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Cat Fight
Big Little Lies
meets Tiger King in this fun and propulsive debut novel about three suburban women who, over the course of one summer, each use the growing hysteria around a big cat sighting to achieve their own agendas—some more sinister than others.
Former zoologist Coralie King now reigns over a different sort of animal kingdom as Queen Bee of Sevenoaks, a wealthy suburb of London. When her husband Adam spots a panther on the hood of his car at one of her exclusive dinner parties, Coralie is quick to reassure her guests that they’re in no real danger. She sees the sighting as the perfect opportunity to revive her career and promote her own ecological endeavors.
New neighbor Emma Brooks doesn’t believe for a second that there’s a big cat in their midst but is all too willing to use the concern as a distraction from her home remodel application that’s been facing scrutiny. Meanwhile, former punk musician Twig Dorsett doesn’t know what to believe. She never thought she’d return to Sevenoaks and be living in her childhood home, but after her daughter became sick, she and her wife traded their Bohemian life in Bali for the security of London suburbia.
As the summer heats up, the frenzy around the big cat sighting reaches a fever pitch when gnawed bones, pawprints, and scratches are discovered. But is the real predator a big cat on the prowl or is the true threat more of the domestic variety? Filled with gasp-worthy twists and turns, Cat Fight is a wickedly entertaining novel of suspense that examines the lengths to which some women will go when they feel caged.
Former zoologist Coralie King now reigns over a different sort of animal kingdom as Queen Bee of Sevenoaks, a wealthy suburb of London. When her husband Adam spots a panther on the hood of his car at one of her exclusive dinner parties, Coralie is quick to reassure her guests that they’re in no real danger. She sees the sighting as the perfect opportunity to revive her career and promote her own ecological endeavors.
New neighbor Emma Brooks doesn’t believe for a second that there’s a big cat in their midst but is all too willing to use the concern as a distraction from her home remodel application that’s been facing scrutiny. Meanwhile, former punk musician Twig Dorsett doesn’t know what to believe. She never thought she’d return to Sevenoaks and be living in her childhood home, but after her daughter became sick, she and her wife traded their Bohemian life in Bali for the security of London suburbia.
As the summer heats up, the frenzy around the big cat sighting reaches a fever pitch when gnawed bones, pawprints, and scratches are discovered. But is the real predator a big cat on the prowl or is the true threat more of the domestic variety? Filled with gasp-worthy twists and turns, Cat Fight is a wickedly entertaining novel of suspense that examines the lengths to which some women will go when they feel caged.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2025
56 people are currently reading
7793 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
March 19, 2025
4-5 stars
‘O, this way madness lies….’
Let me take you to the somewhat exclusive Briar Heart Estate in Sevenoaks, Kent. It’s a bank holiday and we’re at the rather lovely home of wealthy Queen Bee and zoologist, Coralie King and her handsome husband Adam. Present all sort of friends (pretence friends?) Emma and Matt Brooks and Twig and Blake Dorsett. The warm evening is first disrupted by a pesky, persistent wasp which causes the first fracture or two but the major one comes when Adam is absolutely certain he sees a large cat (a panther perhaps, plenty of urban legend there) on the bonnet of a car. He’s understandably met with scepticism and some derision. As the hot summer progresses it can only be described as a cat frenzy that ensues. But whose claws? My advice, keep your eyes wide open and definitely watch you back… Miaow. Let’s not get too catty. Oh blow it, get a scratchy as you want as it will make for entertaining reading, especially as the neighbourhood WhatsApp groups go WILD. But, who’s the predator? In the clawing heat of summer things get nicely to boiling point.
This is why I love to read debut novels and this is a darned good one. It’s a terrific neighbourhood noir, suspenseful, tense, twisty with numerous undercurrents, interconnections, subterfuge and deception. It’s deliciously juicy. The couple and friendship dynamics are offkilter yet some have the understanding of years but are they on the same page? There’s plenty of sniping, tricky, catastrophizing,
intriguing internal dialogues and a claustrophobic sensation of a watchful small community. There’s damage, damages and betrayals in suburbia. Really? Gosh. Panic starts to set and oh boy, does it get ugly. The WhatsApp group demonstrate the divisions, suspicions and more.
The characters are well portrayed, they are easy to visualise but not easy to like, after all, where would be the entertainment value in that? The exception is Twig’s son Ellwood who is an absolute delight.
It builds in intensity and how and it gets really fiery and wild in more ways than one with multiple shocks and danger in store.
