A stray cat brings together five lonely strangers in the cozy, introspective, slice-of-life novel Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero (Adrift), a middle-grade author making her adult debut.
Cat is no pampered indoor pet. He's lived his life on the streets of Brooklyn and learned to avoid most people. He reveals himself only to a trusted few, those with "kind eyes, soft voices, and hearts that weren't completely made of stone." Career barista Núria has a big heart for stray cats and is struggling with pressure from her mother to find a husband and settle down. Bodega owner Bong has fallen into a lonely life since his wife died. Friendly neighborhood mailman Omar isn't sure what his next step in life should be. New-in-town grocery clerk Lily has an elder half-sister who doesn't know she exists, and she has no idea how to approach her. Bestselling author Collin has a staggering case of writer's block and is too shy and socially awkward to approach the attractive barista who feeds a stray cat near his house. With a few happy coincidences and some creative interference from Cat, connections, flirtations, and friendships begin to grow among the little cadre of strangers. Cat himself remains at a remove from his human supporters, but as he becomes more invested in their lives, he may have to accept that humans can be friends, and that friendship can be a home.
Guerrero spins a web of unexpected yet logical connections between people who need community. Lily, who has lost her father, is drawn to kind, paternal Bong who has also lost his family. Collin lives a quiet, uninspired life and yearns for the warmth and vibrancy Núria embodies. The romantic subplot between them has an adorable epistolary twist that underscores the wistful loneliness they both feel. Each of the five main players finds not what they need but who--the support and confidence that comes only from the presence of trusted friends. The emotional interiority of the characters brings color and depth to their everyday personal struggles. Chapters told from Cat's point of view add a lighthearted touch and an unexpected element of growth and change for his character. While it includes some darker elements, including an attempted sexual assault, Cat's People is an overall sweet scoop of whimsy for readers who love feline friends, underdog protagonists, and the joys of found family. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads
Shelf Talker: Five strangers form an unlikely community around a street cat in this sweet, introspective slice-of-life novel.