Stacey Yu's debut novel 'Kitten' released, explores modern love and cat obsession

Stacey Yu, a London‑based Chinese‑American author, published her debut novel Kitten on August 4. The story follows recent graduate Katie, whose growing fixation on her boyfriend James’s cat, Silver, leads her to question her relationships and life choices. Yu frames the narrative as a commentary on contemporary love, existential nihilism and the cultural phenomenon she calls the “girlbaby,” a counterpart to the “girlboss.”

The book has been longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and has attracted attention on BookTok and in an essay for Marie Claire, where Yu discusses the novel’s themes and its relevance to young women navigating modern expectations.