Unfortunately, having really enjoyed Dawn O'Porter's previous books, I found this book too unusual for my taste, too graphic in some parts and really not one for me. Thanks for the ARC nonetheless.

Dawn O’ Porters books always have me laughing out loud, and this one did it again. It’s a heartwarming one not shying away from topics.

I loved this book. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I was hooked pretty much start away. It was both heartbreaking and funny. I really enjoyed the writing style, and am keen to read more of Dawn O’Porter’s novels. I'll never look at marshmallows the same way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Mia knows how to play the role of perfect wife to Tristan and perfect stepmother to his son Oliver. She knows how to be the smart, reliable managing director of a jewellery brand even if the CEO doesn’t quite understand how to grow the business. She also knows how to be the cat mother that her beloved Pigeon needs. But when a devastating event rocks her quiet, comfortable world, Mia learns that underneath it all, she isn’t quite the woman that she has always purported to be. So, does she give society what it wants from her as a woman in her 40s or does she give in to the independent, crazy cat lady within? Of course, I was always going to give this book a read. I enjoyed O’Porter’s So Lucky a few years ago and naturally, as a cat lover I was drawn to the striking cover on her latest. It’s both funny and tragic with a thoroughly likeable yet multi-flawed heroine. Pet grief is a central theme but it’s dealt with from the perspective of a true animal lover, so the grief is taken incredibly seriously. There is some excellent exploration of the dynamics between women which will ring true to so many female readers. There is some content that will make some readers cringe including some pretty graphic sex scenes. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of being unapologetically yourself with a lovely heartwarming ending. Proceed with caution if you’re sensitive to animal death and explicit sex.

I really enjoyed Cat Lady! For me it was a little bit of Elinor Oliphant meets The Cactus. A bittersweet but heart warming read that I finished quickly!

I don't like cats, at all. But I loved this book! Some great characters and a different premise. Well written. Recommend!

As with all of Dawn O'Porter's books I really, really enjoyed this. The same humour as in her previous adult novels with similar themes, I enjoy that difficult topics are not shied away from. Already looking forward to the next one!

I enjoyed this book, however I can see why some have struggled to get through it. It's a bit depressing and sinister in places, however there is some humour added in too to lift it up a bit. It was an okay book, but probably not one I will rush to recommend anytime soon.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I am a fan of O'Porter and have enjoyed her work for many years. But Cat Lady was not an enjoyable read. I found the characterisation flat, the prose to be humourless and it was a real slog to finish. I hope this is just a blip in an otherwise great writing career.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I love Dawn O'Porter but i found this book to be extremely weird and not my cup of tea.

Cat lady is more than just a story about a woman and her cat.

The quirky style of this novel really resonated with me; I loved Mia and her relationship with pigeon and how that affected her relationships with everyone else.

This is a story of love, loss, hardship, betrayal, mental breakdown and family.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it. Sad in places and anger filled in others; I experienced a kaleidoscopic of emotions switching through one chapter to the next.

I don’t know why I’ve never read anything by Dawn O’Porter before!

Enjoyed this book is was funny in parts and the cat lady and her relationship and life problems and was quite dark in parts. can see why people on the whole liked the book

Cat Lady is the latest novel from author Dawn O'Porter. It sticks to her usual style of quirky, witty female characters that her regular readers seem to love.

Mia lives in London with her husband and stepson and beloved cat. She is completely devoted to her pet. Probably a little too dependant on it. She joins a pet bereavement group when her cat is still very much alive. The book follows her story as her personal life and work life begin to unravel, while trying to hide the truth from the support group. It all gets very very messy with lots of awkward, uncomfortable, humerous situations along the way.
I've read one other book from the same author and quite like her style although it always goes a bit too far for my personal taste and some of the situations are so far fetched and totally avoidable and irrelevant (human pencilcase) it makes me do an eye roll. However, I found myself remembering the story and characters very clearly months after reading so it was enjoyable and well written.

This is a funny book with serious themes. As I got three quarters way through I found it all a bit depressing but it turned around towards the end. Overall very enjoyable but glad when I finished it.
NetGalley kindly sent me a copy of this book for an impartial review.
#CatLady #NetGalley

An enjoyable read which is both funny and heartwarming. The main character is Mia who joins a group of bereaved pet owners, a hough Mia's cat Pigeon is very much alive. Very cleverly written I would recommend this book.

Dnf
Sorry not Sorry.
This just wasn't my style so I think my review won't be fair.
Mia was too clunky and obtuse for my liking. And why such a weird relationship with her cat. Nope couldn't read on.

Definitely a more unusual book of O' Porter's! This story of the depths of someone's attachment and love for a pet makes for interesting reading.
There were a few parts when main character Mia felt very accessible, where she was quite open about her thoughts and feelings, but then others where she was incredibly closed off and hard to connect to. All of which reflects her journey in the story. She struggles to let people in but then can overshare in certain situations.

She has a very intricate relationship with her cat, Pigeon. which I’ll admit I struggled to 'get' fully as I am not someone who has this bond with a pet, but I can also understand that this 100% is the case for certain people. Her back story definitely helps to understand the premise of the book. The main strength of the book is showing how animals can provide massive love and unconditional comfort to someone.

I didn't love the book overall, but definitely an interesting one.

Love Dawn O’Porter and think she’s hilarious, though this is the first book of hers I have read. I couldn’t really warm up to this book until about half way through, though in hindsight I think the protagonist was presented in a certain way initially to make her almost unlikeable. In the end I did like her and I wanted good things for her. I am a cat lover (though I love dogs too so people don’t trust me generally!!) but some of the stuff between her and the cat was a bit… off-putting? Overall I liked it well enough, although I’m not sure I’d be rushing to recommend it as it wasn’t really my usual cup of tea.

I really just think that this one wasn't particularly aimed for me. I didn't get the humour or wit and I haven't read any of Dawn O'Porter's other works to compare them to. I enjoyed the fact that the protagonist was an older lady - in her 40s but she wasn't relatable to me in any way, shape, or form. She was quite repulsive.

The ways she views her cat (the shower scene) is kind of what finished me off, oh, and describing the actions of a dog and some peanut butter. She just doesn't view her pet the way most people do. Her cat literally rules the roost. She sleeps in a separate room from her husband and pencils in sex several times a week - she won't sleep with him because he doesn't want animals in their bed after a strange occurrence. She lets the cat control her life. With the added complication of having her husband's ex-wife drop in unannounced, let me tell you, I would be insisting upon some strict boundaries. This was a strange one for me and ultimately I didn't connect with it.

Dawn O'Porter has a fresh writing perspective that is equal parts shocking and refreshing. Cat Lady is hilarious, sad, compelling, emotional and overall a great read. There will be characters that you love, some that you hate and a few that you may change your minds about by the end of the book.

There's no need to love cats to read this book but it maybe helps a little - give it a try, you won't regret it!