If you're a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, I have a feeling you will really enjoy this story, with it giving some serious Evelyn Hugo vibes.
I liked the overall concept and it certainly drew me in.
The representation throughout the book was great too.
It did take me a few chapters to get a grip on who was who, but the change in timelines and multiple POVs worked well.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out to see what Kate Fagan does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! From the queer perspective to the expertly crafted storyline to the well-drawn characters, it was such a treat to read. The relationships were so real, the pages were practically breathing. My only quibble would be that the ending felt rushed; I wanted one character to see some consequences for her actions, and two others to have their 'key' scenes in the final act revealed in way more detail. We committed so much time to their stories, then it was left to the imagination! But still a 5-star read for me. Would be so stoked to see this as a movie or limited TV series.

sadly not one of my favourite reads so far this year i found it really hard to get into, its was a moving story and i liked the way it followed the characters journey and was full of all the emotions
i recommend you give it a go and stick with it

This was described as a thriller and is absolutely not. Did not enjoy the plot/story, the character development was terrible and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. Claiming to be similar to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a bold claim

WOW: gripping, intriguing, twisty. A solid novel that kept me on the edge and guessing
Due to health issues cannot will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mineA more extensive review will follow

I really enjoyed reading this! I was fascinated by Cate Kay and her different lives. This one had some much intrigue - I loved the unveiling of her past and kept wondering how it would all end. I just wished the ending scenes didn’t feel so rushed. HUGE admiration for a beautifully written queer rep story!

This was a well written and carefully curated collection of perspectives that highlighted the layers to an individual and the impact that one person can have on the lives of many. Fagan was able to create a narrative that was told from multiple points of view and still feel the cohesion of a narrative in standard prose. Seeing the story unfold made this book almost addictive to read, I was always reluctant to put it down and desperate to slip back into the world of Annie, Cass and Cate and see how things turned out.

The characters were well created and built upon, showing the range of characters we cross in our lives and the influence that they have over us, this was really apparent with the characters of Sidney and Amanda who show varying sides to love and commitment to a person and how love can be twisted and contorted based on motive and impression. I really loved Ryan as a character and how her growth was depicted over the years, showing her struggle with the industry and trying to break through the boundaries that were assigned to her.

Seeing extracts from The Very Last were an added intrigue into the narrative, showing how the real life of Annie/Cass influenced the narrative and the way it progressed, as she wrote the rest of the series. I really enjoyed seeing the little asterisk tidbits of Cass/Annie as she read through the perspectives herself, it added a layer to the narrative that felt as though it could have been a real story and interaction with her writers.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and found it to be an easy and engaging read.

Loved this, real TJR-vibes which is an author I love! Really liked the concept too, and was very invested in the love triangle/mystery throughout

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the concept of one person having three different personas through different parts of her life and it worked so well. Felt really belieavble. The story was tender and touching and I really enjoyed it.

I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of books about bookish people. Except here. This was such a wild ride and like untangling a puzzle which is my favourite kind of read. Will be looking forward to more from Kate Fagan, and also shoutout to her agent who seems to rep books written entirely for me.

So the reason I wanted to read this book is because as with most of the books I read these days it was under the LGBTQIA+ tag on Netgalley and looked really interesting. Friends I am so glad that I got to read this ARC. As a queer person this book made me so happy to read, as a disabled person the disability rep within this book made me ecstatic. The way this book was written so that it was a "memoir" in a fictional setting was so interesting and fun to me and it made it so that we got to see so many different perspectives of the story as well as fun little "footnotes" at time which I ran straight to the moment I saw the little asterisk next to a word. Most of the chapters in this book were so short too which meant when I picked it up it was so hard to put down. Every inch of this book made me want a resolution for the main character (heck even for some of the side characters) and just left me wanting more. This book was dramatic in the best ways and made me feel like I was truly there with the characters and listening to them tell me the stories of their lives. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants a cute/fun sapphic contemporary to read!

I really liked the beginning and the premise of the book – discovering who really is Cate Kay, a mysterious writer behind the bestselling trilogy The Very Last. In this story, told by multiple narrators, we get introduced to a young woman called Annie and her best friend Amanda as they grow up in a small time, sharing dreams about their futures. But when the tragic event occurs it changes their lives forever in ways none of them imagined before. The book is engrossing and very readable, with heart breaks and life changing decisions, but somehow the ending just diluted the story for me. Annie/Cass/Cate is an interesting character but we only see her real growth in the very last part of the book, only to be cut by the book ending.

This is a queer coming of age and self discovery which once I was into the story I was hooked but it did take me a bit of time to work out what was going on.

