Review: Cat’s People

I wish I could remember who told me about Cat’s People, a novel by Tanya Guerrero, because whoever it was deserves a huge heartfelt thank you. This charming novel about a stray cat who brings five strangers together was one of the loveliest books I’ve read in quite some time.

From the publisher:

Núria, a single-by-choice barista with a little resentment for the “crazy cat lady” label, is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of the neighborhood’s stray cats. On her volunteering days, she starts finding Post-it notes left by a secret admirer in an area where her feeds her favorite stray—a black cat named Cat. Like most felines, he is both curious and observant, so of course he knows who the notes are from. Núria, however, is clueless.

Are the notes from Collin, a bestselling author and self-professed hermit with a weakness for good coffee? Are they from Lily, a fresh-out-of-high school Georgia native searching for her long-lost half sister? Are they from Omar, the beloved neighborhood mailman going through an early midlife crisis? Or are they from Bong, the grieving widower who owns Núria’s favorite bodega?

When Cat suddenly falls ill, these five strangers find themselves bonding together in their desire to care for him, and discover that chance encounters can lead to the meaningful connections they’ve all been searching for.

I was completely charmed by this book from the very start. Parts are written in Cat’s voice, and while I’m usually skeptical about that, because it’s not easy to do it well, Guerrero hits just the right tone and you can’t help but fall in love with Cat. All of the human characters are well-developed and immensely likeable so you find yourself rooting for every single one of them.

This heartwarming novel is a celebration of the life-changing power of cats. I found it hard to put down, but at the same time, I was sad when it ended.

Cat’s People is available for pre-order from Amazon.

Purrs of Wisdom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.  

I received this book from the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. All reviews on Purrs of Wisdom will always reflect my honest opinion, or, as the case may be, Allegra’s honest opinion.