Overall, this is a very well written neighbourhood noir which has me on tenterhooks with great descriptions of this summer of madness in leafy suburbia. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Random House for the much appreciated early copy in
return for an honest review.
‘O, this way madness lies….’
Let me take you to the somewhat exclusive Briar Heart Estate in Sevenoaks, Kent. It’s a bank holiday and we’re at the rather lovely home of wealthy Queen Bee and zoologist, Coralie King and her handsome husband Adam. Present all sort of friends (pretence friends?) Emma and Matt Brooks and Twig and Blake Dorsett. The warm evening is first disrupted by a pesky, persistent wasp which causes the first fracture or two but the major one comes when Adam is absolutely certain he sees a large cat (a panther perhaps, plenty of urban legend there) on the bonnet of a car. He’s understandably met with scepticism and some derision. As the hot summer progresses it can only be described as a cat frenzy that ensues. But whose claws? My advice, keep your eyes wide open and definitely watch you back… Miaow. Let’s not get too catty. Oh blow it, get a scratchy as you want as it will make for entertaining reading, especially as the neighbourhood WhatsApp groups go WILD. But, who’s the predator? In the clawing heat of summer things get nicely to boiling point.
This is why I love to read debut novels and this is a darned good one. It’s a terrific neighbourhood noir, suspenseful, tense, twisty with numerous undercurrents, interconnections, subterfuge and deception. It’s deliciously juicy. The couple and friendship dynamics are offkilter yet some have the understanding of years but are they on the same page? There’s plenty of sniping, tricky, catastrophizing,
intriguing internal dialogues and a claustrophobic sensation of a watchful small community. There’s damage, damages and betrayals in suburbia. Really? Gosh. Panic starts to set and oh boy, does it get ugly. The WhatsApp group demonstrate the divisions, suspicions and more.
The characters are well portrayed, they are easy to visualise but not easy to like, after all, where would be the entertainment value in that? The exception is Twig’s son Ellwood who is an absolute delight.
It builds in intensity and how and it gets really fiery and wild in more ways than one with multiple shocks and danger in store.
Overall, this is a very well written neighbourhood noir which has me on tenterhooks with great descriptions of this summer of madness in leafy suburbia. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Random House for the much appreciated early copy in
return for an honest review.
January 25, 2025
I'm overall disappointed.
I found the blurb had a lot of potential and I loved the cover but the execution wasn't as good as I hoped.
I never felt sympathy for any of the characters who despite being placed in complex personal situations all felt very flat, so I couldn't really care about what happened to them.
I think it would have been way better with some humour distilled into it.
It gave me the impression a big part of it was inspired from Gone girl but without it's gripping qualities.
It's still entertaining and makes for a nice read if you are into suburbia mysteries.
Thank you Astria Books for this ARC!
I found the blurb had a lot of potential and I loved the cover but the execution wasn't as good as I hoped.
I never felt sympathy for any of the characters who despite being placed in complex personal situations all felt very flat, so I couldn't really care about what happened to them.
I think it would have been way better with some humour distilled into it.
It gave me the impression a big part of it was inspired from Gone girl but without it's gripping qualities.
It's still entertaining and makes for a nice read if you are into suburbia mysteries.
Thank you Astria Books for this ARC!
May 17, 2025
This book is pitched as Big Little Lies meets Tiger King, and I would say that's sums it up purrfectly. This book is a lot of fun.
Through the eyes of three women, we follow the lives of those living on an estate in Sevenoaks, UK.
There's Twig, a failed pop star from the nineties who has now moved back home with her dad along with her wife and two kids.
There's Emma, a middle-aged frumpy mum who's a bit obsessed with Disney, who is married to the local Cub Scout leader.
And Coralie. A zoologist, a slightly mad salt of the earth kind of person.
Like is fairly uneventful on the estate, just the usual neighbourly gossip. Until a big cat shows up.
I was really into this. It's a fabulous page turner. The characters felt alive, and I genuinely felt I knew them. It's a very entertaining read.
My only complaint would be that the ending felt too drawn out and could have been a lot tighter, but it's a debut, and that aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Four stars.
Through the eyes of three women, we follow the lives of those living on an estate in Sevenoaks, UK.
There's Twig, a failed pop star from the nineties who has now moved back home with her dad along with her wife and two kids.
There's Emma, a middle-aged frumpy mum who's a bit obsessed with Disney, who is married to the local Cub Scout leader.
