overnight.

As with all her books, the characters are quirky, there is moments that should be quite funny but I couldn’t laugh as I was traumatised by other aspects within the story. I think some of the shocking elements and overly graphic discussions of an STI and making a joke about sexually abusing the cat just didn’t come across as necessary or funny for me and I know a lot of people have been raving about how funny the book is. I felt quite sorry for the main character who is clearly going through a nervous breakdown so I just couldn’t grasp the wit that others were arguing was so hilarious.

I did like the main story and the idea of a support group for those who need to talk about the loss of their pets. Dawn’s love for her own cats shines through when Mia interacts with Pigeon which was quite endearing. I enjoyed seeing Mia and her sister’s relationship grow stronger, particularly as they both had a tough upbringing and reacted very differently to that experience as adults. Mia finally standing up for herself against a lot of people who really took advantage of her was a highlight for me. I just did not enjoy the other stuff I mentioned above so I’m not sure that I get what Dawn was going for in this book. All I do know is that I bawled several times when reading this!

Thanks to Harper Collins for the NetGalley arc. Cat Lady will be out on October 27th.

Wowser! I absolutely sped through this book because I couldn’t put it down. It was simply purrfect, hehe.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but at the back of my mind, I expected compelling characters, sprinklings of wit and something deeply thoughtful as I’d read some of Dawn’s previous work. And… drumroll… I got exactly that. I also got a warm heart and a broken heart. This book literally put me through turmoil.

As for Mia, I adored her no nonsense approach and the fact that she knew what she wanted. I also warmed to her vulnerability too. The extended cast of characters including her colleagues, her sister’s family, her support group and her husband, really brought everything to zingy life.

Midway through the book, I almost felt my heart stop. Not saying anything, but when you get there, you’ll know. I welcomed Pigeon’s presence too.

I feel as though I’ve been through it all with this one. What a journey. I’m not likely to forget ‘Cat Lady’ in a hurry.

I loved every minute of this book. It’s super fabulous. Put it on your reading list, now!

I'm always massively intrigued by Dawn's books. The characters are usually quite weird and start off being mostly unlikeable but as you get to know them, their behaviour makes sense and also normalises, or I just accept it as part of a character I've come to love. Like life really... However it did take a lot for me to see how I was ever going to like Mia... I'm not NOT a cat person but have never formally been owned by one and the early pages describing Mia and Pigeon's routines nearly had me heading for the 'will not review' box!

Mia loves her cat Pigeon, Pigeon came to her in quite distressing circumstances and has been Mia's dearest love for 16 years but despite that mutual adoration and dependency, something is rather wrong with Mia. Her marriage is lacking, her boss is horrible, her husband's ex-wife is repugnant and Mia needs some support... So she attends a pet bereavement group, where she meets a group of people with their own issues but who offer a place for Mia to share.

The book tackles loneliness, human relationships and public lice - and it really didn't take me very long to work out that I liked Mia very much indeed and I desperately wanted her to be happy.

One thing I really hope is fixed before this book is published is the absolutely atrocious fact-checking/proof-reading - maybe Dawn dictated her novel, or perhaps spoke into her phone and let it type away but 'barrister' instead of 'barista', 'ball' instead of 'bawl' and my personal favourite 'Don Perignon' champagne, which I can only assume is an Aldi equivalent of Dom Perignon, had me howling in annoyance. And don't get me started on what day of the week Mother's Day is! Assuming all that is fixed, you will (depending on your own experiences with cats) absolutely root for Mia from really quite early on and find yourself wanting to punch Tristan and Belinda in the throat. Enjoy!

I love dawns book and this is no exception!! After a bit of a slower start, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this. I really hate the stereotype of the cat lady (I have cats myself) and I wasn’t really sure where the story was going.
By about 40% in I couldn’t put it down! I was so angry at the injustice of the main characters situation and willing her to fight back. Would definitely recommend! Read through netgalley but for an honest review.

Having previously read and loved The Cows, I was pleased to have been selected to review Dawn O’Porter’s latest novel. This was a light, easy read that covered some interesting points about societal stereotypes and mental health. It was interesting to uncover more about Mia’s character as the story unfolded, particularly learning about her past and how it directly relates to why she acts the way she does.

Despite this, I found that the story was slightly rushed in places and that not a lot actually happened by the end. I found the dynamic between Mia, Tristan and Belinda very strange and unrealistic, and found the ending to be somewhat rushed and an attempt to quickly tie up the loose ends.

Overall, a fairly enjoyable read but not my favourite novel by Dawn O’Porter.

*Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Being a cat lady myself I really enjoyed this book about Mia. I will read more by Dawn. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter is the first book from the author that I have read and as I saw that title, I just had to read it.
Mia has a good life; she is a Managing director for a jewellery company which she loves. She is married to Tristan and has a stepson Oliver who she adores. She has a cat called Pigeon who she loves more than her husband and the most constant thing in her life. When she has problems, she can always turn to Pigeon. He is always there for her. But still, she pretends and attends a pet bereavement group, and these people understand where she is coming from.
I didn’t know what to expect from this author, but I found this story to be funny but also emotional story of Mia. A woman who preferred cats to people. I really enjoyed this story of Mia and felt sorry for her. She has a lot going for her but still seemed to be a lonely person. After reading this I will give the authors other books a go. 4 stars from me.

I don't know how to review this book, but not for the normal reasons. I started crying at about two thirds in and didn't really stop, but I loved every word and I'd have kept reading if there was more.

The writing flows amazingly here. I was a hundred pages in before I realised it, completely swept away (although the situation with the pet group did confuse me at first, that could have been clearer, but I got it in the end.) It might have helped that I am definitely a cat lady myself, so I could relate perfectly to Mia, but I think even people who are weird and don't like cats will enjoy this one. The animal here happens to be a cat but it could be anything; the relationship is the important thing, not the type of animal.

Mia's found family is amazing. I adore found family when it's used well, and here it's just fantastic, messy and hard and fulfilling and wonderful. I could wrap myself up in their interactions for a long long time. I liked the variety of relationships as well, romantic, friendly, professional and familial all represented here. It was wonderful to watch her social circle open up as we went through the novel.

BE AWARE there is a certain amount of very openly described sex in here.

I'm definitely recommending this one, just with a tissue warning!




SPOILER BELOW:













And here is the spoiler: the cat dies. It's exactly as heartbreaking as you think it is. But it does get better.

This book really grew on me. I found the first half a little slow to get into but that was more than made up for by the second half. I grew to love the characters and thought it had a lovely ending. Worth a read.

Having previously read So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter, and as a previous owner of a cat who was my shadow, even to the point I couldn’t go to the toilet alone, I couldn’t wait to dive right in to her latest book.

This book is a journey of feminism and a finger up at the stigma of being ‘the crazy cat lady’. Mia is a successful business woman, married with a step child, and has her ever present companion of pigeon. Pigeon is now 16 years old so fearful of how she will cope she heads to a pet bereavement meeting where she meets an eclectic mix of people. I loved this little group, especially Greg, and the impact they have on Mia is heartwarming.

Through the book I laughed, and even had a little tear as Mia navigated her way through life as it slowly falls apart around her. Mia’s interactions with her colleagues and her husbands bloody awful ex wife had me chuckling away to myself.

I was worried at first that I wouldn’t get on with the book after enjoying So Lucky, however this book has so much deeper emotion that I could relate to I ended up not being able to put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for a copy of the book in return for honest feedback

I loved this story! Very frank and very honest, this book touches on a number of delicate topics but with sensitivity, understanding and respectful humour throughout. A must for any cat lovers, Mia is a married stepmother who loves no one more than her cat. Her family life is slightly dysfunctional and gets turned on it’s head, allowing the true Mia to escape and find herself.

Dawn O’Porter’s writing style is addictive, this is a book you won’t want to put down. From Mia ‘s own internal struggles to her heiress boss, the support group she joins and ‘crabs’, this is an entertaining read which had me rooting for Mia all the way through!

This was a fun easy read, I found myself with regular urges to return to it and enjoy its playfulness. There were some good observations of human quirks, I connected with characters, and it was a joy to see the sensitive animal-lovers take on the stone-hearted! The storyline had just the right amount of characters and side plots to keep it interesting and with a few rollercoaster moments. I had a an advance copy and really hope they do a better proof-read before publication, as it was littered with errors that wouldn’t be picked up by a computer, e.g. stationary cupboard (stationery), she balled (bawled), etc, which were a bit distracting. But all in all, lots of giggles and feel-good, so my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

Firstly thank you for the copy on netgalley. Ive read some of her previous books so was excited to read this.

I absolutely loved this! It’s very funny and will have you racing through the pages.

Witty,fresh ,modern and very relatable .

Thought provoking and so apt for today’s society we live in.

Mia was a fantastically written character whose voice is still in my head..she’s hilarious and a breath of fresh air .

Published 27th October and I highly recommend spending time with this cat lady…. she will exceed your expectations….

This book really had everything! Funny, honest, sad and totally heartbreaking!
As a cat lover myself I loved the story and would highly recommend to cat ladies everywhere!