The Cat Share

by Angela Jariwala

Sometimes it’s a simple as meeting the boy next door.  Jini lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe, but she’s had enough of taking risks.  Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Fred appears with a note tied to his collar from someone called Jeanie, accusing Ben of stealing her cat!   As the two near neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends, and themselves.  Inspired by a true story, The Cat Share is a heartwarming and uplifting rom com – the perfect book for fans of Sarra Manning, Beth O'Leary and Laura Jane Williams

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Animals, Cats

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2025

About the author

Angela was born in West London to parents from Surat, India. She is a published author of two young adult novels: 'Pardesi' (1994) and 'Fatty Rati', (1997.) Both were published by Mantra Lingua Ltd, an award-winning publisher of multi-cultural and multi lingual books for children and young people.

Veneer is her first novel for adults.

Reviews

[Jillian]

How do I get an ARC for this???!!! 😭😭

[Lotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Straight forward and cute but also very boring, unfortunately. It took until halfway through for the first contact between the FMC and MMC ….

[🌙henny✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where the premise is better than the execution. It wasn’t bad, it just felt a bit boring. The pacing was really slow. The actual plot didn’t start until about halfway through the book. There were a lot of descriptions of people doing things. I just felt very detached from the characters, and their love story didn’t work for me.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

La romance n'est pas la meilleure mais moi je venais pour le chat et je n'ai pas été déçue.

[Donna Stroo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Niet echt een bijzonder boek. Het was wel fijn om even iets makkelijks te lezen na a little life. Het boek las gelukkig makkelijk weg, wel vond ik het storend dat er wat spelfouten in zaten.

[Sabrina Lupsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be.

[Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just a cute love story, but also a cozy feeling exploration of the characters' everyday life struggles with grief, mental illness and loneliness. It's not a funny romcom with smut, but a story of two strangers their cat in a big city, slowly getting to know each other. Thats why the slow pacing and style really worked for me.

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute and fun story

Sexy firefighter ;)

hilarious cat

But way too much slow burn and boring ending

[nomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.0

i was going to give this 2 stars but while writing my review i realized how generous that rating is especially considering how nothing burger this book is LOL. i usually love it when we find out more about the characters separate from the relationship but the way it was done in this one was just so… not good 😭 ben’s mental health was really told instead of shown, the firefighter scenes were a snoozefest and there was no climax or anything considering jenni’s work/promotion

the writing did not excite me and i think that the idea of a romance in third person is really brave, but this was not executed well

the gr tags say it’s a romance but it’s not really that #tome, it’s more of a long drawn out meet cute without any excitement. if i rated this book as if it was general or women’s fiction instead, the lack of deeper meaning throughout would still make me give this 1 star

i genuinely wanted to give this a higher rating because!! cats!!!! but making a book about a cat boring is a federal crime so i can’t

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book so much! It's not often you read a romance where the whole plot is how the two characters even got to know each other but I actually really enjoyed learning about their lives and what other things they had going on in their life. It made things feel all the more realistic and magical when they did keep running into each other and when their cat brought them together.

[Natalie Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ The premise of this book was so cute but I just hoped for so much more than what it ended up being. I wished Ben and Jenni’s relationship would have progressed more through the book. They didn’t actually start dating til the epilogue. Ben stood her up twice and she kept reading him wrong .. like I get he was scared of commitment, and she was too, but their back and forth of whether to actually date took more out of the book them then actually dating. Not my cup of tea unfortunately.

[Angele | adominiquereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book held so much promise, but it fell flat for me. Too many side characters and side stories that took too much time away from the plot, and nothing really happened until 50% of the book.
It was cute but I was little disappointment.

[Monica Haak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, maar niet per se geweldig. Wel mega spot on cat gedrag! En hardop gelachen. Veel herkenbare situaties, maar ook erg langdradig. I mean 117 pagina's en ze hebben elkaar nog niet eens ontmoet.

