The Three Lives of Cate Kay: Reese's Book Club: A Novel

Book Review: The Three Lives of Cate Kay – 9.5/10 Kate Fagan’s The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a captivating novel exploring identity, perfectionism, and self-discovery. Cate’s journey unfolds across three distinct lives, each grappling with past choices and future aspirations. Fagan’s storytelling is rich and immersive, drawing comparisons to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work. A Reese’s Book Club pick and a standout read of January 2025, the novel has resonated widely, praised for its depth and relatability. Thought-provoking and emotionally compelling, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a must-read for those who enjoy introspective and character-driven narratives.

I liked it! Definitely an easy read

Sportswriter Kate Fagan’s fictional debut, “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” is a fictionalized memoir that unveils the hidden secrets of a bestselling author. The novel begins in 2014 but spans more than two decades, starting in 1991, when Anna "Annie" Marie Callaghan first meets Amanda Kent, a girl who will become the center of her world. Annie, raised by an alcoholic and largely absent mother, finds in Amanda a lifeline. The two bond over their shared love of acting and dream of running off to Los Angeles. Their drama teacher, Mr. Riley, even selects plays with two strong female leads, written specifically for them. Despite Annie's unrequited romantic feelings for Amanda, their friendship runs deep, surviving the complexities of their mismatched emotions. However, when a tragic accident befalls Amanda, Annie flees her hometown and reinvents herself as Cassandra "Cass" Ford. Shamed by her perceived cowardice and the secrets she left behind in New York, Cass starts fresh as a waitress at a local café. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she overhears two writers discussing their work and, intrigued, engages with one of them. This leads to an invitation to attend a writing class at a local college. With acting now a painful reminder of her past, Cass decides to pursue a career as a novelist. She eventually meets Sidney Collins, an aspiring law student, at a writing workshop. When Cass reveals her past to Sidney, she becomes entangled in a controlling, manipulative relationship with her, which includes helping Annie/Cass legally change her name to “Cass.” When Cass finishes her debut novel, “The Very Last”—a dystopian tale—she publishes it under a pseudonym to shield her true identity. Sidney becomes her intermediary with publishers, editors, and journalists. When the book is optioned for a film adaptation, the actor slated to play one of its key characters, Ryan "Ry" Channing, asks to meet Cass. Though she has been hiding behind the identity of "Cate Kay," Cass agrees. Their meeting sparks an undeniable chemistry. For Cass, this is the first time she has felt genuine love since Amanda. Her relationship with Sidney, now a manipulative and transactional partnership, contrasts sharply with her newfound freedom and connection with Ryan. As Cass considers revealing her true identity to Ryan and leaving Sidney behind, her past resurfaces, complicating her decision and ultimately causing her to retreat from Ryan. Fagan’s novel bears similarities to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, with both stories featuring a queer woman who is not openly gay, who runs from a traumatic event in her past, and whose life is recounted in a journalistic or memoir-like format. With a cast of well-developed characters who offer valuable insights into Annie/Cass/Cate’s relationships with Amanda and Ryan, the novel feels like a memoir, making the protagonist’s journey feel remarkably real. There is an underlying theme of grace in “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” although it seems difficult to believe, given Annie/Cass/Cate's earlier actions. The novel ends with a neatly tied-up conclusion where every character seemingly finds a happy ending, despite the manipulation, toxic relationships, and abandonment they have endured. Still, Fagan’s characters remain multidimensional and memorable, their complexities resonating long after the book is finished.

I just finished The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan, and I have to say, it was an enjoyable ride! The story centers on Cate Kay, a bestselling author whose identity is a mystery to the world. As the book unfolds, we get a deep dive into Cate’s past as Anne Marie Callahan (aka Annie) and her incredibly close connection with Amanda, her childhood best friend. These two dream of running off to California to become movie stars, but life throws them a curveball, and tragedy pushes Annie to reinvent herself over and over.

One thing I loved was the structure—Fagan uses a multi-perspective memoir format, so we get to hear from multiple characters, which makes the story feel layered and real. Plus, Annie/Cass/Cate occasionally drops in her own notes to clarify (or disagree with) someone else’s version of events, which I found super clever and fun. It’s such a great way to show how people can experience the same situation so differently (something I always enjoy in novels).

That said, I really felt like a lot of the chapters lacked a distinctive voice. There were moments I had to flip back and remind myself who was narrating because Ryan, Cass, and Amanda all started to blur together.

But this flaw was greatly improved by the audiobook. I decided to alternate between listening to the audiobook and reading on my kindle. While I usually enjoy audiobooks, this one was a real standout because it features different actors for the characters. (Think Daisy Jones and the Six). It really brought the story to life and helped me keep track of who was who. Honestly, if you’re going to read this one, I’d highly recommend listening to it too.

While the audiobook is similar to Daisy Jones in featuring a cast of voice actors, that is the only similarity. And I think that reflects an issue with the novel - it’s been mis-marketed. This book was pitched as being like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and… yeah, it’s not. Yes, there’s a lesbian starlet, but that’s where the similarities end. If you’re going in expecting another glamorous, Old Hollywood-style drama, you might be a little let down. And that is a bummer, because I think Fagan has created an interesting, thought provoking story that touches on self-discovery, female friendships, and the price of fame - but hearing compared to two of my favorites had my expectations sky high.

So, while it wasn’t perfect, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a thought-provoking and emotional read. I’d give it a solid 4 stars—definitely worth checking out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of The Three Lives of Cate Kay in exchange for an honest review.

Unpopular opinion it seems, but I really did not enjoy this one and it almost made it to my DNF graveyard. It was hard to track all the characters and timelines, and I found the story to be rather disinteresting, except for chapter 11 That was the only chapter that kept me interested for a little bit -although, this is not my typical pick for a read.