And Coralie. A zoologist, a slightly mad salt of the earth kind of person.
Like is fairly uneventful on the estate, just the usual neighbourly gossip. Until a big cat shows up.
I was really into this. It's a fabulous page turner. The characters felt alive, and I genuinely felt I knew them. It's a very entertaining read.
My only complaint would be that the ending felt too drawn out and could have been a lot tighter, but it's a debut, and that aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Four stars.
January 27, 2025
I know I’m not the only one who saw ”Big Little Lies meets Tiger King” and about peed their pants with anticipation. I was all over requesting an early copy of this puppy. Unfortunately, I’m here to tell you a lowering of expectations is probably going to be necessary. The reason???? NOTHING happens. Seriously if I were a DNF’er I would 100% have chucked this aside because absolutely nada occurs until the 60% mark. Well, aside from meeting all the people in the neighborhood who aren’t developed whatsoever in order for their big “a ha” reveal sorts of moments to all get rushed through in the eleventh hour. The absolute endy end twist was pretty satisfying, but boy was it a struggle to get there.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 3, 2025
Thank you Atria books for a copy of this book! Really enjoyed all the messy suburban drama and absurdity
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjK3yqGb/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjK3yqGb/
May 15, 2025
I think this is a very original story and certainly unique. However I found the characters very similar to one another and had a difficult time keeping track of who was who. I kept having to reference the list at the start of the book via the map.
3.5, rounded down.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
3.5, rounded down.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
April 18, 2025
Cat Fight was a darkly comedic, twist-filled ride that blended suburban drama with just the right amount of suspense. Coralie, Emma, and Twig were each navigating their own personal agendas, and the supposed big cat sighting became the perfect catalyst for chaos. From Coralie’s power-hungry maneuvering to Emma’s self-serving skepticism and Twig’s reluctant return to her past, each character brought something unique—and often delightfully devious—to the table.
The novel did a great job of balancing satire with genuine tension. The mystery of whether the panther was real or a well-orchestrated ploy kept me hooked, and as the town’s hysteria escalated, so did the stakes. The writing was sharp and witty, packed with social commentary on wealth, privilege, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their reputations.
If anything, the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, and some plot points felt slightly over-the-top. But honestly, that was part of the fun. The final twists were deliciously satisfying, and the book delivered on its promise of suburban scandal with a bite. If you love messy characters, neighborhood intrigue, and a touch of the absurd, this one is definitely worth the read!
The novel did a great job of balancing satire with genuine tension. The mystery of whether the panther was real or a well-orchestrated ploy kept me hooked, and as the town’s hysteria escalated, so did the stakes. The writing was sharp and witty, packed with social commentary on wealth, privilege, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their reputations.
If anything, the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, and some plot points felt slightly over-the-top. But honestly, that was part of the fun. The final twists were deliciously satisfying, and the book delivered on its promise of suburban scandal with a bite. If you love messy characters, neighborhood intrigue, and a touch of the absurd, this one is definitely worth the read!
May 31, 2025
"reminiscent of Desperate Housewives with a Tiger King twist!" I've never watched either of those but I believe it.
Mystery, romance and deception.. this book takes place in the Briar heart estate section in Seven Oaks in Kent.. a place that isn't supposed to house big cats.. and yet, there have been numerous sightings (many of the sightings made by Adam.. who was high during the first sighting.)
This book has 4 POV'S. Emma (Disney enthusiast), Coralie(Ex "zoologist" who is extremely intrigued by the thought of a panther in her village), Twig (ex singer and wife of Blake) and The mystery of the Seven Oaks panther.
Adam (Coralie's husband) was smoking a blunt when he first saw the panther on the hood of his car. A week or so later he claims the panther is chasing him during his daily run. Nobody else has seen the panther.. "Is Adam making it up?"
that's what everyone has to figure out.
Placed in the suburbs, there's Fighting, lying and betrayal. (this was such a good book and I can't help but say that the writing was phenomenal and the cover art ahh!! I love it so much, it's so pretty.)
I'm not an idiot, I do see the hate that this book is getting, but everyone can have their own opinions.. and my opinions on this book are respectable. (if respectable means giggling non stop and bawling when needed then yes.. that exactly.)
I swear until they were talking about star wars and disney i SWEAR i thought this was placed in the 1800’s 😭😭
I won this book in a giveaway- All thoughts are my own.
