Kato is about moving on and starting a new chapter in your life and getting through all the hurdles afterwards. Keith recently broke up with his girlfriend and ends up crashing at his friend’s place. He quits his job and buys a Toyota Celica for dirt cheap, but things go south when his brother’s BMX bike.

Keith’s life gets even weirder when he becomes a personal assistant to a dude named Chad and the question begins to circulate…are you gonna be a Kato Kalen or are you more than a sidekick/accomplice?

Reading this book felt like watching one of my favorite 90s movies (in my case it would be Empire Records). Even though I was very very young in the 90s, Otis did a fantastic job of making everything feel nostalgic. It’s a very cozy book to get into and it’s a quick read as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Otis West for the early review copy!

This is a short, fun, nostalgic read. I spent time in Seattle around the time in which this book is set and it felt authentic to that time. I enjoyed it -- it was funny even amidst incomprehensible decisions and mistakes. Give this a try!

Kato comes out next week on July 22, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.
The first thing I thought when I saw Kelly was that I wanted to fuck her. This took me somewhat by surprise-only a small percentage of women aroused much of anything in me, and usually, it built up more slowly. With Kelly, it was instantaneous. I realized that this was the first thing that had happened since I got dumped by Sara that made being dumped seem not all that bad. Normally, lust would be countered by a vague feeling of guilt and confusion. There was no guilt and confusion here.

I’ve never read anything quite like this. The book didn’t really have a direction. Just a story being told by way of of sequence of events.

You follow a young man name Keith as he’s trying to find himself after a breakup with his girlfriend of two years.

Keith finds himself in a bunch of sticky situations with friends and family.

I did enjoy the book for the most part. Laughing at a couple of moments throughout.

There were and odd amount of typos like the misspelling of Mic and calling a character Tony when in fact is was Nick (But I’m ware now that’s typical as this was an ARC).

If you’re looking for a quick read to just vibe out too then this book could be for you.

I really enjoyed reading ´Kato'; an unexpected page turner. I really enjoyed the first-person perspective of a character that I didn't particularly like, but can imagine that I'd enjoy going for a beer with. The action unfolds over about a fortnight and includes two changes of address, a new car, adultery, theft, a resignation, and various other shenanigans. I particularly enjoyed the nostalgia of not everyone having a phone, no internet at home or on mobile devices etc.

Darkly comic, this satire is well worth reading. I'm looking forward to reading Otis West's other novels.

I received an advance review copy free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I saw the term "slacker lit" be used a few times to describe a very particular type of literature that focuses around a character that's simply just existing. They have smarts and they've most likely done something but circumstances lead them to a very apathetic lifestyle. It's all just very ordinary and relatable, and this is one of those books (I don't recall, maybe the term was used for this to begin with?) It's also a book type I highly enjoy.

The conflict, or every conflict in this book, is very low stakes. It's all very casual reading, something that is relatable to the extent of being simply about the main character dealing with circumstances that arise out of a breakup. I liked this book, and would absolutely recommend it to other readers who are fans of the same type of books!

2.5 stars
This was a great nostalgia read for someone who grew up in the PNW in the early 2000s. Apart from that, there wasn’t a lot of substance. Keith was an unlikeable character, as were most characters featured in this book. Nothing really happened plot wise, nor character development wise, but I did enjoy the easy, laid back writing style. I wish there was a more concrete ending too, certain plot lines felt unfinished. This was a decent book objectively, and I’m sure some will love it, just not a favourite for me.

I think Kato by Otis West will be enjoyed by readers of writers such as Lee Cole. It captures a young male perspective.

I didn't realise until I was halfway through Kato that I’d missed novels like this. The early 2000s feels like a very different time to now, you had to knock doors to find out if your friend was in, you didn't have access to every one you know at all times and Otis does a great job capturing that feeling.

Kato is a time capsule and one I really enjoyed diving into. We have a fun, messed up cast of characters that all bring varying shades of disillusionment to the story. Keith (the MC) has a clear arch from being one of the missguided to someone who wants more from his life, and by the end, I wanted better for him, too.

The writing is clear, structured well and concise, characters are distinct, and the dialogue is strong. It reminded me of friends I had in school and made me wonder what they're up to now. It made me want to listen to Blink-182 and play Tony Hawk. Highly recommend!

Otis, great work! I hope Keith lived happily ever after, and Milo never had to eat cat food again!