Told from multiple viewpoints, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a fictional memoir unlike anything else I've read. Cate Kay aka Cass Ford aka Annie Callahan is a mysterious writer who has kept her identity secret despite her trilogy of books, The Very Last, rocketing her to stardom. Each chapter is told by varying characters taking us through Annie's life as she transforms to Cass and hides behind Cate. 

I really enjoyed this book - I loved the multiple POV and found it particularly fun that Cate/Cass/Annie would put in her thoughts as if she were reading these recollections from each different character. Seeing the progression of. the chapter titles through Annie & Cass was also this great insight into where we were with her development. It also felt extra special as even minor characters got their moment in the sun, I found that particularly touching for Carl, the man in charge of the P.O. Boxes. The quote: "The trick of life, as I see it now, is to make what's around you beautiful. It'll grow from there. Took me a long time to see that." really embodies so much of the book and I highlighted and double underlined it while I read it. 

Kate Fagan also expertly depicts what it's like to have a Best friend with a capital B between Amanda and Annie. There are so many moments throughout the book, but my favorite is how she captures the lexicon of friendship where you have these inside jokes and vernacular particular to you and your bestie. These get woven into the snippets of The Very Last that we get throughout the book as well. 

Finally, of course, the different kinds of love as Annie/Cass stumbles her way through relationships - her unrequited love with Amanda, her situationship with Sidney, and her longing for Ryan. 

All in all, I highly recommend this book - it's wonderfully queer, the character development is just lovely, and will be a great way for anyone to start of their 2025 reading. 

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.