(5/5)⭐️🐅
Mystery, romance and deception.. this book takes place in the Briar heart estate section in Seven Oaks in Kent.. a place that isn't supposed to house big cats.. and yet, there have been numerous sightings (many of the sightings made by Adam.. who was high during the first sighting.)
This book has 4 POV'S. Emma (Disney enthusiast), Coralie(Ex "zoologist" who is extremely intrigued by the thought of a panther in her village), Twig (ex singer and wife of Blake) and The mystery of the Seven Oaks panther.
Adam (Coralie's husband) was smoking a blunt when he first saw the panther on the hood of his car. A week or so later he claims the panther is chasing him during his daily run. Nobody else has seen the panther.. "Is Adam making it up?"
that's what everyone has to figure out.
Placed in the suburbs, there's Fighting, lying and betrayal. (this was such a good book and I can't help but say that the writing was phenomenal and the cover art ahh!! I love it so much, it's so pretty.)
I'm not an idiot, I do see the hate that this book is getting, but everyone can have their own opinions.. and my opinions on this book are respectable. (if respectable means giggling non stop and bawling when needed then yes.. that exactly.)
I swear until they were talking about star wars and disney i SWEAR i thought this was placed in the 1800’s 😭😭
I won this book in a giveaway- All thoughts are my own.
(5/5)⭐️🐅
June 3, 2025
Cat Fight by Kit Conway is an absolute blast—think Big Little Lies meets Tiger King, with a dash of Desperate Housewives. From the first page, this book had me hooked. The plot is full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat—just when I thought I had it all figured out, Conway would drop a bombshell that left me speechless.
The characters were definitely the highlight. They’re all so distinct, from the Disney-princess-esque Emma to the punk-pop star Twig, to the unhinged Jane-from-Tarzan aka Coralie King. Former zoologist turned Queen Bee of Sevenoaks, Coralie, quickly seizes on a panther sighting to revive her career. Then there’s Emma, the new neighbor who’s skeptical of the whole big cat situation but is eager to use the hysteria for her own agenda. And Twig, who never expected to return to suburban life, but finds herself back in her childhood home after a major life change. The way their storylines intertwine is fascinating and kept me engaged from start to finish. There’s the perfect blend of drama, humor, and suspense, with a dose of sharp banter that lightens up the intense, “whodunnit” vibe.
The title is so much fun, and the cover art is gorgeous—it’s the whole package. With its gripping narrative and fantastic character dynamics, I can see this book becoming a big hit. I’m so glad I had the chance to read it early. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!
Happy publication day!
The characters were definitely the highlight. They’re all so distinct, from the Disney-princess-esque Emma to the punk-pop star Twig, to the unhinged Jane-from-Tarzan aka Coralie King. Former zoologist turned Queen Bee of Sevenoaks, Coralie, quickly seizes on a panther sighting to revive her career. Then there’s Emma, the new neighbor who’s skeptical of the whole big cat situation but is eager to use the hysteria for her own agenda. And Twig, who never expected to return to suburban life, but finds herself back in her childhood home after a major life change. The way their storylines intertwine is fascinating and kept me engaged from start to finish. There’s the perfect blend of drama, humor, and suspense, with a dose of sharp banter that lightens up the intense, “whodunnit” vibe.
The title is so much fun, and the cover art is gorgeous—it’s the whole package. With its gripping narrative and fantastic character dynamics, I can see this book becoming a big hit. I’m so glad I had the chance to read it early. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!
Happy publication day!
June 4, 2025
2.75 stars
CAT FIGHT is a neighborhood mystery about a panther spotted roaming around the area. Characters with messed up lives, secrets, and gossip. The premise had potential but unfortunately as a whole the story fell flat. Not much of a reason to feel invested in any of the adult characters as they weren’t the most likable bunch. They also weren’t interesting enough in that love to hate type way. So I just puttered along reading the novel with the hope things would pick up. While the last 1/3 of the book was an improvement, it wasn’t enough to save it.
Missed the mark for me but there’s positive reviews on Goodreads. Maybe there’s more depth here than I realized and the point of it all went right over my head.
Thank you Atria Books for sending me a free advance copy after I won a Goodreads giveaway.
CAT FIGHT is a neighborhood mystery about a panther spotted roaming around the area. Characters with messed up lives, secrets, and gossip. The premise had potential but unfortunately as a whole the story fell flat. Not much of a reason to feel invested in any of the adult characters as they weren’t the most likable bunch. They also weren’t interesting enough in that love to hate type way. So I just puttered along reading the novel with the hope things would pick up. While the last 1/3 of the book was an improvement, it wasn’t enough to save it.