It follows one woman who changes her name a key points in her life and we see her story told through her memoir with multiple povs to enhance the experience.

The characters were well developed, it’s well written and there is a bit of everything in here , romance , suspense , family , friendships and I thought it was a very good read.

I went through a number of emotions reading this which is a sign of a great book.

First of all I would like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story did take a while for me to get my teeth into but then it just clicked and I enjoyed the story. It takes a bit to sort out what is going on as is a memoir of a woman known by three different names she had during different aspects of her life and stories are told by herself of those closest to her.

It's a uniquely written story, and once I got into the rhythm, I was invested and engaged throughout. I thought the narrative flowed well and the characters were well developed and three dimensional. I appreciated the journeys that each of the characters took, and was filled with so many emotions while reading--sadness, anger, frustration, and joy. When a book takes me through a cascade of feelings it endears me to the story.

Highly recommended if you like character driven stories.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay blends emotional drama with a fast-paced plot dripping in intrigue, has a smattering of showbiz glamour and characters you care about. A winning combination.

Who is Cate Kay is the central theme in this book. We, the reader, know Cate Kay is also Cass Ford, who was once called Annie, who was born Anne Marie. But only a few characters in the novel know this too, for a few reasons.

Let’s call our lead character Annie for simplicity here – Annie and her best friend Amanda grew up just outside New York and longed to be Hollywood actresses, they had dreams once they left school to try and make it there.

However, a tragic incident means this is not how things transpire and a lot of crossed wires and secrets mean it is years before the truth of what actually happened comes to light.

Annie’s actions at a pivotal moment are questionable – and that’s what makes her so interesting. She sheds the skin of Annie to become ‘Cass’ and then again when she writes her highly biographical dystopian fiction as Cate Kay, that becomes a worldwide bestseller. Her life is transformed, the elevated life she has always dreamed of is now hers. But, due to her shifting identity, she makes sure no-one knows who Cate Kay is. The anonymity of the author adding to the intrigue of the book.

As we follow Annie through her life, she navigates a relationships with both a film star, Ryan and with Sidney, a less glam lawyer, but she never forgets her first love, Amanda.

I really enjoyed how how each version of Annie is explored, through her relationships and growth. She is always striving for more and makes some huge mistakes due to her determination. But, as it always seems to do, the truth will eventually come bubbling to the surface…

Selected as the January 2025 pick for Reese’s Book Club – expect to see The Three Lives of Cate Kay everywhere, for good reason.

Super compelling, a warm page turner. I loved the journey Kate takes us on and how 'Cate's' life unfolds. Great use of multiple narrators.

A page turning read that will have you hooked from page 1. A brilliant atmosphere, intriguing protagonists and a plot that will keep you captivated right till the final page.

Initial review (August 2024)- What I've read is really good and reminded me of Genuine Fraud, but the formatting of the ebook didn't work for me as it was all over the place on kindle and too small print on Netgalley. I might try it again because it is very good so far.

Edit 15.1.24 - the publishers have very kindly sent an epub version which is much easier to read. I would recommend this fantastic book to fans of E. Lockhart and Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

Well this one really got me. We start with two true soulmate best friends as teenagers. When a tragedy happens, they both struggle to deal with the fallout in their own ways. Meanwhile we follow the story of Cate Kay, esteemed author and mysterious figure in the literary world. Everyone wants to know who Cate Kay is but almost nobody knows her whole story. Amongst the mystery, we explore a host of relationship dynamics. Romance between women, controlling relationships, chosen family, instant connection and lost love. A special read that kept me hooked.

I enjoyed this book, but it’s not one that particularly stands out for me. I liked the queer romance, or romances I should say. The longing and the different types of relationship that the main character had with each of the characters. I liked the journey she went on and the level of meaning in the novel she wrote, though I kept wondering whether this book would have equal meaning to someone out there in the world.

I have to mention the disability rep in this book, because it’s something I care about a lot. This could easily have been a character becoming disabled in order to change the main character’s life. And in many ways, the accident did change her life. But I felt that Amanda was well fleshed out and the author put effort into showing her life beyond the disability. I loved how it didn’t fall into the trap of saying her life was over because she was disabled. It may be a low bar, but showing that a disabled person’s life isn’t lesser because they’re disabled is important.

I also really liked Ry a lot. I liked how fame was shown in this book, especially queer fame. How Ryan wasn’t able to be out at first because it was the 90s and a lesbian film star would have been a bigger deal than it would be today.

Overall, it was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot and I might read things from the author in the future.