THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by debut novelist Kate Fagan is an electrifying, propulsive trip into the three identities of Cate Kay. This notoriously private bestselling author has watched her words transform into trilogies, movie franchises and countless merch items. But the one thing she hasn’t done is tell her own story, the real story of just who Cate Kay is…and how she invented herself.

At the start of the book, we are treated to a letter from the legend herself. She explains that after years of writing other people’s stories and hiding her own identity, she is ready to lay it all on the table --- the good, the bad…and, of course, there’s plenty of ugly. Cate warns the reader that her story is not all sunshine and roses. She has made choices she isn’t proud of, but she also promises something far more valuable: the truth, beginning with her birth as Anne Marie Callahan in upstate New York.

Anne was born to a mother more likely to cradle a drink than her own daughter, but that didn’t stop the scrappy kid. Smart and precocious, Anne made her own way until she met Amanda, who shared her desire to leave their run-down town behind and make it big in Hollywood. Their dreams were so potent and visceral that they practically demanded a new name, so Amanda dubbed Anne “Annie,” thereby crafting her first alternate identity and life. As Annie, she performed in every school play, never forgetting the ultimate goal: Tinseltown.

"THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY is one of those books that reads so seamlessly and naturally, you'll think it's impossible that it was ever written, let alone by a debut novelist. Instead, its documentary format feels like finding your new favorite film, band or author, with all the vibrancy and electricity of discovery and obsession."

But Annie’s gift for performance isn’t isolated to the stage. She is also hiding some seriously sapphic feelings for Amanda. These feelings often can be easily buried in friendship, but they’re starting to balloon out of proportion as they approach young adulthood. Just as their senior year wraps up and Hollywood’s call becomes even clearer, Annie feels herself pulling away from Amanda, desperate for something that is exclusively hers…and maybe even someone who can love her back.

One final reckless afternoon finds the girls trying to outdo and impress one another until the unthinkable happens: Amanda falls from a busted zip line and is instantly paralyzed…or worse, dead. Annie calls 911, but she knows what happens to girls like her caught in “wrong place, wrong time” scenarios. Without knowing what happened to her best friend, Annie is forced to leave home --- and Annie for that matter --- behind.

When Cass Ford emerges in Plattsburgh, New York, she is living out of her car in the parking lot of a coffee shop. A few weeks of solid banter, strong work ethic and plenty of discretion later, she’s practically running the joint, earning good tips with early start times, and making use of the cafe’s lounge for rest and relaxation. It’s not perfect, but neither was home. Then she meets Sidney, a bold and brassy law student who seems eager to rescue Cass…though from what, she’s not sure.

For the first time, Cass can explore her feelings for women in a real way, without the eyes of her small town watching or judging, and without risking a best friendship in the process. The experience is dazzling and eye-opening, but Sidney is not quite what she seems either: she doesn’t just want to save Cass, she wants to control her. When she learns what Cass is hiding --- namely, Annie and her entire life back home --- she makes a choice that has lasting, rippling consequences.

With her past well and truly buried (or so she thinks) and Sidney willing to support them both, Cass dives into her writing. It becomes clear that her acting prowess was just one avenue for her creativity and that writing is where she truly shines. Living in New York, she pens an instant bestseller, The Very Last, a story about a couple documenting the explosion and demolition of New York City. It’s an apt metaphor for a woman who already has reinvented herself twice, but it’s also peppered with deeply personal details about Annie, her friendship with Amanda, and their small town.

Still reeling from the tragedy that sent her running, Cass decides to invent herself once more. The Very Last is written not by Annie or Cass Ford, but by Cate Kay. Now, living legally as Cass Ford and professionally as Cate Kay, with lawyer-slash-girlfriend Sidney handling all the NDAs you could ever dream of, Cass finally has found some peace.

But Sidney is not quite ready to let anyone get closer to Cass than she has been able to --- which is a lot less than she’d like, despite their years of cohabitation. When The Very Last is optioned for film, Cass is invited to the home of its star, Ry Channing, a Hollywood bombshell and a closeted lesbian. When Ry reads Cass’ book, she knows instantly that it must have been written by someone like her. So she navigates endless NDAs and compromises to get the elusive author to visit her at home. Sure, Ry wants to “understand the book,” but she strives to suss out this woman who is hiding in plain sight.

With their similar backgrounds, need for privacy, and being young, drop-dead gorgeous actresses, the women hit it off and sparks fly. But will being real with someone threaten the identity (identities?) that Anne/Annie/Cass/Cate has worked so hard to conceal? Does it even matter at this point?

Written in a series of first-person chapters from the perspectives of Cass, Sidney, Ry and several other supporting characters from each of Cass’ “lives,” THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY unfolds like a docudrama about your favorite band: all the dishy details are there, as is the glamour. But Kate Fagan also employs this structure beautifully to force her protagonist --- and her various loves --- to really examine their past selves and ask how honest they were being at the time. This format rounds out each of Cass’ lives, but it also makes clear exactly how much of herself she had to give up to craft each identity and what it did to her real, constant self.

What emerges is a stunning portrait of ambition and drive, but also a poignant exploration of what we owe to one another and what it means to leave someone behind. Don’t let the idea of three identities intimidate you. Fagan balances her protagonist’s more nebulous identity with an airtight plot that keeps you guessing, even when you think you’ve figured it all out. Careful readers will delight in her ability to “call back” earlier jokes, references and tiny details that seem to mean nothing until the exact moment she chooses to utilize them.

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY is one of those books that reads so seamlessly and naturally, you'll think it's impossible that it was ever written, let alone by a debut novelist. Instead, its documentary format feels like finding your new favorite film, band or author, with all the vibrancy and electricity of discovery and obsession. I think it is safe to say that we can expect great things from Kate Fagan, and I cannot wait to follow her on this exciting journey.