Missed the mark for me but there’s positive reviews on Goodreads. Maybe there’s more depth here than I realized and the point of it all went right over my head.
Thank you Atria Books for sending me a free advance copy after I won a Goodreads giveaway.
May 14, 2025
Set in the leafy suburbs of Kent, Cat Fight tells the story of a group of neighbours who already have issues with one another when Adam King (husband to zoologist, Coralie) sees a big cat on the bonnet of his car. Unfortunately, nobody else did, although there have been some pets go missing.
The mystery only deepens as more signs of a big cat are discovered and the neighbourhood begins to split. Coralie is delighted, being a fan of big cats; Adam is terrified; Emma just hopes it takes people's minds off her hated planning application; Twig hasn't time for it as she's raising money to send her sick daughter to America. And under it all, resentment is simmering over the shared histories of some of the neighbours.
Kit Conway's debut novel is an easy read with quite a lot of shocking twists. It's well written, trots along at a good pace and certainly kept my interest throughout. A lot of her characters may not be particularly likeable but they are sympathetic with their various flaws.
Definitely recommended. Would make a great holiday read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Transworld for the advance review copy.
The mystery only deepens as more signs of a big cat are discovered and the neighbourhood begins to split. Coralie is delighted, being a fan of big cats; Adam is terrified; Emma just hopes it takes people's minds off her hated planning application; Twig hasn't time for it as she's raising money to send her sick daughter to America. And under it all, resentment is simmering over the shared histories of some of the neighbours.
Kit Conway's debut novel is an easy read with quite a lot of shocking twists. It's well written, trots along at a good pace and certainly kept my interest throughout. A lot of her characters may not be particularly likeable but they are sympathetic with their various flaws.
Definitely recommended. Would make a great holiday read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Transworld for the advance review copy.
May 27, 2025
When you live in a wealthy suburb, there's always going to be those who think they run the place (Coralie), those who are never going to fit in (Emma) and those who are caught in the middle (Twig).
When Coralie's husband spots a panther on the bonnet of his car, Coralie sees it as an opportunity to reinvent her career and become a social media sensation. Emma doesn't believe a word of it but it's a great excuse to distract the neighbours from her planning application to turn her house into some sort of Disney castle. Meanwhile, Twig doesn't know what to believe and is just trying to keep her life, and emotions, intact.
The title of this book very cleverly refers to the fact that there is (possibly?) an actual cat fight but also the metaphorical cat fight between the neighbours and I can tell you I was down for it. I loved visualising all the neighbours getting their claws out on each other. If you've never been a curtain twitcher on your street when something's kicked off, I think you might be lying to yourself!
None of these Sevenoaks residents were who they said they were and Kit Conway did a great job of keeping the truths hidden. This is a brilliant, well-plotted psychological thriller with a very sinister side and, as we're coming into summer, a great one for the beach or the garden!
When Coralie's husband spots a panther on the bonnet of his car, Coralie sees it as an opportunity to reinvent her career and become a social media sensation. Emma doesn't believe a word of it but it's a great excuse to distract the neighbours from her planning application to turn her house into some sort of Disney castle. Meanwhile, Twig doesn't know what to believe and is just trying to keep her life, and emotions, intact.
The title of this book very cleverly refers to the fact that there is (possibly?) an actual cat fight but also the metaphorical cat fight between the neighbours and I can tell you I was down for it. I loved visualising all the neighbours getting their claws out on each other. If you've never been a curtain twitcher on your street when something's kicked off, I think you might be lying to yourself!
None of these Sevenoaks residents were who they said they were and Kit Conway did a great job of keeping the truths hidden. This is a brilliant, well-plotted psychological thriller with a very sinister side and, as we're coming into summer, a great one for the beach or the garden!
May 14, 2025
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
’We are all wild things’
Cat Fight is Kit Conway’s debut novel, and a story revolving around the suburban hell that is Briar Heart Estate. Following Disney-millenial Emma, former pop-star Twig, ex-rich girl turned cat-whisperer Coralie, and their partners and children, this story covers their tumultuous relationships with one another, their sordid pasts, and their deepest secrets and strangest behaviours, all while their lives are plagued by the appearance of a panther on their street (and yes I mean an actual big-cat panther).
