Absolutely loved this book. Will be recommending friends and family to read. Thank you net galley for a copy of this title in exchange for a review.

Ok I won’t lie, I absolutely love Dawn o Porter books, they’re not your run of the mill read and this certainly lived up to that expectation. I didn’t think Mia was that likeable until the last few pages (they really got to me) and in some places the book went into a fairly weird way but overall I enjoyed it.

I can honestly say, I enjoy all Dawns books - this being no exception. She has the ability to take what should seem bizarre and make it totally real and relatable and heart-warming. In this one, she takes the stereotypical cat-lady (reclusive, creepy, peculiar) and turns it on its head.

Mia has it all - a devoted husband, active sex life, successful career and a ready-made family. But central to her life is her beloved cat, who literally saved her when life was at its darkest. To everyone else, she is a bit stiff and unrelenting. She has learnt to create this façade. But when life begins to spin out of control, it does so at a rapid rate, the façade begins to crumble and she is forced to question who she really is after all.

Dawn creates flawed characters and makes you fall in love with them. There is always personal growth, and the message that you cant judge a book by its cover. She grabs you from the first word and never lets the pace relax. It feels like I'm reading my favorite gossip column - with all its attention grabbing deliciousness. So addictive. Love her casual observations of people and the characters she builds, warts and all. Their little habits feel familiar and real, and each one comes alive no matter how peripheral. The story is original, and while you know how it will end, the journey is always unpredictable and often hilarious. A deft storyteller who knows how to entertain while subtly imparting a message.

So Cat lady by Dawn O’porter reminded me slightly of the work of Sally Rooney. However with this author I enjoyed it slightly more. Mia had a difficult start in life, and on the outside she seems to have it all. At job, a house and a husband and stepson. Most of all she has her cat Pigeon who has got her through her darkest points. This book is very quirky, original and looks into stereotypes of the ‘cat lady’.

This book had me in tears and also horrified at the actions of Mia towards the end of the book, I would recommend caution if you are a cat lover and are triggered by pet death.

Have loved all of Dawn's books so far and this one was no different. An honest representation of how pets are an enormous part of your life and are incredibly important. Also had the all important 'Ewww' moment that Dawn is adept at adding to all her books.

A bizarre story that wasn't really to my liking. I expected it to be a light read about someone who loves cats. It was a bit depressing if I am honest. Mia has so many issues, I wanted to shake her. Not for me.

Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter

Mia is a dutiful wife, doting step mother and efficient boss, but lurking underneath is a so called ‘crazy cat lady’, and it takes one catastrophe (get it!) event for her to reveal herself.

At times uncomfortably shocking and others heartbreaking, I love how the author reflects how women are judged in our society.

Not for those who are easily offended (let’s just say I won’t be lending this to my mum!! 🫣) but if you’ve read and loved Dawn’s previous books you should pick this one up!

'No such thing as just a pet'

Pet grief is real, for all those who have never owned a pet and don't quite know what it feels like to people who have a lost one, this a good read.

As usual Dawn O'Porter evoked quite a rollercoaster of emotions. I'm sure I chuckled, gasped, cried and cringed at various points in the book and as usual several moments of awkwardness too, with a bit of a shock factor.

I think I was on the fence with this one and will give it 3.5 stars rounded to four because I did enjoy it, but maybe not as much as I've enjoyed her other books.

I loved the fact that the author has dedicated the book to pretty much all the pets in her life and her friends lives.

Thankyou to NetGalley, HarperCollins, Dawn O'Porter for this e-ARC.

‘Rather than society acknowledging women who are struggling & helping them, they put firm hands on our shoulders & push us into the darkness’

I’ve always been a fan of Dawn O’Porter’s work & her newest novel may be her most nuanced yet. Cat Lady is a darkly comedic, irreverent, feminist drama & I really really enjoyed it. It takes a lot of talent & sharp societal understanding, to write a protagonist in a way that has the reader judging & potentially scoffing in the the beginning, but then feeling like a horrible, small minded arsehole when cheering them on wholeheartedly at the end 👏🏻

In a world that puts women in boxes, this story was a breath of fresh air screaming BE YOURSELF or, perhaps more forcefully, FUCK EM. Like what you like, embrace your emotions in all their rollercoaster glory, be proud of your quirks, love shamelessly... & never EVER settle!

