A review by life_full_ofbooks
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s very rare that I suffer from a book hangover even though I have enjoyed many books. This book, however, has left me with such a book hangover and I’m torn between enjoying it as I relive the story in my head and trying to cure it quickly so I can begin a new book. I very rarely reread books (usually only if my book club is reading it) but this is one I plan on rereading and relistenjng to many times. 

Cate Kay has written a book trilogy that captivated the world from the first book and ultimately becomes an empire filled with movies, toys, and theme park rides. While the book is a good story, what makes it even more tantalizing is that Cate Kay is a pseudonym and no one knows who the author actually is. 

Several years after the writing of the first book, Cate decides to write a memoir but she wants every person with whom she’s had any meaningful interaction with to write that part of it. This is that memoir. 

Written by Cate and many others we get to know who Cate Kay actually is and what happened to make her decide to be anonymous. This takes us through her life from the time she is nine to present day and because we have the same parts told from everyone with whom Cate interacted it becomes a mesmerizing and immersive experience. 

I had the pleasure of listening to this and the full cast recording was phenomenal. Every characters chapters was voiced by someone different and it really helped to bring this to life. 

That being said, I ran out today and bought the physical copy and in thumbing through it I can see it’s the style in which it’s written gives life to this amazing story. 

The author, Kate Fagan, is an ESPN journalist who has written quite a few nonfiction books, making Cate Kay her debut novel. I am sure Ms. Fagan is a talented journalist but she is truly a gifted novelist. I cannot wait to read more by her.