mad1s0nw 's review for:

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

4.25

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a thoughtful, layered story about fate, memory, and what gives life meaning. The structure itself, the idea that Cate gets three different versions of her life, made me reflect on how much of who we become is choice versus circumstance, and how a single small moment can ripple out in ways we’ll never fully see.

I loved how the novel leaned into the magic of uncanny connections that feel too meaningful to be pure coincidence. The mailman who had just read Cate Kay’s book to his dying wife is a perfect example of this sense of the universe nudging lives together.

I also loved how the novel explored the subjectivity of memory. Two people can experience the exact same moment yet carry away totally different versions of it, whether it’s picking up a phone on the first ring versus the third, or even recalling where the infamous notebook first came from. It’s a reminder that our lives are shaped not just by events, but by the stories we tell ourselves about them.

At its core, though, the book leaves you with a simple truth: “To make what’s around you beautiful; it will grow from there.” It’s the kind of line that lingers, encouraging you to look at your own world with more intentional eyes.