The Three Lives of Cate Kay

Reese's Book Club: A Novel

By: Kate Fagan

Narrated by: Marin Ireland, Tessa Albertson, Genevieve Kingston, Imani Jade Powers, Corey Brill, Kevin R. Free, Daniel Henning, Hillary Huber, Helen Laser, Fred Sanders, Jackie Sanders, Emily Woo Zeller

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK | NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Named a Best Book of 2025 by Time, NPR, Goodreads, and others.

“[A] propulsive puzzle of a novel.” —The New York Times Book Review

“This story swept me away with its big dreams, love, and unexpected twists.” —Reese Witherspoon

In this electric, voice-driven debut novel, an elusive bestselling author decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the creator of a bestselling book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is, Cate Kay doesn’t really exist. She’s never attended author events or granted any interviews. Her real identity had been a closely guarded secret, until now.

As a young adult, she and her best friend Amanda fantasized escaping their difficult homes and moving to California to become movie stars. But the day before their grand adventure, a tragedy shattered their dreams and Cate has been on the run ever since, taking on different names and charting a new future. But after a shocking revelation, Cate understands that returning home is the only way she’ll be a whole person again.

“An addictive page-turner infused with humor and heart, The Three Lives of Cate Kay balances the dishy allure of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with the empathy of Slow Dance. A joy to read from first page to last” (Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author).

Critic reviews

"A full cast of narrators brings to life the fictional memoir of a bestselling author who’s been on the run from the law for years, along with all the people she’s pretended to be throughout her life...The full cast gives this audiobook the feeling of a Netflix documentary, complete with the self-aggrandizement of people who cling to the success of others."

Incredible Story!

I honestly don't know why this story is so captivating but it held my attention and was an incredible ride the whole way through. Now I'm going to go listen again so I can capture anything I missed the first time. I hope there are more stories like this in the writers future!

A wonderful Listen!

This story is beautifully told; it drew me in and would not let go! It was really heartfelt, and brought to the surface how true friendships stand the test of time, despite some serious bumps in the road and what seems like obstacles you can’t get past. The book is reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, another incredible read worth getting.👍🏼

Best book I’ve read in years!

Kate Fagan does a great job of developing characters. Read it in a day and a half. It kept me interested from page 1!

One of the best read books yet

Fantastic actors read this book and what an interesting story. I kept finding reasons to go for walks so I could listen. Loved it!

Great book!

The Storyline was intriguing. Very interesting. Didn’t want it to end! I have recommended to others.