If you have read any of O'Porter's previous books, you will know that she has a way of writing that is funny, unapologetic, at times a little crazy and OTT, but full of astute observations - and her latest book, Cat Lady, is all of these. It will make you laugh, make you cringe and even make you tear up - it’s one of those books that has a little bit of everything.

Mia is “crazy cat lady” - married with a stepson and a good job, it is her cat Pigeon who she loves above everyone and everything and who keeps her sane through life’s tribulations. And she has made some new friends in a pet bereavement group, a group she attends despite the fact her pet is still very much alive. But when Mia’s life begins to fall apart she has to deal with her difficult past and decide who she is and who she wants to be.

It is a book that covers relationships in many forms - romantic, familial and the bonds we form with our pets. There is humour and there is sadness and it is another fun, quirky read from O’Porter, even if you’re not really a cat person!

I knew I had to read this book. Firstly, I have been meaning to read one of O’Porter’s books for some time and this seemed like a great opportunity. Secondly, I am a huge cat lover, so it had to be done.

From the blurb I was expecting an easy,  light hearted read. It was definitely easy to get into and was lighthearted in places, but it was a lot deeper than I anticipated. The book begins with Mia, the protagonist, attending a pet Bereavement group. We learn that Mia’s cat, Pigeons, is still very much alive, so why is Mia in the group? The other attendees are an eclectic bunch and it’s enjoyable reading about them.

Mia, appears to have her life fully sorted and organised. She has a job she’s good at, a husband she appears to have a good relationship with initially, and a stepson she loves. As the story progresses things start to unravel for Mia and we learn more about her life and her journey. There are some upsetting parts when we learn about Mia’s history and childhood and some bits that made me angry as Mia’s husband starts to show his true colours.

Throughout everything Mia has Pigeon, with whom she has a really special bond. I am a huge cat lover and have rarely been without one in my life, so I fully identified with all the cat related bits of the story. There is intimate detail about sharing one’s life with a cat and the negative views of the anti feline population.

Whilst there is a humorous angle to the book it has a real depth and raw honesty about it that elevates it. There are themes of death (parental and pet), grief, emotional abuse, suicide, infidelity, identity and loneliness alongside friendship, self preservation, reconnection and hope.

There are some very detailed descriptions of sex which may put some people off, but I found the frankness refreshing. There are some really poignant moments and on the whole although there is real heartbreak I found it to be uplifting with an overarching theme of hope and recovery.  I devoured this book and definitely recommend it.
A solid 4/5  from me

I’ve read all the authors previous books which I enjoyed so much! Everyone has been poignant and uplifting and very thought provoking!.

This one is just the same, I urge everyone to read this book!

Many thanks for the ARC

Having loved this author’s previous work, I was very happy for a chance to read this contemporary novel. This is truly a story of searching for yourself within the pressures of everyday life and finding meaning. A good solid read!

This is my first book by author Dawn O'Porter and it won't be my last.
Really enjoyed this booked and a real page turner that I couldn't put down even when I knew I should be getting on with chores, I just loved getting to know Mias character.

Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of this book.
It wasn't what I was expecting at all and was quite depressing. I was expecting a funny warm book about the antics of a mad cat lady, it couldn't have been further from the truth.
It covered many emotions from sad to uncomfortable.
Although I stayed with it until the end I really didn't enjoy it and would not recommend it.
I don't like writing a negative review but this is my opinion and I'm sure that there will be many more who would love it.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. xxx

Having read a couple of Dawn O’Porter books over lockdown, I was really happy to pick up Cat Lady. Her writing is really comforting to read, being witty when appropriate, or addressing serious issues with a deft and sensitive hand.

In Cat Lady, we meet Mia who, seemingly, has it all – good job, good family life, a pet cat that she loves – but beneath the carefully crafted veneer, Mia is going through the motions of her life, a life that she has created to protect herself from family trauma in her childhood.