The main thing I have to say about Cat Fight is that it will take you by surprise. Without getting into any spoilers, let me tell you right now that this isn’t what you’re expecting it to be. Yes it is a literary fiction covering the ‘complicated’ lives of the middle-class, aka Big Little Lies, but it also explores the darker parts of a particular characters psyche, and the dangers that come with obsession. However, other than the initial revelation that this book is a little whackier than other lit-fics, the other twists or reveals fell a little flat, mostly because I already guessed them beforehand, and they felt a little cliche.
I wasn’t especially taken with any of the characters either, all of which were fine enough but not exceptional. The ones that did somewhat stand-out were Coralie, due to her dark past and the role she came to play in the lives of her neighbours, and Emma, who really defied the stereotype she was presented as being at the start of the book.
The writing-style was engaging and enjoyable, but the pacing was a little off. I felt that this book could have been shorter, perhaps by 50-100 pages, as I felt that the final third was dragged out to the point that the tension the rest of the book had been building ended up fizzling out.
Overall, Cat Fight gets 3/5 stars. A unique and pretty fun book, that I had a reasonably good time with. I’d be happy to check out more of Conway’s work in the future!
’We are all wild things’
Cat Fight is Kit Conway’s debut novel, and a story revolving around the suburban hell that is Briar Heart Estate. Following Disney-millenial Emma, former pop-star Twig, ex-rich girl turned cat-whisperer Coralie, and their partners and children, this story covers their tumultuous relationships with one another, their sordid pasts, and their deepest secrets and strangest behaviours, all while their lives are plagued by the appearance of a panther on their street (and yes I mean an actual big-cat panther).
The main thing I have to say about Cat Fight is that it will take you by surprise. Without getting into any spoilers, let me tell you right now that this isn’t what you’re expecting it to be. Yes it is a literary fiction covering the ‘complicated’ lives of the middle-class, aka Big Little Lies, but it also explores the darker parts of a particular characters psyche, and the dangers that come with obsession. However, other than the initial revelation that this book is a little whackier than other lit-fics, the other twists or reveals fell a little flat, mostly because I already guessed them beforehand, and they felt a little cliche.
I wasn’t especially taken with any of the characters either, all of which were fine enough but not exceptional. The ones that did somewhat stand-out were Coralie, due to her dark past and the role she came to play in the lives of her neighbours, and Emma, who really defied the stereotype she was presented as being at the start of the book.
The writing-style was engaging and enjoyable, but the pacing was a little off. I felt that this book could have been shorter, perhaps by 50-100 pages, as I felt that the final third was dragged out to the point that the tension the rest of the book had been building ended up fizzling out.
Overall, Cat Fight gets 3/5 stars. A unique and pretty fun book, that I had a reasonably good time with. I’d be happy to check out more of Conway’s work in the future!
August 27, 2025
I had high hopes from the description of big little lies meets tiger king, but I really couldn’t get into it and I felt that the characters were not well defined and the concept of the cat was just kinda weird?
June 18, 2025
It was definitely a mix of Big Little Lies and Tiger King. The blurb didn’t lie. I wasn’t super into it but it did keep me entertained.
August 11, 2025
I thought I knew where it was going, and then it got crazier which was fun! Really enjoyed - only complaint is the amount of characters to figure out at first!
June 3, 2025
Cat Fight by Kit Conway is as wild on the inside as it is colorful on the outside. I would be remiss not to take a moment to drool over this cover. Isn’t it stunning?? She looks SO good on a shelf.
Pitched as Big Little Lies meets Tiger King, this met pretty much every single one of my expectations despite getting a whole lot crazier than I ever expected. It was such a wild ride of a book! Cat Fight is told through three POVs. We have Twig, a former 90s pop star who is now struggling to raise money to fund her daughter’s cancer treatment. Then there’s Coralie, a seemingly perfect zoologist who keeps things very interesting. And last, but certainly not least, Emma. Emma is a middle-aged mom who would do anything to get the house of her dreams. Or to at least have a home that doesn’t have bugs in the carpet.
I’m pretty sure I can safely say I’ve never read anything like this. Full of gossip, dark humor, and interesting characters, I could not put this one down after the first couple of chapters. Everyone was toxic and desperate and fit for the trashiest of reality TV shows. Basically all the characters were unlikeable, but at the same time, I could find something sympathetic about most of them. Would I want to know any of them in real life? Absolutely not. But they sure were fun to read about.
The mysterious cat aspect of this book was also fun. I loved seeing how all the characters tried to use the possible cat sightings in such different ways, and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was actually going on. Seeing everything play out the way it did was intriguing and kept me turning page after page!
