The Three Lives of Cate Kay follows the author, as she tells her life story through her memoir, revealing her past as Annie and her pseudonym Cass.

There are similarities, as many reviews indicate to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, there’s the drama and the personal struggles…. however, Cate Kay‘s story focuses more on emotions than the glamour.

The multiple perspectives and timelines can be tricky to follow at first, so it takes a bit of time to get into, stick with it though - it’s really worth the read.

This book was brilliant. I thought the characters were complex and interesting and the story was just brilliant. I can’t recommend this one highly enough, it reminded me of the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo which is an all time favourite of mine.

I don’t think it’s a good thing when you get to the end of a book and feel you have no idea why the character’s make the decisions they did, not because of their immense complexity but because I felt I didn’t know them any better by the end. The romance was weakly written and so all the angst around it felt silly (to me) instead of wrenching. It’s definitely not a thriller and borders on dull at points (also very much disagree with the Evelyn Hugo comparisons). It’s not bad, but I didn’t care about the characters that much so it’s not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to this book based on the blurb and the comments that “if you like Taylor Jenkins Reid, you will love this”. Unfortunately for me it just didn’t live up to the hype. I found the characters lacking and almost dull, the story telling style was confusing to say the least.

It is told in the narrative of various characters as well as the the main character’s “memoir”. I found this confusing and I felt added nothing to the narrative. The book dealt with various themes quite well such as relationships, friendships and fame but unfortunately didn’t make up for the inconsistency and drawn out writing.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay
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ARC Review: The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan, Published: 7th January 2025
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Cate Kay is the most famous author on the planet. And yet, no one knows who she is. Anne Marie Callahan no longer exists, aside from in the memories of those she left behind. Cass Ford is the woman who invented herself, the one who never really stopped running. Three names for three different lives, but Cate is ready to introduce herself to the world in her new memoir, but to do so, she needs to stop running from her past.
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Guys. This book. It’s SO. CLEVER. I finished it on my lunch break and I didn’t feel like it was fair for me to have to go back to work afterwards. I was kind of just sat there like !!!! And I’m desperate for more? Although, that’s precisely the point Anne / Cass / Cate makes. She doesn’t have to share everything with the world, some things are for her to hold tight to her chest, and that’s okay. We don’t need to know every single detail of a celebrity’s life. And yet, there are questions that are left unanswered and I want to know more.
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The way this story was told scratched my brain in a very specific way. There are multiple versions of Anne speaking - we have Anne, who then turns into Annie, who then turns to Cass, but we also have other character who crop up in her life. Whether it’s a big character who spends a lot of time with her, or someone who only briefly meets her but has a big impact nonetheless, this memoir is so far reaching. And it’s brilliant. We get to know how Annie changed the lives of those around her, even when she thought she was never good enough as herself. It’s the story of how one author, one woman, can have an impact on so many people.
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The book is so mysterious, so tense, so heartbreaking, and so romantic all at once. We never really know anything ahead of the narrative - even though it’s being told by people who DO, we’re allowed to go through all of the emotions that Annie experienced in her own time. We’re allowed to have the same questions as her (most of the time - there’s only certain instances where we know more than she did, but boy, is it great).
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There are so many characters that I loved, some that I hated, and some who I felt so much sympathy for. Each one gets to tell some part of their tale, and it’s truly fascinating to see into their minds. The way Kate Fagan was able to write so many different characters and strong perspectives in one book is truly impressive.
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At points, I laughed. At points, I cried. Sometimes I was even desperately trying to hold in a gasp or two. I actually cannot recommend this book enough - in fact, as soon as I finished, I voice noted two of my friends to gush about it. There is so much more than I can say about this book.

A mysterious and entertaining read! Written in the form of an unconventional memoir - with several different voices - this narrative essentially tells the story of Annie/Cass/Cate. They are all the same person but each version of this woman grapples with the themes of identity, relationships and how to connect to the rest of world when you haven’t fully worked out how to connect to your inner self.

Annie’s relationship with her close school friend, Amanda, starts the narrative … until a dramatic event changes both of their lives forever. Annie then becomes Cass and her relationship with Sidney becomes toxic and controlling … leading Cass to start to explore the past in order to write a new future. However, she publishes as Cate … who then meets Ryan and this romance leads to a powerful yearning that reminds Cate of Amanda. How are the lives of these women really linked? You’ll find out in this gripping and unusual story.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has an ambitious plot with much to appreciate. I finished it in a couple of days, as the short chapters and multiple perspectives kept the story moving quickly.

The book is framed as a memoir of a successful yet anonymous author, with additional chapters from other characters’ viewpoints. While I liked some of these, I wasn't fond of the shifts in perspective.

Melody’s backstory was especially intriguing, and I would have liked more of her story. Ryan’s journey through fame and identity was also compelling.

While I enjoyed the book overall, the differing perspectives lacked distinct voices, and the style didn’t fully resonate with me.

This is a must read for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. It carries the same warmth her books do and I settled into the writing style really easily.

It's a multi narrative story, which can sometimes cause confusion, but it works so well here. It's essentially the memoir you're reading, with footnotes added by Cate on the chapters she hasn't written.

The characters are colourful and dynamic, and the relationships are very real. I particularly loved her friendship with Amanda, her best friend.

There's some romance, some deviousness and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. A great read, and a fiction debut to boot.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely one of my favourites this year!