The only constant in her life is Pigeon, the cat that literally saved her life, and she fears Pigeon’s death so much that she joins a support group for those whose pets have died. Can the realities of these peoples’ lives help Mia as her own life starts to collapse?

I really enjoyed this book – as I said, it is beautifully written and deals sensitively with past trauma, issues around family abuse and what is means to lose someone. I really liked the idea of this book seeking to reclaim the label ‘Cat Lady’. Mia is called this – as many women have been – as an insult and with certain connotations connected to it. Mia makes changes in her life that show that being a cat lady is not the demeaning insult it’s become. As a cat lover myself, I very much applaud this!

Cat Lady was an absolute pleasure to read and probably one of my books of the year this year.

Rating - 3.5 stars rounded off to 4

Quirky and disgustingly funny!

Well, Cat Lady is one of those books, that I both liked and disliked, if that makes sense 😆!

Synopsis –

Mia is married to Tristan & step mum to Oliver. She is the MD of a jewelry company & loves her pet cat Pigeon. While her cat is very much alive, she attends a pet – bereavement support group, as the thought of losing her 16 year old Pigeon terrifies her. Mia has built a façade of the perfect life around her. But we all know looks can be deceiving.

Review –

With Mia’s first person narrative, the opening goes to show how everything is just as it should be in her life. As someone who values her independence and her personal space too much, Mia tries hard to be the perfect wife. Slowly we get to know her more and that’s when we understand her inner struggles, her difficult childhood and her inability to emotionally connect with people.

Mia is not a likeable protagonist by any means. With her eccentric behavior, she often finds herself in awkward situations and later feels utterly mortified about it – especially while dealing with her husband’s ex-wife.

Dismissed as a “crazy cat lady” she is used to not being taken seriously. Mia’s thought-patterns and monologues are witty although weird. She justifies her actions with perfectly valid opinions, making us realize just how harshly judgmental our world can be and how quickly it stereotypes women of a certain age and stature.

While there is a lot of humor laced with this storyline, some of things - mostly the spicy part, are so gross, that I couldn’t help but recoil 😣, almost feeling nauseous 🤢.

As the rug gets pulled from under Mia’s feet, she has to choose whether to maintain this pretense of “normalcy” in her life or embrace being “odd”, take back her power and finally start living on her own terms.

Overall, in my view, O’Porter has bravely attempted to give us a story with an unconventional female protagonist, showcasing the kind of critique she might be subjected to in this unfair world. Her writing is matter of fact and overly frank. But I only wished it was not this cliché ridden 🙄 and cringe worthy 🥴.

Oh! Also beware cat/pet lovers! You might find it hard!

From the blurb and the cover, I thought Cat Lady was going to be a light, easy, funny read about a woman and her cats and finding herself again, and in many ways it was. However, this book is far more than that.

By exploring the stereotypes of the Cat Lady, Dawn O'Porter cleverly critiques the expectations placed on women (and men to a lesser extent) by society - the need to have husband, children, job, to also have yourself together. Mia has all those things (well, stepchild) and is polished and in control. But these things don't bring her happiness and only by letting go of those expectations and allowing herself to be truly who she is, does she begin to actually live rather than exist and to feel content, and do others start to warm to her and accept her.

Some parts of the book are hilariously laugh out loud funny; some parts are incredibly sad and thought provoking. But throughout the writing is a sense of warmth, and genuine like of her character from Dawn O'Porter, which put me firmly on her side throughout, even when she made questionable decisions.

The book explores the theme of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how that shapes the adult we become, with Mia and her sister experiencing the same childhood but responding to it in very different ways, which is a subject that fascinates me and I thought was handled sensitively.

Although it covers some dark subjects, the writing is light and easy to read, and I devoured it in two sittings.

Thought provoking, curious, slightly off kilter. Everything I've come to expect from a Dawn O'Porter read. She continues with her frustrating characters that you can't help but find compelling. Not my favourite of hers just because of the overall premise but still kept me interested.

Mia is an interesting main character. At first I found her to be a little odd and I couldn’t quite work her out, but as the story unfolded and I found about more about her past, I found her to be interesting and understood her more.

I wanted to read on and find out what would happen, but at times I found her humour to feel a little forced and not natural.