[Lydia]

hätte süß sein können aber irgendwie ist ewig nichts passiert

[Maxime Kraak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slow storyline, but it's a cute and nice read.

[Marika · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

[Helena Knightley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just incredibly wholesome and heartwarming. Cover to cover lovely to read, romantic, reaffirming. Can’t fault this book, absolutely loved it. Lovely but complex characters, real relationships and honest emotions threaded through a romantic and joyful storyline. Ultimate easy read.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute, especially for cat lovers!
There is not a lot of plot but it's a cosy slow read that helps you to slow down as well.

[Nina Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

[Zoe Obstkuchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my thing but someone at work thought I would enjoy it because of the cat part. I think he actually wanted to read it himself so I’ll be lending it to him next. I was sad that the author died before finishing it, it’s a very simple romantic comedy (light on both) with nothing taxing or unpredictable about it.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cat Share was an easy and pleasant read, but overall it felt a bit dull. I enjoyed it as something light, yet the story never fully pulled me in. I did not find Jini and Ben particularly interesting, and their romantic connection did not convince me.

What bothered me most was Ben’s behavior. When he actually had the chance to get closer to Jini through their dates, he made very little effort. Yet suddenly he showed real interest once the cat became involved, which felt strange and unconvincing. It made his feelings seem less genuine, especially since Jini appeared to have been interested in him all along. The notes they leave for each other through the cat were a cute idea.

Overall, this is a nice book if you are looking for something light and easy to read, but not if you are searching for depth or a truly engaging story. Despite the title, Oscar the cat is not really the central element of the novel.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oggi sono qui per parlarvi di un'altra bellissima opera arrivata nelle nostre librerie e online.

Come sapete sono una grande amante del genere, quindi potevo mai farmela scappare? Assolutamente no.

La protagonista, Jenni, dopo la fine di una relazione dolorosa, ha deciso di vivere da sola con il suo inseparabile gatto Oscar. La sua vita è scandita da una routine rassicurante, anche se un po’ monotona, e il cuore è chiuso a nuove possibilità.

Dall’altra parte c��è Ben, un vigile del fuoco dal cuore grande ma dalla vita complicata. Anche lui convive con la solitudine, finché un piccolo gatto randagio – che chiama Fred – entra nella sua quotidianità, portando un po’ di luce.

Un giorno, Oscar torna a casa con un bigliettino legato al collare: è firmato da qualcuno che si presenta con il numero 66 e rassicura Jenni di non averle rubato il gatto. Da quel momento inizia uno scambio misterioso di messaggi, affidati proprio al curioso micetto. Così, tra equivoci, incontri e confidenze, Jenni e Ben scoprono che forse la vita ha ancora in serbo per loro una nuova occasione.

Angela Jariwala scrive con una prosa dolce e scorrevole, capace di mescolare ironia e tenerezza. I dialoghi sono realistici e vivaci, mentre la presenza dei gatti aggiunge un tocco di magia e leggerezza. Il ritmo è leggero, perfetto per una lettura che scalda il cuore e fa sorridere.

Un gatto per due è un romanzo ideale per chi ama le commedie romantiche contemporanee, per chi trova negli animali una compagnia speciale e per chi cerca una lettura che faccia sorridere e commuovere. È una coccola per il cuore, che ricorda come l’amore possa arrivare nei modi più inattesi, magari proprio grazie a un gatto che decide di scegliere due umani come sua famiglia.

[Lia C · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
Rápido y facil de leer. Pero más soso que un pan sin sal…
Página 160 aprox y los personajes interactúan por primera vez. El único momento cute entre ellos es en el epilogo.
¿Supongo que pretendía centrarse más en los personajes? Pero ni eso. Es una sucesión cronológica de cosas que les pasan en el trabajo que sin más.
Me encantó el concepto del gato y tal pero de nuevo hasta más del 50% el tema del intercambio de notas no cobra importancia. La parte que más me ha enganchado es cuando desaparece el gato por saber si está bien o le ha pasado algo.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually pre-ordered this book back when it was due to come out in 2021. I had no idea that the author had sadly passed away and that her son had finished it. Very special to be sent this book by the publisher in 2025. This book was lovely, a must read for all cat lovers. It reminded me in part of the film 'You've got mail' but obviously with a snail mail twist. I love the idea of people meeting in this way and sending notes back and to. Such an interesting meet-cute. I will check out the authors 2 young adult novels soon.

Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this book early.

[Filo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very light read… idk but they tried to get deep and thoughtful but it just didn’t work.
The repetition of everything just didn’t do it for me tbh. Okay, I get that everything is very hard for you and that you are very lonely but why do I feel like nothing is happening except repeating everything all the time?

Also why did the plot only start after 2/3 of the book?

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jenni has settled into a routine living the solo life. It just seems easier to avoid the risks that might come with a new relationship, and she is perfectly content with just her cat, Oscar, for company... most of the time. Ben is a firefighter, with a job that requires bravery, but on the inside he is struggling... until a small tabby cat, he calls 'Fred', decides to make friends with him. Suddenly Ben does not feel so alone.

Ben is sure a cat of 'Fred's' calibre must have an owner in the neighbourhood, so he decides to attach a note to his collar to reassure them he has no intention of stealing him. Jenni finds the note on Oscar's collar (surprise, surprise) when he returns home to her. Soon the two strangers are sending notes to each other via cat-mail - notes which will change their lives for the better.

This warm-hearted twist on The Go Between (with a sprinkling of The Flatshare) has two strangers opening up their hearts to each other through the intervention of a very special postie - the delightful cat, Oscar (or Fred, depending on who he is spending time with).

It is easy to fall for this novel from the very first chapter, especially if you are lucky enough to have a cat friend in your life. Jariwala clearly knows a thing or two about being chosen by a feline friend, and she writes Oscar as just the right side of wayward - with characteristics that all cat owners will be more than familiar with. This introduces a lot of humour to the story, and I found myself frequently laughing out loud when it comes to his kitty antics.

As the story weaves back and forth between Jenni and Ben, via Oscar, the way they begin to open up to each other on paper is wonderfully touching, and they share the truths that they have kept secret from the world, and even themselves. Emotions flow, and a romance that neither of them knew they were looking for (even if crafty Oscar did) sparks into life. Ahh.

This is a gentle tale that manages to work its way right into you heart. I became deeply invested in the fate of Jenni and Ben, wanting everything good for them, all the way to the golden ending. Absolutely perfect comfort reading!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put a cat on the cover of the book and I’m buying it! And if the title hints at the story being centred around that cat…even better. So, as soon as I heard the title and saw the cute cover for The Cat Share I was in. After all, who could resist an uplifting romcom about a greedy cat who brings two people together?

The story is told by dual narrators: Jenni, who works in the fashion industry and creates tie-dyed clothes in her spare time, and Ben, a hunky fireman who adores his niece, Evie. Both of them are still getting over the hurt caused by their last relationships and wondering if they’ll ever meet someone they can trust again. It can get lonely at times, which is why Jenni got a cat, Oscar. Oscar is greedy, demanding, but totally irresistible. So much so that when he starts appearing at Ben’s window he can’t resist feeding him even though he knows he must have an owner. Ben falls in love with Oscar - or ‘Fred’, as he calls him but doesn’t want his owner to think he’s trying to steal their cat, so he attaches a note to his collar. They begin to correspond via notes attached to Oscar’s collar. And what follows is a delightful story about two people who are brought together by the cat they both love.

This uplifting story was just what I needed. I love a good romcom and, as I’ve said, I love books featuring cats, so this was right up my street. And the cat is called Oscar, which was the name of my favourite childhood cat. Obviously, Oscar was my favourite character, but the other characters were also compelling, especially the narrators. I liked Jenni and Ben and was impatiently waiting for them to get together. I loved the idea of two people corresponding via notes in a cat’s collar, and I loved the other ways that the author brought them into each other’s lives without them even realising it.