This is a very strange book, but it’s one that I’m so glad I got to read when I did!
Thank you so very much to Atria for sending a gifted ARC my way!
Slight TW. There is a very short scene of cruelty towards a house cat that had me skimming ahead a few paragraphs. (The cat is fine after!) It’s quick and easy to skip, but I do think some warning is nice.
Pitched as Big Little Lies meets Tiger King, this met pretty much every single one of my expectations despite getting a whole lot crazier than I ever expected. It was such a wild ride of a book! Cat Fight is told through three POVs. We have Twig, a former 90s pop star who is now struggling to raise money to fund her daughter’s cancer treatment. Then there’s Coralie, a seemingly perfect zoologist who keeps things very interesting. And last, but certainly not least, Emma. Emma is a middle-aged mom who would do anything to get the house of her dreams. Or to at least have a home that doesn’t have bugs in the carpet.
I’m pretty sure I can safely say I’ve never read anything like this. Full of gossip, dark humor, and interesting characters, I could not put this one down after the first couple of chapters. Everyone was toxic and desperate and fit for the trashiest of reality TV shows. Basically all the characters were unlikeable, but at the same time, I could find something sympathetic about most of them. Would I want to know any of them in real life? Absolutely not. But they sure were fun to read about.
The mysterious cat aspect of this book was also fun. I loved seeing how all the characters tried to use the possible cat sightings in such different ways, and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was actually going on. Seeing everything play out the way it did was intriguing and kept me turning page after page!
This is a very strange book, but it’s one that I’m so glad I got to read when I did!
Thank you so very much to Atria for sending a gifted ARC my way!
Slight TW. There is a very short scene of cruelty towards a house cat that had me skimming ahead a few paragraphs. (The cat is fine after!) It’s quick and easy to skip, but I do think some warning is nice.
May 30, 2025
Big Little Lies meets Tiger King in this debut novel full of mystery, suburbia, and intriguing characters.
Following three wealthy women all living in a leafy, suburb of London, Emma, Twig, and Coralie, we see the fall out of what happens at a summer soiree when Adam, Coralie's husband spots a wild big cat on the bonnet of his car. Coralie, a zoologist, sees this as a way to reignite her career as she's always had an interest in wild cats, Twig is basically just trying to keep her shit together to raise enough money for her sick daughter's treatment and Emma is happy to take the distraction as she just wants the planning permission to go through for her Disney inspired house.
It turns out the hysteria of the cat will unleash a lot more sinister things between the neighbours, and all of them have something to hide.
This was an entertaining read, especially for someone who's nosy and often spys on their neighbours. I often struggled to find a great deal of empathy for the characters, but I think that was kind of the point. I did enjoy how mysterious it was and that appearances aren't as they initially seem.
This would make a perfect holiday read!
Following three wealthy women all living in a leafy, suburb of London, Emma, Twig, and Coralie, we see the fall out of what happens at a summer soiree when Adam, Coralie's husband spots a wild big cat on the bonnet of his car. Coralie, a zoologist, sees this as a way to reignite her career as she's always had an interest in wild cats, Twig is basically just trying to keep her shit together to raise enough money for her sick daughter's treatment and Emma is happy to take the distraction as she just wants the planning permission to go through for her Disney inspired house.
It turns out the hysteria of the cat will unleash a lot more sinister things between the neighbours, and all of them have something to hide.
This was an entertaining read, especially for someone who's nosy and often spys on their neighbours. I often struggled to find a great deal of empathy for the characters, but I think that was kind of the point. I did enjoy how mysterious it was and that appearances aren't as they initially seem.
This would make a perfect holiday read!
April 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the egalley.
hmmm, 2.5 rounded down? This book was described by the publisher as Big Little Lies meets Tiger King. So I was super excited. I think this is actually an apt comparison in broad strokes, but Liane does a much better job balancing the cast of hilariously self-centered suburbanites and writing a plot that compels readers.
I thought this book had a promising premise, a slowwww middle, and a decent climax. I think the characters and pacing could have used some more work. This being a debut, I would read another book by this author if others had reviewed it more favorably.
hmmm, 2.5 rounded down? This book was described by the publisher as Big Little Lies meets Tiger King. So I was super excited. I think this is actually an apt comparison in broad strokes, but Liane does a much better job balancing the cast of hilariously self-centered suburbanites and writing a plot that compels readers.