I think what I enjoyed most about this book is all the different perspectives (what a crazy thing to say, I know!). We mainly follow Annie (plus all her "personas"), Ryan, Sidney and Amanda, but there are other character POVs sprinkled throughout which I think only added to the story. I didn't feel confused at all, which I think is a true testament to the writing. Every character and their POV added something crucial to the story, whether it's missing information or a different side of a situation. I especially adored the short chapter from Carl's POV (the man who helped Annie get her fan mail) - it was really touching and I found myself tearing up.

Another quirk I loved about the book was the footnotes and how they brought in Annie's thoughts and feelings, even when the chapter was from somebody else's POV.

All in all, truly a wonderful story about love, friendship, guilt, life and everything in between. Could not put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a book thet was marketed as for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Being a huge fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I had high expectations, though they weren’t fully met, I do think that if you enjoyed Evelyn Hugo, you will enjoy The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Though they aren’t very similar plot wise, it is similar with the vibes and with a queer love story.

There is multiple points of view in this book, and I men there is a lot, plus Cate Kay goes by three names. This book is almost like a memoir being told by Cate Kay, and I loved the addition if footnotes! This was chronologically written, and starts off with Cate as a teenager but then something goes very wrong. Despite being a famous best selling author of a trilogy, no one actually knows who Cate Kay is. We see her past, we see her love story, we see her relationships with people. I have to say whilst I enjoyed Ryan’s point of virw, I was most invested in the Cate-Amanda relationship.

Overall, I did find this book interesting, but it was quite slow to get i to and I started to enjoy it most around the 35% mark. I am giving The Three Lives of Cate Kay 3.5 stars.

Thank you to netgalley for supplying me with an eARC copy of the three lives of cate kay. I was intrigued by this because i thought the cover and title was similar to the seven husbands of evelyn hugo. well first off, this definitely wasnt the same book which is good. it was unlike anything else ive read before, a woman living 3 different lives which is interesting in itself but the plot and how it all tangles together was so cleverly done and i loved every second reading this. I also loved the writing style which made the story flow so effortlessly and made reading this such a pleasure.

✨ Book Review: The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan ✨
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Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for providing me with this ARC.

If The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six had a bookish lovechild, it would be The Three Lives of Cate Kay! This electric debut hooked me from page one with its easy, addictive prose and the mystery of Cate’s elusive identity. I couldn’t put it down—it swallowed me whole! 📚

I loved the different perspectives of the various narrators, which added so much depth and nuance to the story. The characters felt so vivid—their dramatics, flaws, and vulnerabilities had me completely invested, especially Cate (or Cass / Annie) and her struggle to face her fears and heartaches. However, I do wish we could have delved a bit deeper into some tougher subjects, like Annie’s sexuality and her difficulty voicing her preferences, such as during the restaurant scene with Ryan.

Still, this book is brimming with drama, heartache, and redemption. With its bold characters, juicy secrets, and cinematic flair, it’s perfect for fans of character-driven stories with a dash of glamour and grit. Highly recommend clearing your schedule—you won’t want to put this down! 🌟

Two best friends have big plans for their future together until one day an horrific accident sends one of them running for the hills. The story then follows their separate lives that will always be joined by an invisible thread.

Until about half way through I actually found it really hard to follow as there were a LOT of names, and one of the characters used 3 names so yes, quite hard to follow! Once I was in though I was SO invested and couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book wow is all I can say loved this. Cate an author but really does not exist she has box office trilogy that has been casted as a film. Infact the book is Cate memoir.

Lots of points of view, twists and turns and a different story that works

Recommended read

If you loved Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo then this one will hit the mark for you too. This is an epic story of how one choice can affect the trajectory of our life, and how the people you think are on your side really might not be. I loved every page.

3.5 Stars
Anne Marie Callahan is raised in Bolton Landing as is her best friend Amanda. Amanda calls her Annie. The pair are inseparable. They dream and plan for their futures.
Annie has big plans, dreams and ambitions for her future.
Upon leaving Bolton Landing Annie changes her name to Cass Ford and when she becomes an author her pseudonym becomes Cate Kay.

I struggled with the first 20% of this book as I found it a little complicated, then it started to make sense and I enjoyed reading it.
It was a book that I couldn’t predict the ending and it held my interest. It delves into relationships and emotions. How devious a person can be to deceive and mislead someone else’s life and path.
I thought the book had a good ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

I thought this was really good! Very well written and thought the different POVs was a great way to tell the story, however I felt that certain plot points could have been explored more without some of the larger time jumps. Really enjoyed the addition of the footnotes throughout the chapters as they helped bring the story to life.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

I really enjoyed this book but admit I was slightly confused at the start with the various characters povs and especially the two females with male names however once I got my head around that, I romped through the book, enjoying the various timelines, characters and connecting with how relationships can be uplifting, deep, supportive or sometimes toxic. I was rooting for Annie/Cas and I admit I shed a few tears towards the end. I would certainly like to read more from this author.

I had to give up on this book half way through. I found it repetitive, confusing and boring. The narrative jumps around all over the place and although I usually like multiple narrators here it just confused things. And what was the point of the footnotes?? Sometimes they appeared several pages after the asterisk so that the reader had forgotten all about it. Not one for me I'm afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

Cate Kay, author of the hottest best-selling trilogy The Very Last, is a mystery. Nobody knows her face, or her real name, but she’s finally ready to share her story. This book is her memoir: telling the story of Cate with a K, Anne Marie and Annie using multiple points of view.

A really excellent and well written book that I couldn't put down until I finished it. Highly recommended.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.