The obvious comparison to make with this book is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which the publisher also lists on their press release with the book. (Strangely enough I also felt the same way about The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux – are these similarities intentional from writers and publishers, I wonder?) Fans of those books may well enjoy this one for the same reasons (warning that there are spoilers for both books in the following review!): the sense of a mysterious central celebrity heroine looking back on her life, writing about it, wanting to tell her story in her own words. However, the queer relationships are more front-and-centre in this novel rather than being the background twist, which I appreciated. This novel is told in fragments from different perspectives, and I did sometimes wish that there was more differentiation in the voices between the different characters and styles, especially as an important element of the book is that the eponymous Cate has lived multiple ‘double lives’, so it was sometimes harder to follow the relationships and stakes.
For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, comes a debut novel from an amazing new talent.
Who is Cate Kay?
Cate Kay is the most famous author on the planet. But it's just a name. Somehow, despite her bestselling novels and the record-breaking film franchise, the writer has remained completely anonymous.
Anne Marie Callahan is the name nobody knows. Only the people she left behind. And Annie knows there's no one there anymore who could connect the dots between the girl who ran away all those years ago and the famous novelist.
If you asked, she'd say her name was Cass Ford. That's what her barista shouts each morning. And it's how she introduces herself to the woman she'll eventually call the love of her life.
Three names, three lives. But Cate Kay is finally ready to tell you who she really is.
And when the truth is out, will everyone's favourite novelist hold on to her place in our hearts or are some betrayals impossible to forgive?
Kate Fagan's debut novel is an astounding achievement. The Three Lives of Cate Kay explores the cost of ambition, the longings of first (and second and third) love, and how it's never too late to go home.
'Such clever and multilayered plotting from a highly original storyteller.' Edel Coffey, Irish Times bestselling author of Breaking Point
Readers love The Three Lives of Cate Kay: 'I really enjoyed this book. It was original, creative with a great story and is very well written' ***** 'A beautiful and captivating story' ***** 'I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down' ***** 'The way that this book has been written is pure genius' ***** 'I loved this book' ***** 'Keeps you turning the pages well into the night' *****
Author
About Kate Fagan
Kate Fagan is an Emmy-award winning journalist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Made Maddy Run, which was a semi-finalist for the PEN/ESPN Award for literary sports writing. She is also the author of three further non-fiction titles, a former professional basketball player, and spent seven years with ESPN. Kate currently lives in Charleston with her wife.