I thought this book had a promising premise, a slowwww middle, and a decent climax. I think the characters and pacing could have used some more work. This being a debut, I would read another book by this author if others had reviewed it more favorably.
March 8, 2025
This was quite an interesting read and nothing like I expected. Told from the point of view from three different neighbors in an upscale neighborhood, so many secrets are revealed. To think it all starts with a big cat sighting in the neighborhood.
I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating perspectives. I found all of the characters to be rather unreliable, so I had no idea who to root for. This also left me wondering what was real and what wasn’t throughout the entire story. There were also lots of twists to keep me engaged and interested in the outcome of the story.
This was definitely a unique story, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies.
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating perspectives. I found all of the characters to be rather unreliable, so I had no idea who to root for. This also left me wondering what was real and what wasn’t throughout the entire story. There were also lots of twists to keep me engaged and interested in the outcome of the story.
This was definitely a unique story, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies.
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
April 17, 2025
"I've never met anyone as broken and twisted and nasty as you", says one character to another in Cat Fight. And that is exactly how I felt about all the adults in this book. They are not a bunch I would enjoy living near or associating with. And they all feel soooooo sorry for themselves. They're misunderstood, gossiped about, unhappy with and suspicious of their spouses, and generally a mess. I give this book 2 stars for a great book cover and a satisfying ending. Thanks to Atria for an ARC of this book won through a Goodreads giveaway.
June 16, 2025
3.5/5!
What would you do if there were suddenly sightings of a panther roaming around your neighborhood?
Readers are going to find out how the small, exclusive, and wealthy community of Sevenoaks in London takes the news with this story!
Readers get to tag along with three main characters as they narrate the developments over the course of one summer and how this panther impacts not only the lives of their family, but their connections with their neighbors.
Conway’s debut novel does a great job of fully realizing this community and the select families who are the focal points of the story. I enjoyed getting to know each of our narrators and watching how their worlds collided over and over. Cat Fight would have benefited from upping the dramatics while cutting back some of the pages to really get this story into binge reading territory.
If you like “rich people problems” type of stories, this is definitely one you’re going to want to check out.
What would you do if there were suddenly sightings of a panther roaming around your neighborhood?
Readers are going to find out how the small, exclusive, and wealthy community of Sevenoaks in London takes the news with this story!
Readers get to tag along with three main characters as they narrate the developments over the course of one summer and how this panther impacts not only the lives of their family, but their connections with their neighbors.
Conway’s debut novel does a great job of fully realizing this community and the select families who are the focal points of the story. I enjoyed getting to know each of our narrators and watching how their worlds collided over and over. Cat Fight would have benefited from upping the dramatics while cutting back some of the pages to really get this story into binge reading territory.
If you like “rich people problems” type of stories, this is definitely one you’re going to want to check out.
February 16, 2025
This book. This book, my dude. I went on such a journey with it. It's astounding to me that the characters I couldn't stand at the beginning ended up being my favorite by the end, and the one character I really liked at the beginning, turned out to be the complete opposite of what I thought. It's such a credit to the author that she was able to pull off that type of 180 so masterfully.
March 10, 2025
Unfortunately, a book that I just could not get into. I gave it up a little over a hundred pages in and for me there were not any characters that I could feel any sympathy for or actually anything at all. Annoying for me. I feel bad because the story couldn’t hold my interest, and I didn't feel like trying any more. Thanks to Goodreads and Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Edition. I'm sure I can find someone to give the book to who will enjoy it.
September 4, 2025
While this book was an exciting concept, I felt it was a bit of a let down. The arguments between the various characters seemed way over the top and overly dramatic. Also, just when I thought the climax of the book was about to happen and things were going to wrap up, another situation popped up. So the book seemed to be drawn out for far too long.
July 1, 2025
this was just a little to COVID adjacent for me. It also never seemed to end. Lots of pacing issues and it was hard for me to connect to any of the characters but this was a nice messy read. thank you Atria for the copy!
Read
September 25, 2025DNF at 17% — my heart just isn’t in it. I couldn’t get into it or the characters. Too much was being built at once and it just wasn’t something I found myself interested in right now.
Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC and completed copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC and completed copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 9, 2025
Need this to be made into a Netflix limited series, also requesting a Coralie prequel
July 11, 2025
Lots of characters in this book! It is a little slow at the beginning but I really enjoyed it overall. Satisfying ending too.
dnf
July 13, 2025Just didn’t care about story/characters
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