A charming, witty and entertaining romcom, this is perfect for anyone who loves love. And cats.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cat Share by Angela Jariwala
Jenni is single, in her late thirties and lives alone in London with her tabby cat called Oscar. Recently split from her boyfriend Alex, she has found gardening a great way to cope. She works in marketing for an outdoor clothing business. She studied textile design at college, she loves sewing and making clothes and has recently started making tie-dye garments to sell at fairs. She’s doing pretty well, but she’s lonely.
Ben is single and a firefighter. He has friends at work and is close to his mum, his sister Penny, and niece Evie (6). But he’s lonely. When a cat starts coming round to see him, he begins to get attached to him, even though he realises he already has a home. He calls the cat Fred.
This is such a heart-warming and beautiful story. Jenni and Ben are wonderful characters and the cat is beautifully and realistically described. I love cats (I have three) and really enjoy novels with cats in, so this one appealed to me straight away. It’s such a great idea for a story and I loved the cat’s involvement in both their lives.
Both Jenni and Ben are dealing with different emotions and working to change something about themselves to be happier. Jenni is having to deal with her widowed mum finding a partner, while Ben has a difficult relationship with his father. Things are not a breeze for either of them, but this novel has a brilliant uplifting quality to it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I am just sorry that it was published posthumously, as Angela Jariwala obviously had a beautiful writing style and a huge talent. I hope her family put the book somewhere on display for all to see and that they frequently re-read it and are comforted by the beauty of her writing.

[Bookshortie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenni and Ben do not know each other but they’re about to be introduced by a cat.

This was a wholesome, heartwarming and adorable read. I loved everything about the story but what I liked most about it was that during my reading journey I couldn’t help but smile. The storyline was about romance, moving forward, taking a chance and a very mischievous cat. I would describe the story as a bit like You’ve Got Mail, but with handwritten notes and a cat instead of a computer.

I loved watching the relationship between Jenni and Ben grow because ultimately they are strangers and the one thing that connects them is Jenni’s cat Oscar. One of the things that Jenni and Ben have in common is that neither of them are looking for a relationship or love. Their previous relationships ended badly and they are both guarded when it comes to opening up to other people. But as soon as they start to correspond they strike up a friendship despite not knowing each other and their feelings of loneliness start to disappear. When they do meet in real life by chance they don’t realise that they’ve been sending notes to each other and even without this information they still connect instantly.

As well as Jenni and Ben there is an additional main character in the form of Oscar the cat. In some ways Oscar is a bit of a matchmaker and it did feel like he knew that Jenni and Ben were alone and he was trying to bring them together. I couldn’t help but laugh at Oscar and some of his shenanigans including refusing to use the cat flap and demanding in his own way that doors are opened for him. Oscar is sassy and stubborn that’s for sure, but also loveable at the same time.

If you love romance then this is one book not to be missed.

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar is a cat with attitude! And it turns out he's the perfect kitty to bring 2 strangers together as they start communicating via notes attached to his collar as he wanders round the local neighbourhood!!

I loved this book as it was such a simple concept but with the way the author writes with such warmth about her characters and how they're both dealing with life, it really strikes a chord and was just so easy to connect with and empathise with. Jenni is the owner of Oscar and is happily single getting on with life and all that it throws her way. Ben is a firefighter who is finding life a bit of a struggle so gets a boost when a cat appears in his life to brighten up his days, even giving him the name of Fred.

not wanting to tread on any toes and not knowing where the cat comes from, Ben starts to add notes to the collar to let the owner know what is happening and they soon find this a way of being able to open up about what is going on in their lives - why is it so easy opening up to someone you don't know!

I really enjoyed this story from the first page to last! It made me smile a lot, especially the antics of Oscar so if you're looking for a book with a sassy cat and lovely characters, look no further!