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).
